Junior Capitals Drop Another Close One

Zbynek Novak scored a goal and added two assists, but it wasn't enough as the Washington Junior Capitals lost a 4-3 heartbreaker in overtime to the Minnesota Junior Wild. Jakub Cutta also had a goal and assist for the Caps.

Minnesota wasted little time getting on the board, scoring the opening goal after just 18 seconds. Kostitsyn was the scorer from Vanek and Johnson. The Capitals responded quickly, however, when Novak scored from Cutta and Ivan Baranka 18 seconds later. The game then took a physical turn as Minnesota took five minor penalties in a span of 7:52. Washington also took a minor during this stretch, but it was the Capitals that finally scored on the power play. Gennady Stolyarov put the puck in the net from Brett Carson and Novak at 9:44 to make it 2-1. After the goal, the Wild took three more minor penalties, and while Washington didn't get another power play tally, Cutta's goal from Novak and Jean-Claude Sawyer at 19:36 gave the Caps a 3-1 lead at the end of one period.

While the penalties went Washington's way in the first period, the tides turned in the second. The Capitals killed off the first two, but Klepis finally made them pay from Lutes and Kostitsyn at 7:45. Greg Mauldin was in the box for roughing at the time. The teams traded minors later in the period before Branko Radivojevic and Johnson fought to a draw at the 10:56 mark.

After stopping the Wild on an early penalty, the Capitals looked to have the game won when they went on the power play late in the action, but Ezhov scored an improbable short-handed goal from Murray and Stehlik to force overtime.

In the extra period, the action was fairly even, but Vanek gave Minnesota the win after just 1:32 from Kostitsyn and Johnson.

Brad Topping made 21 saves in the loss. Jim Howard stopped 23 shots for the victory.

The Junior Capitals are off until Day 4 when they visit Edmonton.