HabsWorld.net --
Last night things started well for the Craig Rivet and the Canadiens but they found out then tables can be turned quite quickly. In the opening ten minutes the Habs successfully killed of their first two penalties and Craig Rivet opened the scoring on the Canadiens first man advantage. Rivet was parked in front of the Capitals net and received a beautiful pass from Guillaume Latendresse enabling him to score his 5th of the season.
Les than five minutes later while killing their third penalty of the period Dainius Zubrus made the best of a Mathieu Dandenault blunder. Dandenault fanned on the puck allowing it to slide into the slot allowing Zubrus to score his 15th of the season. Less than two minutes later it was Craig Rivet who would cost the Canadiens a goal this time. Rivet was unable to win a foot race with Alexander Ovechkin despite having a sizable head start and then was left flat footed in front of Huet and Zubrus was able to pick the top corner on Huet. Ovechkin picked up assists on both Zubrus goals..
At the 7:18 mark of the second period the Washington Capitals grabbed the momentum and never looked back. The Canadiens were enjoying the power play when Alex Kovalev found himself with a wide open net, he made no mistake as he launched it into the top corner instantaneously. Too bad for the Canadiens the goal was immediately waived off and Saku Koivu was given a penalty for goaltender interference. On the ensuing 4 on 4 play Lawrence Nycholat scored the second of his young career, Ovechkin and Steve Eminger picked up the assists. Just 56 second later Alexander Semin and Boyd Gordon broke out on a two on one, Gordon shot and Semin flipped the rebound into the gaping goal. Cristobal Huet was relived of duty for the night after that goal.
Semin would go on to add a breakaway goal at the mid way point of the third period wrapping up the Capitals first win in six attempts.
Game Notes: Steve Begin (ribs/leg) remained out for the Canadiens as Garth Murray and Janne Niinimaa were healthy scratches. Lawrence Nycholat a name most may not know has got off to quite a start in Washington. Playing in his 7th game of the season he collected his second goal and fourth assist not to mention logging over 23 minutes and leading all defenseman on his team with a +2 rating. Nycholat
Three Stars
1. D. Zubrus- potted two goals one of which was the winner also led his team in shots with 7 and +/- with a +3 rating.
2. A. Semin also scored a pair of goals and added an assist.
3. O Kolzig- made many big saves to ensure his team kept and built on their lead.
Fun Facts
1. The Capitals won consecutive Thursday games for the first time since the 2003 2004 season when they won five consecutive.
2. Chris Higgins had a +/- rating of even before his injury in November in the nine games after his return he is a -5.
3. Cristobal Huet has allowed four goals on six occasions this season Canadiens have won just one of the games.
4. Alexander Ovechkin is just one game shy of matching his career longest goal scoring drought of six.
