Long and dreary night for Thrashers

1st period:
The arena is almost empty and dead quiet, the Thrashers fans know they have few chances vs Caps when their leader Kovalchuk is out with the injury. What's that saying? "I went to see the funeral in Atlanta and a hockey game broke out". That said, there's still no guarantee for Caps, they must play all 60 minutes.


ATLANTA - OCTOBER 29: Alex Ovechkin celebrates his second goal with teammate Nicklas Backstrom against the Atlanta Thrashers at Philips Arena on October 29, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)




The stats for Ovechkin:
2 goals, +1, total ice 05:45, 7 shifts, average shift 00:49, 2 shots,

Ovi had just two shots and he scored on both.

2nd period:
Silent night, quiet night continues... Ovi sets Morrison with perfect cross ice pass, Caps 3, Thrashers 0.

The stats for Ovi after 2 periods:
2 goals, 1 assist, +1, total ice 13:35, 14 shifts, average 00:58, 4 shots on goal, 1 hit

Beninati asked Shaone Morrisonn in the second intermission, "Do you think Caps got a bit sloppy in the second?"

And the answer was "Yes".

Still it's hard to imagine that Caps will screw up this time.


3rd period:
Well, another sloppy 20 minutes, zombie Thrashers came to life outshooting Caps 41 to 32, but Caps will take the win over Atlanta, 4:3.

Ovechkin's stats total:
2 goals, 1 assist, total ice 19:23, 21 shifts, average shift 00:55, 6 shots on goal, 1 attempt blocked, 1 missed shot.


(Yahoo! Sports) Washington Capitals center Brendan Morrison Nicklas Backstrom, left, and left wing Alex Ovechkin leap as they celebrate their 4-3 win against the Atlanta Thrashers at an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009, at Philips Arena in Atlanta.





John Manasso, NHL.com:

Caps coach Bruce Boudreau wasn't happy with the way his team let the Thrashers back into the game.

"Way too casual, and that's what happens when you let up," Caps coach Bruce Boudreau said of his team's play in the final period. "The great ones -- every chance they get to score, they put it through the net . You see Ovie -- he never lets up when he's got a chance. We had opportunities and it's just like 'lah-dee-da' and instead of going up 4-0 or 5-0 and letting them go home with their tails between their legs, we got a battle on our hands."

They may not be impressing their coach with style points, but they are certainly on a roll. As is their two-time Hart Trophy winner.

"Of course, we know we win six in a row," Ovechkin said. "I think for us it's good mentally. We have to keep going. I think the team look pretty good. When we get so much lead we stop playing our way. It can't be like that again."

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