NEWS
By Bud L. Ellis
Fifty-four times out of 82 regular-season games, the Washington Capitals left the ice a winner. Certainly, just about everybody expected that familiar outcome as the NHL playoffs began.
But the Presidents’ Trophy winner woke up Friday morning staring at a playoff deficit. After a lackluster performance at Verizon Center resulted in a 3-2 overtime loss to No. 8-seed Montreal on Thursday in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, the Caps spent Friday trying to figure out what happened … and making sure it doesn’t happen again.
With Game 2 on tap for Saturday, and with the series about to head north of the border for Games 3 and 4 in Montreal on Monday and Wednesday, the Caps cannot afford to have another disappointing performance.
Nobody was more disappointing for Washington in Game 1 than 50-goal scorer Alexander Ovechkin. For the first time in his 417-game NHL career, the Caps’ leading scorer did not register a goal, an assist or a shot on goal. Add in a power play that went 0-for-4, and it adds up to Washington being in a very unfamiliar position.
Washington lost just 11 times at home in the regular season, scored a league-best 318 goals and spent most of the second half looking like the hands-down favorite for the Stanley Cup. But another performance like Thursday would put the Caps in an 0-2 hole, and would mean Washington would have to win four out of five just to escape the first round.
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Friday, April 16, 2010 at 9:52 pm by bud
Tags: Alexander Ovechkin, Montreal Canadians, National Hockey League, Verizon Center, Washington Capitals
By Bud L. Ellis
Suffice to say, nothing went according to script for the Washington Capitals in their playoff opener Thursday.
The team with the most points in the regular season found themselves scrambling all night about the eighth-seeded Montreal Canadians. And the scrambling wasn’t enough. Tomas Plekanec netted the game winner with 6:41 left in the first overtime, and the Caps found themselves on the losing end of a shocking 3-2 decision in their opening game of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
It was, to be blunt, a shocking night at the Verizon Center. The Caps were nowhere near as crisp as they were during the second half of the regular season, when they ran away from the rest of the field to salt away the Presidents Trophy and earn the top seed in the East.
Joe Corvo and Nicklas Backstrom scored goals for Washington. Jose Theodore made 45 saves. But Washington went 0-for-4 on the power play. Even more shocking: superstar scorer Alexander Ovechkin didn’t tally a shot, let alone a point, in this one.
Washington now faces a critical Game 2 at home Saturday night before the series shifts to Montreal next week.
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Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 9:43 pm by bud
Tags: Alexander Ovechkin, Joe Corvo, Jose Theodore, Montreal Canadians, National Hockey League, Nicklas Backstrom, Tomas Plekanec, Verizon Center, Washington Capitals
By Bud L. Ellis
A loss on home ice is a rare experience for the National Hockey League’s best team. So to the surprise of nobody, the Washington Capitals found a way to rebound.
Two nights after seeing their 13-game home winning streak end in a shootout loss to Dallas, the Caps came through in extra time against Carolina. Tomas Fleischmann scored the game-winner, as Washington extended its streak of earning at least one point in home games to 15.
Carolina was the last team to beat Washington at the Verizon Center in regulation, that coming on Dec. 28. The Caps lead the NHL in points with 99, and are 14 points ahead in the Eastern Conference.
Mike Green scored twice for Washington. Alexander Semin added a breakaway goal in the first period. Alexander Ovechkin finished with two assists, and Jose Theodore got the win in goal.
Washington plays host to Tampa Bay on Friday.
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Friday, March 12, 2010 at 8:14 pm by bud
Tags: Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, Jose Theodore, Mike Green, National Hockey League, Tampa Bay Lightning, Tomas Fleischmann, Washington Capitals
By Bud L. Ellis
11 … 12 … 13 … the streak goes on at the Verizon Center for the Washington Capitals.
The Caps extended their home-ice winning streak to 13 games on Saturday, downing the New York Rangers 2-0. Jose Theodore made 30 saves, his first shutout in nearly a year, and goals from Eric Fehr and Eric Belanger paced the Caps.
Washington sits with the best record in the NHL at 44-13-8. The Caps lead Pittsburgh by 14 points in the Eastern Conference standings, and lead San Jose and Chicago by five points in the race for the Presidents’ Trophy for NHL best record.
Fehr scored in the first period to make it 1-0 Washington after one. Belanger, one of four players brought in this week during the trade deadline, scored in the second to stake the Caps to a two-goal lead.
Washington looks to make it 14 in a row at home on Monday when the Caps play host to Dallas.
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Sunday, March 7, 2010 at 12:52 am by bud
Tags: Chicago Blackhawks, Dallas Stars, Eric Belanger, Eric Fehr, Jose Theodore, National Hockey League, New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks, Verizon Center, Washington Capitals
By Bud L. Ellis
The bad news Saturday night: The Washington Capitals lost their third consecutive game.
The good news: The Caps earned two points in the three losses, and wrap up the pre-Olympic part of the schedule atop the NHL in points.
Washington fell at St. Louis 4-3 in a shootout Saturday, ending the first half (actually the first three-fourths) of the season at 41-13-8. Driven by a 14-game winning streak that set a franchise record and was the third-longest in NHL history, the Caps now sit in first place in the race for the President’s Trophy, leading San Jose by one point (90-89).
In the Eastern Conference standings, Washington holds a comfy 13-point lead over New Jersey. The Southeast Division title is all but wrapped up at this point, Washington leading Tampa Bay by 27 points.
Saturday’s loss came after the Caps fought back from a one-goal deficit three different times. Mike Knuble made it 1-1 with a power-play goal at 10:40 of the first period. Alexander Semin tied the game at 2-2 on a goal at 13:26 of the second.
St. Louis took the lead just two minutes later, but Knuble’s second power-play goal of the game at 17:43 of the second tied the score at 3-3.
Washington opens the post-Olympic part of the schedule at Buffalo on March 3.
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Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 11:01 am by bud
Tags: Alexander Semin, Buffalo Sabres, Mike Knuble, National Hockey League, New Jersey Devils, San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals
By Bud L. Ellis
Fourteen games in a row chalked up in the win column. Now, the Washington Capitals head north of the border for a chance to continue their epic winning streak.
But doing so won’t be easy, not with back-to-back contests awaiting them Wednesday and Thursday.
Winners of a franchise-record 14 games in a row, the Caps take on Montreal on Wednesday, opening up a stretch of three road games entering the Olympic Break. After facing the Canadians, Washington travels to Ottawa on Thursday to face a Senators’ squad that just saw an 11-game win streak snap. Saturday, the Caps end the pre-Olympic schedule with a trip to St. Louis.
Washington, coming off a thrilling come-from-behind 5-4 overtime victory over Pittsburgh on Sunday, hasn’t lost since falling Jan. 12 at Tampa Bay. A week before, the Caps downed Montreal 4-2 on Jan. 5. Starting with that victory, Washington has won 17 of its past 18 games.
The Caps lead New Jersey by 14 points in the Eastern Conference standings.
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Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 5:50 am by bud
Tags: Montreal Canadians, National Hockey League, New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals
By Bud L. Ellis
A national TV audience. A snowed-in city. A historic win streak on the line. A bitter rival on the opposite bench.
This made-for-fairy-tale scenario played itself out at the Verizon Center on Sunday. And, just as things have transpired for nearly a month now, the Washington Capitals ended up on top.
Mike Knuble banged home a rebound 2:49 into overtime, capping a furious comeback and launching the Caps past the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4, extending Washington’s franchise-record winning streak to 14 games.
The Caps, who extended their lead in the Eastern Conference over New Jersey to 14 points, are one win away from matching the 1981-82 New York Islanders for the second-longest win streak in NHL history at 15 games. Washington plays Wednesday at Montreal.
The 1992-93 Penguins own the longest win streak in league history, at 17 games. Sunday, it appeared the franchise would hand Washington its first loss since Jan. 12. Sidney Crosby scored twice in the first period, and after Alex Ovechkin brought the Caps to within 2-1, Jordan Staal scored two goals to make it 4-1 with seven minutes left in the second.
But Washington chipped away. Eric Fehr scored to make it 4-2 with 2:48 left in the second. Ovechkin netted his second of the game at 6:51 of the third to bring Washington within 4-3. Ovechkin then capped his hat trick at 11:06 in the third, tying the game at 4-4.
In overtime, a penalty on Pittsburgh gave the Caps a power play. Ovechkin hit the post with a shot, but Knuble poked home the rebound, sending the crowd at Verizon Center – which had navigated through two feet of snow to make it to the game – into bedlam.
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Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 3:33 pm by bud
Tags: Alex Ovechkin, Eric Fehr, Jordan Staal, Mike Knuble, Montreal Canadians, National Hockey League, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins, Sidney Crosby, Verizon Center, Washington Capitals
By Bud L. Ellis
No. 13 wasn’t about luck. It was about a team that right now is playing at a level the NHL hasn’t seen in years.
The Washington Capitals pushed their franchise-record winning streak to 13 on Friday night. Down early 1-0 against the Atlanta Thrashers inside Verizon Center, while a blizzard raged outside, the Caps fired up their unstoppable offense and pulled away for a 5-2 victory.
Washington leads New Jersey by 12 points in the Eastern Conference standings, improving to 40-12-6 on the season. The Caps’ 86 points leads San Jose by three in the race for the Presidents’ Cup.
As usual, it was the Washington offense that sparked the Caps. Alex Ovechkin knotted the game at 1-1 at the 13:41 mark of the first period. Nicklas Backstrom gave the Caps the lead for keeps in the second, scoring at the 4:31 mark.
Up 2-1 entering the third, the Caps put it away with two goals in a 68-second span. Alexander Semin scored on a two-on-one, off a pretty feed from Brooks Laich, and Jason Chimera scored on a three-on-one. Mike Green, back after a three-game suspension, closed the scoring with an empty-netter.
Atlanta, which dealt star winger Ilya Kovalchuk to New Jersey the day before, came out with plenty of jump. The Thrashers, fighting for one of the final playoff spots in the East, peppered goalie Michal Neuvirth all night. Neuvirth, who was recalled from Hershey earlier in the day, made 43 saves.
The Caps’ streak is the longest in the NHL since New Jersey won 13 in a row in the 2000-01 season. Should the Caps win Sunday at home against Pittsburgh, they would own the longest streak in the league since the 1992-93 Penguins won 17 in a row.
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Saturday, February 6, 2010 at 7:42 am by bud
Tags: Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Atlanta Thrashers, Brooks Laich, Ilya Kovalchuk, Jason Chimera, Michal Neuvirth, Mike Green, National Hockey League, New Jersey Devils, Nicklas Backstrom, Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks, Verizon Center, Washington Capitals
By Bud L. Ellis
Throughout their franchise-record win streak, the Washington Capitals have overwhelmed the opposition with offense by the bucketload.
To earn consecutive victory No. 12 on Thursday, the Caps needed every tally they could get. Rallying twice at Madison Square Garden, Washington pushed its win streak to an even dozen, charging back from a 5-3 deficit late in the second period to down the New York Rangers, 6-5.
Nicklas Backstrom finished with five points, scoring on the power play at the 5:34 mark of the third period to give Washington (39-12-6, 84 points) the lead for keeps. The Caps extend their Eastern Conference lead over New Jersey to 12 points. Their win streak is the longest in the NHL since New Jersey won 13 in a row in 2000-01.
Washington goes for lucky No. 13 on Friday at home against Atlanta, which traded star winger Ilya Kovalchuk to the Devils Thursday evening.
While the Devils were bolstering their offense with the addition of Kovalchuk, the Caps were trading goals with the Rangers. Boyd Gordon scored for Washington in the first to tie the game at 1-1. Down 2-1 after a period, the Caps drew even on Mike Knuble’s goal at 4:41 of the second. Alex Ovechkin scored his first of two goals on the power play at 7:16, but three New York goals in a 6:29 span pushed the Rangers’ lead to 5-3 late in the second.
Ovechkin, who reached the 500-point career mark in the game, then started the rally, scoring with 8.5 seconds left in the second to bring the Caps within 5-4. Washington needed just 59 seconds of the third to tie the game, Tom Poti scoring on the power play. Backstrom, who assisted on four of Washington’s first five goals, netted the go-ahead score on the power play at the 5:34 mark of the third.
Jose Theodore, shaky in the first two periods, made the lead stand up from there. He finished with 33 saves, six coming in the final period.
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Friday, February 5, 2010 at 5:35 am by bud
Tags: Alex Ovechkin, Atlanta Thrashers, Boyd Gordon, Ilya Kovalchuk, Jose Theodore, Madison Square Garden, Mike Knuble, National Hockey League, New York Rangers, Nicklas Backstrom, Tom Poti, Washington Capitals
By Bud L. Ellis
An even dozen. That’s what the Washington Capitals are aiming for Thursday at Madison Square Garden.
Winners of a franchise-record 11 consecutive games, the Eastern Conference leaders look to continue their torrid stretch against a New York Rangers’ team that’s dropped seven of its past 10.
The winning streak has vaulted Washington from the middle of the pack in the East past everybody else, including the teams in the Western Conference. The Caps lead San Jose by one point (82-81) in the race for the Presidents’ Trophy. During the streak, the Caps have outscored the opposition 51-22.
The top line for Washington has been tops during the streak. Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Knuble have combined for 14 goals in 20 assists during the past 11 games. Ovechkin and Knuble each scored during Washington’s 4-1 win Tuesday at Boston.
The last time the Caps lost a game? Jan. 12, when Washington fell 7-4 at Tampa Bay. Going back to a 4-2 win over Montreal on Jan. 5, the Caps have won 14 of their past 15.
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Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 5:18 am by bud
Tags: Alex Ovechkin, Boston Bruins, Mike Knuble, Montreal Canadians, National Hockey League, New York Rangers, Nicklas Backstrom, San Jose Sharks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals
