NHL Playoff Recap - Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, Game 5(8) Montreal 2, (1) Washington 1 - Capitals lead series 3-2 Facing the best team often brings out the worst in your own. No matter how good the effort, all it takes are a few mistakes or lapses in concentration for a superior opponent to get the edge it needs. The Montreal Canadiens have found that out this week against the powerful Washington Capitals, falling behind 3-1 in a first round series that probably should have been history by 9 p.m. Friday night. In Game 5, the Caps dominated play again. Yet, all that matters is the scoreboard, and thanks to two early goals plus a sparkling performance by goaltender Jaroslav Halak, the Canadiens are still alive. Somehow.
Throughout the series, the Capitals’ talented attack has gotten the best of Montreal’s shaky defensive corps, progressively wearing out the Canadiens throughout each game and dominating the third periods. Game 5 at the Verizon Center was no different. The Caps - playing on home ice once again - had the best of it from start to finish, looking every bit the dominant, President's Trophy-winning juggernaut that had piled up 121 points during the regular season. The shots-on-goal advantage in the third period was just 12-9, but the territorial dominance was clear for Washington. With a chance to advance to the second round, the Capitals smelled blood and took over. However, as well as they played, the Caps just couldn’t crack Halak. Few positions in sports can singlehandedly affect a game, a series, or a season like a goaltender in hockey. After watching Game 4 from the bench, Halak - who had been replaced by Carey Price - was reinserted and promptly took advantage of the opportunity in Game 5.
Montreal took a 2-0 lead early in the first period, and as it turned out, it was all Halak would need. Washington’s only goal was an Alex Ovechkin score off a scramble in front of the net early in the second period. A power play early in the third gave the Capitals their best chance to draw even, but three excellent saves by Halak on Nicklas Backstrom, Alexander Semin, and Thomas Fleischmann preserved the Montreal lead. Halak finished with 37 saves and kept Semin scoreless in the playoffs so far. The pressure will continue to mount on Semin, but he was excellent in Game 5 despite the lack of production. Ovechkin now has goals in four straight games, but Semin played just as well as his megastar teammate. The scoresheet won’t show it, and fans and media will probably continue to squawk, “what’s wrong with Semin?” However, that’s the difference one hot netminder can make. Instead of resting up for the second round, the Capitals will travel back to Montreal for Game 6 on Monday night.
James Lambert |
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