Game #6 Recap: Caps 1 Bruins 3

The Capitals played a strong game but could only manage 1 goal against Boston goalie Tim Thomas. The team put 36 shots on goal including 18 in the third period. The penalty kill was a bright spot once again as the Caps killed off all 4 Boston power plays including 53-seconds of a 5-on-3. The Caps have now killed off all 25 power plays they have faced this season. The Caps own power play was also 0 for 4 on the night and looked disorganized at best. It was a game of inches that didn't go the Capitals way. Alexander Semin's hit the crossbar late in the third and Brooks Laich stopped on the doorstep by a quick reaction save were two key plays that could have turned the game. The team looked much improved over Saturday's game in Nashville but, unfortunately, the result didn't show it.

Of Note:

• The Caps started well in the first period but two defensive breakdowns ended up in the back of the Capitals net. Starting goaltender Micheal Neuvirth left after 12:42 in the first period and was apparently suffering from the flu.Neuvirth stopped only 5 of the 7 shots he faced.
• Semyon Varlamov took over for Nuevirth and finished with 13 saves on 14 shots. His only goal against came in the third period on a screened point shot.
• Marcus Johansson scored his first ever NHL goal on a nice forechecking effort from Matt Hendricks and Jason Chimera. Johansson was the games #3 Star.
• Alex Ovechkin was bracketed by defenders all night but managed 5 shots on goal and dished out 6 hits.
• Alexander Semin put 10 shots on the net and was playing some nice aggressive hockey with 3 hits. Heck even Flash got in on the hitting with 3 hits including a good hit on Boston big man Zdeno Chara.
• The team was above 50% in the face-off dot for only the second time this season. They won 28 of 51 draws. Nicklas Backstrom led the way winning 12 and losing 8.
• The two teams play again on Thursday in Boston.

Official Recap
Game Summary
Event Summary

Game #6 Preview: Washington Capitals vs. Boston Bruins

Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC

When:  October 19, 2010 7:00 PM

History:           

Caps Record on this Date: 5-11-1-1

Caps Game 6 Record: 10-18-4-3

All-Time vs. BOS: 41-61-21-8

All-Time Home vs. BOS: 22-27-12-4

Last Season vs. BOS: 3-0-1

Last Meeting: 4/11/10, WAS 3 BOS 4 (OT-SO)

This Year:

WAS Record: 4-1-0

Standings Points: 8

Division Rank: 1st

Conference Rank: 2nd      

Last Game: 10/16/10, WAS 3 NAS 2 (OT)

Streak: Win 4

BOS Record: 2-1-0

Standings Points: 4

Division Rank: 3rd

Conference Rank: 9th    

Last Game: 10/16/10, BOS 4 NJ 1

Streak: Win 2

Probable Line-Ups:     

Washington

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

Forward Line 2: 21 LAICH, 14 FLEISCHMANN, 28 SEMIN

Forward Line 3: 25 CHIMERA, 90 JOHANSSON, 16 FEHR

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

Defense Pair 1: 55 SCHULTZ, 74 CARLSON

Defense Pair 2: 27 ALZNER, 3 POTI

Defense Pair 3: 89 SLOAN, 4 ERSKINE

Goalie: 30 NEUVIRTH

Back-up Goalie: 1 VARLAMOV

Boston

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

Forward Line 2: 22 THORNTON, 11 CAMPBELL, 28 RECCHI

Forward Line 3: 20 PAILLE, 37 BERGERON, 73 RYDER

Forward Line 4: 19 SEGUIN, 63 MARCHAND, 26 WHEELER

Defense Pair 1: 44 SEIDENBERG, 33 CHARA

Defense Pair 2: 45 STUART, 55 BOYCHUK

Defense Pair 3: 21 FERENCE, 48 HUNWICK

Goalie: 30 THOMAS

Back-up Goalie: 40 RASK

Injuries:

Washington – 3 POTI (lower body) DTD, 10 BRADLEY (lower body) DTD, 52 GREEN (upper body) DTD

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

Caps Milestones:

Nicklas Backstrom needs 8 assists to reach 200 in his career.

Brooks Laich needs 6 points to reach 200 in his career.

Preview:

The Capitals take on the Boston Bruins in game #6. The team is looking to even out its erratic play and that begins at the start. In the last two games the Caps have left the first period trailing their opponents. Without the stellar play of goalie Micheal Nuevirth, they may have been out of these games before they could get in gear. Neuvirth has been a godsend, but the team would rather have him protecting a lead than bailing them out. Look for the top line of Ovechkin-Backstrom-Knuble to force the play in the Boston zone and keep the pressure off the injured d-corps. The Caps may get the services of Tom Poti back but John Carlson is banged up from blocking a shot in the Nashville game and Mike Green is doubtful. I think the Caps will start strong and take this game over early. It should be an entertaining game with lots of physicality.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 5 BOS 1

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NHL Stars of the Week

From NHL.com,

Here are the Three Stars for the week ending October 17, 2010

1st Star - Tomas Vokoun
2nd Star - Marian Hossa
3rd Star - Ryan Getzlaf

Game #5 Recap: Caps 3 Predators 2 (OT)

The Caps failed to show up for the first half of last night's game but their goalie stood on his head and kept the team in the game. In the end Micheal Nuevirth stopped 37 of 39 shots and was only bested by a deflection and a screened shot. Finally the team showed up in the third period, Alexander Semin scored on the power play and Tomas Fleischmann scored through a maze of players to knot the game at 2-2. In overtime it was the Alex Ovechkin show. AO drew a tripping penalty and assisted on the game-winner. Brooks Laich deflected Ovechkin's slap shot into the net for the win.

Of Note:

• Micheal Nuevirth has started the first five games for the Capitals. He is 4-1-0 with a 0.930 save percentage and a 2.16 goals against average. Not bad for the 22-year old.
• The Caps killed off all 6 Nashville power plays. The team killed off the all 21 power plays they have faced this season.
• The Caps power play is starting to come alive. They scored 2 power play goals on 5 chances last night.
• Defensemen Brian Fahey made his NHL debut last night. He would have liked a better game as he was -2 and had a puck go off his skate and into the net for a Nashville score.
• Alex Ovechkin has scored or assisted on all 4 Capitals game-winning goals this season.

Official Recap
Game Summary
Event Summary

Game #5 Preview: Washington Capitals at Nashville Predators

Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN

When:  October 16, 2010 8:00 PM

History:           

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

Caps Game 5 Record: 7-26-1-1

All-Time vs. NAS: 8-5-1-0

All-Time at NAS: 3-3-1-0

Last Season vs. NAS: 1-0-0

Last Meeting: 10/17/09, WAS 3 NAS 2 (OT-SO)

This Year:

WAS Record: 3-1-0

Standings Points: 6

Division Rank: 2nd

Conference Rank: 4th      

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

Streak: Win 3

NAS Record: 3-0-0

Standings Points: 6

Division Rank: 1st

Conference Rank: 1st    

Last Game: 10/14/10, NAS 4 STL 3

Streak: Win 3

Probable Line-Ups:     

Washington

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

Forward Line 2: 21 LAICH, 14 FLEISCHMANN, 28 SEMIN

Forward Line 3: 25 CHIMERA, 26 HENDRICKS, 16 FEHR

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

Defense Pair 1: 55 SCHULTZ, 74 CARLSON

Defense Pair 2: 89 SLOAN, 4 ERSKINE

Defense Pair 3: 27 ALZNER, ??

Goalie: 30 NEUVIRTH

Back-up Goalie: 1 VARLAMOV

Nashville

Forward Line 1: 26 SULLIVAN, 11 LEGWAND, 29 WARD

Forward Line 2: 74 KOSTITSYN, 16 O’REILLY, 27 HORNQVIST

Forward Line 3: 15 LOMBARDI, 9 GOC, 71 DUMONT

Forward Line 4: 22 TOOTOO, 33 WILSON, 10 ERAT

Defense Pair 1: 20 SUTER, 6 WEBER

Defense Pair 2: 51 BOUILLON, 8 KLEIN

Defense Pair 3: 55 O’BRIEN, 4 FRANSON

Goalie: 35 RINNE

Back-up Goalie: 39 LINDBACK

Injuries:

Washington – 3 POTI (lower body) DTD, 10 BRADLEY (lower body) DTD, 90 JOHANSSON (foot) DTD, 52 GREEN (upper body) DTD

NAS – 21 LUNDMARK (groin) IR

Caps Milestones:

Nicklas Backstrom needs 10 assists to reach 200 in his career.

Brooks Laich needs 8 points to reach 200 in his career.

Preview:

The Capitals have not fared well in Game 5 throughout their history. They have won only 7 of the 35 games played, including one win since 1995. While this may not impact tonight’s game in Nashville it is oddly interesting. Breaking this trend will not be an easy task. The predators are 3-0-0 and are in first place in the Western Conference. The Caps will be without the services of defensemen Mike Green who left Wednesday’s game late in the third with an upper body injury. Tom Poti sat out the last two games with an injury and if he cannot go, the Caps will have to recall a player form Hershey. Look for the Capitals to play a simplified game with the depleted defense corps. The Predators are tearing it up on the power play so this will be a good test for the Caps penalty kill that have killed off 15 of 15 chances this season. I think this will be a hardworking game with a lot of back and forth play. The two teams played twice in the preseason so watch for a bit of chippiness. In the end the Caps should find a way to win this one but it will be close.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 3 NAS 2

Official Preview

Varlamov to Dress Against Nashville

 According to the Capitals, Semyon Varlamov will be available to play for the Caps for the first time this season. In September, Varlamov played one half of one preseason game before injuring his groin. Dany Sabourin, who backed up Micheal Neuvirth for the first four games,  was placed on waivers on Wednesday so he can sent to Hershey. Now the question becomes who will start in net for the Caps on Saturday? Nuevy has been outstanding but Varly will definitely needs some work.

Game #4 Recap: Caps 2 Islanders 1

In a sloppy game that just muddled along, the Caps figured out a way to bring home the victory. The game started with some fireworks as DJ King, in his Capitals debut, got into a fight about 10 seconds into his first shift. Nicklas Backstrom got on the score sheet for the first time this season. He picked up and assist on the Capitals first goal and scored the game winner by getting hit with an Alex Ovechkin power play point blast. The puck hit Backstrom in the skate and deflected past the Islanders net minder with three minutes left in the third period. The Caps, once again, had trouble off the start and allowed the Islanders to take the lead after getting squirrelly  in their own zone. It was hard to tell if the Capitals were having a bad night or were the Islanders really doing a good job disrupting the Capitals play. I think a combination of both was at work. The Caps again seemed a bit off as the passing wasn't on the tape and they had a difficult time getting into the offensive zone.

The bright spot again for the Capital was the play of their young goal tender. Michael Nuevirth made his fourth consecutive start and stopped 23 of 24 shots on the night. This included several breakaway chances for the Isles. He has bailed the team out time and again already this season with his steady play in net. The Caps have obviously been working on their penalty kill this year. The team has not allowed a power play goal against in 15 tries this season. On the other side the Caps broke through on the power play for only the second time this season but it came at a good time. Game winner and all. Alex Ovechkin continued to pile up points scoring the Capitals first goal and getting an assist for using Backstrom as a pinball bumper. The bad news of the game might be the condition of Mike Green. Green left the game late in the third after hitting an Islander behind the goal line. He left the game with an apparent shoulder injury. Green was playing lights out defense this year and the Caps can ill afford to lose him right now. The Capitals head to Nashville for a Saturday game with the Predators.

Of Note:

• Alex Ovechkin played in his 400th career game. His 7 points and 4 goals are tops in the NHL. In the Capitals three wins this season Ovechkin has two game-winning goals and assisted on the third.
• The 2004 draft for the Capitals was very good to say the least. Six members of that draft class have played games for the Caps totaling 1,003 games so far. 
• The team was terrible in the face-off dot last night, winning just 41% of the draws. Nicklas Backstrom was the only standout winning 12 of 20.
• John Erskine led the shot blockers with 5 of the teams 22 blocks last night.
• Interesting fact - the Capitals lead the league with 50 blocked shots.
• With his two point effort Backstrom was the game's #1 Star. Michael Nuevirth picked up the #2 Star.

Official Recap
Game Summary
Event Summary