Can the caps actually win 3 in a row? Boudreau is wearing his "lucky suit" again (please- I'd rather see this guy consistently three games in a row than wear the same clothes... ).

Huet vs. Auld...

we shall see.

Halfway through the first, no excitement little action, SOGs are 3-2 Caps... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

3:05 left 1st, the Caps go on the first PP of the game for either team.... absolutely dull play to this point.

5 on 3 for :39, let's see if they can do better than that first 1:21.

Earlier today, Pens beat Flyers 7-1. With 2 goals and 2 assists, Malkin has 97 points, now, but Ovechkin is still ahead (99).

If Caps beat the Bruins, it would be:

7) Boston, 82 pts
8) Philadelphia, 80 pts
9) Buffalo, 79 pts
10) Washington, 78 pts

All with 73 games played.

Meanwhile, Carolina (81 pts in 73 games), is leading Ottawa 2-1 with 4 minutes left to the first period.

SCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORES!!! SERGEI FEDOROV, THE SLAP SHOT! 1-0 Caps.

10th of the season, first as a Cap. Brooks Laich was crashing the net once again.

Fedorov with a smokin' shot and a goal! Ovechkin picks up the puck to give him... it may have been tipped, but not sure by who.

Caps still on the PP, 5-on-4 this time.

So far they say Fedorov, from Backstrom and Laich.

1-0 Caps, end 1st.

Ovechkin almost has one in the last seconds.

End of first, 1-0 Caps.

Forgot to mention: Panthers won two days ago, and they're playing later today. They were tied with the Caps before this game, but they have played one more game.

End of first in Raleigh, 2-1 'Canes.

Well just in my opinion, they're fortunate they got a 2MA for a few seconds, because they've done nothing at ES or 1MA.

'Canes scored their goals 5-on-4 and 4-on-3, and gave up a 5-on-3 goal, hehe.

I don't really care if the Caps deserve to win as long as they win. To me, they deserve to make the playoffs for all they did under Boudreau. And after that, the real thing begins and (hopefully) we'll see what they're actually worth.

Pretty good period on the road for the Bruins, only 1 down and that on a 2MA with their best (at the moment) D pairing in the box (Ference and Ward). Stats favor the Bruins except shots, and 71% on faceoffs with Backstrom 1 for 6 and Laich 1 for 4 for the Caps....

playing before a sellout home crowd and for the playoffs, not the best showing for the Caps to this point. They need to pick it up several notches if they expect to win this game (although I must admit I'm more comfortable with Huet holding a 1 goal lead than I would be with Kolzig or johnson).

 

2nd on, Caps' PP done, and now they give Boston the man advantage.....

Ovechkin - Backstrom - Kozlov
Semin - Fedorov - Cooke
Fleischmann - Laich - Fehr
Brashear - Gordon - Bradley

Morrisonn - Green
Poti - Schultz
Lepisto - Jurcina

Huet
(Kolzig)

Scratches:
Steckel, Laing, Erskine, Eminger, Johnson

Same as two days ago, except for goalie.

I think I'd try Laich on the top-line RW, and an all-Russian second line, Semin-Fedorov-Kozlov.

And killed. Kessel had a great chance, but shot it just wide on the outside of the net.

Icing Caps, Icing Caps, icing Caps- 3 times in the last 1:30.... nice flow.

Now they put the Bruins back on the PP.....

Fedorov short-handed, but Auld makes the save!

It's Alex O vs. Alex Auld, today.

They just showed Fedorov is the active career leader in SHGs, with 36.... just as the PP ends, it begins again for the Bruins...

Another PP for the Bruins, and this time they score. 1-1.

At least they killed the last half of the double minor. Instead of complaining (like they are) about non-calls, the Caps should be playing hockey.

Now the Caps get a PP for delay, with both Laughlin and JB saying the puck hit off the glass before going out- maybe that complaining works!

Couple of chances, but the Bruins kill it anyway.

1-1, end 2nd.

Poti, the interview: "Either the refs have something against us or want the Bruins to win."

Bad attitude. You play the game and shut up.

Carolina leads 3-1 after two.

Panthers' game should start in a few minutes.

Brashear, the wrist shot, denied!

4-1 Carolina, now, and Florida is already leading 1-0.

Ovechkin taken down, Stuart to the box for tripping, but Ovechkin too for diving. 4-on-4.

Wasn't much of a dive, but wasn't much of a trip, either.

And....

OT.

Carolina still leading 4-1 with a little more than 4 minutes left. EDIT: 5-1 now.

Still 1-0 Florida mid-way through the first period.

Caps gotta win this one, no matter how.

Huge saves by Alex Auld. We ran into a hot goalie, once again. Good thing ours only gave up one so far.

HUGE glove save by Auld on green!  And....

a shootout. Enjoy.

I'll try.

Semin... scores!!!! 1-0 Caps.

Kobasew... denied by Huet!

Ovechkin... too slow, denied.

Kessel... wide!!!

KOZLOV SCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORES!!!!!! Caps win!!! The dream is still alive.

Only Russians shot for the Caps, and their only goal was scored by a fourth one. So...

спасибо!

But also: merci beaucoup, monsieur Huet.

Caps took 33 shots total (not counting shootout, of course), 16 of them by their 4 Russians.

Huet stopped 39 of the 40 shots he faced.

Stars:

1. Huet
2. Auld
3. Semin

Carolina won 5-1. Florida is now leading 2-0, end first.

Florida won 3-2. In other words, no big change tonight, except that Flyers have no point, and Bruins only one.

No big change, except the time alloted to catch the Canes reduced by 10%.... with no gain.