CAPITALS CRUSH WHALERS TO END SEASON

Game 80 came tonight and it was against the team's biggest nemesis, the Hartford Whalers. And while it was a closer game than the one early in the week, the Capitals still put a hurt on Beaupre and the Whalers, tonight winning 8-4 and sending him to the showers early again. After chasing Beaupre just two nights earlier at home 7-1, this time the two teams met in Hartford for the Capitals' last game of the season. 

The Whalers came out strong in the contest but Moffat was up to the task in the first period as the Whalers would fire 16 shots. Krush would open the scoring with his 21st of the game at the 8 minute mark of the first period. It wasn't until the 15 minute mark when Carpenter scored his 25th that some momentum started to shift a lot. Just 13 seconds later Makarov scored his 31st and it was 3-0. Hartford, trying to stay in the game, were able to connect on the PP with about a minute left in the period as the first would close with the Capitals up 3-1. 

Any momentum gained for the Whalers was quickly flipped when Bergevin scored his 7th just 3 minutes into the second. Carpenter added his second of the game, 26th of the season, at the 7 minute mark and we had a score of 5-2 and Beaupre was again sent to the showers. 

The goalie change seemed to help some as the Whalers would score twice before the second ended and after two the score was now 5-3 with Moffat and Cheveldae in nets. 

The game got real close when Mario scored just 12 seconds into the third period and all of a sudden with the score at 5-4, the fans were rocking at the Sam Adams Colonial Center. With the Whalers continuing to push Moffat just would not allow that next goal though, and at the nine minute mark Kurri scored his 38th of the season, which pushed the lead back to two and seemed to break the Whalers backs. Gretzky would add his 34th two minutes later, then Makarov on the PP would notch his 2nd of the game, 32nd of the season, to get the score to 8-4 with 5 minutes left. From there the teams skated out the rest of the game as the Capitals would go on to the win of 8-4 as mentioned earlier. 

Mike Moffat would get the win moving his record to 29-23-4 on the season. More importantly has been his play since coming to Washington. His final numbers for the Capitals were 22-15-3, 2.99GAA and a save percentage of .884.

On the night, the special teams were a mix really. The PP was perfect but only had 1 chance going 1-1. The PK struggled some, missing two key guys in Boimerstruck and Carpenter not doing the PK as they went 2 for 3. 

First star of the game went to Makarov with 2 goals, 4 points ,+3 and 6 shots on the night. 

Second star was Kurri with 1 goal, 4 points, and a +3. 

Third star was the 3rd member of the second line, Carpenter, as he had 2 goals, 3 points and a +3. 

With that the Washington Capitals regular season comes to an end. Next is the playoffs but who and where they play is still the question. They sit one point ahead of the Devils for the second seed, the team that double shifted them to gain a valuable 2 points (no we won't let it go lol), and those Devils have two games remaining against the Hartford Whalers (yeah the other one we won't let go). They should be able to at least gain a point but as this season has proved, nothing is guaranteed. If the Capitals did get the second seed, the opponent still would not be known as the Bruins and Flyers are in a battle for 6th and 7th spot. The more likely scenario is the Capitals will finish 5th and face the Hartford Whalers in the first round. They are very comfortable with this possible series as well. They have won twice in a week outscoring the Whalers 15-5 in those two games. They also played each other a few days before the trade deadline, and basically the current roster in which they won that game 4-2 in Hartford as well. So they have had some good success against the Whalers lately and more importantly with this roster. 

So now they just sit and wait. Tonight the Whalers and Devils will play game 1 so they may know their fate in 24 hours. The Bruins and Flyers also play tonight, so we may learn who the 6th and 7th seeds may be as well in the Wales. A Flyers win or tie will give them the 6th seed. Boston must win both their remaining games to get the 6th seed. 

 

NEW ORLEANS

Fireworks tonight in Connecticut as the fans were entertained for the evening with some high powered offense. The final score was 7-7 when all was said and done. Penney took the tie while the offense came from Lambert and Levie scoring a pair. For New Orleans, this will see the end for many players in the Crescent City. Of the current team, only 9 players have a contract for next season and the rest will be free agents. 

Bubba Smith Sr.
Capital Press