Tag Archives: capitals

capitals hockey, The Daily Feed
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Boston Wins in Shootout, Holds Ovie Pointless

Photo courtesy of
‘DSC_6274’
courtesy of ‘Ghost_Bear’

Yesterday’s showdown between the Boston Bruins and the Washington Capitals was everything NBC hoped it would be as their Game of the Week. There was grit, goals, and grudges – all good ratings boosters – despite the fact that neither team had much to play for. With the Caps ensconced in the number one seed and the Bruins in the sixth slot (after clinching earlier in the weekend), it was less about playoff implications and all about momentum-building and individual milestones. In the end, Boston emerged victorious from the shootout with a final score of 4-3 and a three-game win streak heading into the postseason.

Alexander Semin finally reached the 40 goal plateau with a soft shot under Bruins’ goalie Tim Thomas with just over 2 minutes gone in the first. With Semin’s accomplishment – 40 goals, 84 points in a career-high season, it seemed to the sellout crowd that Ovechkin wouldn’t be far behind in ratcheting a few more goals to claim the Maurice Richard Trophy.

Alas, it wasn’t to be. Continue reading →

capitals hockey, The Daily Feed
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Senators Outlast Capitals in Overtime

Photo courtesy of
‘DSC_6158’
courtesy of ‘Ghost_Bear’

The Caps have claimed the top slot in the Eastern Conference and dominated their division. Despite sitting in a relatively safe spot for the playoffs – which begin in a little over two weeks – the Capitals have made a point to tell the fanbase they’re not going to take it easy these last few games.

Saying it is one thing. Proving it is another.

The Ottawa Senators came into Verizon last night riding a four-game win streak; the Caps were sitting with two losses. Ottawa hasn’t clinched a playoff spot just yet, even though they’re a pretty sure bet for fifth seed. But both teams are looking to hold the balance of rest and form during the last few games of the season; go into the playoffs after a stressful stretch run and a team could flame out early from exhaustion. It’s a balancing act that requires teamwork and a delicate coaching touch.

Last night, however, the Caps just couldn’t pull off that balancing act. Senators captain Alexei Kovalev scored on the power play in overtime with just 19 seconds remaining, giving the Caps their third loss in a row and the Senators a much-needed boost to extend their win streak to five. Continue reading →

capitals hockey, The Daily Feed
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FLASH! OO-OOH…

Photo courtesy of
‘Semin Scores!’
courtesy of ‘Ghost_Bear’

A healthy scratch in Monday’s loss against the Stars, Tomas Fleischmann made quite the impact when he returned to the lineup in last night’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes. Banging home a ripping shot from the right circle in overtime, Flash scored the game-winner and brought the Caps within one game of clinching the Southeast Division.

The Caps had quite the list of scratches for last night’s contest, no thanks to the very full roster of talent now on hand as team prepares for the playoffs. Boudreau has been rotating players through the scratch list in a delicate juggling act to work in new players and keep the team as rested as possible for the playoff run a little over five weeks from now. “I don’t like doing it but as long as we can, we’ll keep rotating guys in and out of the lineup to keep them fresh and sharp,” commented Boudreau after the 4-3 OT win. “The players don’t like it, but they understand it. They know what the common goal is, so they’re doing it for the common goal.”

Jose Theodore knocked away 28 shots against a struggling Hurricane team that showed some fight in fits and starts. Defenseman Mike Green had two power play goals, increasing his season total (and league lead for defenseman) to 17. Alex Ovechkin added two assists in his points race and Alexander Semin opened the scoring with his 31st of the season on a great backhand shot, fed by Brendan Morrison.

It was a reunion of sorts on the ice as well; former Caps defenseman Brian Pothier was on the ice for the Canes, and former Canes Joe Corvo and Scott Walker suited up for the Caps. The players were exchanged in a last-minute trade deadline rush only a week ago.

The Capitals can clinch the Southeast Division with either a loss by Atlanta tonight or garnering a point in Friday’s home contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

capitals hockey, The Daily Feed
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Ovie Nets Two, Caps Lose in SO

Photo courtesy of
‘Alex Ovechkin’
courtesy of ‘brianmka’

The good news? Alexander Ovechkin has found the net again. The bad? The Caps home game streak at Verizon has ended at 13 as the Dallas Stars stole a 4-3 shutout win.

The Caps seemed en route to another home win against the visiting Stars. After two periods, the Caps held a 2-0 lead and with a record of strong third periods, seemed destined to add to the record-breaking streak. The Stars have been lackluster of late; they entered the Verizon Center with a three game losing streak and have been outscored 17-5 since the Olympics ended.

“I thought the entire team had a hiccup in the third period,” says Caps coach Bruce Boudreau. “They [Dallas] came on [in the third period] and thought, ‘Hey, we’re still in the game.’ Once they got the first one in, I knew it was going to be a dog fight.”

Continue reading →

Sports Fix, The Features
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Caps Trading: Are All the Pieces in Place?

Photo courtesy of
‘Verizon Center ice’
courtesy of ‘afagen’

Yesterday was the NHL’s trading deadline for the 2009-10 season. Many hockey pundits (or wannabes, like yours truly) thought the Washington Capitals might make a minor move or two, or possibly stand pat with the current lineup. When it was announced on Tuesday that Flyers goalie Ray Emery was out for the season for hip surgery, I especially thought for sure the Caps would do some dealing with the hated Flyers. Let’s face it, the Caps have a strong backlog in goal – Theodore’s finally proving himself (though I think it’s a little too late for any hope of contract renewal), Varly’s been solid – when not injured, and both Michal Neuvirth and Braden Holtby show significant promise for the future.

But once again, GM George McPhee had other plans. The Caps made four moves in the eleventh hour yesterday, pulling in two forwards (Eric Belanger, Scott Walker) and two defensemen (Joe Corvo, Milan Jurcina) and shedding Brian Pothier and Oskar Osala from the rolls. Osala has spent most of his Caps career with the AHL Hershey Bears, so his absence is a non-factor outside of potential future development. McPhee instead gave away four draft picks (three in the 2010 draft, one in the 2011 draft) in his wheeling and dealing.

So, what to make of this roster “shake-up”? Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Win Club Seats to the Capitals!

Photo courtesy of
‘Our New Years Day Capitals Tickets!’
courtesy of ‘sinksanctity’

American Pest launched a contest today for Caps fans to win two club-level seating to one of two upcoming Capitals games at the Verizon Center. The contest runs through 11:59 p.m. on March 4 and winners will be randomly chosen and announced on Facebook.

All you have to do to win is find six ‘bugs’ hidden throughout their website and be a Facebook fan of American Pest to qualify. The tickets are to either the March 12 game versus the Tampa Bay Lightning, or the March 30 game versus the Ottawa Senators.

Fans can vote after every game for the Hard Hat Player of the Game, sponsored by American Pest. So go, find some bugs, and score some hard-to-get tickets!

Sports Fix, The Features
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Sports Fix: Gearing Up

Photo courtesy of
‘Center Ice’
courtesy of ‘Ghost_Bear’

With the 2010 Vancouver Olympics kicking off Friday night and continuing throughout the weekend, it’s kind of hard to recall the significant happenings that have occurred over the last two weeks in DC sports.

Capitals
Record: 41-13
Last Two Weeks: 4-3
Place:1st in the Eastern Conference

The Caps continued their winning streak with spectacular W’s against both the Penguins and the Rangers, but were stopped at 14 wins on February 10th by the Montreal Canadians in a 5-6 squeaker in OT.

Since their loss to the Canadians, the Caps have lost their last 3 games heading into the two week break for the Olympic games. They still lead the Eastern Conference with 90 points, and their next game will be away versus the Sabres on March 3.

Despite this minor downturn, Mr. Ovechkin is still the NHL’s leading offensive player in both goals (42) and overall points (89). And Alexandar Semin is on a super hot streak, sniping goals left and right, and racking up 5 goals and 4 assists in the last 4 games. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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This Game is Most Definitely ON!

Photo courtesy of
‘Verizon Center’
courtesy of ‘brianmka’

Just like every other hockey fan in the area, I’ve been wondering with baited breath whether today’s noontime matchup between the Washington Capitals and the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins was actually going to happen.

It is.

Now before you get up and rush out the door, some things to consider. First, Metro’s running underground-only, so if you’re beyond the downtown core, you have to drive in because Metrobus is out as well. BUT! Pretty much every city and county official inside and outside the Beltway are begging us to stay home if we can. Crews are working hard to clear streets and trying to restore power to affected areas; you’ll only get in the way (especially if you think you can drive in the snow; chances are, you really, really can’t).

Caps owner Ted Leonsis feels for you – he’s snowed in, too. And, according to his latest blog post, he can’t offer refunds or ticket exchanges for the game today if you can’t make it.

“I have the exact same issues as you do in getting to the game. It is important to realize that weather plays a role in many cities for many games and that as long as the teams, the officials and the building support staffs are in place and the networks can broadcast – it is game on.”

So, do as I am doing today – settle into your living room and watch the game on NBC. Ovechkin and crew may not hear you at the Verizon Center, but they know you’re behind them all the way. Let the epic struggle begin!

The Daily Feed
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It Goes to Eleven!

Photo courtesy of
‘Amplifer Knobs’
courtesy of ‘Koonisutra’

Congratulations to the Washington Capitals for setting a franchise record last night! With their 4-1 whipping of the Boston Bruins, the Caps are sitting on an amazing 11 game win streak, stemming back from Ovechkin’s anointing as team captain.

It wasn’t a sure thing until the third period, however. Both teams fought a solid game through two periods, and the 1-1 score going into the last 20 minutes reflected it. But, as seems to be standard Caps operating procedure lately, around five minutes in the Caps just exploded. Brooks Laich and Alexander Semin made Boston’s Matt Hunwick pay on a turnover to gain the Caps’ first lead of the game. Boyd Gordon dropped in his second of the season and then Ovie capped it with an empty netter. Mike Knuble continued his strong play of late with the tying goal early in the second period.

The Caps are sitting pretty at the top of the Eastern Conference with a 10 point lead over New Jersey and face the New York Rangers tomorrow at Madison Square Garden.

Interviews, Sports Fix, The Features
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Capitals Hockey: Mid-Season Report Card

Photo courtesy of
‘Center Ice’
courtesy of ‘Ghost_Bear’

We’re just passed the halfway point of the 2009-10 hockey campaign for the Washington Capitals. Successful? In many ways, absolutely. Joining me on the breakdown is Adam Proteau, writer and columnist for The Hockey News and a regular contributor to THN.com, who kindly offered up some of his own analysis of the Caps season so far.

Overall, impressive. The Caps have hit 50 points faster than any other incarnation of the team before and are definitely on pace – barring a complete and total Jagr-esque breakdown – to end in one of the top four playoff seeds.

“They’re looking like a complete, versatile, dynamic team very early on in the year,” says Adam. “I thought it would take them longer into the season to fully assimilate Seymon Varlamov and some new veterans and function as an effective unit of a championship caliber, but I think they’re there already.”

Continue reading →

News, The Daily Feed
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Caps Welcome Chimera, Say Goodbye to Clark, Jurcina

Photo courtesy of
‘Miller Robs Clark’
courtesy of ‘clydeorama’

Welcome Jason Chimera to Caps country. The Columbus Blue Jackets left winger was traded to the team for Capitals captain Chris Clark and defenseman Milan Jurcina yesterday afternoon.

Chimera, who has 8 goals and 17 points on the season, comes at a time when the Capitals are flying high as the top club in the Eastern Conference. With a glut of right wingers and defensemen, team GM George McPhee felt the time for a trade was right.

Columbus has to agree. With one of the worst records in the league this season, they’ve needed some serious help in team leadership and on the blue line; this trade seems to have addressed both issues for them.

While one of Columbus’ most popular players in the locker room and one of the team’s fastest skaters, Chimera hasn’t lived up to expectations in Ohio. He debuted in the 2005-06 season with 17 goals and 30 points and knocked out 15 goals in 36 points in 2007-08. But last year, injuries limited Chimera to only 49 games, with a production of 8 goals and 22 points overall. He does bring energy and edge to the ice, and the Capitals hope he can blossom in their more aggressive style of play.

Both Coach Bruce Boudreau and McPhee said the Capitals won’t select a new team captain immediately.

Entertainment, Interviews, The Features
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The Harlem Globetrotters take to the capital’s courts

Blakes on the ice with Capitals players
“Buckets Blakes” with the Washington Capitals
Courtesy Washington Sports & Entertainment

In early December, I sat down with Harlem Globetrotter “Buckets” Blakes over some tacos and salsa—the spicy garnish as well as the flavorful tunes playing overhead at Rosslyn’s Baja Fresh. A warm soul with a wide smile, Blakes arrived all suited up and with his basketball perched nonchalantly on his hip. When the behind-the-counter Baja employee jokingly extended his hands for a pass, Buckets playfully tossed the ball his way, afterward posing for a photo with the ecstatic fan.

Buckets Blakes (#15), now in his eighth season with the Globetrotters, clearly enjoys these press junkets he’s sent on as one of the team’s more experienced players. He kept busy during this past DC/VA tour—taking to the ice rink with the Capitals (learning “just how bad he is at hockey”), gift-wrapping at Tysons Corner, surprising Horton’s Kids youth with free eyeglasses and even, to the delight of some Wizards fans, swiping tickets at the Verizon Center (“Hey, I’ve got to make some cash somehow!” he joked). Blakes returns to the area with his teammates next week as they take over the court December 29 at Fairfax, Virginia’s Patriot Center at 7 p.m. and then at downtown’s Verizon Center December 30 at 7 p.m.

The Harlem Globetrotters are as American as apple pie. Who doesn’t hear Brother Bones’s whistled version of “Sweet Georgia Brown” and envision those red, white and blue-clad, towering magicians miraculously spinning basketballs atop long fingers and catapulting balls into the net from a court’s length away? The group, formed by London-born immigrant Abraham Saperstein, evolved in the 1920s on the South Side of Chicago where the original players grew up. The team (then called the Savoy Five) turned professional in 1927, later getting a new name when promoter Saperstein wanted to give the impression that the all-black team represented that mostly black New York borough. Famed for their unique combination of athleticism, theater and comedy, the Globetrotters have fluctuated between playing competitively and for show, resulting in one of the best-known sports entertainment franchises in the world.

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Sports Fix
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Sports Fix: Snow Edition

Photo courtesy of
‘Ovechkin about to score’
courtesy of ‘afagen’

Capitals
Record: 22-8-6
Last Two Weeks: 4-3
Place: First in the Southeast

The Caps hit a bit of a skid this week. Sure, it’s hard to say that 4-3 is a skid, but when you’re as dominant as the Caps have been this season, it’s tough to watch losses at all. Especially when they’re shutouts like the game against the Sabres last week. Sure, Ovechkin is lighting it up like crazy, with 23 goals and 41 points, and Nicholas Backstrom is proving to be the assist machine with 28.

Injuries continue to be a bit of a plague, as they’ve sidelined important parts of the Caps lines, and now include Semyon Varlamov with a groin-strain. Perhaps the team is just road-weary? Long road-trips have taken their toll on teams past, so that’s entirely possible

One important piece of info, though, for Virginia-based Caps fans, the drive for a Capitals Vanity Plate for your car continues, and they need your help. On Frozen Blog has the details and applications close on the 31st.

Continue reading →

News, The Daily Feed, The District
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Ride With Style: New DC Sports Vanity Plates Are In-The-Works

Photo courtesy of
‘Preamble (203/365) (048/365) [Explored]’
courtesy of ‘kimberlyfaye’

Want to drive with pride while donning your favorite team’s colors with a new vanity license plate? You could be soon thanks to council members Kwame R. Brown (D-At Large) and Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) who announced their plan to create plates for the Redskins, Wizards, United, Capitals and Mystics on Tuesday.

All plates would still say “Taxation without representation”, but at least now you can add a unique touch to the front and rear of your daily ride.

Extra fees would include a one-time payment of $25 for the plate and a $20 biennial renewal.

The only question I have is: What about those Nationals? They need some love too!

Essential DC, Interviews, Life in the Capital, Sports Fix, The Features
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Sports Extra: Capitals Hockey 2009-10 Season Preview

Photo courtesy of
‘Net Lit In Red’
courtesy of ‘clydeorama’

Ok DC, ready for a real sport, now that the Redskins have imploded, the United tanked and the Nats…well, they’re the Nats. Anyway, are you ready for some hockey?

The Washington Capitals open up their season tomorrow night in Boston against the Bruins, the first step in their 2009-10 quest for Lord Stanley’s Cup. Last season saw the Caps suffer the most ignominious of falls, crashing in a critical Game 7 against the eventual Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. Even more galling to Caps fans was the fact that the Caps led that series 2-0 before running out of gas.

Will this year be any better?

It depends.

While I’m sure a few of you actually care what I think about the Caps this year, most people I’ve talked with casually about hockey are skeptical of my Capitals analysis, considering I’m a Penguins fan at heart. Never mind the fact that last year, I was only two wins off predicting their season record and correctly predicted their playoff exit. So rather than take flak again this year, I turned to ESPN’s John Buccigross for his invaluable insight. (And for the record, Bucci picked the Flyers to win the Cup this year. That’s right, Philly. But we won’t hold that against him.)

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Caps Help Beautify DCPS

Photo courtesy of
‘Washington Capitals Hat’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

Can’t say the Capitals aren’t using their summer downtime wisely.

This past Saturday, Caps Coach Bruce Boudreau and D-man Brian Pothier participated in the annual DC Public Schools Beautification Day. Several members from the Caps’ front office also assisted in projects at Emery Education Campus in NE and King Elementary School in SE. At King, the volunteers were joined by DCPS Chancellor Michelle Rhee for a short time.

The Caps and several fan volunteers planted flowers, landscaped, painted, cleaned out old books and put together goody-bags for the incoming students.

The Daily Feed
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Fedorov Signs With Metallurg

Photo courtesy of
‘Fedorov’ courtesy of ‘borman818’

Russian news outlets are reporting that Caps forward Sergei Fedorov has signed a two-year contract with the Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the Continental Hockey League (KHL). There, he’ll be reunited with his younger brother Fedor.

Fedorov, 39, was reportedly negotiating with several NHL teams besides the Caps but decided in the end to return to his native Russia. His decision ends an 18-year career in the NHL, including three Stanley Cups with the Red Wings.

Fellow Russian Viktor Kozlov left the Caps last month and signed on with this year’s KHL champs Salavat Yulaev Ufa in May. With the two forwards now having moved on and relieving some salary cap space, tomorrow’s NHL Draft and the upcoming July 1 UFA “open season” will prove most interesting for the team. We’ll have a Draft roundup on Monday.

Crime & Punishment, The Daily Feed
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We Love Juicing

Photo courtesy of
‘Syringe 1 With Drops’
courtesy of ‘ZaldyImg’

According to WUSA 9, the bust of a major steroid distributor in Florida has implicated teams in D.C. as buyers.  While no specific players were named, the incarcerated dealer did admit to selling anabolic steroids to the Nationals and Capitals sports clubs.  I would be inclined to attribute the Caps’ recent success to this, but given that the Nats were sold (presumably) the same drug, my judgement is that this dealer’s stock wasn’t of the highest quality. Will D.C. be the next target of media and legal ‘roid rage?  I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Entertainment, Sports Fix, The Features
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Caps Hockey – DC’s Newest Bandwagon

Photo courtesy of
‘090127 Alex Ovechkin’ courtesy of ‘Dan4th’

So Wednesday night saw the end of what could arguably be the best Caps season in recent history. Despite the letdown of Game 7, Caps fans – diehards and bandwagoners alike – can walk away with heads held high.

Should I remind you why?

1. Alexander Ovechkin. Every year, he gets better. From his exuberant celebrations (Don Cherry be damned) to his wide, gap-toothed smile, to his on- and off-ice passion, he is Mr. Caps Hockey. Does he still have more to learn? Honestly, yes. But he’s young, he’s talented, and he’s willing. It’s only going to get better from here, so settle in and enjoy the ride.

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Sports Fix, The Features
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Sports Fix: Hangin’ By A Thread Edition

Photo courtesy of
‘Rock the Red’
courtesy of ‘afagen’

Capitals
2nd Round: 2-3, facing Game 6 on Monday night in Pittsburgh.

It’s down to the raggedy edge again for the Caps. After starting 2-0 against the Penguins, the Pens have picked up 3 running, two of them in Overtime. The Caps are short on momentum right now, and that may well be their undoing. Ovechkin has been en fuego, and leads the NHL in post-season goals, but a pair of costly mistakes have cost the Caps their lead on the series.

Tonight, they’ll face elimination in Pittsburgh, much as they faced it two weeks ago in New York. Varlamov will need to be superlative, and the Caps will have to play aggressive & razor-sharp hockey. The good news is, Brashear’s coming off the bench after the end of his suspension, so that’ll return some hard-hitting power to the Caps’ side. The puck drops at 7pm, and can be seen on Versus. C-A-P-S CAPS CAPS CAPS! Endanger the Penguins!

Nationals
Record: 10-19
Last Two Weeks: 6-6
Place: Last in the NL East

Well, we’re still the worst team in major league baseball. But, in the last two weeks, the Nats have played a lot better than their opening two weeks. Shairon Martis has been pretty much amazing, his last outing with a 5-hit complete game over the Cardinals last week. Jordan Zimmermann’s still 2-1, and though his ERA is over 5, he’s still got a 3:1 strikeout to walk ratio. And, of course, mid-season number-one-draft-pick-to-be Stephen Strasburg threw a no-hitter last week against Air Force. If the Nats can get together with a decent deal with Scott Boras, he’ll be up and pitching in DC by the end of the summer. Ryan Zimmerman’s got a 28-game hitting streak as it stands right now, as well. Get that up to 30 games and maybe he’ll get the credit he’s due. The Nats have three more games on the road against the Giants before coming home for a long homestand. Just think, 9 more wins and they’re at .500.
Continue reading →