Two NHL teams that would like to get untracked will meet on Thursday night at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.
The Washington Capitals will face off against the Seattle Kraken in a 10 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time game that will air on ESPN+.
Washington (30-25-9, fifth in the Metropolitan Division) has gotten thumped in the first two games of a five-game western road swing, losing 3-0 at Winnipeg on Monday night and 7-2 at Edmonton on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, Seattle (28-24-12, fifth in the Pacific Division) has lost three straight games.
The Capitals had their hands full with the host Oilers, as Zach Hyman had a natural hat trick and Leon Draisaitl added a power-play goal and three assists.
The game was tied at 2-all midway through the first period when Hyman scored the first of his three goals, and eventually, the Oilers pulled away.
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Ivan Miroshnichenko and Connor McMichael scored for the Capitals and Darcy Kuemper stopped 30 shots.
“We kind of chased the whole night,” Washington forward Tom Wilson told The Associated Press. “I mean, it was close at times and just had unlucky bounces in a couple situations, they make us pay. Against a good team like that you’ve got to find a way to just be better with the puck and manage the situations a little bit better because they can capitalize.”
Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8) looks for the rebound off Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner (74) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 13, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)AP
Washington has a 30-25-9 record overall and a 13-15-4 record on the road, and entered play on Thursday night still on the fringe of the playoff race. Dylan Strome has 22 goals and 29 assists for the Capitals while Sonny Milano has five goals and one assist over the last 10 games.
Seattle, 14-12-6 at home, is nine points out of a playoff spot. Jared McCann leads the offense with 27 goals and 26 assists while Oliver Bjorkstrand has scored four goals with one assist over the last 10 games.