Caps 2, Ottawa 1
Now that was a good period. The Caps had to weather some strong pushes by the Senators, who seemed to hold the puck in their offensive zone for a good chunk of the first 15 minutes and took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Peter Regin at 7:27. But the Caps rebounded on Chris Clark’s tally at 11:19 – that play was reviewed, but the good folks in Toronto decided he did not kick the puck in, but directed it with his skate instead. Questionable and Clark hardly celebrated his own goal so that should tell you something.
Washington finished the period strong, taking the last nine shots. I tweeted that center Brendan Morrison scored a power-play goal with just 30 seconds left, but in fact the pass from Mike Green came just after the penalty had expired. Green now has a point in seven straight games and 16 of 18. He has just three goals, but 21 assists. Morrison registered goal No. 8 – six of those on the road.
Goalie Semyon Varlamov got the start again for the Caps and had to be sharp early as Ottawa fired pucks his way from every direction. But he was up to it and stopped seven of eight shots. Even Regin’s goal was a tip in of a shot – or maybe a pass? – by Jesse Winchester. Nice start for the Caps. We’ll see if they have the legs to keep this up.
