Game #76 Recap - Capitals 5 Thrashers 3

The Washington Capitals grew up a bit last night. After taking a 1-0 lead into the first intermission they allowed 3 second period goals and we're playing very tentative hockey. I don't know what was said in the locker room between the second and third periods but the Caps turned on the intensity. They proceeded to out shoot the Thrashers 23-2 in the period. At the 11:30 point Alex Ovechkin broke through with his 60th goal of the season. Then Nicklas Backstrom scored at the 16:00 and the 16:32 mark of the period to give the Caps the lead. With the Atlanta goalie pulled for an extra attacker Boyd Gordon finished the scoring with an empty net goal. Ovechkin led the way with a goal and two assists in the period. For the Caps they found a way to win a game when they had to. It is an important lesson to learn and they should continue to build on the effort. With the win they are within 1 point of the 8th place Boston Bruins. Toronto helped the Caps by defeating Buffalo 4-1 allowing the Caps to move 1-point ahead of of the Sabres. The Caps are off until Tuesday when they head to Carolina for a match up with the Canes.

Of Note:

• Alex Ovechkin scored goals #59 and #60 on the season. It is the first time a player has scored 60 goals since the 1995-96 season. He ties the Capitals single season goal record held by Dennis Maruk. Maruk score 60 goals for the Caps in 1981-82 season. Ovechkin also had 2 assists in the game giving him 304 points in his career. He passes Dmitri Khristich into 18th place on the Capitals All-Time Points list.
  
• Nicklas Backstrom's 3 points moved him back into Rookie points lead. It was his 4th game-winning goal on the season.
  
• The Caps out shot Atlanta 45-18 in the game. They also had 13 shots blocked and missed the net 7 times.
• The win was the first time this season the Caps came back and won a game that they had been trailing after two periods.
• Mike Green recored 2 assists. Tom Poti, Brooks Laich, Viktor Kozlov, and Cristobal Huet recorded 1 assist each.

Official Recap
Game Summary
Super Stats