The Washington Capitals have developed a habit this season that’s hard to shake—they just don’t start fast. At this point, with only 18 games left after Sunday’s matchup against the Seattle Kraken at Capital One Arena, it feels less like a phase and more like part of their identity.
Sunday’s game was no different. Seattle, coming off a Saturday win in Philadelphia while Washington had a practice day, wasted no time grabbing an early lead. They outshot the Capitals two to one in the opening period. However, as has become a signature move for Washington, they clawed their way back. Connor McMichael’s late third-period goal sealed yet another comeback win, 4-2.
But that wasn’t the only headline. Less than three minutes after McMichael’s clutch goal, Alex Ovechkin delivered an empty-netter—his 886th career goal—bringing him within just nine goals of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL record of 894. That milestone goal also marked the 1,600th point of Ovechkin’s legendary career. The chase for history is heating up.
“It’s our second game when we have a slow start,” Ovechkin admitted, referring to their recent comeback victory over Detroit. “I think all four lines, kind of sleepy. But [the win] is a good feeling. The first shift in the second period kind of woke us up. You can see in the third period, we had plenty of chances to score. Great job by [John Carlson] finding Mikey out there.”
A Sluggish Start Yet Again
The game started as if Washington was still waking up. The Kraken dominated early, recording the first four shots of the game. Newly acquired winger Anthony Beauvillier finally put Washington’s first shot on Seattle’s Joey Daccord at 4:25. But then, the Caps found themselves on the penalty kill when Dylan Strome was called for hooking Eeli Tolvanen, who nearly managed to score anyway as the puck slid along the goal line before staying out.
Seattle kept pushing. The breakthrough came at 12:37 when former Capitals player Andre Burakovsky set up Shane Wright for the opening goal. By then, Seattle was outshooting Washington 12-4. The trend of slow starts was alive and well.
Grinding It Out
Coach Spencer Carbery wasn’t pleased. “First two [periods], not very good,” he admitted. “Then just grind our way through in the third and find a way to win.”
The script felt familiar. Just two nights earlier, Washington trailed Detroit 2-0 before turning things around for a 5-2 win. On Sunday, they wasted little time in the second period. Just 35 seconds in, defenseman Martin Fehervary jumped into the rush and buried a backhand feed from Aliaksei Protas to tie the game. It was Fehervary’s fourth goal of the season—and his third since February 22.
Two minutes later, Strome fired a shot from the top of the circles, with Andrew Mangiapane providing a perfect screen in front of Daccord. The puck found the back of the net, giving Washington its first lead. “Rasmus [Sandin] had a great play where he took it down low and then found me back up high,” Strome said after his 500th career NHL game. “Just tried to get it past the first guy. It’s always nice to help out and contribute—and a pretty cool milestone.”
Seattle Pushes Back
But the Kraken weren’t going away. Seattle’s speed and aggressive play started to cause problems for Washington. They forced turnovers in the neutral zone, applied relentless pressure, and eventually got their reward. Jordan Eberle tied the game at 7:23, capping a stretch where Seattle looked like the more dominant team. Lindgren had to be sharp, making a crucial breakaway save on Jared McCann to keep it level.
“We gave up a ton of rush chances,” Carbery noted. “It just felt like they were flying through the neutral zone at us. [Seattle] looked like the fastest team we’ve played all season long.”
Washington’s struggles continued into the third period when Tom Wilson was called for tripping just 1:25 in. The penalty kill held firm, but momentum remained elusive for the Caps. Then, tensions boiled over.
The Physicality Ramps Up
At 6:28, a scrum broke out. Wilson tangled with Seattle’s Josh Mahura in the corner, who held onto Wilson’s stick as he went to the ice. Mikey Eyssimont escalated things with a shove, drawing the Capitals’ Brandon Duhaime into the fray. Duhaime yanked Tye Kartye out of the pile, landing a few forearm shots to Kartye’s head. Wilson and John Hayden were so eager to drop the gloves that the linesmen had to physically separate them and force them into the penalty box.
“That was exactly what turned up the heat,” McMichael said. “Guys got into it, and we didn’t want to back down to anyone on their team.”
When the dust settled, Duhaime received four minutes for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct, ending his night early. The Kraken got a power play out of it, but the Capitals killed it off. Seconds later, McMichael nearly made them pay, ringing a shot off the crossbar.
McMichael Breaks the Deadlock
With time winding down and the teams trading chances, Washington finally broke through. At 15:44, McMichael got the game-winner, tipping Carlson’s slap pass past Daccord. The building erupted.
Seattle pulled their goalie with under two minutes left, hoping to tie it up. But Washington held strong. Ovechkin, sensing the moment, found the puck at center ice and fired a backhander into the empty net. Another goal closer to history.
The Chase for Gretzky
“What I’ve learned with O is you never underestimate,” Carbery said postgame.
Strome echoed the sentiment: “When the goalie is pulled, we’re all thinking it. I’m sure everyone else is thinking it, too. It’s still a pretty skilled play to go backhand through a guy’s leg or stick and find a way to score that. Nine more.”
California Road Trip Awaits
Riding a four-game winning streak, Washington packed their bags and headed west. A three-game California road trip awaits, beginning Tuesday in Anaheim.
“I don’t think it’s a bad thing, honestly, that we’re going out to California,” Carbery said. “Good opportunity to get away from home, play three games out there. They’re spaced out as well, with days in between. It’ll be good to get out there.”
With momentum on their side, a red-hot Ovechkin chasing history, and a knack for dramatic comebacks, the Capitals are setting the stage for an exciting playoff push. The slow starts? They might just be part of the formula.
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