Junior Capitals Swim Past Sharks

The Washington Junior Capitals won for the second straight game, and earned points for the fourth straight game in a 5-4 overtime victory over the San Jose Junior Sharks on Day 31. Fabien Laniel and Zbynek Novak led the way for Washington with two goals each.

After killing off a penalty to Laniel, the Capitals scored against the run of play to open a 1-0 lead. Novak was the scorer from Peter Pohl and Andrew Joudrey at 14:39. Another penalty to Washington gave San Jose the advantage late in the period, but Laniel converted from Sean Kotary and Henrik Tallinder while shorthanded to make it 2-0 at 18:33. The Capitals were outshot 11-5 in the first, but timely scoring gave them control on the scoreboard.

Washington continued to take penalties in the second period, but this time the Sharks took advantage. With Tallinder in the box for charging, Moore scored his sixth of the season from Schell and Jefferson at 3:25. The Capitals responded, however, and Patrick O'Sullivan's fifth tally of the season gave Washington a 3-1 lead at 4:58. Lance Moynch assisted on the goal. The teams traded penalties in the middle stages of the period, and once again the Junior Caps scored a timely goal to extend the lead. This time it was Laniel netting from Greg Mauldin and Ryan MacMurchy at 13:48. San Jose finally began to assert themselves late in the second, and a pair of goals in a 2:15 span got them right back in the game. Jefferson got on the board first with his 10th of the seaon from Valdix and Drozdetsky at 16:00. Rodman then scored from Johansson and Jefferson at 18:15 to make it 4-3 heading to the intermission.

Clinging to a one-goal lead in the final period, Washington continued its parade to the penalty box. Four minors and a fighting major proved to be too much as Bishai scored for the Sharks on the power play at 16:23 to tie the game and force overtime. Pierre and Wideman assisted on the goal. The fight, which came nine seconds before the goal, was a draw beteen Valdix of San Jose and Washington's Laniel.

After giving the Sharks eight power plays in the first three periods, Washington drew a penalty of its own early in the extra session. Caldwell went to the box for cross-checking at 0:13, and the Capitals got the winner just 21 seconds later when Novak scored from O'Sullivan and Brett Carson.

Washington was outshot 35-21 in the game, but Daniel Taylor played well in goal, stopping 31 shots, to earn the victory. Patrick Ehelechner made 16 saves in the loss for San Jose.

The Junior Capitals return to action on Day 32 in Phoenix.