Monday, November 13, 2006

Caps Finding Ways to Win

Capitals 4, Panthers 1
ScoresheetWash PostMiami Herald

For a second game in a row, Olie Kolzig was denied a shutout he should have had. He faced 45 shots and turned away all but one, a power play tally in the second by Nathan Horton. The Caps survive a disgruntled Panther squad that gave Kolzig a run for his money.

Scoring for the Caps were Matt Pettinger (whose shot Alex Auld saved, but the rebound hit Petty in the leg and hopped over the goaltender), Alex Ovechkin (second game winning goal in a row), and Dainius Zubrus (who scored on the 5-on-3 and an empty netter). Caps are starting to gain confidence and only good things can follow.

Overall Grade: B+

Caps actually get a power play goal late in the third with a two man advantage, but they are still a far ways from having a workable power play. Although I don’t have any suggestion on how it can get better (except to change up the make-up of players on the power play), the Capitals’ outstanding penalty killing more than makes up for my lack of experience coaching in the National Hockey League. You’re doing alright Glen Hanlon.

Capitals have surpassed their last season record against Florida; they have won 2 games against their rivals instead of only one from last season. The Caps have to use this win to propel a good effort against the Boston Bruins back home at the phone booth.

With about seven minutes left in the game, Comcast Sports Net Mid Atlantic feed was cut, prompting a parade of Comcast promos. There is nothing like watching TV promos for 5 straight minutes. When the anchors came on to settle down the ravenous Cap watching crowd, the girl cracked a joke that Joe Reekie tripped over a cord. That is funny.

2 comments:

JP said...

Gotta love "stealing" a game like this one.

Hopefully Semin's late-game injury is nothing to worry about.

Garrett said...

Remember last season all those games the Caps just killed themselves by playing hard, only to lose to a team that was hardly trying. I call it Hockey Karma.