Eric Fehr Picks Up Caps First Shorthanded Goal Of The Season

Eric Fehr (Or Eric Flehr as I call him...WOOOOOOO) scored the Washington Capitals first shorthanded goal of the season against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday afternoon.  Fehr took advantage of the New Jersey goalie who was slacking off behind his own net.  Fehr got the steal, and wrapped the puck around into the empty net.

The Nature Boy Eric Flehr And The Caps Chop Lightning WOOOOO!!!

The Washington Capitals were ahead 4-1 in the 3rd period, but a bad end of the 3rd allowed the Lightning to have a chance to tie the game.  But the Caps escaped the barrage, defeating Tampa Bay 4-3 on Thursday night for their 3rd straight win.  The Caps are now 3-0 since the great animal sacrifice (Video)

Ice skatin, goal platin', game sealin', wheelin, dealin, stylin & profilin' son of a gun!

The Caps began the game with their best start of the season.  A perfectly executed powerplay filled with great passing gave the Caps Troy Brouwer an easy goal.  It was the Caps best PP of the season, and possibly their best overall team offensive play.

The Lightning fired back a few minutes later but the red hot Eric Fehr, Or Eric Flehr as I will call him from this moment on (WOOOOOOOO!!!!!) scored a goal in his second straight game in the 2nd period.  Then the Nature Boy picked up another goal to start the 3rd period.

To be the man, you have to BEAT the man!

Jay Beagle gave the Caps a commanding 4-1 lead after a strange non-whistle on a goalie freeze allowed Beagle to use his stick to knock the puck out of the Lightning goaltender's glove and into the net.  There were 12 and a half minutes left, but the game was far from over.

The Lightning couldn't cash in on a powerplay but a short time after Tedd Purcell scored one for TB.  Then, after a Braden Holtby failed pokecheck on a Lightning breakaway, the goal for the Caps became escaping alive.

"They're lucky somebody found it before it hatched" - Joe B when Lightning players sat on the puck to cover

Tampa led a fierce net rush, but with several Caps Icings and some nice Holtby saves, the Caps escaped with the win.

Matty Perraeult finished the game with 3 assists.

Praise the hockey gods...Time to dance for Holtby...next up, the Rangers on Sunday...

Three Benefits Of Signing Eric Fehr And Some Songs

I. Grindin' - Not known for his goal scoring ability (48 goals in 265 games), Eric Fehr is more of a grinder than a playmaker or sniper.  He can give you a solid 15-25 minutes a night no problem.  As long as his injury history remains in the past he should be a tremendous asset to the Caps giving them much needed depth in the right wing position.

II.  Home Again (He Likes To Be Here When He Can) - Fehr spent the first six years of his career with Washington before he was shipped to Winnipeg for one season, and he must feel great about coming back "home".  His stats haven't been amazing throughout his career but they have been adequate.  He won't be a first liner by any means but he should give much needed energy and stamina to the third or fourth line. Also would not be surprised to see him on the penalty kill blocking shots by putting his body in the line of fire.  For Fehr, it's time...

III. He's (Not) The Man In The Box - With 265 games played in his seven year career Fehr has only been in the sin bin for 90 minutes.  This means he is a smart player who won't make costly mistakes that may put the team in tough situations.  Penalty kills are easily one of the worst situations in all of hockey so with one less player getting the team in hot water, so to speak, it leaves a little more room for error. It is great to have a smart cheap ($600k)  heads up player like Eric Fehr back in the Nation's capital.