3 1/2 goals by Ovechkin bury Penguins

Caps win 5:4. Mike Knuble scored on rebound from Ovi's shot in overtime. Ovi definitely played the third with some kind of injury, but he stayed there, this is what the Captains do and this is what Ovi did.

I had a bad feeling before the game, you know, at some point the streak should end, or maybe I was gloating over Crosby :-) too much? And it looked like the game 7 of the last playoffs after the first. Again, numerous mistakes by Caps defense, again Pens creating multiple turnovers in the neutral zone, and this is what they do for living, they are incredibly quick in transition.

We should thank Pens for showing Caps weaknesses again, but will Caps learn this time?

How could Crosby walk into the zone and score that first goal totally untouched? Poti, Morrison, Fehr, Chimera and Sloan were on ice. It was one of the worst games by Poti, no wonder he is no longer in the roster of U.S. National team. He had a bad turnover on the first Staal's goal as well.

Who in the world can win with such defense? Apparently only the team that has Ovechkin. No question, it was Ovechkin who singlehandedly won the game this time, but can he do it all the time? Unfortunately the song remains the same, Caps need to improve their team's defense. Jose was awesome again this time. If he could play like that in playoffs, Caps don't need a better goalie.


OVECHKIN, ALEX
3 goals, 1 assist, +3, 2 penalty minutes, total ice time 25:36, average shift 00:56 (awesome), PP 05:50, 19:38 even, 6 shots on goal, 7 attempts blocked, 1 missed, 3 hits
Only Jeff Schultz has the same +3 for Caps.

42 goals by Ovechkin.

washcaps: Ovechkin is the first player with 40 goals every season since the lockout (only Ilya Kovalchuk can join him)


Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin scores a goal against Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010, in Washington.

Ovechkin breaks all the records, he also broke the goal-cam shooting through Fleury's 5-hole.




washcaps: Ovi after the game "the crowd was just pushing us in the 3rd ...it was sick"

nateewell: Really loud today. Organically loud, not prompted. Hearty. Unreal crowd. They earned their first hat trick of the year.


Three games left before the Olympic break:

60 WED FEB 10 CAPITALS CANADIENS 7:30 PM
61 THU FEB 11 CAPITALS SENATORS 7:00 PM
62 SAT FEB 13 CAPITALS BLUES 8:00 PM

Caps have the longest streak in the NHL since 1992-93:

Since the Capitals named Alexander Ovechkin captain on Jan. 5, 2010, they have gone 17-1-0 and have scored four or more goals in every game but two. Their 14-game winning streak sets the new Washington Capitals record and ties the very old record by Boston Bruins, set in 1929-30.

17 games: 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins

15 games: 1981-82 New York Islanders

14 games: 2010-11 Washington Capitals

14 games: 1929-30 Boston Bruins

TSN, Feb. 7, 2010, "CAPS OVER PENS FOR 14TH STRAIGHT WIN":

Ovechkin scored an arena-rocking hat trick and got the assist on the winning goal in overtime Sunday, and the Capitals kept up their pursuit of NHL history with a 5-4 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Mike Knuble poked in the rebound 2:49 into overtime after Ovechkin's shot hit the post during a Capitals power play, earned when Brooks Orpik was sent off for high sticking.

Washington's winning streak is tied for the third longest in league history and three shy of the record of 17, set by the Penguins from March 9-April 10, 1993.

Ovechkin's three goals gave him a league-high 42, pulling away from Sidney Crosby after the Pittsburgh star had tied him at 39 by scoring a pair in the first period.

Eric Fehr: It was great performance by Ovi. He took this team on his back and carried us.

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