Capitals Fall To Lightning, 3-2
Scott Walker dodges several loose sticks in tonight’s game against Tampa Bay. The loss was the Capitals’ first regulation loss at home since last year. (Kate McGovern/Off Wing Photo)
2010 January 31st, Lightning at Capitals
“Ten in a row”, only the second time in the history of the franchise!
Caps Beat Ducks, Extend Winning Streak
Jason Chimera celebrates Shaone Morrisonn’s goal early in the third period. The Washington Capitals won their eighth straight game tonight, beating the Anaheim Ducks 5-1. Alexander Semin scored two for the Caps, with Alex Ovechkin, Mike Knuble and Morrisonn each contributing one. (Photos by Kate McGovern/OffWing Photo)
Slideshow from tonight’s game below:
Capitals Challenge Coyotes at Home, Win 4-2
By Pete Silver
OffWing Opinion
WASHINGTON D.C. (January 23) – The Washington Capitals defeated the hard-charging Phoenix Coyotes 4-2 on Saturday night.
Washington Capitals forward Brooks Laich (21) goes old school after having his helmet
removed by a Phoenix Coyotes check behind the net. (Pete Silver/OffWing Photo)
Click below for a slideshow of images from Saturday night’s game, and lots more from OffWing Photo!
Flyers Fall to Capitals 5-3
By Pete Silver
OffWing Opinion
WASHINGTON D.C. (January 17) – The Washington Capitals defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 5-3.
Washington Capitals forward Mike Knuble (22) fights off Philadelphia Flyers defenseman
Braydon Coburn (5) in front of the net during an NHL hockey game at Verizon Center.
(Pete Silver/OffWing Photo)
Click below for more photos from this game and others, all from OffWing Photo!
Carolina Catches Captain-less Capitals, 6-3
by Pete Silver
OffWing Opinion
WASHINGTON D.C. (December 28) – The Washington Capitals suffered their first Southeast Division loss of the season on Monday night, bringing their division record to 8-1.
Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau and players denied a “post-trade hangover,” however, a flat performance against the ailing Carolina Hurricanes tells a different story. Following practice on Monday morning, the Capitals front office announced the trade of team captain Chris Clark and defenseman Milan Jurcina to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Jason Chimera. Chimera is a tall, tough player with 11 goals who now tops the Capitals’ roster with 47 penalty minutes for the year.
“It’s a hard situation for us because we lost our captain and a great guy,” said Washington’s Alex Ovechkin. “They’re both good players, but it’s a business and you can do nothing about it.”
The NHL’s top scoring club managed four shots on goal against the last-place Hurricanes in the first period. Carolina’s Tuomo Ruutu scored off the rebound of Eric Staal’s shot at 7:44. Staal made it 2-0 at 10:14 and Jussi Jokinen scored a third at 14:30. Capitals’ goalie Jose Theodore allowed three goals in the first nine shots, within 6 minutes and 46 seconds.
Washington Capitals’ goalie Jose Theodore (#60) defends the goal behind defenseman
Jeff Schultz (#55) on Monday night against the Carolina Hurricanes in an NHL Hockey
game at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. (Pete Silver/OffWing Photo)
Washington rallied, with goals from Mike Green and Eric Fehr in the second period. Alex Ovechkin brought the crowd to its feet early in the third period with a power play goal cutting the score to a manageable 4-3, but Carolina answered at 10:00 and sealed the game at 18:28 with an empty net goal to win 6-3.
Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin (#8) is swept off his feet while shooting
against the Carolina Hurricanes in an NHL Hockey game. (Pete Silver/OffWing Photo).
“You look at their standings, and you look at how hard they played, [and] I find it hard to believe they are where they are,” Washington coach Bruce Boudreau said. “We know them as a divisional opponent that plays hard against us all the time, and tonight was no exception.”
Game notes
Nicklas Backstrom brought his season penalty minutes to 16, with a a four-minute high-sticking penalty in the first.
Alexander Semin agreed to terms on a one-year, $6 million contract extension on Saturday.
More images from the game and OffWing Photo by clicking below.
Caps Score Big Win Over The Devils
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 26: Chris Clark of the Washington Capitals attempts to score on goalie Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils during a NHL hockey game on December 26, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing)
By Allen Clark
OffWing Opinion
WASHINGTON D.C. (December 26) – Tonight the Washington Capitals picked up a big win over the second place NJ Devils. The Caps’s 4-1 win over the Devils moved the Capitals a point ahead of the Devils in first place in the Eastern Conference standings.
Alex Ovechkin gave the Caps a 1-0 lead at 4:09 of the first and Matt Bradley made it 2-0 for Washington at 13:54. Late in the first New Jersey’s Rod Pelley scored a goal and the Devils had opportunities to draw even when they benefited from the game’s first four power play chances. But Washington was able to kill each NJ power play opportunity against the Devils extra-man unit that the entered the game with the league’s fourth-best road power play numbers (25.9%).
Nicklas Backstrom’s goal at 9:52 of the second made it 3-1 Caps. Mike Green finished the Caps scoring for the evening when he netted his eighth of the season in the first minute of the third period.
Washington Coach Bruce Boudreau was pleased with the effort, “I think we played a complete game. I thought early in the third period we started to sit back a little bit too much, but then we went back at them and took it to them in the last half of the third. I thought it was a great effort on our part.”
For more photos from tonight’s game click on the image below to view a slideshow.
Following the win the Capitals also announced that they had resigned Alexander Semin to a one-year contract extension. Semin, 25, is in his fifth season in the NHL, all with the Capitals.
Semin has 32 points (14 goals, 17 assists) in 29 games this season, tied for third on the team in goals and fourth in points. In 283 career games the 6’2”, 208-pound native of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, has recorded 248 points (122 goals, 126 assists) and already ranks 26th in Capitals history in points.
Semin, who was named to the 2010 Russian Olympic team on Thursday, ranks ninth among active players 25-and-younger in goals and 12th among that group in points.
Capitals Bust Buffalo’s Christmas Wishes 5-2
By Pete Silver
OffWing Opinion
WASHINGTON D.C. (December 23) — The Washington Capitals defeated the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 on Wednesday night at Verizon Center. Photos and game analysis later in the day.
Click below for a slideshow of images and a link to more from OffWing Photo.
Capitals Beat Buffalo 5-2
By Pete Silver
OffWing Opinion
WASHINGTON D.C. (December 23) — The Washington Capitals beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 in an NHL hockey game at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.
Washington Capitals forward Mike Green (52) takes a shot against the Buffalo Sabers in
an NHL hockey game at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. (Pete Silver/OffWing Photo)
Click below for more from this game and others from OffWing Photo!
Washington Capitals Battle Buffalo Sabres 2-0 in Memory of Abe Pollin
By Pete Silver
OffWing Opinion
WASHINGTON D.C. (November 25) — Semyon Varlamov, the Washington Capitals 21-year-old goaltender, recorded his first regular-season shutout by making 25 saves against the Buffalo Sabres in a 2-0 victory Wednesday night that was completed without the Capitals’ star Alex Ovechkin, following a third period ejection for a hard shoulder check called boarding and resulting game misconduct at 3:38.
Defenseman Mike Green (#52) cuts off a pass from Buffalo Sabres’ forward Michael Grier (#25). (Pete Silver/OffWingPhoto.com)
“You lose the most prolific scorer on the planet Earth, which is tough,” said Capitals’ defenseman Brian Pothier. “But you have to kill a 5-minute penalty. As Ovie’s skating off the ice, we’re telling him, ‘We’ve got this one for you.’ He does so much for our team. Every night, he bails us out. We could sure do it for him.”
Ovechkin put the Capitals up 1-0 at 6:24 of the first period, his 17th of the season. Shots came slowly, both teams playing aggressive, trapping defense. There were no penalties in the first two periods.
Alex Ovechkin (#8) scores in the first period to put the Capitals up 1-0 over the visiting Buffalo Sabres. (Pete Silver/OffWingPhoto.com)
Eric Fehr scored the Capitals’ second goal with 6:22 in regulation, redirecting Brendan Morrison’s centering pass.
Foward Eric Fehr (#16) scores at 6:22 of the third period, sealing the Capital’s 2-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. (Pete Silver/OffWingPhoto.com)
Prior to the singing of the National Anthem, there was moment of silence in memory of Mr. Abe Pollin, Capitals owner from 1974 to 1999, who used his own money to build Verizon Center and revitalized the Washington D.C. Chinatown area, along with numerous other real estate improvement projects around the District. Pollin died Tuesday at the age of 85 from a rare brain disease. Funeral services were held Friday and a public memorial service is scheduled on Decemeber 8th at Verizon Center.
Click below for a slideshow of images from Thursday night’s game and more from OffWing Photo.
Capitals Beat Islanders After 11-Round Shootout
WASHINGTON, DC – November 11: Chris Clark scores the winning goal in the 11th round of a sudden death shootout. The Capitals scored their first goal eight seconds into regulation, but the Islanders answered back in less than a minute. After two more quick New York goals, the Capitals pulled goalie Jose Theodore in favor of Semyon Varlamov, who allowed only one more goal and led the Capitals into overtime tied 4-4. (Photo by Kate McGovern/www.OffWingPhoto.com)
For more photos from tonight’s game click on the image below to view a slideshow.
Capitals Tricked By Islanders Who Get The Treat
By Allen Clark
OffWing Opinion
WASHINGTON D.C. (October 30) – On the day before Halloween the NY Islanders came knocking on the door of Verizon center and went home with a few treats. The Islanders got the win, only their third of the season and the first victory over the Caps since Feb 2008. The loss also put an end to the Capitals six game winning streak.
Ovechkin scored first and now leads the NHL with 14 goals. He now matched his personal best for most goals in a month. Ovechkin scored 14 goals in March of 2008 as the Caps charged to their first playoff berth in five years.
Alex Ovechkin celebrates following his goal against the New York Islanders.
While the Caps finish October with an impressive 8-2-3 mark, their lack of a killer instinct in games and the difficulty they’ve had protecting late leads has prevented them from posting a even better record.
“A lot of these games we’ve escaped,” says Morrison. “We haven’t played our best hockey. I think what we have to worry about is more the process – how we’re winning games. Don’t think about the result; think about the process. If we go about that the right way, we’ll come out on top most nights.”
For more photos from tonight’s game click on the image below to view a slideshow.
Capitals Rally Over Flyers 4-2, Win 5th Straight
By Pete Silver
OffWing Opinion
WASHINGTON D.C. (October 27) – They got mad, they got even, and they doubled up.
The last thing on the agenda Tuesday night was the Olympics, yet this game provided an enticing preview of the future matchup featuring Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin and Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger.
Both teams stormed the ice and by the end of the first period had combined for 21 shots on goal, but solid goaltending from Capitals Jose Theodore and Flyers Ray Emery kept the score at nil.
Washington Capitals goaltender Jose Theodore (#60) gets low to protect the net, scoring 41 saves against the Philadelphia Flyers. (Pete Silver/OffWingPhoto.com)
Flyers goaltender Ray Emery (#29) controls the puck against a furious first period Capitals offense. (Pete Silver/OffWingPhoto.com)
In the second, Philadelphia’s physical play started to wear on the Capitals attack. The Flyers Scott Hartnell scored on a power play at 3:06. Philadelphia successfully stymied two Capitals power plays, including a 2-man advantage lasting over 90 seconds. Philadelphia poured it on with a second power play goal from a Braydon Coburn slapshot, and threatened to bring an abrupt end to the Capitals four-game winning streak.
The red sweaters were down 2-0, but they weren’t out. “We got a little bit angry, it was good for us,” said Nicklas Backstrom, Capitals forward. Late in the second period, Alex Ovechkin found the net, bringing life to the team and the crowd. Two minutes later, Backstrom capitalized on a power play to tie the game 2-2.
Alex Ovechkin (#8) celebrates with teammate Alexander Semin (#28). (Pete Silver/OffWingPhoto.com)
Despite 21 shots on net, the third period was all Washington. Jose Theodore held his ground, amassing 41 saves. Capitals Head Coach Bruce Boudreau tipped his hat to Jose’s performance, saying “Theo kept us in the game..he was really solid.”
Jose Theodore (#60) defends the net behind forward Scott Hartnell (#19) to hold the Capitals lead and defeat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2. (Pete Silver/OffWingPhoto.com)
At 5:24 of the third, Alexander Semin beat Emery from the top of the zone with a shot that deflected off Flyers’ defenseman Kimmo Timonen. It was Semin’s seventh goal of the season, putting the Capitals on top 3-2.
Ovechkin scored the final blow with an open net goal at 19:14 to seal the win at 4-2; it was Ovechkin’s eleventh goal of the season. Nicklas Backstrom scored four points with one goal and three assists.
Click below for a slideshow of images from Tuesday night’s game and more from OffWing Photo.
Alex vs. Predator, Guess Who Wins
Ovechkin Hat Trick Bests Nashville
Alex Ovechkin turned in a stellar performance tonight with a hat trick to lift the Washington Capitals to sudden-death victory over the Nashville Predators.
After skating a great first period that saw Alex Ovechkin score twice, the Washington Capitals fell flat for two periods. Nashville evened the score in the second period and skated to a two-all draw through overtime and into the shoot-out.
Capitals Winger Mike Knuble summed it up this way, “When we had them up 2-0 we let them hang around too long and that’s when teams are kind of dangerous. We had trouble, took some penalties, which takes guys off the ice and gets them out of sync. Next thing you know they score and they’re back in the game. It almost came back to bite us.”
In the shoot-out the Predators were shut-out by Washington goalie Semyon Varlamov, while Ovechkin’s third goal sealed the victory for Washington.
Goalie Simyon Varlamov of the Washington Capitals makes a diving save in a shootout.
After a four-game winless streak that ended on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. Washington was looking to capture some momentum in tonight’s solitary match-up between Washington and Nashville. The Caps have now improved to a 4-2-2 record.
Coming into tonight’s game Alex Ovechkin already led the NHL leader in points (14), goals (7) and shots (55). After tonight’s performance by the Alex improved those stats with 16 points, 10 goals, and 61 shots.
“Best Player In The World”
“He’s (Ovechkin) is obviously the best player in the world. He made some great goals tonight and the shootout goal is just kind of icing on the cake for him. He had a great night,” said Predators Goaltender Dan Ellis. “He’s a dangerous player and he gets his goals whether you got three guys on him or five guys on him, it doesn’t matter, he finds a way and that’s what makes him the best player in the world.”
For more photos from tonight’s game click on the image below to view a slideshow.
Capitals Bite Sharks, Break Streak
By Pete Silver
OffWing Opinion
WASHINGTON D.C. (October 15) — The Washington Capitals made a statement Thursday night, ending a 4-game losing streak with a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks.
Washington Capitals goalie Jose Theodore (#6o) allows only one goal by Sharks’ foward Benn Ferriero (#78). Theodore was replaced with 3rd year goalie Semyon Varlamov after experiencing back spasms. Theodore is expected to return with no persistant injuries. (Pete Silver/OffWingPhoto.com)
Goals from Matt Bradley and Alexander Semin (his sixth of the season, tied for second in the NHL) combined with two from NHL goal leader Alexander Ovechkin completed the offensive assault. The win ended the Sharks’ 11-game win streak against the Capitals, which included 6 consecutive road wins dating back to February 1999.
San Jose Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov (#20) deflects a wrist shot to hold a 1-1 tie with the Washington Capitals at the end of the first period. (Pete Silver/OffWingPhoto.com)
Following a strong playoff performance last season, the young Capitals team exhibited strong discipline by staying out of the penalty box, while leaving San Jose short-handed for over 8 minutes in the first period, which included two 5-on-3 power plays.
Alexander Ovechkin (#8) celebrates his second goal in 28 seconds to extend the Washington Capitals second period lead to 3-1 over the San Jose Sharks. (Pete Silver/OffWingPhoto.com)
Alexander Ovechkin (#8) adds two to his NHL-leading goal total with two scores against San Jose in the second period. The Capitals go on to win the game 4-1. (Pete Silver/OffWingPhoto.com)
Breaking a 1-1 tie in the second period, Ovechkin found the net twice in 28 seconds, exploiting the exhausted Sharks’ defensemen and scoring his first and second goals against San Jose in his career. Both goals were assisted by Mike Knuble and Brendan Morrison.
San Jose forward Steven Zalewski (#48) gives chase to Capitals defenseman Jeff Schultz (#55) in the third period at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. (Pete Silver/OffWingPhoto.com)
Click below for a slideshow of images from Thursday night’s game and more from OffWing Photo.
Devils Beat Caps in Shootout
Jose Theodore allows his first goal of the night during the second period, bringing the score to 2-1. One more New Jersey goal sent the game into overtime and then a shootout. Nicklas Backstrom scored once, but Jose Theodore allowed two, and the Caps earned their fourth straight loss. (Photo by Kate McGovern/OffWing Photo)
