Photo: Andre Ringuette – Getty Images

The Washington Capitals downed the Ottawa Senators by a final score of 4-0 on Saturday night at Canadian Tire Centre in their final game before the NHL’s mandated holiday break. The win marked their 14th in 17 games. Goaltender Pheonix Copley turned aside all 35 shots that came his way for the first shutout of his NHL career after Braden Holtby made 36 saves in the team’s 2-1 win against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night. 

Capitals Lines at Senators

#Caps‘ lines vs. OTT:
8-Ovechkin, 19-Backstrom, 77-Oshie
13-Vrana, 92-Kuznetsov, 43-Wilson
65-Burakovsky, 20-Eller, 10-Connolly
18-Stephenson, 26-Dowd, 72-Boyd

6-Kempny, 74-Carlson
9-Orlov, 2-Niskanen
34-Siegenthaler, 78-Lewington

Copley vs. McKenna. #CapsSens

— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) December 22, 2018

The Capitals made no changes up front from their 2-1 win over the Sabres last night. Defenseman Tyler Lewington made his NHL debut, playing alongside Jonas Seigenthaler. Madison Bowey came out of the lineup in favor of Lewington. Forward Travis Boyd came back into the lineup in favor of forward Devante Smith-Pelly.

Solo Lap for @Lewy_2

Welcome to the @NHL!#ALLCAPS #CapsSens pic.twitter.com/ksvVAoysjG

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 22, 2018

Defenseman Dmitry Orlov suited up in his 400th NHL game, all with the Capitals. He became the 14th defenseman, second Russian (Sergei Gonchar), to appear in 400 games

Goaltender Mike McKenna started for Ottawa.

First Period

Forward Brett Connolly tipped in defenseman Jonas Seigenthaler’s shot from the point 1:32 into the game through the legs of McKenna to give the Capitals a 1-0 lead.

It’s @bconnolly8 with the deflection and we’re up 1-0 early! #CapsSens #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/2FblhICVb8

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 23, 2018

Defenseman Matt Niskanen crashed the net and buried center Nicklas Backstrom’s pass in the crease with 2:04 left in the period to extend the lead to 2-0.

Fire the Niscannon – he’s got his 5th of the season! #CapsSens #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/5lZrY2C1M7

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 23, 2018

The Capitals led 14-13 in shots, 11-8 in hits, and 8-4 in blocked shots after 20 minutes.

The Senators led 5-1 in takeaways and had only one giveaway while Washington had five. Ottawa also won 59% of the draws in period one.

Each team went 0-for-1 on the man advantage in the opening frame.

Second Period

Forward Jakub Vrana made it 3-0 with his 11th goal of the season stripping it from Senators forward Mark Stone and going under the glove of McKenna for a 3-0 lead 9:05 into the middle frame.

Jake the 🐍 makes it 3-0 ! #CapsSens #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/C0BQ6vd0tA

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 23, 2018

Defenseman Michal Kempny made it 4-0 with a shot from the point that went off of Senators defenseman Cody Ceci on the way to the net for his third goal of the season 13:43 into the period.

Kempny’s got his third of the season and we’re up 4-0 here in Ottawa! #CapsSens #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/lPP2jgJfSt

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 23, 2018

The Capitals led 24-19 in hits and 12-7 in blocked shots after two periods of play.

The Senators led 25-24 in shots, including 12-10 in the middle frame, and 7-2 in takeaways. Ottawa recorded four giveaways while Washington had 11. They won 65% of the faceoffs.

Each team did not record a power-play goal. Washington had one opportunity while Ottawa had two.

Third Period

The Capitals led 28-25 in hits and 16-9 in blocked shots.

The Senators led 35-33 in shots, including 10-9 in the final frame, and 10-3 in takeaways. Ottawa recorded eight giveaways while Washington had 14. They won 64% of the faceoffs.

Each team did not record a power-play goal. The Capitals had three opportunities while the Senators had two.

The Capitals will enter the holiday break on top of the Metropolitan Division with 47 wins with a game in hand on the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are second in the division with 43 points and have one game to go before the holiday break, and the Pittsburgh Penguins, who are third with 42 points entering the break. Washington had 46 points entering the holiday break last season.

After the holiday break, the Capitals host the Carolina Hurricanes for a Thursday night tilt at Capital One Arena. Action from the district can be seen on NBC Sports Washington beginning at 7 PM Eastern.

By Harrison Brown