Live Updates: Capitals vs Ducks at Honda Center
Bold takeaway: this game caps a four-game road swing, and it’s shaping up to be the one you won’t want to miss. The Capitals arrive after a blockbuster 7-1 win over the San Jose Sharks, a performance that featured a historic multi-goal burst from Alex Ovechkin alongside Ryan Leonard. If you’re tuning in for a high-energy night, you’ve come to the right place.
Lineups and notes: Sonny Milano and Dylan McIlrath are healthy scratches for Washington. A notable pregame move is the signing of retired ECHL goalie Parker Milner to a professional tryout, serving as Logan Thompson’s emergency backstop for tonight. And yes, Milner is also a food critic on the side, in case you were curious about postgame plans.
Puck drop is set for a little after 10:00 pm, with Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin calling the action on Monumental Sports Network.
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Starting lines
Washington Capitals
- Ovechkin
- Strome
- Beauvillier
- Protas
- Sourdif
- Wilson
- McMichael
- Dowd
- Leonard
- Duhaime
- Lapierre
- Frank
- Fehervary
- Sandin
- Chychrun
- Roy
- Chisholm
- TVR
- Thompson
- Milner
Anaheim Ducks
- Kreider
- Carlsson
- Terry
- Gauthier
- McTavish
- Sennecke
- Vatrano
- Strome
- Granlund
- Johnston
- Poehling
- Killorn
- LaCombe
- Trouba
- Zellweger
- Gudas
- Mintyukov
- Helleson
- Husso
- Buteyets
First Period action
The puck drops as Washington sends out Protas-Sourdif-Wilson up front against Chychrun-Roy to open.
Early pressure yields a big save from Logan Thompson.
Leonard makes an early burst on his first shift, breaking in on a breakaway and getting shut down by Husso as he tries to finish on the forehand.
Justin Sourdif is wide open in front, but instead of lifting it over Husso’s pad, he skates too far and fires off the side of the net. A puzzling sequence.
On the next shift, Radko Gudas lays a punishing check on Sourdif as he tries to drive through the neutral zone.
1-0 Washington Capitals
Goal: Tom Wilson (17). Assists: Sourdif (4), van Riemsdyk (4). Time: 9:29
Beckett Sennecke heads to the box for hooking Jakob Chychrun at 11:34, sending Washington to their first power play.
Ovechkin Island makes a return—Ducks aren’t marking him in the left circle, creating a few dangerous looks.
Ryan Leonard takes a blindside hit from Jacob Trouba, leaving him bent over and bleeding from the nose. No penalty for Trouba on the play, despite direct contact to the head. The officials review on an iPad during the TV timeout. The only penalty called is Chychrun for roughing at 16:04, much to Carbery’s and many fans’ frustration.
Sennecke feeds Gauthier in the slot, and he beats Thompson as the power play ends.
1-1 tie
Goal: Tom Wilson (17). Assists: Sourdif (4), van Riemsdyk (4). Time: 9:29
The horn erupts in a flurry of activity, signaling more of the same intensity to come for the night.
Intermission: The score is tied 1-1. Anaheim leads in shots, 12-8. The Trouba hit continues to spark debate.
Comment below with your thoughts, and refresh for live updates as the game unfolds. The thread will close once the final horn sounds.
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