Washington Capitals Hockey
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Number 300
Looking for a hot hand with the season on the brink of
collapse, Bruce Boudreau went with Old Yeller, and the old feller
didn't disappoint. It didn't hurt to have a little help from the guy in
the spotlight.
Locked in a goaltending duel with another former Vezina
winner, Olie Kolzig prevailed making 24 stops, 16 in the first period
alone. Viktor Kozlov redirected a Nicklas Backstrom shot in the game's
first minute to put a disheartened Capitals team ahead early on. Then
it was Kolzig's show for the next 18 minutes, until Jerome Iginla
scored on a 5-on-3 power play with 45 seconds to play in the first.
After being outshot 17-8 in the first period, the
Capitals came out more composed in the second, showing resiliency while
registering 18 shots in the period. But as in the first period, the
teams exchanged goals despite another large shot disparity.
The Capitals went into lockdown mode in the final
period, something they were unable to do during the weekend losses. The
Caps outshot Calgary 8-2 in the third, with Ovechkin netting the game
winner at the tail end of a power play in the game's final two minutes.
It was his second of the game and 56th of the season, placing him just
four away from Dennis Maruk's franchise record.
The first half of the game was yet again filled
questionable calls (and no-calls) that seemed to go against Washington.
The Capitals were faced with two separate 5-on-3 penalty kills, giving
up a goal on each. After a few boisterous "REF YOU SUCK" chants from
the stands, the refs finally got a clue. Washington, who failed on two
earlier power play opportunities, went back on the man advantage after
falling behind for the first time in the game.
The man advantage went without a score, as did the next.
With the Capitals trailing while going 0 for 4 on the power play, it
appeared
as if the Capitals would again fail to put a team away. But enter
Ovechkin, who just so happened to be on TV all night long with
dedicated OvechKam coverage.
His power play goal on Washington's fifth try gave the
Caps life heading into the third. Ovechkin's second power play goal of
the night put the Caps ahead for good.
A FEW NOTES FROM THE GAME:
- Carolina beat Chicago 3-0 to maintain their seven
point lead over Washington. The Caps did receive some help in regards
to the eighth seed. Both Philadelphia and Buffalo, the 8th and 9th
seeds respectively, lost in regulation. The Caps have moved to within
five points of the Flyers.
- Milan Jurcina gave Dion Phaneuf a taste of his own
medicine. The 240 pounder buried Phaneuf into the boards so hard that
the hard hitting Flame was wobbly on his skates for several seconds.
- Mike Green played nearly 31 minutes, while John
Erskine played just five. It wasn't a good night all around for Erskine
as he got nailed with two big right hands from Eric Godard during a
first period fight.
- POWER PLAYS: Before
"REF YOU SUCK" - Calgary 4, Washington 2. After "REF YOU SUCK"
- Washington 5, Calgary 0. Props to Verizon Center fans!!!
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