Caps rally to defeat Phoenix 4-3
Posted on November 22, 2011The Capitals rallied Wednesday for four unanswered goals to defeat Phoenix 4-3 at Verizon Center, snapping a four-game winless streak. Phoenix took an early lead Monday night when Radim Vrbata scored a short-handed goal against Tomas Vokoun at 4:33. Washington fired 13 first period shots at Phoenix goaltender Jason LaBarbera and could not find a way to slip one in. Vokoun faced only five shots in the first period, but the Capitals were down 1-0 after 20 minutes. The Coyotes would make it 2-0, as Lauri Korpikoski scored on a penalty shot at 7:34 of the middle frame. But Washington would score four unanswered goals to work back into the win column. John Carlson got the Caps on the board with his third goal of the season at 8:27 of the second. Cody Eakin would pick up his second on a deflected shot in front of Jason LaBarbera to tie the game at 11:36. The game would head to the third period tied at two. Nicklas Backstrom put the Caps in front early in the third period with his sixth goal of the season, and his team leading 21st point at 1:52 to make the score 3-2 Washington. Brooks Laich broke a long power play drought for the team with his fourth goal of the season at 7:06 of the third, before Korpikoski got the 'Yotes within a goal at 11:28. But Phoenix could get no closer, and the Capitals get a badly needed win on home ice at Verizon Center.
