Caps Meet Hot Western Preds

Maybe they are fueled by the spirit of Elvis himself, but the Nasvhille Predators have are a mighty hard team to beat at home (especially with some of country music's hottest stars cheering them on)! Be that as it may, the Capitals hoped to stop the music in a rare meeting with the Western Conference Preds.

Hockey Mom missed the first few minutes of this one as I was at the boys' house league Pee Wee championship game. Both teams played with tremendous energy (wish the Caps had channeled some of it in their last few losses) and the twins' team scored the winning goal with less than 40 seconds left! Congrats to both teams for an outstanding season and exciting championship game...

So as the NHL's General Managers meet in Florida to discuss such issues as fighting and hits to the head, tonight's contest saw plenty of fisticuffs in the first period! HM was surprised that this game got so chippy so quickly but then again, the Preds have some pesky agitators in the form of Shea Weber, Jordin Tootoo and Wade Belak. Belak threw down with "The Donald" early on in the first period and I swear that was one of the few times I've ever seen Brash taken down. Shortly thereafter, Matt Bradley did the waltz with Jordin Tootoo (who removed the tape from his hands prior to giving Brads a bloody schnozz). Unfortunately, the big man Brashear did not return to the game (and we'll need him when the boys face the thugnoxious Flyers on Thursday).

Shaone Morrison had a brutal hit on Preds star Jason Arnott, who also did not return to the ice. Despite losing one of their key players, the Preds got on the board first with a Ryan Suter goal.

I don't know what's up with the flu bug biting NHL goalies (maybe they need to use some of HM's Purell), but Nashville's Pekka Rinne was ailing and replaced by backup netminder Dan Ellis, who did a pretty stellar job against the visitors. He was helpless to stop the beauty from Nick Backstrom which tied the game at one apiece in the second period. Tomas Fleischmann thought he'd netted the second goal of the evening for the Caps, but it was ruled as no goal due as the officials decided it may have been kicked in.

Dadgummit, just when HM has to go to bed (boy's early power skating clinc tomorrow), this one goes to overtime! In a fabulous finish, Sergei Fedorov netted the game winner and the Caps hope to get back to their winning ways. Way to go guys!


Final from Music City: Caps 2 - Predators 1

And in case you haven't already seen it, here's some hilarious video of Ovi's recent Eastern Motors commercial shoot:



Hockey Mom, like many other Washington area residents, has that darn Eastern Motors theme song stuck in my head. D.C. Sports Bog has more info on how the Great 8 became another notorious Eastern Motors spokesman. Ovi - we love ya, but it's a good thing you have a day job! Nice dance moves though...