Thursday, January 29, 2009
New Practice Time for Friday, January 30
Tomorrow's practice at Kettler Capitals Iceplex has been rescheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m.
Team Theodore Wins DC Winter Classic Practice (They Think)
Team Theo, AKA the White Team, won the DC Winter Classic Practice today 11-10 at Chevy Chase Club. Or so they think. Team Johnny, AKA the Blue Team, thought they tied the game at the buzzer with a shot from Ovi off a pass from Semin. Coach Boudreau, in his capacity as referee/linesman, called the game for Team Theo.
They may not have agreed upon the game's outcome, but the players did agree on one thing: it was a fun event. They might have taken it a little too seriously (Coach Boudreau had to pull them aside at one point during the game and remind them to lighten up), but they had a great time, and so did the 200 or so club members and youth hockey players who were on hand to watch.
They may not have agreed upon the game's outcome, but the players did agree on one thing: it was a fun event. They might have taken it a little too seriously (Coach Boudreau had to pull them aside at one point during the game and remind them to lighten up), but they had a great time, and so did the 200 or so club members and youth hockey players who were on hand to watch.
Caps Play Pond Hockey Today
The Washington Capitals have a great practice facility, Kettler Capitals Iceplex, located in Arlington, Virginia. The Caps practice at Kettler on most non-game days and have morning skate sessions there on home game days. The great part about Kettler for the
fans is that practices and skate sessions are FREE and open to the public. Bleacher seats are provided, and fans get close-up views of their favorite hockey team. Caps practicing at Kettler. (c) Sharon Taylor
Today's practice is going to be a little different. Weather permitting, the Caps will play a scrimmage outside this afternoon. That's right, the Caps are going 3-on-3 with a little pond hockey at Chevy Chase Club in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
Johnny and Theo are the team captains and drafted their own players. The rosters look like this:
Team Theodore
Goal: Theodore
Defense: Green, Poti, Pothier, Jurcina
Forwards: Brashear, Kozlov, Nylander, Backstrom, Fleischman, Fedorov
Team Johnson
Goal: Johnson
Defense: Erskine, Schultz, Morrisonn
Forwards: Laich, Gordon, Semin, Clark, Fehr, Steckel, Ovechkin, Bradley
This event is closed to the public but should be a lot of fun for the players. Tomorrow morning's 10:30 a.m. practice at Kettler is open to the public as usual.
fans is that practices and skate sessions are FREE and open to the public. Bleacher seats are provided, and fans get close-up views of their favorite hockey team. Caps practicing at Kettler. (c) Sharon TaylorToday's practice is going to be a little different. Weather permitting, the Caps will play a scrimmage outside this afternoon. That's right, the Caps are going 3-on-3 with a little pond hockey at Chevy Chase Club in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
Johnny and Theo are the team captains and drafted their own players. The rosters look like this:
Team Theodore
Goal: Theodore
Defense: Green, Poti, Pothier, Jurcina
Forwards: Brashear, Kozlov, Nylander, Backstrom, Fleischman, Fedorov
Team Johnson
Goal: Johnson
Defense: Erskine, Schultz, Morrisonn
Forwards: Laich, Gordon, Semin, Clark, Fehr, Steckel, Ovechkin, Bradley
This event is closed to the public but should be a lot of fun for the players. Tomorrow morning's 10:30 a.m. practice at Kettler is open to the public as usual.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Ovi's Fine, According to the Coach
Ovi didn't skate in practice today, but Coach Bruce Boudreau assured everyone it was a planned day off, due to Ovi's participation in the All-Star activities. Coach Boudreau said Ovi was probably a little stiff from his crash into the boards last night, but he is not injured and should not miss any game time. Good news for Caps fans, as we were all holding our breath while Ovi was lying on the ice not moving.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Caps Come Away with a Point in Boston
The Caps faced off against the number one team in the Eastern Conference tonight, the Boston Bruins. Their last two match-ups, both at Verizon Center, ended in favor of the Caps. Tonight’s game was played at TD Banknorth Garden in Boston.
Just seven seconds into the game, Washington went on the power play, courtesy of a high-sticking call against Marc Savard. The Bruins were successful in the penalty kill, but just as Savard stepped out of the box, Mike Green scored on a pass from Alexander Ovechkin to Alexander Semin to Green. The Bruins answered a few minutes later when a pass from Ovi was intercepted by Boston, leading to a goal by Shawn Thornton. Play continued with the score tied 1-1 through the first period. As the clock wound down, Tomas Fleischmann skated in toward goal and took a shot. He captured his own rebound and passed the puck to Michael Nylander, who tapped it in with just 20.7 seconds left in the first. The Caps were up 2-1.
As expected, the game turned into a display of defensive maneuvers. Jose Theodore and Tim Thomas were each called upon to make a number of impressive saves in the second period. With 5:48 left in the second, the Bruins were on a power play courtesy of a hooking call against Nylander when Savard scored his 17th goal of the season off a pass from Patrice Bergeron, who was back after missing 15 games following a concussion suffered in a game against Carolina on December 20. The game was tied 2-2.
Caps fans saw their worst fear materialize a few seconds later when Zdeno Chara hooked Alex Ovechkin as he skated full-speed into the offensive zone, causing Ovi to lose his balance and slam into the boards. His head and right shoulder seemed to bear the brunt of the impact. Ovi lay on the ice for several minutes afterward – an extremely unusual event for the NHL’s reigning MVP. Ovi headed off to the locker room and missed the remainder of the period to get checked out by the team’s trainer.
The good news for Caps fans was that Ovi was back for the third period, appearing none the worse for wear. Unfortunately, just a few seconds into the third Alexander Semin was hit in the throat by an out-of-control stick belonging to Chuck Kobasew. The Caps were unable to score on the ensuing power play, but Semin was able to return to the ice with no apparent injury.
Play continued through the third, with each team taking its share of shots but no goals scored. On to overtime! Bad news for the Caps, since they were hoping to gain two points on their Eastern Conference rival but now could only hope for one, at best. Didn’t turn out that way, though, as Niklas Backstrom’s shot in OT was denied by Tim Thomas. Heading back into the defensive zone, Backstrom was called for hooking and sent to the box. Boston scored on the power play, with a goal from David Krejci. Final score: 3-2, Bruins.
Boston now has 75 points on the season to Washington’s 64. The Caps’ next game will be at home against another powerhouse in the NHL, the Detroit Red Wings, on January 31.
Just seven seconds into the game, Washington went on the power play, courtesy of a high-sticking call against Marc Savard. The Bruins were successful in the penalty kill, but just as Savard stepped out of the box, Mike Green scored on a pass from Alexander Ovechkin to Alexander Semin to Green. The Bruins answered a few minutes later when a pass from Ovi was intercepted by Boston, leading to a goal by Shawn Thornton. Play continued with the score tied 1-1 through the first period. As the clock wound down, Tomas Fleischmann skated in toward goal and took a shot. He captured his own rebound and passed the puck to Michael Nylander, who tapped it in with just 20.7 seconds left in the first. The Caps were up 2-1.
As expected, the game turned into a display of defensive maneuvers. Jose Theodore and Tim Thomas were each called upon to make a number of impressive saves in the second period. With 5:48 left in the second, the Bruins were on a power play courtesy of a hooking call against Nylander when Savard scored his 17th goal of the season off a pass from Patrice Bergeron, who was back after missing 15 games following a concussion suffered in a game against Carolina on December 20. The game was tied 2-2.
Caps fans saw their worst fear materialize a few seconds later when Zdeno Chara hooked Alex Ovechkin as he skated full-speed into the offensive zone, causing Ovi to lose his balance and slam into the boards. His head and right shoulder seemed to bear the brunt of the impact. Ovi lay on the ice for several minutes afterward – an extremely unusual event for the NHL’s reigning MVP. Ovi headed off to the locker room and missed the remainder of the period to get checked out by the team’s trainer.
The good news for Caps fans was that Ovi was back for the third period, appearing none the worse for wear. Unfortunately, just a few seconds into the third Alexander Semin was hit in the throat by an out-of-control stick belonging to Chuck Kobasew. The Caps were unable to score on the ensuing power play, but Semin was able to return to the ice with no apparent injury.
Play continued through the third, with each team taking its share of shots but no goals scored. On to overtime! Bad news for the Caps, since they were hoping to gain two points on their Eastern Conference rival but now could only hope for one, at best. Didn’t turn out that way, though, as Niklas Backstrom’s shot in OT was denied by Tim Thomas. Heading back into the defensive zone, Backstrom was called for hooking and sent to the box. Boston scored on the power play, with a goal from David Krejci. Final score: 3-2, Bruins.
Boston now has 75 points on the season to Washington’s 64. The Caps’ next game will be at home against another powerhouse in the NHL, the Detroit Red Wings, on January 31.
Quest for the Cup: Part Two Starts Tonight
The second half of the season starts tonight in Boston for the Caps as they face the Bruins for the third time this season. The first two games, both in D.C., resulted in wins for Washington, most recently on January 17. But the Caps have been much better at home this season than they have been on the road. They know that to make the playoffs, they'll have to improve their record for away games, which currently stands at 11-12-2. Their record at home is the best in the Eastern Conference, at 19-3-1. Boston also has an excellent record at home: 17-3-2.
Boston is the only team in the Eastern conference with more points than Washington. Ten points separate the first and second place teams. A win for the Caps tonight would close the gap to eight. But it's not going to be easy! Tim Thomas, goaltender for the Bruins, is very hot right now. His record for this season is 20-5-4, with a .934 save percentage (Sv%) and 2.09 goals against average (GAA). Jose Theodore, who will start in net tonight for the Caps, is 17-9-1, with a .898 Sv% and 2.81 GAA. The Bruins also have many other talented players, including Center Marc Savard and Defenseman Zdeno Chara, both of whom went to the All-Stars along with Thomas.
Both teams have been plagued by injuries this season, but several players are expected to return to the lineup tonight for both teams. Fans can probably expect another low-scoring game, with each team putting on a dazzling defensive show and both goalies called upon to make quite a few saves. Caps fans will be watching for the type of spectular goalscoring they've come to expect from Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, and the rest of the Caps.
Washington Capitals at Boston Bruins will be broadcast on Versus at 7 p.m. tonight.
Boston is the only team in the Eastern conference with more points than Washington. Ten points separate the first and second place teams. A win for the Caps tonight would close the gap to eight. But it's not going to be easy! Tim Thomas, goaltender for the Bruins, is very hot right now. His record for this season is 20-5-4, with a .934 save percentage (Sv%) and 2.09 goals against average (GAA). Jose Theodore, who will start in net tonight for the Caps, is 17-9-1, with a .898 Sv% and 2.81 GAA. The Bruins also have many other talented players, including Center Marc Savard and Defenseman Zdeno Chara, both of whom went to the All-Stars along with Thomas.
Both teams have been plagued by injuries this season, but several players are expected to return to the lineup tonight for both teams. Fans can probably expect another low-scoring game, with each team putting on a dazzling defensive show and both goalies called upon to make quite a few saves. Caps fans will be watching for the type of spectular goalscoring they've come to expect from Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, and the rest of the Caps.
Washington Capitals at Boston Bruins will be broadcast on Versus at 7 p.m. tonight.
Monday, January 26, 2009
AHL All-Star Game
For a great chance to see some of the future stars of the NHL, catch the AHL All-Star Game tonight at 7 p.m. To find out where you can watch, check the broadcast schedule.
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