Photo: @Capitals/X
The Washington Capitals blanked the Winnipeg Jets by a score of 3-0 in a Sunday matinee at Capital One Arena. The win improved the Capitals’ record to 35-26-9 and 79 points on the season. Goaltender Charlie Lindgren made 27 saves in his fifth shutout this season. The Capitals now lead the Detroit Red Wings by one point for the final Wild Card position in the Eastern Conference with one game in hand.
The Lineup
Alex Ovechkin — Connor McMichael — T.J. Oshie
Ivan Miroshnichenko — Dylan Strome — Aliaksei Protas
Max Pacioretty — Hendrix Lapierre — Sonny Milano
Beck Malenstyn — Nic Dowd — Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Martin Fehervary — John Carlson
Rasmus Sandin — Nick Jensen
Alexander Alexeyev — Trevor van Riemsdyk
Lindgren
Darcy Kuemper
Scratches: Center Michael Sgarbossa, defenseman Ethan Bear, and right-wing Tom Wilson (six-game suspension)
Transactions: The Capitals announced during first intermission that they had loaned right-wing Matthew Phillips to the AHL’s Hershey Bears.
Injuries: Center Nicklas Backstrom (hip)
First Period
The opening twenty went by scoreless. The Capitals announced during first intermission that Milano would not return due to an upper-body injury.
INJURY UPDATE: #Caps Sonny Milano (upper body) will not return to today’s game.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) March 24, 2024
Quick Stats
SOG: 9-9
Face-Off Win %: 64% (Capitals), 35% (Jets)
Hits: 13-8 Capitals
Second Period
Neither team could get on the board during the middle frame.
Quick Stats
Total SOG: 21-11 Jets
Face-Off Win %: 52% (Capitals), 47% (Jets)
Total Hits: 22-14 Capitals
Third Period
Carlson (7) would open today’s scoring with a power-play goal 81 seconds into the final period, giving the Capitals a 1-0 lead. Pacioretty (15) and Oshie (9) assisted.
Whole lotta ‘Murica on this goal pic.twitter.com/B6uuB6K12t
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 24, 2024
Ovechkin (25) would extend Washington’s lead to 2-0 at the 3:36 mark. McMichael (15) had the lone assist.
MAKE THAT A FIVE-GAME GOAL STREAK FOR THE #GR8 pic.twitter.com/SYVTGDxS3K
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 24, 2024
Ovechkin (26) would pot his second of the day with twelve minutes left. Strome (35) and Oshie (10) had the helpers.
Spoiled by #Gr8-ness pic.twitter.com/HNlmSYGiqB
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 24, 2024
Quick Stats
Total SOG: 27-19 Jets
Face-Off Win %: 52% (Capitals), 47% (Jets)
Total Hits: 29-19 Capitals
Notes Through the Game
- Milano played in his 300th career game today.
- Carlson has scored in back-to-back games and has recorded a point in five straight games (2g-3a–5p).
- Carlson, who is playing in career game 997, is now two goals shy of 150 career goals.
- Pacioretty’s ten power-play points (2g, 8a) rank fifth on Washington this season.
- Ovechkin extended his goal streak to five games. He has scored two goals in three of his last four games.
- Ovechkin has now scored 25 or more goals in 18 of his 19 NHL seasons, with the shortened 2020-21 campaign (24g in 45 GP) being the only season in which he did not reach the 25-goal mark.
- McMichael, who has established single-season career highs in assists, goals (16), and points (31) this season, has recorded four points (2g, 2a) in his last three games.
- Today marked Ovechkin’s 172nd career multi-goal game. Only Wayne Gretzky (189) has more multi-goal games in NHL history.
- Ovechkin’s 17 goals since Feb. 4 are tied with Kirill Kaprizov for the third-most in the NHL.
- Strome extended his point streak to four games (1g-6a–7p). Strome has recorded 32 points (8g, 24a) in his last 28 games.
- Oshie has scored two or more points in 165 of his 1,002 career games.
- Since February 8th, the Capitals have converted on 24 of 68 power-play opportunities (35.3%), the highest power-play percentage in the NHL in that span.
- Lindgren has posted a record of 7-2-0 with a 2.02 goals-against average, a .931 save percentage, and two shutouts over his last ten appearances.
- Following his third multi-goal game in his last four outings, Ovechkin has 26 goals in 67 games this season. That puts him on pace for 30 goals.
The Capitals wrap up their four-game homestand, hosting the Red Wings at Capital One Arena on Tuesday. Monumental Sports Network will have the coverage beginning at 7 PM ET.
By Della Young