Capitals Add Depth, Experience at Trade Deadline

"We're really happy with what we've acquired.  We've addressed specific needs that we had and they're all good, experienced veteran players." -GM George McPhee.
The Washington Capitals -- as expected -- were busy at the trade deadline, acquiring center Jason Arnott from the New Jersey Devils and defenseman Dennis Wideman from their division-rival Florida Panthers.  Both moves address positions of

Capitals Trade for Dennis Wideman: Other Moves Coming?

The Washington Capitals earlier today traded for puck-moving defenseman Dennis Wideman, formerly of the Florida Panthers, in exchange for minor league forward Jake Hauswirth and their 2011 third round pick.
Wideman, 27, has 33 points (9 goals, 24 assists) this year for the Panthers in 61 games.  He will wear No. 6 for the Caps.
The veteran defender gives the Caps another two-way defenseman and

GAME 63 RE-CAP: Caps Bounce Back with Win on the Island on Busy Day

After a hectic day of waiver claims, roster shuffling, mysterious injuries and healthy scratches, the Washington Capitals actually took care of business, shrugging off a lackadaisical first period and storming back from a 2-0 deficit to knock off a young, energetic New York Islanders crew 3-2 before 16,250 at Nassau County Colosseum, the Islanders' biggest home crowd of the season.
There were

Caps Claim Sturm off Waivers; Other Roster Updates

Earlier today, the Washington Capitals claimed veteran winger Marco Sturm off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings.  The speedy, defensively responsible Sturm recently returned to action after missing a good chunk of the season with a knee injury. 
He has four goals and five assists in 17 games played for the Kings this season.
Sturm, 32, is a 13 year NHL veteran of three teams, and has been a 

GAME 62 RE-CAP: No Escape From New York

"The worst home loss I've been associated with." Coach Bruce Boudreau.
THE RESULT:  Just as in their last meeting between these two teams, the New York Rangers dominated the Washington Capitals in all facets of the game and handed the home team its worst loss in its own building since November of 2006, a 6-0 shutout that wasn't even as close as the score.
The Caps essentially gave up on this game

Hendy Re-Signs: Winners and Losers

Forward Matt Hendricks signed a two-year contract extension with the Washington Capitals today, worth a reported $1.6 million.  We evaluate the winners and losers!
WINNERS
Matt Hendricks, obviously.  The two-year extension finally gives the 29-year old something he's never had in his playing career: stability.
GM George McPhee.  He locks up a player that has become part of the heart and soul of

Edmonton Wanted to Know: "What's Wrong with Ovi?"

Jim Kerr of Edmonton's iNews 880 asked if I would be gracious enough to answer a couple questions about Alex Ovechkin, the season he's had thus far, the Washington Capitals struggle on the power play, and Ovi's leadership in the locker room.
Essentially, he wanted to know "What's Wrong with Ovi?"
Here's a snippet:  Dave Nichols with the Capitals News Network says a number of things come into play

GAME 61 RE-CAP: "Shaky" Shuts Out Penguins Yet Again

"He was pretty good." Coach Bruce Boudreau stating the obvious about his goalie.
The Washington Capitals are starting to serve notice.
In front of another national television audience, the team that was the highest scoring squad in the league last season showed their new commitment to playing a more defensively sound game. 
For the third time on a now-concluded five-game road trip, the Caps

GAME 60 RE-CAP: Solid Effort Nets Two Points in Buffalo

"We had to persevere if we were to succeed." Coach Bruce Boudreau on tough 2-1 win over Buffalo.
THE RESULT: The Washington Capitals have been getting outscored lately in the third period of games, but they reversed that trend Sunday afternoon, as a late tally broke a 1-1 tie and gave the Caps a road victory over the Buffalo Sabres, 2-1 before 18,690 in HSBC Arena and an NBC national television

Caps Fans Entitled to Stanley Cup?

I don't read every single word written about the Capitals -- by the pros, blogs or fans -- but I have to come close.  Yes, I read *almost* every last comment on all the blogs.
What gets me is the sense of entitlement some fans have, like they expect the Capitals to win the Stanley Cup for them, personally, and anything less is failure.  I think that a certain segment of the fan base just doesn't

GAME 58 RE-CAP: Caps Find Goals -- and Passion -- on Wild Night in Anaheim

The IIHF's new rules on the spelling of Russian surnames hasn't taken effect yet in the NHL, but whether you spell it Semin, Syomin, or just plain Sasha, the enigmatic Russian had one of those night, tallying three times in a Washington Capitals 7-6 win over the Anaheim Ducks, winners of eight of their last ten games entering play.
As a result, the Capitals inched past Montreal for fifth place in

Be Careful What You Wish For

"Playoff Hockey" is here.
You want tense, tight, low scoring games?  You got 'em, in spades.
You want defensive battles where one mistake can cost you the game?  Have them too.  Ask John Erskine about last night's 3-2 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes.
You want exciting, thrilling, high-speed hockey?  The kind that packed the Verizon Center last season as the Washington Capitals were en route to the

GAME 56 RE-CAP: Talent Means Nothing Without Effort

"For whatever reason, we stopped working.  We got comfortable -- a little too comfortable." -- Karl Alzner
Just over one minute into the game, Alex Ovechkin gave the Washington Capitals a 1-0 lead as he used All-Star defenseman Drew Doughty as a screen at the top of the face-off circle and beat Los Angeles Kings' backup goalie Jonathan Bernier for his 21st goal of the season.
That was the peak of

GAME 55 RE-CAP: Lack of Offense Leads to Loss

"If you play for one run, that's all you'll get." 
Long-time Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver said that in his book, Weaver on Strategy.  He's of course referring to baseball, but I think that little gem applies to what the Washington Capitals are going through right now, and last night's 2-0 loss to the San Jose Sharks in particular.
The Caps, still mired in an epic scoring drought from

Ewell Leaves Legacy in Caps Press Box

Today is Nate Ewell's last game as Vice President of Communications with the Washington Capitals.  It's a position that lives in obscurity in most hockey towns: writing game notes, ushering players to media appearances, doling out press credentials. 
But in D.C., Nate Ewell is a rock star.
It wasn't his intent.  You can read a very well written biography and appreciation of Nate here and here. 

GAME 54 RE-CAP: Capitals Shut Out Cowardly Penguins

"They don't like us. We don't like them.  That's the way it should be." -- Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau
THE RESULT:  The Washington Capitals dominated their arch-rivals on defense, shutting out the formerly high-scoring Pittsburgh Penguins 3-0 on Super Bowl Sunday.  It was Washington's eighth straight win on "Super Sunday" and improves their career line to 14-3-1 on the big day.


Caps goalie

Bradley and Hendricks' Energy Set Tone for Capitals Win Over Lightning

Matt Bradley and Matt Hendricks will both tell you they aren't the most gifted players in the Washington Capitals dressing room.  That's not to say they aren't capable of chipping with a goal now and then, but the two have combined for 71 goals over 13 NHL seasons, so it's not their offense that's keeping them in the league.
Rather, it's their intensity, their emotion, their willingness to stick

GAME 53 RE-CAP: Ovechkin, Backstrom Lead the Way Against Bolts

THE RESULTS: The Tampa Bay Lightning put a Matt Bradley quote about this being the Washington Capitals' biggest game of the year up on their white board in their dressing room in motivation for last night's big Southeast Division showdown.
It didn't help much.
The Caps roared out to a 3-1 lead mid-way through the second period, and added two more goals in the third to inch a little closer to the

GAME 52 REVIEW: Caps Make Mistakes, Lose Opportunity and Shootout to Habs

THE RESULT: In the first game back from the All-Star break, the Washington Capitals came out guns blazing, scoring twice in the first period and looking like the team that won the President's Trophy last season as the top team in the league.
The rest of the game however, they fell back into the same uninspired, lackadaisical play that has plagued them since Dec. 1, allowing Brian Gionta and the

Caps Getting Their Legs Back After All-Star Break

Yesterday at practice, I caught up with a few of the Caps that missed some significant time due to injury that have returned recently, only to then sit again during the four-day All-Star game break.
Jeff Schultz:  "It felt good to be out there but the legs and wind aren't quite where they were, but it was a good four days that guys use to rest, the heal some bumps and bruises.  We'll have a good