GAME 12 REVIEW: Caps Hang On -- Again -- Against Atlanta

BOX SCORE//GAME SUMMARY//EVENT SUMMARY

It was another one of those games again, the game sthat are driving Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau slowly crazy.  On the road, the Caps came out against a wounded Atanta Thrashers squad and dominated through about 35 minutes.

Unfortunately, they once again took their foot off the gas and watch as their opponent scratched its way back into a game

CAPS GAME NIGHT--GAME 12: Back Down to Atlanta

Washington Capitals (7-2-2, 16 pts, 1st in Southeast Division)
v.
Atlanta Thrashers (4-3-1, 9 pts, 2nd in Southeast Division)
7:00 pm from Phillips Arena
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PREVIEW

This is the second consecutive Thursday these two teams meet, but both are significantly different teams than the last meeting, a 5-4 Caps win, Washington getting five goals from

GAME 11 REVIEW: Theodore Backs Caps to 4-2 Win Over Flyers

BOX SCORE//GAME SUMMARY//EVENT SUMMARY

For moments in the second period, it looked like the Washington Capitals were not going to be able to match the Philadelphia Flyers intensity physically. 


Richards has Backstrom in a headlock, which was not called. 
An example of how the crease looked most of the night.

But after a television timeout, Jeff Schultz laid into a Flyers forward, and moments

CAPS GAME NIGHT--GAME 11: Flyers Come to Verizon for Round 2

Philadelphia Flyers (5-3-1, 11 points, 4th in Atlantic Division)
v.
Washington Capitals (6-2-2, 14 points, 1st in Southeast Division)

7:00 at Verizon Center
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PREVIEW

The Washington Capitals, winners of four straight, come home to host the rival Philadelphia Flyers.

The Caps have been winning, but it hasn't been very pretty, especially

Michael Nylander Saga Continues for Capitals

The Washington Capitals loaned center Michael Nylander to Grand Rapids of the AHL (Detroit's affiliate) this week, in an attempt to find some playing time for the 37-year old Swede. To what result, at this point, is anyone's guess.

The conditioning assignment can last up to two weeks, and the team has already indicated he'll play in Friday's home opener and Monday's tilt for Grand Rapids.

Illness and Injuries at Kettler

Captials Insider reports that the Caps will recall two forwards for tomorrow night's game in Atlanta if Alexander Semin (illness) and Boyd Gordon (back) can't go. 

The obvious choice for the center spot is Keith Aucoin, who filled in for Gordon previously.  Who will the other forward be?  Put your guess in the comments!

It won't be Tomas Fleischmann, who still has some conditioning to do after

GAME 8 REVIEW: Ovie's "Hat Trick" Carries Relieved Caps Past Nashville

Washington, DC-- Alex Ovechkin did what he does best:  score goals.  He scored twice in regulation and again in the shootout to lead the Washington Capitals over the Nashville Predators 3-2.  Nashville has now lost five games in a row.

After the Great Eight beat Predator goalie Dan Ellis with a backhand deke, he calmly buried the puck into the twine.  Then, something amazing happened.

Hats

Holtby Recalled to Back Up Varlamov

The Caps recalled goalie Braden Holtby from South Carolina of the East Coast League to back up Semyon Varlamov tomorrow night.  Holtby started the season at AHL Hershey, but was assigned to ECHL's Stingrays on Oct. 13 when Michal Neuvirth was pronounced fit to play. 

Snce Neuvirth has yet to appear in a game since his activation, Holtby got the call to make his NHL debut tomorrow when Nashville

Slideshow: Sharks at Caps, 10/15/2009

Photos © 2009 C. Nichols. All Rights Reserved.

GAME 7 REVIEW: Return of Capitals Hockey, 4-1 Over Sharks

For the first time since opening night against Boston, the Washington Capitals played a full 60-minute hockey game Thursday night.  The victim was the San Jose Sharks, as the Caps got four goals, played steady defense, and wore down the Sharks in the third period, winning 4-1 in front of a worked-up capacity crowd.

Alex Ovechkin scored two second period goals within 30 seconds of each other,

CAPS GAME NIGHT--GAME 7: Beware the Circling Sharks

San Jose Sharks (3-2-1, 7 pts, 3rd in Pacific Division)
v.
Washington Capitals (2-2-2, 6 pts, 2nd in Southeast Division)
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PREVIEW

The San Jose Sharks make a rare appearance at Verizon Center for their first stop on a six-game eastern swing.  For Washington, it's the middle game of a three-game home stand that got off to a disappointing

For Capitals, Rollercoaster Party Is Analogy

Photos © 2009 C. Nichols. All Rights Reserved.


The Washington Capitals had a party for their season ticket holders -- all 14,000 of them -- Tuesday night at Six Flags Amusement Park in suburban Maryland.  With the park shut down to paying customers, the fans were treated to all the roller coaster rides, autographs and hot dogs they wanted.

And the kicker:  when you got on a ride, you might

GAME 6 REVIEW: Third Period Breakdown Triggers 3-2 Shootout Loss to New Jersey

Mike Green (far right) scores his first goal of the season in 3-2 shootout loss to New Jersey.
Photos © 2009 C. Nichols. All Rights Reserved.



"One bad shift in the third period," was how Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau described his team's effort in a 3-2 shootout loss to the New Jersey Devils, who were completing a three-game road trip Monday night at a sold out Verizon Center.

It

CAPS GAME NIGHT--GAME 6: Devils Come Down to DC

New Jersey Devils (2-2-0, 4 pts, 4th in Atlantic Division)
v.
Washington Capitals (2-2-1, 5 pts, 1st in Southeast Division)
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PREVIEW

The Devils have won back-to-back road games after starting the season 0-2 at home.  After dropping decisions to the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Rangers at the Prudential Center, New Jersey bounced

GAME 4 REVIEW: Rangers Outwork, Outplay Capitals, 4-3

The game winner.  Photos © 2009 C. Nichols. All Rights Reserved.

WASHINGTON, DC, Oct. 8 -- From the drop of the opening faceoff Thursday night at Verizon Center, the Washington Capitals played like they were in the third game of a western swing instead of their second home game of the season after a day off.

The New York Rangers outworked, outplayed and outhustled the Caps the entire game. 

CAPS GAME NIGHT--GAME 4: Invasion of the Broadway Blueshirts

New York Rangers (2-1-0, 4 pts, 2nd in Atlantic Division)
v.
Washington Capitals (2-0-1, 5 pts, 1st in Southeast Division)
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PREVIEW

Tonight's matchup pits two teams that are intimately familiar with each other, having played a seven-game first round playoff series against each other last season. 

New York comes in on the heels of a 3-2

GAME 3 REVIEW: Mistakes Doom Caps; Lose to Flyers 6-5 in OT

The Washington Capitals came into hostile territory and went home with a point against the Flyers in Philadelphia last night, losing 6-5 in overtime.  But after squandering a third period lead on an "own goal", having the game-winner batted in off a rebound, and being on the wrong end of nine minor penalties, to a man the Caps must feel like they let one get away from them last night.

"You take

GAME 2 REVIEW: Six-Pack of Goals Lead Caps Over Leafs

The Washington Capitals got six goals from five different players, as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead, and cruised home with a 6-4 victory over the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs before a capacity crowd at D.C.'s Verizon Center.

It was Washington's eighth consecutive home opening victory.

"You felt like you were in a piranha fish tank," Toronto coach Ron Wilson said. "We were getting quality

CAPS GAME NIGHT--GAME 2: Home Opener Brings Out the Red

Welcome from the press box, high atop the Verizon Center, as we get set for the home opener between the Washington Capitals and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Caps come off Thursday's season opener, where they handled the Boston Bruins 4-1.  The team looked sharp, gave up only 20 shots, and had their way on the power play.  The Leafs lost their opener Thursday to thier arch-rival Montreal

GAME 1 REVIEW: Caps Crush Bruins on Opening Night, 4-1

Alex Ovechkin and Brooks Laich each had a pair of goals, and Jose Theodore made 19 saves, as the Washington Capitals knocked off the Boston Bruins 4-1 before a capacity crowd at TD Banknorth Garden.

The Capitals played an almost flawless game against one of their main challengers for supremacy in the Eastern Conference.  They built a 4-0 lead, played terrific on the power play, netting two goals

CAPS GAME NIGHT--GAME 1: Caps Open Season in Boston

The Washington Capitals and the Boston Bruins were the top two seeds in the Eastern Conference last season, and start the 2009-10 campaign facing one another again.  After an off-season that was spend in great anticipation for this very day, the start of the new hockey season, it's finally arrived.

And it has arrived with much fanfare and high expectations.  Never before in the team