The Game Rush: Flames vs. Capitals

An in-depth look at the Flames-Capitals game

Saturday, 30.10.2010 / 10:15 PM / News
By Kristi Hennessy
The Flames started off on the right foot with Olli Jokinen finding the scoreboard just 44 seconds in. Curtis Glencross made it 2-0 at 11:05 of the first period however, that is all that the Flames recorded in Saturday's game against the Washington Capitals.

Alexander Ovechkin picked up two power play goals on a 5-on-3 opportunity just 13 seconds apart early into the second period to give the Capitals a 3-2 lead. The Caps' did not stop there.

Mike Green, Matt Bradley, Alexander Semin and David Steckel all scored for the Capitals in the second frame to go up 7-2 after 40 minutes of play.

Henrik Karlsson saw 6:05 minutes of play in net during the second period, however, Miikka Kiprusoff returned to his net for the entire third period.

That was the final score as the Flames drop a 7-2 decisioin to the Washington Capitals.

It all started 3:43 into the second period for the Washington Capitals. The Flames took a too many men penalty followed by Curtis Glencross called for tripping to put the Caps on a 5-on-3 advantage.

It was all Alexander Ovechkin on the power play as he notched a pair of  goals on the two-man advantage just 13 seconds apart.

The momentum was on the Caps side as they took the 3-2 lead early in the second period. The Capitals scored six unanswered goals in the second frame giving them a 7-2 lead after 40 minutes.

The nicest play of the game for the Flames came at 11:05 of the first period.

Brendan Mikkelson handed a nice pass to Curtis Glencross who raced into the Capitals zone, set up at the top of the right circle and fired a hard slapshot past Michal Neuvirth. Brendan Morrison picked up the second assist on the play to help give the Flames a 2-0 lead.

Alex Ovechkin scored a pair of power play goals early in the second period on a 5-on-3 advantage for the Capitals. His goals were both from the top of the left circle and were 13 seconds apart.

Later in the second period, he picked up his third point of the night assisting on Alexander Semin's goal.

Ovechkin had seven shots on net and landed four hits.

Washington was ranked 16th defensively, allowing 2.77 goals per game last season and were the highest scoring team in the league.

This season the Capitals rank fourth defensively, giving up just 2.30 goals per game. They have allowed two goals or fewer in six of their last 10 games, including each of the two of this three-game road trip.

"When you put a team like that on the 5-on-3, you're in dangerous territory. They obviously capitalized on it."- Brent Sutter on giving up two quick power play goals.

"We didn't get off to the start that we wanted but we stuck to our system and played a consistant game and that's what happens when you do that. We had a power play that we actually capitalized on and that got us momentum and guys started believing. That's why we played a solid 60 minutes."- Mike Green on the 7-2 win over the Flames.



Thursday, Nov. 3rd vs Detroit
  7:30 PM MT (TSN (HD), FAN 960)

 The Flames will have a couple days off before they welcome the Detroit Red Wings into town on Wednesday November 3rd.

The 6-2-1 Red Wings are coming off a strong four-game homestand winning three of four. They kick off a three-game North Division swing in Calgary Wednesday night before heading to Edmonton and Vancouver.

Flames and Red Wings can be seen on TSN (HD) and is on The Fan 960 radio. Puck will drop at 7:30 pm MT.
13 Seconds apart that Alexander Ovechkin scored two PP goals tonight.
900 Mike Knuble is playing in his 900th NHL game tonight. He is the 37th active NHLer to do so.
273 Alexander Ovechkin scored his 273rd goal in his 400th NHL game.
61 Man games lost due to injury for the Flames this season.
33 More wins for Kiprusoff and he will pass Mike Vernon (262) for 1st on the all time wins list for the Flames.

1st Star
Alexander Ovechkin
G A P +/- Shots
2 1 3 +1 7
2nd Star
Nicklas Backstrom
G A P +/- Shots
1 3 4 +1 1
3rd Star
Mike Green
G A P +/- Shots
1 2 3 +1 3

CAPITALS
Michal Neuvirth
SA SV GA TOI SV%
29 27 2 59:52 .931
FLAMES
Miikka Kiprusoff
SA SV GA TOI SV%
27 21 6 53:55 .777

Author: Kristi Hennessy/ calgaryflames.com