Golden Knights Vs Capitals: Dubois scores twice as Capitals hold on for 3-2 win
In Friday’s golden knights vs capitals matchup at Capital One Arena, Pierre-Luc Dubois scored two goals in a 2: 34 span early in the second period and the Washington Capitals held on for a 3-2 win. Washington has won 6 of 7; Marner gets assist for Vegas for 800th career point.
Dubois’ second-period burst decided the game
Dubois opened the scoring 49 seconds into the second period when Aliaksei Protas fed him on the rush and his snap shot from the top of the right circle deflected in off Akira Schmid’s right shoulder, giving Washington a 1-0 lead. At 3: 23 of the period Protas retrieved a loose puck behind the net and passed out to Dubois, who buried a one-timer from the low slot to make it 2-0. Dubois also had an assist in the game and has three goals in three games since his return after missing 47 games while recovering from surgery to address injuries to his abdominal and adductor muscles.
Golden Knights Vs Capitals: late push fell short for Vegas
Jakob Chychrun extended the Capitals’ lead to 3-0 at 14: 52 of the second with a high one-timer from just below the right face-off dot in his 600th game. Vegas, which had won three straight coming in, answered with two third-period goals but could not complete the comeback. Braeden Bowman scored at 2: 27 of the third after Kaedan Korczak’s rush pass appeared to deflect off Washington’s Declan Chisholm, and Tomas Hertl redirected Pavel Dorofeyev’s pass from the slot at 9: 15 when the shot deflected off Matt Roy’s skate on a power play to make it 3-2. The goal gave Hertl his 600th NHL point.
Goalies and special teams
Logan Thompson made 24 saves for Washington while Akira Schmid stopped 27 shots for Vegas. Rasmus Sandin recorded two assists for the Capitals. Washington’s 3-2 victory came after the team weathered a heavy Vegas push in the third; Thompson called the Golden Knights “probably the best third-period team in the League” and said his group was happy to hold on, which he called a boost of confidence with every point now important for the club.
Player reactions and key moments
Protas, who had the primary assist on both of Dubois’ goals, praised Dubois as a two-way force, saying he plays a full-ice, hard game and is smart on both ends. Dubois said he felt good and singled out Tom Wilson and Protas for making his life easier on the ice. Bowman admitted he wasn’t sure what the deflection hit before he finished the play and said he was able to bury the chance, while Hertl noted Vegas tends to come alive in the third and that the team often struggles for 40 minutes before pushing late.
Coach comments and context
Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said the team was not ready to play and that players, as professionals, must be prepared; he judged the performance not nearly good enough. The Capitals improved to 31-23-7 with the win, while the Golden Knights fell to 28-17-14.
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