Kolzig in net tonight (almost blew a chance right off the bat, went behind the goal after a puck, no one covered the net for him, and a Bolt got there first), Brashear is back,Lepisto in his first ever NHL game, and Fehr and Jurcina the scratches.

Remember a few days ago when Kolzig said if they could go 3-0 or 2-1 they'd be in great shape? Remember he didn't mention going 0-3?

We shall see....

Over 8:00 gone, decent play by both, not playoff caliber by either.

0-0

For the second time tonight, Kolzig goes behind the net- he paddles this one out, but a Bolt gets there first. Got to stop that.

Caps on the PP with 8:24 left 1st....

1:00 left PP and Semin gets all pipe no net....

Kolzig misplays a third puck....

killed.

Caps get another PP, 4:09 left 1st....

SCORE!!!!!!!!! FLEISHMAN!!!!!!!!

1-0 Caps

3:11 left, ANOTHER Caps' PP....

While still on the PP, Kolzig almost plays a puck outside the "Trapezoid of Doom"....

couple of semi-decent chances, but killed this time.... last minute of the period....

1-0 Caps, end 1st.

 

Much more interesting period, some hot saves from both goalies here.

Tidbit- lepisto has over 7:00 tonight, and wears 42.... already 9:00 gone in the 2nd, still 1-0 Caps.

I'm listening, but won't type much (I'm in bed, hehe).

Sounds like Olie made a good save on Hlavac.

Good for you- you'll get to sleep early, too- there's only been 2 stoppages in the last 14:00.

Hehe. It's already 2:48 am here, though.

Kolzig has already made 22 saves so far, about 34 minutes into the game. Hard to get a shutout. It would already be one for Brodeur with that many shots.

Oh, you didn't mention it, by the way: assists to Semin and Backstrom on Fleischmann's goal. #40 for Backstrom. Kudos.

Bradley to the box, for slashing. Tampa on the PP for the first time of the game.

Prospal, Richards, Lecavalier, Saint-Louis and someone on the PP.

Kolzig made a great save it sounds, and another one now.

Yes, he's second only to Ovechkin in Caps' rookie assists now.

Bolts to the PP finally, 1:43 left 2nd....

Kolzig is huge tonight, I think close to 20 saves this period....

1-0 Caps, end 2nd.

 

And now Kolzig with a "marvelous" save on Michel Ouellet, according to Kolbe.

End of first.

24 saves in second period, actually. It's great and sad at the same time.

Green has 19:49 of play so far.

EDIT: Boyle has 21:26, though. Those two will sleep well tonight.

Ovechkin Backstrom Fleischmann
Semin Kozlov Pettinger
Laing Steckel Bradley
Brashear Laich Gordon

Morrisonn Green
Erskine Eminger
Lepisto Schultz

Kolzig
(Johnson)

Another good, fast period.

Just in case you hadn't heard, it's pronounced SA-mi LEH-pis-to... he's had a few chances tonight, acquitting himself well for a first game.

11:20 left in regulation, still 1-0.

Caps on the PP, better get one here, boys....

Why paired with Schultz, though?

SA-mi LEH-pis-to... that's how I would have pronounced it without knowing, being a European and all.

Maybe a Mutt and Jeff combo- one shorter one taller, one shoots a lot and one doesn't.

Nothing on the PP \ /

Woohoo!!!!! Steckel!!!!!!!

2-0 late

SCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORES!!!!! STECKEL!!! 4th goal of the season for him against Tampa Bay (5th overall).

Assists to Bradley and Laing.

I guess that Tampa is humiliated to get beaten by no names.

But maybe their main killer tonight is Olie. We better do everything to keep his shutout alive, now.

Crap! Prospal. 2-1.

4:11 left the Bolts score, a deflection off all the traffic in front of Kolzig. Nothing he could do on that one.... but it's a one goal game, again....

and now it's 2-2.

Kuba from the right point, shoots and scores! Just like that, 2-2.

That was a deflection- Hlavec got a stick on it, Olie couldn't get back the other way.

Caps take a time out at 16:22.

Goal goes to Lecavalier, actually (it was supposed to be Hlavac).

ALEXANDER SEMIN SCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORES!!!!! Backhander.

WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Timeout paid. O's and X's.

Assists: Kozlov (career #300) and Green.

At the beginning, you said, "Over 8:00 gone, decent play by both, not playoff caliber by either." But it is now that we see which is a playoff team. To me, the Caps are one, now. They have the spirit.

Caps leading after two periods: 17-0-1. Could be 18 in a few seconds.

Caps win! Woohoo! We must beat these damned southeast division teams. Every time, now.

Night, Roger. Go, Caps!

PS: Carolina just beat Florida 5-4, and Atlanta lost to the Islanders. Caps are third in the division, I think. But so close to first place. Must never give up.

And is. Nice win, and good to see a couple lesser guys get goals without Ovechkin being involved. They need that secondary scoring in the worst way.

Still, they won, the Thrash and Florida lost, but the Canes and Isles won.

Treading water, but not drowning yet.