Capitals vs. Panthers: How the Game Was Lost

"After a sluggish start to the game last night against the Panthers that saw them head to the locker room down 1-0 after one, the Caps started the second period with a lot more energy. After two goals from Jakob Chychrun in the first half of the frame, it seemed like they'd shaken off that early malaise and put themselves in a position to hold off what should have been a tired Panthers team."

"That all changed in the span of about five minutes, when the Panthers tied the game and then took the lead - a lead they'd hang onto for the rest of the game (and add a couple of empty-netters to for extra salt in the wound). Less than two minutes after Chychrun gave the good guys the lead, it was Sam Bennett for the very, very bad guys getting loose from Dylan Strome and tying the game up on a rebound in front of the net."

"A tie game wasn't ideal, but the Caps could still work with that...until the captain flipped the puck out of play, putting the Caps shorthanded. And while the Panthers' power play has struggled almost as much as the Capitals' has this season, they didn't seem to have any trouble finding the back of the net here: A tough goal to give up and one that would stand as the eventual game-winner,"

The Capitals fell behind 1-0 after a slow first period but surged early in the second when Jakob Chychrun scored twice to give Washington the lead. The Panthers responded quickly, tying the game and then taking the lead within a five-minute span. A captain turnover created a shorthanded situation that the Panthers converted into the eventual game-winning goal. Florida added empty-net goals late to seal the result. The Capitals had opportunities to rally but could not overcome the deficit. Washington now starts a six-game road trip, opening at the Colorado Avalanche.

Read at Japers' Rink