Led by Alex Ovechkin and Jose Theodore, the Washington Capitals earned a hard-fought road victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, 2-1, before 19,728 at the Wachovia Center.
Ovechkin's goal, off a steal and feed from Alexander Semin, put the Caps up for good at 17:19 of the second period, and Theodore made the lead stand up the rest of the way, recording 35 saves.
On the forecheck, Semin picked off a lazy pass by Darroll Powe behind the Flyers goal and flipped it in front to Ovechkin, who stood all alone in front of Philly goalie Martin Biron (28 saves). Ovie one-timed the puck over Biron's catching glove and celebrated his league-leading 48th goal of the season.
Ovechkin is attempting to become the first Washington Capital with three consecutive 50 goal seasons.
The reigning Hart Trophy winner also assisted on the Caps first goal. On a power play, courtesy of an Aaron Asham hooking call, Niklas Backstrom made a cross-ice pass to Ovechkin, who sent the puck toward the Flyers goal, where Brooks Laich sat in the crease. Laich redirected the puck past Biron to give the Caps the early lead at 15:57 of the first period.
Philly tied it midway through the second. Mike Knuble converted a beautiful pass from Mike Richards on an odd-man rush. Simon Gagne started the play by finding the open Richards along the half boards.
Two defensive plays kept the score at 2-1.
The first was a highlight reel diving glove save by Theodore, robbing Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen. Timonen thought he had the goal wide open, but Theo, who catches right handed, dove head first to his right and snared the wrist shot out of mid air, just like a first baseman diving into the hole between first and second.
The second play came late in the third period, while the Capitals were on a power play. Mike Green turned the puck over in the neutral zone, allowing Simon Gagne a breakaway against Theodore. But Ovechkin, Green's partner on defense on the power play, rushed back and dove at the puck, knocking it cleanly away from Gagne before he could get a shot off.
Many of the Philadelphia faithful wanted a penalty called on the play, but replays showed Gagne went down clearly after the puck was knocked away cleanly by Ovechkin.
The game saw some strange plays as well. Two goals were waived off in the third period.
The Capitals thought they had extended their lead when Tomas Fleischmann beat Biron, but the referees ruled Michael Nylander had interfered with the goalie after incidental contact. No penalty was called on the play, but the goal was immediately waived off.
Philly hoped that they had tied the game a two just a little while later, but Mike Knuble caused a screen of Theodore with a cross-check of Jeff Schultz, and the officials arm was raised to call the penalty before the puck went into the net.
Washington has won five games on the road this season, their longest such streak since the 2000-01 season.
The Caps are off until Saturday night, when they host the Carolina Hurricanes at 7:00 pm. The Hurricanes are in second place in the Southeast Division, 12 points behind Washington
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SCORESHEET
1ST PERIOD
15:57 Power Play - Brooks Laich (17), Tip-In. Assist: Ovechkin, Backstrom
2ND PERIOD
11:32 Mike Knuble (24), Wrist Shot. Assist: Richards, Gagne
17:19 Alex Ovechkin (48), Snap Shot. Assist: Semin
3RD PERIOD
None
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THREE STARS
1. A. Ovechkin - WAS (Goals: 1, Assists: 1)
2. J. Theodore - WAS (Saves: 35, Save Pct: .972)
3. M. Knuble - PHI (Goals: 1, Assists: 0)
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NOTES
Sergei Fedorov and Donald Brashear were scratched. Brashear injured his knee in a fight against Nashville Tuesday Night. Fedorov is suffering from an undisclosed illness.
Michael Nylander played for the first time in five games, and Alexandre Giroux was recalled from AHL Hershey to fill in for Fedorov. He was returned immediately after the game.
Ovechkin has a point in nine straight games. Semin has scored in eight straight.
Ovechkin's goal, off a steal and feed from Alexander Semin, put the Caps up for good at 17:19 of the second period, and Theodore made the lead stand up the rest of the way, recording 35 saves.
On the forecheck, Semin picked off a lazy pass by Darroll Powe behind the Flyers goal and flipped it in front to Ovechkin, who stood all alone in front of Philly goalie Martin Biron (28 saves). Ovie one-timed the puck over Biron's catching glove and celebrated his league-leading 48th goal of the season.
Ovechkin is attempting to become the first Washington Capital with three consecutive 50 goal seasons.
The reigning Hart Trophy winner also assisted on the Caps first goal. On a power play, courtesy of an Aaron Asham hooking call, Niklas Backstrom made a cross-ice pass to Ovechkin, who sent the puck toward the Flyers goal, where Brooks Laich sat in the crease. Laich redirected the puck past Biron to give the Caps the early lead at 15:57 of the first period.
Philly tied it midway through the second. Mike Knuble converted a beautiful pass from Mike Richards on an odd-man rush. Simon Gagne started the play by finding the open Richards along the half boards.
Two defensive plays kept the score at 2-1.
The first was a highlight reel diving glove save by Theodore, robbing Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen. Timonen thought he had the goal wide open, but Theo, who catches right handed, dove head first to his right and snared the wrist shot out of mid air, just like a first baseman diving into the hole between first and second.
The second play came late in the third period, while the Capitals were on a power play. Mike Green turned the puck over in the neutral zone, allowing Simon Gagne a breakaway against Theodore. But Ovechkin, Green's partner on defense on the power play, rushed back and dove at the puck, knocking it cleanly away from Gagne before he could get a shot off.
Many of the Philadelphia faithful wanted a penalty called on the play, but replays showed Gagne went down clearly after the puck was knocked away cleanly by Ovechkin.
The game saw some strange plays as well. Two goals were waived off in the third period.
The Capitals thought they had extended their lead when Tomas Fleischmann beat Biron, but the referees ruled Michael Nylander had interfered with the goalie after incidental contact. No penalty was called on the play, but the goal was immediately waived off.
Philly hoped that they had tied the game a two just a little while later, but Mike Knuble caused a screen of Theodore with a cross-check of Jeff Schultz, and the officials arm was raised to call the penalty before the puck went into the net.
Washington has won five games on the road this season, their longest such streak since the 2000-01 season.
The Caps are off until Saturday night, when they host the Carolina Hurricanes at 7:00 pm. The Hurricanes are in second place in the Southeast Division, 12 points behind Washington
__________________________________________________
SCORESHEET
1ST PERIOD
15:57 Power Play - Brooks Laich (17), Tip-In. Assist: Ovechkin, Backstrom
2ND PERIOD
11:32 Mike Knuble (24), Wrist Shot. Assist: Richards, Gagne
17:19 Alex Ovechkin (48), Snap Shot. Assist: Semin
3RD PERIOD
None
__________________________________________________
THREE STARS
1. A. Ovechkin - WAS (Goals: 1, Assists: 1)
2. J. Theodore - WAS (Saves: 35, Save Pct: .972)
3. M. Knuble - PHI (Goals: 1, Assists: 0)
__________________________________________________
NOTES
Sergei Fedorov and Donald Brashear were scratched. Brashear injured his knee in a fight against Nashville Tuesday Night. Fedorov is suffering from an undisclosed illness.
Michael Nylander played for the first time in five games, and Alexandre Giroux was recalled from AHL Hershey to fill in for Fedorov. He was returned immediately after the game.
Ovechkin has a point in nine straight games. Semin has scored in eight straight.
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