Capitals Defeat Kraken, 2-1; T.J. Oshie Scores in 999th Career Game; Connor McMichael Scores Again


Photo: @Capitals/X

The Washington Capitals defeated the Seattle Kraken by a score of 2-1 Thursday at Climate Pledge Arena. The win improved the Capitals’ record to 31-25-9 and 71 points on the season. Goaltender Charlie Lindgren made 23 saves in the victory.

The Lineup

Alex Ovechkin — Connor McMichael — T.J. Oshie
Ivan Miroshnichenko — Dylan Strome — Tom Wilson
Max Pacioretty — Hendrix Lapierre — Sonny Milano
Beck Malenstyn — Nic Dowd — Aliaskei Protas

Martin Fehervary — John Carlson
Rasmus Sandin — Nick Jensen
Alexander Alexeyev  — Trevor van Riemsdyk

Lindgren
Darcy Kuemper

Scratches: Center Michael Sgarbossa, right-wing Nicolas Aube-Kubel, and defenseman Ethan Bear

Injuries: Nicklas Backstrom (hip)

First Period

The opening frame would go scoreless.

Quick Stats

SOG: 9-8 Kraken

Face-Off Win %: 65% (Kraken), 35% (Capitals)

Hits: 15-11 Capitals

Second Period

With 5:40 left, Oshie (11), who played in his 999th career game, would strike first on a power play after Seattle goaltender Joey Daccord failed to clear the puck.

Quick Stats

Total SOG: 20-12 Capitals

Face-Off Win %: 57% (Kraken), 42% (Capitals)

Total Hits: 22-17 Capitals

Third Period

The Kraken would equalize at the 3:32 mark with a goal from right-wing Oliver Bjorkstrand on a man advantage.

McMichael (14) gave the Capitals a 2-1 lead on a breakaway with just over eight minutes to go in the final frame.

Quick Stats

Total SOG: 24-23 Kraken

Face-Off Win %: 58% (Kraken), 42% (Capitals)

Total Hits: 28-18 Capitals

Notes Through the Game

  • Wilson passed Brooks Laich (742) for the 10th-most games played in franchise history tonight against Seattle. Wilson ranks third on Washington in games played.
  • Oshie, a native of Everett, Washington, scored his first career goal against the Kraken and his first goal at Climate Pledge Arena.
  • The Capitals have scored a power-play goal in nine of their last ten games and 12 of their previous 14 games. Since Feb. 8, the Capitals have converted on 17 of 53 power-play opportunities (32.1%).
  • McMichael has now scored in back-to-back games.
  • McMichael’s goal marked the first goal he has scored on Daccord at the NHL level. During the 2023 Calder Cup Finals, McMichael scored on Daccord in Games 6 and 7 en route to Hershey’s 12th Calder Cup Championship.

The Capitals continue their five-game Western road trip and clash next with the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday at Rogers Arena. Monumental Sports Network 2 will have the coverage beginning at 10 PM ET.

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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