WASHINGTON — You know how when you lose something, you look for it forever, and just when you give up, there it is?

Well, it happens when you’re an NHL goalie playing in front of thousands of people and on TV, as well.

In the middle of the Caps’ 4-3 win over the Florida Panthers on Sunday, Caps goalie Braden Holtby made a save and covered up the puck — and he REALLY covered it up. So well that even after the whistle, the officials couldn’t find it — and neither could Holtby.

The goalie kept looking for it somewhere in the folds and layers of his uniform. The officials helped, as best they could. Teammate John Carlson helpfully pulled at Holtby’s pants. The crowd loved it; Holtby, not so much.

He kept trying to convince the officials to drop the subject, but they persisted — and rightfully so: If the puck slipped out sometime during play, a second puck on the ice would mean chaos.

But finally, they relented and were about to let play continue. And naturally, that’s when Holtby crouched into position and the puck dropped out. The crowd went wild.

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