Bleacher Report - Washington Capitals

Capitals-Canadiens: Caps' Last Shot Rings Post, Not Bell in 3-2 Loss to Habs

Dave Nichols — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:39:47 -0500

With 19 seconds remaining in the game and trailing by one, Mike Green hit the right post flush and the puck gently came to rest underneath Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price, and the Washington Capitals' best chance to tie up a game they struggled in was whistled dead.

Two ensuing faceoffs provided no more help, and the Caps (13-5-4) fell 3-2 before a capacity crowd at the Verizon Center Friday night.

Washington played the final 1:52 on a power play, and much of the time played with a six-to-four man advantage.

"There was a lot of red out there," Price said about the last two minutes to the media after the game. "Especially when I lost my stick. I've got six players against four with no stick. That makes it pretty tough."

Tough, but obviously not impossible.

The Capitals found themselves down 3-1 midway through the third period due to an uneven, sometimes sloppy performance.

With several players wearing jersey numbers in the 70s and 80s, Washington resembled a traveling preseason squad.

Missing from the lineup were such regulars as Alexander Semin, Mike Knuble, Boyd Gordon, Quintin Laing, Milan Jurcina, Shaone Morrisonn and Jose Theodore. In were 21-year old Michal Neuvirth, 19-year old John Carlson and others that started the season in AHL Hershey, such as Mathieu Perrault and Jay Beagle.

It's no wonder the Capitals looked like a different team in the first period of the game. They are a different team.

"It's easy to rip on your players when you lose to a team that's below you in the standings," Washington coach Bruce Boudreau said, "but I thought Montreal played a strong game. The biggest thing was I didn't think we were ready at the start of the game."

Regardless, you have to play with what you have, and tonight the Caps just weren't ready out of the gate, despite taking the early lead.

"We got the sense of urgency in the last two periods," he added. "Sometimes it's too late when the other goalie is on top of his game."

Eric Fehr struck with the only goal in the first period. After good forechecking by Perrault and David Steckel, Fehr beat Price with a rising wrist shot as Steckel skated right in front of the Montreal goaltender.

But Les Habitants registered the next three tallies, including two goals in 2:47 in the second period. There was a deflection and a bounce off a Capitals player, so youngster Neuvirth (19 saves) can't really be faulted too hard on either.

"He did what a starting pitcher is supposed to do," Boudreau said of the goalie, making his first start of the season. "He kept us in the game. And we didn't take advantage of it."

The Canadiens' last goal was a rocket by Mike Cammilleri on a questionable power play midway through the third period.

It was at that time the Caps woke up, but it was too little, too late.

Washington got its second goal off a terrific shot-pass from Green to Brendan Morrison, who then beat Price with a backhander as he skated through the crease, setting up the final two-minute flurry.

Despite the onslaught, the Caps never did get the equalizer.

There is no rest for the weary, though. The team loaded up for their charter immediately after the game for a 7:00 p.m. road faceoff with the woeful Toronto Maple Leafs tomorrow.

Hopefully, they find their legs earlier Saturday evening than they did Friday.

NOTES: Carlson made his NHL debut and acquitted himself well. He led the team in hits and rang a shot off the post in the first period in a bid for his first goal.

"I thought [he] played well," Boudreau commented. "He's going to be a good player in this league for a long time."

Defenseman Tom Poti left in the second period with an undisclosed upper body injury. He is listed day-to-day, and Boudreau indicated the team will call up another player for Saturday's game. This implies that Shaone Morrisonn, Milan Jurcina and Poti all will be unavailable.

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Unsung Hero Matt Bradley Paces Capitals Over Rangers

Dave Nichols — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:06:43 -0500

Matt Bradley was in the the right place twice last night in the Washington Capitals 4-2 win over the New York Rangers, and he made the right plays both times.

First, he took on Rangers tough guy Aaron Voros, trading wild right hand punches that left the smaller Bradley bloodied about his left eye, requiring six stitches. Later, he gathered in a loose puck, shielded rookie defenseman Matt Gilroy, and beat Henrik Lundqvist high to the glove side to break a 2-2 tie in the third period.

Bradley, one of the team's unsung heroes, was typically nonchalant about the fight, which seemed to spark the entire Capitals team. "It didn't bother me. I could feel the blood coming, but there is no pain or anything. It's just one of those things that is more annoying than anything. You have to go in and get stitches and you have to miss five minutes."

"It's amazing," Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau said of his winger's performance after the game. "He got cut pretty good, came back, and was instrumental in us winning. He's got oodles of character."

The game marked the return of Alex Ovechkin to Washington's line-up. The two-time Hart Trophy winner had missed the previous six games with an upper body injury, and he returned with a flourish, banging home a one-timer from the point on a power play in the first period for his 15th goal of the season.

Ovechkin also doled out several hits, so it appears the injury will not keep him from playing the physical game he is accustomed to.

Semyon Varlamov made 18 saves on 20 shots to earn the win, and joins a small group of goalies to win 12 of their first 14 NHL decisions.

And, Boudreau hit the 100 win mark for his career, the fourth fastest in NHL history to reach the century mark.

But the game Tuesday night belonged to Bradley, the scrappy fourth line winger. His fourth goal of the season lifted his team in the waning moments of a close hockey game, and kept them on top of the standings in the Eastern Conference.

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Washington Capitals 2009-2010 First Quarter Report

Scott Zweibel — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:54:27 -0500

The Washington Capitals are off to a hot start for the 2009-2010 NHL season. Traditionally, the Caps have been slow-starters, waiting until December (or later) to make a run up the standings. This season, they have started 13-4-4, and are currently sitting atop the Eastern conference standings (though New Jersey and Buffalo have games in hand).

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NHL: Alex Ovechkin Making His Return Against New York Rangers Tonight

bill duke — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:55:13 -0500

Out for six games with an upper-body injury, it Washington Capital superstar Alexander Ovechkin returned to play against the New York Rangers tonight.

The star scored his league-leading 15th goal of the season and the Capitals beat the Rangers 4-2.

According to the AP, Ovechkin skated at the team’s practice this morning and was “expected to be in the lineup” tonight at Madison Square Garden.

With Ovechkin out of the lineup, the Caps remained solid on the money line, going 4-2 SU and are -105 for tonight’s game while the Rangers are -115.

The total is set at 6.

Watch Tonight's Live Game: Washington Capitals Vs. New York Rangers

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Ovechkin—Primed For Return Against Rangers

Louis Pisano — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:53:20 -0500

By Louis “King of Roncesvalles” Pisano

The reigning Rocket Richard, Hart Trophy, Lester B. Pearson and Sporting News NHL player of the year award winner should make his return to the ice for the Washington Capitals tonight in New York City at the famed Madison Square Garden.

Could any team ask for a bigger of a boost? I think not!

He has single handily has taken games over and immediately raises the play of everyone on his team.

Not only are his team mates and organization happy to have him back, any fan of the game should be as well, perhaps not Ranger fans.

I wait with anticipation for highlights of this incredible phenomenon each night the Caps play. I think we all do.

Whether it's a big hit, a sick dangle undressing a defenseman or another unbelievable goal—Ovechkin brings it all. He also carries an attitude that tells you how much he loves the game of hockey and always seems to be having fun playing it.

Defensively, other teams have to rearrange pairings and game plans to limit the amount of space this guy gets on the ice.

Always easier said than done, obviously, when the Caps have him out there with another couple snipers in Backstrom and Semin.

Whatever you do stay out of the penalty box when playing against a healthy Caps team that can throw this talented trio out there on the power-play.

Rookie Mathieu Perreault since being called up from Hershey of the AHL has been tearing it up and is another weapon this Caps team has now in it fold.

On the other side rookie defenseman Michael DelZotto has been the reincarnation of the offensive defenseman in New York previously filled by now Hall of Famer Brian Leetch’s presence. This kid has it all, poise a shot heads up defensive play, any team would be very fortunate to have this guy.

The Rangers could be trouble though in this game as the injury bug has them reeling and they have lost five of their last eight including losses to seemingly weaker opponents in Atlanta, Minnesota and the Islanders.

With the boost that Ovechkin will bring to his team and the somewhat slumping Rangers dealing with injuries, I have to think that Washington will win tonight in a decisive game that could drop the New York Rangers into last place in their division after getting off to such a strong start.

I guess that’s why they play 82 games!

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Washington Capitals Host Wounded Warriors on Veterans Day

Alex McVeigh — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:16:48 -0500

More than 50 wounded warriors and their Families headed to the Verizon Center on Wednesday to spend Veterans Day watching the Washington Capitals take on the New York Islanders. The event was sponsored by the USO and Microsoft, as part of their ‘‘Salute to Our Troops” program.

Soldiers were invited to a pre-game reception, where they were treated to free food and drinks, and were given Capitals jerseys and other merchandise.

‘‘It’s good to get out of the hospital for a change,” said Marine Sgt. Michael Richards. ‘‘Normally someone my age wouldn’t get a chance to hang out in a suite like this, so it definitely shows us how appreciated we are.”

The Salute to Our Troops program started this week with the trip to the Verizon Center, and will continue throughout the holiday season. The Fisher House in Bethesda will get a holiday makeover Dec. 5, and 8,200 service members are invited to see the Rockettes at the Verizon Center for free Dec. 20.

‘‘This is our chance to give back to all of you, and to thank you for your support and sacrifice,” said. John Marselles, chairman of USO-Metro.

Dr. Joseph Westphal, Undersecretary of the Army, also spoke at the event, also thanking the veterans for sacrificing for their country.

‘‘We think often of the sacrifices you all are continuing to make on behalf of America, and we are truly grateful,” Westphal said.

After he spoke, Westphal gave each service member present his coin and personally thanked them.

Teresa Carlson, vice president of Microsoft Federal, also spoke at the event, and she started by asking for a moment of silence to remember the victims of the shooting at Fort Hood. She also invited all service members present to the upcoming Salute to Our Troops events.

Afterwards, she said she was very happy with the turnout to the game.

‘‘I’m thrilled that 55 wounded warriors and their Families could make it out here tonight,” Carlson said. ‘‘An event like this is small enough that everyone can feel appreciated, but we’re glad it could be a special evening for everyone.”

It was a special evening to watch hockey, as the Capitals won in a thrilling shootout, 5-4.

Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Horne, director of Human Resources Policy directorate, told the service members present that they should be proud of themselves for deciding to stand up and fight for their country.

‘‘It’s been said that the two greatest days one can have is the day they’re born, and the day they find their purpose,” Horne said. ‘‘the [ service members] here have found their purpose, they stand for something larger than themselves.”

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