According to JB, if the 'Canes win in regulation, they win the SE....

first shift, Ovechkin was a demon, hitting, puck control, you name it.... Kozlov as well, with at least one big hit.... Huet with a save.....

it's all on the line, tonight.

We shall see.

Ownership asked for a "red out", and the crowd has complied- I'd say 80-90%. They're loud, too.

4:00 gone 1st, even game. 0-0

Lots of physical play. This is indeed a "playoff" game in intensity.

Spending more time now in the Caps' D end, or the neutral zone.... Huet cover at 12:45 left 1st, TV timeout.

TV word is, this is a brand new sheet of ice- just laid down today. The 'Canes didn't even practice on it today, as according to JB "the hoses were out" this morning, streaming water on the surface. I hope it's cold in there: my old seat was right under an air duct, and it was a rare occurrence the last few seasons for me to be cold at all. I recall, back before the lockout, I'd sometimes need 2-3 extra layers to be comfortable, but never since the lockout.

6:04 left 1st, icing 'Canes.... "letting them play" says CL, hasn't been a call yet. 5:00 left... COOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1-0 Caps 

COOKE SCORES! ON THE REBOUND! 1-0.

Assists by Green and Fedorov.

Yes indeed- good to "see" you! Green with the long shot, Cooke in exactly the right spot for the rebound. It wasn't that hard a shot, but Ward had no time to react to it- you could see, by the time he turned his head and saw it, it was by him.

edit: actually, it was on a delayed penalty call on the 'Canes, so the Caps would have been on the PP if they hadn't scored.

Morrisonn got crushed by Hamilton as it happened, and he is off the ice and to the room already.

Caps on the PP with 2:57 left 1st....

"According to JB, if the 'Canes win in regulation, they win the SE...."

Yes, I mentioned that 3 days ago in the Watch thread: "And they can actually make the playoffs with only one win... if they beat the Caps in regulation."

Either that or two wins (even in OT or SO) in their last 4 games.

But they lost the first one, and may lose this one too in regulation. After that, they'd have to win the last two games to be sure to win the Southeast, but even if they do that, the Caps may qualify (if the Bruins or the Flyers only get 3 points out of their last 3 games, for instance... they'd be tied in points with the Caps, but the Caps would have more wins). EDIT: If the Caps win their last three games, of course, but that goes without saying.

1:00 left..... :59.....

LAICH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:58.3

2-0 Caps, end 1st.

Assists to Fleischmann and Kozlov.

End of first period.

Shots: 14-6 Caps (with a PP, but they were dominating before).

I hope they don't get too excited. But I guess guys like Fedorov will find the right words in the locker room. Nothing is done. They can trust their goalie, but they must keep on trying to dominate.

Nothing is done.

There's the key.

Let's say, they win out, make the playoffs, whatever.... they haven't done a thing except maybe find a way to keep playing, for up to 10 weeks longer.

I know they're ahead tonight, but I'd like to see someone other than the "regulars" score a goal in a game like this- where's Todd Krygier? Joe Juneau (Laich? maybe) ? Where's Fleishmann or Brashear in a game like this?

2nd is on....

A replay just showed Fleishmann fractions off from putting in a third goal- and now the 'Canes come right down and score.

2-1

Caps get a PP, but let's see if they get that 2 goal lead again.

Word on Morrisonn is "upper body injury", he will not return tonight.

edit: PP ineffective until the last few seconds, Ward covers with :01 left in the PP.

ES, 14:27 left 2nd.

Jurcina, then Erskine to the box. 5-on-3, but Walker gets called for goalie interference. Back to 5-on-4 and some PP time for the Caps when the first penalties are killed.

And yes, with Morrisonn out and Green often in the offensive, the Caps gotta be careful tonight.

Staal taps Huet after a great save, Ovechkin jumps in, and they both go.... CL thought it should have just been roughing on Ovechkin, and I tend to agree after seeing the replay.

great save by.... Wesley? Got behind Ward and saved a goal... Ward without a stick.... got it back, now....

SEMIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SEMIN, ON THE PP! 3-1 Caps.

And actually at 2:01 left on the PP, so they still have 2:00 coming....

Assists by Green and Fedorov again. The kids and the geezers are on the same wavelength.

2:45 left to the period. If they reach the second intermission with a two-goal advantage... we know how it goes... they never lost a game this season after being in this situation, I think.

Nothing on that last 2:00, but what a great shift by Kozlov/Semin/Poti/Green... kept possession for almost 2:00 themselves, got all the Caps changed with the same 'Canes on the ice, just a wicked good shift.

Wore those boys out.

Bad call- Ovechkin went in to crush Hedican, and got caught up high- Hedican goes for roughing, Caps go PP very late in the 2nd....

3-1 Caps, end 2nd.

1:26 PP coming to start the 3rd.

Meanwhile, the Sabres are trailing 2-0 in Toronto. They'll be out of the race at the end of this game if they lose it in regulation, and maybe also if they only get one point.

Well, actually, with one point, the Sabres would still be alive.

No point, and they can only get 90 points and 39 wins if they win their last two games. The 'Canes already have 90 points and 40 wins.

One point, and they can still overtake the 'Canes.

Fedorov the interview:

blah blah blah blah

Koken: "Down to 5 defensemen- can you play a little D?"

SF: "I would love to"......

doesn't get any better than that.

Yes, I had forgotten that... I guess he could spend the 3rd period there.

3rd ready to start, but the linesman has to squeegee the ice in front of ward to get rid of tons of excess water....

3rd on.

Sabres reduced the score in Toronto, 2-1. They're not dead yet. Would be awesome if the Caps AND the Sabres made the playoffs, hehe. That would be at the expense of the 'Canes and the Flyers (or Bruins), I guess. Well, actually, could be the Flyers and the Bruins, because even though they might give up the division title to the Caps, the 'Canes could make the playoffs with 93 points, for instance.

Caps' PP killed, 'Canes' PP on....

3:45 into the 3rd period, Cooke to the box for holding.

Devils 1 - Islanders 1, with 6:58 left to the game. The Devils need 2 points to qualify. With only one, they could be tied with the Caps and the stats are in the Caps' favor.

Panthers 3 - Thrashers 1, for fun, with 9:47 left to the third. Atlanta's goal is by Jordan Lavallee-Smotherman. Must be expensive to get his name sewed in the back of your jersey.

8:13 left to the Caps game. Still 3-1.

Huet makes a good save, and Bayda to the box. Caps on the PP.

Great save from Ward, now Huet at the other end.... Caps to the PP with 7:34 left, TV guys say bad call by the ref- Green tripped the guy right into Huet, and he gets called for goalie interference.

Oh well- time to put this game on ice.

Great move by Fedorov, and Ward makes a big save.

Nothing on that one, but 4:48 left in reg, and they go on the PP again.

TV timeout.

Meanwhile, Montréal is leading Ottawa 2-0. Could be interesting. Looks like the things are going our way, tonight. If the Sens lose in regulation tonight, and only get one point out of their last two games, the Caps could overtake them.

JB: "Deafeningly loud inside the Verizon Center" as this PP starts....

And that PP lasts all of :17 as the Caps get called for a hook.

4 on 4

edit: somehow, the Caps get a 4 on 3 out of this....

edit: make it a 5 on 4.... how I don't know. Now a call against the Caps, so I was right- 4 on 4!

Scoring one on the PP now could help damage the 'Canes confidence. They gotta leave the building thinking the Caps will for sure win their last two games.

Two Caps and two 'Canes in the box, now. 4-on-4, though, of course.

OVECHKIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OVECHKIN OFF THE GOAL POST!!!! 63! That's fucking great.

All time leader for LW, if I recall- 63!

JB: "Practically bedlam at Verizon Center"

Tied Robitaille for most goals in a season for a left winger (EDIT: yes, you're right).

Also has more goals than Jagr in 1995-96. Can only be compared with Lemieux, now (69). He's still far from their total in points, though. Hopefully, Backstrom will turn into a huge scorer too and Ovechkin will benefit from that.

The last time the Caps won 5 in a row was March of....................

2001.

Gordon gets caught in the face with a stick with :20.2 left, and he's bleeding....

Carolina holds the tiebreakers, according to Joe and craig, but for this one night, the Caps came up huge when they had to. What a great game!

Most goals, most points, MVP: Ovechkin. One of the best offensive defensemen, one of the best rookies, one of the best goalies. How could they not make the playoffs?

Final score! Caps win!!! And as importantly: the 'Canes lose in regulation. Four points, there.

The Caps are tied with Carolina in points ( Canes have the tie breakers), one point behind Philly and Boston, two behind Ottawa, and three behind the Rangers.

Still in 9th place.....

Assists on Ovechkin's goal: Backstrom (#53) and Schultz. Backstrom is leading the rookies alone, with 67 points. He's the 12th passer in the league for his first season.

Stars:

1. Huet
2. Fedorov
3. Cooke

Huet has been a star in most of the games he has played for the Caps, if I'm not mistaken.

Team of destiny? Maybe. Though, I have to admit I’ve never seen the refs call so many cheap penalties that work in the Caps’ favor. And it’s about damn time, too.

Can't wait to get down to DC for the last 2 regular season games. This will be a very exciting finish, indeed!

________________________

'NO' to drugs; 'YES' to mirrored visors.

100% PureAgression

Florida beat Atlanta 3-2 (for the anecdote).

The Devils finally beat the Islanders in OT, and they make the playoffs. The Caps can still overtake five other teams. One of them is Ottawa, which is now lead 3-0 by Montréal with 5:50 left.

Buffalo 3 - Toronto 3, we'll have an overtime. The Sabres have one point and are still alive, although their chances are very slim.

Sabres dominated the overtime, but we're going to have a shootout, now, in Toronto.

Final horn in Ottawa: Montréal wins 3-0.

The Sabres' announcer said if the Sabres lose the shootout, they're out of the playoffs. Wrong.

Vanek can win it for the Sabres, but hits the post, and it doesn't go in. Fourth time it happens in this shootout.

Afinogenov, shoots and scores! Sabres win and the announcer turns cuckoo.