in what could have been a statement, head coach Bruce Boudreau replaced Tomas Vokoun with Michal Neuvirth to start the second period after the Vancouver Canucks jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first period. Statement made.
Alex Ovechkin, Mike Knuble and Marcus Johansson returned the favor as the Caps scored three goals of their own in the second period to bring Washington to a 4-4 tie with Vancouver after 40 minutes.
Ovechkin scored his second goal of the game and fifth of the season at 1:25. After he drew a slashing penalty to put the Caps on the power play, Ovechkin put a one-timer from the right faceoff dot past Roberto Luongo to cut the Canucks lead in half. Knuble tied the game at 3-3 on a penalty shot after being dragged down on a breakaway. Luongo got his glove on Knuble's second career penalty shot attempt, but not enough as it rolled off the top and into the back of the net at 5:07.
Alexander Edler answered the rally with his second goal of the night and season when a great passing sequence with Henrik Sedin left him wide open in the slot for a one-timer that beat Neuvirth at 8:00.
Johansson tied the game once again at 17:54 when he beat Luongo short side with a wrist shot while on a 2-on-1 rush. Johansson had a similar shot earlier in the period, but Luongo made the save. The goal was Johansson's fifth of the season and first not to come in the first period.
Neuvirth made 13 saves in his first appearance since October 8 against the Carolina Hurricanes. Neuvirth had been suffering from a bruised right foot.