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Semin Scores Twice As Capitals Dominate Ducks, 5-1
Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Alexander Semin had his second straight two- goal game as the Washington Capitals extended their winning streak to eight straight games with a 5-1 thrashing of the Anaheim Ducks.
The Capitals, who lead the Eastern Conference with 76 points, have their first eight-game winning streak since 1989 thanks in part to Semin, who scored two goals in Tuesday's 7-2 romp of the Islanders and currently has a seven-game point streak with six goals and eight assists during the run.
Alex Ovechkin had a goal and two assists while Mike Knuble and Shaone Morrisonn each had a goal and an assist for the Capitals, who have won seven straight at home. Michal Neuvirth made 30 stops in the win.
“Things just exploded for us there in the third period,” said Washington head coach Bruce Boudreau. “Those guys are on a 13-day road trip and we’re at home and you have the crowd to energize you when you’re at home. It can make the difference sometimes and I think it was a big thing tonight.”
Dan Sexton scored the lone goal while Jean-Sebastien Giguere stopped 44-of-49 shots in the loss for the Ducks, who have dropped three of four.
“If it wasn’t for our goaltender standing on his head in the first period this game would have been over early,” said Anaheim head coach Randy Carlyle. “Then in the second period we played much better, but in the third they scored on their second shift and it opened the floodgates.”
The game was knotted a 1-1 heading into the third, but the Caps scored three times over a 2:30 span early in the frame to take control.
Just 1:45 into the third, Morrisonn's shot from the high slot hit off the skate of Steve Eminger and went into the net.
Only 54 seconds later, Washington made it a 3-1 game as Ovechkin deked an Anaheim player at the right blue line to turn a rush into a 2-on-1 and dished it over to the left side for Knuble, who backhanded the puck past Giguere.
Semin completed the burst 1:36 later as he roofed a backhander down low on a breakaway for a 4-1 lead.
Semin made it a 5-1 game with 8:13 to play on a one-timer from the left circle on a 5-on-3 power play.
Just 36 seconds into the contest, Washington took a 1-0 lead as Mike Green threw the puck on net from the right point that Knuble knocked down in front and Ovechkin slammed into the open net.
Despite giving up the goal, Giguere was solid in net in the first period as he stopped a total of 18 shots in the first frame to keep it a one-goal contest.
Anaheim tied the game with 8:37 to play in the second period as Sheldon Brookbank one-timed a loss puck in the high slot that Neuvirth made a save on, but Sexton deposited the rebound in the back of the net.
Washington hosts Florida on Friday...The Ducks continues their six-game road trip in Tampa on Friday...The Capitals have won three of the last four in the series...Washington went 1-for-5 on the power play while Anaheim was 0-for-2.
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