IT'S OVER!!!!

FINAL SCORE: Capitals 3- Senators 2

W: Neuvirth

L: Elliot

Goals: Was- Perreault (Knuble, Laich), Fehr (Ovechkin), Perrault (Fehr)

Ott- Shannon (Winchester), Kelly (Neil)

DC Hockey Spot's Recap

It's finally over. The Capitals finally kick the elephant off their backs and all of Washington can exhale. The game did not start off well as the Caps came out looking lethargic and were down 2-0 after 1. Something clicked in during the intermission though (and we will see what happened on 24/7 Wednesday) and the Capitals finally got some luck. Perreault and Fehr scored two dirty beautiful goals to start the 2nd and help to take Cap fans off tilt. Then came what proved to be the winner when Perreault scored a goal on the second wave of the powerplay on another ugly scramble in front of the net. The Capitals were able to hold on in the 3rd, despite a scare due to a dumb penalty by Chimera with under three minutes to play, and the Capitals secured victory for the first time since December 1st. The Capitals piled onto the ice and mobbed Neuvirth when the clock hit :00, which is odd to see for a mid-December game. But, most of these Capitals have never had a chance to really overcome adversity since all their previous trials have ended in summer golf. So celebrate away and get ready to start a streak we like!

Highlights, Lowlights, and Tidbits

- MVP: Has to be Matty Perreault. When he is on he is really a spark plug for the Capitals. Speed, creativity, and a nose for the net. Someone on an ESPN board said he is a fast version of Danny Briere. Briere is one of my top 3 hated hockey players (with Crosby and Hartnell), but I do not think the comparison is far off. Kudos to Fehr as well.

- Highlight of the Night: When the clock hit :00. It was beginning to seem like it would never end.....

- Lowlight of the Night: When I went on official suicide watch when Chris Kelly scored in the 1st.

- Revelation of the Night: Eric Fehr playing with Ovechkin and Backstrom. Fehr built on a strong 3rd period in Boston and earned a full game with the big guns. And it worked. Many Capital fans have believe Fehr is the heir apparent to Knuble on the top line and we can see why now. He has better hands and a better shot than Knuble, but does not crash the net quite as well. But, Knuble seems to have lost a step and I for one would love to see more of Fehr with the superstars.

Just for Fun: Here is my personal "A Squad" for the Capitals:

Ovechkin- Backstrom- Fehr

Semin- Perreault- Laich

Chimera- Johnasson- Knuble

Bradley- Gordon- Hendricks

Green-Schultz

Carlzner

Poti- Hannan

Disappointment of the Night: A guy I really like taking a HORRIBLE penalty with the game in the balance. Terrible offense zone penalty by Chimera. He is lucky it did not cost them.

Heroics of the Night: Brooks Laich was a machine on that penalty kill. Ovechkin also made an impressive diving clear.

FINAL THOUGHTS

It will be interesting to see what happens next now that the streak is over. You would think they have to beat New Jersey and Pittsburgh to officially put the streak in the rear view mirror. But one of the biggest "knocks" on the Capitals is that they were not built for the playoffs and had never faced adversity. Well, now they have faced that adversity. Will it make a difference?

It also will be interesting to see if the Capitals really do become more defense-minded as Boudreau says they are trying to do. Even if they do, I still believe the Capitals need to do three more things to truly be ready for the playoffs:

1) Get creative with Ovechkin: He is figured out. Have to change how he is utilized. I would also move him to the LW on the PP and let him tee up shots like Stamkos does in TB.

2) Figure out the 1st period: Cannot play comeback when it counts.

3) Trade for a Center and a Goaltender: Ideally Perreault should be the 3rd line center and Johansson should be the 4th. Need a true #2 center. And I really think they need a reliable backup behind whatever young kid they go to battle with. GMGM should get on the phone with Holmgren in Philly and take either Boucher or Leighton off his hands.....