GAME 78 RE-CAP: Chimera Lifts Caps Over Old Mates in Overtime

Jason Chimera, right, taps in game-winner for the Caps (C.Nichols/Caps News Network)
“Sometimes when we get a lead so early we kind of settle in instead of keep pushing the pace and that was a classic example of what we did tonight."  John Carlson
You got the sense, after a first period where the Washington Capitals took a 1-0 lead and outshot the out-of-the-playoffs Columbus Blue Jackets 15-4,

GAME 77 RE-CAP: Caps Can't Match Desperate Canes Intensity

“I thought at times it was a very lackluster game. If you don’t play with emotion, it’s tough.” -- Coach Bruce Boudreau.
There are no shootouts in the playoffs, but the way this game went, it should not have gotten that far anyway.
Rookie All-Star Jeff Skinner threw a harmless looking shot toward Washington Capital goalie Semyon Varlamov 1:46 into the third period which inexplicably escaped the

GAME 74 RE-CAP: Caps Clinch Playoff Spot with Shootout Winner in Philly

Um, allow me to catch my breath.
When noted antagonist Daniel Briere completed the comeback for the Philadelphia Flyers, taking a 4-3 lead with just 5:45 left in the game after his team trailed 3-0 just into the second period, the collective soul of the Washington Capitals -- and their fan base -- had every right to be crushed, dejected and exhausted.
But a little over two minutes later, a young

Caps to Face Flyers Sans Ovechkin

The Washington Capitals have decided to shelve Alex Ovechkin, their captain and leading scorer, for 7-to-10 days to rest an unidentified upper body ailment.  Ovechkin joins the ranks of Mike Green, Eric Fehr, Jason Arnott, Tom Poti and John Erskine -- stalwarts all -- on the Caps injury list.
It's no secret Ovechkin has nursed a wrist/hand injury all season long.  Back in early January, the Great

Capitals Success Dependent on Contribuions of Rookies

Entering play against the New Jersey Devils Friday night, the Washington Capitals led the NHL in minutes played by rookies this season.  It's not an insignificant statistic, as the Caps are now in a three-way tie for second most points in the league and preparing for the Stanley Cup playoffs.
It's fairly remarkable that a team that is relying so heavily on first year players -- and struggled so

GAME 73 RE-CAP: Czech Mate

There are five elements of goaltending: 1. Agility.2. Glove.3. Technique.4. Head.5. Health.Michal Neuvirth used all of these elements to his advantage Friday night, shutting out the red-hot New Jersey Devils 3-0, giving them their second consecutive loss and just about killing any remaining hope for the team from the swamps to complete their dramatic comeback attempt for a playoff spot.
Neuvirth,

GAME 72 RE-CAP: One Streak Ends...

The Washington Capitals saw their nine-game winning streak (and six-game road streak) snapped last night at the hands of the Detroit Red Wings, 3-2, in a lively, entertaining game before 20,066 at Joe Louis Arena.
The Caps and Wings played even for most of the night, but with Mike Knuble in the box for tripping midway through the third period, Henrik Zetterberg got his second goal of the night,

GAME 71 RE-CAP: MoJo Risin', Caps Win Ninth Straight

Every game the rest of the regular season is going to present the Washington Capitals with a chance to move up or down in the Eastern Conference standings.  But no team in hockey is on more of a roll, as the Caps won their ninth straight game overall -- and a team record sixth on a row on the road -- in a 4-2 win over last year's playoff nemesis Montreal Canadiens before a raucous crowd at the

GAME 68 RE-CAP: Caps Win Sixth Straight as Holtby Shuts Out Oilers

The Washington Capitals needed a game like this.
Before another capacity crowd, the Capitals finally looked like, well, the Capitals, unleashing a 5-0 shutout on the unsuspecting Edmonton Oilers, winning their sixth straight game in the process.  It's the first time since Jan. 14 the Caps have won by more than one goal.
Rookie Braden Holtby, making his tenth NHL start, blanked the

GAME 67 RE-CAP: Caps Outlast Bolts, Inch Closer to Top of Eastern Conference

Braden Holtby and the Caps celebrate a 2-1 shootout win over Tampa Bay. (C.Nichols/Caps News Network)
Don't let anyone fool you.  The Washington Capitals want to win the Southeast Division.  It's a source of pride with them, throughout the organization.  They pay lip service to the idea of making the playoffs and wanting a good seed, etc.  But they believe the Southeast Division banner belongs

GAME 66 RE-CAP: Semin Saves Father's Day



Dennis Wideman celebrates Alexander Semin's game winner against his former mates. (C.Nichols/Caps News Network)
The Washington Capitals, with their fathers and mentors on hand for the annual "Father's Trip", came to south Florida knowing that a win would give them possession of first place in the Southeast Division and draw them within four points of the Philadelphia Flyers for the top spot

GAME 65 RE-CAP: Caps Get Big Win Heading Into Statement Weekend

"You know, our fans deserve a better effort than what we've been giving them lately. Tonight we had some rough patches, but I think we played pretty well" -- Matt Bradley 
The Washington Capitals did not play particularly well last night, but they did play well enough to defeat an offensively challenged St. Louis Blues team 3-2, before another sold out crowd at Verizon Center.  Coupled with the

Captials Trade Deadline Special on 106.7 The Fan

If you still haven't had enough of the activity surrounding the 2011 NHL trade deadline and the impact the acquisitions GM George McPhee made for the Washington Capitals, check out 106.7 The Fan's Caps Trade Deadline Special.
We were invited to participate, as were fellow bloggers and media members John Keeley from On Frozen Blog, Ted Starkey from The Washington Times, Brian McNally from the

Arnott's Perspective -- on Chemistry and New Linemates -- In His Words

Jason Arnott in his Washington Capitals debut. (C.Nichols/Caps News Network)
Jason Arnott, acquired at the trade deadline to help spur the Washington Capitals as they head down the stretch, said some things from the locker room last night that were very interesting, considering it was his first game with his new team. 
He addressed the topic of his linemates tonight: Brooks Laich and especially

GAME 64 RE-CAP: Caps Turn Loud Boos to Rousing Cheers with OT Win

"It's extremely disappointing to lose it in the last 47 seconds.  We battled so hard for 59 minutes.  To come away with just one point in unacceptable."  --New York Islanders goalie Nathan Lawson, who came into the game with a save percentage under 89 percent.
The Washington Capitals got out of the gate early and dominated the first ten minutes of the game with a lineup infused with three