GAME 50 RE-CAP: Disappointed Capitals Fall to Rangers in Shootout

"We've got to figure out ways to get to that net and find some dirty, ugly goals." --Matt Hendricks, who was the only Capital player to take that advice to heart.


Caps console goalie Braden Holtby after 2-1shootout loss. (C.Nichols/CapsNewsNetwork)

THE RESULT:  The Washington Capitals allowed a depleted, offensive-starved New York Rangers team to come into their building with their back-up

GAME 49 RE-CAP: OVECHTRICK!

THE RESULT:  The Washington Capitals rose to the occasion of "Hockey Night in Canada", with their superstar recording his first hat trick of the season en route to a 4-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Center.
The Caps third baby goalie, Braden Holtby, was spectacular, making several "how did he do that" saves and kept his team in the game until they were able to break out in

GAME 48 RE-CAP: Backstrom Finds Mean Streak, Caps Dump Islanders

"I almost forgot how it was to score a goal." Nicklas Backstrom, obviously relieved his 21-game goal-less streak is over.
THE RESULT:  The last time Nicklas Backstrom scored an NHL goal was Dec. 1 in a 4-1 win over the St. Louis Blues.  It was the Washington Capitals fourth straight win and their record was 18-6-2, good for first in the Eastern Conference.
The HBO cameras had not yet arrived. 

Caps Face Pair of Must Win Games Against Least of the East

It's only mid-January, but the Washington Capitals are already facing a pivotal juncture in their season.  Their next two games, against two of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference are, for all intents and purposes, Must Win Games.
Tonight, the Caps skate into the Nassau Coliseum to take on the New York Islanders, one of the most down-trodden, talent-poor, financially strapped teams in all

Holtby Recalled from Hershey

The Washington Capitals have recalled Braden Holtby from Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL).  Mike Vogel reported that Michal Neuvirth was returned to DC for further evaluation.



Photo 2010 © Cheryl Nichols Photography/
Capitals News Network. All Rights Reserved.

GAME 47 RE-CAP: Lather, Rinse, Repeat: Caps Get Down Early, Lose in OT

"It's not like a secret." Bruce Boudreau, on getting goals around the net.
THE RESULT: In an all too familiar refrain, the Washington Capitals found themselves trailing after two periods of play, on the road against the Eastern Conference leading Philadelphia Flyers.
In 40 seconds worth of hard work in the third, the Caps tied the game up and looked to be carrying all the momentum into overtime.

GAME 46 RE-CAP: Third Period Outburst Propels Caps to 3-1 Win Over Ottawa

"I just said, quite frankly, I hope they realized how important this period is to our season." Coach Bruce Boudreau, on what he told his team at the second intermission.



Nick Backstrom and Marcus Johansson help John Carlson celebrate his power play goal. (C.Nichols/Caps News Network)
THE RESULTS: The Washington Capitals, struggling for six weeks now scoring goals, found themselves trailing 1-0

GAME 45 RE-CAP: What's Wrong with the Washington Capitals?

THE RESULT:  It would be easy to say that one of the best teams in the National Hockey League came into D.C. on a roll and took advantage of a Washington Capitals team that is struggling to score goals, both five-on-five and on the power play.
While that statement is true and accurate, the Caps 4-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks, who Thursday night had a 17-game point streak snapped, was also just

Caps Face Canucks as Underdog; Bradley Update; Ewell Steps Down

The Washington Capitals have played this season with a target on their backs as the reigning President's Trophy winner.  Tonight's opponent, the Vancouver Canucks, come into Verizon Center with the league's best record, and a 17-game point streak broken last night by the New York Rangers.
I canvassed the locker room this morning, asking how the Caps feel playing the role of underdog against a

GAME 44 RE-CAP: Bolts Blank Caps Again, Take SE Lead

THE RESULT:  For the second time in a week, 41-year old goalie Dwayne Roloson shut out the Washington Capitals, leading his Tampa Bay Lightning to a 3-0 win, securing first place in the Southeast Division for the time being.
The loss is the fifth time the Caps have been shut out in their last 25 games.
Domonic Moore, Sean Bergenheim and Simon Gagne scored for the Lightning, who own the top spot

GAME 43 RE-CAP: Capitals Salvage Point in 4-3 OT Loss to Florida

THE RESULTS: The Washington Capitals took too many penalties, went 0-for-5 on the power play, and was indifferent on defense too many times, as they fell behind early, rallied furiously, but fell in overtime to the Florida Panthers 4-3 before a sparse crowd in Sunrise, FL.
"If we're going to look this lethargic on the power play, that's where we are losing games," coach Bruce Boudreau said. "It's

Ovechkin, Green Invited to NHL All-Star Game

The NHL announced today the list of players that will be available in the first ever All-Star team draft, and Alex Ovechkin and Mike Green of the Washington Capitals were both invited to participate.
In what has been a down year goal-scoring wise for Ovechkin, he is still tied for 11th in the league and leads the Caps in points (15-29-44, plus-10).  This is his fourth All-Star selection.
Green (8

Caps Casino Night Photos

Check out all of the fun photos of Caps Casino Night on the Caps News Network "Off the Ice" page.



Photos 2010 © Cheryl Nichols Photography/Caps News Network. All Rights Reserved.

GAME 42 RE-CAP: Flying Ovechkin Strikes in Caps 3-2 Win Over Panthers

THE RESULT:  As has been the case most of the time on the current run of success for the Washington Capitals, this one didn't come easy.  But the Caps held on at the end to defeat a tired--but game--Florida Panthers team 3-2, before a capacity crowd at Verizon Center.

Florida was playing their third game in four nights and fifth in seven days.  The Caps had not played since Tuesday night's 1-0

Adjusting to The Trap--The Players' Reactions

Earlier this week, CBC columnist Elliotte Friedman devoted several paragraphs to Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau implementing elements of the trap into his systems.  It's worth the read as a set-up to this column.
At practice this week, I had a chance to catch up with several Caps players to ask them about the adjustments that have been made to the system and the challenge implementing

McPhee: Winter Classic "Seminal Moment" For Caps Franchise

After practice this morning, Washington Capitals GM George McPhee candidly spoke with reporters about the World Junior Championships, HBO's 24/7 and the Winter Classic.
ON THE WINTER CLASSIC
"On a personal standpoint, it may be the most fun I've ever had as a manager and maybe the most fun I've ever had in my hockey life. It was just a fabulous experience, it was sort of a 'Field of Dreams' thing

Updates from Thursday Morning Practice

There were a couple of medical updates from Capitals practice this morning:

Alex Ovechkin wore a yellow "non-contact" jersey this morning. He shadowed the top line of Alexander Semin, Nick Backstrom and Mike Knuble, but did not participate in drills. He avoided holding his stick with his left hand.

After practice, coach Bruce Boudreau revealed that Ovechkin had a cortisone shot following the 1

GAME 41 RE-CAP: OT Breakdown Cost Caps Point Against Lightning

THE RESULT: Two of the top scoring teams in the league played to a scoreless draw through sixty minutes.  Both teams played gritty, tight checking defense and their goalies played superbly as one would imagine in a 0-0 tie.
But breakdowns by all five players in red led to the Tampa Bay Lightning netting the game-winner two minutes into extra time, and the visitors took the extra point from the

This Was a Dirty Hit?

Go here and look at it for yourself.


It looks to me like Crosby stopped skating and was looking for the end of the period, not at where he was on the ice.
It looks to me like Steckel is leaning forward skating hard to get back into the play.
It looks to me like Steckel even tried to avoid the collision altogether, as he is left arm is away from his body for balance before the contact is even

GAME 40 RE-CAP: Just Another Two Points

THE RESULT:  Just another two points?  Not even close.
It was game that Bruce Boudreau said was "as close to the Stanley Cup as we've gotten" in atmosphere.  "When you see [65,000-plus] people in there -- whether they are booing or cheering -- it's an experince I'll never forget."
"It was more than just a game to everybody.  Don't let anybody fool you."
The official ledger will say the Washington

Winter Classic Photos

Here is a quick sample of our photos from the weekend - 4 photos of Ovechkin's "trip over the blue line." There will be more posted in near future. Not too bad from the upper deck (without my 70-200mm telelphoto lens!).





It looks like Dupuis is trying to slam Ovi's head onto the ice!
Photos 2010 © Cheryl Nichols Photography/Caps News Network. All Rights Reserved.