CAPS GAME REPORT: Toronto 3/5/09

THIRD PERIOD

Semin draws a hooking at 1: 06, and immediately gives it back with a lazy high stick on Pavel Kubina. Four-on-four hockey. Fleischmann misses a wide open net on an odd-man rush.

Turnover by Erskine leads to a banked shot goal by Stempniak. Stempniak was on the goal line and banked it off Theo's skate. Time of goal 6:05. WAS 0- TOR 1.

Caps can't clear their own end, and Kubina gets a shot from the point through a maze of legs. Time of goal 9:47. WAS 0-TOR 2.

Toronto just had a flurry and hit the post twice--once with the original shot and then again on th rebound. Any energy the Caps had been playing with tonight has escaped. There's just no crispness whatsoever anymore.

The Caps just switched goalies with just over 2 minutes left. Almost immediately Neuvirth comes off to go empty net.

Semin finallyhits with 39 seconds remaining. Backstrom won the offensive zone draw and Seimn solved Gerber with a wrist shot. WAS 1-TOR 2 Timeof goal 19:21.

FINAL: WAS 1-TOR 2
SOG: WAS- 38; TOR-29

SECOND PERIOD

Laich got a good opportunity right off the bat, but Gerber knocked it aside.

Kozlov caught Finger up high on a follow though, leaving a trail of blood on the ice.

Schultz just stood someone up at the blue line. First time for everything.

Erskine takes a cross-cheack at 8:03. Schultz fell down at offensive blue line, giving Grabovsky a break-away. Fedorov hustled back to hassle him and Theo kicked it aside.

Fedorov takes a light hold at 12:20. One shot by the Leafs, swallowed up by Theo.

Caps get a power play at 15;56. Nothing to show for it.

SOG: WAS-23; TOR-17

FIRST PERIOD

The big news is that Ovechkin is scratched due to the foot injury at practice yesterday. Also, Tom Poti was scratched right at game time, probably due to the lingering groin injury, so the Caps will play down a skater.

Fedorov started at D and is paired with Jurcina. Here are the lines:

28/19/21
16/39/10
14/92/25
15/87

and 91/23, 55/4 and 52/26 on defense.

We get our first bit of controversy as Blake runs through Theodore and the rebound is pshed home by Mitchell. After the zebra conference they waived the goal off. Clearly goaltender interference.

PP at 18:22 goes fruitless. Caps will have 22 seconds with fresh ice.

SOG: WAS-13; TOR-9