Game #23 Recap: Caps 3 Carolina 2

The Capitals got back on the winning track with a 3-2 victory in Carolina. The Caps controlled much of the action for the first two periods and built a 2-0 lead. Alex Ovechkin was moved to the right wing position to try and spark the two-time MVP who has been largely unOvielike this season. The move appeared to spark the Capitals captain who was all over the ice. He was involved in the play, hitting everything, and moving his feet the whole time out there. He assisted on Nicklas Backstrom's goals in the first and second period. Ovechkin put a game high 10 shots on goal. The beginning of the third period saw the Caps let down and allowed Caroline back into the game with 2 goals against. But with 8 minutes left in the game it was Ovechkin again. With the Caps on the power play, Ovechkin fired a shot from the point that Brooks Laich deftly deflected into the net for the go ahead goal. The Caps held off the Canes for the rest of the contest.

Of Note:

• In goal, Semyon Varlamov returned from injury and looked solid in net for the win. He stopped 30 of 32 shots and was beaten on a deflection and a goal mouth scramble.
• Ovechkin picked up the primary assist on all three Capitals goals. In the process he passed Kevin Hatcher for 10th place in All-Time Assists and Dale Hunter into 4th place in All-Time Points. He finished the game with 3 assists, a +2 rating, 10 shots on goal, 5 hits, and 1 takeaway. Now that sounds like an Ovechkin stat line.
• In a strong game Nicklas Backstrom had 2 goals on 5 shots. Along with Ovechkin, Tomas Fleischmann and John Carlson picked up assists on the Backstrom markers.
• The Capitals dominated the face-off dot winning 37 draws while losing only 29. Boyd Gordon and David Steckel led the way winning a combined 24 of 32 draws.
• The Capitals and the Canes both went 1 for 4 on the power play. 
• Tom Poti was back in action for the first time since November 13th. He played 24:30 with a +1 rating and a blocked shot.

Official Recap
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