Ducks Down Capitals 4-0; Holtby Pulled in Second Period

Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

The Anaheim Ducks downed the Washington Capitals 5-0 Tuesday night in Anaheim. The Ducks lit the lamp just 1:24 into the contest and added another goal in the middle of the opening frame to take a 2-0 lead at the first intermission. The Ducks would add a third goal early in the middle frame that resulted in Philipp Grubauer replacing Braden Holtby. The Ducks would add an empty net goal late in the third period for the 4-0 victory. The Capitals play the second of their three-game California road trip Thursday night in Los Angeles when they visit the Kings. Puck drop is 10:30 p.m. EST.

STARTERS
Braden Holtby (29-14-4, 3.00 GAA, .908 sv%) got the start in goal for the Capitals. John Gibson (24-15-6, 2.51 GAA, .925 sv%) started in goal for the Ducks. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Capitals:

Forwards
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Wilson
Vrana-Kuznetsov-Oshie
Connolly-Eller-Burakovsky
Stephenson-Beagle-Smith Pelly
Defense
Kempny-Carlson
Orlov-Niskanen
Orpik-Djoos

Scratches: Madison Bowey, Travis Boyd, Alex Chiasson and Jakub Jerebek were the healthy scratches.

FIRST PERIOD
A bit of a sloppy start for the Caps at the beginning of this contest. Tom Wilson was called for interference just 36 seconds into the contest, setting up a Ducks power play. The Ducks struck quick on the power play with a goal by Adam Henrique just 1:24 into the contest. The goal was setup as a result of a failed defensive zone clear by Matt Niskanen.

The Capitals would be awarded their first power play at 5:04 of the first, but could do very little with the man advantage. The Caps were called for two icing penalties and registered just a single shot on goal during their initial man advantage.

The Ducks would make it 2-0 with a shot from the point and deflection by Hampus Lindholm at 13:15 of the first period.

The first period would end with the Ducks leading 2-0. Shots on goal were tied 7-7. The Capitals were 0 for 2 and the Ducks 1 for 1 on the power play in the opening frame.

SECOND PERIOD
The Ducks would stretch their lead to 3-0 with a goal from Rikard Rakell at 5:37 of the middle frame. Braden Holtby would be replaced by Philipp Grubauer following the third Ducks goal. Holtby surrendered three goals on nine shots in 25:37 of work.

Tom Wilson would be injured in the middle of the second frame after rushing the goal and sliding into the post. Wilson would be helped from the ice and down the tunnel to the room but would later return to the game.

The period would end with the Ducks leading 3-0. The Ducks outshot the Caps 14-6 for the middle frame, and led 21-13 through 40 minutes of play.

THIRD PERIOD
The third period would unfold without incident, nor much in the way of action. The Ducks would add an empty net goal late in the period as the Ducks would hang on for the 4-0 win.

The Capitals outshot the Ducks 13-4 in the final period.