First, the news of the day: Erskine signed a 2 year extension...

 

Recap of the 1st: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

oh... that was me. But it was the game too, as the score was 0-0.

Recap of the 2nd: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

oh... that was me. Snorted awake with 11:37 left in the period to find that the Caps had just scored on a PP, Laich from Semin and Backstrom. Back to sleep for about 5:00... still 1-0 Caps, and with just under 4:00 left 2nd, they get another PP, but don't do anything with this one. Apparently, it's my fault for being concious this time. The few minutes I've seen shows effort both ways, but not a lot of chances and certainly little to no result.

1-0 Caps, end 2nd.

Stats after 2:

SOGs 26-24 Coyotes

Scoring chances 11-10 Caps

Hits 13-11 Coyotes

Faceoffs 19/31  62% Caps, 12/31  38% Phoenix

PPs 1/4,Caps, 0/3 Coyotes

3rd is on...

nothing happens for 2:25..... Sloan a turnover in the defensive end to Jokkinen, pass to Boedker... 1-1.

Ovechkin gets run over by someone.... a few minutes later, the 'Yotes break in on JT's right, a shot through the crease to the man on JT's left...

it's 2-1 Phoenix.

Caps with another PP... finally a shot at the end, cover Tellqvist.

10:00 left in regulation... Caps in the D end try to pass D to D, it's picked off, but the guy misses... Caps look terrible in their own end, and except for another great save by JT, would be down 2... 7:59 left...

6:50 left, the Caps break in with good chance, pass to Green, and- his stick breaks...

Theodore with 2 saves around the 5:42 mark...

5:15 left in regulation, TV timeout.

4:51 left, gloved by Theodore...

4:26 left, save Theodore... 4:13, Tellqvist covers and another TV timeout. Not a lot of desperation on the Caps part yet, that I can see. One of the few endearing parts of their game to me- they keep working, don't get down on themselves or each other...

Fun fact: Ovechkin has scored goals against 54 NHL goalies (including Tellqvist), but never Bryzgalov, and Phoenix didn't play him tonight...

3:17 left in regulation... Phoenix buzzes for :30, but doesn't get a shot off... 2:13, Caps are offside (right after Jovanovski crushes someone)...

we're under 2:00 left... 1:45, a great pass to Ovechkin just outside the top of the crease... robbery.

Under 1:00, empty net for the Caps... :45... :30... :15... Caps offside with :08.3, and Boudreau calls timeout...

2-1 Phoenix, final.

 

Just a few personal observations- the more things change, the more they stay the same: if Ovechkin/Backstrom/Semin don't do it, no one does. They still don't have anyone of substance at right wing on any line (yeah, Kozlov's hurt, but I said of substance); Clark seems to be  nowhere near his form before the injuries, Nylander was invisible tonight. Boudreau's line-shuffling has killed all offensive chemistry these last two games. Sloan will head back to the minors after this trip, never to be seen in the NHL again... while Lepisto and/or Alzner, for some reason, didn't get a chance this early in the year.

They look just like early last season, for long stretches of games- the team that almost ran the table at the end of the year almost never shows up to play.

Gonna be another very long season if they don't get it in gear these next 10 games. I told Ted Leonsis my hockey money's seriously on the line this year, and I meant it.

They've got 75 games left to get my attention again.

Boudreau and Ovechkin say it's not the end of the world (yet), but it seems a couple of guys, that's maybe crossed their minds....

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/capitalsinsider/