CHICAGO — In an exciting match on Tuesday night, Ryan Donato delivered his team-high 11th goal with just 2:18 remaining in the game, allowing the Chicago Blackhawks to secure a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory against the Washington Capitals.
Donato maneuvered out from the right corner to slide a shot past goaltender Logan Thompson, marking a crucial win for the Blackhawks, who rallied for three goals in the third period and handed the Capitals their second consecutive defeat.
The comeback began early in the final period when Ilya Mikheyev scored a short-handed goal just 51 seconds in, setting the stage for a remarkable turnaround from a two-goal deficit. TJ Brodie then equalized with 5:53 left in the game, further energizing the Chicago crowd. Teuvo Teravainen was instrumental in the victory, contributing three assists as the Blackhawks took advantage of their limited opportunities, converting three out of five shots in the final frame.
On the other side, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Andrew Mangiapane put the Capitals ahead in the first period, but they struggled to maintain their lead after suffering a 3-1 loss to the Dallas Stars just the night before, which ended a historic 10-game winning streak on the road.
In goal, Arvid Soderblom stood tall for the Blackhawks, making 20 saves, while Thompson matched him with 20 stops for the Capitals.
Injury updates revealed that Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, currently sidelined due to a broken left fibula, has not faced any setbacks during non-contact drills. Coach Spencer Carbery indicated that Ovechkin, who has been out since November 18, will require several full-contact practices before making his comeback.
For the Blackhawks, head coach Anders Sorensen mentioned that number one goalie Petr Mrazek, who is dealing with a groin injury, is nearing a return to the ice. Defenseman Seth Jones, who leads the league in average ice time, is also close to rejoining the lineup after recovering from a right foot injury.
One of the pivotal moments of the match came when Mikheyev made a dynamic play early in the third period, skimming past Jakob Chychrun to score his second goal in as many games, which ignited the Blackhawks’ impressive rally. Mikheyev later assisted Brodie for the equalizer, showcasing his significant impact on the game.
Another noteworthy statistic was that the Blackhawks successfully killed off three penalties, extending their streak to 28 kills.
Looking ahead, the Capitals are set to host the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday, while the Blackhawks will take on the Seattle Kraken at home on Thursday.