Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images

The Washington Capitals beat the Arizona Coyotes, 3-2 on Monday night at Verizon Center. The Capitals record improves to a league-best 44-10-4 (92 points).  The Coyotes record falls to 27-26-6.  The Capitals next host the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night at Verizon Center. Puck-drop is 7:00 PM.

The starting lines for the Capitals:

Offensive Lines:
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Wiliams
Burakovsky-Backstrom-Oshie
Chimera-Richards-Wilson
Laich-Latta-Galiev

Defensive Pairs:
Schmidt-Carlson
Alzner-Niskanen
Orpik-Orlov

Marcus Johansson was scratched due to illness. Taylor Chorney was the lone healthy scratch. The goalie match-up for tonight’s game, provided by @CapsGoalies:

QUICK TAKES
The Capitals had a little better start to this game, allowing no goals and 9 shots-on-goal for the first period.  The Capitals gained control of the game in the second period, but never really pulled away against the Coyotes.  Braden Holtby had a decent game, with no soft goals allowed.  Mike Richards scored his first goal as a Washington Capitals, which turned out to be the game-winner. The Capitals would out-shoot the Coyotes 34-27 for the game. All game photos can be found here: Team stats for the game can be found here: Individual player stats for the game can be found here:  Faceoff stats for the game can be found here:

A quick-paced and aggressive first five minutes to this Monday night contest.  Jason Chimera had a clean break-away in the first minute of play, but could not find the back of the net. Justin Williams was called for high-sticking at 5:43 of the opening frame, giving Arizona the game’s first man-advantage. The Coyotes’ would mount significant pressure, but were unable to convert. Arizona outshot the Caps 5-3 through the first 10 minutes of play. Justin Williams was called for his second high-sticking penalty of the first period at 13:03. This time the Caps did a great job of shutting down the ‘Yotes power play, limiting Arizona to just 16 seconds of zone time.  Alex Ovechkin would be called for the Caps third penalty of the first period, a boarding call at 18:56. The Caps would squash the Coyotes power play for the remainder of the first period.  The first period ended scoreless. The Coyotes led in shots-on-goal, 9-7.

The Capitals would kill the remaining time in the Ovechkin boarding penalty called at the end of the first period. The Coyotes would finally notch the game’s first goal on an odd-man break during a Caps line change.  Kevin Connauton would finish at 3:25 of the middle frame.

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The Capitals would get their first power play of the game at 4:38, and this time the Caps would make it happen.  Evgeny Kuznetsov would find the back of the net at 6:03, knotting the game at 1-1.

The Capitals would go back on the power play when the Coyotes Michael Stone was called for high-sticking at 7:55, but this time the Caps would come up empty.  The Caps would get their third power play of the period at 15:49, on a tripping call on the Coyotes Antoine Vermette.  But once again, no paydirt for the Caps.  Tom Wilson would be called for the Caps fourth penalty of the game at 18:33, but the Caps penalty kill would do their job and shut-down the ‘Yotes. The second period ended with the game tied 1-1.

The Caps returned to the power play at 3:18 of the final frame when Stan Galiev was held by the Coyotes’ Jarred Tinordi.  The Caps generated quality chances, three shots on goal, but no tallys. Alex Ovechkin would grab the lead for the Caps at 8:17 of the third period on a wrister from the office.

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Mike Richards would score his first goal as a Capital 26 seconds later at 8:43 of the third period.

The Coyotes would cut into the Caps lead at 9:43 on a goal by Connor Murphy, closing the gap to 3-2.

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The Caps would hold on and win this one 3-2.

Photo: @Backs019