Capitals Cut Some More

Yesterday saw the Capitals fall in Baltimore 2-0 to the Nashville Predators in their first action of the preseason.

Recap 

Prior to the game the following players were sent to their junior teams:

Samuel Henley, Luke Lockhart, Garrett Ross, James Oligny

In addition, Tyler Ludwig and Taylor Stefishen were cut. Stefishen was acquired during the summer in a trade with Nashville. If the Caps sign him prior to June 1st they will have to send a 7th round draft pick to Nashville.

Good luck to all the young men.

Playoff Round 2 Game #4 Recap: Caps 3 Tampa Bay 5

In the end the Capitals just couldn't get it done. The team lost Game #4 5-3 and were swept out of this year's playoffs by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Washington had no answer for Tampa's 3rd line line of Sean Bergenheim, Dominic Moore and Steve Downie. The trio combined fro 2 goals and 6 point in Game 4 and gave the Capitals fits all series long. The game started with the Capitals sticking to their game plan and methodically trying to break the Tampa 1-3-1 trap defense but the Lightning scored the first goal with Alex Ovechkin in the box for a charging penalty. Washington responded with a power play goal of their own when Ovechkin's point shot deflected off Jason Arnott and Marco Sturm's shoulder into the net. At the beginning of the second period the Caps started getting sustained pressure in the Tampa zone but couldn't solve the Tampa goalie Dwayne Roloson. Then the Lightning counter attacked and in a goal mouth scramble the loose puck found its way onto Bergenheim's stick and he flipped it into the Capitals net for a 2-1 lead. Tampa stretched its lead to 3-2 when Begenheim put back a rebound from a Moore shot. Washington got renewed life a little over a minute later when John Erskine intercepted a clearing attempt and threw a shot at the net that beat a surprised Roloson to bring the Caps back to within one at 3-2. The goal was like a jolt of electricity to the Caps, who's energy level was noticeably raised. This carried over to the third period as the Caps swarmed the net but Sturm was called for goalie interference and the penalty kill went to work. After killing off the first minute of the penalty Tampa retook their two goal lead when a point shot beat a screened Michal Neuvirth who threw up his hands in frustration as the screen was by two of his own teammates. The Caps really began pressing and a turnover led to another Lightning goal. In a last attempt to get back in the game, Washington pulled Neuvirth for an extra attacker and John Carlson scored to bring the Caps back to within two. The Caps battled all the way to the final horn but it was not enough. All was done for this season's Washington Capitals. After all this team was been through this season it seemed like they were destined for much more but such is the way in sports. So, we say goodbye to this year's Washington Capitals but fear not, they will return again next fall to embark upon another marathon journey to claim the elusive Stanley Cup. I would like to add a big thank you to all the readers who have been following this year's team with me, it sure has been a lot of fun.

Of Note:

• Michal Neuvirth stopped 32 of 37 shots and finished the playoffs with a 4-5 record. He sported a 2.34 GAA and a save percentage of 0.912 in his 9 games. The rookie was solid and seemingly unflappable in net. The Caps have a real winner in this kid.
• Alex Ovechkin had 1 assist in Game 4 and 2 goals and 4 points in the series. In this year's playoffs he was easily the best player on the Capitals with 5 goals and 5 assists to boost his career playoff totals to 25 goals and 25 assists in 37 games.
• The Capitals gave up 2 power play goals on 5 attempts in Game 4 and finished the post season with 5 goals against on 38 chances while the power play went 5 for 35 with 1 power play goal in Game 4.
• Jason Arnott had 2 assists in the game and Brooks Laich had 1. Laich almost had a goal in the first period when he deflected a John Erskine shot square off the left post. 
• Boyd Gordon won 9 of the 12 face-offs and led the NHL in face-off percentage winning 68.8% of the draws he took.

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Playoff Round 2 Game #3 Recap: Caps 3 Tampa Bay Lightning 4

Washington wanted to start this game off right but ended up down 1-0 after the first period. The Caps put 13 shots on goal in the period but many were from long range and Tampa goalie Dwayne Roloson was looking large in the net. The second period saw Washington breakout with goals from Mike Knuble, John Carlson, and Alex Ovechkin. Kunble stuffed home an Ovechkin rebound to tie the score at 1-1 less than a minute into the period. The Caps went up 2-1 on a perfectly placed point shot from Carlson. Tampa tied the score 4 minutes later on a stuff in goal from Vinny Lecavalier. The Capitals would take a 3-2 lead when they finally scored on the power play. With two men in the box for Tampa, Mike Green's shot from the point was saved but the puck squirted out to the high crease area where Ovechkin pounced on it and beat Roloson over the glove. The Capitals should have been flying at that point but the third period was an utter disaster. Tampa came out strong and had the Capitals on the ropes. Five minutes in, they scored two goals in 24 seconds to take the lead and continued the pressure. Halfway through the period the Caps were being out shot 13-1. Washington would manage only 5 shots in the final frame. The game ended with Ovechkin losing the puck on a last gasp rush up ice. The 4-3 victory puts the Lightning firmly in control with a 3-0 in the series and Washington must win 4 in row to advance. Its a tough road to hoe but the teams return tomorrow for Game #4.

Of Note:

• Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth kept the game close making some spectacular saves in the third period. In the game he stopped 26 of 30 shots which, unfortunately, wasn't good enough and he took his third consecutive loss.
• Alex Ovechkin was huge in the second period with a goal and an assist. In the series he has 2 goals, 3 points and 14 hits. He will need to come up big to spark his team in Game #4.
• John Carlson scored his first goal of the playoffs and was the only + player on the Caps but the defense was not up to par with the team combining for a total of 8 blocked shots on the night. The Capitals were averaging 20 blocks per game coming in to Game #3.
• Mike Knuble scored his second goal of the playoffs while Jason Chimera, Alexander Semin, Mike Green and Marcus Johansson each had an assist. 
• The Caps went 1 for 5 on the power play and killed off all 4 Tampa attempts.

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Playoff Round 2 Game #2 Recap: Caps 2 Tampa Bay 3 (OT)

The Washington Capitals have dug themselves a deep hole with an overtime loss in Game #2. The Lightning scored at 6:19 of the extra session to take a 3-2 win and a 2-0 lead in the series. The Capitals will have to win 4 of the next 5 games to advance to the next round with Games 3 and 4 in Tampa this Tuesday and Wednesday.

The game opened with a back and forth first period that saw the Capitals and Lightning trading power play chances the Caps went 0 for 3 and Lightning struck on their second chance with less than a minute remaining in the period. The play in the second period was controlled by Washington and the home team finally broke through with a goal from Brooks Laich who crashed the net and knocked a rebound into the net to tie the game at 1-1. This followed 3 more failed power play attempts from the Capitals. In the frame Washington put 16 shots on goal but came away with only 1 goal. Tampa retook the lead mid-way through the third period after the Lightning got the Capitals defense scrambling around their own zone and a centering pass deflected off Mike Green's skate into the net. The Capitals fought back in the final ten minutes and, with the goalie pulled, Alex Ovechkin score the tying goal with 1:08 remaining in regulation.

In the overtime session the Capitals came out strong but failed to connect on several scoring opportunities. They out shot Tampa 5-3 in the extra period but a bad line change led to a 2-on-1 chance that doomed the boys in red. The Capitals showed they have the heart and the ability to win these games but their Achilles heel has been their power play performance. So far in the series the Caps are 0 for 11. If they have any hopes to advance they need to improve this area of their game. If Tampa is going to give us 5.5 chances they need to pay. This will be the difference in Game #3.

Of Note:

• For the second game in a row, Michal Neuvirth stopped 20 of 23 shots and took the loss. I don't think either loss was a product of his play. It will be interesting to see if Head Coach Bruce Boudreau will make ay changes in the net with the back-to-back games in Tampa.
• Alex Ovechkin was kept pretty much in check for most of the game but scored the big goal when it mattered. After a failed clear from the Tampa defense, Ovechkin went to the front of the net and and was in perfect position to tie the game with regulation time running out.
• The defense blocked 21 Tampa shots with 5 Capitals defenders blocking 3 each. The Caps have averaged 20 blocked shots in the 7 playoff games played.
• Brooks Laich got his first goal of the post season to with his 5 assists. His 6 points are good for second on the team in these playoffs.
• The Capitals out shot the Lightning 37 to 23 and lead the series 35 to 47. Unfortunately, they have scored 2 of fewer goals in 5 of the 7 games they have played in the post season.
• John Erskine, Brooks Laich, Nicklas Backstrom and Jason Arnott each had an assist for the Caps.

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Playoff Round 2 Game #1 Recap: Caps 2 Tampa Bay Lightning 4

The Capitals looked out of sorts in the first five minutes of Game #1 and it led to the first opening period goal against in this year's playoffs. The six day layoff showed as the Lightning took the play to the Caps but Washington clawed back and got their legs back in the second ten minutes of the game. Alexander Semin evened the score when Marco Sturm deflected an outlet pass in the Tampa zone. Semin gathered the puck and fired a wicked wrister between Tampa goalie Dewayne Roloson's pads for a 1-1 score that would hold up until intermission. The Capitals were more steady coming out in the second and took the lead on an Eric Fehr score. Off a face-off in the Tampa zone Jason Chimera beat the defenseman off the boards and fed the puck to the slot where Fehr roofed it before Roloson could react. From there the Capitals went to the penalty box 3 times and lost their momentum. The Lightning saterted winning the board battles and tied the score when an attempted pass deflected off of Scott Hannan's stick and into the net. Caps goalie Michal Neuvirth had no chance on the play. On the final power play of the period for Tampa Bay, Neuvirth made the initial stop but the rebound was put back giving Tampa a 1-goal advantage with 32-seconds remaining in the period. The third period saw the Capitals frustrated by the Tampa 1-3-1 trap and Washington's inability to capitalize on two power play attempts. Tampa put the game away with an empty net goal in the game's final minute. Game #2 is Sunday in Washington.

Of Note:

• Michal Neuvirth stopped 20 of 23 shots he faced for his second playoff loss. The young goalie held the Caps in the game in the fist ten minutes and seems to make all the key saves when needed. The offense owes him a better effort in Game #2.
• Alexander Semin has goals in 3 consecutive games. Semin is battling well but needs to get more rubber to the net. He is shooting at over 18% and can help lift some of the pressure on the team.
• John Carlson was shaken up at the beginning of the third period and only played 14:39. Hopefully it is nothing major and will return to the lineup for Game #2.
• The Caps out shot the Lightning 28-24 but allowed the only power play goal in the game. The Bolts went 1 for 4 while the Caps were 0 for 5 with the extra man.
• In addition to the goals scored by Semin and Fehr, Jason Chimera, Marcus Johansson and Marco Sturm were each credited with one assist.

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Playoff Round 1 Game #5 Recap: Caps 3 New York Rangers 1

The Capitals showed no signs of letting down at all in this one and advance to the second round of the playoffs with a 3-1 victory against the Rangers. Mike Green drew first blood in the game with a power play goal. After some rough play in the crease the puck popped out to Alex Ovechkin who wined and faked a slap shot that froze the man in front. Ovechkin instead passed the puck to Green whose initial shot was stopped but he followed the puck and deflected it in the net off a defender. A melee ensued as Ovechkin and Green celebrated and Brook s Laich took a punch to the head from Dan Girardi that appeared to hurt Girardi's hand. As the saying goes, "If you punch Brooks Laich, its you who gets hurt." Interesting enough, the goal was the only first period goal in the series for either team. It set the tone early with the Capitals dominating possession, getting the puck in deep and using a tenacious forecheck. Later in the first Green slid to block a shot and took another slap shot off his head. Green went to the dressing room and later sat on the bench but was held out for precautionary reasons. Hopefully, it will not result in another concussion that has limited his action since February. The second period featured more of the same with the Ranger unable to breakdown the Washington defense or when they did Michal Neuvirth was solid in goal. The Caps went up by two goals when Brooks Laich and Scott Hannan sprung Alex Ovechkin on the right wing. Ovechkin raced down beating All-Star Defenseman Marc Staal into the offensive zone and then beat All-Star goalie Henrik Lundqvist with a forehand, backhand move from right to left across the crease. The goal sent the sellout crowd into a frenzy and the Capitals kept pushing. In the third period with New York throwing all caution to the wind. Marcus Johansson took advantage and set up Alexander Semin with a sweet aerial pass on a 2-on-1. Semin finished it off and the Caps led 3-0. The Rangers scored with less than a minute remaining spoiling Neuvirth's shutout bid but not the day. The Caps and Rangers met at center ice for the traditional post series handshake as Washington advanced to round 2 winning 4 games to 1.

Of Note:

• Michal Neuvirth was the #1 Star of the game and finished the series stopping 140 of the 148 shots he faced. He sports a 0.946 save percentage and 1.38 GAA. Not bad for a rookie.
• Alex Ovechkin got the series clinching goal and an assist on the Mike Green score. In the five games he put up 3 goals and 3 assists for 6 points and led the team with 23 hits.
• Green was the only player to register points in all 5 games. He was second on the team in scoring, behind Ovechkin, with 1 goal and 4 assists for 5 points.
• The penalty killers stopped both New York power plays in Game 5 and allowed only 1 power play goal against in 20 chances in the series. That's a 95% kill rate. Not bad at all.
• The Rangers lead the regular season in blocked shots. In the series the Capitals blocked 104 shots to the Rangers 103. Karl Alzner and Jeff Schultz led the Caps with 15 blocks each in the five games.
• As he did throughout the series Boyd Gordon led the Capitals in the face-off dot. He won 12 of the 15 draws he took in Game 5 and was 69% effective in the five games.
• And finally hats off to Alexander Semin and Jason Chimera who came through in the Game #1 overtime and the Game #4 double overtime wins.

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Playoff Round 1 Game #4 Recap: Caps 4 New York Ranger 3 (2OT)

It took 12:36 of the second overtime period for the Washington Capitals to come all the way back from the 3-0 hole they dug for themselves in the second period. After a hard hitting, scoreless first period the Caps were first pierced by a fluke goal that was shot from behind the net. The puck deflected off Matt Hendricks' skate and by Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth for a 1-0 advantage for the hometown Rangers. Eight minutes later it got even worse. The Rangers' Ruslan Fedotenko circled the net and threw a backhand at the net that turned out to be a perfect pass to Marion Gaborik who stashed the puck for a 2-0 lead. Seven seconds later it was 3-0 when Fedotenko gained the zone and fired the puck wide but all five Caps were in traced by the puck and Fedotenko gathered the puck and fed the slot where the Rangers' Brandon Dubinsky blasted a one-timer home. It looked really bad for the visitors as the crowd serenaded Capitals Head Coach Bruce Boudreau for his comments about the general terribleness of their building and the unloudness of the fans. This fan wondered if it wouldn't be wise to pull young Neuvirth to save him from losing his confidence in the face of such terrible defensive breakdowns. But Boudreau held firm and that is why he is the head coach and I have an unpaid blog.

They must have put something in the water between periods because Washington looked like a different team in the third. Alexander Semin got the Caps on the board first when he intercepted a pass in the Ranger zone and fired it on net. New York goalie Henrik Lundqvist had trouble corralling the puck but appeared to cover it but play went on and it slid out and sat on the goal line where Semin tapped it in. Lundqvist argued that he had covered the puck but the whistle never blew so now it was 3-1. Less than a minute later Mike Green fed Brooks Laich coming into the offensive zone Laich breifly lost the puck in the left wing circle but regained the puck along the boards and fired a back door pass to Marcus Johansson who tapped the puck in at the far post. It was now a hockey game at 3-2. At the 12:07 mark the Caps would bring things back to level when John Carlson fired a slap shot from the left point that was clearly going wide but fortunately for the Capitals the puck hit Johansson at the side of the net and redirected straight in to tie the game at 3-3.

For the second time in the series the game went to sudden death overtime. In the first overtime the Capitals controlled much of the play but Lundqvist stood tall. Brooks Laich sent Alex Ovechkin in on a clear breakaway but Lundqvist stoned him with the glove. The Capitals had a golden opportunity when the Rangers were called for a delaying game penalty. The power play looked lively with Alexander Semin breaking down the defense and getting a couple of shots on but the Rangers held tough. The game went to the second overtime period. The teams looking more and more fatigued continued to battle but at the midway mark the Caps were caught with too many men on the ice. The Capitals penalty killers, although weary, were able to kill off the seventh Ranger power play on the night. The Caps kept pushing and were clearly the better team in the second overtime but just weren't getting that one bounce they needed. Finally they did when Jason Chimera took a drop pass at the Rangers blue line and fired a shot on goal and followed it to the net. Lunqvist made the save but was handcuffed by the puck. As he reached out to cover the free puck a defender tried to clear it to the corner but hit Chimera in the chest and the puck dropped in front of the empty net and Chimera tapped it in for the win and a 3-1 series advantage for the Capitals. The teams have two days off until they meet again on Saturday afternoon.

Of Note:

• Michal Neuvirth stopped 36 of 39 shots in the victory. His 1.45 goals against average is second best in the NHL playoffs so far.
• Marcus Johansson was named the game's #1 Star with 2 goals, a +3 rating, and he also made the little drop pass to Chimera on the game winner. 
• The Capitals plan to cut down on the penalties didn't work out so well. For the second game in a row they gave the Ranger 7 power play opportunities but the penalty killers were up to the task and killed off all 7. In the series the Caps have killed off 17 of 18. Not bad at all.
• With Mike Knuble out with an undisclosed injury Jason Chimera was elevated to the top line with Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. It didn't work out so well as the trio was on ice for two goals agaist but Chimera redeemed himself with the double overtime game-winning goal. He has 2 game winning goals in the series and 3 in 11 playoff games with Washington. Pretty clutch considering he only has 1 game-winner in 120 regular season game with the Capitals.
• The Capitals out shot the Rangers 53-39 in the game and came on big time in the third period and first overtime out shooting New York 13-7 and 13-9 in those frames.
• This was a big hitting game with the Ranger racking up 69 hits to the Caps 51. Matt Bradley led Washington with 7 hits in 10:59 of ice time.
• Mike Green, John Carlson, Karl Alzner and Brooks Laich each had 1 assist.
• Eric Fehr who replaced Knuble in the lineup was +3 in the game with 3 shots on goal and 3 hits.

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Playoff Round 1 Game #3 Recap: Caps 2 New York 3

The Capitals fell for the first time in the series after ending up on the wrong end of a 3-2 score. The Rangers twice took one goal leads that the Capitals matched but the final tally came at the 18:21 mark of the third period and the Caps ran out of clock. For Washington the main lesson to be learned is that the aggressor is going to get the calls. By pushing the play the Rangers forced the Caps to defend their own zone and in doing were reacting to plays rather than controlling plays. This led to the discrepancy in penalty calls where New York had 7 power plays to Washington's 3. The Capitals penalty kill was valiant in its work. Stopping 6 of the 7 New York man advantage chances including 1:34 of 5-on-3 play where the Caps allowed only 2 shots on goal. The first New York goal came on the power play 5:30 into the second period with John Carlson in the box for a cross check. The Capitals responded late in the third with a a tip in goal by Alex Ovechkin that was set up by Jason Arnott and Mike Green. The Rangers thought they had replied with a goal at the very end of the period when a seeing-eye puck shot from the left wing corner found its way through a maze of bodies, went off the far post and across the goal line. Video review concluded that the puck completely cross the goal line after time had had expired so there was no goal. The third period saw the Ranger retake the lead eight minutes into the frame when a rebound fell right onto a Ranger stick on the right side of the crease. After killing off another New York power play the Caps got their third man-advantage of the game. Mike Knuble tied the score from in close on a goal set up by Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. From there the game appeared to be headed to another overtime but with just over four minutes remaining Carlson and Rangers forward Brian Boyle were sent to the box for roughing. During the 4-on-4 action, Brandon Dubinsky took the puck out of a scrum in the left wing corner and went straight to the net. His shot was initially blocked but the puck deflected off of Karl Alzner's shoulder, Michal Neuvirth's right pad and Ovechkin's stick before dribbling into the net giving the Rangers a 3-2 lead with 1:39 remaining in regulation. The Capitals pulled the goalie to no avail. The Capitals lead the series 2-1 with Game #4 on Wednesday.

Of Note:

• Michal Neuvirth stopped 32 of 35 shots in his first playoff loss. He has now given up 4 goals on 82 shots he's faced for a 0.951 save percentage.
• Alex Ovechkin continues to score and dish out the punishment. He finished Game #3 with 1 goal, 1 assist and a team high 5 hits.
• The Capitals were out shot 35 to 25 in the game and were not good in the face-off dot. Only Boyd Gordon who won 11 of his 16 draws was above 50%. These are two areas the Capitals will need to address in Game #4.
• Jason Arnott and Mike Green contributed 1 assist each in Game #3 and have 3 points apiece in the series.
• It was a rough game for the young defensemen John Carlson and Karl Alzner. Carlson had 2 penalties and Alzner was on ice for 2 of New York's 3 goals. On the plus side the duo combined for 5 hits and 2 blocked shots.
• After putting up 53 blocked shots in the first 2 games the Caps only managed 11 blocks in Game #3.

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Playoff Round 1 Game #2 Recap: Caps 2 New York Rangers 0

New York managed 22 shots on goal and Michal Neuvirth was up to the task. The Capitals rookie goalie stopped all 22 for a shutout victory and a 2-0 series lead. Another strong defensive effort from the Capitals stifled the New York attack which saw the Caps block 21 Ranger shots. With a strong surge to begin the game the Rangers out shot Washington in the first period 13-7. The game was played at a fanatic pace with both teams trading big hits all over the ice. Alex Ovechkin really threw his weight around and it appeared to be working on the defensive pair of Marc Staal and Dan Girardi. The Rangers top pair seemed to wilt as the game went on. The Capitals pressed early in the second period and broke through on a good shift from the third line. The Caps kept the pressure on the Rangers in their own zone and Brooks Laich, after initiating contact with the Ranger defenseman, made a strong one handed pass from behind the net to Marcus Johansson in the left wing circle. Johansson quickly sent it to the crease where Jason Chimera one-timed it into the net. One minute and fifty-seven seconds later the Capitals made it 2-0. While on the power play Mike Green took a pass from Ovechkin and fired a slap shot from the right point. The shot hit a body in front of the net and caromed directly onto Jason Arnott's stick in the left wing circle. Arnott calmly settled the puck and fired it home before Ranger goalie Henrik Lundqvist get across the crease giving the Caps a 2-0 lead. The Rangers were stunned and took their timeout to regroup but the Caps wouldn't allow them to generate many scoring chances the rest of the way. The Caps allowed just 7 shots on goal in the third period and Neuvirth gobbled up anything that came his way. The series now shifts to New York for Games 3 and 4 with the Caps up 2 games to none.

Of Note:

• Jason Chimera now has 2 game-winning goals in 9 playoff appearances with the Capitals. His line with Brooks Laich and Marcus Johansson was buzzing all night long. The trio combined for 7 of Washington's 17 shots on goal and 7 hits. Laich was excellent in the dot winning 6 of 9 draws.
• Michal Neuvirth in his first career playoff shutout stopped all 22 shots he faced. His play in the first period was spectacular with several key saves that stemmed the Ranger initial push.
• While Alex Ovechkin didn't score a goal, his presents was felt all over the ice. He recorded 6 hits and was fearless on the forecheck. He picked up an assist on the Arnott power play goal and has 42 points in 30 career post season games.
• Jason Arnott, who was dealt for at the trade deadline, scored on the power play and has points in both games of the series. His leadership has been such a positive influence on this Washington team.
• The Caps went 1 for 3 on the power play and killed off both New York advantages and nearly scored a shorthanded goal. The penalty kill has been a strength for the Caps all year long.
• Karl Alzner and the rest of the defense continued their excellent play blocking shots and winning the key battles along the boards. Alzner has 11 blocked shots in the series and his tandem with John Carlson has been playing against the Rangers top line. Not bad for a couple of rookies.
• Mike Green recorded an assist and doesn't look like he missed 20+ games prior to the series. His ability to skate the puck from harm is huge in this series. In 16:29 of ice time he had 1 assist, 1 shot on goal, 1 hit and 2 blocked shots.
• Finally rookie Marcus Johansson got his first career playoff point with an assist on the Chimera goal along with 1 shot on goal, 1 hit and 2 blocked shots.

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Playoff Round 1 Game #1 Recap: Caps 2 New York 1

The Washington Capitals are the #1 seed in the East for the second consecutive year. After the disappointment in the first round of last year's playoffs the coaching staff knew they needed to make a change in tactics. This year they instituted a much more defensively responsible system that the players bought into really started to excel at late in the season. Last night's overtime victory in Game 1 shows just how far the team has come. The Caps allowed just 25 shots on goal in over 78 minutes of play and blocked another 32 shots. Rookie goaltender  Michal Neuvirth looked comfortable and confident in his Stanley Cup playoffs debut. He made several outstanding saves early and stopped 24 of the 25 shots he faced in the game. The Capitals were able to get scoring chances but were unable to to the score as Jason Arnott and Alexander Semin rang the iron behind Henrik Lundqvist while Mike Knuble and Nicklas Backstrom failed to connect on several other good chances. The game was scoreless through 2 periods but that would change early in the third. New York defenseman Matt Gilroy scored the opening goal of the series when he crept down into the backside circle and beat Neuvirth with a snap shot. Undaunted, the Capitals went to work and tied the game with just over 6 minutes remaining when Alex Ovechkin jammed a puck through Lundqvist on the left side of the crease. The goal was reviewed in Toronto but stood and the 1-1 game went to overtime. Neuvirth had to be alert early when Ranger sniper Marion Gaborik had a chance in front but the young Czech native denied him and play continued. The game looked to be going to a second overtime intermission with both teams not allowing a whole lot of offense but the Rangers turned the puck over in their own zone with less than 2 minutes to play. Arnott picked up the puck at the right point and feed Semin in the high slot. Semin let go a laser of a shot that was in and out of the net before Lundqvist could react. The place erupted and the Capitals took Game 1 with the defensive grinding system they put in place for just this reason.

Of Note:

• Alexander Semin was the game's #1 Star with the overtime game-winning goal, 1 assist and hopefully has put last year's goalless performance out of his mind. I believe he will be the key to victory in this series.
• Michal Neuvirth's play off debut was a good one. He stopped 24 of the 25 shots he faced including 6 in the overtime period. His good early saves really sparked the Capitals game. Look for him to build more confidence off of this victory.
• Both teams had 2 power play attempts and both teams came up empty. Overall the game was physical but cleanly played and their were no egregiously missed calls.
• The tandem of John Carlson and Karl Alzner played well with Alzner blocking a game high 8 shots and Carlson picking up 4 hits and 2 shots on goal.
• Scott Hannan is quietly making his presents felt. He blocked 4 shots and absolutely abused players looking to get down the boards on him. I really like the way he plays, tough hard-nosed hockey.
• Mike Green played 26:30 in his return from injury and looked real steady out there. His puck handling abilities are a definite plus to the team. He finished the night with an assist on the Ovechkin goal, 4 shots on goal, 1 hit, 1 takeaway and 4 blocked shots.
• The Rangers led the league in blocked shots this year but not to be outdone the Caps blocked 32 to the Rangers 28 in Game 1.
• Alex Ovechkin scored the game tying goal and had 6 shots on goal, 6 hits and 1 blocked shot. He now has 21 goals in 29 career playoff games.

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Game #82 Recap: Caps 0 Florida 1

In a game that looked more like a scrimmage the Caps fell 1-0 to the Florida Panthers. Probable playoff game #1 starter Michal Neuvirth looked decent in the loss giving up only 1 goal on 23 shots. On offensive the Caps had 28 shots at the net but couldn't get one past Tomas Vokoun for the second time this season. Vokoun shutout the Caps in Washington back on December 9th for the fourth loss of their infamous 8-game losing streak. So the regular season is done and a little scoreboard watching showed that the Carolina Hurricanes were routed at home so the Capitals will face the New York Rangers in the first round of the playoffs. Hopefully, Washington will either forget the beat downs they took from the Rangers earlier this season. It should be fun and it all starts next week.

Of Note:

• Alex Ovechkin had 6 shots on goal and 3 hits in the game and finished the season with a career low 85 points and 31 goals. However, he did tie his career high with 11 game-winning goals and finished the final 5 games with 3 goals and 5 assists.
• Michal Neuvirth finished his first full campaign in Washington with a record of 27-12-4. The goalies for the Capitals combined for a save percentage of 0.920 which was a franchise best.
• Scott Hannan led the rear guards with 4 of the teams 18 blocked shots in the game. The Capitals also set a franchise mark with a total of 1,257 blocked shots during the season. This is a good skill to be good at in the post season be sure to watch.
• Washington was 0 for 1 on the power play while the Panther were 0 for 2. The Capitals penalty killers finished the season allowing 42 power play goals on 299 chances for an 86% kill rate.
• Now its on to post season and thank you to everyone who has been following along for the 2010-11 Capitals regular season. I hope to see you back again for the playoffs.

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Game #81 Recap: Caps 5 Florida 2

The Washington power play has come to life and contributed 2 goals in the first period and the Caps built a 4-0 lead before a couple of late goals by the Panthers. The Caps took the 5-2 win and are within grasp of the Eastern Conference top spot with one more game with these same Panthers to go. The Caps took the early lead when Mike Knuble directed the puck into the net just 1:20 into the contest. Late in the period Jason Chimera deposited a Nicklas Backstrom pass for a 2-0 lead after 1 period. In between the two goals, Semyon Varlamov stopped all 18 shots he faced in his first action since March 29. The second period saw a more defensively focused Washington team who only allowed 8 shots. The Caps extended the lead with some unlikely sources. Sean Collins got the eventual game-winner when he converted a nice pass from Alex Ovechkin. Matt Hendricks got his 9th goal of the season early in the third period. The Caps let down a little at the end when the Panthers scored on the power play and another with the goalie pulled to cut the deficit to 4-2. Alex Ovechkin finished off the scoring with an empty netter. Washington will head to Florida for the back end of the home-and-home series and the final game of the regular season.

Of Note:

• Semyon Varlamov stopped 31 of 33 shots for his 11th win of the season.
• Alex Ovechkin had another 3-point night with a goal and 2 assists and has registered 29 points in his last 21 games. That's an average of 1.38 points per game which is a little higher than his career average of 1.30 points per game. I think Ovie is definitely back.
• Brooks Laich and Nicklas Backstrom each had 2 assists each while Boyd Gordon and Jeff Schultz had 1 apiece.
• The Capitals blocked 24 shots in the game led by John Erskine who had 6 on his own.
• Sean Collins playing in his third game of the season got his second career goal and his first game winner.
• The Caps were 2 for 4 on the power play while the penalty killers were successful on 3 of 4 Florida power play attempts.
• Schultz was +1.

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Game #80 Recap: Caps 3 Toronto 2 (OT-SO)

Washington played a tight game against the Maple Leafs and came away with the victory in the post game skills competition. Mike Knuble scored the lone goal in the fourth round of the shootout to win the contest. Knuble calmly skated in a fired a wrist shot past Toronto goalie James Reimer who had stopped 39 of 41 Capitals shots on the night. On the other end Michal Neuvirth picked up win number 27 stopping 19 of 21 shots in the game and 4 of 4 in the shootout. The Capitals defense played well allowing only 21 shots on the net and blocking another 18. The Leafs got on the board first with a power play goal that was fired though a screen that Neuvirth saw too late to react. The Capitals responded with a 5-on-3 power play goal from Alex Ovechkin. Ovechkin one-timed a huge blast from the left point into the top of the net. It was the 300th goal of his 473 game NHL career. The laefs retook the lead in the second period on a cross ice pass to the right post that Neuvirth couldn't reach. The Capitals response came from an unlikely source. Big John Erskine got a rolling puck at the left point and fired a slap shot in the general vicinity of the net. Fortunately for Erskine the puck bounced off of a Leafs defender and into the net to tie the game at 2-2. The rest of the game saw the Leafs and Caps battle back and fourth with the Caps pumping shot after shot onto the Toronto net while the Caps defense limited the Leafs chances. Neuvirth had to made several good saves when called upon. Alex Ovechkin had an excellent chance when his wrist shot eluded Reimer but the goalie got enough of a redirect that it went off the post and out. The Capitals have two games remaining with a home and home series with the Florida Panthers.

Of Note:

• The Capitals have scored 3 power play goals in the last 2 games but the penalty killers have let in 2 over the same span.
• Alex Ovechkin scored his 300th career goal and loves playing the Leafs where in 23 career games he has 23 goals.
• Brooks Laich, Marco Sturm, Matt Bradley and Matt Hendricks each had an assist in the game.
• The only Caps not to record at least one shot in the game were Bradley and Sturm. Ovechkin led the team with 7 shots on goal along with 6 missed shots and 4 blocked.
• Jeff Schultz, Scott Hannan and John Carlson each had 3 blocked shots for the defense.
• I find it a bit odd that the official score sheet shows the Leafs out hitting the Caps 50 to 25. It sure didn't look that way during the game. Hometown scorer I guess.

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Game #79 Recap: Caps 5 Buffalo 4 (OT)

For the second consecutive game the Capitals needed extra time but pulled out the win Alex Ovechkin shot a pinball like shot that was double deflected by two defenders before eluding the Buffalo net minder. For Ovechkin it was his 30th goal and 11th game-winner on the season and caused a little crazy dance in celebration. The road to victory in the game was quite a trip as the Capitals looked like they were going to blow the doors off early. Mike Knuble and Alexander Semin both scored before the game was 5 minutes old. The second five minutes was all Buffalo as they regrouped with a timeout and evened the game on two deflection goals. For the rest of the first period, all of the second and 10 minutes into the third the score remained at 2-2 as neither team could find the back of the net. A defensive miscue by the Capitals allowed a semi-break by the Sabres and Buffalo took the lead 3-2. This was followed by a Capitals power play that struck when Knuble deflected Brooks Laich's point shot to tie the game. Then it was the Caps who had to defend the power play as Scott Hannan was in the box for holding. Buffalo retook the lead when the Caps were too aggressive and got caught up ice. Washington goalie Michal Neuvirth made an initial stop but John Carlson couldn't stop on his way back to the net and ended up knocking the puck into his own net for a Buffalo 4-3 lead. The Caps kept battling and with the goalie pulled for an extra attacker got a power play due to a hi stick. The Caps laid siege on the Buffalo net and Jason Arnott tied the game with 52 seconds remaining with the 400th goal of his career setting the table for Ovechkin's heroics in the overtime.

Of Note:

• Alex Ovechkin finished the game with 1 goal 2 assists for 3 points along with 7 shots on goal, 1 cross bar and 4 hits. This sounds like a normal Ovechkin stat line.
• The Caps scored on both power play attempts in the game. The power play has been working at a rate of 20.8% (5 for 24) in the last 9 games. Good timing for this part of Washington's game to come around. The penalty kill was 1 for 2 and has killed 25 of 27 (92.6%) in those same 9 games.
• The Caps did better in the face-off dot splitting the draws 35 apiece. Boyd Gordon and Brooks Laich lead the Caps winning 20 and losing 10.
• Nicklas Backstrom had 3 assists in the game, John Carlson had 2, and Alexander Semin, Marco Sturm, and Brooks Laich each had 1.
• Scott Hannan and Jeff Schultz each had 4 blocks each of the team's 18.
• Sean Collins was called up from Hershey to fill in on the back line and his stats showed nothing in 14 minutes of work which is exactly what the team needed. Overall a good effort for an AHL D-man thrown into the middle of an NHL playoff race.

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Game #78 Recap: Caps 4 Columbus 3 OT

For the second game in a row the Capitals had to go to extra time to pull out the victory. Last night it was Jason Chimera who tapped in a defection to mathematically eliminate his former team from the playoffs. Large sections of this game were a complete snooze fest as both teams bottled up the neutral zone and went for the safe dump in plays. The Caps took the lead early when John Carlson drove the net a put a rebound into net off of a shot from Brooks Laich. In the second period everything was conservative for ten minutes and then the floodgates opened. The two teams started taking chances and scored 4 goals in 5 minutes. The Blue Jackets scored to tie the game at 1-1 followed by Mike Knuble putting away a rebound from Nicklas Backstrom. This was followed by another Columbus goal this time answered by Jason Arnott 13 seconds later to give the Caps their 1 goal lead back at 3-2. The Jackets tied the game late in the third and the teams went to overtime. In overtime both teams had 2 shots on goal but is was Chimera that ended it on a good note for Washington.

Of Note:

• John Carlson had to step up for the injured Dennis Wideman. The rookie had 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 blocked shot and 4 shots on goal.
• Alex Ovechkin and Jason Arnott each recorded their first points since coming back from injury. Ovechkin made a nice pass to Nicklas Backstrom who fired a shot on goal that rebounded to Mike Knuble who had stopped in the crease for the Capitals second goal. Arnott wired a one-timer set up by Marco Sturm to give the Caps a 3-2 lead.
• Michal Neuvirth made 20 saves on 23 shots on a night when the puck was taking all sorts of crazy bounces. 
• Neither power play converted with the Caps at 0-for-1 and Columbus at 0-for-2.
• Jeff Schultz and Scott Hannan were +2 for the game.

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Game #77 Recap: Caps 2 Carolina 3 (OT-SO)

The Capitals got a taste of what playoff hockey might be like and ended up on the bad side of a 3-2 shootout decision. The team welcomed back Alex Ovechkin and Jason Arnott to the lineup but looked less inspired than the Carolina Hurricanes who are fighting for their playoff lives. The Caps gave up the lead early in the second period when they allowed a power play goal. Washington got their own power play but some sloppy play lead to a Carolina penalty shot. Semyon Varlamov made a sweet poke check to foil the attempt but the Caps again failed on the power play. The Caps finally cracked the scoreboard with a wicked goal from Alexander Semin who skated in from the right wing and made one of the most amazing roof shot you will ever see. Cam Ward had every part of the net closed off except for a little spot in the top right corner and Semin hit it to deadlock the game at 1-1. Marcus Johansson gave the Capitals the lead when a broken play gave him a 1-on-1 with Ward. Johansson stashed the puck around the splayed goalie with some filthy deking moves. The Caps looked to have the momentum leading 2-1 going into the third period. However, the Canes came out strong and got the equalizer just 1:46 into the period. With three minutes remaining in regulation Semin took a bad hooking penalty in the neutral zone. The Caps killed of the Canes power play but that was the last ice Semin would see all game as Head Coach Bruce Boudreau sat him for the rest of regulation, overtime and presumably the shootout. The Caps shootout effort was not one of their best as Ovechkin and Backstrom were both unable to score and Varlamov stopped 1 of 3. The Caps should have a good idea what they need to work on as they prepare for Columbus on Thursday.

Of Note:

• Semin had his second consecutive 1 goal 1 assist game. It was also the fourth consecutive game that he was sent to the penalty box. But that is Semin for you and you just hope the good will outweigh the bad.
• Both Alex Ovechkin and Jason Arnott returned to the lineup but the power play remained disjointed. Thee team went 0 for 3 and the Canes scored on 1 of 5.
• Semyon Varlamov stopped 24 of 26 shots and looked much more in control in his second start since returning from injury. However, I think he would like the second goal back as he allowed the puck to squeeze between his arm and his body.
• John Carlson led all shooters with 8 shots on goal and had 1 assist while teaming up with his defense pair Karl Alzner to block 5 shots apiece for 10 of the team's 18 blocks in the game.
• Brooks Laich picked up his 26th assist on the season.

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Game #76 Recap: Caps 2 Montreal 0

For the Capitals it was a perfect road game in Montreal. They scored an early goal and played stifling defense to take the crowd out of the game. The Capitals held Montreal to just 3 shots on goal in the first period. Marco Sturm scored his first goal as a member of the Capitals when he put back a rebound from a Nicklas Backstrom shot at the 1:24 mark. The rest of the period saw Washington with 3 power play chances with no resulting goals. In the second period the Caps went on their fourth consecutive power play early but again they failed to score with the extra man advantage. The went back and forth until Washington was called for its first of three penalties. As they have done so well this season, the penalty killers did the job bringing a chorus of boos for the hometown Canadiens. With about four minutes remaining in the contest the Capitals got a break with the Canadiens pressing in the offensive that allowed Backstrom and Alexander Semin in alone on Montreal goalie Carey Price. Backstrom made a perfect pass to Semin who added the insurance goal for a Caps 2-0 lead. It got a little interesting at the end when Marcus Johansson flipped a puck out of the rink in his own end for a delaying game penalty with three minutes remaining in the game. With the Montreal goal empty the penalty killers once again came through and rookie Braden Holtby recorded his second career shutout. The Caps played their system to a tee with and finished their 6-game road trip on a winning note and a 4-2-0 record. The Caps head home to face Carolina on Tuesday.

Of Note:

• With the win Braden Holtby got his 10th win of the season. He stopped all 18 shots he faced. After a bit of an up and down beginning he now has a 10-2-2 record with 1.79 GAA and a 0.932 save percentage. Oh and he's just 21 years old.
• The line of Strum-Backstrom-Semin combined for all 6 Capitals points in the game. Sturm and Semin with 1 goal and 1 assist each and 2 assists for Nicklas Backstrom.
• After getting destroyed in the face-off circle in Ottawa the previous night, the Caps fared much better in Montreal winning 35 of the 65 draws. Brooks Laich led the way winning 11 of the 17 draws he took.
• The Caps only allowed 18 shots on goal in the game and they blocked another 15 Montreal attempts.
• Scott Hannan was +1.

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Game #75 Recap: Caps 0 Ottawa 2

Things just didn't in Washington's favor at all on Friday. To begin with, Michal Neuvirth was scheduled to start in goal but got sick and couldn't go so Semyon Varlamov got his first start and action since coming off the injured list. The rust was evident on Varlamov as gave gave up a few too many rebounds but he played well enough. In the first period the Capitals thought they were going to get an extended power play when Matt Hendricks had his face cut open by an Ottawa high stick but apparently the officials didn't see what really happened as the Senators' player was sent to the box only to be pulled out and no call was made on the play. Throughout the game the Capitals just looked off. I don't know if too many things were going against them but they just couldn't connect. One of the things going against them was Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson. He was definitely hot as the Caps had some really good scoring chances, especially on the power play, only to be foiled by Anderson. The second period saw another call go against the Caps. A centering pass in front of Varlamov appeared to be kicked towards the net. Varly made the initial save but the Ottawa player continued into the crease and the puck again struck his skate as he crashed into Varlamov with the puck landing inside the net. It took 3 minutes of review time but the goal stood and the Caps were down 1-0. After that point the Caps really couldn't get anything going. The Sens went up 2-0 early in the third and went into lock down mode. The Caps put 12 shots on net in the third period but no real quality chances. Late in the third Matt Bradley made what looked to be a good open ice hit in the Ottawa zone. His shoulder on shoulder hit sent the Ottawa player hard into the boards and Bradley was given an inexplicable boarding call. On top of that, Zack Smith instigated a fight with Bradley which ended with Bradley's head being cut open as the two players fell to the ice. In the end the Caps pulled the goalie but couldn't dent the twine on this night. Good thing for them they get a chance to rebound tonight with a game in Montreal.

Of Note:

• Brooks Laich was all over the place in the game. He recorded 7 shots on goal along with 3 hits and 1 blocked shot.
• The Capitals were obliterated in the face-off dot. They won only 19 draws while losing 32. Boyd Gordon was the only bright spot winning 8 of 15 while Nicklas Backstrom and Marcus Johansson combined to win only 8 of 30.
• Varlamov took his 9th loss of the season stopping 21 of 23 shots but did appear to get better as the game went along with several acrobatic saves.
• The Caps penalty killer continued their string of excellent work as they killed off all three Ottawa extra-man advantages. The power play, however, failed to score on their three attempts.
• The Caps are still playing without the services of Mike Green, Alex Ovechkin, Jason Arnott, and Tom Poti. 

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Game #74 Recap: Caps 5 Philadelphia 4 (OT-SO)

The Capitals gave up a 3-0 advantage but pull out a 5-4 shootout victory against the Philadelphia Flyers. With the win the Capitals clinch a birth in this season's Stanley Cup playoffs. The Caps built 3-0 lead on 9 shots before Philly replaced their struggling goaltender 1:22 into the second period. From that point on the Flyers took control of the game putting up 4 consecutive goals to give them a 1-goal lead with five minutes left in regulation. The Capitals looked down in out but a clutch shift from Jason Chimera, Mike Knuble, Scott Hannan, Dennis Wideman and Marcus Johansson led to Johansson one-timing a Mike Knuble pass into the net for a 4-4 tie score with 3:19 remaining in the third period. The game would go to overtime and ultimately the shootout. All 3 Washington shooters hit the mark with Alexander Semin converting the game deciding goal and Michal Neuvirth stopped 1 of 3 to give the team a 5-4 victory. The two teams split the season series with 2 wins apiece and all 4 games decided in overtime or the shootout. The Caps are off until this weekend when they wrap up their 6 game road trip with a two games north of the border.

Of Note:

• For the second straight game Mike Knuble recorded 3 points. He had 1 goal and 2 assists and for the 8th consecutive season hit the 20 goal plateau.
• Marcus Johansson scored the tying goal and, along with Jason Chimera, assisted on the Knuble goal in the first period. 
• Washington went 1 for 2 on the power play with Dennis Wideman scoring his first goal as a member of the Capitals. The Caps penalty killers did the job by not allowing a goal on 3 Philly power plays.
• Michal Neuvirth stopped 29 of 33 shots for his 24th win of the season.
• In his second game back from injury Nicklas Backstrom got back on the score sheet with a goal and an assist. 
• Brooks Laich and Scott Hannan each had 1 assist in the game.
• In the shootout Matt Hendricks, Backstrom and Alexander Semin all beat Brian Boucher for a 3-2 win in the tie breaker.
• The Caps are now 36-0-3 this season when they score 3 or more goals.

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Game #73 Recap: Caps 3 New Jersey 0

In a different sort of game the Capitals come out on the good end of a 3-0 score. The Caps were thoroughly outplayed for the first half of the game. The Caps only had 3 shots on goal through the first 30 minutes of play but one of those shots was Jeff Schultz's first period point blast that beat All-World goalie Martin Brodeur for a 1-0 score. For Schultz it was his first goal of the season. The Caps added some insurance near the end of the second period when Alex Ovechkin found John Carlson sneaking in from the right point. Carlson faked a slap shot and passed the puck to Mike Knuble who was posted at the left side of the crease and he redirected the pass into the net for a 2-0 lead. The Devils clearly looked demoralized following that goal but were given life when Matt Hendricks was assessed a 4-minute high sticking penalty. The Caps hung strong and killed off the extended power play and never looked back. In the third period the Caps added one more goal to seal the victory when Alex Ovechkin faked a shot and found Mike Knuble on the right wing. Knuble connected on his second goal of the game. In the Washington net Michal Neuvirth stood on his head and stopped 33 shots for the shutout victory. The Caps now get a bit of a break before heading to Philly for a game on Tuesday.

Of Note:

• Michal Neuvirth was the game's #1 Star with his 4th shutout of the season. 
• Mike Knuble had a three point night with two goals and an assist on the Jeff Schultz goal.
• It was the first career game-winning goal for Schultz who hadn't dented the twine since February of 2010.
• The Caps stopped all 4 New Jersey power play but drew no penalties against the Devils. This was the second time this season that Washington failed to have at least 1 power play.
• Alex Ovechkin had a two assist performance but was held without a shot on goal for only the 4th time in 469 games.
• Washington recorded only 12 shots on goal in the game led by Knuble's 4 shots and Schultz's 2. No one else had more than one.
• John Carlson had two assists and Dennis Wideman had one.
• Marcus Johansson, Ovechkin and Knuble were all +3 for the game.
• For the Capitals the 3 goal mark is very telling. The team has scored 3 or more goals in 38 games this season. In those games the Caps have a record of 35-0-3.

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