Capitals 1, Stars 2
Game Summary, Event Summary
It was a great start for the Washington Capitals, taking an early 1-0 lead on their power play only to see their woes at even strength continue as they lose in Dallas against the new look Stars.
Alex Ovechkin scored again on the power play, giving him a three game goal streak. Three of his four tallies have been with the extra man. Braden Holtby easily outplayed his counterpart Kari Lehtonen making some spectacular saves down the stretch to keep his team in it.
Nick Backstrom had a goal disallowed after incidental contact as he cross checked Lehtonen in the face as the puck dropped in behind the Dallas goal keeper. The no goal decision by the officials proved costly for the team in red, as a bad turn over led to a Alex Chiasson goal to give the Stars the lead and the eventual game winner.
The Caps had real trouble with the Stars forecheck. Their team speed was tough for the Caps to handle to even clear the puck from their own zone. The physical play of the Stars also kept the Caps off kilter.
Five on five play by the Capitals was dismal and it needs to take advantage of teams not wanting to face their power play. Instead of moving their feet and finding the open guy, the Caps seem dead set on making the same break out plays and allowing the other team to stand them up at the opposing blue line.
What is good about a game like tonight is that all the woes the Capitals faced are fixable. The decisions the defenders in their own end needed to be faster and more confident with moving the puck up. With as good as this team on the power play, it seems to wane at even strength.
Caps get a few days off to re-group and face their first divisional foe on Thursday in Carolina.
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