The Washington Capitals had a late-season resurgence in offense against the Utah Mammoth on March 26, with star Forward Alex Ovechkin scoring three goals in a game that ended 7-4 for the Capitals. It’s likely too little, too late for Washington to make the playoffs, but it’s a great performance regardless.
The visiting team also had Ivan Miroschnichenko score two goals, while Anthony Beauvillier and Rasmus Sandin each scored one. For the Mammoth, Dylan Guenther scored two goals while Logan Cooley and MacKenzie Weegar each scored one.
The Capitals’ Tom Wilson spent 21 minutes in the penalty box, a career best for him. Wilson played aggressively against the St. Louis Blues as well. Though Utah did lose to Washington, their 4 goals will help it hold onto fourth place in the Central Division of the Western Conference. The Capitals are now one point out of fifth place in the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference in a desperate bid for a wild-card playoff spot.
Mammoth Take the Lead In First Period 1, 3-1
It was the home team that had the advantage in goals after the first period, though Miroschnichenko was the first to score at 2:07, his first of the season. Hendrix Lapierre and Jakob Chychrun were credited with the assist. It was a dirty game from the beginning, with both teams down a player at one point during the first period.
Guenther scored on a power play at 13:04, assisted by Clayton Keller and Mikhail Sergachev, then again at 16:59 (with an assist from Keller and Sergachev once again). Brandon Tanev of the Mammoth’s boarded Matt Roy, getting a major penalty, and Wilson also got a penalty for trying to fight Tanev as the two continued their argument from the penalty box. Both received 2 minutes plus 10 minutes for misconduct.
Despite Capitals Goalie Logan Thompson’s best efforts, Cooley scored with seconds remaining in the period, assisted by Sergachev and Nick Schmaltz. The score was 3-1, Mammoth, after the first period, with shots at 11-8 Utah.
Ovechkin, Capitals Shine In Second Period
Ovechkin scored just 5 minutes into the second period, assisted by Sandin and Martin Fehéváry. Sourdif got a high stick penalty on Cooley, but the Capitals killed the penalty. Ovechkin got his second goal of the game at 11:28, assisted by Dylan Strome and Trevor van Riemsdyk.
Panev and Brandon Duhaime fought soon after, then Wilson got a penalty changed from major to minor on Jack McBain. The game was tied 3-3 at the end of the second period, with shots 24-16 to the Mammoth.
Ovechkin Scores Hat Trick In Third Period
Wilson got out of the penalty box and immediately went back in by getting into a fight with Lawson Crouse, who received a five-minute major penalty for instigating the fight. McBain then received a 10-minute misconduct for challenging Wilson while he was in the penalty box, giving the Capitals a power play over the Mammoths.
Anthony Beauvillier scored on the power play at 2:43, assisted by rookie Cole Hutson and Connor McMicheal. Hutson now has his second assist in what has been an exciting rookie season. Sandin added to the Capitals’ tally at 6:02, scoring into an empty net with assistance from Beauvillier.
Weegar scored at 8:06, with an assist from Keller and Alexander Kerfoot, putting the Mammoth within a goal of the Capitals. That didn’t last as Miroschnichenko scored again, his first multi-goal game, assisted by Chychrun.
Ovechkin scored his 34th career hat trick with just 6 seconds left in regulation, assisted by Strome, and the Capitals took an important 7-4 win over the Mammoth.
What’s Next For the Capitals and Mammoth?
The Capitals will continue their road trip with the Las Vegas Golden Knights on March 28, while the Mammoth will play the Los Angeles Kings on March 28 for an away game.
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