We’ve seen Caps defenseman Mike Green have these kinds of nights before. Two power-play goals. Two assists. It was the third four-point game of his career. He now has 12 multi-goal games and 64 with multiple points. His three power play goals in 2011-12 are just two shy of the five he recorded in 49 games during last year’s injury-plagued season.
“I thought it was Mike Green’s best game – maybe in a year,” Washington coach Bruce Boudreau said.
Green took 12 shifts against Detroit’s powerhouse top line of Pavel Datsyuk, Danny Cleary and Henrik Zetterberg. His only notable error came at 6:30 of the first period when – as the last line of defense during a one-on-one battle with Datsyuk in the high slot – he nicely pokechecked the puck away from the Russian winger and into the left corner. But the puck quickly worked its way behind the net to Cleary, who found Zetterberg on the right wing.
Meanwhile, Datsyuk slipped out of the corner away from Green and was there to receive a perfect slap pass from Zetterberg. He deked goalie Tomas Vokoun and didn’t score only because his backhand either hit Cleary’s skate in the crease or Vokoun’s. Green had a decent excuse, though. The boards ate his stick. Literally. He lost it when he and Datsyuk went into the corner, couldn’t get it unstuck and in the half-second before he decided to abandon it as a lost cause Datsyuk was gone.
Otherwise, didn’t note too many defensive problems for Green last night. He was not on the ice for the Red Wings’ power-play goal. And, of course, he was contributing at the offensive end. That’s the ultimate dream for Washington this season. If you could combine Green’s much-improved two-way play during his 49 games last season with the offensive dynamo who had back-to-back seasons of 73 and 76 points in 2008-09 and 2009-10 then you have a player capable of winning a Norris Trophy.
Easier said than done, obviously. The Caps have allowed 14 goals this season in seven games. That 2.0 goals against per game stat is excellent, but actually ranks only seventh-best in the NHL this early in the season. But Green has been on the ice for six of those 14 goals allowed. Five of those have been at even strength and one on the power play. So the jury is still out. He and defensive partner Roman Hamrlik had a rough night against Tampa Bay on Oct. 10 when they were on the ice for three goals against. In the five games since then it’s been just one even-strength goal against vs. Pittsburgh and another in the game at Philadelphia.
Offensively is another story. Green was brilliant against Detroit. The back-door play we so often saw earlier in his career worked to perfection on a cross-ice pass from Nick Backstrom for Green’s goal at 14:00 of the first period. Later, he placed a perfect wrister into the top right corner over Red Wings goalie Ty Conklin from the top of the right circle at 4:59 of the second period. He added secondary assists on goals by Mathieu Perreault and Joel Ward. Not bad. Three goals and three assists through seven games puts Green on pace for another 70-point season – if he stayed healthy and played all 82 games. Before last year’s injury disaster, Green had played 295 of 328 games in his first four full NHL seasons.
“He’s healthy. He got his face in the way of another one, but it was only his jaw so it was okay,” Boudreau joked about the stitches Green’s sported after taking a puck to the face. “But he came into camp with a whole – he was so focused. I’ve been telling people the last few games he’s had great chances. Great chances. And they haven’t materialized. But he’s waiting for something to explode or break out and tonight it broke out for him.”
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