Game #64 Recap: Caps 2 Islanders 1

As goes Alex Ovechkin, so goes the Washington Capitals. For all but the final minute the New York Islanders held the the Great 8 and the Capitals at bay and clung to a 1-0 advantage on the score board. The Caps came out with with a purpose gaining an 11-1 shot advantage in the first period. They were disciplined in their systems and making good decisions but the puck just would find the back of the net. The second period saw the Caps become a little too wide open and a little careless with their play. This led to a couple of turnovers and and a goal against. It could have been a lot worse but Michal Neuvirth made some timely stops and the defense scrambled to block a few more. As the third period started the Caps got even tighter. During a power play the Caps couldn't even get the puck out of their own end and Neuvirth had to make several saves and could be seen yelling at his teammates. I must admit I was thinking that the Caps were going fail to score for the 10th time this season. That all changed in the final minute. With the goalie pulled the Caps and a face-off in the New York zone the Caps held the puck in at the left point and Ovechkin feed the puck around the the boards to the right wing corner. The newly acquired Jason Arnott feed a perfect goal mouth pass to Brooks Laich who directed the puck into the net to tie the game at 1-1. The game went to overtime and the Caps looked to be pressing for the win. With a minute and a half gone by in the OT, Ovechkin gathered the puck in his own zone and started up ice. You knew something great was about to happen as he turned a defender inside out at center ice. He weaved across the blue line and initiated contact with the defender to give himself just enough room to fire the puck into the goal to end the game in Ovie-like fashion. Hopefully this is the start of something great. Stay tuned.

Of Note:

• With 1 goal and 1 assist Ovechkin now has 50 career game-winning goals and 300 career assists. The goal was the 9th overtime game-winner of his career, extending his Washington team record.
• Brooks Laich scored his 14th goal of the season and scored goals in both games against the Islanders.
• Jason Arnott, Marco Sturm and Dennis Wideman, the newest members of the team, combined for 8 shots on goal and look to fit right in with the Capitals systems. It will take a bit of adjustment to fully integrate them into the lineup but first impressions were very good. There seems to already be some instant chemistry between Laich and Arnott on the second line.
• The Caps put 42 shot on goal to the Islanders 29. Ovechkin led the way with 8.
• Neither power play connected as the Caps failed on 2 attempts but killed off all 4 of the Islanders efforts.
• Karl Alzner must be singled out for some exceptional play on defense. He blocked 7 shots on the night and was instrumental in limiting the scoring chances of the Islanders in the second period. 

Official Recap
Game Summary
Event Summary 

Game Highlights:

Game #64 Preview: New York Islanders at Washington Capitals

Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC

When:  March 1, 2011, 7:00 PM

History:           

Caps Record on this Date: 5-8-0-3

Caps Game 64 Record: 17-12-3-2

All-Time vs. NYI: 90-79-13-3

All-Time at home vs. NYI: 46-33-11-2

Last Season vs. NYI: 3-0-1

Last Meeting: 2/26/11, WAS 3 NYI 2

Season Series: 3-0-0

This Year:

WAS Record: 33-20-10

Standings Points: 76

Division Rank: 2nd

Conference Rank: 5th

Last Game: 2/26/11, WAS 3 NYI 2

Streak: Win 1

NYI Record: 23-32-8

Standings Points: 54

Division Rank: 5th

Conference Rank: 15th

Last Game: 2/26/11, NYI 2 WAS 3

Streak: Lost 3

Probable Line-Ups:     

Washington

Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 22 KNUBLE

Forward Line 2: 21 LAICH, 44 ARNOTT, 28 SEMIN

Forward Line 3:18 STURM, 90 JOHANSSON, 25 CHIMERA

Forward Line 4: 26 HENDRICKS, 15 GORDON, 10 BRADLEY

Defense Pair 1: 23 HANNAN, 55 SCHULTZ

Defense Pair 2: 27 ALZNER, 74 CARLSON

Defense Pair 3: 6 WIDEMAN, 4 ERSKINE

Goalie: 30 NEUVIRTH

Back-up Goalie: ???

New York

Forward Line 1: 26 MOULSON, 91 TAVARES, 15 PARENTEAU

Forward Line 2: 40 GRABNER, 51 NIELSEN, 21 OKPOSO

Forward Line 3: 57 COMEAU, 12 BAILEY, ???

Forward Line 4: 17 MARTIN, 28 KONOPKA, 59 HALEY

Defense Pair 1: 47 MACDONALD, 36 HAMONIC

Defense Pair 2: 38 HILLEN, 8 GERVAIS

Defense Pair 3: 71 KATIC, 6 WISHART

Goalie: 35 MONTOYA

Back-up Goalie: 52 LAWSON

Injuries:

Washington – 3 POTI (upper body) IR, 16 FEHR (upper body) IR, 52 GREEN (head) DTD, 1 VARLAMOV (undisclosed) DTD

NYI – DIPIETRO (facial fracture) IR, EATON (hip) IR, HUNTER (knee) IR, JURCINA (groin) IR, MARTINEK (lower body) IR, MATTAU (hip) IR, POULIN (knee) IR, STREIT (shoulder) IR, WEIGHT (back) IR

Caps Milestones:

Jason Chimera needs 4 goals to reach 100 in his career.

Brooks Laich needs 3 goals to reach 100 in his career.

Alex Ovechkin needs 1 assist to reach 300 in his career.

Preview:

After a wild couple of days off, the Caps begin the stretch drive of the regular season with three new faces and say goodbye to an old one. David Steckel was dealt at yesterday’s trading deadline and Marco Sturm, Dennis Wideman and Jason Arnott will begin their Capitals career with the goal of hoisting the big silver dish in mid-June. I expect all three will be in the lineup tonight as a different Capitals team will take on the relatively unchanged Islander lineup from 3 nights ago. It will be interesting to see how the newcomers will fit into the Capitals system. I expect another hardworking game from the Islanders who will give the Caps all they can take but in the end the much more talented Caps team should prevail.  

Joe’s prediction: Caps 5 NYI 1

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Game #63 Recap: Caps 3 Islanders 2

The Capitals failed to show up in the first half of this game. Other than a few shifts, the Islanders dominated and led 2-0 before the Capitals knew they were actually playing. It was so bad that Bruce Boudreau had to call time out just to rip into his team who failed to show up at all the night before in Washington. Then at the half way point of the second period Brooks Laich got Washington on the board with a wrist shot that found its way through the goalie gear and into the net. Following the Laich goal the Caps started skating and in the third they took control. With just over two minutes gone by, Laich made a power move from the right wing side and force fed Mike Knuble who popped the puck in the unguarded side of the net to tie the score. Three minutes later Alexander Semin made a hardworking play at Caps line. He fought for the puck with two Islanders then turned up ice where he and Alex Ovechkin came together before Semin took the puck at the Islander blue line and cut across the middle where he performed his patented curl-and-drag into a wicked wrister move. The shot was perfect, top corner of the goal giving the Capitals the 3-2 edge. The Caps proceeded to shut down the Islanders the rest of the way and the team escaped with the win.

Of Note:

• Scott Hannan was a force on defense again for the Caps. He was a +2 for the game and blocked a game high 6 shots. 
• Michal Neuvirth picked up his 19th win of the year by stopping 29 of the 31 shots he faced. The second goal was definitely not his fault as a point shot that looked to be going wide was knocked into the by the Capitals' John Carlson. After the play, Neuvy gave Carlson the evil eye but I think they are friends again.
• The Capitals failed to connect on 2 power play attempts and the penalty killers were a perfect 4 for 4.
• With Nicklas Backstrom having a broken finger the Caps used some different guys to take the draws. David Steckel was a beast in the dot, as usual, winning 10 of the 15 draws he took. Brooks Laich, Jay Beagle and Boyd Gordon were 50% or better and the Caps won 30 of the 57 draws overall.
• John Carlson, Alex Ovechkin, Marcus Johansson, and Brooks Laich each had 1 assist.

Official Recap
Game Summary
Event Summary

Highlights:

Game #63 Preview: Washington Capitals at New York Islanders

Where: Nassau Coliseum, Long Island, NY

When:  February 26, 2011, 7:00 PM

History:           

Caps Record on this Date: 10-5-1-0

Caps Game 63 Record: 17-13-3-1

All-Time vs. NYI: 89-79-13-3

All-Time at NYI: 43-46-2-1

Last Season vs. NYI: 3-0-1

Last Meeting: 1/20/11, WAS 2 NYI 1

Season Series: 2-0-0

This Year:

WAS Record: 32-20-10

Standings Points: 74

Division Rank: 2nd

Conference Rank: 5th

Last Game: 2/25/11, WAS 0 NYR 6

Streak: Loss 1

NYI Record: 23-31-8

Standings Points: 54

Division Rank: 5th

Conference Rank: 15th

Last Game: 2/24/11, NYI 3 PHI 4 (OT)

Streak: Lost 2

Probable Line-Ups:     

Washington

Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 22 KNUBLE

Forward Line 2: 21 LAICH, 90 JOHANSSON, 28 SEMIN

Forward Line 3: 26 HENDRICKS, 85 PERRAULT, 25 CHIMERA

Forward Line 4: 39 STECKEL, 15 GORDON, 10 BRADLEY

Defense Pair 1: 23 HANNAN, 55 SCHULTZ

Defense Pair 2: 27 ALZNER, 74 CARLSON

Defense Pair 3:89 SLOAN, 4 ERSKINE

Goalie: 1 VARLAMOV

Back-up Goalie: 30 NEUVIRTH

New York

Forward Line 1: 26 MOULSON, 91 TAVARES, 15 PARENTEAU

Forward Line 2: 40 GRABNER, 51 NIELSEN, 21 OKPOSO

Forward Line 3: 57 COMEAU, 12 BAILEY, 44 SCHREMP

Forward Line 4: 17 MARTIN, 28 KONOPKA, 59 HALEY

Defense Pair 1: 47 MACDONALD, 36 HAMONIC

Defense Pair 2: 38 HILLEN, 8 GERVAIS

Defense Pair 3: 71 KATIC, 6 WISHART

Goalie: 35 MONTOYA

Back-up Goalie: 52 LAWSON

Injuries:

Washington – 3 POTI (upper body) IR, 16 FEHR (upper body) IR, 52 GREEN (head) DTD

NYI – DIPIETRO (facial fracture) IR, EATON (hip) IR, HUNTER (knee) IR, JURCINA (groin) IR, MARTINEK (lower body) IR, MATTAU (hip) IR, POULIN (knee) IR, STREIT (shoulder) IR, WEIGHT (back) IR

Caps Milestones:

Jason Chimera needs 4 goals to reach 100 in his career.

Brooks Laich needs 4 goals to reach 100 in his career.

Alex Ovechkin needs 2 assists to reach 300 in his career.

Preview:

The Capitals will try to rebound from another blowout loss to the New York Rangers. The team heads to Long Island for the front end of a home-and-home two game set with the Islanders. The Capitals have been trying to put all the pieces together but have been consistently inconsistent for quite a while. The Caps are 14-11-7 in their last 32 games and have just 20 games remaining in the regular season. At some point they are going to need to pick up the pace or they will be left in the dust. The Islanders have just 54 points in the standings but have gone 6-3-1 in their last 10 games so this is no cakewalk. New York is playing a more aggressive style of play complete with some ol’ time hockey brawlers. Look for this one to be a chippy, physical affair with both teams attempting to keep the other to the outside. The key for the Capitals is to get the first goal and build their confidence. I expect the Caps to come out flying in this one a put up some good offense.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 5 NYI 2

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Game #48 Recap: Caps 2 New York Islanders 1

Well they finally did it! A goal by Jason Chimera gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead after one period of play. Chimera converted a nice passing play from Alex Ovechkin took a drop pass from Nicklas Backstrom and hit Chimera at the front of the net. The Caps scored again at the beginning of the second period when Backstrom passed to Ovechkin who drove the net from the left wing. Ovechkin was denied but the rebound sat in the crease and Backstrom put the puck into the empty net for a 2-0 lead. It was Backstrom's first goal in 21 games. Nice to have you back Nicky. The Isles responded shortly thereafter when John Carlson misplayed the puck allowing a breakaway that rookie goaltender Braden Holtby couldn't stop. Holtby was recalled yesterday after Michal Nuevirth suffered a lower body injury in the Tuesday's game against the Flyers. The rookie played well stopping 24 of 25 shots in the victory. The Caps held off the Islanders the rest of the game including killing off 6 New York power plays. The road continues for the Caps who now head to Toronto for a Saturday game with the Leafs.

Of Note:

• The Capitals have scored 3 or fewer goals in 12 consecutive games. They have a 6-2-4 record over those 12 games.
• Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin were the 1st and 2nd Stars of the game. Its good to see them leading the action again. Backstrom had 1 goal and 1 assist while Ovechkin had two assists.
• The Capitals dominated the face-off dot winning 34 and losing 21 draws. Boyd Gorden went 12-2 and Backstrom was 10-4. No Islander was above 47%.
• Mike Green led all players in ice time, 27:40, and blocked shots, 7.
• The Capitals stopped all 6 power plays they faced but could not covert on 2 of their own power plays.
• John Carlson picked up a secondary assist on the Backstrom goal.
• Scott Hannan was +1.

Official Recap
Game Summary
Event Summary

Game #48 Preview: Washington Capitals at New York Islanders

Where: Nassau Coliseum, Long Island, NY

When:  January 20, 2011, 7:00 PM

History:           

Caps Record on this Date: 4-5-1-0

Caps Game 48 Record: 17-16-2-0

All-Time vs. NYI: 88-79-13-3

All-Time at NYI: 42-46-2-1

Last Season vs. NYI: 3-0-1

Last Meeting: 10/13/10, WAS 2 NYI 1

This Year:

WAS Record: 25-14-8

Standings Points: 58

Division Rank: 2nd

Conference Rank: 5th

Last Game: 1/18/11, WAS 2 PHI 3 (OT)

Streak: Loss 1

NYI Record: 14-23-7

Standings Points: 35

Division Rank: 4th

Conference Rank: 14th    

Last Game: 1/17/11, NYI 2 NJ 5

Streak: Loss 1

Probable Line-Ups:     

Washington

Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 25 CHIMERA

Forward Line 2: 21 LAICH, 90 JOHANSSON, 22 KNUBLE  

Forward Line 3: 26 HENDRICKS, 85 PERRAULT, 83 BEAGLE

Forward Line 4: 17 KING, 15 GORDON, 39 STECKEL

Defense Pair 1: 52 GREEN, 55 SCHULTZ

Defense Pair 2: 27 ALZNER, 74 CARLSON

Defense Pair 3: 23 HANNAN, 4 ERSKINE

Goalie: 1 VARLAMOV

Back-up Goalie: 70 HOLTBY

Islanders

Forward Line 1: 26 MOULSON, 91 TAVARES, 15 PARENTEAU

Forward Line 2: 12 BAILEY, 44 SCHREMP, 57 COMEAU

Forward Line 3: 40 GRABNER, 37 COLLITON, 14 GILLIES

Forward Line 4: 17 MARTIN, 28 KONOPKA, 8 GERVAIS

Defense Pair 1: 47 MACDONALD, 36 HAMONIC

Defense Pair 2: 38 HILLEN, 27 JURCINA

Defense Pair 3: 42 REESE, 24 MARTINEK

Goalie: 60 POULIN

Back-up Goalie: 39 DIPIETRO

Injuries:

Washington – 3 POTI (upper body) IR, 10 BRADLEY (broken finger) IR, 28 SEMIN (hip) DTD, 16 FEHR (upper body) DTD, 30 NEUVIRTH (lower body) DTD

NYI – EATON (hip) IR, HUNTER (knee) IR, MOTTAU (hip) IR, NIELSEN (groin) IR, OKPOSO (shoulder) IR, STREIT (shoulder) IR, WEIGHT (back) IR

Caps Milestones:

Jason Chimera needs 6 goals to reach 100 in his career.

Brooks Laich needs 7 goals to reach 100 in his career.

Preview:

After a disappointing 3-2 overtime loss in Philly, the Capitals head to Long Island to take on the 14^th place Islanders. But the Capitals better not kid themselves; the Isles have been playing some good hockey lately and always seem to give the Caps a tough game. Washington is looking to be more consistent but lost Michal Nuevirth to a lower body injury midway through last game and had to recall Braden Holtby from Hershey. I am expecting another tight contest between these two teams. The Caps scoring outage has shown no signs of letting up and the team has only scored 1 first period goal in its last 8 games. Watch for Nicklas Backstrom in this game as he has been putting together some good efforts the last week and looks poised to break out. I think the Caps will control much of the action in this game but the scoring will be low making for another nail biter for the Capitals.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 3 NYI 2

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