A Crazy Third Period in Leaf Nation...

Thankfully looks like Alex Semin and his other sick team mates got some chicken soup in them, as Sasha was on the ice in Toronto tonight. Facing the Maple Leafs (who are way out of playoff contention), this game was a pretty much a sleeper for much of the first period. That was until Alex Ovechkin's beauty of a goal in the second to tie it up. And a Hockey Mom high five to Ovie, who donned a Coach's Corner t-shirt before dressing, per Capitals Insider, a tilt of the hand to his loudest critic - Don Cherry.

Pavel Kubina took the lead for the lowly Leafs in the final period. Then mayhem ensued as the Cap's Brooks Laich poked the puck in well into Martin Gerber's crease to tie at 2 apiece. But Gerber argued the legality of the goal and proceeded to push two refs, earning himself a game misconduct and a seat back in the dressing room! What is it with goalies going nutso this week? First, Providence Bruins net minder Tuukka Rask and then tonight's eruption from the Leaf's Gerber.

After Gerber threw his hissy fit and left the ice, the Leafs had to pull Curtis Joseph (CuJo) off the bench with mere seconds left in the third period. Joseph stopped a barrage of shots by the Caps to the loud applause of the Toronto fans. As the wild OT ended with no score, this one went into the shoot out. Theo (who had some beast saves in the game) was unsuccessful in stopping John Hamilton's shoot out attempt. CuJo denied Nick Backstrom, Alex Semin and AO, giving the Leafs a 3 - 2 victory.

Even though a few of the guys were under the weather, once again this was a team that the Caps should have dominated. They stepped it up in the third period, but it seemed like they were sluggish and made too many mistakes during the other two.

HM almost wishes the boys had a tougher schedule down the stretch to get back in the swing of playing "playoff" hockey now. Which means playing a full three periods of hockey at 110% effort with minimal mistakes.

Next up, the Lightning - who as we've all heard, were not so happy with Ovie's display and will be coming into the Phone Booth on Friday with a big chip on their shoulders.