Watch Washington Capitals vs Atlanta Thrashers Live Online
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Watch Washington Capitals vs Atlanta Thrashers Live Online
7:00 pm EDT Thu Oct 22, 2009
7:00 pm EDT Thu Oct 22, 2009
While Alex Ovechkin provided the offense, the goaltending of Semyon Varlamov may be an even bigger reason why the Washington Capitals have bounced back following a four-game losing streak. The Capitals visit the Atlanta Thrashers on Thursday night for the first of two meetings between the Southeast Division rivals over the next week. Washington (4-2-2) has recorded back-to-back wins over San Jose and Nashville after an 0-2-2 stretch. The Capitals beat the Predators 3-2 in a shootout Saturday, with Ovechkin scoring twice in regulation before adding the shootout winner. It was his second consecutive multi-goal game and his fourth of the season. Ovechkin has a league-leading nine goals and 16 points this season.
Atlanta (4-1-1) returns home after going 3-1-1 on a five-game road trip that finished with a 2-1 shootout loss to Montreal on Tuesday. Colby Armstrong tied the game early in the third period, but Ilya Kovalchuk and Rich Peverley failed to convert in the tiebreaker. Ondrej Pavelec made 34 saves in regulation and overtime. “He played really, really well,” coach John Anderson said of Pavelec. “I was very, very happy with it and I wish we could have won at the end, but that’s the way it goes.”
Kovalchuk was held without a point Tuesday but still leads the Thrashers with seven goals and is tied with Peverley for the team lead with eight points. Kovalchuk had two goals and four assists in five games against the Capitals last season. Atlanta will host Washington twice during this homestand, including again next Thursday. While the Capitals were 4-2-0 against the Thrashers last season, they lost two of three in Atlanta. Ovechkin was held to two assists in those road contests but had three goals and four points in three home games. Ovechkin’s 23 goals and 49 points against the Thrashers are his highest totals against any opponent.
