Canadiens Vs Capitals January 24, 2013 Game Review

Capitals looking on, (and up at clock) from bench - Washington, DC January 24, 2013.
Photo © Rob Carr / Getty Images.

Montréal Canadiens 4 Vs Washington Capitals 1 = Home Game Loss

Michal Neuvirth got his first chance in net for the Washington Capitals, against the Montréal Canadiens on January 24, 2013, after goaltender Braden Holtby wasn't able to secure a win in either game one or game two of this -2012--2013 NHL Hockey season. Neuvirth proved to be ready for the assignment, but his teammates proved they weren't quite ready to back him up with the proper support needed to win.

Both teams showed they had some pep in the first period, but neither team dented the twine. With only two penalties doled out (one apiece), the opening frame went by rather quickly. That was to change, in a big way, at the start of the second.

Four infractions were called in period number two. The Canadiens capitalized on two of three Capitals' misdeeds, within the first five minutes, via power-play goals by Tomas Plekanec (C) and Andrei Markov (D). Brian Gionta (RW) scored an even-strength goal before the halfway mark, and then Josh Gorges (D) added another shortly before the horn sounded, to make it four to nothing.

Finally, with less than three minutes left in the third period (and the game), Joey Crabb (RW) scored his first goal as a Cap. Assisting on Crabb's goal, were forwards Jason Chimera and Jay Beagle.

While the Capitals were playing this game, there was a noticeable increase in energy, except for a bit of a lull in the second period. They were just skating around, fairly out of sync, like they just hadn't quite gotten used to new systems. A little more practice and game time could perhaps lead to better and more stable line chemistry, hopefully. One thing that's for sure, is the bad fans booing in the stands need to shut up!

Montréal Canadiens At Washington Capitals January 24, 2013 Game Highlights

01/24/13 Caps Postgame Locker Room: Caps players Troy Brouwer, Michal Neuvirth, Joey Crabb and Karl Alzner address the media after a 4-1 loss against the Montreal Canadiens.

01/24/13 Adam Oates Postgame: Adam Oates speaks with the media following the 4-1 loss to the Canadiens.

Capitals Vs Canadiens 01/05/2008 Review

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Capitals 5 - Canadiens 4 OT

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Can we play every game in Canada? The Washington Capitals won yet another high scoring game North of the US border. The victim this time was the Montreal Canadiens, who recently beat the Caps in DC 5-2. Is there something in the Canadian air that gets Washington going? Whatever it is, keep it coming.

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Things didn't start off the best, as John Erskine's holding penalty led to the first Canadiens' goal via Tomas Plekanec just 2:38 into the first period. Washington's Olie Kolzig was definitely the busier goaltender early on, making some nice saves. The heavy hitting also started early, and this would be a very physical game. The Caps didn't seem to have a problem with that in this game. So, there was some hope. It's when you get a game where they don't get into it, that you have to worry.

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The second period was a more busy one, with Montreal's Andrei Kostitsyn putting the Canadiens ahead by two with a wrist shot at 7:27. But, about a minute later Alexander Ovechkin put the Capitals on the board, with a Power Play goal right off the draw. It's a play the Caps have had some success with a few times. One of my personal favorites. Carey Price was not ready for that one, and neither was the defender that tripped over Viktor Kozlov on his way toward Alex. At the game's midpoint Price wasn't yet totally rattled, and continued looking like a veteran netminder. Well........for a little bit longer anyway. At 11:53, December's Rookie of the Month, Nicklas Backstrom made him look like a rookie goaltender by driving up the middle and unleashing a long range wrister that Price had no chance of stopping. With just over a minute left in the period, Boyd Gordon put the Caps ahead with a slap shot. The boos from the crowd got louder as Montreal's goalie was looking kind of shaky at this point.

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In the third period Montreal got a bit of luck, not that they need any. Just over two minutes in, the puck took a funny bounce off the wall behind Washington's net and came right to Roman Hamrlick, who immediately put the puck in the wide open net. At 6:38, Alex Ovechkin got the puck right out of the penalty box, and sent a wrist shot between two defenders and past Carey Price. Later on, Alexie Kovalev copies Ovie's play at the other end, tying up the game. Overtime would be necessary to end this game.

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Just 1:27 into OT, the Caps scored. Mike Green sent a smooth wrist shot in off a backdoor pass from Michael Nylander. So, the Capitals hand Price his third straight loss. Final score Capitals 5 - Canadiens 4.

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This is one of those games where I didn't mind it going into OT one bit. Both teams were playing well. There was a lot of back and forth. But, mostly because the Caps won! Steve Eminger got a chance to play, due to injuries. He did alright in the mere 6:32 he played with an overall minus 1. He was on the ice when Hamrlick got that lucky bounce. Wins are always even nicer coming off a loss. I might even have to watch this one a second time. Roll that tape!

Canadiens Vs Capitals 12/20/2007 Review

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Canadiens 5 - Capitals 2

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After going 5-2-1 so far this month , the Washington Capitals seemed ready to claim a couple more points before the Christmas break. Tonight, they hosted the Montreal Canadiens in their first meeting this season.

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The Capitals' forward Donald Brashear had the first scoring chance of the game, but didn't get it past goaltender Cristobal Huet. Although, he may have been trying to pass at the time. No luck either way. At the 10:00 mark, Alexander Semin got hooked, putting the Caps on the Power Play. Less than a minute and a half later, Semin was called for hooking. So we had a little 4 on 4 hockey. Throughout the period, Washington had plenty of chances, but were unable to score. At 18:15, Montreal's Guillaume Latendresse took a pass from Saku Koivu and put the puck in the net. The Capital's had pretty much dominated the period. But at the end of the first, the Habs were ahead 1-0.

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At about six minutes into the second period, Tomas Plekanec bounced the puck off Olie Kolzig and into the net for his eleventh of the season. The Canadiens had a two goal lead. About three minutes later, Washington was on the PP when Nicklas Backstrom backhanded his sixth goal past Huet from a sharp angle. With less than three minutes left, Latendresse got his second of the game when he took a pass from Mathieu Dandenault who received the puck directly from a faceoff in Washington's end. Before the period was over, Christopher Higgins drove to the net and rolled over Kolzig. While they were still down on the ice, Olie gave Higgins a little whack on the helmet. At the end of two, Montreal led 3-1.

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About three or four minutes into the third period, the camera found Condaliza Rice in Ted Leonsis' suite, eating popcorn. What an ugly woman. Does she ever smile? Back on the ice, Cap's Alexander Ovechkin whiffed on a layup. Then Viktor Kozlov had Huet beat, but hit the inside of a post with his shot. With a hook by Shaone Morrisonn and Tom Poti sending the puck over the glass, the Canadiens had a 5 on 3 PP. About one minute later, Montreal's Sergei Kostitsyn deflected a Alex Kovalev shot for his first NHL goal. The Habs were ahead 4-1. Thirty-four seconds later, Semin got his fourth goal of the season, when he sent the puck in top shelf from the faceoff circle. All four of his goals have been scored in the third period. Shortly after, Huet made a nice save on an Ovechkin shot, keeping it at 4-2. Later on, Cap's David Steckel and Canadien's Francis Bouillon did a little pushing and shoving, but didn't get around to dropping the gloves. Near the end of the period, Washington defenceman Mike Green drove through the crease with the puck and ended up on top of the net. This really seemed to excite Green's fans, who were wearing their Gang Green t-shirts. However, Huet wasn't happy about it. With just over a minute left in the third, Montreal's Mark Streit put a Kyle Chipchura rebound past Olie. The Canadiens won 5-2.

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The Capitals outshot the Canadiens 37-21. They had plenty of good chances. But, they couldn't stay out of the penalty box and they just couldn't capitalise on their scoring chances. Another two points left behind.