Despite two goals by defenseman Mike Green, the Washington Capitals (34-16-5-73, first in Southeast) fell in a shootout on a fluky shot to the New York Rangers, 5-4.
Rangers forward Ryan Callahan scored the decisive goal in the shootout, as his wrist shot sailed past Caps goalie Jose Theodore, hit the crossbar, and bounced back to hit Theodore and then go in the net. Theodore offered protest, but believing the puck was dead after it hit the goal, but officials informed him otherwise.
"To be honest, I thought when it hits the crossbar and comes back out it's no play," a dejected Theodore said. "I didn't really try to get out of the way because for me it was no goal.
"Obviously, I was wrong, so it's a lesson that I learned, I guess."
Green's 20th and 21st goals of the season extended his consecutive games with a goal streak to seven, tying the NHL record set by Mike O'Connell of the Boston Bruins in 1982-83.
"Things just seem to be rolling lately," Green said. "It feels pretty special. I honestly didn't even realize (the record) until yesterday. I tried not to think about it before the game, but I'm pretty happy right now."
All eight goals in regulation were scored in the first two periods. Callahan started the parade with his 13th of the season, a tip in off a nice feed from Lauri Korpikoski. The Caps defense collapsed on Korpikoski, allowing Callahan to skate into the slot uncontested to beat a helpless Theodore.
Tomas Fleischmann and Eric Fehr answered later in the period, both players knocking in rebounds of Fleischmann shots from close range.
Both of Green's goals came in the second period from the top of the right wing circle, one a wrist shot and the other a slap shot that Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist had no chance on. Green, the NHL's Third Star of the Week last week, has nine goals and seven assists during his seven-game goal scoring streak.
Green leads all NHL defensemen in goals (21) and points (49).
New York (30-20-5-65, third in Atlantic) also received goals from Korpikoski, Markus Naslund and Paul Mara in the second period.
The third period and overtime were scoreless, and after three rounds of shootouts, the teams were still tied, with Nigel Dawes and Alex Ovechkin both successful on their attempts. That's when Callahan came tot he Rangers rescue to earn the extra point. Brooks Laich had an attempt to tie, but could not solve Lundqvist.
Both teams came out of the dressing room fired up, and there were a pair of fights just 2:43 into the contest. First, Donald Brashear dropped the gloves with Colton Orr, and three seconds later Matt Bradley took things up with Aaron Voros. All four players received fine-minute majors for fighting.
Washington travels to Tampa to face the Lightning Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.
______________________________________________
SCORESHEET
1ST PERIOD
07:33 Ryan Callahan (13), Slap Shot. Assist: Korpikoski
10:51 Tomas Fleischmann (16), Wrist Shot. Assist: Fehr, Fedorov
18:08 Eric Fehr (7), Snap Shot. Assist: Fleischmann, Alzner
2ND PERIOD
08:49 Lauri Korpikoski (4), Snap Shot. Assist: Staal, Callahan
10:32 Mike Green (20), Wrist Shot. Assist: Ovechkin, Backstrom
11:39 Markus Naslund (17), Tip-In. Assist: Dawes, Gomez
16:00 Paul Mara (5), Slap Shot. Assist: Gomez, Dubinsky
19:02 Mike Green (21), Slap Shot. Assist: Nylander, Morrisonn
3RD PERIOD
None
OVERTIME
None
SHOOTOUT
Nigel Dawes (1), GOAL
Alex Ovechkin (1), GOAL
Ryan Callahan (1), GOAL
_______________________________________________
THREE STARS
1. L. Korpikoski - NYR (Goals: 1, Assists: 1)
2. M. Green - WAS (Goals: 2, Assists: 0)
3. R. Callahan - NYR (Goals: 1, Assists: 1)
_______________________________________________
NOTES
Jay Beagle made his NHL debut for the Capitals, wearing jersey no. 83, skating in place of the injured Alexander Semin (undisclosed)...The Caps spent most of the third period killing penalties, taking three minors and a double-minor for high sticking against Shaone Morrisonn...the team killed all five penalties in the game...Washington was outshot 32-30.
Rangers forward Ryan Callahan scored the decisive goal in the shootout, as his wrist shot sailed past Caps goalie Jose Theodore, hit the crossbar, and bounced back to hit Theodore and then go in the net. Theodore offered protest, but believing the puck was dead after it hit the goal, but officials informed him otherwise.
"To be honest, I thought when it hits the crossbar and comes back out it's no play," a dejected Theodore said. "I didn't really try to get out of the way because for me it was no goal.
"Obviously, I was wrong, so it's a lesson that I learned, I guess."
Green's 20th and 21st goals of the season extended his consecutive games with a goal streak to seven, tying the NHL record set by Mike O'Connell of the Boston Bruins in 1982-83.
"Things just seem to be rolling lately," Green said. "It feels pretty special. I honestly didn't even realize (the record) until yesterday. I tried not to think about it before the game, but I'm pretty happy right now."
All eight goals in regulation were scored in the first two periods. Callahan started the parade with his 13th of the season, a tip in off a nice feed from Lauri Korpikoski. The Caps defense collapsed on Korpikoski, allowing Callahan to skate into the slot uncontested to beat a helpless Theodore.
Tomas Fleischmann and Eric Fehr answered later in the period, both players knocking in rebounds of Fleischmann shots from close range.
Both of Green's goals came in the second period from the top of the right wing circle, one a wrist shot and the other a slap shot that Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist had no chance on. Green, the NHL's Third Star of the Week last week, has nine goals and seven assists during his seven-game goal scoring streak.
Green leads all NHL defensemen in goals (21) and points (49).
New York (30-20-5-65, third in Atlantic) also received goals from Korpikoski, Markus Naslund and Paul Mara in the second period.
The third period and overtime were scoreless, and after three rounds of shootouts, the teams were still tied, with Nigel Dawes and Alex Ovechkin both successful on their attempts. That's when Callahan came tot he Rangers rescue to earn the extra point. Brooks Laich had an attempt to tie, but could not solve Lundqvist.
Both teams came out of the dressing room fired up, and there were a pair of fights just 2:43 into the contest. First, Donald Brashear dropped the gloves with Colton Orr, and three seconds later Matt Bradley took things up with Aaron Voros. All four players received fine-minute majors for fighting.
Washington travels to Tampa to face the Lightning Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.
______________________________________________
SCORESHEET
1ST PERIOD
07:33 Ryan Callahan (13), Slap Shot. Assist: Korpikoski
10:51 Tomas Fleischmann (16), Wrist Shot. Assist: Fehr, Fedorov
18:08 Eric Fehr (7), Snap Shot. Assist: Fleischmann, Alzner
2ND PERIOD
08:49 Lauri Korpikoski (4), Snap Shot. Assist: Staal, Callahan
10:32 Mike Green (20), Wrist Shot. Assist: Ovechkin, Backstrom
11:39 Markus Naslund (17), Tip-In. Assist: Dawes, Gomez
16:00 Paul Mara (5), Slap Shot. Assist: Gomez, Dubinsky
19:02 Mike Green (21), Slap Shot. Assist: Nylander, Morrisonn
3RD PERIOD
None
OVERTIME
None
SHOOTOUT
Nigel Dawes (1), GOAL
Alex Ovechkin (1), GOAL
Ryan Callahan (1), GOAL
_______________________________________________
THREE STARS
1. L. Korpikoski - NYR (Goals: 1, Assists: 1)
2. M. Green - WAS (Goals: 2, Assists: 0)
3. R. Callahan - NYR (Goals: 1, Assists: 1)
_______________________________________________
NOTES
Jay Beagle made his NHL debut for the Capitals, wearing jersey no. 83, skating in place of the injured Alexander Semin (undisclosed)...The Caps spent most of the third period killing penalties, taking three minors and a double-minor for high sticking against Shaone Morrisonn...the team killed all five penalties in the game...Washington was outshot 32-30.
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