Perreault, Fehr score to help end 8-game skid
The streak is finally over.
An eight-game skid that tested the Capitals’ patience and their resolve is behind them now after a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place on Sunday night.
Mathieu Perreault scored two goals in the second period as Washington overcame a 2-0 deficit and eventually held off an Ottawa power play in the final minutes to secure the win.
The Caps snapped an 0-6-2 drought that saw them drop to seventh place in the Eastern Conference. It was the team’s longest losing streak since a nine-game skid in February and March of 2007.
| Caps notes |
| » Mathieu Perreault‘s two goals represented his first points since his first career two-goal game Dec. 6 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. |
| » Eric Fehr finished with a goal and an assist for Washington. That was his first multipoint game since the Caps last played the Senators on Oct. 11, the third game of the season. |
| » The Caps jumped from seventh place to second in the Eastern Conference with this one win. They now are 19-12-4 and have 42 points. That’s also enough to push them back into first place in the Southeast Division. |
A night after falling behind 3-0 to Boston in the first period, Washington quickly trailed the Senators by two goals. Goalie Michal Neuvirth misplayed a clearing pass from behind his own goal, and Ryan Shannon was on the receiving end of a quick pass from teammate Jesse Winchester along the right boards. Neuvirth had just gotten back to his crease and had the puck slide between his legs. It was the seventh time in their last nine games the Caps allowed the first goal.
Ottawa then extended its lead at 13:55 of the first period when Chris Kelly banged home a pass in front with several Washington players around him. That assist went to Chris Neil.
Nothing summed up the losing streak better than the end of the first period. The Caps kept the puck in the offensive zone with time running out and eventually got it to Eric Fehr for a one-timer. He ripped a shot past Ottawa goalie Brian Elliott — but a half-second after the final horn had sounded. A cursory review confirmed the goal came a beat too late, and Washington’s players skated off the ice in disbelief.
The Caps needed to respond — and they did, scoring twice in the first 80 seconds of the second period. The first goal was by Perreault, the second by Fehr.
Just 5:35 after Fehr’s game-tying goal, Perreault struck again. His tally came on the power play, snapped a 3-for-31 stretch with the man advantage and put the Caps ahead for good. The lead almost grew a little more than two minutes later, but an Alex Ovechkin goal was waved off when replay officials ruled he kicked the puck into the net.
