The game was quite delayed due to travel issues for the Jackets caused by the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Would the on-ice action also get off to a late start? Absolutely not. After a few moments of settling in, the Caps got the puck into the offensive zone and Mangiapane picked off a lackluster attempt from Gambrell to move the puck up the wall. He then fed a lonely Alex Ovechkin in the slot who quickly beats Tarasov for the first of the game.
A few minutes later, Fantilli won the puck in the defensive zone and hit Voronkov moving up the ice.