Caps struggle again in 3rd period, fall to Rangers, 4-3
By: Brian McNally
Examiner Staff Writer
October 9, 2009
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| Alex Ovechkin, right, reacts while Caps goalie Jose Theodore falls on the ice after the New York Rangers' Ryan Callahan scored during the second period Thursday night at Verizon Center. |
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A fluke goal swung the momentum and, for a few minutes at least, the Capitals were on the way to another victory.
But in what has become a worrisome trend early this season, a third-period lead disappeared thanks to defensive breakdowns and shaky goaltending. So instead of leaving Verizon Center with their third win in four games, a pair of quick goals by New York Rangers forward Marian Gaborik left Washington on the losing end of a 4-3 score.
The Caps have now allowed 14 goals over the last eight periods of hockey. That’s an unacceptable rate for a team that fancies itself a contender in the Eastern Conference. The 2-1-1 record may be fine for now. But other than an opening night win over Boston, the way Washington has reached it won’t do at all.
“Any time you have a lead in the last 10 minutes of the game you have to [win],” said Caps coach Bruce Boudreau. “If you’re going to be a good team you have to [win]. We’ve blown two leads now like that and almost a third in four games…That better stop in a hurry.”
It was a bad night all around for the Caps. The power play is their ultimate weapon, but that unit started 0-for-7 and couldn’t score on two 5-on-3 advantages or a 4-on-3 to build on a first-period goal by Alex Semin. Instead, the Rangers led 2-1 heading into the third period.
A fluke goal by center Nicklas Backstrom ignited the Washington bench at 3 minutes, 17 seconds of the third period. His shot one step inside the red line somehow slipped past New York goalie Henrik Lundqvist. Backstrom followed that stunning turn of events with a power-play goal at 7:51. All of the sudden, Verizon Center was humming and a win seemed inevitable.
That’s not what happened, though. Just 18 seconds later, Gaborik found space between the circles and whipped a shot past Caps goalie Jose Theodore. Less than three minutes later, Gaborik faced almost the exact same situation – alone in the slot without a defender in sight. He beat Theodore again and just like that Washington was behind with under 10 minutes to go.
“Those are the ones in the third period that you’ve got to stop,” Boudreau said. “[Theodore] kept us in the game for most of it. But those are the ones – goals three and four – that you have to stop.”
Indeed, Theodore made a batch of quality saves in the first period to keep the Rangers off the board. In the end, he stopped 25 of 29 shots. Semin’s goal in the first period – off a wonderful backdoor pass from defenseman Brian Pothier – was his fifth of the season, tying him with teammate Alex Ovechkin for the team lead. Forwards Ryan Callahan and Ales Kotalik each scored during a two-minute stretch in the second period for New York to give their team a 2-1 lead. That sloppy play was forgotten after Backstrom’s two goals put Washington back on top. But it quickly resurfaced after Gaborik’s goals and was the main topic of conversation afterwards.
“We have to live up to how good we are. On paper we’re probably top-two most talented team in the league,” said Caps captain Chris Clark. “We just have to show it. It’s a long season and I think the hardest thing is just to do it every day. Consistency will be our toughest battle.”
