Capitals Defeat Penguins 5-4 in OT To Make It 14 In A Row

For those die hard Capitals fans who braved the record breaking wintery conditions in D.C., today’s game was certainly one of the best we’ve seen in awhile.
Going into today’s marquee matchup against the reigning Stanley Cup winner Pittsburgh Penguins, the Caps were on a 13 game win streak, including one previous win against the Pens, sat on top of the NHL in points, and enjoyed a record number of sell-out games. After the first goal was scored by Sidney Crosby, or Sid the Kid as he is popularly known, it became apparent to Caps fans that many of us couldn’t make to the game and instead, sold their tickets to…gasp…Pens fans. There were far too many of them at today’s game and they were loud and proud of Crosby, who scored the first goal of the game, unassisted.

"Sid the Kid" Courtesy of Brad Hoffman From Penguins 2-7-10

Shortly after Crosby’s first, he was enjoying another with Capitals Forward Brooks Laich in the penalty box serving 2 mins. for Interference against Pens Jordan Staal. Things got out of hand quickly as the Pens continued to press the Caps, who responded with more time in the penalty box late in the first when Mike Knuble settled the score for a hit on Alex Ovechkin by Pittsburgh’s Craig Adams.

From Penguins 2-7-10

Things began to look up for the Caps in the second period when Alex Ovechkin scored his first goal of the game, and his 40th of the season. Two minutes later, the Caps were again penalized, effectively removing top players Mike Knuble, Nicklas Backstrom and Ovechkin. Pittsburgh’s Jordan Staal scored twice more to put the Caps down 4-1. Eric Fehr made sure the Caps stayed in the game by tallying late in the second, but a livid Caps coach Bruce Boudreau took the referees to task, standing on the bench, screaming, huffing, and puffing. Whatever happened in the locker room during the second intermission, we may never know, but suffice it to say it woke the Caps up. But more on that in a minute…
Lately the Caps have been keeping their game tight, doing what works by crashing the net and effectively minimizing penalties. Today however, the puck just didn’t seem to bounce their way after multiple scoring opportunities developed and quickly faded with a quick and agile Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. Some might blame it on the weather, some might blame it on the referees. The Caps looked outworked and the fans felt a flashback to Game 7 of the Playoffs. Even Owner Ted Leonsis and Coach Boudreau, who shared in the misery of power outages from the blizzard of 2010, must have thought-there goes our win streak. But one thing that we can learn from the Caps is to never say die.

From Penguins 2-7-10

The third period saw the moods shift, and the Caps spark return when Ovechkin scored his second, and then third goals of the game to make it the first hat trick of the season. Did anyone really doubt Ovi’s capacity to save the day? The crowd responded, giving Goalie Jose Theodore a standing ovation for a brilliant save, sending the game into overtime tied at 4-4.
The tipping point came at 2:26 of OT when Penguins Brooks Orpik was sent into the box for Hi-sticking. Ovechkin once again took the lead with a slapper, which Mike Knuble helped into the net to win the game. Mike Knuble was an integral part of the game today, and he deserved that game winning goal against Fleury, earning him the “Gordie Howe Hat Trick”-a fight, an assist, and a goal, and he is the second Cap to earn one this season.

From Penguins 2-7-10

Where did those cheering Pens fans end up? “Who Cares!" "We Won WINGS!"

Capitals Continue 13 Game Win Streak with 5 to 2 Win Over Thrashers

Winning their 13th game in a row, and keeping the top spot in the NHL, the Washington Capitals sent the Atlanta Thrashers packing and winless on the eve of one of the worst snowstorms the DC area has seen in years.

Just one day after the Atlanta Thrashers management dealt Captain and star player Ilya Kovalchuk to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Johnny Oduya, Niclas Bergfors, Patrice Cormier, and a first round selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, the Thrash were dealt yet another blow in their playoff bid.

Although the Thrashers came out strong, getting the first goal of the night, they later folded easily under the firepower of the Caps young guns of Ovechkin, Backstrom, Semin, and Green, all of whom hadn’t scored together in the same game in quite some time. Jason Chimera posted a beauty of a goal with an assist by Matt Bradley, and Green helped the fans with another serving of FREE WINGS from Glory Days with an empty netter. It was also Green’s first game back after serving a three game suspension for elbowing Florida Panther Michael Frolik.

From Atlanta 2-5-10

From Atlanta 2-5-10

Oduya and Bergfors were both in the ice for their first games as Thrashers, but Cormier, who was Canada's captain at the IIHF World Junior Hockey tournament, is serving a suspension for elbowing Mikael Tam. Tam, an 18-year-old defenseman, went into convulsions on the ice due to the hit, was taken to a hospital and diagnosed with brain trauma and dental injuries. Tam has since been released and agreed to a recent meeting with Cormier, the details of which were not released in order to protect all affected parties.

Washington Goalie Michal Neuvirth, who had been recalled from AHL affiliate Hershey, received high praise for the win. Neuvirth earned the first star of the game after facing 45 shots, yet was humble in his response to reporters in the postgame saying it was “Jose’s streak” and he was “there to help him if he gets tired.” Jose has been stellar of late, with his win streak rivaling the one he had in his 2002 Vezina and Hart winning year with the Habs.

Despite the weather related issues facing the arrival of the Pens, who were due to fly into Newark,NJ,the game on Sunday is expected to go on as scheduled with a puck drop at 12:00. Please be alert for any changes on www.WashingtonCaps.com. Let’s Go Caps!