Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to experience the offsite preseason gameplay of the Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers at the Giant Center in Hershey, PA. This was the first time since 2005 where the Capitals held an NHL preseason game in Chocolatetown USA. In 2006, Washington and Alexander Ovechkin welcomed Marc-Andre Fleury and Paul Bissonette from the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

The Thursday evening affair resulted in a 5-1 victory for the Caps over Philly after a poor goaltending performance from Aleksi Kolosov.

Philadelphia came out of the gates ready to go, lose than the home squad, and were not shy to lay the body down in Hershey. A scary knee hit by newcomer Noah Juulsen sent the former first round draft selection to the sin bin for the first powerplay opportunity of the game.

The opening goal came midway in the first on the successful powerplay efforts from youngster Andrew Cristall for his first of the preseason. The great setup from behind the net from Hendrix Lapierre cleared the slot for the winger to surprise Dan Vladar, the inital starter for the Flyers. Newcomer Declan Chisholm had the secondary assist after bouncing last season between Winnipeg and Minnesota. 

Minutes after the opening goal, Adam Ginning found himself to the penalty box for cross-checking, in what would be the Flyers’ final infraction. 

With the back and forth of skating and shooting through the kill and remainder of the frame, the first closed at 1-0. Tippett was the most noticeable for the Flyers, proving the return on the Giroux trade return to look better and better beyond his time in the league. 

Philadelphia swapped goaltenders to Kolosov to give him minutes and a look at the Tocchet system. It took until halfway through the second for the Capitals to figure him out with two quick goals.

Ivan Miroshnichenko barreled down the sheet and went post to post to flip the puck over Kolosov for his first preseason goal. Dylan Strome and Rasmus Sandin had the helpers on Miro’s eventual game-winner. 

Just 2 minutes later, a leaky one from Milano’s stick that come directly off a behind the net shot from Vincent Iorio eeked behind Kolosov and trickled over the red line for the third unanswered goal. Lapierre helped Iorio with the drive after cycling from the blue line. 

Late in the second, Jacob Gaucher bested Clay Stevenson with a wrist shot from the red circle for his first of the preseason from Rodrigo Abols and Adam Ginning. 

A shot at the buzzer broke out with pushing and shoving along the home bench to conclude 40 minutes.

Two called-back goals, a cancelled shootout exhibition attempt, and two more Capitals’ goals led to more fan noise and rowdiness. 

Off the Sandin infraction, Connor McMichael roared his way to an unassisted short-handed goal a minutes and seven seconds into the final frame. 

Dylan McIlrath slapped a shot from the point that was redirected off a high stick from Lapierre. 

A crossbar shot that pinged behind Kolsov failed to cross the red line, and fans and the Washington bench remained optimistic that was a sure goal; however, the officals and league ruled a no-goal. 

Minutes afterward, the originally announced shootout was canceled. 

With one minute remaining in regulation, Milano recorded his second goal of the evening from Ethan Frank and Lapierre.

Clay Stevenson saved 15 of 16 shots. 

Vladar saved 8 of 9 shots.

Kolosov allowed 4 goals on 20 shots. 

Jacob GaucherDan VladarOwen TippettSonny MilanoHendrix LapierreIvan MiroshnichenkoTravis KonecnyKaplanLuchankoRodrigo AbolsNoah CatesNikita GrebenkinNicolas DeslauriersBarkeyJack NesbittOwen TippettJacob GaucherHelen GransEgor ZamulaAdam GinningNoah JuulsenDennis GilbertCam YorkAleksi KolosovRyan LeonardSonny MilanoDylan StromeAliakesi ProtasConnor MichaelAndrew CristallHendrix LapierreJustin SourdifEthen FrankIlya ProtasIvan MiroshnichenkoSpencer SmallmanMatt StromeVincent IorioMatt RoyRasmus SandinDeclan ChisholmDavid GucciardiClay StevensonCharlie Lindgren

The Bears’ center ice logo is celebrating the 20th year anniversary, including the five stars over the 20 year period honoring the 5 Calder Cups Hershey has won under their agreement, and one larger star for the Stanley Cup won over Vegas years ago. It also recgonizes the text font and style of the Caps’ white house logo from their initial partnership. 

Bryan Helmer was interviewed by CSN Washington in the concourse area. 

The Capitals brought their promotional on screen entertainment and season tickets

Washington played the short game with small passes and playing close with breakout and entry. It was touching to see the Protas and Strome brothers together.

Ryan Leonard is the future. He was all over the ice and laid the biggest hit of the game in center ice. Has the tools to win at a young age.Â