The Washington Capitals dramatically out-attempted the Dallas Stars at five-on-five Saturday night, 58 to 36. But it was the Capitals who ultimately gave up more high-danger chances (8 to 6) and had more devastating turnovers, falling 4-3 to the Stars in overtime.
Despite making several huge saves during the extra session, Braden Holtby gave up the game-winning goal to Jason Dickinson.
The Holtbeast was very frustrated leaving the ice.
As he skated towards the Caps bench, Holtby appears to check out the replay on the jumbotron. Something Holtby sees sets him off. The goaltender closes his eyes, shakes his head, shouts, bends over, and then shouts something again.
Dickinson’s goal came after a failed breakout. Capitals defenseman John Carlson attempted a pass to Jakub Vrana up the wing, but the Czech forward lost his balance, turning the puck over to Dickinson at the blue line.
As Dickinson pressed towards the net, Carlson raced out to guard him. Dickinson took a shot towards the net, and Carlson tried to block or redirect it away with the blade of his stick. Instead, the contact muffed the biscuit through Holtby’s five-hole. The goaltender seemed caught off-guard by the direction of the shot.
It’s the second consecutive game-winning goal Carlson has been on the ice for and his stick positioning arguably contributed to both. Carlson also appeared to throw Holtby off on Max Domi’s goal with 22 seconds left in Thursday night’s game against the Canadiens, not allowing the Capitals goaltender a completely clear view of the shot.
Holtby was likely also frustrated because he deserved a better fate in overtime. The Holtbeast made two sensational, highlight-reel stops – both on Stars’ superstar Tyler Seguin – that should have saved the Capitals’ figurative bacon.
The former Vezina winner first stopped Seguin on a breakaway, somehow getting the blade of his stick on the forward’s backhand shot.
Take another look.
After being obstructed by John Carlson, Seguin was awarded a rare penalty shot in overtime. Seguin stayed on his forehand for this chance and aimed his shot towards the top corner of the net. Holtby got his glove on it.
In total, Holtby made 33 saves on the evening, but a turnover the goalie made in the first period led directly to a Tyler Pitlick goal that put Dallas up 2-0.
This season, Holtby, playing in front of a struggling team defense, is 4-3-2 with an uncharacteristic 3.62 goals against average and a .888 save percentage.
