Capitals’ Thompson Shines with First Shutout in 3-0 Win Over Ducks

WASHINGTON — Goaltender Logan Thompson made 19 saves to secure his first shutout with the Washington Capitals, leading the team to a 3-0 victory over the Anaheim Ducks at Capital One Arena on Tuesday. The win extended the Capitals’ point streak to eight games, with a record of 5-0-3 during that span.

Thompson, who improved to 19-2-3 in his first season with Washington, recorded his fifth career shutout. “I’m good at letting in one [goal], so I can never seem to get them,” Thompson joked. “It’s always a treat when I do.”

The Capitals (29-10-5) dominated early, taking a 1-0 lead at 7:34 of the first period when Brandon Duhaime redirected Jakob Chychrun‘s rebound into the net. John Carlson doubled the lead at 14:30 with a wrist shot from the right circle. “I thought that was one of the best periods we’ve played in a long time,” Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said of the opening frame.

Ethen Frank sealed the win at 19:01 of the second period, scoring on a 2-on-1 rush with a glove-side wrist shot. Frank, 26, has two goals and an assist in his first three NHL games. “He’s been great,” Carlson said. “More than just the tallies, he seems to have a positive impact every time he steps on the ice.”

The Ducks (18-21-5), meanwhile, struggled offensively, managing just 22 shots on goal. “We’re not shooting a ton of pucks,” Anaheim forward Alex Killorn said. “Our goalies keep us in every single game, and we’ve got to find ways to score.”

Anaheim goaltender John Gibson made 22 saves but received little support from his teammates. Ducks coach Greg Cronin lamented defensive lapses, particularly on Frank’s goal. “We pinched down the wall and didn’t have somebody to replace for the pincher,” Cronin said. “It ended up being a 2-on-1 goal.”

Frank became the sixth player in Capitals history to record a point in each of his first three NHL games, joining notable names like Alex Ovechkin and Andre Burakovsky. Capitals center Nic Dowd also impressed, winning 8-of-10 faceoffs, while Pierre-Luc Dubois extended his point streak with an assist on Frank’s goal.

The Ducks, who have lost four of their last five games, continue to struggle on their six-game road trip. Forward Troy Terry returned to the lineup after missing four games for personal reasons but finished minus-1 in 18:49 of ice time.