It’s been like 400 years since the Caps last won in Dallas, but don’t tell that to the 2016-17 team. A relatively sloppy, chippy affair and a few unfortunate officiating calls led to a 3-1 deficit, but the boys battled back and eventually won the game in an extra frame.
Andre Burakovsky got the party started with his ninth of the season beating three Stars players to a loose puck and burying a wrister behind Atlanta Thrasher great Kari Lehtonen. Soon after, Adam Cracknell would tip home a Jordie Benn point drive that went to review before being deemed a goal. We ended twenty minutes tied at one.
Patrick Eaves slotted a rebound home past Philipp Grubauer to make the game 2-1 Dallas and then controversy struck. Jamie Benn’s tap-in goal was originally washed out for “goaltender interference” by the officiating crew, but after review they reversed the call and the period would end 3-1 Stars.
The Great Eight left his mark on this one, tallying his 22nd of the season on the power play to make it 3-2 and the game would be tied only moments later as TJ Oshie tipped in his 17th of the year, also on the man advantage.
Jay Beagle won it early in overtime. Point streak to 13 games.
Caps beat Stars 4-3!
- Andre Burakovsky has a four-game goal streak, and all four of his goals have been the first goal of the game. The first Caps player in franchise history to accomplish said feat. Andre Burakovsky coincidentally is also first in our hearts.
- Matt Niskanen played in his 700th game against his former team. Congrats, Nisky! We’ll just forget about the 214 games that came with “that” team.
- Tom Wilson decisively won a fight against Stars forward Brett Ritchie. You can tell because Ritchie was bleeding from his face. Ew. Wilson also wrecked Antoine Roussel.
- Fantastic.
There appears to be a pair of dinosaurs in attendance pic.twitter.com/gPUEJ3J6qf
— Sean Shapiro (@seanshapiro) January 22, 2017
- Philipp Grubauer made a number of impressive stops to keep the Caps in the game. The German backup netminder may eventually play his way into Las Vegas.
- “WE” asked the RMNB Twitter followers what has a more clear definition than “goaltender interference” in the NHL. The following replies were “OUR” favorites.
@russianmachine “fine” when said by my fiancé
— Pitt.The.Elder (@Pitt_theelder) January 22, 2017
@russianmachine a catch in the NFL
— Henry Bear (@ImABearRAWRR) January 22, 2017
@russianmachine existentialism
— Natalie White (@WatalieNhite) January 22, 2017
@russianmachine How to pronounce the word “gif”
— Eddie Rubenstein (@EddieRubenstein) January 22, 2017
- I saw more John Cena during this game than sustained even strength offense from the Capitals. That’s a feat in itself because most people cannot see John Cena.
- Alex Ovechkin‘s third period power play goal tied him for 14th all time in power play goals with none other than the Great One, Wayne Gretzky.
Caps tie it up. @ianoland @russianmachine pic.twitter.com/gM5M9lRAoE
— Squeakin (@DarioMouse) January 22, 2017
- As you can tell, the Caps got great away support in Dallas. There was so much red dispersed throughout the normally green crowd that the great Peter Hassett said it looked like Christmas and I would have to agree.
Stars Jumbotron with a topical joke. pic.twitter.com/9vsmTG1Agj
— Kate Morrison (@unlikelyfanatic) January 22, 2017
Joe B suit of the night
That was kind of a mess, but it ended well. See you on Monday for the Canes.
