Capitals Vs Lightning January 19, 2013 Game Review

New Caps coach Adam Oates signals from bench during first game - Tampa, Fla. January 19, 2013.
Photo © Brian Blanco / AP Photo.

Washington Capitals 3 Vs Tampa Bay Lightning 6 = Road Game Loss

One of the 13 games played on opening day of the lockout shortened -2012--2013 NHL Hockey season was the Washington Capitals at Tampa Bay Lightning game. Like other games around the league, it sure looked like the first game of the season.

I'm not knocking these guys, these professional hockey players, but it did seem kind of weird watching "early season" sloppiness in mid January. Well that is to be expected, and hey, I was still very much entertained. I wasn't happy with the end result (My team lost.), but yeah, entertained. It will take a few games for their play to get into shape.

It will also take a few games for the on-ice officials to get into shape, as well. They seemed to be making a point straight away, that they were going to be strict this season. Referees were calling penalties on the cheap side, within the first few minutes, of many of the opening day's games. It was penalties, most of them deserved, that ultimately cost the Capitals the game.

Goal scoring went back and forth, for the first two periods, with both teams netting three. As a matter of fact, there were three goals scored in each of the three periods. Unfortunately for Caps fans, the last three were all Bolts'.

Right-winger Joel Ward put two in for Washington, a power-play goal in the first, and one at even-strength in the second period. New teammate, left-wing Wojtek Wolski, got the Caps' last goal at 18:15 of period two. Superstar Martin StLouis (RW) potted the game winner about five minutes into the third period, a PPG. It was his second of the night. Centerman Vincent Lecavalier managed one at full-strength during the first, but like all the Caps' goals, the rest of the Bolts' goals came from secondary type guys.

The Tampa Bay's young goaltender Anders Lindback (24) got the win over Washington's slightly younger Braden Holtby (23), who might not have been at his best on this particular evening. I'm sure Holtby will be fine next game. He will readjust to NHL speed quickly, as will the defense in front of him.

No one was happier than I, to see defenseman Tom Poti return from long-term injury reserve. He looked great, and even picked up an assist on Joel Ward's first goal. He will make DC's defense so much better, if he holds up well.

I was also glad to see the new guys Wojtek Wolski (1 Goal, 1 Assist) and center Mike Ribeiro (1 Assist) get in on the scoring. They should generate a good bit of offense this season. Jason Chimera (F), John Carlson (D) and Roman Hamrlik (D) also got in one assist each.

Don't worry Caps fans, this was just the first game. We've got a long way to go, although nowhere near as long as usual, in this shortened season (48 games instead of 82), Just as the team does, forget about it, and start looking forward to the next game. Certainly, it will take several games to even begin to gauge how good a coach Adam Oates will be.

Capitals-Lightning highlights 1-19-13

01-19-13 Caps Postgame Locker Room: Caps players Mike Green, Braden Holtby, Alex Ovechkin, Tom Poti, Joel Ward, Wojtek Wolski and Mike Ribeiro address the media after a 6-3 loss against Tampa Bay.

01-19-13 Adam Oates Postgame: Caps head coach Adam Oates addresses the media after a 6-3 loss against Tampa Bay.

Washington Capitals Review: April 1 - 10, 2012

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

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

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

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


April 8, 2012

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

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


April 7, 2012

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

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


April 5, 2012

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

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


April 2, 2012

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

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

Junior's Reading And Viewing List: July 1 - July 10, 2011

Last Update - August 2, 2011 at 7:30 AM EDT

Junior's July 1 through July 10, 2011 'Reading And Viewing List' has link titles, with bits of published articles, from the beginning of July 2011.

New films, Washington Capitals hockey, music, Formula One racing and WRC rally news show up in this list.


July 10, 2011

Former Motörhead Guitarist Michael "Würzel" Burston Dead at 61
Posted at Noise Creep

Sad news for headbangers: Former Motörhead guitarist Michael "Würzel" Burston, who joined the legendary metal band in 1984 and performed with them for 11 years, has passed away at the age of 61. Several sources report that Burston died from ventricular fibrillation, caused by cardiomyopathy...


July 9, 2011

"I think it’s odd how it’s mirrored my life so much" - Eve Myles
By Rachel Mainwaring - Posted by Brian at EveMyles.net

Eve Myles is Gwen Cooper. She’s a feisty Welsh policewoman and new mum who is hiding out in rural Wales with her husband Rhys (Kai Owen)...


A Capitol Fourth
By Brian Lumley at Rumblings From The Man Cave

I spent a wonderful three days in Washington D.C. this past week with my son and two of his best friends. I felt like a tour guide, mentor and history teacher as I dragged these kids all over Northern Virginia in search of new and interesting sites to see...


July 8, 2011

Washington Capitals trade Eric Fehr to Winnipeg Jets
By Katie Carrera at The Washington Post's Capitals Insider

In an effort to clear space under the salary cap, the Capitals traded right wing Eric Fehr to the Winnipeg Jets on Friday in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick in 2012 and prospect Danick Paquette...


Friday practice - selected team and driver quotes
Posted at Formula1.com

The weather dominated proceedings on the opening day of practice for this weekend's British round. In the morning Red Bull's Mark Webber ended the session in front, whilst Ferrari's Felipe Massa was top dog in the afternoon. The drivers and senior team personnel report on the early running at Silverstone...


The opening of Hell Bent for Leather at Walsall Leather Museum
Posted at Home Of Metal

Image: Katja Ogrin

Last night saw the opening of Home of Metal's 'Hell Bent for Leather' Exhibition a the fantastic Leather Museum in Walsall. The Exhibition celebrates Judas Priest and the Heavy Metal Look, as created for Judas Priest by Ray Brown Fashion...


Tough route for Monte Carlo season-opener
Posted at WRC.com

Rallye Monte Carlo organisers have revealed preliminary details of the route of next year's World Rally Championship opener - and crews should be braced for an early shock to the system...


July 7, 2011

More Captain America Photos Revealed
Posted at Super Hero Hype

Paramount Pictures has revealed more photos from Marvel Studios' Captain America: The First Avenger and you can check them out below. Opening in 3D and 2D theaters on July 22, the Joe Johnston-directed film stars Chris Evans, Tommy Lee Jones, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, Dominic Cooper, Toby Jones, Neal McDonough, Derek Luke and Stanley Tucci...


Review: Starz's 'Torchwood: Miracle Day'
By Alan Sepinwall at What's Alan Watching

There are two different shows co-existing under the title "Torchwood: Miracle Day" (Friday at 10 p.m. on Starz). The first is a classic kind of science fiction story, built around a simple what if? question: what would happen if every person in the world suddenly became incapable of dying? The second is a familiar action thriller in which a rogue team of government agents try to find out who made everyone immortal, and why...


New 'Captain America' Featurettes Discuss Character,
Period Setting
By Danica Davidson at MTV's Splash Page

..."We soon found it was essential to the story", he says. "Once you took Cap out of that time period, it was more difficult to understand. We made the decision to tell the story the way it was originally told in 1941 by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon."...


FIA Thursday press conference - Great Britain
Posted at Formula1.com

Drivers - Rubens Barrichello (Williams), Jenson Button (McLaren), Paul Di Resta (Force India), Lewis Hamilton (McLaren), Daniel Ricciardo (HRT)...


WRC fans prefer all-black Fiesta...
Posted at WRC.com

...In an online poll on Wrc.com, users were asked if they preferred the all-black paintjob used for the test to the more traditional blue and white rally version. A staggering 91 per cent said that they did...


Loeb savours motorbike switch
Posted at WRC.com

World rally champion Sebastien Loeb has made the switch from four wheels to two after sampling a KTM RC8 R in his native France last month...


Great Britain preview - predictions blowing in the wind
Posted at Formula1.com

Red Bull have dominated the last two British Grands Prix, with Sebastian Vettel running away in 2009 and Mark Webber doing likewise last year. Adrian Newey's car seems to have an unbeatable aerodynamic advantage at the Northhamptonshire track. But the highly knowledgeable crowd will be willing on McLaren, as Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton hunt for victory on home soil...


July 6, 2011

Firewall & Iceberg Podcast, episode 82: 'Torchwood: Miracle Day',
'Curb Your Enthusiasm' & more
By Alan Sepinwall and Daniel Fienberg via What's Alan Watching

Dan was traveling back from Canada in the early part of the week, so the Firewall & Iceberg Podcast makes a temporary Wednesday return, and a fairly busy one, as we discuss "Torchwood: Miracle Day", "Curb Your Enthusiasm", the "Treme" finale, a new "Twin Peaks" and answer several letters...

...As always, you can subscribe to The Firewall & Iceberg Podcast over at the iTunes Store, where you can also rate us and comment on us. Or you can always follow our RSS Feed, download the MP3 file or stream it on Dan's blog...


Washington Capitals sign Troy Brouwer
By Katie Carrera at The Washington Post's Capitals Insider

The Capitals have signed winger Troy Brouwer to a two-year contract worth $2.35 million per season. The details of Brouwer’s salary were first reported by TSN’s Gord Miller...


Hold on to your hats, it's high-speed Silverstone
Posted at Formula1.com

Silverstone's layout has changed many times, but in its 61 years on the calendar, one thing has remained constant: speed. By the mid '80s, it was Formula One's fastest track; indeed, Keke Rosberg's '85 pole lap boasted the highest average lap speed in F1 - 259 km/h - until 2002. And though the old circuit was lengthened for 2010, it retained its essential character, and even gained another flat-out sweeper...


July 5, 2011

Man Of Steel Set Photos
By Silas Lesnick at Super Hero Hype

Set construction is now underway for Zack Snyder's soon-to-shoot Superman reboot, Man of Steel. Today, Superman Homepage offers a first look at what is said to be some of the newly-built sets at the film's Plano, Illinois location...


How Roman Hamrlik Fits in on the Caps Blue Line
Posted by David Getz at Japers' Rink

Of the roster moves the Capitals have made over the last couple of weeks, the signing of veteran defenseman Roman Hamrlik may be the least sexy. It didn't involve any off-ice drama, any high draft picks. or the return of a former captain, and it didn't even address the team's most obvious need. Despite that, Hamrlik, who's a versatile player with more than 1,400 combined NHL regular season and playoff games, should have an immediate and significant impact on the Capitals blue line...


Neil Peart, Jason Bonham In Rhythm Magazine
By mdome at Classic Rock

The new issue of Rhythm magazine is on sale now – and it includes a major interview with Rush’s Neil Peart...


Herman Rarebell Writes His Autobiography
By mdome at Classic Rock

Former Scorpions drummer Herman Rarebell is to publish his autobiography in the autumn...


July 4, 2011

Williams to revive Renault engine partnership
Posted at Formula1.com

Williams are to switch from Cosworth to Renault power for the 2012 and 2013 seasons, it was announced on Monday, reviving one of Formula One's most famous partnerships. Between 1989 and 1997, Williams and Renault won four drivers' and five constructors' titles together...


Mission accomplished for Ford in France
Posted at WRC.com

...Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala spent two days each testing Ford’s all-black Fiesta RS WRC to prepare for the sealed-surface rounds in Germany, France and Spain later this season...


Alice Cooper Joins Foo Fighters Onstage
By mdome at Classic Rock

He performed School’s Out and I’m 18 with the band. Check out the footage here...


July 2, 2011

I Can Live With This Line-Up For Next Season
How About Youse Guys?
By Usually Frustrated Caps Fan at Mark's Musings

Here's the way I now see the Caps Line-up for the start of the 2011-2012 season and I'm liking it a lot...


Washington Capitals sign goalie Tomas Vokoun
By Lindsay Applebaum at The Washington Post's Capitals Insider

The Washington Capitals have signed Tomas Vokoun to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million, his agent confirmed to The Post’s Katie Carrera on Saturday. The signing was first reported by TSN...


Former Capital Matt Bradley signs with Florida Panthers
By Katie Carrera at The Washington Post's Capitals Insider

Veteran right wing Matt Bradley has become the latest former Capital to join part in the rebuilding of the Florida Panthers...


July 1, 2011

Free Agent Signing Period Day One -- For the Caps,
a Case of "Then and Now"
By The Peerless at The Peerless Prognosticator

...the Caps closed Day One of the unrestricted free agency signing period with a whirlwind of activity. Level 5 hurricane is more like it. The Caps made four separate deals this afternoon – three free agency signings and an unexpected trade:...


Halpern Comes Home
By Mike Vogel at Dump 'N Chase

On the first day of the NHL’s unrestricted free agency period, the Capitals and Jeff Halpern are out to prove Thomas Wolfe wrong. The Caps and Halpern agreed to terms on a one-year deal for the veteran center – a native of Potomac, MD – to return to Washington and the team that gave him his start in the league in 1999-00...


Solbergs to star in Cars 2 movie
Posted at WRC.com

World Rally Championship aces Henning and Petter Solberg will lend their voices to the new Cars 2 movie when it's released in their native Norway next month...


FIA Q&A: 2014 engines are a step forward
Posted at Formula1.com

From 2014 new Formula One engine regulations will be introduced, replacing the current 2.4 litre V8s with more efficient 1.6 litre, turbocharged V6s. The FIA discuss the pros and cons of the change and explain why their original plans for four-cylinder engines in 2013 were discarded after consultation with the teams...


2010-2011 By the Tens -- Goaltenders: Michal Neuvirth
By The Peerless at The Peerless Prognosticator

Michal Neuvirth came into the 2010-2011 season in a battle with Semyon Varlamov to see which of the two graduates of the draft class of 2006 would emerge as the Caps’ number one goaltender (that is, when they weren’t wondering if the Caps would get a veteran that would bump one of them off the roster)...


A Marriage Proposal
By Brian Lumley at Rumblings From The Man Cave

I was in Charleston, South Carolina last October and I saw a white girl and a black man holding hands, walking near the waterfront, oblivious to anyone around them. They were smiling, laughing and enjoying a cool Autumn evening...

Capitals Vs Canadiens 01/05/2008 Review

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Capitals 5 - Canadiens 4 OT

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Can we play every game in Canada? The Washington Capitals won yet another high scoring game North of the US border. The victim this time was the Montreal Canadiens, who recently beat the Caps in DC 5-2. Is there something in the Canadian air that gets Washington going? Whatever it is, keep it coming.

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Things didn't start off the best, as John Erskine's holding penalty led to the first Canadiens' goal via Tomas Plekanec just 2:38 into the first period. Washington's Olie Kolzig was definitely the busier goaltender early on, making some nice saves. The heavy hitting also started early, and this would be a very physical game. The Caps didn't seem to have a problem with that in this game. So, there was some hope. It's when you get a game where they don't get into it, that you have to worry.

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The second period was a more busy one, with Montreal's Andrei Kostitsyn putting the Canadiens ahead by two with a wrist shot at 7:27. But, about a minute later Alexander Ovechkin put the Capitals on the board, with a Power Play goal right off the draw. It's a play the Caps have had some success with a few times. One of my personal favorites. Carey Price was not ready for that one, and neither was the defender that tripped over Viktor Kozlov on his way toward Alex. At the game's midpoint Price wasn't yet totally rattled, and continued looking like a veteran netminder. Well........for a little bit longer anyway. At 11:53, December's Rookie of the Month, Nicklas Backstrom made him look like a rookie goaltender by driving up the middle and unleashing a long range wrister that Price had no chance of stopping. With just over a minute left in the period, Boyd Gordon put the Caps ahead with a slap shot. The boos from the crowd got louder as Montreal's goalie was looking kind of shaky at this point.

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In the third period Montreal got a bit of luck, not that they need any. Just over two minutes in, the puck took a funny bounce off the wall behind Washington's net and came right to Roman Hamrlick, who immediately put the puck in the wide open net. At 6:38, Alex Ovechkin got the puck right out of the penalty box, and sent a wrist shot between two defenders and past Carey Price. Later on, Alexie Kovalev copies Ovie's play at the other end, tying up the game. Overtime would be necessary to end this game.

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Just 1:27 into OT, the Caps scored. Mike Green sent a smooth wrist shot in off a backdoor pass from Michael Nylander. So, the Capitals hand Price his third straight loss. Final score Capitals 5 - Canadiens 4.

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This is one of those games where I didn't mind it going into OT one bit. Both teams were playing well. There was a lot of back and forth. But, mostly because the Caps won! Steve Eminger got a chance to play, due to injuries. He did alright in the mere 6:32 he played with an overall minus 1. He was on the ice when Hamrlick got that lucky bounce. Wins are always even nicer coming off a loss. I might even have to watch this one a second time. Roll that tape!