Photo credit: Nick Wass

Late in the third period with the Washington Capitals trailing 3-2, Alex Ovechkin took a pass from Marcus Johansson in the center of the ice and fired a ridiculous snap shot towards Anaheim Ducks’ goaltender Jonas Hiller. The puck, rolling end over end, beat Hiller clean. PING.

Ovechkin raised his hands to the sky, the goal horn went off, and Caps fans celebrated yet another miracle comeback goal from their team’s captain.

But the puck never actually went in. The referee waived it off.

Look again.

As Hiller stretched towards the puck, he got a tiny piece of his glove on the biscuit, turning a gimme Ovi goal into a heart-breaking bounce off the crossbar.

Puck meets crossbar.

Caps fans, who were only treated to one replay of the shot in-house (which I’m told looked like a goal), were furious after referees reviewed the shot and confirmed it did not go in. A loud, audible “REF, YOU SUCK” chant filled Verizon Center during the final two minutes of play.

The tale of this loss, however, is that the Caps can’t give away big leads and then expect to come back every game. Ovi is a three-time MVP, not a miracle worker.

Anaheim, who has now won nine straight games, is too good of a team.

Especially when they’re trying to win a big one for Bruce.

GIFs by welshhockeyfan