Capitals: John Carlson and T.J. Oshie score in NHL All-Star Game

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - JANUARY 25: (L-R) T.J. Oshie #77, head coach Todd Reirden, John Carlson #74 and Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals pose for a photo prior to the 2020 Honda NHL All-Star Game at Enterprise Center on January 25, 2020 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - JANUARY 25: (L-R) T.J. Oshie #77, head coach Todd Reirden, John Carlson #74 and Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals pose for a photo prior to the 2020 Honda NHL All-Star Game at Enterprise Center on January 25, 2020 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The Washington Capitals don’t have an official game until Monday but three of their stars took the NHL stage on Saturday night.

Representing the Washington Capitals on the Metropolitan Division was John Carlson, T.J. Oshie and goaltender Braden Holtby while head coach Todd Reirden was named bench boss.

They fell 9-5 to the Atlantic Division but there were some good highlights in a fun atmosphere in St. Louis.

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Braden Holtby got the start and made five saves on the nine shots he faced in the 3-on-3 play.

David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins got things started 26 seconds in while Shea Weber of the Montreal Canadiens, winner of the Hardest Shot the night before, doubled the lead at the 49 second mark.

John Carlson got the Metropolitan Division on the board at 2:13 becoming the first defensemen in franchise history to score in the All Star Game.

It came on a one-time sniper off a quick pass from Mathew Barzal of the New York Islanders that was started by T.J. Oshie.

Nico Hischier of the New Jersey Devils tied the game at 3:38 while Oshie gave the Metro Division the lead at 5:29 with a shot from the top of the circles. Barzal and Seth Jones of the Columbus Blue Jackets had the helpers.

Jones made it 4-2 at 6:04 before the Atlantic Division tied it on goals from Anthony Duclair of the Ottawa Senators and Patrnak. Holtby made a save before the period ended to end his night.

Hischier put the Metro Division in front with his second goal of the night at 2:50 before the Atlantic ran away with a 5-0 scoring run. It was started by Jonathan Huberdeau, continued by Victor Hedman before Duclair added two more goals and Pastrnak added one more.

“It was fun for me to share my first experience at an All Star Game with these guys (Carlson and Holtby) and in St. Louis makes it that much better. It would’ve been nice to win there but pretty cool weekend and I think St. Louis did a great job hosting everyone and putting on a good event,” Oshie told reporters after the game.

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The four Capitals will join the rest of their teammates in Montreal on Monday night when the Caps take on the Canadiens. Alex Ovechkin will return to the ice on Wednesday night to resume his chase towards 700 goals on Wednesday night when the Caps host the Nashville Predators. The second half is finally here.