Caps break Devils 8 game winning streak

The Caps took it to the New Jersey Devils tonight and got a 5-2 win on the road as a result. Improbably, Michael Nylander had 2 goals and got the first star of the night.  Nylander has had a tough year fitting into the Caps and Coach Boudreau's offensive system so it's nice to see him shoot the puck and get those goals.  The one totally fit the 'keep up the presence in front of the net and get the garbage goal' that the Caps need to do more often.  This one happened because of the rebound via Eric Fehr and Tomas Fleischmann. 

Mike Green got the 2nd star of the game for his 1 goal (a thing of beauty from Alexander Semin and Alex Ovechkin) and 1 assist in 24:54 of ice time.  He played -1 hockey and is still frequently a liability in his own end, but he's fun to watch.

Alex Ovechkin didn't score his 200th goal (hopefully, he'll do that at the phone booth), but he netted 2 assists.  The pass to Brooks Laich off his skate to let Brooksie get his garbage goal was a great play.

The Caps scared me during the first part of the 3rd period as they came out flat.  Nylander did get a goal for them to go up 4-2, but it was Eric Fehr's hard angle empty netter that sealed the deal.

The Caps play the LA Kings on Thursday night.

Let's go Caps! 

Cardiac Caps Survive the Penguins

The cardiac Caps are back. After an irritating two periods of hockey, the Caps showed up to play but by then they were behind 3-0. Amazingly, they answered back with 4 goals in that period and won the game at Mellon Arena. That hasn't happened very often lately.

What I liked:

• Mike Green's open ice hip check on Evgeni Malkin rocked.
• Boyd Gordon's game winning goal. It didn't light the lamp so play continued for another couple of minutes before the refs reviewed that play.
• Matt Bradley, taking one for the team in an ugly fight which he lost by a mile, and coming back to play after numerous stitches.
• Alexander Semin and Michael Nylander continue to be money in the bank (or goals in the net) for the Caps and were awarded 1st and 3rd star, respectively.
• Tomas Fleishman had a 2 point night. Good, keep it coming.
• Sergei Fedorov playing defense.

What I didn't like:

• Alex Ovechkin hitting more than focusing on playing his game. He's struggling so far this year even if he's playing +3 hockey. I have no doubt he'll figure it out.
• Nicklas Backstrom also struggling and not helping Ovie as a result.
• Chris Clark is still working the rust off after his long-term injury so he's been invisible.
• The ridiculous goal that Jose Theodore let in between the post and his pads. At least, he didn't let Sidney Crosby's first shot go in.

Next up, New Jersey Devils on Saturday. I'll be there rocking the red.

Let's go Caps!

Caps "Fan Fest" Day at Training Camp

A good crowd cheered the Caps at Kettler for the opening day of training camp. I caught the drills and scrimmage on the Caps rink. Here's what I liked:

• Michael Nylander skated impressively and looked like he was in great shape. He played with passion out there on Friday and I'm thrilled to have him back in Washington.


• Ovie skated with Viktor Kozlov here and there and they looked comfortable together, probably because they trained together this summer. At 6'5, Kozlov towers over everyone so he's easy to see on the ice. Kozlov took a puck in the face Friday, but was back on the ice during practice on Saturday so he's okay.


• On the blueliner side, Tom Poti played with Milan Jurcina during the scrimmage. I thought they played well together but I still expect to see Mo & Jurcina matched up during the regular season (then again, who knows....).


• I enjoyed seeing the hockey trophys with the names of Capitals on them...the Calder, Vezina, Lady Bing and Norris trophies were in town.
  
• The enthusiasm from Chris Clark & Ted Leonsis for the upcoming season during their town hall session. Ted's declared more than once publicly the "rebuild is over" and with the new players I also have high hopes for the season. During that session, Ted also assured the crowd that Ovie isn't going anywhere and his contract extension will get done.

One final note from Friday. Believe it or not, the Caps had a Penguins fan at Kettler. The guy sitting next to me took a day of vacation from work to see training camp hockey and he doesn't even root for the Caps! That's hockey devotion. He asked me if I thought Glen Hanlon was the right coach to make the Caps contenders. I think Hanlon still has a lot to prove in the NHL but he also hasn't had the talent to work with. He has the tools he needs this year so let's see what he does with them. I enjoyed talking hockey even with a Penguins fan...maybe he'll become a Caps fan this year.

It's almost Oct 5th. Let's go Caps!

Life after Olie and other Caps News

Goalie Simeon Varlomov stopped some incredible shots and made some great moves in Saturday's scrimmage during the Capital's development camp which was held last week at Kettler Ice Arena. So, is there life after Olie the Goalie for the Caps? I want Olie to be here as long as possible, but I'd love to have Varlomov here next year getting mentored by Olie. Varlomov, a Caps 1st round pick in 2006, ended the year in Russia's top professional league with a 15-7-6 record and a 2.12 GAA.

Blueliner Karl Alzner, the Caps #1 pick in this year's draft and mentioned as the most NHL ready draftee by many hockey analysts, made some smart defensive plays and played some aggressive hockey on Saturday, too. Is he NHL ready? I don't think we'll know until we see him play with the team.

Of course, Center Nicklas Backstrom was also in town for development camp. And, to read the fan boards, you'd think the player who has been compared to Peter Forsberg while playing in the Swedish Elite League for the past 2-years should go back to Sweden. (Okay, the fans seem to be split between "send him back" and "give him a break".) My opinion, give him a huge break. Let's not forget that Backstrom is a Capital, not a prospect and he was playing with a lot of prospects who will never play in the NHL. I thought his setup skills, blind passes and ice reading skills were all on display and I believe he's going to be a very good hockey player. Before we decide to send him back to Sweden, let's see how he plays with the team.

Fan board update - okay I fell hook, line and sinker for some tipsy Caps fans that apparently decided after some beers to stir up the fan boards with two threads "Backstrom isn't ready for the NHL" and "Backstrom is ready for the NHL." I'm pretty sure I saw this group of fans at the Rock Bottom Brewery post scrimmage. You definitely got me!!

Other signings...so the Caps now have Michael Nylander back in Washington for his second stint. He's 34 which stinks, but he had an incredible year last year and if Backstrom is the real deal, Nylander (another Swede) can help to mentor him and give him English lessons. Nylander offered in exchange for baby sitting his 6 kids according to this Washington Post article. Nylander had a spectacular year last year with the Rangers so here's hoping there is some good chemistry between him & Ovie.

For defensive help, the Capitals signed blueliner Tom Poti from the NY Islanders. He's a 10-year veteran that racked up 44 points last year, made an apperance in the 2003 all star game and has represented the US in the 2002 Olympics. Another former Islander, Viktor Kozlov, also became a Capital. He plays center/right wing and amassed 51 points last year, his 4th 50-point season and ended the season a +12.

So.....is it hockey season yet?

Let's go Caps!