Junior's Reading And Viewing List: January 14 - 16, 2010

Last Update - January 17, 2009 at 2:17 AM EST

The month of January is half way over with. Here are your links for the last few days.


January 16, 2010

On-Air Fun with John Walton
By The OFB Team at On Frozen Blog

It was an in-state rivalry Saturday night between the Bears and Mini Penguins at Giant Center that didn’t amount to much of battle — the Bears blasted Wilkes Barre-Scranton 7-2. In the middle of his broadcast Bears’ radio play-by-play voice John Walton...
*Note from Dan, Jr. / Junior's Eyes: Post includes mp3 audio.

Yeah, yeah... we know
By The Peerless at The Peerless Prognosticator

Plus-minus is the Devil's spawn of statistics. Still...

Knuble and TSN: Ovechkin is the best player in the world
By tj at Alex Ovetjkin

...TSN commentators also got into it last night, they've asked Pierre McGuire if he thought that Ovechkin was the best hockey player in the World right now and McGuire said, "I think he is". How things have changed! Not a single mentioning of Crosby! And that was Canadian National TV. By the way, they said Ovechkin was fully aware that he was on National [Canadian] TV...
*Note from Dan, Jr. / Junior's Eyes: This post includes 3 videos.

Random Photo by CNN
By Ted Leonsis at Ted's Take

CNN - The Case News Network that is. Steve Case clicked this photo last night at the Caps game of me and Pat Sajak as I opened a carton of my books as provided to me as a surprise by our publisher...

Ground Control to Major Tom
By Ted Leonsis at Ted's Take

The Capstronaut landed in the owner’s box last night with his glowing multimedia fan blowing full speed inside his suit to keep cool...

Beatles’ recruited For Yellow Submarine Remake
By mdome at Classic Rock

The new 3D version of the animated Beatles movie Yellow Submarine is taking shape- for better or for worse.

Director Robert Zemeckis has recruited the following actors to voice the Beatles’ characters: Cary Elwes (George Harrison), Dean Lennox Kelly (John Lennon), Peter Serafinowicz (Paul McCartney) and Adam Campbell (Ringo Starr)...

Caps Beat Maple Leafs 6-1
By Cheryl Nichols at CAPITALS NEWS NETWORK

Washington, DC -- The Washington Capitals hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs in front of a Red Rockin' Caps crowd. The weather may have felt like winter, however, it was fall in DC tonight -- The Maple Leafs fell. Caps dominated entire game and won 6-1...

EXCLUSIVE: James Cameron Not Interested In 'Spider-Man' Reboot, Considers It 'Sloppy Seconds'
By Rick Marshall at MTV's Splash Page

You can cross one name off the list of potential "Spider-Man" directors, because James Cameron isn't interested.

Speaking with MTV News at the Critics Choice Awards red carpet, the "Avatar" director denied rumors that...

Happy Birthday Sade! You sexy thing!
*Link to YouTube videos from Dan, Jr. / Junior's Eyes

Sade has a New album due out in February 2010.

January 15, 2010

CSN: Toronto Maple Leafs at Washington Capitals Game Highlights

Right click on video to choose full screen option.

Quick-Starting Capitals Blow Away Leafs
By Ted Starkey at CapCentre.net

With a chance to finally play an extended stretch of their schedule at home, the Capitals opened up a three-game homestand by blowing out the Maple Leafs, thanks to a five-point night by Alexander Ovechkin and a pair of goals by Mike Knuble...


CSN's Al Koken speaks with John Carlson between periods during Toronto Maple Leafs vs Washington Capitals game

Right click on video to choose full screen option.

He's not paid $124 million to use his knuckles
By The Peerless at The Peerless Prognosticator

In the midst of all this Kovalchuk contract talk and the amazing, unprecedented, awe-inducing spectacle of Sidney Crosby hitting the 30-goal plateau, there is a lingering story gliding beneath the radar...

Bibliomania 2009: Non-fiction
By Kameron at I May Have Been Born Yesterday
But I Stayed Up All Night

Here's part one of a review of some of the most memorable non-fiction I read last year. Another group of books deserved their own entry, so stay tuned...

January 2010: Update on the Local Media Revolution
By pucksandbooks at On Frozen Blog

Even by the perennially sour standards of the Bullets/Wizards, the hoops news here at week’s end is numbing. The city’s star hoopster, a gangster, will be sentenced in D.C. Superior Court today on a felony firearms charge. The star may go to prison, for five years. At least Gilbert Arenas is alive...

Morning roundup: Goalies, Leafs and a Capstronaut
By Lindsay Applebaum at Capitals Insider

In case you missed it yesterday, Gene Wang chatted with Bruce Boudreau about injured goaltender Semyon Varlamov, whom the coach said is "getting better" every day after...
*Note from Dan, Jr. / Junior's Eyes: This post includes links to
3 podcasts - Bruce Boudreau on 106.7 The Fan, George McPhee on ESPN 980's The Sports Fix and Brooks Laich on Puck Tracks at Puck Daddy.

January 14, 2010

Stecks Speaks
By OrderedChaos (Mike Rucki) at On Frozen Blog

It was a solid turnout this evening for David Steckel’s appearance in Caps on the Fly. The lobby and bar of the Hilton Garden Inn (14th & H NW) was chock full of Washington Capitals supporters, and many Steckel partisans...
*Note from Dan, Jr. / Junior's Eyes: This post includes nice pictures and video.

Caps Open Homestand vs. Toronto
By Ted Starkey at CapCentre.net

After playing just 20 of their first 46 games at Verizon Center, Washington gets a chance to get comfortable at home in the next few weeks, playing seven of their next nine at home, kicking off with a three-game homestand that begins Friday when the Leafs come to town to close out the season series...

Joe Johnston Says 'Captain America' Will Be 'Something Different'
By Blair Marnell at MTV's Splash Page

With the predominance of “Spider-Man 4” and “Thor” news over the last few weeks, “The First Avenger: Captain America” has been relatively quiet by comparison. However, as “Captain America” gears up to begin filming in June, director Joe Johnston has indicated that the film may take Cap in unexpected directions...

A TWO-point night: Caps 5 - Panthers 4 (OT/Gimmick)
By The Peerless at The Peerless Prognosticater

Well, they certainly don’t lack for excitement.

The Capitals sleepwalked through 46 minutes of a 60-minute hockey game, looking rather disinterested as the Florida Panthers built a 4-1 lead...

Capitals Vs Bruins 10/01/2009 Review

Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin's traditional body bump win celebration.
October 1, 2009 photo by Winslow Townson / AP Photo.

Road Game Win: Capitals 4 - Bruins 1

The 2009-2010 Season Opener couldn't have gone much better for the Washington Capitals, as they easily beat the Boston Bruins 4 to 1. Jose Theodore looked calm and confident in goal for Washington with 19 saves. Boston's Tim Thomas was good as well, though even with 30 saves, last season's Vezina Trophy winner wasn't good enough to stop the Capitals' non stop attack on his net.

There were only a few brief segments of time in the game where the Caps played a touch sloppily, but that's to be expected early on in the season. They made just a couple of those dreaded overly cutesy/fancy moves, mostly within the first half. Overall Washington were well disciplined, confident looking and in the groove. Boston played very physically and fairly well themselves, but the Capitals stayed in control for almost the entire game.

Forward Brooks Laich scored the first goal of the game while on a power play, shortly before the end of the first period. Left winger Alex Ovechkin made the score 2-0 for the Caps half way through the second. Both would score again very early in the third, with Laich's second goal being another PP strike. Young center Nicklas Backstrom assisted on each of the first three goals. Forward Alexander Semin came up with 2 assists, while Ovechkin, defenseman Tom Poti and Laich each managed one assist on the night. Boston's center Patrice Bergeron scored the Bruins lone goal, when he got a solo breakaway chance, after left winger David Steckel had trouble keeping the puck in Boston's end.

So things went well, and it was a joy to watch Washington start things off right. Chairman and Majority Owner Ted Leonsis may still worry about pleasing the fans and making sure all is right in Caps land, but I'm sure most of us Caps fans are very relieved now that the NHL hockey season has started, and our team has put one in the win column.

Capitals Vs Penguins 05/11/2009 EC Semifinal Game 6 Review

Capitals celebrate Game 6 winning goal with David Steckel on May 11, 2009.
Photo by Gene J. Puskar / AP Photo.

Capitals 5 - Penguins 4 OT

The Washington Capitals overtime win versus the Penguins in Pittsburgh last night took Caps fans on an emotional roller coaster ride, before ending with incredible relief. This was a must win game for Washington, who were behind in the series, three games to two.

After not playing at their potential for most of their time on the ice this series, the Capitals had improved significantly in Saturday night's loss in Washington, DC. In the first period of this one, it wasn't looking so good. They were playing in a panicky style that didn't exactly fill one with confidence. Penguins forward Bill Guerin got the puck by netminder Simeon Varlamov about six minutes into the game. Luckily, the Caps' goalie had a much better game than the score shows. Washington only mustered 5 shots on goal, while Varlamov was very busy stopping 17 of the 18 shots Pittsburgh got on goal in the first frame.

The Capitals smoothed out their play by the second period. It's hard to imagine that the shots on goal totals for this period were only 6 for Washington and 7 for Pittsburgh. Both teams were apparently more accurate. Mike Green should get an assist on the Caps' first goal, because he fired a shot that hit Sidney Crosby. Crosby was able to clear the puck from the Penguins' end before heading for the bench to recover. Shaone Morrisonn dumped it right back in though, and Alex Ovechkin sent a rink wide pass to Viktor Kozlov, who snapped it by goalie Marc-Andre Fleury at 6:27. About eight minutes later, Alexander Semin was hauled down to the ice in the offensive zone, but the delayed penalty call wasn't needed. Semin quickly got back up and skated the puck around the back of the net. He passed it to Sergei Fedorov, and the rebound from Fedorov's shot was popped in by Tomas Fleischmann. Less than a minute before the end of the period, Mark Eaton scored the tying goal.

Kris Letang put the Pens on top at 4:40 into the third period, with a power play goal. About one minute later, Washington got their lone power play goal. Ovechkin passed the puck to Semin. Somehow Brooks Laich got a something on it, deflecting it in from the top of the crease, while under pressure from a defender and with his back to the net. Then at 6:07, Nicklas Backstrom and Ovechkin combined with Viktor Kozlov, for Kozlov's second goal of the game. The officiating, while still not terribly consistent, had evened out considerably over the last couple games. By about halfway through the third period, it had started to get a bit one sided again, in the Penguins favor. But it was Mike Green's failure to clear the puck from the Capitals' end late in regulation, that led to Sidney Crosby's tying goal. The hopes of Caps fans had been threatened yet again.

The referees put away their whistles in the overtime period. Both goalies made a few good saves before the sudden death ending. Right off a draw in Pittsburgh's end, Matt Bradley sent the puck to Brooks Laich. David Steckel redirected Laich's shot into the net at 6:22, giving Washington the win and evening the series at three games each. This line has worked very well for the Capitals, and at very critical times.

The Caps won the game with only 24 shots, compared to the Pens' 42 shots on goal. It's a good thing Varlamov was having a good night. Washington may not have been at their best at the start of the game, but they ramped it up as it went along. They never gave up hope, and they gave it their all, right to the very end. Determination and unyielding effort is key in winning playoff games. The Caps will need to show that again tomorrow night, when they play Game 7 of their semifinal series at home. Whoever wins that game, moves on to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Penguins Vs Capitals 05/04/2009 EC Semifinal Game 2 Review

Alex Ovechkin celebrates hat trick goal May 4, 2009.
Photo by Nick Wass / AP Photo.

Penguins 3 - Capitals 4

Rookie goalie Simeon Varlamov and the Washington Capitals won their fifth straight playoff game last night. It was the second straight win in the Eastern Conference Semifinal series between the Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins, a game that included first ever playoff hat tricks by both Washington's Alex Ovechkin and Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby.

As in Game 1 of the series, Sidney Crosby scored the first goal of the game, in the first period. This goal came with one Pen and two Caps in the penalty boxes. Brooks Orpik got two minutes for roughing, or possibly more acurately, spearing Alexander Semin in the nuts. Semin retaliated (sort of) and got two minutes for roughing, while Alex Ovechkin joined him, with a redundent two minutes for Semin's supposed high sticking. This situation helped Crosby make his way closer to the net. Brooks Laich also lost his stick, which had mysteriously exploded just before Crosby's strike. What slashing? Right, Mr. referee? I'd also like to ask the refs why David Steckel didn't get a penalty shot, when he was taken down from behind as he tried to take a shot later on.

A couple minutes into the second period, Ovechkin got his first tally on goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. Sergei Fedorov entered the offensive zone and spun around before his centering pass to Viktor Kozlov. Kozlov immediately relayed the puck to Ovechkin, who let it rip from his favorite spot, in the face off circle. Just after the mid point of the game, Crosby put the Penguins back ahead by one, when he snuck his way over to the crease for a back door goal. Caps' defender Mike Green didn't notice Sid was behind him until it was too late. About five minutes later, David Steckel evened the score again. Brian Pothier took a shot from the point that bounced all the way back to the AHL call-up Tyler Sloan at the opposite side. Sloan's shot deflected off a player, and Steckel was there to pop in his second goal of the playoffs.

The Capitals finally got the lead in the third period. With Evgeni Malkin in the penalty box for tripping, it took Washington only four seconds to score the power play goal. Nicklas Backstrom won the face off. When the puck went to Green, he quickly passed it to Ovechkin for a beautiful one time slap shot. A couple minutes later, Ovechkin scored the hat trick goal at even strength, with the help of Kozlov and Fedorov. Apparently, Sidney Crosby took strong exception to the fans celebrating with the long standing tradition of tossing hats onto the ice. Don't allow a hat trick, and you won't have to put up with people being happy, Sid. Crosby got his own bogus hat trick a few minutes later, while on a power play. With six attackers in the Caps' end, and an intentional two handed cross check to the throat of Varlamov by some jerk named Chris Kunitz, Crosby batted in the puck from mid air. The ref looking right at Kunitz while he tried to injure the unflappable Simeon Varlamov, must have been suffering from steamed up eyes, caused by all the friendly play right in front of his fat face.

Anyway, the Caps had better figure out a way to keep Crosby from getting so close to the net. His goals weren't pretty, but they count at least as much as anyone else's. And sorry, but consistent officiating isn't going to happen in this league. You've got to close off those passing lanes, and clear the front of your net.

Otherwise, well done Caps. Great to see them in control of most aspects of their game. Outstanding play by Ovechkin and Varlamov, but don't forget about David Steckel. His faceoff dominance, fine defensive play when needed and now goal scoring, are very helpful as well.

Penguins Vs Capitals 05/02/2009 EC Semifinal Game 1 Review

Tomas Fleischmann scores winning goal in EC Semifinals Game 1.
Photo by Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP Photo.

Penguins 2 - Capitals 3

Game 1 of the second round of the 2009 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, between the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins, was not the high scoring game many thought it might be. However, the threat was always there, mostly from the Washington side.

With four of the league's top ten point producers in a game (Evgeni Malkin, Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby and Nicklas Backstrom), regular season or playoff, it would be realistic to expect a lot of pucks to be hitting the back of the net. Luckily for Pittsburgh, four or five shots that beat goalie Marc-Andre Fleury hit pipe, just missing adding to the Caps side of the scoreboard.

It was the Penguins' Sidney Crosby however, that scored first. At 13:50 into the first period, Washington's third line guys David Steckel and Matt Bradley, highly successful scoring chance producers in the playoffs, evened up the score with the help of Brooks Laich. It was Steckel's first goal in the playoffs. The Capitals got another goal a few minutes later, while on a rare (for the Caps) 5 on 3 powerplay. Washington cycled the puck around the perimeter of the offensive zone left to right and then back the other way, Nicklas Backstrom to Alexander Semin to Alex Ovechkin. Ovechkin, who was left unguarded at the bottom of the left faceoff circle, pounded in the Caps' second goal.

Nearly thirteen minutes into the second period, Pittsburgh's defenseman Mark Eaton got one through the glove of netminder Simeon Varlamov. About five minutes later, Varlamov stopped a shot to the wide open side of Washington's net by Crosby, with a stick save. You've got to see the video of what was immediately dubbed "the save of the playoffs" . If that shot had gone in, the outcome of the game could have been quite different.

Just under two minutes into the third period, Tomas Fleischmann scored the game winner for the home team. Semin sent the puck from the point to Backstrom. Backstrom shuttled the puck to the other side of the net, where Fleischman was waiting at the edge of the crease to send the game winner over Fleury.

The win was Washington's fourth straight in the playoffs. The 21 year old Varlamov remains solid in net, to the surprise of anyone not familiar with him. It feels good to be ahead in the series so far. The Caps always seem to be on the comeback trail, but not this time. At least, not yet. With just one game down, it's not time to get cocky. Not just yet.

Capitals Vs Rangers 04/26/2009 EC Quarterfinal Game 6 Review

Tom Poti celebrates goal with David Steckel on April 26, 2009.
Photo by Getty Images

Capitals 5 - Rangers 3

The Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Playoff series between the Washington Capitals and the New York Rangers was evened up 3-3 yesterday, when the Capitals beat the Rangers in New York, after having been down by three games to one.

The Rangers' temporary bench boss was Assistant GM and interim coach Jim Schoenfeld. Schoenfeld took over the position for this game while Head Coach John Tortorella had a seat upstairs. Tortorella had been suspended for one game for throwing a water bottle at an unruly spectater in Washington at Game 5. The decision to suspend Torts was followed up by Rangers GM Glen Sather asking NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to punish the Capitals for what he thought was a lack of action by their security personnel. His request, which was full of fantasy about how well behaved the fans are in their arena, is just another desperate move by an organization that will stop at nothing to gain any advantage they can.

As far as the game itself, it was another display of the Capitals superiority over the Rangers. Simeon Varlamov didn't have to make very many spectacular saves in net for the Caps, but he was good when he needed to be. Washington's first three goals were all scored by defensemen. Milan Jurcina was first to light the lamp, putting the puck past goalie Henrik Lundqvist at 7:09 in the first period. Matt Bradley had blocked a clearing attempt and the puck ended up with David Steckel. Steckel's centering pass reached Brooks Laich, who dished it to Jurcina for the well screened shot. Uncharacteristically for the Rangers, they answered back with a power play goal by Scott Gomez about a minute later. The next power play opportunity belonged to the Capitals, and Mike Green banged in a rebound off of an Alexander Semin shot that was set up by defenseman Tom Poti. A few minutes later, Poti just got out of the penalty box for a puck over the glass delay of game call, when he found himself joining David Steckel and Boyd Gordon for a three on one odd man rush going into New York's end. It was a beautiful play that ended with Poti tipping in a cross ice pass from Steckel.

Halfway through the second period, Poti was involved in another Washington goal. Sergei Fedorov got the puck to Poti from behind the Caps net, and he sent an outlet pass to Viktor Kozlov. Kozlov skated the puck the rest of the way and ended up following the puck into the Rangers' net after his game winning shot. Poti would also be a part of a power play goal by Alex Ovechkin at 16:44. Nicklas Backstrom had control of the puck high in the slot. Under pressure, he sent it back to Poti at the point. Ovechkin purposefully deflected in Poti's slap shot.

As in Game 5, Steven Valiquette replaced Lundqvist to start the third period. At least one of the Rangers' two goals in the third shouldn't have happened, but they didn't change the outcome of the game anyway. After a couple really weak calls that sent defenseman John Erskine to the penalty box for holding and Backstrom for hooking, the Rangers scored their second goal during the 5 on 3. Shortly after getting back to even strength from a couple more bad calls, New York got their final meaningless goal just before time ran out.

Just as they did last season, Washington has come from seeming to be hopelessly behind in the series, to forcing a Game 7. Their talent and relentless determination has gotten them far, and should carry them past the Rangers in the final game of the series.

Canadiens Vs Capitals 02/18/2009 Review

Alex Ovechkin scores "The Sequel" February 18, 2009.
Photo by Haraz N. Ghanbari.

Canadiens 3 - Capitals 4 SO

The Washington Capitals got a shootout win over the ailing Montreal Canadiens last night in Washington, DC. Alex Ovechkin once again stole the show with another amazing goal in the first of a five game homestand.

Let's just get the bad news out of the way first, shall we. Yeah, the Caps only committed four penalties in this game, and I know that sounds like good news, but ... The Canadiens were able to score on three of the four. Ouch! This is uncharachteristic of Washington's penalty kill efforts lately, and probably just a temporary hicup. Well, that's about it for the bad news. Seriously, did you think I was going to dwell on the bad part, while there's so much good stuff to immerse in?

As a team, the Montreal out did Washington in the face off circle with a 53% win percentage versus 47%, but how about Boyd Gordon finishing with 80%?! David Steckel excelled on the draw too, winning seven out of eleven or approximately 64%. Steckel also scored a goal at 17:21 in the third period to tie the game and eventually send it into overtime, guaranteeing the Caps at least one point.

Nicklas Backstrom scored his 14th goal of the season while on the power play, about two thirds of the way through the first period, putting Washington ahead for the only time during regulation. Nobody scored in overtime, and Montreal was unable to put the puck past Jose Theodore in the shootout. Both Alexander Semin and Backstrom got one by Montreal's Carey Price, but the goal that everyone's talking about all across the hockey world is the other worldly one by Alex Ovechkin. It was his 42nd on the season, and will remembered anytime fans reminisce about the most amazing goals ever scored. Personally, I'm in agreement with those who see the way he started the play as the best part. It's probably right up there with the one we call "The Goal".

"The Goal" by Alex Ovechkin on January 16, 2006.



"The Sequel" by Alex Ovechkin on February 18, 2009.

Panthers Vs Capitals 02/07/2009 Review

Capitals celebrate on home ice February 7, 2009.
Photo by Mitchell Layton / Getty Images

Panthers 1 - Capitals 3

The Washington Capitals increased their Southeast Division lead to 14 points by beating the second place Florida Panthers in Washington, DC last night. After one of their worst performances this season on Thursday night versus the Los Angeles Kings, the Capitals rebounded with a very respectable hard fought win.

Just 33 seconds into the game, Eric Fehr scored his sixth goal of the season, giving him five points in the last five games. David Steckel got the play started, gaining control of the puck deep in the Caps' end and sending it to Fehr. Eric sent an outlet pass to Tomas Fleischmann, who drew the two Panthers defenseman toward him going into the offensive zone before sending the puck back to Fehr. Fehr's snap shot sailed past netminder Tomas Vokoun high glove side. It took eight minutes for Florida's Keith Ballard to tie the game with a long range slap shot that got by Washington goalie Jose Theodore.

Neither team scored in the second period. For the Capitals, it was the first time in 15 periods that they failed to score at least one goal in a period. The third period started much like the first, though. Washington defenseman Mike Green got his 18th goal of the season 43 seconds into the final frame, matching his previous career high total from last season. As with most of Green's goals, this one came while on a power play. The goal increased his goal scoring streak to six straight games, with five being the former record for Caps defenseman. The league record for defenseman is seven consecutive games.

Unfortunately, the Capitals got into some serious penalty trouble toward the end of the game, starting with a Sergei Fedorov holding penalty at 14:04 into the third. With a very upset Fedorov still in the penalty box, Washington found themselves on the short side of a 5 on 3 for 1:05, when Shaone Morrisonn was dealt a five minute major plus a game misconduct after boarding Florida's Cory Stillman. Of course Stillman was hurt so bad he was back on the ice for the very next shift. The Caps' held the Panthers without a shot before Fedorov was released from the penalty box. Even while they were armed with three forwards and only one defenseman, Washington's penalty killing worked very well. There was a nervous moment when defenseman Tom Poti made a rare mistake, turning over the puck with a clearing pass that was picked off. But it was a very brief moment, as Karl Alzner (Just recalled from the AHL's Hershey Bears), David Steckel and Tom Poti cleared the front of the net.

The Panthers elected to have Vokoun out of the net in exchange for an extra skater for the last 1:48 of the game, including the final 1:47 of their power play. That didn't stop the Capitals from scoring a short handed goal at 18:47. Mike Green cleared the puck from deep in Washington's end, and it ended up in Florida's empty net for the Caps' third goal of the game. It was Green's second of the third period and 19th on the season, keeping him atop all defenseman in the league.

It seems ironic that it was Washington's D man Green putting the game away for the Capitals against the Panthers, who have the highest scoring group of defenseman in the NHL, with 36 goals amongst them. The Caps got some good goaltending from Theodore along with some honest to goodness forechecking, unlike in their defeat at the hands of the Kings on Thursday. Coach Bruce Boudreau also kept rolling the lines quickly while killing penalties, possibly putting the checking lines on the ice more often than he usually does. The Capitals will now hit the road for three games, starting with a visit to MSG in New York, NY to face the Rangers on Wednesday.

Rangers Vs Capitals 01/03/2009 Review

Alexander Semin heads off after fight with Marc Staal.
Photo from NewYorkRangers.com

Rangers 1 - Capitals 2

The Washington Capitals won their sixth straight game for the first time this season, in this mostly defensive match. The New York Rangers were their latest victim last night, in a game that started off uneventful, but built up momentum as it went along.

There's wasn't much to gloat about as far as the first period was concerned. You could've waited to tune in until the second period, and you wouldn't have missed much. The stats were very even, except in the hits department. The Capitals apparently temporarily forgot that hockey is a contact sport.

Mike Green scores goal on Steve Valiquette.
Photo by Luis M. Alvarez / Associated Press.

Washington's memory cleared up in the second period, and they started forechecking and putting some energy into the game at both ends. It was the Rangers who scored first however, as Petr Prucha deflected a shot past goalie Jose Theodore half way through the period. Theodore was in good form once again though, and didn't allow another puck to find it's way into the net from then on. Less than a minute and a half later, the Capitals answered back while on a power play. From the point, Viktor Kozlov sent the puck to Alexander Semin (just back from injury) at the goal line to the left of the net. Mike Green mosied in toward the net guarded by netminder Steve Valiquette on the right side and banged in a quick pass from Semin.

The physicality of the game increased throughout the second period. But as time was running out, it became clear that Alex Ovechkin couldn't be stopped. He was determined to score and put Washington ahead. With just 31.4 seconds left and the Caps down a man, he did just that. David Steckel hit Ovechkin in the neutral zone with a short outlet pass. Alex turned on the jets and sped his way into the Rangers' end. His only obstacle, Wade Redden was frozen by a pump fake. Ovie got his shot off as he passed Redden, and the puck sailed by Valiquette for the shorthanded game winning goal.

Kettle Drum played in USAF European Band.
April 4, 2005 Photo by USAF.

Neither team scored in the third period, but the entertainment level did not wane by any means. Washington's gritty forward Chis Clark had gotten into a fight with Wade Redden in the first half of the second period. Later in the second, Scott Gomez had sucker punched Michael Nylander. But the fight we'll be talking about (and laughing about) until the end of time, happened early in the third. Marc Staal was probably trying to fire up his team, when he picked a fight with Alexander Semin. Staal was probably very surprised when Semin easily got the best of him. More than 18,000 fans cheered as Staal went down on the ice, and then roared with laughter as Semin beat him like a girl kettle drum. Many others have described the instrument of Semin's pugilistic music as bongos, but clearly it was the kettle drum. The Capitals were able to hold their composure and hang on to their lead for the win.

The game was played in front of yet another sold out crowd, which I've heard gives Washington more sellouts for this season than in the entire previous season. More importantly, the Caps have gone 12-1-2 in their last 15 games. In fact, their record for the season so far is 26-11-3, which is the best ever after the first 40 games in the team's entire history. Now, that should keep the smile on Caps' fans faces for a while.

Blues Vs Capitals 12/18/2008 Review

Capitals celebrate Viktor Kozlov's second goal of the game.

Blues 2 - Capitals 4

The Washington Capitals won their 20th game of the season at home while facing the St. Louis Blues last night. They managed to hit the mark in just the 33rd match of the current season. Last season, it took until January 17th and their 46th game to get 20 wins. It also gave Washington's goaltender Simeon Varlamov a 2-0 record, after having won in his first NHL game played in Montreal versus the Canadiens this past Saturday.

The first period went by rather quickly. The stoppages in play during this game were held to a minimum in part by the referees, who only awarded one penalty in the first. You could say they were "economical" with their calls for most of the game. Late in the period, Nicklas Backstrom won a battle for the puck at the sidewall and sent it to nearby Viktor Kozlov. Kozlov put it past Blues' netminder Ben Bishop via five hole, while using a defender as a screen. The Capitals have scored the first goal in 10 of their last 12 games. Nine of those goals came in the first period. Like Varlamov, this is Bishop's first season in the NHL.

Simeon Varlamov makes stick save for Washington.

David Backes put St. Louis on the scoreboard at 9:09 in the second period. Varlamov was set to stop the shot by Jay McClement, but Backes deflected it past a surprised Varlamov. Late in the period, Washington went back ahead for good. Tom Poti sent an outlet pass to Kozlov, who fed the puck to rugged forward Boyd Gordon. Gordon forced his way to the front of the net with a defender all over him. Gordon fired off a shot and Kozlov followed up with his second goal of the game, sending the rebound past Bishop at 17:06. Just 40 seconds later, Tomas Fleischmann put the Caps ahead by two. David Steckel won a draw in the Blues end. After regaining control of the puck, Steckel dropped it to Eric Fehr. Fehr sent a centering pass to Fleischmann, and Flash fired a shot that banked off of both posts before heading to the back of the net. That's 11 goals for Fleischmann this season. He had 10 in all of last season.

Washington started the third period with a full two minutes of power play time because Michael Nylander held onto the puck at the end of the second, during a delayed penalty call. The Caps only needed 13 seconds of it though. After Alexander Semin got a shot off and the big rebound sent the puck all the way out to Kozlov at the point, Viktor passed rink wide to Alex Ovechkin. When Ovechkin got to the faceoff circle, he snapped the puck into the net for his 20th goal of the season.

Tomas Fleischmann scores goal versus Ben Bishop of the St. Louis Blues.

Unfortunately, the referees were suffering from temporary blindness (again) around nine minutes into the third period. It didn't cost Washington the game, but they lost Semin to injury again as a direct result of the refs economizing on calling penalties. I don't understand how all of the officials missed it when Backes intentionally tripped Semin, and then seconds later cross checked him in his recently injured back, sending him awkwardly down to the ice in pain. Semin was helped off the ice and eventually back to the dressing room, but no penalties called on Backes. Sure enough though, when Coach Bruce Boudreau complained from the bench, an official gave Washington a two minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for "abuse of officials". Of course, the Blues scored during their ill gotten power play. The goal was awarded to Brad Winchester, but after the puck happened to hit his stick, it actually deflected in off of Alex Ovechkin's. Washington held on to their two goal lead for the rest of the game.

Alexander Semin wasn't the only player taken out of the game due to injury. Apparently, Mike Green has also been injured again, as he didn't play in the third period. Both players are listed as "day to day".

The win is Washington's fifth straight. They are now 13-1-1 at home. The Caps don't face the Western Conference team St. Louis very often, and this was the first time since December 1997 that Washington beat them within regulation. Viktor Kozlov had a three point night, with two goals and an assist. Brent Johnson may get the next start in net if he's healthy enough, when the Caps play the Flyers in Philadelphia on Saturday afternoon.

December 18, 2008 Photos by Luis M. Alvarez / Associated Press

Canadiens Vs Capitals 11/28/2008 Review

David Steckel celebrates goal on Jaroslav Halak with Brooks Laich.

Canadiens 0 - Capitals 3

Jose Theodore earned his first shutout as a goaltender for the Washington Capitals, when the Caps beat his original NHL team at home last night. The fact that almost half the team now consists of AHL talent callups from the Hershey Bears didn't keep Washington from blanking the mighty Montreal Canadiens.

Montreal only managed six shots on goal in the first period. It wasn't until 8:43, that Alexie Kovalev found the net with a long range wrist shot. One of Washington's nine shots on goal in the first was a close range wrister from Tomas Fleischmann that not only found the net, it found the back of the net. The play started with an incredibly bad choice by Canadien Francis Bouillon, when he tried to send off an outlet pass from behind his own net. Fleischmann got a stick on it near the front of the net and passed the puck to nearby Michael Nylander. Nylander sent the puck back to Flash, who put it past netminder Jaroslav Halak for his ninth goal of the season.

Montreal outshot Washington 13-9 in the second period, with neither team managing to score a goal. One of the more interesting things that happened in the middle frame was another Montreal mistake. It happened when Higgens missed his intended hit target. Instead, he plowed into a linesman, sending him into the Canadiens' bench. The linesman was fine and was helped back onto the ice without any stoppage in play. These funny little incidents happen from time to time.

Alex Ovechkin celebrates goal with Nicklas Backstrom.

Less than four minutes into the third period, Nicklas Backstrom passed the puck from the sidewall in the offensive zone to Alex Ovechkin in the corner. Ovechkin collected the puck and drove to the front of the goal, where he sent it in for his 13th goal of the season. At 8:46, David Steckel deflected a long range shot by Sami Lepisto for the third and final goal. Also assisting on number four of the season for Steckel, was Brooks Laich.

Both goalies were solid in net throughout this game. Both teams have injured regular players at the moment, but the Capitals have twice as many out of action. With that, most weren't expecting much and have to be pleased with the way the replacements have done in their absence. Ovechkin now has at least a point in 10 straight games. That's currently the longest streak in the NHL. The Caps are the first team to shut out the Canadiens this season. Hopefully, the AHL callups can keep up their good play for a few more games, while some of the injured regulars get closer to being ready to come back. The Capitals will face the Blue Jackets in Columbus, Ohio tonight.

November 28, 2008 Photos by Nick Wass / Associated Press

Capitals Vs Ducks 11/19/2008 Review

Nicklas Backstrom scores goal in first period.
November 19, 2008 Photo by Mark J. Terrill / AP

Capitals 6 - Ducks 4

It wasn't the prettiest of games, but the Washington Capitals managed to beat the Anaheim Ducks in a rugged game. Washington did so without three of their key players - Alexander Semin, Sergei Fedorov and Shaone Morrisonn, all of whom are expected to see some action on this four game Western road trip at some point.

Might as well get the dirty "Philadelphia of the West Coast" team out of the way first. The Capitals earned the win by simply playing hard for the full 60 minutes. They even remembered how to score on the power play, which came in real handy. Two of the three PP goals came very early in the first period. A nice redirect of a Mike Green slapper by Tomas Fleischmann at 2:19 and another PP tally at 3:54 compliments of Mike Green. Shortly after Nick Backstrom backhanded the puck into the net, Anaheim's Jonas Hiller was replaced by the Ducks' number one goalie, Jean-Sebastien Giguere. Scoring the fourth and fifth goals of the period, Bobby Ryan and Ryan Getzlaf put two on the scoreboard for the host team.

Looking at the score, it would be hard to believe, but Cap's netminder Jose Theodore actually played well for most of the game. Hiller might not have been too sharp, but Giguere put in a good effort for the Ducks. Alex Ovechkin got his fourth point of the night, when he snapped in a power play goal at 2:43 in the second period. Anaheim's defense left him all alone between the dots, so Giggy had no chance of stopping this one. His other three points came via assists on all three of Washington's first period goals. At 17:48, Matt Bradley made it 5-2, when he scored his second goal of the season with a wrist shot near the goal crease.

David Steckel got his third goal of the season halfway through the third period, when he sent a slapshot into the net. Even though Theodore was particularly sharp in the third, somehow Bobby Ryan and Teemu Salanne each got one by him. Has Salanne ever been held scoreless against the Caps? Washington held on and ended the game in regulation.

Of course there was some rough stuff during this game. After all, it was the Ducks the Caps faced. We lost Mike Green to injury during a high and hard hit that sent Green into the end wall during the second period. It's unknown how bad off his shoulder is at this point. Supposedly, Shaone Morrisonn will replace him in the lineup tonight. The forward lines will remain the same as the Capitals hit Los Angeles for that game.

Capitals Vs Thrashers 10/10/2008 Review

Capitals 4 - Thrashers 7

The 2008-2009 NHL Hockey season got off to a rough start last night for the Washington Capitals. Looking at the score, it seems fairly obvious that while their offense did well against the Atlanta Thrashers, their defense and goaltending were abysmal. That's not the most accurate statement, but that about covers the overall picture.

The 18 year old Atlanta rookie defenseman Zach Bogosian started his first NHL game off with a two minute holding penalty at 1:52 in the first period. Just under two minutes later, Washington thought they had the first goal of the game. However, the strike by Brooks Laich was disallowed because his stick was above the goal crossbar when he knocked the puck in. Soon after, things went south for the Capitals. Though the Thrashers hadn't gotten more than one shot off in the first eight minutes, they made the second one count. Former Columbus Blue Jacket Ron Hainsey tipped in the first of three straight Atlanta goals at 8:20. After his Power Play goal, his teammates Marty Reasoner and Bryan Little quickly added two even strength goals. Just 23 seconds after Little put the puck past new Washington netminder Jose Theodore, the Caps got on the score board. High in the slot and surrounded by defenders, Alexander Semin banked one in off the post to Kari Lehtonen's right. A couple four on four situations later, the period mercifully ended.


In the first period, the referees were calling the game tighter than a frog's butt. The same could also be said about the second period. The Capitals' goalie Theodore continued looking very shaky, misplaying the puck by the restricted area twice within the first few minutes of the middle frame. At 9:10, Washington's David Steckel tipped the puck in behind Lehtonen, who had been drawn out from the goal on a slapshot by defenseman Tom Poti. Semin also earned an assist on the play. The Caps' comeback hopes seemed dashed, when Slava Kozlov potted a PP goal, putting the Thrash back up by two a mere 20 seconds later. Jose Theodore was then replaced in net for Washington by Brent Johnson. Johnny looked very strong, making some nice saves right away. Soon after, Green tied the game at 4-4 with two consecutive PP goals less than a minute apart. The Caps were hot now, and it looked like they might pull this one off after all.

Washington continued to play well into the third period. Johnson kept stopping the puck, and Tomas Fleischmann kept putting on some dazzling moves, driving the puck toward the net. But then, Alex Ovechkin failed to make good on a rare penalty shot. Almost two thirds of the way through the final period, the game started going back the other way again. Bryan Little got his second goal of the game, quickly followed up with a strike from Colby Armstrong. With 3:53 left on the clock, Todd White snapped home Atlanta's seventh and final goal. Toward the end of the game, we were treated to three rather quick fights. After a couple misses by Thrasher's Eric Boulton, John Erskine landed Boulton on his ass with one punch. Then, Zach Bogosian had the misfortune of going up against Caps' Donald Brashear. Yeah, that didn't take too long either. The Matt Bradley versus Atlanta's Chris Thorburn tussle in the finals seconds was a bit closer. Since winning fights doesn't add to the score, the game ended Washington 4 - Atlanta 7.


So, coach Bruce Boudreau and his Capitals lost to Bruce's best friend John Anderson and his Thrashers, in John's very first NHL game as head coach. They will face each other five more times during the regular season. I'm sure the Caps' back end will be in better form on those occasions. As far as the outlook for Washington at this point, not to worry. One down, 81 more to go. As Caps fans, what about this game should we concern ourselves with? The successful return of a healthy Michael Nylander and Captain Chris Clark.

All Photos - John Bazemore / AP

Flyers Vs Capitals 04/11/2008 EC Quarterfinal Game 1 Review

Flyers 4 - Capitals 5

While the Philadelphia Flyers' top two forwards scored all their goals, the Washington Capitals' got some help from the fourth line in another typically dramatic come from behind Capitals win. Three of the Capitals ended up with a multi point effort in Washington's first playoff game since 2003.

The Capitals started off pretty well in the first period, with fourth line forward Donald Brashear putting the Cap's on the scoreboard at 3:16. Defenseman Tom Poti took a long range shot that was deflected toward Brashear by linemate Matt Bradley. Donald took the loose puck and made a fine move to the right side of the net before putting it past Philadelphia's netminder Martin Biron. I bet it felt good getting a playoff goal against his former team. Unfortunately, Flyers' RW forward Vinny Prospal evened the score about five minutes later, right off a draw. Washington's goalie Cristobal Huet never saw it coming. He had three guys screening the shot, including Caps' defensemen Milan Jurcina and Mike Green. Philadelphia's Scott Hartnell was the Flyer camping out at the crease, as usual.

The second period started off much like the first, with fourth line center scoring a goal at 4:08. Matt Bradley was in on this one too. He dumped the puck deep into the Flyers end, drawing two defenders along with him as he retrieved the puck. Then, while facing the end wall, Brads sent the puck between his legs and back toward Dave Steckel. Steckel roofed his first NHL level playoff goal, glove side. After that, the Flyers started to get a little nasty. Like when Scottie Upshall took a shot around the middle of the period. While Huet was trying to make the save, Jeff Carter followed up the shot by jamming his stick into Huet's crotch. That went unnoticed by the referees. The slash by Danny Briere behind the net was called at 9:38. But, Washington failed to score with the man advantage. Worse yet, Mike Knuble fed an outlet pass to Briere, as he was released from the penalty box two minutes later. Briere snapped it past Huet to tie the score 2-2. Cristobal seemed a little shaky for the most of the second period. With the Capitals' defense not being quite as aggressive as they should've been at the same time, Washington wasn't looking very good. When Prospal made it 3-2 after a turnover at the end of a Cap's line change, the stunned fans were quiet for the first time in weeks. A flicker of doubt went through my mind, when Briere got his second on a lucky back door chance about three minutes later.

As soon as the third period started, you could tell that the Capitals were back on line. The coaches and the veteren players with Stanley Cup Playoff experience must have straightened out the younger guys during the second intermission. In his first playoff game at the NHL level, Mike Green scored at 1:50 into the third. LW forward Alexander Semin passed the puck from the left sidewall to Sergei Fedorov at the far edge of the faceoff circle. Fedorov dished the puck to Green as he drove in on the other side. Green put it in past Biron, who tripped Mike as he crossed the top of the crease. With the Cap's resurging, Philadelphia took a few more cheap shots. Semin was hooked and Huet was downed in his crease. The ref's finally called a penalty, when Briere high sticked Matt Bradley. It sure looked intentional to me, as there was no reason for him to lift his stick up so high and horizontally. The Capitals made good use of this power play. Nicklas Backstrom passed the puck to Mike Green, who fired a hard slapshot that hit Flyer Patrick Thoresen. Alex Ovechkin grabbed the puck and sent it back to Green. Green's second slapper went in at 6:26 to tie the game at 4-4. The boys did another one of those pile up celebrations, and the crowd's volume went up another notch or two.

During the third period, Washington's defense was doing a much better job of keeping Philadelphia away from the front of the net. The whole team was energized and made more good clean hits. With about 4 1/2 minutes left, Alex Ovechkin got his first playoff goal. Alex poke checked a lazy pass by Lasse Kukkonen. He beat Kukkonen to the puck and snapped it past Biron for the game winner. The crowd leapt to their feet and screamed M-V-P!...M-V-P!...M-V-P!

The middle period was a little rough, but the Capitals got their first playoff win since April 12, 2003. In typical Capitals' fashion, they came from behind scoring three of their five goals in the third period alone. Also typical, it was Alex Ovechkin with the goal that put it away for good. Like you, I can't wait for game two.

All Photos - Getty Images