Wild Night In Ottawa

Capitals 8, Senators 6
Scoresheet - Wash Post

Just over a minute in the game the Capitals sent the Senators a message. They weren't afraid of the big bad Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place. 13 goals later the Caps would once again hand the best team in the east a loss in their building after doing it in November. It was no walk in the park though.

In a game where goaltending just didn't matter (neither did their stats in this game), the Capitals out-shot and out-goaled the Senators. The Caps out-shot the Sens 33 to 22, including an 11 - 2 mark in the first period where they had a 2 -1 lead. The second period would even out some in shots and the Capitals were able to extend their lead 5 - 2. But the third period became a shooting gallery for both teams and Alexander Ovechkin made sure the win would stay pat.

Ovechkin scored his first 4 goal game in the NHL getting his 27th -30th goals for the year and he would end up with a 5 point night. Alex Semin had a goal and 2 assists, Nick Backstrom did the same with a tally and two helpers. Micheal Nylander also scored two big goals to keep the Caps ahead. The Capitals never trailed in this game, but Ottawa made it close pulling into one goal 3 times and Senator Mike Fisher grabbed a hat trick of his own.

Going into the third period, the Senators closed the locker room door not allowing players interviews during the second intermission. Coming out the Senators knew they had to take chances to win. The were able to keep the game interesting, but taking those chances also burned them in the end. The Caps took advantage of some turn overs and never relinquished their lead.

The big story tonight was not Ovie's 4 goals or the wild ending, but the Caps leap frogging the Tampa Bay Lightning that lost earlier in the day for 4th place in the Southeast Division. The Caps start their march up the standings to make the playoffs for the '07-'08 campaign by chipping away points where they can get them. They have been able to get standing points in 6 of their last 7 games and with only 3 wins. The Caps need to keep accumulating points and are 5 points away from a playoff spot.