Fleischmann’s goal in extra time followed Semin’s hat trick in regulation
Alexander Semin recorded a hat trick, goalie Michal Neuvirth made 29 saves and Tomas Fleischmann scored the game-winner in overtime as the Capitals defeated the Atlanta Thrashers, 4-3, at Verizon Center on Saturday night.
Fleischmann batted home a shot by teammate Eric Fehr at 1 minute, 37 seconds of overtime to lift Washington to the victory. That erased the game-tying goal by Atlanta forward Evander Kane, who had scored with just 33 seconds left in regulation and goalie Chris Mason pulled for the extra attacker.
“Any kind of win would have been the kind we needed,” said Caps coach Bruce Boudreau, whose team had lost consecutive games during the week to the Boston Bruins. “I thought it would have been a real tough pill to swallow if we hadn’t come away with points going on three tough road games next week.”
Washington played the game shorthanded on the blueline as defenseman Mike Green (shoulder) was limited to power-play duty only. That left it with just five defenseman rotating through shorter-than-usual shifts. It didn’t help that Atlanta wasn’t whistled for a penalty through the first 30 minutes of the game, effectively keeping Green off the ice and wearing down his five teammates. It wasn’t until Washington got 4:28 of power play time in the final 9:41 of the second period that Green skated at all.
“Our power-play specialist got out there and gave the guys some free time,” joked Caps defenseman John Erskine. “It was a tough game and guys logged a lot of ice time.”
For the second game in a row Washington gave up a late power-play goal in the final minute of the first period. Boudreau thought that was the difference in Thursday’s loss to Boston. This time, the Caps killed a two-minute interference penalty on forward Matt Hendricks. But when Erskine was whistled for boarding at 18:22 Atlanta took advantage.
Neuvirth stopped one shot, but Andrew Ladd out-muscled defenseman Karl Alzner in front and on his second whack at the puck pushed it past Neuvirth for the game’s first goal. The Thrashers outshot Washington 13-4 in the first period and early in the second had a 21-6 advantage.
But that tide turned quickly. Semin evened the game at 1 with his third goal of the season. That came just 38 seconds into the second period after Mason tried an ill-advised clearing attempt. Semin stopped the puck along the right boards and sent a missile past Mason.
“I was just trying to get my stick on the puck and make sure it winds up in the net,” Semin said through Russian journalist Slava Malamud, who served as translator. “How many times can you try to go around guys? I was just trying not to think about it and just shoot.”
But less than four minutes later – after an Atlanta power play had just expired – the Caps found themselves pinned in their own zone again. Rich Peverley had the puck behind Neuvirth’s net and fed Kane, who poked it home for the 2-1 lead.
Things turned ugly late in the second period when Thrashers forward Dustin Byfuglien ran into Neuvirth as he chased down a puck. Washington defenseman John Carlson may have made contact with Byfuglien, but officials still deemed it a major penalty for charging and gave Byfuglien a game misconduct. Erskine earned a roughing penalty for flying in to defend his goalie as Neuvirth lay inside his goal for about a minute before recovering.
Once Erskine’s penalty ended the Caps had three minutes of power-play time left. They couldn’t convert before the second period ended and a Brooks Laich penalty early in the third put a quick end to that advantage.
But they weren’t finished. An Atlanta turnover led to Mathieu Perreault driving in on goal. He was tripped and a penalty whistled. But before the Thrashers went to the penalty box, Semin netted his second of the night by popping in the rebound when Perreault’s initial shot hit a Thrashers player and bounced out.
The two hooked up again with 6:32 left in the game. Perreault grabbed a loose puck and skated out of the right corner, drawing a few Atlanta defenders with him. He then deftly found Semin alone at the right doorstep for the tap in and a hat trick. That one finally put the Caps ahead, 3-2.
“[Semin] is such a good player. He makes the job easier for me on the ice,” said Perreault, who was recalled from AHL Hershey on Friday night and made his season debut thanks to an injury to center Marcus Johansson (hip flexor). “Hopefully we can get some more games like that.”
