Let's Go Caps! - Caps 4, Pens 3

Well the Caps clawed and scratched their way back to a victory and two point night in Pittsburgh tonight. I watched the game on CSN and also looked at stats and chatted with many obnoxious Pens fans on-line in the NHL Gamecenter chat room for the game.

Through the first five minutes of the second period the Caps allowed the Pens to get out to a 3-0 lead on three powerplay goals before Tomas Fleishmann made it 3-1 at 5:45 of the second period. The game was a very physical one and Alex Ovechkin, though held scoreless and without a point, along with Brooks Laich, led the team in hits with three. Ovechkin was often on the ice playing against Evgeni Malkin and the two continued the "tit for tat" play they exhibited during last seasons match-ups. At 9:55 of the second period, Malkin made a vicious hit on Alexander Semin and was called for a 2:00 minute boarding penalty on a hit, many including Caps color analyst Craig Laughlin felt should have been a five minute major. Despite the penalties, powerplays and intense play by both teams the Second period ended with the score 3-1 and the Penguins had outshot the Caps 20-9. At the start of the third period the Caps juggled their lines in an attempt to shake things up and generate more offense. These adjustments worked and through the third period the Caps outshot the Pens 21-6 (yes the Caps had 21 shots in the third period alone). When the dust settled the score was Caps 4, Pens 3 and once again Alexander Semin had a very good game notching a goal and assist for two points, a +2 rating and 2 shots in 17:02 of ice time. In addition to Semin and Fleischmann, Michael Nylander and Boyd Gordon also scored. All four of the Caps goals were at even strength. Despite having the man advantage for 6:57 the Caps powerplay did not score. In the bad news department Defenseman Tom Poti logged only 4:23 of ice time and did not play during the second and third periods, no information yet on his injury.

The three stars of the game 1) Semin; 2) Malkin, 3) Nylander.

Next up the New Jersey Devils at Verizon Center on Saturday.

LETS GO CAPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!