Caps pull out win against the Caniacs

A MUCH needed win last night.  Wasn't the greatest performance but a win is a win and the Caps needed it in a big way.

Caps fell down early in the first period 2-0 and it looked like another lackluster performance.  However, newcomers Aaron Volpatti set up Joey Crabb with a great feed right in front of the net for a one timer to make it 2-1 in the second period.

The Canes took a high sticking penalty right at the end of the second period giving the Caps a PP to start the third and Ovi made them pay by taking a great feed from Brouwer and burying it into the back of the net.

With time dwindling away in the third, Carlson had the puck on our blue line and you could see he was waiting for lines to switch.  Ovi hopped on the ice and skated hard towards the Canes net.  Carlson made a perfect pass and Ovi threaded between two defenders to receive the puck for a breakaway.  He actually lost the puck but it worked out as the Cane goalie committed.  It would have been an easy goal for Ovi but he didn't get enough stick on it but it was enough for it to richochet off the near post and slide right along the goal line behind the goalie where Ribeiro was crashing the net for the put back. 

HUGE win as a regulation loss would have put us 12 points behind the Canes and pretty much out of the division.  Instead, we are 8 points and while still a climb, with 22 games left, it can be done. 

Up next are the Bruins tomorrow afternoon and then at home Sunday against the Sabres then it's Shatsburgh and back to back with Winnipeg.  Honestly, we need 4 out of the next 5.  I could take a split with Boston and Pittsburgh but we need all the other games. 

A couple of other notes, stinks that Kundratek got hurt.  Looked pretty bad but hopefully just a sprain.  Good thing that Erskine is expected back on Sunday.  Hopefully Green and Laich will be able to play soon.  Both are nursing groin injuries which are tricky because it may feel fine when walking or doing some easy skating but you can reinjure it when skating hard and making cuts so I'm sure they want to play it safe with those guys.

Also, it's interesting that Ovi seems to be passing way more than he used to.  While I kind of like some of the passes, he is a scorer and needs to take the shot as opposed to making that extra pass.  There were a couple of times last night where he faked out even his own teammates by passing on the shot and trying to set someone else up.  SHOOT DAMMIT!!!  Also, we are still giving a lot of odd man rushes. 

I'll take the win and will move on to Boston.  Will be a tough game in Boston as they are one of the best teams in the league and will know doubt want to exact revenge for the last time we met when Boston jumped out to a 3-0 lead only to lose 4-3 in OT.  Hopefully we can rise to the occasion.