Caps Trounce Lifeless Canucks 5-1

Washington -- Washington Capitals back-up goalie Brent Johnson notched his 100th career NHL victory, the team set a franchise record for fewest shots on goal allowed at 10, and Alexander Semin scored twice, leading the Washington Capitals to a 5-1 win over Roberto Luongo and the Vancouver Canucks before 16,847 at the Verizon Center.

The Caps offense completely dominated a Canuck team that had little spring in their step following their nearly coast-to-coast flight. Luongo didn't look -- or fare -- much better, as he was shaky most of the game and was lifted after two periods. Luongo saved only 20 of the 25 shots he faced, and he must have felt like he saw double the amount. Luongo had a personal 10-game winning streak against the Capitals, but didn't even see the third period of this match.

Washington got two goals from Semin and one each from Mike Green, Milan Jurcina and Michael Nylander, who was awarded a penalty shot and scored on a nifty back-hander after faking Luongo to the ice. Alexander Edler had the lone tally for Vancouver.
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PHOTOS:

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SCORESHEET:

WAS: Semin from Nylander and Green (1-2:54); Green from Nylander and Fleischman (1-16:11); Jurcina from Clark and Gordon (2-4:17); Semin from Laich and Fedorov (2-5:23); Nylander penalty shot (2-16:36).

VAN: Edler from Sedin and Salo (1-4:02).
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THE GOOD BAD & UGLY

GOOD: The swarming Caps offense was more responsible for the low shot on goal total in the first two periods than anything the defense did. The Caps beat Vancouver to almost every loose puck and really controlled the neutral zone.

BAD: F Viktor Kozlov left the game in the second period after a collision and several extra shots by a Canuck defenseman. The team has not disclosed the nature of the injury.

UGLY: Luongo. Normally one of the leagues strongest backstops, he looked shaky all night until he was lifted. On several saves that he did make, he looked behind him to see if he'd been beaten. Every puck in his direction was an adventure.

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NEXT GAME: The Caps play Thursday night at Pittsburgh at 7:30 pm.

RECORD: 2-1-0, 2 game win streak.

NOTES: The game was nationally broadcast on Versus Network.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman addressed Caps season ticket holders before the game and attended the match-up.

Nylander's penalty shot goal was the team's first successful penalty shot since November 2005.

Photos (c) C. Nichols 2008.