Caps Stun Penguins, Ovie/Sid Rivalry? Forget it!

The Washington Capitals looked as if they were in for a rough night. G Jose Theodore once again started off shaky, allowing three goals to give the Penguins a 3-0 lead. Is this something we need to get used to? I mean, I appreciate the strong endings by Theodore, but what’s up with the game starts? With bruiser Donald Brashear sidelined by injury, Matt Bradley got walloped with a bloody nose from Paul Bissonnette, and the Capitals power play looked like a mess. In essence, the first two periods, there was just a lack of enthusiasm or fire from the Capitals. As tempting as it was, I am glad I chose not to turn it off.

Starting in the second period, Theodore calmed down, Sergei Fedorov was moved back to the blue line after Tom Poti exited with a groin strain, this time lined with John Erskine, and the Capitals began a rally, scoring 4 unanswered goals to defeat Pittsburgh in the Steel City, 4-3. It was the Caps first 3 goal deficit comeback since the 2006 season, another 4-3 win in Ottawa.

It was all about Pittsburgh in the first period, the Pens netting 2 goals and out shooting the Caps 9-4, the Pens delivering on 2 power plays. The Caps racked up 4 separate penalties in the first period, compared to just one from the Pens. A bad first period for the Caps, all the way around.

The scoring started just a bit over the 5 minute mark of the second period when Tomas Fleischmann put in a backhanded rebound from a shot by Eric Fehr to cut the deficit to 2, 3-1. It was Fleichmann’s 1st goal of the young season. The Caps were out-shot in the second period, 11-5, but ended it 3-1.

The Caps dominated the third period from every aspect. The Caps scored 3 unanswered goals and out shot Pittsburgh 21-6, to lead an exhilarating rally come back and lift the Capitals to a 3-1 overall record. The rally started a little over 3 minutes into the third period, when Alexander Semin struck off a face off putting the puck through Pittsburgh goalie Marc Andre-Fluery legs. It was a rocket that Fleury likely never saw. It was Semin’s 4th goal of the season as he remains the hottest Cap on ice. Later, Michael Nylander would strike during a net charge from Semin to Fleischmann to Nylander and Nylander knocked it home on Fleury’s left to tie the game at 3-3, before a stunned Pittsburgh crowd.

The game winner would come from Boyd Gordon who scored and hit the top, middle of the net. Game play went on, as the Refs ruled no goal. But after review, it was clear the puck hit the back, middle of the net, giving Gordo the game winner and the Caps the 4-3 win.

Some game Stats:

Caps Shots: 30

Pens Shots: 26

Caps Penalties: 7

Pens Penalties: 5

Caps power play: 0/5

Pens Power Play: 3/7

Multi-Point Scorers:

Eric Fehr, 2 assists

Tomas Fleischmann, 1 goal, 1 assist

Michale Nylander, 1 goal, 1 assist

Alexander Semin, 1 goal, 1 assist

DCPSR Player of the Game: Alexander Semin (3), 1 goal, 1 assist, +2 rating

Notes and Thoughts:

Thoughts: Here is the thing about this game … it lived up to the ‘new’ hype. Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby both failed to score. Neither were offensive factors as far as netters go. Yet, this game was awesome, two teams that followed similar youth based paths to success, energized and enthusiastic with a ton of fire power. Despite the lack of scoring from Ovie and Sid the Kid, this game was still did not disappointing for one moment, had intense energy and passion, and led to some terrific hits and intense physical play.

You ask me — the Ovie/Sid rivalry is simply one of scoring, that is it. The real rivalry is Ovechkin and Malkin, let’s face it, these guys just don’t like one another, and what it does is provide for some great hockey. These are the two guys that specifically try and up each either, hit each hard and harder as the game progressed, and you can’t miss the feeling there is just a general dislike between the two. You wanna real rivalry, you got it, but it is not Ovechkin and Crosby. Plus, I think it is time that when we talk about Caps and Pens, Ovechkin and Crosby, Malkin, well, I think it sis time to start talking about Alexander Semin in there as well. They may have put on a boarding hit that looked awful and deserved a 5 minute major, even though the Caps got screwed with a 2 minmute minor, but Semin came back and took hist shots.

Notes:

* Nice game by Eric Fehr. I like the way he plays, he has some good speed and gets near the net. 2 Assists in his first ice time last night.

* Besides Mr. Brashear, the Capitals really don’t have a big bruiser, a good enforcer, and Matt Bradley is not one. Kudos to Bradley for doing it, but he got eaten alive.

* Worried about Ovie? Don’t. He’ll break out of it. Until then, just enjoy the other Alex.

* Again, the Capitals defense is improved with Sergei Fedorov on the blue line.

* What up with the two minute minor for Hal Gill? That should have been a guaranteed 5 minute major.

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