Alex Semin recorded his third hat trick in just 35 days as the Capitals dominated the Tampa Bay Lightning in a post-holiday contest at Verizon Center on Friday evening, 6-0.
Semin scored three times in the second period to blow open what was a 2-0 game. His final two goals came on the power play when he finished a pair of beautiful cross-ice passes from teammate Nicklas Backstrom. Washington also received goals from defensemen John Carlson, Tom Poti and John Erskine.
The past two games have gone a long way towards erasing the sour memories of last weekend when Washington dropped three in a row – one an overtime loss – and was twice drubbed by 5-0 scores. It responded with a gritty 3-2 victory at Carolina on Wednesday and tonight played its best game of the season, according to coach Bruce Boudreau.
“I think the guys were [angry],” Boudreau said. “We took a lot of heat this week, a lot of flak and that’s a proud bunch in there. They knew they were better than what they showed, better than what people were saying about us.”
Semin actually produced the first natural hat trick – three goals in a row, not just in one game – by a Caps player since he did it himself against the Lightning on March 18, 2007. Semin’s trio of hat tricks in 35 days is unprecedented in franchise history. Peter Bondra once had three in 60 days. Semin has twice scored three goals in one period in the last 16 days. No one had accomplished that even once since Alex Ovechkin did it on March 3, 2008 against Boston. Semin ranks second in the NHL in goals with 17 and pulled within four of Lightning center Steven Stamkos (21), who has set a blistering pace early this season.
“I haven’t changed anything and I’m not going to change anything,” Semin said through translator Slava Malamud. “I’m playing like I usually play and I don’t see anything wrong with it.”
The Caps, whose lead in the Southeast Division had been trimmed to four points in recent days thanks to a three-game losing streak, improved to 16-6-2 with 34 points. Tampa Bay entered the game just four points out of first place, but dropped to 13-8-2 and remained at 28 points. Washington again has the best record in the NHL through 24 games.
Not to be overshadowed, Erskine scored his third goal of the season – all in the last 10 games. That is a new career-best and with six points Erskine is just three shy of tying his career-high in that category, too. He also had a brief third-period fight with Lighting forward Ryan Malone and was one assist away from a Gordie Howe hat trick.
Meanwhile, rookie center Marcus Johansson had just one goal in his first 10 games in the NHL. But he’s been better lately with a goal and two assists – both against Tampa on Friday – in his last four games. Johansson’s second assist came during 2-on-1 break when he floated a pass across the ice to Semin, who ripped it by Tampa Bay goalie Mike Smith (14 saves, 18 shots) from the left circle to make it 3-0. That was the second of four Washington goals in a second-period span of 6 minutes, 43 seconds.
“[Semin] is a good player and we talked about taking him away,” said Lightning defenseman Mike Lundin. “But [the Caps] were moving it and we didn’t get to him. He’s deadly from that spot.”
