HENDRIX LAPPIERRE snapped a 90-game goal drought, Alex Ovechkin scored on an empty net, and the Washington Capitals ended their four-game skid with a 3-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Friday night in Calgary, Alberta. Aliaksey Protas also scored for Washington, while goalie Logan Thompson made 25 saves in front of his hometown crowd.
For Calgary, Morgan Frost found the back of the net and goaltender Devin Cooley stopped 35 shots, including a notable power-play save in the third period on a lacrosse-style wraparound attempt by defenseman Jacob Chicherin. The game-winning goal came at 7:35 of the third period when Protas converted a rebound that slipped past Cooley, who had just made a save on Tom Wilson.
Lapierre tied the game for Washington at 6:33 in the second period when a shot by John Carlson deflected off Yan Kuznetsov’s leg and then off Lapierre’s stick, marking Lapierre’s first goal since March 18, 2024, against Calgary. The Flames responded with a power-play goal early in the first period when Frost fired a wrist shot past Thompson’s outstretched glove at 6:09.
The Capitals now prepare to face Edmonton on Saturday night, while the Flames will host Anaheim on Sunday.
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Fan Take: This game is a crucial turning point for the Capitals, breaking a troubling goal drought and ending their losing streak, which injects new energy into their season. For hockey fans, it highlights the resilience of key players and the excitement of momentum shifts, reminding us why the sport is so thrilling to follow.
