With under two minutes to go in the third period, the New York Islanders appeared to steal the game late from the Washington Capitals. As Thomas Vanek put a shot on Braden Holtby from the far corner, Kyle Okposo and John Tavares hacked at his gloved hand. Unfortunately for Holtby, Nate Schmidt jostled the puck loose from the Caps goaltender. Eventually, Vanek deposited the loose puck into the net.
Holtby was not pleased with the officials.
HOLTBY SMASH (GIF by welshhockeyfan)
After the play, Capitals play-by-play man Craig Laughlin sided with Holtby and thought the call was curious. “He has the right to be upset,” Laughlin said. “The puck was under his glove. Nine out ten [times] that whistle goes, Joe B.”
However, Schmidt knocking the puck loose is probably the reason for the no-call.
Lucky for Holtby and the Caps, Nick Backstrom answered a minute later and Alex Ovechkin scored in overtime.
