Washington, D.C. — Logan Thompson achieved his first shutout of the season by turning away all 19 shots he faced, leading the Washington Capitals to a 3-0 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday evening.
Thompson, making his second start in a row and filling in for the injured Charlie Lindgren, showcased his skills with several crucial saves on high-quality scoring opportunities, enhancing his impressive record to 19-2-3 since joining the Capitals.
Brandon Duhaime contributed significantly to the win, netting a goal and assisting on another, while teammates John Carlson and Ethen Frank also found the back of the net. The Capitals are now on a two-game winning streak following a series of alternating victories and defeats over their last nine games, starting from December 23.
The opening goal came from Duhaime, who redirected a puck off the back of his right skate into the net. He also played a vital role in Frank’s goal—the latter’s second in three NHL appearances since his promotion from the minor leagues.
On the other hand, Ducks’ goaltender John Gibson recorded 22 saves during the match, but the team faced their fifth loss in seven games.
**Key Takeaways**
For the Ducks, they couldn’t maintain the momentum from their recent 3-2 overtime win against Carolina, leaving them positioned near the bottom of the Western Conference standings.
Meanwhile, the Capitals have found confidence in Thompson’s ability to handle the workload in Lindgren’s absence, especially with no back-to-back games scheduled until late February.
**Turning Point**
The Capitals began the game dominating possession, and a crucial moment occurred when Jakob Chychrun’s shot deflected off Duhaime, putting the Capitals ahead 1-0 early on.
**Notable Statistic**
Ethen Frank made history by becoming the sixth player in the franchise’s history to earn a point in his first three NHL games, joining Alex Ovechkin, who accomplished this feat during his inaugural eight games back in the 2005-06 season.
Looking ahead, the Ducks will continue their six-game road trip with a stop at Tampa Bay on Thursday, coinciding with the Capitals’ match against Ottawa on the same night.
