Caps 1, Canadiens 0
Caps were outshot 14-7 – and at one point were down 8-1. Rookie Michal Neuvirth looked steady in goal in first NHL start of the year. Montreal did a pretty good job of getting traffic in front, but the 21-year-old appeared pretty calm. Fellow rookie John Carlson held his own playing alongside defensive partner Tom Poti. Six shifts for the 19-year-old – the youngest player to suit up for Caps since Alex Semin in 2003. Played 6 minutes, 19 seconds. No glaring mistakes at all or obvious nerves.
Caps power play looked lethargic on its first attempt and dangerous on the next two. Mike Green blasted a good half-dozen shots just wide of goalie Carey Price. Just didn’t get lucky. So 0-for-3 so far. But Montreal is playing with fire with three minor penalties. Washington’s lone penalty came with one second left in the period when Caps defenseman John Erskine and Canadiens heavyweight Georges Laraque jawed for a second and then lept at each other. Brief bout, but a good one. Erskine got a few good shots in and then the two fell to the ice.
Lone goal came from Eric Fehr. His shot from the left circle was set up by dirty work by teammate Mathieu Perreault, who continues to shine in his call-up from AHL Hershey. Thanks to Caps PR staff: Perreault has six points in eight games played (2 G, 4 A). Because of the injuries he’s not likely to go back to Hershey anytime soon. But even if the Caps were healthy it’s hard to see Perreault not sticking for a while. Just a very slippery player who even at his size seems to come away with his share of pucks in the corners. He’s done this a few times now. For his part, Fehr has five points (3 G, 2 A) in his last eight games. Maybe he’s slowly shaking off the affects of that double shoulder surgery over the summer.
