Game #33 Recap: Caps 1 Anaheim 2 (OT)

The Capitals just can't catch a break. The team put up an impressive effort but lost for the seventh consecutive time with a 2-1 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks. The game was won went Duck's Captain Ryan Getzlaf beat rookie John Carlson in the left wing corner and fired a wrist shot past Semyon Varlamov with less than a minute remaining in the extra period. The Capitals kept to their systems and had an exceptional first period. Brooks Laich scored the first goal of the game by getting to the net and cleaning up a lose puck in tight. He nearly made it 2-0 when he intercepted a pass in the offensive end and fired a shot that trickled through the goalie only to be swatted away by a defender as it touched the goal line. The Caps then had a couple of glorious chances when Alex Ovechkin was sent in on a breakaway only to hit the crossbar and Nicklas Backstrom robbed on a 3-on-1 play between him Mike Knuble and Mike Green. Anaheim tied the game in the second period while on the power play. Mike Green deflected a point drive with his skate and unfortunately it went right to a Ducks forward. The line of Bradley-Steckel-Laich was assigned the task of shutting down the Anaheim top line and what a job they did. They held the Ducks top line of Ryan-Getzlaf-Perry to 6 shots on goal and no points through regulation time. The Caps will get a couple of practice days in before heading to Boston for their next game on Saturday.

Of Note:

• The Capitals out shot the Ducks 32 to 24. It was the 7th consecutive game the Caps have out shot their opponents. The number seems familiar.
• Alex Ovechkin had 6 shots on goal in the game and surpassed the 2,400 mark for his career.
• Brooks Laich recorded his 209th point as a Capital. That ties him with Dino Ciccarelli for 34th All-Time.
• Semyon Varlamov stopped 22 of 24 shots in the loss. He bounced back quite well from the pounding he took in New York. We need to see more efforts like this fom him in the future.
• Niclas Backstrom and John Carlson assisted on the Caps goal.
• The Caps were mostly dominant in the face-off dot. Backstrom 9-2, Laich 6-0, Steckel 12-9 but Mathieu Perrault, not so much 1-9.

Official Recap
Game Summary
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