Photo: @Capitals

The Capitals wrapped up their 2018 preseason schedule with a 5-2 win over the St. Louis Blues Sunday afternoon at Capital One Arena. The Capitals finish their slate of preseason tune-ups with a record of 2-3-2. They all count from here on out, Starting this Wednesday when the Capitals host the Boston Bruins. 

The Capitals roster for the final preseason tilt is believed to be the roster for opening night. With injuries to Michal Kempny (concussion) and Travis Boyd (foot), Jonas Siegenthaler would appear to be sticking around for the first game of the season, something we mentioned last week would likely happen. (Here).

Braden Holtby got the start and went the distance. He is expected to open the season. No official word on starter the following night (Thursday) in Pittsburgh.

The Capitals have the day off on Monday, and will likely make their final cuts to the roster. There are currently 26 players on the Capitals roster: 15 forwards, 9 defensemen and two goalies. All teams need to be down to the 23-man roster by 5:00 pm on Tuesday. The Capitals will likely go with 13 forwards, 8 defensemen and two goaltenders to start the season.

STARTERS
The Capitals lines and defensive pairs for their final preseason game:

Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Vrana-Backstrom-Oshie
Burakovsky-Eller-Connolly
Stephenson-Dowd-Smith-Pelly

Orlov-Niskanen
Djoos-Carlson
Orpik-Bowey

Holtby

Jomas Siegenthaler and Nathan Walker were the healthy scratches for the contest.

FIRST PERIOD
A relatively even start, as both sides traded decent scoring chances. The Blues led in shots 4-2 at the 10-minute mark of the opening frame. Braden Holtby made a nice series of saves late in the period to keep the game scoreless.

The Capitals had two power plays including a 4-minute minor late in the frame, but failed to convert, reducing the Capitals conversion rate to meager 4 for 31 in the preseason (12.9%).

The period would conclude with the game knotted 0-0. Both teams had 6 shots on goal for the first 20 minutes. The Capitals won the face off battle 60-40% for the opening frame.

SECOND PERIOD
The Blues would open the scoring with a dirty goal early in the middle frame. Robert Thomas would finally push it across the goal line at 4:39 of the second period.

Tom Wilson was dealt a major penalty early in the middle frame. He was assessed a match penalty and ejected from the game for this hit on Oskar Sundqvist. A match penalty requires a meeting with the fine folks in Toronto. He could miss a few games because of this.

The Capitals would tie the game with a goal from Brett Connolly at 17:52 of the second period. Lars Ellen and Jakob Vrana we’re credited with the helpers.

The period would end with the game tied 1-1. The Blues outshot the Capitals 14-11 for the middle frame and led 20-17 after 40 minutes of play.

THIRD PERIOD
The Capitals would take the lead on a blister shot and goal from the Capitals Captain, Alex Ovechkin, just 38 seconds into the final frame.

T.J. Oshie would quickly make it 3-1, just 48 seconds later.

Jordan Schmaltz would knock home a short-handed goal to make it 3-2. But Nic Dowd would restore the two goal lead with a blistering wrister at 12:47 of the final frame.

Devante Smith-Pelly would add an empty net goal for the 5-2 final.

SCENES FROM THE DISTRICT

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