The Capitals had earned at least one point in their first eight games this month, seven of which they won and dropped the eighth in overtime, and have overcome third-period deficits in five of their previous six games for the hottest team of the season. To become NHL.
But for the first time in weeks, the capitals dug too deep into a 3-2 loss, a deflationary setback that sent Washington into Monday’s trading deadline with questions about adding new blood to the roster. The team also needs to recover after a few key players from the lineup were out with injuries, absences that were gleaming as the capitals came out flat and could not compensate for it later.
“We are 2-0 down, [and] we follow the game. It’s a good effort in the end, but you can not do it, “said coach Peter Laviolette.” You can not give up two goals and expect every game to come back. “
Nevertheless, Washington had a chance in the final minutes after Dmitry Orlov left the Stars at 3-2 with just under 11 minutes left. The Capitals beat Dallas 14-2 in the final 20 minutes, and captain Alex Ovechkin had a few glances at a late powerplay.
Adding salt to the wound was a late game during a chase for Puck, in which Dallas’ Jamie Benn appeared to push defender John Carlson into the boards. Carlson went into the locker room for the final seconds of the game as Washington experienced its first regulatory loss in nine games.
“[Benn] has a lot of help. That’s dirty, “said Benn’s Laviolette, who was judged to be a roughing minor (like Tom Wilson) from a scrum that followed the game. Laviolette added that he expects the NHL to play the game for additional discipline reviewed.
But with the trade deadline dreaming, Sunday felt like “just another day,” said center Lars Eller, who returned to the lineup after spending his last week in the NHL’s coronavirus protocols. The vibe would certainly feel different if the capitals were not in the playoff hunt, he said, trying to extend their hottest stretch of the season.
But Washington was sloppy in the first period as Dallas, who lost four of five in the second game of a rematch after a loss Saturday to the New York Islanders, took a 2-0 lead on a goal from Alexander Radulov and a power -Play-Tally by Roope Hintz. Ovechkin reduced the deficit to 2-1 with a shot on a powerplay in the second period. It was his 40th goal – making this his 12th season in which he has scored at least 40, setting Wayne Gretzky’s record – and his 11th in the last 14 games.
But Washington’s penalty kill, which missed some key players, saw Hintz make it 3-1 with another power-play goal along with the Capitals’ Vitek Vanecek (20 saves) entering the game after six straight victories.
“We always find a way to win or come back, so we tried to do it today,” said Orlov, who reduced the Capitals’ deficit to 3-2 with just under 11 minutes left, in a feed from Wilson shot to bring the deficit. Capital One Arena crowd at its feet. Vanecek made a crucial path-saving moment later on a point shot from Jason Robertson.
It was not enough. Washington could not convert to a power play with just under five minutes left, and Dallas held on.
“There’s another game coming up, so we have to take positives out of this game,” Orlov said, “and bring the next one up and try to play a full 60 minutes, not just any period better.”
Here’s what else to know from the loss of Capitals:
Eller back; van Riemsdyk zu IR
After spending almost a week in isolation after a positive test for the coronavirus in Vancouver, Eller returned to the lineup on Sunday. He said he had no symptoms and was never sick while isolated, but he felt his return was overwhelming.
“I felt good. Not one of my best players. I was fine. Fair, I think,” he said.
Meanwhile, defender Trevor van Riemsdyk was put on injury reserve with an upper body injury suffered in Friday’s win in Carolina and will be eligible to be activated this coming Saturday, the team said. Forward TJ Oshie missed his second straight game with a lower body injury, and center Nic Dowd also suffered an upper body injury and is sidelined.
The Capitals have recruited Hershey’s Brett Leason from the American Hockey League and re-assigned Mike Vecchione, who made his first NHL appearance in nearly five years against the Hurricanes.
With a few key members of their penalties on the shelf, the Capitals conceded two power-play goals to Hintz, the second of whom the Stars had a 3-1 lead in the middle of the second. Washington entered the day with an 86.4 assassination rate this month, good for fifth in the NHL.
“The players are in charge,” Orlov said. “So we’ll see. Our PK was good this month.
Washington’s power play has also improved a lot in recent weeks – its 38.5 conversion rate in March was Sunday’s fourth ranking, up 16.4 a month. The capitals finished 1 for 5.
Former Capital’s goalkeeper Braden Holtby has not adapted for the Stars – he is taking care of a lower body injury – but he’s still back at the Capital One Arena for the first time since joining the organization two years ago left.
The popular backstop of the Capitals’ 2018 Stanley Cup team spent some time taking pictures with fans before the game, and he got a loud ovation after a tribute video in the first period.
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