One could say that both the Pacific and Southeast Division's are a bit strange this season. The five teams that make up the Pacific are all within four points of each other to this point, making it one of the tightest races in recent memory. The Southeast, meanwhile, is close as well, which as we all know is pretty abnormal since the Washington Capitals have become customary run-aways in that corner of hockey.
Capitals Vs. Coyotes: Phoenix Grabs First Place As Washington Loses Third Straight
Monday's game between the Capitals and the Phoenix Coyotes highlighted these unique divisional characteristics rather well. The Coyotes snuck by the Caps, 3-2 at Jobing.com Arena to leap the Anaheim Ducks into first place in the Pacific, at least for the day. The loss is the third-straight for the struggling Capitals who remain five points behind Southeast-leading Tampa Bay.
Japers’ Rink said that the Caps need to give credit where it’s due, but that at the same time, Washington should’ve won this one.
Give credit to the Coyotes for playing the perfect road game - at home. Although Washington outshot Phoenix 31-18, the ‘Yotes muddied the flow with their version of the trap, limiting the Caps to 16 even strength shots on goal and never allowing the Caps to get into a sustained offensive rhythm. Yet the Caps could still have pulled this game out. Why didn’t they? They lost the special teams battle, going 0-for-5 on the power play and giving up one goal in three shorthanded situations.
Vernon Fiddler scored his sixth of the season in the third period, a goal which turned out to be the eventual game winner. Matt Bradley cut a the Coyotes lead to 3-2 with a goal just 40 seconds after Fiddler's, but it wasn't enough to get the Caps back into the win column. Ilya Bryzagalov made 29 saves in the win.
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