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

NHL: WASHINGTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Washington 1 1 1 --3
St Louis 2 1 1 --4
------------------------------------

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 (John Erskine, Alexander Ovechkin), 9:38.
Penalties: D Backes, Stl (hooking), 3:49; D Brashear, Was (holding),
5:46; A Semin, Was (hooking), 10:13; S Morrisonn, Was (holding),
18:52; J Erskine, Was (cross checking), 19:30.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 4, Washington, Mike Green 3 (power play)
(Brian Pothier, Tomas Fleischmann), 3:47. 5, St Louis, Brad Boyes 8
(Ryan Johnson, Paul Kariya), 18:41. Penalties: D Backes, Stl
(hooking), 3:12; B Jackman, Stl (hooking), 3:47; M Rucinsky, Stl
(hooking), 4:26; B Pothier, Was (roughing), 9:46; Bench, Was (too many
men served by A Ovechkin), 12:42.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 6, St Louis, David Backes 2 (Christian
Backman, Lee Stempniak), 1:11. 7, Washington, Michael Nylander 4
(Alexander Ovechkin, Milan Jurcina), 18:48. Penalties: C Backman, Stl
(holding), 3:30; M Nylander, Was (hooking), 7:25; E Brewer, Stl
(hooking), 11:12; D Hinote, Stl (slashing), 12:09.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Washington 11 10 5 --26
St Louis 7 9 2 --18
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Washington - 1 of 7, St Louis - 0 of 7.
Goalies : Washington, Brent Johnson (18 shots, 14 saves; record:
1-3-0). St Louis, Manny Legace (26 shots, 23 saves; record: 5-2-0). A:
16,863. Referees: Brad Watson, Don Van Massenhoven. Linesmen: Lyle
Seitz, Ryan Galloway.</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
WASHINGTON 1 1 1 --3
ST LOUIS 2 1 1 --4
-----------------------------------------

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 (John Erskine, Alexander Ovechkin), 9:38.
Penalties: D Backes, Stl (hooking), 3:49; D Brashear, Was (holding),
5:46; A Semin, Was (hooking), 10:13; S Morrisonn, Was (holding),
18:52; J Erskine, Was (cross checking), 19:30.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 4, Washington, Mike Green 3 (power play)
(Brian Pothier, Tomas Fleischmann), 3:47. 5, St Louis, Brad Boyes 8
(Ryan Johnson, Paul Kariya), 18:41. Penalties: D Backes, Stl
(hooking), 3:12; B Jackman, Stl (hooking), 3:47; M Rucinsky, Stl
(hooking), 4:26; B Pothier, Was (roughing), 9:46; Bench, Was (too many
men served by A Ovechkin), 12:42.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 6, St Louis, David Backes 2 (Christian
Backman, Lee Stempniak), 1:11. 7, Washington, Michael Nylander 4
(Alexander Ovechkin, Milan Jurcina), 18:48. Penalties: C Backman, Stl
(holding), 3:30; M Nylander, Was (hooking), 7:25; E Brewer, Stl
(hooking), 11:12; D Hinote, Stl (slashing), 12:09.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
WASHINGTON 11 10 5 --26
ST LOUIS 7 9 2 --18
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: WAS - 1 of 7, STL - 0 of 7. Goalies :
Washington, Brent Johnson (18 shots, 14 saves; record: 1-3-0). St
Louis, Manny Legace (26 shots, 23 saves; record: 5-2-0). A: 16,863.
Referees: Brad Watson, Don Van Massenhoven. Linesmen: Lyle Seitz, Ryan
Galloway.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

WASHINGTON ST LOUIS
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
M Bradley 0 0 -2 1 L Stempniak 0 1 +1 1
B Gordon 0 0 even 2 D Hinote 0 0 even 0
M Pettinger 0 0 even 1 R Johnson 0 1 +1 0
N Backstrom 0 0 -2 1 J McClement 0 0 +1 2
B Pothier 0 1 -1 0 J Mayers 0 0 even 0
B Laich 0 0 even 2 B Boyes 2 0 +2 3
M Jurcina 0 1 -1 2 B Salvador 0 0 -1 0
V Kozlov 0 0 even 6 D Weight 0 0 -1 4
S Morrisonn 0 0 -2 0 E Brewer 1 0 +1 2
A Semin 0 0 even 0 D Backes 1 0 +1 2
D Steckel 0 0 even 0 S Wagner 0 0 +2 1
J Erskine 0 1 +1 0 B Jackman 0 1 +1 1
T Fleischmann 0 1 -1 0 C Backman 0 1 +2 0
M Green 2 0 +1 5 D Perron 0 0 -1 0
J Schultz 0 0 -2 0 M Rucinsky 0 0 -1 0
A Ovechkin 0 2 even 3 K Tkachuk 0 1 +1 1
D Brashear 0 0 even 0 J McKee 0 0 -1 0
M Nylander 1 0 even 3 P Kariya 0 2 +2 1
T Poti GROIN M Johnson HEALTHY
C Clark HEALTHY M Walker HEALTHY
B Sutherby HEALTHY D King HEALTHY</div>

 

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- One of the major reasons for thesurprisingly good start by the St. Louis Blues has been the playof Brad Boyes.


Boyes scored two goals and Manny Legace had another solidperformance Saturday night as the Blues posted a 4-3 victoryover the Washington Capitals.


Defenseman Eric Brewer and David Backes also tallied for St.Louis, which already has won twice as many games (six) thisOctober as it did in the first month of last season.

Boyes, once again, got the Blues off to a quick start. Afterintercepting an outlet pass, Keith Tkachuk sent a quick pass toBoyes, who broke through the defense for a breakaway.

Boyes lifted a wrist shot over the glove of goaltender BrentJohnson to give St. Louis a 1-0 edge just 45 seconds into thecontest. It was the third time Boyes has scored in the first 90seconds of a game this season.


"It's fun contributing," Boyes said. "I think everyone isputting the pieces together. That's obviously what it takes.We played pretty well. We got some timely goals. We need thesepoints."


Boyes struck again with 79 ticks left in the second period togive the Blues a 3-2 lead. He took a drop pass from RyanJohnson entering the zone and rocketed a wrist shot from the topof the right faceoff circle that went over the left shoulder ofBrent Johnson.


The 25-year-old Boyes, who has three multi-goal games thisseason, has a team-leading eight tallies.


St. Louis added an insurance goal early in the final session.Lee Stempniak lost control of the puck, but it came to ChristianJackman in the high slot, and the defenseman blasted a shotpast Brent Johnson to make it 4-2 just 71 seconds into theperiod.


It was all the offense Legace needed. The eight-year veteranhas not surrendered more than three goals in a game this season.

Legace turned aside 23 of the 26 shots he faced en route towinning for the fifth time in his last six games.


"We played extremely well tonight," Legace said. "I think thelast 5-on-3, I don't think they even had a shot on net. Gooddedication tonight. Boyes came out big tonight."


Michael Nylander deflected Alex Ovechkin's wrist shot with just72 seconds remaining in the third to cut the deficit to 4-3. Itmarked the third straight multi-point performance by Ovechkin,who notched two assists in the contest.


The Blues extended their advantage to 2-0 at 8:58 of the firstperiod, when Brewer led a 3-on-1 rush and snapped off a quickshot from the bottom of the left circle past Brent Johnson.

St. Louis' two-goal lead did not last long. Just 40 secondslater, blue-liner Mike Green halved the deficit.


On a man advantage, Ovechkin sent the puck to the point anddefenseman John Erskine delivered a touch pass to Green, whofluttered a wrist shot through a screen and over the blocker ofLegace.


Green added another tally at 3:47 of the second period for hisfirst career multi-goal game. Green launched a slap shot fromthe right point that deflected off Legace's glove and into thenet to tie the game at 2-2.


"I had to simplify my game here tonight," Green said. "I had toget back to what I do well. I needed to regroup and preparefor tonight, and that's what I did. I knew from the beginningit was preparation."


Green's two tallies in this contest equaled his total from theentire 2006-07 campaign.


Brent Johnson, who spent five seasons with the Blues from1999-2003, made just 14 saves in losing his third straightstart.


"We need to get a swagger in this dressing room and just abelief that we can beat every team in this league," BrentJohnson said.


"It's kind of been the way it's been going," Capitals coach GlenHanlon added. "In comparisons, we're in every game. Playing ateam like this that's 6-3, to give up 17 shots, we're prettyhappy with those defensive things. But we're not scoring enoughand (committing) costly errors."

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Washington 1 1 1 --3
St Louis 2 1 1 --4
------------------------------------

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 (John Erskine, Alexander Ovechkin), 9:38.
Penalties: D Backes, Stl (hooking), 3:49; D Brashear, Was (holding),
5:46; A Semin, Was (hooking), 10:13; S Morrisonn, Was (holding),
18:52; J Erskine, Was (cross checking), 19:30.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 4, Washington, Mike Green 3 (power play)
(Brian Pothier, Tomas Fleischmann), 3:47. 5, St Louis, Brad Boyes 8
(Ryan Johnson, Paul Kariya), 18:41. Penalties: D Backes, Stl
(hooking), 3:12; B Jackman, Stl (hooking), 3:47; M Rucinsky, Stl
(hooking), 4:26; B Pothier, Was (roughing), 9:46; Bench, Was (too many
men served by A Ovechkin), 12:42.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 6, St Louis, David Backes 2 (Christian
Backman, Lee Stempniak), 1:11. 7, Washington, Michael Nylander 4
(Alexander Ovechkin, Milan Jurcina), 18:48. Penalties: C Backman, Stl
(holding), 3:30; M Nylander, Was (hooking), 7:25; E Brewer, Stl
(hooking), 11:12; D Hinote, Stl (slashing), 12:09.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Washington 11 10 5 --26
St Louis 7 9 2 --18
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Washington - 1 of 7, St Louis - 0 of 7.
Goalies : Washington, Brent Johnson (18 shots, 14 saves; record:
1-3-0). St Louis, Manny Legace (26 shots, 23 saves; record: 5-2-0). A:
16,863. Referees: Brad Watson, Don Van Massenhoven. Linesmen: Lyle
Seitz, Ryan Galloway.</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ST LOUIS

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
WASHINGTON 1 1 1 --3
ST LOUIS 2 1 1 --4
-----------------------------------------

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 (John Erskine, Alexander Ovechkin), 9:38.
Penalties: D Backes, Stl (hooking), 3:49; D Brashear, Was (holding),
5:46; A Semin, Was (hooking), 10:13; S Morrisonn, Was (holding),
18:52; J Erskine, Was (cross checking), 19:30.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 4, Washington, Mike Green 3 (power play)
(Brian Pothier, Tomas Fleischmann), 3:47. 5, St Louis, Brad Boyes 8
(Ryan Johnson, Paul Kariya), 18:41. Penalties: D Backes, Stl
(hooking), 3:12; B Jackman, Stl (hooking), 3:47; M Rucinsky, Stl
(hooking), 4:26; B Pothier, Was (roughing), 9:46; Bench, Was (too many
men served by A Ovechkin), 12:42.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 6, St Louis, David Backes 2 (Christian
Backman, Lee Stempniak), 1:11. 7, Washington, Michael Nylander 4
(Alexander Ovechkin, Milan Jurcina), 18:48. Penalties: C Backman, Stl
(holding), 3:30; M Nylander, Was (hooking), 7:25; E Brewer, Stl
(hooking), 11:12; D Hinote, Stl (slashing), 12:09.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
WASHINGTON 11 10 5 --26
ST LOUIS 7 9 2 --18
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: WAS - 1 of 7, STL - 0 of 7. Goalies :
Washington, Brent Johnson (18 shots, 14 saves; record: 1-3-0). St
Louis, Manny Legace (26 shots, 23 saves; record: 5-2-0). A: 16,863.
Referees: Brad Watson, Don Van Massenhoven. Linesmen: Lyle Seitz, Ryan
Galloway.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

WASHINGTON ST LOUIS
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
M Bradley 0 0 -2 1 L Stempniak 0 1 even 1
B Gordon 0 0 even 2 D Hinote 0 0 even 0
M Pettinger 0 0 even 1 R Johnson 0 1 +1 0
N Backstrom 0 0 -2 1 J McClement 0 0 even 2
B Pothier 0 1 -1 0 J Mayers 0 0 even 0
B Laich 0 0 even 2 B Boyes 2 0 +2 3
M Jurcina 0 1 -1 2 B Salvador 0 0 even 0
V Kozlov 0 0 even 6 D Weight 0 0 even 4
S Morrisonn 0 0 -2 0 E Brewer 1 0 +1 2
A Semin 0 0 even 0 D Backes 1 0 even 2
D Steckel 0 0 even 0 S Wagner 0 0 +1 1
J Erskine 0 1 +1 0 B Jackman 0 1 +1 1
T Fleischmann 0 1 -1 0 C Backman 0 1 +1 0
M Green 2 0 +1 5 D Perron 0 0 even 0
J Schultz 0 0 -2 0 M Rucinsky 0 0 even 0
A Ovechkin 0 2 even 3 K Tkachuk 0 1 +1 1
D Brashear 0 0 even 0 J McKee 0 0 even 0
M Nylander 1 0 even 3 P Kariya 0 2 +2 1
T Poti GROIN 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 AT ST LOUIS
NOTE: RESENDING BOX TO CORRECT PLUS/MINUS FOR SEVERAL ST
LOUIS PLAYERS.</div>