Hurricanes Beat Caps

Capitals 2, Hurricanes 7

Whatever Hurricane coach Peter Laviolette said in the locker room between the 2nd and 3rd periods obviously worked. After the Captials played good hard 2 periods they were out shot 21-2 in the third. The Capitals were able to out shoot their Southeast Division rivals in the previous two periods 26-15.

Defenseman Niclas Wallin scored the second goal for the Capitals, which is bad because he plays for Carolina. Wallin was passing to his goaltender after a slashing penalty agianst Capital Steve Eminger, Carolina's goaltender Cam Ward had already made his break to the bench after the delay call from the Refs. Dainius Zubrus was credited for the goal, but the Hurricanes scored on the powerplay to tie the game.

I thought the Caps played well, they just didn't finish. I am glad that after the sixth goal that Glen Hanlon pulled Kolzig, not because he was playing badly though. Kolzig had kept the game close, but the Capitals didn't show up in the 3rd period.

Alexander Ovechkin got his 4th goal of the season and is the first Capital to score a point in his first 5 games as a rookie. But we would have liked the win. Penalties agian killed the Caps and they need to put a game together for the full 60 minutes of hockey

Overall Grade: D+ (I would almost give them an incomplete for not finishing)

Wash Post covered the game, and Witt was quoted:

"I thought we were in the game until the third," veteran defenseman Brendan Witt said. "We haven't been a very good third-period team. We're not willing to work. I don't think our work ethic is very good in the third."

For once I agree with him.

Capitals play tonight agianst the Islanders, and the Caps will have their captian back. Jeff Halpern did not play in Carolina to observe Yum Kippor. Caps will play at the MCI Center at 7:00 pm
TV - Comcast Sports Net, Radio - 570 AM