GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NHL: WASHINGTON (4-5) at ST LOUIS (5-3)

NHL: WASHINGTON (4-5) at ST LOUIS (5-3)

<h3>Capitals trying to put an end to recent struggles</h3>

<div class="pre">Washington (4-5-0) at St Louis (5-3-0) 8:30 pm EDT</div>

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- Alex Ovechkin looks for his thirdstraight multi-point performance and the Washington Capitals'defense will try to get back on track when they visit the St.Louis Blues for the first time in almost two years on Saturdaynight.


After relinquishing two goals in its first three games,Washington has been bested 23 times in the six games since -losing five of those contests.


The offense will need to pick up even more slack, which meansthe Capitals will rely on Ovechkin to get it started yet again.Ovechkin is coming off a two-point night (goal and assist) inFriday's 3-2 setback to the Vancouver Canucks, following a 5-3triumph over the Tampa Bay Lightning when he notched a goal andtwo assists.


The 22-year-old Ovechkin leads the team with six goals and 11points this season.


The Blues will turn to their veteran offseason pick-ups. PaulKariya has managed just two goals, but he has set up nine more,while Keith Tkachuk has scored four goals and nine points thisseason.


Neither was effective in St. Louis' last game, a 3-0 loss to theColumbus Blue Jackets on Thursday. It marked the first timethe Blues have been shutout in 67 contests.


Manny Legace, who has not started against the Capitals since2001, will called on to stop Ovechkin and the rest of theWashington offense. Legace is 4-2-0 with a 2.01 goals-againstaverage and .925 save percentage this season.

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NHL AT ST LOUIS
STARTING GOALIES: WAS - BRENT JOHNSON
STL - MANNY LEGACE

OFFICIALS: REF - BRAD WATSON, DON VAN MASSENHOVEN
LIN - LYLE SEITZ, RYAN GALLOWAY</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">WASHINGTON VS ST LOUIS - SCRATCHES

WASHINGTON ST LOUIS

T POTI HEALTHY M JOHNSON HEALTHY
C CLARK HEALTHY M WALKER HEALTHY
B SUTHERBY HEALTHY D KING HEALTHY</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 0
ST LOUIS 0 19:55 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 0
ST LOUIS 1
1ST PRD: STL - BRAD BOYES 7 (KEITH TKACHUK) 0:45</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 0
ST LOUIS 1 17:42 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 0
ST LOUIS 1 15:20 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 0
ST LOUIS 1 12:46 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 0
ST LOUIS 1 11:56 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 0
ST LOUIS 2
1ST PRD: STL - ERIC BREWER 1 (PAUL KARIYA, BARRET JACKMAN) 8:58</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 1
ST LOUIS 2
1ST PRD: WAS - MIKE GREEN 2 (ALEXANDER OVECHKIN) 9:37</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 1
ST LOUIS 2 6:15 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 1
ST LOUIS 2 3:52 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NHL END OF THE 1ST 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
WASHINGTON 1 1
ST LOUIS 2 2 END OF THE 1ST

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: STL - BRAD BOYES 7 (KEITH TKACHUK) 0:45
STL - ERIC BREWER 1 (PAUL KARIYA, BARRET JACKMAN) 8:58
WAS - MIKE GREEN 2 (ALEXANDER OVECHKIN) 9:37

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
WAS 11 11
STL 7 7

GOALIES: WAS - BRENT JOHNSON
STL - MANNY LEGACE</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">------------------------
Washington 1 --1
St Louis 2 --2
------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, St Louis, Brad Boyes 7 (Keith Tkachuk),
0:45. 2, St Louis, Eric Brewer 1 (Paul Kariya, Barret Jackman), 8:58.
3, Washington, Mike Green 2 (Alexander Ovechkin), 9:37. Penalties: D
Backes, Stl (hooking), 3:49; D Brashear, Was (holding), 5:46; A Semin,
Was (hooking), 10:13.

Shots on goal:
-----------------------------
Washington 11 --11
St Louis 7 --7
-----------------------------

Goalies : Washington, Brent Johnson (7 shots, 5 saves). St Louis,
Manny Legace (11 shots, 10 saves). Referees: Brad Watson, Don Van
Massenhoven. Linesmen: Lyle Seitz, Ryan Galloway.</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 1
ST LOUIS 2 19:55 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 1
ST LOUIS 2 16:14 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 2
ST LOUIS 2
2ND PRD: WAS - (PP) MIKE GREEN 3 (BRIAN POTHIER, TOMAS FLEISCHMANN)
3:47</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 2
ST LOUIS 2 11:33 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 2
ST LOUIS 2 7:38 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>