Monday 16 April 2012

Washington @ Boston Game 2

On Saturday afternoon Boston played host to the Washington Capitals in Game 2 in the Quarter Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Game 1 was a good game, so what has Game 2 got in store for the fans. 

1st Period

Wash takes control of the Faceoff and Game 2 is underway. On his first shift Alex Ovechkin initiated contact with Dennis Seidenberg and  Zdeno Chara. Boston goes on the first PK as Chara gets a hold of Ovechkin to draw Wash a PP. Chara goes to the box for 2 minutes. With 37 seconds left of the Wash PP, Greg Zanon and Brooks Laich as they both exchanged shoves after the whistle. Boston with a successful PK and with a amazing pace as both teams have had scoring chances. 

Ovechkin seemed to be very determined to put a number in his playoff scoring line, as he was everywhere. Benoit Pouliot with a nifty move down the left side draws a penalty call as Mike Green hooks onto Pouliot's stick. Green goes to the box for 2 minutes. In Game 1 Boston were 0-4 on the PP. Wash with a successful PK as Boston with the only shot on goal with 8:08 left in the period. Wash goes on another PP as Chris Kelly goes to the box for a hooking call. Kelly goes for 2 minutes. During the PK for Boston, Brad Marchand had a shorthanded chance and then he got into to it with Troy Brouwer after the whistle. A huge success for Boston on the PK. Ovechkin has been the best player for the Caps so far as hes has 9 shots on goal. The horn sounds to end the 1st and the score remains 0-0. 


2nd Period ( middle Stanza)

Boston and Wash are back on for the middle stanza. Boston's goaltender Tim Thomas stopped Ovechkin on a partial breakaway, and it was smart for Thomas to stay home when he could of gone for the pokecheck. Not long after that save by Thomas Wash's Roman Hamrlik goes to the box as he cross-checked Marchand. So Hamrlik goes to the box for 2 minutes. During the PP Patrice Bergeron's shot just trickles goes wide after the puck goes through Braden Holtby's pads. Wash's PK are doing a very good job as it remains 0-0. The Young Goalie continues to go strong as Dan Paille and the Merlot line kept pester Holtby.  

Seidenberg was not pleased with Ovechkin as he put his glove and stick into his face after the whistle. The game is getting a bit more intense as the game goes on. During the last play John Carlson and Bergeron had a stare at each other after some extracurriculars in the last play. Another save by Holtby as Greg Zanon had a shot after Gregory Campbell tipped it. With 8:49 left in the 2nd Wash goes on another PP as Marchand goes to the box for a hi-sticking call. Marchand goes to the box for 2 minutes. What another terrific PK by Boston. Unfortunately with 02:03 minutes left in the 2nd, Brouwer picked up a loose puck in front of Thomas and puts the puck into the net. Brouwer with his first goal in the playoffs, and Ovechkin with his 1st assist of the playoffs.Karl Alzner with his 1st assist of the playoffs. At the horn they was a huge pile up in front of the Wash's goal with Bergeron and Alzner started it as they got into it. Oh wow as they were no penalties after that huge scrum and the score still at 1-0 Wash. 


3rd Period. 

This is the final stanza in regulation. The game is getting more physical as Johnny Boychuk had a big hit on Ovechkin. Holtby is having a amazing game as he now robs Marchand. On the 13th minute Boston scores as Pouliot fought hard to the net and forced the puck through Holtby. That was Pouliot's first career playoff goal. The assists on Boston's goal go to Brian Rolston (2) and Kelly (1). 


Boston continues to bring the physical as every puck is contested while nobody getting down the ice easily for Wash. Thomas was also getting in to the action as he popped Nicklas Backstrom. Score remains 1-1. After 60 minutes we are going to OT. 


Overtime

The extra 20 minutes of the game is underway. Wow Kelly nearly done it again but Holtby saves it. During the OT Shawn Thornton goes to the locker room but doesnt appear to be injured it did look like a equipment problem. Thornton is now back on the Boston's bench. 

Both teams are trading chances with 11:01 left in the extra session. Seidenberg is the 1st player in the game to reach 30 minutes of ice time. Thomas has two massive saves to keep the score at 1-1.  But the horn sounds to end the extra period. 

2nd Overtime

Another 20 minutes to go. The both sets of players must be getting tired by now. Thomas and Holtby have been excellent. But unfortunately with 2:56 left in the extra session Backstrom puts the puck into the back of Thomas's net to make it 2-1 Wash. Marcus Johansson with the assist (1). With that goal Wash wins the game. 

Tonight's 3 stars:  1. Nicklas Backstrom 2.Karl Alzner 3. Benoit Pouliot. 

On Monday night Game 3 will be in Washington DC at a 7.30p start. Who will take the lead in the Series as it is tied 1-1. 







No comments:

Post a Comment