The Washington Capitals open the 2022 playoffs tonight as massive underdogs against the Florida Panthers. The Panthers are the best team in the NHL, winning the Presidents’ Trophy after winning 58 of 82 games this season (122 points). The Panthers are looking for their first Stanley Cup while the Capitals are looking to win their second in franchise history.
The main news coming in tonight’s game is that a big star from each team will return from injury: Alex Ovechkin for the Capitals and Aaron Ekblad for the Panthers.
Vitek Vanecek will start the series in net and face Sergei Bobrovsky.
Tonight’s game is on NBC Sports Washington. The first round is the only one Joe B and Locker get if the Capitals can advance.
Here are today’s Daily Deals.
Scenarios
Uppercase rows
8-Ovechkin, 92-Kuznetsov, 73-Sheary
90-Johansson, 19-Backstrom, 43-Wilson
39-Mantha, 20-Eller, 77-Oshie
22-Larsson, 26-Dowd, 21-Hathaway
42-Fehervary, 74-Carlson
9-Orlov, 3-Jensen
57-van Riemsdyk, 2-Schultz
Vanecek
panther lines
Verhaeghe–Barkov–Duclair
Huberdeau–Bennett–Giroux
Walk–Lundell–Reinhart
Lomberg–Luostarinen–Hornqvist
Weegar–Ekblad
Forsling–Gudas
Chiarot Montour
Bobrovsky
Tom Wilson scores first. 1-0 WSH!
After the Capitals couldn’t connect on a long 5-on-3 PP, Tom just scores as the second penalty is about to expire.
BOUNCE SCOARRRRRRR! pic.twitter.com/vSoKrbMYID
– x – Washington Capitals (@Capitals) May 3, 2022
Claude Giroux scores on a big rebound in front. 2-1 FLA.
Kuzy lost a faceoff in the defensive zone, big beating from the right circle, the Caps didn’t D up and Vitek got beat.
G does it ‼️ pic.twitter.com/lrkit9AWqc
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) May 4, 2022
Kuzy scores on a breakaway. DRAW!
Excellent defensive play from Ovechkin allowed Kuznetsov to march alone on Bobrovsky. G6 PGH atmosphere!
THE BIRD TAKES ITS FLIGHT! pic.twitter.com/0zCppfF69W
– x – Washington Capitals (@Capitals) May 4, 2022
TJ Oshie gives the Caps the advantage!!! 3-2.
What a perfect pass from Nicklas Backstrom.
The boys are BUZZINNNN 🔥 Osh sneaks!!
Caps up 3-2 in the 3rd!!!?! pic.twitter.com/q1uK3ToY4m
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) May 4, 2022
Comments below! We will update this live throughout the night.
