Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images
The Washington Capitals fell to the Dallas Stars 4-3 (OT) on Saturday night at Capital One Arena. The loss drops the Capitals record to 5-4-3. The Capitals continue the five-game home stand on Monday when they host Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM.
After giving up two quick goals in the middle of the first period, Nicklas Backstrom would strike to make it 2-1 midway through the second period. After Dallas regained the two goal advantage, Brett Connolly would score his second goal of the season to make it 3-2 at the second intermission. Evgeny Kuznetsov would tie the game with a power play goal early in the third, sending the game to overtime. The Stars would win it in overtime.
STARTERS
Braden Holtby (4-3-1, 3.60 GAA, .887 sv%) started in net for the defending champions. Ben Bishop (5-4-0, 2.26 GAA, .925 sv%) started between the pipes for the visiting Stars. The starting lines and defensive pairs for the Capitals:
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Vrana
Burakovsky-Backstrom-Oshie
Jaskin-Eller-Connolly
Stephenson-Dowd-DSP
Kempny-Carlson
Orlov-Niskanen
Djoos-Bowey
Brooks Orpik missed his second-straight game with a lower body injury. Aaron Ness and Nathan Walker were the healthy scratches.
FIRST PERIOD
The Stars would strike with back-to-back goals just 10 seconds apart midway through the opening frame. Jason Spezza would start the scoring with a breakaway goal at 10:51 of the opening frame. The goal was setup by a sloppy turnover by the Caps in the neutral zone.
Just 10 seconds later, Tyler Pitlick would make it 2-0, cleaning up loose change on the door step. Braden Holtby would turn the puck over behind the Capitals goal, leading to an easy, close-range snipe by Pitlick.
SECOND PERIOD
The Capitals would quickly cut the Stars lead to one just 38 seconds into the middle frame. Nicklas Backstrom would snipe a filthy dagger from a sharp angle on the left side to make it 2-1.
But the Stars would get their two goal lead back later in the period. Jamie Benn would record the Stars third goal at 10:36 of the middle frame.
The Capitals would cut the Stars lead to one with a goal from Brett Connolly at 12:31 of the second period.
The period would end with the Stars holding a 3-2 lead. The Capitals outshot the Stars 13-9 for the middle frame, and led 24-20 after two periods of play.
THIRD PERIOD
Evgeny Kuznetsov would tie the game with a power play goal early in the third with another nasty, top-shelf power play goal from the right front.
Regulation would end with the game tied 3-3. Dallas outshot Washington 10-7 in the final frame.
OVERTIME
The Stars would win it in overtime.
SHAVINGS
- Evgeny Kuznetsov scored his sixth power play goal of the season. All of his goals have come on the man advantage.
- Nicklas Backstrom brings scored his third goal of the year. He’s now seven goals shy of passing Mike Ridley (218) for fourth place on the Capitals franchise goals list.
- Connolly now has nine points (2g, 7a) in 12 games. That’s a 0.75 points per game. His career points per game average was 0.32.
- The NHL box score is here.
SCENES FROM THE DISTRICT