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

Jay Beagle returned to the line-up after missing 24 games with a wrist injury. John Carlson underwent a procedure for his lower body injury yesterday (Saturday), and was placed on long-term injured reserve, just before today’s game. Brooks Laich, who was placed on waivers on Saturday, cleared waivers at noon and was in the Capitals line-up. Stanislav Galiev, Michael Latta and Mike Weber were the healthy scratches.  The goalie match-up for today’s game provided by @washcaps:

QUICK TAKES
The Capitals finally played a quality first period, maybe their best in a couple of months, scoring the games first goal for the first time in seven games, and out-shooting the Blackhawks 16-6.  The Capitals had the edge in even-strength play for the first period. The second period was more even, with the Blackhawks adding the periods only tally on a power play goal.  Braden Holtby had a good game, and made several excellent saves. Team stats for the game can be found here: Players stats for the game can be found here: Faceoff stats for the game can be found here: All of the game photos can be found here:

Great atmosphere for this one.  Fairly even 5-on-5 for the first five minutes, with both teams trading chances. The Blackhawks were whistled for high-sticking at 5:13 of the first period. Marcus Johansson would connect on a rebound of a shot from the point by Justin Williams at 6:13.

Right out of the air. The @washcaps open the scoring with a beauty. #WSHvsCHIhttps://t.co/XJQ9t0mZSd

— NHL (@NHL) February 28, 2016

Unfortunately, the Blackhawks Patrick Kane would tie the game just 30 seconds later on a break-down in the Caps defensive zone at 6:44.

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The first period would end in a 1-1 tie. The Capitals out-shot the Blackhawks 16-6 for the first period.

The Blackhawks were granted the first power play of the second period on a hooking call on Brooks Orpik at 7:42, but the Caps would successfully kill the Hawks man-advantage. The Blackhawks would return to the power play when Taylor Chorney was called for tripping at 16:39, and the Hawks would cash in. Jonathan Toews would punch one in from in front of the net at 18:15 of the second period.

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The second period would end with the Blackhawks leading 2-1.  The Capitals led in shots on goal 21-20 after two periods of play.

A rather evenly played first ten minutes of the final period. The Capitals would get the periods first power play on a high-sticking call on Patrick Kane at 8:56, but the Caps would be unable to generate much in the way of scoring chances, and came up empty.  The Blackhawks would stretch the lead to 3-1 on a nice pass from the back of the net to Dennis Rasmussen, who knocked it in at 12:47 of the final period.

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The Capitals would get one back on a 6-on-3 man-advantage at 16:39 of the final frame.

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