Caps Curtail 'Canes, Again

Capitals 5, Hurricanes 2
Preseason - Scoresheet

Alex Ovechkin picked up where left off, scoring a lot. Ovie picked up two goals, one on a penalty shot, and also tallied an assist. Micheal Nylander also netted two goals including a beautiful back hander up and over the Hurricanes goaltender's shoulder.

The Caps started off a bit shaky, but were able to settle it down and push their attack. They were down 2 - zip going into the second period. But once again, the powerplay came through in a pinch and the Caps rallied with 5 unanswered goals. The Caps were 3 for 9 with the man advantage (the penalty shot counts as a power play goal apparently) but they faltered on a 1:04 of a two man advantage. Scoring 5 on 3 was a major headache for the Capitals last season. It's an area they have to improve upon.

The affair at the Verizon Center in front of a little over 13,000 was a feisty one and got chippy towards the end. In fact both clubs had 15 penalties for 36 minutes each. The only fighting that took place were between some AHLers, although a few others were thrown in the box for some roughing minors. Josh Godfrey and Patrick McNeill both dropped their gloves for the Caps in the second period.

The Nylander, Chris Clark and Chris Bourque line was a pretty potent line. They were great grinders and they all combined for a plus 2 rating and each regestered 2 points on the night. Clark had two assists, and Bourque had a goal and assist. Ovechkin was the only player with 3 points on the night.

Speaking of Bourque, he had a pretty dynamite game, not only did he have a goal and an assist, but he also got the game's first star. He was involved in 4 goals tonight. Not too shabby. Ovechkin got the second, Nylander the third. Although Alex Semin didn't get on the score sheet, he still has it. Semin made some pretty dazzling moves and plays throughout the game.

Micheal Neuvirth got in two periods of play and turned away 24 shots. Daren Machesney cleaned up in the third and only had to turn away 3 shots. Although the Hurricanes just outshot the Capitals 30 - 29.

Caps are back at practice tomorrow and a new wave of cuts are expected tonight as Hershey's camp starts tomorrow as well. As soon as I get word of the cuts, I will pass them along.

Both Tarik and Corey have good recaps.