Capitals 5, Hurricanes 4 OT/SO (2-0)
Scoresheet - Post - Times
The Carolina Hurricanes need to start accumulating points if they want to stay in the playoff race. For the Washington Capitals, it is all about finishing the season strong. The Caps are feeling good about themselves with two wins on the road, the 'Canes were looking to stop their two game skid. These ingredients all mixed together made for one heck of a game that could not be settled at the end of overtime. It would take a shootout and the Caps take the win as both Alex's score in the shoot out and win the game 5-4.
Alex Semin had quite the game, it was a four point night for him with a goal and three assists. Mike Green, Nick Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin also scored tonight. While Semin's four points were enough to give him the night's number one star, he was also a -3, Green was a -3 and Alex Ovechkin was a -2.
The Caps played an outstanding first period. They didn't take a single penalty and scored both even strength and on their only power play. In fact the Caps power play was very potent as they were 3 for 4 on the power play tonight. But when the Caps seemed to get the lead, their defense seemed to suffer giant lapses like several breakaways in the second and a bone head 5 on 1 that the Capitals didn't score on and the play came back to bite them in the butt.
Alex Semin and Mike Green were on the ice for every goal. Whether it was for or against, Green and Semin were hand in hand for every goal tonight which accounts for their -3 ratings.
Jose Theodore played an outstanding game. While he looked like he took the wrong angle on the first goal, he was outstanding in the overtime period. Tom Poti took a hooking penalty in the extra frame and the 'Canes had at least 5 shot on net for their 4 on 3 powerplay. Theo stopped them all. Toward the end of the game it was apparent Carolina may have been huffing a bit much late in the game as they couldn't get their shots up on Theo and he made the pad saves.
While the Capitals can chalk this one as a win, they have to continue to play through games. Keep their foot on the throats of their opponents sort of speak. When the Caps get a big lead like a two goal lead, they are often guilty of getting too cute with the puck and not being responsible defensively.
Caps home game was a good pit stop, but their next five games put them in their opponents' barn. It will be just under 2 weeks before the Capitals make it back home. Also nine of their last 12 games are against division foes. The Caps will have to keep up their strong play against the Southeast to keep those standing points coming.
1 comment:
You are right Semin had a four point night, but you wrong about his rating. Players do not get a +/- rating for powerplay/shorthanded/penalty shot goals. If you would look at the event summary on the NHL.com website you would see that he was correctly given a -3 rating.
Since he was on the ice when the Caps scored their three powerplay goals, he was not given a plus rating as plus ratings are not given to players on the ice for power play goals. And because he was on the ice for 3 even strength goals by Carolina he was then given a minus rating.
Hence a -3. If you want to do +/- for all goals, then Semin came out even.
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