Schultz, Fehr, and Clark net 1st goals, Caps win 5-4

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 blueliners.

With Alexander Semin sidelined yesterday 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 came on 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.  That goal also provided goalie Semyon Varlmaov with his first career assist.  Boudreau complained post game about the Atlanta ice condition and Pavelek likely agreed.

The fourth 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.

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http://dcprosportsreport.com/2009/10/23/schultz-fehr-and-clark-net-1st-goals-caps-win-5-4.html