Capitals Down ‘Canes, 5-4 In Shootout, Win 50th Game Of The Season


Photo: @Capitals

The Washington Capitals downed the Carolina Hurricanes, 5-4 (SO) Thursday night at Capital One Arena. The victory improves the Capitals’ record to 50-19-9 (109 points) on the season. The win also clinches the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

LINEUP

Charlie Lindgren (18-13-3, 2.71 GAA, .896 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the Capitals. Frederik Andersen (13-6-0, 2.11 GAA, .914 sv%) got the start in goal for the visiting Hurricanes. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Capitals:

Alex Ovechkin — Dylan Strome — Taylor Raddysh
Connor McMichael – Pierre-Luc Dubois — Tom Wilson
Andrew Mangiapane – Lars Eller — Ryan Leonard
Brandon Duhaime — Nic Dowd — Anthony Beauvillier

Rasmus Sandin — John Carlson
Dylan McIlrath — Trevor Van Riemsdyk
Martin Fehervary — Matt Roy

Charlie Lindgren
Hunter Shepard

Scratches: Alex Alexeyev, Ethen Frank, Jakob Chychrun (Illness).

Injured: Logan Thompson (upper-body), Sonny Milano (upper-body), Nicklas Backstrom (hip), T.J. Oshie (back).

1ST PERIOD

The Hurricanes opened the scoring on a snipe by Logan Stankoven (13) at 5:42. A. Svechnikov (27) and J. Roslovic (17) had the helpers.

Carolina quickly made it 2-0 on a gritty goal by Jackson Blake (16) at 7:14. S. Jarvis (32) and B. Burns (21) were credited with the assists.

The Capitals got on the board with less than two minutes remaining in the period on a power play goal from Pierre-Luc Dubois (20) at 18:06. Andrew Mangiapane (14) and Rasmus Sandin (25) had the helpers. Dubois reached the 20-goal mark for the fifth time in his career.

The Capitals have scored at least one power-play goal in six straight games. Since March 30, Washington has gone 7 for 14 with the man advantage (50.0%).

The period concluded with the Canes holding on to the 2-1 lead. Carolina dominated the period, leading in five-on-five shot attempts, 25-9, and expected goals for, 1.03 to 0.29.

2ND PERIOD

The Capitals tied the game on a power play tally from Dylan Strome (26) midway through the middle frame. Alex Ovechkin recorded the primary assist, extending his point streak to six games (6g-4a–10p).

Ovechkin has tallied 23 points (12g, 11a) in his last 19 games dating back to March 1. Strome extended his point streak to six games (3g-6a–9p).

The Capitals have scored eight power-play goals in their last six games. Tonight marks Washington’s 10th game this season with multiple power-play goals.

The Capitals grabbed their first lead of the night on a clean-up tally by Nic Dowd (14) at 16:51 of the second period. Brandon Duhaime (12) and John Carlson (46) had the assists.

The Capitals quickly made it 4-2 38 seconds later Tom Wilson’s thirty-third goal of the season at 17:29. Connor McMichael (31) had the helper.

The Capitals held the two-goal lead into the second intermission. The Capitals led in five-on-five shot attempts, 28-23, and expected goals for, 2.14 to 0.83.

3RD PERIOD

The Canes cut the Capitals lead to 4-3 early in the final frame on a tally from Jordan Martinook (14) at 4:42.

The Canes scored late on a 6-on-5 tally from Seth Jarvis (31) at 18:15 to make it 4-4.

The score remained tied 4-4 through the end of regulation.

OVERTIME/SHOOTOUT

The Capitals and Hurricanes skated to a scoreless draw in three-on-three overtime.

The Capitals won it in the shootout.

SHAVINGS

With their 5-4 victory tonight, the Capitals have clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference. It marks the fifth time in franchise history that the Capitals have claimed first place in their conference (also 2016-17, 2015-16, 2010-11 & 2009-10).

No team in the NHL has earned first place in their conference more times than the Capitals since Ted Leonsis assumed ownership of the team ahead of the 1999-2000 season.

The Capitals clinched the No. 1 seed in their conference for the fifth time in franchise history, with each instance occurring over the last 15 years (also 2016-17, 2015-16, 2010-11 & 2009-10).

The Capitals have reached the 50-win mark for the sixth time in franchise history (also 2015-16: 56 wins; 2016-17: 55 wins; 2009-10: 54 wins; 2008-09: 50 wins; 1985-86: 50 wins).

About Jon Sorensen

Jon has been a Caps fan since day one, attending his first game at the Capital Centre in 1974. His interest in the Caps has grown over the decades and included time as a season ticket holder. He has been a journalist covering the team for 10+ years, primarily focusing on analysis, analytics and prospect development.





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