Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images
The Washington Capitals finished off their 12-day road trip in disastrous fashion, falling to the Arizona Coyotes 6-0 in a heavily lopsided contest.
Arizona scored five goals on 10 shots in the first period and the Capitals could not respond for the rest of the game.
A big storyline headed into Monday’s matchup was the absence of Evgeny Kuznetsov. Kuznetsov was a healthy scratch for the first time this season after playing a season-low 15:20 of ice time against the Vegas Golden Knights. Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery said that he needed a “mental reset”. It did not make a difference.
Here is how it went down.
PERIOD 1
The Coyotes took a 1-0 lead on their first shot of the game on the power play. Clayton Keller fed a perfect saucer pass to rookie forward Logan Cooley to give Arizona a 1-0 lead. Sean Durzi had the secondary assist on the play.
https://x.com/ArizonaCoyotes/status/1731862861524214030?s=20
Two minutes later, Michael Carcone made it 2-0 Coyotes off a wrist shot from the high slot. It was his fourth straight goal and 12th on the season. Josh Brown and Jason Zucker had the helpers.
https://x.com/ArizonaCoyotes/status/1731863588388966421?s=20
The Caps once again went short handed and Nick Schmaltz made them pay with a one timer from the slot making it 3-0 Arizona. Keller and Alex Kerfoot had the apples.
https://x.com/ArizonaCoyotes/status/1731865510424555827?s=20
Charlie Lindgren came in relief for Darcy Kuemper after surrendering three goals on five shots.
Schmaltz extended Arizona’s lead to four with his second goal of the game. Keller registered his third point of the period.
https://x.com/ArizonaCoyotes/status/1731867342492090810?s=20
The bloodbath continued as a failed clear left Zucker all alone in front of Lindgren, and he went to the backhand to make it 5-0. Kerfot had the lone helper.
https://x.com/ArizonaCoyotes/status/1731868028600787306?s=20
The Coyotes outshot the Capitals 10-9 in the first frame.
PERIOD 2
The Caps were 0-for-3 on the power play in the middle stanza. On the third man-advantage of the period, Washington had a neutral zone turnover and it sent the Coyotes on a short-handed 2-on-0 rush. Nick Bjugstad finished off the rush to make it 6-0 for the home team. Kerfoot and J.J. Moser had the assists.
https://x.com/ArizonaCoyotes/status/1731881048903143839?s=20
Arizona outshot the Capitals 9-8 in the middle frame.
PERIOD 3
No score in the final frame.
Up Next
The Capitals return home for a Thursday night matchup with the Dallas Stars.
By Jacob Cheris