Caps hang on for 2-1 win against Maple Leafs

Caps got good enough defense from their Hershey players, including yesterday's call up Sean Collins, to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs last night.  And, it was the defense that provided the offense with rookie Karl Alzner netting his first goal and Milan Jurcina finding the back of the net with his blast of a shot 1 minute after Toronto tied the game in the 3rd period.

Even though both the Caps and the Maple Leafs are known more for their offense than their defense, this was a defensive and goal tending battle.  Caps goalie, Brent Johnson, and Leafs goalie, Vesa Toskala both played stellar in net.

The highlights:

• Karl Alzner, 2nd star of the game, with a goal, an assist and a nice play during the penalty kill on a poke check that he sent around the net to Jurcina.
• Alex Ovechkin, first star of the game, took out the Leafs strong rookie blue liner, Luke Schenn, on one of his many hits.  Ovie almost had another highlight reel goal that he shot while sliding down the ice on his stomach after being hit.  He buzzed around all night spinning around defenders with the puck and making life miserable for anyone within hitting distance.  If he's hurt (a subject of much speculation on the Caps message boards), he didn't show it last night. 
• Brent Johnson played solid in net making 19 of 20 saves.  He snuffed Jason Blake's shot on a power play in the 2nd period.
• The Caps finally win another road game, their first since November 19th against the Ducks and only their 5th this season.

The lowlights:

• Eric Fehr left the game writhing in pain after he hit the glass hard and he didn't come back.  There isn't an adequate to accurately describe the absurdity of this injury situation.

The Caps played a tired team last night and survived with their Hershey defense.  In two hours they play the Carolina Hurricanes so I hope the defense does as well as last night.  I really hate 5:00 games since I'm not going to be home.  Alexandre Giroux, leading goal scorer for the AHL down in Hershey joins the Caps tonight.

Let's go Caps!