Game #69 Recap - Capitals 1 Boston 2

The Caps controlled most of the game against the Bruins. They held a 1-0 advantage until an ill advised penalty, with about 8-minutes remaining in the game, by Donald Brashear was compounded by two more penalties by Caps defensemen John Erskine and Tom Poti. Boston took advantage with two 5-on-3 power play goals and downed the Caps 2-1. The officiating left much to be desired as Matt Cooke was given a 5-minute major and tossed from the game in the second period on a questionable kneeing call. Then the 5 consecutive calls against the Caps in third leading to the game deciding goal. For the game the Caps were assessed 41 penalty minutes to Boston's 21. This is the second game in a row in which I have questioned the officiating. The question in my mind is are the Caps that dirty a team or is there something to do with the officials? Since the Caps are the second least penalized team in the league, I have to think it's not because the Caps are dirty. That not withstanding, the Caps lost some important points in the standings and will now face Pittsburgh at home. Look for some angry Caps in that one.

Of Note:

• The Capitals goal was scored by Brooks Laich. While on the power play he drove the net after an Alex Ovechkin shot and stashed the puck on a rebound. Laich has 16 goals on the season. Ovechkin and Poti received assists on the play.
• Ovechkin's assist ties him with Alan Haworth for #26 on the Caps All-Time Assist list.
  
• Cristobal Huet played well in goal stopping 26 of 28 shots with the Bruins on the power play for 14:10.
• The game started off rough as the Bruins were still a little upset about Monday's 10-2 loss to Washington. Matt Bradley and Milan Lucic fought just 5-seconds into the game. Donald Brashear and Shawn Thornton squared off 9-seconds later.

Official Recap
Game Summary
Super Stats