By Bud L. Ellis
A loss on home ice is a rare experience for the National Hockey League’s best team. So to the surprise of nobody, the Washington Capitals found a way to rebound.
Two nights after seeing their 13-game home winning streak end in a shootout loss to Dallas, the Caps came through in extra time against Carolina. Tomas Fleischmann scored the game-winner, as Washington extended its streak of earning at least one point in home games to 15.
Carolina was the last team to beat Washington at the Verizon Center in regulation, that coming on Dec. 28. The Caps lead the NHL in points with 99, and are 14 points ahead in the Eastern Conference.
Mike Green scored twice for Washington. Alexander Semin added a breakaway goal in the first period. Alexander Ovechkin finished with two assists, and Jose Theodore got the win in goal.
Washington plays host to Tampa Bay on Friday.
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Friday, March 12, 2010 at 8:14 pm by bud
Tags: Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, Jose Theodore, Mike Green, National Hockey League, Tampa Bay Lightning, Tomas Fleischmann, Washington Capitals
By Bud L. Ellis
A rocky beginning turned into a satisfying night for the Washington Capitals.
After allowing three goals in the first 30 minutes against fellow Eastern Conference power Pittsburgh, Jose Theodore slammed the door shut the rest of the way. Alex Ovechkin scored twice, and Tomas Fleischmann’s breakaway goal early in the third period propelled the Caps to a 6-3 victory.
The victory pushes Washington’s win streak to five games, and keeps the Caps entrenched atop the East standings. Washington, with 70 points, leads Buffalo by three points.
Theodore made 35 saves, scrambling to keep the Caps in it during the first period and a half. But the Caps, who got early goals from Mike Knuble and Eric Fehr, pulled away in the third period.
Ovechkin tied the game at 3-3 with a power-play goal at the 16:25 mark of the second. Fleischmann then gave Washington the lead for keeps 2:32 into the third, and Nicklas Backstrom followed 53 seconds later with a power-play goal to make it 5-3.
Ovechkin closed the scoring with an empty-net goal in the final minute.
Washington, which lost to the Penguins in seven games during last spring’s playoffs, won in the first meeting of the season between two of the Eastern Conference’s top powers.
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Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 10:05 pm by bud
Tags: Alex Ovechkin, Buffalo Sabres, Eric Fehr, Jose Theodore, Mike Knuble, National Hockey League, Nicklas Backstrom, Pittsburgh Penguins, Tomas Fleischmann, Washington Capitals
