"Both players earned matching five-minute majors for fighting, but McIlrath earned the Capitals a power play after Xhekaj was assessed an extra two-minute minor for instigating and a 10-minute misconduct. The bout was McIlrath's second this season; he previously fought the Anaheim Ducks' Ross Johnston in the Jacob Trouba revenge game. His fight with Xhekaj comes after the two both earned fines last season from the NHL for unsportsmanlike conduct they exhibited before a Capitals-Canadiens' playoff game."
"The McIlrath fight seemed to wake up the Capitals, who scored three unanswered goals after the bout: two from Ethen Frank in the third period and one from Connor McMichael in overtime. McIlrath's tide-turning shift came in his 100th career game in the NHL. He got a special shoutout from Spencer Carbery inside the locker room after the team's victory. "And Mac getting it going!" Carbery said as the players clapped. ""F***ing rights, Mac. Game 100, too.""
McIlrath played just 5:58 and 10 shifts but delivered a huge neutral-zone hit that altered momentum. Seven seconds later Arber Xhekaj challenged him and they fought, with Xhekaj earning extra penalties for instigating and a misconduct while both received five-minute majors. The penalties produced a Capitals power play and appeared to galvanize Washington, which scored three straight goals — two by Ethen Frank and an overtime winner by Connor McMichael. The sequence occurred in McIlrath's 100th NHL game and prompted a spirited team acknowledgment from coach Spencer Carbery in the locker room.
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