Capitals Turn Up Intensity in Shootout Win Over Buffalo

With every pre-season game that passes, the Washington Capitals have turned up the intensity a little bit each time.  Last night against the Buffalo Sabres, before a not-quite packed house at Verizon Center, they did so again in beating the Sabres 4-3 in a six-round shootout.
Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Green and Matt Hendricks all scored in regular time and Tomas Vokoun made 21 saves on 24 shots to

Capitals re-sign Jason Chimera

The Washington Capitals announced Thursday via press release they re-signed winger Jason Chimera to a two-year deal, which runs through the 2013-14 season.  Terms were not disclosed in accordance with team policy, but several outlets report the deal is worth a total of $3.5 million, resulting in a salary cap hit of $1.75 million per year.
The speedy Chimera plays regularly on the Caps third line

About the White Nets

Nobody likes change.  Especially a change that has little-to-no warning.  Double-especially on a change to a product or service after it has been paid for.  Sometimes change can be for the good, sometimes... not so much.
Last night at Verizon Center, a pre-season hockey game between the Washington Capitals and Columbus Blue Jackets took place.  The Caps beat a Jackets team comprised mostly of

McPhee's Comments on NHL Realignment

Most of the Capitals Convention Saturday was about autographs, fan interaction with the players, and reuniting with old friends and making new ones.  But during the panel discussions there was some pretty decent information passed along if you were willing to pay attention.
One such case was in GM George McPhee's panel in the morning.  Once known as "The Undertaker", McPhee has gotten really good

Very Quick Impressions from CapsCon

Here are some very quick, incomplete and probably incoherent impressions of CapsCon today at the Convention Center.
1)  If the President of the United States is speaking in the same venue that 6,000-plus hockey fans are, someone may want to increase security.
2)  Also, he may want to pay his proper respects at Verizon Center at some point.  Just sayin'.
3)  Kevin Kaminski is more giving of his

First Annual Caps Alumni Game Kicks off Convention

The retired heroes of Washington Capitals' teams past walked by on their way to the locker rooms like a parade of memories. Don Beaupre. Calle Johansson. Mike Gartner, carrying a Toronto Maple Leafs equipment bag. Mark Lofthouse, who wore No. 8 before it was cool. Peter Bondra. The list went on and on.
For anyone that grew up on these names, these players, it was a thrill seeing them at

Boudreau Juggling Lines in the Pre-Season

I don't blame all the breathless Tweeting and posting from Kettler this week about how Bruce Boudreau is tinkering with possible line combinations.  We're all excited for the return of hockey and unless there's an injury or trade there's not much else to write about during a practice from training camp. 
Knuble's on the second line?  Johansson is still with Ovi!  Ward could play first or third

Capitals Cut 13 Players from Training Camp

The Washington Capitals cut 13 players this morning from training camp before travelling to Columbus for tonight's pre-season game with the Blue Jackets.
Among the cuts were Stan Galiev, who had a strong camp, and Danick Paquette, who was acquired in the off-season trade with Winnipeg for Eric Fehr.
Galiev was sent back to St. John of the QMJHL, his junior team, after a strong showing in both the

Caps Slush Through Baltimore Hockey "Classic"

The best thing to say about the Washington Capitals 2-0 loss to the Nashville Predators at the Baltimore Civic Center 1st Mariner Arena, is that no one got hurt due to the ice surface.
By all accounts of those that witnessed the event in person, the ice was soft, cracked, and pooling with water all night long.  The new voice of the Capitals, radio play-by-play man John Walton, remarked at every

Tomas Vokoun Gets Down to Business with Capitals

“When they tell me to play, I’m gonna go on the ice and gonna play the best that I can.”


Of all the new faces on the Washington Capitals this season, none is more experienced — and perhaps none more under the microscope — than 35-year old netminder Tomas Vokoun. Vokoun has toiled his entire career 13-year NHL career for bottom-dwelling teams, first during the infancy of the Nashville Predators,

Quick Hits from Day One of Caps Training Camp



Yes, some were sucking wind during the first day of camp. (photo by Cheryl Nichols)

We'll have plenty of quotes in a longer post later on, but here are some quick observations from Day 1 of the Washington Capitals  2011 Training Camp.  Everyone (including us) has been talking about the shaving cream pie in the face Alex Ovechkin received from some of his running mates for his birthday, but

Photos: Ovi's Birthday Shaving Cream Pie

After the first day of Caps training camp, several of the players spoke to the media. Alex Ovechkin was near the end of his comments when Nicklas Backstrom and Brooks Laich decided to give Ovi a shaving cream pie in the face for this 26th birthday! And apparently, teammates had already given Ovi one in the locker room so this was the second one of the day. 

Here are photos of the fun, including

Capitals to Wear Third Sweater Select Road Games

The Washington Capitals announced this morning via press release they will be wearing the Winter Classic uniforms for 16 select road games in the upcoming season.  We cannot applaud this move enough.
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals will wear a third jersey modeled after their 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic jersey for 16 select road games during the 2011-12 season, vice president

Capitals Fall to Flyers 3-2 in Rookie Game

In the grand scheme of things, the vast majority of the players on the ice today will never wear a sweater in an NHL game.  But for the rookies and free agent invitees that donned Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers gear for the annual rookie game, this game meant a lot to whether or not they would be gainfully employed playing for those respective organizations when camp breaks.
And for

Is It October Yet?

It's been quite a summer, eh Caps fans?
First, it started way too early.  Then GM George McPhee re-signed the most expensive roadside assistance technician, traded all of his draft picks and former starting playoff goalie and acquired a quarter of this season's roster in 24 hours.  For good measure, he locked up a cornerstone on the blue line for a fraction of market value.
There was a good 

Capitals Announce Training Camp Schedule and Roster

The Washington Capitals announced their training camp schedule and roster via press release today:
Every practice open and free to the public

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals will begin their 2011-12 Training Camp at Kettler Capitals Iceplex on Saturday, Sept. 17, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.
Training camp will last 19 days with the NHL regular

John Carlson Throws First Pitch at Nats Game

(D.Nichols/Caps News Network)
Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson threw out the honorary first pitch before the first game of a doubleheader between the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers Thursday afternoon.  Luckily for all, there was a long enough break in the rain, at least downtown, for the event to not get washed out.
Carlson spoke to a few reporters from the press

Caps Announce Rookie Camp Schedule and Roster

Capitals Announce Rookie Camp Schedule and Roster
Every practice open and free to the public
ARLINGTON, Va. – Capitals rookies will take to the ice at Kettler Capitals Iceplex next week for the 2011 Washington Capitals rookie camp, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.

Several players will participate in rookie camp, which begins Sunday, Sept. 11, with a 10:30 a.m.

Ovechkin Signs Partnership with Bauer Hockey

Photos from the Press Conference:All Photos ©Cheryl Nichols Photography/CapsNewsNetwork

New Voice of Washington Capitals John Walton
Alex Ovechkin speaking to media
CEO Bauer Hockey Kevin Davis

Caps Care donated $25,000 to Potomac Valley Amateur Hockey Association
Ovechkin, Davis and George McPhee with the kids from PVAHA
Alex offered up his stool to Ted Leonsis and Ted declined
Ovi and Ted