The Kraken drowns the Caps despite first goals from Alex Ovechkin and Jordan Kyrou

The Washington Capitals and 20,000 of their friends hid from the rain Sunday night to host the Seattle Kraken.

Aptly named player Kaapo Kakko opened the scoring for the Kraken, cleaning up Logan Thompson’s rebound. Jordan Kyrou scored his first as a Cap off a brilliant pass from Cole Hutson. Alex Ovechkin scored his first goal of the season against the 930th victim of his career, but Jordan Eberle tied it at 2-2 with a trick late in the period.

Frederick Gaudreau scored the only goal of the second period, a gift enabled by Dylan McIlrath’s turnover.

Less than a minute into the third period, Boone Jenner scored off a defensive turnover – lots of stuff going around. Jared McCann used his legs to take the lead with just five minutes left in regulation. Brian Winterton punished the Caps’ desperation with a breakaway goal.

The selections lose 5-3.

• It’s the start of the season; I don’t want to be overconfident and say any team is downright bad, except for the Philadelphia Flyers, who are downright bad. They are rancid. Throw them in the trash. Double bag it, lest they leak onto the carpet on the way out. The Kraken, as for him? If they’re bad too, then the Caps played really poorly all game.
• Welcome to the dashboard, Jordan Kyrou. The pass he received from Cole Hutson gives me the exact same level of enthusiasm for both players. Although line performance has been suboptimal to date, it is clear that there is chemistry available.

• Oh, poor babies. We had to wait four and a half games before we could see a Alex Ovechkin aim. How did you survive? Kids, come summer, you’ll have to wait until infinity to see another Ovi lens.
• Joey Daccord becomes the 930th goalie on Ovechkin’s list. Have you seen the list recently? It’s new and improved for 2026-27.

• Getting the first assist on the goal was Ilya Protas. Obtaining false assistance was his master’s blaster, Aliaksei Protas.
• I like Boone Jenner. I think I always have; I just couldn’t admit it until he wore a Caps jersey. It’s a real enemies of lovers plot except none of these things. Boone scored a big tying goal in the third with a simple and competent forecheck. I’ve missed it over the last nine months or so.

• Something you, me and Spencer Carbery already know: Dylan McIlrath is not up to par. McIlrath fought his way through interference in the first period, allowed a brutal goal in the second and was sent to the bench by gravity in the third period. Final ice time: 5:05. Even if Matt Roy and Rasmus Sandin were 100% ready on Tuesday, I’m not sure about Washington’s defensive depth.
• I don’t think Logan Thompson I will keep fond memories of this match. He hadn’t conceded five goals in a match since April.
• Ryan Leonard took a penalty exactly one minute into the match. He still has it.

The first row is not the only one to contain two pros #joebsuitofthenight

– Good Skeet Pete (@peterhassett.net) 2026-10-11T21:05:27.805Z

It was a winnable match, wasted due to defensive errors.

Please join me in wishing Chris Cerullo a very happy birthday. Chris does it all – and he does it with disproportionate humility. I’m not exaggerating when I say he’s the most popular Caps writer in the world, but he has the ego of a sandwich artist. Just here to feed you your hockey food, in numbers, news, prospects or otherwise. It’s the best and I love it.

Rematch against Carolina on Tuesday.