In a big change from last night, the Washington Capitals managed to score a goal in the first period against the Philadelphia Flyers. More importantly though, they escaped the first period without allowing a goal. That's a huge improvement over the three goals Braden Holtby gave up in the first 10 minutes last night to the Atlanta Thrashers.
The lone goal was scored by rookie Marcus Johansson, his second of the year. Johansson is still working his way back into the lineup and has been used on various different lines in the past few games, but he may have found his spot while working on the third line with Jason Chimera and Matt Bradley, as all three players were involved in the goal. Bradley helped set it up by stepping up and knocking the puck away from a Flyers player. The puck fell to Chimera, who held off a defender and laid the puck off behind his back to an open Johansson who finished clinically past Philadelphia goaltender Brian Boucher.
The Capitals also hit the post twice in the first five minutes, and Tomas Fleishmann hit the side of the net on a fast break. Hopefully those misses won't come back to haunt them.
Capitals goaltender Michal Neuvirth stopped all 10 of the shots he faced in the first period.
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