Caps win in shootout

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There is one team in Washington DC that keeps on winning.  It is not the Washington Redskins.

Semyon Varlamov stopped 26 of 28 shots to win his third game of the season, second straight win, to lead the Washington Capitals to a 3-2 shoot out win over division rival Carolina Hurricanes.

Washington struck first at the 7 minute mark of the first period on a sweet wrap around goal by rookie Marcus Johansson, putting it under a sprawling Cam Ward to give the Caps a 1-0 lead.  It was Johansson's 3rd goal of the season, assisted by Eric Fehr.   Johansson is riding a nice two game streak with a goal and 2 assists over his last two games.  Washington would score again with just 1:01 remaining in the first period on a two on one rush and a tricky backhanded pass from Alex Ovechkin to Alexander Semin for Semin's 18th goal of the season.   Semin trails NHL leader Steven Stamkos by three goals.  The Semin goal sent the Capitals into the first intermission with a 2-0 lead as Washington out shot Carolina in the first frame 17-7.  The Caps continued the high quality play in the first period from the 6-0 rout of Tampa Bay two nights ago.

That momentum faded in the second period as the Caps put together a rather lackluster 2nd period.  Eric Cole pulled the Hurricanes to within 1 goal just 58 seconds into the second period. Washington did out shoot Carolina 7-6 in a scoreless second period. Cole';s goal was assisted by Eric Staal.

The Caps and Canes traded shots and rough lay in the third period with the Caps out shooting Carolina 14-12.  It looked as if the Caps would wrap up their second consecutive win in regulation.  Hurricanes had another idea.  Staal scored his 11th goal of the season with just 2.2 seconds remaining in regulation to send the game to overtime.  The Caps and Carolina put 5 shots on goal in the 5 minutes overtime, Washington favored 3-2.  Neither put a puck in the net, forcing a shootout.

The shoot out went like this:  Jeff Skinner, no goal --- Alex Ovechkin GOAL --- Jussi Jokinen, no goal --- Nicklas Backstrom, no goal ---  Tumuo Rutuu, no goal --- and the Caps shootout win.

Varlamov improved to 3-1 on the season and 19-10 in his young NHL career.

Special Teams:  Washington was 0-1 on the power play and a perfect 3 for 3 on the penalty kill.

Multi-Point Scorers:  None

DCPSR Player of the Game:  SEMYON VARLAMOV