A Superbowl Sunday showdown has treated the Capitals relatively well the past couple of years. Knuble’s overtime winner against the Penguins. A three to zero blanking against those same Penguins in 2011. Unfortunately for the Capitals they had a date with the Boston Bruins on Super Sunday instead, one that found them unable to matchup and compete with the bruising Stanley Cup Champions.
Even worse the Capitals appeared to hit a string of bad luck as the game progressed, injuries occuring to both Brooks Laich and Dmitry Orlov. The two players left the game and did not play any further shifts. The Capitals recalled Keith Aucoin from Hershey two games ago to help fill the void left at center after Backstrom’s injury; any games missed by Brooks Laich would severely cripple an already debilitated Washington lineup.
Not a good day for the Capitals, all the way around.
The game’s scoring was begun by freight train Milan Lucic, depositing the puck into the corner of the net past an outstretched Tomas Vokoun. Before the first period was over the Bruins’ Little Ball of Hate Brad Marchand used his quick hands to score from a severe angle, a goal that would stand up as the game winner. The Bruins were given further breathing room with Tyler Seguin cashing in on a great pass from Marchand, and the game’s final tally was put into an empty net by Rich Peverley. Marcus Johansson used his speed and passing instincts to make the game three to one with eight minutes to play but the team couldn’t gain any significant momentum from the goal. Tim Thomas played well enough to garner first star honors, blocking aside 35 of the 36 Capitals shots. Vokoun played better than the final score indicated, making 26 saves on 29 Bruin shots, and keeping the Capitals close when the Bruins were controlling play in the offensive zone.
The most pressing worry for the Capitals in the upcoming week will be what appeared to be a left knee injury to centerman Brooks Laich. He took an awkward tumble after a hit by Dennis Seidenberg midway through the second period. The puck seemed to jam Laich’s leg right as Seidenberg finished his check. Brooks required assistance to get off the ice and down the dressing room tunnel, but made an appearance during a commercial break to test the leg. After a head shake to coach Dale Hunter, Laich left for the afternoon.
We can take some solace in Stephen Whyno’s quotes that Brooks Laich is insisting he is OK, but the hit and resulting withdrawal from play is a huge red flag for Capitals fans. Young defenseman Dmitry Orlov also left the game, a Shawn Thornton shot taking an unfortunate deflection off of Roman Hamrlik’s outstretched stick. At first glance Dmitry appeared only dazed, but the gash under his visor became apparent when the defenseman removed his glove from his face. Ice crews had to clean up the surface after Orlov left, a couple minutes worth of scraping and ice removal. Assuming Orlov exhibits no concussion related symptons he should be back for the Capitals’ game Tuesday, perhaps even tomorrow’s practice.
This was an obviously tough afternoon for everyone wearing red at the Verizon Center. The Bruins kept the Capitals from coupling together positive shifts and the injuries kept the Capitals’ faithful on the edge of their seats and biting their fingernails. Alex Ovechkin and crew were visibly shaken by the middle of the third period, bickering between teammates well documented by the NHL on NBC crew. Nothing aside from Karl Alzner’s ten blocked shots bodes well for the Capitals moving forward towards Tuesday, a chance to upset the Panthers on the Southeast Throne and find themselves back on their familiar perch.
