Game information/links

Game

Capitals vs Golden Knights

Date

Friday, February 27, 2026

Game preview

The Washington Capitals defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 3-1 in their return from the Olympic break — their second straight victory. Now they’ll try to make it three-in-a-row on Black History Night against the Vegas Golden Knights — the second game of their three-games-in-four-nights stretch.

While John Carlson will not play tonight or tomorrow against the Montreal Canadiens, Tom Wilson will play in his first game since playing for Team Canada and winning silver at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Wilson missed the Flyers game due to an illness, but is feeling up to playing. His play with Team Canada impressed assistant coach Bruce Cassidy, who is the bench boss for the Golden Knights.

Hendrix Lapierre will come out of the lineup with Wilson’s return. Sonny Milano also cleared waivers and has been assigned to Hershey. He’s expected to suit up against the Rockford IceHogs tonight.

Logan Thompson will face Akira Schmid in net.

Despite their victory on Wednesday, the Capitals (67 standings points) remain four points out of a playoff spot. The New York Islanders (71) maintained their lead for the third playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division, and the Boston Bruins (71) did the same with the second wild-card spot. Both teams have games in hand on the Caps.

The Vegas Golden Knights enter tonight’s game leading the Pacific Division with 70 standings points. Somewhat incredibly, they wouldn’t even be in the playoffs if they were in the East. While Vegas has gone 4-4-2 in their last 10 games, they’ve won their last three overall.

Team USA Jack Eichel and Noah Hanfin arrived in Washington, DC, days early before the team and actually practiced by themselves at MedStar Capitals Iceplex on Thursday. The game will mark their first since winning gold with the U.S.

We’ll have more updates in the run-up to the game. See you then!

Read our feature on Tom Wilson’s time at the Olympics

Tom Wilson reflects on Olympic experience, gold medal loss: ‘I’ll always think very fondly of the time, but it’ll always hurt’

New Team USA gear

New Team USA Olympic merch released for men’s and women’s teams including autographed photos and hats

Lines
Washington Capitals

Ovechkin

Strome

Beauvillier

McMichael

Sourdif

Leonard

Vegas Golden Knights

Tunnel shenanigans

1st Period

Congratulations to our favorite raw liver king, Jakob Chychrun, on his 600th career NHL game!

Puck is dropped. Protas-Dubois-Wilson and Fehervary-Sandin get the start.

A very slow start to this one, but Washington has the first three shots of the game.

Ovi just literally checked his own guy, a Golden Knights player, and himself near the net. lmao

Colton Sissons with a semi-breakaway, but he’s stopped by Logan Thompson.

🔋

Power play

Vegas delay of game penalty (2 minutes) at 12:47

Golden Knights back at full strength.

Logan Thompson robs Tomas Hertl on a shot going to the top corner, nabbing it with his glove.

🦓

Penalty kill

Matt Roy cross-checking penalty (2 minutes) at 15:34

Capitals kill the penalty. Vegas goes without a shot on goal on the power play.

Ovi wide open on the left side and misses a pretty open net, shooting the puck wide.

At intermission: The game is tied 0-0. The Capitals outshot the Golden Knights 10-6 in the period, but woof that was tough to watch. Not much action. Low-event hockey.

2nd Period

Logan Thompson is having an equipment issue delaying the start of the second.

Puck is dropped.

Fantastic passing play by the second line and PLD SCOARRRRRRSSSS!

🚨

1-0 Washington Capitals

Goal: Pierre-Luc Dubois (2). Assists: A. Protas (21), R. Sandin (17). Time: 0:49

Caps nearly give up a goal to Vegas on the next shift. They just chip the puck over the net.

Vegas is really bringing it now.

Sissons wide open in front of the net, he takes a pass inches away from the goal line, but sends it wide out the opposite side of the crease. Caps so lucky there.

PLD’s got his second. VGK turnover. Protas with a behind-the-back pass from behind the net setting him up. The Tower Line is having a heck of a start to the second.

🚨

2-0 Washington Capitals

Goal: Pierre-Luc Dubois (3). Assists: A. Protas (22). Time: 3:23

🔋

Power play

Braeden Bowman hooking penalty (2 minutes) at 4:41

Caps set up Ryan Leonard in front of the net, but Schmid makes the huge save.

Another huge shot by Leonard

Somebody with a huge F bomb on the telecast.

Caps go to the two-man advantage for 43 seconds.

🔋

Power play

Noah Hanifin hooking penalty (2 minutes) at 5:58

Timeout Washington.

Caps can’t score on the 5-on-3. Now they’ll over a minute on the 5-on-4.

A Caps shot goes off the lively end boards right to Wilson wide open on the right side. He shoots but sends the puck off the post.

Vegas kills the Capitals’ long power play and is back to full strength.

Ovi’s mobility in this game is noticeable and not in the good way.

Ethen Frank is speeding down the ice, nearly scoring down the left wing on his backhand. Huge rebound from Schmid. Great shift by the fourth line here.

Chychrun sneaks down to the right circle, and gets a no-look pass from Sandin. He fires a one-timer past Schmid. That’s his 22nd of the season! What a shot.

🚨

3-0 Washington Capitals

Goal: Jakob Chychrun (22). Assists: R. Sandin (18), P. Dubois (2). Time: 14:54

🦓

Penalty kill

Ryan Leonard slashing penalty (2 minutes) at 16:44

At intermission: The Capitals lead 3-0. They’re leading in shots 22-14. One of the Caps’ best periods of the season. The Caps need to be careful, though, and close this one out. Vegas has a +32 goal differential in the third period.

3rd Period

Puck is dropped.

Dominant first shift by the Capitals’ second line. PLD gets several shots on goal off, going for the hat trick.

Joe B and Locker are remarking about the fact that the Golden Knights have been outshot 14 of 58 games this season. The Capitals are nearly doubling them up currently 24-14.

Off Chisholm’s skate and goes right to Bowman for a breakaway. He scores. Logan’s shutout bid is over.

🚨

3-1 Washington Capitals

Goal: Braeden Bowman (8). Assists: K. Korczak (10), B. McNabb (4). Time: 2:27

Sourdif drew a penalty with his hustle in the corner.

🔋

Power play

Kaedan Korczak cross-checking penalty (2 minutes) at 5:26

Ovi has a wide open net, he heeled it and miss the net.

Back to five-on-five.

🔋

Power play

Capitals too many men penalty (2 minutes) at 8:15

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