The Washington Capitals got goals from Alexander Semin, Tomas Fleischmann and Mike Green--and 34 saves from first star of the game Jose Theodore-- to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2.

The win is No. 51 for the season for Washington, setting a franchise record.

Theodore improved to 18-0-3 with a 2.70 GAA since Jan. 13, extending his own record for decisions without a regulation loss.

The Caps added to their franchise record for points in a season (114) and set a new mark for road wins (23).

Unfortunately, I did not get to watch the game, so please visit one of the excellent blogs in the blogroll to the right of this story for analysis of the game.

During their recently concluded three-game losing streak, Caps players, media, fans and Coach Bruce Boudreau all spoke often about the need for the club to play a full 60-minute game, something they all freely admitted they were not doing.

Thursday night, against a scrappy Atlanta team trying to earn the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, the Washington Capitals got that 60-minute effort, defeating the Thrashers 2-1 before a frenzied capacity crowd at Verizon Center.

Defenseman Mike Green, who assisted on the Caps' first goal of the night, spoke after the game about the effort level and getting the job done.

"It's been a while since we played a 60-minute game.  We've struggled in the first period the last few games, but tonight we came out strong.  It was important we got our first goal and usually when you do it lets everyone relax a little, you know, play the game properly."

"It was a complete 60 tonight.  It was something we needed to prove to ourselves that we can do going into the playoffs."

On playing--and beating--a team they could very well face in the first round, Green said, "It was important we got this win so they don't believe that [Atlanta] could ever beat us."

Coach Bruce Boudreau spoke about the compete effort in his post-game press conference.

"I thought it was like a playoff game.  It was tense and there weren't a lot of shots.  Those are the hardest games to play, because, I think there were 44 whistles after two periods.  You gotta stay focused cause some guys might not get on the ice for eight, ten minutes."

"I thought we beared down and proved we can play defensive when we have to.  And tonight was one of those nights."

The game winning goal was scored by the checking line of Matt Bradley, Jason Chimera and David Steckel. 

Steckel and Chimera both made good plays along the boards to keep the offensive zone, then the combative Bradley wrestled the puck from 48-year old Chris Chelios in the corner and went to the net, stuffing a backhander short-side against goalie Ondrej Pavelec.

It was a good reward for a line that worked hard all night, and for Bradley in particular.  He's been scuffling a bit of late, but with the tally he tied his career season-high of nine goals, set his rookie year with the San Jose Sharks.

"We talked about the last couple of games, if we had played [wide-open hockey] in the playoffs, it wasn't going to work," Bradley said. "We knew it was going to be a playoff-style game tonight because they're fighting for their lives. The first two periods were kind of boring with not much happening, but you've just got to wait it out and not make any stupid moves and you know your breaks will come."

Caps goalie Semyon Varlamov turned away 19 shots in the victory.  Though he wasn't tested very often, he made several nice saves early in the third period, before the Caps pressure just became oppressive for Atlanta. 

The Caps completely dominated a three minute stretch late in the third, keeping the puck deep in Atlanta's end, effectively running just two lines:  the fourth and first.  The Thrashers would empty their net with just over a minute to play, but even then they did not manage a quality chance on net.

There was a bit of a scare in the second period.  Atlanta forward Colby Armstrong delivered a fairly obvious flagrant elbow to the head of Caps' center Mattieu Perrault, knocking the diminutive player to the ice.  Perrault made his way to the bench under his own power, and would return, only to take a high stick later and open a nice gash on his lip.

"I was trying to make a play and I saw him at the last second," Perrault said.  "He got his elbow up pretty high, I think.  I kinda turned and he got me in the head."

There was no call on the elbow, as Armstrong only received a roughing when Shaone Morrisonn stood up for his fallen teammate.

"I guess [the referees] didn't really see it there.  On the replay you can see it was an elbow.  It should have been a penalty, I think."

So the Caps made a statement; to the Thrashers, to their coach, to themselves.  With five regular season games remaining, it was time for the team to pull it together and give a complete effort--a 60-minute game.

NOTES:  Nicklas Backstrom scored his 30th goal of the season, redirecting a Mike Green wrist shot from the point.  The assist gives Green 73 points, matching his career high.

Alex Ovechkin's assist on the play gives him 103 points on the season.

The win marks No. 50 for the Caps this season.

Brooks Laich returned to the ice for the first time, since his puck to the face, wearing a full cage mask.
Photo Courtesy of Jenn McAdoo of Net Asset Photography.

The Washington Capitals found themselves in familiar territory Tuesday night, trailing 3-1 after the first period to a lesser opponent.  It's almost become habit, as they have now been outscored 9-1 in their last three games.

The league's highest scoring offense started hitting some home runs and managed to steal the lead in the third period against a somewhat shocked Ottawa squad.

But, in what might actually be more troubling than getting down 3-1, the Caps could not hold a one-goal lead in the third period, coughing up the tying goal just five minutes after finally taking the lead. 

Eventually, Alexei Kovalev would score for Ottawa in overtime with 19 seconds remaining to put the final dagger in the hearts of Caps fans in sold out Verizon Center.

Both the tying and winning goals were scored while the Caps were killing a penalty.

It's the Caps' third loss in a row, and they have now won just two games in regulation in their last 11 games.  The league's No. 1 offense mustered just a season-low 20 shots on goal.  They were outshot 12-4 in the first period alone.

Coach Bruce Boudreau tried to talk away the rough start in the post-game press conference, instead opting to give praise to the evening's opponent.  And while it's true that Ottawa did block quite a few shots, Boudreau's defense let his squad down again, time after time.

Goalie Jose Theodore made 26 saves, but again did not look sharp.  He allowed another goal from a sharp angle, perhaps confused by defenseman Jeff Schultz' not-quite committed laying out to block the on-coming shot.

But Theodore was hung out to dry on several occasions not of his own making.  Shaone Morrisonn, playing in reduced capacity due to removal of four wisdom teeth, was part to blame on the first two goals of the game.

On the first, Morrisonn went for the big hit on the board and while he did make good contact, was left out of position on the play and could not get back to guard Peter Regin, who backhanded past a defenseless Theodore.

On the second goal, Morrisonn checked an Ottawa screener into Theodore, knocking him to the ice, and Jason Spezza tipped in a shot from the point without any resistance.

There were high points, though.

Alexander Semin had two goals, including a "how'd he do that?" shimmy, and he also finished a terrific stretch play with Nicklas Backstrom throwing the Hail Mary to Alex Ovechin, who slid the puck around two defensemen to hit Semin breaking in all alone.

Spark-plug Mathieu Perrault notched his second goal in as many games since his recall, and defenseman Mike Green hit a bomb for his 18th goal of the season.

But Boudreau can't like how his team is playing down the stretch--much like last season, when they apparently took their lesser-ranked opponents lightly.

"The difference between last year and this year is last year we were playing teams that were out of the playoffs, so our level of play came way down," Boudreau said.

"I think the teams we're playing [this season] are fighting for something. That was a hard-fought game. That wasn't a go-through-the-motions-type game. You had two teams wanting it. I don't think our level of play will be dropping, like it was last year."

Even as Boudreau spoke the words, it seemed more like he was trying to convince himself than the assembled media.

Until last night, Mike Knuble had never scored a shootout goal.  But coach Bruce Boudreau played a hunch, sending the veteran out to take the Capitals fourth shot, after the initial three rounds were tied. 

A little head fake got Marc-Andre Fleury on the ice, and Knuble sent a quick snap shot past the splayed goalie, giving the Washington Capitals a 4-3 victory over their arch-rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins, before another capacity crowd at Verizon Center.

The win is Washington's third consecutive over the Pens this season with one remaining, an Apr. 6 tilt at the Igloo.

This game had everything the fans could have wanted in a hockey game.  There were end-to-end rushes, but solid defense as well.  There were sniper's shots and fabulous goaltending.  There was skilled skating and tremendous checking.  It was, simply, as good as regular season hockey gets.

Sure, the officiating left something to be desired.  Doesn't it always seem to in these affairs?

But Caps-Pens is must-see hockey.  Heck, even the Washington Post sent seven reporters to last night's game.  The unofficial attendance in the press box was close to capacity overall, with local media, Pittsburghers, national media and bloggers alike jammed elbow to elbow in the penthouse.

And they, like everyone in paid attendance and watching on TV, got what they came for.

Neither Sid the Kid nor the Great Eight lit the lamp in this one, so they remain tied for the NHL's goal scoring lead.  But they both assisted on a teammates' goal, and they were the center of attention for the other squad's top defensive pair all night.

Jose Theodore earned the second star of the night with 39 saves on 42 shots, including several dramatic kick saves, solidifying his hold on the No. 1 goalie position heading into the playoffs.

Knuble started the scoring with a crease-crashing rush, knocking the puck out of the air behind Fleury--but waiting until it was below the crossbar--then stuffed it in from behind the Pittsburgh keeper.

And Eric Fehr scored his 21st goal of the season, redirecting a blistering slap shot from the point by Mike Green.

But tonight's biggest play came from the enigma, Alexander Semin.

Early in the third period, Pittsburgh was awarded a power play when Jeff Schultz wrapped up and tackled Crosby on his way to the Caps' net.

Semin was part of the second shift of penalty killers, with Boyd Gordon (back) and Brooks Laich (face) scratched.  He deftly intercepted a weak saucer pass through the high slot and carried end-to-end along the left wing boards. 

As he entered the offensive zone, he realized the Pens' forwards did not bother to backcheck, so he drifted through the high slot and--justlikethat--whipped a wicked wrist shot past an unsuspecting Fleury to knot the game at two.

As TV analyst Craig Laughlin said, no one else in the game possesses that shot.

So a close game that could have broken open with an enemy power play goal turned back into a new game, due to a superb effort by a ridiculously talented player that sometimes seems to lack motivation or concentration.

Just another chapter in a fabulous saga of good hockey, and good hockey hatred.

The Washington Capitals were visited by Polk Co. (FL) investigators today in relation to an arrest made in a case revolving around a central Florida man and a northern Virginia chiropractor dispensing steroids.

The team issued a statement this afternoon, defending the team and distancing itself with the chiropractor, disavowing his claim to be the "team's chiropractor", however noting that several Capitals have visited him for services in the past. 

Dr. Douglas Owen Nagel, a Virginia chiropractor who was arrested today, is not affiliated with the Washington Capitals and is not the “team chiropractor,” as he has stated. Dr. Nagel’s office, however, has seen some of our players for standard, routine chiropractic services.

As part of the NHL’s drug policy, Capitals players are randomly tested up to three times per year by an independent testing agency, which sends the samples to the World Anti Doping Association for testing. Capitals players have been tested twice so far this year. At no time in our history has a Capitals player ever tested positive.

As was the case with the original investigation in May 2009, this seems to be a case of small fishes in a big pond, and the Caps have stated clearly that they have never had a player test positive for steroids under the league's strict anti-doping testing and rules.

But, according to reports, they were asked questions today at the Capitals' practice facility, Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Ballston.  Let's continue to hope that ther's no fire at the end of all this smoke.

Washington Capitals star forward Alex Ovechkin was given a two-game suspension by NHL discipline czar Collin Campbell today, according to reports, for his hit on Brian Campbell in Sunday's nationally televised gaem against the Chicago Black Hawks.

Reports out of Chicago indicate Campbell has a broken clavicle and ribs.

In the crazy, mixed up world of hockey justice, hits like those meted out by Mike Richards, Matt Cooke and most recently, Steve Downie on Sidney Crosby, don't merit suspension.  

Recently, Maxim LaPierre received four games for a hit from behind, but the plays, while similar, were not equal and the penalties reflected that.

But Ovechkin's hit, while late, paled in comparison to the previous ones mentioned, yet not only received a game misconduct, but two-game suspension as well.

This is Ovechkin's second suspension of the season, and one wonders how much that factored into the decision.  He was punished for a boarding call against Buffalo's Patrick Kaleta and a knee-to-knee hit against Carolina's Tim Gleason.

Ovechkin was considered a "repeat offender" in the decision, one that could potentially haunt the Capitals as the season progresses toward the playoffs.

I love Ovechkin as much as the next guy, but at some point he has to acknowledge that he's bringing this attention onto himself.  The hit against Campbell, while not being egregious, was late and while Campbell was in an awkward position.  It's unfortunate about the extent of Campbell's injury, and one must assume that those injuries played into the decision for the suspension.

But the very fact that plays like this can warrant a suspension, yet head shots like Richards' and Cooke's, both of which inflicted severe injury as well, do not, speaks to a larger problem for the NHL.

Due to the gray area in the rules, headhunting is not reprimanded, where a push in the back, on a routine hockey play, however unfortunate, merits suspension.  Tough call to make.  Even tougher to justify it.

Nicklas Backstrom scored on an end-to-end rush, before getting creamed in the slot, in overtime to finish off a tremendous comeback for the Washington Capitals. The 4-3 win over the Chicago Black Hawks gives the Caps 46 wins and 101 points for the season.

Trailing 3-0 at the start of the third period, Washington scored three times in 2:16, as Chicago coughed up its second three-goal third period lead in as many days.  The Caps outshot the Black Hawks 11-1 in the third.

Backstrom made a terrific defensive play in his own end, making up for an earlier mistake, then carried the puck the length of the ice before beating Antii Niemi cleanly, then getting smashed up after the shot.

The super Swede also had the middle goal of the trifecta in the third.  Brooks Laich (22) tallied on a power play to start the comeback and Eric Fehr notched his 18th to tie the game and send it to overtime.

And while everyone should be talking about the Caps determination and perserverance in this one to take two points against a very good team in a tough building, all anyone is going to be talking about is, once again, Alex Ovechkin's "recklessness".

At 12:16 of the first period, Ovechkin was forechecking against Chicago's Brian Campbell.  Ovechkin hit Campbell behind the goal after he'd played the puck, hitting him in the shoulder/upper back area.  Campbell went down hard--shoulder first--into the end boards and Ovechkin fell over top of him.  Campbell laid on the ice for several moments, was attended to by a trainer, and did not return to the game.

Ovechkin was assessed a boarding major and game misconduct.

The play warrented a penalty; the hit/shove was late and unnecessary in my book, and Campbell went hard into the boards.  But the game misconduct, and the subsequent mandatory review by league officials, was overboard.

The game announcers, as well as studio hosts Pierre McGuire and Mike Milbury, all thought the game misconduct was uncalled for as well.

There is no automatic suspension, as this major comes far enough after the previous one to not trigger the automatic suspension.  But given Ovechkin's track record (murky enough, at this point), the injury to Campbell (which we don't know the severity of it yet) and the fact that it happened on national television, one can't help but wonder if the Great 8 isn't going to miss some ice time in the near future.

The league's disciplinary arm, led by Collin Campbell, has been taking it hard lately.  The incident with Pittsburgh's Matt Cooke not receiving discipline on his blatent elbow to the head of unsuspecting Boston forward Marc Savard will only boost the call for further discipline on Ovechkin.

So the Caps were badly outplayed by Chicago in the first two periods, lost their leader to a questionable call by the on-ice officials, and stormed back to tie--then win--in one of the league's tougher buildings.  It's enough to give Caps fans palpitaions.

So might Collin Campbell's decision for further discipline against one of the games' brightest stars.

But what can't be debated here is Ovechkin's poor judgment on the play. 

Chicago's Campbell had already played the puck and had his back to Ovechkin.  Ovie has to know only bad things can happen if you hit a player from behind into the boards. 

And with the league's ambiguity and haphazard manner of discipline, someone as important to his team as Ovechkin is can't be putting himself in a position to make a bad hit like that.  He needs better judgment on that play.

He was quoted after his earlier suspension for the kneeing hit on Carolina's Tim Gleason that he only knows how to play one way and he wasn't going to change.  He needs to rethink the logic in that staement and start to make better judgments about when--and how--to play physical.

Because with the scattershot justice system in place in the NHL, you never know.  Something as innocuous as this hit--if it happened in the playoffs--might turn out to keep him off the ice when his team needs him the most.