DC Metro Sports - Ain’t Nothing But A Good Time

Written by Justin Creech
Thursday, 13 December 2007
Washington, D.C- Ain’t Nothing But A Good Time, the song made famous by the 80’s hair band Poison, rang throughout Verizon Center last night and it could not have been more fitting. Mike Green’s goal with 1:19 left in overtime gave the Capitals a 5-4 come from behind win over the New York Rangers on 80’s night. Green took a pass from center Brooks Laich, who had picked up the loose puck up after Brendan Shanahan slipped trying to gather a pass from Jaromir Jagr in the Capitals zone. Laich skated into the Rangers zone and sent a pass to Green after being contested by Rangers defensemen Fedor Tyutin. Green gathered the puck and beat Henrik Lundqvist glove side for the game winner. The win is Washington’s third in a row and it’s first three game win streak at home since they won three straight home contest Jan 4-9, 2007. The win also ended a four game losing streak to the Rangers. Washington’s last win over New York came on Nov 11, 2006, a 3-1 win at Verizon Center. It is also the second straight game Washington has rallied from an early deficit. They overcame a 2-0 first period deficit last night after coming back from a 1-0 first period deficit in their 3-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Monday. “I’m not used to getting breakaways,” said Green as Capitals General Manager George McPhee patted him on the head. “It was a great feed from Brooks and I saw the top half of the net and it was there.” Green, who added two assists, now has five points in his last three games and has 14 points since Nov 8 to lead all Capitals defensemen in that category. “[I’m] becoming a complete player,” said Green of his improved play this season. “Growing and learning last year really helped me. I needed to develop into an offensive defensemen.” The game almost didn’t make it to overtime. Washington (12-17-2) broke a 2-2 tie 4:36 into the third on a goal by Alex Ovechkin. Ovechkin deflected a Green shot after a failed clearing attempt by Tyutin. The goal was Ovechkin’s team leading 22nd of the season. It didn’t take long for the Rangers (16-12-3) to tie the game as Martin Straka finished a cross ice pass from Shanahan 3:37 later. The goal was Straka’s second of the game and came two seconds after the Capitals had killed a Ranger power play. Jeff Schultz gave Washington the lead back 1:18 later. Schultz took a cross ice pass from Viktor Kozlov and fired a slap shot from the point that sneaked under Lundqvist’s right leg pad. The goal was Schultz third in three games and his fourth point in the team’s last five. But, the Rangers came back yet again, as Shanahan one-timed a pass from Michal Rozival past netminder Olie Kolzig to tie the game with 7:17 left. Shanahan finished with a goal and two assists. “The effort was great,” said interim coach Bruce Boudreau. “They never thought at any point they were out of it which is important. When you believe that you can come back then that’s half the battle.” Boudreau, who has directed the Capitals to a 6-3-1 mark since replacing Glen Hanlon, praised Green, whom Boudreau coached while still in Hershey. “He’s going to be good,” Boudreau said of Green. “The move he made with 12 seconds to go in the game, I shook my head it was such a good move. I have all the confidence in the world in him.” Green wasn’t the only young talent to have an impact. Forward Joe Motzko, who was recalled from the Hershey Bears on Dec 7, single handedly brought the Capitals back into the game. His goal with 4:09 left in the first period cut the Ranger lead to 2-1. He tallied for a second time with 4:13 left in the second period to tie the game at 2. Motzko took a pass from Donald Brashear, and after eluding Rangers defensemen Brandon Dubinsky, fired a wrist shot past Lundqvist. “I’m just happy to get on the board any way I can,” said Motzko, whose two markers were his first of the season. “The first one’s great, the first one of the year, and then to get the second it’s a special night for me.” Scott Gomez and Straka put the Rangers on the board twice in the first period. Gomez scored on a one-time pass from Paul Mara with 7:50 left in the period. Straka followed 1:48 later on a quick pass from Jagr. Dubinsky beat David Steckel to the loose puck behind the net and immediately passed to Jagr, who quickly fed Straka.

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