Nicklas Backstrom is going a long way to prove that he is more than just Alex Ovechkin's caddy. He had a two-goal night—his fifth of the season—to lead the Washington Captials to a 5-2 win over the Ottawa Senators before a sold out Verizon Center.
Backstrom added an assist as well on Mike Knuble's first-period goal and was simply dominant. In addition to the scoring, he was 53 per cent in the dot on faceoffs and part of a penalty kill that gave up just two shots in six minutes shorthanded.
Newly-minted captain Alex Ovechkin had a goal (his 28th of the campaign) and assisted on both of Backstrom's tallies, breaking a two-game scoreless streak.
The Caps got out to a quick 2-0 lead, courtesy of some good old-fashioned hard work. The fourth line had several good shifts in the first period, but none better that the one that resulted in Boyd Gordon's first goal of the season—his first in over a year.
David Steckel, Matt Bradley, and Gordon cycled the puck in the corner against the Senators' defense, and Steckel twice went into the corner to dig the puck out. Gordon got a wrister off that goalie Pascal Leclaire knocked aside but could not control.
Bradley took a whack at ...
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Article written by Dave Nichols
Nicklas Backstrom Leads Washington Capitals Past Ottawa Senators, 5-2
January 7th, 2010 by Dave Nichols Leave a reply »
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