Caps Smother Canucks, Win 5-1

By PennSkinsFan | October 14, 2008

The Washington Capitals defense was quite impressive.  Matter of fact, super impressive.  The Caps defense allowed only 10 shots on goal the whole game, and by the end of the second period, had only allowed three shots at G Brent Johnson.  For Johnson, it was career win number 100.   It was an outstanding defense performance that fueled the Capitals to a 5-1 win over Vancouver.

Just as impressive, thew Capitals offense powered through 5 goals, without a single point from superstar Alex Ovechkin.  A little over two minutes into the first period, Alexander Semin struck on a rebound to give the Captials a 1-0 lead.  The lead would last less than 2 minutes when Vancouver’ Alexander Edler put the very first shot on Johnson between his legs to tie it at 1-1.  That would be the all the scoring for Vancouver and essentially all the offense until the third period, where they at least managed 8 shots on goal.  With abotu 4 minutes left in the first period, D Mike Green would score on a beautiful centering pass.  That gave the Capitals a 2-1 lead at the end of the first period.  It was Green’s 3rd goal of the season, already.  Washington out shot Vancouver 10-2 in the first period.

The second period was all Caps.  While the defense smothered Vancouver, the Caps offense blistered Vancouver, out-shooting the Canucks in the period, 15-1 and scoring three unanswered goals.  The first came from a long slap shot from D Milan Jurcina.  Jurcina had a pretty impressive night on defense and offense scoring and slapping 4 shots on goal.  Jurcina only scored 1 goal all of last year and this year he strikes early, 3 games into the season.  A little3 over a minute later, Semin struck again on another rebound shot to lift the Caps to a 4-1 lead.  It was Semin’s third goal of the season.  Later int eh period, Michael Nylander would score on a penalty shot to give the Caps the final 5-1 score.  Nylander had a terrific game, scoring once and assisting on two others for a three point night.

Sergei Fedorov saw some time on defense and the Caps defense seemed to not only play better, but move the puck more efficiently.  Kudos to both Fedorov and Bruce Boudreau for the experiment, I like.  Anyone think that Fedorvo’s presence boosted Jurcina’s play?

There was no scoring in the third period.  Caps again out shot the Canucks 10-7.  Overall, the Capitals out shot Vancouver for the game 35-10.  It was a truly dominating game for the Capitals at home in the Verizon Center.  Washington Fans did break the 9 game sell out streak, piling in over 16,800, but coming up shy on the sell out.

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DC Pro Sports Report - Player(s) of the Game

For the second straight game, we awarded the PoG to two players, not one.  First, what an outstanding performance by Alexander Semin, who is off to what I think is his best start as an NHL player.  If this is an indication of what we are in for for the season, if Semin can gain consistency, this team is going to be, at least offensively, even better than expected.  Semin finished with 2 goals and a +2 rating.  Michael Nylander also deserves kudos on a 3 point night and some impressive play.  Nylander ended with a goal and 2 assists.

Your Washington Capitals Stat Leaders:

Goals: Alexander Semin, Mike Green, 3

Assists: Alexander Semin, Michael Nylander, 3

Points: Alexander Semin, 6

+ / -:  Semin, Green, Sergie Fedorov, and Brooks Laich, +3

SG: Dave Steckel, 1

PPG: Mike Green, 3

PPA: Michael Nylander, 2

Def Scoring: Mike Green, 5

(Disclosure:  You are seeing things correctly, Ovechkin is no where in the scoring leaders.  First, don’t believe that will last.  Second, it shows how balanced the Caps offense has been.)

Your Hershey Bears Stat Leaders:

Goals: Graham Mink, 4

Assists: Keith Aucoin, 5

Points: Keith Aucoin, 7

+ / -: Aucoin, Bryan Helmer, +4

SG: None

PPG: Graham Mink, 3

Def Scoring: Karl Alzner, 3

More at DC Pro Sports Report