Theodore Shuts Out the Habs

Jose Theodore got even.  In a big way.
Two years after Montreal dealt Theodore to Colorado, Theodore sent Montreal home, goal-less and another victim of the Sea of Red.  The Capitals shut out Montreal 3-0 to remain unbeaten in the Verizon Center, an impressive 9-0-1.  It was Theodore’s first shutout as a Washington Capital and the DCPSR Player of the Game, stopping 28 of 28 shots.
Washington’s first goal came on a beautiful steal right in front of the Canadians net by Tomas Fleischmann, Fleischmann made a pass across the net to Michael Nylander and Nylander returned the favor and Fleischmann put it passed Jaroslav Halak for his 9th goal of the season.  It was a picture perfect play that caught Halak off guard and gave the Caps a 1-0 lead.
The Caps and Habs fought to a scoreless second period in which Montreal out shot the caps 13-7.
The Caps would pad the win with two more goals coming in this third period.  Less than 4 minutes in, Alex Ovechkin would strike for his 13th goal of the season.  Ovechkin now has an NHL best 10th straight game scoring a point.  His 13th goal also ties Alexander Semin for the team lead.  Semin has missed the past 8 games.
The final goal of the game came on a redirect by David Steckel off a long shot from Sami Lepisto.  It was Steckel’s 4th goal of the season.  Lepisto now has an assist in each game since his call up from Hershey.
Despite some impressive defense and goal by the injury riddled Caps, the night belong to Theodore as he picked his first shut out in DC and extended the capitals win streak to two.
Multi-Point Scorers:
None
DCPSR Player of the Game:
G Jose Theodore, stopped 28 of 28 shots for his first shutout as the Caps netminder.
Notables:
*  Washington fans sold out the Verizon Center for the second time this season.  Kudos to the Sea of Red as the Washington Capitals remain unbeaten in regulation at the Verizon Center.
*  Tomas Fleischmann scored his 9th goal of the season.  He had 10 all of last season.  Flash has now extended his scoring streak to 4 straight games and has scored in 7 of his last 8 games.
*  Over Ovechkin’s 10 game scoring streak, he has compiled 11 goal and 11 assists.
* 2007 first round draft pick Karl Alzner was the work horse last night putting up 23:22 of ice time.