Recap: Caps 4, Canes 3 (OT)

The last thing I wanted tonight was another shootout. As much as I hate to say it, the Caps suck at shootouts. They have never really been too good at them, especially since Kozlov left. AO always seems lost on them. Semin tries to do too much. Laich tries that back-handed toe drag every time. Washington is 27th in the league in shooting percentage and only seem to win in the long ones when no team can score and someone like Bradley sneaks one in. I hate shootouts.

Good thing Eric Belanger has eyes on the side of his head.

His pass to Flash was superb. Flash's one-time snipe was equally pretty. The Caps got 2 points they didn't deserve all too much tonight, giving up a 2 goal lead and then a one goal lead after going up 3-2. With an ATL loss in regulation or OT tomorrow, the Caps can clinch the Southeast. In early March. Nice.

Some thoughts on the game:

• Mike Green's two goals give him 17 on the year. He leads defensemen league-wide by comfortable margins in goals, assists, and points, and is second in +/- to defensive partner Jeff Schultz. I can't downplay the year Duncan Keith is having. But Greener is the Norris winner right now.
  
• Speaking of Green, he had an excellent game. But his turnover that lead to Jokinen's goal was ugly. It looked like he just didn't get enough juice on his pass to Backstrom, but it was a bad place to put the puck, and it was costly.
• Ovie was a man on a mission, and I was astonished he didn't put one in. He made his presence felt by registering two assists and by wrecking two Carolina players after Backstrom was knocked down towards the end of the game.
  
• Speaking of Backstrom, he's still on pace for 100 points for the season.
• Theo was good, but not spectacular. He had some sparkling and clutch saves but I think he'd want one or two of those back.
• Corvo was brutal. Again. That blatant offensive zone pick was dumb and he just seems like a defensive liability on a team that really cant afford it.
• On the other hand, Pothier had one hell of a game, saving a sure goal not once, but twice, on the same powerplay.
• Didn't notice Osala too much. Kind of like when he was with the Caps.

So Tampa is next on the Southeast tour, and the Caps shouldn't have a problem. Probably. I can tell you one thing though. Flash aint getting scratched any time soon.