The Washington Capitals have recently struggled to hold on to leads in six-on-five, empty-net situations.
That was not a problem on Friday night, when New York’s Josh Bailey beefed it hardcore, scoring an own-goal that will haunt his dreams until his dying day. Probably.
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With under two minutes left in the game and trailing by one, Isles head coach Barry Trotz summoned goalie Thomas Griess to the bench for an extra attacker. The Caps fished the puck out of their zone and pushed play into neutral. Near center ice, TJ Oshie chipped the puck towards the New York zone.
Then. Stuff. Gets. Scuffed. At the blue line, Bailey settled the puck and blind-passed it backwards to reset the Isles attack.
Except. NO ONE IS THERE.
Brock Nelson chased after the puck, but it could not be stopped.
Bailey was distraught.
One day this July he’ll be at the beach trying to relax, mixing a mojito, humming a Jimmy Buffet song, and then this goal will replay in his head and he’ll fall to the ground, go into the fetal position, and stay there for a good 10-15 minutes.
That’s is TJ Oshie’s 21st “goal” but we’re going to put quotes around “goal” whenever we talk about his 21st “goal”, deal?
