The Washington Capitals blew a 2-0 lead to the Los Angeles Kings only to fall 3-2 on home ice in their final game at Capital One Arena before Christmas. The Kings played the role of the Grinch thanks to a goal in the late second period and two more in the third. The Caps fall to 18-6-7 with 43 points, deadlocked with the Carolina Hurricanes for first place in the Metropolitan Division.
At 7:58 in the first, hometown kid Joe Snively made the most of his NHL debut, completing a pass to Connor McMichael on a back and fourth sequence to set him up for the opening goal. It was McMichael’s fourth of the season. Snively hails from Herndon, Virginia and grew up playing hockey in the Little Caps program. He’s the first player in franchise history to suit up in a game from the state of Virginia.
Snively was nervous before the game, as anyone should be before taking the NHL ice. But after he got his first point out of the way he settled down. Snively told the media after the game:
"“That settles you down a little bit. Got a little confidence going.”"
1-0 was the score after one with the Caps outshooting the Kings 14-5.
The Caps doubled their lead in the second at 13:47 with Justin Schultz shooting one to the roof of the net for his second of the season. Conor Sheary and Garnet Hathaway had the helpers.
At 17:04 the Kings got on the board on a goal from Blake Lizotte that was shorthanded. The Caps led in shots 11-9 in the second and led 2-1 after two.
The Caps were unable to hold onto the lead in the third period. Christian Wolanin tied it at 2:50 and Adrian Kempe had the game winner at 9:36. Shots were even at 10 apiece in the third period believe it or not but the Caps couldn’t get the equalizer. The Caps outshot the Kings 35-24 overall.
"“We weren’t playing with the same intensity as we were in the first. We came out really strong. They played last night so we wanted to get all over them early. We did that and then we kind of just let them back into the game and they got momentum.”"
The Caps will take on the Philadelphia Flyers on the road tomorrow night.