GrantPaulsen

Game 7: Calm Before the Storm

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I got to the Verizon Center two hours before tonight’s game and when I showed up, the atmosphere outside of the building was already electric. There were marching bands, men on stilts, people painting their faces, and of course – an overabundance of both red and facial hair. Both teams are on the ice working … Read more

We’ve Got A Series

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It took a scintillating performance from a goaltender who isn’t even old enough to drink and a pair of goals from the second best Alex on the team, but the Washington Capitals finally found a way to beat the New York Rangers.

Simeon Varlamov, who was making just his seventh career start and second of the playoffs, couldn’t have been sharper in his inaugural road playoff appearance. The young Russian spent the early part of the first-period turning away shots while the fans at Madison Square Garden showered him with taunting chants.

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Varlamov Gets the Call

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Simeon Varlamov is starting in net for the Washington Capitals in game 2 of their first round series against the New York Rangers. Varlamov, only 20-years-old, has only started five games as an NHL goal-tender.

The move was made just four days after Jose Theodore, Washington’s starting goalie throughout the season, struggled in a 4-3 loss. Theodore’s lackluster effort was cited — by both fans and the local media — as the reason for Washington’s game-one loss.

Varlamov has played well and seems to take better angles and move better in the net than Thedoroe, but his sample size as an NHL net-minder is miniscule. There was a sense of shock in the press box when Varlamov, and not Theodore, led the Capitals on to the ice in warmups.

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Caps Tie Up The Race

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George McPhee isn’t one to show his emotions, and when he does, he isn’t normally smiling. Even a poker-faced executive like McPhee, the General Manager of the scalding Washington Capitals, couldn’t help being joyous as he watched his team skate to a 4-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes last night. With the win the Capitals, … Read more

Green Emerging As A Star

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When Alexander Ovechkin netted his fourth goal of the night in overtime to give Washington an exciting 5-4 win over Montreal on Thursday, it was obvious to all in attendance who the Capitals’ fan-favorite was; but there’s a new one emerging. Mike Green, arguably the game’s most improved player, has become one of Washington’s most … Read more

Caps Club ‘Canes

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It didn’t take the Washington Capitals long to give the home-crowd at the Verizon Center something to cheer about on Saturday night. Within a minute of the game’s opening face-off the Caps had registered two board-rattling hits. Each of the hits, dished out by Brian Sutherby and Alex Ovechkin respectively, resulted in a Carolina Hurricane … Read more