Game #42 Recap: Caps 3 Florida 2

The Capitals wanted to get out to a fast start but it wasn't to be as the Panthers scored within the first 5 minutes of the game and led 1-0 after one. The second period has been a strong period for Washington all season long. Eric Fehr and Mike Green connected on a sweet play that Green took all the way around the net and passed through a maze of players to Fehr who roofed the puck for a 1-1 tie. The Caps took the lead in the third period when Eric Fehr returned the favor to Green with a nice pass on the power play. Green cut to slot and backhanded a shot into the net for his 8th goal of the season. The Caps padded the lead three minutes later as Mike Knuble sprang Alex Ovechkin on the left wing. Ovechkin took the puck to the net and put a wrist shot past the goaltender just as a defender knocked him to the ice. It was go to see Ovie score in a very Ovie type way. The Panthers kept battling and scored on a rebound in the final minute with the goalie pulled but that would be all they could get. The Caps will face the Panthers again on Tuesday in sunny South Florida.

Of Note:

• Mike Knuble got the primary assist on the Ovechkin goal. It was his 500th career NHL point and he becomes the 396th player to reach that milestone in league history.
• For Ovechkin, he picked up a goal and a secondary assist on the Green power play goal. It was his first point on the power play in his last 18 games. This is the main area that Washington needs improvement. The team went 1 for 3 on the night.
• The penalty killers continue to come up big. The stopped all 4 Florida attempts and have not allowed a power play goal against in their last 6 games.
• Semyon Varlamov started in net and picked up his 8th win of the season. He stopped 25 of 27 shots and the team has allowed 2 or fewer goals in 8 straight games.
• Washington has really stepped up the defensive effort with another 18 blocked shots against Florida. John Carlson led the way with 3.
• David Steckel, once again, was a beast in the face-off dot. He won 13 of the 17 draws he took. He is 64.2 % effective on the season good enough to lead the NHL. Nice job.

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