Caps 5, Florida Panthers 4 (shootout)
The Caps fell behind 4-1 for the second game in a row. Rookie goalie Michal Neuvirth was also pulled once again. They didn’t generate a single power play through the first two periods and basically left Jose Theodore out to dry late in overtime with two breakaways allowed and then a penalty in the final minute.
Yet Washington somehow rallied to win, 5-4, in a shootout. It’s nice to have talent, I guess. Brian Pothier, Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom all scored to tied the game at 4 and Tomas Fleischmann ended the game in the sixth round of the shootout. Theodore stopped all 15 shots he faced in relief of Neuvirth. Not ideal. But the Caps (28-12-6, 62 points) will take it as they head back home after a 2-1 road trip against Southeast Division opponents. With games looming against Toronto on Friday and Philadelphia on Sunday, they get a much-deserved day off tomorrow.
The big story was Theodore’s play. Let’s be honest – Michal Neuvirth is 21. He’s a nice prospect and won a Calder Cup last spring. But he’s started all of 16 games in his NHL career and didn’t make it to the third period in either of his last two. It’s a stretch to think he can carry this team until Semyon Varlamov returns from his groin and knee injuries – mostly because we don’t know when that will be exactly.
For all his struggles, Theodore is still a veteran who can jump into a game stone cold and make some saves. Bruce Boudreau had started him just three times since Dec. 18. But he looked good Jan. 7 vs. Ottawa (26 saves, 28 shots) and was outstanding off the bench tonight. The numbers – .899 save percentage, 2.96 GAA – aren’t pretty. Theodore ranks 38th in the NHL in save percentage and 36th in goals-against. But after consecutive beatings, Neuvirth’s (.892 and 3.27) are even worse. The Caps have a game every other day between now and Jan. 23 so Neuvirth won’t be buried – not even if Boudreau wanted to. But I’m guessing we’ll see Theodore twice this weekend. Will try to get a Varlamov update on Friday.
Other items of note: Jason Chimera also scored for the Caps – his second goal in three games. He added an assist and a fight to earn the old “Gordie Howe” hat trick. Caps senior writer Mike Vogel noted that was the first for Washington since Ben Clymer had one on Feb. 3, 2006. That’s nice since the Caps are still carrying Clymer on their salary cap to the tune of $366,667 a year after a 2007 buyout….With his team fighting to erase the three-goal deficit, Boudreau buried the fourth line tonight. Matt Bradley led the way with 7 minutes, 17 seconds of ice time. Dave Steckel had 6:34 and Quintin Laing only 5:59….The Caps actually outshot Florida 14-6 in the third and 37-30 for the game….They were 0-for-1 on the power play…. By the way – will have a Chimera story in the Examiner’s print edition on Friday.
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