"In 24 games so far this season, [Christobal Huet is] 14-4-3 with two shutouts and a 2.36 GAA" (from NHL.com's preview). Hope he's not in goal.

I forgot to mention yesterday that Ovechkin leads the league in goals, with 25. He's on pace for 57. The Caps have three other players on pace for 30 goals or more: Semin, Zubrus and Clark. Pettinger is not far. Too bad Zednik is injured, because he was starting to produce.

It's Huet vs. Kolzig.

Olie has already made his 31st consecutive save. Let's see how long it will last.

Koivu to the box.

WASHINGTON Capitals

Ovechkin Zubrus Semin
Pettinger Gordon Clark
Brashear Sutherby Clymer
Laich Beech Klepis

Pothier Green
Heward Schultz
Eminger Nycholat

Kolzig
(Johnson)

MONTREAL Canadiens

Higgins Koivu Ryder
Samsonov Plekanec Kovalev
Perezhogin Bonk Johnson
+ Latendresse + Downey

Rivet Bouillon
Markov Komisarek
Dandenault Souray
+ Streit

Huet
(Aebischer)

The puck enters Huet's goal but the ref had blown his whistle.

Dandenault scores on the Canadiens' 4th shot of the game. It's 1-0 Canadiens.

The French radio doesn't work, so back to Kolbe.

The Caps are 3-17 at faceoff, so far (15%). They're outshooting the Canadiens, though, but Huet's in goal.

Bonk scores! 2-0.

Great opportunity for Clark but... Huet's in goal.

End of first.

Shots: 14-7 Caps, with Ovechkin's first shot only 20 seconds before intermission.

Goals scored against:

Ovechkin Zubrus Semin
Eminger Nycholat

and

Laich Beech Klepis
Heward Schultz

I wasn't seeing a lot of enthusiasm or crispness to the Caps' game tonight, so I left about 10:00 into the 1st. I notice the PowerKill is back, though.

Not much action in the second period, except for a fight between Brashear and Downey. Still 2-0. Shots for the period are 8-3 Canadiens, with 5:30 left.

Yeah, I've noticed with the defensive revamping the team has regressed a little- more shots on our goalies, less blocks and hits.....

Semin denied by Huet.

2-0 end 2nd.........zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Ovechkin only skated 3 shifts totalling about 2:00 in the last 13:00 of the 2nd- no PK time either. Something's up, injury or otherwise.

Maybe it was Semin in the box kept that line off the ice the end of the period- Hanlon is keeping them together all night, instead of mixing the lines like he usually does.

3rd on.

I must confess that I watched the second half of a movie (Emir Kusturica's Zivot je cudo, aka Life is a Miracle) during the second period, with Kolbe's voice and the millions of ads in the background. The movie helped me not to fall asleep.

The game would put you to sleep.

Now, I'm only listening to the game, and all I hear is "Semin denied by Huet."

Yes- the PP actually looked good this time, but no results. Lots of passing, lots of shots, Huet's been big when he's had to be.

There were 4 young French Canadians beside me tonight- was fun to listen in on the conversation, even though I don't speak the language. I could pick a lot of it up by their gestures, and sometimes a number. They were all Huet fans.

Caps much better at faceoff, especially Gordon. They're now 14-23, which means 11-6 since near the end of the first period.

I wanted to listen to this game in French, but their radio doesn't work, it seems.

4-on-4, then a short PP for the Caps.

4-on-4 hockey again (Rivet and Pettinger to the box for delay of game), then Semin called for slashing.

Souray scores! 3-0.

EDIT: Koivu, from Souray and Kovalev.

Huet wants his third shutout. He could have it in five minutes.

He'll get it, for all the effort the Caps are showing tonight.

This "Betty" might spoil it. Rivet crosschecks Clark in the back of the neck, then tries to goad him into fighting (Clark's got the faceguard on).

No goal by Hossa so far in Pittsburgh, so Ovechkin still leads the league.

SEMIN SCORES!!!! AT LAST! 3-1, with 2:56 left.

3-1, and plenty of PP time......

Assists: Zubrus and Ovechkin (49th point).

5-on-3 PP again, with Kolzig in goal.

Timeout, of course.

Kolzig pulled, and now a Montreal penalty gives the Caps a possible 6 on 3.... Hanlon calls his timeout. 1:38 left in regulation.

Canadiens score into an empty net. 4-1.

SHEN goal..... 4-1.

Final score.

Hope we'll have a better weekend. Won't be easy against the Devils, though.