Better effort, same result. The Caps dropped to 18-10-3 and earned just one point on their just-concluded four-game homestand. This time it was a 3-2 loss to Colorado. Alex Semin’s decision to retaliate to some hacks and whacks led to a five-minute major penalty, his own ejection and a power-play goal for the Avalanche. That proved to be the difference. Read all the particulars in our game story.
Not sure if Semin will pay a price – from his own team in the form of a healthy scratch against the Rangers tomorrow or from the NHL itself. Caps coach Bruce Boudreau claimed the cross-check to John-Michael Liles wasn’t as hard as it looked live. But he conceded Semin extended his arms and may have drawn blood, too. That will get the book thrown at you pretty much every time. But at least to the media his teammates and coaches held their tongues and even offered some support. Whether that applies behind closed doors I can’t say for sure. But it does seem such a critical mistake wouldn’t escape notice.
“Stuff happens. He’s a driven athlete, driven player,” said Caps forward Matt Hendricks. “He probably wants to win more than anybody so stuff happens. All we can do is try to kill it off.”
That they almost did – but not before allowing a power-play goal with 1:14 left on the penalty. Hendricks, who played 60 games total in Colorado the past two seasons, scored his fourth goal of the year in the third period and tied for a team-high in shots with five. More than anyone, he epitomized Washington’s resurgent play – they kind of effort that absolutely must carry over to tomorrow night’s game.
“We got a breath of fresh air tonight. Our team played. For 60 minutes we played, we gave everything we have,” Hendricks said. “When you have an effort like that – obviously you want to win games – but win or lose you still feel like ‘Hey, we did something well tonight.’ Obviously you want two points in the win column. But I’ll take this. If we’ve got to take a loss I’d rather lose this way then the way we did the other night [against Florida].”
Caps Notes
» Congrats to forward Mike Knuble, who notched his 250th career goal in an appropriate way – batting home a rebound standing two feet in front of the opposing goalie. It was his sixth goal of the season and third in five games. Knuble now ranks 30th among active NHL players in goals through 917 career games.
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