Hurricanes Vs Capitals February 26, 2013 Game Review

Nicklas Backstrom scores game winning goal against Cam Ward in Washington, DC on Feb. 26, 2013.
Photo © Alex Brandon / AP Photo.

Carolina Hurricanes 0 Vs Washington Capitals 3 = Home Game Win

The Washington Capitals picked up a much needed two points on Tuesday - February 26, 2013, when they shutout the Carolina Hurricanes. The win was Washington's second in a row, and made only the second winning streak so far in the -2012--2013 NHL season, for the Capitals.

Nicklas Backstrom (C), who averages more than a point per game playing against the Hurricanes, scored first. Backstrom was the one who had brought the puck into the offensive zone to begin with. No assist for the guy that starts the play, if he's also the guy that finishes it. Mike Ribeiro (C) took a pass from Alex Ovechkin (LW / RW), and sent the puck to Nick who was on the front doorstep, waiting to bang it in. The goal, which came on a first period power-play, made it the eighth straight game where the Caps have scored first. It also ended the 'Canes penalty-kill streak at fourteen.

Backstrom also had a hand in the play that produced the second goal, relaying the puck from defenseman John Carlson into the mighty slap shot of newly re-signed John Erskine (D). Goaltender Braden Holtby (also newly re-signed) didn't have to work too terribly hard, with Washington taking most of the shots on Cam Ward, at the other end of the ice. Defensively, this turned out to be one of the Caps' better second periods.

Eleven and a half minutes through the third period, John Carlson scored the third goal for the Capitals, with the help of Mathieu Perreault and Joel Ward. Carolina was able to keep Washington's shots and scoring chances down the rest of the way, but they couldn't manage any sort of comeback.

Amongst other offensively talented Carolina forwards, Holtby and Washington were able to keep former teammate Alexander Semin off the scoreboard. That's a good thing. All the jerks in the stands that booed him every time he had the puck? That's a very, very bad, classless and totally embarrassing thing.

In the end, Braden Holtby was perfect in his seventh straight start, in net. The offense was there to back him up, including another power-play for the Capitals, who started the game ranked second (46%) in the league. Overall, they outshot their opponent again, and again beat their opponent. They still need to string together several wins, if they are going to climb out of the basement.

Game Highlights: Carolina Hurricanes At Washington Capitals On Feb. 26, 2013

Caps Postgame Locker Room 02/26/13: Caps players John Carlson, John Erskine and Joel Ward address the media after a 3-0 win against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Adam Oates Postgame 02/26/13 Caps head coach Adam Oates addresses the media after a 3-0 win against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Washington Capitals Summer Review: June Through August Of 2012

Photo via ULoop blog.

Summer, both the temperate season (Northern Hemisphere) and the NHL hockey offseason, are coming to a close (hopefully) in a couple weeks. There may not have been as much activity during the last three months as many fans would have liked, but a few events and newsworthy stories did take place.

In June, after the playoffs, we had the 2012 Entry Draft. July 1, free agency started. Intermittently, there have been trades and various transactions throughout the summer.

Washington Capitals fans said goodbye to a few newly minted free agents, including veteran crease invader Mike Knuble, and enigmatic winger Alexander Semin. We also said hello to new acquisitions, like the consistent forward Mike Ribeiro.

For those Caps fans who work and live locally, I'm sure watching the prospects play at development camp was exciting. Currently, we're all tracking the new CBA negotiations.

More detailed information, and related feature stories, are available via the archives of the following popular sites.

TSN - The Sports Network

NHL - Official League Site


Washington Capitals Coverage:

Comcast SportsNet - Washington, DC

Capitals Insider at The Washington Post

WashingtonCaps.com - Official Team Site

Mike Vogel (Caps' Senior Writer / Media Host) via Twitter

Dump 'N Chase - Mike Vogel (Caps' Sr Writer / Media Host)

Japers' Rink (Popular Caps Blog)

2012 NHL Free Agency Links

Today's (July 1, 2012) the day, at 12:00 PM EDT, NHL Free Agency commences. It's the day where uncommitted players start to seek out a new home, with a new contract for the big bucks (hopefully), and teams try to acquire the guys they think will make their team better.

This post includes a list of some of the best sites to visit online for coverage of the relevant transactions, both free agent signings and trades.

The Washington Capitals are my favorite team, so some of the links below are to Caps themed sites.

TSN - The Sports Network

TSN - UFA Tracker

Bob McKenzie (TSN) via Twitter

Darren Dreger (TSN) via Twitter

TSN - Trade Tracker


NHL - Official League Site


Cap Geek - Estimated Salary Figures and Cap Space


Washington Capitals Coverage:

WashingtonCaps.com - Official Team Site

Mike Vogel (Caps' Senior Writer / Media Host) via Twitter

Dump 'N Chase - Mike Vogel (Caps' Sr Writer / Media Host)

Comcast SportsNet - Washington, DC

Capitals Insider at The Washington Post

Japers' Rink (Popular Caps Blog)

Washington Capitals Review: April 11 - 20, 2012

Capitals and fans celebrate goal in Quarterfinal Game 3 on April 16, 2012.
Photo by Patrick McDermott / Getty Images via WashingtonCaps.com.

The Washington Capitals, having finished the regular season in 7th place on April 7, began their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series on April 12, 2012. Last year's Stanley Cup champions, the Boston Bruins (2nd place), were the tough opponents they drew for the first round of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Washington, as usual for them, would have to endure a seven game series. The first four of which took place during this 10 day period.

Also the usual for Capitals players, they were taken advantage of by dirty players, and still came out looking bad and being bad mouthed by their opposition and NBC personnel covering these nationally televised games. Players on both teams were being riled up by their enemies.

After three games, where Caps center Nicklas Backstrom was constantly physically abused in ways that go against the rules, his stick rode up into the face of a Bruin he shoved just after the end of Game 3. Backstrom, recently back from missing 40 games with concussion, came out of every scrum with his helmet removed. Several times, he was yanked around by his head, yet no penalties even called on the abusing Boston Bruins players. Somehow, it was decided that Nick Backstrom was the bad guy, and he received a one game suspension.

Most of the other series occurring around around the league were getting a little too rough. The Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins were absolutely beating the snot out of each other, something I happily knew would happen. After a few games with the intensity prematurely ramped-up, things calmed down a bit in most of those match-ups.

Junior's Eyes supplies a sampling of game reviews, highlights videos and other Capitals related updates below, in reverse chronological order.


April 19, 2012

POSTGAME NOTEBOOK: Capitals 2, Bruins 1
By Mike Vogel - Senior Writer at WashingtonCaps.com

...With goals from Marcus Johansson and Alexander Semin, and a 44-save performance from Braden Holtby in the nets, the Caps eked out a 2-1 win in Game 4 at Verizon Center on Thursday night...


Capitals Lunchbox, Season 2, Episode 20
By J.P. at Japers' Rink

In which Joe Beninati, Kellie Cowan and I talk discuss Games One through Three of Caps/Bruins, the Nicklas Backstrom suspension, who needs to step up, what's going right and wrong for Washington and more...

April 17, 2012

Nicklas Backstrom suspended one game for cross check
By Katie Carrera at Capitals Insider

...In a video explanation on NHL.com, Shanahan explains that he took into consideration that Peverley was not injured on the play and that Backstrom has no prior supplemental disciplinary history. Shanahan detailed that while Peverley does raise his stick toward Backstrom’s face, the center’s aggression in reaction went overboard...


Alan May Tells It Like It Is
By J.P. at Japers' Rink

Friend of the blog Alan May is never shy about sharing his opinions, and he's got a lot of 'em regarding how the Caps' first round series with the Bruins has been officiated so far, specifically with regards to Nicklas Backstrom's treatment by the guys in stripes. Have a look:

And if that's not enough for you, here's a little package CSN Washington has put together documenting the Bruins' borderline (and then some) play:

None of this is to say that the Caps have been angelic, of course - they certainly haven't been. But with all the coverage Backstrom's match penalty has gotten, along with Claude Julien's persistent complaints about the Caps' stick-work, it's good to get both sides' perspectives out there. Good on May and CSN for doing so.


Taking the High Road
By Becca H at Japers' Rink

...Nicklas Backstrom in particular has been a target of the Bruins' physicality, receiving multiple (uncalled) shots to the head from various Boston players in the first game, and it was clear that it bubbled over tonight. The usually disciplined Swede found himself in the penalty box three times for various infractions, and then capped it off with a game-ending match penalty for a crosscheck to the head of Rich Peverley - a move that could cost him a spot in Thursday's pivotal Game 4.

To some extent the frustration and the accompanying retaliation is understandable; everyone has a breaking point, and perhaps last night was just that collective point for the Caps. And it certainly doesn't help when the officials play into the Bruins' hands, giving Boston the benefit of the doubt on several plays - including one that sent Brooks Laich to the box for what I can only assume was the audacity to fall down, assisted by After-the-Whistle All-Star Milan Lucic...


April 16, 2012

POSTGAME NOTEBOOK: Bruins 4, Capitals 3
By Mike Vogel - Senior Writer at WashingtonCaps.com

...Boston’s improved net-front presence – and Washington’s mistakes – were a factor as the Bruins skated off with a 4-3 win to take a 2-1 series lead on Monday night at Verizon Center...


April 15, 2012

Dale Hunter on Braden Holtby: ‘Holtsy’s our goalie’
By Katie Carrera at Capitals Insider

Michal Neuvirth continues to progress in his recovery from a leg injury and it’s possible he may be available for one of the three games this week, but regardless of when the 24-year-old Czech is ready, there will be no goaltending controversy.

On Sunday, Coach Dale Hunter squashed any second guessing that might arise in the coming days and put his support behind 22-year-old Braden Holtby, who has shined in Games 1 and 2 against the Bruins, stopping 72 of the 74 shots he’s faced...


April 14, 2012

POSTGAME NOTEBOOK: Capitals 2, Bruins 1, 2OT
By Mike Vogel - Senior Writer at WashingtonCaps.com

...The Caps pulled even in the best-of-seven set with a 2-1 win in double overtime in Saturday’s Game 2 at Boston’s TD Garden, courtesy of a Nicklas Backstrom goal at 2:56 of the second extra session...


April 12, 2012

POSTGAME NOTEBOOK: Bruins 1, Capitals 0, OT
By Mike Vogel - Senior Writer at WashingtonCaps.com

Missed It By That Much – As the No. 7 seed opening on the road, the Caps’ goal is to win one of the first two games in Boston and relieve the Bruins of home ice advantage in the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series between the two teams...


April 11, 2012

Capitals-Bruins: five storylines to watch
By Katie Carrera at Washington Post's Capitals Insider

There’s no lack of subplots in the Capitals’ first-round series against the Boston Bruins, which kicks off with Game 1 Thursday at TD Garden. With only one more day of practice before the puck drops on this Eastern Conference quarterfinal matchup, here are some of the biggest storylines to watch...

Washington Capitals Review: April 1 - 10, 2012

Capitals celebrate win against Rangers at MSG April 7, 2012, in New York City. Photo by Scott Levy / Getty Images via WashingtonCaps.com.

The Washington Capitals took two out of three games, to end the 2011-2012 NHL regular season . For their efforts, they landed at the seventh playoff spot out of eight, in the Eastern Conference. The standings remained so close, that they didn't know where they'd end up or who they would face in the playoffs until it was over on the last day.

In the interest of catching up within the available time, and my overall health, this will be a lean list of post links. We have the game reviews from Mike Vogel at the team's website, which include highlights videos. To cap it off, the last week of the season is summarized by The Peerless at The Peerless Prognosticator.

None of the between-game Capitals feature stories that might have normally been in the list are to appear here. This way, we will soon become a little more timely with the playoffs action that is now well under way. We get along now, in reverse chronological order, as usual.


April 8, 2012

That Was The Week That Was -- Week 26 (April 1-7)
By The Peerless at The Peerless Prognosticator

...The Caps finished the regular season with seven consecutive weeks avoiding a losing week – four winning weeks and three .500 weeks (by standings points). Week 26 was a winning week, but it sure did not start as if that seemed likely...


April 7, 2012

POSTGAME NOTEBOOK: Capitals 4, Rangers 1
By Mike Vogel - Senior Writer at WashingtonCaps.com

One Season Over, Another Just Beginning – Both the Capitals and the New York Rangers had something to play for in Saturday night’s regular season finale for both teams. Washington needed a win to keep hope alive for its dim divisional title hopes, and the Rangers were seeking a win that would have secured the Presidents’ Trophy – awarded annually to the league’s top regular season club – for them...


April 5, 2012

POSTGAME NOTEBOOK: Capitals 4, Panthers 2
By Mike Vogel - Senior Writer at WashingtonCaps.com

Coffee Is For Closers – The Washington Capitals have recently endured some woes related to protecting leads in games, but they got over that hump in fine fashion on Thursday night at Verizon Center. The Caps jumped out to a 3-0 lead, then bent but never broke on their way to a playoff berth-clinching 4-2 win over the Florida Panthers in the 2011-12 regular season home ice finale...


April 2, 2012

POSTGAME NOTEBOOK: Lightning 4, Capitals 2
By Mike Vogel - Senior Writer at WashingtonCaps.com

Too Much, Too Late – On Monday morning, the Capitals spoke about the need to know where Lightning sniper Steven Stamkos is at all times on the ice and the need to limit his time and space. For the better part of 59 minutes, the Caps did that well enough at limiting Stamkos that they had a chance to take at least a point home with them from their Monday night visit to Tampa Bay...

Washington Capitals Review: March 1 - 11, 2012

Capitals take home ice against Maple Leafs on Sunday - March 11, 2012.
Photo is by The Associated Press.

It's time to start catching up with the Washington Capitals. Junior's Eyes looks back at the first week-and-a-half of March 2012 through a sampling of game reviews, highlights videos and other Capitals related updates.

They had a busy schedule, playing six tough teams in ten days. During that time Washington eventually worked their way back up the standings, from tenth place in the NHL's Eastern Conference, to eighth. Also, by the time the game on Sunday March 11th was done, the Caps had put themselves four points ahead of teams in ninth place (at the time) - Buffalo Sabres and the Winnipeg Jets.

The following list is in reverse chronological order.


March 11, 2012

Caps To Leave Verizon Center for Five Game On A High Note
By Mark at Mark's Musings

It's been a four (4) point weekend for "our" Washington Capitals and that will enable the team to leave the friendly confines of Verizon Center where they are 23-10-3 (0.681) so far on the 2011 - 2012 NHL Season. Now they go on the road...


POSTGAME NOTEBOOK: Capitals 2, Maple Leafs 0
By Mike Vogel - Senior Writer at WashingtonCaps.com

Four-Point Weekend – For the second time in three weekends, the Caps have taken a perfect four points out of a weekend home—and-road set of back-to-back games. With Sunday’s 2-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs at Verizon Center, the Caps have solidified their hold on eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings...


Capitals-Maple Leafs highlights
Posted at CSN - Washington, DC

The Race to the Finish
By Mike Vogel at Dump 'N Chase

It’s hard to believe, but we’re now less than four weeks from the conclusion of the NHL’s 2011-12 regular season. Washington’s big four-point weekend has given the Capitals four points worth of breathing room in the chase for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference standings with 13 games to go, and the Caps are just a point back of the Florida Panthers for the top spot in the Southeast Division...


That Was The Week That Was -- Week 22 (March 4-10)
By The Peerless at The Peerless Prognosticator

Week 22...something we haven’t seen in a while, a winning week. But it could have been a lot more...


March 10, 2012

POSTGAME NOTEBOOK: Capitals 4, Bruins 3
By Mike Vogel - Senior Writer at WashingtonCaps.com

Two In A Row On The Road – Washington scored twice in the first period and twice in the second to earn a 4-3 road win over the Bruins in Boston on Saturday afternoon. Coupled with a 4-2 win over the Maple Leafs in Toronto two weeks ago today, the Caps have their first pair of consecutive road victories since Dec. 7-15 when they won in Ottawa and Winnipeg, respectively...


Capitals-Bruins full-game highlights
Posted at CSN - Washington, DC

Orlove
By Mike Vogel at Dump 'N Chase

Rookie Caps defenseman Dmitry Orlov has quietly put together an impressive freshman campaign. With his two assists in Saturday’s 4-3 win over the Bruins in Boston, Orlov notched the first multiple-point game of his NHL career. Orlov also now has points in three straight games for the first time in his NHL career...


March 9, 2012

Mike Green suspended three games for hit on Brett Connolly
By Katie Carrera at Capitals Insider

Mike Green received a three-game suspension for his hit to the head of Tampa Bay forward Brett Connolly in the second period of the Capitals’ 3-2 overtime win on Thursday night. The play was ruled an illegal hit to the head by the NHL’s department of player safety...


The Good Ol’ Hockey Game: Sizing up the Eastern Conference
playoff race
By Tarik El-Bashir at Capitals Insider

Anything can happen once you’re in the NHL playoffs. Sometimes, the trickiest part is just getting there.

With less than a month remaining in the regular season, the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils and Ottawa Senators are in solid standing in the Eastern Conference. That leaves two openings for everyone else...


March 8, 2012

POSTGAME NOTEBOOK: Capitals 3, Lightning 2, OT
By Mike Vogel - Senior Writer at WashingtonCaps.com

...The two points earned in Caps’ 3-2 overtime win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday in the homestand finale came in the same fashion as the previous three points on this homestand, as a result of some late offensive heroics...


Capitals down Lightning in dramatic fashion
Posted at CSN - Washington, DC

March 7, 2012

Three Segments of 22 Games
By Mike Vogel at Dump 'N Chase

Washington is now 66 games into the 2011-12 NHL season with just 16 contests remaining. The Caps are two points behind eighth-place Winnipeg for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and they own a game in hand on the Jets as well.

The Capitals are four points behind Florida for the top spot in the Southeast Division...


March 6, 2012

POSTGAME NOTEBOOK: Hurricanes 4, Capitals 3, OT
By Mike Vogel - Senior Writer at WashingtonCaps.com

Hurting at Home – Washington’s current five-game homestand offered the club an opportunity to pile up some points where the Capitals have thrived at piling up points for the better part of five seasons. But for whatever reason, the Caps have struggled on the Verizon Center sheet for several weeks now...


Hurricanes-Capitals game highlights
Posted at CSN - Washington, DC

Capitals-Flyers highlights
Posted at CSN - Washington, DC

March 4, 2012

A NO-point night -- Game 65: Flyers 1 - Capitals 0
By The Peerless at The Peerless Prognosticator

Now, you can start to feel it. The season wasting away. With yet again another helping of home cooking on their plate to take over a top-eight spot in the Eastern Conference, the Washington Capitals pushed themselves away from the table...


POSTGAME NOTEBOOK: Flyers 1, Capitals 0
By Mike Vogel - Senior Writer at WashingtonCaps.com

Timely Timeout – It’s not often that you see an NHL head coach burn his only timeout in the middle of the second period of a scoreless game without an icing call against his club. But give Flyers’ bench boss Peter Laviolette credit. He clearly has his finger on the pulse of his team, and he used that timeout wisely in Sunday’s 1-0 Philadelphia win over Washington...


Special Non-Delivery
By Mike Vogel at Dump 'N Chase

...The Washington power play has been particularly vexing. The Caps’ extra-man unit has allowed more goals (four) than it has scored (two) in the team’s last 10 games. In the aforementioned 22-game stretch, Washington has surrendered five shorthanded goals while scoring just six goals of its own...


March 2, 2012

POSTGAME NOTEBOOK: Devils 5, Capitals 0
By Mike Vogel - Senior Writer at WashingtonCaps.com

...Twenty-four seconds after Hendricks was seated, the Devils had their second shot and their first goal, a Zach Parise power play goal. It would prove to be all the offense the Devils and goaltender Johan Hedberg would need on the night as they shutout the Caps 5-0.

The Caps could never quite get themselves back into the game, and their first 10 minutes were probably their best 10 minutes on this night...


Devils Caps Highlights, tough to watch but here they are!
Posted at CSN - Washington, DC

Junior's Reading And Viewing List: September 11 - 20, 2011

Last Update - September 26, 2011 at 12:04 PM EDT

Junior's 'Reading And Viewing List' for September 11 through September 20, 2011 contains title links, along with snippet teasers, from items published in the middle of September 2011.

A whole lot of news on television shows, films, Washington Capitals hockey, music, Formula One racing and WRC rally events can be found here.


September 20, 2011

Predators 2, Capitals 0
By Associated Press - Posted at WashingtonCaps.com

...It was the first hockey game in the city since the Baltimore Bandits of the American Hockey League left town 14 years ago. The Capitals last played in Baltimore in 1992, against their then-AHL affiliate, the Baltimore Skipjacks.

Dubbed the 2011 Baltimore Hockey Classic, the game drew a near-sellout crowd of 11,082 - even though ticket prices ranged from $34 to $147...


Predators - Capitals game highlights and postgame report
from Baltimore - 9/20
Posted at CSN - Washington, DC

Washington Capitals 2011-2012 Previews: Jeff Halpern
By The Peerless at The Peerless Prognosticator

...Halpern returns as a role player in the latter stages of his career. But not, perhaps, as just a fourth liner filling out a roster. He did record 11 goals last season for the Montreal Canadiens, and he averaged almost 18 minutes of ice time in the post-season in four games after he returned to the ice from a lower-body injury...


Season premiere review: 'Two and a Half Men' - 'Nice to Meet You, Walden Schmidt': And good riddance, Charlie Harper
By Alan Sepinwall at What's Alan Watching? via HitFix.com

...some of those people may have just sworn the show off altogether after Sheen was canned, but I imagine many of them tuned in last night out of curiosity about how the show will be without their man. (Those big overnight numbers weren't made up entirely of new fans.) And to those people - and people somewhere in between, who maybe think Sheen is a jerk but wish he was still on the show - the funeral scene and many of the scenes that followed must have played out as a big eff-you to them as much as to Sheen...


Washington Capitals 2011-2012 Previews: Jason Chimera
By The Peerless at The Peerless Prognosticator

Jason Chimera has scored three goals in the post season in his career. Each of them was a game-winning goal. If only he could do that more often…score goals, that is. Chimera is gifted as one of the fastest skaters in the league, capable of beating defensemen wide with speed or jumping into a rush to pressure defenses...


September 19, 2011

Videos From Sunday's The Dark Knight Rises Shoot
Posted at Super Hero Hype

Filming for Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises is still going on in Los Angeles and thanks to 'smokeysify', here are some videos of the action that took place on Sunday. They include a truck crashing from a road to a lower level road as well as explosions on Grand Avenue...

Pirates! Gets It's First Screening
Posted by Jack at David Tennant - Fan News Blog

David's new movie, Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists got it's first public screening yesterday and it went very well.

David voices the character of a young Charles Darwin and the creative director of Aardman, Peter Lord, praised his role saying "David Tennant gives an absolutely fabulous comic performance...

Metallica, Lou Reed Post First Track Clip
By mdome at Classic Rock

...The track is The View, which is to be released as a digital single on September 27. You can hear the clip now...


British heroes shine at Rallyday
Posted at WRC.com

Britain's World Rally Championship stars Kris Meeke and Matthew Wilson wowed several thousand fans at the Rallyday event in the United Kingdom last weekend (17 September)...


Washington Capitals 2011-2012 Previews: Troy Brouwer
By The Peerless at The Peerless Prognosticator

Last year at this time, Troy Brouwer was coming to camp with the Chicago Blackhawks basking in the glow of a defending Stanley Cup champion. This year, he comes to camp for a team wanting to experience that glow. And he is expected to be one of the bricks-and-mortar pieces to see that that happens...


September 18, 2011

Washington Capitals 2011-2012 Previews: Nicklas Backstrom
By The Peerless at The Peerless Prognosticator

...Backstrom’s 2010-2011 season was by no means a disaster, but it was a step backwards. Backstrom finished the 2010-2011 season 18-47-65, plus-24. And it was something of an across the board drop in numbers. In his career year of 2009-2010 Backstrom was 22-42-64 at even strength, but these numbers dropped to 13-29-42 last season. On special teams he dropped from 11-26-37 in 2009-2010 to 5-18-23 in 2010-2011...


Semin Speaks
By Mike Vogel at Dump 'N Chase

...I conducted a short interview in English with Semin on Saturday, the first he has ever granted in English to my knowledge. While there are those who believe Semin can speak English and chooses not to, I can refute that...


September 17, 2011

2011-2012 Capitals Training Camp -- Day 1
By The Peerless at The Peerless Prognosticator

Day 1, or as the players might call it, “Are You #@$%ing Kidding Me Day”.

All three groups took the ice today in what is the official opening... or un-official... or quasi-official... whatever... of the 2011-2012 season. History will record (if by “history”, you mean “me”) that Brooks Laich was the first Capital to take to the ice for the season...


Review: 'Doctor Who' - 'The God Complex':
The minotaur's labyrinth
By Alan Sepinwall at What's Alan Watching? via HitFix.com

...last week's "The Girl Who Waited" (by Tom MacRae) was one of my favorite episodes of the modern "Who" era, and the Toby Whithouse-penned "The God Complex" was pretty damn splendid as well, both as a creepy iteration of the show's familiar "Ten Little Indians" riff(*) with a random group of characters(**) being hunted and killed while the Doctor tries to save them, and as a character study for Amy and the Doctor...


Quo Making Documentary
By mdome at Classic Rock

To be called Hello Quo!, it’s being directed by Alan G. Parker, but won’t be released for another year...


September 16, 2011

YES Legends Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman To Undertake
Fall U.S. Tour
Posted by Nightwatcher at Nightwatcher's House Of Rock

Music legends and former YES members Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman will be playing a select number of engagements this coming Fall 2011. The legendary duo performed a series of successful concerts in the UK in 2010 in support of their critically acclaimed CD release 'The Living Tree', and are now bringing their highly anticipated show to America...


Hopes of new Ford deal increase
Posted at WRC.com

Hopes that Ford will continue to fight for World Rally Championship glory in 2012 have improved after Gerard Quinn, the company's European motorsport boss, confirmed talks are ongoing over a new five-year commitment to the series...


September 15, 2011

Caps Fall in Philly
By Mike Vogel at Dump 'N Chase

Washington’s complement of rookie camp freshmen piled onto a bus early Thursday afternoon for a trek up I-95 and a date with Philadelphia’s own bunch of kids. The fifth annual Caps-Flyers rookie game was a late afternoon affair played at Wells Fargo Center in Philly. The Caps kids were seeking to do what neither the 2007 nor the 2009 bunch could do, namely come home with a win gained in enemy territory...


Slash To Release Stoke Live Album
By mdome at Classic Rock

Slash is to release a live album in mid-November. Titled Made In Stoke 24/7/11, it was filmed and recorded with Slash returned to his childhood home of Stoke, to play at Victoria Hall on July 24 this year...


Metallica to headline at F1 Rocks™ in India
Posted at Formula1.com

Rock aficionados are in for a treat at next month's 2011 Formula 1 Airtel Grand Prix of India after organisers announced award-winning USA heavy metal band Metallica are to headline the inaugural F1 Rocks™ in India concert...


France the focus for Oliveira
Posted at WRC.com

Daniel Oliveira has refused to get downhearted following his early exit from Rally Australia last week and is instead looking ahead to the upcoming Tarmac round, Rallye de France Alsace...


September 14, 2011

Bad Wilf Podcast: Episode 44
By Martyn Havell and Imran Charles at Bad Wilf

In Which Martyn returns for one last outing. Vodka is drunk. We talk about Fight For The Remote and Doctor Who:The Girl Who Waited.


FILM REVIEW - Fright Night
By Martyn Havell at Bad Wilf

I approached this remake with a lot of trepidation. But, unlike most remakes, this is entirely enjoyable. It’s faithful enough to the fun, of the original, whilst ramping up the tension and putting a modern spin on it. It’s a good, strong cast. Farrell is really intimidating as Jerry. He owns every scene he is in. The dialogue is sharp and witty and the movie is well paced. Dare I say it, but the acting is so much better in this, than the original. In fact, the only thing letting this movie down is the 3D...


West End Bares Auction Back On!
Posted by Jack at David Tennant - Fan News Blog

We could make a joke about the pants being back up, but we're like well classy so we won't...

The Much Ado About Nothing pants signed by the cast for the Make A Difference Trust are back up for auction on eBay. The pants were removed from the site last week after it was noted that David actually hadn't had the chance to sign them yet..but fear not! David has managed to sign them now and you can bid for them here!


David To Co Host Manchester Rocks For Children In Need
Posted by Jack at David Tennant - Fan News Blog

Children In Need Say:

Gary Barlow is bringing together the biggest and brightest stars of the music industry for BBC Children in Need Rocks Manchester, a one-off concert to help change young lives right here in the UK.

Performing live will be an international stellar line-up including Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, JLS, Elbow, N Dubz, Hugh Laurie, Snow Patrol, Michael Buble and the fabulous Lady Gaga!...

*Dan, Jr. / Junior's Eyes Note: "...sold out within minutes
of going on sale!"


David Wins Best Actor At TV Choice Awards
Posted by Jack at David Tennant - Fan News Blog

David Tennant picked up the award for Best Actor for his role as Dave in the BBC drama Single at last night's TV Choice Awards!

David beat off stiff competition for the award from Colin Morgan (Merlin), Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock) and Matt Smith (Doctor Who)...


CBS developing Sherlock Holmes TV pilot! The lame's afoot?
By Dan Owen at Dan's Media Digest

In possibly the most unnecessary development news of recent times, The Hollywood Reporter have revealed that CBS have ordered a script for a modern-day take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. All this despite the fact there already exists Sherlock; a brilliant contemporary version on the BBC starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman...


Father’s praise for Wilson
Posted at WRC.com

...The young Briton’s capture of fourth spot on the New South Wales event means he has now scored points on eight WRC rallies this season at the wheel of the Ford Fiesta RS WRC he shares with co-driver Scott Martin. Only Mikko Hirvonen, Jari-Matti Latvala, Sebastien Loeb and Petter Solberg possess more consistent finishing records in 2011...


September 13, 2011

'Amazing Spider-Man' Villain Describes Transforming
Into The Lizard
By Josh Wigler at MTV's Splash Page

We've known for a while that Spider-Man is fighting the Lizard in his next big-screen battle, but we still don't know what the reptilian menace will look like. Now, courtesy of Rhys Ifans, we have a clearer picture… and it looks a lot like Ifans!...


DVD REVIEW: X-Men: First Class
By Martyn Havell at Bad Wilf

After the abysmal X-Men 3 and the enjoyable, but forgettable Wolverine. I’ll admit that I was skepticle about another trip to the X-Men well.

I was wrong, X-Men:First Class is brilliant...


Whitesnake To Release Major Box Set And Tour
By mdome at Classic Rock

...Titled Box O’Snakes: The Sunburst Years 1978-1982, the box has every studio and live album from the period, two previously unreleased BBC concerts, a limited edition seven inch, a DVD and a 90-page book with new interview and unseen photos...


September 12, 2011

'Dark Knight Rises' Is 'Massive' And 'Beautiful',
Says Nestor Carbonell
By Kara Warner at MTV's Splash Page

Obviously there are many things to be excited about as we inch closer and closer to the release date of "The Dark Knight Rises", chief among them for me, is seeing a cast of the highest quality assembled in order to bring beloved characters, old and new, to life. And while a lot of attention is paid to the high profile roles that Batman newcomers Anne Hathaway, Tom Hardy and Marion Cotillard are playing, I'm always intrigued about what Christopher Nolan's equally impressive returning cast will be up to...

Kerrang Magazine
Posted at Home Of Metal

This week's Kerrang Magazine features a great article about our Home of Metal Exhibition at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, which is now into it's final fortnight...


Judas Priest To Release Compilation Chosen By Other Musicians
By mdome at Classic Rock

Judas Priest are to release a new compilation next month, with tracks chosen by other musicians.

Called The Chosen Few, the full track listing is:...


Nicko McBrain To Hold Drum Clinics
By mdome at Classic Rock

...In association with Premier Drums, he will be showcasing his talents on dates being dubbed An Evening With Nicko – A Night Of Drums, Drumming And Entertainment With Iron Maiden’s Nicko McBrain...


September 11, 2011

REVIEW – The Girl Who Waited
By Martyn Havell at Bad Wilf

The Girl Who Waited heralds something we haven’t seen in a while: three episodes in a row that are good. Let’s think about that – the past three episodes have all been good...