Caps Squeeze By Kings

Capitals 4, Kings 3 OT
Scoresheet – Wash Post – LA Times

The Capitals squeezed by the Kings, and I mean squeezed by. Mathieu Garon looked shaky in net and the Caps took advantage of some goaltending missed plays. Garon cost the Kings this game, the Caps were just beneficiaries.

Scoring for the Caps were Dainius Zubrus (the game winner), Boyd Gordon (short-handed slapper that handcuffed Garon), Chris Clark (a trickler), and Ben Clymer (an actual goal, nice one too). Brian Sutherby had an awesome chance to score as well, but couldn’t get the puck up over a diving Garon. Sutherby continues to struggle this year and that is a large disappointment from his play a year ago. Alex Ovechkin got an assist to end his point dought (was also a +3).

The Caps looked okay in this one, not a real force to be reckoned with though. As happy they must be to get the win, the Caps have to worry about their shots on net and their inability to score on the power play. Special teams, while they looked good earlier in the season, have struggled as of late. The Caps basically set up the same two plays, point to wing, back to point to Ovechkin for the one-timer or let Alex Semin snap if from anywhere he wants to.

What the Capitals can do is to use this win as a stepping off point to gain confidence and start making some points for a campaign for the playoffs. The Caps, however, need to start winning some of these in regulation. The Rangers come to town and that won’t be an easy game for the Caps to win. They will need to play better defense, and find their scoring sticks (rather than the hooking ones) to get another two.