CAPS SHUT OUT BLUESHIRTS BEHIND ROOKIE PHENOM VARLAMOV

The Washington Capitals are back in business after a 4-0 victory over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Monday night.  Alexander Semin scored twice for the Caps, who received another stellar goaltending performance from 20 year old Russian rookie Simeon Varlamov.  Washington cut the Rangers lead in the series, with game four back at MSG on Wednesday night.

Varlamov was the Caps surprise starter in game two after veteran Roberto Luongo put on a dreadful performance in the opening contest of the series.  Varlamov had only played in six career NHL games, but was impressive in his playoff debut making 24 saves and allowing the Rangers only one goal.  Problem was New York goalie Henrik Lundqvist was flawless, stopping 35 Washington shots and earning his team a 1-0 shutout victory.  On Monday night, it was Varlamov’s turn for perfection as he stopped 33 Rangers’ shots for his first NHL shutout.  After the game, Caps coach Bruce Boudreau quipped that a background in high level Russian hockey might less account for his grace under pressure than a serious language barrier:

"He's played in the finals of the Russian elite league, which to him is probably like our Stanley Cup. He's played in the world championship, and the fact that he doesn't understand a word we're saying probably really helps him."

Alexander Semin was the offensive catalyst for the Caps, scoring the team’s first two goals.  Semin’s first came at 6:57 of the opening period, with his second coming less than five minutes later.  Alex Ovechkin and  Nicklas Backstrom were credited with the assists on both scores.  Semin showcased his playmaking ability in the second period, setting up a power play goal by Brooks Laich at 11:29 with Chris Drury in the penalty box for holding. Sergei Fedorov was also credited with an assist on the goal which gave the Caps a 3-0 advantage heading into the final twenty minutes of play.  Tom Poti would put the punctuation on Washington’s victory with his power play goal at 18:35 of the third assisted by Nicklas Backstrom and Brian Pothier. 

Alex Ovechkin, the NHL’s leading goal scorer the past two seasons, has yet to score in the series but worked to involve his teammates tonight earning two assists.  In his postgame comments he stressed the importance of keeping the focus on the next game and evening the series heading back to Washington:

"It was an important game, but it's over. It's done. It's history. And we have to battle next game."

Ovechkin was tenacious on both ends of the ice, even stepping up his oft maligned defensive play.  Caps’ coach Boudreau pointed out his solid effort:

"You see the effort that he's putting in. It was a tremendous leadership play, and that's why he is who he is."

Game four will determine whether Washington returns home tied at 2-2 or down 3-1 in the series.  After Wednesday’s tilt at Madison Square Garden, the two teams will meet on Friday night at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC.  Game six, if necessary, will be back in New York on Sunday afternoon.