Capitals 4, Blues 2

If you’re a Capitals fan at this point you’re probably hoping for one, just one, game where the team wins and no one gets hurt. That seemingly small request was apparently too much for the hockey gods yet again last night, as Mike Green and Alexander Semin were both unable to finish last night’s contest against the Blues. Green’s injury was a simple re-aggravation of the shoulder he injured in Anaheim. Semin’s injury…well, Semin’s injury probably warrants a little more discussion.

The hit that caused Semin’s injury - a moderate cross check from behind by David Backes - is itself less interesting than the response it produced from the Capitals: none beyond Backes being chest-bumped to the ice by Alexander Ovechkin.

I’m sure there was more than one Capitals fan calling for blood after Semin gingerly left the ice with what appeared to be a knee injury. I’m not one of them - Backes’ play should have been penalized, as the trip on Semin seconds earlier should have been, but it was far from the type of play that could warrant a suspension or even a major. With that said, it’s difficult to understand why the only Capital who reacted to the play was Ovechkin.

Caps Blue Line 3 Stars
(1) Viktor Kozlov - 2 goals, 1 assist, +1
(2) Simeon Varlamov
(3) Alexander Ovechkin - 1 goal, +1, 7 hits

Quick Hits

• What could Keith Tkachuk possibly have thought mouthing off to Donald Brashear would accomplish? I may not know all the nuances of the game at the NHL level, but I can tell you this: Brash ain’t afraid of Tkachuk.
• Michael Nylander had a terrible game, with several bad turnovers and an inexplicable decision to hold the puck for almost ten second and run out the clock in the second period.
• I feel like it must be a bad thing that the only time I notice Sean Collins is when he’s taking a penalty.
• Kozlov owes his first goal in part to Nicklas Backstrom.  Kozlov was able to carry the puck to the net so easily because Barret Jackman was more concerned with shoving Backstrom around than playing defense.
• I’ve been watching hockey since I was about seven and last night was the first time I could remember seeing two goalies with plain white masks in one game.