Game #46 Recap: Caps 3 Ottawa 1

The Capitals once again got out to a slow start but three third period goals gave the Caps a 3-1 victory. The Senators opened the scoring 72 seconds into the game. That put the Caps on their heels for the better part of two periods. The Caps were out shot 9-5 in the first period and failed to convert on their first power play attempt. Washington started to get a little more penetration in the second period and evened the shot counter at 17 but couldn't score. The third period saw a much more determined Capitals team and they finally broke through at the 7:15 mark when Brooks Laich collected a bad clearing attempt and fired a wrist shot into the net to tie the game at 1-1. Though officially unassisted, the goal was the result of a strong forechecking by Alex Ovechkin and Marcus Johansson. 45 Seconds later the Capitals took the lead on the power play. Nicklas Backstrom won the face-off back to John Carlson who wired a slap shot past the Ottawa net minder for a 2-1 Caps lead. Jason Chimera added an insurance goal five and a half minutes later when he banked a low percentage shot off the Ottawa goalie's back and into the net for his 6th goal of the season. The Capitals then shut down the Senators the rest of the way for the victory. The difference in this game was the disciplined play by Washington. The Caps took 2 minor penalties and killed off both and gave Michal Nuevirth a chance to see most everything shot at him. The Caps will need to bring their third period game with them as they travel to Philly to take on the Eastern Conference front running Flyers Tuesday night.

Of Note:

• Michal Nuevirth stopped 22 of the 23 shots he faced for his 15th win of the year. It was the third time he defeated the Senators this season.
• Brooks Laich ended his lengthy goal scoring drought with his 9th goal of the season. 
• The Capitals dominated the face-off dot once again, winning 43 of 62 draws. Nicklas Backstrom 13-6, Boyd Gordon 8-0 and Mathieu Perrault 7-4 led the way.
• The Capitals converted on 1 of 2 power plays and did not allow an Ottawa power play goal in 2 attempts.
• Backstrom, Karl Alzner and David Steckel each had an assist.
• Alzner had a solid game with 19:50 of ice time, 1 assist, +2 rating, 1 hit, 1 takeaway and 3 blocked shots. Alzner briefly had to go to the dressing room after being boarded in the third period. The Capitals scored on the power play and Alzner was back after regaining his wind. 
• Washington blocked 15 Ottawa shots in the game. It was the 14th consecutive game with double digit blocks.

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