Happy New Year's From Caps News Network

To every single living being wearing red at the Hofbrauhaus in Pittsburgh this New Year's Eve, and anyone who counts themselves among the faithful rooting for the Washington Capitals, Happy New Years!
The scene at the Hofbrauhaus was truly amazing and inspiring, and for someone who has been a fan of this team since 1974, it was a remarkable and memorable evening.
Special thanks to J.P. at Japers

Winter Classic Alumni Game Brings Back Memories of Youth

The game between the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins alumni at the Winter Classic in Pittsburgh ended in a 5-5 tie, courtesy of the Caps' Peter Bondra blasting a shot from the high slot past Pens' goalie Frank Pietrangelo with less than a minute to play. 
The final result was secondary to the feelings of watching these distinguished NHL veterans lace them up again one more time.
It's

Caps Take It Outside (Photos)

The Washington Capitals travel to Pittsburgh on Thursday afternoon for this weekend's Fourth Annual NHL Winter Classic.  Before heading up, the Caps had a closed practice outdoors at the Chevy Chase Club rink to prepare for skating outside on Wednesday afternoon.

Most of the Caps have only played outside when they were very young and by the looks on many faces, they were transported back in time

GAME 39 RE-CAP: Caps Shut Down Habs

THE RESULT:  The Washington Capitals shut out the Montreal Canadiens 3-0 in their last game on the 2010 calendar and last home game filmed by HBO.

The Caps faced the Habs on Tuesday night for the first time since the devastating loss in game seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in the spring 2010. 

Many of the Caps took this game to heart. "We've had these guys marked on our calendar

GAME 38 RE-CAP: Caps -- and Their Captain -- Gets Back to Work

THE RESULT: After an emotionally draining game against a bitter rival and a two-day holiday layoff, the Washington Capitals got back to hockey Sunday night with a workmanlike 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Caps made it down to Raleigh, NC despite a snowstorm that dumped six-plus inches on the area, and 10,477 braved the weather for a division game.
The win gives the Caps 47 points (21-

A Game that Actually Lived Up to the Hype

“You talk about the hype and the buildup and the rivalry, and the puck drops and it’s exactly what the buildup is. Sometimes these are overbuilt but this was a playoff type of game and the building [was] rocking.” -- Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma

Very rarely do big events in sports -- or in real life for that matter -- actually live up to all the hype. 
With all the associated hype and

Big Game

Tonight's regular season matchup between the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins is a big deal.  The players and coaches know how important it is to them in the standings, and as a preview for the Winter Classic and hopefully the Stanley Cup playoffs, but only have a vague idea what the rivalry means to their fans.
A professional sports team means very little without a passionate and

Fans Want Pittsburgh; Players and Coaches Mostly See Two Points

"It's exciting to be part of a team that has a genuine hatred of somebody." Andrew Gordon, on the Caps-Pens rivalry.
Mid-way through the third period in last night's undressing of New Jersey, many of the Verizon Center faithful joined in a chorus not unfamiliar in these parts. 
Reminiscent of old RFK Stadium during the Washington NFL team's hey-day, when fans were still proud of that team and

GAME 36 RE-CAP: New "Young Guns" Spark 5-1 Rout of New Jersey

Could Andrew Gordon be any happier? (D.Nichols/Caps News Network)

THE RESULT:  You've got to give Washington Capitals fans one thing: They know who's next on the schedule.

Mid-way through the third period, when this one was well beyond doubt, the chant started.
"WE WANT PITTSBURGH!"
It's certainly premature for the fan base of a team just two games removed from an eight-game losing streak to

CAPS WIN! Fan Base Backs Off the Ledge

Everyone can take a big sigh of relief.
The Washington Capitals can now go back to their business of being a hockey team instead of answering questions about their coach's immediate job security, the 24/7 pressure of, well, HBO's 24/7, and everything else that was associated with the losing streak.
No one liked what happened.  There might have been bandwagoneers that jumped off.  And those

GAME 33 RE-CAP: Caps Cast in Familiar Role; Earn Point Against Ducks

THE RESULT:  On the night that HBO premiered their 24/7: Road to the Winter Classic, the Washington Capitals continued in the role that has been scripted out for them: the ever-frustrated, not-so lovable losers; doomed to repeat a cycle of endless torment at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
It's a familiar storyline that has been re-told in this area for several decades now, back at least to

A Crisis of Confidence

The Washington Capitals lost twice over the weekend, 3-2 to Colorado Saturday at Verizon Center, then a 7-0 shellacking at the hands of the New York Rangers Sunday evening at Madison Square Garden.
The two losses run Bruce Boudreau's career-longest losing streak to six games, in which the Capitals have scored just eight times (four in one game), being been shut out twice in the same period.
Not.

"Losing the Room"

There's a lot of hang-wringing this morning in the wake of last night's embarrassing 3-0 loss to the Florida Panthers, in which the Washington Capitals dominated the first period, including outshooting Florida 18-6, then turtle-ing in the third period when things didn't go their way.
Coach Bruce Boudreau called his star players out in the media afterwards, and immediately a certain segment of the

GAME 30 RE-CAP: Different Perspectives Explain Drought After Embarrassing Performance

"But once it was 2-0 you could see the shoulders sagging and everything on the bench and they just didn't believe they were going to be able to come back tonight." -- Coach Bruce Boudreau on the third period collapse.
THE RESULTS:  The Washington Capitals pre-holiday slump continued at a stunned, discontented Verizon Center Thursday night, as the Caps were shut out by the Florida Panthers, 3-0.

Caps Fans New Year's Eve Party in Pittsburgh

Caps fans, are you travelling to Pittsburgh for the Winter Classic?  Looking for a Caps-centric, cheap, beer-filled good time on New Year's Eve?  Have I got the solution for you!
Join Caps News Network, Japers Rink and Hogs Haven at the Hofbrauhaus in Pittsburgh New Year's Eve to ring in the new year before the Winter Classic.  There's NO COVER, no frills, no effort; just show up and drink with 

Third (or fourth?) Time the Charm for Perreault?

"It's just one game now and I gotta do it next game and for the rest of the year so I can stay here." -- Mathieu Perreault, after Monday's two-goal game against Toronto
I'm going to go out on a limb right off the bat and frankly state that I like Matthieu Perreault.  From my limited exposure to him, he's been nothing but engaging, sincere and accountable -- good or bad.  As a hockey player, he's

GAME 29 RE-CAP: Third Period Collapse Leads to Devastating Shootout Loss

"It's frustrating anytime you give up a 4-1 lead in the third period.  You're gonna be angry.  It doens't happen and it's not supposed to happen."  Coach Bruce Boudreau

THE RESULT:  The Washington Capitals fairly dominated every minute of the first two periods, skating circles around a vastly inferior team, skill-wise, taking a 4-1 lead into the second intermission.  Beat writers were already

GAME 27 RE-CAP: Late Goal Waived Off, Caps Fall to Stars 2-1

THE RESULT:  With less than ten seconds remaining, Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson scored what appeared to be the game tying goal against the Dallas Stars, pushing a tight game into overtime.
Unfortunately, the referees ruled that Alex Ovechkin committed goaltender interference by checking a player into his own goalie, and the goal was waived off.  An unreviewable play, despite all of

CAPS GAME NIGHT, GAME 27: Two Streaks Enter, One Will End

Washington Capitals (18-6-2-38, 1st in SE) v. Dallas Stars (14-8-1-29, 1st PAC)8:30 pm EST, American Airlines Center, Dallas TX
Capitals.com Preview     Stars.com Preview______________________________________________________
The Washington Capitals bring a four-game winning streak into Dallas to face the Pacific Divsion leading Stars tonight.
The Stars have won four in a row in their own right,

GAME 26 RE-CAP: Caps Win in St. Louis for First Time Since 1996

THE RESULTS:  Semyon Varlamov made 37 saves, leading the Washington Capitals to their fourth consecutive victory, over Yaroslav Halak and the St. Louis Blues, 4-1.  The Caps extend their league-leading record to 18-6-2 (38 points) and now have a four point lead over Philadelphia for the conference lead.
It's little solice defeating the goalie that single-handedly ousted the Caps from last year's