The Washington Capitals fell to the Pittsburgh Penguins by a score of 5-2 Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena in their final regular season game of the 2024-25 campaign. The loss concluded the Capitals’ record this season to 51-22-9 and 111 points, securing them first place in the Metropolitan Division and the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
Goaltender Clay Stevenson made 33 saves in his NHL debut, showcasing his potential despite the outcome. The Capitals will now shift their focus to the playoffs, where they are set to face the Montreal Canadiens beginning on Monday night.
Connor McMichael opened the scoring for Washington just 4:08 into the first period, giving the Capitals an early 1-0 lead. Tom Wilson assisted on the goal, marking his 32nd assist of the season. However, the Penguins quickly responded, with Bryan Rust tying the game at 4:54, scoring his 30th goal of the season.
The first period ended with the Penguins outshooting the Capitals 13-5, demonstrating their offensive pressure. In the second period, Rust struck again on a power play at 7:19, putting the Penguins ahead 2-1. Sidney Crosby then extended the lead to 3-1 at 11:56, capitalizing on a feed from Philip Tomasino.
Despite the mounting pressure, Alex Ovechkin answered for Washington at 16:56 with a power-play goal, his 44th of the season, assisted by Dylan Strome and Pierre-Luc Dubois. This goal marked Ovechkin's 897th career goal, as he moves closer to the coveted 900-goal milestone.
As the game progressed into the third period, the Penguins continued to dominate. Danton Heinen scored a shorthanded goal at 8:46, extending Pittsburgh's lead to 4-2. Just 15 seconds later, Philip Tomasino added another goal, making it 5-2 in favor of the Penguins.
Throughout the match, the Penguins showcased superior offensive skills, outshooting the Capitals 38-20 overall. The Capitals had moments of brilliance, particularly from Ovechkin and McMichael, but ultimately fell short in their final regular season game.
Washington’s lineup featured several key players, including Ovechkin, Strome, and Wilson, while the team dealt with injuries to Logan Thompson, Aliaksei Protas, Sonny Milano, Nicklas Backstrom, and T.J. Oshie. Stevenson, the Capitals' debuting goaltender, became the 24th goaltender in franchise history to make his NHL debut.
Despite the loss, the Capitals have much to look forward to as they prepare for the playoffs. McMichael finished the season with career highs in goals (26), assists (31), and points (57), proving to be a crucial player for the Capitals. Wilson also continued his scoring streak, recording points in his last seven games played at PPG Paints Arena.
In contrast, the Penguins concluded their season with a disappointing 34-36-12 record, totaling 80 points—their lowest in an 82-game season since 2005-06. Although the victory over the Capitals was bittersweet as it did not secure a playoff spot, it allowed the team to end the season on a positive note.
Rust's two-goal performance was a highlight, marking the first time in his career that he reached the 30-goal milestone. Crosby also reached the 90-point mark for the third consecutive season, solidifying his status as a key player for Pittsburgh.
As the Capitals look ahead to their playoff matchup against the Canadiens, they will need to build on their strengths while addressing the challenges faced during the Penguins game. The Capitals have a day off on Friday, with a pep rally scheduled for fans at Union Market before they practice on Saturday.
The stage is set for an exciting playoff run for the Capitals, who will aim to capitalize on their regular season success and push for a deep postseason journey. Fans will be eagerly anticipating the first game against Montreal, scheduled for Monday night at 7 p.m. on Monumental Sports Network and ESPN.
