Controversy right off the bat- at stoppage at 19:49, the refs talk to both benches, but then play continues.... and at 17:20, more controversy- the Caps stuff one, the light goes on, but the ref calls it off and play continues until 15:47 without a stoppage. Now under review....

It's ruled no goal....

... and Malkin has already got a goal for Pittsburgh tonight- the Art Ross is slipping away....

fast period, and except for the two whistles and their results, a boring period. Not much going on. Bradley gets a glove knocked off, Ovechkin gets stopped on a shot, and we get a TV timeout 11:36 left 1st.

Suddenly, the Caps control and score-the Panthers make a bad clear when they try to change, Semin latches on to it and rockets one to Laich in the slot, and it's 1-0 Caps that quick.

Panthers with some pressure on Theo, but he covers it.... again, but they shoot it wide this time....

Theo doing lots of saving now, and with 5:11 left 1st it's another TV timeout.

Florida tied it at 4:10, Theo screened on the shot.

1-1

Zednik breaks in at 3:50, but he hits Theo right in the chest with it....

1-1, end 1st.

Highlights coming up, and JB says Theo was the victim of "a bad bounce".... we shall see....

it looks like Theo was ready, but it deflected off Aucion. We'll give him that one.

2nd on.... 4:00 gone already, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....

 

TV timeout as the Caps go on the PP.

Booth breaks in SH, but Theo blocks it.... the man comes out of the box, Dvorak breaks in alone, and it's 2-1 Panthers.

Green to the box with 9:19 left 2nd, Panthers on the PP.... the Caps come down SH, nothing.... they go back the other way, McCabe makes it 3-1 Panthers.

 

Just after they talk up a stat, Ovechkin fires one, it bounces off a Dman and right to Semin- goal. So Ovie is even with Malkin on the night, but still 4 points behind.

3-2 panthers. Now Theo under the gun again....

the stat they showed? The Caps had 4 of the top 12 in the League in PPG- ovechkin, Backstrom, Semin, and green. First time any team could say that since I think they said '94-'95, when the Pens had Lemieux, Jagr, Francis, and Medved.

3-2 Panthers, end 2nd.

3rd is on....

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Couple minutes in play picks up, now the Caps get a PP as ovechkin is hauled down by McCabe.....

and Semin scores :32 in!!!

3-3

Right after the Caps have a great shift, Florida comes down on a 2 on 1 and Booth scores his second of the night- 4-3 Panthers.

Seconds later, Vokoun stops Fedorov on a great chance....

111:40 left in regulation, TV timeout.

Got sidetracked for a couple minutes and missed an Ovechkin goal!!!!

4-4

A minute later, Eminger comes down on a 2 on 1 break and scores.... and now Florida scores again just seconds after the faceoff.

6-4 Panthers.

I'm here for the last minutes. What a disaster!

Pittsburgh leads Montreal 3-1 late, and if that holds up, the Caps will play the Rangers in the opening round. Should be an interesting series. I'm going to skip the last couple minutes here, need to make a call (still on dialup hahahaha)....

see you before the playoffs start.

Panthers hit the post of the empty net, no goal.

And Ovechkin hits the goal post too, now (but the other one)!

Panthers finally get the empty net goal with 9 seconds left.

In a sense, this defeat is a good thing: they won't attack the playoffs with too much confidence.

Final score.

Game is over in Montreal. Pens actually scored 2 short-handed goals in less than a minute to win this one.

See you for the first round against the Rangers. When you're at the game, I'll try to post detailed threads for our numerous readers.