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Game preview
The Washington Capitals (5-3-0) will look to extend their winning streak to three games on Tuesday night when they host the NHL’s last remaining winless team, the Los Angeles Kings (0-4-2), at Capital One Arena.
The Kings, led by former Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette, have stumbled out of the gate, losing all six of their games to begin the 2026-27 season. Los Angeles will be looking to turn things around against a Capitals team that has won four of its first five home games.
“You just know that they’re desperate going into the game,” Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery said Monday. “You’re going to have a team that is putting absolutely everything that they possibly can put into a game to try to get two points. They’re going to be hungry. I don’t really put too much into it, but you know that they’re a team searching for two points and that they’re going to be desperate; that’s for sure.”
The matchup will also feature a few familiar faces. Former Capitals goaltender Darcy Kuemper is expected to start in net for Los Angeles, while former Kings defenseman Matt Roy returns to Washington’s lineup after missing six games with a lower-body injury.
Pierre-Luc Dubois, who was dealt to Washington in a one-for-one trade for Keumper, will miss his fifth straight game, joining fellow centerman Justin Sourdif out of the lineup. The Kings will see the return of veteran winger Mats Zuccarello after he’s missed the last three games due to injury.
The game is important for the Capitals as they sit five points behind both the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers in the Metropolitan Division standings.
Metropolitan Division Standings as of the morning of 10/20
| Rank | Team | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carolina Hurricanes | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 15 | +12 |
| 2 | New York Rangers | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 15 | +9 |
| 3 | Washington Capitals | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 10 | +4 |
| 4 | New York Islanders | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 9 | +6 |
| 5 | New Jersey Devils | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 | -2 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 10 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 7 | -5 |
| 7 | Philadelphia Flyers | 11 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 7 | -19 |
| 8 | Columbus Blue Jackets | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 6 | -5 |
Tonight’s matchup marks the third game of the Capitals’ current five-game homestand.
Puck drop is at 7 pm on Monumental Sports Network. Follow along here for live updates, highlights, analysis, and everything else from tonight’s game.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Los Angeles Kings
Tunnel shenanigans
Goaltending matchup
1st Period
Tuch-Strome-Kyrou and Chychrun-Roy get the start for the Capitals.
Puck is dropped.
Logan Thompson with a big save on Erik Haula on a two-on-one.
Another big chance. Haula wide open in front, but misses the net.
Through the first 7:18 of the first period, the Capitals have only one shot.
Ryan Leonard skates across the top of the circles and snipes one against the grain past a screened Darcy Kuemper. Jonny Brodzinski records his first point as a Capital with the primary assist.
1-0 Washington Capitals
Goal: Ryan Leonard (4). Assists: J. Brodzinski (1), A. Beauvillier (1). Time: 9:25
Oh the maniacally laughing here — I love it.
Power play
Scott Laughton slashing penalty on Jakob Chychrun at 17:05
Kuemper stops Dylan Strome on a semi-breakway.
More sensational stick-handling from Cole Hutson who dekes through the Kings penalty killers, uses Drew Doughty as a screen, and beats Kuemper easily glove side.
2-0 Washington Capitals
PPG: Cole Hutson (2). Assists: J. Kyrou (4), J. Chychrun (4). Time: 18:35
Hutson got his stick on a Kempe shot down the left wing, but it ramps up over Thompson’s catching glove.
2-1 Washington Capitals
Goal: Adrian Kempe (2). Assists: A. Panarin (2), A. Laferriere (3). Time: 19:27
Desharnais turnover along the sideboards. Artemi Panarin picks up the puck and scores on a sharp angle, beating LT far side with 1.2 seconds remaining in the period. That’s two goals in 31 seconds.
2-2 tie
Goal: Artemi Panarin (4). Unassisted. Time: 19:58
At intermission: The team teams are tied 2-2. Shots are 9-9.
2nd Period
Quentin Byfield will not return after suffering an upper-body injury.
Puck is dropped.
Thompson stops Panarin from point-blank range. LT appears to be favoring his left leg after that play. No whistle. He’s staying in the net.
LT’s still flexing around back there.
Thompson stops a wide-open one-timer by Kempe from the right circle.
Beauvi blocks an 87 MPH shot from the point off his left shin and he’s ailing. He’s hobbling down to the tunnel area.
Darcy Kuemper out of his net aggressively to deny Tom Wilson on a two-on-none.
Vincent Desharnais and Corey Perry to the box at 10:05. We’ll go to four-on-four hockey.
Chychrun wide open in the right circle, but Kuemper makes the save, stretching over. Huge stop there.
Penalty kill
Capitals bench minor for too many men penalty at 12:51
Delayed penalty – Capitals trying to kill as much time so they can have as long a power play as possible. Oh, they snuck it through the Kings and spring themselves on a two-on-one. Ahhh, Kuemper stops Strome. So close.
Power play
Alex Laferriere tripping penalty on Vincent Desharnais at 14:38
Capitals will get a 1:48 long power play.
Great shift by the Leonard line. He’s certainly coming into his own as every game progresses.
At intermission: The game remains tied 2-2 with the Capitals leading in shots 18-17.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Matt Roy wallops Haula with a huge hit at the Capitals bench. Ouch.
Leonard draws a penalty with a great stop near the sideboards.
Power play
Drew Doughty hooking penalty on Ryan Leonard at 3:10
Ryan Leonard with a late poke on Darcy Kuemper and Joel Edmundson immediately goes after him with a cross-check. Leonard then deposits him to the ice with authority.
Penalty kill
Vincent Desharnais hooking penalty on Alex Laferriere at 5:51
Capitals with two great shorthanded chances. Tuch curls-and-drags around Kempe, but misses the net. Then Aliaksei Protas misses the net with another chance down the left wing. They’re needling it a bit too much with how Kuemper is challenging out of the crease.
Former Capital Erik Gustafsson just went on a skate… through the entire Caps defense… and scores????
3-2 Los Angeles Kings
PPG: Erik Gustafsson (1). Unassisted. Time: 7:28
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