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!
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.
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 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.
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 Routed by Penguins in Game 7
WASHINGTON D.C. – May 13, 2009 – The Washington Capitals, having led by 2 games in their NHL Stanley Cup Playoff series with the Pittsburgh Penguins, found themselves in what was billed to be an epic Game 7 at the Verizon Center. The highly anticipated battle between two eastern conference powerhouses and their star players, Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, concluded in a 6-2 romp by the Pens which left many questions unanswered, and Caps fans furious over NHL officiating and the performance of their young stars.
Pittsburgh Penguins’ goalkeeper Marc-Andre Fleury (29) made 19 saves including this stretch against a break-away by Alex Ovechkin (8), holding a 5-0 lead until late in the second period. (Pete Silver/OffWing Photo)
Outshooting the Capitals 30-21, the Penguins repeatedly found the net despite replacement of Sidney Varlamov with backup goalkeeper Jose Theodore in the second period, following Pittsburgh’s fourth goal. With two back-to-back scoring flurries the Penguins amassed a 6-1 lead, the final goal being scored by Crosby, his second of the game, after stealing the puck from Ovechkin.
“It feels good, just because of the way the series went, not particularly because it was me and him,” said Crosby about a series that many sportswriters referred to as “Sid the Kid vs. Alexander the Great.”
Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby (87) scores in the first period
against Capitals’ rookie goalkeeper Simeon Varlamov (40). (Pete Silver/OffWing)
Pittsburgh awaits the winner of the Boston Bruins – Carolina Hurricanes series, which is tied at 3-3.
See all photos from Game 7 and other events on the Off Wing Photo Flickr site:
Capitals Top Islanders 5-3
WASHINGTON, DC – April 1: Alex Ovechkin celebrates Mike Green’s goal that gave the Capitals their first lead of the game with less than eight minutes left in regulation. The Islanders started out with a two-point lead, but the Capitals answered with goals from Ovechkin and Keith Aucoin. After a third New York goal, Green notched two more for the Caps, giving them a 4-3 lead. Nicklas Backstrom scored one more for insurance in the final seconds after New York pulled goalie Joey MacDonald, sealing the 5-3 win for the Capitals. (Photo by Kate McGovern/OffWing Photo) (more…)
Power Plays and Pothier Put Capitals Over Lightning
WASHINGTON D.C. — Tampa Bay entered the Verizon Center on Friday with an abysmal 12 road wins on the season, yet it took blowing a 3-1 first period lead for the Washington Capitals to show up and perform like a team bound for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
2009.04.27 Washington, D.C.: Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin (#8) battles Tampa Bay’s Martin St. Louis (#26) at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., on Friday night. (OffWing Photo/Pete Silver).
Through tenacious neutral zone pressure the Lightning managed a 3-3 tie which remained unbroken until 15:30 remaining, when Defender Brian Pothier netted his first goal in over a year, which would be the game-winner. Pothier, who still performs daily exercises for his eyes following a near career-ending check against the boards in January of 2008, was given a standing ovation from the home fans.
“It’s been a while and really feels good,” Pothier said. “I had to hold back the emotion a little bit, but I feel like I’m contributing. To put one in and an important goal was pretty special.”
2009.04.27 Washington, D.C.: Washington Capitals’ Brian Pothier celebrates following his first goal of the season to break a 3-3 tie with 15:30 remaining against the Tampa Bay Lightning, at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., on Friday night. (OffWing Photo/Pete Silver).
2009.04.27 Washington, D.C.: Washington Capitals’ head coach Bruce Boudreau responds to questions about the emotional impact of Pothier’s return and what the Capitals must do to prepare for the Stanley Cup playoffs. (OffWing Photo/Pete Silver).
“I just told him 15 months is way too long in between goals,” Washington coach Bruce Boudreau said. “You just think of the mountain the man had to climb. If you guys knew the days he came in — he couldn’t even focus, and he just sat there and he’d bring his kids in and he’d walked around and he’d leave. He practiced for two straight months without getting cleared, and he worked so hard, and to see a little bit of success happen to him tonight was really uplifting.”
The Capitals (now 45-23-7) went on to beat the Lightning 5-3 after Ovechkin’s open-net goal at 6.3 seconds, his 53rd goal this season. Their next game is at the Verizon Center on Wednesday, April 1st, against the NY Islanders (25-41-8).
Who Was That Team In Red On The Ice?
Coach Bruce Boudreau said it best, “We stunk. I’m not sure how I even characterize it, but we got beat to every loose puck, seemed like they had the puck on the power-play for the whole two minutes in our zone every time. I can’t sugar coat it and I can’t find excuses for it.”
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 1: Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals falls onto the ice in front of goalie Craig Anderson of the Florida Panthers during a NHL hockey game on March 1, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing Photo)
In the end the Panther’s took the Caps to the shed for a beating, final score was 6-2. The score would have been 6-1, if not for the determination of Alex Ovechkin in the final minute that he was going to score. Down on the ice gave me the opportunity to see the determination in Alex’s eyes, he was absolutely going to score, nothing was going to stop him.
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 1: Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals following his goal late in the third period against goalie Craig Anderson of the Florida Panthers during a NHL hockey game on March 1, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing Photo)
The photo above is of Alex just after his goal; no trademark fist-pumping, no jump into the boards, or big toothy smile. That goal was for Alex alone. The lack of celebration? Maybe that was for Don Cherry.
Enjoy the slideshow below by clicking on the photo. Then you can click on the square in the lower right hand corner for a full screen slideshow.
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Capitals Fall 4-2 to Flyers
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 25: The Capitals fell 4-2 Tuesday night to the Philadelphia Flyers. Washington led until the middle of the third period when Philadelphia scored three quick goals to win. Here, the teams pile up in front of Philadelphia’s goal during the second period. (Photo by Kate McGovern/OffWing Photo)
Caps: So Good Even A Cave Man Is A Fan
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 22: Geico’s Cave Man cheers on the Washington Capitals during a NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on February 22, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing Photo)
With today’s 5-2 victory over the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins the Caps have now captured all three meetings so far this year. While the last win took last minute heroics, the Caps put this in the bag in the second period when the went up and held the 5-2 margin.
Enjoy the slideshow below by clicking on the photo. Then you can click on the square in the lower right hand corner for a full screen slideshow.
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Caps Over Canadiens
The photo above is Alex O as he goes into his back slide before making an incredible goal. Enjoy the following slideshow of pictures from the game.
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Rare Occasion At Home, Caps Fall To LA Kings
I am an optimist so here is the good news first.
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 5: Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals controls the puck during a NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings on February 5, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing Photo)
Alex Ovechkin scored his 200th NHL career goal and has now become only the fourth player in NHL history to score 200 goals in his first four years in the league. With this goal he also erased another NHL franchise that he hasn’t scored on, now the list only includes the San Jose Sharks.
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 5: Brook Laich of the Washington Capitals celebrates his third period goal with team mate Alexander Semin during a NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings on February 5, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing Photo)
Mike Green continued his scoring hot streak and now leads all defenseman in the league with his 17 goals. Green’s production is even more amazing when you consider that there are only 14 players, all forwards, in the NHL who have averaged more points per game.
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 5: Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings makes a save during a NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals on February 5, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing Photo)
Unfortunately last minute heroics came up short and the Kings were able to earn what has been a rare win (5-4) at home against the Capitals in the Verizon Center this year. Goalie Jonathan Quick of the LA Kings able to hold of an onslaught of shots late in third period as the Capitals tried to overcome what had grown to 3 point deficit.
Tonight’s game is the second and final match-up this season between the Washington Capitals and the LA Kings. Back in November, it was the Kings that got the win (5-2), which included three in the third period (two in empty nets).
For more photos of game action visit our OffWing Photo flickr gallery.
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Ovechkin Scores Hat Trick In Win Against Ottawa Senators
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 1: Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals scores in the first period against goalie Brian Elliot of the Ottawa Senators during a NHL hockey game on February 1, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing)
Ottawa Head Coach probably summed it up best following the game speaking about Alex Ovechkin, “He’s the star of the league. People pay a lot of money to come watch him play and he performs every night. He’s certainly worth the price of admission; not for the other team, he isn’t, but certainly for the fans.”
The Caps had an outstanding weekend at home. This weekend they had a big win against the Detroit Redwings and today they kept the momentum going in winning 7-4 against the visiting Ottawa Senators. “It’s important because if we get into the play-offs and you have to play back-to-back like Monday/Tuesday, Thursday/Friday type thing you can’t let emotion be the sole dictator of how you play, said Coach Bruce Boudreau. “You have to do it day after day after day. We wanted to make a point of playing well after and emotional day yesterday.”
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 1: Mike Green of the Washington Capitals celebrates following his first period score against goalie Brian Elliot of the Ottawa Senators during a NHL hockey game on February 1, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing)
For more photos of game action visit our OffWing Photo flickr gallery.
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Good Times At Verizon Center: Caps over Rangers
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 3: Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals tries to center the puck against Petr Prucha of the New York Rangers during a NHL hockey game on January 3, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com)
WWASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 3: Eric Fehr of the Washington Capitals tries to score against goalie Steve Valiquette of the New York Rangers during a NHL hockey game on January 3, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com)
For more photos of game action visit theOffWing Photo flickr gallery.
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Caps Over Sabres, 3-2
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 26: Alex Oveckin of the Washington Capitals shoots a third period goal against goalie Patrick Lalime of the Bufalo Sabres during a NHL hockey game on December 26, 2008 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Pete Silver/OffWingPhoto.com)
The Caps went on a scoring spree going up three to one and then held off Buffalo to gain the win. Alex Ovechkin scored what would become the game winning score by slicing and dicing the defense.
“It was a pretty cool goal,” admitted Alex Ovechkin afterwards. “It happens sometimes … I just made some moves. Puck was probably neutral, so I won the battle. I was tired and I just fell, and I shoot. It was in, so that’s pretty cool. It was a great goal and I’m glad it happened to me.”
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 26: Alex Oveckin of the Washington Capitals celebrate following his third period goal against goalie Patrick Lalime of the Buffalo Sabres during a NHL hockey game on December 26, 2008 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Pete Silver/OffWingPhoto.com)
Caps Win Big Over Senators, 5-1
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 12: Mike Green of the Washington Capitals brings the puck down the ice against the Ottawa Senators during a NHL hockey game on December 12, 2008 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing)
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 12: Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals celebrates following his second period goal against the Ottawa Senators during a NHL hockey game on December 12, 2008 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing)
Visit our Flickr gallery for more pictures from the game.
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Caps Beat Islanders 5-2
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 4: Alex Ovechkin takes a shot on goal late in the third period. Ovechkin scored the first goal of the night early in the first period, quickly followed by a second scored by Viktor Kozlov. (Photo by Kate McGovern/www.OffWingPhoto.com)
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 4: Brooks Laich tries to beat New York Islander Freddy Meyer to the puck. Laich had two assists tonight. (Photo by Kate McGovern/www.OffWingPhoto.com)
Caps Remain Undefeated in Regulation At Home
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 28: Tomas Fleischmann of the Washington Capitals shoots and scores a goal against goalie Jaroslav Halak of the Montreal Canadiens during a NHL hockey game on November 28, 2008 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com)
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 28: Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals checks Ryan O’Byrne of the Montreal Canadiens during a NHL hockey game on November 28, 2008 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com)
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 28: David Steckel of the Washington Capitals waits for a pass during a NHL hockey game with the Montreal Canadiens on November 28, 2008 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com)
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Washington Caps Stuff Atlanta Thrashers
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 26: Eric Fehr of the Washington Capitals celebrates with teammates following his goal during a NHL hockey game with the Atlanta Thrashers on November 26, 2008 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com)
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 26: Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals flies over goalie Ondrej Pavelec of the Atlanta Thrashers during a NHL hockey game on November 26, 2008 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com)
More photos after the jump.
Capitals Beat Lightning, Kolzig 4-2
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 10: With Olie Kolzig watching, Michael Nylander looks for an open teammate. Kolzig was the focus of tonight’s game, returning to the Verizon Center for his first game since signing with the Tampa Bay Lightning. (Photo by Kate McGovern/OffWingPhoto.com)
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 10: Kolzig received a warm welcome from the Washington fans, but his former teammates kept the pressure on, taking 30 shots on goal. Kolzig, who spent the last 16 seasons with Washington, holds the record for most games played with the franchise, according to the Capitals. (Photo by Kate McGovern/OffWingPhoto.com)
Capitals Earn 3-1 Victory Over Rangers
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 8: Brooks Laich earned the Capitals their first goal of the game and here, Tom Poti scores the second. Both goals went unanswered and Washington went into the second period with a 2-0 lead. (Photo by Kate McGovern/OffWingPhoto.com)
Caps Beat Blackhawks 4-2 in Home Opener
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 11: Brooks Laich (bottom left) gets his stick on the puck just in time to get it past Chicago goalie Nikolai Khabibulin, putting the score at 3-2 and giving the Caps their first lead of the game with just over four minutes left in regulation. (Photo by Kate McGovern/OffWingPhoto.com)
Caps Win Over Tampa Makes 6th Straight Win
The Caps moved into eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings with their win over the Lightning on Thursday, jumping a point ahead of idle Philadelphia. With one game left in the season, the caps are still hoping to gain a berth in the NHL playoffs.
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 3: Fans of the Washington Capitals celebrate after Alex Ovechkin’s 65th goal of the season during a NHL hockey game with the Tampa Bay Lightning on April 3, 2008 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 3: Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals celebrates with teammates following his second goal of the night during a NHL hockey game with the Tampa Bay Lightning on April 3, 2008 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com)
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