It's Gettin' Coyote Ugly Up In Here

The Washington Capitals snapped their 4 game losing streak and defeated the Phoenix Coyotes 4-3 at Verizon Center on Monday night. Aside from the Caps finally winning, the main story of the night was the "healthy scratch" of Alex Semin.

Semin was left out of the lineup because he got lots of dumb penalties (which apparently led to the Caps giving up shorthanded goals and playing poor defense in previous losses?) While this move is used often to spark players, they have already attempted to bench Semin. They don't seem to like him...does that mean the Caps would consider trading him?

Meanwhile at the good old hockey game, the Coyotes gave the crowd at Verizon a scare after scoring a shorthanded goal off of a Carlson turnover, then a second shorty just 3 minutes later after getting a penalty shot on a breakaway, taking an early 2-0 lead. Later, Vokoun saved another breakaway, what the hell Caps turnovers.

The Caps came back strong with some help from the mystical magical red rally balloon with 4 goals on another backup goalie and ended up finishing the game with the victory. The Coyotes regular starter Mike Smith who had over 80 saves in the past 2 games got to rest. Is it me or do the Caps score a lot on backup goalies? (Penguins, Sens, Panthers, Red Wings, Coyotes) That is 5 wins against backups and 6 against starters...maybe we shouldn't get too excited about the win.

Meanwhile in Olympic and Stanley Cup winner news, Sidney Crosby scored 2 goals and had 2 assists. And in other news, Ovi had 1 assist. Kill me if u like.

Notes & Questions:

• When you have one extra guy on the ice, it is called a man advantage, not a extra man disadvantage right?
• What is "down the dasher" and why is it called that?
• Ovi tries harder than anyone on the ice, but then he will mess up a move and just give up for a few seconds.
• Locker really loves fights, more than anyone in the arena I think.
• I'm not sure what a major is. Did it make it 4 on 4? Where did Matt Hendrix go?
• Hard Times ads in the Penalty box? They tryin to get Semin some chili dogs?
• What's up with that line of high fives with the bench after goals, lame.
• Orlov is 81, I'm gonna call him D-O.

Ovi Potter & The Order Of The Phoenix Coyotes

You're a Wizard Ovi...

On Monday night, Gryffindor the Caps will attempt to pull off some magic and capture the golden snitch win their first quidditch hockey game in 4 tries when they take on Slytherin the Phoenix Coyotes at the Hogwarts Pitch Verizon Center. The team has struggled to put the quaffle puck in the ring net, and are looking for some production from their seeker captain.

Ok, I'm done. The Coyotes have won 3 out of their last 4 and could be another test for the struggling Capitals. Coyotes goalie Mike Smith is coming off of a 43 save performance on Saturday night, the same night the Caps duo of goalies gave up 7 goals.

There is also some speculation on Alex Semin possibly being benched for the game. He was practicing with the 4th line. From Kings of Leonsis:

Semin doesn’t exactly fit on the fourth line, so perhaps Boudreau is about to do something else he hasn’t done since Semin’s rookie year: he might make Semin a healthy scratch Monday against the Phoenix Coyotes.

We may have to wait until gametime to find out...Maybe we should just trade the guy JK (Rowling)