Capitals

Capitals

The Capitals managed to earn a point in Pittsburgh on Thursday as they overcame a two-goal deficit in the third period thanks to a wild 21-second stretch that saw two goals from T.J. Oshie suddenly tie the game.

The Caps looked down and out in the third period as they trailed 6-4. Playing the second leg of a back to back just one night after an emotional banner raising in Washington, the Caps looked both mentally and physically exhausted in a sloppy game. Oshie, however, suddenly sparked the comeback when he snagged a turnover from Evgeni Malkin and fired a quick shot past Matt Murray to pull the Caps within one.

And then things got really interesting.

Just 21 seconds later, Oshie scored again as he deflected a shot from John Carlson. The goal was immediately washed out, but the referees huddled together to discuss the call and ultimately the call was reversed to a good goal.

The NHL issued an explanation for the call:

At 13:22 of the third period in the Capitals/Penguins game, the immediate call by the Referee on the ice was no goal due to a high stick. The officials then huddled and determined that T.J. Oshie’s stick was at or below the height of the crossbar when he tipped the puck into the net - good goal. Video review then confirmed that post-huddle call.

In 21 seconds, Oshie flipped what looked like a sure loss for Washington and helped the Caps salvage a point from what most would have assumed would be a scheduled loss to start the season. The Caps would ultimately fall after taking a penalty in overtime, but three out of four points for a back-to-back to open the season is not a bad start at all for the Stanley Cup champions who are looking to avoid the dreaded Cup hangover.

“Getting those quick two goals there put the momentum on our side I thought until that penalty,” Oshie said. “But from middle of the third, we’ll take the point.”

MORE CAPITALS NEWS: