The Washington Capitals defeated the Montreal Canadiens 8-4 on Thursday, and they’re starting to make me a believer again. Alex Ovechkin had a hat trick and is skating much better than the start of the season. The team is getting secondary scoring – what art thou is this? – and lo-and-behold, their defense and goaltending are so good, this is apparently an ingredient to win hockey games and win bigly.

I loathe feeling like a believer because you know what happens next. Excitement, expectations, and let down. But baby, my brain is ready to be hurt again!

Tonight, the Capitals take on the Tampa Bay Lightning. Logan Thompson will return to the net opposite of Jonas Johansson, while Nic Dowd will miss another game due to an upper-body injury. On the backend, the Lightning are aching as they’re going to be without both Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh.

TVR is playing in his 700th career game.

Also, it’s Hockey Fights Cancer night.

Puck drop for tonight’s game is shortly after 7:00 pm. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have the call on Monumental Sports Network. See you in the comments.

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More Info

Lines
Washington Capitals

Ovechkin

Strome

Beauvillier

Duhaime

McMichael

Leonard

Tampa Bay Lightning

Goncalves

Paul

Bjorkstrand

Girgensons

Gourde

Douglas

Tunnel shenanigans

1st Period

Puck is dropped. Ovechkin-Strome-Beauvillier and Sandin-TVR get the start.

Sourdif finds a Tom Wilson rebound and shoots it past Johansson as he’s falling down to the ice. NICE! Like this a lot.

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1-0 Washington Capitals

Goal: Justin Sourdif (3). Assists: T. Wilson (10), M. Fehérváry (6). Time: 1:06

J.J. Moser slashes Dylan Strome at 2:39, giving the Capitals their first power play.

UH OH.

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1-1 tie

Shorty: Brandon Hagel (8). Assists: A. Cirelli (6), E. Cernak (4). Time: 2:53

Ethen Frank to the box for high-sticking after striking Emil Lilleberg in the face. We’ll play four-by-four and then Tampa will get a short power play.

Kucherov’s huge one-timer from the right circle goes past Thompson and dings hard off the post. The ricochet goes right to Bjorkstrand who shoots it into the yawning net.

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2-1 Tampa Bay Lightning

PPG: Oliver Bjorkstrand (2). Assists: N. Kucherov (11), D. Raddysh (7). Time: 5:21

Nikita Kucherov off the ice for hooking Justin Sourdif at 7:06.

Nice puck movement from the Caps second power play unit.

Back at five-on-five, Kucherov bumps the puck to Hagel who just slams the puck past Thompson with a huge slap shot.

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3-1 Tampa Bay Lightning

Goal: Brandon Hagel (9). Assists: N. Kucherov (12), J. Moser (6). Time: 11:36

Logan Thompson has given up three goals on five shots, but he remains in the net.

Kucherov scores casually on a breakaway.

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4-1 Tampa Bay Lightning

Goal: Nikita Kucherov (10). Assists: B. Hagel (9), C. D’Astous (5). Time: 18:19

Charlie Thompson replaces Logan Thompson with 1:41 remaining in the period after the Caps starter surrendered four goals on six shots. Yikes.

Some squabbling at the final buzzer as everyone hugs a man at the horn.

At intermission: The Capitals are getting sonned 4-1. The Capitals are actually outshooting the Lightning 9 to 6 and out-attempting the Lightning 18 to 9 at five-on-five.

2nd Period

Puck is dropped.

Tom Wilson with a big hit on Nikita Kucherov and he’s ailing. Both teams are mucking it up near the Capitals bench. Kucherov is bent over at the bench now in a lot of pain.

Somehow Bradon Hagel gets the only penalty, roughing, at 1:12. Caps go back to the power play.

Kucherov down the runway to the locker room.

Light your candles and turn on Christian music, Jakob Chychrun has a goal!

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4-2 Tampa Bay Lightning

Goal: Jakob Cychrun (6). Unassisted. Time: 05:26

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