Game 2.

Tonight is the biggest game in this young Capitals teams history. Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins at Verizon Center in DC.

The Capitals, coming off a miraculous comeback in round 1 vs. the New York Rangers, took game 1 3-2 on Saturday. The big story is of course Alex Ovechkin vs. Sidney Crosby in their first playoff series against each other. Some could say Ovechkin has the advantage after Game 1, scoring a beautiful goal off of a slap pass from Alexander Semin on a 5 on 3 advantage. But, others might say the 21 year old story-of-the-playoffs goaltender Simeon Varlamov stole game 1 with his did-he-really-just-do-that "save of the playoffs", as Eddie Olcyk said Saturday on NBC. Crosby, who also had a goal in Game 1, received a cross ice pass from Chris Kunitz late in the second period with the game tied at 2-2. Varlamov, who had to slide from his left to right if he wanted to make the save, was clearly beaten by the pass. Not giving up on the play, Varlamov did the only thing he could do: try and bat the puck out of the air with his hockey stick. And that is exactly what he did, showing that his spider-like reflexes and hand-eye coordination are something to be marveled at.

Here is Varlamov's save. You have to watch the whole video to get the full-effect.



Moments earlier, Varlamov was beaten by a routine slap shot from the point by Mark Eaton. The shot elluded Varlamov, and he whiffed at it with his glove hand and it found it's way through. It is possible that it was redirected off of Boyd Gordon's stick, but it was a shot that he HAS TO stop in the playoffs. But, like any great goaltender in the NHL does, he made up for it later in the second with what is now being deemed "The Save."

"He owed us one," Coach Bruce Boudreau admitted. "He let a floater go in from the point. But he made a great save. There's no doubt. Goalies are taught to never give up. They keep fighting. And that's the only way the Brodeurs, the Thomases, the Luongos look like they make great saves, it's because they never quit on the puck. It was obviously the turning point because they would have had the lead and we would have had to play catch up."

The Capitals went on to win Game 1 3-2, with the game winner coming from another unlikely hero, Tomas Fleischmann.

So, for those keeping tabs, the Caps have had playoff success so far from the unlikeliest of sources:

- Tom Poti, with his goal and three assists in Game 3 of the New York Rangers series, a game the Caps had to win to avoid a sweep.

- Matt Bradley, with two goals in Game 5 of the New York Rangers series, his first one of the shorthanded variety. Some may say that was the backbreaker in that series... the straw that broke Henrik Lundqvist's back. I would agree.

- Sergei Federov, with his series-cliching goal in Game 7 of the New York Rangers series. Up to this point, Sergei had been mildly quiet. But, his wrist shot from the left circle, high glove side on Henrik will be remembered forever in Capitals franchise history.

- Dave Steckel, with his tying goal in Game 1 on Saturday, coming moments after Crosby skated in unscathed and ripped a wrist shot over Varlamov's glove to make it 1-0 Pittsburgh.

And now Fleischmann can be added to that list. Notice that there is no mention of Ovechkin, Semin, or even Mike Green. Some could say this is a good omen for the Capitals, that they are winning games with their "grinders", and that once their stars wake up, watch out. Semin has had an inconsistent playoffs so far, but leads the Caps with 10 points (5 G, 5 A, plus-5) and is second in the NHL. Ovechkin, who many think is playing through an injury has had a subpar playoffs, but still has 8 points (4 G, 4 A, plus-4).

Regardless, Pittsburgh does not want to be down 2 games to none when the series shifts to Pittsburgh. So, the stars, and the "grinders" have to take it up even one more notch tonight because with their Game 1 win, Game 2 becomes even bigger.