Game 62 Review: Capitals 4, Thrashers 3; It Wasn't That Close

Perhaps it was all the penalties. Perhaps it was the general ineptness of Atlanta's defense. It might even have been the two quick power play goals in the first period. But whatever the reason, last night's 4-3 Washington Capitals win over the Atlanta Thrashers didn't seem anywhere near as close as the score would attest to, as the Caps fairly dominated their cellar-swelling division

Game 62 Preview: Washington Hosts Atlanta Thrashers

The Washington Capitals (38-18-5-81, first in Southeast) host the Atlanta Thrashers (22-33-6-50, fifth in Southeast) at 7:00 pm from Verizon Center.The Capitals have split the first four games of a season-high five-game homestand, beating Montreal and Pittsburgh and falling to Colorado and, most recently, Philadelphia Tuesday night 4-2. The Caps held a 2-0 lead against Philly, only to see it

CAPS GAME REPORT: Caps v. Flyers, Feb. 24, 2009

Third PeriodNylander draws a hooking call from Gagne in the slot. Nyls is having a very good game. Power Play at 1:45. The best opportunity comes from Philly, with Theo completely stoning Knuble on the doorstep.Knuble holds Ovie trying to get through the zone at 7:23. Time for a power play. Not a very organized effort with the extra man. It passes without incident.Hartnall ties the game at two

CAPS GAME NIGHT--Game 61: Caps Host Philthy Phlyers

The Washington Capitals play in the Southeast Conference, but all their rivals hail from Pennsylvania. The Caps host their other arch-nemesis, the Philadelphia Flyers, at 7:00 pm from Verizon Center, fresh off a 5-2 pasting of their foes from western PA Sunday afternoon on national television.The Caps (38-17-5-81, first in Southeast), in the middle of a five-game homestand, look to provide a rude

As If Anyone Needed Another Reason to LOVE Chris Cooley

Check out Cooley's latest blog post. I know it's his brother that does most of the posting, but it's still pretty awesome and going out under Chris' name on the blog. Cooley supports the other home teams. Good for him.

Game 61 Review: Caps Pound Penguins 5-2

"What I can say about him?" reigning Hart Trophy winner Alex Ovechkin said. "He is a good player, but he talks too much.""Like it or lump it, that's what he does," Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby said about Ovechkin's checking, insinuating dirty play. "Some people like it, some people don't. Personally, I don't like it.""I play hard. If he wants to do something like hit me again, try to hit me

CAPS GAME DAY--Game 60: Caps. Pens. Let's Get It On

The Washington Capitals (37-17-5-79, first in Southeast) host the Pittsburgh Penguins (29-25-6-64, fourth in Atlantic) at 12:30 pm from Verizon Center.Volumes have been written about the personal agendas, vendettas, rivalries and grudges involved between these two hockey teams. On one hand, you have the reigning MVP and a quiet but opinionated ingenue, on the other hand you have the reluctant

Game 59 Review: Caps Have "Stinker" Against Avalanche

Ever have one of those days that start when you spill your coffee in your lap, and it just gets worse from there? That's what tonight's 4-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, the last place team in the Western Conference, was like for the Washington Capitals (37-17-5-79, first in Southeast).Case in point: Colorado got a goal from defenseman Adam Foote, who had not scored a goal in 105 games.Goalie

Game Report: Caps v. Avs, 2/20/2009

Third PeriodMore good news, Colorado is 17-0-0 entering the third period with a lead.Tucker made a nifty move at the post and Theo covered up safely. Tucker was alone as all three Caps in the zone chased the puck behind the net.Colorado makes it 3-1 as Theo gets beat badly glove side on a soft wrist shot by Arnason at 3:33. Schultz takes a lazy, lousy hooking penalty at 6:19 when he decides to

CAPS GAME NIGHT--Game 59: Caps Hope Good Times Roll Against Avalanche

The Washington Capitals (37-16-5-79, first in Southeast) host the Colorado Avalanche (37-30-1-55, fifth in Northwest) at 7:00 pm from the Verizon Center.The Capitals are red-hot once again, with just one regulation loss in their last 10 games (7-1-2). Washington defeated the reeling Montreal Canadiens, 4-3, in a shootout Wednesday before another capacity crowd, pushing their home record to an

Game 58 Review: Ovie Adds to Highlight Reel; Caps Beat Habs 4-3 in SO

Like it's predecessor, "The Phoenix Goal", the first period goal Alex Ovechkin scored to tie the game at one in last night's 4-3 shooutout win over Montreal will forever be immortalized, known simply as "The Self-Pass".Ovechkin outraced Canadiens' defenseman Roman Hamrlik to a loose puck just past the Montreal blue line. Ovie backhanded the puck off the wall, deftly spun around Hamrlik and

CAPS GAME NIGHT--Game 58: Sputtering Habs Crawl Into DC

The Washington Capitals (36-16-5-77, first in Southeast) open a five-game homestand with the Montreal Canadiens (30-21-6-66, second in Northeast), losers of three of their last four games and 3-7 in their last 10 contests, from Verizon Center at 7:00 pm.The Caps return to the "Phone Booth" after a successful 2-0-1 road trip, including winning both ends of a weekend jaunt across the Sunshine State

Weekend in Florida Preview

The Washington Capitals (34-16-5-73, first in Southeast) do the Florida two-step this weekend, facing the Tampa Bay Lightning (19-25-11-49, fourth in Southeast) Saturday night at 7:3o pm from the St. Pete Times Forum, and the Florida Panthers (28-19-8-64, second in Southeast) Saturday night from the BankAtlantic Center at 5:00 pm.The Caps can go a long way in crushing the dreams of anyone

Game 55 Review: Green Ties Record as Caps Earn Point Against Rangers

Despite two goals by defenseman Mike Green, the Washington Capitals (34-16-5-73, first in Southeast) fell in a shootout on a fluky shot to the New York Rangers, 5-4.Rangers forward Ryan Callahan scored the decisive goal in the shootout, as his wrist shot sailed past Caps goalie Jose Theodore, hit the crossbar, and bounced back to hit Theodore and then go in the net. Theodore offered protest, but

Game 55 Preview: Caps Challenge Rangers at the Garden

The Washington Capitals (34-16-4-72, first in Southeast) face-off against the slumping New York Rangers (29-20-5-63, third in Atlantic) at 7:00 p.m. from historic Madison Square Garden.New York has dropped five straight to the Caps, and are 4-5-1 in their last 10 games. They are 0-3-1 in the past four, being outscored 19-5 in that stretch. They lost Monday to division rival New Jersey 3-0.The

Game 54 Review: Gut Check For Caps; Beat Panthers 3-1

The Washington Capitals (34-16-4, first in Southeast, second in East) rode two goals by Mike Green and a five-minute penalty kill to a 3-1 victory over their division rival Florida Panthers (25-19-8, second in Southeast, eighth in East) before yet another raucous sell-out crowd at Verizon Center.At 14:59 of the third period, holding close to a 2-1 lead, the Caps found themselves in the position

CAPS GAME NIGHT--Game 54: Caps Look to Rebound Against Division Rival Florida

The Washington Capitals (33-16-4-70, first in Southeast) face its closest competitor in the division, the Florida Panthers (25-18-8-58), at 7:00 pm from the Verizon Center.Florida is second in the Southeast Division, but only eighth in the Eastern Conference, clinging to the last playoff spot by a single point over the Carolina Hurricanes, so every game is like a playoff game for the

Moves and More Moves on an Off-Day Friday

Bullet Point Style! Washington recalled "King" Karl Alzner from AHL Hershey today, after last night's multiple allergic reactions to the blue line. Expect him to regain his status of one the Caps leaders in minutes from defensemen immediately. Erskine was paired with Brian Pothier at practice today, you can do the math.The Caps claimed stay at home defenseman Staffan Kronwall, 26, off waivers

Game 53 Review: Caps Have Clinker Against Kings

Fifteen seconds into the game, the Caps held a 1-0 lead. It would be the last time for the night Washington would be ahead on the scorecard.The Capitals (33-16-4-70, first in Southeast, second in East) allowed a power play goal, a short-handed goal and a goal with 1:33 remaining to fall to the Los Angeles Kings (22-21-7-51, fifth in Pacific), another non-playoff team, 5-4 before an announced

CAPS GAME NIGHT--Game 53: I'm A Slacker!

Sorry, I don't have the time today to properly address tonight's game against Los Angeles. If you haven't read a preview of tonight's game yet, here are some links:Capitals.NHL.comCBS Sports.comESPN.comComcast Sportsnet.comRock the Red! I'll be back after the game with an appropriate review. I hate it when real life gets in the way of the blog.

Game 52 Review: Caps Scare the Devils Out of Jersey

Michael Nylander scored twice as the Washington Capitals snapped the New Jersey Devils winning streak at eight games, winning 5-2 before 14,018 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.The big road victory came over the team next closest to the Caps in the Eastern Conference standings, and Washington extended its lead over the Devils to three points. Washington owns a 33-15-4 record, good for 70

CAPS GAME NIGHT--Game 52: One Night In New Jersey

The Washington Capitals (32-15-4-68, first in Southeast, second in East) travel to Newark to face the red-hot New Jersey Devils (32-15-3-67, first in Atlantic, third in East) at 7:00 pm from the Prudential Center.Fresh off a weekend sweep of Detroit and Ottawa, the Caps will try their luck with one of the league's hottest teams right now. The Devils have won nine of their last ten games, and are

Game 51 Review: The Great Eight Nets Three in 7-4 Win Over Senators

Alex Ovechkin scored three times in the first two periods, leading his Washington Capitals past the struggling Ottawa Senators, 7-4, before another sellout crowd at the Verizon Center. The "Great Eight" increased his league-leading goals total to 36, after scoring five goals in the two afternoon games over the weekend. For a player that notoriously dislikes the early games, even Ovechkin himself

Capitals Host Hockey 'n Heels on Saturday, Feb. 21

Capitals Third Annual Hockey 'n Heels tickets are now on sale. Female fans can learn more about hockey, meet Hall of Famer Rod Langway and meet other female fans. Buy your tickets soon as they sold out quickly last year.For more information, see the Press Release from the Capitals Website:Capitals Host Hockey 'n Heels on Saturday, Feb. 21 Third-annual event introduces hockey to female audience at

Caps Beat Senators 7-4; Ovi Records 7th Career Hat Trick

Dave will post a review in the morning. It was quite a weekend!Just a quick congratulations to Ovechkin on this 7th career hat trick! Photo (c) C. Nichols 2009

CAPS GAME DAY--Game 51: Caps Host Ottawa Senators

THIRD PERIODChris Neil took a run at Semin in the slot and Semin stepped out of it and Neil ended up taking out Alexandre Picard, who went straight to the dressing room.Jurcina took a soft hold at 2:52. Semin joined him with 0:23 for a trip. Both calls were fairly questionable. The 5-on-3 expired without incident. Green sacrificed the body to make a save on an open net. Ottawa didn't get a single