Game #58 Recap: Caps 7 Anaheim 6

The Caps broke out of the scoring doldrums with a 7 spot against the Ducks, however, the defense didn't keep to their usual ways giving up six to the opponents. The Caps broke their 3 game losing skid and picked up 2 points in the standings to put them back into 5th place in the Eastern Conference. In a run and gun game that saw 13 goals scored on a total of 52 shots the goalies did not feel to welcome as deflections, bounces, turnovers and misplays were plentiful all game long. The good news for the Capitals is that their strategy of going to the net finally started paying off as all but two of the goals could be considered crashing type goals. The top trio of Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Knuble combined for 5 points and Alexander Semin scored a hat trick to lead the Capitals in a see-saw game that featured the score tied on 5 different occasions. The game winning tally came from Semin who brought the puck out of the right wing corner and fit a backhand shot between the body and arm of the Anaheim goalie with less than two minutes remaining in the game. For the Caps it was a good effort on the offense and they will need it again tonight as the head to San Jose for a rematch with the Sharks who shutout the Caps in Washington last week.

Of Note:

• Semin's hat trick was his forth of the season and tied him for the NHL lead in that category.
• Alex Ovechkin, Mike Knuble, Brooks Laich, and David Steckel each had 1 goal in the game.
• Karl Alzner had 3 assists on the night. Backstrom and Matt Hendricks picked up 2 assists each and Ovechkin, Boyd Gordon, Laich, Scott Hannan, and Marcus Johansson had one apiece.
• The goalies did not fare too well as Semyon started and played the first period giving up 3 goals on 9 shots and was relieved by Michal Neuvirth who played the final two periods giving up 3 goals on 12 shots but he got the win and that's all that counts.
• The Caps got their face-off groove back winning 37 and losing 25.
• John Carlson played a good game on the back end with a +4 rating and 3 blocked shots.

Official Recap
Game Summary
Event Summary

Game #58 Preview: Washington Capitals at Anaheim Ducks

Where: Honda Center, Anaheim, CA

When:  February 16, 2011, 10:00 PM

History:           

Caps Record on this Date: 5-4-0-0

Caps Game 58 Record: 17-14-2-1

All-Time vs. ANA: 9-12-1-1

All-Time at ANA: 4-6-1-0

Last Season vs. ANA: 1-0-0

Last Meeting: 12/15/10, WAS 1 ANA 2

Season Series: 0-0-1

This Year:

WAS Record: 29-18-10

Standings Points: 68

Division Rank: 2nd

Conference Rank: 6th

Last Game: 2/14/11, WAS 2 PHO 3

Streak: Loss 3

ANA Record: 32-21-4

Standings Points: 68

Division Rank: 2nd

Conference Rank: 4th    

Last Game: 2/13/11, ANA 4 EDM 0

Streak: Win 4

Probable Line-Ups:     

Washington

Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 22 KNUBLE

Forward Line 2: 21 LAICH, 85 PERRAULT, 28 SEMIN

Forward Line 3: 26 HENDRICKS, 90 JOHANSSON, 25 CHIMERA

Forward Line 4: 39 STECKEL, 15 GORDON, 10 BRADLEY

Defense Pair 1: 23 HANNAN, 55 SCHULTZ

Defense Pair 2: 27 ALZNER, 74 CARLSON

Defense Pair 3:89 SLOAN, 4 ERSKINE

Goalie: 1 VARLAMOV

Back-up Goalie: 30 NEUVIRTH

Phoenix

Forward Line 1: 9 RYAN, 15 GETZLAF, 10 PERRY

Forward Line 2: 33 BLAKE, 11 KOIVU, 8 SELANNE

Forward Line 3: 64 MCMILLAN, 14 LAPIERRE, 42 SEXTON

Forward Line 4: 28 CHIPCHURA, 22 MARCHANT, 16 PARROS

Defense Pair 1: 17 VISNOVSKY, 32 LYDMAN

Defense Pair 2: 4 FOWLER, 24 BEAUCHEMIN

Defense Pair 3: 5 SBISA, 25 SUTTON

Goalie: 1 HILLER

Back-up Goalie: 31 MCELHINNEY

Injuries:

Washington – 3 POTI (upper body) IR, 16 FEHR (upper body) IR, 52 GREEN (inner ear) DTD

ANA – JAFFRAY (knee) IR

Caps Milestones:

Jason Chimera needs 4 goals to reach 100 in his career.

Brooks Laich needs 5 goals to reach 100 in his career.

Alex Ovechkin needs 5 assists to reach 300 in his career.

Preview:

The Capitals task is simple. Come out of Anaheim with a win. To do this they will need to play a tough disciplined hockey game and for God’s sake score on the power play. Washington’s power outage is has reached epic proportions with no goals in the last 4 games with 15 man advantage chances. This is the number one key and until they can consistently score on the power play they will be stuck in this position. Tonight’s opponent is on a 4-game winning streak and has been play some really good hockey. Expect a very physical game and look for the Capitals to continue to crash the net in search of goals. I think it will be another close contest with the winner prevailing on special teams.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 3 ANA 2

Official Preview

Game #33 Preview: Anaheim Duck at Washington Capitals

Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC

When:  December 15, 2010 7:00 PM

History:           

Caps Record on this Date: 8-6-0-0

Caps Game 33 Record: 18-11-6-0

All-Time vs. ANA: 9-12-1-0

All-Time at home vs. ANA: 5-6-0-0

Last Season vs. ANA: 1-0-0

Last Meeting: 1/27/10, WAS 5 ANA 1

This Year:

WAS Record: 18-11-3

Standings Points: 39

Division Rank: 1st

Conference Rank: 2nd      

Last Game: 12/12/10, WAS 0 NYR 9

Streak: Loss 6

ANA Record: 16-13-4

Standings Points: 36

Division Rank: 2nd

Conference Rank: 6th    

Last Game: 12/12/10, ANA 6 MIN 2

Streak: Win 2

Probable Line-Ups:     

Washington

Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 22 KNUBLE

Forward Line 2: 21 LAICH, 85 PERRAULT, 28 SEMIN

Forward Line 3: 25 CHIMERA, 90 JOHANSSON, 16 FEHR

Forward Line 4: 26 HENDRICKS, 39 STECKEL, 10 BRADLEY

Defense Pair 1: 23 HANNAN, 3 POTI

Defense Pair 2: 27 ALZNER, 74 CARLSON

Defense Pair 3: 44 FAHEY, 4 ERSKINE

Goalie: 30 NEUVIRTH

Back-up Goalie: 1 VARLAMOV

Anaheim

Forward Line 1: 9 RYAN, 15 GETZLAF, 10 PERRY

Forward Line 2: 33 BLAKE, 63 BONINO, 16 PARROS

Forward Line 3: 19 LUPUL, 22 MARCHANT, 42 SEXTON

Forward Line 4: 64 MCMILLAN, 11 KOIVU, 8 SELANNE

Defense Pair 1: 4 FOWLER, 17 VISNOVSKY

Defense Pair 2: 23 MARA, 32 LYDMAN

Defense Pair 3: 25 SUTTON, 21 BROOKBANK

Goalie: 1 HILLER

Back-up Goalie: 31 MCELHINNEY

Injuries:

Washington – 52 GREEN (illness) DTD, 55 SCHULTZ (broken thumb) IR, 89 SLOAN (hip flexor) IR, 15 GORDON (lower body) IR, 17 KING (undisclosed) IR

ANA – 34 VOROS (broken orbital bone) IR, 29 JAFFRAY (knee) IR

Caps Milestones:

Jason Chimera needs 1 point to reach 200 in his career.

Mike Knuble needs 5 points to reach 500 in his career.

Nicklas Backstrom needs 9 points to reach 300 in his career.

Matt Bradley 1 PIM to reach 500 in his career.

Alex Ovechkin needs 1 shot on goal to reach 2,300 in his career.

Preview:

After a humbling 7-0 loss to the New York Rangers that saw team Captain Alex Ovechkin drop the gloves in an attempt to rally his mates, the Washington Capitals will try to get back to their winning ways. Standing in their way is a tough Western Conference opponent in the Anaheim Ducks who want to deal Washington its 7th consecutive loss. For the Caps, the key is to get back to the fundamental hockey and hard work. A lot of the pundits are calling for a coaching change but I think that is a little premature. Other than the playoffs last season, this Caps team has not been in this situation and they need to learn how to fight their way through it. To pull the rug out now would be detrimental to the chemistry of the team. I think that Washington will put together a solid effort and get back to what we and they know they can do. Watch for the Ducks to swarm the Capitals in the early going and if the boys can weather that storm you will see them build confidence and come roaring back. It should be an exciting game. Let’s Go Caps!

Joe’s prediction: Caps 4 ANA 1

Official Preview

Game #18 Recap - Capitals 6 Ducks 4

The Caps wasted little time in this one. They dispatched Anaheim's starting goal tender with 3 goals in just over 7 minutes. They went on to score three more goals to best the Ducks 6-4. The Caps took control on the power play scoring 3 times on 8 chances. It was a physical grinding game filled with penalties and a couple of cheap shots. Steve Montador felt the need to spear Alex Ovechkin in the family jewels but wouldn't accept an invitation to feel the Donald's fists pounding his face. What a coward. Brashear did have the pleasure of a bout with George Parros. While Parros hit Brashear's head several times he was sent to the ice with a succession of rights from big guy. Unfortunately for the Caps, Mike Green left the game after being knocked into the boards late in the first period. Hopefully he'll heal quickly as the Caps head to LA for a meeting with the Kings.

Of Note:

• Alex Oveckin had 4-points on the night (1 goal, 3 assists). It was the 5th consecutive game he's had mutiple points and scored a goal. In the 5 games he has racked up 6 goals and 8 assists. He now has 161 career assists, that ties him with Dmitry Khristich for 23rd on the Capitals All-Time List.
• Tomas Fleischmann opened the scoring with a deflection goal on the power play. Fleischmann has goals in three consecutive games.
• Mike Green, Nicklas Backstrom, Matt Bradley and David Steckel also scored goals for the Caps.
• The Caps out shot the Ducks 33-32 but were bested in the face-off dot 34-29.
• Jose Theodore stopped 28 of the 32 shots he faced including all 11 in the second period.
• Viktor Kozlov had a very effective game picking up an assist on Backstrom's goal. He was recognized as the game's #3 Star.
• Micheal Nylander picked up 2 assists in the game breaking a 5-game pointless streak.
• Matt Bradley picked up the game-winning goal. It was the 4th in his Capitals' career.

Official Recap
Game Summary
Event Summary

Game #18 Wahington Capitals at Anaheim Ducks

Where: Honda Center, Anaheim, CA

When: November 19, 2008, 10:00 PM

History:
Caps Record on this Date: 5-6-3-0
Caps Game 18 Record: 6-21-5-1
All-Time vs. ANA: 7-12-1-0
All-Time at ANA: 3-6-1-0
Last Season vs. ANA: Did not play
Last Meeting: 12/8/06, WAS 1 ANA 6

This Year:
WAS Record: 10-4-3
Standings Points: 23
Division Rank: 1st
Conference Rank: 3rd
Last Game: 11/15/08, WAS 5 NJ 6 (OT-SO)
Streak: Loss 1

ANA Record: 10-7-2
Standings Points: 22
Division Rank: 2nd
Conference Rank: 4th
Last Game: 11/16/08, ANA 2 LA 0
Streak: Win 1

Probable Line-Ups:
Washington
Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 25 KOZLOV
Forward Line 2: 14 FLEISCHMANN, 92 NYLANDER, 16 FEHR
Forward Line 3: 21 LAICH, 39 STECKEL, 10 BRADLEY
Forward Line 4: 87 BRASHEAR, 15 GORDON, 17 CLARK
Defense Pair 1: 55 SCHULTZ, 52 GREEN
Defense Pair 2: 89 SLOAN, 3 POTI
Defense Pair 3: 23 JURCINA, 4 ERSKINE
Goalie: 60 THEODORE
Back-up Goalie: 1 JOHNSON

Anaheim
Forward Line 1: 14 KUNITZ, 15 GETZLAF, 10 PERRY
Forward Line 2: 32 MOEN, 7 MORRISON, 8 SALANNE
Forward Line 3: 24 MAY, 26 PAHLSSON, 54 RYAN
Forward Line 4: 20 CARTER, 44 NIEDERMAYER, 16 PARROS
Defense Pair 1: 25 PRONGER, 27 NIEDERMAYER
Defense Pair 2: 53 FEASTERLING, 3 HEDICAN
Defense Pair 3: 40 HUSKINS, 5 MONTADOR
Goalie: 35 GIGUERE
Back-up Goalie: 1 HILLER

Injuries:
Washington – 2 POTHIER (concussion) IR, 26 MORRISONN (groin) DTD, 91 FEDOROV (undisclosed) DTD, 28 SEMIN (upper body) DTD
Anaheim – 23 BEAUCHEMIN (knee) IR, 29 LARSON (hernia) IR

Caps Milestones:
Nicklas Backstrom will play in his 100th career NHL game.
Matt Bradley needs 4 points to reach 100 in his career.
Chris Clark needs 8 penalty minutes to reach 600 in his career.
Viktor Kozlov needs 3 shots on goal to reach 2,100 in his career.

Preview:
An injury depleted Capitals team heads to Anaheim to face a really good Ducks team. With Alexander Semin, Sergei Fedorov and Shoane Morrisonn all questionable to the game, the Caps need to play within their system and get some secondary scoring from the third and fourth lines. The defense needs to step up and work hard to get the puck out of the Cap’s zone. The Ducks play a forechecking game and New Jersey really hurt the Caps with sustained pressure in the defensive zone. Look for the Caps to try and get a start fast. Their style is much more effective when they have a lead and force the opposition to chase their skill. Watch the first line again as Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin were named the first and second Stars of the Week by the NHL for their work in the last four games. The two combined for 21 points in the four games. This one should be close and very physical and don’t forget the Donald, who should drop the gloves early with George Parros.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 3 ANA 2

Official Preview

Capitals Trade Sutherby to Anaheim Ducks

According to Dump and Chase, Brian Sutherby has been traded to the Anaheim Ducks for a 2009 2nd round draft pick.

Sutherby played in 5 games for the Capitals this season scoring 1 goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was taken by the Capitals in the 1st round, 26th overall, in the 2000 entry draft. He played parts of 6 seasons for the organization. He was a rough competitor and wore the Alternate Captain's "A" but with the depth at center there just didn't seem to be a place for him. He should fit in well with the Ducks who like to play a very physical style of hockey.

Sutherby's Capitals stats:
259 Games, 26 Goals, 35 Assists, 61 Points, 281 Penalty Minutes, -29 +/- Rating, 240 Shots on Goal, 1 Power Play Goal, 2 Shorthanded Goals, 158 Hits, 60 Takeaways, 50 Giveaways, 108 Blocked Shots, 73 Missed Shots, 1,022 Face-offs Won, 1,110 Face-Offs Lost, 0-1 in Shootout Attempts, 1 1st Star of the Game, and 3 3rd Stars of the Game.