Photo credit: Gregg Forwerck
The yuletide has receded, and the Washington Capitals have gotten back to work. Meeting the Carolina Hurricanes in snow-covered Raleigh, the Caps were out to test their mettle following that shootout loss to Pittsburgh on the 23rd.
Mathieu Perreault crashed the net in the first period, turning a sublime, unguarded puck from Alex Semin into the night’s first goal. In the second, Jussi Jokinen exploited a bad Caps line change to sneak one past Semyon Varlamov. Minutes later, Alex Ovechkin stormed through neutral ice and set up David Steckel to make the score 2-1. In the late second period, a bounce went finally went the right way for Ovi, who submitted the Caps third and final goal. The Canes attempted a comeback led by Jay Harrison/Tuomo Ruutu’s goal, but couldn’t get all the way. Caps beat Canes 3-2.
We are encouraged by Alex Ovechkin’s offensive breakout and eager to see it continued. The Capitals don’t seem to be encumbered by any Christmas baggage. Leading into the biggest week of hockey until the playoffs (from the media’s perspective at least), the Caps are full steam ahead.
Habs at home on Tuesday and then the Winter Classic on Saturday. Beat dat beat.
Additional reporting by Neil Greenberg.
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