BOX SCORE//GAME SUMMARY//EVENT SUMMARY

Jose Theodore had a rough night in New Jersey.

Photo © 2009 Cheryl Nichols. All Rights Reserved.

The Caps are taking the day off in NYC tomorrow before returning to Prudential Center for practice on Monday and then game Tuesday night at Madison Square Gardens against Rangers.
______________________________________________________

SCORESHEET

1ST PERIOD
04:15 WAS - [Power Play] T. Fleischmann (7), Slap Shot. Assist: Morrison, Green
05:02 WAS - M. Perreault (20), Wrist Shot. Assist: Green, Bradley
09:47 NJ - C. White (1), Wrist Shot. Assist: Langenbrunner, Zubrus

2ND PERIOD
05:44 NJ - [Power Play] J. Langenbrunner (4), Slap Shot. Assist: Murphy, Bergfors
14:40 NJ - Z. Parise (10), Wrist Shot. Assist: Zajac
19:04 NJ - M. Halischuk (1), Wrist Shot. Assist: Bergfors, Sestito

3RD PERIOD
03:23 NJ - C. Murphy (2), Tip-In. Assist: Zajac
_______________________________________________________

THREE STARS

1. Z. Parise - NJ (Goals: 1, Assists: 0)
2. J. Langenbrunner - NJ (Goals: 1, Assists: 1)
3. M. Halischuk - NJ (Goals: 1, Assists: 0)

Posted by Anthony Amobi, Special Contributor of Caps News Network

WASHINGTON – Despite not having Alex Ovechkin on the ice, the Washington Capitals aren’t suffering – in fact, they’re rolling. They made the most of their opportunities on Friday night, and in the end, the Capitals defeated the Minnesota Wild, 3-1.

The game was competitive from start to finish and Washington finally broke a 1-1 tie in the third period as Brian Pothier scored his second goal of the season at the two minute mark. The Capitals went up 3-1 in the final minute as Brooks Laich got his eighth goal of the season with an empty-netter.

Despite an excellent showing by the Wild’s Josh Harding – who stopped 38 of 40 shots on goal – he was overwhelmed in the third quarter and Minnesota could not get anything going.

Meanwhile, Washington’s Semyon Varlamov was superb, only allowing one goal – Cal Clutterbuck’s shot with a minute into the second period that gave Minnesota an early 1-0 lead. Overall, Varlamov had 29 saves against 30 shots on goal.

The Capitals got on the four minutes later as they had a power play and Mike Green took advantage. Minnesota covered Washington as tight as they could during the power play; however, the Capitals saw an opening, and Mike Green – with an assist from a Tomas Fleischman pass – scored his 4th goal of the season sending a shot past the legs of Harding to tie the game at one.

Washington may have won the game; however, they may have lost yet another teammate to injury.

Mike Knuble had to leave the game in the first period, as he fell over Harding in the Wild’s goal and crashed into the net, thanks to a push by Minnesota’s Marek Zidlicky. It looks as if his finger is broken and will more than likely need surgery.

Photos © 2009 Cheryl Nichols. All Rights Reserved.

In other news, it looks like Alex Ovechkin may be on his way back to the ice. He’s not played since November 1st with a upper-body issue; however, he’s been practicing with the team this week and may return over within the week.

The timetable for Ovechkin’s return is undetermined.
________________________________________________________
SCORESHEET

1ST PERIOD
None.

2ND PERIOD
01:31 NJ - C. Clutterbuck (4), Slap Shot.  Assists: B. Burns and K. Brodziak.
5:39 WAS - [Power play] M. Green (3), Slap Shot.  Assists: T. Fleischmann and B. Morrison.

3RD PERIOD
02:00 WAS Brian Pothier (2), Snap Shot.  Assists: M. Perreault and E. Fehr.
19:23 WAS [Empty Net] Brooks Laich  (8), Wrist Shot.  Unassisted.
________________________________________________________

THREE STARS

1. J. Harding - MIN (Saves: 38, Save Pct.: .950)

2. B. Pothier - WAS (Goals: 1, Assists: 0)

3. T. Fleischmann - WAS (Goals: 0, Assists: 1)

BOXSCORE//GAME SUMMARY//EVENT SUMMARY//SHOOTOUT DETAILS

**Interesting to note that the number 11 was an important number in DC sports today.  Earlier on Wedneday, the Washington Nationals' made history when Ryan Zimmerman (#11) won the NL 3B Gold Glove which is the first Gold Glove for the Nationals.  Then tonight, the Caps won their eleventh in an eleven round shootout.  Both of these took place on the eleventh day of the eleventh month.**

Washington, DC -- The Washington Capitals hosted the New York Islanders on a cold and rainy night, but made the night very exciting with a 5-4 win in an eleven round shootout.  Winning goal was scored by Captain Chris Clark.

Alex Semin is back and didn't waste any time getting things started.   Eight seconds in (and tying a franchise record for fastest goal to start a game), Semin scored with a rocket slap shot after Morrison won the draw.  Semin scored twice in regulation and again in the shootout.  Caps Coach Bruce Boudreau said, "He looked like he wanted to play.  And when he wants to play, he could have had six. He's scary good when he's motivated. There's the good and the bad -- the goal, the giveaway, the miss."

The Islanders quickly responded with a Matt Moulson goal at 1:02.  New York scored another two goals so had three unanswered goals in less than seven minutes of the first period.  The game was on pace for a football score.

Jose Theodore was pulled at 6:54 after the three Islander goals and replaced by Semyon Varlamov.  

"I don’t like to do that,” said Coach Boudreau of pulling Theodore, “especially so early, but he looked a little rattled and he looked a little down. It’s not like pulling him when the game is out of reach, we had so much time left. The last time he was pulled Varly came in and shut the door, so I thought he would be able to do it again. Theo has played so well for us and he had a rough outing and he’ll come back this week and play another game and he’ll be great for us.”

Tomas Fleischmann scored on a power play at the end of the first period. The second period had only two goals and both were by Caps including Semin's second goal of the night to tie the game at three. With only 3:08 left in second, Eric Fehr became the tenth Cap to score in the four games where Ovechkin has been sidelined. "Good teams have guys pick it up," Boudreau said. "But by no means do we not miss him."

Varlamov shut down the Islanders until Trent Hunter scored on a power play with only 2:08 left in regulation to tie it up at four.  "We can't stand prosperity," Boudreau said. "We go penalty-less for two periods, then we take three in the third."

After a scoreless overtime, Varlamov yielded only one goal in the shootout by Jeff Tambellini which was on the Islanders' first attempt. Varly made several fantastic saves in the shootout, however, the highlight was in Hunter's 9th round shot which Varly stopped with his pads, then used his arms to grab the crossbar to stop from sliding into the goal with the puck in his pads. "I was just skating back into the goal very fast," he said through an interpreter. "I just grabbed the first thing I could to stop my movement into the net."

It took eleven rounds of the shootout before Captain Chris Clark beat Roloson to give the Caps the win.

Varlavmov earned the number one star of the game as well as the Hardhat for his 25 saves and .962 Save Pct:.
_______________________________________________________

SCORESHEET

1ST PERIOD
00:08 Alex Semin (8), Slap Shot. Assist: B Morrison
01:02 Matt Moulson (8), Wrist Shot. Assist: Streit
05:10 Mark Streit (3), Slap Shot. Assist: Gervais, Schremp
06:54 Sean Bergenheim (2), Backhand. Unassisted.
13:42 Power Play -Tomas Fleischmann (6), Slap Shot. Assist: Backstrom, Knuble

2ND PERIOD
05:35 Power Play -Alex Semin (9), Snap Shot. Assist: Green
16:46 Eric Fehr (2), Backhand. Assist: Clark, Green

3RD PERIOD
17:52 Power Play - Trent Hunter (2), Slap Shot. Assist: Tavares, Nielsen

OT
None

SHOOTOUT

NYI: Tambellini (Round 1), Wrist Shot
WAS: Semin (Round 2), Backhand and Clark (Round 12), Snap
________________________________________________________

THREE STARS

1. S. Varlamov - WAS (Saves: 25, Save Pct: .962)

2. A. Semin - WAS (Goals: 2, Assists: 0)

3. M. Streit - NYI (Goals: 1, Assists: 1)

________________________________________________________

Photos © 2009 Cheryl Nichols. All Rights Reserved.

BOX SCORE//GAME SUMMARY//EVENT SUMMARY

For moments in the second period, it looked like the Washington Capitals were not going to be able to match the Philadelphia Flyers intensity physically. 

Richards has Backstrom in a headlock, which was not called. 

An example of how the crease looked most of the night.

But after a television timeout, Jeff Schultz laid into a Flyers forward, and moments later Tyler Sloan did the same.  After that, what had been a sub-par defensive performance turned into a flurry of offensive activity, and the Caps rallied from two goals down to overcome and defeat the hated Flyers, 4-2, before a capacity crowd at Verizon Center Tuesday night.

Jose Theodore sparkled in net as well.  He stopped 41 of 43 shots he faced, even stopping a penalty shot.

He allowed just two power play goals during the second period of the game, when the Flyers were owning the Caps, physically and offensively.

Philly was able to keep the puck in the Caps zone seemingly at will for most of the period, often looking like they were running a power play, though the teams were even strength. 

Even a two-man advantage for 1:42 couldn't get the Caps to shake a leg.

But things changed during that TV timeout.  Whether coach Bruce Boudreau said something to his troops, or the players finally realized on their own that if they put out physically, things would finally open up offensively -- as it did -- is unknown.

But what is known is that as soon as the Caps stood up to their personal bully, they almost automatically found more room to operate.  And room to operate meant scoring goals.

"We got a little bit angry," Nicklas Backstrom said. "It was good for us."

Alex Ovechkin started the comeback with just under four minutes to play, snapping a shot past Flyers goalie Ray Emery (33 saves on 36 shots).  Two minutes later, it was his running mate, Backstrom, that one-timed a shot past Emery from the top of the circle on a power play, breaking the Capitals 0-for-14 skid with the man-advantage.

Alexander Semin, who returned from his mysterious illness/injury of the past two games, tallied third with a wicked wrist shot from the left wing circle that might have deflected of a shin pad on the way.  And Ovechkin capped things with an empty-netter, the first of the season for Washington.

Ovechkin now has 11 goals in 11 games, and Backstrom assisted on all three goals he did not score.

But the first star belonged to Theodore, who is playing some really inspired goaltending right now.  On several occasions he was the only resistance to the Flyers onslaught of shots, and he turned back very even-strength offering, including 20 saves in the closing period.

He was remarkably calm, putting his skate against the post to close the door on at least three occasions.  And he's perfecting that little snap-catch on the rebounds that pop up right in front of him.

"Theo kept us in the game," Boudreau said matter-of-factly.

Photo © 2009 Cheryl Nichols. All Rights Reserved.

So the Caps got scoring from their top line, strong goaltending and even some much-needed physical play when they really needed it.  They gave up 43 shots, and on most nights that's a cause for alarm, but with the way the Flyers were buzzing, it's a testament to Theodore that things did not get out of hand.

The Caps historically don't match up well with the Flyers, and it's because of the physical play.  Hopefully when they watch the tape of this one, they'll notice the timing of when the ice opened up for them late in the second period.  Because that's when they started to give as good as they were getting.

________________________________________________________
THREE STARS

1. J. Theodore - WAS (Saves: 41, Save Pct: .953)

2. N. Backstrom - WAS (Goals: 1, Assists: 3)

3. A. Ovechkin - WAS (Goals: 2, Assists: 0)

________________________________________________________
NOTES

Eric Fehr (ribs) and Quentin Laing (flu) were scratched.  Tyler Sloan skated at left wing with David Steckel and Matt Bradley, with ALexandre Giroux on the third line with Keith Aucoin and Chris Clark.

For the first time since opening night against Boston, the Washington Capitals played a full 60-minute hockey game Thursday night.  The victim was the San Jose Sharks, as the Caps got four goals, played steady defense, and wore down the Sharks in the third period, winning 4-1 in front of a worked-up capacity crowd.

Alex Ovechkin scored two second period goals within 30 seconds of each other, Alexander Semin scored on a five-on-three in the first period, and Matt Bradley capped the scoring in the third period.

On top of the offensive prowess, the Caps played strong defensively, keeping shots on starter Jose Theodore, and then backup Semyon Varlamov to the outside and out of the crease for the most part. 

The bad news for the Caps was an injury to Theodore.  After the game, the team called Theodore day-to-day, and did not announce whether they would recall a goalie from the minors until tomorrow or Saturday.

Theodore made 12 saves, allowing the lone San Jose goal in the first period, then left between periods to the confusion of the crowd.  Varlamov came in at the beginning of the second period, and made 15 saves the rest of the way out.

The Sharks didn't really test Varlamov as they simply ran out of gas, the product of the Capitals skating very well in the first period and drawing five minor penalties on the first period. 

They spent the entire period killing off the infractions, and while they did most of the job -- allowing just the single goal -- but skating a man down for most of the period really wore down the Sharks, and the Capitals took advantage, particularly Ovechkin.

The first Ovechkin goal was on a nifty set-up from Mike Knuble, a backhanded pass that Knuble slid under Mark Vlasic, and Ovie tipped it past Evgeni Nabokov low glove side for his sixth goal of the season.

Twenty-eight seconds later, Knuble rushed in on the right wing and blasted a shot into Nabokov, and the puck bounced straight to Ovechkin, who tapped it past the sprawled goalie.

The Capitals play Saturday night, when Nashville makes an appearance at Verizon Center.  Whether or not they wil have the services of one of their starting goalies is another story.

_______________________________________________________

SCORESHEET

1ST PERIOD

07:21 Power Play - Alexander Semin (6), Wrist Shot. Assist: Backstrom, Green

14:07 Benn Ferriero (2), Wrist Shot. Assist: Nichol, Huskins

2ND PERIOD

02:55 Alex Ovechkin (6), Tip-In. Assist: Knuble, Morrison

03:23 Alex Ovechkin (7), Wrist Shot. Assist: Knuble, Morrison

3RD PERIOD

05:11 Matt Bradley (2), Tip-In. Assist: Jurcina

_______________________________________________________

THREE STARS

1. A. Ovechkin - WAS (Goals: 2, Assists: 0)

2. M. Knuble - WAS (Goals: 0, Assists: 2)

3. A. Semin - WAS (Goals: 1, Assists: 0)_______________________________________________________

NOTES

Boyd Gordon was scratched with back spasms.  He is day-to-day.  Keith Aucoin was recalled from AHL Hershey and played on the third line.

Michael Nylander was a healthy scratch, yet again.

The win breaks a six-game losing streak the Caps had been carrying agaisnt San Jose in D.C., dating back to 1999.

Mike Green (far right) scores his first goal of the season in 3-2 shootout loss to New Jersey.

Photos © 2009 C. Nichols. All Rights Reserved.

"One bad shift in the third period," was how Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau described his team's effort in a 3-2 shootout loss to the New Jersey Devils, who were completing a three-game road trip Monday night at a sold out Verizon Center.

It was Washington's fourth loss in a row, though they took two points from the four losses.

"I thought we were getting it in deep, we were doing all the right things and that one shift, they kept it in our zone for about a minute and everyone in the building and on the bench knew something bad was going to happen."

"Something bad" was David Clarkson's second goal of the season, scored at 13:34 of the third period.  Clarkson banged home a pass from Nicklas Bergfors from the slot after a sustained flurry of shots and pressure.  The Devils (3-2-0) had several opportunities during the possession, and the Caps had several chances to clear the puck, but could not.

The game followed a disturbing trend for the Capitals (2-2-2), as fairly dominant play in the first half of the game resulted in a 2-0 lead mid-way through the second period.  The Caps got goals from Mike Green -- his first of the season on his 24th birthday -- and Mike Knuble, who was moved to the first line with Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom.

Ovechkin assisted on both goals, giving him 12 points in six games.

But the reworked second line of Brendan Morrison centering Brooks Laich and Alexander Semin were on the ice for both of New Jersey's regulation goals.  The first goal was as egregious as the second, as Semin was caught up ice and out of position.

The Devils then broke out on a 4-on-2 the other way, with Brian Rolston snapping a shot past Jose Theodore off a nice feed from Rob Neidermayer.

"I thought that [the Knuble line] played a solid game. I thought the other line struggled a little bit with the switch. ... We've got to find a switch that works for everybody," Boudreau said.

"It's not a frustration. It's more like an annoyance," Knuble said of the four-game skid. "We're doing all the things right, every game we've lost."

Theodore (27 saves) had a very strong game, especially late in the third period after the tying goal and in overtime, where the Caps were forced to kill a Morrison tripping call in OT.

"José was on top of his game again, but we just couldn't get that win for him," captain Chris Clark said.

Special teams was an issue again, as the Caps went 0-for-5 on the power play, including 53 seconds of five-on-three.  On the positive side, though, they did not allow a power play goal either in five tries.

In the shootout, Backstrom drew first blood, and Zach Parise and Jamie Langenbrunner both answered for New Jersey.  Semin was stopped by Brodeur on the Caps second shot, and Ovechkin was denied on the final try, sending the frenzied crowd home empty.

To a man, the Caps all proclaimed that the season was still early.  But an extra point in October counts the same as it does in March.

______________________________________________________
SCORESHEET

1ST PERIOD
09:06 Mike Green (1), Snap Shot. Assist: Knuble, Ovechkin
14:16 Mike Knuble (2), Slap Shot. Assist: Ovechkin

2ND PERIOD
08:18 Brian Rolston (2), Snap Shot. Assist: Niedermayer, White

3RD PERIOD
13:34 David Clarkson (2), Slap Shot. Assist: Bergfors, Zubrus

OT
None

SHOOT OUT
Nicklas Backstrom (1), GOAL
Zach Parise (2), GOAL
Jamie Langenbrunner (2), GOAL
______________________________________________________
THREE STARS

1. D. Clarkson - NJ (Goals: 1, Assists: 0)
2. M. Brodeur - NJ (Saves: 31, Save Pct: .939)
3. A. Ovechkin - WAS (Goals: 0, Assists: 2)
______________________________________________________
NOTES

Michael Nylander continues to sit for Washington as the organization tries to rectify his situation.

Clark fought with Clarkson in the first period.

The Caps out shot New Jersey 29-26.

The game winner.  Photos © 2009 C. Nichols. All Rights Reserved.

WASHINGTON, DC, Oct. 8 -- From the drop of the opening faceoff Thursday night at Verizon Center, the Washington Capitals played like they were in the third game of a western swing instead of their second home game of the season after a day off.

The New York Rangers outworked, outplayed and outhustled the Caps the entire game.  The Blueshirts (3-1-0) took advantage of defensive miscues on their first two goals, and victimized starting goalie Jose Theodore for the last two.

Marian Gaborik scored the tying and winning goals 2:31 apart in the third period, on soft wrist shots from the top of the face off circles, practically carbon copies of each other.

Of Gaborik's heroics, coach Bruce Boudreau said, "Those are the ones, in the third period, you've got to stop. I mean, you've just got to stop."

Theodore actually played very well in the first two frames, making several highlight reel stops.  But both of Gaborik's wristers went right through the veteran goalie at the worst possible time.

Boudreau spared no one in his post-game comments.  Nor should he have.  All the bad trends the Capitals showed in their last two games -- individual play on offense, bad positioning on defense, allowing late goals -- permeated the entire evening. 

Washington has allowed six third period goals in the last three games.

 

"It's a really upsetting trend," Boudreau said. "Better stop in a hurry."

 

Asked if this was a game his team should have held on to, Boudreau snapped, "Anytime you have a lead in the last ten minutes of the game, you have to. If you're going to be a good team, you have to."

 

The Caps' vaunted power play was one-for-nine -- including two five-on-threes -- and actually surrendered two power plays back by taking penalties while having the advantage. 

"We played as individuals instead of a unit," Boudreau said. "That's what happens. We talked about it between periods. If you're going to play like individuals, you're going to get individual results.  Nothin's gonna happen."

 

Boudreau wasn't done criticizing his team, which came into this affair scoring five goals a game.

 

"The guys that are making mistakes are not first-year guys," he added.  "These guys should know what the hell they're doing."

 

He pointed to his third and fourth lines, saying, "If you're not going to score, you better not be on for any goals-against."

 

"Right now we're not playing good enough."

 

The collapse ruined Nicklas Backstrom's big night.  He had two goals, one a gift of a misplay by Rangers' goalie Henrik Lundqvist (25 saves) on a shot from center ice, and a power play marker, set up from nifty passing by Alexander Semin (goal, assist) and Brooks Laich, who drew the defense to the goal line and left the Swede alone in the slot.

Backstrom now has 10 points (2-8-10) in four games and leads the league in scoring, one point ahead of teammates Semin (5-4-9) and Alex Ovechkin, who came in as the league's leading scorer with five goals and four assists, but was kept off the scoresheet despite nine shots on goal.

 

Ryan Callahan and Ales Kotalik scored for New York in the second period.

 

Washington (2-1-1) has little time to think about the adjustments they have to make, as they travel to Detroit to face the always tough Red Wings Saturday evening.

Boudreau's comments speak for themselves, but with this offense, one-for-nine on the power play doesn't cut it.  Allowing third period goals aren't going to cut it, either.  Especially soft wrist shots that go through the five hole.  And if you want to have fun on offense, you also better get back on defense.

Because if they don't find the answers, the result, as we've seen three third periods in a row now, is not pretty.

The Washington Capitals came into hostile territory and went home with a point against the Flyers in Philadelphia last night, losing 6-5 in overtime.  But after squandering a third period lead on an "own goal", having the game-winner batted in off a rebound, and being on the wrong end of nine minor penalties, to a man the Caps must feel like they let one get away from them last night.

"You take [nine minor penalties] in a game, you're not going to win that game, and we took six in one period," Coach Bruce Boudreau said. "That's how four goals get scored against you. It's something that's unacceptable."

The teams played scoreless hockey though one period, and it looked like it would be a nail-biter in the sold out, orange-bathed Wachovia Center.  It turned out to be a donnybrook, as 11 goals would fall in the resultant two-plus period, with the game-winner potted by none other than thorn-in-the-side Danny Briere with 1:08 remaining in overtime.

The Caps had the opportunity to avoid the extra play, but could not take advantage.  Brendan Morrison had a puck bounce off his skate into the Flyers net to take a 5-4 lead with 10:28 left in the third period.  But six minutes later, Boyd Gordon was whistled for holding. 

The Flyers power play unit, which had scored twice already, took the ice.  Scott Hartnall, locks flowing, fired on net, and Jose Theodore -- who replaced a shaky Semyon Varlamov in the second period -- made the save.  But the rebound skipped straight to defenseman Tom Poti, who was in position but just couldn't play the puck with his stick.  It bounced off Poti, back into Theodore, and then into the net for the equalizer.

"Tonight we were our worst enemy," Morrison said. "We came back and took the lead in the third, and that's a game we should have seal down and win. Tonight it was our penalties. We just couldn't stay out of the box. We have to learn this lesson quickly if we want to be a good team, not a great team."

The nine minor penalties were mostly crimes of laziness, including three holdings, two hookings and two interference calls.

A bigger, more long-term concern, was the play of Varlamov.  Heralded as the goalie of the future, last night showed he still has a way to go to prove his mettle as he allowed four goals on 25 shots in just under 34 minutes, including three to Flyers captain Mike Richards.

"Varlamov has to be more mentally tough to play," Boudreau said. "One thing that's reared it's ugly head right now is they score in bunches on him. I think he gets down on himself, and we have to get him out of that."

"I thought there were some soft goals."

The Alexes -- Ovechkin and Semin -- took care of the first four goals, each netting a pair.  But on this night, scoring goals wasn't the problem.  Preventing them, and the bad situations in which they were scored, was.

___________________________________________________________

SCORESHEET

1ST PERIOD

None

2ND PERIOD
01:37 Power Play - Mike Richards (3), Snap Shot. Assist: Carle, Pronger
02:44 Alex Ovechkin (4), Wrist Shot. Assist: Bradley, Backstrom
04:33 Kimmo Timonen (1), Slap Shot. Assist: Carle, Gagne
07:33 Alex Ovechkin (5), Wrist Shot. Assist: Backstrom
12:26 Alexander Semin (3), Wrist Shot. Assist: Green, Morrisonn
13:49 Power Play - Mike Richards (4), Wrist Shot. Assist: Carle
14:07 Mike Richards (5), Snap Shot. Assist: Carle

3RD PERIOD
08:18 Power Play - Alexander Semin (4), Snap Shot. Assist: Backstrom, Ovechkin
09:32 Brendan Morrison (2), Tip-In. Assist: Bradley, Laich
15:45 Power Play - Scott Hartnell (1), Backhand Shot. Assist: Coburn, Timonen

OT
03:52 Danny Briere (1), Snap Shot. Assist: Timonen, Carter
___________________________________________________________
THREE STARS

1. M. Richards - PHI (Goals: 3, Assists: 0)

2. A. Ovechkin - WAS (Goals: 2, Assists: 1)

3. D. Briere - PHI (Goals: 1, Assists: 0)

___________________________________________________________

NOTES

 

Matt Carle set a Flyers record for mosts assists by a defenseman in one period, helping with all four Flyers goals in the second period.

 

Matt Bradley fought Ian LaPerriere in the first period.

 

Philly out shot Washington 37-35.

 

Washington has scored 15 goals in three games and given up 11.

The Washington Capitals stretched their lead for second seed in the Eastern Conference to four points with two games remaining after defeating Southeast Division foe Atlanta last night 4-3. The Caps also beat Atlanta Sunday at home 6-4.

The home-and-home wins give Washington 49 victories and need one win in their last two games to record 50 wins for only the second time in franchise history.

New Jersey lost to Toronto 4-1 at home. It was the Devils seventh loss in nine games.

Simeon Varlamov stopped 29 shots for the win. The Caps got goals from Tomas Fleischmann, Viktor Kozlov, Alexander Semin and Sergei Fedorov, and Alex Ovechkin added two assists to keep pace with Evgeni Malkin, who leads Ovechkin by two points, for the scoring title.

Washington continues it's southeast swing Thursday night at Tampa Bay.

_______________

ed. note: Sorry to cut the review short today. I had my annual eye exam this morning and it's very tough to work on the computer with pupils dilated. I'll have more later when I can see again.

Mike Green scored a pair of power play goals 1:23 apart in the third period to lead the Washington Capitals over the league-worst New York Islanders 5-3 before 18,277 at Verizon Center. It's just the eighth time in history the 30-goal mark has been reached by a defenseman.

Once again, the Capitals (47-23-7-101, first in Southeast, second in East) found themselves playing down to lower competition through much of the first half of this contest, trailing New York--the lowest scoring team in the NHL--by two goals until 5:37 of the second period, when Alex Ovechkin registered his league-leading 54th goal of the season off a nifty feed by veteran center Sergei Fedorov.

But a funny thing happened on the way to that goal. Jeff Schultz got into a fight. No, really. It was Schultz' first career fighting major, and it came after Green launched himself at unsuspecting Islander Andy Hibbert along the boards. Honestly, it was mildly surprising Green did not receive more than the two minute charging penalty he was assessed.

Regardless, Schultz was involved in the fracas following, and somehow got tied up with Tim Jackman, the Islanders rugged winger. While Schultz spent the better part of the fight avoiding getting hit, it was apparent that the shot of adrenaline woke the Caps out of their early-game stupor to take control of the contest.

John Erskine got the rough stuff started a few minutes earlier, as he tussled with Joel Rechicz as the undercard to the Schultz-Jackman main event.

Green's first goal was a one-timer from the wing off a feed from Alexander Semin, who seemed to be sleepwalking though much of the rest of the game, with multiple turnovers and lazy skating. That goal tied Green for first all-time among Capitals defensemen with 17, a record he would hold for his own just moments later.

The second goal was a long, soft wrist shot from the point that managed to escape Islanders goalie Joey MacDonald, though the goalie was distracted by Tomas Fleischman, who was in the general vicinity.

Green now has 30 goals on the season, the first time an NHL defenseman has hit that mark since the Caps' Kevin Hatcher in the 1993-94 season. Green is only the eighth defenseman in NHL history to eclipse the 30-goal mark.

Keith Aucoin scored his first goal as a Washington Capital and Nicklas Backstrom added an empty net goal to cap the scoring.

With the win, the Caps will clinch first place in the Southeast with any other win or Carolina loss. They also took a three point lead over New Jersey for the second seed in the Eastern Conference, as the Devils suffered their sixth straight defeat, losing to Pittsburgh 6-1 last night.

Washington faces the Buffalo Sabres Friday night at Verizon Center at 7:00 p.m.
___________________________________________________
SCORESHEET

1ST PERIOD
14:04 Power Play - Kyle Okposo (18), Wrist Shot. Assist: Nielsen

2ND PERIOD
37.0 Frans Nielsen (8), Tip-In. Assist: Tambellini, Okposo
05:37 Alex Ovechkin (54), Wrist Shot. Assist: Fedorov, Green
09:54 Keith Aucoin (1), Wrist Shot. Assist: Fehr

3RD PERIOD
02:12 Richard Park (13), Backhand Shot, Unassisted.
10:55 Power Play - Mike Green (29), Wrist Shot. Assist: Semin, Backstrom
12:18 Power Play - Mike Green (30), Snap Shot, Unassisted.
19:04 Nicklas Backstrom (22), Empty Net, Unassisted
_______________________________________________________
THREE STARS

1. M. Green - WAS (Goals: 2, Assists: 1)
2. J. MacDonald - NYI (Saves: 38, Save Pct: .905)
3. N. Backstrom - WAS (Goals: 1, Assists: 1)
_______________________________________________________
NOTES

Defenseman Brain Pothier was named as a finalist for the Masterson Trophy, awarded to the player who best personifies hard work and dedication to the game of hockey.

The Capitals are up to 47 wins, a total they haven't eclipsed since 1983-84, and have 101 points, a mark they haven't topped since getting 102 in 1999-00.

Ovechkin's 33rd home goal of the season broke the team mark he set in 2007-08.

Washington's Donald Brashear missed his ninth consecutive game with a knee injury, but the team expects the enforcer to be available for the playoffs.

Washington outshot New York 43-27, dominating play in the third period with a 22-9 shot advantage.

Photo (c) C. Nichols 2009. All rights reserved.

Sergei Fedorov scored 2:20 into overtime to lift the Washington Capitals (41-21-6, first in Southeast, third in East) over the Nashville Predators (33-29-5-71, fourth in Central, T-7 in West) , before 16,064 at Sommet Arena.

Fedorov called the victory a "character win", but the Caps will take any type of win at this point, after losing their previous four games. Nashville has now lost two straight after winning their previous six games.

The win was punctuated by several big fights, with the Caps mainly on the losing end. Donald Brashear was knocked down by Wade Belak in the first period and did not return to the game. According to Capitals Insider, Brashear sprained his knee in the fight.

Matt Bradley then dropped with Jordin Tootoo and suffered a head butt to his nose, opening a gash that required several stitches, and a change of jerseys. Bradley returned to the game after getting stitched up. John Erskine mixed it up with Belak in the second period and managed to hold his own. The defenseman has been discouraged from fighting due to multiple concussions in the past.

As for actual hockey, the Preds got off quickly, scoring 50 seconds into the game. Ryan Suter put a long distance wrist shot through traffic and past a screened Jose Theodore low to the stick side.

Niklas Backstrom tied it with 1:21 remaining in the second period. Viktor Kozlov carried the puck into the offensive zone, went cross-ice to Alex Ovechkin, and Ovie found Backstrom slipping behind the defense. Backstrom caught the pass on the backhand, skated across the front of the crease, and lifted it over a committed Dan Ellis to tie things up.


Video courtesy of Caps365 at http://capitals.nhl.tv

The goalies took over from there, as Ellis--filling in for an ill Pekka Rinne--made several highlight saves in the third period. Eliis would finish with 39 saves on the night. Theodore was efficient in registering 26 saves against the Predators.

Washington had 17 shots on goal in the final frame, but went 0-for-3 on the power play and could not beat Ellis. The veteran backup made three excellent saves against Ovechkin in the third period, who may be suffering from the lingering effects of the bruised heel he suffered at practice last week.

The Capitals next face the Philadelphia Flyers, Thursday night at 7:00 PM from the Wachovia Center. The Flyers defeated Buffalo last night 5-2, as Jeff Carter and Scott Hartnell had two goals apiece.
__________________________________________________
SCORESHEET

1ST PERIOD
50.0 Ryan Suter (6), Wrist Shot. Assist: Weber, Erat

2ND PERIOD
18:39 Nicklas Backstrom (18), Slap Shot. Assist: Ovechkin, Kozlov

3RD PERIOD
None

OT
02:20 Sergei Fedorov (8), Slap Shot. Assist: Kozlov, Semin
__________________________________________________
THREE STARS

1. D. Ellis - NSH (Saves: 42, Save Pct: .955)
2. S. Fedorov - WAS (Goals: 1, Assists: 0)
3. N. Backstrom - WAS (Goals: 1, Assists: 0)
__________________________________________________
NOTES

Alexander Semin extended his point streak to seven games with his assist on Fedorov's game-winner. It is one game shy of his career best streak. The Caps had a goal waived off after a video review determined that Tomas Fleischmann directed the puck into the net with his skate. Ovechkin has five goals and five assists in his last eight games. The Caps have won five straight on the road, improving to 11-3-2 in their last 16 games away from Verizon Center.

Please visit DC Sports Box to read my game story, Capitals Drop Third Straight at Home; Lose to Toronto 2-1, complete with quotes from coach Boudreau, Alex Ovechkin, Sergei Fedorov and Eric Fehr.

The Caps put forth a much better effort last night with unfortunately the same result. This team is having a very difficult time finishing right now, and coach Boudreau described his players as grasping their sticks too tightly right now in his post game comments.

Missing Ovechkin and Poti hurt, for sure. The power play looked especially lost, like they just weren't sure who should shoot. Granted, Ovechkin is a HUGE part of this offense, but they did not lack for chances, as Fedorov went out of his way to mention last night. They just couldn't finish.

Bradley breaks a stick. Fleishmann, in a all too familiar refrain now, shot high on an open net. Fehr and Laich couldn't get any lift when they had Gerber down. The only forward that showed any crispness on passes was Semin.

Boudreau made a quip about one of his players (he failed to mention which one) being nervous a couple games back, to which he replied, if he's nervous now, what's he gonna feel like in the playoffs? But that's where the team is at right now, teetering between Ovechkin and Semin's swagger and some of the others not trusting their stuff.

Maybe the big division lead and lofty status in some power rankings got some of these guys thinking "Are we ready for this?". Maybe the national attention on Green during his streak had some guys doubting their own ability.

Whatever it is, really, they need to forget about it and get back to playing hockey. Just let the natural talent take back over. Because fewer teams in hockey are as naturally talented--top to bottom--as this team.

Shaone Morrisonn had to know the second the puck hit his right leg that the game was over. Trying to stop a crossing pass from Boston's David Krejci, instead Morrisonn redirected the puck past a stationary Jose Theodore and into his own net, allowing the Eastern Conference leading Boston Bruins (35-8-5-75, first in Northeast, first in East) to escape overtime with a 3-2 win over their next closest opponent in the standings.

Krejci admitted after the game he was trying to pass through the low slot to center Marc Savard, who was wide open on the far post on the four-on-three power play.

The Washington Capitals (30-15-4-64, first in Southeast, second in East) scored twice in the first period, but were shut down the rest of the way by all-star goalie Tim Thomas. Thomas knocked away 34 of the 36 shot he faced, and made a highlight reel kick save on Niklas Backstrom early in overtime to keep Boston alive.

The Caps continue to have problems on the penalty kill, as Boston went two-for-five with the extra skater, including the winning goal. Backstrom was off for hooking Zdeno Chara, on somewhat of a debatable call, as Chara was diving to the net. Several Caps after the game thought Chara embellished his fall a bit.

Coach Bruce Boudreau was not as charitable. "It was a good penalty to take if it was in [regulation]."

Boudreau continued, "These were two good teams. All three games against these guys, we battled them. It was a hard fought game. We have to limit [the penalties] to just three because right now we're fragile killing penalties. The guys are trying so hard, but things aren't working."

Washington finally tallied at even strength after going three-plus games without one. Mike Green (13) opened the scoring at 2:08 of the first period with a slap shot just after Savard's high-sticking penalty expired. Michael Nylander added his fifth of the season right before the first intermission, tipping one in after Tomas Fleischmann charged the net, then wrestled the rebound away from Thomas and a defender.

Caps goalie Jose Theodore had another strong game in net, including a tremendous glove save in overtime before the game-winner. He made 24 saves in the losing effort.

The Caps had a scary moment at the end of the second period, as NHL leading goal scorer Alex Ovechkin took a hard fall, slamming his right shoulder into the low boards as he came crashing to a stop. He was assisted from the ice and missed the last 5:35 of the second, but returned to take his regular shifts in the third period. The team described the injury as a "stinger" and that he was "ok".

Washington is now off until a Saturday matinee at the Verizon Center against the Detroit Red Wings. Game time is 12:30 pm.

Photo by Getty Images.
________________________________________________
SCORESHEET

1ST PERIOD
02:08 Mike Green (13), Slap Shot. Assist: Semin, Ovechkin
09:26 Shawn Thornton (4), Backhand Shot, Unassisted.
19:39 Michael Nylander (5), Tip-In. Assist: Fleischmann, Clark

2ND PERIOD
14:12 Power Play - Marc Savard (17), Wrist Shot. Assist: Bergeron

3RD PERIOD
None

OT
01:55 Power Play - David Krejci (18), Wrist Shot. Assist: Wideman, Chara
________________________________________________
THREE STARS

1. T. Thomas - BOS (Saves: 34, Save Pct: .944)
2. M. Savard - BOS (Goals: 1, Assists: 0)
3. S. Thornton - BOS (Goals: 1, Assists: 0)
________________________________________________
NOTES

Ovechkin went scoreless in the game...Alexander Semin extended a seven-game scoring streak (4-4-8)...Boudreau was honored Monday at the AHL all-star game and inducted into the league's Hall of Fame...Washington was zero-for-six on the power play.