Cupid Was Definitely Smiling on the Capitals Last Night!

Whether you're single, married or "it's complicated" - if you're a Caps fan, last night was a Valentine's Day game to remember! What an absolutely brilliant showing all around by the D.C. darlings in a southeastern showdown against a Tampa Bay Lightning team that wasn't "feeling the love."

A huge Hockey Mom toast (make that a champagne toast for Valentines' Day) to Michal Neuvirth, the youngster from Hershey making his dazzling NHL debut by stopping 31 shots (which included putting the brakes on a beautiful breakaway from the dashing Vinny LeCavalier, who got absolutely schooled by Neuvirth)!

And of course champagne all around in honor of the sickly talented Mike Green - who set an NHL record for defensemen by scoring a goal in his eighth consecutive game! Green will always remember this Valentine's Day, made especially more poignant as his very proud papa was in the house to witness history as part of the annual Cap's father/son trip!

Last night's game also saw tallies from Alex Semin, Shaone Morrison, Eric Fehr and of course, the Great 8 - Alex Ovechkin, lighting the lamp with his league-leading 38th goal!

Hockey Mom had to listen to a portion of the game on NHL Home Ice while en route to a restaurant and got a big kick out of one my favorite hockey personalities, the fabulous Phil Esposito, try to pronounce "Neuvirth." HM listens to "Espo" on the drive home from work every day; I refer to him as "Dr. Phil" as he's never been known as one to mince words and gives his brutally honest opinion on everything hockey...

So Ovie celebrated his team mates' magnificent achievements last night with shaving cream pies for both Green and Neuvirth and HM hopes that they got at least a small champagne toast in there later. But not too much bubbly, boys - the Panthers await with a puck drop at 5 p.m.
today.

In case any of you sports fans missed it - the Bruins dropped another game last night to the Nashvile Predators (huh?). The Caps are now only one point behind the B's in the Eastern Conference standings but still they are still tied with the New Jersey Devils.

Til the puck drops later - hope everyone is enjoying this wonderful three-day weekend...