Game #57 Recap: Caps 2 Phoenix 3

In a familiar refrain the Capitals fell to the Phoenix Coyotes 3-2 in Glendale last night. The Capitals were unable to score on 5 power play attempts and Phoenix went 1 for 3 and that was the difference in the game. Washington came out with a great effort and Alex Ovechkin drew a penalty in the first shift. The power play generated shots and chances but the Caps just couldn't finish. It was a theme that played throughout the game as the Caps threw shots at the net and crashed into the crease but were unable to cash in. When the Caps did score the next shift was a defensive let down that allowed the Coyotes to tie the game. Phoenix went on the score three straight before the Caps responded in the third period. With the game within reach an errant hi stick from Nicklas Backstrom put the Caps in a bad spot. The team rallied but could not find the equalizer. The Caps head to California for back to back games with Anaheim and San Jose who both beat the Capitals on home ice earlier this season.

Of Note:

• Marcus Johansson open the scoring in the second period when his centering pass to Brooks Laich pin balled off the goalie's stick and was knocked in by a Phoenix defender. The effort by Laich to crash the net set the situation for the goal. The Caps will need more of this type of effort from Laich and company.
• Matt Bradley score his forth goal of the season to bring the Caps back within one goal.
• Michal Neuvirth took the loss stopping 15 of the 18 shots he faced. 
• The Caps took 31 shots on goal and their season shooting percentage has dropped to 0.084 which is tied for the lowest in franchise history.

Official Recap
Game Summary
Event Summary

Game #57 Preview: Washington Capitals at Phoenix Coyotes

Where: Jobing.com Arena, Glendale, AZ

When:  February 14, 2011, 8:00 PM

History:           

Caps Record on this Date: 7-4-0-0

Caps Game 57 Record: 12-16-6-0

All-Time vs. PHO: 6-7-4-1

All-Time at PHO: 2-4-2-0

Last Season vs. PHO: 1-0-0

Last Meeting: 1/23/10, WAS 4 PHO 2

Season Series: 0-0-0

This Year:

WAS Record: 29-17-10

Standings Points: 68

Division Rank: 2nd

Conference Rank: 5th

Last Game: 2/12/11, WAS 1 LA 4

Streak: Loss 2

PHO Record: 29-19-9

Standings Points: 67

Division Rank: 2nd

Conference Rank: 5th    

Last Game: 2/13/11, PHO 3 CHI 2 (OT-SO)

Streak: Win 4

Probable Line-Ups:     

Washington

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

Forward Line 2: 21 LAICH, 85 PERRAULT, 28 SEMIN

Forward Line 3: 26 HENDRICKS, 90 JOHANSSON, 22 KNUBLE

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

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: 30 NEUVIRTH

Phoenix

Forward Line 1: 14 PYATT, 20 BELANGER, 19 DOAN

Forward Line 2: 13 WHITNEY, 11 HANZAL, 17 VRBATA

Forward Line 3: 8 UPSHALL, 91 TURRIS, 22 STEMPNIAK

Forward Line 4: 89 BOEDKER, 38 FIDDLER, 28 KORPIKOSKI

Defense Pair 1: 3 YANDLE, 53 MORRIS

Defense Pair 2: 33 AUCOIN, 18 LEPISTO

Defense Pair 3: 32 ROZIVAL, 55 JOVANOSKI

Goalie: 30 BRYZGALOV

Back-up Goalie: 1 LABARBERA

Injuries:

Washington – 3 POTI (upper body) IR, 16 FEHR (upper body) IR

PHO – SCHLEMKO (upper body) IR, SAUER (concussion) IR

Caps Milestones:

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

Brooks Laich needs 5 goals to reach 100 in his career.

Alex Ovechkin needs 5 assists to reach 300 in his career.

Preview:

With 26 games remaining on the Capitals schedule, it’s now or never time for this team. In the 24 games since the 7-0 beat down at the hands of the New York Rangers, Washington has allowed an average of 1.83 goals against per game. However, the offense has averaged just 2.21 goals for in those same 24 games with an anemic power play that has scored 7 times in 76 chances. This is the number one key for the Capitals. The team is 0 for 10 in the last three games and improvement is required if they expect to make and compete in the playoffs. In the first of 5 road games, the Caps will face the Phoenix Coyotes who are winners of 4 straight games and have two former Caps in their lineup. Both Eric Belanger and Sami Lepisto will suit up to face their former mates. The Coyotes are second in their division and fifth in the Western Conference. Look for the Capitals to come out strong and take the game to Phoenix in the early going. The Caps will need to continue this effort for the full sixty minute to get the win. I expect a huge effort from the Caps in this one with at least one strike on the power play.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 4 PHO 2

Official Preview

The Capitals were defeated by the Phoenix Coyotes 2-1 last night. The team looked out of sync from the blue line out. The injuries to Tom Poti and John Erskine forced Sergei Fodorov to the back line once again and Tyler Sloan played in his 2nd career NHL game. So with a rookie and a forward playing defense the Caps found it very tough to get any sustained pressure in the Phoenix zone. On the bright side, they did score a power play goal. Too bad that was the extent of the offense. The Caps look to rebound on Saturday in Dallas.

Of Note:

• Brooks Laich scored the only goal for the Caps on a second period power play. Alexander Semin made a sweet toe drag pass to set up Laich. Nicklas Backstrom got the secondary assist.
• Jose Theodore had his best performance as a Capital. He stopped 32 of 34 shots and looked much more comfortable in net.
• The Caps killed off all 4 Phoenix Power play opportunities raising their penalty killing percentage to 77.5%.
• Alex Ovechkin had 7 shots on goal in the game. He now has 1,300 in his career.
  

Official Recap
Game Summary
Event Summary

Game #7 Washington Capitals at Phoenix Coyotes

Where: Jobing.com Arena, Phoenix, AZ

When: October 23, 2008, 10:00 PM

History:

Caps Record on this Date: 5-7-4-0

Caps Game 7 Record: 9-19-5-0

All-Time vs. PHO: 5-6-4-1

All-Time At PHO: 2-3-2-0

Last Season vs. PHO: Did not play

Last Meeting: 1/1/07, WAS 2 PHO 3

This Year:

WAS Record: 3-2-1

Standings Points: 7

Division Rank: 2nd

Conference Rank: 7th

Last Game: 10/21/08, WAS 1 CAL 2

Streak: Loss 2

PHO Record: 2-3-0

Standings Points: 4

Division Rank: 4th

Conference Rank: 14th

Last Game: 10/18/08, PHO 1 MON 4

Streak: Loss 3

Probable Line-Ups:

Washington

Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 91 FEDOROV, 17 CLARK

Forward Line 2: 21 LAICH, 19 BACKSTROM, 28 SEMIN

Forward Line 3: 14 FLEISCHMANN, 92 NYLANDER, 10 BRADLEY

Forward Line 4: 87 BRASHEAR, 39 STECKEL, 15 GORDON/16 FEHR

Defense Pair 1: 26 MORRISONN, 52 GREEN

Defense Pair 2: 55 SCHULTZ, 89 SLOAN

Defense Pair 3: 23 JURCINA, 4 ERSKINE

Goalie: 60 THEODORE

Back-up Goalie: 1 JOHNSON

Phoenix

Forward Line 1: 13 CARCILLO, 12 JOKINEN, 19 DOAN

Forward Line 2: 89 BOEDKER, 91 TURRIS, 88 MUELLER

Forward Line 3: 34 WINNIK, 11 HANZAL, 41 TIKHONOV

Forward Line 4: 17 FEDORUK, 28 REINPRECHT, 16 MCGRATTAN

Defense Pair 1: 55 JOVANOVSKI, 53 MORRIS

Defense Pair 2: 4 MICHALEK, 44 SAUER

Defense Pair 3: 3 YANDLE, 21 HALE

Goalie: 30 BRYZGALOV

Back-up Goalie: 32 TELLQVIST

Injuries:

Washington – 2 POTHIER (concussion) IR, 25 KOZLOV (leg) DTD, 3 POTI (groin) DTD

Phoenix – 26 PERRAULT (concussion) IR, 24 AHNELOV (broken finger) IR

Caps Milestones:

Victor Kozlov needs 3 points to reach 500 in his career.

Matt Bradley needs 4 points to reach 100 in his career.

Michael Nylander needs 5 shots on goal to reach 1,600 in his career.

Alex Ovechkin needs 7 shots on goal to reach 1,300 in his career.

Preview:

The second stop on the Caps three game road trip is in Phoenix. This is the first visit for the Caps since Alex Ovechkin scored “The Goal” back in 2006. The Caps bring with them a two game losing streak and an ineffective power play. They squandered a 9-minute power play in Tuesday’s game with Calgary and the team could never get on track afterwards. Look for the Caps to simplify on the man advantage and try to get pucks and traffic to the net. Phoenix is young team that no one can take lightly. The Caps need to start fast and not let them in the game. Watch for a step up by Chris Clark or Brooks Laich in the high traffic areas. The Caps will be held close but take this one by a goal.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 3 PHO 2

Official Preview