Capitals Cough Up a Late Lead
Coyotes Score Twice Early in Third to Overcome Laich's Goal: Coyotes 2, Capitals 1

By Tarik El-Bashir
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, October 24, 2008

GLENDALE, Ariz., Oct. 23 -- The Washington Capitals took a one-goal lead into the third period thanks mostly to José Theodore's best performance of the season.

Theodore, however, could only do so much.

The Phoenix Coyotes capitalized on a pair of defensive breakdowns in a span of about three minutes, then thwarted a late surge from the Capitals to send them to a third consecutive loss, 2-1, at Jobing.com Arena.

After scoring at least three goals per game in the season's first five games, the Capitals are officially in an offensive drought after posting a single goal for the second straight game, their fewest goals in a two-game span since last January.

"We played well the first two periods, but we came out flat in the third period and got out-worked," winger Matt Bradley said. "There's no excuse for that. We have to do some soul searching."

Alex Ovechkin had another un-MVP like performance, going scoreless for the sixth time in seven games despite putting seven shots on net. One of his best chances came with about a 1 1/2 minutes remaining, when he had the puck on his stick at the top of the crease and no one but Coyotes backup goaltender Mikael Tellqvist between him and his first goal since the second game this season. But Tellqvist made the stop and the Coyotes held on to snap a three-game losing streak.

Theodore turned aside the first 26 shots he faced, and Brooks Laich gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal near the midpoint of the second period.

Then things unraveled -- and quickly -- in the third period.

Just 2 minutes 29 seconds into the final frame, the Coyotes pulled even on a goal by Mikkel Boedker after a giveaway in the Capitals' zone by defenseman Tyler Sloan, who was skating in only his second NHL game.

"He had options," Coach Bruce Boudreau said of Sloan's mental mistake. "He could have put the puck off the glass. He's got to make that play."

Then at 6:32, Peter Mueller beat defenseman Shaone Morrisonn to the net and fired in a cross-ice pass from Martin Hanzal.

"He only had one guy to cover," Boudreau said of Morrisonn's misplay. "Two major mistakes, two point-blank shots and now you're fighting from behind."

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.