Washington off to a hot start on offense
The first week of the NHL season went about as well as could be expected for the Capitals.
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They are 2-0-1 and gained points out of tough locations in Boston and Philadelphia. Both of those teams are expected to be Stanley Cup contenders in 2009-10. Star forward Alex Ovechkin has scored five goals already and teammate Alex Semin is right behind him with four. Center Nicklas Backstrom has reaped the benefits with eight assists. That trio hasn’t always played together in the past simply because they sometimes abandon all defensive principles. But their chemistry is undeniable and the three are playing like they don’t ever want to be broken up as a line.
“They were on for one goal against Philadelphia. But that arguably wasn’t a very good one,” Caps coach Bruce Boudreau said. “They are being more responsible and I told them when they came back for camp that if they want to play together this is what they have to do.”
Not that everything is perfect as the Caps prepare to host the New York Rangers on Thursday night at Verizon Center. Washington has allowed 10 goals over its last two games and took nine penalties in the Philadelphia game. Rookie goalie Semyon Varlamov also struggled against the Flyers, allowing four second-period goals on 15 shots before being pulled.
The Rangers (2-1-0) — who pushed the Caps to seven games in a first-round Stanley Cup playoff series last spring — also are off to a good start. They added a pair of promising young defensemen in Matt Gilroy and Michael Del Zotto. But the biggest addition has been forward Marian Gaborik. The former Minnesota Wild star has battled injury problems in the past. But so far, so good for New York. Gaborik has two goals and two assists and gives the Rangers the dynamic presence up front they missed last year without Jaromir Jagr, who left to play in Russia.
