"It's just one game now and I gotta do it next game and for the rest of the year so I can stay here." -- Mathieu Perreault, after Monday's two-goal game against Toronto

I'm going to go out on a limb right off the bat and frankly state that I like Matthieu Perreault.  From my limited exposure to him, he's been nothing but engaging, sincere and accountable -- good or bad.  As a hockey player, he's proven to be a dynamic, hustling, talented playmaker at the AHL level, with two consecutive 50 point seasons.

(C.Nichols/Caps News Network)

And he was well on his way to surpass that in this campaign, as he had eight goals and 17 assists in 25 games for Hershey this season, tied for 10th in the AHL in points (25).

I just wonder if he's got the chops for the big leagues.

Several occasions he's been called up, and in the first game or two he'll do what he did Monday night:  score, buzz around on the forecheck, add life to a young (but veteran) team.

Then, after a couple games, he'll disappear.

"Every time I get called up seems like the first game I'm flying and now it's just a matter of doing that every night," Perreault told reporters after the Caps devastating 5-4 shootout loss to Toronto Monday night.

So far this season, in four games he's got two goals and two helpers, in two different stints.  Well, that's not really a clear picture.  He had two goals Monday, and two assists in his first game this season, Oct. 23 against Atlanta.

He didn't score in the next two games, and Perreault was returned to Hershey.  Of course, that was while the team was still conducting the "Tomas Fleischmann at Center" experiment.  Perreault was a victim of numbers as much as production.

Last season, Perreault had a two-point night right off the bat, Nov. 4 against New Jersey.  Eighteen games later he had not produced another one, and was held off the scoresheet altogether in 12 of those 18 games and was demoted.  For the season, he played 21 games and had five goals and four assists.

Perreault needs to produce points at the NHL level if he's to stick in this league.  He's a good skater, so he can be effective on the forecheck, but other than that, his role is limited.  He is small (NHL.com generously has him listed at 5'10", 175), so he really isn't much help along the boards or with checking. 

And his stature is perhaps an explanation to why he's been unable to consistently produce for the Capitals; he just gets worn down playing against bigger, stronger competition night in and night out.

NHL history is dotted with "little guys" excelling.  Stan Mikita, Theo Fleury and Martin St. Louis were all vertically challenged and all were/are dynamic NHL players.  But they were all elite skaters with very high motors.  Perreault is a good skater and quick -- two of his strengths -- but I don't think he's in a class with the three mentioned above.

There is a gaping hole at center on the Caps second line, and Perreault has shown to mesh with Alexander Semin in the few opportunities he's had this season.  The job is there for the taking, and it looks like Perreault is going to get every chance to hold onto the spot. 

Perreault even skated in overtime with Semin during four-on-four Monday, and unexpectedly was the second shooter in the shoot-out, as Boudreau by-passed Nicklas Backstrom in the situation.

"It shows they have confidence in me and they're not scared to play me in a big situation."

If GM George McPhee and Coach Bruce Boudreau don't see consistent production from Perreault in the next 10-15 games, I think we should expect McPhee to address the situation with a veteran two-way player as we approach the trade deadline.

But I'll definitely be rooting for the little guy.

"It's frustrating anytime you give up a 4-1 lead in the third period.  You're gonna be angry.  It doens't happen and it's not supposed to happen."  Coach Bruce Boudreau

THE RESULT:  The Washington Capitals fairly dominated every minute of the first two periods, skating circles around a vastly inferior team, skill-wise, taking a 4-1 lead into the second intermission.  Beat writers were already writing their stories, just waiting for a final score.

Unfortunately, the National Hockey League still asks both teams to play three 20-minute periods.

As good as the Capitals were in the first two frames, that's as poorly as they played in the third, and allowed the less-talented Toronto Maple Leafs to tie the game in regulation and eventually win in the shootout, 5-4.

"We quit playing in our zone," said Caps head coach Bruce Boudreau.  "We just wanted to play safe.  You can't just allow a team to come into our zone all night long.  When they were in our zone, our positioning -- by both defensemen and forwards -- was really bad."

Washington (18-8-3, 39 points) had problems with Toronto's forechecking all night long, from the first shift of the game until the last.  But the Leafs had trouble moving the puck, connecting on passes, and whiffing on shots -- until the last three minutes of the game when Toronto scored twice in 59 seconds, with the game-tying goal at 18:36 by Clarke MacArthur.

MacArthur was a pain in the Caps' side all night long, and he really appeared to get under their skin.  Early in the first period, the gritty winger took a high shot at Nicklas Backstrom that was not called, and for the rest of the affair different Capitals, including Matt Hendricks, Jason Chimera and Matt Bradley all challenged the winger.

But MacArthur had the last laugh, as his wrist shot beat goalie Michael Neuvirth to even things up with less than two minutes to play.

If the Caps had exerted as much energy in the third period playing defense as they did trying to chase down MacArthur, the final might have been 7-1.

Captain Alex Ovechkin was at a loss for words after the game.

"I don't know what happened the last ten minutes,' he said.  "Four to one lead after two periods is pretty big.  Losing a game like this is pretty bad for us.  It's a lesson and it's good we have another game soon."

To add injury to insult, defenseman Jeff Schultz was injured in the second period and did not return.  After the game, Boudreau revealed Schultz sustained a fractured thumb and will miss four-to-six weeks.

The loss and injury put a pall over the locker room, and detracts from the great game Mathieu Perreault had upon his recall from AHL Hershey.  The diminutive center had two goals and provided much-needed spark in his first game back. 

Perreault has a history of having good first games.  "Every time I get called up it seems like the first game I'm flying," Perreault said.  "Now it's just a matter of doing it every night."

Perreault even got ice time in overtime -- and the second shot in the shootout.  "It shows they have confidence in me and can play me in the big situation."

"I felt good tonight.  It's just unfortunate that we came out with a loss here.  In the third we got away from our game and it cost us."

Boudreau praised Perreault's effort, but used it to take a backhanded shot at the rest of his team.

"He brought great energy tonight, like we thought.  If some of the other forwards had played with as much energy as him, we wouldn't have been in the situation we were in."

THE GOOD:  Mathieu Perreault had a great game, centering Alexander Semin and Brooks Laich.  He displayed the energy and skill the Caps really love from the little guy.  So many times he seems to step in with these games, but then disappears. The Caps could really benefit from him finally clicking and sticking around this time.

THE BAD:  Schultz' injury could be devastating.  It makes the Scott Hannan deal look even bigger now, but puts the Caps right back where they were before the trade -- thin on defense with a bunch of lingering injuries.

THE UGLY:  The comeback started with Mikhail Grabovski's goal from the high slot at 4:15 of the third.  Alex Ovechkin seemed to lose his positioning on the play, looking for a pass instead of back-checking. 

Asked if Grabovski was Ovechkin's man, he replied, "It was exactly where he should have been.  When it went out to the blue line he was going out -- I think he was looking for the redirect and to go, rather than to come to the slot, just in case something like what happened, happened."

On the game-tying goal, MacArthur was all alone at the far post.  The closest Capital to him:  Ovechkin.

THE STATS:  Mathieu Perreault (1) from Tom Poti (2) and Alexander Semin (15) at 2:55 of 1st.  Mike Knuble (5) from Nicklas Backstrom (20) and Tom Poti (3) at 14:58 of 1st (PP). Mathieu Perreault (2) from Brooks Laich (12) at 6:46 of 2nd.  Alex Ovechkin (12) from Tom Poti (4) and Nicklas Backstrom (21) at 13:50 of 2nd.

NEXT GAME:  Thursday at 7:00 pm against Florida Panthers.

CAPS NEW NETWORK THREE STARS

3. Mike Knuble.  Picked up his own rebound on the power play and scored for the second time in three nights. 

2. Tom Poti.  Three assists in the game for the first time since he was patrolling the blue line for the Islanders.

1. Mathieu Perreault. The diminutive center-iceman scored his first two goals of the season and provided a much needed spark in his second stint with the club this season, much like his first call-up.

CAPS NOTES

D.J. King fought Colton Orr in the second period.  It was just King's third fight of the season.

Ovechkin scored his 12th goal of the season, giving him goals in back-toback games after going nine games scoreless.  He has points in six of the last seven games (two goals, seven assists).

The Caps won 57 percent of their face-offs, and have won 50 percent of more in 15 of their last 16 games.

Washington was three-for-four on the penalty kill and are 21-24 (87.5%) in their last six games.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

THE RESULT:  With less than ten seconds remaining, Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson scored what appeared to be the game tying goal against the Dallas Stars, pushing a tight game into overtime.

Unfortunately, the referees ruled that Alex Ovechkin committed goaltender interference by checking a player into his own goalie, and the goal was waived off.  An unreviewable play, despite all of coach Bruce Boudreau's protestations, sent the Caps to a bitter 2-1 loss in the Lone Star State.

Problem was, Ovechkin did not check the player that collided with Stars goalie Andrew Raycroft, defenseman Karlis Skrastins.  Rather, the Washington captain was tied up with Dallas' other defenseman, Stephane Robidas.  Regardless, all three players ended up in the Dallas crease, and referee Dan O'Rourke ruled on the interference.

It's an unfortunate ending to a tough, tight hockey game.

The Capitals brought a four-game winning streak into this one, just as Dallas had.  Both teams played like they were defending a streak, playing close to the vest, tough checking hockey all night.  The big difference?  Well, there were two.

First, Dallas was awarded five power plays to Washington's three.  Both teams scored on the power play, with Mike Ribiero tallying on the second of consecutive calls against the Caps in the middle of the second period, and Mike Knuble ramming home a perfect pass from Mike Green mid-way through the third.

The second difference was the Stars second goal, scored just 20 seconds after the Caps tied things up in the third.

On the play, Dallas tough guy Brandon Segal collected a pass from Brenden Morrow and lofted it toward the Capitals goal.  Goalie Michal Neuvirth went down into a butterfly even though the shot came from the top of the right wing circle, and he waived at it with his blocker. 

He whiffed, and the puck went over his shoulder and into the net.

Neuvirth dropped his head, knowing that was a shot he must knock down.  Replays showed that defenseman Karl Alzner tipped the shot, but it was still so far out that Neuvy should have made the stop.  It was a rare mistake from a young goalie that carried the Caps through October and early November.

THE GOOD:  The Capitals dominated the latter stages of the third period, flying around the Dallas zone and getting all sorts of shots on net.  Too bad it took until then for them to really get going against a tough Dallas team.

THE BAD:  In a one goal game, one mistake can doom you, and Michal Neuvirth's misplay on Dallas' second goal in one he will tell you he should have 100 times out of 100.

THE UGLY:  The waived goal.  Essentially, this rule allows defenders to run into their own goalies and prohibit goals from being scored.  It's a lousy rule.  Either an offensive player is guilty of a penalty, or it's incidental contact.  It's ridiculous that the play is not reviewable.

THE STATS:  Mike Knuble (4) from Mike Green (9) and Eric Fehr (6) at 10:18 of 3rd.   (PP).

NEXT GAME:  Saturday at 7:00 pm against Atlanta Thrashers at Verizon Center.

CAPS NEWS NETWORK THREE STARS

3. Alex Ovechkin.  He did everything but score.  Five shots, three hits, all over the ice.  Stood up for Marcus Johansson when he got run at the end of the second period.

2. Eric Fehr.  He was engaged a night after he was transparent. Four shots on goal, another five blocked and four misses and an assist on the lone goal.

1. Mike Knuble.  The lone goal scorer has been playing better lately, and you get the feeling he's just about getting ready to burst.  The tally was a great shot off a great pass.

Washington Capitals (18-6-2-38, 1st in SE) v. Dallas Stars (14-8-1-29, 1st PAC)

8:30 pm EST, American Airlines Center, Dallas TX

Capitals.com Preview     Stars.com Preview

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The Washington Capitals bring a four-game winning streak into Dallas to face the Pacific Divsion leading Stars tonight.

The Stars have won four in a row in their own right, including a 4-1 win at Carolina Monday night.  In their streak, they've surrendered just five goals in four games.  Kari Lehtonen helmed the last three wins, but news from this morning's skate had backup Andrew Raycroft off the ice first for coach Marc Crawford.

Lehtonen is 12-7-1 with a 2.61 GAA and .914 save percentage.  In limited action this season (four games), Raycroft is 2-1-0, 1.85, .943.

Dallas is led up front by Brad Richards, often associated with the Capitals when talks of trades are bandied about.  Richards (11-17-28, +11) is a gifted offensive player and responsible on his own end, and as an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, could prove to be a much-discussed trade option for clubs during the stretch drive.

But if Dallas remains at the top of the Pacific Division and striking distance in the Western Conference, Richards' services could prove quite costly, if he becomes available at all.

Thursday night marks the debut of Scott Hannan, acquired Tuesday from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for forward Tomas Flesichmann.  Hannan is a durable, rugged, stay-at-home defenseman, something General Manager George McPhee professed to be trying to acquire for "two to three years." 

Hannan should be paired tonight with John Erskine, who is playing some of his best hockey of his career in the recent weeks.  Coach Bruce Boudreau stated that he thinks Tom Poti will be the best pairing for Hannan in the future, but Poti will miss tonight's game with an aggrevation of the groin injury that forced him to miss several games in November.

"You'd like to see [Poti] play the next 60 games or 50 games, but our whole goal is to make sure he's healthy and it doesn't happen again," Boudreau said. "He's worked really hard off the ice since he first pulled the groin and hopefully it's more maintenance today than anything else."

Captain Alex Ovechkin comes into this contest in an eight-game goal scoring drought, but has eight assists in that period.  Ovechkin has really showcased his playmaking abilities recently, and passed up a sure empty net goal in last night's 4-1 win over St. Louis in order to pad teammate Nicklas Backstrom's totals.

Michal Neuvirth will start in goal tonight for the Caps.  Neuvy has been tremendous for the Capitals this season, but over the last week Boudreau has been resting the young Czech netminder and riding the hot hand of Semyon Varlamov, who won four games in a row. 

"People forget now that Varlamov's played four good games in a row [that Neuvirth] was unreal for us and he won games for us at the beginning, and he's got 12 wins under his belt," Boudreau said. "He's not losing his spot just because somebody's playing good. He's getting back in there and getting a chance to compete for that No. 1 spot."

Through four meetings against the Western Conference thus far the Caps are 3-1-0 and have allowed just 1.75 goals per game.

Washington has killed 12 consecutive shorthanded situations to improve its penalty kill to 85.3%, eighth-best in the league. Washington is 10-3-0 when it holds the opposition without a power-play goal and 6-0-0 when it also scores a PPG of its own.

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LEADERS

DAL:  C Brad Richards 911-17-28, +11), LW Loui Eriksson (10-15-25, +14), LW James Neal (10-11-21, +12), G Kari Lehtonen (12-7-1, 2.61, .914)

WAS:  LW Alex Ovechkin (10-23-33, +10), LW Alexander Semin (18-13-31, +8), C Nicklas Backstrom (11-19-30, +11), G Semyon Varlamov (4-1-0, 1.72, .939)

STATS

DAL:  GF/G: 2.87 (13th); GA/G: 2.65 (11th); PP: 15.0% (22nd); PK: 78.2% (27th) FO: 48.8% (23rd)

WAS:   GF/G: 3.38 (3rd); GA/G: 2.62 (9th); PP: 24.4% (2nd); PK: 85.3% (8th) FO: 51.6% (11th)

INJURIES

DAL:  D Mark Fistric (Groin-IR), RW Krys Barch (LBI-DTD)

WAS:  D Tom Poti (Groin-DTD), Tyler Sloan (UNK-IR)

Information and quotes for this preview were culled from published reports and Capitals press releases

THE RESULTS:  Semyon Varlamov made 37 saves, leading the Washington Capitals to their fourth consecutive victory, over Yaroslav Halak and the St. Louis Blues, 4-1.  The Caps extend their league-leading record to 18-6-2 (38 points) and now have a four point lead over Philadelphia for the conference lead.

It's little solice defeating the goalie that single-handedly ousted the Caps from last year's playoffs in the first round with his new team.  But every win for this team is important -- especially on the road --  whether it's exorcizing old demons or not.

It's the first time the Caps have won in the Gateway since Oct. 26, 1996, a stretch of eight games (0-7-1).

What else happened in 1996?

--Federal minimum wage raised to $4.75.

--Prince Charles and Lady Diana got divorced.

--Ebay started online auction and shopping website.

--Gas cost $1.22 on nationwide average.

--Summer Olympics in Atlanta marred by explosion.

--O.J. Simpson trial started.

--DVDs launched in Japan.

--Independence Day and Jerry Maguire ruled the box office.

--Bill Clinton re-elected, defeating Bob Dole and Ross Perot for President.

That's how long it's been since the Caps won in St. Louis.

Wednesday night, Washington got goals from Brooks Laich and Boyd Gordon, and Nicklas Backstrom had a pair and an assist in a good road win.

But the story was Varlamov.  He played his best game of the season, much better than even his shutout against Tampa Bay.  He was challenged thoughout the game, and made several spectacular saves, robbing Blues players with every part of his equipment -- including his facemask.

One particular great save was on Blues winger Brad Boyes on a power play.  A long shot from the point was kicked out to Boyes, standing alone at the bottom of the left wing dot.  Boyes flipped the puck into a seemingly empty net, but Varlamov sprung to the opposite side of the net to get his right pad on the post and blocker pad in the way of the unchallenged shot.

In his last four games, Varlamov is 4-0-0 with a 1.28 goals against average. 

It's a good sign that Varlamov has played so well during this winning streak with Michal Neuvirth a little banged up and needing a rest, having pulled the bulk of duty while Varlamov was out with a groin injury.  One of coach Bruce Boudreau's biggest challenge this season will be finding enough playing time for both of his 22-year old goaltenders to keep them both sharp throughout the season.

It's a good problem to have, two young, good goaltenders on the big club, and another one at the AHL level.  What many thought might be a problem coming into the season is turning out to be one of the team's biggest strengths.

THE GOOD:  As time was expiring and playing five-on-six, Alex Ovechkin picked up a puck at mid-ice and weaved through the neutral zone and took the puck to the far wall until Backstrom could catch up with the play, where Ovi hit his center streaking to the net for an empty net goal. 

It was a classy move by the captain who hasn't scored a goal in two weeks now.  He easily could have gotten off the schneid, but chose to give the opportunity to his teammate.  Strong.

THE BAD:  Eric Fehr.  I didn't hear his name called all night.  Had the two quietest shots on goal this season.

THE UGLY:  Tom Poti missed most of the third period with an undisclosed problem.  Nice to have some depth on the blue line now, eh?

THE STATS:  Laich (7) from Backstrom (19) and Semin (13) at 8:12 of 1st (PP).  Gordon (1) from Poti (1) and King (1) at 10:02 of 1st.  Backstrom (10) from Knuble (6) and Carlson (9) at 7:06 of 3rd.  Backstrom (11) from Ovechkin (23) and Erskine (4) at 19:25 of 3rd (EN).

NEXT GAME:  Thursday night in Dallas against the Stars at 8:30 pm EST.

CAPS NEWS NETWORK THREE STARS

3. John Erskine.  Assist and plus-2.  Five hits and two blocks.  He wants to stay in the lineup once new d-man Scott Hannan gets a sweater. Good work on final kill with Jeff Schultz in the box and Tom Poti in the locker room with an undisclosed problem.

2. Nicklas Backstrom.  Two goals and an assist.  Plus-2.  Six shots on goal.  Even had three hits.  Only knock was 38% face off percentage.

1. Semyon Varlamov.  37 saves. many spectacular.  The Caps played a pretty good game, but he was clearly their best player in this one.