Spencer Carbery challenged Shane Pinto’s goal for goaltender interference because of how bad the Capitals were playing: ‘It was worth a shot’

The Washington Capitals looked terrible from the start against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night.

“We were not good in any facet of the game,” head coach Spencer Carbery said postgame. “Embarrassing performance at home from our group.”

After going down 1-0 and recording just three shots on goal in the first period, the Capitals began the second period with more of the same, seeing Shane Pinto score Ottawa’s second just 3:27 into the frame.

Pinto tallied the goal after being driven into Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren by defenseman Jakob Chychrun, with the puck trickling over the goal line behind the mass of humanity. Lindgren, who was unable to make a save or defend the net, was furious with the on-ice officials for not immediately signaling no-goal on the play.

After taking a timeout to review replays, Carbery decided to initiate what would become another unsuccessful coach’s challenge and explained why during his postgame media availability.

“We felt like the odds of us getting it right were probably slim, but judging by the way that our group looked, I felt like we needed to keep that game at 1-0,” Carbery said. “So, it was worth a shot to go down 2-0 at that point in the game. With how we looked, I thought it was going to be a difficult hole to climb out of.”

The referees quickly ruled in favor of the Senators, putting the Capitals in a 2-0 hole. After the failed challenge, Ottawa began the next shift on a power play, which they converted on just a minute into the man advantage.

With the goal allowed, the Capitals have now taken on collateral damage twice this season after a failed challenge, seeing the Vancouver Canucks score on an ensuing power play a week ago.

The NHL’s situation room provided the following explanation for the call.

“Video review determined that the puck completely crossed the Washington goal line before the net became displaced,” the statement reads. “Washington then initiated a Coach’s Challenge for goaltender interference. Video review determined that the actions of Washington’s Jakob Chychrun caused Ottawa’s Shane Pinto to contact goaltender Charlie Lindgren prior to Pinto’s goal.

“The decision was made in accordance with Note 2 of Rule 38.11 (ii) which states, in part, that the goal should be allowed because “the attacking Player was pushed, shoved or fouled by the defending Player causing the attacking Player to come into contact with the goalkeeper.”

However, to Carbery’s credit, he was ultimately right about how his team would play for the rest of the game. The Senators added four more goals to claim a 7-1 victory at the final buzzer.

In the loss, the Capitals owned just 33.1 percent of the five-on-five expected goals, a mark worse than all but three of their 82 games last year.