D Jeff Schultz, F Eric Fehr, and team captain Chris Clark scored their first goals of the season last night as the Capitals held off poor third period play and a late Thrashers rally to defeat Atlanta 5-4.   HC Bruce Boudreau insisted on the need for some secondary line scoring and got it last night.

Jeff Schultz started the scoring off by connecting a pass down the middle to an open Eric Fehr and Fehr scored on a breakaway against Atlanta goalie Ondrej Pavelek.  It was Fehr’s first goal of the season.  You have to give credit though to Schultzie on the good eyes and nice pass, something Bob Woods, Caps defensive coach, has stressed to the Caps blue liners.

With Alexander Semin sidelined because of illness, AHL scoring record holder Alexandre Giroux was recalled and given an opportunity to play.  Giroux cashed in with his first goal of the year.  Giroux has put up amazing numbers in the AHL, but has failed to replicate that performance in the NHL.  Give credit to a sensational pass from fellow Hershey Line Oner Keith Aucoin.  Ilya Kovolchuk scored his 8th of the season to tie the game up at the end of the first period at 2-2.  Washington and Atlanta each had 9 shots on goal in the first period.

Washington’s third goal was a freak goal.  Jeff Schultz scored just 15 feet from his own goalie, Semyon Varlamov, on a 85 feet bullet that skipped right in front of Pavelek to net Schultzie’s first goal of the season.  That goal also provided goalie Varlmaov with his first career assist.  Boudreau complained post game about the Atlanta ice condition and Pavelek likely agreed.

The forth goal came on a rebound off another Schultz slapper, put in by Matt Bradley.  It was Brads 3rd goal of the season.  Brads scored a total of 4 goals all of last year, but is off to a super hot start this year, with 3 goals and 2 assists, 5 points.  Brads had a total of 11 points all last year.

Chris Clark added his first of the season on a rebound from Mike Green.  That put the Capitals up 5-2 at the end of the second period.  Despite being out shot 7-6, Caps won the period 3-0 and took a 5-2 lead into the second intermission.

Atlanta had a furious come back in the third period because of lackluster,  poor play by the Caps.  Boudreau complained several times this season about the Capitals not playing a full 60 minutes of hockey.  Last night was no different.  Despite the Caps out shooting Atlanta in the third period 13-10, the Caps seemed to have checked out around the half way mark of the third period.  Zach Bogosian and Kovulchuk added goals to make it 5-4 late in the game.  Atlanta had ample opportunities in the final three minutes to knot the game up because of significant penalty trouble for Washington leading to several two man opportunities for the Thrashers.  Knuble, Schultz and Alex Ovechkin all committed penalties under the 3 minute mark.

Line 1 did not net a goal last night.   Boudreau was forthright in the post game press conference stating the Line 1 effort was lacking.  Ovechkin was held scoreless and limited to 4 shots on goal.

Varlamov saved 22 of 26 shots.  Varly made some beautiful saves last night, but also gave up 2 softies.

The Capitals improve to 5-2-2 overall and take a 3 point lead over Atlanta in the Southeast Division.  It was Washington’s first division game.  Washington also improved to 2-1-1 on the road.

Multi-Point Scorers:

Jeff Schultz, 1 goal, 2 assists

DCPSR Player of the Game:  JEFF SCHULTZ (never thought I would type that) 1 goal, 2 assist, +3