News

Anaheim Wipes Washington, 4-2; Jensen Scores Second Goal Of Season

By Harrison Brown·
Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

The Washington Capitals fell to the Anaheim Ducks by a score of 4-2 at Capital One Arena on Thursday to remain two points behind the Florida Panthers for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, and stay a point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins and two points behind the Detroit Red Wings in the race.

Just prior to the game, Washington traded defenseman Dmitry Orlov and right-wing Garnet Hathaway to the Boston Bruins in exchange for 2023 first-, 2025 second-, and 2024 third-round picks, and right-wing Craig Smith. The loss was Washington’s sixth straight in regulation. Goaltender Charlie Lindgren made 19 saves in his first start since February 12.

Washington’s Lines vs. Anaheim

Alex Ovechkin — Evgeny Kuznetsov — Tom Wilson
Conor Sheary — Nicklas Backstrom — Marcus Johansson
Sonny Milano — Dylan Strome — T.J. Oshie
Lars Eller — Nic Dowd — Nicolas Aube-Kubel

Erik Gustafsson — Trevor Van Riemsdyk
Martin Fehervary — Nick Jensen
Matt Irwin – Dylan McIlrath

Lindgren
Darcy Kuemper

Injured: D John Carlson (upper-body, missed 24th straight game, out indefinitely); RW Connor Brown (ACL, 56th, indefinite); LW Carl Hagelin (hip, 60th, indefinite); LW Anthony Mantha (upper-body, first, day-to-day)

Scratched: Smith, D Alexander Alexeyev

After Orlov and Hathaway were dealt, Aube-Kubel and Irwin slotted into the lineup. Gustafsson bumped up to the top defensive pair. With Ovechkin returning after missing the last four games to tend to the death of his father, Milano bumped down one line. Milano took Mantha’s spot after the 28-year-old was injured in Washington’s 3-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday.

Anaheim’s Lines

Derek Grant — Trevor Zegras — Ryan Strome
Frank Vatrano — Mason McTavish — Troy Terry
Max Jones — Isac Lundestrom — Jakob Silfverberg
Brett Leason — Max Comtois — Sam Carrick

Cam Fowler — Dmitry Kulikov
Simon Benoit — Nathan Beaulieu
Colton White – Kevin Shattenkirk

John Gibson
Lukas Dostal

Injured: G Anthony Stolarz (lower-body, seventh, day-to-day); D Jamie Drysdale (shoulder, 51st, month-to-month); D Urho Vaakanainen (lower-body,  ninth, indefinite); C Adam Henrique (lower-body, first, week-to-week); D John Klingberg (lower-body, second, status unknown)

Scratched: C Jayson Megna

First Period

Scoring

11:41, 1-0 Washington (PPG): Oshie deflected Gustafsson’s wrister from the top in the slot glove-side on Gibson after Backstrom fed Gustafsson, who has eight assists in his last eight games, from the right dot. The goal marked Oshie’s 200th career power-play point (89 goals).

Shots: 12-6 Washington

Other Notable Stats: Washington, who scored once on two power-play opportunities, led 7-3 in hits and 2-1 in takeaways. Anaheim had four giveaways while Washington tallied six. Each team blocked seven shots.

Second Period

Scoring

7:09, 1-1: Lundestrom received a stretch pass by Fowler from the defensive zone to get sent in on a breakaway, deked from forehand to backhand, and tucked one past Lindgren blocker-side.

9:07, 2-1 Washington: Jensen took a drop pass from Dowd at the blueline, skated down, deked to the backhand to protect the puck from McTavish, and roofed a shot top corner on Gibson. Seven of Dowd’s 10 assists have been primaries. The goal marked Jensen’s 22nd point of the season, which is a new single-season career high (previously 2021-22: 5g-16a–21p). In three career games vs. Anaheim, Fehervary has three assists.

9:51, 2-2: After Kulikov‘s shot hit Lindgren’s glove and iron, a goal-mouth scramble ensured and the puck bounced into the net after Terry got a touch on it.

Wilson dropped Benoit to the ice in a tussle at 10:01.

With 5:19 to go, McIlrath punched Carrick down with a couple of uppercuts to the chin.

Shots: 27-16 Washington (including 15-10 in the second)

Other Notable Stats: Washington led 16-9 in blocked shots and 12-6 in hits. Anaheim earned eight giveaways while Washington put up 11. Each team recorded three takeaways. Anaheim did not score on two power plays.

Third Period

Scoring

2:15, 3-2 Anaheim: Silfverberg wristed a shot through the five-hole of Lindgren from the right dot after getting a cross-ice pass from Comtois on a two-on-one rush.

Wilson destroyed Kulikov along the boards behind the net with around 8:30 to go.

18:29, 4-2: Grant got the puck away from Kuznetsov and flipped it down the ice into the empty net from the defensive blueline.

Shots: 43-21 Washington (including 16-5 in the third)

Other Notable Stats: Washington, who scored once on three power-plays, led 21-6 in hits and 7-4 in takeaways. Anaheim had 13 giveaways while Washington was credited with 16. Each team tallied in blocked shots.

Next game: Saturday vs. New York Rangers (1 PM ET, ABC, ESPN+)

By Harrison Brown