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Mike Green spends key part of close game warming bench

Mike Green

Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green (52) pauses on the ice in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013 in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

AP

The Washington Capitals matched the Winnipeg Jets blow-for-blow on Tuesday and managed to come out ahead with a 5-4 shootout victory. Before that happened though, with the game tied midway through the third period, the Capitals coaches decided that top defenseman Mike Green’s night was over.

Green had already played a role in two Jets goals, including a neutral zone turnover that resulted in a shorthanded marker. You can see that below:

“I didn’t think Greenie was having his best night,” Washington coach Adam Oates told the Washington Post. “The other guys were going pretty good, it got late in the game and I think [assistant coach] Calle [Johansson] just went with [John Carlson] and [Steve Oleksy] for a couple shifts.”

Still, Oates tempered his criticisms of Green beyond that by calling this a “minor hiccup.” Green has a minus-six rating, which puts him in a tie for second worst on the team in that category. He also has five assists while averaging 24:33 minutes per contest.

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