The Washington Capitals, after losing three straight, completed a weekend sweep of Florida Panthers to give them 2 consecutive wins and improve to 10-3-4.  The win on Saturday night also gave them 24 points and moved them into a first place tie in the Eastern Conference with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Ovechkinless Caps tallied 7 goals on the night to defeat Florida 7-4.

Mike Knuble scored his first of the night in the first period to send the Caps into the intermission with a 1-0 lead.  The first period intensified as it went on setting the tone for a pretty hard hitting game.  Knubes goal was assisted by Brendan Morrison and Brooks Laich.  The Panthers out shot the Caps 11-7.

Michael Frolick didn’t take long, just 1:35 into the second period to tie the score at 1-1.   Brooks Laich countered 5 minutes later scoring a power play goal to give the Caps a 2-1 lead.  That lead did not last as Dimtry Kulikov and Michal Repik scored 2 second period goals to send the Caps down 3-2 at the second intermission.   Florida again out shot Washington 12-9.

The third period was all Caps.  It looked as if the Caps gained life, while the back to back games began to wear down the Panthers.  The equalizer came a little over the 2 minute mark on a stuff attempt by rookie Mathieu Perreault.  Perreault managed to stuff it in for his first NHL goal of his career and tie the score at 3-3.  In 3 games with the Caps, Perreault now has 1 goal and 2 assists.   Just 40 seconds later, Quintin Laing gave the Caps the 4-3 lead with his second goal of the season.  After Corey Stillman scored his 3rd of the year to tie it at 4-4, it was all Caps from there on.  Tomas Fleischmann gave the Caps a 5-4 lead not more than 3 minutes after the Stillman goal.   It was his first of two goals on the night.  Later in the third, Caps got another goal from Flash and a 2nd goal on the night from Mike Knuble.   Flash remains one of the hottest Caps since missing the first three weeks of the NHL season with a blood clot in his left leg.  Since his return, Flash has 5 goals, 2 assists and is a +4 in 6 games.  As for Knubes, what a night.  Knubes tallied 4 points, 2 goals, and 2 assists.

Jose Theodore did not have his best night but picked up the win and improved to 5-2.  Theo was leaving way too many rebounds out tonight which is why Florida was able to tally 4 goals.  Overall, Theo stopped 24 of 28 shots on goal.  In addition, kudos to the Caps on more disciplined play.  They only committed two penalties tonight.

Special Teams:

The Capitals were 1-4 on the power play, getting a goal from Brooks Laich.  The penalty kill unit was much better tonight, stopping both Florida PP opportunities.  Good job by the Caps tonight by staying out of the penalty box.

Multi-Point Scorers:

Nicklas Backstrom, 2 assists

Tomas Fleischmann, 2 goals

Mike Knuble, 2 goals, 2 assists

Brooks Laich, 1 goal, 1 assist

DCPSR Player of the Game:  MIKE KNUBLE, 2 GOALS, 2 ASSISTS, 4 POINTS AND +2