Capitals coach: ‘We stopped playing’ after colossal collapse against Panthers

The Washington Capitals are scratching their heads after a monumental collapse in the third period Tuesday night in their showdown with the Florida Panthers.

The Capitals took a 4-1 lead into the third period. They were 20 minutes away from capturing their fourth straight win and 10th in their last 12 games.

However, the wheels fell off. The Capitals were outshot 26-2 in the third period, as the Panthers reeled off four unanswered goals to steal a 5-4 win in Sunrise, Florida.

“We stopped playing,” Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette said following the game per Washington Post’s Samantha Pell. “That is two games in a row that we’ve stopped playing in the third period. If you don’t punch back, the only thing you are going to do is get punched and we got punched for 20 minutes. It’s on us.”

The Capitals jumped out in front with goals from the unusual suspects. Rookie Connor McMichael scored his third goal of his NHL career.

Fellow rookie Beck Malenstyn scored his first career goal. Malenstyn became the seventh Capitals player to score his first career goal this season.

Lars Eller and Nick Jensen also scored as it appeared the Capitals were cruising.

Florida climbed back sparked by a shorthanded goal by Eetu Luostarinen. Sam Bennett ultimately tied the game at 4-4 with eighth goal of the season 12:01 into the third period.

The rally was capped off with a Sam Reinhart power play goal with 15 seconds remaining in the game.