Photo: X/@Capitals
The Washington Capitals had their biggest test of the young season taking on the red hot Vegas Golden Knights. Charlie Lindgren was the difference, stopping 35 shots and the Caps would get their first shutout victory of the season.
The Capitals (8-4-2) have now won three straight games for the second time this season.
Here is how it went down.
PERIOD 1
Prior to Tuesday’s matchup, the Caps’ power play was 0-for-16 in their last six games. They had a chance to end the drought but came up empty.
Dylan McIlrath and Keegan Kolesar dropped the mitts and the Hershey captain got the better of Kolesar. This all ensued after the big defenseman laid out Golden Knights forward Jonas Rondbjerg.
Dylan McIlrath delivers a HUGE hit and then answers the call 👊 pic.twitter.com/fc9K1bkSYY
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) November 15, 2023
After Lindgren denied William Karlsson on a breakaway, the Caps went to work. Sonny Milano sent a perfect bank pass to Dylan Strome to force a two-on-one with Matthew Phillips. Strome rifled a puck over the far side of Logan Thompson giving the Caps a 1-0 lead. It was Strome’s team-leading seventh tally of the season and he also broke a five-game goalless drought.
Seven goals for Stromer pic.twitter.com/e32GQHHqh8
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 15, 2023
Washington got another power-play heading into the second period. The Golden Knights outshot the Caps 15-12.
PERIOD 2
The Caps had 53 seconds of power play time to work with, but once again came up empty. Vegas forward Paul Cotter was assessed a match penalty for a check to the head on Evgeny Kuznetsov. He eventually went to the locker room.
Washington was put on the man-advantage for five minutes and had four shots, a bulk of them towards the end of the two minutes.
#ALLCAPS MCMICHAEL HAS ARRIVED, the finishing hasnt arrived yet but pic.twitter.com/LMBU8Rw7rU
— Capitals Replays (@capsreplays) November 15, 2023
Shortly after the long power play, Lucas Johansen headed to the sin bin for a hold. Vegas came up empty and the Caps PK remained perfect. Johansen had a great defensive play breaking up a three-on-one odd-man rush.
Quality from JoJo defending 1-on-3 pic.twitter.com/7yyVXa9EKh
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 15, 2023
Lindgren made more key saves keeping Vegas at bay offensively and it was still a 1-0 contest after 40 minutes. The shots were dead even at 12 a piece.
PERIOD 3
Vegas came out swinging in the third period with numerous chances and eventually got its second power play. The Caps once again came up unscathed.
Vegas turning up the heat to start the 3rd. Lead in 5v5 shot attempts, 8-0. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/3CAzQMyZ2X
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) November 15, 2023
Lindgren continued to dominate, coming up with a lot of ten-bell saves especially late in the stanza.
Connor McMichael had an empty net goal to make it 2-0. John Carlson and Rasmus Sandin had the helpers.
Then Beck Malenstyn iced things off with a beautiful breakaway move to make it 3-0.
By Jacob Cheris
Capitals Postgame Audio
Forward Dylan Strome
Defenseman John Carlson
Goaltender Charlie Lindgren
Head coach Spencer Carbery