[NHL.com Recap - WashingtonCaps.com Postgame Coverage]If there was any doubt heading into last night's game that the Flyers were the crappiest team in the NHL, that doubt was erased fifteen seconds in when Philly netminder Robert Esche let a Ben Clymer wrist shot trickle through his pads and across the goal line. Esche let in two more awful goals, three legit tallies to the two Alexes, and the Flyers left town 6-2 losers in a game that really wasn't even as close as the score despite some sloppy play by the home team.
And while Sidney Crosby owns the Flyers (to the tune of 15 points in four games so far this season), newly-elected All-Star Alexander Ovechkin (who finished the season with six goals and five assists against Philly) at least rents them. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Ovechkin is "the first player to score a goal in seven consecutive games against the Flyers since Joe Mullen had a seven game streak from October 1991 to December 1992."
[I'll have more on last night's game later, but don't forget, you can always get all your recaps over at Washington Hockey Daily (make sure to check out Mike from OFB's recap on Off Wing).]
Now it's off to Florida for the Caps for a crucial two-game intra-divisional swing that kicks off Thursday in Tampa. You've gotta beat the teams you've gotta beat, and two more lie ahead.
Daily Awards
- Hart: Alexander Ovechkin (2G, including game-winner, A, +1, 5 SOG, 1 hit, 2 takeaways, 0 giveaways, 1 blocked shot)
- Ross: Alexander Ovechkin, Martin St. Louis, Jaromir Jagr, Matin Straka, Michael Ryder, Marek Zidlicky (3 points each)
- Norris: Kimmo Timonen (G, A, +5, 3 SOG, 2 hits, 1 takeaway, 0 giveaways, 2 blocked shots)
- Vezina: Miikka Kiprusoff(26-save shutout win)
- Richard: Alexander Ovechkin, Shane Doan, Michael Ryder, Mike Sillinger, Kyle Calder (2G each)
- Calder: Dustin Penner (G, A, 3 SOG, 2 hits)
- Aiken: Robert Esche (L, 6 goals allowed on 31 shots against)
8 comments:
Ovechkin is "the first player to score a goal in seven consecutive games against the Flyers since Joe Mullen had a seven game streak from October 1991 to December 1992."
-- one off the NHL record against one team (Mike Knuble), as Tim Panaccio pointed out in this morning's Philadelphia Inquirer, but we'll have to wait for next year for that.
Am I the only one concerned about how Matt "Princess" Pettinger looks? Ever since his upper-body (shoulder) injury he's been a shadow of his previous self. Less zip, less hitting, no shot whatsoever...
He seemed to have re-injured it in the Montreal game on the pass that led to Semin's breakaway (unless you mean he's looked worse since returning from that).
It doesn't help that Kris Beech is his center, but he certainly hasn't been as impressive lately as he was last year or for a stretch earlier this year. The second line's lack of even-strength productivity is definitely of concern, though. It would not shock me at all to see Zednik take his spot on the second line and bump Princess to the third upon Z's return.
He looked slow and timid before that. But yes, worse since. And that we haven't heard GH say anything about it leads me to believe that it's injury-related.
Princess said early in the season that the injury was cauing him to not be as aggressive. My guess is he's more banged up than the team is letting on.
Good to see Eminger getting into the scrums last night. The article in Post pointed out something I hadn't thought of before. He was unsure what his role on the ice was. That would certainly point to the timid play he was showing. Good to see him get that figured out and on track.
Greeny missing most of the third is both noteworthy and of concern as well.
Greed played 10 minutes last night. TEN.
He must be in Chez Bow-Wow, as he reportedly practiced today.
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