The Washington Capitals (35-27-8) have now won two in a row. They didn’t need much scoring to get the job done as they defeated the New Jersey Devils (35-32-2) 2-1 on Friday night.

The game was a goaltending duel between Logan Thompson and Jake Allen. In the end, Thompson was victorious.

The Olympic silver medalist made 30 saves on 31 shots. Thompson nearly recorded a shutout, but still recorded his 23rd win in the end.

“I don’t really care about it,” Thompson said of not getting the shutout. “They won’t remember me for the shutout. That wasn’t on my mind. I just wanted to win.”

Ryan Leonard and Aliaksi Protas scored two goals each for the Capitals on the night. Cole Hutson also contributed in his second NHL game.

The Capitals have kept their playoff hopes alive with seven extra points from four matches. However, if they are to be able to do so they will have to win and get some help.

Next, the Capitals conclude their four-game homestand with a Sunday matinee matchup against Colorado.

capitals analysis

Capitals were looking very strong in the initial stages. Leonard and Hutson were two skaters who made a difference.

As soon as he got the puck, Leonard came off the bench and made a sharp shot on Allen to make the score 1-0. The 21-year-old now has goals in five of his last eight games.

Additionally, Leonard made history as the first Capitals rookie since Alex Ovechkin to reach the 15-goal mark.

Hutson made his second NHL start and has continued to make his presence felt. The 19-year-old created many chances and was solid defensively. She even had a physical relationship with Olympic gold medalist Jack Hughes.

Ultimately, the Capitals’ MVP on Friday night was Thompson. The 29-year-old made several key saves, including on the front door and with his glove.

Allen also came out for New Jersey and made 26 saves against the Capitals’ offense. However, after leaving the ice, Aliaksi Protas recorded an empty-netter to make it 2–0.

Thompson’s shutout effort ended when Jesper Bratt scored with less than a minute remaining. Nonetheless, the Capitals netminder stepped up with 18 saves in the final period.

capitals report card

Team: B

The Capitals were stronger defensively than offensively on Friday night. However, they did enough to win their second consecutive game.

Logan Thompson: A+

Thompson was the true MVP that night with 30 saves. The 29-year-old now has 23 wins on the season.

Ryan Leonard: A

Leonard recorded the game-winning goal in the opening period. The 21-year-old is now the first Capitals rookie since Alex Ovechkin to score 15 goals.

Cole Hutson: A

Hutson created many chances and was strong defensively. The newbie continues to show poise and confidence.

Harry Lichtman is an award-winning journalist who covers the Washington Capitals for SportsNut. He also contributes to the sites… More about Harry Lichtman

The Orlando Magic earned an amazing 110-109 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. Almost immediately after the victory, Desmond Benn was seen throwing the game ball into the stands. As Orlando prepares for Thursday’s game against the Houston Rockets, the league announced it was fining Bane for his actions.

According to NBA Communications, reports indicate the NBA is fining the 27-year-old wing $25,000 for throwing the ball into the stands. This is the general amount that players are fined for that violation.

“Orlando Magic guard Desmond Benn has been fined $25,000 for forcefully throwing the game ball into the stands, it was announced today by Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations James Jones. The incident occurred at the conclusion of the Magic’s 110-109 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on February 24 at Crypto.com Arena.”

Bane will likely pay the fine and move on, this is usually how most fines work. The six-year veteran was one of the key contributors in Tuesday’s win over the Lakers, as he finished the game with 22 points, one rebound, six assists and one steal while shooting 47.3% from the field and 25.0% from beyond the three-point line.

Desmond Benn is only being fined and will be available for Thursday’s clash against the Rockets. He is expected to once again play a key role for the Magic as Orlando seeks its third consecutive win. The club is ranked seventh in the Eastern Conference, so continuing the winning streak would be huge. Especially if the Magic can somehow clinch the sixth seed and avoid the play-in tournament.

Basketball games can be heated, but things reached a boiling point in the final minutes of Saturday night’s NBA contest between the Memphis Grizzlies and Miami Heat.

With only 1:19 remaining in the fourth quarter and the game well out of reach, Memphis guard Scottie Pippen Jr. and Miami forward Myron Gardner were both ejected after a physical altercation broke out in the front row.

Scottie Pippen Jr. and Myron Gardner were both ejected for this altercation. pic.twitter.com/3q2Sy5SMrb

– NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) 22 February 2026

The friction began when Gardner gave a “cheap shot” from behind as Pippen released a 3-pointer. Pippen did not take the contact seriously, immediately attacking Gardner and pushing him toward the stands of the Cassia Center. The two wrestled briefly on the floor before coaches and officials could separate them.

Before the fireworks, the Heat put on a clincher, earning an impressive 136–120 victory. Andrew Wiggins led the way with an incredibly efficient 28 points on 9 of 10 shooting, even reaching 15,000 career points during the third quarter. Norman Powell added 25 points of his own, helping Miami lead 39–26 in the third quarter.

The Grizzlies, still playing without star guard Ja Morant due to an elbow injury, struggled to find a defensive rhythm. However, young forward GG Jackson provided a bright spot, exploding for a season-high 28 points.

Before his exit, Pippen Jr. had a productive night off the bench, scoring 18 points, six assists and two steals in 21 minutes. Jaylen Wells also scored 25 points for the Grizzlies, but it was not enough to overcome Miami’s 36-assist performance and hot shooting.

The loss marked the 11th loss in 14 games for Memphis, while the Heat improved their standing in the Eastern Conference. Both players now face the possibility of a fine or suspension as the league reviews tape of the corner wrestling match.