Updated news releases from the Washington Capitals
10/09/08
New Season, New Tricks – With the AHL season now underway, the Hershey Bears showed they will be a force with a commanding 8-4 victory over the Wilkes-Bare/Scranton Penguins Wednesday night. Hershey had all three stars of the game, with first star Graham Mink (3g, 2a), second star Keith Aucoin (1g, 4a) and third star Alexandre Giroux (1g, 2a) leading a balanced offensive attack. A number of future Capitals were on display, as Hershey continues to play an important role for the Caps in the development of players. Seven current Capitals (John Erskine, Eric Fehr, Tomas Fleischmann, Boyd Gordon, Mike Green, Jeff Schultz and David Steckel) plus head coach Bruce Boudreau spent time with the Bears before making their way to Washington .
The Capitals play three games over the course of this upcoming weekend. They will be raising the Southeastern Division Championship Banner Saturday night before their game versus Chicago.
All fans attending the game will recieve a minature replica of the banner and are encouraged to "rock the red"!
“If you grow up in metro Washington, you grow up a diehard Redskins fan. But if you hate your parents, you grow up a Cowboys fan.”-Jim Lachey
The more things stay the same, the more they change – The puck drops on Washington’s 2008-09 season tonight in Atlanta – the same place where last year’s campaign began – and the Capitals will field a roster with only two players who didn’t take the ice in last year’s opener. But that’s where the parallels end. The defending Southeast Division champions are an example of how quickly things can change in pro sports, as they enter this season with a new coach, new expectations, three former Hart Trophy winners (they had none a year ago) and a sense that they can accomplish something special. It all begins with three games in the next four nights, first in Atlanta and then back in Washington for games tomorrow and Monday.
“If you grow up in metro Washington, you grow up a diehard Redskins fan. But if you hate your parents, you grow up a Cowboys fan.”-Jim Lachey
With all due respect to the Capitals - the 'extra' two hart trophy winners are Segei Fedorov - who won it FOURTEEN YEARS AGO and Jose Theodore, who IMO, may now actually be the weakest link in their chain.
That isn't to say that I don't see the Caps doing even bigger and better things this season - I do. I just don't see it being because of either of those two players specifically. Fedorov will contribute no doubt - but not in a Hart-like manner.
I'll be happy if Theodore could find HALF the form that he had in 2000-2001 when he won the Hart in Montreal.
This team needs to rely on the youth that haven't won any trophies yet.
And of course Ovechkin will play the role he always does - and compete for the Hart again in 2008/2009 - after all, he's the best all around hockey player on the globe.
Would love to see Mike Green continue off where he finished last year and be in the running for the Norris... although Lidstrom has won 6 of the last 7, so it would seem an uphill battle as long as he's still playing - and its tough to argue that the guy deserves every one of them.
Sean Taylor was one of a kind, may he rest in peace.
Bob 0119 wrote:Personally, I think the thing I'm most interested to see this year is Ovie on the PK.
He seemed to do pretty good with it during the pre-season, maybe we'll see more shorties this year!
Didn't Boudreau nix Ovechkin playing PK late in the preseason after Alex got a puck off the foot blocking a shot?
And after last night's game - I'd say my above assessment of Theodore was pretty accurate... well, if you could actually judge ANYTHING from one game. Since you can't - we'll just have to hope that he can improve his play... it wasn't very good against Atlanta.
Sean Taylor was one of a kind, may he rest in peace.
And after last night's game - I'd say my above assessment of Theodore was pretty accurate... well, if you could actually judge ANYTHING from one game. Since you can't - we'll just have to hope that he can improve his play... it wasn't very good against Atlanta.
I only saw the highlights on the NHL channel, but it looked like he did not even bother to play the shot on the fourth goal Atlanta scored.
It will be interesting tonight with Huet between the pipes for Chicago.
Bruce has the authority. When Bruce makes the decision, it's a Redskins decision.
Theodore looked better Saturday night in the second and third period. It was starting to look pretty grim when he gave up a goal 30 seconds in and had given up two by the end of the first, but he settled in and played great in periods 2 and 3.
Boudreau is still putting Ovie on both the PP and PK lines. Ovie was on the PK several times last night and I believe it will pay off later in the season. The Caps on the PK with Ovie look like they are actually on the power-play (at least they did last night).
“If you grow up in metro Washington, you grow up a diehard Redskins fan. But if you hate your parents, you grow up a Cowboys fan.”-Jim Lachey
Boudreau is still putting Ovie on both the PP and PK lines. Ovie was on the PK several times last night and I believe it will pay off later in the season. The Caps on the PK with Ovie look like they are actually on the power-play (at least they did last night).
I wish they would move him off the PK unit. It makes me cringe everytime he goes to block a shot.
Bruce has the authority. When Bruce makes the decision, it's a Redskins decision.
Mirror, mirror – The Capitals skate into Pittsburgh tonight for the first meeting of the year with the team that Washington is often compared to. Built around a superstar and several other high draft picks – much like the Capitals – the Penguins reached the Stanley Cup final last year. Games against Washington ’s former Patrick Division rival always get the spotlight, but even more could be on the line this year as these two teams figure to be among the elite in the Eastern Conference.
“If you grow up in metro Washington, you grow up a diehard Redskins fan. But if you hate your parents, you grow up a Cowboys fan.”-Jim Lachey
Sorry, I've missed alot. Had a family emergency to attend to. Here's a recap of what I missed.
The Caps beat the Pens in Pittsburgh (a rarity)
The Caps recalled Chris Bourque from Hershey on Friday.
The Caps played a good game versus the Devils, but lost in an overtime shoot-out moving their record to 3-1-1.
Here's the latest news from the Caps this morning.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 20, 2008
Capitals Recall Tyler Sloan from Hershey
ARLINGTON, Va., – The Washington Capitals have recalled defenseman Tyler Sloan from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.
Sloan, 27, is a seventh-year pro who is in his third season with the Bears. He skated in the first five games this season – all Hershey victories – and has recorded three assists. He played 124 games with Hershey the past two seasons combined after making his debut with the club during its run to the Calder Cup championship in the 2006 AHL playoffs.
A 6’4”, 203-pound native of Calgary , Alberta , Sloan has played 362 career games at the AHL and ECHL levels but has yet to make his NHL debut. He will travel with the Capitals to his hometown today and be eligible to make his debut tomorrow night against the Calgary Flames. Sloan would wear No. 89 for the Capitals.
Sloan, who signed with the Capitals as a free agent on July 2, was a teammate of Capitals defenseman Shaone Morrisonn with the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League (WHL), where he played for two seasons.
“If you grow up in metro Washington, you grow up a diehard Redskins fan. But if you hate your parents, you grow up a Cowboys fan.”-Jim Lachey
Home away from home – Washington begins its second-longest road trip of the season today, but it will be familiar territory for a number of Capitals. When the team touches down in Calgary this afternoon, a handful of Caps will feel like they’ve come home. Among them:
Mike Green – the top goal scoring defenseman in the NHL is a Calgary native
Jeff Schultz – the Caps’ third-year defenseman is a Calgary native who played junior hockey for the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen
Tyler Sloan – a Calgary native who was recalled this morning and has yet to make his NHL debut
Chris Clark – a former Calgary Flame who was a member of the Western Conference championship team in 2004
Michael Nylander – played parts of five seasons with the Flames
Dean Evason – the Caps’ assistant coach is a former coach of the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen
“If you grow up in metro Washington, you grow up a diehard Redskins fan. But if you hate your parents, you grow up a Cowboys fan.”-Jim Lachey
A dramatic debut – Like Houdini stepping back inside his Chinese Water Torture Cell, Alex Ovechkin returns to Jobing.com Arena today for the first time since “The Goal” made him a YouTube sensation. Ovechkin was well on his way to the Calder Trophy when the Caps visited what was Glendale Arena on Jan. 16, 2006. His second goal of that afternoon was viewed more than 100,000 times in the next week on the Capitals’ website alone.
“If you grow up in metro Washington, you grow up a diehard Redskins fan. But if you hate your parents, you grow up a Cowboys fan.”-Jim Lachey
Net results – Washington has dropped back-to-back games (one in a shootout), but goaltending hasn’t been a concern in either one. Jose Theodore and Brent Johnson have combined to turn aside 60 of the last 65 shots they have faced (.923 save percentage) and are both on top of their games entering tonight’s meeting with Phoenix . In fact, each has an identical .933 save percentage in their last five periods of play. While Washington’s power play (one for its last 17) and offense in general (four goals in two games) work their way back into form, it helps head coach Bruce Boudreau to know that he can expect a solid performance from whatever goaltender he turns to.
Note of the Night
The Russian is coming – Sergei Fedorov, who has points in four straight games (1g-3a), tied the NHL record for career goals by a Russian-born player with his 473rd Tuesday in Calgary . Fedorov already holds the record for points and assists by a Russian player.
Most Career Goals, Russian-Born Players
1. Sergei Fedorov 473
Alexander Mogilny 473
3. Pavel Bure 437
Most Career Points, Russian-Born Players
1. Sergei Fedorov 1,151
2. Alexander Mogilny 1,032
3. Alex Kovalev 876
Most Career Assists, Russian-Born Players
1. Sergei Fedorov 678
2. Sergei Zubov 617
3. Alexander Mogilny 559
Settling in – Capitals goaltenders Brent Johnson and Jose Theodore both have save percentages below .890, but they have been solid lately. In their last two games, both have save percentage above .900 (Johnson at .915, Theodore at .907). In their last five periods of work each has an identical .933 save percentage (42 saves, 3 GA each).
On the Job – Washington 's last visit to Jobing.com Arena (then Glendale Arena) produced one of the most memorable moments in franchise history. Alex Ovechkin scored what came to be known as "The Goal," creating an Internet sensation in the process. It was his second goal of the game, a 6-1 Capitals win, and his 32nd of the season, which tied Bob Carpenter for the club record by a rookie. Ovechkin went on to score 20 more goals for a 52-goal, 106-point rookie season.
Powerless – After going 4-for-15 (26.7%) on the power play in their first three games of the season, the Capitals are 1-for-17 (5.9%) since. Washington ranks 16th in the league with a 15.6% power play after finishing 10th in the NHL last year (18.8%).
Positive thoughts – Sergei Fedorov and Alexander Semin, both +1 Tuesday night, improved to +7 for the season, which is tied for second in the NHL (through Tuesday's games). Semin was -18 last year and has never finished a season as a plus player; Fedorov has the best career plus/minus rating (+264) of any active forward, but hasn't had a positive season since 2002-03.
Dig deeper – Washington , which averaged more than four goals per game in its first four outings, has been held to four goals combined in its last two games.
“If you grow up in metro Washington, you grow up a diehard Redskins fan. But if you hate your parents, you grow up a Cowboys fan.”-Jim Lachey
Just Laich that – Although Washington’s offense has struggled of late, producing a single goal in back-to-back 2-1 losses, forward Brooks Laich has enjoyed a strong start. The Caps’ goal scorer last night, Laich has five points through seven games after recording less than a point every two games last season. Laich has also seen a spike in his ice time from an average of 14:02 last year to 17:28 in 2008-09. Laich has, in many ways, picked up his game precisely where it left off in the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs, when he had a goal and five assists in seven games and averaged 18:36 of ice time.
“If you grow up in metro Washington, you grow up a diehard Redskins fan. But if you hate your parents, you grow up a Cowboys fan.”-Jim Lachey
Sorry about the lack of updates, I was out of town. Did I miss anything?
11/3/08
Today’s Storyline
Alex is back – Alex Ovechkin returned to Washington , D.C. , Sunday after spending six days in Russia with his ailing grandfather. The Capitals should have the reigning league MVP back on the ice for practice at 10:30 a.m. and in the lineup tomorrow night in Ottawa . Washington was 1-1-0 in Ovechkin’s absence and certainly welcomes his offensive ability and leadership back to the lineup after a difficult 5-0 loss at Buffalo Saturday night, the team’s worst loss since a similar 5-0 loss at Chicago on March 19.
“If you grow up in metro Washington, you grow up a diehard Redskins fan. But if you hate your parents, you grow up a Cowboys fan.”-Jim Lachey
Alex is back – Washington’s offense has been hot and cold through the first 10 games – scoring at least four goals six times but being held to one or scoreless on three occasions. Coming off their first shutout of the year, tonight’s big test in Ottawa will be to see if Washington’s offense can reload (as it has in the past; see “Note of the Night” below) or if hot Senators goaltender Alex Auld can keep the Capitals’ big guns in check. Washington has the benefit of welcoming back the league’s leading scorer and MVP from a season ago, Alex Ovechkin, who will play tonight for the first time since Oct. 25.
Note of the Night
Blanked, then back – Saturday night marked the fifth time in head coach Bruce Boudreau's tenure that the Capitals have been shutout. The previous four times, they rebounded to win the next game each time and scored five, five, four and five goals, respectively, in the process. After Washington 's last shutout loss, March 19 at Chicago , the team reeled off wins in its next seven games to close out the regular season.
Five More Notes No Media Person Should be Without
Ovi's return – Left wing Alex Ovechkin returns to the Washington lineup after missing two games to spend time with his ailing grandfather in Russia . The reigning NHL MVP has played in 253 of 256 games in his career, and the Capitals are 1-2-0 without him.
Sasha's start – Alexander Semin's 16 points through 10 games match the most points by a Capital through 10 games (Dale Hunter had 1-15-16 in 1991-92) and earned him the NHL's First Star of the Month for October. Semin is the first Capital other than Alex Ovechkin to be named the league's player of the month since Robert Lang (Nov. 2003) and just the sixth all-time (joining Ovechkin, Lang, Olie Kolzig, Jim Carey and Mike Gartner).
In addition to Semin’s honor, Capitals prospect Keith Aucoin of the Hershey Bears was named the American Hockey League’s Player of the Month for October.
Vote for a win – Washington has played on the same day of a U.S. Presidential election just once before: Nov. 3, 1992, when the Caps beat Chicago, 4-1, in a neutral-site game in Indianapolis while Bill Clinton was elected over George H.W. Bush.
Senator supremacy – Washington has won seven of its last nine meetings with Ottawa , including a 4-0-0 mark last season. That marked the first time since 2000-01 that the Capitals won the season series and the first time since 1995-96 that Washington swept the series. Washington outscored Ottawa 22-12 last year and had a 33.3% success rate on the power play (six-for-18). Alex Ovechkin scored six goals and 10 points, including a four-goal, five-point night on Dec. 29 in Ottawa .
Almost exactly a year ago, Nov. 8, 2007, the Capitals were 5-9-1 when they came to Scotiabank Place and beat the 13-1-0 Senators, 4-1. Nicklas Backstrom's first career goal proved to be the game-winner.
Homeward bound – Tonight is the Capitals' 11th game, their seventh on the road. Only Boston and Vancouver have played more road games to this point. The Capitals will play four of their next five at home, however, where they are 9-0-1 in their last 10 regular-season games.
“If you grow up in metro Washington, you grow up a diehard Redskins fan. But if you hate your parents, you grow up a Cowboys fan.”-Jim Lachey
A divisional game? – Washington opened the season with a Southeast Division game at Atlanta , but since then it has not seen any of their four divisional opponents. That changes tonight when the Caps host the Carolina Hurricanes. Washington plays Carolina and Tampa Bay next week as well, but they do not face Florida until Dec. 2. Washington has gone 10 games without playing an opponent from their own division. They will also have a 10-game absence from divisional play from Dec. 10-30, but their longest such streak this season will be from Jan. 3-Feb. 5 when they play 14 straight against opponents from outside the Southeast.
Note of the Night
Divide and conquer – Washington has played two games against every division in the NHL except its own, the Southeast Division, which it hasn't faced since opening night in Atlanta . Tonight's game is the second against the Southeast on the slate and starts a stretch in which three out of four games are inside the division. Starting tonight Washington will play 23 of its remaining 59 games (40%) against Southeast Division teams. Washington was 18-11-3 against the Southeast last season.
Five More Notes No Media Person Should be Without
On the spot – Brent Johnson is 1-0-2 with a 1.90 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage in his three starts this season. His 42-save effort Tuesday in Ottawa improved his numbers against the Senators in his career to 1.89 and .944. Johnson has a .919 career save percentage against Carolina and last year posted a 1.56 GAA and .938 save percentage in two appearances against the Hurricanes.
Sweet home – The Capitals return home tonight for their fifth home game of the season; only Edmonton , Detroit and Carolina have played fewer. The Capitals will play four of their next five at home, where they are 9-0-1 in their last 10 regular-season games.
In a Flash – Tomas Fleischmann scored the Capitals' goal Tuesday in Ottawa , his fourth of the year through just 11 games. That's a shade below a 30-goal pace for Fleischmann, who totaled 14 goals in his first 118 games in the league. All four of Fleischmann's goals and five of his six points have come on the road. The team is 3-0-1 when he has a point.
Improving kill – The Capitals have killed off 36 of their last 41 shorthanded situations (87.8%), including a five-on-three for 1:57 and a double minor on Tuesday night. The Capitals now rank 15th in the league on the penalty kill (through Tuesday's games) after starting the season with just a 70.8% success rate through four games.
Sasha's start – Alexander Semin's 17 points through 11 games are the most points by a Capital through 11 games and helped earn him the NHL's First Star of the Month for October. Semin is the first Capital other than Alex Ovechkin to be named the league's player of the month since Robert Lang (Nov. 2003) and just the sixth all-time (joining Ovechkin, Lang, Olie Kolzig, Jim Carey and Mike Gartner).
In addition to Semin's honor, Capitals prospect Keith Aucoin of the Hershey Bears was named the American Hockey League's Player of the Month.
“If you grow up in metro Washington, you grow up a diehard Redskins fan. But if you hate your parents, you grow up a Cowboys fan.”-Jim Lachey
Olie the Goalie back in D.C. – Former Capital and current Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Olie Kolzig returns to Verizon Center tonight for the first time since signing a free-agent contract with the Bolts this summer. Kolzig was the Caps first choice (19th overall) in the 1989 Entry Draft and owns 12 Washington goaltending records: most seasons (16), most games (711), most minutes (41,259), most wins (301), most losses (293), most ties (63), most shutouts (35), most goals against (1,860), highest save percentage (.906), most shots faced (19,873), most saves made (18,013) and most assists (17). Tonight is the first of six meetings between the Caps and Lightning this season.
Note of the Night
On the spot – Brent Johnson, one of the three stars in each of the last three games, is 3-0-2 with a 1.75 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage in his five starts this season. He's 2-0-1 with a 1.63 GAA and a .953 save percentage in these last three games, the first time he has made three consecutive starts since March 2007. His overall GAA and save percentage both rank sixth in the NHL (through Saturday's games).
Since Nov. 1 of last season, Johnson is 9-6-4 with a 2.33 GAA and a .919 save percentage. Those numbers improve to 9-3-3, 2.19 and .925 when he has started for head coach Bruce Boudreau .
Double trouble – Alexander Semin is the only player in the NHL entering Sunday's games with twice as many points as any teammate (Semin has 21; three Capitals are tied for second on the team with nine points).
Cooking at home – The Capitals are 5-0-1 at Verizon Center this season, one of four NHL teams without a regulation loss at home and the only one in the Eastern Conference (through Thursday's games). Washington is 11-0-1 in its last 12 regular-season home games, dating back to March 9, 2008.
The Capitals have welcomed an average of 17,644 to their first six home games this season a 24.5% increase in average attendance from its first six games of last season (14,173).
Start me up – Washington has scored two first-period goals four times this year and won each of those games. Washington is 2-2-1 when it has been held scoreless in the first period.
Former practice target – Should Olie Kolzig take the ice tonight for Tampa Bay , it would mark the first time since Dec. 16, 2003, that the Capitals have faced one of their former goaltenders. That night ex-Cap Byron Dafoe allowed five goals on 29 Washington shots in a 5-0 shutout at Philips Arena in Atlanta .
Familiar faces – If you ranked both rosters in tonight's game by career games played with the Washington Capitals, the top three would all be on the Lightning: Olie Kolzig (711 games), Jeff Halpern (438) and Matt Pettinger (334). Steve Eminger (212) would rank ninth, just beaten out by Alex Ovechkin (256), Shaone Morrisonn (249), Brooks Laich (245), Matt Bradley (221) and Boyd Gordon (215).
“If you grow up in metro Washington, you grow up a diehard Redskins fan. But if you hate your parents, you grow up a Cowboys fan.”-Jim Lachey
Caps hung in that game last night in San Jose for about 10 minutes. But looked overwhelmed from then on. No one wants to lose 7-2, but with the mounting injury's the west coast road trip, you could see it happening. Hope Semin and Green get back on the ice soon and Feds is ok. Big game tonight to salvage .500 for the swing.
Bruce has the authority. When Bruce makes the decision, it's a Redskins decision.
MDSKINSFAN wrote:The Caps wont go very far this year with the two goalies they have right now
The problem hasn't been with the goalies though. The goalies have been playing pretty well for the most part but you can't let a team create a shooting gallery, you've got to get in there and get a turnover.
The biggest problem the Caps have had is that they get clogged up in the nuetral zone and forced out to the boards. They don't break out; they try and create while on nuetral ice and typically wind up dumping the puck in and playing the forecheck.
They also seem to not pay attention to the penalty clock. I have seen more breakaways happen when a penalty expires and the recently released player is in behind the defense all alone.
“If you grow up in metro Washington, you grow up a diehard Redskins fan. But if you hate your parents, you grow up a Cowboys fan.”-Jim Lachey
