The Caps visited Sunrise on Thursday night. But before the game the NHL and the Florida Panthers honored the victims of last week’s tragedy in nearby Parkland. To call the ceremony powerful and heart-wrenching would be obvious and an understatement. The ceremony, and the thoughts it forces to the front of the mind of students and teachers being gunned down in a f@$#ing school building, really puts things in perspective. Hockey? Yeah sure, a fun hobby. And hopefully a hobby that helped give an outlet to a community likely in need of a distraction for a bit.

Maxim Mamin, which is a fun name, started the scoring early, banging home a rebound to give the home team an early lead. Late in the period Andre Burakovsky, who is sometimes not placed among the team’s top-12 forwards by his coach, tied the game with a shot through traffic. Just kidding, the goal was later credited to Lars Eller.

About halfway through the second, Andre Burakovsky fired home a PP goal to give the Caps the lead.

With a little under four minutes left, Nick Bjugstad tied it up. Vincent Trochek gave the Panthers the win with 18 seconds left on a PP goal after a STUPID penalty by Lars Eller.

Caps lose 3-2

• The NHL and the Florida Panthers did a great job with the pregame ceremonies honoring those who lost their lives last week at Stoneman Douglas High School. Honestly, it left me both sad and angry, and not really feeling much like investing myself in a hockey game tonight.
• I think the NHL and some clubs really botch many initiatives and public relations issues. That wasn’t the case here. The ceremony was a complete home run.
• And then Roberto Luongo spoke. Man, good on him and it’s amazing he was able to focus and play goal in the best hockey league in the world after that. Hats off to you, Roberto.
• I hope these kids win 100-0

The Stoneman Douglas hockey team is here tonight. One of the players lost his sister. The coaches and players have asked not to be interviewed, and of course we are respecting their privacy. They play in the state semis tomorrow.

— Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) February 23, 2018

• I wonder if there’s anywhere to stream that game tomorrow. If anyone is able to dig one up, definitely let us know
• That first Panthers goal was not how Michal Kempny wanted to start his Caps career. Honestly, it was a bit of a freak bounce so it’s not really fair to evaluate the split-second before the goal in a vacuum, but not the best look for the new guy on the blue line. He was beat around the paint again on the Panthers second goal.
• Overall, I thought Kempny looked fine. He can definitely skate and looks to move the puck quickly once he gets it. But honestly, how fair is it to evaluate a guy when he’s skating alongside one of the worst defenders in the league?
• Let’s just say we agree that Braden Holtby hasn’t been great for the last month or so. I mean, there’s plenty of context one could argue like how bad the Caps defense is, but let’s just say we agree. It’s amazing to me how many people weigh the last month more heavily than the last few years. Anything is possible, so maybe Holtby will never bounce back (bet against it). But, if that’s the case, it’ll take a lot more than this recent stretch for me to lose faith in him. So knock it off, Holtby haters. Ya goobers.
• TJ Oshie has fewer 5-on-5 goals (four) this season than Jay Beagle and Andre Burakovsky (both with five). None of the numbers suggest this is concussion-related as Oshie wasn’t producing at even strength before the concussion and some of his underlying numbers are actually better after the concussion than before. The contract was bad the minute it was signed, but even the biggest skeptic of the deal didn’t expect his production to dry up like this. Hopefully he can get on a hot streak soon and it’ll last for like four seasons.
• To be honest, the entire second line didn’t do a lot tonight. The Caps need more from a line with that much talent (and two guys on eight-year deals).
• #TopLineTom is the best Tom. Hopefully Barry continues to stick with that line.
• It’s good to see Burakovsky score enough that his coach likely won’t think about taking him out of the lineup anytime soon.
• WWE is so boring right now. Honestly, how do you keep Rusev off teevee for two consecutive Rusev days?
• Evgeny Kuzentsov is way too good to be minus-8 in penalty differential. What the heck, man? Shape up.
• Hug your kids. Tell the people you love that you love them. Let them know you realize that life goes fast and it’s hard to make the good things last.

Full RMNB Coverage of Caps at Panthers

Headline image: Eliot J. Schechter