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Guest9184
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 Posted - 04/14/2012 : 16:13:04
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BOSTON -- The Washington Capitals got what they wanted -- a road split.
Nicklas Backstrom beat Tim Thomas from the left circle at 2:56 of the second overtime to give the Capitals a 2-1 victory at TD Garden on Saturday, evening their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series at one victory apiece.
Marcus Johansson stole the puck after a faceoff and fed a pass from the left corner to Backstrom, who grabbed the bobbling puck in the circle and whipped a shot to the short side past Thomas to get the Caps even.
Washington, which lost the series opener 1-0 in overtime on Thursday, will host Game 3 on Monday night.
Boston tied the game at 1-1 at 12:13 of the third period. The Bruins’ third line, which was responsible for the only goal of Game 1, cashed in when Benoit Pouliot crashed the net and flipped a backhander behind Braden Holtby before colliding with the rookie goaltender. Brian Rolston had fired a shot on the rush that was blocked and deflected to the slot.
It was the only one of Boston's 44 shots to beat the rookie goaltender. Thomas finished with 37 saves.
It took a fortunate bounce for the Capitals to score their first goal of the series and prevent the fifth straight scoreless non-overtime period of the series. Alex Ovechkin spun and fired a shot toward the goal from the left wall and Greg Zanon made the block in front. But Troy Brouwer was able to reach around Zanon defenseman and slam the puck into the net through Thomas’ five-hole with 2:03 remaining in the second period for a 1-0 lead.
Thomas’ postseason shutout streak, which dated back to Game 6 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final, ended at 161 minutes, 41 seconds.
Both teams had failed to capitalize on several chances to get on the scoreboard first during the second period. Ovechkin went to the net alone just one minute into the period, but Thomas closed his pads to deny the scoring chance. Patrice Bergeron’s one-timer from the slot went through Holtby’s five-hole but somehow slid just wide of the left post at 16:28.
The defenses that dominated Boston's 1-0 overtime victory in Game 1 continued to set the tone in the first period of Game 2. The Bruins outshot Washington 10-9 through a scoreless 20 minutes.
Washington failed to capitalize on two power plays, while Boston’s lone man advantage went to waste as well. In an effort get Ovechkin some room to roam against Boston defensemen other than Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg, Washington coach Dale Hunter double-shifted his captain a couple of times. Ovechkin landed two shots on net in the opening period after he recorded just one shot on net the whole first game.
Thomas was able to find pucks through traffic during the Caps’ power plays. Holtby’s toughest save was on a late-period wrist shot by David Krejci. The Boston center went up high on Holtby, who deflected the puck away with his left shoulder. Krejci was in the lineup despite missing practice Friday because of neck soreness and stiffness. Krejci was hit with a pane of glass after the Bruins’ Game 1 triumph.
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JOSHUACANADA
PickupHockey Veteran
Canada
2308 Posts |
Posted - 04/15/2012 : 05:12:12
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| I dont see this win as a surprise as the Capitals have a team which can compete with the Bruins. As an Ottawa fan I was hoping for this match up instead of Ottawa facing the Bruins in the first round. Capitals have a good chance of knocking off the defending champs. Hell the #1 and #2 goalies aren't even playing in Boston. Washington has a great chance in this series. |
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Guest9212
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Posted - 04/15/2012 : 05:20:00
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| Unfortunately for Boston that the number1 and 2 goalies aren't playing as Holtby has been the Caps best goalie all year. |
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Clatts
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
266 Posts |
Posted - 04/15/2012 : 06:57:25
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Holtby is playing because the other 2 goalies are hurt. He has played very well so far so they might keep going to him when Nuevirth returns but I'd hardly say Holtby has been their best goalie this year
Vokoun - 48 Games played
Nuevirth - 38 Games Played
Holtby - 7 Games Played
"Most of the guys that wear them are Europeans and French Guys."
Don Cherry on Visors |
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Guest2774
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Posted - 04/15/2012 : 13:30:11
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| Look at the stats. I don't make the call on who starts. That Dale Hunters job. Maybe if they played Holtby more they wouldn;t have had to battle to the last game of the year to make the playofffs. |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 04/15/2012 : 13:34:47
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quote:
Originally posted by Guest2774
Look at the stats. I don't make the call on who starts. That Dale Hunters job. Maybe if they played Holtby more they wouldn;t have had to battle to the last game of the year to make the playofffs.
What stats do you want us to look at? Holtby's 2.50 GAA in the regular season over 7 whole games vs Vokoun's 2.51 GAA in 48 games? Wow, big difference there. Is that your way of supporting Holtby as the best goalie on the Caps?
He may be playing well now, but is it fair to call him their best goalie when he was #3 on their depth chart the entire year, including going into the playoffs had they all been available?
He's likely to be their goalie of the future, but don't kid yourself, there's no way he's starting this year's playoffs if the other two were not out. |
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Clatts
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
266 Posts |
Posted - 04/15/2012 : 13:54:48
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Vokoun and Holtby have pretty much identical GGA and save%, Vokoun has a better winning percentage.
Guest - Even if Holtby had better stats, which he really doesn't by your logic a goalie who plays 1 game in the season and gets a shutout should win the Veznia.
"Most of the guys that wear them are Europeans and French Guys."
Don Cherry on Visors |
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Guest2746
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Posted - 04/15/2012 : 14:17:02
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| No my logic would have had him be the starter for this year.. Im a big Cap fan and it was obvious to me watching this team over the last 2 years Holtby was the best goalie available. I don't know why management havn't used him sooner or more often. When Washington beats Boston, alot more non Cap fans will see what ive seen a Year and a half ago. |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 04/15/2012 : 14:28:00
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| Are these comments from the same person? There's 3 different guest #'s but the comments sound like 1 person??? |
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Guest2746
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Posted - 04/15/2012 : 14:38:47
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| They are, for some reason i always have a different guest number |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 04/15/2012 : 18:14:20
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quote:
Originally posted by Guest2746
They are, for some reason i always have a different guest number
Interesting. Are you using the same computer? I always thought guest #'s remained the same?
Anyway, back to your opinion of Holtby. Like i said, i don't doubt he's their goalie of the future, and maybe that's why Vokoun only signed for a year? Management obviously figured that Holtby isn't/wasn't quite ready to take the reigns just yet. Now that he's been forced into the role, who knows, he may just run with it! Guys have done it before, but in fairness, you're the first person i've heard/read say that he should be the one and should have been from the outset of the season. No offense, but i would believe managements', coaches, media, hockey analysts, etc opinions over yours. |
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Caps stun Bruins 2-1 in double OT 
