Happy Hockey Halloween, everybody! Welcome to the Nightmare on F Street. I’m professional hockey writer Ian Oland and I’m dressed as a Pop Tart. How about you?
The Washington Capitals are back in action against the New York Islanders on this haunted night, and hopefully tonight’s game will not be as ghastly as Tuesday’s matchup against the Dallas Stars, where our dressed-up heroes were shut out 1-0. Like a ghost, the Capitals’ offense has disappeared, and the only spirit to find the back of the net lately is noted goal-scorer Trevor van Riemsdyk after he went haunting through the crease.
Checking the lineup, you might feel a chill up your spine as you notice first-line cemterman Dylan Strome will not play and remains out of the lineup due to injury. Rasmus Sandin is out, too.
Alex Ovech-kinstein remains one goal away from becoming the first player in NHL history to have 900, a netminder’s worst nightmare.
Speaking of the starting Ghoulies, Logan Thompson will be in net for the Capitals and will oppose Ilya Sorokin. Thompson has been the opposite of a complete netmare, winning 5 of his first 7 games and posting a .939 save percentage.
Puck drop for tonight’s game is shortly after 7 pm. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have the call on Monumental Sports Network.
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Lines
Washington Capitals
Ovechkin
McMichael
Leonard
Beauvillier
Lapierre
Milano
New York Islanders
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Puck is dropped. Protas-Dubois-Wilson and Fehervary-Carlson get the start.
Alex Ovechkin with an early chance from the side of the net.
Connor McMichael nearly scores between the legs on a rebound chance like Andre Burakovsky last night.
Casey Cizikas to the box for holding at 2:34. Capitals go to their first power play.
The best chance of the Capitals power play goes to the Islanders, but JP Pageau loses control of the puck on a breakaway.
Sorokin with consecutive huge saves on Dubois and Beauvillier.
Seven minutes in, the Capitals have 15 shot attempts and the Islanders have none.
The Islanders finally getting into this game midway through the period.
Pierre-Luc Dubois is in major pain after a faceoff.
At intermission: The game remains tied 0-0. The Capitals are outshooting the Islanders 13 to 6, as they struggled to find their legs in the back-to-back. As Locker said during the coverage, Ilya Sorokin is the first, second, and third star so far tonight.
Intermission time!
A cute little ice resurfacer going to side to side like Scooby Doo
Comment below. Refresh for live updates during the game. The thread will be closed shortly after the game is completed.