Capitals @ Panthers Recap: Capitals Grab Point After Comeback, Lose 5-4 in OT

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The Washington Capitals had to go from playing one monster team in the Tampa Bay Lightning to another in South Florida taking on the Florida Panthers - a team which has yet to lose in regulation, going 8-0-1 on the season. They’ve been incredibly strong all over the ice with the surprise of Sergei Bobrovsky stepping up and getting back to his old self.

Plus: It was good to see the boys whip out the big guns to make a great comeback after going down three goals to one of the best teams in the league.

Minus: Caps are 0-4 in the overtime, which is pretty ridiculous considering the talent they have in their lineup (even with some injuries).

And now, this:

A few more notes on the game:

• The game had an odd start when Ilya Samsonov left the ice literally seconds before the game started, thrusting Vitek Vanecek into the net. Samsonov did return three minutes in but the very first shift the John Carlson turned the puck over and after a one timer from the slot he wasn’t able to control the rebound and Alexander Barkov scored. Samsonov was interfered with but the refs determined it was Carlson’s fault.
• Caps put on the pressure but after another Carlson turnover the Panthers had another high danger chance. Samsonov came up with the save but was run into again and in trying to recover a point shot from Aaron Ekblad went past the screen and off the post and in giving the Panthers a 0-2 lead. It was not a good period for Carlson.
• The Capitals had a power play and had a couple chances but it was no go. They finished the period well but those two turnovers were fatal.
• After the Capitals had their own goalie drama to start the first period, the Panthers had their own to start the second period when they brought in back up, but incredibly talented, Spencer Knight to replace Bobrovsky. And much like how Sammy was thrown into the game after coming in late to face a Barkov slot shot, Knight had to face a Daniel Sprong break away snipe. Neither goalie succeeded. Sprong cut the game to 1-2 Panthers.
• Shortly after, Sprong almost made the highlight reel when he was in close alone and made the in between the legs shot but Knight came up with a big save.
• Kuznetsov broke into the offensive zone five minutes into the second on a partial breakaway and drew a penalty. Capitals had another good looking powerplay but nothing came of it. You can tell the powerplay needs guys like Nicklas Backstrom and TJ Oshie back on the ice.
• The Panthers took back a two goal lead on a nice moving screen on Samsonov from a point shot. All three goals against were screened shots. It looks like Sammy pulled himself from the game after that, maybe he was still lingering from whatever stopped him from starting the game. Vitek Vanecek took the crease.
• The Panthers thought they scored on the powerplay but this time there was goalie interference and it was waived off.
• The Panthers ended up taking a 4-1 lead on the powerplay shortly after with about four minutes left in the second period.
• But the Captain came to the rescue when Alexander Ovechkin came in, after a nice drop pass by Lars Eller, and ripped a shot low glove side on Knight to cut the Panthers lead 2-4.
• Then with 16 seconds left in the second period Tom Wilson came in on a 2-on-1 with Kuznetsov. Kuznetsov almost tucked it in but the Caps kept the play alive and off a Carlson point shot Wilson was able to deflect the shot in, cutting the Panthers lead to 3-4. It was Wilson’s first goal of the game.
• To start the third period Kuznetsov whipped out a classic and tried the twister pass to Connor McMichael but Knight came up with a big toe save. But McMichael would eventually score his first NHL goal shortly after to tie the game 4-4.

It was a tense game down the last minute in the third before the game went to overtime. And the Capitals... did not break that losing streak, losing in overtime to the Panthers. With all the talent they have they should not be 0-4 in the overtime. Have to come up with to something new.

The Capitals head home to take on the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.