The Capitals were in tough, down 2-0 in their series against the New York Rangers and they came through. Alexander Ovechkin remains scoreless, but not for lack of effort as he has taken a ton of shots, but Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist is looming large.
Ovie still contributed nicely with a couple of assists in Washington's win and a renewed effort on his defensive game.
The Rangers Sean Avery showed why he is one of the most disliked players in hockey with his continued cheap shots, first suckerpunching Washington defenseman John Erskine (6'4") who barely moved and just looked down at the diminutive Avery. If Erskine had responded, Avery would have likely done his turtle act which he is known for. He got the boot from the game for also punching Caps rookie goaltender Simeon Varlamov.
Even Don Cherry called Avery's antics "chicken... stuff" and suggest Rangers' coach John Tortorella sit him far, far off the end of the bench. Torts just gave Avery a very disappointed and disgusted look as he was led off the ice. According to his own coach, Avery is not a "headline player" and I think he won't be long in a Rangers uniform. He probably will be off the Rangers squad early next year if stupid plays like that prevent the Rangers from advancing. Avery is well known for crass comments and trying to make the game "exciting" but he is just a marginal player trying desperately to carve out a role for himself. In the 3 games of the series he is pointless and a minus 1. The role he is defining for himself by these goofy actions like he pulled the other night is as a retired player. He can't score, and he seems to think that the fans love him for the crap he pulls. We don't.
Ugh, I don't even want to discuss Sean Avery anymore. He can now be considered as banned from the Hockey Highlighter.
Meanwhile, the Caps dominated the Rangers. Alexander Semin scored twice and Ovechkin added his two assists as the Caps finally solved Rangers' goalie Lundqvist. The big story out of the series so far, other than Ovechkin's goal-less streak, is the great play by the Capitals' rookie Goalie Simeon Varlamov who shut out New York in Game 3 and has allowed only one goal since coming in to relieve Jose Theodore after his horrendous start in games 1 and 2.
Simeon Varlamov Shuts Out Rangers In First Full Playoff Start
Varlamov has played in only 6 regular season games (4-0-1) and recorded the loss in Game 2 which should have been Theodore's (is that guy ever going to become a topline goalie?) and Varlamov's shutout was his first ever in NHL play, and doing that in the NHL playoffs, as a rookie, raises the eyebrows of many experienced hockey fans.
There's always the thoughts, "Remember Dryden?", and comparisons to Patrick Roy, etc etc., but that was only one game. The kid with the steely blue-eyed stare played very well, but the playoffs can grind up a young goalie. No matter what the Washington Capitals young goalie does in the playoffs, there'll be more than a few eyes on him as he will likely get a lot more game experience in the 2009-10 season.
But that is looking too far ahead, Game 4 is looming, April 22nd at 7pm. How do you think Varlamov will do?
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