Top-seed Caps find themselves in unfamiliar position

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

Caps open playoffs with shocking OT loss to Canadians

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

After rare home loss, Caps bounce back to down Carolina

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

The other Alex leads Caps to sixth-straight victory

By Bud L. Ellis

A guy named Alex kept the Washington Capitals rolling Saturday night.

And yes, that Alex scratched the scoresheet, Alexander Ovechkin scoring his 33rd goal of the season. But that came with six seconds left and the Caps’ sixth-consecutive victory in hand.

It was Alexander Semin who starred on this night, scoring a goal and assisting on the other three Washington tallies in a 4-2 home victory over Phoenix.

That’s how it’s gone lately for a Caps’ team that now is 9-1 in its past 10 games. The victory gives Washington 72 points on the season, tops the Eastern Conference and third overall in the NHL (behind San Jose’s 76 and Chicago’s 74).

Trailing 1-0, the Caps tied the game in the first period on an Brooks Laich power-play goal. Eric Fehr gave Washington the lead for keeps with a power-play goal at the 13:22 mark of the second period, and Semin scored four minutes later to push the lead to 3-1.

That was enough for Michal Neuvirth, who earned the victory in net.

Washington improved to 18-3-3 at home. After a road trip Tuesday to face the Islanders, Washington ends January with three consecutive home games.

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Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 9:17 pm by bud

Tags: Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Brooks Laich, Chicago Blackhawks, Eric Fehr, Michal Neuvirth, National Hockey League, New York Islanders, Phoenix Coyotes, San Jose Sharks, Washington Capitals

Caps win again, move back into sole possession of East’s top spot

By Bud L. Ellis

At this stage of the season, only three teams in the National Hockey League have more wins than the Washington Capitals.

The way things are going, the Caps could be among another group of four come late spring.

Jose Theodore stopped 44 of 46 shots, and David Steckel’s goal with 5:59 left capped a quick comeback as the Caps beat Detroit 3-2 on Tuesday, Washington’s 31st win of the season.

Only Chicago (34), San Jose (33) and New Jersey (32) have more victories than the Caps, who moved ahead of Buffalo and back into sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference with the victory. Buffalo lost later Tuesday at Anaheim, 5-4.

Down 2-1, the Caps used two goals in a 46-second span of the third period to take control against the Wings. Nicklas Backstrom converted on the power play with 6:45 remaining to tie the game at 2-2. Steckelthen flicked home the go-ahead goal off a rebound with 5:59 left.

All of that was plenty for Theodore, who was sharp in making his third consecutive start for the first time in three months. Even without Alexander Ovechkin recording a shot — the first time that’s happened to the star in his NHL career — the Caps still had enough on this night.

The victory extends Washington’s win streak to four games, and gives the Caps a 7-3 mark in their past 10 contests.

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Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 5:05 am by bud

Tags: Alexander Ovechkin, Buffalo Sabres, David Steckel, Detroit Red Wings, Jose Theodore, National Hockey League, Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals