Friday Roundup/Caps 4, Kings 3 (OT)

[NHL.com Recap - WashingtonCaps.com Postgame Coverage]

Two point nights are so much more enjoyable than one point nights - far more than twice as enjoyable, in fact (but, interestingly enough, not quite infinitely better than zero point nights). Despite an awful first period in which they managed only five shots on goal (and no shots in goal), a marginally-better second period shot-wise (seven), and a better-yet third (ten shots on goal), the Caps managed to pull out a 4-3 overtime win against the Kings. If that shot pattern held, incidentally, and the game went 20 periods, the Caps would have had 214 shots on goal in that last frame. Now that would have been impressive.

Some thoughts on the game:

• If all I have to do is suggest the team trade a guy in order to get him going, then I suggest they trade Matt Pettinger and Richard Zednik next. Even with his big game, though, Dainius Zubrus did miss a gaping open net late in the second.
• I really like Boyd "Muffins" Gordon. Almost "buy-a-jersey" like, but not quite. Yet. He led all Caps in ice time and deserved every second he got.
• The Kings sure do dive a lot, and the referees seemed to encourage it by buying in. A pox on your house, Don Van Massenhoven.
• I'll resist (for now) the urge to say that Jamie Heward is terrible and instead say that he's had a string of pretty terrible games dating back to last season. How he finished last night with a plus-two rating is a mystery to me.
• On a somewhat-related note, why isn't Milan "Jerky" Jurcina getting more power-play time?
• Two shots and no hits for Alex Ovechkin, but he finished the game with a helper and a plus-three rating. I'm not sure yet how I feel about these numbers. Actually, I am sure - with a "normal" game out of AO, the team wouldn't have needed overtime to win.
• Anze Kopitar was as advertised - very impressive (and with his size, smoked visor, and rushes down the left side, reminded me of someone, but I can't quite put my finger on who). How he slipped to 11 in the Cheater Draft of '05 is beyond me.
• The Kings' goaltending was also as advertised - awful.
• Aaron Miller must be the slowest skater on the planet, as he made The Donald look like Apolo Anton Ohno (minus the soul patch) on one race for a loose puck.
• At one point during the game, "Capitals Salute The Military" night became an uncomfortable mash-up of the volleyball scene from Top Gun and an evening at Pete Townsend's house when "Flex Cam" made an appearance and males of all ages started shedding clothing.
• Big night in the dot for the Caps, who took 62% of the night's draws (Zubrus and Gordon were both right at 62% and Brooks Laich was all the way up at 78%).

Elsewhere 'Round the Rinks:

• When are people going to learn not to mess with Stephen Colbert (and Saginaw, for that matter)?

Daily Awards

• Hart: Ray Whitney (3G, including the game-winner, A, +3, 7 SOG)
• Ross: Ray Whitney, Slava Kozlov, Marian Hossa (3 points each)
• Norris: Ryan Whitney (2A, +2, 3 SOG, 2 blocked shots)
• Vezina: Martin Brodeur (25-save shutout win)
• Richard: Ray Whitney (3G)
• Calder: Joey MacDonald (L, 29 saves on 30 shots against)
• Aiken: Jose Theodore (3 goals allowed on 11 shots against in just 20 minutes of work)