Capitals Fall to Kraken 5-3 Despite Ovechkin’s First Goal of Season and Kyrou’s Washington Debut Goal
By Brian Hradsky Maryland Sports Blog | October 12, 2026
NHL REGULAR SEASON • OCTOBER 11, 2026 • CAPITAL ONE ARENA
Seattle Kraken
5
4-2-0
Washington Capitals
3
3-2-0
FINAL
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| Washington | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
The Washington Capitals suffered a disappointing 5-3 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Sunday evening at Capital One Arena, wasting a memorable performance that included Alex Ovechkin’s first goal of the 2026-27 season. Jared McCann scored the game-winning goal with 5:27 remaining in regulation, breaking a 3-3 tie before Ryan Winterton added an insurance goal. Washington received goals from Ovechkin, Jordan Kyrou and Boone Jenner but struggled with turnovers and defensive mistakes throughout the contest. The defeat snapped the Capitals’ two-game winning streak and dropped their record to 3-2-0 through the first five games of the season.
Ovechkin Scores His First Goal of the Season
Seattle opened the scoring at 6:06 of the first period when Kaapo Kakko collected a rebound from a Vince Dunn point shot and slipped the puck past Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson. Washington responded at 11:41 when Kyrou finished a cross-ice pass from Cole Hutson, scoring his first goal since joining the Capitals in an offseason trade with the St. Louis Blues. Ryan Leonard also received an assist on the play, helping Washington erase the early deficit. The goal provided an encouraging moment for Kyrou as he continues adjusting to his new teammates and Washington’s offensive system.
Ovechkin delivered the biggest highlight of the evening at 16:47 when Washington’s aggressive forecheck forced a Seattle turnover behind the net. Ilya Protas collected the loose puck and found Ovechkin positioned in front, where the veteran captain fired a wrist shot past Joey Daccord to give Washington a 2-1 advantage. The goal was Ovechkin’s first of the season and the 930th regular-season goal of his remarkable NHL career, extending his all-time record. Aliaksei Protas also received an assist, making the scoring play a family connection between the two brothers and Washington’s legendary captain.
Late First-Period Goal Changes Momentum
Washington appeared positioned to enter the first intermission with a one-goal advantage, but Seattle capitalized on a defensive breakdown during the final seconds of the period. Kraken captain Jordan Eberle scored at 19:49 after collecting his own rebound near the crease and pushing the puck past Thompson. The goal came with just 11 seconds remaining and erased the Capitals’ momentum following Ovechkin’s milestone. Instead of carrying a lead into the locker room, Washington entered the second period tied at two goals apiece.
Seattle continued pressuring Washington during the middle period, using an aggressive forecheck to disrupt the Capitals’ attempts to move the puck out of their defensive zone. Frederick Gaudreau restored the Kraken’s advantage at 13:24 after Winterton delivered a pass into the slot, allowing Gaudreau to maneuver around Thompson and finish the scoring opportunity. Ben Meyers also earned an assist on the play, continuing Seattle’s productive offensive performance from its depth forwards. Washington could not produce an equalizer during the remainder of the second period and entered the final 20 minutes trailing 3-2.
Jenner Ties Game Before Seattle Takes Control
The Capitals wasted little time responding in the third period, with Jenner scoring just 46 seconds after the opening faceoff to tie the contest at three. Jenner kept the puck inside the offensive zone, moved toward the net and converted his own rebound to beat Daccord. The goal was Jenner’s second of the season and gave Washington renewed momentum after a difficult middle period. Washington continued generating scoring opportunities, but Daccord remained steady and prevented the Capitals from reclaiming the lead.
The decisive moment arrived at 14:33 when McCann received a pass from Brandon Montour and attacked Washington’s defense with speed. McCann maneuvered around defenseman Timothy Liljegren before firing a wrist shot past Thompson to give Seattle a 4-3 advantage. Washington attempted to respond, but another breakdown allowed Winterton to break free and score at 17:20, extending Seattle’s lead to two goals. The Capitals were unable to recover, and Seattle completed its second consecutive road victory to begin a five-game trip.
Goaltending and Defensive Mistakes Prove Costly
Washington outshot Seattle 36-27 but struggled to capitalize on its territorial advantages and scoring opportunities. Daccord finished with 33 saves, including several important stops during the third period when Washington pushed for the go-ahead goal. Thompson stopped 22 of 27 shots and endured a difficult evening as Seattle repeatedly generated quality opportunities from Washington’s turnovers and defensive breakdowns. The difference in goaltending performance and execution ultimately helped Seattle secure the victory despite being outshot.
Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery expressed frustration with his team’s decision-making, particularly the mistakes that contributed to Seattle’s late goals. Washington also played without center Pierre-Luc Dubois because of illness and defenseman Matt Roy because of injury, forcing adjustments to its lineup. Those absences created additional challenges, but the Capitals still produced enough offense to remain competitive into the final minutes. Washington must improve its puck management and defensive positioning to avoid allowing opponents to capitalize on similar mistakes in upcoming games.
Scoring Summary
| Period | Time | Team | Goal scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 6:06 | SEA | Kaapo Kakko (2) |
| 1st | 11:41 | WSH | Jordan Kyrou (1) |
| 1st | 16:47 | WSH | Alex Ovechkin (1) |
| 1st | 19:49 | SEA | Jordan Eberle (3) |
| 2nd | 13:24 | SEA | Frederick Gaudreau (4) |
| 3rd | 0:46 | WSH | Boone Jenner (2) |
| 3rd | 14:33 | SEA | Jared McCann (2) |
| 3rd | 17:20 | SEA | Ryan Winterton (1) |
Key Game Statistics
| Category | Seattle | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 5 | 3 |
| Shots on goal | 27 | 36 |
| Goaltender saves | 33 | 22 |
| Save percentage | .917 | .815 |
| Record after game | 4-2-0 | 3-2-0 |
What’s Next for Washington?
The Capitals will look to rebound Tuesday, October 13, following their first home loss of the season. Washington has shown encouraging offensive potential through its first five games, particularly with Kyrou and Jenner contributing alongside established stars such as Ovechkin. However, the team’s inability to maintain leads and protect the puck against Seattle exposed problems that could become increasingly costly as the schedule progresses. Carbery and his coaching staff will need to address those issues while continuing to develop chemistry among Washington’s offseason additions.
MSB Take
The Capitals had plenty of reasons to feel optimistic during Sunday’s game, especially after Ovechkin finally found the back of the net and Kyrou scored his first goal in a Washington uniform. Those moments should have helped propel the Capitals toward another home victory, but careless mistakes allowed Seattle to remain competitive and eventually take control. Giving up a goal with 11 seconds remaining in the first period was particularly frustrating because Washington had just worked hard to establish a lead. The Capitals cannot continue surrendering momentum through preventable defensive mistakes against teams capable of capitalizing on those opportunities.
Ovechkin’s first goal is an encouraging sign as the captain continues what he has indicated will be his final NHL season, and his ability to produce around the net remains an important part of Washington’s offense. Kyrou also demonstrated the offensive skill that made him such an important offseason acquisition, while Jenner continued establishing himself as another valuable scoring option. Nevertheless, Washington needs better defensive execution and more consistent goaltending if it expects to compete for a Stanley Cup this season. The talent is clearly there, but Sunday’s defeat demonstrated that talented teams still lose when they fail to take care of the puck and finish games.
Sources: NHL official game recap, Washington Capitals official recap, Seattle Kraken official recap, NHL official scoring summary, Reuters game report and ESPN game center.
