Junior's Reading And Viewing List: March 3 - 5, 2010

Last Update - March 6, 2010 at 8:52 PM EST

Lots of good stuff to get into during the second half of the week. So much so, that some will be left out of this basic 'Reading And Viewing List' for March 3 through March 5, 2010. Hopefully I have it in me to include those other items in their own separate posts.


March 5, 2010

No SuperRally return for Raikkonen
Posted at WRC.com

Citroen Junior team driver Kimi Raikkonen will not restart Rally Mexico on Saturday after an inspection revealed his car was too badly damaged in a multiple roll on SS7...

Petter Solberg leads Rally Mexico after day one
Posted at WRC.com

Citroen privateer driver Petter Solberg holds a 15 second lead of Rally Mexico this evening after a sensational performance through the opening day of the competition.

The 2003 World Rally Champion made the most of an advantageous start position of eighth on the road, and a racing line swept of loose gravel, to go fastest in his C4 World Rally Car on five of the day's nine stages...

Raikkonen out!
Posted at WRC.com

Citroen Junior Team driver Kimi Raikkonen rolled his Citroen C4 World Rally Car out of Friday's competition almost within sight of the end of SS7 - the repeated El Cubilete stage...

SS7: No tactics - Solberg keeps his lead
Posted at WRC.com


With a low position in the start order likely to be a huge help on Saturday's ultra slippery roads, drivers were faced with a choice on the decisive SS7 - either keep their positions on the leaderboard, or drop time deliberately in order to get a better place in the day two running order...


Can Versus Take on SportsCenter?
By Eric McErlain at Off Wing Opinion

In my latest appearance at The TV News, I talk about Versus and their latest foray into originally produced programming. They've calling it The Daily Line, and it's going to debut on April 5 at 6:00 p.m. opposite SportsCenter...

SS4: Solberg out in front at Friday's halfway point
Posted at WRC.com

As crews returned to Leon for Friday's midpoint service, Petter Solberg holds a commanding lead of Rally Mexico, with a 17.1sec advantage over the man in second place, Sebastien Ogier.

As expected, road positions on this morning's dry and dusty stages proved critical to success, with Solberg and Ogier capitalising on their respective positions of fifth and eighth and befitting from a racing line swept of loose gravel by the cars ahead...

SS2: Solberg fastest again while Raikkonen hits problems
Posted at WRC.com

Citroen privateer Petter Solberg extended his lead of Rally Mexico on Friday's second stage, increasing his advantage over second placed Sebastien Ogier to 14.4sec.

Measuring 23.83 kilometres, Friday's second stage, Ortega, is the longest of the day and the highest of the rally - reaching an altitude of 2,737 metres above sea level...

SS1: Petter storms into an early lead
Posted at WRC.com

After setting the fastest time on Thursday's pre-event shakedown, Citroen privateer Petter Solberg was the pace-setter once again on the opening stage of the rally proper - capitalising on an advantageous road position to open up a 9.8sec rally lead after SS1...

Maiden Name New Album
By mdome at Classic Rock

The new Iron Maiden album has a title – although not yet a release date.

The band’s latest release is to be titled The Final Frontier...

March 4, 2010

Postgame Notebook: Capitals 5, Lightning 4
By Mike Vogel - Senior Writer at WashingtonCaps.com

Dirty Dozen – Tonight’s 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning won’t earn the Washington Capitals any style points, but the Caps will happily pocket the pair of standings points they earned and move on. The win was Washington’s 12th straight on home ice, extending a franchise record...

Coach Boudreau Talked To Media After Home Win
Over Tampa Bay Lightning
Posted on Caps365 at WashingtonCaps.com

Washington Capitals Players After Home Win
Over Tampa Bay Lightning
Posted on Caps365 at WashingtonCaps.com

Tampa Bay Lightning at Washington Capitals Game Highlights
Posted at Comcast SportsNet - Washington, DC

Right click on video to choose full screen option.

Rally Mexico - Friday's stage guide
Posted at WRC.com

After Thursday evening's ceremonial start in the historic city of Guanajuato, the proper competitive action of Corona Rally Mexico kicks off on Friday, when crews face 137.24 competitive kilometres arranged over nine special stages...

Ford team members go the extra mile
Posted at WRC.com

BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team drivers, co-drivers and team members swapped horsepower for footpower today as they ran one of Rally Mexico's stages to raise money for the British-based Sport Relief charity...

Outdoor Practice Fun in Hershey
By pucksandbooks at On Frozen Blog

...Each season the Milton Hershey School invites the Bears onto its sprawling and majestic campus for a morning practice skate at the school’s beautiful roof-covered sheet. Conditions today were ideal for it. Bears’ players dressed over at Giant Center and then drove about 10 minutes over to the rink, slinging their gear bags over their shoulders, sticks in one hand, smiling, shuffling toward dressing rooms in various-colored crocs.

What a terrific excuse to excuse myself from a day of work in the office and shiver a bit around the sheet with my friends in Chocolatetown. And snap a few pics...
*Dan, Jr. / Junior's Eyes Note: Includes several great pictures.

Rally organisers cancel SS20
Posted at WRC.com

The organisers of Rally Mexico have cancelled one of Sunday's four stages on safety grounds...

Petter fastest at Rally Mexico Shakedown
Posted at WRC.com

After a frustrating time on the opening round of the World Rally Championship in Sweden, Citroen privateer Petter Solberg is the early pace-setter in Mexico, setting the fastest time at today's pre-rally Shakedown in his C4 WRC.

But while Solberg was all smiles at the end of the session, a number of other WRC competitors were left with damaged cars as a result of an extremely steep water splash...

I'm ready to go first on the road to help Mikko, says Latvala
Posted at WRC.com

BP Ford Abu Dhabi Team driver Jari-Matti Latvala is prepared to sacrifice his own chances of winning Rally Mexico in order to give his team-leader Mikko Hirvonen a better chance...

Raikkonen's recce notes
Posted at WRC.com

The Corona Rally Mexico will be an entirely new experience for Citroen Junior Team driver Kimi Raikkonen. But despite the unfamiliar surroundings, the Finn thinks some of the event's gravel stages remind [him] of his home round in Finland.

The Finn, who before this weekend had never been to Mexico, has now completed the recce of the 22 stages that make up the rally...

Karun Chandhok to race for HRT
Posted at Formula1.com

Photo of Karun Chandhok from IBNLive.com

The newly-rebadged HRT team have confirmed that Karun Chandhok will race for them this season. Chandhok, who has previously tested for Red Bull, will be the second Indian driver in the history of the world championship.

The announcement was made during an official presentation in the Spanish city of Murcia on Thursday. During the event the team also unveiled their car for the 2010 season...

The Day After Christmas
By The Peerless at The Peerless Prognosticator

Well, the smoke has cleared, the dust has settled, and another “Trading Day” is over. For the Caps, it was one of those days that might make a few fans do a facepalm. We didn't get all the presents we might have wanted, but from this chair, it was a day of subtle reengineering that could be more important to getting a Stanley Cup than getting the flashy name. Why? It’s a matter of need...

‘Deep Depth’ Will Armor the Caps’ Postseason
By pucksandbooks at On Frozen Blog

Think back to the glaring vulnerabilities the Washington Capitals tried to hide against the Pittsburgh Penguins last May. Mike Green was pretty beat up, really a shell of his dynamic, record-setting norm, and the Caps played him as if he were healthy. They had to — they had no plan B on the blueline for rushing the puck and QBing the power play. Additionally, they had no real, imposing, physical power forward to create havoc in front of Marc-Andre Fleury, and Pittsburgh’s defenders were able to keep the Capitals’ attack largely on the perimeter...

New-Look Caps Come Home to Host Bolts
By Mike Vogel - Senior Writer at WashingtonCaps.com

Some 24 days after their last home game, the Capitals return to Verizon Center to host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night. The game marks the start of a five-game homestand for the Capitals, a run that opens and closes with visits from the Bolts...

March 3, 2010

Postgame Notebook: Capitals 3, Sabres 1
By Mike Vogel - Senior Writer at WashingtonCaps.com

Back In The Saddle – Both the Capitals and the Sabres (who played and lost in Pittsburgh on Tuesday night) looked a little rusty and out of synch in the early going of Wednesday’s game, Washington’s first after the conclusion of the Olympic break. The Caps took a pair of early penalties before buttoning down nicely the rest of the way and skating off with a 3-1 victory in Buffalo. The win ended a three-game Washington skid (0-1-2)...

Caps Trade Deadline Moves And a Quick & Dirty On Tonights Game Against The Sabres In Buffalo
By Usually Frustrated Caps Fan at Mark's Musings

First, Caps GM George McPhee GMGM made some moves today and from what I can tell it sure looks like he did so in a manner that a) didn't cost the Capitals all that much and b) won't in any way upset the chemistry on the team already here. McPhee acquired 4 players and he did so in moves that only affected/moved 1 person who is really on the existing Capitals roster...

Washington Capitals Players After Road Win Over Buffalo Sabres
Posted on Caps365 at WashingtonCaps.com

Coach Boudreau Spoke To Media After Road Win
Over Buffalo Sabres
Posted on Caps365 at WashingtonCaps.com

Washington Capitals at Buffalo Sabres Game Highlights
Posted at Comcast SportsNet - Washington, DC

Right click on video to choose full screen option.

Capitals GM George McPhee Spoke To Media About Deadline Trades
Posted on Caps365 at WashingtonCaps.com

Marvel's 'Amazing Spider-Man' Editor On Peter Parker's New Foe:
Unemployment
By Rick Marshall at MTV's Splash Page

First, he lost his marriage. Now, Peter Parker will lose his job.

"Amazing Spider-Man" #623 hits shelves today amid with a mainstream media blitz, featuring a story by Mark Waid that has longtime photojournalist Peter Parker losing his day job and getting drummed out of the industry by his cigar-chomping "Daily Bugle" boss, J. Jonah Jameson. Rather than play spoiler ourselves, here's Spider-Man group editor Stephen Wacker explaining what leads up to Parker's dismissal and why unemployment could be the toughest villain the hero has ever faced...

First Draft Of 'Avengers' Script Completed
By Blair Marnell at MTV's Splash Page

With rampant speculation about the casting of "Captain America", the continuing reports from the set of "Thor" and the pending release of "Iron Man 2" dominating the comic book movie news cycle, updates about "The Avengers" movie have appeared infrequently during the past few months. However, Marvel's editor-in-chief reports that he received a draft of the "Avengers" script yesterday...

For the Master Poker Player, the Biggest and Toughest Hand Arrives
By pucksandbooks at On Frozen Blog

To deal or not to deal, that is the question.

Ninety points, a gaping, cavernous lead in the division, and a healthy margin as well for first overall in the conference, and this morning for the Washington Capitals management must confront what is perhaps the most interesting and challenging personnel decision(s) since embarking on a massive deconstruction of the team in 2004.

Hold ‘em . . . or draw another card? Dance with the gal you brought to prom or go flirty eyes with the curvy blonde at the punch bowl — knowing the ride home could be . . . bumpy!...

The Runaways: Full Movie Soundtrack Details
Posted by mdome at Classic Rock
The Stooges, David Bowie and The Sex Pistols are all featured on the soundtrack album for the upcoming biopic The Runaways.

Due out at the end of this month, the full track listing is:...

Methods Of Mayhem: The People’s Album!
By mdome at Classic Rock


Methods Of Mayhem, featuring Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, are to release their new album in May – and it’s unusual, to say the least.

The record’s called A Public Disservice Announcement and includes online collaborations with fans from across the world. The way Lee worked it, he and his team wrote and recorded a batch of songs. They then uploaded these,and invited people to add in anything they wanted...


Miller gets louder cheer than Crosby in Pittsburgh
Posted by tj at Alex Ovetjkin

AP:
PITTSBURGH -- Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller received a standing ovation in Pittsburgh on Tuesday night for leading the United States to an Olympic silver medal -- cheers louder than those given the Penguins' own Sidney Crosby...

Back to Business in Buffalo
By Mike Vogel - Senior Writer at WashingtonCaps.com

After a 17-day Olympic break, the Washington Capitals are back in action on Wednesday night against the Sabres in Buffalo. The Caps start the final quarter of the 2009-10 season with their fourth straight road game...
*Dan, Jr. / Junior's Eyes Note: Preview actually posted March 2nd.

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.

Capitals Vs Maple Leafs 12/06/2008 Review

Boyd Gordon hits Jason Blake in third period on December 6, 2008.
Photo by Chris Young / Associated Press / Canadian Press

Capitals 2 - Maple Leafs 1

In contrast to many previous games between the Washington Capitals and the Toronto Maple Leafs, this was a low scoring win for the Capitals in their first match against the Leafs this season. It was the Caps first road win, after having lost four straight.

Both Washington and Toronto have given up a lot of first period goals this season, but neither team scored anything more than a few penalty minutes to start this game. The Caps, who are also good at scoring in the first, did outshoot the Leafs 14-6. However, that technically only brought them two good scoring chances.

Most of the entertaining play of this game happened in the second period. About a minute and a half into the period, Sean Collins (AHL callup replacing injured defenseman Tyler Sloan) sent the puck into the offensive zone for the Caps. Soon after, Karl Alzner intercepted a clearing attempt. Alzner then sent a hard slapshot past netminder Vesa Toskala, for his first NHL goal. Though the scoresheet shows the goal unassisted, Alex Ovechkin helped out by screening the goalie as Alzner released his shot. At the end of the period, Ovechkin provided the most exciting play of the game, though once again without putting a point on the scoresheet. While driving the net and being hooked down (with no call by the refs), Alex somehow got off a hard shot while on his belly. Toskala's glove save wasn't the easiest to make. As in the first, Washington's goalie Brent Johnson only had to make six stops. Unlike in the first, the shots came from a little closer in and weren't so easy either.

To start off the third period, Referee Tim Peel seemed to be picking on Ovechkin with two consecutive penalty calls. The second one (holding) was a legitimate one though. With Ovie in the penalty box, the Leafs got their one goal by Nik Antropov, after a nice overlap drop pass move by Matt Stajan. The Capitals answered back exactly one minute later when, set up by a pass from Michael Nylander at the side wall, Milan Jurcina slapped a bomb through traffic and into the net. Alzner also picked up an assist on the play.

Along with Brent Johnson's 19 saves, it was the defense providing secondary scoring and protecting the Caps' net that won this game for Washington. One of those D men, Karl Alzner provided his first NHL career multi-point game. Tonight's game in Raleigh, NC against the Hurricanes will probably be a little tougher to win with only two goals.

Islanders Vs Capitals 12/04/2008 Review

Donald Brashear celebrates winning goal with David Steckel nearby.

Islanders 2 - Capitals 5

Last night's win versus the New York Islanders was a first for both Washington Capitals' goaltender Brent Johnson and head coach Bruce Boudreau. This game also marked the debut of the AHL's current leading scorer Keith Aucoin as a Capital. Right winger Graham Mink was sent back down to the Hershey Bears, making room for center Aucoin to be called up to the NHL.

There have been players coming and going between the Caps and the Bears while several regular players remain on the injured list. Meanwhile, the Islanders have been facing similar health issues. With Rick DePietro injured after only three games this season, Joey MacDonald (39th NHL game) was between the pipes for New York, with Yann Danis as the backup. With the loss in his first game facing Washington, MacDonald's record fell to 10-10-2. He was named the NHL's Third Star for November 2008 though, going 8-5-1 with a 2.64 goals against average and a .916 save percentage. MacDonald looked sharp for most of this game, even though four shots (fifth was empty net) got by him.

Brent Johnson blocks Andy Hilbert's shot attempt.

Although he would later on miss some of the first period after a collision, it was Alex Ovechkin (NHL's First Star for November) who scored the first goal of the game at 11:31, during a power play. The Isles left him all alone, and he snapped one in from the left face off dot. Less than two minutes later, Viktor Kozlov deflected in a Bryan Helmer slapshot for another PPG. Sami Lepisto set up Helmer for his shot, earning Lepisto his fourth assist in five games played. At 19:24, New York cut the lead back to one with a power play goal of their own, when Mark Streit scored with Brent Johnson heavily screened.

About a third of the way through the second period, a couple weird events occured. First a Chris Campoli slapshot from the neutral zone deflected into the Caps' net off of a linesman, so it didn't count as a goal. Shortly after, the puck deflected off of Kozlov's skate in Washington's end, sending it all the way to the far end of the ice. The puck barely missed the empty net, while the Isles had an extra attacker on the ice. At 13:38, a very open Trent Hunter scored the first non PP goal of the game for New York, knotting the game at 2-2.

Eric Fehr and Brooks Laich celebrate Fehr's goal.

Rookie defenseman Karl Alzner recorded his first NHL point in the third period, with a very intelligent play that earned him an assist. Milan Jurcina sent the puck across the offensive zone ice to Alzner. With no passing or shooting lanes open, he elected to intentionally bank the puck off the end boards. Donald Brashear gained control of the puck and sent a soft backhand shot in for what later turned out to be the game winning goal. It was Brashear's first regular season goal since March 3, 2008. The Caps weren't done scoring yet. Eric Fehr backhanded the puck past MacDonald from a sharp angle during a power play at 16:14, while following up on Brooks Laich's attempt to bang in a rebound from Ovechkin's long range blast. As with Jurcina, Laich's third period assist was his second of the game. Laich and Jurcina had also assisted on Ovie's first period goal. Alex gained his second assist of the evening on the games' fifth and final goal. He grabbed the rebound from a shot on Washington's goal and skated the puck all the way into the offensive zone. Ovechkin passed the puck to Nicklas Backstrom, who had joined him in a two on one drive. Backstrom recorded his seventh goal of the season, when he sent the puck into the empty net with 49.8 seconds left on the clock.

Unlike a lot of games so far this season, the Caps power play worked well in this one, as they potted three. Like in a lot of games though, Ovechkin had another multi-point effort, with one goal and two assists. Viktor Kozlov was hard worker, creating scoring chances throughout the game. Washington shouldn't be proud of their nine penalties. But their penalty killing, secondary scoring and Brent Johnson's massive 47 saves, helped them overcome their mistakes to defeat the New York Islanders for the first time in a long while. The Caps needed a win, and they got it with an aggressive and relentless team effort.

December 4, 2008 Photos by Nick Wass / Associated Press

Canucks Vs Capitals 10/13/2008 Review

Michael Nylander Vs Roberto Luongo - October 13, 2008 Penalty Shot

Canucks 1 - Capitals 5

The Washington Capitals looked to improve their record to 2-1 last night as they faced the Vancouver Canucks in their second home game of the 2008-2009 season. Not only did they win the game, but they took complete control early on and never loosened their grip.

The pucks used in this game seemed to have Alexander Semin seeking devices installed, as they just kept landing on his stick. Semin scored the first goal at 2:54 with a backhand shot from the top of the crease, while skating across on the wrong foot. The primary assist came from Michael Nylander, who had a three point (1 PP Goal, 2 Assists) night himself. The lone goal by Vancouver came from Alexander Edler during a Power Play 1:08 later. As a matter of fact, the Canucks only managed 2 shots on goal in the entire first period. The Capitals on the other hand, fired off a respectable 10. One of those just happened to be Mike Green's third in the three games played so far. The pass to Green from the side of the net, was Nylander's second primary assist.

Capitals celebrate Michael Nylander's penalty shot goal - October 13, 2008.

While Roberto Luongo saw another 15 shots in the second period, Washington's netminder Brent Johnson only faced 1, according to official records. That one shot on goal took a quick movement from one side of the goal mouth to the other, ending in a nice toe save by Brent. Down at the other end of the ice less than a minute later, Boyd Gordon won a faceoff. The puck went to the Capitals' Captain, Chris Clark. Clark immediately spun around and passed it to defenseman Milan Jurcina near the blue line. Jurcina's slapshot sailed through traffic and into the net, putting the Washington ahead by two. Less than a minute later, with the Caps swarming around the net and Vancouver's defensemen literally running into each other, Alexander Semin scored his second goal of the game. Semin used his long reach to grab the puck and pull it in. He dragged it to the front of the goal and roofed it. He now has 3 goals in 3 games. After Canucks' Willie Mitchell shot an abandoned stick at Michael Nylander, Nyles made good on the rare penalty shot opportunity. He glided slowley toward the net, and with a simple deke, easily sent the biscuit past Luongo. While he has at times seemed pretty invisible these first few games of the season, Nicklas Backstrom had a nice drive to the net at the end of the second. He was triple teamed as he went straight through the slot toward the net, but he still managed to get a shot off. Luongo had no trouble stopping this one.

As expected, Luongo was replaced by Curtis Sanford for the third period. But, the damage was already done. Vancouver did manage 7 shots on goal in the final frame, however Johnson wasn't letting anything through. Johnny looked very sharp for a goalie who hadn't seen much action before the third period. Overall, Washington outshot the Canucks 35-10.

Taylor Pyatt looks for puck while Brent Johnson makes save - October 13, 2008.

Brent Johnson earned his 100th win with his fine effort. Alexander Ovechkin was well guarded all night. He may not have scored a goal, but he layed out some Canucks with plenty of crushing blows. The Capitals will get a couple days of rest before heading to Pittsburgh on Thursday to face the Penguins.

All Photos - Luis M. Alvarez / AP

Flames Vs Capitals 03/12/2008 Review

Flames, Ref's 2 - Capitals 3

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Olie Kolzig got his 300th career NHL win for the Washington Capitals, as they beat the Calgary Flames. Olie was amazing in net, while getting plenty of help from Alex Ovechkin and the rest of his mates. Calgary's netminder Miikka Kiprusoff was amazing as well, while getting plenty of help from his teammates and the referees.

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The Capitals flew out of the starting gate, immediately getting a few shots on Kiprusoff. Just 53 seconds into the first period, Viktor Kozlov deflected in a Nicklas Backstrom shot. Shortly after, Kolzig got busy at the other end, making multiple awesome saves. His teammate Alexander Semin made things interesting for a moment, by trying to get the puck out of the zone via the slot in front of his net. But, Olie stayed sharp and quick. Then, it got interesting at the other end. As Kiprusoff came over to one side to guard his net against Cap's forward Matt Bradley. A muffled shot skittered through the crease to the other side, and Kiprusoff ended up getting called for hooking. The Cap's spent most of the power play in the Flames zone, but without any success. Toward the end of the period, Mike Green put a big hit on Calgary's Eric Godard. Green ended up going down to the ice. Since the clueless ref's didn't seem to notice Green was getting punched out while laying flat on his back, John Erskine skated over to rectify the situation. Both, Godard and Erskine were hit with matching five minute majors. Just over a minute later, Bradley went to the penalty box for interference. Exactly one minute after that, Washington's Milan Jurcina high sticked Calgary's Jarome Iginla. The Capitals haven't been doing very well when on the short end of a 5 on 3 power play. With 45 seconds left in the first, Iginla sent a screened slapshot off of Caps' Boyd Gordon. When the puck hit Gordon, it ramped upward and past Kolzig for Iginla's 42nd goal of the season. The period ended tied at 1-1.

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Washington spent a good bit of the second period's first six minutes in the offensive zone. They made some beautiful plays, especially Alex Semin and Sergei Fedorov. But, they didn't get anything by Kiprusoff. Then the referees increased their attempts to help the Flames. Erskine was called for tripping at 6:57, on what looked very much like a dive by Calgary's Craig Conroy. Then another Cap's defenseman, Shaone Morrisonn went to the box for an unbelievable dive by Owen Nolan. Another 5 on 3 situation. So of course, another PP goal by the Flames. This time, it was a snap shot by Kristian Huselius, putting Calgary ahead 2-1. Another overlooked Flames infraction came at about 12:25, when Bradley was clothes lined while reaching for the puck in the neutral zone. It was just impossible to not see this, yet no whistle was blown. I guess we're supposed to believe Brad's body violently flinging upward and backward was due to a rut in the ice. No hit, or anything else showed up on the play by play list. The officials did call four penalties on the Flames during period two, but they let several others go unpunished. Finally, at 17:21 Huselius went to the box for hooking Backstrom. Just 24 seconds later, Alex Ovechkin curled around a defender and sent number 55 on the season into the net. Another bright spot at the end of the period, was a massive hit on Calgary's Dion Phaneuf by Jurcina. Phaneuf was quite shaky as he headed to the Flames' bench.

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The third period was much the same. More inconsistent officiating, and more hard fought scoring chances by the Capitals. Iginla seemed to be offended by Mike Green when he was slashed by Huselius. Was it Green's fault Huselius slammed his stick across Mike's hand? Jarome even took a swipe at Green, while being "held back" by a ref. Owen Nolan was called for a high stick on Brooks Laich at 16:31, the Flames' eighth called penalty of the game. With Laich screening the Kiprusoff, Ovechkin's long range slapper went in for his league leading 20th PP goal of the season. The goal was also brings Ovechkin's goal total to 56 and point total to 97, both also tops in the NHL. After a Flames' time out, there was 1:03 left on the clock and an empty net in the Flames end. With just 24 seconds left in the game, Ovie went down while driving to the net and being covered by Phaneuff. He was about one step away from getting yet another hat trick.

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The Cap's played another wonderful game. This time, they didn't let the crappy ref's ruin it for them. They didn't let penalties destroy their chance of winning just before time ran out. Olie Kolzig and his Washington Capitals were not to be denied. Hopefully this kind of effort continues for their last 11 games.

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All Photos - Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP

Hurricanes Vs Capitals 02/08/2008 Review

Hurricanes 2 - Capitals 1

Well, it was sweet while it lasted. Just 48 hours of unfamiliar bliss before the storm rolled in and washed it away. The Washington Capitals fell from being in first place in the Southeast Division, to being in second place with a loss to the Carolina Hurricanes this evening. OK, so the difference is only one measily standings point. These two teams will probably swap positions in the standings a few times before the real playoffs start. Meanwhile, we're starting to get a preview of that dance now. Let's just hope we have a date when the official invitations are handed out.

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The first period opened up with Carolina's Scott Walker immediately taking down Quintin Laing. Washington's Matt Bradley waisted no time in letting Walker know that sort of thing was unacceptable behavior for a guest at Verizon Center, DC. At 3:56 the visitor's rudeness continued, as the Hurricanes' Eric Cole scored the first goal. After getting past Capitals defenders Milan Jurcina and Tom Poti, Cole went across the front of the net with netminder Brent Johnson sliding along between them. Then, Cole slowed down while Johnson's brakes failed, leaving a wide open entrance for Cole to park the puck inside. Less than two minutes later, Cole took down Boyd Gordon with a facewash holding move on the way down. The referee apparently didn't want to offend Cole by actually making a call on the infraction. Yeah, it was going to be another one of those evenings. John Erskine then had a go at Wade Brookbank, with the two of them each earning five minutes in the penalty box. It seems Donald Brashear had his heart set on being Brookbank's dancing partner, but Erskine had the gloves off in the blink of an eye, calling it first. We eventually found out that Erskine was injured and would not return. A few minutes later, Poti pushed down one of the 'canes by the sidewall in the Cap's defensive zone. No call on that one either. Then Washington waisted two consecutive power plays, only managing one shot during each. Before the period ended, Andrew Ladd increased Carolina's lead by netting a rebound.

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In the second, the Cap's got a golden oppurtunity, with 1:10 of a 5 on 3 power play. After that time elapsed without success, followed by failure on the remaing 5 on 4 advantage, the home crowed began to boo rather loudly. No matter how badly they're playing, I hate it when the fans boo the players. Of course, it's perfectly acceptable to let the ref's have it, though. Those familiar cheers did return toward the end of the period, as the Cap's killed off two consecutive penalties, and then Milan Jurcina and Alex Ovechkin both had breakaway scoringing chances.

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Hope returned in the third period, as Alexander Semin circled the Hurricanes' net, and then sent in an unassisted goal. It was unofficially self assisted, for he backhanded his own rebound. Niclas Wallin then pushed him down. What class. The period did hold a few scoring chances especially toward the end. At one point, Semin took the puck out of the Cap's end with a beautiful spin around move, passing by the defender and sailing up the ice to the offensive zone. Later, Johnson made another fantastic save, keeping Washington within one goal. But, with less than 30 seconds left, Semin took a stupid slashing penalty. The Cap's hopes of evening up the score were dashed, as were their hopes of holding on to first place in the Southeast.

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Washington is only 1 point out of first place. So, getting back on top is certainly a realistic and likely possibility. But, they will need to surge ahead in the win column if they want to make sure. Especially if they want to end up in a favorable playoff posistion instead of just barely making it in.

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All Photos - AP / Manuel Balce Ceneta

Canadiens Vs Capitals 01/31/2008 Review

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Canadiens 4 - Capitals 5 OT

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Alexander Ovechkin overpowered the Montreal Canadiens, and led the Washington Capitals to an amazing overtime win. The Canadiens and their goalie Cristobal Huet won't be able to stop thinking about Alex for a few days. Ovechkin scored 4 goals and 1 assist in the last of the season series against the Habs. He now leads the league in both goals (43) and points (70). He indured a puck to the face, broken nose and a busted lip, and they still couldn't stop him. He's was like the Terminator.

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The game started off with Ovechkin getting accidentally hit in the face by the stick of Alexei Kovalev. He checked his sore jaw and made sure he hadn't lost any more teeth, while on the bench awaiting his next shift. Ovie was obviously fine, as he made a big open ice hit on Steve Begin a little while later. The two teams exchanged a couple minor penalties, including..............Yep, you guessed it........a hooking call on Alexander Semin. Alex Ovechkin and Milan Jurcina exchanged a couple rink wide passes, before Ovie one timed his 40th goal of the season, putting the Cap's on the scoreboard first. Olie Kolzig was looking good and quick in net during the first period, making a few really nice saves.

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About 4 1/2 minutes into the second period, Viktor Kozlov tipped in a pass from Ovechkin. Washington had a 2-0 lead. It was a very physical game. Plenty of hits, and some pushing and shoving throughout. Nobody hitting any better than Ovechkin. However, toward the middle of the game, Francis Bouillon bloodied Alex's nose on a rather hard hit of his own. But, no worries. At 11:54, Ovechkin sent a short side wrister to the back of the net. His second goal of the game, brought the Cap's to their biggest lead of the game. But, just under a minute later, Sergei Kostitsyn finally put the Canadiens on the board, tipping in an oddly deflected pass. Washington's defenceman Mike Green was called for tripping late in the period. With Green still in the penalty box, Andrei Kostitsyn got the Power Play goal, bringing Montreal within one.

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The rough stuff continued in the third, with Ovie putting another big hit on Josh Gorges early on. Then, Alex sent a shot between a defender's legs and over the shoulder of Huet for his 4th career Hat Trick at 12:30. Already leading the league in goals, this one put him on top in points as well. But, about a minute later Guillaume Latendresse put the Canadiens back within one again, scoring his 13th of the season. Netminder Olie Kolzig did his best to keep the lead, as he made a few more excellent saves. However, with less than 33 seconds left and Kolzig (and pretty much everybody else) thinking he had the puck under his body, no whistle! Apparently, the ref on the scene had better eyes than any other ref in history. We all had to see the slow motion overhead taped replay before we could pick it out. But, this guy noticed the puck wasn't quite covered up and let Latendresse poke the puck through and into the net for his second of the game. Tied at 4-4, we would need overtime. .

The crowd sure got their money's worth. At 3:34 in OT, Alexander Ovechkin tipped in a rebound for the game winner. That's four goals and an assist in the game for Alex. It was the second time in his career that he scored four goals in one game, the first time coming earlier this season. It was also his second five point game of this season as well. The only other Cap to ever get 40 or more goals in three consecutive seasons was the great Peter Bondra. I'm pretty sure that Ovechkin will prove to be the greatest Washington Capital of all. There was some good work in this game by Kolzig, Milan Jurcina, Mike Green and others. But as usual, Ovie steals the show.

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All Photos - AP / Manuel Balce Ceneta

Maple Leafs Vs Capitals 01/24/2008 Review

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Maple Leafs 1 - Capitals 2

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It was the Toronto Maple Leafs' first visit to the home of the Washington Capitals this season. After losing to the Leafs on the previous evening, the Capitals were determined to beat Toronto in this third meeting of the four game season series. They did it too. With Brent Johnson in net and a resigned forward Donald Brashear skating the ice.

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About 8 1/2 minutes into the game, Washington's Alexander Semin got his usual first period penalty out of the way with a holding call. The penalty came with a freak accident, as Darcy Tucker was innocently skating by (well, as innocently as Tucker can anyway) and got clipped in the face by Andy Wozniewski's stick as he was being held by Semin. It was the Capitals who would score the game's only Power Play goal though. With one second left on the man advantage, Brooks Laich redirected an Alexander Ovechkin rebound in at 13:05. That makes Brooks' 8th goal of the season, which came during his 200th game as a Washington Capital, and his 201st in the NHL.

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Nobody scored in the second period, as both the Leafs' Vesa Toskala and Caps' Brent Johnson continued to turn away all shots fired on net. Johnny was playing particularly well. The game was looking like it would be a second consecutive low scoring game between these two teams, and it was.

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The Capitals had some good scoring chances in the first few minutes of the third period, but it was the Maple Leafs who got on the board about five minutes in. Boyd Devereaux deflected a long range Pavel Kubina shot, and Johnson had no chance of keeping it out of the net. But, just 36 seconds later, Viktor Kozlov got his ninth goal of the season. He was right in front of the net, when another Alex Ovechkin shot rebounded right to him. Toskala wasn't able to recover in time to block it, as Kozzy put it in the wide open short side. It's great to see him starting to score goals regularly. No more goals were needed for the Cap's to win this one. Throughout the rest of the game, with a little questionable officiating (as usual) aside, some good defensive play by Milan Jurcina (that's right!), Jeff Schultz (I swear!), and the rest of the guys, Washington held on for the win. .

The win makes three home games in a row for Brent Johnson, who handed his game stick over the glass to a Caps fan, after the game. He was so on in this game, I'm anxious to see the next game with Johnny minding the net. The Caps go into the All Star break, just one point out of first place in the Southeast Division. I don't usually like this team to get too much time off, but it will give them all a chance to heal. We Capitals fans, can celebrate a little while we're waiting for the next game.

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All Photos - AP / Evan Vucci