Washington Capitals defeat Ottawa Senators 3-2, to snap 8-game skid
Centerman Mathieu Perreault tickled the twine twice, while Eric Fehr had a goal and an assist as the Washington Capitals snapped their eight-game losing streak, defeating the Ottawa Senators 3-2 on Sunday night.
Goaltender Michal Neuvirth made 24 saves for the Capitals, after coming off Saturday's loss in Boston. The Capitals recorded their first win since 1 December against St. Louis Blues, and avoided their first nine-game slide since 2007. Brian Elliott stopped
31 of 34 shots for the Ottawa, who have dropped their last two games.
In the first period, Ryan Shannon and Chris Kelly scored for the Senators, but the Capitals moved ahead with a strong performance in the second period. Seven minutes into the first period, Ryan Shannon put a wrist shot past Neuvirth for his fourth goal,
while Chris Kelly fired a shot past Neuvirth in the 14th minute to give the Senators a 2-0 lead with his eighth goal of the season.
"We got the start we wanted, they got some good breaks early in the second and that's five minutes we would like to have back, but that's the way it goes," Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson said after the game. Washington's captain saw his goal drought
extended to six games, although, a video analysis cancelled out his score 10 minutes into the second, which would have put the Capitals up by two.
"When you get two points you're just happy like a kid," said Alex Ovechkin, who got his team-leading 26th assist and 38th point on Fehr's goal. "We just want to win so badly."
Early in the second period, the Capitals struck two goals in just 46 seconds, capitalising of a pair of turnovers from the Senators to tie it at two all. Mathieu Perreault scored his first goal of the game 34 seconds into the second period to give Washington
a 2-1 lead. Former Washington defenceman Sergei Gonchar turned over the puck at Washington’s blue line, and Brooks Laich took off on a 3-on-1. Perreault struck home Mike Knuble's rebound for his third goal of the season.
With just over a minute to go in the second, right-winger Eric Fehr tied the game at two-all with his fifth goal of the season. Ovechkin stopped Senators’ expert defenceman Chris Phillips' pass, and passed the puck to Fehr, who fired it past Elliott. Perreault
scored his second goal on a power play seven minutes into the second and gave the Capitals their first lead.
"We knew we had to win that game," Perreault said. "After the first period we all regrouped and said, 'OK guys, this has got to be our best period of the year.' And I think that's what we did." Washington poured off the bench at the end of the match and
mobbed goalie Michal Neuvirth, whose performance undoubtedly played a huge role in the win.
The Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau told reporter after the game, "And as a coach, just looking at the players' faces and seeing them happy instead of grinding and everything it's a huge win, but in the end it's one win out of nine. It's a relief for us but
it's not like we're out of the woods."
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