I fear I'm too tired to follow this one like I thought I would, but I'll start the thread.

Last 12 games (according to the titles of our threads):

3 wins in regulation
1 win in OT
1 win in SO

5 losses in regulations
1 loss in OT
1 loss in SO

Caps won 4 of their last 7, though, but they gotta do better than that (well, that would be enough in the playoffs, but that's called living dangerously).

Scratches tonight: Semin, Laing, Schultz.

Caps recalled Aucoin and Osala. Aucoin is 23-66-89 in 67 games with the Bears this season (he's leading the AHL in points). Osala is 23-14-37 in 68 games.

This was my last (pre-game) comment for tonight, unfortunately. I go to bed. Go, Caps!

Lots of PP proves good for the Caps- I left as the Fleishmann goal was under review (called it off his skate, no way they could deny it was a goal), and got home with 19:27 left 2nd and the score 3-1 Caps..... lots of back and forth these next 6:00, but no real good chances either way. Still 3-1 Caps, about 12:30 left 2nd.

edit: Caps were 3 of 5 on the PP in the 1st.... wowsers.

12:00 left, Marty breaks in clearly all alone- Theo stones him cold. Theo has been awesome tonight, maybe the best he's been all season. Several great stops already with a half game left. MSL "Shaking his head on the bench" says CL.....

Semin was scratched due to a bout with the flu- Boudreau said a day or two ago, you can't scratch half the roster (so the flu is rampant in the room, apparently).

Caps with a 3 on 2, but Nylander passes rather than shoot.... typical. That's at least twice this game ( I saw one instance live before I left)....

scoring change on the 2nd goal, Fleishmann said it was Backstrom to the official scorers (I could have sworn it was off TF's skate), so now it's Backstrom's goal. OV with 1-2-3 so far tonight....

VLC to the box for interference... Caps' PP.

 

Kozlov fires one off the crossbar and out of play.... there was one shot in the 1st, went off McKenna's glove, off the post, and out.... Caps are very close to blowing this one out.

Pettinger denied SH by Green's D.... Kozlov to the box. Bolts' PP wwhen the 4 on 4 is done....

about 1:30 of PP time for Tampa.... great clear, not sure who it was.... Laich out with it again.... Tampa gets it back Marty on a 3 on 2, Theo BIG again on Prospal.... and Stamkos just misses the net, but it was swatted with a glove.....

Ovechkin denied on a good drive.... 2:47 icing Caps.... Caps lots of buzzzzzz with 2:00 left 2nd.... Caps lead the SOGs 28-19.... Theo stops one, but the rebound goes in the empty side of the net- it's 3-2 Caps with :54 left 2nd.

McKenna no rebound at :29.4.... Ovechkin misses the net.....

3-2 Caps, end 2nd.

3rd on, Cap-in-the-box, killed....

and then Vinny scores on a strange shot, up and over Theo's left shoulder.

3-3, in a game the Caps should be killing the Bolts.

But the Caps come right back

- Pothier shoots, it's deflected by something, and it's 4-3 Caps with 15:20 left in reg.

11:43, the Caps go PP again.... Ovechkin falls down and Theo thwarts a SH chance... then Ovie breaks his stick on a shot.... killed....

zzzzzzzzzzzzz now.... 7:45 left reg....

 

Strange action, Halpern has a goal washed out, finally ovechkin scores the empty-netter, and the Caps win 5-3.

On Prospal's tying goal at 3-3 (not Lecavalier's), St. Louis first clearly trips Green down, and is apparently surprised that the refs don't whistle (he has a quick look behind his shoulder). Tampa Bay's play-by-play: "As Green goes down, trying to get a call..." :P