Game #14 Recap: Caps 3 Flyers 2 (OT)

The Capitals put in a solid effort for 61-minutes and picked up their 10th win of the season. In a match up for first place in the East, Washington battled back twice to tie the score and won it on the power play in overtime. The Caps, once again allowed the first goal on a 2-on-1 break in the first period but knotted the score at 1-1 when John Erskine made a nice indirect pass to Eric Fehr who beat the goalie with a wicked snap shot. In the second, the Flyers took the lead with a deflected slap shot. Washington went to the power play and Alexander Semin buried an insane pass from Nicklas Backstrom and the score was tied at 2-2. The Washington power play has come to life as of late and this would be the Flyers downfall later in the game. The Caps controlled the play for most of the night out shooting Philly 39 to 25. No goals were scored in the third but lat in the game with the Capitals pressing the Flyers Chris Pronger was called for a 4-minute hi-sticking infraction. Then with 19-seconds left in regulation Sean O'Donnell was called for boarding and the Caps had a two man advantage. 29-seconds into the overtime period Mike Green ended the game with a deflected slap shot. The Capitals power play went 10.5% in the first ten games but the last four is clicking at 41.2%. And finally congratulations to Braden Holtby. The rookie made his first start in the NHL and stopped 23 of 25 shots for his second victory of the season. Don't look now but the Capitals have won 4 in a row and taken over first place in the Eastern Conference. Yes, I am knocking on wood right now.

Of Note:

• With an assist on the Alexander Semin goal, Alex Ovechkin ties Mike Ridley for 6th place on the Capitals All-Time Points list with 547 points. 
• Nicklas Backstrom had two assists on the evening and is 1 assist shy of 200.
• Mike Green and Alexander Semin both have 4-game goal scoring streaks going. The two have combined for 14 points in the 4 games. Can you say red hot??
• Ovechkin quietly has a 6-game point streak going with 10 points in those 6 games.
• The Team is now 8-0-0 this season when Boyd Gordon plays.
• John Erskine, Tyler Sloan and Mike Knuble each had an assist in the game.

Official Recap
Game Summary
Event Summary

Game #14 Preview: Philadelphia Flyers at Washington Capitals

Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC

When:  November 7, 2010 5:00 PM

History:           

Caps Record on this Date: 8-7-0-0

Caps Game 14 Record: 15-15-4-1

All-Time vs. PHI: 69-94-19-1

All-Time home vs. PHI: 39-38-13-0

Last Season vs. PHI: 3-0-1

Last Meeting: 1/17/10, WAS 5 PHI 3

This Year:

WAS Record: 9-4-0

Standings Points: 18

Division Rank: 1st

Conference Rank: 2nd      

Last Game: 11/5/10, WAS 5 BOS 3

Streak: Win 3

PHI Record: 9-4-1

Standings Points: 19

Division Rank: 1st

Conference Rank: 1st    

Last Game: 11/6/10, PHI 2 NYI 1

Streak: Win 6

Probable Line-Ups:     

Washington

Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 28 SEMIN

Forward Line 2: 14 FLEISCHMANN, 21 LAICH, 22 KNUBLE

Forward Line 3: 25 CHIMERA, 15 GORDON, 16 FEHR

Forward Line 4: 26 HENDRICKS, 39 STECKEL, 10 BRADLEY

Defense Pair 1: 55 SCHULTZ, 52 GREEN

Defense Pair 2: 4 ERSKINE, 74 CARLSON

Defense Pair 3: 27 ALZNER, 89 SLOAN

Goalie: 30 NEUVIRTH

Back-up Goalie: 70 HOLTBY

Philadelphia

Forward Line 1: 21 VAN RIEMSDYK, 18 RICHARDS, 47 WELLWOOD

Forward Line 2: 19 HARTNELL, 17 CARTER, 22 LEINO

Forward Line 3: 36 POWE, 28 GIROUX, 93 ZHERDEV

Forward Line 4: 45 SHELLEY, 11 BETTS, 13 CARCILLO

Defense Pair 1: 20 PROGER, 25 CARLE

Defense Pair 2: 44 TIMONEN, 5 COBURN

Defense Pair 3: 41 MESZAROS, 6 O’DONNELL

Goalie: 35 BOBROVSKY

Back-up Goalie: 33 BOUCHER

Injuries:

Washington –1 VARLAMOV (groin) IR, 3 POTI (lower body) IR

PHI – 8 WALKER (hip) IR, 14 LAPERRIERE (concussion) IR, 49 LEIGHTON (back) IR

Caps Milestones:

Nicklas Backstrom needs 3 assists to reach 200 in his career.

Brooks Laich needs 3 points to reach 200 in his career.

Jason Chimera needs 6 points to reach 200 in his career.

Preview:

#1 meets #2 in the Eastern Conference at the Verizon Center on Sunday. Philadelphia needed a late goal to beat the Islanders last night and took the #1 spot in the East from Washington. Washington will try to stop the Flyers 6-game winning streak and extend their own winning streak to 4 games. This should be an intense hockey game. Both teams have talented rosters and a strong dislike for each other. Look for the first period to set the tone for the game with lots of hitting. The Caps have put up good starts the last two games but have had trouble closing. They to button down the mistakes and limit the Flyers chances. I think the key for Washington is to close down the Flyers between the blue lines. They did well against Boston and need to continue the good defensive effort. The game should be tight and I expect a couple of fights but I think the Caps will pull it out in the third.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 4 PHI 2

Capitals Official Preview

Game #13 Recap: Caps 5 Boston 3

The Capitals prevailed over the Boston Bruins at Verizon Center last night with a 5-3 victory. The team had its best effort of the season for the first two periods and led 3-0 going into the third and chased Boston goalie Tim Thomas to the bench. Successive penalties to  Jason Chimera and John Erskine were both converted into Boston goals early in the third. Following a slew of bad turnovers Boston tied the game on a 2-on-1 break. This led Head Coach Bruce Boudreau to lift Michael Nuevirth from the net and insert Braden Holtby for his first NHL action ever. Holtby held down the fort stopping all 4 shots he faced in the final 10:09. At the 13:25 mark, Capitals rookie defensemen John Carlson blasted a slap shot into the Boston net to give the Capitals the lead. The Caps held off the Bruins the rest of the way and got an empty net insurance goal from Alex Ovechkin.

Of Note:

• Alexander Semin was stellar for the Capitals. He had 1 goal, 6 shots on goal and 3 takeaways, as well as, some nice defensive work including a nice back check that stopped a Boston odd man chance. His goal was a thing of beauty. While on the penalty kill he forced the puck out of the zone at the blue line, kept his feet moving and pushed the puck through the neutral zone setting up an odd man break, and converted on a sweet passing play between him and Mike Green.
• Green had a great night also. He had a goal and an assist,, blocked 3 shots and was solid defensively.
• The Caps penalty killers had a rough go of it allowing 2 goals on 3 chances but got the shorty as well.
• Since he entered the game with the score tied Braden Holtby got the win for the Capitals.
• The Caps put 39 shots on the Boston net including 17 in the second period. The defense allowed only 18 shots on the Capitals net while blocking 18 on the night.
• Boyd Gordon put out a superb effort set up the game-winning goal with a face-off win. Gordon was named the Game's #2 star.
• Tyer Sloan opened the scoring in the second with his first goal of the season. It was Sloan's first game back from a lower body injury.
• With 2 assists on the night Nicklas Backstrom passed Steve Konowalchuk to move into 18th place on the Capitals All-Time Assist list. Backstrom has a 197 career assists with the Caps.
• Jeff Shultz was +3 and picked up an assist on the Ovechkin goal.

Official Recap
Game Summary
Event Summary

Game #13 Preview: Boston Bruins at Washington Capitals

Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC

When:  November 5, 2010 7:00 PM

History:           

Caps Record on this Date: 6-9-1-0

Caps Game 13 Record: 16-14-4-1

All-Time vs. BOS: 41-63-21-8

All-Time home vs. BOS: 22-28-12-4

Last Season vs. BOS: 3-0-1

Last Meeting: 10/21/10, WAS 1 BOS 4

This Year:

WAS Record: 8-4-0

Standings Points: 16

Division Rank: 1st

Conference Rank: 2nd      

Last Game: 11/3/10, WAS 5 TOR 4 (OT-SO)

Streak: Win 2

BOS Record: 7-2-0

Standings Points: 14

Division Rank: 2nd

Conference Rank: 5th    

Last Game: 11/3/10, BOS 5 BUF 2

Streak: Win 3

Probable Line-Ups:     

Washington

Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 28 SEMIN

Forward Line 2: 14 FLEISCHMANN, 21 LAICH, 22 KNUBLE

Forward Line 3: 25 CHIMERA, 15 GORDON, 16 FEHR

Forward Line 4: 17 KING, 39 STECKEL, 10 BRADLEY

Defense Pair 1: 55 SCHULTZ, 52 GREEN

Defense Pair 2: 4 ERSKINE, 74 CARLSON

Defense Pair 3: 27 ALZNER, 44 FAHEY

Goalie: 30 NEUVIRTH

Back-up Goalie: 70 HOLTBY

Boston

Forward Line 1: 17 LUCIC, 46 KREJCI, 18 HORTON

Forward Line 2: 38 CARON, 37 BERGERON, 28 RECCHI

Forward Line 3: 26 WHEELER, 19 SEGUIN, 73 RYDER

Forward Line 4: 63 MARCHAND, 11 CAMPBELL, 22 THORNTON

Defense Pair 1: 21 FERENCE, 33 CHARA

Defense Pair 2: 45 STUART, 44 SEIDENBERG

Defense Pair 3:, 48 HUNWICK, 54 MCQUAID

Goalie: 30 THOMAS

Back-up Goalie: 40 RASK

Injuries:

Washington –1 VARLAMOV (groin) IR, 3 POTI (lower body) IR, 90 JOHANSSON (hip flexor) IR, 89 SLOAN (lower body) DTD

BOS – 9 SAVARD (concussion) IR, 42 WHITFIELD (Achilles) IR, 16 STURM (knee) IR

Caps Milestones:

Nicklas Backstrom needs 5 assists to reach 200 in his career.

Brooks Laich needs 3 points to reach 200 in his career.

Jason Chimera needs 6 points to reach 200 in his career.

Preview:

The consistently inconsistent Capitals meet the Boston Bruins for the third time in the young season. Both teams are high up in the standings but in the previous two meetings Boston goalie Tim Thomas has been the difference. Allowing just 2 goals on 75 shots Thomas thoroughly frustrated the Washington forwards. The Caps will need a better effort than they gave two nights ago if they want the victory tonight. Despite being out worked and out hustled by the Maple Leafs, the Capitals were able to pull out a shootout win but that kind of effort will see them in the losing column against Boston. Look for a physical game as the two teams are very familiar with each other. The key for the Capitals will be maintaining their defensive structure. They cannot afford to give the Bruins any odd man chances. I think the Caps will bring the work boots and hard hats to the arena tonight and eke out a win in a hard fought game. It should be a good one to watch.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 3 BOS 2

Official Preview

Game #12 Recap: Caps 5 Toronto 4 (OT-SO)

It took the shootout to settle last night's game with the Maple Leafs. Alex Ovechkin and Alexander Semin each scored in the skills competition while Caps goalie Michael Nuevirth stopped both Toronto attempts he faced for the victory. Once again the Capitals allowed the first goal of the game only to come roaring back in the second period with three goals. They then allowed the Leafs back into the game by giving up 3 goal in about three minutes early in the third period. The Caps forced overtime when Semin scored a power play goal on a rebound with 6-minutes remaining in regulation. The overtime saw the Caps go on the power play but failed to score.

Of Note:

• Michael Nuevirth now leads the league with 8 wins. He stopped 24 of 28 shots on the night.
• Alexander Semin had 1 goal and 1 assist and has put up 5 points in his last 2 games.
• Mike Green had an up and down game. He scored the Caps first goal but was a -3 on the night.
• The power play has picked up for the team. They scored on 2 of 4 attempts and have 5 power play goals in the last 2 games. The penalty killer gave up 1 goal on 4 chances. 
• Jason Chimera and Tomas Fleischmann had the other goals for the Capitals. Alex Ovechkin and Brooks Laich had 2 assists each. Boyd Gordon, Matt Bradley, and John Carlson had 1 assist each.
• The Capitals will face the Boston Bruins for the third time this season on Friday.

Official Recap
Game Summary
Event Summary
Shootout Summary

Game #12 Preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Washington Capitals

Where: Verizon Center, Washington DC

When:  November 2, 2010 7:00 PM

History:           

Caps Record on this Date: 6-8-1-0

Caps Game 12 Record: 10-21-4-0

All-Time vs. TOR: 55-49-10-4

All-Time Home vs. TOR: 35-21-4-1

Last Season vs. TOR: 2-1-1

Last Meeting: 1/15/10, WAS 6 TOR 1

This Year:

WAS Record: 7-4-0

Standings Points: 14

Division Rank: 2nd

Conference Rank: 4th      

Last Game: 10/30/10, WAS 7 CAL 2

Streak: Win 1

TOR Record: 5-5-1

Standings Points: 11

Division Rank: 3rd

Conference Rank: 9th    

Last Game: 11/2/10, TOR 2 OTT 3

Streak: Loss 3

Probable Line-Ups:     

Washington

Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 28 SEMIN

Forward Line 2: 14 FLEISCHMANN, 21 LAICH, 22 KNUBLE

Forward Line 3: 25 CHIMERA, 15 GORDON, 16 FEHR

Forward Line 4: 10 BRADLEY, 39 STECKEL, 26 HENDRICKS

Defense Pair 1: 55 SCHULTZ, 52 GREEN

Defense Pair 2: 4 ERSKINE, 74 CARLSON

Defense Pair 3: 27 ALZNER, 89 SLOAN

Goalie: 30 NEUVIRTH

Back-up Goalie: 70 HOLTBY

Toronto

Forward Line 1: 33 CAPUTI, 42 BOZAK, 81 KESSEL

Forward Line 2: 16 MACARTHUR, 84 GRABOVSKI, 32 VERSTEEG

Forward Line 3: 11 SJOSTROM, 37 BRENT, 41 KULEMIN

Forward Line 4: 18 BROWN, 20 HANSON, 28 ORR

Defense Pair 1: 3 PHANEUF, 22 BEAUCHEMIN

Defense Pair 2: 3 SCHENN, 15 KABERLE

Defense Pair 3: 8 KOMISEREK, 36 GUNNARSSON

Goalie: 35 GIGUERE

Back-up Goalie: 50 GUSTVASSON

Injuries:

Washington – 1 VARLAMOV (groin) IR, 3 POTI (lower body) DTD, 90 JOHANSSON (hip flexor) DTD

Toronto – 9 ARMSTRONG (finger) IR

Caps Milestones:

Nicklas Backstrom needs 5 assists to reach 200 in his career.

Brooks Laich needs 5 points to reach 200 in his career.

Preview:

The Capitals return to Washington after winning 2 of 3 on the road last week. Following another dreadful start in Calgary, the Caps turned in a 6-spot in the second period and ran away with a 7-2 victory. The team will try to build on the momentum when they take on the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs have been up a down this season but always give the Caps a tough game. The Leafs will be on the back half of back-to-back games following a 3-2 loss to Ottawa at home last night. Look for the Caps try and even out their start and get on the board first. Washington has scored only 5 first period goals in the 11 games this season. Goalie Michael Nuevith was named the Rookie of the month for October and has been rock solid in net. I think this game will start out extremely physical with both teams trying to send a message but the Capitals overall talent should give them the edge. Ovechkin is starting to heat up so I would hate to be in goal for the Leafs.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 5 TOR 1

Official Preview

Michael Neuvirth Named Rookie of the Month

Per NHL.com, Michal Neuvirth was named Rookie of the Month for October. Nuevirth appeared in all 11 games for the Caps compiling a 7-3-0 record. He becomes the 7th member of the Capitals to earn Rookie of the Month honors.

Washington Capitals Rookie of the Month
Bob Mason, December 1984
Peter Bondra, November 1990
Jim Carey, March 1995
Jeff Halpern, March 2000
Alex Ovechkin, December 2005
Alex Ovechkin, January 2006
Nicklas Backstrom, December 2007
Michal Nuevirth, October 2010