WASHINGTON _ The Blues lost for the first time this season when they were leading after two periods, though they were able to get a point out of a 4-3 overtime loss to the Capitals at Capital One Arena on Sunday.
Nicklas Backstrom scored on a breakaway for Washington with 43 seconds to go in overtime. Blues defenseman Colton Parayko lost the puck and then lost his stick in the Capitals' zone and had to come off the ice. Before Joel Edmundson, his replacement, could get into the play, Backstrom was sprung for the break and he beat goalie Carter Hutton for the win and the extra point.
The Blues had been 20-0 when leading after three periods, though in some of those games they lost the lead and won in overtime or a shootout. The loss also ended Carter Hutton's three-game win streak. Hutton stopped 30 of 34 shots.
Blues coach Mike Yeo thought the game was a positive step after a dismal performance on Saturday at Philadelphia.
"I thought we did lot of good things," he said. "The effort, the way we played the game, if we play that way it will give us chances to win games."
The Blues sent the game to overtime with a goal by Carl Gunnarsson, just his fourth of the season, with 4:09 to go in the third. Gunnarsson took a shot from near the blueline that hit the elbow of Washington's Alex Ovechkin in front of the goal and caromed into the goal.
The Blues took a 2-1 lead into the third but gave up another power-play goal after a tripping penalty on Jay Bouwmeester _ the Capitals needed just three seconds _ the first time they had given up two power-play goals in a game since Nov. 29. The previously rock solid Blues PK has given up three goals in the past two games.
Washington took the lead in the third when T.J. Oshie banked a shot off Hutton's pads to Lars Eller, who put in the rebound to score with 9:11 to go in the third.
The Blues got goals from Vladimir Tarasenko and Alexander Steen _ it was originally credited to Brayden Schenn _ and with Steen's goal coming on a power play, the team's first power-play goal since Dec. 20. They had some good scoring chances in overtime, but Braden Holtby made big saves on Schenn and Patrik Berglund.
