Ovechkin, Capitals Beat Penguins Place Neuvirth

PITTSBURGH (AP)-Alex Ovechkin hit so damn hard in a corner of the web that the Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau did not see the puck go though watching the replay.

Lucky, Boudreau was asked, does Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has?

"That's what he did," Boudreau said in amazement after the Ovechkin goal, along with Michal Neuvirth  39 stops were the difference in Washington's 1-0 victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night.

It was nothing, "said Ovechkin, referring to his goal, which came on the power play with 3:22 left in the second period.

"I had plenty of time to see what is happening and I pulled him," Ovechkin said. "We beat a good team into a building difficult to play. We got those points, just enjoy our day off. "

This holiday, after a five-game trip in which the Capitals 3-2, ended up being delayed. A snowstorm that hit Pittsburgh hours before the game started Capitals forced to spend the night.

Pittsburgh came up empty, despite shots against Capitals 39-24, showing a lot of jumps, but no final for a team of 10 regular series, including Sidney Crosby .Pittsburgh has not scored in 157:47 against Washington when Evgeni Malkin goal second period in a 3-1 loss to the Winter Classic on Jan. 1.

"I thought we created many opportunities, many opportunities," said Jordan Staal, which was short-handed breakaway chance Neuvirth stopped 50 seconds before the goal Ovechkin. "Of course, their goalkeeper had a good work keeps us on the second bounce. But I think we did a lot of good things."

Pens fell to 2-5-1 in their last eight, but help is coming. Hours before playing Pittsburgh traded defender Alex Goligoski and Dallas in exchange for forwards James Neal and defenseman Matt Niskanen .

"It's a sign of confidence in us," said Maxime Talbot. "Neal has been a force in this league and we are very pleased to make him the team."

While offensively challenged, the Penguins have a solid exit Fleury. He stopped 23 shots, including paper Ovechkin on a breakaway with nine minutes on entertainment, back-and-forth game.

Neuvirth were better. He stopped 18 shots in the first period only. It also has a little help from his goal posts, and Brett Sterling  hit the right post early in the third period, while Deryk Engelland (white) is also echoed in the post with 6: 55 to left in the second.

"I made a few stops earlier in the game and I felt great," Neuvirth said. "I was confident throughout the match."

E 'Neuvirth was the third shutout of the season and second in a row against the Penguins after the 3-0 win over February 6

Ovechkin's goal was his first in four games against the Penguins.

Mike KNUBLE (white) had a hand in its establishment by winning the area and the Penguins get off a shot that Fleury stopped. The rise has leapt into the air and Marcus Johansson, which gloved the puck down and makes a pass to Ovechkin, who finished and fired a shot against Fleury in his right shoulder.

What saved by Neuvirth shot right platform to prevent Pascal Dupuis backhander from the left circle 6:12 remaining in the first period. Less than three minutes later, he hit his block to turn away from Ryan Craig  to set up a shot from the left circle after net sales of funds in your area.

"When you see the step in it like you just want to get out of the way," Knuble said. "You do not know where things are happening, really. It was a big blow. "

Pens-Caps in tough competition this season, especially since the victory in Pittsburgh '3 -1 Capital Winter Classic January 1, a game where David Steckel Washington collided with Crosby. It 'was the first of two shots from Crosby occurred in consecutive games, which led to the Penguins' captain missing in the past 20 games a concussion.

Penguins agitator Matt Cooke as a target Ovechkin him trigger a knee on knee in the second leg on February 6, which Washington won 3-0.

On Monday, fans of the Penguins had a rallying cry in the first period, Pittsburgh defenseman Ben Lovejoy pushed Ovechkin Capitals captain causing falling after the whistle during a scramble in front of the net for the Penguins.

Cooke was made, when Washington Matt Bradley have been punished to pay for a heavy hit on the player in the Penguins zone Capitals midway through the second period.

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Forsberg’s comeback cut short by bothersome foot

In a farewell with tears often tempered Forsberg Monday stopped several times to defend the emotions as he pulled the plug on his latest comeback attempt after playing only two games with the Colorado Avalanche.

Former NHL MVP has been plagued by a chronic foot since 2003, depriving the music of his career.
But Forsberg wanted one last round, just to see if I could still play at the NHL level. He began skating with the Avalanche on Jan. 22 just to test the foot.

A week ago, signed a $ 1 million in proportion to play the rest of the season for the team that helped lead to two Stanley Cup titles.

After an initial delay of the visa Forsberg adapted into two away games with Colorado last week, scored no points in 35 minutes of ice time.

At the foot adapts to him again, 37 years, reached the decision on Sunday, a step away.

At least it was finally closed, he was thirsty.

"I'm really glad I had the chance with the Avalanche come back here and try one last time and put an end to it," said Forsberg, who will have his jersey number 21 retired by the team to a season next point. "Knowing the fact that 100 per cent sure I'm not going to play more.

"When I look back, I'm going to feel pretty good about my career."

His teammates were caught off guard by his sudden decision. Captain Adam Foote (notes) even had a long conversation with Forsberg on the flight back to Nashville and not once Swedish star educate his troublesome feet.
 
"I'm surprised because the way he played. I thought he played really well, "Foote said of his longtime teammate. "Obviously, he thinks, after the two matches, it will not be able to help us move forward.

"For me selfish, I mean," Yes, you can help us. I saw your play. "But if his feet are so bad and hurt him, it's a problem I can not or fix it probably can not do. It must be frustrating for him. "

The foot of the years confused Forsberg. He tried everything to get it right, made even more cuts than I can remember, has tried to use a variety of races and tried a variety of braces.

However, the foot still feels as if it was always slipping and sliding inside the shoe, a situation that has arisen in the '03 playoffs and has been bothered since.

"We can fly to the moon, we should be able to set foot," Forsberg said with a smile. "This was a problem and not one that can be resolved. But that's OK now. I'm happy with my career and move forward from here."
Forsberg thought he understood the dilemma of the feet again. Had a couple since his return, seemed to support the foot quite well.

Against Columbus, he realized his slip up again.

Nashville in the game a day later, was even more evident.

Forsberg has promised his girlfriend, Nicole Nordin, who could not defend well on the ice, skates hanging.
So he followed through on that promise, springing up, he spoke of retiring, he looked at his girlfriend repeatedly supported.

"Of course it is very difficult. When someone so much, you never want to see a sad person," Nordin says. "I wanted to do for her. But I think we will succeed here. I am not worried."

Forsberg was one of the best two-way player for the NHL during his first, to help the Avalanche Stanley Cup in 1996 and 2001, and earning the league MVP in 2003.

He had to make his home debut in the avalanche on Monday night against Calgary, but did not want to disappoint the crowd who was fiercely loyal to him, to the point of the shirt is still one of the most popular in the stands .

"I could not get on the ice and skate here, when people expected me to good and (a) jubilation," said Forsberg.

Forsberg has spent most of his career with the franchise before moving to Philadelphia after the lockout in the NHL in 2004-05. He was wearing a Flyers jersey to 1 1 / 2 seasons before being traded to Nashville.

Forsberg returned to Denver later in 2007-08, but was limited to the regular season because of a nagging groin injury.

But it's his mouth that gave him the most pain, perhaps costing him a place among the best to ever skøjtede.
Not in the eyes of those around him, however.

"It goes down as one of the best players to ever play the game, Milan Hejduk (Notes) said." This is the legacy of how he will remain in the books. "

The player known as "Foppa" has never been one to withdraw from the meeting. It took many hard knocks in his career.

Forsberg and made sure to give much in return as well.

This style of play took its toll on his body, but made him the player who has been - skater feared his physical play and his elegant touch points.

Malkin Set For Knee Surgery

Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin (notes) will undergo surgery to repair torn knee ligaments and will be out for six months.

Malkin, the NHL scoring champion and 2009 winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, will undergo surgery Thursday to repair a torn ACL and torn MCL in his right knee.

General manager Ray Shero said Malkin rehabilitation period is six months and be ready for the start of training camp in September.

Malkin injured in the Friday game against Buffalo. He had 15 goals and 37 points this season.