Capitals Roll in Semin’s Return

Washington, DC—Two-time reigning league Most Valuable Player Alex Ovechkin missed Thursday night’s game with the Florida Panthers while serving a two game suspension for a knee-on-knee hit on Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Tim Gleason Monday night in Carolina.
It would be doubtful, however, if anyone noticed.
Alexander Semin returned from a seven game absence due to an injured wrist and did everything his Russian teammate provides and a bit more. Semin tallied twice, once to start the scoring 10:34 into the first period and second at 3:19 of the third period with the game already out of reach. Semin also added two assists as the Capitals rolled to an easy 6-2 win at Verizon Center.
Tomas Fleischmann, Matt Bradley, Nicklas Backstrom, and Brendan Morrison provided the rest of the Capitals scoring as the Capitals scored twice in each of the three periods.
“It’s always difficult to come back and play your first game after an injury,” said Semin who also added two assists. “But the team played well and they helped me get back to my game, and I really didn’t think about it being the first game without [Ovechkin]. I’m just glad to be back.”
Semin’s first goal came on a wrist shot from the middle of the slot after the Panthers failed to clear the puck. Semin took the puck off the near wall and skated through the left circle before firing passed Florida’s Scott Clemmensen.
The outburst doubled his point total during the six games that Ovechkin missed in November. Semin registered just two points, both goals, during the six game stretch with both goals coming in the Nov 11 win over the New York Islanders.
Semin, however, downplayed any extra effort due to Ovechkin being out.
“It’s just like a regular game,” said Semin. “We go out and play as a team. That’s the key word. Of course it’s bad that he didn’t play tonight but what can you do?”
It looked like the Capitals were on their way to an easy win until early in the third period. Florida right winger Mike Duco took exception to an Alexander Giroux hit and punched Giroux at center ice. Duco followed Giroux, who laid flat on the ice with his hands over his head, as Giroux slid to the far boards throwing punches. Several Capitals, including Captain Chris Clark, came to Giroux’s aid.
Clark could be seen mouthing less then friendly words to Duco as the scrum was being separated.
Capitals Coach Bruce Boudreau was clearly upset about the situation afterwards, saying Duco’s actions were an example of how the league has evolved.
“It’s almost what the game has come to,” said Boudreau. “You get a good hit and not a hard hit and you take exception to a hit. Hockey used to be that you hit a guy hard and that’s what it’s all about. Now you hit a guy hard and you think you’ve got to retaliate. It’s stupid.”
Duco acknowledged after the game that his actions were a bit hasty, but said he felt Giroux was taking shots at the Panthers younger players.
“I acted suddenly and probably shouldn’t have but that’s part of the game and if he wants to take liberties on our younger guys people have to stick up for them,” said Duco. “I just tried to do what I could. I might have done the wrong thing at the time but things happen.”
Duco said he was surprised Giroux didn’t come back at him since the two had a couple battles in the American Hockey league last season. Giroux had a different take.
“I don’t even know who he is,” said Giroux.
The scrum resulted in a seven minute power play for the Capitals as Duco was assessed with a two-minute instigator penalty, five-minutes for fighting, a 10-minute game misconduct and a 10-minute aggressor penalty.
The Capitals struck twice on the extended power play to effectively put the game out of reach. Morrison and Semin tallied on the power play as the Capitals registered three power play goals in a game for the first time since April 3, 2009 against the Buffalo Sabres.
Bradley’s goal, which came at 2:45 of the second period, put the game of reach far before Duco’s meltdown.
Bradley skated into the Panthers zone and put a soft shot on Florida netminder Alexander Salak, who came in after Clemmensen was pulled in the first period, from just inside the blue line. The puck somehow found its way into the back of the net putting the Capitals up 3-0.
“It was a lucky goal but it makes up for one that you think you should have,” said Bradley who has five goals on the season. “It was a lucky bounce but I’ll take it.”
Boudreau acknowledged Bradley’s goal being the turning point, but also praised his team for once again stepping up without it’s best player.
“I think it shows the depth of the club,” said Boudreau. “Quite frankly, we haven’t played with a full line up this year. It’s good to see that we’ve got the ability as an organization to call up from Hershey or just guys who haven’t played that much can step up and do a really good job.”