Game Re-Caps

Feathers Ruffled: Capitals Take Flight with 5-4 Win Over Ducks; Tom Wilson Scores First Career Hat Trick in 700th Career Game

By Della Young·
Photo: Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images

The Washington Capitals defeated the Anaheim Ducks by a score of 5-4 Thursday night at Honda Center. The win improved the Capitals’ record to 12-6-2 and 26 points on the season. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper made 28 saves in the victory.

The Lineup

Alex Ovechkin — Evgeny Kuznetsov — Tom Wilson
Connor McMichael — Dylan Strome — Anthony Mantha
Sonny Milano — Hendrix Lapierre — Aliaksei Protas
Beck Malenstyn — Nic Dowd — Nicolas Aube-Kubel

Martin Fehervary — John Carlson
Rasmus Sandin — Trevor van Riemsdyk
Joel Edmundson — Nick Jensen

Darcy Kuemper
Charlie Lindgren

Scratches: Right-wing Matthew Phillips and defensemen Alex Alexeyev and Lucas Johansen

Injuries: Center Nicklas Backstrom (hip) and left-wing Max Pacioretty (Achilles)

First Period

Just 1:26 into the opening stanza, Mantha (5) got the visiting Capitals on the board for an early 1-0 lead.

Twenty-two seconds later, the Ducks would equalize, 1-1, with a goal from defenseman Tristan Luneau.

Former Washington right-wing Brett Leason would give Anaheim a 2-1 lead at the 7:51 mark.

In his 700th career game, Wilson (5) would light the lamp late in the period on a breakaway, tying it at 2-2.

Wilson (6) would pot another on a power-play opportunity with less than two minutes left, giving the Capitals a 3-2 lead. Ovechkin (8) and Carlson (11) assisted.

Dowd (2) would make it 4-2 in favor of Washington with a late-period tally. Sandin (5) and Aube-Kubel (3) had the assists.

Quick Stats

SOG: 13-10 Capitals

Face-Off Win %: 61% (Ducks), 38% (Capitals)

Hits: 4-4

Second Period

After a bustling first period, the second would be scoreless.

Quick Stats

Total SOG: 25-17 Ducks

Face-Off Win %: 58% (Ducks), 41% (Capitals)

Total Hits: 6-6

Third Period

The Ducks would get one back, 4-3, with a goal from left-wing Brock McGinn at the 11:45 mark.

Wilson (7) would score his first career hat trick on a man advantage late in the period. Ovechkin (9) and Carlson (12) had the helpers.

The Ducks would make it 5-4 with 27 seconds left.

Quick Stats

Total SOG: 32-26 Ducks

Face-Off Win %: 53% (Ducks), 46% (Capitals)

Total Hits: 10-10

Notes Through the Game

  • Wilson appeared in his 700th career NHL game tonight. Since his rookie season in 2013-14, Wilson ranks third on Washington in games played, fifth in goals (132) and sixth in points (304).
  • Mantha has now scored in back-to-back games. Three of Mantha’s five goals this season have been game-opening, leading the Capitals.
  • Four of Wilson’s five goals this season have come at even strength. Wilson, a three-time 20-goal scorer, has scored 84 even-strength goals since 2017-18, which ranks second on the Capitals in that span (Ovechkin: 180).
  • Dowd’s goal came 20 seconds after the Capitals’ third goal, the second-fastest pair of back-to-back goals scored by Washington this season (15 seconds, 11/10/23 at NJD).
  • Washington’s four goals in the first period are the most they have scored in a single period this season
  • Carlson is now eight assists shy of 500 career assists.
  • Two of Wilson’s three goals have come on the power play, marking his first career game with multiple power-play goals.
  • Ovechkin is one point shy of 1,500 career points (827g-672a–1,499p in 1,367 GP).
  • With their 5-4 win over Anaheim, the Capitals improve to 3-0-0 in the second game of back-to-backs.
  • Wilson is the second player in NHL history to record a hat trick in their 700th career game, joining Phil Goyette (3-0—3 on Oct. 20, 1968 w/ NYR vs. LAK).
The Capitals continue their five-game West Coast road trip on Saturday with a stop in Vegas, clashing with the defending Stanley Cup Champion Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena. Monumental Sports Network will have the coverage beginning at 10 PM ET.

By Della Young

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