Two nights after defeating the Winnipeg Jets, the Washington Capitals’ position in the Eastern Conference standings is considerably less dour than a few weeks ago.

The Caps currently sit third in the Metropolitan Division and are only three points away from first-place New Jersey. The team has won five of its last six games, outscoring its opponents 29 to 18. The Capitals are getting consistent scoring from Alex Ovechkin and its supporting cast, especially its defense, where both John Carlson and Jakob Chychrun are on heaters.

Against the Leafs, the Capitals will continue to be without Nic Dowd, who remains out with an upper-body injury. Bogdan Trineyev will not make his NHL debut. On the other side of the ice, William Nylander will not be suiting up due to illness. Logan Thompson will oppose Joseph Woll in net.

Puck drop for tonight’s game will be a little after 5:00 pm because Black Friday reasons, I guess. 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

Toronto Maple Leafs

Lorentz

Laughton

Jarnkrok

Tunnel shenanigans

1st Period

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

The Capitals score 21 seconds in, but the whistle blew before the loose puck was whacked over the goal line by Dylan Strome. No goal.

Capitals have the first five shots on goal, three minutes into the game.

Logan Thompson loses track of the puck and Morgan Rielly fires it past him short-side from the left circle. That was the Leafs’ first shot of the game.

🚨

1-0 Toronto Maple Leafs

Goal: Morgan Rielly (4). Assists: O. Ekman-Larsson (15), N. Roy (4). Time: 3:07

Justin Sourdif wide open down low, but shoots the puck off the crossbar and off the rink. Beat the goalie clean though.

Caps have 9 of the first 10 shots of the game 9 minutes in.

Logan Thompson stops Scott Laughton on a breakaway.

Jakob Chychrun with a huge hit on Dakota Joshua as he tries to jump around him in the Capitals offensive zone. Chych was all like, em> No you will not.

Locker said that Sourdif is good at faceoffs. He has won 49.6% of them this season, which is third-best on the team behind 17 & 26. If you want to look at the bright side, many of those draws now are coming against some of the top centerman in the league, so that’s encouraging.

Matthew Knies beats Thompson, but hits the post. John Tavares looks like a difference maker today.

At intermission: The Leafs lead 1-0. The Caps dominated the first half of the period and Toronto dominated the second half of it. Caps lead in shots 10 to 6.

2nd Period

Puck is dropped.

Capitals are going to their first power play after Morgan Rielly gets called for slashing Dylan Strome 41 seconds into the period.

Thompson stops Auston Matthews on a two-on-one. Alex Ovechkin goes for a huge hit on Matthews and crunches himself hard into the corner boards. Knies then beats LT clean to give Toronto a 2-0 lead.

🚨

2-0 Toronto Maple Leafs

Goal: Matthew Knies (6). Assists: A. Matthews (6), T. Stecher (1). Time: 2:49

Ryan Leonard draws a penalty on Auston Matthews after getting hooked on the backcheck at 4:31.

Nothing going again on the power play, though more pressure than their last chance.

Alex Ovechkin has a two-on-one break with Dylan Strome. He passes over to Strome, Strome has a wide open net as Woll dives to the ice, but he holds onto the puck, holds onto the puck, and the play is broken up.

Connor McMichael hits the post on the next shift.

Connor McMichael finally gets the Capitals on the board after some sustained pressure on multiple shifts. He shovels the puck past Joseph Woll on his backhand.

🚨

2-1 Toronto Maple Leafs

Goal: Connor McMichael (4). Assists: A.Protas, T. Wilson. Time: 13:18

Aliaksei Protas stopped on a semi-breakaway. The puck kept rolling on him, the ice is terrible today btw.

Heads up play by Justin Sourdif to shift change for Connor McMichael while the Capitals have the puck in the zone. McMike streaks onto the ice with speed, gets a pass, and nearly buries his second of the period.

At intermission: The Leafs lead 2-1. The Caps have an absurd lead in shots on goal, 23 to 10.

3rd Period

Puck is dropped.

Leafs with heavy pressure to start the period.

Huge chance for Ovi but he misses the net with his howitzer.

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