The Washington Capitals were on ice for practice Monday morning as they prepare to take on the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night. Some updates from Kettler Capitals Iceplex:
The entire team, except Mike Green, was present for the skate. This included Jay Beagle, who is working his way back from a concussion, and Matt Hendricks, who missed most of last week with a knee injury. The fact that Green missed another practice, and has now not skated for four days in a row, officially indicates that he has had a setback in my book, regardless of what Dale Hunter or the team feels like revealing.
The lines remained the same as they were Friday night: Ovechkin-Backstrom-Semin, Brouwer-Johansson-Halpern, Chimera-Laich-Ward, and Hendricks-Eakin-Knuble-Perreault. Poor Knuble, someone get him out of the dungeons. Please.
That's all for now.
no commentsWashington Capitals (13-12-1) vs. Ottawa Senators (13-11-3)
Location: ScotiaBank Place
Time: 7:00 PM
TV: Local: Comcast SportsNet (HD) (Game On!), TSN
Radio: 1500AM, 820 AM, and XM
Previous Games:
Dec 3, 2011 OTT@WSH, 3-2 W (OT)
Games Remaining:
Dec 7, 2011 WSH@OTT, 7:00 PM
Feb 22, 2012 WSH@OTT, 7:00 PM
Familiar Faces of Former Capitals: D Sergei Gonchar (654 GP, 1994-2004)
Former Senators: Brooks Laich (1 GP, 2004)
Opposing Viewpoints:
Our Bloguin Partner: The 6th Sens, Silver Seven
The Washington Capitals were on ice Tuesday morning as they work towards building consistency following another poor showing Monday night against the Panthers. Some updates from BankAtlantic Center:
Matt Hendricks missed practice with an undisclosed lower-body injury. Per a team spokesman, he is day-to-day; he only played 4:22 last night and did not see the ice at all in the third period. As such, Dale Hunter had to shake up his lines: Ovechkin-Backstrom-Semin, Brouwer-Johannson-Halpern, Chimera-Laich-Ward, and Eakin-Perreault-Knuble.
Roman Hamrlik skated again; he has missed the last three games with a lower body injury. No word on whether or not he will be able to play Wednesday night in Ottawa.
That's all for now.
Information from Steve Whyno was used in this post.
no commentsWashington Capitals (13-11-1) at Florida Panthers (14-8-4)
Location: BankAtlantic Center
Time: 7:30 PM
TV: Comcast SportsNet (HD) (Game On!), NHL Network
Radio: 1500AM, 820 AM, and XM
Previous Games:
Oct 18, 2011 FLA@WSH, 3-0 W
Games Remaining:
Feb 1, 2012 WSH@FLA, 8:00 PM
Feb 7, 2012 FLA@WSH, 7:00 PM
Feb 17, 2012 WSH@FLA, 7:30 PM
Apr 5, 2012 FLA@WSH, 7:00 PM
Familiar Faces of Former Capitals: G Jose Theodore (104 GP, 2008-10), RW Matt Bradley (427 GP, 2005-11), LW Tomas Fleischmann (283 GP, 2005-10), LW Marco Sturm (18 GP, 2010)
Former Panthers: Dennis Wideman (61 GP, 2010-11), Tomas Vokoun (244 GP, 2007-11)
Opposing Viewpoints: Litter Box Cats
Who's got the wrong goalie on their homepage?
Photo from Panthers.com
Brooks Laich scored the game winning goal just 12 seconds in to overtime, Michal Neuvirth made 32 saves, and the Washington Capitals finally won a hockey game on Saturday night, knocking off the Ottawa Senators 3-2. Nicklas Backstrom and Troy Brouwer had the other goals for the Caps, who led twice and allowed the Senators to tie twice before finally putting the game away. Erik Karlsson and Milan Michalek scored for Ottawa, who lost their second in a row.
The game opened very fluidly, with chances being garnered at both ends. The Caps were able to break on top for only the second time under Dale Hunter less than two minutes in when Nicklas Backstrom beat Craig Anderson cleanly from the slot with a wristshot at 1:58. Washington continued to apply pressure as the period continued, and earned a power play after eight and a half minutes, but as per the usual, the man advantage was exceptionally poor and DC failed to extend their lead.
The Senators then earned their first power play of the game with 6:40 remaining in the frame, and despite some good pressure on Michal Neuvirth's net, DC was able to kill it off to keep the score at 1-0. Ottawa kept up their pressure as the period wound down, but the Caps were able to head into the first intermission up by one.
Ottawa only needed 58 seconds to tie the game as the second period opened, equalizing off a long point drive following a failed clearing attempt by Nicklas Backstrom. But the Caps had a chance to re-take the lead immediately with a power play. Though Washington got some good chances with their man advantage, including a breakaway by Alex Ovechkin, the score remained tied because of some nice work by Anderson. The Caps kept buzzing Anderson's net as the period continued, but they simply could not convert on any of their chances as they tried to go back on top.
no commentsFirst published on Japers Rink.
When I first heard the news of Coach Bruce Boudreau's firing from the Washington Capitals, I cursed my fortune to pick that week to go to Anaheim for my day job. As it happens, I was in the right place at the right time to witness the first game of the transformation of the Anaheim Ducks into Boudreau's attacking system. I was fortunate enough to be in the building for his first game as head coach. My main observation from that night is: for those of you who might be missing Bruce Boudreau right now, don't.
no commentsThe Washington Capitals were on ice for practice Friday morning as they prepare to try and actually win a hockey game Saturday night against the Senators. Some updates from Kettler Capitals Iceplex:
Mike Green, once again, skated for about 30 minutes before regular practice with strength and conditioning coach Mark Nemish. Green left the ice when his teammates began to do drills, and there is still no timetable on his potential return to game action.
The lines were a bit different from last night, with Mike Knuble finally moving off the fourth line to skate with Marcus Johansson and Alexander Semin on the second unit. The other three lines stayed the same: Ovechkin-Backstrom-Brouwer, Chimera-Laich-Ward, and Hendricks-Perreault-Halpern.
Roman Hamrlik was also absent from the skate with what is being called another lower body "day-to-day" injury. Maybe a not so healthy scratch, after all. Not that I'm complaining...
That's all for now.
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WASHINGTON - Jason Chimera broke double digits in goals with his tenth, but it was not enough and the Capitals continued their free fall in the Eastern Conference standings with a 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night. Washington was totally shut down by the Penguins' suffocating defensive system and Alex Ovechkin was held pointless again. Ho-hum.
The game got off to a high-energy, spirited start, with both teams coming out hard, attempting to set the tone of a physical game. But the Penguins, as many could have predicted, were the first team to strike after the Caps were thoroughly outworked in their own zone, as Craig Adams finished a nice pass from behind the net to put Pittsburgh up 1-0 after five minutes. The Pens continued to dominate as early part of the period wore on, and earned a power play at the midway mark when Cody Eakin was sent off for high sticking. Washington killed the penalty, and were able to use their successful shorthanded play to generate some turnovers, but completely lacked finish as they tried to equalize. The period closed with the Penguins ahead 1-0.
The hosts came out harder in the second period, forechecking well and holding the Pens in their zone for good stretches of time. Washington was able to tie it up less than two minutes into the period, as Jason Chimera walked out from the corner, put a great move on a defender, and backhanded the puck over Marc-Andre Fleury's shoulder from in tight. The Caps continued to pressure and got a few good chances, none better than a one-time opportunity at a wide open net by Nicklas Backstrom that Fleury somehow got with the thin part of his stick while coming across the face of goal.
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Through 23 games, the team's number one center is the leading scorer, even if his plus/minus isn't impressive. He is coming off a sub-par season after a 30+goal, 101-point season the year before. As a top draft pick, he has the pedigree and potential to take over games, and indeed, the entire NHL. The team isn't doing too bad in the grand scheme of things, still in playoff position, but they are on the cusp of a major shakeup.
I am of course talking about the 2005-06 Boston Bruins just before they traded Joe Thornton to the San Jose Sharks. Through 23 games, Jumbo Joe had 9 goals and 33 points but just an even defensive rating. Starting Game 24, as a newly minted Shark with a sniper on his wing that went on to win the Rocket Richard Trophy, Thornton posted 20 goals, 92 points, and a +31 rating in his final 58 games. Even though he didn't break 30 goals and the Sharks didn't break 100 points or win their division, Thornton still won the scoring title and the Hart Trophy as most valuable player, despite his Rocket Richard-winning linemate, Jonathan Cheechoo.
Up until Game 24, everything else there applies to Nicklas Backstrom this season. Backstrom sits tied for 7th in the NHL in scoring with 8 goals and 26 points, just 6 points behind the leader. He's got a -6 rating, but the team is going through a major shakeup with a new defensive-minded coach in Dale Hunter. He's got a struggling two-time Rocket Richard trophy winner on his wing, and Alex Ovechkin might just wake up under this new system and lead the NHL in goals again, which can only help Backstrom's already impressive production. In short, the stage is set for Nicklas Backstrom to take the NHL by storm, and if he leads the NHL in scoring, gets his +/- rating up, and the Caps finish the season within sight of the Southeast Division crown, this could be the year he wins the Hart Trophy as league MVP.
no commentsWashington Capitals (12-10-1) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (14-7-4)
Location: Verizon Center
Time: 7:00 PM
TV: Comcast SportsNet (HD) (Game On!), NHL Network
Radio: 1500AM, 820 AM, and XM
Previous Games:
Oct 13, 2011 WAS@PIT, 3-2 W (OT)
Games Remaining:
Jan 11, 2012 PIT@WSH, 7:30 PM
Jan 22, 2012 WSH@PIT, 3:00 PM
Familiar Faces of Former Capitals: G Brent Johnson (96 GP, 2005-09), LW Matt Cooke (17 GP, 2008)
Former Penguins: Assistant Coach Jim Johnson (390 GP, 1985-90)
Opposing Viewpoints:
Our Bloguin Partner: The Pensblog
Our friends at: City of Champions Sports
Which Penguins will get a sweater tonight?
