WASHINGTON, DC — The Washington Capitals had a score to settle when they played the Anaheim Ducks on Monday. Ducks blueliner Jacob Trouba had injured Ryan Leonard with a high hit during the team’s last meeting in early December, and both Brandon Duhaime and Dylan McIlrath stepped up to the plate to defend the rookie’s honor in the rematch.

Duhaime kicked off the fireworks early, dropping the gloves with Trouba six minutes into the game, and McIlrath followed him up by challenging Ducks heavyweight Ross Johnston to a bout in the second period.

To Leonard, the fights showed just how much his teammates cared for him, and he choked up when praising the pair postgame.

“It’s unbelievable,” he told Monumental Sports Network’s Al Koken. “It went without saying that you knew my teammate was going to step up for me. And that’s just the type of brotherhood we have in there. It doesn’t go unnoticed, and it means a lot.”

McIlrath’s fight, in particular, energized his teammates, who scored two goals in just over two minutes following the scrap.

“The building comes alive,” head coach Spencer Carbery said postgame. “Our bench comes alive. I think we scored right after it, a minute later. Twice, right? Like boom, boom. [McIlrath is] in the penalty box banging on the glass. Our guys are loving it.”

On-ice officials and the NHL Department of Player Safety had declined to penalize the hit, which knocked Leonard out of the lineup for seven games, but the Capitals had no trouble criticizing Trouba. Like so many of his teammates, Leonard had Monday’s game circled on his calendar.

“I know he was ready for this one. He wanted some redemption,” Justin Sourdif said of Leonard postgame.

Just minutes after McIlrath took his revenge with blood, Leonard got his own form of payback with a goal. He ended the night with a two-point game (1g, 1a), something he credited to his teammates’ support.

“It doesn’t happen without Dewey (fighting Trouba),” he said postgame. “It goes without saying just the respect that I have for him, and Mac too. Both of them had my back, and it seemed like the whole team did too. It’s a great brotherhood in here and (I’m) really, really, really fortunate to be part of this group.”

While Duhaime and McIlrath’s bouts were the most visible example of the Caps standing up for each other, the team’s close-knit bonds weave up and down the lineup. Carbery, who called the fights “the most important part of the f****** game,” highlighted another small gesture that showed that same support.

“Justin Sourdif, another thing that I point out, which I love, is he’s not on the ice. He comes off the bench to go hunt out Dylan McIlrath and give him (a fist bump),” he said. “Now I say that — we don’t need 20 guys going over there. But it tells me that he’s so engaged in the game and appreciates what his teammate just did that he gets up, hops over, and skates across the ice. We’re not short on players like that and people like that, that have that type of character.”

Washington came out victorious against the Ducks, earning a much-needed win in a 7-4 gongshow. But even beyond the scoreboard, the Capitals knew they had plenty to be proud of.

“I think the great thing about this team is we protect each other, we care for each other, and tonight we showed that,” said Charlie Lindgren.