Tuch Leads Capitals Rally Past Panthers 4-3

Alex Tuch picked Sam Bennett’s pocket at center ice, walked in and snapped a shot into the top corner. That tied it 2-2 early in the second period, and the Washington Capitals rode it to a 4-3 win over the Florida Panthers at Capital One Arena on Saturday, NHL.com reported.

Washington needed it. The Capitals had lost two straight at home, were down a goal, and had just lost Tom Wilson to a five-minute boarding major and a game misconduct. They improved to 9-6-0. Florida dropped to 9-6-2.

Double Shift Me

Wilson’s hit on Sandis Vilmanis in the first period changed the game. Vilmanis did not return, and Brady Tkachuk scored on the ensuing major to give Florida a 2-1 lead. He had seven shots on goal and two goals, and Matthew Tkachuk set up all three Panthers goals.

With Wilson gone, Tuch went to his coach. “He came up to me and said, ‘Double shift me. Get me out there as much as you possibly can,’” Spencer Carbery said. Tuch led Washington forwards with 24:01 of ice time.

The goal was his 11th of the season. That is the most by a Capitals player through 15 games since Alex Ovechkin had 12 in 2021-22.

Protas and Dubois Finish It

Aliaksei Protas and Pierre-Luc Dubois each had a goal and an assist. Protas took Dubois’ pass across the slot and beat a diving Akira Schmid for a 3-2 lead at 14:55 of the second. Dubois made it 4-2 at 4:42 of the third off a Protas feed.

Bennett redirected a Matthew Tkachuk pass with Schmid pulled at 19:13 to make it close, but Logan Thompson held on with 27 saves. Jack St. Ivany, claimed off waivers on Oct. 24, opened the scoring with his first NHL goal in his 62nd game.

What It Means Sunday

It was Washington’s sixth comeback win of the season, the clearest sign yet that this team does not fold when it falls behind. Both clubs play again Sunday. The Capitals visit Ottawa, and the Panthers continue a three-game road trip in Boston while waiting on Vilmanis, who will be re-evaluated.

Wilson’s status for Ottawa is the swing factor. If he is in, the forward minutes even back out. If not, Tuch is going to keep hearing his name called.

Smacktok pick lean: Lean higher on Alex Tuch shots on goal at Ottawa. He has 11 goals in 15 games and just logged 24:01, a forward-high, after asking for extra shifts. If Wilson is cleared and Tuch’s ice time drops back to normal, move the lean to Capitals team goals instead of a Tuch-only play.