In a game where every inch of ice was contested and time was a luxury, the Washington Capitals leaned into the grind and came out with a hard-earned 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night. It wasn’t flashy, but it was effective - the kind of win that speaks volumes about a team finding its stride. That’s five straight victories now for Washington, their longest streak of the season, and this one might have been the grittiest of the bunch.
The difference-maker? Anthony Beauvillier, who finished off a slick sequence early in the third period to break a 1-1 tie.
It was the kind of goal that doesn’t just shift momentum - it defines it. Just 78 seconds into the final frame, Beauvillier capped off a perfectly executed 2-on-1 with Connor McMichael and Alex Ovechkin, giving the Caps a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
“Great awareness by these two,” Beauvillier said postgame, tipping his cap to McMichael and Ovechkin. “Mikey blocks a shot, gets up the ice, and [Ovechkin] makes a great play. I just had to put it in.”
And he did - calmly and cleanly. That’s now a four-game point streak for Beauvillier, with two goals and two assists during that stretch. Quietly, he’s becoming a key contributor in clutch situations, with Tuesday’s tally marking his third game-winning goal of the season.
Logan Thompson, meanwhile, continues to be a steady presence between the pipes. The Caps netminder turned aside 23 shots and, once again, didn’t allow more than two goals - the 15th time he’s done that in 19 starts this season. He’s now up to 12 wins, and while he might not be the flashiest name in the league, his consistency is becoming the backbone of Washington’s recent surge.
“He refuses to give up that backbreaker,” one team source said earlier this week - and Tuesday was just more proof.
The tone was set early. Washington came out with purpose in the first period, outshooting the Kings 12-3 and dictating the pace.
But it wasn’t just about volume - it was about quality. The Caps blocked eight Los Angeles shot attempts in the opening frame alone, finishing the night with 21 total blocks, led by Rasmus Sandin’s four.
It was the kind of defensive commitment that travels well, especially on the front end of a back-to-back.
“I thought that set the table,” said head coach Spencer Carbery. “We knew the start was going to be important - on the road, against this opponent, especially after how the game went in our building. They were going to be ready, and I thought we matched that.”
The first breakthrough came on the power play, and it was textbook execution. After drawing a tripping penalty in the offensive zone, the Capitals’ man advantage went to work - clean entries, crisp puck movement, and relentless puck retrieval. Eventually, Ryan Leonard corralled a loose puck near the crease and slid it across to Tom Wilson for a tap-in at 14:50 of the first, giving Washington the early 1-0 edge.
“It’s found some chemistry now,” Carbery said of the power play. “With Leonard and [Jakob Chychrun] in there, we’ve got a combo that’s clicking. We’ll keep rolling with those two units, but tonight, it was really sharp.”
The Kings didn’t stay quiet for long. They found their legs in the second period and tied things up at 5:28 on a transition play that was all about patience and precision. Anze Kopitar led the rush, waited for the perfect lane to open, and fed Adrian Kempe, who beat Thompson clean to make it 1-1.
That set the stage for the third-period dramatics. The Caps opened the final frame shorthanded, killing off a carryover penalty before turning defense into offense in an instant.
McMichael’s block led to a 2-on-1 with Ovechkin, who returned the favor with a slick pass. McMichael then dished it to the trailing Beauvillier, who buried it.
Just like that, the Caps had the lead again - and this time, they didn’t let it go.
Aliaksei Protas added some breathing room with a late empty-netter - his second in as many games - and the Caps closed it out with composure, even as the Kings pushed hard to the final horn.
After the game, the moment turned from competition to tribute, as the Capitals lined up to salute Kings captain Anze Kopitar, who has announced that this season will be his last. The 21-year veteran has been a pillar of consistency and class throughout his career, and his next stop will almost certainly be the Hockey Hall of Fame.
“That’s [Ovechkin],” Beauvillier said of the postgame moment. “The game respects the game. Kopitar’s had a tremendous career, such a fun player to watch, and it’s an honor to play against him.”
For the Capitals, this win wasn’t just another two points in the standings - it was a blueprint. Strong start, smart special teams, timely scoring, and a goalie who just keeps making the saves that matter. And with the back half of a back-to-back looming, they’ve already ensured a split on this four-game road trip.
Right now, Washington’s not just winning - they’re building something.