Capitals blow third period lead to Maple Leafs

The Washington Capitals lost 4-3 to the Toronto Maple Leafs but at least got a point out of it thanks to the game going to a shootout. There was some bad news, however, as Alex Ovechkin left the game in the third period after crashing into the boards on a failed breakaway attempt.

At 5:34 the Caps struck first on a wrist shot from T.J Oshie that was set up by Anthony Mantha. It was Oshie’s 11th goal of the season. The Maple Leafs tied it on a goal from Ilya Lyubushkin at 12:32. 1-1 was the score after one with the Caps leading in shots 13-7.

The second period was scoreless as the Caps were outshot 9-8 and two goals were taken away, one from each side. That included one from Ovechkin but that wasn’t the worst thing to happen to the great eight.

In the third period Ovechkin had a breakaway chance. He missed and crashed into the boards after a blatant trip but no call. At 3:32 the Caps took the lead as John Carlson dished it to Martin Fehervary who set up Lars Eller as the tiger was lurking right by the goal for his 13th of the season.

At 4:40 Marcus Johansson flipped in the puck backhanded for his ninth goal of the season. Conor Sheary and Justin Schultz had the assists.

The Caps would blow that 3-1 lead as the Maple Leafs tied it on goals from Ilya Mikheyev at 12:36 and Jason Spezza at 19:02. Shots were even at 12 after three as the game would go to overtime.

The Caps had a good overtime and outshot the Maple Leafs 4-2 and even had some chances but alas this game went to a shootout. The Caps outshot the Maple Leafs 37-30 overall.

The shootout started out great for the Caps as Evgeny Kuznetsov did this stick twirl and slowed the game down before firing it in to get the Caps off to a good start. Spezza made it on the other side and this thing would go all the way past seven rounds before the game was ended by Alexander Kerfoot.

Oshie told the media that he talked to Ovechkin, who left the game in the third period and did not return:

"“I just talked to him and I think he’ll be all right. It’s always scary seeing Big 8 go down and lay on the ice. He’s a tough guy. But if there was anyone I would imagine wouldn’t miss any more time than he needs to, it’d be 8.”"

The Caps take on the New York Islanders in the final home game of the regular season tomorrow night.