Semin back in lineup
It has not been a perfect start. The power play is scuffling, third period leads continue to be an adventure and Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau has seen maybe two complete games from his team so far.
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But in the NHL — especially this early in the season — results are what really matter. And through 10 games Washington (6-2-2) is in first place in the Southeast Division and has the third-most points in the Eastern Conference with 14 overall.
The Caps are coming off a 2-0 road trip against Atlanta and the New York Islanders that was a microcosm of the season’s first month. They won despite a lethargic first 30 minutes on Saturday night against New York, falling behind 2-0 and winning just 30 percent of their faceoffs. But a third-period rally pushed the game into overtime, where Brooks Laich tipped home the game-winner. On Thursday, Washington almost blew a 5-2 lead to the Thrashers, holding on in the final chaotic seconds. Another issue — the power play is 0-for-11 in its last two games.
“Points wise we’re where we want to be,” Boudreau told reporters after practice on Monday. “But I don’t think we’re as consistent as we want to be. Hopefully that will get there as the season progresses.”
The power-play unit will get a boost tonight when forward Alexander Semin returns from injury and illness after missing both games of the road trip. Semin has four power-play points in eight games. Washington can use him when it hosts the Philadelphia Flyers at Verizon Center on Tuesday night.
The Flyers (5-3-1, 11 points) have looked shaky in October. Defensemen Braydon Coburn and Kimmo Timonen were abysmal in a 4-1 home loss to San Jose on Sunday. That duo was on the ice for all four Sharks goals. Coburn is a -8 this season and Timonen is a -7. That’s bad news for Philadelphia, which has relied on that pair the last two seasons. The Flyers will likely be without key forward Simon Gagne (groin) on Tuesday night, according to a report in the Philadelphia Daily News.
