The Washington Capitals haven’t won a playoff since lifting the Stanley Cup in 2018. Tonight, they can only avoid elimination by the hands (or I’m guessing the paws?) of the City Panthers. Florida and their fourth consecutive first-round outing with a big **W in Game 6.
The Capitals will have to do it without Tom Wilson for a fifth straight game. Tom skated after arriving home on the team flight on Thursday but was ultimately unable to join morning practice earlier today.
The Capitals will look to Ilya Samsonov for his fourth consecutive start in this series. Sammy will have to be SAMsational against Sergei Bobrovsky.
Tonight’s game is on NBC Sports Washington. John Walton will have the call with Craig Laughlin while Joe Beninati is sick daily. Here are today’s Daily deals.
Pre-match reading material
Uppercase rows
8-Ovechkin, 92-Kuznetsov, 73-Sheary
90-Johansson, 19-Backstrom, 77-Oshie
24-McMichael, 20-Eller, 39-Mantha
22-Larsson, 26-Dowd, 21-Hathaway
42-Fehervary, 74-Carlson
9-Orlov, 3-Jensen
57-van Riemsdyk, 2-Schultz
30-Samsonov
panther lines
Verhaeghe will play. It was a game time decision.
🔥Verhaeghe🔥 – Barkov – Giroux
Huberdeau–Bennett–Reinhart
Mamin–Lundell–Acciari
Lomberg–Luostarinen–Hornqvist
Chiarot–Ekblad
Forsling–Weegar
Montour – Gudas
Bobrovsky
Oshie kissing the Stanley Cup banner after the warmies never gets old.
Alex Ovechkin hurt Aaron Ekblad with a big kick.
Ekblad only had 40 seconds of ice time in the first period.
BRING THE BOOM pic.twitter.com/oEjZdOSHUe
– x – Washington Capitals (@Capitals) May 14, 2022
The best pairing defender went down the tunnel, came back, went on the ice and immediately left him in pain again.
Aaron Ekblad took a turn during television downtime to test out whatever’s bothering him. pic.twitter.com/rRw5gdDImA
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 14, 2022
The Panthers finished the first period with only 4D
No score after 20 minutes in game 6 for the #Caps. Washington finished with 26 hits in the opening period, and Aaron Ekblad and Ben Chiarot appeared to be struggling with injuries, leaving Florida 4 d-men down to end the period.
— Zack Fisch (@zackfisch) May 14, 2022
Nicklas Backstrom with an incredible point in front of the net. 2-1 WSH!
😱MG pic.twitter.com/I48MIC3c16
– x – Washington Capitals (@Capitals) May 14, 2022
Nicklas Backstrom gives the Caps a 2-1 lead with the second goal of the series. Backstrom’s 38 playoff goals rank second in franchise history.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) May 14, 2022
TJ OSHIE LINKS IT ALL
Goalkeeper fired. On the PP. Deflections by Mantha and Oshie to get the puck over the goal line.
NONE OTHER THAN TIMOTHY JIMOTHY! pic.twitter.com/Z2Gk7tGHZa
– x – Washington Capitals (@Capitals) May 14, 2022
Delete failed. Carter Verhaeghe scores in overtime. Completed series.
From the decision in game time to the author of the winning goal.
WHO ELSE THAN CARTER VERHAEGHE
UNREAL 🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/pyMWyzhd8J
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) May 14, 2022
Comments below! We will update this live throughout the night.
