The Washington Capitals put up a strong fight, but ultimately fell short, losing 3-2 in overtime. The decisive moment occurred with a tough break in front of the net, allowing J.T. Miller to capitalize. Despite this setback, there was a glimpse of hope for the Caps as they seemed poised to secure back-to-back victories, following what many considered their most well-rounded performance of the season.
Nic Dowd opened the scoring 1:08 into the game, assisted by Nicolas-Aube Kubel and Rasmus Sandin, marking Dowd’s eighth goal of the season. However, Conor Garland leveled the score at 1-1 at 11:09, leaving the teams tied after the first period.
Alex Ovechkin showcased his exceptional skill once again, giving the Caps the lead at 7:37, extending his streak to six consecutive games with a point and five consecutive games with a goal. Dylan Strome and T.J. Oshie contributed with the assists.
This goal also brought him within 59 of tying the legendary player and 60 of surpassing him, totaling 13 goals this season and 835 in his career.
The Canucks led in shots 10-7 in the first period, while the Caps outshot them 15-9 in the second and 8-7 in the third. In overtime, both teams had three shots each, prolonging the game once more. Despite the tense moments, a costly turnover in front of the goal, following a save by Darcy Kuemper, resulted in the game-winning goal by Miller. No specific names were mentioned, but for those who watched the game, the implication was clear.
The decisive goal came with only five seconds left in overtime, a time when the Caps would have likely welcomed a shootout. Kuemper concluded the game with 26 saves, while the Caps outshot the Canucks 33-29.
Next up for the Caps is a matchup against the Colorado Avalanche tomorrow night at 7 p.m. It’s worth noting that the team is taking a break today, so there won’t be any updates on the lines until closer to game time.
