Photo by Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images

Jay Beagle found himself in an unfamiliar place at the start of overtime on Saturday night. Taking the opening faceoff of the extra period. 

Beagle, the team’s best at winning faceoffs, rarely makes his way on to the ice for 3-on-3 overtime play, typically surrendering the three available spots to star forwards and defenseman.

Coach Barry Trotz flipped the script on Saturday night, starting Beagle in overtime. One can see starting Beagle to win the faceoff, then rotating him out for a top-line forward, but Trotz wanted him out there for the entire first shift. Beagle would answer the call, winning the faceoff, and potting the game-winner.

BEAGLE’S OTGWG! #CapsStars#RockTheRedpic.twitter.com/bDpNkiEK1u

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 22, 2017

Coach Trotz was asked about the decision to put Beagle out there.

In his post-game media session, Beagle, in typical Beagle fashion, deflected a large amount of the credit for the game-winning goal to Evgeny Kuznetsov, who made the game-winning pass from below the goal line.

Beagle’s goal was his 10th of the season, already tying his career best set in the 2014-2015 season.

By Jon Sorensen
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