Preseason Game #4 Recap - Capitals 3 Devils 2

Alex Ovechkin scored a shorthanded goal 27-seconds into the third period to put the Caps up 3-0. The team then held on to pull out a 3-2 victory in New Jersey. Once again Michael Nylander put up an outstanding effort. He had the primary assist on each of the Capitals first two goals. The first was on the power play where he fed Mike Green for his 1st goal of the preseason. The second was a nice pass to Boyd Gordon for an easy put away. Brent Johnson played well in net. He played the first 40 minutes allowing no goals against on 18 shots. The Caps killed all 6 New Jersy power plays. The Caps have allowed just 3 power play goals in 27 chances during the preseason (88.9%).

Of Note:

• Nylander's 2 assists gives him 5 points in the preseason which leads all Capitals. He also leads the team in +/- rating with a plus-3.
• Returning from a slight ankle sprain, Nicklas Backstrom recored an assist in his first action this preseason.
• Viktor Kozlov left the game in the first period with an apparent groin injury.
• Shaone Morrisonn and David Steckel assisted on Ovechkin's shorthanded goal. Ovechkin has not scored a regular season shorthanded goal since his rookie season when he had 3.
  
• Donald Brashear got into a fight with Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond of the Devils that lasted as long as that name. A good bout with the edge to Brashear for drawing blood.

Official Recap
Game Summary
Super Stats

Preseason Game #4 New Jersey Devils vs. Washington Capitals

Where: Prudential Center, Newark, NJ

When: September 29, 2008, 7:00 PM

Capitals Preseason Record: 3-0-0

New Jersey Preseason Record: 2-1-0

Rosters:

Washington

Forwards: 8 OVECHKIN, 10 BRADLEY, 14 FLEISCHMANN, 15 B. GORDON, 16 FEHR, 17 CLARK, 19 BACKSTROM, 20 AUCOIN, 21 LAICH, 25 KOZLOV, 28 SEMIN, 39 STECKEL, 53 LAING, 56 BOURQUE, 87 BRASHEAR, 91 FEDOROV, 92 NYLANDER

Defense: 3 POTI, 4 ERSKINE, 23 JURCINA, 26 MORRISONN, 29 CUTTA, 42 LEPISTO, 47 ALZNER, 52 GREEN, 55 SCHULTZ, 75 G. MCNEILL, 89 SLOAN

Goalies: 1 JOHNSON, 40 VARLAMOV, 60 THEODORE

New Jersey

Forwards: 18 BERGFORS, 23 CLARKSON, 44 CORMIER, 51 DAVIS, 47 DISALVATORE, 26 ELIAS, 25 FEDOROV, 14 B. GIONTA, 55 S. GIONTA, 63 HALISCHUK, 16 HOLIK, 15 LANGENBRUNNER, 58 LETOURNEAU-LEBLOND, 11 MADDEN, 54 MURPHY, 20 PANDOLFO, 9 PARISE, 10 PELLEY, 12 ROLSTON, 17 RUPP, 56 SNETSINGER, 53 SWIFT, 21 TALLACKSON, 22 VRANA, 46 WISEMAN, 19 ZAJAC, 48 ZHARKOV, 8 ZUBRUS

Defense: 2 BROOKBANK, 32 CORRENTE, 37 ECKFORD, 33 FRASER, 6 GREENE, 36 LEACH, 39 MAGNAN-GRENIER, 7 MARTIN, 27 MATTAU, 29 ODUYA, 34 SALMELA, 24 SALVADOR, 38 SPILLER, 5 WHITE

Goalies: 30 BRODEUR, 35 CLEMMENSEN, 31 FRAZEE, 50 SMITH, 1 WEEKS

Preview:

The Capitals sent D John Carlson back to his junior team and C Mathieu Perrault to Hershey on Sunday. The roster is now down to 32 players. Chris Bourque is trying to make it difficult for the Caps to send him down with two outstanding performances in the last two games. He currently leads the team with 4 points in the preseason. The Caps have scored 13 goals in their three preseason games and 7 of those have come on the power play. They have a 46.7% success rate going 7 for 15. The penalty kill has allowed only 3 goals in 21 chances. If the Caps can keep this up they will win a lot of hockey games. The team takes on New Jersey tonight in New Jersey. Look for the Caps to work on their 5-on-5 game and try to reduce the number of penalties taken.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 4 NJ 2

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Preseason Game #3 Recap - Washington 4 Boston 3

Washington pulled a 4-3 victory out in Boston yesterday due to a late goal from Chris Bourque. It was fitting as Chris' father is none other than Bruins legend Ray Bourque whose jersey hangs in the rafters at TD Banknorth garden. The Caps had a difficult time in this game as the Bruins played well and the Caps took a slew of penalties in the third period. With 5 minors in the period the Caps found themselves down 2 skaters twice but were able to withstand the onslaught of the Bruins. Brent Johnson turned away 15 of Boston's 16 shots in the period and Bourque converted with 2:15 remaining in the game.

Of Note:

• Bourque, along with the game-winning goal, assisted on Chris Clark's goal to open the game. He also had a game high 6 hits.
  
• In his first action of the preseason, Keith Aucoin recorded 2 assists and won 8 of his 11 face-offs.
• Jose Theodore started in net for the Caps. He gave up 2 goals on 15 shots in two periods of work.
  
• Boyd Gordon scored his first goal of the preseason while Tomas Fleischmann netted his third.
• Matt Bradley, Sergei Fedorov, John Carlson, and Brooks Laich all recorded assists.
• On the defensive end Milan Jurcina put in a good effort with 5 hits and 2 blocked shots.
• The Caps are now 3-0-0 in preseason action and have outscored their opponents 13-6.

Official Recap
Game Summary
Super Stats

Preseason Game #3 Washington Capitals at Boston Bruins

Where: YD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA

When: September 27, 2008, 4:00 PM

Capitals Preseason Record: 2-0-0

Probable Line-Ups:

Washington

Forwards: 8 OVECHKIN, 10 BRADLEY, 14 FLEISCHMANN, 15 B. GORDON, 16 FEHR, 17 CLARK, 19 BACKSTROM, 20 AUCOIN, 21 LAICH, 25 KOZLOV, 28 SEMIN, 39 STECKEL, 53 LAING, 56 BOURQUE, 85 PERREAULT, 87 BRASHEAR, 91 FEDOROV, 92 NYLANDER

Defense: 3 POTI, 4 ERSKINE, 23 JURCINA, 26 MORRISONN, 29 CUTTA, 42 LEPISTO, 47 ALZNER, 52 GREEN, 55 SCHULTZ, 74 CARLSON, 75 G. MCNEILL, 89 SLOAN

Goalies: 1 JOHNSON, 40 VARLAMOV, 60 THEODORE

Boston

Forwards: 11 AXELSSON, 37 BERGERON, 61 BITZ, 43 KARSUMS, 81 KESSEL, 12 KOBASEW, 46 KREJCI, 57 LOVECCHIO, 17 LUCIC, 29 NOKELAINEN, 53 REICH, 73 RYDER, 91 SAVARD, 27 SCHAEFER, 60 SOBOTKA, SODERBERG, 47 ST. PIERRE, 16 STURM, 51 THOMPSON, 22 THORNTON, 42 WHEELER, 18 YELLE

Defense: 41 ALBERTS, 55 BOYCHUK, 33 CHARA, EGENER, 21 FERENCE, 34 HNIDY, 48 HUNWICK, 49 LASHOFF, 62 PENNER, 66 STOKES, 45 STUART, 44 WARD, 6 WIDEMAN

Goalies: 71 COURCHAINE, 35 FERNANDEZ, 40 RASK, 30 THOMAS

Preview:

The Capitals made some significant roster moves and are down to 34 players. That should mean the competition should pick up in a big way. The coaching staff is taking a long look at the young defensemen. John Carlson, one of the Caps 2008 1^st round draft pick, has been very impressive in camp and is the only junior player left on the roster. Look for the Caps to tighten up the defense early as the first two games saw shaky first periods. Jose Theodore will start in goal for the Caps, his first action in a Washington uniform.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 3 BOS 2

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Preseason Game #2 Recap - Capitals 5 Hurricanes 2

The Capitals started slowly in the first period, as they did in Wednesday's game, before turning it on in the second and third to win the second game against Carolina 5-2. The Caps were down 2-0 in the first due to 2 power play goals from the Canes. The Caps rebounded in the second with a power play goal from Michael Nylander and a penalty shot goal from Alex Ovechkin. Nylander's second goal put the Caps ahead for good. Chris Bourque and Ovechkin added goals to finish the scoring.

Michal Nuevirth started in goal and played two periods giving up 2 goals on 26 shots. Darren Machesney played the third period saving all 3 shots he faced. In the two game the young goalies have done quite well. They have a lot to work on but there is some real good talent there. It will be interesting to see where the organization goes with the three because it looks like any of them could be an AHL starter.

Speaking of the AHL, there should be a few assignments coming up as Hershey starts training camp on Friday.

Of Note:

• Chris Clark had a good first game back. He had 2 assists and a roughing penalty. Sounds like mid-season form to me.
• Ovechkin's line 2 goals, 1 assist, 3 points, 2 PIMs (slashing), 8 shots on goal, 2 attempts blocked, 2 missed shots, 4 hits, 1 giveaway, 1 blocked shot, 1 lost faceoff, and the #2 Star of the Game. Typical.
• Bourque had 1 assisit to go with his goal and took the #1 Star of the Game. John Erskine, Boyd Gordon and Mike Green each had an assist.
• First fight of the preseason goes to Josh Godfrey followed 2 seconds later by Grant McNeill.
• The game was full of penalties with the Caps converting 3 of 9 with the man advantage and killing 7 of 9 Carolina power plays.
• Boyd Gordon was, as usual, the faceoff leader winning 11 and losing 6.
• Nylander took the game's #3 Star.

Official Recap
Game Summary
Event Summary

Preseason Game #2 Carolina Hurricanes at Washington Capitals

Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC

When: September 25, 2008, 7:00 PM

Probable Line-Ups (total guess):

Washington

Forwards:

Forwards: 8 OVECHKIN, 56 BOURQUE, 15 B. GORDON, 17 CLARK, 21 LAICH, 28 SEMIN, 36 BOUCHARD, 38 MINK, 57 WILSON, 90 PINIZZOTTO, 92 NYLANDER

Defense: 3 POTI, 4 ERSKINE, 46 P. MCNEIL, 52 GREEN, 75 G. MCNEILL, 89 SLOAN, 26 MORRISONN, 73 GODFREY

Goalies: 31 MACHESNEY, 30 NEUVIRTH

Carolina

Forwards: SAMSONOV, CULLEN, BOWMAN, BAYDA, O’NEILL, WALKER, LAROSE, SUTTER, LACOUTRE, MURLEY, HELMINEN, PETRUZALEK

Defense: PITKANEN, GLEASON, WALLIN, CORVO, BORER, CARSON

Goalies: WARD, PETERS

Preview:

The Capitals take on the Canes for the second straight night. Last night the Caps took it to the Canes with both teams using rosters that will not anywhere near resemble their opening day lineups. Tonight’s game should be more of the same as both teams try to evaluate their talent under game situation. Look for the Caps to continue using the youngsters on defense and a goalie rotation. I am looking forward to seeing Chris Clark back on the ice. He has been doing very well in training camp and an exhibition game is the next step in a return from the groin injury that kept him out for most of last season.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 5 CAR 2

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