Game 50 Review: Caps Outlast Wings 4-2

The Washington Capitals overcame a sluggish start and a voracious forechecking effort by the Detroit Red Wings to defeat the defending Stanley Cup champions 4-2 before a sellout crowd at Verizon Center.Detroit (31-11-7-68) was very strong early in the game, despite missing top line forwards Henrik Zetterberg and Tomas Holstrom. Washington would make quick counters, but had trouble early

Game 50 Preview: Caps and Wings in the Afternoon

The Washington Capitals (30-15-4-64, first in Southeast, second in East) host the Detroit Red Wings (31-10-7-69, first in Central) at 12:30 pm from Verizon Center.The Capitals enter the game having dropped their only game since the all-star break, a 3-2 overtime decision to the Eastern Conference leading Boston Bruins Tuesday night. Detroit has dropped their last two, a 3-2 OT loss to Columbus on

Meet Caps Goalie Jose Theodore!

Washington Capitals Goalie Jose Theodore will share his thoughts on everything happening on and off the ice in a Q&A hosted by the radio voice of the Capitals, Steve Kolbe. Throughout the Q&A, fans will be invited to answer team trivia to win great Caps memorabilia, and Theodore will close the event by signing autographs for all the fans in attendance.WHO: Washington Capitals Goalie Jose

Game 49 Review: Caps Drop Tough One to Bruins In OT, 3-2

Shaone Morrisonn had to know the second the puck hit his right leg that the game was over. Trying to stop a crossing pass from Boston's David Krejci, instead Morrisonn redirected the puck past a stationary Jose Theodore and into his own net, allowing the Eastern Conference leading Boston Bruins (35-8-5-75, first in Northeast, first in East) to escape overtime with a 3-2 win over their next

CAPS GAME NIGHT--Game 49: What? There's a Caps Game Tonight?

After what seemed like an interminable break for the all-star festivities, the Washington Capitals (30-15-3-63, first in Southeast) are in Boston to face the Bruins (34-8-5-73, first in Northeast), the number one seed in the Eastern Conference.Washington owns a couple of home victories over the B's this season already, a 3-1 win on Dec. 10 and a 2-1 victory Jan. 17. The Caps, though, are 11-12-2

Ovechkin Ends All-Star Game With Goal in Shootout

Alex Ovechkin beat Roberto Luongo with a terrific inside-out backhand move as the third shooter in a shootout, and the Eastern Conference takes the 12-11 victory.Ovie had a goal and two assists in regulation.Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas had several remarkable saves in the third period and overtime, and Alex Kovalev was named the MVP in front of his home crowd in Montreal with two goals and an

Backstrom Passes on Youngstars Game

The Washington Capitals announced that center Niklas Backstrom, selected for the NHL's Youngstars game featuring the league's top rookies and second year players, will respectfully decline the invitation.From the press release:"I am grateful that I had the opportunity to participate in the YoungStars Game last year. This year I felt like it made more sense for me to give someone else that

Game 48 Review: Bad Penalties Kill Caps, Lose to Sens 3-2

When Alexander Semin took a blatant and needless tripping penalty with 3:17 remaining in the third period, the omen was as obvious as the foul. And when Brendan Bell collected his own blocked shot and sent the puck past goalie Jose Theodore, the result was like a self-fulfilling prophecy.The Ottawa Senators, 13th in the conference, scored three power play goals and defeated the Washington

CAPS GAME NIGHT--GAME 48: Wrapping Up the "First Half" In Ottawa

The Washington Capitals (30-14-3-63, first in Southeast, second in East) face the Ottawa Senators (15-21-7-37, fifth in Northeast, 13th in East) at 7:30 pm from Scotiabank Place.The Caps have had a history this season of playing up--and down--to their competition, and yesterday afternoon against the league-worst New York Islanders was no exception. In a game defined by bouncing pucks and lacking

Game 47 Review: Caps Escape from Long Island With 2-1 OT Win

Alex Ovechkin made up for a rare mistake and scored a power play goal 1:46 into overtime, allowing the Washington Capitals to escape with a 2-1 win over the NHL's worst team, the New York Islanders.It was Washington's third straight win, and New York's eighth straight loss.Ovechkin scored both of his team's goals, both on the power play. Despite out shooting the Islanders 38-28, Washington (30-14

CAPS GAME NIGHT--GAME 47: Trying to Stay On Point On Long Island

The Washington Capitals (29-14-3-61, first in Southeast, second in East) travel to New York to face the Islanders (12-29-4-28, fifth in Atlantic) in a matinee, a 2:00 pm start time at Nassau Coliseum.The Caps look to start another winning streak, coming off back-to-back wins over Pittsburgh and Boston, while the Islanders try to break a seven-game losing streak.Since the Caps beat the Islanders

Photo Gallery from Caps Win Over Boston 2-1

Enjoy! All photos (c) C. Nichols 2009.

Game 46 Review: Semin's Third Period Goal Lifts Caps Over B's

Washington Capitals left wing Alexander Semin scored an unassisted goal mid-way through the third period to lead the home team past the Boston Bruins, 2-1, before a capacity crowd at Verizon Center.Semin had tried the same move twice earlier in the game with no success. But with the game in the balance, and less than nine minutes remaining in the game, Semin played the puck off the boards to

CAPS GAME NIGHT-GAME 46: Caps Host Eastern Leading B's

The Washington Capitals (28-14-3-59, first in Southeast, second in East) host the Boston Bruins (33-7-4-70, first in Northeast, first in East) from the Verizon Center at 7:00 pm.Boston is seeking its fifth win in a row and eighth straight road win tonight.This is the second of four meetings between the top two teams in the Eastern Conference. If the Capitals want to close the 11-point gape

Photo Gallery from Edmonton Game

I'll post the preview for tomorrow's game in the morning, but with the off-day today, and fighting a cold, I don't have the energy for an original post. So, enjoy a few photos that Cheryl took at the Edmonton game. My favorite is the one she got just before Fleischmann scored his sweet breakaway, one of the few highlights of the night.

Game 45 Review: Caps Beat and Bruise Penguins

Alex Ovechkin scored two goals and assisted on a third, leading the Washington Capitals over the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3 before 16,975 in snowy western Pennsylvania last night. The Pens also lost three players to injury, including captain and all-star Sidney Crosby, who left late in the game after a collision with Caps forward David Steckel.The Capitals (28-14-3-59, first in Southeast, second in

CAPS GAME NIGHT--GAME 45: On To Pittsburgh

The Washington Capitals (27-14-3-57, first in Southeast, third in East), smarting from a season-high tying three game losing streak, travel to Pittsburgh to face the struggling Penguins (21-19-4-46, fourth in Atlantic, 10th in East) at 7:30 p.m. from Mellon Arena.The Caps have cooled off from their torrid December streak, which saw them win 12 of 13 and seven in a row. Perhaps not coincidentally,

Game 44 Review: A Replay of Game 42

For the second time in a week, a Western Conference team that does not travel well came into the Verizon Center and reduced the Washington Capitals to lofting shots from the point and a series of 1-on-2s or even 1-on-3s, as the Edmonton Oilers won for the first team in D.C. (or Landover, MD, for that matter), since Jan. 26, 1997.Eight of the Caps 14 losses this season have come against Western

CAPS GAME NIGHT--GAME 44: Looking to Drill the Oilers

The Washington Capitals (27-13-3-57, first in Southeast) face the Edmonton Oilers (20-18-3-42, fifth in Northwest) in the only meeting between the two clubs this season, at 7:00 pm from Verizon Center.The Caps look to get back on the good foot, suffering embarrassing defeat in their last two contests. Saturday night, Washington dropped a 5-4 decision to Montreal on a goal with 22 seconds

CAPS GAME NIGHT--GAME 43: Caps Try to Rebound Against Habs

The Washington Capitals (27-12-3-57, first in Southeast, second in East), still stinging from last night's 3-0 shut out loss to Columbus, travel to Montreal to face the Canadiens (24-10-6-54, third in East) at 7:00 pm from Bell Centre.The Caps had their seven-game winning streak broken last night by one of the hottest goalies in the league in 20-year old rookie Steve Mason. It was the second time

Game 42 Review: Steve Mason. That's All.

Steve Mason, the 20-year old rookie goaltender for the Columbus Blue Jackets, came into Friday night's game leading the entire NHL in shutouts, goals against average and save percentage. The only reason he was left off the Western Conference All-Star team had to be name recognition. If he keeps having games like he did last night against the Washington Capitals, name recognition will be the least

Gordon Tweaks Back in Warmups, Questionable for Tomorrow

Boyd Gordon missed tonight's game against Columbus after his back flared up on him during the pre-game skate. The team found out too late to substitute either of the two healthy scratches, Eric Fehr or Michael Nylander.Coach Bruce Boudreau said after the game that he hadn't talked to the trainers yet, but based on Gordon's history and previous back troubles, he didn't expect Gordon to play

CAPS GAME NIGHT--GAME 42: Columbus Comes Calling

The Washington Capitals (27-11-3-57, first in Southeast, second in East), winners of their last seven games, host the Columbus Blue Jackets (18-18-4-40, third in Central) at 7:00 pm at the Verizon Center.The Caps continue to be one of the hottest teams in the league. They are 14-2-0 since Dec. 4 and 18-1-1 at home this season. Washington looks to even the season series against Columbus, as they

Green, Backstrom Left Off Eastern Conference All-Star Team

The NHL released the reserves for the Eastern Conference All-Stars at noon, and while congratulations are in order to Alex Ovechkin, rightly named to the team after the starter voting snafu, center Niklas Backstrom (seventh in the conference in scoring) and defenseman Mike Green (third in conference in scoring for defensemen, despite missing a dozen games) were left off the squad.Here's the list

Game 41 Review: Theo Does It Again

Jose Theodore made 33 saves, including all three shots in a shootout, and the Washington Capitals (27-11-3, first in Southeast) defeated the Philadelphia Flyers (21-10-9, second in Atlantic), 2-1 before a playoff-intense capacity crowd at the Verizon Center.Viktor Kozlov beat Flyers goalie Martin Biron (33 saves) on the first shot in the shootout, and the rest was all Theodore. The resurgent

CAPS GAME NIGHT: Looking For Revenge Against Philly

The Washington Capitals (26-11-3, first in Southeast) host the Philadelphia Flyers (21-10-8, second in Atlantic) in a very important Eastern Conference showdown tonight at 7:00 pm from Verizon Center.As fabled television broadcaster Keith Jackson would say, "These two teams just plain don't like each other." Well, the rivalry on the ice may not be quite as dramatic as the rivalry between the two

OVECHKIN NOT VOTED AS STARTER IN ALL-STAR GAME

HAPPY NEW YEAR!Brooks Laich knows that Alex Ovechkin is "the best player in the world." We all know that too. Unfortunately, Ovi did not get the fan votes to back that up! I am sure that he will be added to the reserve list, however, that has not been published yet.The entire starting lineup for the East is Penguins and Canadiens and the West is Ducks and Blackhawks. Sidney Crosby received the

Game 40 Review: Better Late Than Never

The Washington Capitals (26-11-3, first in Southeast) extended their winning streak to six games, and 13 out of 15, as they defeated the New York Rangers (23-14-3, third in Atlantic) 2-1 Saturday night at the Verizon Center before another red-clad capacity crowd.Alex Ovechkin continues to be the most dynamic, if under-appreciated, superstar in the league, as he netted his 27th goal of the season

Game 40 Preview: Caps Host New York Rangers

The Washington Capitals (25-11-3, first in Southeast) host the New York Rangers (23-13-3, second in Atlantic) at 7:00 PM from Verizon Center. The Capitals continue their RED hot streak with five wins in a row and 12 of their last 14 games. The Rangers have yet to play a game in 2009 as their last game was a third period come from behind victory over the New York Islanders.Washington leads the

Game 39 Review: Caps Handle Lightning 7-4

The Washington Capitals scored early and often, getting goals from seven different players, and handed the Tampa Bay Lightning a 7-4 defeat before a capacity New Year's Day crowd at the Verizon Center. It was Washington's fifth straight victory and 12th out of 14 games.The game was not without incident, however, as play was delayed several minutes with 13:15 left after Lightning defenseman Jamie

Game 39 Preview: Caps Host Tampa Bay Lightning

The Washington Capitals (24-11-3, first in Southeast) host the Tampa Bay Lightning (10-16-10, fourth in Southeast) at 7:00 PM from Verizon Center.The Capitals continue to be one of the hottest teams in the NHL, winners of four in a row and 11 of their last 13 games.Goalie Jose Theodore has been one of the big reasons for the current streak, as he's been in net for each of the previous four wins.