Hey everyone, Joe Dumas here. Eric has again been kind enough to let me cover tonight's game. Eric is currently patrolling the concourse, gathering fan opinions on fighting in the league. Alan Clark is down on the glass tonight.
Tonight's matchup should be a good one, as fans get to see yet again the NHL's two biggest sophmores, Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby. Ovechkin sits 12th in the league in points, and 4th in scoring, while Crosby sits in first for points, and 2nd for assists. Washington's other stellar sophmore, Alexander Semin, is second on the team in scoring. Both teams also have some talented rookies. Pittsburgh's Jordan Staal leads the league in shorthanded goals(7) and shooting percentage(25.2), while Evgeni Malkin leads all rookies in goals(32), assists(48), and points(80). Washington's Tomas Fleischmann, Mike Green, and Alexandre Giroux have all made some nice contributions over the course of the season.
It's also a showdown between two teams in completely different situations. Washington is wrapping up what can be most gently described as a trying season. Statistically eliminated from playoff contention a few weeks ago, they are playing the rest of their season for pride. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, is battling New Jersey for the top record in the Atlantic Division and home-ice advantage in the playoffs. Last time these teams met here, Pittsburgh came back from a 4-0 deficit to win in a shootout. The Penguins also won both of their meetings in Pittsburgh, so they're looking for the season series sweep tonight. But Washington has done a decent job with their role as underdogs, so expect them to give Pittsburgh a tough time.
First Period: WSH 2, PIT 1 Washington jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead thanks to some nifty plays. Semin’s goal was just great, waiting until Fluery slid one way, then burying it on the other side. Gordon’s was a little more lucky, as an attempted tip cause the puck to drop almost directly at his feet. The Pens’ goal was just as lucky, as Oullet nearly does a pirouette, spinning as he put his shot on net. Fluery has looked a little shaky, but has pulled together some after the Pittsburgh time-out halfway through the period. The Pens’ offense needs to work on better passing in the offensive zone, and they need to find an efficient way to break into the zone. They are trying to carry the puck over the blue line, and it’s not working too well. On the other end, the Caps are playing good team hockey, which was evidenced by a series of crisp passes that resulted in Semin’s goal. Look for a hungrier Pens team to come out and challenge the Caps in the 2nd.
* Jacob Klepis, trying to get the puck, attempts some sort of weird leg-tackle on Ryan Malone
* Evgeni Malkin gives a lead pass to Gary Roberts, who skates the other way, and the puck leaves the Caps’ zone
* It’s already started. For the rest of the game, every time Sergei Gonchar touches the puck, Caps fans break into loud cries of, “Whoop, Whoop, Whoop!”
* Alexander Semin scores on what may be the most beautiful moves I’ve seen all season. He gets a pass alone in the slot from Ovechkin going left to right, and as Fluery slides to cover the net, Semin cuts back to the left and buries a backhand into the open net.
* Kolzig saves a close shot from the right, then slides across the crease to cut off the net as the pucks hits a couple bodies and slides wide of the net.
* Boyd Gordon gets his 6th of the season at 9:18 of the 1st. He cuts off a shot from Matt Pettinger from the slot and wraps the puck in around a sprawling Fluery.
* Pittsburgh throws up a home run pass and draws a hooking penalty on Bryan Muir.
* A minute thirty into their power-play, Pittsburgh is having trouble keeping the puck in the offensive zone.
Olaf Kolzig, photo by Alan Clark
* With 7 seconds to go on the power-play Michel Ouellet throws a rebound back at the net, and the puck slides in before Kolzig can recover from the first shot.
* Jarkko Ruutu gets 4 minutes for high-sticking with 7:26 to go.
* The Caps have trouble keeping the puck in the offensive zone, and when they do they fail to score, despite having 2-3 quality chances.
* Brooks Orpik lays a big hit on Brooks Laich behind the Pittsburgh net.
* Washington’s Kris Beech gets 2 minutes for slashing with 1.3 seconds to go in the first.
Shots: WSH 8, PIT 5, Face-Offs: WSH 10, PIT 9
Second Period: WSH 2, PIT 4 Pittsburgh comes out and shows how much they want this game. They got 3 to the Caps’ none, and Laraque took down Brashear. It looks like the Pens have taken all the momentum. Brashear needs to step up and win a fight against Laraque, and the Caps need to net at least one quick goal. That should start the momentum swing to their favor, and give them enough of a foundation to get another goal or 2 and take this game. The Pens may be a little complacent to start this period after taking the lead, so the Caps need to catch them off guard and get back into the game.
* A Sergei Gonchar slapshot beats Kolzig, hits the right post, and slides across the goal line before leaving the crease.
* Just over 2 minutes in Ryan Whitney takes a cross-ice pass at the right face-off circle and fires a shot past Kolzig.
* Semin gets checked hard along the boards by Ryan Malone.
* Jeff Schultz catches a high flying puck and drops it to his feet at center ice, only to have it taken by a Pens forward.
* Schultz takes a penalty 4:58 into the 2nd.
* Kolzig makes what seems like a hundred, but is actually about 5, great saves in a row without his stick, but Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby finally pokes one in.
Mike Green, photo by Alan Clark
* Mike Green knocks away a flying puck that bounced off Kolzig and nearly fell into the net behind him.
* A fan below tells Caps mascot Slapshot (bald eagle) “You’re lucky you’re endangered!”
* Three Army Rangers, who are special guests of the Caps at tonight’s game, receive a standing ovation upon introduction.
* Ovechkin gets a nice cross-ice pass from Semin, but the puck gets caught up in his skates and he’s unable to get a shot off.
* Brashear gets knocked down by Georges Laraque as he takes a shot, and tries to get up and fight him, but the officials intervene. Brashear gets 2 for roughing.
* Ryan Whitney scores a goal, but no one notices, because Brashear and Laraque drop the gloves at the blue line and go at it. They both go down quick. I’m guessing there will be a round 2 later tonight.
* Semin gets 2 minutes for tripping with 3:51 to go in the 2nd.
* A Malkin slap shot is gloved by Kolzig
* Kris Beech tips a shot from the point, but it goes right into Fluery’s gut.
* Ovechkin bumps Jarkko Ruutu after the whistle, and pushing and shoving ensues.
Shots: PIT 22, WSH 15, Face-Offs: WSH 20, PIT 18
Third Period: WSH 3, PIT 4 The Caps just couldn't pull back into it. The Pens did a good job of shutting them down and preventing them from setting up in the offensive zone. After a time-out, the Caps get a lucky one with less than a minute to go, but that was it. Pittsburgh didn't score, but they didn't have to, and they held on for the 4-3 win.
* Malkin is open for a home run breakaway pass, but no one gets him the puck.
* Clark gets tripped, but no penalty is called.
* The Caps keep trying to push into the Pittsburgh zone, but the Pens aren’t letting it happen.
* With 5 minutes to go, the arena breaks into cheers of “Lets Go Penguins!”
* Brian Pothier lets go a shot that beats Fluery, but hits the crossbar.
* Jiri Novotny gets hit while shooting, and crashes into the boards at an odd angle.
* Brooks Orpik gets 2 for hooking with 2:37 to go.
* The Caps take a time-out with 47.9 seconds to go.
* The Caps get one with 30 seconds to go.
Postgame
After the game there were a few questions directed at both Alex Ovechkin and Coach Hanlon asking if they were thinking about using what Pittsburgh has done as a blueprint for their own team. Ovechkin immediately said that “we can’t copy Pittsburgh….We wait ‘til next year and we will see what happens….” Hanlon said that “we’re a different team than Pittsburgh. They’ve been [drafting high] since 2001. We both have some young talent, but that’s about it.” Another big question for both Ovechkin and Hanlon was the highly audible Pittsburgh fans.
Ovechkin noted that “I only hear Washington fans”, while Coach Hanlon theorized that “they came down and made a day of it, while our fans are busy working.” It was also pointed out that there’s quite a few Steelers bars in town, but you can make your own conclusions.
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06:40 PM