Washington, DC-Michal Neuvirth played another period without surrendering a goal, making it four straight in which he has shut out the opposition and the Capitals played to a 0-0 score through one stanza against the visiting San Jose Sharks.
The Capitals opened the game with some strong puck possession courtesy of their top line. Nicklas Backstrom, Alex Ovechkin, and Jason Chimera kept the pressure on Antti Niemi and the Sharks defense throughout the first five minutes of the period, but failed to get the Caps on the board.
However, San Jose came roaring back and kept Neuvirth busy on the other end for the rest of the period. In his second straight start, the young Czech goalie saw 15 shots and stopped them all including a wide-open Ben Eager attempt from point blank range.
The teams exchanged penalties late in the period. Jamal Mayers took a seat at 15:29, but San Jose's 15th ranked PK unit limited Washington to a pair of shots and killed off the infraction. John Erskine got the gate for cross checking shortly after at 18:39. San Jose will have :39 remaining on the power play to begin the second period.
With no Mike Green in the lineup, Tyler Sloan is the 6th defenseman tonight. In his return after a 12-game layoff, Alex Semin has two shots in five shifts worth of ice time.