What a game, what a comeback. Caps special teams failed them for the first half of the night, and it wasn’t looking particularly good. If as of around 8pm EST Caps fans had their tomorrow evening reservations at "drinking alone and crying into their collective glasses" city, no one could have blamed them for overreacting. But everything changed when the much maligned Steve Eminger threw a 90 foot breakout pass from deep in his own zone on the tape to a streaking Brooks Laich: Brooksie (how good does that Bondra for Laich trade look now?) entered the Flyers zone with speed on a 3-on-2 and dropped it back to initiate as pretty a play as you’ll ever see in the Stanly Cup Playoffs circa 2008. Semin one-touched it cross ice to Nik Backstrom, who one-touched it back to Semin, who amazingly didn’t let the puck linger on his stick for more than a fraction of what seemed like a nanosecond, firing it back to Backstrom, and calmly rifling it above the shoulder of the heretofore unbeatable Martin Biron. It was the kind of goal that not only got the Caps back into the contest, but put the bad guys on their heels and let both teams know that the good guys were, indeed, very good. Much will be said about OV’s two third-period goals, both undeniably brilliant, and the Caps D and Huet weathering the storm early in the final frame, and it should be so, but it was that insane passing and finishing play, off a great effort from Eminger mind you, that started it all and gave Washington life. Anything can happen tomorrow, but you’ve gotta like what has transpired thus far and they way things are going now. Should be a great one. Go Caps.
2 comments:
Yeah that was a great heads-up play by Eminger and text book 2-on-1 finish by Backstrom. I especially liked Backstrom's minimal celebration--just all business!
yea you know i noticed the celebration in a replay today. kind of unbelievable, kid just scored what had to be one of the biggest goals of his life, on an absolutely jaw-droppingly beautiful passing play and sick finish, and he just shrugs it off like it was nothing. amazing stuff. when i tap in a rebound into an open nut in pick up hockey, im pumping my fist and getting down on one knee.
also, on the tsn broadcast pierre mcguire said it was one of the nicest goals he's ever seen (and he's seen a few hockey games before), and i have to agree. considering the intensity of that game, what those two kids did, it's just amazing. it looked like they were just messing around in practice. unbelievable stuff.
Post a Comment