The Washington Capitals seemingly had the Dallas Stars right where they wanted them. After falling behind 1-0 and 2-1, John Carlson’s goal gave Washington momentum entering the third period tied at 2-2. Just 24 seconds into the third, however, Adam Burish scored the game-winning goal for Dallas. Jamie Benn and Eric Nystrom scored 32 seconds apart later on in the period as the Stars beat the Caps 5-2.
Stars Vs. Capitals: Washington ‘Outclassed’ In Third Period Of 5-2 Loss
After the game, Mike Knuble did not mince words when discussing his team’s poor performance. The Caps entered the third period on the penalty kill for 24 seconds and while they killed it off, Burish scored as the penalty expired.
“You’re thinking ahead,” Knuble said. “You’re thinking, ‘Let’s go have a great third period, let’s get past this penalty and let’s go have a great third’ and then all a sudden you give up one with 20 seconds remaining on the power play. We just didn’t recover. It befuddles you because this group can be so good and so complete and then we come out and play an incomplete game. We were outclassed in the third.”
Washington has 14 goals in the third period this season, fourth in the NHL as of Tuesday night, but have given up 16 in the process, eighth-most. The Stars also outshot the Caps 10-7 in the final 20 minutes.
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