One point......

we shall see.

Pre-game interviews were Leonsis, Chris Clark, Brooks Laich....

game on.

First 1:20 was all Cats.... 2:30 in, the Caps haven't had any appreciable time in the Florida end.

3:00 gone....... Green with a shot, Andersen the stop. 

YIKES!!!!

Horton clangs one off the post, fortunately it was dead solid perfect, or the Cats would have the lead.....

6:00 gone... Ovechkin to Green who is mere inches in front of Anderson......

stoned again. TV timeout.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fleishmann!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOOHOO!!!!!!

Assist: Laich.

Caps to the PP.....

Great article on Boudreau on the front page of Saturday's Washington Post print edition....

2MA for the Caps!

Hopefully, the Panthers won't be able to follow the pace in the third period, after playing a hard game yesterday (EDIT: gotta thank them for their awesome game, by the way).

Chances, but no goal.... Semin walks it in, Anderson stones him point blank... Fehr off the crossbar, Ovechkin misses.....

killed.

Not a good sign, even with the early lead. Florida has come to play, boys.

Leach interview on the bench: "Little bit (tight, in regard to the question asked about the Caps), but this team (Florida) came out hard- same way they played Carolina last night."

Caps back on the PP, their 3rd, which is starting to look like last night's game- Carolina was 0 for 9... that's 9- on the PP last night.

ANOTHER 2MA..............

Huet makes a big save on a 2-on-1 short-handed chance.

That after Ovechkin hit the post.... and took a penalty on the Dvorak chance as well.

Cats on the PP.....

Killed.

Ovechkin with one late chance on a steal, but denied by Anderson....

1-0 Caps, end 1st.

I'd give the edge to Florida that period, based on killing 2 2MAs and 2 other PPs for the Caps. They might have played hard against the 'Canes last night, but they haven't lost a thing to this point.

Good game, but it's time for Ovechkin/Semin to step up (and, so far tonight, I haven't heard much of a mention at all of Kozlov, Backstrom, or Laich. I know, Laich had the "assist" on the goal, but that was all Fleischmann from the second he touched the puck. Laich was just the last before TF to touch it. ) .

In the pregame, it was mentioned Steckel is probably ready, but Boudreau is loathe to mess with a winning lineup (which we said a few games ago- don't mess with a running machine). Clark, on the other hand, divulged that he's been off the last week, not even skating, trying to let his sore muscle heal. He hopes to be back for the playoffs, but I'm beginning to think he's done for the season, and possibly.....

for good. I hope not, he's a tough, hard-working guy, but he's been through an awful lot this season and I'm sure injuries like his (jaw, teeth, groin, whatever's left)take their toll.

2nd on, and not much happening. 17:01 left 2nd.

Too many Caps on the ice... Ovechkin will serve this one.

And another big save by Huet, according to Kolbe's buddy (I don't know his name, hehe).

Can't believe the Caps didn't score on two 2MA.

And now, Fedorov to the box, and the 2MA is for the Panthers.

Nope, review shows it's a Florida goal, and now another PP for the Cats....

1-1.

Here's what I told misto (who is working and missing the game until later on tonight):

Caps trying to get their first 7-game winning streak since February... 1993.

Although they don't really need to win, but that wouldn't hurt.

Say hello to Misto. Her Pens are doing well this season, hehe.

Ovechkin with a good opportunity, denied by Anderson.

Ovechkin is flying on the ice at the midpoint... shot at one end, back to play some D, catches a long pass in his glove and drops it for another shot, absolutely intense.

But, so far, he's got nothing to show for it.

Evason bench interview: "Yeah, we expended a lot of energy early, but it's 1-1... "

not the most praise I've ever heard, considering the circumstances.

Florida rings one off the crossbar again, but not in....

I'm starting to think that it would have been better for the Caps to be forced to win this one, even without knowing if that would be enough. They don't seem to be playing this one like they played the last ones, although they're shooting (Semin 6, Ovechkin 4, Green 4). They may be afraid to lose something, while they actually have everything to win. They have nothing yet. Only the 'Canes can lose something tonight; everyone else is either qualified or out.

Ovechkin CRUUUUUSHES Bouwmeister behind Anderson..... woke the crowd up, there goes Sammy and the horn....

edit: call me Backstrom- I had it as our net, not Florida's....

I kind of agree- I hope if they get in, it's on a clear win in regulation. So many chances this season, so many mistakes.

They seem to be laying back right now, knowing they've got a point if the game ends like this. And that's not good, even if they get in. All tonight will do is put them in- they'll have to play like this for 2 more months, if they're really a "team of destiny".

That's a big order....

FEDOROV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2-1 Caps!!

edit: and Laughlin on the pass: "That was tape to tape, with mustard (the pass from Semin)...."

SERGEI FEDOROV SCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORES!!!!! The laser beam! 2-1 Caps!!!!

I'd feel better if they could score one more, but I'll give them some time for that. That would make the last minutes easier to bear.

Couple of girls in the crowd with red t-shirts that read "Mrs. Ovechkin"........... neat. TAK would approve of the rimouskis.

Sam and the horn again, under 1:00 left 2nd.... Ovie protests to the officials for a delay penalty on the Panthers with :09.5.... nope....

2-1 Caps, end 2nd.

Assists to Semin and Green.

10 seconds left to the second period. Whistle.

I believe the Caps have not lost a game in regulation after reaching the second intermission with a lead.

End of second. Kolbe and Co. just said the same, if I'm not mistaken.

Third period on.

A few things happening, then Semin draws a penalty. Skrastins to the box for hooking.

SEMIN SCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORES!!!!!

A rocket! 3-1!!!!

That was after the Caps hit the post for the third time tonight (the Panthers hit it twice).

Was quite a shot "Scorcher" says Craig.... just before, Backstrom had hit another post.

3-1 Caps!!!

Assists: Backstrom and Fedorov.

That makes up for the wasted 2MA's, I guess.

Caps to the PP- this could be the stake in the heart- JB says "This could be the hammerlock on this one"

They certainly must not stop playing like that. They gotta play on the fastest possible pace, and not let the Panthers put them to sleep.

With his assist there, Backstrom just set the Caps' rookie record for assists....

Caps had put 2 seats up for sale today right on the glass, $2000 each- those seats are empty.

I hear Sam, very loud.

Ovechkin, one-on-one, but Anderson with the blocker save.

Erskine to the box. Bad penalty, it seems.

Fedorov with the takeaway, but no real chance, it seems.

Fedorov steals the puck again. Hehehe, he's having the kick of his life.

Short-handed chance, Matt Cooke, glove save Anderson!

Cats on the PP with lots of time left, but... it's killed.

 

Laich, hurt badly by a shot- limping to the bench, not putting any weight on it.... not good.

What about Huet and his last four games? Who would you start in the playoffs?

Under 3 minutes to go... For some reason, I'm not too worried, now. I really needed that 3rd goal for that.

Crowd going wild- "MVP! MVP! MVP!...."

1:26 left in regulation...............

Five years waiting for that... And this time, I really believe in our chances. We can beat anyone with this goalie and this offense.

15 seconds... 10...

FINAL SCORE!!!! FANTABULOUS!!!! FROM DEAD LAST IN THE LEAGUE TO SOUTHEAST DIVISION CHAMPIONS!!!!

And the Bruins, who could be our next opponent, got beaten 3-0 by the Sabres.

I have to agree- I'll be purchasing a playoff package Monday, if possible....

I'm convinced. When I cancelled my ticket, I said I'd be back if they showed they could play CONSISTENTLY NHL-level hockey nightly, and they've done that the last two months of the season. Now they only need to do it for two months more.

Simply awesome.

Congrats Caps, Ovechkin, and Ted Leonsis!

I'd give the first star to Fedorov (GWG and the rest), the second one to Huet and the third to Semin.

After winning 11 of their last 12 games to save their life, they should find the playoffs rather easy. Go, Caps!

Official stars are:

1. Fedorov
2. Semin
3. Huet

I have to agree again- nice picks on the stars.

The crowd is still there (it's shirt off their backs night).... Clark gets a hand, for saying he might be back for the playoffs............ as it stands, the Caps would play Ottawa in the first round....

Boudreau gets a HUUUUUUUUUGE hand.............. Lisa says "What do you think, folks- coach of the year?" and the crowd goes wild.......... he lauds the team as "so cool".......... "These guys believed, I believed, the coaches believed, and now..... we're here!" and then he left with a "Thank you, everybody!".... that's class.

I got to hear Boudreau, yes. Great guy! He's a winner, for sure. Of the good kind.

I believed in their chances for months, but at some point, when they lost twice in regulation for the first (and only) time under Boudreau, I was a little worried, I admit.

Kudos to McPhee for his trade-deadline picks. Those three guys have brought a lot, and I'm sure they'll bring even more in the playoffs.

I'd say "See you for the playoffs!", but I might be elsewhere....

well, the away games anyway, I'll be around.

Hehe, yes. And I guess this time, you won't leave the rink at the first intermission.

See you in the playoffs. Either during or after the games.

I may have to follow the Stanley Cup Finals from Turkey. But I'll do what I can not to miss Backstrom's goal in the 5th overtime of game 7, hehehe.