Breaking News

Per Mike's suggestion, The Rink is now armed with a breaking news sound effect which is, unto itself, breaking news.

Carnival of the NHL #18

The Carnival of the NHL has reached the age of majority today, so head on over to Abel to Yzerman to check out the 18th edition and enjoy the prominent placement of one of The Rink's last interesting pieces.

Tuesday Roundup/Gameday: Caps @ Isles

[WashingtonCaps.com Preview - AP Preview]

The Caps have recalled defenseman Mike Green from Hershey. The third of three Caps first round picks in the 2004 entry draft, Green leads all rookie defensemen in the AHL with 25 points (5-20-25) in 38 games this season and has a plus-4 rating to go along with 65 penalty minutes. For more on Green's current shot with the big club, check out today's WaPo and WTimes.

For a look at the dollars-and-cents side of things, the Washington Business Journal has an article on the Caps in its current issue. Included therein:

The Capitals are sitting on a gold mine of talent in the rookie Ovechkin. Combined with a revamped marketing plan, a new practice facility and a regional push for more fans, the team is hoping to reclaim a prominent spot among the area's sports franchises.

Finally, on a programming note, due to what I'm sure will be an appropriately humble and respectful (not to mention eloquent and flawlessly-delivered) State of the Union Address tonight, the Caps game which was to air locally on NewsChannel8 won't. To see if your cable system will be carrying the game elsewhere on their system, check here.

In other news around the League:

• A day after the Preds plucked Mike Sillinger from the St. Louis Blues roster it was the Carolina Hurricanes' turn, as they acquired Doug Weight for what will be a very late-first round pick, a couple of fourth rounders, a future career AHLer, a thug and a Swede who has no intention of ever playing on this side of the pond. With injuries to Matt Cullen and Cory Stillman (among others), Carolina had become a little thin up front, so adding Weight certainly helps (get it?), and the price was right. Further, once healthy, Carolina will be very strong down the middle, with Eric Staal, Weight and Rod Brind'Amour. Are the 'Canes poised to make a deep run in the playoffs? Have the Blues locked up the worst record in the League (last night's shootout win over Northwest Division leader Calgary notwithstanding)? Where will Keith Tkachunky end up? Stay tuned.
• Canucks stud defenseman Ed Jovanovski will be out for at least six weeks, quite possibly for the season, after undergoing abdominal surgery on Wednesday. The injury is a huge blow to both the Canucks and Team Canada (who also may be without Scott Niedermayer in Torino).
• David Vyborny and Marty Turco are the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively.
• Last night's Red Wings/Wild game provided another example of my least favorite scoring rule in hockey. Minny netminder Manny Fernandez left the game down 4-0 but Dwayne Roloson - who replaced Fernandez and played 40 minutes, giving up just one goal - was the losing goaltender as the Wild fell to the Wings 5-4. Roloson deserved better. Fernandez deserved worse (and gets a little bit of it from The Rink below).
  

Daily Awards

• Hart: Tim Thomas (44-save shutout win in Ottawa)*
• Ross: Brad Boyes (3 points)
  
• Norris: Joni Pitkanen (2 goals, including OT game winner, +1, 7 SOG, 4 hits)
  
• Vezina: Tim Thomas (44-save shutout win in Ottawa)
  
• Richard: Joni Pitkanen, Teemu Selanne (2 goals each)
  
• Calder: Brad Boyes (Goal, 2 assists, +3)
  
• Aiken, Pt. I: Manny Fernandez (4 goals against on 14 shots in 20 minutes before getting pulled)
  
• Aiken, Pt. II: Zdeno Chara (-4, 4 giveaways in 5-0 home loss to Boston)

* How in the world does NHL.com not list Thomas as one of their three stars from last night?!

Monday Roundup/Caps 2, Lightning 1

[Boxscore - Recap - Postgame Coverage]

The Caps are back to winning and I'm back to writing. Coincidence? Yesterday afternoon the Caps continued their home ownership of the defending Stanley Cup champs with a solid - if unspectacular - effort that began slowly (a four shot first period for the hosts) and finished up strong. For more postgame coverage from the two teams' hometown papers, head to the WaPo, WTimes, St. Pete Times (here and here) and Tampa Tribune (here and here). Phew.

In other NHL news:

• The Nashville Predators have acquired Mike Sillinger from the St. Louis Blues for a song. That song? "Here's a generic Russian prospect, enjoy" (I think it was on Bringing It All Back Home). For Sillinger, Nashville will be his 11th NHL team, which is a record.
  

Daily Awards

• Hart: Olie Kolzig (W, 34 saves on 35 shots against)
• Ross: Roman Hamrlik (G, 2A)
• Norris: Roman Hamrlik (G, 2A, +2)
  
• Vezina: Olie Kolzig (W, 34 saves on 35 shots against)
  
• Richard: Seventeen players tied with one goal
  
• Calder: Dion Phaneuf (Game-winning goal, A, +2)
  
• Aiken: Adam Munro (L, 5 goals against on 29 shots)
  

Wednesday Roundup/Gamenight: Caps @ Pens

[Gameday Preview - AP preview]

Tonight is Sid vs. Alex, Part II (if you don't remember Part I, here's how it went down) and the WaPo - at least in its online edition - has chosen to ignore the game. Wonderful. But never fear, Dave Fay is here. In today's WTimes, Fay pens a must-read article on how much better, statistically, AO has been than The Kid, but how that hasn't stopped the NHL Hype Machine from picking their favorite rookie (though even the Pittsburgh Post Gazette acknowledges that El Ocho has been better so far). Fay goes on to make an interesting point about the NHL perhaps turning a blind eye to a provision in the new CBA:

Under the terms of the new collective bargaining agreement, teams are not allowed to provide anything of value to players because it might be a violation of the salary cap provisions.

Crosby lives with Lemieux, the Penguins' owner. Ovechkin, meanwhile, went out and bought a house for himself, his brother and their parents a few blocks from the Capitals' new training facility.

Apparently, the league isn't paying attention to that.

In other Caps news, Blues defenseman Eric Weinrich has blogged about his recent attempt to d-up AO. His candor is great, including this line: "The next morning in Columbus, as I got out of bed to answer the wakeup call, the left side of my body was bruised and sore like I had been in a car crash. I guess you could say i was 'Ovechkinned'."

Elswhere around the NHL:

• Today Chris Chelios turns 44. Happy birthday to the second-best American-born player of all-time.
• Remember the 2002 NHL Draft in which the Florida Panthers traded out of the #1 spot (in which Columbus took Rick Nash) to the #3 spot and took Jay Bouwmeester? Well, JBo has now gone 99 games without a goal and has six goals and 50 assists in 193 career games while registering a minus-55 career rating (which would be even worse without one of the game's best goalies playing behind him). I know it takes longer for defensemen to develop, but I'm sure all the hockey fans in South Beach are getting tired of waiting.
• After giving up seven goals on 27 shots, Phillippe Sauve was headed for Aikenville (population: Rick DiPietro) until he left his crease and skated the length of the ice to drop the gloves and have a go with the man he used to back up, David Aebischer. A little pent up aggression, Phil? There's nothing like a good goalie fight, and unfortunately this was nothing like a good goalie fight, but we applaud Sauve's effort, even if he didn't leave Abby looking like his mentor.
• Today's quote of the day belongs to Coyotes' blueliner Keith Ballard, on returning to his home state and tallying a goal and an assist in a loss to the Wild: "A good game is not really a good game unless you win."
  

Daily Awards

• Hart: Olli Jokinen (2 goals, including OT game-winner, +2)
  
• Ross: David Vyborny, 'Roids Berard, Chuck Kobasew, Joe Sakic, Alex Tanguay, Patrick Marleau (3 points each)
  
• Norris: 'Roids Berard (G, 2A)
  
• Vezina: Tomas Vokoun (38 saves on 39 shots in OT win at DET)
  
• Richard: Chuck Kobasew (3 goals)
  
• Calder: Ryan Miller (W, 23 saves on 24 shots against)
  
• Aiken: Rick DiPietro (L, 4 goals against on 17 shots in 29:56 before being pulled)
  

Tuesday Roundup/Bruins 3, Caps 2

[Boxscore - Recap - Postgame Coverage]

The Caps were outplayed for the first two periods, failed to win key faceoffs and didn't capitalize on their powerplay opportunities. Against just about any team, that will add up to a loss, and that was exactly the result Monday night at the MCI. Give the Bruins - and specifically P.J. Axelsson - credit, though, for shutting down Alexander Ovechkin as few teams have been able to do. On the other hand, I think bought into the "shadowing" of Ovechkin a bit too much, and was overly concerned with trying to get Alex off when PJax was on and vice versa. Play your game, coach - it's been working. Still, Alex got more than 25 minutes of ice time and created a few good chances, but was kept off the scoresheet for the first time in nearly three weeks. The Glen HanlonWaPo and WTimes will catch you up in more depth and if you're still looking for more, there's always the BGlobe and a couple of articles at the BHerald.

In other NHL news:

• They're dropping like flies in Pittsburgh, as Mario Lemiuex is set to announce his retirement. Again. Will the announcement turn the "A" on Sid's sweater to a "C"? If the Pens were smart (and there's no reason to think they are), they wouldn't name a captain for the rest of this season and then give it to the kid in the offseason. But if they want to fire up the latent hype machine, what better way than naming an 18-year-old your team captain as the mantle is officially passed with Le Magnifique's retirement?
  
• Haymaker Domi had a Gordie Howe hat trick (which is always noteworthy at The Rink) last night in the Leafs' loss to provincial rival Ottawa.
• Also turning the trick was Foil Morrow in Dallas's win over Phoenix.
  

Daily Awards

• Hart: Jarome Iginla (2G, +1 in 3-1 win over Edmonton)
  
• Ross: Eric Staal, Justin Williams (G, 2A)
  
• Norris: Francois Beauchemin (2 goals, +1 in 3-2 SO loss)
  
• Vezina: Curtis Sanford (34 save shutout win vs. VAN)
  
• Richard: Wayne Primeau, Tomas Plekanec, Francois Beauchemin, Jarome Iginla (2 goals each)
  
• Calder: Curtis Sanford (34 save shutout win vs. VAN)
• Aiken, Pt. I: Jose Theodore (L, 5 goals against on 18 shots in 28:45)
• Aiken, Pt. II: Zbynek Michalek (-4 in 4-1 loss)
  

Ovechkin Named Offensive Player of the Week

Alexander Ovechkin today was named NHL Offensive Player of the Week. Fellow rookie Henrik Lundqvist was named Defensive PoW, and it is now unofficially down to these two for Rookie of the Month for January. Unfortunately for Alex, I think the powers that be will be less-inclined to give him the award for the second-straight month when there is a deserving player in Lundqvist who has not yet won the accolade, but we shall see in just over a week.

Monday Roundup/Gamenight: Bruins @ Caps

[Gameday Preview - AP Preview]

The Caps put their four-game win streak on the line tonight when the banged-up Bruins comes to town and the country has the opportunity to watch on OLN (speaking of OLN, if you're wondering how the poll turned out, it finished up overwhelmingly in favor of considering the player on a non-playoff team for the Hart Trophy). With Dainius Zubrus joining the ranks of the Caps' walking wounded, it will be interesting to see who gets a sweater tonight. Might Andrew Cassels crack the lineup? Will Jeff Halpern return? How about a call-up from Hershey? Will Zubrus ever be healthy for even half a season? Tune in and see.

Daily Awards

• Hart: Henrik Lundqvist (W, 31 saves on 32 shots against)
  
• Ross: Brian Rolston, Kurtis Foster, Martin Rucinsky (2 points each)
  
• Norris: Kurtis Foster (2 assists)
  
• Vezina: Henrik Lundqvist (W, 31 saves on 32 shots against)
• Richard: Brian Rolston (2 goals)
  
• Calder: Henrik Lundqvist (W, 31 saves on 32 shots against)
• Aiken: Adam Munro (L, 3 goals against on 15 shots in 36:30 before getting yanked)
  

Saturday Roundup/Gamenight: 'Canes @ Caps

[Gameday Preview - AP Preview]

Two days after squeaking by the worst team in the League in a shootout, the Caps face the NHL's best team. Is doom impending? Not necessarily. Over their last 40 games, the Caps have pretty much played to the level of their opponents, with only 11 games being decided by more than two goals and only six games being decided by more than three goals (and they've been on the winning side of half of those games). In fact, in the 17 games since December 14, the Caps have gained half of the available points in the standings, going 7-7-3 (I am hesitant to call a seven-win, ten-loss record ".500," though some have no problem doing so. See, for example, the WaPo, which notes that "[w]ith the win [over St. Louis], [the Caps] finished 5-4-1 and above .500 against the Western Conference for the first time since 1997-98." Despite the fact that the Caps had more wins than regulation losses, the team won five of ten games and thus had a .500 winning percentage in those games. They did not finish above .500 against the Western Conference. Sorry for the digression.) The point is the Caps will play Carolina tough, just like they play most teams tough. Or they'll get blown out. We'll see.

Elsewhere in Capland, the praise for what's-his-name keeps coming in with each game that passes. After being beaten by him twice (once in regulation and then again in the shootout) on Thursday night, Curtis Sanford thinks Alex Ovechkin is "the best player in the league." Granted, Sanford has only played in 27 NHL games, but the man clearly knows talent when he sees it. And if you haven't seen it enough (or if you just really dig P.O.D.'s "Boom"), here are a couple of great compilations of AO's work so far, the first hosted over at rh71's AO Video Site, the second hosted by Google Video (more up to date, but with Google, connection can be hit-or-miss - if it doesn't work, try again later).

And to add to the organization-wide good news, the bottom-line is improving. Only to someone like Ted Leonsis can losing only $5 million be "great news." By contrast, if I lose five bucks it ruins my week.

In other news from the hockey world and perhaps slightly beyond:

• Bad teams play bad hockey. In last night's Blues/Jackets game, the teams showed why they're at the bottom of the Western Conference by combining to go 1-for-11 on the power-play while yielding three shorthanded goals between them. Maybe they should start thinking about declining penalties in the future.
  
• The Coyotes and Flyers have swung a deal with Phoenix sending Petr Nedved east in return for defenseman Dennis Seidenberg. Philly will be the seventh NHL team for Nedved, a high-ranker on The Rink's yet-to-be-released Most Hated list, thanks to this game. For analysis of the trade, go here.
• The 'Canes and 'Hawks swapped defensive prospects with Anton Babchuk heading to Carolina and Danny Richmond blowing into the Windy City. Analysis here.
  
• It appears the NHL is more popular than the NBA. Or at least it is the favorite sport of more adults who follow more than one sport and were forced to select which one was their favorite (savvy?). Hey, we'll take it. Also notable in the polling results if for nothing more than its blinding obviousness, "Auto racing (which includes NASCAR) is most popular among those with a high school education or less..., while it fares worst among those with a post graduate degree... ." Here's photographic evidence to corroborate that last claim.
  
• Has anyone noticed (of course you have) that on just about any page at the NHL.com site, there's an ad for "Chicks Who Dig Hockey"? Besides the blatant sexism and insensitivity to the fairer sex (irony alert) and their dating needs, doesn't everyone know that when they click on the link thinking they're getting this, they're really going to end up with this?
  
• On this day in 1919, the Ottawa Senators signed future Hall of Famer Harry "Punch" Broadbent. Where, oh where, have all the great hockey nicknames gone? From now on, tough guys get tough nicknames at The Rink, starting with the League's leader in major penalties, Knuckles McGrattan.
• Also on this day, way back in 1887, Georges Vezina was born. He passed away in 1926, but rolled over in his grave seventy years later when the trophy that bears his name was awarded to Jim Carey.
• Finally, you think scoring's up this year? Well, on this day (yes, I know I'm going to this well a bit much) in 1989, Bernie Nicholls picked up their 100th points of the season for the Kings in a 5-4 loss at Hartford (you're only 30 points back, Jaromir!). Nicholls would finish the season with 70 goals and 80 assists.
  

Daily Awards

• Hart: Ryan Craig (G, 2A, +2)
  
• Ross: Ryan Craig (G, 2A)
  
• Norris: Darryl Sydor (G, A, +2)
  
• Vezina: Manny Fernandez (W, 31 saves on 32 shots against)
  
• Richard: 20 players tied with one
  
• Calder: Ryan Craig (G, 2A, +1)
  
• Aiken, Pt. I: Marty Turco (L, 4 goals against on 8 shots in just 12:35 before getting the hook)
• Aiken, Pt. II: Bryan "'Roids" Berard (-3 in 4-3 win)
  

Friday Roundup/Caps 5 Blues 4 (SO)

[Boxscore - Recap - Postgame Coverage]

Somewhat lost in the glow of back-to-back wins (on the road no less) and the effusive praise of wunderkind Alex Ovechkin (another two points last night as he moved past Bobby Carpenter for the most goals scored by a Caps rookie) is the simple truth that the Caps are not a terribly good hockey team. The team entered Thursday night's game against the St. Louis Blues (they of the seven game losing streak and the worst record in hockey) dead last in the NHL in power play percentage (a paltry 13.4%) and second-to-last in penalty killing percentage (a brutal 78.7%), and did little to improve either number, going 1-for-6 on the power play and a miserable 5-for-8 on the penalty kill.

In fairness, playing without their leader in ice time (defenseman Jamie Heward), their top defensive center and captain (Jeff Halpern) and another top four defenseman (Steve Eminger), one could expect a difficult night on special teams. In reality, the special teams have had difficult nights regardless of who was in the lineup.

Nevertheless, the Caps started strong, played horrendously in the second period, and then rallied in the third to take the lead before surrendering it late in regulation, playing a scoreless overtime and then winning on a Matt Pettinger goal in the first sudden death round of the shootout. Sound like a roller coaster? It was. But I'll let the pros tell you about it. Take it away, Tarik and Dave.

In other news from around the League:

• Remember when I asked for video of the Martin Lapointe/Sidney Crosby/Matt Barnaby exchange from last week's game? Well, here it is.
• Bryan Berard tested positive for 'roids. But it wasn't in an NHL/NHLPA-sanctioned test, so it won't impact his status in the NHL. And he's not on the U.S. Olympic Team. So I guess the real question is, who cares? Oh, and a quick follow-up: if he's second-to-last in the NHL with a -23 rating on 'roids, where would he be without them?
  

Daily Awards

• Hart: Jarome Iginla (2G, including game-winner, A, +1 in 3-2 win)
  
• Ross: Mattias Norstrom (4 assists)
  
• Norris: Mattias Norstrom (4 assists, +4)
  
• Vezina: Nikolai Khabibulin (W, 37 saves on 39 shots against)
  
• Richard: Luc Robitaille (3 goals; passed Marcel Dionne for most goals in Kings history)
  
• Calder: Petr Prucha (2G, primary assist on game-winner, +2)
  
• Aiken: Antero Niittymaki (L, 5 goals against on 18 shots)
  

Thursday Roundup/Gamenight: Blues @ Caps

[Gameday Preview - NHL.com Preview]

Sick of "The Goal" yet? Of course you're not. You need to see a nearly frame-by-frame graphic detailing just how it was scored (yes, I know that was in the print edition of yesterday's WaPo, but they didn't get around to putting it online until later in the day).

Today's WTimes discusses how the team has come together and improved both on and off the ice.

Today is day two of The Rink GOTV drive. If you haven't already done so, go here and vote "yes" to the current poll. If you don't, the terrorists have won.

In other NHL news:

• The Pens lost Ziggy Palffy's 713 career points and 322 career penalty minutes yesterday, but added Eric Cairns' 41 career points and 1090 career penalty minutes. Maybe he'll be the arm-breaker they so desperately need.
  

Daily Awards

• Hart: Marian Hossa (2G, including game-winner, +2)
  
• Ross: Tomas Holmstrom, Mikael Samuelsson, Marian Gaborik, Randy Robitaille, Marc Chouinard, Jason Allison, Marian Hossa, Scott Mellanby, Sergei Zubov, Slava Kozlov (2 points each)
  
• Norris: Sergei Zubov (2A)
  
• Vezina: Chris Osgood (26-save shutout win)
  
• Richard: Tomas Holmstrom, Marian Hossa, Marc Chouinard (2 goals each)
  
• Calder: Kari Lehtonen (W, 25 saves on 27 shots against)
  
• Aiken: Johan Hedberg (L, 5 goals against on 21 shots)
  

Top 11 Rookie Seasons Of All-Time

In case you hadn't heard, 2005-06 is the Year of the Rookie. Two drafts-worth of talent, a salary cap, new rules and a couple of the most talented number one picks in a generation have all conspired to make this year's crop of rookies among the best the League has ever seen, top to bottom.

But what about that top? With Capitals phenom Alexander Ovechkin "pulling away" in the rookie scoring race (though something tells me it will be anything but an easy race to win) and other rookie forwards (Sidney Crosby and Marek Svatos), defensemen (Dion Phaneuf) and goaltenders (Henrik Lundqvist and Ryan Miller) all putting up sensational numbers, one wonders where these seasons will stand relative to the great rookie seasons of all-time.

To put this year's rookies' numbers in context, The Rink has thrown together a list of the top eleven rookie performances in NHL history. Why eleven? Because leaving off a kid who started so quickly and shone so brightly among the best in the game would have just been wrong.

As always, this list is intended to spark debate and is by no means inclusive of all the great rookie seasons in NHL history. One thing is for certain, though: whoever wins the Calder Trophy (for rookie of the year) this year will have to be mighty impressive to make it onto this list.

So, without further ado, The Rink's Top 11 Rookie Seasons Of All-Time:

11) Mario Lemieux (1984-85; pictured) - The first overall pick in the 1984 Entry Draft, "Super Mario" scored a goal on the first shot of his first shift in the NHL and there was no looking back. He would go on to rack up 43 goals and 100 points, be named All-Star Game MVP, selected to the All-Rookie Team and win the Calder Trophy.

10) Brian Leetch (1988-89) - The former Boston College Eagle still holds the record for most goals by a rookie defenseman (23) and tallied the second most points by a first-year rearguard (71) in his All-Rookie, Calder-winning season.

9) Joe Nieuwendyk (1987-88) - "Cornell Joe" scored 51 goals (including 31 on the power-play and eight game-winners) and added 41 assists for the Flames. He was named to the All-Rookie Team and won the Calder Trophy to round out a fine freshman season.

8) Larry Murphy (1980-81) - Murphy set the current assist (60) and points (76) records for rookie defensmen, but finished second to Peter Stastny for the Calder Trophy.

7) Peter Stastny (1980-81; pictured) - Stastny's rookie campaign saw him set the current rookie record for the most assists in a season (70, later tied by Joe Juneau) and the former rookie record for the most points in a campaign (109), which stood for more than a decade. Highlights from the middle Stastny brother's Calder-winning season include hat tricks in back-to-back games and an eight point game in the second of those two on February 22, 1981 against some team from the D.C. area.

6) Dale Hawerchuk (1981-82) - "Ducky," taken first overall in the 1981 Entry Draft, made an immediate impact, both individually (with 45 goals, 103 points and the Calder Trophy) and for his team, the Winnipeg Jets, whose 48-point improvement over the previous season is still the largest single-season turn around by an NHL team.

5) Mike Bossy (1977-78) - The New York Islander rookie set a then-rookie record for goals with 53 and notched 91 points while finishing +31 for the season - all good enough to win the Calder Trophy and be named to the NHL's Second All-Star Team.

4) Terry Sawchuk (1950-51) - "The Uke" played every game for Detroit in his rookie year and led the NHL in wins (44) and shutouts (11), winning the Calder and being named to the named to the NHL's First All-Star Team along the way. The man this list nearly forgot (see comments) was the first man to be named rookie of the year in three different Leagues (the USHL, AHL and NHL).

3) Patrick Roy (1985-86) - "Saint Patrick" was somewhat mortal during the regular season, as he went 23-18-3 with a 3.35 goals againt average and a .875 save percentage and made the All-Rookie team, but didn't win the Calder - Gary Suter did. But Roy would have the last laugh (or at least the best laugh) as he got white-hot, going 15-5 with a 1.92 goals against average and leading the Habs past Suter's Flames in the Stanley Cup Finals. For his efforts, Roy was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs' most valuable player.

2) Teemu Selanne (1992-93) - "The Finnish Flash" set current rookie records for most goals (76) and points (132) and led all rookies in power-play goals and game-winning goals en route to the Calder Trophy. Selanne was also an All-Star, an All-Rookie team member and a member of the NHL's First All-Star Team in his jaw-dropping rookie campaign.

1) Tony Esposito (1969-70; pictured) - Claimed by Chicago from Montreal in the Intra-League Draft earlier in 1969, Tony "O"'s first full year in the NHL was full of wins (a 38-17-8 record), shutouts (15, the most by a rookie and second most all-time), saves (a 2.17 goals against average) and hardware (Esposito won both the Calder and the Vezina Trophies, becoming the first rookie to win the latter since Frank Brimsek in 1939).

Honorable Mention (in no particular order): Gary Suter, Grant Fuhr, Luc Robitaille, Joe Juneau, Raymond Bourque, Martin Brodeur.

What do you think?

The Good News Keeps Coming (At Least On The Ovechkin Front)

Alex Ovechkin's great week continued today with news that a judge has dismissed the lawsuit brought by Moscow Dynamo that would have ostensibly forced the phenom to be returned to the Russian League team by enforcing an arbitrator's ruling that Dynamo still owned his rights. Hopefully this news will break him out of the horrendous slump he's been in lately.

AO's positive press keeps rolling along as well, with an online chat at NHL.com (transcript here) and articles in major Canadian media outlets entitled "Ovechkin Pulling Away In Rookie Race" and "Ovechkin, Crosby Story A Tale Of Two Cities" (subscription required, but the text is reprinted here. Shhh.).

Wednesday Roundup/More On "The Goal"

Was it "one of the greatest plays in the history of the game?" Thomas Heath of the WaPo thinks so and everyone is still talking about it two days later. Which is good news, because I have nothing more to add about the Caps today.

Speaking of you-know-who, a Rink GOTV drive is underway. Go here and vote "yes" to the current poll and make your voice heard.

Finally, if you needed another reason to love "The Goal," here it is: before it was scored, most in the hockey world considered this the goal of the year (though The Rink knew otherwise, and that Jason Spezza's overtime goal against the Habs was more deserving of that accolade).

In other news from around the hockey world:

• Things are so bad in Pittsburgh that... Ziggy Palffy has retired?!
  
• Happy Birthdays go out to Hall of Famer Syl Apps (b. 1915) and future Hall of Famer Mark Messier (b. 1921 1961).

Daily Awards

• Hart: Patrik Elias (3A, including the primary assist on the game-winner, +2)
  
• Ross: Patrik Elias, Jamie Langenbrunner (3A each)
  
• Norris: Frederick Meyer, IV (G, A, +2)
• Least Intimidating Name In The NHL: Frederick Meyer, IV (Frederick Meyer, IV)
• Vezina: Rick DiPietro (1 goal against on 35 shots in overtime win)
  
• Richard: Brian Gionta, Milan Hejduk (2G)
  
• Calder: Adam Munro (L, 2 goals against on 23 shots in overtime loss)
  
• Aiken: Curtis Sanford (3 goals against on 11 shots in 28:28 before being pulled)
  

Tuesday Roundup/Caps 6, 'Yotes 1

[Boxscore - Recap]

In recapping Monday's game, I could talk about the fact that the Caps had five different goal scorers and five different multiple-point scorers. Or that Brent Johnson had his second straight very strong game in net. Or that the team scored twice on the power play and outshot the Coyotes 34-22 en route to its first back-to-back wins since January 28-29, 2004.

But all anyone else seems to be talking about is Alexander Ovechkin's second goal of the game (video courtesy rh71), so I guess I'll join the masses. Wayne Gretzky said of Ovechkin's one-handed-overhead-backhand-while-sliding-on-his-back tally, "That was pretty sweet." Ovechkin himself called the goal "beautiful." TSN called the goal "incredible" and ESPNews called it an "early candidate for play of the year." For more, the WaPo's article gets a nice sampling of player reactions and the WTimes chimes in as well. Phew.

In other news from around the League:

• Today is Jeremy Roenick's 36th birthday or, as we at The Rink call it, Jacques Plante's 77th birthday. Probably the most innovative goaltender to ever play the sport (if not the best), Plante won seven Vezinas, a Hart and five Stanley Cups and, of course, was the first goalie to wear a mask in an NHL game. For that last contribution to the game, pretty boys like Jose Theodore are eternally grateful.
• As for Roenick, The Rink wonders if he'll be able to total as many points in 2005-06 as he has years on this planet. With 35 team games left in which to score 23 points (and a finger injury to boot), we're betting he won't even come close.
• Eric Staal and Martin Brodeur are your Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week, respectively.
  

Daily Awards

• Hart: Patrice Bergeron (OT game-winning goal, 2A, +2)
  
• Ross: Patrice Bergeron, Andy McDonald, Marco Sturm, Alexander Ovechkin, Dominic Moore, Patrick Eaves, Chris Kelly (3 points each)
  
• Norris: Scott Niedermayer (G,A)
  
• Vezina: Jose Theodore (W, 35 saves on 37 shots against)
  
• Richard: Marco Sturm, Alexander Ovechkin, Marcel Hossa, Mike Ribeiro, Patrick Eaves (2G each)
  
• Calder: Alexander Ovechkin (2G, A, 10 SOG, +1)
  
• Aiken: Brian Boucher (L, 6 goals against on 34 shots)
  

Monday Roundup/Gameday: Caps @ Coyotes

[Gameday Preview - NHL.com Preview]

The Caps have a matinee in the desert today as they visit Glendale Arena for the first time. Ironic that on the day that the nation celebrates the anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birth, the Caps should be playing in Arizona, given the state's embarassing past treatment of the holiday. I wonder what Chuck D. would think.

Today's WaPo profiles the bond between Alex Ovechkin and Dainius Zubrus, while the WTimes looks at what Jeff Friesen's return to the lineup means for the team.

Daily Awards

• Hart: Eric Staal (3G, including the game-winner, A, +1)
• Ross: Eric Staal (3G, A)
  
• Norris: Kevin Dallman (2A)
  
• Vezina: Martin Brodeur (W, 29 saves on 31 shots in shootout win)
  
• Richard: Eric Staal (3G)
  
• Calder: Adam Munro (L, 24 saves on 26 shots against in shootout loss)
  
• Aiken: Sebastien Caron (4 goals on 14 shots against in 21:11 before getting pulled)
  

The Top 11 American-Born Capitals Of All-Time

With the Olympics nearly upon us and jingoism at an all-time high, The Rink thought it would be a good time to reflect upon the great American-born hockey players who have donned a Capitals sweater over the franchise's first 30-plus years. Finding only one great American-born hockey player who has donned a Capitals sweater over the franchise's first 30-plus years, we turned our attention to the serviceable-to-pretty good players and came up with our Top 11 American-Born Capitals Of All-Time. Players were judged for their productivity, individual accolades, team achievements and other intangibles, such as what the player meant to the team and to the organization.

Unlike our Top 10 (Plus Two) American-Born Players Of All-Time, in which we considered players' entire careers, these players were considered only for their time spent as Capitals (sorry, Phil Housley).

If you like third-line forwards, moderately-offensive defensemen and flashes in the pan, this list is for you. So, without further ado, the Top 11 American-Born Capitals Of All-Time:

11) Tom Rowe (1976-80, 1981-82; 56 goals, 114 points, -39 in 191 games): With 31 goals (four of which were game winners) in 1978-79, Rowe became the first American-born player to score 30 goals in a season. Currently, Rowe is the head coach of the AHL Lowell Lock Monsters.

10) Ken Klee (1994-2003; 43 goals, 111 points, +13 in 570 games): A member of the 1994 Calder Cup champion Portland Pirates, the rugged blueliner joined the Caps full-time in 1995, and averaged nearly 70 games played over the ensuing eight seasons. Never much of a scorer, Klee posted back-to-back career-best 20 point seasons in 1998-99 and 1999-2000 after playing an important part on the 1997-98 team that went to the Stanley Cup Finals.

9) Jeff Halpern (1999-current; 79 goals, 192 points, +3 in 405 career games): Halpern has been a steady contributor since breaking in with the team at the beginning of the 1999 season. With the exception of a difficult and injury-plagued 2001-02, the Caps' current captain has averaged nearly 18 goals and 38 points per season. But like many of the other players on this list, numbers alone do not accurately tell the story of his game. Halpern is at his best when shutting down opposing centers or mucking in the corners, and those attributes served him well when he joined Steve Konowalchuk and Ulf Dahlen to form one of the most popular lines in recent Caps' history.

8) Al Iafrate (1991-1994; 58 goals, 176 points, +25 in 256 games): In 1992-93, the "Wild Thing" posted career bests in goals (25 - one of three Capital defensemen with 20+ goals that year), points (66 - one of three Capital defensemen with 50+ points that year) and plus/minus (+15), but the rearguard's season might be best remembered for the 105.2 mph slapshot he blasted at the All-Star game skills competition. In his three full seasons with Washington, Iafrate was twice an All-Star, contributed 11 goals in 23 playoff games and, in 1993, was named to the second-team All-NHL squad.

7) Jim Carey (1995-97; 70-48-15, 2.37 goals against average, .904 save percentage, 14 shutouts in 139 games): "Ace" burst on the scene for the Caps in March of 1995, going undefeated in his first seven starts and making the All-Rookie team. Carey parlayed that success into a Vezina Trophy-winning campaign in 1995-96 that also saw him named to the first team All-NHL squad. He was a (non-playing) member of the 1996 Gold Medal-winning team at the World Cup of Hockey the following summer, but just as quickly as Carey had appeared, his skills seemed to diminish (in two playoff series he was 2-5 with a 4.61 goals against average), and he was shipped off to Boston the next spring.

6) Kevin Hatcher (1985-1994; 149 goals, 426 points, -10 in 685 games): Hatcher was a staple on the Capitals blueline for nine seasons, a span over which he scored at least 13 goals and registered 40 points seven times and played fewer than 71 games only once, peaking with a 34 goal, 79 point campaign in 1992-93 (see above for more on the Caps' prolific d-corps that season). Hatcher, a three-time All-Star with the Caps, also totalled 19 goals and 48 points in 83 playoff games and wore the "C" for the team in the 1992-93 and 1993-94 seasons. When he wasn't scoring, however, Hatcher frequently endured the wrath of Caps fans for his unwillingness to use his size to play a more physical game (in stark contrast to his brother). In all fairness, though, it is difficult to hit people when you're carrying a purse.

5) Dave Christian (1983-1989; 193 goals, 417 points, +20 in 504 games): As a member of the Miracle on Ice team, Christian probably could have made this list just by putting on a Caps sweater for a single game. But he delivered for the red, white and blue, tallying 29, 26, 41, 23, 37 and 34 goals in his six full seasons with the Caps while missing only four games over that stretch and adding another 17 goals and 36 points in 49 playoff games.

4) Steve Konowalchuk (1992-2003; 146 goals, 342 points, +62 in 619 games): The Caps' captain from 2001-03 (shared for 2001-02 with Brendan Witt), Kono was a model of consistency, registering double-digit goal totals in nine different seasons, twice topping the 20-goal mark. But his real strengths as a player - leadership, grit, work ethic, penalty-killing, etc. - didn't show up on the stat sheets. Konowalchuk was a member of the 1996 Gold Medal-winning team at the World Cup of Hockey.

3) Bobby Carpenter (1981-1986, 1992-93; 188 goals, 395 points, -38 in 490 games): Nicknamed "The Can't Miss Kid" and drafted 3rd overall by the Capitals in the 1981 Entry Draft, Carpenter scored 32, 32 and 28 goals in his first three seasons before becoming the first American-born player to score 50 in a season when he potted 53 in an All-Star-worthy 1984-85 campaign (joining "Goal Dust Twin" linemate Mike Gartner with 50+ goals that season). Carpenter had numerous run-ins with the organization throughout those first few years, and he was eventually traded along with a pick for Kelly Miller, Mike Ridley, and Bob Crawford on January 1, 1987 (ed. note: why can't the Caps make trades like this anymore?). Carpenter played one more season, 1992-93, for the Caps, but never came close to regaining the individual glory he had muc earlier in his career.

2) Kelly Miller (1987-99; 162 goals, 408 points, +75 in 940 games): Acquired in the blockbuster deal that sent Bobby Carpenter to the Rangers on New Year's Day in 1987, Miller's work ethic quickly endeared him to Caps fans, and his durability (he only played fewer than 74 games twice in his 12 full seasons as a Cap - when he played 62 in 1998-99 and 48 in 1994-95) and defensive ability kept him a fan favorite up until his retirement. I still can recall Sunday, January 31, 1988 when Miller scored in overtime to beat the Flyers 1-0. Later that day, another Washington team played won big game as well.

1) Rod Langway (1982-92; 25 goals, 202 points, +117 in 726 games): Born to an American serviceman at a U.S. military installation in Taiwan (and thus, technically American-born), the Secretary of Defense was the face of the Capitals for a decade after being acquired in the most important trade in franchise history. The team had never made the playoffs before Langway arrived, but did in all eleven of the two-time Norris Trophy winner's seasons in Washington. Langway wore the captain's "C" for the Capitals from 1982 through 1992 (and for Team USA in two Canada Cups), was a two-time first team All-NHL member and one-time second team All-NHL member, and on November 26, 1997, Langway's number 5 was retired in the last game ever played at the Capital Centre. Inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002, Rod Langway is the greatest American-born Capital of all-time.

What do you think?

Saturday Roundup/Ovechkin 3, Ducks 2

[Boxscore - Recap]

The combination of Capitals hockey and a 10:30 eastern start time often makes it difficult to stay awake for sixty minutes of West Coast hockey. But not tonight. A well-played first in which Brent Johnson kept the Caps in the game gave way to a second period that saw Alexander Ovechkin and the Mighty Ducks score twice each, and once El Ocho gets to two goals, everyone inches forward in their seats just a little bit more every time he touches the puck. After a scoreless third, the game headed to overtime where AO completed his first career hat trick and gave the Caps their first win of '06 in the process.

All three of Alex's goals were of the highlight-reel variety (teammate Jeff Friesen said of Ovechkin's night "That was the best performance I've ever seen, including guys I've played with and played against, by far."), and he added a crushing hit on Vitali Vishnevski for good measure (go here for video highlights - well worth a look). Not to be overlooked, however, are the play of Johnson in net and a relatively serious-looking leg injury to Steve Eminger, who was having one of his better games in a long time.

The WaPo's coverage is here. But for now, let's all bask in the glow of Alex Ovechkin's first career hat trick and sleep well knowing that he's only going to get better. By the way, there will be no Roundup tomorrow as Alex and I are heading up to Brokeback Mountain for the weekend. See you all on Monday.

Elsewhere around the League:

• Apparently Marty Lapointe was miked up for last night's Blackhawks/Pens game and captured the following humorous exchange (as relayed by someone on the Pens' message board):
  

  Sidney Crosby: Why did you guys crosscheck me?
  Lapointe: When?
  
  Crosby: [Matthew] Barnaby crosschecked me!
  Lapointe: C'mon we're playing a game relax [best guess at what Lapointe mumbled]
  
  [Lapointe to Barnaby]:
  
  Lapointe: Did you crosscheck Crosby?
  Barnaby: No... who told you that?
  Lapointe: He was whining about it to me.
  Baranby: Oh, maybe I did.

  If anyone can find video of this online, please let me know (and a tip of the cap to Wayland for the link).
  

Daily Awards

• Hart: Alexander Ovechkin (3G, including OT game-winner, +2)
• Ross: Cory Stillman (3A)
  
• Norris: Kimmo Timonen (G, A)
  
• Vezina: Kari Lehtonen (37-save shutout win)
  
• Richard: Rod Brind'Amour, Martin Erat, Brian Gionta, Andy Hilbert (2G each)
  
• Calder: Alexander Ovechkin (3G, including OT game-winner, +2)
• Aiken: Scott Hartnell (thrown stick gives Carolina penalty shot in OT on which Frantisek Kaberle scored the game-winning goal)
  

Friday Roundup/Stars 4, Caps 1Gamenight: Caps @ Ducks

[Boxscore - Recap - Gameday Preview - NHL.com Preview]

Will the Caps win a game in 2006? After another ugly loss last night in Dallas, the Caps, 0-4-2 since the New Year, take their road show to The Pond to face the Mighty Ducks. In all likelihood, the Caps will have Jeff Friesen back in the lineup for the first time since Christ was a baby and will also likely use Brent Johnson in net. Look out, NHL.

The WaPo's recap of last night's loss is here, the WTimes' is here.

Daily Awards

• Hart: Henrik Zetterberg (2G, including the game-winner, 2A, +3)
• Ross: Henrik Zetterberg (2G, 2A)
  
• Norris: Lubomir Visnovsky (2A, +1)
  
• Vezina: Evgeni Nabokov (40-save shutout win)
  
• Richard: Alexander Frolov (3G)
  
• Calder: Petr Prucha (G, A, +1)
  
• Aiken: Andrew Raycroft (L, 6 goals against on 42 shots in 50:55 before being pulled)