2 – Number of regulation losses for the Capitals when scoring the first goal of the game (20-2-3 overall), and when leading after two periods (23-2-3). Both regulation losses, in both cases, were against the Nashville Predators — and the circumstances of each of the losses are eerily similar.
Back on October 10th, the Caps paid an early-season visit to Nashville to take on the Preds. The Caps got on the board first thanks to the third line, with Lars Eller scoring about halfway through the first period — only to see the Predators tie it up a little over a minute later. Goals from Ovechkin and Wilson led the way to a 4-2 lead after two periods, but Nashville stormed back to tie it up in the third and Mattias Ekholm scored with about five minutes to go in regulation, the eventual game-winner to wrap up a wild one.
Cut to last night and things played out… well, pretty much like that (albeit with a few more adventures at each end of the ice). The visiting Preds again ceded the game’s first goal to the Caps’ third line, this time courtesy of Richard Panik, before tying it up about a minute later. The Caps carried a 4-3 lead into the locker room after forty minutes, again with goals from Ovechkin and Wilson. And for the second time, the Preds came back to tie it in the third… and then got the eventual game-winner with just about five minutes remaining in regulation.
Needless to say, no one is sad that this season series is over.