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Capitals: Alex Ovechkin’s overtime goal powers Caps past Red Wings in NHL 20

By Michael Marzzacco

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 25: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates after scoring during a shootout against the Winnipeg Jets at Capital One Arena on February 25, 2020 in Washington, DC. The Washington Capitals won, 4-3, in a shootout. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 25: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates after scoring during a shootout against the Winnipeg Jets at Capital One Arena on February 25, 2020 in Washington, DC. The Washington Capitals won, 4-3, in a shootout. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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The Washington Capitals survived a scare from the Detroit Red Wings thanks to Alex Ovechkin’s overtime heroics.

With no Washington Capitals hockey, many people are taking things into the virtual world. Add us to the party! We recently picked up NHL 20 and over the course of the next several days we will simulate Caps games that would’ve happened during this drought without hockey.

After buying the game, we simulated up to the Detroit Red Wings game from last Thursday and let the computer play it out while we do a recap. The virtual version of the Capitals doesn’t align with the reality team with this version trying to climb up the Metropolitan Division standings currently sitting at fourth place.

T.J. Oshie stripped the puck and had an early breakaway that was stopped. Things got nerve-wracking when the Red Wings struck first at 7:31 on a goal from Tyler Bertuzzi.

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The Caps would answer just over a minute later at 8:48 with a slapshot from downtown by Michal Kempny went in for his sixth goal of the season. Nick Jensen and Carl Hagelin had the assists.

1-1 was the score after 20 with the Caps leading in shots 11-5. Face-offs won were even at four apiece while the Caps outhit the Red Wings 2-1 with one of those hits coming from Tom Wilson.

After the Red Wings took the lead on a goal from Dylan Larkin at 1:14, the Caps answered with three unanswered goals. First it was Evgeny Kuznetsov with his 10th goal of the season rebounding in a shot from Alex Ovechkin. Kempny had the secondary assist.

Jakub Vrana gave the Caps their first lead of the night at 11:10 with his 18th goal of the season on a shot right in front of the net. Jensen had his second assist on the day while Nicklas Backstrom had the secondary assist.

Fan-favorite Garnet Hathaway made it 4-2 at 14:51 with his seventh goal of the season. It came on a shot from near the right face-off circle and was assisted by Nic Dowd and Jensen’s third helper.

4-2 was the score after two periods. Both teams went 0-for-1 on the power play while the Caps led in shots 22-13.

The Red Wings scored two unanswered goals in the third period to force overtime. Brenden Perlini made it a one-goal deficit 57 seconds into the final period. Filip Hronek evened the score at 9:30. The Caps led in shots 32-19 through 60 minutes of play.

The Caps started the thrid period on the power play with Perlini getting called for a hooking minor. The Caps wasted no time in the overtime period with Alex Ovechkin winning the game seven seconds in scoring his 35th goal of the season but for our own sanity let’s say it’s his 49th.

Trending. Capitals and NBC Sports Washington to simulate NHL 20. light

Wow, that was fun. We’ll be back here tomorrow with a story on the Caps and Blackhawks virtual game.

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