Capitals-4,Panthers-1: Green Suspended

Did Coach Bruce Boudreau ever dream that following the Post-Christmas trade of Captain Chris Clark and Defenseman Milan Jurcina for Columbus Blue Jackets Jason Chimera, his team would go on a nine game winning streak? As fans chanted “We Want Wings!” in almost as many nights as the Caps have played in the month of January, the team took it to the Panthers, who were sent home without the third straight win they were seeking.

Though admittedly not playing their best game, the Caps were the first to get on the board after Mike Knuble, in his typical net-crashing style, allowed Nicklas Backstrom to come in underneath and shove the puck past scrambling Florida Goalie Tomas Vokoun and Defensemen Dennis Seidenberg. Not to be upstaged, Knuble went on to score twice later in the game to earn his 17th and 18th goals of the season, with Backstrom earning assists off both goals.

From Panthers 1-29-10

Late in the second period, Caps Defensemen Mike Green would suffer an injury to his right leg after being hit by Florida player Dmitry Kulikov. Green's parents were both in attendace for the game and watched helplessly from the stands.  Green was helped off the ice by Eric Fehr and Jeff Schultz, while favoring his right leg.  The injury is being called a contusion, but that is not the least of Green’s worries. In the first period of play, Green gave Panthers player Michael Frolik an elbow to the head and was assessed a minor penalty of two minutes. Following a hearing today, Green has been suspended for three games and is not eligible to play again until Feb 5th.

From Panthers 1-29-10

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average salary, Green will forfeit $81,606.21. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund. (www.nhl.com)

Although Green would remain out of the lineup for the remainder of play, the surprise of the night came in the third period when Caps Defenseman Jeff Schultz would score his second goal of the season, effectively giving the Caps some breathing room to make it 3-1.

From Panthers 1-29-10

Not normally one to allow his lines to remain stable for long, Boudreau has been known to keep the opposing teams guessing as to which players they would have to guard. Lately though, Boudreau has been content to allow his lines to do their job, which seems to be scoring goals. The Caps are in a goal scoring frenzy, passing all other teams in the NHL. Goalie Michal Neuvirth was again brilliant, earning him the third star of the game. He has effectively stopped 104 of the last 108 shots he has faced from some of the best scoring powerhouses in the league. Knuble would earn the second star of the game, and Backstrom the first.

Sunday the Caps will face another Southeast Division rival, the Tampa Bay Lightning.