The Capitals were searching for offense. Sometimes, it's better to be lucky than to be good.
Marcus Johansson got credit for a goal that bounced off several people in front, but Martin Hanzal responded shortly after and Ray Whitney added a power play goal late to give the Coyotes a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes.
Johansson drove down the left side of the ice and towards the net, throwing a centering pass to Brooks Laich in front of the crease. The puck caromed off of Hanzal and Ilya Bryzgalov before finding a way into the net. Johansson got credit for his eighth goal of the season at 8:46.
But less than one minute later, Hanzal redeemed himself. Radim Vrbata skated into the offensive zone and sent a pass to Whitney in the slot. The puck bounced past Whitney's stick, but Hanzal was there to pick it up and fire it past Michal Neuvirth at 9:35 to tie the game at 1-1.
The power play struggles continue for the Caps, who missed out on two more chances in the second period, but the Coyotes did not have any such problem. On their first power play chance of the night, Whitney scored just 26 seconds into the man advantage as he found himself enough room in the slot to wrist the puck past Neuvirth at 17:43.
The Capitals got their third PP chance of the night less than 30 seconds after Whitney's tally and will have limited time remaining on it entering the third period.