Washington Capitals (24-12-3 51pts) v. Dallas Stars (21-16-4 46pts)
Game Recap:
The Washington Capitals opened up this game with a lot more jump in their stride as they would take the momentum of this game early. However, a Matt Niskanen penalty less than six minutes into the game would allow the Dallas Stars to swing the momentum their way, but the Capitals would successfully kill off the penalty. After some more faced paced action between the two teams, Alex Ovechkin would take an ill advised boarding penalty which would allow the Stars to get on the board during the powerplay as Tyler Seguin netted his 14th of the season. After the Stars took the lead, the Capitals started to look very sluggish, especially in their own zone. The Capitals would be out shot 14-5 in the first period, as well as dominated in the faceoff circle 11-6 by the Stars.
In the second period, the Capitals would get their first powerplay opportunity as Roman Polak would be called interference, but the Capitals would not be very effective with the extra attacker on this one as they only registered one shot on goal. However, after the powerplay ended the Capitals would maintain zone time, and create pressure on the Stars in their own zone. With this pressure and built up the momentum the Capitals would get a goal from Lars Eller off of a backhand shot that Anton Khudobin never saw due to the screen by Andre Burakovsky. Then off of coincidental minors to Alexander Radulov and Michal Kempny both teams would generate some scoring chances, but neither would be able to capitalize on them during the 4 on 4. With less than 5 minutes left in the period Eller would be called for high sticking, but the Capitals would play spectacularly on this penalty kill that even saw some great offense generated by Tom Wilson and Chandler Stephenson. In the second period this was a much better period for the Capitals as they out shot the Stars 15-8, were skating better, and generating much better scoring opportunities. However, the Stars are still dominating the Capitals in the faceoff circle.
Midway through the 3rd period after a lot of back and forth between the two teams, the Capitals would get a powerplay opportunity when Erik Condra would be called for hooking. On the powerplay the Capitals mixed it up a bit and got three shots on goal, including two by Ovechkin on different looks. After a lot of great pressure inside the Stars zone, Matt Niskanen would draw a penalty as Brett Ritchie would be called for slashing to give the Capitals their second powerplay of the period. While the Capitals did not convert on this powerplay, they would continue the push after the penalty expired and create a really great scoring chance that Khudobin would rob them on. After no goals being scored in third, which saw the Capitals dominate the Stars in the shot department 14-2, this game would head to overtime.
After a very close back and forth overtime period it would be Radulov protecting the puck extremely well while wrapping around the net to find an open Seguin for the game winning goal in overtime. The Capitals will walk out with one point and be tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins for first place in the Metropolitan Division. Also hats of to both goalies as Khudobin and Pheonix Copley both played spectacularly for their teams.
Lineups:
Washington Capitals:
Alex Ovechkin — Evgeny Kuznetsov — Tom Wilson
Jakub Vrana — Nicklas Backstrom — T.J. Oshie
Andre Burakovsky — Lars Eller — Brett Connolly
Chandler Stephenson — Travis Boyd — Devante Smith-Pelly
Michal Kempny — John Carlson
Matt Niskanen — Dmitry Orlov
Brooks Orpik — Jonas Siegenthaler
Pheonix Copley
Braden Holtby
Scratched: Nic Dowd, Dmitrij Jaskin, Madison Bowey
Injured: Christian Djoos (leg)
Dallas Stars:
Valeri Nichushkin — Tyler Seguin — Alexander Radulov
Blake Comeau — Radek Faksa — Tyler Pitlick
Devin Shore — Jason Spezza — Brett Ritchie
Mattias Janmark — Roope Hintz — Erik Condra
Esa Lindell — John Klingberg
Miro Heiskanen — Roman Polak
Julius Honka — Taylor Fedun
Anton Khudobin
Ben Bishop
Scratched: Connor Carrick
Injured: Jamie Benn (upper body), Stephen Johns (upper body), Marc Methot (lower body), Jason Dickinson (upper body), Martin Hanzal (back)
First Period:
Capitals Penalty – 5:28 – Matt Niskanen 2 minutes for Hooking
Capitals Penalty – 12:46 – Alex Ovechkin 2 minutes for Boarding
Stars PPG – 13:20 – Tyler Seguin (14) from Radek Faksa (9) and Alexander Radulov (22)
End of 1st – WAS – 0 DAL – 1
Shots 05 14
Faceoffs 06 11
Hits 09 09
PP 0/0 1/2
Second Period:
Stars Penalty – 4:31 – Roman Polak 2 minutes for Interference
Capitals Goal – 10:19 – Lars Eller (6) from Andre Burakovsky (4) and Brooks Orpik (2)
Stars Penalty – 11:39 – Alexander Radulov 2 minutes for Hooking
Capitals Penalty – 11:39 – Michal Kempny 2 minutes for Embellishment
Capitals Penalty – 16:09 – Lars Eller 2 minutes for High Sticking
End of 2nd – WAS – 1 DAL – 1
Shots 20 23
Faceoffs 12 21
Hits 18 16
PP 0/1 1/3
Third Period:
Stars Penalty – 9:24 – Erik Condra 2 minutes for Hooking
Stars Penalty – 15:35 – Brett Ritchie 2 minutes for Slashing
End of 3rd – WAS – 1 DAL – 1
Shots 34 25
Faceoffs 19 32
Hits 26 26
PP 0/3 1/3
OT:
Stars Goal – 3:37 – Tyler Seguin (15) from Alexander Radulov (23)
End of OT – WAS – 1 DAL – 1
Shots 37 29
Faceoffs 22 35
Hits 27 26
PP 0/3 1/3
Next Up:
Washington (24-12-4 52pts) @ Detroit (16-20-7 39pts)
Dallas (22-16-4 48pts) @ Winnipeg (25-13-2 52pts)
