Hockey

The Washington Capitals had to hold on for a 3-2 win against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night despite Logan Thompson allowing a third-period goal due to distraction from nachos.

Thompson told reporters after the game a tray of cheese-covered nachos thrown onto the ice diverted his attention when Corey Perry scored a goal.

"I've never seen that before. Obviously, I've got to play to the whistle. That one's on me," said Thompson.

Capitals coach Spencer Carbery called it the "first" time he's ever seen a nacho-related incident on the ice, then joked "maybe we can bring them into the locker room" if anyone saved them.

The nachos could have played a significant role in the outcome of the game.

Thompson was able to regroup afterward, stopping the final four shots he saw the rest of the game to seal the win for Washington in a big game between two of the NHL's best teams.

The victory gave the Capitals 69 points, the most in the league. They have a four-point edge over the Winnipeg Jets in the race for the Presidents' Trophy.

Edmonton (61 points) is one point behind the Vegas Golden Knights, who have lost four straight games, for the top spot in the Pacific Division. The Oilers haven't won a division title since the 1986-87 season.

Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid and the NHLPA won't appeal his three-game suspension for a cross-check to the head of Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland, per ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.

According to Wyshynski, McDavid's camp decided not to appeal "with the understanding that the timeline for appeal might not have prevented him from missing the next three games." His camp also made the decision with the understanding that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman rarely changes suspensions made by the NHL Department of Player Safety.

During the Oilers' Jan. 18 game against the Canucks, Garland held McDavid down in the final seconds, leading to frustration and ultimately a cross-check. McDavid earned a match penalty as a result of the play.

The NHL's Department of Player Safety announced the suspension on Monday. He was also fined $195,312.51, which will go to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund. Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers earned a three-game suspension for cross-checking Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard moments after McDavid's cross-check.

After the suspension was announced on Monday, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said McDavid has to deal with hard defense like that which was played against him on Saturday and said he "puts up with more than the average player."

"There was a lot of frustration. [McDavid] plays through a lot," Knoblauch told reporters. "Ironically, he doesn't draw very many penalties. Our team doesn't draw that many penalties for that matter, which is kind of ironic because we usually have the puck and the other team's defending more."

"He's under the microscope every time he's on the ice because he's dangerous," he continued. "[Opponents] don't give him room, give him another shot, hold him a little bit, tug on his jersey, get in his way. All those little things that maybe could be called penalties, but maybe not. If you called every single one, you're changing the game. It's a fine line. But I definitely believe that he puts up [with] more than the average player."

McDavid is fifth in the league in both assists (45) and points (65) and has 20 goals this season. He will miss the Oilers' games against the Washington Capitals, Canucks and Buffalo Sabres this week.