3:20 left in the 1st, it's been a decent period to this point.... Richards comes in on the right, everybody (on D- that's Poti and Green) covers him, leaving Ward open for a sweet lead pass on the left..... in alone on Kolzig....
1-1. Very easy goal.
1-1 end 1st. Decent period for the Caps, except for that one breakdown, and they paid for it. Let's see what the stats say.....
This message has been edited by reallycrowesnest on Oct 24, 2007 7:44 PM
My eyes said other than the score, the Caps won the period, but the stats say....
SOGs 10-7 Tampa (although in the combined shots/attempts/missed category, the Caps lead 20-16)
Hits 8-7 Caps
Giveaways 4-2 Caps
Takeaways 1-0 Tampa
Blocks 9-3 Tampa
Faceoffs 11 of 19 (58%) Tampa.
So it LOOKED like a Caps' period, but the stats say Tampa Bay really controlled the game to this point. Only 1 penalty in the period, so there was a lot of flow to the play.
Forgot to mention Clark is finally on the top line tonight, and Ovechkin seemed very happy about it in the interview a couple minutes ago.
Semin played better than expected that period (offensively- don't ask about his D efforts), looked like no ill effects- he did admit before the game that he's heavily taped, but comfortable.
There's the horn, 2nd period is on.
This message has been edited by reallycrowesnest on Oct 24, 2007 8:00 PM
1:51 gone, the Bolts get their first PP of the evening. Earlier, it looked like an easy icing call against the Caps, but Clark hustled down among 3 Lightning players and kept the play alive.
MSL gets a shot off, but Kolzig stops it.... the Bolts keep it in for 1:03, but no real good shots.... cleared.... again.... and again at :111.... nice kill by the Caps.
Caps look lethargic this period, but finally get control and get it out of the D zone.... Kozlov up the middle and in, over to Ovechkin on the left, a nifty pass all the way over to Steckel down low on the right......
A last word on the goal (TB just got a shorty, right at the start of the PP)- Ovechkin had a good lane to pass, 2 TB players low and Richards high, and Richards actually got a stick on it, but not enough to deflect it away from Steckel.
I think it was Paul Ranger with the SH goal, and the score is 2-2 now.
The powerkill is back.... finally Semin on a rush gets a shot off, but no result... Clark right in front of denis with :02 left in the PP.... denied.... killed. Actually had 5 SOGs on that PP alone, but gave up the tying goal on it, too.
9:30 left 2nd the Bolts get the even-up call, and a PP.... Bolts keep it in the zone for 1:35, but get nothing, and then Pettinger clears.... Denis with an icing, and Tortorella takes his timeout with :05 left on a PP in the 2nd period.... yikes.
Just as the penalty expires, Tampa goes right back on the PP, Jurcina for the hold.... ugh. All that work, but no rest for the weary.
The Bolts with shot after shot, wide, save, wide again, finally the Bolts help by clearing with a bad pass.... here they come again, more pressure.... cleared again at :25.... killed again.
2nd ends with the Caps in the lead, 4-2. Stats are now pretty much in the Caps' favor, too.
3rd is on, and Clark denied on a bid for the hat trick.... 3:39 gone in the 3rd already, and we've got a stoppage to repair a hole in the ice. Play is back on.
14:21 left in regulation, and we have penalties- Morrisonn with a hit on Vinny along the wall, no call... Vinny retaliates with a spear, and them the two come to blows- Vinny spins him around, and takes him down from behind. Morrisonn goes face first into the ice (he's taken to the dressing room immediately for repairs)...
Caps on a 4:00 PP out of it all.... nothing on the first 1:40 of it.... Semin hits post! right at the 2:00 mark.... 1:30.... lots of passes, not many shots.... 1:00 and cleared.... cleared again at :42.... cleared at :11.... the Bolts killed the whole thing.
When the Bolts killed that double minor, Laughlin said watch out- and, at 5:54 left, the Bolts prove him a prophet.
It's 4-3 goal by St. Louis.... and then Kolzig has to come up big again to keep it there, not :20 later....
3:52 left, icing Caps....
Morrisonn is back after being stitched up over his eye, VL is not.... 1:30 left, Clark can't settle a bouncing puck with a wide open net in front of him.... EN for the Bolts already.... we're under 1:00..... the Bolts can't get out of their own end at :40.... finally they get in, under :20.... cleared at :08.....Ovechkin with the ENG at :04.
Caps win this one, 5-3! Not pretty at times, but they stopped the bleeding.
This message has been edited by reallycrowesnest on Oct 24, 2007 9:28 PM
I thought the game was tonight. My bad. I was sleeping, anyway.
"Morrisonn goes face first into the ice (he's taken to the dressing room immediately for repairs)..."
You made me laugh out loud with this one. I felt guilty, until I read that he came back to the ice.
The previous game was already good. Two goals against: Johnson gave us a chance to win, but the offense didn't produce enough.
We're definitely better with Gordon. It can't be a coincidence, no, no.
About Clark on the top line: Pettinger and Gordon are the key players of the third line, and they don't need a 30-goal scorer with them. He's better with Ovechkin. Clark with Ovechkin = 30 goals. Clark on the 3rd line = maximum 5 goals. We have several players able to replace Clark on the 3rd line, we don't have anyone else able to score 30 goals from the RW on a scoring line.
Current Topic - Game 8 vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (W 5-3)
I was sleeping, anyway.
I felt guilty, until I read that he came back to the ice.
