Capitals Stay Red-Hot with Fifth Straight Win, Outduel Kings 3-1 on the Road
The Washington Capitals are rolling-and they’re showing no signs of slowing down.
With a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings, the Caps extended their win streak to five games, and this one was a complete team effort. From special teams execution to timely scoring and smart defensive play, Washington checked all the boxes in a gritty road victory.
Let’s break down the key moments and standout performances from another strong night for the surging Caps.
Wilson, Leonard Keep the Power Play Buzzing
The Capitals’ power play has been a work in progress this season, but lately, it’s been trending in the right direction-and on Tuesday night, it wasted no time making an impact.
Early in the first, Alex Ovechkin fired a shot that caromed off Darcy Kuemper and landed right at the feet of Ryan Leonard. Instead of forcing a shot, the rookie showed poise beyond his years, sliding a pass across to Tom Wilson. The puck took a fortunate bounce off a Kings defender, and Wilson was in perfect position to tap home his 16th of the year.
That goal extended Wilson’s point streak to six games, and it also made him the first Capitals forward to hit the 30-point mark this season. He’s been a steady presence, both physically and on the scoresheet, and right now, he’s doing it all.
Leonard, meanwhile, continues to look more and more comfortable on the top power play unit. He now has points in four of his last five games, and his 14 points put him fourth among all NHL rookies. His vision and hockey IQ are starting to shine through, especially in man-advantage situations.
And of course, Ovechkin keeps doing Ovechkin things. With an assist on the play, he extended his point streak to five games and later added another to notch yet another multi-point performance.
Penalty Kill Delivers at the Perfect Time
If there was a turning point in this one, it came early in the third period.
With the game tied 1-1 and the Kings starting the period on the power play, Washington’s penalty kill came up with a critical stop. The unit had struggled at times earlier this season, but this was a moment where they needed a big kill-and they delivered.
Connor McMichael made a key block to help finish off the kill, and then immediately flipped the switch. He took off in transition, joining Alex Ovechkin-just out of the box-and Anthony Beauvillier on a 3-on-1 rush. What followed was textbook execution: crisp, unselfish passing that ended with Beauvillier slamming home the go-ahead goal.
That’s now four straight games with a point for Beauvillier, and McMichael is heating up too, with five points in his last five. Ovechkin, for his part, picked up his 800th career road point-another milestone in a career full of them.
Capitals Lock It Down Late
The Kings are one of the league’s more dynamic offensive teams, but Washington made sure they never got into a rhythm-especially in the third period.
The Capitals played a smart, structured game down the stretch, keeping the puck to the outside, limiting second-chance opportunities, and not giving L.A. much room to operate. It was the kind of disciplined, composed effort that wins you games on the road.
Aliaksei Protas sealed the deal with an empty-net goal in the final minutes, and that was all she wrote.
Between the pipes, Logan Thompson was steady once again. He turned aside 22 of 23 shots, picking up his fourth straight win. He wasn’t overly busy, but he made the saves he needed to, and his calm presence continues to give the Caps confidence on the back end.
Final Word
This win wasn’t flashy, but it was the kind of performance that shows why Washington is becoming a team to watch. They’re getting contributions up and down the lineup, their special teams are starting to click, and they’re playing with the kind of poise that travels well.
Five straight wins, and the Capitals are showing no signs of letting up.