Bold take: clutch performances in the shootout and a sharp rebound performance can redefine a team's momentum after a devastating loss. The Ducks seized a 4-3 victory over the Capitals in a shootout Friday night, snapping Washington’s six-game win streak and turning the page on a lopsided 7-0 defeat to Utah just days earlier. Here’s what happened, explained clearly for newcomers and seasoned fans alike.
In Anaheim, Troy Terry and Mason McTavish delivered in the shootout to lift the Ducks. Their goals secured the win after a back-and-forth game, with Anaheim rallying from an earlier stumble. Beckett Sennecke added a standout all-around performance, registering a goal and an assist to push his rookie scoring lead in the Pacific Division. Cutter Gauthier found the back of the net for his 16th goal, while Ross Johnston chipped in with a goal and an assist, helping the Ducks balance offense across lines.
For the Capitals, Logan Thompson stood out in goal, turning away 34 shots and earning a point on the California road swing despite the loss. Washington claimed a point in every game of the three-game trip, underscoring resilience even as they dropped this one. In regulation, Tom Wilson, Ethen Frank, and Aliaksei Protas supplied the scoring for Washington, with Anthony Beauvillier adding in the shootout.
The game’s flow included a first-period sequence where Wilson opened the scoring from the slot, followed by Gauthier tying it on a well-crafted setup from Sennecke. Frank scored early in the second on a rebound, but Johnston quickly tied the game with a redirect off Radko Gudas’ shot. Protas grabbed the go-ahead goal on a late-second rebound, though Sennecke answered again with a deflected shot to bring the score to parity as the second period closed.
Sennecke’s timely tally gave him his eighth goal of the season and his 22nd point, leaving him atop the Ducks’ rookie leaderboard. Washington’s rookie Ryan Leonard did not return after a first-period hit left him bloodied, while Mikael Granlund made his return for Anaheim after missing most of the previous 19 games with a lower-body injury.
Goaltending adjustments shaped the late stages: with Charlie Lindgren sidelined by injury, Washington relied on Parker Milner, a 35-year-old veteran who had recently joined the road trip as a practice goalie. Milner’s appearance marked a unique moment, as he joined in pregame ceremonies for NHL debuts with a solo lap.
Upcoming appearances
- Capitals host Columbus on Sunday.
- Ducks host Chicago on Sunday.
If you’re following the season closely, this game illustrates a few key themes: the importance of special-teams moments in shootouts, the impact rookie contributors can have on a team’s ceiling, and the way a strong road trip can inoculate a team against a recent stinging defeat. Do you think Washington’s approach on the road signals a new phase for the team, or is this just a temporary blip? Share your thoughts in the comments.
