| Page 2 of 2 < |
Capitals Cough Up a Late Lead
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
The Capitals mustered a final charge, but Tellqvist, making his first start of the season, was up to the task. He finished with 31 saves.
Boudreau was at a loss to explain what has happened to his team's previously potent offense.
"We're not getting production from a lot of guys," Boudreau said, shrugging. "That's really hurting us."
Although Boudreau did not want to make excuses, it seems the Capitals are beginning to miss winger Viktor Kozlov (knee) and defenseman Tom Poti (groin), two big-minute players. Add to that the injury to defenseman John Erskine (bruised leg) and the lineup clearly lacks the punch it did early this season.
The first period ended scoreless after standout performances by both goaltenders. Tellqvist made 13 saves, while Theodore made 14, including a sliding side-to-side stop on Shane Doan. Theodore made 32 stops for the night.
The Capitals finally squeezed one past Tellqvist on the power play at 8:18 of the second period after a beautiful pass from Alexander Semin. Laich skated the puck into the zone, dished to Semin, who toe-dragged the puck close to him before slipping a pass through a defenseman's skate. Laich snapped Semin's pass past Tellqvist before the goalie could get into position.
Theodore, meantime, continued his sold play, stopping all 12 shots he faced in the second. His best save was on Coyotes' defenseman Ed Jovanovski. Phoenix was on the power play when Jovanovski thought he had Theodore beat, only for the Capitals' goaltender to slide over and rob him.
"It's not what the other teams are doing," Bradley said. "It's what we're not doing. We have the skill, but we're just not working. If you don't work, you don't win."
Capitals Notes: Erskine has signed a two-year contract extension that will keep the rugged defenseman in Washington through 2010-11. Erskine's new deal will pay him $1.25 million both of the next two seasons, a healthy raise over the $550,000 he earned this season. He was a healthy scratch 24 times last season and led the team with 36 minor penalties, but had appeared in five of the first six games this season before being sidelined against the Coyotes. He has an assist and 11 penalty minutes and is averaging 14:52 of ice time per game, the fifth-highest total among Capitals defenseman. . . .
Referee Kelly Sutherland stopped play in the first period after a deflected puck broke in half.
