The Capitals losing streak has hit six games.
The Washington Capitals were in desperate need of a spark as they looked to put an end to a five-game losing streak. And while Alex Ovechkin and Darcy Kuemper provided a spark as the team showed flashes of strength, it wasn't enough to get two points.
Ovechkin stayed hot and the Capitals got some decent play, but mistakes, lack of finish and a late goal against led to a 4-2 loss.
Here are all the takeaways from the defeat, which extends Washington's losing skid to six games.
Darcy Kuemper Stellar, But Panthers Capitalize On Their Chances & Too Many Penalties
It was a busy night in net for Darcy Kuemper as the Panthers' top brass kept D.C. busy, and he did what he could. However, extended zone time and a couple of mistakes led to the win for Florida.
Matthew Tkachuk scored the first game-tying goal in the second after he and Carter Verhaeghe were left alone in front, and Sam Reinhart also got a power-play goal to make it 2-2 after the Capitals gave up their sixth penalty of the night — though the penalty kill was solid before that, coming up with four straight kills.
The game-winning goal came with just 5:32 minutes left when Washington failed to clear the zone and Ryan Lomberg after an extended offensive shift.
Kuemper finished the night with 37 saves on 40 shots (.925 save percentage) in one of his best showings, but the Panthers piled it on and dominated in high-danger chances and scoring opportunities, and it was too much for the Capitals to overcome.
Capitals Get Another Vintage Showing From Ovechkin & Secondary Scorers Chip In, But Team Fails To Find Consistency Through 60
Over the last handful of games, Ovechkin has appeared to rediscover his touch, and it paid off as he kept his hot streak going.
The 38-year-old scored his 11th goal of the season in vintage form, firing home a shot from his office to make it a 1-0 game on the power play. It marked his third straight game with a goal, and he now has 13 points in his last 13 games.
Ovechkin now needs just 62 more goals to pass Wayne Gretzky for the most in NHL history.
The Capitals also got some much-needed offense from secondary scorers, though their comeback attempt fell short with the team unable to finish or completely solve Sergei Bobrovsky.
Connor McMichael got a power-play assist for his first point in eight games, and Aliaksei Protas fought through fatigue to help set up Michael Sgarbossa and Anthony Mantha for a key goal to make it 2-1 and end a 14-game point drought. It marked Sgarbossa's first assist of the season and Mantha's 16th goal of the season.
Ultitmalte though, the consistency through 60 minutes wasn’t there as things shifted in the second. In the end, the Panthers held off D.C. and Eetu Luostarinen iced the game with an empty-netter.
Top Shelf Takes
- Rasmus Sandin extended his point streak to three games with an assist and has points in four of his last six outings overall.
- The Capitals also caught a break and have their video coaches to thank, as an Evan Rodrigues goal off a turnover that could have tilted the ice was called back for offsides after a flag and subsequent challenge by D.C.'s staff.
- Ethan Bear, who drew back into the lineup for an ill Trevor van Riemsdyk, skated just 15:11 minutes.
- Matthew Phillips had a decent showing in his 8:46 minutes of ice time.