Game #45 Recap: Caps 2 Vancouver 4

The Washington Capitals lost their third consecutive game 4-2 against the NHL leading Vancouver Canucks. The Caps for the first time in their last 6 games scored in the first period and played even with the visitors. The Caps got on the board first when Matt Hendricks finished a nice transition play from the Capitals zone. John Carlson made a good drop pass to Boyd Gordon at the Caps blue line and Gordon fed a seam pass to Hendrick who buried a wrist shot behind Roberto Lunogo. The Canucks evened the score late in the period when Semyon Varlamov failed to pick up a point drive from the blue line. The two teams were tied 1-1- after the first period. The second period was all Vancouver. They held the Capitals at bay with strong puck possession and score once on the man advantage and once on a defensive break down at center ice. The Caps responded in the third period and created a bunch of chances but only a slick pass from Nicklas Backstrom to Marcus Johansson for a one-time goal was able to penetrate the Vancouver net. The Canucks rounded out the scoring with an empty net goal. The Capitals put up a good effort but special teams once again did the team in. They went 0 for 3 with the man advantage and gave up the go ahead goal with the Canucks on the power play. Washington needs to improve on this area of their game to be successful.

Of Note:

• The Capitals were out shot in the game 35 to 27. In their last 6 games the Caps have been out shot by a combined 212 to 176.
• John Carlson and Karl Alzner were again called upon to take on the oppositions toughest line. They more than held their own with a combined 37 minutes on ice, +3 rating, 3 blocked shots,1 takeaway and 1 assist.
• Semyon Varlamov took the loss stopping 31 of 34 shots and the team allowed the first empty net goal against since December 28, 2009.
• The Capitals dominated the face-off dot winning 38 and losing 18. Nicklas Backstrom went 19 for 24 and David Steckel won 8 of 9.
• Marcus Johansson scored his third goal in three games. The rookie is playing his best hockey of the season and has 6 goals and 4 assists for 10 points in 32 games.
• Matt Hendricks scored his 5th goal of the season. Backstrom, Carlson, Boyd Gordon and Brooks Laich each had 1 assist.

Official Recap
Game Summary
Event Summary

Game #45 Preview: Vancouver Canucks at Washington Capitals

Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC

When:  January 14, 2011, 7:00 PM

History:           

Caps Record on this Date: 7-5-1-0

Caps Game 45 Record: 15-14-5-1

All-Time vs. VAN: 39-34-9-1

All-Time at home vs. VAN: 23-15-4-0

Last Season vs. VAN 0-1-0

Last Meeting: 12/18/09, WAS 2 VAN 3

This Year:

WAS Record: 24-13-7

Standings Points: 55

Division Rank: 2nd

Conference Rank: 5th

Last Game: 1/12/11, WAS 0 TAM 3

Streak: Loss 2

VAN Record: 28-9-6

Standings Points: 62

Division Rank: 1st

Conference Rank: 1st    

Last Game: 1/13/11, VAN 0 NYR 1

Streak: Loss 1

Probable Line-Ups:     

Washington

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

Forward Line 2: 25 CHIMERA, 85 PERRAULT, 14 FEHR

Forward Line 3: 21 LAICH, 90 JOHANSSON, 83 BEAGLE

Forward Line 4: 26 HENDRICKS, 15 GORDON, 39 STECKEL

Defense Pair 1: 52 GREEN, 23 HANNAN

Defense Pair 2: 27 ALZNER, 74 CARLSON

Defense Pair 3: 55 SCHULTZ,

Goalie: 1 VARLAMOV

Back-up Goalie: 30 NEUVIRTH

Vancouver

Forward Line 1: 22 D. SEDIN, 33 H. SEDIN, 14 BURROWS

Forward Line 2: 21 RAYMOND, 17 KESLER, 23 HANSEN

Forward Line 3: 13 TORRES, 27 MALHOTRA, 26 SAMUELSSON

Forward Line 4: 15 GLASS, 10 TAMBELLINI, 54 VOLPATTI

Defense Pair 1: 23 EDLER, 5 EHRHOFF

Defense Pair 2: 2 HAMHUIS, 3 BIEKSA

Defense Pair 3: 29 ROME, 4 BALLARD

Goalie: 1 LUONGO

Back-up Goalie: 35 SCHNEIDER

Injuries:

Washington – 3 POTI (upper body) IR, 17 KING (undisclosed) IR, 10 BRADLEY (broken finger) IR, 28 SEMIN (hip) DTD

VAN – 6 SALO (Achilles) IR, 37 RYPIEN (personal)

Caps Milestones:

Nicklas Backstrom needs 3 points to reach 300 in his career.

Preview:

Vancouver, and their best overall record in the NHL, comes calling to the Verizon Center for a meeting with the Capitals. The Canucks have been scoring in bunches and will test the improved defense of the Washington Capitals. Look for Karl Alzner and John Carlson to be on the ice against the Sedins’ line as they try to shut down the twins who have combined for 110 points this season. The Capitals will need to ramp up their offense and start converting on the power play if they want to win this game. The power play has been a sore spot for most of the season and the team has scored just once with the man advantage in the last 4 games. The big bright spot for the Capitals has been the play of their two young goalies. Both have turned in solid performances and kept the team in a lot of games they otherwise would be blown out of. I expect a more prepared team in action for the Capitals in this game. The team seems to get up for the high profile games. Look for a high intensity game with lots of scoring chances. Nicklas Backstrom is poised for a big game so watch out for him.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 4 VAN 3

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Game #3 Recap - Capitals 5 Canucks 1

Total team defense by the Capitals dominated the Vancouver Canucks last night. The Caps held their opponent to 10 shots on goal, a new team record for the fewest shots against by an opponent. With 5 goals in the first 2 periods the Caps chased Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo from the net at the second intermission. Alexander Semin started the scoring in the first and scored again in the second. Mike Green and Milan Jurcina also scored goals and Michael Nylander finished the scoring with a penalty shot goal.

Caps goaltender Brent Johnson was lonely for most of the game. After giving up a power play goal on Vancouver's first shot of the game, Johnson saw only 2 more shots until the 3rd period. He stopped all 7 third period shots in route to his 100th career NHL victory. The Caps had Vancouver completely disoriented for most of the evening as the Canucks could not move the puck through the neutral zone due to the aggressive forecheck of the Capitals. Watching the performance last night it was evident that this Capitals team works together as a team it has the ability to be a top team in this league.

Of Note:

• Alexander Semin's two goals gives him 77 career goals, all as a member of the Caps. He moves ahead of Syvain Cote and ties him with Geoff Courtnall for 30th on the Capitals All-Time Gaols list. Semin leads the Caps with 6 points through 3 games.
  
• Sergei Fedorov was paired on the blue line with Milan Jurcina. The pair combined for a goal, an assist, 8 shots on goal and a +/- rating of +5.
• Mike Green scored his 3rd goal of the season last night. All three goals have come on the power play.
• The team went 2 for 4 on the power play with the second being Nylander's penalty shot goal. The lone goal against the Caps came on the power play. Washington finished the game killing 3 of 4 Vancouver power play attempts.
• Viktor Kozlov left the game early with an apparent leg injury. It is expected thet Eric Fehr will replace him for Thursday's game in Pittsburgh.
• In his first action of the season Boyd Gordon recorded an assist. Mike Green, Tomas Fleischmann, Chris Clark, Sergei Fedorov, and Brooks Laich also recorded assists.
• Michael Nylander, in addition to his penalty shot goal, had two assists for a 3-point night.

Official Recap
Game Sumarry
Event Summary

Game #3 Vancouver Canucks at Washington Capitals

Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC

When: October 13, 2008, 7:00 PM

History:

Caps Record on this Date: 4-12-2-0

Caps Game 3 Record: 10-16-6-1

All-Time vs. VAN: 38-33-9-1

All-Time At Home vs. VAN: 22-15-4-0

Last Season vs. VAN: 0-1-0

Last Meeting: 10/26/07, WAS 2 VAN 3

This Year:

WAS Record: 1-1-0

Standings Points: 2

Division Rank: 4th

Conference Rank: 12th

Last Game: 10/11/08, WAS 4 CHI 2

Streak: Win 1

VAN Record: 2-0-0

Standings Points: 4

Division Rank: 1st

Conference Rank: 2nd

Last Game: 10/11/08, VAN 5 CAL 4 (OT)

Streak: Win 2

Probable Line-Ups:

Washington

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

Forward Line 2: 21 LAICH, 91 FEDOROV, 28 SEMIN 14 FEHR

Forward Line 3: 14 FLEISCHMANN, NYLANDER, 17 CLARK

Forward Line 4: 87 BRASHEAR, 39 STECKEL, 10 BRADLEY

Defense Pair 1: 26 MORRISONN, 52 GREEN

Defense Pair 2: 4 ERSKINE, 3 POTI

Defense Pair 3: 55 SCHULTZ, 23 JURCINA

Goalie: 60 THEODORE

Back-up Goalie: 1 JOHNSON

Vancouver

Forward Line 1: 22 D. SEDIN, 33 H. SEDIN, 9 PYATT

Forward Line 2: 21 RAYMOND, 38 DEMITRA, 18 BERNIER

Forward Line 3: 14 BURROWS, 17 KESLER, 37 RYPIEN

Forward Line 4: 24 HORDICHUK, 10 JOHNSON, 36 HANSEN

Defense Pair 1: 2 OHLUND, 23 ELDER

Defense Pair 2: 3 BIEKSA, 8 MITCHELL

Defense Pair 3: 6 SALO, 55 O’BRIEN

Goalie: 1 LUONGO

Back-up Goalie: 41 STANFORD

Injuries:

Washington – 2 POTHIER (concussion) IR

Vancouver – 7 NYCHOLAT (back) IR

Caps Milestones:

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

Matt Bradley needs 5 points to reach 100 in his career.

Michael Nylander needs 4 points to reach 100 with the Capitals.

Preview:

This should be an interesting matchup at the Verizon Center this evening. The Vancouver Canucks come to town with a 2-0-0 record and have scored 11 goals in a home-and-home series against the Calgary Flames. The Caps finally settled down in the last two periods on Saturday and played more of the brand of hockey we became accustom to last season. The defense tightened up and the players got back to the system of aggressive forechecking. In the first two games the Caps faced an outstanding effort by the opposing goaltender and you can count on that again tonight. The Canucks captain is their goalie, Roberto Luongo, and he is arguably the best in the business. However, in Vancouver’s two victories he has only faced 54 shots. Look for the Capitals to shoot early and often. In the game against Chicago, only one Capital skater did not register a shot on goal. When the Caps are on their game they really rack up the shots. Watch for the line of Brooks Laich, Sergei Fedorov and Alexander Semin. They have combined for 6 points in the first 2 games and netted the game winner against the Hawks.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 4 VAN 3

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Capitals 2 Canucks 3

The Caps couldn't break through the wall that is Roberto Luongo. Even with the power play working for 2 goals on 4 attempts, the Caps could not get anything else past the Vancouver goaltender. The Caps also gave up two power play goals and are at 75.6% on the year. The Caps played a physical game out hitting the visitors 32 to 12 and the play was mostly even. The deciding goal came off a shot that hit Olie Kolzig's shoulder, went off the cross bar and was swatted out of mid air into the back of the Caps net by Taylor Pyatt. The Caps have little time to dwell on this game as they head to St. Louis to take on the Blues Saturday night.

Of Note:

• The Caps lost Game #9 last season to Vancouver by the the same score of 3-2.
• The Caps out shot Vancouver 28 to 26. Brian Pothier recorded 8 shots on goal.
• Alex Ovechkin had a two point night (1G, 1A) giving him 209 for his career. He is tied with Dino Ciccarelli for 30th on the All-Time Capitals points list. Ovechkin accomplished the feat in 51 fewer games than Ciccarelli.
• Tom Poti missed the game with a groin injury. To replace him on the power play. Head Coach Glen Hanlon went with 5 forwards on the #1 power play unit.
• The Caps won 44 of 68 face offs. Boyd Gordon led the by winning 13 of 18 draws, followed by Dave Steckel who won 12 of 17 draws.
• Chris Clark recorded 2 assists but left the game in the final minute after being struck in the head by an Alex Ovechkin slap shot.

Official Recap
Game Summary
Super Stats

Game #9 Washington Capitals vs. Vacouver Canucks

Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC

When: October 26, 2007, 7:00 PM

History:
Caps Record on this Date: 6-4-1-0
Caps Game 9 Record: 13-15-3-1
All-Time vs. VAN: 38-32-9-1
Last Season vs. VAN: 0-0-1
Last Meeting: 10/27/06, WAS 2 VAN 3 OT-SO

This Year:
WAS Record: 4-4-0
Standings Points: 8
Division Rank: Tied 3^rd
Conference Rank: Tied 10^th
Last Game: 10/24/2007, WAS 5 TAM 3
Streak: Win 1

VAN Record: 4-6-0
Standings Points: 8
Division Rank: Tied 4^th
Conference Rank: Tied 12^th
Last Game: 10/24/2007, VAN 2 DET 3
Streak: Loss 2

Probable Line-Ups:
Washington
Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 25 KOZLOV, 17 CLARK
Forward Line 2: 19 BACKSTROM, 92 NYLANDER, 28 SEMIN
Forward Line 3: 18 PETTINGER, 39 STECKEL, 15 GORDON
Forward Line 4: 87 BRASHEAR, 21 LAICH, 43 FLEISCHMANN
Defense Pair 1: 3 POTI, 23 JURCINA
Defense Pair 2: 2 POTHIER, 26 MORRISONN
Defense Pair 3: 55 SCHULTZ, 52 GREEN
Goalie: 37 KOLZIG
Back-up Goalie: 1 JOHNSON

Vancouver
Forward Line 1: 22 SEDIN, 33 SEDIN, 9 PYATT
Forward Line 2: 19 NASLUND, 17 KESLER, 27 ISBISTER
Forward Line 3: 24 COOKE, 7 MORRISON, 14 BURROWS
Forward Line 4: 20 COWAN, 15 RITCHIE, 16 LINDEN
Defense Pair 1: 2 OHLUND, 8 MITCHELL
Defense Pair 2: 6 SALO, 5 KRAJICEK
Defense Pair 3: 4 MILLER, 18 WEAVER
Goalie: 1 LUONGO
Back-up Goalie: 41 SANFORD

Injuries:
Washington – 14 FEHR (hip) IR, 44 EMINGER (ankle) IR
Vancouver – 5 BIEKSA (personal reasons) DTD, 20 COWAN (hip) DTD, 37 RYPIEN (broken finger) IR

Caps Milestones:
Alexander Semin needs 4 Points to reach 100 for his career
Chris Clark needs 5 Points to reach 100 with the Capitals
Matt Pettinger needs 7 Points to reach 100 for his career

Preview:

The Capitals ended a 4 game losing streak on Wednesday night with a 5-3 win over Tampa. It was the most offense the Caps have put on the board this season. The Caps got production from members of all 4 lines and the defense. Chris Clark, Matt Pettinger, Dave Steckel and Shaone Morrisonn recorded their first points of the season last game. They will have to continue this effort to be successful against Vancouver. Goalie Roberto Luongo has had the Caps number in the past, but the Canucks have had a rough beginning and are in the midst of a 2 game losing streak. This is their 4^th road game in 5 nights. Is there a Swedish translator in the house? Between the two teams there are 7 Swedish born players on the roster. Look for the Canucks to come out hard and try to establish the lead. The Caps will have to keep the pressure on the Vancouver net and wear them down. Look for the Caps to be physical early and score late.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 4 VAN 2.

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