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

Caps look to extend historic win streak on road trip

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

Furious rally pushes Caps’ streak to 14 with thrilling win in OT

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

Caps try to push streak to an even dozen

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