Clock Starts Late In Washington

WASHINGTON (AP) The NHL says the loud crowd in the Capitals' arena contributed to a miscommunication leading to an extra 5.3 seconds being played in Washington's 2-1 victory over Boston.

The league says Thursday night it ``immediately was aware'' of the problem ``and, therefore, would have disallowed a goal scored with 5.3 seconds or less showing on the clock.''

With 9.5 seconds left on the clock in the third period, the game-clock operator realized 0.9 seconds should have been added. But off-ice officials couldn't get the attention of on-ice officials to delay dropping the puck for a faceoff ``despite sounding the horn, which was not audible due to crowd noise.''

So the clock wasn't re-started until 5.3 seconds after the faceoff.