Capitals Fall to Penguins, 5-2, in Final 2024-25 Regular Season Game; Connor McMichael, Alex Ovechkin Score


Photo: @Capitals/X

The Washington Capitals fell to the Pittsburgh Penguins by a score of 5-2 Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena in their final regular season game of the 2024-25 campaign. The loss concluded the Capitals’ record this season to 51-22-9 and 111 points. Goaltender Clay Stevenson made 33 saves in his NHL debut.

The Lineup

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

Rasmus Sandin — Trevor van Riemsdyk
Jakob Chychrun — Dylan McIlrath
Alexander Alexeyev

Stevenson
Charlie Lindgren

Scratches: Defensemen Jakob Chychrun, John Carlson, Matt Roy

Injuries: Goaltender Logan Thompson (upper-body), center Aliaksei Protas (lower-body), left-wing Sonny Milano (upper-body), center Nicklas Backstrom (hip, LTIR) and right-wing T.J. Oshie (back, LTIR)

First Period

McMichael (26) would open the scoring at the 4:08 mark, giving the Capitals an early 1-0 lead. Wilson (32) had the lone assist.

The Penguins would equalize not even a minute later with a goal from right-wing Bryan Rust.

The Penguins honored Ovechkin on becoming the NHL’s All-Time goals leader.

Quick Stats

SOG: 13-5 Penguins

Face-Off Win %: 60% (Capitals), 40% (Penguins)

Hits: 8-7 Penguins

Second Period

Rust would notch his second goal of the night on a power-play at the 7:19 mark, making it 2-1 in favor of Pittsburgh.

It would be 3-1 in favor of the Penguins as captain Sidney Crosby lit the lamp for the home team midway through the period.

Ovechkin (44) would get one back on a power-play for Washington at the 16:56 mark. The assists went to Strome (53) and Dubois (46).

Quick Stats

Total SOG: 24-19 Penguins

Face-Off Win %: 50%-50%

Total Hits: 15-11 Penguins

Third Period

Left-wing Danton Heinen extended Pittsburgh’s lead, 4-2, with a shorthanded goal at the 8:46 mark.

It would be 5-2 in favor of the Penguins when center Philip Tomasino scored seconds later.

Quick Stats

Total SOG: 38-20 Penguins

Face-Off Win %: 50%-50%

Total Hits: 24-16 Penguins

Notes Through the Game

  • Stevenson is the 24th goaltender in franchise history to make his NHL debut with the Capitals and the 56th goalie to play in a regular season game for Washington. Stevenson has a 45-18-6 record with a 2.44 GAA, a .907 SV% and 9 shutouts in 72 career AHL games with Hershey.
  • McMichael, who has established career highs in goals (26), assists (31), points (57) and games played (82) this season, has five points (1g, 4a) in four career games vs. Pittsburgh.
  • Wilson has recorded at least one point in his last seven games played at PPG Paints Arena (2/1/22-4/17/25: 5g-3a–8p).
  • With the goal, Ovechkin ties Gordie Howe (44g in 1968-69 at age 40) for the most goals in a season by a player age 39 or older.
  • Ovechkin (44g in 65 GP) ranks tied for third in the NHL in goals despite missing 17 games this season. Only Leon Draisaitl (52 goals, age 29) and William Nylander (45 goals, age 28) have more.
  • Ovechkin’s 43 goals in 80 career games vs. the Penguins are the most among active players and the sixth most all-time. Twenty-six of his 43 goals (60.5%) against Pittsburgh have come on the road.
  • Strome recorded his team-leading 53rd assist and 82nd point of the season on Ovechkin’s power-play goal. Strome (29g-53a–82p in 82 GP) is the first Capital to post a point per-game season while playing in all 82 games since Alex Ovechkin (49g-38a–87p in 82 GP) in 2017-18.
  • Dubois’ 46 assists are a career high and tied with John Carlson for the second most on Washington.

By Della Young

About Della Young

Della Young is an aspiring novelist and screenwriter who earned a BFA in Creative Writing from Full Sail University in 2021. She is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Screenwriting from Regent University and is writing her debut novel. Della comes from a family of big Capitals fans and became inspired to start writing for hockey in 2019. Follow Della on X: @dellayoung





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