Caps 3, Senators 1
Today's game featured the battle between two National capitals. It also featured two teams struggling to find offense.
The Washington Capitals continued their struggles to put the puck in the net, a reality that perplexes Capital fans. The high octane offense of the past two seasons has trickled to a mere leak over the past month. Ottawa took an early 1-0 lead just 72 seconds into the game on a Mike Fisher rebound goal, putting it past Caps goalies Michal Neuvirth. The Fisher goal was the game's only tally in the first period. Not only did Washington struggle to score, but, as has become a trend lately, Washington struggled as well putting shots on the net. Ottawa out shot Washington 9-5 in the first period.
The Caps and Senators skated to a 0-0 second period. Caps showed a little more life, getting more shots to the net, but walking out without a score. Caps out shot the Senators 12-8.
The Caps exploded in the third period, scoring three unanswered goals. The first came at the 12:45 mark, when Brooks Laich (9) grabbed a bad Ottawa pass by D Chris Phillips front of Ottawa goalie Brian Elloitt, to put it up over Brian Elliott's shoulder to tie the game at 1-1. The goal, Laich's 9th of the season, was unassisted. Just 45 seconds later, after a cross check penalty by Milan Michalak on Karl Alzner, John Carlson retaliated on the face off, smacking a blast and putting it past Elliott for the 2-1 Caps lead. It was Carlson's 5th tally of the season and assisted by Nicklas Backstrom. Backstrom's assist was his 299th NHL point in his 292nd NHL game. Washington wasn't done breaking out of a scoring slump. Jason Chimera struck at the 6:20 mark, coming in from the right side of Elliott and banking a shot off Elliott's shoulder to give the Caps a 3-1 lead. Chimera's 6th goal of the season was assisted by David Steckel and Karl Alzner.
Neuvirth stopped 22 of 23 shots to earn his 15th win of the season. Neuvy improved to 15-6-4.
Multi-Point Scorers:
None
DCPSR Player of the Game:
Michal Neuvirth and Brooks Laich
Next Up:
Tuesday at Philadelpia, 7:00PM
