Alex Ovechkin scored in the Washington Capitals scrimmage Saturday.
The Washington Capitals held an intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday, their first taste of game situation action since before the season was paused in mid-March. For the first time in a long time we got to see an Alex Ovechkin goal.
Ovechkin scored the lone goal for team white in a 3-1 loss to team red. Team red was led by Daniel Sprong who scored two goals. Ovechkin’s goal came after some forechecking by the first line.
At the left circle, Tom Wilson got the puck and sent a backhanded pass to Evgeny Kuznetsov. Kuzy then sent a pass to Ovechkin on the wing as the captain chipped the puck home.
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Daniel Sprong led team red to victory with two even strength goals, including the game winner. Travis Boyd added an empty net goal. Here is what the lineups looked like below. Once again Ilya Samsonov and Alex Alexeyev didn’t participate. Neither did T.J. Oshie.
Team White
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Hagelin-Eller-Kovalchuk
Gersich-McMichael-Pinho
Kempny-Carlson
Siegenthaler-Jensen
Holtby and Copley
Team Red
Vrana-Backstrom-Boyd
Panik-Dowd-Hathaway
Malenstyn-Maillet-Sprong
Dillon-Orlov
Fehervary-Gudas
Lewington
Vanecek
Other highlights featured a between the legs shot from Richard Panik just outside the crease. After the scrimmage Evgeny Kuznetsov, Michal Kempny, Nick Jensen and coach Todd Reirden talked to the media.
Kuznetsov said he felt “unbelievable” and was excited to get back and his conditioning was great. He expressed confidence in his team getting the job done.
“I believe in our group,” Kuznetsov said.
Michal Kempny had gone through a lot as his injury was a significant loss for a defense that struggled last postseason. Now Kempny feels refreshed and ready to go.
“I feel great, I feel fresh. I feel like I have a new start. I feel a lot better than I did before October, before the season and last training camp,” said Kempny.
Hey everyone! 👋
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) July 18, 2020
This is @ovi8 scoring a goal assisted by @Kuzya92 and @tom_wilso.
Yes, it is in a Phase 3 intrasquad scrimmage.
And yes, it makes us very happy. 🙂
Watch full scrimmage below https://t.co/CrMeRLeRgb pic.twitter.com/b8WIruCpj7
Kempny spent nine weeks training and has felt happy about where he is right now. He even skated in groups with Jakub Vrana and David Pastrnak when he was home.
.@sprong97 with not one but ✌️ sweet goals in today's Phase 3 scrimmage pic.twitter.com/7RxnQrBAHK
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) July 18, 2020
Nick Jensen struggled in the early part of the season but was better just before the pause. He told the media that he felt like he was hitting his stride and that it was unfortunate the stoppage came when it did. His goal is to get back to that level of play when the season resumes.
The Caps will head back on the ice tomorrow at 10:50 a.m. with Group Blue’s practice. Group Red will go up at 1:20 p.m.