Second intermission from Washington

Posted Jan 1, 2009 by Erik Erlendsson

Updated Jan 1, 2009 at 08:53 PM

Well, shows you what I know. I figured Karri Ramo was coming in because there didn’t look like there was anyway Tampa Bay was coming back in this game, and if not for a mental gaffe by Marek Malik, this game would be tied (or an Adam Hall penalty shot conversion).

But Mike Smith has done a good job of allowing Tampa Bay a chance to come back in this game, but it’s not going to be easy because the Caps do know how to close games out with a 17-1-1 record this season when leading after two periods (although they are just 9-6 in one-goal games, which is better than Tampa Bay’s 5-16 record). You have to think, however, with Vinny Lecavalier nothing his second of the period with 15.9 seconds left carries some momentum over into the start of the third.

Couple of things to look at so far through two periods - Evgeny Artyukhin has not been much of a factor like he has been the previous four games. In 11 minutes, he has three hits and no shots. ... Steven Stamkos has to be better, he was at fault on the too many men on the ice penalty, had a partial breakaway coming down the right wing but didnt’ get a shot off (although I thought he was hooked). ... Matt Smaby continues to look good and may stick around a little longer, even if Ranger comes back. Smaby has five hits through two periods (he had 7 against Montreal) and Rick Tocchet talked this morning about how he likes the way Smaby eliminates the man, but he would also like to see Smaby improve his puck skills.