Game information/links

Date

Monday, March 9, 2026

Game preview

After losing to the Boston Bruins 3-1 on Saturday, the Washington Capitals’ playoff hopes took another massive hit, falling to 10.6 percent. Now, coming into tonight’s matchup against the Calgary Flames, the Capitals are seven points behind the Bruins for the second wild card spot in the East and trail the New York Islanders by eight for third place in the Metropolitan Division.

Neither of the Capitals’ two trade deadline acquisitions — defenseman Timothy Liljegren and centerman David Kampf (visa issues) — will play tonight. Nor will Ivan Miroshnichenko, who was called up last week, but has yet to play a game yet on this current recall. Spencer Carbery is planning on going with the same lineup from Saturday’s loss.

While Capitals’ games are becoming less relevant, there remain tons of interesting stories surrounding the team as it continues to move forward and look back in the rearview.

Tonight is Mental Health Awareness Night at Capital One Arena.

Lines
Washington Capitals

Ovechkin

Sourdif

Beauvillier

Calgary Flames

Olofsson

Backlund

Coronato

Lomberg

Sharangovich

Klapka

Goaltending matchup

Stats

.913

.923

+22.8

+16.7

Record

21-9-3

7-4-2

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🧠

Tunnel shenanigans

1st Period

Puck is dropped. McMichael-Dubois-Leonard and Chychrun-TVR get the start.

Driving the net, Hendrix Lapierre gets his stick on a juicy rebound and scores, giving the Capitals the lead early.

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1-0 Washington Capitals

Goal: Hendrix Lapierre (3). Assists: M. Fehérváry (17), D. Chisholm (6). Time: 2:46

Lapierre now has three goals in three games against Calgary in his career. The Capitals are 24-9-4 when scoring first this season.

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Power play

Zayne Parekh interference penalty (2 minutes) at 4:53

As you might have guessed, the Capitals can’t get anything going on the power play. In fact, Calgary had the better chances.

Lappy nearly scores again but the puck was rolling on him.

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2-0 Washington Capitals

Goal: Tom Wilson (24). Assists: A. Protas (23), D. Strome (34). Time: 9:13

Flames turn it over right to Dylan Strome along the cornerboards but he can’t stuff it home on a wide open chance.

Duhaime can’t finish on a semi-breakaway.

Logan Thompson nearly shoots it into his own net after trying to clear the puck from Farabee. That was CLOSE.

Left wide open in the slot, McMichael shoots it by Cooley easily. What were the Flames doing there? Anyway, that’s a good goal for his contract negotiations.

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3-0 Washington Capitals

Goal: Connor McMichael (9). Assists: J. Sourdif (15), A. Beauvillier (11). Time: 17:43

The high slot appears to be open to the Capitals all night. This one could be a blowout.

At intermission: The Capitals lead 3-0. Shots are tied 8-8. The Flames look like they mostly don’t care at all.

2nd Period

Puck is dropped.

Flames seem to massively struggling with the basics tonight, leaving guys wide open near the net. Sometimes double and triple-teaming other guys accidentally.

Declan Chisholm nearly shoots the puck into his own net as he tries to reverse the puck out of the zone around the net.

The Capitals are beginning to crumble to finish the second period, they look exhausted. Flames have found their level and the Capitals can’t handle it.

Uh oh. It felt like a matter of time before the Flames scored.

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3-1 Washington Capitals

Goal: Matvei Gridin (4). Assists: O. Määttä (3), R. Strome (8). Time: 16:08

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Power play

Zayne Parekh interference penalty (2 minutes) at 17:32

WHAT. WAS. THAT. Ryan Leonard turnover, they leave Blake Coleman all alone, and he scores shorthanded right off the faceoff on a breakaway.

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3-2 Washington Capitals

SHG: Blake Coleman (15). Assists: M. Backlund (23). Time: 17:39

Jakub Chychrun drops a pass…. Ryan Leonard skates the wrong way… and it goes right to Farabee. He sends a pass to Sharangovich. And it’s tied. Two shorties given up on this power play. Pathetic.

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3-3 tie

SHG: Yegor Sharangovich (13). Assists: J. Farabee (14). Time: 17:39

Just pathetic. The Capitals should have been up 10-0 after the first 30 minutes. Calgary wasn’t defending. Now it’s 3-3 going into intermission. Just completely embarrassing.

At intermission: 3-3. Shots are 20-16 Calgary.

3rd Period

Puck is dropped. Leonard, despite his role in giving up the lead, gets the start on the opening faceoff for the third.

Leonard, who appears to have gotten a pep talk in the locker room, is playing some inspired hockey. He’s ripped off by Cooley trying to go high glove.

Leonard another chance but it’s poke-checked away by Cooley as he drives the center lane. Leonard is shown at the bench slamming his stick and yelling, “oh my god” in frustration, if my lip reading is correct.

Capitals have the first 5 shots of the period.

Bahl clips Ovechkin as he turns to the corner to get the puck. Capitals going to the power play. I’m terrified.

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Power play

Kevin Bahl high-sticking penalty (2 minutes) at 9:22

A two-goal game for Connor. Blake Coleman turns the puck to McMichael and he fires it home.

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4-3 Washington Capitals

PPG: Connor McMichael (10). Unassisted. Time: 10:52

Sourdif’s lucky shot goes off Bahl and in. He had 1 goal in his 11 games coming into the night. That’s 2 goals overall for the Caps in 23 seconds.

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5-3 Washington Capitals

Goal: Justin Sourdif (13). Unassisted. Time: 11:15

Cooley pulled for an extra attacker.

Duhaime chips the puck into open space. Ethen Frank speeds to get to it and scores from almost no angle on the empty net.

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6-3 Washington Capitals

ENG: Ethen Frank (13). Assists: B. Duhaime (3), H. Lapierre (9). Time: 17:14

Ryan Leonard, who was horrid in this game and should not have played in the 3rd period, scores on a breakaway as everyone is just playing it out to the buzzer. Okay, I guess.

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7-3 Washington Capitals

Goal: Ryan Leonard (12). Assists: J. Sourdif (16). Time: 19:44

Free nuggs.

Capitals win 7-3.

Flooding the Flames with a lot of firepower: Capitals beat Flames 7-3

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