Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
The Washington Capitals improved to a 4-0-0 record in the preseason with a 6-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center on Wednesday night. Goaltenders Pheonix Copley, who played the first half of the game, and Braden Holtby, who played the second in his preseason debut, made 17 and five saves in the victory, respectively.
Capitals Lines at Blackhawks
Alex Ovechkin – Nicklas Backstrom – Tom Wilson
Jakub Vrana – Lars Eller- T.J. Oshie
Brendan Leipsic – Nic Dowd – Garnet Hathaway
Liam OβBrien – Chandler Stephenson – Richard Panik
Jonas Siegenthaler – John Carlson
Martin Fehervary – Tyler Lewington
Lucas Johansen – Colby Williams
Copley
Holtby
The Capitals dressed their projected opening night top-six and fourth-line against the Blackhawks. However, they played only two of their defensemen (John Carlson, Jonas Seigenthaler) that are expected to be regulars come the time when the regular season opens next week.
Goaltender Corey Crawford manned the nets for the Blackhawks.
First Period
Williams wristed a shot from the point and O’Brien tipped it past Crawford while battling with a defenseman in the slot for positioning 4:45 into the game.
π¨ @OfficialBigTuna #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/Hj4vNmvwEz
β Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 26, 2019
Defenseman John Carlson shot past a screened Crawford and beat him blocker side after getting a pass from Backstrom, who was at the half-wall, to double the Capitals’ lead with 2:20 left in the frame.
“Line of screens” @JohnCarlson74 pic.twitter.com/2Qes8L2wB0
β Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 26, 2019
The Capitals led 10-7 in shots, 5-3 in blocked shots, and 6-3 in takeaways after one. They also had only four giveaways while Chicago had six in the first.
The Blackhawks, who went 0-for-2 on the power-play, led 13-11 in hits after the opening period of play. They also won 67% of the draws in the period.
Second Period
Forward Tom Wilson called his own number on a two-on-one with center Lars Eller and ripped the puck under the glove of Crawford from the left circle to make it 3-0 4:55 into the second.
Shorty wana ride. @tom_wilso pic.twitter.com/6ZRixGjWrg
β Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 26, 2019
Capitals defenseman Tyler Lewington and Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw got into a wrestling match 6:32 in after Shaw dumped defenseman Martin Fehervary in the Capitals’ defensive zone.
Center Lars Eller tapped in Carlson’s shot from the right circle at the crease to make it 4-0 Β with 8:27 left in the period.
Hard in the paint. @lellerofficial pic.twitter.com/qnl1nYDHh5
β Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 26, 2019
The Capitals led 14-5 in blocked shots, 8-7 in takeaways, and had six giveaways while the Blackhawks had 10 after 40 minutes of play.
The Blackhawks led 20-16 in shots, including 13-6 in the second, 23-17 in hits, and won 56% of the draws through two periods. They went 0-for-4 on the power-play in the first two periods.
Third Period
Forward Jakub Vrana ripped a lightning-quick shot from the right circle past Crawford’s glove after getting the puck from Eller on the half wall to expand the Capitals’ lead to 5-0 with 8:05 left.
Quick. Stick. @JVranaa pic.twitter.com/jhXZC9mfps
β Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 26, 2019
Eller tucked the puck in at the crease on the rebound after Oshie hit the crossbar for his second of the night to make it a six-spot with 5:02 remaining.
tap tap tapperoo. @lellerofficial pic.twitter.com/3L8eEpj8RE
β Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 26, 2019
The Capitals led 26-22 in shots, including 10-2 in the third, 17-6 in blocked shots, 9-8 in takeaways, and had 10 giveaways while the Blackhawks had 12. They were 0-for-2 on the man advantage.
The Blackhawks led 27-26 in hits and won 56% of the draws. They went 0-for-4 on the power-play.
The Capitals continue their three-game road trip to close out the preseason on Friday night at Enterprise Center, where they will take on the defending Stanley Cup Champion St. Louis Blues. Action will be broadcasted on NBC Sports Washington beginning at 8 PM ET.
By Harrison Brown
SCENES FROM THE WINDY CITY
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