The Washington Capitals embarked on a West Coast swing with a thrilling 7-4 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night, proving that late-night hockey on the Pacific coast can still bring the action. The win kicks off a three-game California road trip for Washington, with matchups against the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks still ahead.
A Wild Night in Anaheim: Goals Galore
Tuesday’s contest was anything but dull. After a strong start, a mid-period lull, and a rollercoaster third frame, the Capitals found their offensive rhythm to overpower the Ducks in a back-and-forth goal-fest.
First Period: A Hot Start, Then a Quick Collapse
The game started on a positive note for Washington, with Dylan Strome wasting no time in giving the Caps a 1-0 lead just two minutes in. A slick backhand finish against his brother’s team? Not a bad way to open the scoring.
But just as quickly as they took control, Washington hit the snooze button, allowing Jacob Trouba (yes, he’s on the Ducks now) to tie the game. Moments later, Drew Helleson fired a long-range shot that somehow found its way past Logan Thompson, putting Anaheim in front.
Just when it looked like the Capitals were going to sleepwalk through the remainder of the period, Aliaksei Protas struck late to even things up before the buzzer.
“We stayed up for this?” – Every Caps fan, mid-first period.
Second Period: Caps Take Over, But Can They Hold On?
Washington came out strong in the second, with Pierre-Luc Dubois redirecting a pass from Matt Roy to put the Caps back in the driver’s seat. But the Ducks refused to go away, and Pavel Mintyukov brought things level again early in the third.
No worries—Protas wasn’t done yet. The young forward answered back just 31 seconds later to reclaim the lead for Washington, showing why he might just be the most underrated player in the league.
“Can someone explain why the guy with 28 goals gets zero power-play time? He should be on the ice whenever possible.”
Third Period: Chaos Ensues
What started as a relatively structured game quickly turned into a free-for-all in the final 20 minutes.
- Frank Vatrano tied the game again-again (yes, that’s a double again) before Nic Dowd restored Washington’s lead.
- Anthony Beauvillier netted his first goal as a Capital, a moment worth celebrating.
- Aliaksei Protas completed his first career NHL hat trick, sealing the win with an empty-net dagger.
For those watching past midnight on the East Coast, this high-scoring spectacle was a game to remember.
“The third period was wild, and I would bet the Capitals’ coaching staff absolutely hated it.”
Standout Performances: Protas’ Big Night and Ovi’s Playmaking
- Aliaksei Protas (3 goals) – First career hat trick. If you weren’t paying attention to him before, you should be now.
- Pierre-Luc Dubois (1 goal, 2 assists) – A three-point night for PLD, showing off his offensive instincts.
- Alex Ovechkin (3 assists) – No goals for The Great 8, but he was heavily involved, setting up Protas for his milestone goal.
- Logan Thompson – Not his best night in net. Made some key stops on the penalty kill, but probably wants a couple of those goals back.
Other Notable Moments: From Puck Magnets to NHL Throwbacks
- Tom Wilson took a puck to the face (again) – It’s becoming a painful trend this season. He made it off the ice bloodied but seemingly okay.
- Old-school Mighty Ducks nostalgia – Can we talk about how much better Anaheim looked in the purple and teal days? Bring back the eggplant jerseys.
- PLD’s return to LA on Thursday – It’s safe to assume he won’t get a warm reception when he faces the Kings.
The Capitals now head to Los Angeles for a showdown with the Kings on Thursday night. With Ovechkin’s goal chase continuing (he has 12 goals in 27 career games against LA), there’s no shortage of storylines.
Could former Caps goalie Darcy Kuemper be between the pipes for the Kings? If so, expect a highly motivated performance against his old squad.
For now, though, Washington can celebrate an explosive offensive performance in Anaheim. The road trip is off to a winning start—can they keep the momentum going?