Still 0-0 after 8 minutes of play. Shots: 6-2 Blues. Varlamov in goal (as I expected after the 4 goals given up by Johnson, although it was not really his fault).

Kolbe mentioning that the total 12 shots so far don't say how much offense there was in this fast pace game. And it's true that the Caps shot 8 times wide, for instance. 32 shots were actually taken in 12 minutes, 16 by each team.

Goalie for Blues is Ben Bishop, who started the season in the AHL, like Varlamov.

"Here's Viktor Kozlov... shoots and scooooores!! Viktor Kozlov! From the right wing circle!"

1-0 Caps. Assist: Backstrom.

Kozlov was already hot, with 4 points (assists) in his last 4 games. Looks like he's waking up a little. If only Nylander did too...

Period ends with a couple of good opportunities for the Caps.

1-0 Caps.

Shots: 11-11 (28-21 Caps overall).

Hits: 8-1 Caps.

Faceoffs: 12-5 Blues (Caps = 29%).

Second penalty of the game a few minutes into the second period: Backes to the box, Caps with their first power play.

Caps, who were at one point 27th in the league in PP, are now 6th!

Fehr to the box, with 2 seconds left to the PP.

Killed.

Just found out that the Caps are tied with San Jose for first in the league in "winning percentage - scoring first": 78.9%.

Caps did score first, but the Blues just tied the game! Sounds like Varlamov was not guilty at all. Bad pass by Kozlov, or something. Backes is the one who scored.

And seconds later, Caps on the PP again.

Power play killed again, and the score remains 1-1.

Kozlov scores!!! On the rebound. His second of the game. Hope you got to see that one, Roger, it won't happen all the time.

2-1 Caps.

Assists: Gordon and Poti.

Time of the goal: 17:06.

I missed the first one, but got the 2nd as I got home with 18:30 left 2nd.

Now Fleishmann makes it 3-1!!! I actually thought this would end 2-1 or 3-2 in OT or the Special, but maybe not!

Tip-tap-toe between Steckel, Fehr and Fleischmann, scores!!! 3-1. A great shot by Thomas Fleischmann, who now has more goals in 30 games than he had in 75 last season.

Delayed penalty called against the Blues, end of the second period. Caps will start the third one on the power play.

And while I was not listening, Ovechkin scored his 20th goal of the season, 13 seconds into the third period, on that delayed PP.

4-1 Caps.

Assists: Kozlov (who's definitely hot, LOL) and Semin.

Yes, Kozlov is hot- against the Blues. Tell me what he does against the Pens, or the Wings, or the Devils..... or in the playoffs.

I'm not impressed.

edit: Or San Jose.

Haha!

Didn't really understand what happened with Ovechkin and Tkachuk.

Now an unsportsmanlike call, not sure on who- JB says game getting out of hand of the officials.

'K, I got the point.

Once Semin was down, Ovie kind of went after the nearest guy in a Blues' uni.

Kozlov with the penalty, Ovechkin with the own goal.....

4-2

And Blues score on the ensuing PP. 4-2.

Now Brashear levels someone, Tkachuk takes offense and crosschecks DB, but no blows and no calls.....

And after Jesse Winchester shooting down Johnson's shutout the other day, it was this time Brad Winchester.

JB points out Green has played sparsely this period, and Semin has not returned.... Varlamov STONES Tkachuk on a mini-breakaway.... under 5:00 left in regulation. Lots of BIG hits now along the boards....

I guess Semin is out as a precaution. There's no need to take risks.

Caps to the PP... oops- 4 on 4 as Var plays puck outside the Trapezoid of Doom

StL scores, but no goal as the guy punched it in with his hand, which was above the crossbar.....

turned into a very strange game, didn't it?

Semin a precaution? We shall see, if he doesn't paly in Philly saturday. Speaking of which, I'm going on that trip with the Road Crew, so won't be around at all to post my drivel for our millions of readers.

Oh, well- if they can't take a joke....

Empty net.

Morrisonn gets the puck for Steckel and maybe Poti, but shoots wide.

And now, Fehr, wide again!

45 seconds left.

Offside call against the Blues.

A few more seconds of play. Icing call against the Caps.

I am so not scared, hehe.

Kozlov almost completed the hat trick!!!

End of game. Caps win again.

Steckel had a shot right on, but it was so slooooooow the StL D got back and got it 6 feet before crossing the line...........

4-2 Caps, final!!!!

Decent game, not great, and we may have a couple of injuries....

I'm giving up my tickets on Dec 26th and Jan 3rd, so I'll be around for all of those games (work gets in the way of life).

Have a great morning (although it's late evening, here), and I'll see you at the games!

Stars:

1. Kozlov (mwahaha!)
2. Varlamov
3. Ovechkin

Night, Roger.

PS: I'll have my children here from Saturday 20 to Saturday 27, so I very probably won't be able to follow the next three games live, except for the last period of the one in Philly, maybe.