The Washington Capitals have gone two straight games—both against the Winnipeg Jets—where they’ve taken a multi-goal lead into the third period, only to lose the lead.
Fortunately for the Capitals, they’ve won both games, the first coming in regulation on a late Jay Beagle tally and the second off of an Alexander Ovechkin power play goal in overtime.
Allowing a team to come back into the game off of a two goal lead and a three goal lead, respectively, after poor third period play is obviously not ideal. But there still be some positive take aways, according to Ovechkin.
“We obviously can’t give up that lead like three goals,” Ovechkin said. “Obviously it’s good lessons and bad lessons. It was the same in Winnipeg. We get a 2-0 lead and they almost have a point and we’re lucky we score.”
“We just can’t stop playing,” Ovechkin continued. “We stop playing, we too casual, it almost cost us the game.”
The Capitals are not only fortunate to come away with wins in both efforts, but that these issues are rising so early on in the season. It allows Ovechkin and the rest of his team to identify a problem and solve it.
It’s better that this is a problem in game 10 than it would be if it was game 82.
• Tommy Chalk can be reached at tchalk@washingtontimes.com.
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