Photo by Harrison Brown/NoVa Caps

The Washington Capitals downed the Seattle Kraken, 3-1, Friday night at Capital One Arena in Washington. The victory improves the Capitals record to 13-12-4 (30 points) on the season. It is the the Capitals third-consecutive win, their longest winning streak of the season. It is the first time the Capitals are above .500.

Charlie Lindgren (4-3-2, 3.07 GAA, .902 sv%) got the start in goal for the Capitals. Philipp Grubauer (2-2-1, 3.40 GAA, .868 sv%) got the nod for the Kraken. The forward lines and defensive pairs for the Capitals:

Alex Ovechkin — Dylan Strome — Conor Sheary
Sonny Milano — Evgeny Kuznetsov — T.J. Oshie
Marcus Johansson — Lars Eller — Anthony Mantha
Aliaksei Protas — Nic Dowd — Garnet Hathaway

Erik Gustafsson — John Carlson
Trevor Van Riemsdyk — Nick Jensen
Alexander Alexeyev — Matt Irwin

Charlie Lindgren
Hunter Shepard

Scratched: LW Joe Snively, RW Nicolas Aube-Kubel

Injured: RW Connor Brown (ACL, missed 25th straight game, out indefinitely); D Dmitry Orlov (lower-body, 16th, day-to-day); LW Carl Hagelin (hip, 29th, indefinite); RW Tom Wilson (ACL, 29th, indefinite); C Nicklas Backstrom (hip, 29th, indefinite); LW Beck Malenstyn (finger, 18th, week-to-week); G Darcy Kuemper (lower-body, third, day-to-day); D Martin Fehervary (lower-body, third, day-to-day)

FIRST PERIOD

The Kraken struck first late in the first frame. Adam Larsson (3) fired a shot from the point at 17:51. Morgan Geekie (6) and Karson Kuhlman (2) had the helpers.

The period concluded with the Kraken leading 1-0. The Kraken led in shot even-strength attempts 18-17, with the Capitals leading in shots on goal 12-6.

SECOND PERIOD

The Capitals tied the game early in the second period on a gritty goal from Anthony Mantha (7). Matt Irwin (1) and Alex Alexeyev (1) had the helpers. It was Alexeyev’s first NHL point,

The Capitals were awarded a five-minute major power play after Kraken defender Jamie Oleksiak elbowed Alex Alexeyev in the head. Alexeyev would leave the game and not return.

Capitals about to go to work on the power play for five minutes after this head shot by Oleksiak. pic.twitter.com/yQNYNZ4IDT

— Andy MacNeil (@DigitalGambler) December 10, 2022

The Capitals would cash-in on the Oleksiak infraction with a goal from Marcus Johansson at 13:15 of the second period. Sonny Milano (7) and Alex Ovechkin (13) had the helpers.

The second period concluded with the Capitals leading 2-1. They led in shots on goal 15-6 in the second period and 27-12 after two periods.

THIRD PERIOD

The Capitals added a late empty net goal from Lars Eller to make it 3-1. Alex Ovechkin also added an empty net goal for the 4-1 final. It was Ovechkin 500th even-strength goal and career goal #796.

Alex Ovechkin gives the fans what they want with a neutral zone empty net tally for career goal #796!#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/lSgxdEha9b

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights (@HockeyDaily365) December 10, 2022

The Capitals are back in action on Sunday when they visit the Jets in Winnipeg. Puck drop is set for 7PM ET.

SHAVINGS

• Capitals improve to 8-4-1 on home ice.
• Alex Alexeyev recorded the secondary assist on Mantha’s goal, marking his first career NHL point.
• Marcus Johansson scores his sixth goal of the season on the power play to give the Capitals a 2-1 lead. Johansson’s eight power play points (3g, 5a) rank tied for third on the team.
• Ovechkin has been on the ice for 21 of Washington’s 22 power play goals this season.
• John Carlson has recorded 11 (6g, 5a) of his 17 points (8g, 9a) this season in the third period.