Photo: @Capitals

The Washington Capitals lost to the Ottawa Senators by a score of 4-1 in their annual Super Bowl Sunday matinee at Capital One Arena for the first time since January 21, 2014. It marked the Capitals’ fifth straight regulation loss at home, where they are 3-9-1 since December 8.

The loss kept the Capitals three points behind the New York Rangers (who have three games in hand) for the third place in the Metropolitan Division, five behind the Pittsburgh Penguins (two) for second, and six behind the Carolina Hurricanes (three) for first. Goaltender Ilya Samsonov made 22 saves in the loss.

Capitals’ Lines vs. Senators

Graphic: @Capitals

Right-wing Daniel Sprong bumped down to the fourth-line with captain Alex Ovechkin back in the lineup after missing Thursday’s 5-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens due to Canada’s COVID-19 requirements. Right-wing Brett Leason drew out of the lineup.

First Period

Left-wing Alex Formenton blasted a give-and-go with right-wing Connor Brown from the slot on a shorthanded two-on-two rush to give the Senators a 1-0 lead 5:34 in. It was the Senators’ first goal in 182:40.

Center Adam Gaudette caught a cross-ice pass from right-wing Zach Sanford, took the puck from his backhand to his forehand, and buried one into a wide open net to make it 2-0 with 4:49 left in the first.

The Capitals led 16-12 in hits, 5-4 in blocked shots, 4-3 in takeaways, and won 53% of the draws in the period.

The Senators led 12-7 in shots and did not score on one power play through 20 minutes.

Each team did not score on one power-play and earned three giveaways in the first.

Second Period

Center Nicklas Backstrom tapped in a rebound from the side of the net through goaltender Anton Forsberg’s pads after he stopped Ovechkin’s blast from the dot to cut the Senators’ lead in half 46 seconds in on the power play.

Nicky at the doorstep 🚪 pic.twitter.com/xkEgtqJnfO

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 13, 2022

Captain Brady Tkachuk buried a loose puck into an empty net in goal-mouth scramble after Samsonov failed to freeze defenseman Josh Brown’s shot from out high to restore the Senators’ two-goal lead with 1:36 left.

The Capitals led 23-21 in shots (including 16-9 in the second), 28-20 in hits, won 63% of the draws, and scored once on three power plays through 40 minutes.

The Senators led 9-7 in takeaways, 11-8 in blocked shots, failed to score on three power plays, and had five giveaways while the Capitals had seven in the first two periods.

Third Period

Capitals right-wing Tom Wilson won a tilt with Senators center Nick Paul after Wilson flattened Senators defensemen Thomas Chabot behind the Senators’ net at 6:30.

Wilson with the HUGE hit and takes down Nick Paul 👊 pic.twitter.com/RTrVPIhTFY

— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) February 13, 2022

Brown ripped one to the top corner from the right dot after zipping into the offensive zone and Tkachuk fed him back at the blueline to give Ottawa a 4-1 lead with 9:31 left.

The Capitals led 31-26 in shots (including 9-5 in the third), 35-29 in hits, won 61% of the draws, and scored once on three power plays.

The Senators led 10-8 in takeaways, 19-10 in blocked shots, failed to score on five power plays, and had seven giveaways while the Capitals had eight.

Next game: at Nashville Predators on Tuesday (8 PM ET, NBC Sports Washington in-market, ESPN+ out-of-market)

By Harrison Brown