Boudreau riding the Huet horse to the playoffs, or the grave....

and 1:23 in, the Caps go on the PP.

Delayed penalty call... whistle. Caps on the PP, already. Time to score. No time to waste, hehe.

EDIT: We started game threads at the same time, once again.

They didn't do a whole lot with that PP, which is not the start they wanted.

Florida, which JB and CL were saying "while not eliminated, to a man seemed to feel they are done" before the game, has not allowed a PP goal in the last 4 games before this one.

Florida on the PP now, and it took the Caps :45 to clear it the first time.... and Florida kept it in almost :40 at the end, too.

No goal (one outside post) though, so back to ES.

One thing that worries me right now is all the talk of Steckel and/or Clark possibly being able to play soon- the team has done so well lately, why would you sit any of the current players to mix in someone who hasn't played a game in weeks (or months)? I know they're good players and hard workers, but they haven't taken part on the ice in the playoff drive.

Agree. Let's keep the same guys on the ice, so long as they're able to play.

Caps with a PP again- high stick call with 6:22 left 1st.

So much for that- Green makes it 4 on 4.

Ovechkin will have to wait to be able to tie Bondra's franchise record for power play goals in a season (22... Ovechkin has 21).

Islanders lead the Flyers 1-0.

'Canes game about to start.

Wow- Vokoun allowed an easy rebound to Ovechkin's side, but he stopped OV's shot... almost.

Sounds like Ovechkin had a good opportunity. Save by Vokoun, "his best save of this hockey game tonight" according to Kolbe.

Caps get the PP AGAIN.... third time's the charm?

Caps on the PP for the 3rd time. Let's do something with it, now, it's more than time (although a win in the shootout after a 0-0 would be enough, hehe).

Glove save by Vokoun on a shot by Semin.

Another good save by Vokoun, right at the horn. I think it would have counted.

0-0, end 1st, Caps with some PP to start the 2nd.

Ovechkin has already tried his chance 5 times (denied 3 times, blocked twice).

TV stats show the Caps leading all categories. Of the Panthers' 6 SOGs, 3 were on the PP, and they had 1 total SOG in the last 10:00 of the period.

Philadelphia 0 - NY Islanders 1, end first.

Carolina 0 - Tampa Bay 0, after 10 minutes.

Game resumes. Panthers get a short-handed chance, that Huet denies.

As usual, sloppy play allows a SH chance against the Caps (could have been a 2 on 0, if the back guy had hustled a little)... Huet up to the challenge.

And back to ES. PP sucks tonight. I've read some comments at official that there's too much individual play tonight...

KOZLOV!

KOZLOV SCOOOOOOOOOOOOORES!!!!! 1-0 Caps.

And Huet stops a good one right after. Looks like those two saves were as important as Kozlov's goal.

Hard shift by the Panthers, hard D by the Caps, and a Panthers' PP coming up.

Assists: Laich and Poti.

Carolina-Tampa, 0-0 with 4:42 left to the first.

Islanders still leading the Flyers 1-0 after 23:46 of play.

Right now, the Caps are only 2 points behind the 'Canes. The games should end now, hehe.

Another penalty as that one ends, and the Panthers are pissed that Ovechkin, on the touch up, fired the puck the length of the ice into the open net.

Err, sorry... 'Canes were actually 3 points ahead, and it's 4, now, because they scored.

Not any more- the Canes just scored to take a 1-0 lead.

Cooke with a decent SH chance, but Vokoun stopped it easily.... Caps keep clearing, Panthers not getting many good chances even with the man advantage.

Killed and back to ES.

Yes, sorry, I guess I confused both games when I typed my first post.

BUT...

Caps are currently 1 point behind the Flyers, and both teams will have 3 games left after this one. If this stays like this, Flyers would have to win every remaining game to be sure to make the playoffs, which could not be as comfortable as Carolina's situation.

Vokoun with another great save on Backstrom, and the Islanders score again to lead 2-0.

1-0 Canes, end first.

Islanders add one, and Flyers are trailing 2-0 near mid-game.

GREEN SCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORES!!!!

2-0 Caps.

WOOHOO!! Mike Green!!

First time a Caps d-man gets 18 goals since Gonchar in 2002-03. He's also tied for most goals by a d-man this season with Blackhawk Dustin Byfuglien.

Belak gets called. He tried to push Erskine to retaliate, but Erskine kept his cool. Caps on the PP.

As soon as the penalty ends, another one. Cullimore to the box.

End of second. Caps have 1:24 left to their PP.

The Flyers have scored, as has Tampa Bay.

Briere reduced the score and it's now Flyers 1 - Isles 2. End of second period there too.

Tampa tied their game vs. Carolina, 1-1, with 16 minutes left to the second period.

So far, a good night for the Caps. I believe they have yet to lose this season with a 2-goal advantage at the second intermission?

Mid-game in Tampa, still 1-1.

Forgot to mention: assists on Green's goal (point #51) were attributed to Ovechkin (point #108, that's 5 more than Malkin) and Kozlov (point #50).

JB just put the jinx on the Caps- talking about how, at the season's midpoint, the Caps were in 14th, and then said no team has ever come from that far back that late and made the playoffs....

Ovechkin has been amazingly healthy so far. He played in every game the Caps have played in the last three years, but one (and if I remember, he was a healthy scratch for that one).

At some point, Caps were also dead last in the league, I believe. And we had to wait a few more days or weeks to get a new coach.

The Flyers have tied it up....

after 3 games, they were in 1st, too.

Hehe.

Just checked: when I said they were the "worst team in the league" after game 19 (November 16), it's because they were ranked 30th, if I remember. It was not subjective.

CP just posted this over at official, nice cartoon:

http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/wysiwyg/Image/080307beelertoon.jpg

If the Flyers get one point out of this one, we'll need them to lose another one in regulation. I'd feel better if the regulation loss was tonight. Go, Isles!

OVECHKIN SCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORES!!!!! 62. 109.

Ovechkin!!!

3-0

edit: and Kozlov's third point of the night.

Isles listened to me and scored! 3-2.

Caps on the PK, but I guess only Huet's shutout is in danger, now.

I should have celebrated the Islanders' goal louder than Ovechkin's goal, actually.

According to Kolbe: Green's goal was the first one by a Caps defenseman in March; the previous 45 goals had been scored by forwards.

I'm a little late (because of Ovechkin's goal): funny drawing, hehe!

Third period starting in Tampa. Still 1-1.

Islanders still leading Flyers 3-2, with 5:46 left.

4:46 left... Niittymaki might not be in net for too long.

Erskine gets boarded (actually, "glassed" would be a better call), and Ovechkin knocks the perpetrator down.... Caps to the PP.

90 seconds left here.

Short-handed chance for the Panthers, but wide!

1 minute. I'll switch to the Flyers' game when this one is over.

Crap, 3-3!

Flyers have tied it again.

Final score. Caps win, Huet gets a second shutout with the Caps.

I'd have to say he's the pickup of the season for the Caps (although fedorov would be a close second). What a stellar player, to come in and take charge over a career guy and play like he has.

Very impressive.

The dream is alive!

The Flyers go to OT, and get at least 1 point.... Carolina is still tied 1-1.

Overtime in Long Island. Already one point for the Flyers.

Huet's stats with the Caps:

8-2, 2 shutouts, 1.83 GAA, .931 save percentage.

Awesome!

Halpern has scored for the Bolts....

Islanders with their 2nd PP in this OT.

30 seconds left to overtime.

Tons of things happening, but I have no idea what.

That's one of the most important goals Halpern scored for the Capitals.

8 seconds... That's it. Shootout.

But I guess you can stay for this one, because there are 8 minutes left to play in Tampa, hehe.

No, I won't pay any attention to it. Got to give those Flyers credit, going SH for 3:51 of the OT, and surviving. Anyone thinks they've given up better think again.

Enjoy the SO, and I'll be back for the end of the 'Canes-Bolts in a few.

No goal after first round.

Islander denied.
Carter for the Flyers, poke checked. Still no goal.

Islander shoots, another save by Niittymaki.
Briere... scores. Flyers win.

5 minutes left in Tampa, still 2-1 Bolts.

2:32 remaining... nothing too serious happening...

Kuba to the box for tripping. 'Canes on the PP, with 2:10 left. They may pull their goalie at some point and have a 6-on-4 advantage.

Karri Ramo has stopped 37/38 so far. Hope he's a wall in the last seconds.

Lecavalier shot in the direction of the empty net but missed.

Five seconds... Stoppage with like a couple of seconds left.

'Canes manage a shot, I believe, but lose 2-1!!! Awesome. Now, gotta beat them in regulation. Go, Caps!

EDIT: That was, faceoff with 2 seconds left, shot by Corvo, denied by Ramo.

Huet with third star at NHL. Kudos!