Now that Alex Ovechkin is done with the 1,500 games milestone, the question becomes: Can he hit a major milestone in consecutive games? I’m hoping yes.
Tonight, Ovechkin will have another chance to reach 900 goals with a single tally against the Dallas Stars. The Capitals captain, who is sitting at 899 goals, has two tallies in his first nine games, both via one-timers off faceoff wins in the offensive zone.
Against the Stars, the Capitals will be without both Dylan Strome and Rasmus Sandin due to injury. The Capitals will turn to a first line featuring Ovechkin with Connor McMichael and Ryan Leonard, as well as a towering second line of Aliaksei Protas, Pierre-Luc Dubois, and Tom Wilson. That should be fun. Tonight, Logan Thompson will also play in his 50th career game for the Capitals. He already holds the record for the most wins in a Capitals goaltender’s first 50 appearances with the team.
Please note — tonight’s a national boi as part of the Frozen Frenzy. Puck drop for Caps-Stars is at 8:50 pm on ESPN.
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Lines
Washington Capitals
Ovechkin
McMichael
Leonard
Beauvillier
Lapierre
Frank
Dallas Stars
Robertson
Johnston
Bourque
Erne
Hryckowian
Blackwell
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Puck is dropped. Protas-Dubois-Wilson and Fehervary-Carlson get the start.
The game is on a split screen because the Penguins-Flyers game will just not end.
The first 9:10 of the Capitals-Stars game was on a split screen or just not shown during the ending of the Penguins-Flyers game.
Colin Blackwell writhing on the bench after taking a hit by Tom Wilson along the corner boards with 10:41 remaining.
Sam Steel trips Jakob Chychrun at the ice at 9:52. Capitals go to their first power play of the night.
Ovechkin whiffs bad on his first shot attempt.
Tom Wilson to the box for interference at 13:55. He kinda just existed and knocked Miro Heiskanen over as he skated in front of the net for a screen. Stars to their first power play.
Both teams now 0 for 1 on the power play.
Aliaksei Protas to the box for hooking at 16:41. Spencer Carbery is not happy at the bench.
At intermission: The game remains scoreless. Dallas outshot Washington 9 to 8 in the first period. Logan Thompson kept the score tied with some sensational goaltending again.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Tom Wilson to the box for hooking Radek Faksa at the 20 second mark. That was not a penalty. Uh oh.
Sam Steel to the box for holding at 1:20. Another power play for the Caps.
Ovechkin with a big shot from the top of the circles but he misses high over the net.
Great shift by the Capitals third line, especially Hendrix Lapierre, but they just can’t punch it into the net.
Hendrix Lapierre rips one off the post down the left wing. He’s having a heck of a game tonight.
The Stars didn’t have a shot on goal for the final 16 minutes per ESPN.
At intermission: The Stars are up 1-0. The Capitals are now outshooting the Stars 18 to 14 after dominating play for most of the period. The Capitals just couldn’t hit the net to save their life on their best chances. Should be an interesting third period.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
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