The Russian line delivers to get the Caps 2 points

Coach Boudreau put the Russians - Alex Ovechkin, Sergei Fedorov and Alexander Semin - together on the top line last night and it worked.  The Russian World Champion gold medalists scored all the goals last night and Ovie got all 3 primary assists in their 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.  First, the Caps had to overcome starting from behind, again, as the Hurricanes scored first at 2:39 in the first period.

Fedorov started the scoring for the Caps in the 2nd period netting one off of Ovie's pass. Semin scored the 2nd goal, a beauty from behind the net and then over Cam Ward, with less than 3 minutes left in the 3rd period.  He got the game winner off another pretty Ovie pass with 11 seconds left. 

Three other players deserve kudos.  Brent Johnson played another solid night in net and Nicklas Backstrom played his best game of the season and he was on the ice for the last two goals.  He needs to play better consistently but maybe he's getting his game back.  Brooks Laich deserves kudos for breaking up a play while hobbling to the bench after blocking a shot.

So, the Caps get two points in their division and come within two of Carolina in the standings. It's only November, but that was an important game, particularly, considering they only play their division rivals six times instead of eight this year.  The game still lacked in many ways like Ovie not scoring, Nylander causing Carolina's 2nd goal, many Caps still forgetting to shoot the puck instead of passing it, 0 for 5 on the power play, Green playing awful defense, the Caps inability to get the puck out of their zone and undisclosed injuries to Fedorov and Shaone Morrisonn which left the Caps with only 5 defensemen.  

The Caps defense is bad enough without being handicapped by only having 5 players even if Morrisonn has been terrible this year.  It's a ridiculous situation for them to be in, caused by them carrying 22 players because they're too close to the salary cap.   

If Feds can play and Morrisonn can't I hope they call up Tyler Sloan instead of putting Feds on defense tomorrow.  Leave the Russian line together for a while, particularly, since they face the red hot NY Rangers tomorrow night.

Let's go Caps!