Winnipeg Jets come from behind to surprise Washington Capitals with 3-2 shootout win - NHL Update
In one of the most epic games of the National Hockey League 2011-12 season, the Winnipeg Jets came from behind to surprise Washington Capitals with a memorable 3-2 shootout victory on Thursday, February 9, 2012, at the Verizon Center.
It was a game that came alive in the final period as both sides put up a spectacle that the 18,506 capacity crowd in the Verizon Center will never forget.
The Jets needed to win badly to remain relevant in the race for a playoff berth and they did just that with a fighting performance that stunned their hosts.
Winnipeg’s victory moves them up to tenth in the Eastern Conference with a 26-24-6 record and 58 points, just three points behind their opponents who occupy ninth spot.
For Washington, the loss brought them back down to earth after their 4-0 pounding of Florida Panthers on Tuesday and Capitals' centre, Brooks Laich was horrified at the manner of their defeat.
"We should have had the hockey game. It's disappointing to lose it that way."
One team’s disappointment though turns into their opponent’s delight, and defenseman, Dustin Byfuglien, whose late goal in the final period sent the game into overtime, was visibly ecstatic at his team’s lucky break.
"That's what a team always needs -- good luck and some bounces, I thought we've worked hard lately and haven't really got a nice bounce. Luckily we got one."
Washington started the game on fire, outshooting the Jets 12-4 and pounding Jets' goaltender, Ondrej Pavelec’s goal.
The goaltender though beat back attack after attack to keep out the Capitals and the situation remained the same in the second as both teams tried their best to break the deadlock.
With the score 0-0, the match was all set up for an epic third period and both teams delivered just that.
Washington broke the deadlock at 9:46.
Left wing, Alex Ovechkin took a pass from Alexander Semin to score a power play goal and give Capitals a 1-0 lead.
Three minutes later Ovechkin turned provider, putting in a pass to Semin, who made it 2-0, and with just eight minutes left, it seemed that the Capitals had won it.
However, the Jets responded.
Andrew Ladd set up Evander Kane for his 19th goal of the season on the power play to peg back the Capitals to 2-1 and in an amazing turn of events, the Jets levelled after just 12 seconds.
Byfuglien released a powerful drive on a 5-on-4 power play, which bounced of Capitals' defenseman, Karl Alzner to nestle in the back of goaltender, Tomas Vokoun’s net.
"They dumped the puck in off my stick and it went in the net," Alzner said. "Pretty simple, and pretty stupid. Pretty unfortunate."
The game went to a shootout as both teams failed to break the tie in overtime and Bryan Little stepped up to score past Vokoun as the Jets picked up their most important win of the season.
Washington will hope that luck is on their side on Sunday when they face Eastern Conference leaders, New York Giants, while Winnipeg will travel to Pittsburgh to face the Penguins on Saturday.
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