tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144272292011-12-22T07:36:44.356-05:00Blogging on the Washington Capitals and the rest of the National Hockey League.JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.comBlogger22811100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-26385236465499992652008-12-11T21:05:00.002-05:002008-12-11T21:08:20.374-05:00

Why are you coming still coming 'round here? I told you we moved here (click here for the new RSS feed). Cheers.

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-83400608904135664402008-11-26T09:00:00.003-05:002008-11-26T09:35:10.819-05:00

To find out where, click here or on the Mayflower truck...Oh, and if you're reading this in a RSS reader, you're going to have to visit the new site and update your feed.

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-33297982026578656482008-11-26T00:02:00.003-05:002008-12-08T20:41:45.834-05:00

[AP Preview - WashingtonCaps.com Preview]If the Caps could pick an opponent for tonight's game, they'd no doubt choose to host one of the League's worst teams with that team coming off a physical road win the night before. So when they welcome the Atlanta Thrashers (fresh off a win in Toronto in which even Ilya Kovalchuk dropped the mittens) to the VC tonight, the 'quality of competition' excuse

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-43995971676546456192008-11-25T21:24:00.002-05:002008-11-25T21:30:50.341-05:00

Forward Maxime Lacroix and defenseman Sasha Pokulok have been reassigned by the Caps from ECHL South Carolina to AHL Hershey. The move is a precursor, no doubt, to a forthcoming call-up or two from Hershey to D.C. as the Caps try to deal with an onslaught of injuries while staying under the salary cap.

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-43162581525851072008-11-25T00:16:00.001-05:002008-12-08T20:41:45.982-05:00

[AP Recap - Game Summary - Event Summary - WashingtonCaps.com]A 4-0 loss would have looked the same in the standings as the 4-3 defeat the Caps suffered in Minny last night - two points lost, a third-straight regulation loss for the first time under Bruce Boudreau, another four goals allowed in a road game (which makes the Caps five-for-five on the trip in that respect), etc.But considering whom

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-20163816548501774342008-11-24T12:49:00.003-05:002008-11-24T12:51:47.952-05:00

Per the Bears:SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League today announced the four people selected for induction into the American Hockey League Hall of Fame as the Class of 2009.Honored by the AHL Hall of Fame Selection Committee as the fourth group of enshrinees are Jimmy Anderson, Bruce Boudreau, Les Cunningham and Louis Pieri....BRUCE ALLAN BOUDREAUAn award-winning coach in the National

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-90566476885697322792008-11-24T11:04:00.002-05:002008-11-24T11:08:10.670-05:00

H/t to Gary for passing along this trailer featuring Naomi Watts and everyone's favorite ad campaign:

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-40675085824098039952008-11-24T10:52:00.001-05:002008-12-08T20:41:46.074-05:00

Via SBJ:"Buoyed by an expanded season-ticket base and rising TV ratings, the Washington Capitals are looking to expand their fan base by launching the team’s first original television show."The 32-minute show, which will air over 20 weeks on Comcast Sports Net, will offer an off-the-ice look at players, coaches and fans affiliated with the team. The team plans to call it either 'Caps All Access

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-68530150980765542882008-11-24T06:08:00.003-05:002008-12-08T20:41:46.085-05:00

[AP Preview - WashingtonCaps.com Preview]The last time the Caps and Wild hooked up, it was just hours after the trade deadline last February, and Brooks Laich's two-goal/two-assist performance paced the Caps in a game that produced one of the year's great hockey photos and the host's third win in four all-time meetings between the teams at the V.C.In Minnesota, however, the story has been quite

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-46287943675377827522008-11-22T09:16:00.002-05:002008-12-08T20:41:46.091-05:00

There's not much more to say than what's in the title, is there?

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-76368741087050334772008-11-21T01:03:00.001-05:002008-12-08T20:41:46.098-05:00

[AP Recap - Game Summary - Event Summary - WashingtonCaps.com Postgame]The Caps won't make any excuses for this loss, but it was clear that they were tired and that injuries are catching up a bit. But hand it to Bruce Boudreau and his assistants - they resisted temptation and kept everyone's minutes manageable, with only Tom Poti (24:12) and Alex Ovechkin (21:56) playing more than twenty minutes.

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-25260998665287983402008-11-20T22:28:00.004-05:002008-11-20T22:36:07.521-05:00

Gettin' closer..."[Dustin] Byfuglien and veteran defenseman Brent Sopel were surprise scratches for the [Dallas] game. Both have been mentioned in trade speculation, most prominently in the last few days, when Byfuglien reportedly was headed to the Capitals for Nylander. The Hawks nixed that deal, apparently because they couldn't stay under the salary cap if they acquired Nylander."Adding Sopel

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-35153987414288023482008-11-20T19:11:00.005-05:002008-11-20T19:18:28.778-05:00

Click to enlarge (but do so at your own risk), and if this doesn't satisfy your Red Rockers fix, there's more here.Oh, and go David, it's your birthday.H/t to the Official

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-33076537691932324982008-11-20T18:08:00.003-05:002008-12-08T20:41:46.282-05:00

"[B]arring a miraculous recovery by the economy, players stand to lose all their escrow money, which would essentially drop the salary cap from $56.7 million this season to about $48 million next season." [Link]If I understand things correctly, however, the cap (in terms of a salary ceiling for planning purposes) will drop, "but only to about $55 million."In case you're wondering, here's a look

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-75769327792996432692008-11-20T17:37:00.003-05:002008-12-08T20:41:46.287-05:00

Scott Burnside is handing out grades as we near the season's quarter pole, and he's giving the Caps a B+:"Interesting start for the defending Southeast Division-champion Caps, who are dynamite at home (undefeated in regulation through Wednesday), but only ordinary on the road. Defending Hart and Art Ross Trophy winner Alexander Ovechkin is starting to catch fire and Alexander Semin is challenging

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-56560718074128739162008-11-20T09:08:00.003-05:002008-12-08T20:41:46.302-05:00

When Bob McKenzie reports that "The Chicago Blackhawks, according to multiple NHL sources, have a standing deal ready to go at a moment's notice to acquire veteran center Michael Nylander from the Washington Capitals," and word is that the 'Hawks might go as far as to put Cristobal Huet on waivers to make it happen, it's really time to put aside any notion that there's nothing at all to these

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-9124705677296133462008-11-20T00:42:00.002-05:002008-12-08T20:41:46.309-05:00

[AP Recap - Game Summary - Event Summary - WashingtonCaps.com Postgame - AP Preview - WashingtonCaps.com Preview]It's late and I'm tired (or it's early and I'm tired - take your pick), so here's your abbreviated recap, to be continued in the comments:Alex Ovechkin is quite good (but that was one stupid interfernce penalty in the third).So was Jose Theodore, for the most part, especially in the

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-33125109560192997442008-11-19T16:31:00.003-05:002008-11-19T16:38:28.916-05:00

If you thought you hated me for yesterday's Boudreau post, read this and/or watch this.Christ. I think I'd rather be Rickrolled.

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-35798681753133369572008-11-19T15:56:00.002-05:002008-12-08T20:41:46.445-05:00

From the folks at Elias Sports Bureau (via the NHL):"The Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin had only eight points (2 goals, 6 assists) in his first 11 games this season but he’s scored 10 points (5 goals, 5 assists) in the team’s last four games, with at least one goal and two points in each game. Ovechkin is the first Capitals player to register at least one goal and two points in each of four consecutive

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-81868606730159634992008-11-19T12:32:00.001-05:002008-12-08T20:41:46.454-05:00

Kitt Amundson "has been covering the NHL for over 12 years and is a member of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. In addition to keeping you up to date with the latest happenings in the NHL, she'll take you behind the scenes and in the locker room."Know what else she'll do? Allow her name to be attached to something that tries to pass off a conference call transcript as a one-on-one

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-3289665820037369832008-11-19T06:37:00.002-05:002008-12-08T20:41:46.461-05:00

[AP Preview - WashingtonCaps.com Preview]The last time the Caps were in Anaheim, Alex Ovechkin potted his first career hat trick in a 3-2 Caps overtime win over J.S. Giguere and the Ducks, and that OTL still stands as one of only two blemishes on Jiggy's unbelievable 3-1-1/1.39/.951 resume against Washington. In fact, take away that night's "shelling" and Jiggy is an even more ridiculous 3-1-0/

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-17574467667627532132008-11-18T21:03:00.006-05:002008-12-08T20:41:46.468-05:00

Alex Ovechkin, Alex Semin, Sergei Fedorov and Viktor Kozlov will be warmly received when they hit Hollywood on Thursday night (and I'm not just talking about Calabasas resident Alyonka Larionov's reunion with AO), as the Kings host Russian Heritage Night at Staples Center.Catching up with three of the Capital comrades this afternoon was LAKings.com's Heidi Androl. Have a look:H/t Kukla's Korner

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-82149824089162406992008-11-18T13:45:00.003-05:002008-11-18T20:38:44.970-05:00

"[N]ew Flint Generals coach Bobby Reynolds began reshaping the roster this afternoon, when he released rookie forward Ben Boudreau[.]"In 13 games, Boudreau had one goal, one assist, six penalty minutes and a minus-13 rating. Boudreau is the son of Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau." [Link]

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-49259037076717326472008-11-18T06:08:00.008-05:002008-12-08T20:41:46.605-05:00

A little more than a week ago, Caps Assistant GM Don Fishman (a.k.a. possessor of perhaps my safest-for-work dream job) sat down with a group of season ticket holders for some "Chalk Talk," a team-hosted Q&A with a member of the organization.Fishman was surprisingly candid about the team's salary cap situation - the Caps, at that point, were $190,000 below the $56.7 million ceiling. Not $305,000

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-10819576834957902732008-11-17T10:25:00.001-05:002008-12-08T20:41:46.611-05:00

"The Capitals decision to rebuild the entire franchise five years ago has proven to be a wise one. They have set themselves up to compete for a Stanley Cup now, but also have the depth in the minors to stay a Stanley Cup contender for the next 7-10 years. Developing a franchise goaltender will be important."Read the specifics that led to that conclusion here.

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-63892648118746166972008-11-17T06:32:00.001-05:002008-12-08T20:41:46.618-05:00

Alright. You've all seen Mirtle's list of the best defensive defensemen so far, and we had a bit of a discussion on it in the comments on Friday. But let's go a little deeper and try to rank the seven defensemen (not counting Sergei Fedorov) the Caps have used so far this season based solely on their defensive play. Sure, to a certain extent it's silly to try to separate the defensive play from

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-6173325946869451422008-11-16T11:32:00.003-05:002008-12-08T20:41:46.711-05:00

With four games this past week (that now constitute just under a quarter of the season to date), there was plenty of opportunity for a shake-up in the Caps Corsi Rating rankings. Let's take a look at the week what was, but first, here's the year-to-date Corsi Rating for each skater on the team on a per game, per sixty minutes of even strength ice time rate (click to enlarge):The first thing

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-31278510283153084002008-11-16T08:52:00.001-05:002008-12-08T20:41:46.883-05:00

[AP Recap - Game Summary - Event Summary - WashingtonCaps.com Postgame]On Saturday night, the Caps fought back to tie the Devils at one, three, four and five goals apiece, but ultimately couldn't take the lead when it mattered most as they fell to Jersey in the shootout. Still, with three out of four points secured this weekend and a 7-1-2 record in their last ten games, the Caps have much to

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-1696898467652732752008-11-15T22:41:00.002-05:002008-11-15T22:43:57.203-05:00

Here are John Walton's three stars from tonight's 7-3 Bears win over Philly:1. Oskar Osala (First American Hockey League hat trick)2. Francois Bouchard (Three assists, including a terrific play to set up Osala in the third)3. Sami Lepisto (Goal and two assists)

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-9818468596754524932008-11-15T10:14:00.002-05:002008-11-15T10:17:10.602-05:00

Two points down, two to go.Maybe Dainius Zubrus's iPod can fire the Devils up.

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-81416169868001278662008-11-14T11:57:00.002-05:002008-12-08T20:41:47.133-05:00

John Erskine is the Caps' best defensive defenseman and is only very slightly worse than Nicklas Lidstrom as a defensive defenseman.Mirtle reports. You decide (and if you want more ammo, head over to TRS).

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-38635933154977790002008-11-14T06:08:00.002-05:002008-12-08T20:41:47.145-05:00

[AP Preview - WashingtonCaps.com Preview]Uh oh. Here come the Devils and... Scott Clemmensen?Perhaps Lou Lamoriello went to Brent Sutter and said, "Give this start to Clemmensen. I want reliable people, people who aren't going to be carried away. After all we're not murderers in spite of what this undertaker thinks." Or not.If you're not familiar with Clemmensen, here's a look at the 31-

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-65641830813947352782008-11-13T17:38:00.000-05:002008-11-13T17:38:59.196-05:00

Early this morning was, I believe, the first time this season that the temperature outside has been low enough that I've been able to see my breath upon a deep exhale. From time to time upon such an occurrence, I'm reminded of one of my all-time favorite hockey photos:This year, of course, that photo has a little more meaning, considering that its subject is now "one of ours."A lot has changed in

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-81078720908052819032008-11-13T16:34:00.002-05:002008-12-08T20:41:47.296-05:00

Via the NHL, today's conference call with Alex Ovechkin:Q. Can talk about your line with (Nicklas) Backstrom and (Alexander) Semin and whether you're having as much fun as you've ever had in the NHL? ALEX OVECHKIN: We have so much fun out there. And we just control the game. I think we pass to each other and we create some moments. We play all the time in the attack zone. If something happened

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-42780452834643934182008-11-13T16:27:00.003-05:002008-12-08T20:41:47.302-05:00

Per the team:The Washington Capitals have signed defenseman John Carlson, one of their two first-round choices (27th overall) in the 2008 Entry Draft, to a three-year entry-level contract, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today. In keeping with club policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.Carlson, 18, is a 6’3”, 210-pound native of Natick, Mass., who is in

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-54215910299213368692008-11-13T16:09:00.004-05:002008-12-08T20:41:47.307-05:00

Starting next season (for the sake of convenience), Alex Ovechkin will pay $405,000 more per year in income taxes under President-elect Obama's proposed tax plan than he would have under the current tax code, and $450k more in the out-years of his contract (assuming that the proposed tax plan is enacted and still in effect). Over the 12 years remaining on his current contract, that's an

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-62769508738395503402008-11-13T06:28:00.009-05:002008-12-08T20:41:47.314-05:00

[AP Recap - Game Summary - Event Summary - WashingtonCaps.com Postgame]On a night when the Caps faced off against the Hurricanes in Raleigh with first place in the Southeast Division on the line and utterly trounced their gracious hosts, one was left with a singular and somewhat frightening impression: this Caps team can be better.In fact, outside of the top line and d-pairing, nary a Cap had a

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-58301406286601557772008-11-12T06:08:00.002-05:002008-12-08T20:41:47.321-05:00

[AP Preview]Just six days after Alex Semin's late heroics saved the Caps from falling six points behind the 'Canes in the Southeast Division, Washington heads to Raleigh tied for first place with a game in hand (note: first "game in hand" mention of the season). And while the Caps have enjoyed the comforts of home thus far this season (they're the only Eastern Conference team without a regulation

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-50759278879885427562008-11-11T14:53:00.000-05:002008-12-08T20:41:47.613-05:00

One of the great sports collectibles of all-time is the hockey puck. They're cheap (well, not always) and small (well, not always), and come in more varieties than you can imagine, which is why the Virtual Puck Museum is such an awesome website.As UniWatch notes:The puck museum, which was recently brought to my attention by reader Jeff Pudlo, is pretty much what it sounds like: a huge collection

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-45224055018536233482008-11-11T14:42:00.001-05:002008-11-11T14:42:46.155-05:00

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-171237873562306462008-11-11T14:01:00.004-05:002008-12-08T20:41:47.630-05:00

Thanks to Tuvanhillbilly for passing along yet another installment of the interview that never ends between Dmitry Chesnokov and Alex Semin.There's plenty of great stuff there, but my favorite quote from this new batch is easy: "It doesn't make any difference to Brashear with which hand he beats you."

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-88847121155627217312008-11-11T13:37:00.002-05:002008-12-08T20:41:47.636-05:00

Via Simply Sensational: "Since the beginning of the 2007-2008 season, when one of [Donald Brashear, Boyd Gordon or Matt Bradley] scores a goal, the Capitals are a combined 18-0-1."

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-18620295503242361642008-11-11T09:31:00.003-05:002008-11-11T09:44:26.898-05:00

A quick glance at the League leader boards in various individual stats reveals the prominent placement of a pair of Caps:Of course, none of those rankings is as sweet this morning as this one:

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-38082239916994603382008-11-11T09:08:00.002-05:002008-12-08T20:41:47.845-05:00

At yesterday's morning skate, Alex Ovechkin was asked about facing his former teammate, Olie Kolzig, and noted that "it's good he's going to play because we know where to shoot on him." Upon being further prodded, AO smiled and clarified: "Head high."When made aware of those comments, Kolzig responded, "The difference was, in practice, when it was head high, I couldn't take any liberties because

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-74741847897650540352008-11-10T18:00:00.000-05:002008-12-08T20:41:47.998-05:00

I'm headed to the game, but I'll leave you all with this Open Thread in case you're hungry and/or want to discuss tonight's goings on. Enjoy.Thanks, as always, to Gustafsson from OFB for the image of the card.

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-38870215873284976392008-11-10T15:55:00.003-05:002008-12-08T20:41:48.005-05:00

From the fine folks at Elias Sports Bureau (via the NHL) comes this gem: "The Maple Leafs beat the Canadiens, 6-3, on Saturday and all nine goals were scored by European players: Toronto’s Niklas Hagman (Finland, 2 goals), Mikhail Grabovski (Belarus), Nik Antropov (Kazakhstan), Pavel Kubina (Czech Republic) and Alexei Ponikarovsky (Ukraine), and Montreal’s Robert Lang (Czech Republic), Tomas

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-73855403036534981442008-11-10T14:57:00.005-05:002008-12-08T20:41:48.011-05:00

Redskins tight end and blogger extraordinaire Chris Cooley has a new-found appreciation for some of D.C.'s elite athletes.Via his blog (don't worry, this one's safe for work), Cooley recounts his trip to Saturday night's Caps/Rangers game, the first hockey game he has ever seen, in person or on television:"I am not kidding when I tell you that what these guys do on the ice is nothing short of

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-34713009873448360432008-11-10T12:06:00.001-05:002008-12-08T20:41:48.018-05:00

Via Kukla:NEW YORK (Nov. 10, 2008)—Goaltenders Roberto Luongo of the Vancouver Canucks, Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Brent Johnson of the Washington Capitals have been named the NHL ‘Three Stars’ for the week ending Sunday, Nov. 9....THIRD STAR—BRENT JOHNSON, G, WASHINGTON CAPITALSMaking three consecutive starts for the first time since March 2007, Johnson posted a 2-0-1 record

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-74947889081844058602008-11-10T06:37:00.002-05:002008-12-08T20:41:48.025-05:00

[AP Preview - WashingtonCaps.com Preview]It's hard to recall a game in which the starting netminder match-up was of as much interest to Caps fans as tonight's tilt between the Bolts and the host Capitals.For the locals, the question of who the number one goalie is hasn't been as unclear as it is currently since, well, the guy who will likely be between the pipes at the other end of the ice

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-13032479965270867972008-11-09T22:00:00.000-05:002008-12-08T20:41:48.031-05:00

For a guy who probably never saw him play live, the WaPo's Mike Wise sure does have an over-the-top a strong opinion on how you - and the Caps - should treat Olie Kolzig's return to Washington tomorrow night:A short video tribute will be shown on the JumboTron during the first timeout of the first period tonight, which seems a bit trite and jammed in, especially given his years of service as a

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-40140145107546713022008-11-09T12:35:00.000-05:002008-12-08T20:41:48.101-05:00

The Caps played three tight games this week and managed to snag five points along the way - we'll certainly take that. Let's take a look at the week what was in Corsi, but first, here's the year-to-date Corsi Rating for each skater on the team on a per game, per sixty minutes of even strength ice time rate (click to enlarge):Still no change at the top or bottom from last week, with Sergei Fedorov

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-28999866009092573312008-11-08T20:54:00.004-05:002008-12-08T20:41:48.178-05:00

With tonight's 28-save, 3-1 victory, Brent Johnson is now 9-3-3 with a 2.19 goals against average and a .925 save percentage as a starter under Bruce Boudreau.

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-26138442227244661782008-11-08T14:06:00.006-05:002008-12-08T20:41:48.193-05:00

Yesterday, we suggested that "Perhaps [Chris] Clark needs to go see a specialist about his lingering groin injury (wink wink, nudge nudge)."Today, it seems, Clark might be on his way to making that "visit." Per Tarik:Coach Bruce Boudreau shed a little light on the Chris Clark situation, saying, "he has an undisclosed injury at this point. ...It's best that he sits out a game."...Asked if he was

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-84245140794854521462008-11-08T07:49:00.000-05:002008-12-08T20:41:48.201-05:00

[AP Preview - WashingtonCaps.com Preview]No more Jagr. No more Avery. Can you really still hate the Rangers?You're damn right you can (and if you need a new reason why, here are a couple).The Rangers come into tonight's game with the most wins in the Eastern Conference, a 4-1-1 record on the road, a miserly 2.12 team goals against average (thanks to an eye-popping 90.3% effective penalty kill), a

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-34864789397111414972008-11-07T19:16:00.002-05:002008-11-07T19:19:50.483-05:00

Per TSN, the Lightning have traded defenseman Matt Carle and a third round pick to Philadelphia for Steve Eminger, Steve Downie and a fourth round pick.

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-88411900928728356132008-11-07T18:20:00.004-05:002008-11-07T21:55:35.077-05:00

Actually, "Sasha Pokulok the Jumper" is a bit more accurate, as this crazy - and nearly tragic - story involving the Caps' 2005 first round pick details:West Ashley, SC - A fire tears through a West Ashley apartment complex and leaves four families without homes.The families that lived in the charred units all escaped without injury, but it was close. The fire spread so quickly, a man living in a

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-19028931367969681862008-11-07T14:27:00.003-05:002008-12-08T20:41:48.355-05:00

From the good folks at Elias Sports Bureau, via the NHL:"The Capitals trailed the Hurricanes, 2-1, but Alexander Semin scored twice in the final three minutes of the third period to pull out a 3-2 victory for Washington last night. Semin was the first player in Capitals history with a score-tying goal and a game-winning goal in the final three minutes of the third period in one game. Before Semin

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-74554009799375375292008-11-07T12:46:00.003-05:002008-12-08T20:41:48.362-05:00

The problem with the Caps, according to CBC's Kelly Hrudey, is that they have too much talent. The result of this surplus of skill is that, "this year, with mostly the same players [as last year], the Washington Capitals are a bad team."They're in the top half of the League in points percentage, but are a bad team - not a slumping team, but a bad one. Got it. Good stuff, as always, Kelly.

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-89241608768630465652008-11-07T12:15:00.002-05:002008-11-07T12:18:17.579-05:00

"Tampa Bay is eager to shed salary and Lightning general manager Brian Lawton is fielding interest in any number of players, including veteran goaltender Olaf Kolzig and forward Radim Vrbata."Kolzig makes $1.5 million this season and may soon become an affordable option for those teams in need of a goaltender." - Darren Dreger, TSN.ca

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-20296289664096647542008-11-07T06:28:00.000-05:002008-12-08T20:41:48.461-05:00

[AP Recap - Game Summary - Event Summary - WashingtonCaps.com Recap]Like many a fan from Bethesda, the Caps rode the Red Line last night. And, like the Metro's version on many nights, the Caps' Red Line broke down before the end of the night, as the elder statesman of the Russian trio left the game early with a "lower body" injury.Painfully tortured analogies aside, the Caps' 3-2 come-from-behind

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-30102014231106027692008-11-06T10:40:00.005-05:002008-12-08T20:41:48.467-05:00

Tarik is reporting that the Caps top line at practice this morning is Alex Ovechkin, Sergei Fedorov and Alex Semin.You might recall that this combo was wildly successful at the World Championships last spring. You might also recall that that Russian team had a guy named Ilya Kovalchuk on the second line to divert at least a little attention away from the top line.So do you buy or sell this line

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-2536980565732693072008-11-06T06:01:00.002-05:002008-12-08T20:41:48.476-05:00

[AP Preview - WashingtonCaps.com Preview]Ah, the Southeast Division.If the Caps were in the Atlantic and facing the division leader tonight, a loss would drop them to eleven points out of first place. In the Pacific, a similar hypothetical would find them an even dozen points out of the top spot. In the Northeast, another loss would have the Caps sitting in the division's basement.But not in the

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-79998763770353809642008-11-05T06:01:00.001-05:002008-12-08T20:41:48.484-05:00

[AP Recap - Game Summary - Event Summary - WashingtonCaps.com Recap]Brent Johnson deserved better (42 saves on 44 shots against), but the team's effort on the whole was much better than Saturday night's, so there was a lot to like (and some things not to like) with the point grabbed in Ottawa:The Caps won eight of nine faceoffs when shorthanded, including all four draws on the 1:57 of 3-on-5.The

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-62243101500665102322008-11-04T17:23:00.006-05:002008-12-08T20:41:48.610-05:00

We've seen the Bruce Boudreau bobblehead. Now we get a sneak peak at Alex Ovechkin's (to be given out to the first 15,000 fans at the December 18 game against St. Louis).The question, then, is which one (pictured below) is the more faithful representation of its subject? More importantly, which would you rather have?

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-91316742077692144472008-11-04T09:32:00.005-05:002008-11-04T09:36:06.314-05:00

From (who else?) Puck Daddy:

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-3862369023953803762008-11-04T06:08:00.001-05:002008-12-08T20:41:48.743-05:00

[AP Preview - WashingtonCaps.com Preview]A week ago today, we mentioned that Alex Ovechkin's two-game absence from the Caps lineup presented opportunity aplenty for both the Caps and AO. Some players took advantage (at least for one night). Others did not. Now we'll see if the Great Eight can himself make the most of the opportunity to once again show everyone in the League why he is the reigning

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-43624720336512759172008-11-03T15:13:00.001-05:002008-12-08T20:41:48.762-05:00

Per the team:ARLINGTON, Va., – Washington Capitals left wing Alexander Semin, who led the NHL with 16 points in October, has been named the league’s First Star of the Month, the NHL announced today.In addition, Washington prospect Keith Aucoin of the Hershey Bears was named the American Hockey League’s Player of the Month for October, giving the Capitals organization a sweep of those awards for

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-84994820763708150932008-11-03T06:08:00.000-05:002008-12-08T20:41:48.873-05:00

Alright, it's time for Silver Lining Monday*, which today features the penalty kill. The Caps PK got off to a rough start, allowing seven goals against in its first 24 times shorthanded (70.8% effective), but has gone 31-for-36 (86.1%) since to raise the efficiency to a nice, round 80% on the season, which is still not great (it would have ranked 26th in the League last season), but it's

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-34280926685291222672008-11-02T16:03:00.002-05:002008-12-08T20:41:48.880-05:00

"You have to have the leadership in the room to motivate them internally. I know we do have it. It's just whether anybody is shy about it because [of] their game. A lot of guys won't do it unless they think their game is going good enough where they can do it. It's like, 'How can I stand up and say something if I'm playing like crap?'" - Bruce Boudreau, 11/2/08Buy or sell Gabby calling out Chris

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-80736378564891507002008-11-02T14:07:00.005-05:002008-11-02T14:20:02.426-05:00

Former Cap and current Dynamo Minsk forward Ben Clymer has a blog (who knew?) over at The Hockey News, and in his most recent entry, he writes about playing against Avangard Omsk in the team's first game after the tragic loss of Alexei Cherepanov. Check it out.

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-13248778975598708642008-11-02T13:36:00.000-05:002008-12-08T20:41:49.162-05:00

A light week on the schedule was even lighter for most of the Caps, who basically showed up for the first of the six periods on the slate for the seven days. So let's take a look at the week what was in Corsi, but first, here's the year-to-date Corsi Rating for each skater on the team on a per game, per sixty minutes of even strength ice time rate (click to enlarge):There's still no change at the

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-11041557839689245102008-11-01T22:21:00.004-04:002008-12-08T20:41:49.168-05:00

[AP Recap - Game Summary - Event Summary]I didn't get a chance to see much of tonight's game, but figured you all might need a place to vent, so have at it.Oh, and in case you missed it, Shaone Morrisonn is hurt.

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-7032781935726147072008-11-01T17:15:00.003-04:002008-12-08T20:41:49.227-05:00

Flipping through the wife's copy of Glamour (hey, the Executive Reading Room doesn't exactly have the Library of Congress catalog of periodicals on hand), I stumbled upon the following ad for Dolce & Gabbana watches and thought the pitchman looked familiar:Now, it's not you-know-who, but given his well-documented love of the brand, perhaps the company is trying to take advantage of an implied

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-46705038230994062932008-11-01T08:08:00.002-04:002008-12-08T20:41:49.234-05:00

[AP Preview - WashingtonCaps.com Preview]When Alex Ovechkin misses games, nearly everyone misses him. The Caps miss his offense and his leadership. Those watching miss the chance to see perhaps the greatest player in the game. And, in Buffalo, fans miss the chance to jeer one of their favorite villains (too bad Puck Daddy didn't ask Alex Semin what he thought of Thomas Vanek, eh?).But missed the

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-50712717279980050122008-10-31T18:44:00.002-04:002008-10-31T18:51:59.101-04:00

Thanks, as always, to everyone who keeps reading The Rink. We're consistently surprised by all the folks who stop by to check us out (October set a new single-month record for visits), and we look forward to an even more exciting November.Here are your top ten most-read posts for October:You Know You Have A Huge Fundraising Advantage When...Mmmm... DownieHopefully This Isn't A Metaphor For The

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-50077461450819968952008-10-31T09:45:00.002-04:002008-12-08T20:41:49.363-05:00

No further introduction needed - go read it.Update: The "scoop of the season" is making waves up north...

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-22058526163345579472008-10-31T06:28:00.002-04:002008-12-08T20:41:49.370-05:00

Here's a stat for you: prior to last night's action, the Caps had taken the seventh-most minor penalties per game in the League at 5.8.Here's another: prior to last night's action, the Caps had the 19th-rated penalty kill in the League at 78.8%.And here's what happens when you put them together: no team in the League with a worse penalty kill than the Caps' takes as many minor penalties as the

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-35282428502729275312008-10-30T15:01:00.000-04:002008-12-08T20:41:49.376-05:00

As Caps fans delight in Alex Semin's scintillating start to the season, the rest of the League is taking notice of the "other" Alex as well.Here's a sampling of what they're writing: "Alexander Semin, goal machine. Most prognosticators expected a Russian ... to lead the Washington Capitals in scoring all season. But it wasn't Semin.... Nevertheless, there he is." - Adam Proteau, ESPN.com"THAT a

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-39473234923571187422008-10-30T12:16:00.005-04:002008-10-30T13:22:59.451-04:00

From one of Deadspin's many posts wrapping up the World Series in Philly comes the pic below of some joker disgracing the red, white and blue by ostensibly celebrating the Phillies' win (or perhaps he's just upset with D.C.'s newly minted distinction):Officer, you have our blessing in doling out a wood shampoo to this hipster toolshed.

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-32083997350903826902008-10-30T06:19:00.004-04:002008-12-08T20:41:49.600-05:00

Back in late July, we posted the translation of an article from a Swedish paper regarding Nicklas Backstrom's summer, but the most commented upon aspect of the story needed no translating - for some, the pictures spoke for themselves.Fast forward a few months to Backstrom's slow start (he's still looking for that first goal and even strength point) and Lisa Hillary's ice-level report during a

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-15432214756784507382008-10-29T20:04:00.002-04:002008-12-08T20:41:49.616-05:00

Forbes' annual rankings of NHL franchise values is out, and rather than reinvent the wheel (why should I when they still have the old logo on their Caps page?), I'll just cut and paste what I wrote last year (which was pretty much what I'd written the year before):"Forbes has updated its valuations of the NHL's 30 teams and the Caps are in just about the same place on that list as they are in the

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-20012775365693752842008-10-29T11:46:00.001-04:002008-12-08T20:41:49.622-05:00

By accounts ranging from Bruce Boudreau to The Hockey News to The PensBlog and beyond, the Caps are this year's "sexy" pick in the East.Maybe this explains why.H/t to Scott on the link

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-41819973676517550482008-10-29T08:38:00.006-04:002008-10-29T11:29:01.519-04:00

Per The Barrie Examiner:"Barrie Colts head coach Marty Williamson wasn't exactly jumping for joy after taking a peek at the Ontario Hockey League's rosters for the 2008 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge.... No Colts were asked to play in the showcase tournament[.]..."Barrie's coach said he thought Colts' captain Stefan Della Rovere was a sure-fire bet to make the team. Della Rovere is currently tied

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-64534860107275542142008-10-29T06:28:00.001-04:002008-12-08T20:41:49.826-05:00

[AP Recap - Game Summary - Event Summary]Remember yesterday when we noted that Alex Ovechkin's absence presented an opportunity for every Cap to raise his game a notch and that how individuals perform with the MVP out of the lineup would tell us a lot about those players? Well, Alex Semin told us what we already knew: he's really, really good.The Caps tried - and failed - to simply hold on to a

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-14157089958115153902008-10-28T09:55:00.005-04:002008-10-28T11:45:00.635-04:00

Remember our buddy Tim Clownboy of the Hurricanes, err, River Rats? Check out what he's been up to, via Canes Country:"The AHL should be looking into a suspension for Albany River Rats captain Tim Conboy, who was assessed a fighting major, instigation and unsportsmanlike minors, a game misconduct for instigating and a game misconduct for "persisting in a fight," following a high-sticking incident

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-53161984071756470592008-10-28T06:08:00.004-04:002008-12-08T20:41:50.005-05:00

[AP Preview - WashingtonCaps.com Preview]So Mr. O is taking a few days off to be with his ailing grandparent far away - and I thought that was last week's news.While the Caps haven't won a single game without Alex Ovechkin in the lineup since March 30, 2004 (they lost the only game he has missed in his NHL career so far), one could easily view the current melancholy situation as one that presents

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-71571738682936193972008-10-27T22:01:00.010-04:002008-12-08T20:41:50.012-05:00

Mirtle's got a post up taking a look at who's been on the ice for the most goals against per sixty minutes of even strength ice time (GAON/60) but the flip side of the coin, of course, is who's been on the ice for the most goals for per sixty minutes of even strength ice time (GFON/60), and towards the top of the list we find some very familiar names:(Top 20, minimum four games played; stats via

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-45360177623831051662008-10-27T14:22:00.003-04:002008-10-27T14:28:42.192-04:00

Per Tim Leone, "The Bears adjusted their schedule due to the McCain-Palin campaign stop slated for Tuesday at Giant Center."Is this really such a good idea, considering the hockey-related devastation the GOP's Vice Presidential nominee has left in her wake recently (or did Blues rookie Ben Bishop help to break "The Curse" on Saturday night)? At least it's not a puck drop...

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-90308294875800401742008-10-27T06:08:00.002-04:002008-12-08T20:41:50.032-05:00

Roughly 1/10th of the way through the regular season, here's one stat for each player who has suited up for the Caps so far this season, by jersey number, for discussion:1 - Brent Johnson: 1-0-1 with a 1.92 GAA and .915 save percentage in games he has started3 - Tom Poti: No hits on the season so far (in four games played)4 - John Erskine: Got a 127% raise for next season8 - Alex Ovechkin: No

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-50281901413477428252008-10-26T20:20:00.003-04:002008-10-26T20:28:19.359-04:00

Karl Alzner's first goal as a pro was one of many highlights in Hershey's 8-3 romp over Rochester this evening. Chris Bourque had a penalty shot goal and three assists, Quintin Laing and Oskar Osala had a pair of goals each, and Alzner added a helper to his goal (and was a team-best plus-four on the night), as the Bears outshot the Amerks 50-16 for the game.

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-48945900693300853962008-10-26T10:47:00.001-04:002008-12-08T20:41:50.180-05:00

After a trio of one-goal games on a tough road trip in which the Caps were only able to salvage a pair of points in the standings, the regular season is now roughly 1/10th complete and things are starting to settle a bit statistically. Let's have a look at the week what was in Corsi. But first, here's the year-to-date Corsi Rating for each skater on the team on a per game, per sixty minutes of

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-27137558070507890332008-10-25T14:27:00.007-04:002008-12-08T20:41:50.280-05:00

When the Caps take on the Stars tonight, they'll be facing two former members of the organization: 1998 fourth round pick Krys Barch and Stars head coach Dave Tippett.Tippett played 91 games for the Caps back in 1990-91 and 1991-92, scoring eight goals and adding 19 assists, but somehow was left off our list of Great Caps Moustaches, despite this killer crumb-catcher:

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-80699028469596446172008-10-25T07:52:00.001-04:002008-12-08T20:41:50.287-05:00

[AP Preview - WashingtonCaps.com Preview]Focus? Focyou!Why lead this morning's post with a juvenile play on words that doesn't even make any sense? Because focus is precisely what the Caps need right now - sixty minutes of mental acuity from 19 individuals reading from the same sheet of music.In each of the Caps seven games so far, with the exception of the Vancouver win, there have been notable

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-38473850378844885362008-10-24T20:45:00.006-04:002008-10-24T21:21:02.586-04:00

Blueliner Josh Godfrey and winger Steve Pinizzotto have been re-assigned from AHL Hershey to South Carolina of the ECHL. Neither had been doing - or, more importantly playing - much, though JGod did have that pre-season hat trick.For more on the moves, check out Rays the Roof.

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-58827314803198663192008-10-24T20:33:00.003-04:002008-12-08T20:41:50.516-05:00

Alex Ovechkin - who has two goals through seven games so far this season - scored 65 times in 2007-08.Five times he had seven-game stretches in which he scored two goals or fewer, including a seven-game goal-less drought, and he had a single nine-game span during which he had only a pair of tallies.

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-31833656701024216502008-10-24T14:23:00.004-04:002008-12-08T20:41:50.523-05:00

Well, it's taken seven games for the "what's wrong with Alex?" columns to start. Ken Campbell chimes in with his thoughts:"Ovechkin is undoubtedly the most elite physical player in the NHL. Perhaps he is too focused on playing a rugged game and is looking for the big hit too much. With 22 hits in seven games thus far, Ovechkin is on pace for 258, which would be the fourth-highest total among

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-69632505566199965232008-10-24T12:50:00.009-04:002008-12-08T20:41:50.529-05:00

The NHL's silly injury disclosure policy has, perhaps predictably, led to this:"[G]oaltender Carey Price is recovering from an 'inner body injury,' which is NHL-speak for the flu.""Inner-body injury."Bravo, NHL, for bringing about previously unimaginable levels of idiocy. Bravo. (And isn't any sprain or bruise or broken bone really an "inner-body injury" too? Just askin'.)H/t RotoworldUpdate:

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-90510810172124240892008-10-24T06:38:00.000-04:002008-12-08T20:41:50.537-05:00

[AP Recap - Game Summary - Event Summary - WashingtonCaps.com Recap]Alright, who left the offense in the Eastern time zone?A three-game road trip that would have probably have been considered successful had the Caps brought home with them three points is now 0-fer through two games. Just a few thoughts on last night/this morning's match up:Blowing a third period lead, no matter how slim, to a

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-89212626206401030892008-10-23T21:46:00.012-04:002008-12-08T20:41:50.587-05:00

You might recall last year that Upper Deck released a limited number of Alex Ovechkin action figures as part of their All-Star Vinyl line. Now comes word via Beckett Behind The Scenes that the line (including a new Ovechkin figure) "soon will expand into a larger series of 10-inch figures available at retail stores."This is good news for collectors and anyone who would want one of these (for

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14427229.post-46604334044732808702008-10-23T20:55:00.001-04:002008-12-08T20:41:50.595-05:00

John Erskine's two-year contract extension will pay him $1.25 million in each of the next two years. To what does he owe this 127% raise? Here's a bit of what he did last season:He had two goals, seven assists and a plus-1 rating in 51 games played.He had 24% more minor penalties than anyone on the team, despite playing 25 fewer games than his closest competition in this category. In fact, he had

JPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13144581988817631208noreply@blogger.com25