Jaroslav Halak gave the Capitals flashbacks of 2010. The goalie was a metaphorical brick wall again, stopping 42 of 44 shots. Thankfully, TJ Oshie scored the game-tying goal with 59 seconds left in the third period forcing the Capitals-Bruins to overtime. After five minutes of three-on-three couldn’t end the game, a five-round shootout was needed to decide the victor.
In the fifth round, Jakub Vrana pulled out a new trick out of his bag, faking Halak out with a Pavel Datsyuk-esque move.
Video
.@JVranaa delivers absolute filth pic.twitter.com/TTn3hh5YJn
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) November 17, 2019
Vrana used a toe drag to send Halak into the fetal position before firing the puck into the empty net. Braden Holtby stopped Chris Wagner to give the Capitals the win.
After the game, NBC Sports Washington created a dual video showing Vrana’s goal and Datsyuk’s famous move. The execution looks nearly identical.
Iconic #13's @Datsyuk13 @JVranaa pic.twitter.com/1BHXw4cdVo
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) November 17, 2019
“He was hard all game,” Vrana said of Halak after the game. “He had some big saves in the game. In a situation like this, I just felt like you have to do something different to put the puck through him. I think it was just a good execution, yeah.
“We have lots of great shootout players,” Vrana added. “I’ve been watching them and obviously learning from them. I had a chance to see how he react a couple of shootout [attempts] before me so I take advantage of it.”
Jakub Vrana, TJ Oshie, Travis Boyd, and Braden Holtby talk after tonight's #CapsBruins shootout victory pic.twitter.com/2jPbBPM2Yg
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 17, 2019
Vrana’s teammates and coaches were stunned by his shootout goal.
“Nasty. Unbelievable,” Travis Boyd said. “I’m sure it’ll be all over the highlights tonight. Not only to go ahead in the shootout, and put us ahead there, and give us a chance to win, but to do it in that fashion, that’s pretty cool, yeah!”
Head coach Todd Reirden was equally as impressed.
“Oh man. That was an outstanding move,” a smiling Reirden said. “I haven’t seen that very often from practice even. That was good. Certainly he has elite skill and he’s been able to score on breakaways this year. So I felt pretty confident. I wasn’t sure what move he was going with. And I didn’t think it’d be that one.”
This might be a good time to also link back to this Vrana shootout goal from 2014 Capitals Development Camp.
Vrana already have nine goals this season in 22 games, including two game-winning goals. On the night, Vrana had 17:45 of time on ice and had five shots on goal.
But it was spicy dangles in extra innings that won it for the Caps.
Full shootout
Full RMNB Coverage of Caps at Bruins
Headline photo: NBC Sports Washington
