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Caps Take Off Night against San Jose

By Rodger M. WoodAlexander SeminComing off successively strong two way wins against conference rivals Tampa and Pittsburgh, the Capitals once again decided to take a night off Monday to lose at home to a hustling Western Conference challenger, San Jose Sharks 2-0.As in the other seven games they were shut out this season, the Caps showedvery little of the infamous rhyming game virtues, spark and heart.It’s also a possibility they just weren’t tough enough after two days rest to cope with the very big tough defensemen protecting the Sharks blue line.Highly rated rookie defensemen, John Carlson, Kurt Alzner, and the Caps first line forwards, Ovie, Niklaus Backstrom, and Jason Chimera were on the ice for both the Sharks goals from the Caps blue line midway through the third period.In any event, they lost again with only the excuse that coming off a six game injury, $6.2 million dollar man, Alexander Semin, was not yet in game shape.If that was case, why did they send Jay Beagle, who gave the Caps 100% spark and heart all of the time for lots less money, back to Hershey the day before.Penguins Matt Cooke Suspended Four GamesPenguins Matt Cooke, who tried to injure Alex O with a knee to knee check in Saturday’s game, was suspended by the NHL for the 4 games for a hit from behind on Columbus’ Fedor Tyutin on Tuesday night.

Screen shot 2011 02 11 at 9 17 14 AM

Fans are split on trade deadline moves.

Is Stars Brad Richards Coming to the Caps?There are some wild rumors circulating around the Caps are considering a trade of right wing Matt Bradley, one of the rookie goaltenders, Semyon Varlomov,Michal Neuvirth, or Braden Holtby, and a #1 draft pick, for Dallas center and leading scorer, Brad Richards. Richards leads the Stars in scoring with 22 goals and 39 assiststhe 2010-2011 campaign.

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Caps Blank Penguins

By Rodger M. WoodBrooks Laich 1The Caps played tough two way hockey for three periods to shut out arch rival Pittsburgh Penguins 3-0 in their own version of the Super Bowl at the Verizon Centre Sunday afternoon.While the Penguins had difficulty mounting any offensive attack without star centers Sydney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, who were on the sidelines with injuries,the Caps, spurred on by the aggressive play of its second, third, and fourth lines, sent wave upon wave of offensive attackers on Penguin goalie Marc- Andre Fleury, who had to resort to acrobatics to keep the puck from going into the net.Taking advantage of the Penguins not covering up the point, Brooks Laich, assisted by defenseman John Erskine’s slap slot, scored the go ahead and eventual game winning goal at the 18:22 mark of the first period.Center Marcus Johansson victimized the Penguins with a flashy shorthanded goalwhich gave the Caps a 2-0 lead early in the second period.Mike Knuble’s pay off for an injured face and hard work was an empty netter at the end of the game to make the final score 3-0.In his first start since January 18th, Caps Michael Neuvirth blanked the Pens with 22 saves for the Caps first Penguins shutout at home since 1990 – 1991 season.The win didn’t come without any costs as Caps all star defenseman Mike Green took a shot in the head near the end of the first period. While Green said it was only a cut, he didn’t return to the ice in the second period and was under doctor’s observation Monday.The Penguin/Capitals rivalry became even more heated when Penguins Matt Cooke, who has a reputation for dirty play, tried to take Ovie out in the third period with a leg check.Hats off to Caps Matt Bradley for trying to get a piece of Cooke in the last minute of play, but unfortunately, he will have to wait until the end of upcoming road trip before he can exact due process.Earlier in the third period, engaging him in a wrestling match, Wilkes Barre call up Tim Wallace fought Caps David Steckel in an obvious attempt to make Steckel pay for an accidental blind side hit on Sydney Crosby in the Winter Classic.The Caps return to the ice against Pacific Division second place San Jose at home Tuesday night.

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Caps’ Tough Guys Win Big Game

By Rodger M. WoodNicklas Backstrom 1  1After Coach Boudreau’s tough guys, Matt Hendricks, and Matt Bradley disrupted the goaltender and beat down the opposition’s bullies, the Caps played physical two–way hockey, which beat Southeast Division leading Tampa Bay last night 5-2.Once they found out the coach’s strategy of defensemen passing the puck to each other in their own zone worked to force Lightning forwards to make the first move, they broke down the Tampa neutral zone trap, which had been so successful the previous two Tampa games in which they had been shutout.Eight minutes into the game, Matt Hendricks took the final step necessary to make the strategy a sure winner when he crashed the nets, and collided with Lightning goalie Dwayne Roloson, who responded by throwing four punches to Hendrick’s head and losing his focus the rest of the game.On the ensuing four on four penalty play, Mike Green set up Nicklas Backstrom for the tying 1-1 goal, and ended Roloson’s two game magical shutout spell over the Caps.Upset by his contact with Roloson, Lightning forward Steve Downie took on Matt Hendricks, in their one fight a game series which they’ve conducted the past three games.While Downie and Hendricks were off serving 5-minute penalties, Matt Bradley took on Lightning forward Adam Hall, who had punished Caps defenseman Mike Green moments before with a hard check behind the Caps nets.The fights energized the Caps offense, which seemed to have been intimidated the past two games by those “tough” guys and Tampa Bay defenseman, Mattias Ohlund.The Caps first line of Alex Ovechkin, Backstrom, and Jason Chimera started skating and checking harder, found more open space, and stood in front of the net disrupting the Tampa goalie the remainder of the game.But it was Brooks Laich, assisted by line mates Mathieu Perreault and the ever hard working Jay Beagle, who broke the tie with his 10th goal at the 6:38 mark of the second period.On a power play two minutes later, Alex O’s hard work paid off with his 20th goal, assisted by Backstrom and John Carlson to make it a 3-1 game.With less than a minute remaining in the second period, Lightning forward Brett Clarke made it a 3-2 game with a power play goal, the first the Caps penalty kill unit had allowed in 27 tries.Midway through the third period, Caps forward Backstrom put the game out of reach 4-2 with his second goal of the night, and at the game’s end, giving up a sure goal for himself, Ovie unselfishly assisted on Jason Chimera’s empty netter making the final score 5-2.Caps goalie Varlamov was spectacular in the nets again, stopping 23 of 25 shots.The win, moved the Caps within three points of Tampa Bay in the Southeast Division first place battle.The Caps meet Pittsburgh at home In their own Super Bowl Sunday at 12:30 PM.

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Good Start, Bad Finish!

By Rodger M. WoodSemyon VarlomovAfter a 5-day All Star break, and truly enough time to sort out a winning strategy for the stretch run and April playoffs, our poor Caps still couldn’t get the complete game they needed to beat playoff nemesis Montreal Canadiens in a big test at the Verizon Center last night.Pressing ferociously in the Montreal end most the first period, they took a 2-0 lead on an even man goal by Mathieu Perreault and a power play goal by Mike Knuble, which was also assisted by Perreault.At the intermission, they could rest assured their play was aggressive and power play was working well again, They were looking good and the 18,398 Capital fans attending had to be impressed after their one period rejuvenated play.But then after defenseman John Erskine fell down at mid ice and couldn’t get back to defend, the roof fell in. With Russian forward Andrei Kostitsyn flying on his flank in a pretty two on one breakaway, Habs captain Brian Givonta beat Caps goalie Semyon Varlomov at 8:29 mark of the second period to make the game 2-1.Less than three minutes before the end of the second period, Caps defenseman, John Carlson made a rookie mistake trying a drop pass to Perreault, which was interceptedby Canadiens Thomas Plekanec, who set up Givonta for the tie goal, his second of the night.While they didn’t cost any goals, questionable tripping, slashing, and hooking penalties to Brooks Laich, who doesn’t drawn that many penalties, cost the Capstheir aggressive get up and go in the second and third periods.The Caps worked hard to kill the penalties, hung on in overtime, tied 2-2, but then proceeded to lose their 8th straight half sucked cough drop game on Givonta’s goal in theovertime shootout.Caps goalie Semyon Varlomov was spectacular in the nets again, stopping 36 of 38 shots.After the game, Coach Boudreau chalked the defeat up more to mistakes than Caps lack of hard play.The Caps meet Southeast Division leader Tampa Bay Friday at Tampa. Tampa beat the conference leading Philadelphia Flyers 4-0 at Philadelphia last night to take a five point lead over the Capitals for first place in the division race.

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Great Defense but No Goals!

By Rodger M. WoodMatt BradleyThe Caps played good defense against Atlanta last night, but couldn’t buy a goal to save their souls.And this has been the story the past two games. The Capitals have held opponents to a goal each in regulation, but scoring only a goal themselves both games, lost to the Rangers Monday night at home in a shootout 2-1, and the Thrashers Wednesday 1-0 away, making the seventh game the Capitals have been shutout this season.There is no way in the world either of these teams should beat our Capitals, especially on home ice, but can you believe Wednesday’s night win was sadly the Thrashers’ third win in a row over the Caps.Both games looked like figure skating events at the Olympics. Skating around in wide circles, Johansson, Backstrom, Ovechkin, Green, Chimera, and Carlson made doing Figure 8’s looked good for the fans.It was disappointing to see our favorites futilely try to mount any offense, especially on the power play, which they have scored on once in the past five game. The Caps prevented the opposition from scoring goals, but couldn’t reverse the tables to score some goals themselves.Defense wins games, but only when a team score more goals than the other team. If the Caps don’t learn to do both quickly or trade for some players who know, can, and want to score goals at the same they play good defense, fans, you can kiss the playoffs “goodbye” Either the Caps will not make them or if they do, not make it past the first round.It was good to see Matt Bradley back on the ice again. As soon as he gets ice acclimated, he will give the Caps more heart.While Caps baby goalies are playing great, they need to stay healthy and on the ice. Michael Neuvirth is injured now, and Varlamoiv’s just getting back.After losing a shutout late in the third period to the Rangers, Braden Holtby was faked out of his jock on three shots in the shootout. Varlamov allowed only a goal to the Thrashers.While Caps goalies are giving the team a chance to win, they aren’t getting the offensive support they need to win.

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Without An Offense, Caps Fall to Rangers In Shootout

Matt Hendricks

Matt Hendricks showing true grit.

Post game recaps for your reading pleasure:

"Matt Hendricks has somehow become the nucleus of the Capitals offense. and No seriously, Braden’s save percentage in his last three starts is .967. That’s 87 saves on 90 shots. PEOPLE." - Rangers Beat Caps 2-1(SO), Offense M.I.A - Russian Machine Never Breaks

"Aesthetically, the game was like watching a performance art depiction of a root canal, a game that was played just the way the Rangers wanted it – zone to zone, not much flow, and few in the way of real scoring chances." A ONE-point night --Game 50: Rangers 2- Caps 1 (OT/Gimmick) - The Peerless Prognosticator

"Long gone are the days of the high-risk, high-reward Capitals who were capable of blowing out anyone, anytime." Knuble and Laich still Missing in Action - Homer McFanboy

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Alex the Great Lights Up Hockey Night in Canada!

By Rodger M. WoodAlex_4.jpgScoring three goals in a Caps 4-1 win, unselfishly blocking opponent shots in front of a young goalie, and crushing opposing skaters with body checks all over the ice, Alex O played last night in Toronto like he was on a mission to show fans on Hockey Night in Canada that he was still the great one.Assisted by Nikolas Backstrom and Jeff Schultz, he opened up scoring at the 14:27 mark of the first period, at 1:12 of the third period, assisted by Green and Chimera, he scored the Caps game winner, and at the end of the third period he scored an empty netter to make the final score 4-1.Between Alex O’s goals, Matt Hendricks scored a nice breakaway goal, his 6th of the season.Braden HoltbySharing the limelight with Ovi in his second start in a row and tenth NHL game of his career, rookie goalie Braden Holtby put on a spectacular show stopping 35 shots, many of which were serious Leaf scoring threats.Caps defensemen, Mike Green, Scott Hannan, Jeff Schultz, John Erskine, Karl Alzner, and John Carlson helped young Holtby with a stingy aggressive defense, which blocked double digit shots and forced Maple Leaf snipers to shoot from the perimeter.This past week the Caps gained five of six points in road games against the Flyers, Islanders, and Leafs to stay a point behind first place Southeast Division Tampa Bay and 7 ahead of 3rd place Atlanta.Caps forwards Boyd Gordon and DJ King are back on the ice, but Alexander Semin, Matt Bradley, and Tom Poti are on the sideline.The Caps play at home today against the New York Rangers.

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Caps’ Juggled Up Lines Beat Ottawa

By Rodger M. WoodJohn Carlson 1.jpgCoach Boudreau’s juggled up Caps lines paid late dividends, scoring three goals midway through the third period to beat the Ottawa Senators 3-1 at the Verizon Center last night.The Senators played a solid game until they unraveled in the 3rd period under the intensepressure of Caps back checking. Benefiting from new line mates, Alex O. and Marcus Johansson’s hard checks in the corners freeing up the puck, Brooks Laich scored over Senators goaltender, Brian Elliott’s shoulder to tie the game 1-1 at 7:15 mark.Brooks Laich 2.jpgForty-five seconds later, John Carlson made the Senators pay for Milan Michalek’s cheap shot of Karl Alzner into the boards, when he put the Caps ahead 2-1 with their first power play goal in 11 attempts.Jason Chimera scored the decisive third goal, assisted by David Steckel and Karl Alzner at the 13.31 mark.Caps goalie Michael Neuvirth stopped 22 of 23 shots, won his 15th game of the season (15-6-4 overall). He only faltered on Mike Fisher’s 12th goal of the season at the 1:12 mark of the first period. He looked sharp the remainder of the game, much like the good goalie he was this past October.Tied for first place in the Southeast Division with the Tampa Bay at 57 points each, the Caps start a crucial three game road trip at Philadelphia Tuesday.

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Caps Play Better But Lose To Canucks 4-2

By Rodger M. WoodMatt Hendricks 5.jpgThe Caps played with zest in the first and third periods, but outplayed much of the game lost 4-2 to the high flying Vancouver Canucks at the Verizon Center last night.Typical of his hard play, Matt Hendricks crashed the nets and scored the first goal to give the Caps a 1-0 lead at 5:50 mark of the first period and encouraged home town fans to believe this game was going to be different than the past five games, in which the Caps failed to score a goal in the first period.Less than three minutes later, Canucks defenseman Alexander Edler tied the game 1-1 with a shot from the blue line, which found its way through traffic past Caps goalie Semyon Varlamov, who stopped 31 of 34 shots and had been playing super goal the past five games with a 1.25 goal against average.The Canucks went ahead in the second period on defensemen, Christian Ehrhoff’s goal from the point and a breakaway goal by forward Daniel Sedin, who with his twin brother Henrik, gives the Canucks lots of offensive fire power.Marcus Johanssen 2.jpgLate in the second period, the Caps started putting pressure on the Canucks, but had to wait midway through the third period before Marcus Johansson put the second goal past NHL all star goalie Roberto Luongo. Johansson was assisted by Brooks Laich and Nickolas Backstrom.Canucks Daniel Sedin scored his second goal of the night, an empty netter, to end the game 4-2.Injured in a collision with line mate David Steckel, Eric Fehr left the game in the 3rd period. Alexander Semin, DJ Bradley, and Matt Bradley were still on the side line with injuries, taking lots of tough offense out of the lineup.The Caps resume play against Ottawa Senators in a 3 PM game Sunday.

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Caps Take Night Off Against Tampa!

By Rodger M. WoodMatthias Ohlund 1.jpgI’m tired seeing our Caps get pushed around, beaten up, and bullied. I'm starting to believe they’re not tough enough to beat teams that rough them up.Little 5-11, 191 Steve Downey, Ryan Malone, and Mattias Ohlund intimidated and beat our superstars last night at Tampa 3-0, in what was not a contest. The loss put the Caps two points behind the upstart first place Lightning in the Southeast Division.I don’t care that the Caps played the night before at Florida. They took half that game off too, having to come back from 3-0 deficit, only to lose 4-3 in overtime.In the Tampa game, Alex O. broke five sticks, fell down twice on breakaways, was knocked down by Ohlund a couple times, and generally looked like he should be on a life support system, and he did't look much better the night before against Florida. There’s something wrong with our hero, he’s too unexplainably inconsistent in his play this season to be at peak strength.Alex_Ovechkin.jpgWith John Erskine a healthy scratch against Tampa, the Caps bite was up in the stands wishing he could help out his teammates. Matt Bradley and DJ King are hurt, which doesn’t help either.Coach Boudreau has tied everything. He’s shaken up the forward lines. Now he should damn the torpedoes and go full speed ahead giving the hard working Matt Johansson, Matt Hendricks, Dave Steckel, Jay Beagle and Eric Fehr the lion’s share of the ice time. Reward those who give you a 100 % and produce on the ice. Maybe the other players will wake up.In the meanwhile, GM George McPhee should see if he can trade for a few players with the heart to make our guys tough enough to regain their focus on a Stanley Cup run, if that is still possible now. He missed the boat not getting Dwayne Rolanson from the Islanders for a 5th round Pick before he shut out the Caps Twice in successive starts forTampa.

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Caps Down Panthers 3-2

By Rodger M. WoodAlex_Ovechkin_08.jpgAlex O showed definite signs of getting his scoring touch back, scoring the winning goal and skating with abandon in the Capitals 3-2 win over the Florida Panthers last night at the Verizon Center.It was a superstar goal! – Alex O flew down the left wing with Panthers defenseman Bryan McCabe hanging on his tail, cut in front of the net, was tripped and while falling, shot the puck through three hole behind the goalie Scott Clemmensen into the net. The goal immediately restored your belief in Alex O’s greatness.Eric Fehr and Mike Green combined again to score and assist on the tying and go ahead goal late in the second and third periods. That is Fehr’s sixth point in the past six games. Green’s goal was a much overdue power play goal.Semyon Varlamov started his fourth straight game in the Capitals nets, stopping 25 of 27 shots and shutting down the Panthers with a goal until the last minute of the 3rd Period, when on a 6-4 man advantage, Panthers Dadonov made it 3-2. Varlamov has allowed only 4 goals in the past 4 games.With all teams reving up their engines for a midseason playoff burst, Caps are a point behind Southeast Division Lightning for a first place automatic berth, and five points from falling to the conference 9th place and missing out on the playoffs. They can’t let up from their 6-0-2 streak going into Tuesday rematch against the Panthers.

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Defense In the Caps Favor!

By Rodger M. WoodJohn Erksine 3.JPGEven after they lost 1-0 to their new Southeast Division rival Tampa Bay Lighting in overtime this past Tuesday and fell out of first place, Versus commentator Brian Engblom said, “I like the Caps chances in the playoffs now that they havelearned to play defense.”Indeed, defense has been the name of the Caps game lately. Since ending their 8-game losing streak with a win at Ottawa 3-2, the Caps shut down the Devils 5-1, lost to Penguins 3-2 in an overtime shootout, shut out the Canadiens 3-0, beat the Penguins 3-1 in the Winter Classic, and lost to the Lightning 1-0 in overtime. They’ve allowed 8 goals in 6 games, an outstanding average of 1.33 per game.Although Lightning GM Steve Yzerman may have pulled off a coup getting the veteran goalie, Dwayne Rolonson from the Islanders, the Caps have been getting Stanley Cup goal tending from its rookie goalies tandem of Michael Neuvirth (2.58 average and .911 save %) and Semyon Varlamov (2.09 ave and .925 save %) during its 5-0-2 streak the past 7 games.Jeff Schultz is back on the blue line teaming with Mike Green, Scott Hannan is taking hold, and John Erskine is playing the best defense of his career. Rookie defensive pairing of John Carlson and Karl Alzner is hyped by Washington press as the Caps stop combination on Crosby, Stamkos, and other top opposition lines. The defense has been doing so well, Coach Boudreau made defenseman John Erskine, whose toughness, scoring, and heart as of late have ignited the Caps, a healthy scratch against Tampa.The Winter Classic was a win and a half for the Caps. Before the game, Mike Milbury slammed Alex O as “Peck’s Bad Boy” and made the Caps out to be bad guys, while making Crosby and the Penguins look like the good guys.They went on to compare the Winter Classic contest to the blood baths the Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings played in the 1950s and the contest between Crosby and Alex O. to the battle that went on between Gordie Howe and the Rocket Richard every time they played against each other.Gordie_Howe.bmp

Image from memorabilia collection owned by Jack Cross. © Unknown
For a fan who saw both the battles of the 1950s and the 2010s, let me reassure you, there is not much comparison. Alex O’ is sometimes tough and a hard checker, but Crosby is a pansy, who has others fight his battles and make his checks, unless they are blindside checks, in which case he might make them.If you had suggested to Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay, Marcel Pronovost, Maurice "Rocket" Richard, Bernie "Boom-Boom" Geoffrion, or any old Canadiens or Red Wings player that they have someone else do their fighting, or make their checks, you might have been taking your teeth home in a handkerchief.While the Winter Classic was a great game and there were many hard checks and tough guys like John Erskine, Matt Hendricks, and Alex O. out on the ice playing, it is doubtful we’ll ever see the likes of the old time Detroit/Montreal hockey again.

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Caps’ Defense Shutout Canadiens 3-0

Semyon Varlamov 1 (1).jpgBy Rodger M. WoodStill smarting from playoff elimination by them last spring, the Washington Capitals showed their nemesis Montreal Canadiens they had learned how to play playoff hockey again in their 3 – 0 shutout of them last night at the Verizon Center.Working Coach Boudreau’s new mid ice checking patterns, and better keeping the puck In the opponents end of the ice, while supported by Semyon Varlamov’s 25-shot shutout goaltending, the Capitals displayed a defensive style of hockey, which they can practice in the Winter Classic against the Penguins New Year Day and perfect before Stanley Cup playoffs begin again in mid - April.Hershey call up, and Caps 10th center in 2010, Jay Beagle scored the lead goal, assisted by Eric Fehr and Matt Hendricks at 16.20 of the first period.Coach Boudreau was impressed with Beagle’s play since call up, “There’s a guy that’s making a bid to stay here. It’s his 4th year pro and his work ethic is second to none.”Continuing 2-game goal scoring streaks, Mike Green put the Caps up 2-0 with 38 seconds remaining in the first period, and Alex the Great netted an empty netter at the game’s end.Hats off to right winger Eric Fehr whose energy and hard grinding play with line mates Jay Beagle and Matt Hendricks lit up the ice against Montreal.Out 9 games with a fractured thumb, it was good to see defenseman Jeff Schultz back protecting the Caps blue line.

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Alex O Returns to Form in Caps 3-2 Win!

Dave Steckel 2.jpgBy Rodger M. WoodSlumping without a goal in 8 straight games, Alex O erupted with the game winner and an assist at Carolina last night.Early in the second period, he assisted on Dave Steckel’s 4th goal of the season to give the Caps a 2-1 lead, and five minutes later, assisted by Mike Green, scored the 3-2 game winner, his 13th of the season.At 13.33 of the first period, assisted by Brooks Laich and Alexander Semin,rookie Mathieu Perreault netted his 5th goal of the season, giving the Caps an early 1-0 lead.Matt Hendricks 1.jpgLess than five minutes later, Carolina monster man, defenseman Tim Gleason gave the diminutive 165 pound Perreault a vicious elbow cheap shot “thank you” for the goal, which put both players out of the game, Perreault with a game ending head injury and Gleason with a charging game misconduct.Hats off to Caps Matt Hendricks, who took Gleason on after the cheap shot and to center, Dave Steckel for his hard 3rd line play and face offs game in and game out.The Caps play Montreal at home Tuesday.

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