During the 2nd period I was thinking about what I would title my game recap and was leaning toward "Kill me now... Just do it already". The Caps looked like a broken Arnold Schwarzenegger from the first Predator movie after two periods of play. However, much like the movie, the all but beaten Caps regained their composure and defeated the Predators.
The Capitals looked abysmal after two tonight; they were losing nearly every battle imaginable. The Preds were winning the battle along the boards, and were continuing to force the Caps offense to them. The Caps looked sloppy in the neutral zone and in their own end. Turnovers at the blue-line and neutral zone and their inability to clear the defensive zone cleanly created numerous scoring opportunities for the Predators.The Caps were out shot 39-34, though it was a much larger margin until the 3rd. The Preds, won the face-off battle 32-26 and managed 11 takeaways.
After two periods the Caps were trailing 2-0, with the goals for the Predators coming from J.P. Doumont in the 1st and Jordin Tootoo's deflection off of Brian Fahey's skate in the 2nd.
Enter Micheal Neuvirth, tonight's game's saving grace. Neuvy made 37 saves, including a dazzling glove save on a breakaway by Joel Ward in the 2nd (caused by one of many turnovers at the caps blue-line). Nuevy's glove hand was impeccable tonight, and his performance thus far should make for tough competition for Varlamov when he makes his return.
Neuvirth was able to keep the scoring deficit manageable until the Caps found their game in the 3rd. The game opened up and the tempo picked up considerably. The Caps began winning board battles and fore-checking successfully, after looking uninspired for the first two periods. Alex Semin opened the scoring for the Capitals with a Power Play goal that trickled past Anders Linback, who also had a great night in goal for the Preds with 31 saves. Brooks Laich's tenacity on the fore-check led to Tomas Fleischman's, game tying, tally.
In Overtime, as one would expect, Alex Ovechkin took control. After tearing into the offensive zone, Ovechkin was taken down by Ryan Suter, giving the Caps (who were 2-5 on the man advantage) an OT power play. One minute later, Ovechkin fired a shot from the point and it was deflected in by Brooks Laich for the game-winner.
In a game that for all intents and purposes the Caps should have lost, a stellar performance in goal by Michael Neuvirth kept them alive long enough for Ovechkin & Co. to come alive in the 3rd and mount a comeback; taking 2 points away from a solid Nashville club.
* Perhaps the most surprising stat of the night is that the Caps remained a perfect 21-21 on the PK... While their Power Play is only at 4-22.
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