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!

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 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 17^th 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.

Sergei Fedorov celebrates with Alex Ovechkin following Federov's game winning goal in the third period. (Photo by Pete Silver/OffWing Photo)

The boys in red did it! With tonight’s victory the Capitals are through to the next round of the Stanley Cup playoffs where they will face-off against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Pick up the details in the following game recap.

• Game Recap from the the Washington Capitals.

The schedule with the Penguins has just been released:

Enjoy the slideshow of game 7 highlights between the Washington Capitals and the NY Rangers from OffWing Photo’s Sports Photography photo stream.

WASHINGTON, DC – April 1: Viktor Kozlov puts pressure on MacDonald early in the third period. He had four shots on goal tonight, but was unable to find the net. (Photo by Kate McGovern/OffWing Photo)

WASHINGTON, DC – April 1: Tomas Fleischmann takes one of his two shots on goal tonight. Like Kozlov, he spent a good amount of time pressuring MacDonald, but was not able to produce. (Photo by Kate McGovern/OffWing Photo)

WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 7: Mike Green of the Washington Capitals celebrates with teammate Jeff Schultz following his third period goal against the Florida Panthers during a NHL hockey game on February 7, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing Photo)

“He’s (Mike Green) pretty good,” said Capital’s Coach Bruce Boudreau. “He even played well defensively today.” Green scored the game winner at the beginning of the third period and then put the game out of reach when he scored an empty-net goal late with just over a minute left in play.

Green continued his hot hand by scoring twice in tonight’s game, now the longest goal streak ever by a Washington defenseman, having now scored goals in his last seven straight games. He scored his 18th and 19th goals of the season.

After tonight’s game the Capitals hold a 13-point lead over Florida in the Southeast Division standings, sitting second in the Eastern Conference.

WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 7: Jose Theodore of the Washington Capitals stops Ville Peltonen of the Florida Panthers from scoring during a NHL hockey game on February 7, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing Photo)

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For more photos of game action visit our OffWing Photo flickr gallery.

www.flickr.com   Off Wing Opinion’s 2009.02.07 Washington Capitals vs. Florida Panthers , Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com photoset

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.

www.flickr.com Off Wing Opinion’s 2009.02.05 Washington Capitals vs. Los Angeles Kings, Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com photoset

WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 5: Michal Handzus of the Los Angeles Kings scores against goalie Jose Theodore of the Washington Capitals during a NHL hockey game on February 5, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing Photo)

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.

www.flickr.com Off Wing Opinion’s 2009.02.01 Washington Capitals vs. Ottawa Senators, Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com photoset

WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 1: Goalie Brent Johnson of the Washington Capitals makes a save during a NHL hockey game against the Ottawa Senators on February 1, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing)

WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 1: David Steckel of the Washington Capitals celebrates following his goal against goalie Mike Smith of the Tampa Bay Lightning during a NHL hockey game on January 1, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com)

WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 1: Mike Green of the Washington Capitals and Adam Hall of the Tampa Bay Lightning struggle for control of the puck during a NHL hockey game on January 1, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com)

WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 1: Goalie Mike Smith of the Tampa Bay Lightning fails to make a diving save against Boyd Gordon of the Washington Capitals during a NHL hockey game on January 1, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com)

For more photos of game action visit our OffWing Photo flickr gallery.

www.flickr.com Off Wing Opinion’s 2009.01.01 Washington Capitals vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, Allen Clark/OffWing Photo photoset

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.

www.flickr.com Off Wing Opinion’s 2008.12.12 Washington Capitals vs. Ottawa Senators, Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com photoset