Ovechkin scores in comeback, Caps win 4-2

The best hockey player in the world returned to the ice last night after missing 6 games with a shoulder injury and gave the Capitals their 1st of 4 goals on the night.

Ovie’s 15th goal of the season tied the score at 1-1, after Marian Gaborik gave the Rangers the early 1-0 lead, scoring just 1:16 into the game. Ovechkin’s goal came on the Caps power play from the point, a booming slap shot screened perfectly by Chris Clark and Brooks Laich. Despite out shooting the Rangers 15-5 in the first period, the period ended in a 1-1 tie.

The lone second period goal came on the Caps power play, a rebound put in by Brooks Laich, his 5th power play goal of the season, leading the Capitals special teams.  Mike Green and Chris Clark had the assists.  The second period was a pure defensive period as both teams put up a combined 12 shots 0n goal (6-6).

Gaborik scored the equalizer and his 2nd goal of the night a little over the 8 minute mark in the third period, a shot to the side of the net, up over Semyon Varlamov’s right shoulder.  That goal was number 15 for Gaborik, keeping him tied with Alex Ovechkin for the NHL lead, despite Oveckin’s 6 game layoff. 

A little over the 15 minute mark, a stitched up Matt Bradley, bloodied from a second period fight, took a pseudo-breakway and owned Ranger’s goalie Henrik Lundqvist to give the Caps a 3-2 lead they would not relinquish.   It was Bradley’s 4th goal of the season, putting him 1 goal away from his total of 5 goals all of last year.  The final goal came on a flick away by Brian Pothier into the empty Rangers net to seal the 4-2 win over the Rangers.

Varlamov saved 18 of 20 shots to improve to an impressive 8-1 on the season.

Read it all at

http://dcprosportsreport.com/2009/11/18/ovechkin-scores-in-comeback-caps-win-4-2.html