He's A Caps Fan!
Caps Beat Blackhawks in Overtime 4-3
By Rodger M. Wood
After last year’s Stanley Cup winners, Chicago Blackhawks, tied the game up at 3-3 on Jonathan Toew’s 6 on 4 power play goal with less than a minute to go in the regulation,Caps rookie center, Marcus Johanssen, doubled up his effort, flew down the ice and set up Mike Knuble’s winning goal in overtime.The win was the Caps eighth in a row, put them one point behind Eastern Conference first place Philadelphia Flyers, and gave them an undertone of confidence for the April playoffs.Both teams played hockey today like it is supposed to be played. The Caps gave 100% effort to get the capacity Verizon Center crowd a win today.Checking line center, Boyd Gordon tied the game up at 1-1 with a shorthanded goal at the 06:11 mark of the first period.With less than a minute to go in the first period, Jason Arnott scored his second goal as a Cap since coming over from New Jersey at the trade deadline and fifteenth of the season, to put the Caps ahead 2-1.On a fluke goal from a bad angle, Blackhawks Tomas Kopecky tied the game up 2-2 of the second period.The game was stalemated until 6:23 of the third period, when Brooks Laich, assisted by Matt Hendricks and Eric Fehr, put the Caps ahead 3-2.In his fourth straight start, rookie Braden Holtby looked sharp, stopping 27 of 30 shots. His only lapse was on Tomas Kopecky fluke goal in the second period.Unsung heroes of the game were Caps rookie defense tandem of John Carlson and Karl Alzner, who stopped Blackhawks young superstars, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, all afternoon, except on Toews power play goal at the end of third period.Carlson did all of the work on Knuble’s overtime goal but got none of the credit.The Caps play last year’s playoff nemesis Montreal Canadiens at Montreal Tuesday.
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Win One Easy, Win One Hard, Result, 7-Game Winning Streak
By Rodger M. Wood
Riding the “karma” of a hot rookie goaltender and the hard work of a rejuvenated team, the Caps are finding different ways to win hockey games again.Showing a lot of offense at home Wednesday, they beat the Edmonton Oilers 5-0.Resorting back to tough defense and playing clutch catch up hockey with two goals in the third period Friday at the Verizon Center, they beat a Carolina Hurricanes team determined to make the last playoff position in the Eastern Conference, 2-1 and went on a seven game winning streak, their longest of the season.The Caps Big Red Machine worked on all cylinders against the Oilers. Returning to the ice after a 22 – game shoulder injury, both Eric Fehr and Ovie scored power play goals. Then at even strength in the second period, they scored another goal each to put the Caps ahead 4-0.Continuing a 3 – game goal scoring streak in the third period, Alexander Semin put the game out of reach at 5-0.Holtby got his first NHL shutout, and extended his shutout streak to 5 periods or 100 minutes.Matt Hendricks' gritty play, Ovie clutch goal and Holtby’s goaltending were the story line in the Carolina game.Blocking a shot on a penalty kill, then skating hard up the ice in time to put Jason Arnott’s rebound behind hot Canes goalie, Cam Ward, Hendricks made the Caps winner at 7:24 of the third period.Ovie had tied the game up 47 seconds into the third period with his 28th goal of the season, after Tuomo Ruutu’s slap shot snuck through traffic at 19:24 of the second period, putting the Canes ahead 1-0 and ending Holtby’s shutout streak at 144 minutes, twenty – four seconds. In his past six NHL games, the 21 year old stopped 170 of 174 shots (97.70% of shots faced).Making the power play alive again, while playing good defense, passing the puck out of danger, and logging the team high 22:13 ice time, defensemen Dennis Widemann was the Caps unsung hero both games.Solid on defense, clearing the front of the net from attackers, jumping up on offense, and logging 19:35 time against the Canes, defenseman, Scott Hannan is also making a big impact.The Caps will be challenged next by defending last year’s Stanley Cup winners, Chicago Black Hawks 12:30 PM Sunday at the Verizon Center.
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Game Time: Caps Look To Weather The Hurricane Tonight
With the regular season nearing its end, we might be witnessing our Caps finding their groove. Injuries still plague the Caps, but they are finding a way to win. Following a convincing win against the Oilers, they are showing that they can win in a manner fitting the team that they are playing. Five goals against a team that is last in the West is fitting, wouldn't you say?
A bad team the Hurricanes are not and the Caps will face the challenge of a team fighting for respect in the Southeast division as well as a team fighting to grasp a playoff spot. Adding one to the six game winning streak is nice, but 2 points in the division is the key tonight.
On a side note, if you were wondering what happened to Brian Pothier, he appears to be playing in Europe for Geneve Servette.
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Playoff Hockey Wins Two Games in Florida
By Rodger M. Wood
Displaying a patient, dump the puck, four - line balanced attack and good defensive playoff hockey on the road the past two nights, the Caps beat Florida 3-2 and Tampa Bay 2-1 to take sole possession of first place in the Southeast Division.When the Caps found themselves down a goal early in the first period at Florida, assisted by line mates Alex O and Mike Knuble, Niklaus Backstrom tied the score on a mighty slap shot at 17:16 mark of the first period.Midway through the second period, on a sweet backhanded shot from in front of the net, Boyd Gordon beat Panthers goalie Scott Clemmensen to put the Caps ahead 2-1.The Caps kept the lead until Panthers forward, David Booth, on a 5 on 3 advantage at 17:24 of the third period, scored the 2-2 equalizer.
Playing like a man possessed, Alexander Semin, assisted by Karl Alzner and Marcus Johanssen, slapped the game winner in at only 43 seconds into overtime.Off a faceoff, Sean Bergenheim put the Lightning ahead 1-0 at the 12:30 mark of the first period at Tampa.The game stayed 1-0 until again Semin, assisted by Ovie and defenseman Dennis Widemann, tied the game at 14:28 mark of the third period.Regulation and overtime ended in a 1-1 tie and it took Alex O’s dramatics to win the overtime shoot out, when he put the sole goal past Lightning net minder Duane Roloson, who had shutout the Caps in two previous outing this season.Replacing Michal Nevirth at the start of the second period, #1 star of the game, Caps backup goaltender Braden Holtby sensationally stopped all 21 Stamkos, Lecavalier, St. Louis, and other Lightning sharpshooters shots in two periods of regulation, overtime, and the shootout.Without a doubt, the 21-year old goaltender played like a #1 NHL goalie, if Varlamov or Neuvirth were out of the lineup for any time.Plus the youngster looked like a pro and was more articulate than most athletes and politicians I’ve seen in the Versus interview after the game.Versus Ed Olyck commented last night, it was the best he has ever seen Caps forward Alexander Semin play. The Caps forward proved his worth, scoring his winning 23rd goal of the season in overtime at Florida, and 24th tying goal in the third period of the Tampa game.Hit in the face-mask by the slap shot, Neuvirth and injuring a finger, Backstrom both left the Tampa game, but Coach Boudreau announced after the game, both players were held out only for precaution and are all right.Forward Eric Fehr’s shoulder is healthy again and is ready for duty.The Caps return home to the Verizon Center Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers.
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Finding His Game, Alex Semin Helps Avert A Lightning Strike
"Semin was the best player on the ice sheet last night, and his game-tying goal late in the final frame seemed in its virtuosity and swagger to assure the Caps of leaving town with two points. The Capitals are a vastly different looking hockey club when Sasha skates with swagger." OnFrozenBlog.com
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Caps Deadline Acquisitions Pay Early Dividends
By Rodger M. Wood
Veteran acquisitions at the trade deadline, Jason Arnott, Dennis Widemann, and Marco Sturm ignited the Caps in home wins against the Islanders and Blues last week and the Caps appeared to be headed in the right direction for the playoffs.The Caps were trailing the Islanders 1-0 at the 19:12 mark of the third period, when Jason Arnott passed the puck out to line mate, Brook Laich, who buried it in the net for the tying 1-1 goal.Two minutes later in the overtime, given a chance to win the game, Alex O.fought past Islanders forward Fran Nielsen to score a highlight game winning 2-1 goal.Starting to take hold as the Caps #1 goalie, Michal Neuvirth kept the Caps in the game, stopping 28 of 29 shots, many from point blank range.While he lost, Islanders goalie Nathan Lawson was also sensational in the nets, stopping 40 of 42 shots and truly deserving better than an overtime loss.Thursday night against the Blues, the Caps battled back from behind twice to win3-2. Scoring his first goal in 118 games, stay at home defenseman, Scott Hannan, tied the score up at 1-1 at the 3:08 mark of the second period.Three minutes later, Niklaus Backstrom tied the game up a second time, 2-2 before, Arnott rifled the game winner past Lawson at the 14:41 mark of the third period.The new players are helping in other ways. Center Arnott has made the second line a potent force. As a role model of disciplined play, he is making line mates Alexander Semin and Brooks Laich better players. Coach Boudeau is starting to station 6-5, 250 Arnott in front of the net with Ovie and Semin in must score situations.He showed veteran leadership on the bench and ice, talking vociferously to teammates. With him on the ice, the Islanders and Blues had trouble shutting down both Caps top lines.Arnott, and Sturm also give the Caps four solid lines. The Johanssen, Chimera, and Sturm line created opportunity after opportunity with their speed in both games. In his first time on the ice for the Capitals against the Islanders, Sturm missed an open net goal opportunity.The fighting line of Matt Bradley, Matt Hendricks, and Boyd Gordon played tough both games. Hendricks checked the puck free for Hannan’s goal in the Islanders game and Bradley beat the pee pee out of Tyson Strachan in the Blues game to open up and spark the Caps’ in the Blues game.Defenseman, Dennis Widemann led the Caps in ice time with 22.12 In the Blues game. He moved the puck well, took three shots, and replacing right handed point man, Mike Green helped to make the power play move the puck and look sharp again.
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Caps Score Big At The Trade Deadline
By Rodger M. Wood
VP/GM George McPhee announced at the 3 PM trade deadline today that the Capitals acquired veteran center Jason Arnott from the New Jersey Devils, and defenseman, Dennis Wideman from the Florida Panthers in moves, which could very well fill the team’s two biggest holes in the lineup well before the April playoffs.The 6-5, 220 Arnott is a 16-year veteran, who scored the goal in double overtime, that won New Jersey the Stanley Cup in 2000. He scored 369 goals, 501 assists in 1,161 games and was an all star center in 1997 and 2008. He scored 30 goals, and 36 assists in 106 playoff games. This season he has 13 goals and 11 assists in 62 games. As a former Devils team captain, he’ll add a strong veteran presence to the Caps dressing room. Popular Caps player David Steckel and a 2012 2nd round draft pick were traded for Arnott.
6-0, 200, Defenseman Dennis Wideman is a two way defenseman, who can play the blue line and be the right handed point shot the Caps need on a slumping power play. He scored 9 goals and 24 assists this season, and in a 7-year NHL 439 GP, 55 goals and 143 assists. McPhee said the book on Wideman is he’d take a puck to the jaw, if it would helphis team win. The Caps traded prospect center Jake Hauswirth, and a 2012 3rd round pick for Wideman.
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No Rhyme or Reason This Season!
By Rodger M. Wood
There’s just no rhyme or reason to Capitals hockey this 2010-2011 campaign. You don’t know which team will show up any given night, especially at home.For proof in the pudding, the Caps took Friday night off at home, losing to the injury plagued New York Rangers 6 – 0, then came back to life late in the second period at Uniondale the next night to beat the youthful New York Islanders 3-2. I may be a little bit slow sometimes, but I just don’t get it, unless our talented crew is dogging it some games or intimidated by the other team.There’s nothing much good ever to say about a lack luster 6-0 loss. It was the 9th time the Caps were shut out this season, and the second time they were devastated by the Rangers. Compared to his Penguins shutout the Monday night before, Caps goalie Michal Neuvirth looked like night and day, stopping only 22 of 28 Rangers shots. Maybe, Rangers coach John Tortorella knows a magic formula for sparking a young team against the big bad Capitals, or the Capitals players just don’t listen to Coach Boudreau exhortations anymore.The Caps also didn’t play much better the first two periods against the Islanders, who jumped off to a 2 - 0 lead by the 0:33 mark of the second period but flying down the ice, crashing in on Islanders’ goalie Al Montoya, like superman to the rescue, Caps right winger Brooks Laich resuscitated his teammates midway through the second period with his 13th goal of the season, assisted by defenseman John Carlson.In the first six minutes of the third period, Mike Knuble tied the game, assisted by Laich, and Marcus Johanssen, and Alexander Semin put the Caps ahead to stay, with his 22nd goal assisted by Ovie.When Caps goalie Semyon Varlomov complained of a sore knee before the morning skate, Neuvirth was put back in the nets a second game in a row and stopped 29 of 31 shots.Apart from last night’s third period comeback, more good news is the Caps added a couple players to the roster.They claimed “guter deutschen Hockeyspeiler” Marco Sturm from waivers. Caps broadcaster, Craig Laughlin described Sturm, 32, as a top six forward, if healthy. Sturm missed the first 34 games this season with a lower body injury, but scored four goals, 5 assists in 17 games played. He has scored 20 or more goals his past seven NHL seasons, and 238 goals, 237 assists, in 872 NHL games with San Jose, Boston, and Los Angeles.Also, 19-year Caps #2 2009 NHL Entry Draft pick, and standout defenseman on the Russian gold medal winning team at the World Championship last month, Dmitri Orlov signed a professional tryout contract with the Hershey Bears. Chances are he’ll sign a contract with the Caps and be available for the big club in the playoffs. He’s described as a big tough skilled defenseman, who can help the team on the blue line and the power play.The Caps return to the ice against the New York Island at the Verizon Center Tuesday night, March 1st.
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CapitalPowerPlay Wallpaper: February 2011
Our Feb installment of the CapitalPowerPlay.com, monthly computer desktop and iPhone/iPod Touch wallpapers. Every month we will make a new wallpaper available for download in various standard resolutions.Better late than never. We just finished before this month was over. For February we showcase an image from last year of Michal Neuvirth warming up and wearing his Hershey Bears mask.
Download: Computer Screen Resolutions1980x1320 Widescreen1280x852 Widescreen1024x768 Standard
Download: iPhone Screen Resolution320x480 iPhone
Wallpapers are provided for personal use as a computer desktop wallpaper.Capitalpowerplay.com images by PhotoByThom.com are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
Capitals Outsider Presents: Winter Classic 2011 The Movie
This is a really creative video. I especially liked the soundtrack and the Alzner part. Give it a watch, its good for several chuckles. Well done. - CapitalsOutsider.com
Neuvirth Makes Pens Coach Eat His Words
By Rodger M. Wood
Rookie goalie Michal Neuvirth stopped all 39 shots, Ovie scored the game’s only goal, and the fourth line nonstop energized the team, as the Caps played playoff style hockey to beat Eastern Conference archival Pittsburgh Penguins 1-0 on national television Monday night.Although playing a second away game in two nights and the last of a five game West Coast road trip and not getting their first shot until midway through the First Period. the Caps looked in charge of an injury depleted Penguins the entire game.The ferocious rivalry between the teams erupted in the second period when winger Matt Bradley avenged Matt Cooke’s knee to knee check on Alex O in the Feb. 6th game with a hard check on the accomplished cheap shot artist behind the Caps goal.After Bradley served a two minute penalty for what most in the press box thought was a clean hit, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton call up Ryan Craig challenged Bradley. As Cooke cowered on the bench, letting another player fight his battle, Craig paid the price for his teammate’s cowardly indiscretion, taking several hard punches to the head and spending the next five minutes in the penalty box.Fourth liners Boyd Bradley, David Streckel and Bradley sparked the Caps team with their fight, intense play, and hard checks the entire game.While Bradley was off serving the five minute fight penalty, Alex O flew down middle ice, reared back his stick and fired off a rocket shot that the up to that point, impenetrable Pens goalie, Marc-Andre Fleury, barely saw as it passed over his left shoulder into the net to make the score 1-0.In the third period, the Penguins threw everything at the Caps but the kitchen sink, but with five Caps players working on the ice together, collapsing in front of the net, blocking shots, and checking closely, they had trouble even bringing the puck up ice through the neutral zone and getting off a clean shot.Both goaltenders were spectacular, stopping a combined 62 of 63 shots, Fleury stopping 23/24, and Neuvirth 39/39.Last night marked Neuvirth’s second straight shutout of the “Crosby-less Penguins” and 18th win of the season, tying him with Jim Carey’s 1995-96 rookie 18 win - season.After his sad characterization of Neuvirth as a “shaky” goalie in HBO 24/7 series, Penguins coach Dan Bylsma must be eating crow.The Caps return home to face the improved New York Rangers Friday February 25th.
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Caps Beat Sabres In Tight One
By Rodger M. Wood
The Caps played good defense, rookie centers, Mathieu Perreault and Marcus Johannsen scored goals, and the Capitals beat all star goaltender, Ryan Miller and the Buffalo Sabres away Sunday afternoon 2-1.Both team were scoreless until Perreault, assisted by Matt Hendricks, scored at 6:09 of the second period.Sabres Jason Pomerville evened the score off at 1-1 on a power play goal at the 8:52 mark of the second period.
Midway through the third period, on the Caps 5th power play attempt of the game, one a two man advantage in the first period, Johannsen tipped in a power play goal assisted by Ovie and Perreault to make the score 2-1.Caps Semyon Varlamov and Sabres Ryan Miller were spectacular in the nets, stopping 28/29 and 37/39 shots respectively.Skating hard, checking opponents and playing a strong game at both ends, Ovie resembled the MVP player Caps fans have gotten to know the past five seasons.A good amount of the Caps offensive power, Mike Green and Eric Fehr, were injury scratches.
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Good Defense, Little Offense and Caps Lose Another Close One
By Rodger M. Wood
One night the Caps play offense and score 7 goals to beat Anaheim. The next night, they’re back to defense, scoring two goals and losing a close game against San Jose 3-2, marking the 11th time in the past 16 games Washington has scored two or fewer goals.I’d be interested In knowing how many games the Caps have lost by a goal this season.The trade deadline is February 28th and gentlemen, we truly need more than two goal scorers a night to win in the regular season or Stanley Cup Playoffs!Alex O’s power play goal less than a minute after Sharks Joe Pawleski’s burnt the Caps with a shorthanded goal at the 18:49 mark of the first period seemed to ignite the Caps for a while, but both teams ended up scoreless in the second period.San Jose opened up the scoring at 4:27 of the third period on Ryane Clowe’s 15th goal of the season, and Dany Heatley followed up with his 20th of the season to make the score 3-1.Niklaus Backstrom scored his 15th of the season at 18:05 of the third period to make the final score 3-2.Our A-team guys, Alex O had a goal and an assist, Semin an assist, and Backstrom a goal, but their production was not enough to beat the high flying San Jose Sharks.George McPhee said he was sticking with our young goaltenders and not looking for a veteran goaltender by the trade deadline.Last night, Michael Neuvirth stopped 25 of 28 shots. The night before at Anaheim, Semyon Varlamov stopped 6 of 9 shots before being benched at the end of the first period, and Neuvirth 9 of 12 in the last two periods for a combined total of 15 saves of 21 shots.The Caps come back east to play Buffalo and the tough goalie Ryan Miller 12:30 Sunday. Buffalo is 2 points behind Carolina in the race for the 8th and last playoff position in the Eastern Conference and will be loaded for bear.
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I’m Told The Caps Played Better
By Rodger M. Wood
The Caps were playing better, but when the Coyotes executed a perfect two on one goal to go ahead 3-1 at the 4:24 mark of the third period, I turned the television off and went off to bed.With stars, Alexander Semin, Niklaus Backstrom, and yes, Alex O. not earning their mega millions with goals nowadays, I’ve lost confidence in the Caps coming back. I couldn’t bear to see the fourteen other hard working, lower paid players take the gas again.Doesn’t it always seem that when an athlete signs a big contract, they lose their incentive to play hard and suffer a performance let down right afterwards (e.g. Backstrom $67 million, Semin $6.2 million).The Caps had given me false hope going ahead 1-0 on Marcus Johanssen’s fluke goal off opposing defenseman Martin Hanzal midway through the first period. I thought they’d start to get some good breaks and penalties again, but less than a minute later, my hopes were dashed when Hanzal returned the favor, scoring the tying goal.And then the Coyotes went ahead 2-1 on Caps old nemesis, former Carolina Hurricane forward, Ray Whitney’s power play goal at the 17:43 mark of the second period.Less than a minute after the Coyotes breakaway goal in the third, Matt Bradley put the Caps within one with his 4th goal of the season, assisted by Dave Steckel and Jeff Schultz.As Bruce Boudreau told the local media, “you can’t win, if your stars are not scoring goals.”Ovie, Backstrom, and Semin were shutout again last night in regular play as well as on the power play. They had plenty of opportunities to score but could not put the puck past Phoenix goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov.George McPhee has to consider getting a top 6 center to shake this team out of its doldrums. As was proven last night, you can’t win games scoring two goals and having your power play shutout in five attempts.I have a suggestion. Maybe you can include defensemen Jeff Schultz and Tom Poti in a deal to Dallas for Brad Richards. If you can pull that deal off, maybe you’ll get this team some much needed goals and spark them on in the playoffs.
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Acta Non Verba
By Rodger M. WoodRight after two straight losses to the tough Western Conference San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings, Caps players had a much publicized team meeting, In which they discussed roles, performance consistency, and ice responsibilities.They realized they have one of the most talented teams in the NHL, but must play consistently harder before they’re going to beat the tougher teams in the league.Fans have heard these promises before, which are worthless without follow up, corrective action.“Mea culpa” or “my fault” is nice to hear, but does nothing to resolve the problems.A better model for Caps players would be the one the Marines use, which is “Acta Non Verba,” or “actions not words.”Every time our talented millionaires lose, we hear another excuse and get some promises.I think it’s high time the fans see improved play first, get the wins, and then hear about why.