The Capitals and Coyotes had a combined 13 penalties between them.
WASHINGTON — Coming off their biggest win of the season just two nights ago, the Washington Capitals were eager to keep the momentum going on Friday. Unfortunately, they couldn't replicate their performance, and it proved costly.
Sonny Milano and Anthony Mantha scored, but Washington ultimately fell flat in a 5-2 loss to the Coyotes, who dropped 14 of the last 15 games.
Here are all the takeaways from the defeat:
Capitals Can't Stay Disciplined, Penalties & Miscues Prove Costly
Washington didn't get off to a promising start to its Sunday matinee, as the team appeared to be outplayed and outmatched by the Coyotes, who recently put an end to a lengthy losing skid.
Logan Cooley made it a 1-0 game early with a breakaway goal that came off a bad read by the Capitals, and in the second, Arizona was able to make the most of its time and space and tilt the ice with three goals.
Washington also struggled greatly on defense, with John Carlson accidentally deflecting the puck in on the fourth goal while the Coyotes were able to be elusive and capitalize on their opportunities.
The Capitals also found themselves playing in a penalty-filled game, too, as each team combined for 13 penalties. Those calls proved costly for D.C.
Tom Wilson and Carlson both took unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. and a critical power-play opportunity in the third was also cut off when Wilson took a slashing call.
Washington gave up two power-play goals in the defeat.
Overall, it was the opposite of the show that the Capitals put on on Friday in a game that carried weight, with the Flyers jumping back out to a six-point lead for third in the Metro.
Capitals Power Play Stays Hot, Comeback Effort Falls Flat
As the Capitals looked for a response to the Coyotes, they turned to their power play, which again stepped up to deliver in a big way.
First, in the second, Sonny Milano crashed the crease and tipped a pass from Alex Ovechkin past Karel Vejmelka to get his team on the board. Milano has four goals and points in five of six games since returning from an upper-body injury that held him out for over two months, and Ovechkin has points in 13 of his last 15 outings.
Then, to start the third, with the team in need of a spark and down 4-1, Anthony Mantha rocketed home a past from Dylan Strome on the man advantage to make it a two-goal game. It marked Mantha's 20th goal of the season and the first time since 2018-19 that he hit the 20-goal mark, and he also has points in four straight games.
Washington's power play has eight goals in the last five outings and has struck in eight of the last nine games overall.
The Capitals got another power play at the end, but the comeback effort fell short as Nick Schmaltz scored on the empty net. D.C. went 2-for-7 on the PP.