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Capitals Are Standing Tall
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Washington's domination turned into something tangible at the 15-minute mark, when Cooke flicked a long rebound from the slot between Ward and the goal post to put the Capitals ahead 1-0. The goal set off the loudest celebration of the season.
"I thought it was the loudest I ever heard a building," Boudreau said.
But the Capitals knew it wasn't enough -- and their play reflected that.
Laich cut to the net, then backhanded a slick pass on the power play from Tomas Fleischmann off the wall with 59 seconds remaining in the first period to put the Capitals up 2-0.
Early in the second period, Carolina's Scott Walker dived headfirst into the crease after a loose puck and jammed it past Huet to make it 2-1. But that's as close as Huet would let the Hurricanes get.
Semin stretched the lead to 3-1, taking advantage of another power play at 14:28 of the second. Then Ovechkin scored his 63rd goal with 3:36 left to equal the most goals scored in a season by a left wing, pulling even with Luc Robitaille (1992-93). Ovechkin gathered a loose puck in the slot, turned and fired it past Ward to clinch the win.
For the next two minutes, he was serenaded by the crowd with chants of "M-V-P!"
"The atmosphere was great," Green said. "I have never seen a building like that. I have never seen the building like that. But we haven't done anything yet, and we know how important these next few games are."
Capitals Notes: Russian national coach Slava Bykov and assistant Igor Zakharkin were in attendance, presumably to scout Sergei Fedorov, Ovechkin, Viktor Kolzov and Semin ahead of the world championships in Canada May 2-19. . . . Carolina forwards Ray Whitney (ankle) and Justin Willliams (knee) returned to the lineup after lengthy absences, but Williams left the game in the first period with a torso injury.
