Capitals Beat Knights 5-2; Jonas Siegenthaler Scores First Career NHL Goal; Tom Wilson Scores Again

Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images

The Washington Capitals beat the Vegas Knights 5-2 Saturday night at Capital One Arena. The win improves the Capitals record to 13-2-3 (29 points) on the season, and gives them a four-point lead over the New York Islanders for first place in the Metropolitan Division. The Capitals next host the Arizona Coyotes Monday night at Capital One Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:00PM.

GAME STATS

GAME SUMMARY
Evgeny Kuznetsov would crack the seal on the scoring just 52 seconds into the game, and Tom Wilson would add a tally five minutes later for a quick 2-0 Caps lead. The Knights would get their first score at 8:57 of the first frame, for a 2-1 game at the first break. Jonas Siegenthaler would score his first career NHL goal in the middle frame for a 3-1 lead, but Vegas would answer with a tally from Reilly Smith late in the middle period for a 3-2 Caps lead at the second intermission. Nicklas Backstrom would add a power play goal midway through the final frame and add an empty net goal for the 5-2 win.

STARTERS
Braden Holtby (7-1-0-3, 3.36 GAA, .895 sv%) started in goal for the Capitals. Marc-Andre Fleury (9-3-0-1, 2.40 GAA, .924 sv%) got the start in goal for Vegas. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Capitals:

#Caps‘ lines vs. VGK:
8-Ovechkin, 19-Backstrom, 77-Oshie
13-Vrana, 92-Kuznetsov, 43-Wilson
18-Stephenson, 20-Eller, 21-Hathaway
28-Leipsic, 26-Dowd, 72-Boyd

6-Kempny, 74-Carlson
9-Orlov, 33-Gudas
34-Siegenthaler, 3-Jensen

Holtby vs. Fleury. #CapsKnights

— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) November 9, 2019

Scratches: Carl Hagelin (upper body, day-to-day), Tyler Lewington.

FIRST PERIOD
The Capitals jumped on the Knights quickly with a goal from Evgeny Kuznetsov just 52 seconds into the contest. Dmitry Orlov (7) and Jakub Vrana (6) had the helpers.

58 seconds in and @Kuzya92 hits the bird! #CapsKnights pic.twitter.com/EsKpB0cUid

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 10, 2019

The Caps would waste little time in extending their lead to 2-0 with a goal from Tom Wilson at 5:53 of the first period. Jakub Vrana (7) had the lone assist.

.@tom_wilso is on a rollllllllll #CapsKnights pic.twitter.com/p9ZUXXp6qe

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 10, 2019

Vegas would get in on the action with a goal from Max Pacioretty at 8:57 of the first frame. The goal came right off of the faceoff.

this face-off was more like a face-on

are we right

🙃 pic.twitter.com/FwNUowEhtg

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) November 10, 2019

The first period would end with the Capitals holding a 1-0 lead. Capitals led in shots on goal 11-7 for the first frame. Vegas was 0 for 1 and the Capitals 0 for 2 on the power play after 20 minutes.

SECOND PERIOD
The Capitals would extend their lead with a goal from Jonas Siegenthaler at 15:32 of the middle frame. Travis Boyd (4) had the lone assist.

Welcome to the club, Siegs! pic.twitter.com/X6qIO6ZGoi

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 10, 2019

Vegas would answer with a power play goal from Reilly Smith at 17:27 of the second period.

The second period would conclude with the Capitals leading 3-2. Vegas led in shots on goal 13-8 for the second period, and 20-19 after two periods. Washington was 0 for 3 and Vegas 1 for 3 on the power play after 40 minutes of play.

THIRD PERIOD
The Capitals would restore their two-goal lead with a power play tally from Nicklas Backstrom at 11:30 of the final period. John Carlson (19) and Evgeny Kuznetsov (10) had the assists.

Go to your home, puck! pic.twitter.com/rwXxszATao

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 10, 2019

Backstrom would add an empty net goal for the 5-2 win.

SHAVINGS

The NHL box score is here.
Jonas Siegenthaler made his NHL debut one year ago tonight.
The Capitals have scored in the first period in six-straight games and have recorded multiple goals in three of those games.
Evgeny Kuznetsov opens the scoring for the Caps 58 seconds into the game. It’s the second-straight game the Capitals have scored a goal in the opening minute of the game.

SCENES FROM THE DISTRICT

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Washington Capitals (@capitals)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4qsLeDHw2B/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link