Hats decorated the ice, courtesy of Alexander Semin’s third goal of the game. His hat trick bumped his season total even closer to team-leader Alexander Ovechkin. So it was time to celebrate.
But the Capitals already knew Semin could score. What pleased them even more was Tomas Fleischmann’s two first-period goals in Sunday’s 7-1 win over visiting Tampa Bay. The team won back-to-back games for the first time since Jan. 6-9.
Semin now has 37 goals, trailing Ovechkin by four. Meanwhile, Fleischmann, who has been called up on five occasions, only has four goals, but the Capitals hope they’re a sign of his future, and not an aberration.
“To play in this league, you’ve got to feel like you belong,” Capitals coach Glen Hanlon said. “If you’ve got a two-on-one, you shoot the puck. … That’s what we’ve been waiting for.”
This also happens to be the last year of Fleischmann’s contract.
“I’m trying to prove I can play on this level,” he said. “Now I’m more confident and know what to expect. … I’m getting more ice time than I had before and I’m playing with great players, so there’s more opportunity to show what I can do.’’
As for Semin, his day included another goal in which he barely moved his feet. He also had a two-on-one with Fleichsmann, but after faking the defender, Semin had no passing lane — so he shot and scored.
“I guess I got a very good shot from childhood,’’ Semin said through an interpreter. “I always had the strongest shot and I’m just doing what I can do.”
