Photos © 2009 C. Nichols. All Rights Reserved.

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.

San Jose Sharks (3-2-1, 7 pts, 3rd in Pacific Division)

v.

Washington Capitals (2-2-2, 6 pts, 2nd in Southeast Division)

________________________________________________________
PREVIEW

The San Jose Sharks make a rare appearance at Verizon Center for their first stop on a six-game eastern swing.  For Washington, it's the middle game of a three-game home stand that got off to a disappointing start with a shootout loss to New Jersey, their fourth straight defeat.

The Sharks bring an exciting, fast paced offense -- quite similar to the home team -- backed by Evgeni Nabokov, one of the best in the business between the pipes.

Nabokov has had the Capitals number in his career, going 8-0-0 with a 1.98 GAA in eight career starts against Washington.

"It's great to have him back there," center Scott Nichol said of Nabokov (3-1-2, 2.68, .907 this season). "You know he's going to make the save."

The Sharks in general have had their way with the Caps in their history.  San Jose has won six straight contests in the nation's capital, dating back to 1999, and 11 overall in the series.

San Jose is lead by veteran Joe Thornton (1-9-10, +1), one of the best set-up guys in the league, and newcomer Dany Heatley, acquired by the Sharks during pre-season from Ottawa.  He and Patrick Marleau both have five goals in a quick start to the season. 

Dan Boyle is the Sharks leader on defense, a good puck handler and capable in his own end.

"They have a tremendous offense," coach Bruce Boudreau told assembled media yesterday. "That's why they won the President's Trophy last year as the best team in the league. It's going to be a huge test.

Washington hopes to break a four-game skid, though they took a point away from two of the losses.

The Caps raced out of the box this season, scoring 10 goals in their first two games, but have struggled a bit offensively during the losing streak.  Washington went zero-for-five on the power play Tuesday night, after managing one goal in nine tries last week versus New York.

"We've gone through a whole lot of units, whether it's Mike [Knuble] or Semin," Boudreau said. "The same thing happened last year, and then we caught on late in October and the power play was very good after that."

The Caps come in a bit banged up, as defenseman John Erskine was placed on IR, expected to miss three games.  Forward Keith Aucoin was recalled, as center Boyd Gordon has been experiencing discomfort with his chronic back problem.

Jose Theodore, who has a .930 save percentage in his past four starts, will start tonight. Theodore is 6-6-0 with a 2.56 goals against average and .919 save percentage all-time against San Jose.

________________________________________________________

EXPECTED LINEUP

Forwards

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Knuble

Laich-Morrison-Semin

Fehr-Steckel-Clark

Laing-Gordon-Bradley

Defense

Morrisonn-Green

Poti-Jurcina

Pothier-Erskine

Goalie

Theodore

Varlamov

Scratches:  Aucoin, Nylander, Schultz, Sloan

________________________________________________________
TEAM STATS

WAS: GF: 6th (22/3.67); GA: 21st (20/3.33); PP: 18th (6/29, 20.7%); PK: 13th (6/32, 81.2%)

SJ: GF: 11th (20/3.33); GA: 14th (17/2.83); PP: 12th (7/28, 25%): PK: 8th (5/30, 83.3%)

________________________________________________________

LEADERS

WAS:  G:  Ovechkin, Semin (5)  A:  Backstrom (8)  P:  Ovechkin (12)  +/-: Ovechkin, Backstrom (+7)

SJ:  G:  Heatley (5)  A:  Thornton (9)   P:  Heatley, Thornton (10)   +/-:  Heatley, Demers (+3)

________________________________________________________

INJURIES

WAS:  F Tomas Fleischmann (IR-leg), D John Erskine (IR-hand), F Boyd Gordon (DTD-back)

SJ:  C Torrey Mitchell (IR-knee), C Joe Pavelski (out-foot)

The Washington Capitals were eaten alive by the San Jose Sharks and lost 7-2 in their third game in California this week. Tonight was the Caps' first trip to San Jose in three years and marks the eleventh straight loss in the shark tank.

Caps faced the well-rested, Pacific Division-leading San Jose Sharks who hadn't played since Monday. Road fatigue and injured players proved to be major factors in the Caps sixth loss of the season at the sold out HP Pavilion.

Tom Poti and Tomas Fleischmann scored the two goals for the Capitals.

Sergi Federov was back in the lineup for the Caps after missing seven straight due to a sprained ankle and eased back onto the ice, going only 3:47. The Caps needed everyone healthy to have a chance against the Sharks, however, Alexander Semin missed his fourth consecutive game because of an undisclosed upper body injury and Mike Green missed his second game due to a shoulder injury sustained in Anaheim.

______________________________________________________
THREE STARS OF THE GAME:

1. R. Blake - SJ (Goals: 0, Assists: 4)
2. R. Clowe - SJ (Goals: 2, Assists: 0)
3. M. Vlasic - SJ (Goals: 1, Assists: 1)
______________________________________________________
CAPS NOTES:
Today marks the first anniversary of the Caps' hiring of coach Bruce Boudreau, who has transformed an underachieving club into one of the Eastern Conference's best.

Sunday, Nov. 23 is the 21st birthday of Nicklas Backstrom.
______________________________________________________
NEXT GAME:

The Caps continue road trip on Monday, November 24 at the Minnesota Wild at 8:00PM ET.

The Washington Capitals (11-5-3-25) visit the San Jose Sharks (16-3-1-33) at the HP Pavilion at 10:30 PM ET.

The Caps need to step it up tonight as they take on the number one team in the NHL who also has the best home record, 10-0-1. Washington faces the well-rested, Pacific Division-leading San Jose Sharks who hasn't played since Monday. The Caps, who have lost the last five straight in San Jose, take the ice for the third time in four nights following their 5-2 loss at Los Angeles on Thursday.

According to washcaps.com, Mike Green is getting better and is no longer wearing a sling, however, will not play tonight.

_________________________________________________
GOALIE PREDICATIONS:

WAS: Brent Johnson

SJ: Brian Boucher, SJ (Nabokov has been out with an injury, however, could be back tonight as a back-up).

_________________________________________________
WHERE TO WATCH OR LISTEN TO THE CAPS:

TV: Comcast SportsNetRadio: Caps Radio 1500 & 820
_________________________________________________
INJURIES:

WAS: D Brian Potheir (Consussion/OUT); C/D Sergei Federov (Ankle/Questionable); LW Alexander Semin (Upper body/OUT); D Mike Green (Shoulder/Questionable)

SJ: RW Mike Grier (Lower body/Questionable); C Torrey Mitchell (Leg/OUT); G Evgeni Nabokov (Lower body/Questionable)