Brossoit just latest tricked by Oshie magic
Laurent Brossoit doesn’t have to make any apologies for letting T.J. Oshie beat him in the shootout after the 3-on-3 overtime session ended Sunday night.
Washington Capitals winger Oshie is the best shootout player in National Hockey League history.
The goal on the Edmonton Oilers backup goalie was his 40th in 73 attempts since he came into the league in 2008, a 54.8 per cent success rate.
Most players consider 35 per cent a good stat.
Brossoit knew the five-hole shot was coming and got his stick in the way of the Oshie attempt, but it still found its way through Brossoit’s pads.
It was only the second NHL shootout of Brossoit’s career.
He lost one to the Winnipeg Jets on Feb. 14, 2016, when Blake Wheeler and Andrew Ladd scored.
This time, he stopped Evgeny Kuznetsov and Nicklas Backstrom after Oshie’s goal.
LETESTU IN A SLUMP
Fourth-line Oilers centre Mark Letestu was sensational last season, but he’s struggled this year. He played a season low 6:16 against the Capitals, just 4:51 even strength, because Edmonton and Washington basically went with three lines.
Letestu has two goals, both on the power play, but hasn’t scored in 11 games.
He’s minus-8 on the season, which really stings.
“It’s a rough patch right now, and it coincides with a lot of guys who are fighting it. I’m still getting the looks and shots, but they’re not going in,” said Letestu.
“I’m disappointed in myself. I set higher standards (after last year’s 16 goals) and I’m behind them. I feel this team relies on people like me to help.”
ROAD IMPROVEMENT
The Oilers played four good games on the road but the parity in the league is so close, they had to go to overtime twice, a shootout once and the Rangers Michael Grabner scored with 1.1 seconds left into an empty net for a 4-2 New York win in the other contest.
“The game against Washington might have been the best road game we’ve played all year,” said coach Todd McLellan.
The Caps had only 19 shots, just 11 by their forwards over 65 minutes.