Caps Shutout Devils 4-0, Huet With The Shutout

The Washington Capitals came out in their first game since the NHL trade deadline and dominated the New Jersye Devils 4-0, giving new starting goalie Cristobal Huey his first shut out with the Capitals.  A perfect game was perfect in special teams as well.  The Caps were 2 for 2 on the power play, starting the scoring with a pass by Alexander Semin in front of the net to Mike Green for his 17th goal of the year, league leading among NHL defensemen.  Green’s goal was assisted by new Capital Sergei Fedorov.  Caps were also perfect in penalty kill, shutting out the Devils on 3 tries. 

Just like a few days ago, the Caps and Devils went into the second intermission with just a 1-0 lead on Green’s power play

goal.  Washington exploded in the third period for three goals.  First came on an Alexander Ovechkin cross ice pass to Victor Kozlov to put a slap pass past Marty Brodeur.  The goal was number 13 for Kozlov.   With the Capitals leading 2-0. at 8:59 on a power play, Nicklas Backstrom made a pretty feed to Alexander Semin for the power play goal, and goal number 20 on the year for a red hot Semin.  It was Semin’s 6th goal in the last 7 games. 
None other than Donald Brashear would ice the game with his fourth goal of the year taking a senasational pass from Matt Bradley.  The Brashear goal ened the game at 4-0.  
It was the first start and game for Crostobal Huet as a Capital, since being obtained by the Caps on Wednesaday at the trade deadline for a 2009 second round draft pick.  Huet made some pretty sweet saves and stopped all 18 shots on goal.  With the shut out in tact, it makes it hard to not put Huet back in goal tomorrow night at the Verizon Center against Toronto.  Superb game by defense, by special teams and by Huet.  With the win, the Capitals now pull back to within 3 points of the final 8th playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and within 3 points of the Southeast division lead.  The Alexander Ovechkin goalless streak now reached 6 games.  One thing is for sure.  Alex needs to relax.  He is clearly too on edge trying to break this slump.   
The win was number 30 for the Caps. 
Multiple Point Scorers:           
Nicklas Backstorm, 2 points
Tom Poit, 2 Points
Alexander Semin, 1 Goal, 1 Assist
Stars of the Game:

 ALEXANDER SEMIN, 1 goal, 1 asist
and
CRISTOBAL HUET,  shutout wins, stopping 18 shots of 18.