Caps RIP Lightning Behind Red Hot Green

With the first place Boston Bruins having lost four straight games, the Washington Capitals have taken advantage of their slump to pull within striking distance of the Eastern Conference lead.  On Saturday night in Tampa, the Caps came out firing on all cylinders as they opened up a 4-0 lead on the host Tampa Bay Lightning before coasting to a 5-1 victory.  Mike Green’s power play goal in the 2^nd period ended the game opening onslaught by the Caps and represented the 8^th straight game in which the defenseman has tallied, breaking the NHL record for most consecutive goal scoring games at the position.

Green gave much of the credit for his recent success to his teammates:

"It's incredible. I'm playing with some of the best players in the world."

The Caps defensemen was also touched—and surprised—by a mid-game celebration of his record breaking goal:

"I wasn't expecting that, but I was excited. It almost brought a little tear to my eye, so I was pretty jacked up."

While Caps coach Bruce Boudreau is frequently given credit for the improvement in Green’s game, he dismissed that notion and said it was simply a matter of time:

"He could have had Mickey Mouse coaching and eventually he was going to be a great hockey player. I'm just happy I'm the one who that right now is able to coach Mike."

It was also a big night for Caps goaltender Michal Neuvirth, who stopped 31 Tampa Bay shots for an impressive victory in his first NHL start:

"What can I say? It's unreal. An unreal feeling right now. I still can't believe that. That was my best feeling ever."

Washington has won five of their last seven games overall, and have won eight in a row against Tampa Bay.  They’re now tied for 2^nd place in the Eastern Conference with New Jersey, 9 points behind suddenly vulnerable Boston for first place.  The Capitals have a tough stretch of games upcoming, though all are on their home ice:  they’ll host the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday, the Colorado Avalanche on Friday and the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday.