The Washington Capitals traveled north of the border to face another club from the capital, the Ottawa Senators, on Thursday night. Ottawa has been hot lately, winning three in a row heading into the game.
A total of zero goals from each team in the full 60 minutes of regulation. Alex Ovechkin scored the game-winning goal in overtime.
The Capitals beat the Senators 1-0!
- The first period wasn’t great for the Capitals. Ottawa consistently found holes in the team’s individual defense and was unlucky not to lead by a goal or two at the first intermission. Martin Fehervary and Matt Roy were completely bludgeoned, with the Caps going 10-and-5 with them on the ice at five-on-five in the first quarter.
- Tom Wilson threw a late hit to Jake Sanderson after the buzzer to end the first and created a big mess in the Ottawa zone. The Capitals were assessed two minor penalties after the ensuing scuffle, one to Wilson for roughing and another to Wilson for unsportsmanlike conduct. Ottawa’s Ridly Greig also received a minor for brutality. I point this out because the whole thing was incredibly unnecessary and only hurt the Caps.
- Jakob Chychrun made his first return to Ottawa after being traded to Washington by the Senators in a trade that saw Nick Jensen go the other way. Chychrun, who recently spoke about a possible extension with Washington, expected boos from Senators fans, but he didn’t seem to get many.
5:23 p.m.: Snow showers are arriving in the area from the northwest. Will dot the area in the coming hours. Could briefly descend moderately, with about a coating of up to half an inch in the heaviest areas. Roads and sidewalks may become slippery.
Details at https://t.co/O5ePGELT71 pic.twitter.com/ngbtLb0pCL
– Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) January 16, 2025
- The Capitals had one shot on goal in the second period for more than 12 minutes. Fortunately, they were much better defensively, but, man, they don’t have their game anymore. Spencer Carbery not going to be happy.
- Goalie interference calls Dylan Stromé is probably one of the worst I’ve ever seen. Leevi Meriläinen was almost in the slot when Strome hit him. How the hell was Strome supposed to avoid this? Stripes, be better.
- I thought Nicholas Dowd I had a very difficult first half of the match. He couldn’t touch the puck without turning it over and received the 16th minor penalty, his team’s best.
- No Capitals forward had more than one shot on goal in 40 minutes. Alex Ovechkin had zero.
12 minutes into the second period, the Capitals have a shot on goal in the period.
Can they take on the Anaheim Ducks every game?
– RMNB (@rmnb) January 17, 2025
- After just nine shot attempts total in the second, the Capitals turned up the pressure in the third. Pretty good last period, boosted by the momentum they created on their one chance on the power play. They faded towards the end, but did enough to bring the game to an extra frame.
- Logan Thompson was once again exceptional, recording his second consecutive shutout. Is anyone else wondering what the Capitals might do when Charlie Lindgren is activated from injured reserve in a few days? Are they just going back to split starts?
- Alex Ovechkin won the match with his 874th career goal.
A glimpse of the middle of the first period of your #JoeBSuitOfTheNuit pic.twitter.com/XcmKgVh4Gp
– RMNB (@rmnb) January 17, 2025
The Capitals will now return home for a rivalry night with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night.