2009 Washington Capitals thread

[interpathway 9]

Great story in the Washington Post today about Alex Ovechkin, check it out if you can!

edit:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...9012304001.html

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

Great read. it really is amazing how this team has turned around, and captured the city and the fans. I took a road trip down to DC just to see a home game. The arena is gorgeous, the location in the city couldn't be better, and the on ice product has never had a brighter future. Boy o boy, these next few years sure are going to be interesting.

[interpathway 9]

As many of you Cap followers could probably understand my amazement at this stat (considering how dreadful we seem to be in shootouts), but Viktor Kozlov is reported by USA Hockey Magazine to have the third highest number of shootout goals in NHL history. 16 for 34, two behind Vyacheslav Kozlov of the Thrashers and Jussi Jokinen of the TBL (both with 18). Factor in Brad Richards in fourth place at 15 for 27 (and former TBL property) along with Erik Christiansen of the Thrashers at 15 for 27, and the SE Division has or has had all top five shootout goal totalers.

[interpathway 9]

I'm in my second day of classes here at UMcp and there are currently three other students wearing Capitals' gear. Craziness!

edit: The Caps have gone 216:37 without allowing a five-on-five goal.

[pwrfwd26 0]

Don't know how bad it is but OV left the Bruins game late in the 2nd. A hook by Chara in the boards OV hard into the boards shoulder first. He looked pissed when he left the ice. Hope its not serious!

[minwookie 0]

Great game tonight. OV gave me a heart attack when he went down but I'm relieved to see his return.

Thomas had some spectacular saves as did Theo late in the game.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Classy move chara coming over to see if he was OK when he got back to the ice.

Was a 2 min penalty, but nothing dirty, ovey just went down akward.

Good game, horrible way for it to end for the caps on the OG

[camhockey16 5]

it was an exciting game to watch - it could have went either way since both teams were trading great chances..

backstrom got caught napping on the backcheck and i had a feeling it was going to end once boston got that powerplay. sucks that it was an own goal though..

[interpathway 9]

Ovechkin was given a day off to rest after that tumble near the end of the second period verus Boston 1/27/09.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=264905&lid...s=headlines_nhl

[AnthonyJTa 0]

Ovechkin was given a day off to rest after that tumble near the end of the second period verus Boston 1/27/09.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=264905&lid...s=headlines_nhl

I guess Boudreau didn't realize those in attendance were booing the call on Chara, as opposed to Ovechkin being hurt. I supposed he didn't realize the refs were handing him the game. :lol:

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

lets be real here, that was not the worst call in the world. Was it questionable, sure. but to say the refs were handing them the game is just stupid.

[calishark28 0]

Ovie goes hard all the time so he's bound to take a spill sometime wiether it's his fault or a hook. At least he's not hurt, but i love how pissed he was throwing his gloves and helmet off

[Fedorov91 0]

Ovy is the "Russian machine that never breaks" lol :D

[interpathway 9]

That was my only response when people asked me if I thought he'd miss the rest of the game. It's OV, the ultimate competitor.

[AnthonyJTa 0]

lets be real here, that was not the worst call in the world. Was it questionable, sure. but to say the refs were handing them the game is just stupid.

Both Kobasew penalties were questionable (within 30 seconds of the opening of the 2nd and 3rd period - the high sticking call both him and Semin had their sticks up), and the Yelle penalty raised plenty of eyebrows.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

By the way, for anyone interested, the caps 3 on 3 outdoor scrimmage was held yesterday. Theo and Johnny were the captains.

Brashear and Erskine recorded hat-tricks.

Ovey's team lost 11-10, but they protested because they said Ovechkin got one past Theo as time expired.

Ovechkins comment on it...

"It was tied," Ovechkin said. "The referee was no good"

The ref.... Bruce Boudreau

Brian Pothier also took part in this, so good to see him slowly get back from the concussion, although the caps are screwed cap wise if he gets back before the playoffs

This was the lineups...

Poll: Tonight's Scrimmage

Here are the lineups for tonight's three-on-three scrimmage:

Team Theodore:

Goal

Theodore

Defense

Green

Poti

Pothier

Jurcina

Forwards

Brashear

Kozlov

Nylander

Backstrom

Fleischman

Fedorov

Team Johnson:

Goal

Johnson

Defense

Erskine

Schultz

Morrisonn

Forwards

Laich

Gordon

Semin

Clark

Fehr

Steckel

Ovechkin

Bradley

Full recap here.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitalsi...ge_scandal.html

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

New lines at practice today

Ovechkin-Fedorov-Semin

Flash-Backstrom-Fehr

Laich-Nylander-Clark/Kozlov

Brash-Gordon-Bradley/Steckel

I'm guessing Clark and Steck will sit against detriot and Fehr/Gordo against the Sens

[Chadd 916]

I was looking at tickets for the Detroit game on the Caps ticket exchange a little while ago, $75 to sit upstairs in the corner? $285 to sit downstairs? And those prices are less than 24 hours before game time, I hope those guys choke on their tickets.

[interpathway 9]

Any possible truth to this rumor, as reported by thehockeynews.com?

Staying on the goaltending theme, the most intriguing rumor around Montreal last weekend involved the Capitals and what their plan may be come playoff time. Various sources close to the team suggested Simeon Varlamov (16-5-0 with Hershey) will be recalled and assume the No. 1 role heading into the post-season.

I don't see why in the world the Caps would do this.

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

Oh god i hope not. I would be so mad if they did. They have such a good thing going for them with him in the AHL this year, let him come up next year and battle for the number 1 with theo. In his only 2 stars, he played well, but was wildly out of position. Until he gains control of his speed he shouldn't be full time I really cant see this happening.

[interpathway 9]

Nothing better than to see Fehr get rewarded with the garbage goal. Looking good so far.

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

Ove with the trick... this guy is just unreal. A bit disappointing to see them let up on the defense toward the end there, but overall good win.

[minwookie 0]

5 goals within 24 hours!

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Nothing better than to see Fehr get rewarded with the garbage goal. Looking good so far.

I feel really bad for Fehr. LAst year the caps had a lot of injuries to the top lines, which provided Flash the chance to get in there. He only had 10 goals, but got the scoring line experience, and it's paying dividends this year.

Now Fehr is healthy, and he is only getting grinder minutes, he is playing well, but is often a healthy scratch. I think if he had the ice time this year, that Flash had last year, he would be on his way to being a real power forward.

Watch him push guys off him, or hold them off, he has great upper body strength, and great hands, and isn't afraid to get dirty in front of the goal. I hope he gets more games going forward

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Chris Clark is currently at the doctors, but GM McPhee said he will likely need surgery on his wrist and will be done for the season. He had a compound fracture earlier this season, I guess it never really healed.

This does however open the door for Alzner to come back up, which is good