Caps have called up Sean Collins from Hershey, seems to indicate yet another Dman is injured... we shall see.

PP is red hot, over 33% since November 12th.... Kozlov has 4-7-11 over the last 11 games.... Johnson in goal.

Game starts right after these commercials (and I get a healthy drink of Dickel in my glass).

Interview with Alzner right now- well spoken guy, not shy of the microphone at all. Ended by talking up Ovechkin highly, as Koken asked what it was like to play with AO instead of against him. Said Ovie brings it on and off the ice, at practice, all the time. Now a short Boudreau interview on the hockey attitude in Toronto. "The center of the hockey universe.... this is where it's at.... a crazy place, but they love their hockey."

Johnson vs Toskala.

Game on.

Joe B. confirms Tyler Sloan out with a bruised heel, Collins replaces him.

Caps' line: AO/Backstrom/Nylander, Fleishmann/Aucoin/Kozlov, not sure of the other two lines. Lots of effort in the first 4:00, no results.

Other lines seem to be Laich/Gordon/Fehr, Brashear/Steckel/Bradley. D pairings apparently Alzner/Jurcina, Collins/Helmer, Lepisto/Morrisonn.

JB mentioning if BJ has a good one tonight, Boudreau will probably go with him again tomorrow as he'll be "hot"- if that's the reasoning, why did he bench Theodore after a shutout? I can't figure Boudreau out. He talks a great game, but I think he jerks the goalies around more than necessary.

The Caps with a good chance there, a weak dribbler through the crease and out the other side.

TV timeout.

12:23 left Caps on the PP now, and Toskala with a big cover and a stick save a few secs later....

killed. 10:00 left 1st.

Morrisonn goes for a high stick, Brashear and Helwig? go for roughing.... Leafs' PP.+

edit: that was 4 on 4- Brashear walked away clean. My bad.

Back to even strength.....

snoozefest of a 1st. Neither one of these teams wants to win yet (not real sure if that applies only to tonight, or the season).5:00 left 1st.

:56.1.... :20.... :09.3, icing Leafs....

0-0, end 1zzzzzzzzzzzt.

2nd on.................... yawn................

Wow- a goal!

Alzner with his first NHL goal, a knuckler that seems to change direction (I thought Ovechkin tipped it at first) and goes through Toskala.

1-0 Caps.

Payback PP for the Leafs....

SOGs are 17-7 Caps.... Johnson with a "10 bells" save on Blake....

killed. 13:40 left 2nd.

Ovechkin destroys Hollweg and his stick with a HUUUUUUGE hit.... it gets a little interestinger....

 

now a TV timeout.

Another Caps goal, but.... under review. Laich may have kicked it in....

no goal. Boudreau is incensed.

edit: was a strage play, anyway- Collins shot, off the post to Toskala's right, a failed clear attempt went through to the other side of the crease, where Laich took a swipe at it and missed, but it hit his skate and went in. I certainly didn't see a distinct kicking motion, but the powers that be apparently did (as it originally was called a goal on the ice).

The Caps get an immediate PP, but don't do a lot with it.

Antropov with a big shot coming out of the box, Johnson save.....

under 8:00 left 2nd.

Meanwhile, with just under 5:00 left 2nd, it seems Fehr is hurt and out now.... the injuries continue. 

Ovechkin gets a turnover and is clear about 10 feet in front of Toskala.... he misses by a good 5 feet....

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Alzner with a loooong pass to Ovechkin, who gets tangled with the Dman... they both go down.... Ovechkin to his feet, goes down again and rockets one while FLAT ON HIS STOMACH where Toskala makes a really GREAT save.... almost "the Goal" again!

1-0 Caps, end 2nd.

SOGs are 22-12 Caps after 2.... chances, 6-3 same... Caps lead all stats.

Speaking of shots, they had some video of Fehr on the bench, in tears and grimacing, holding his left arm/shoulder.... didn't look good at all. Poor guy finally gets his big chance to shine after a year-long injury, and it looks like another serious setback at this point. Ykies.

When did Stan Wong come back as a trainer?

edit: Yikes, too.

3rd on, Ovechkin whiffs on another clear shot.... and now he's in the box. Leafs' PP....

killed, just under 15:00 left in regulation.

And Ovechkin right back to the box, called by the trailing official....

... and costs them the lead.

1-1, goal by Antropov.

JURCINA GETS IT RIGHT BACK!!!!!!

2-1 Caps!

We're under 8:30 left in regulation.... Tarik from the Post reports Fehr is listed "day to day" already, I'd guess separated shoulder. Watch ovechkin get a goal here, then Toronto scores and Ovie has the GWG- I think he's played ok in spurts tonight, fine on D, but nowhere near the dominating offensive game he can play.

Well under 6:00 left.... under 5:00.... Backstrom with a good close shot.... rebound.... OVECHKIN OFF THE POST! NO GOAL! .... the guy has had at least 4 chances to put this game away.... under 3:00.... 2:30.... 2:00.... stoppage at 1:36....

 

EN for the Leafs.... Laich clears.... under 1:00.... :45.... :30.... deflected off the rink at :24.7.... Boudreau calls timeout.

:14.8, puck off the ice....  Johnson tries a shot.... :04.9, stoppage....

2-1 Caps, final!