Braden Holtby has never beaten the Dallas Stars and the Capitals haven’t beat them at home since 2006. Eric Lindros played in that game and so did Jeff Halpern…for Dallas. Things didn’t change on Monday night.
Devin Shore gave the Stars a very early 1-0 lead after a review for goaltender interference confirmed his first period marker. After misfires on the man advantage from both teams, that’s how the first ended.
Radek Faksa extended the lead after a Nicklas Backstrom turnover and Jason Spezza quickly did the same after a Dmitry Orlov turnover forcing Philipp Grubauer into the game. Nicklas Backstrom got one back for the good guys on a tip-in after a fantastic pass from Kevin Shattenkirk. We’d end 40 minutes 3-1 Stars.
TJ Oshie backhanded his 25th of the year upstairs over Karl Lehtonen to make it 3-2. Patrick Sharp empty net goal killed the comeback.
Stars beat Caps 4-2.
- Is anyone else completely and utterly tired of every single sports affiliated Twitter account trying to be what I can only call “memelords”? Not everyone can or should try to be the Blue Jackets social media team. Looking at you NHL on NBC.
- Brooks Orpik shoved a dude into Braden Holtby, which led to the Stars first goal. I don’t see the argument that Shore had enough time to get out of the crease. As Peter Hassett would say “Should of played Nate”.
- Reminder that if you’re ever wearing one of our shirts at a game to tweet us a pic!
We see you, Cans fan in our "I'm With Holtby" shirt https://t.co/2NJJs32N1V pic.twitter.com/mcGuKLRifN
— RMNB (@russianmachine) March 7, 2017
- The Dallas Stars are the only team Holtby has never beaten in his career and they seemingly never lose to the Capitals no matter who is in net anyway. I have hypothesized that Mike Modano probably has some type of voodoo curse on DC.
- John Carlson seems really adamant on missing the net from every single position possible on the Capitals 1-3-1 power play set up.
- It is very obvious to me that Kevin Shattenkirk needs more minutes; see Nicklas Backstrom’s goal. He’s an elite skater, passer and clearly a number one defenseman. The problem is that Orpik definitely does not need more minutes. I however do know a smiley boy named Nate Schmidt that could go for some more time on ice.
- Barry Trotz matched up his Jay Beagle led “4th line, that’s really the 3rd line” against another top trio for the second game in a row. They were much better than they were against Philadelphia, but this doesn’t mean that they should play the amount of minutes that they have been 5v5.
- Nicklas Backstrom scored on Swedish Heritage Night at the Verizon Center. Go build some cheap furniture in his honor while listening to some ABBA.
- Atlanta Thrasher legend Kari Lehtonen wasn’t lettin’ in much of anything as the Caps pumped in over 40 shots. The Finnish netminder has apparently forgot all about being owned by the Caps when he was in Georgia.
- Alex Ovechkin is never going to score again.
Joe B suit of the night
Whew. See you Thursday for the Sharks in San Jose.
Headline image: Patrick Smith
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