Pushed To The Brink Once Again, The Cardiac Caps Find A Way, Finally, In Overtime.

5




4


Series tied 3-3



There was no write up on the previous game yesterday, because me being at times superstitious as I am during the playoffs, wanted to change many things up yesterday. So, one of those changes also included no pre game write up. That may once again be the case for tomorrows game.

Once again, the Cardiac Capitals pushed themselves and their fans to the brink. The Capitals facing yet another elimination game in this years NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Caps also once again, found a way to extend the season, even if it is only for one more game. It was a must win once again, and once again the Capitals found themselves going into a sudden death, deciding overtime. The Caps have gone to overtime twice in this series, and lost both of those games. Not this time. It was game 3 of this series when the Capitals David Steckel had a fantastic chance to end that game and take the Caps up 3 games to nothing on the Pens in this series. Steckel found himself alone, in front of a gaping wide open Penguins net, with the puck on his stick, and some how, missed the net. Steckel vowed if he had that chance again, that it would end differently. He had that rare second chance last night, perhaps not in such grand fashion, but he did exactly what he vowed to do. In stead of letting an opportunity slip by, Steckel tipped a shot from Brooks Laich, past Pens goalie Marc-Andre Fleury at 6:22 of the first overtime. The Capitals bench erupted and flooded the ice, in front of the stunned Pens fans at Mellon Arena, much to the delight of Caps fans all across the country.

The Capitals did play better once gain, but still not quite good enough for comfort. The Caps were once again outshot in the game 42-25, and had just 5 shots on goal in a very disappointing first period that would see the Pens jump out to the lead first. Had it not been for Simeon Varlamov who made 17 saves in that first period, the Penguins might have buried Washington for good before the end of it. Once again, it looked to be a long and sad night for the Caps and their fans against their long time nemesis. However, the Caps had other things in mind, and true to form in elimination games, came out for the 2nd and third periods at time s controlling play, and taking the lead for themselves twice. It was the Pens who were backed into a corner at home in the third period, and it was the Pens who would force the over time period. Once again, the deciding factor in this game has to be Simeon Varlamov. Varlamov played a fantastic game, and perhaps if it were not for him, the Caps may not be looking forward to game 7 at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. tomrrow night.

While it was David Steckel who played the overtime hero and scored the winner, there were several other Capitals who stepped up and deserve credit for their contributions. Viktor Kozlov picked up his first two goals of the series, Alexander Semin had two assists, while Alex Ovechkin had 3 assists.

The Capitals now find themselves with the chance to advance to the Eastern Conference finals with a victory on home ice tomorrow night. A win in game 7 would also would give Washington only its second series victory over Pittsburgh in eight all-time meetings. Finally, maybe, something is starting to go right. In the Capitals last 7 elimination games under coach Bruce Boudreau, they are 6 wins, and one loss. Could this trend finally mean things are turning a corner for the Caps and their faithful? Could the ghosts of choking dogs past be fading away? Tomorrow night will go along way in determining if that is the case, or if those old playoff ghosts of choking dogs past, are still haunting this franchise. Get out there and ROCK THE RED and support our beloved Caps, wherever you are!

LET'S GO CAPS ! ! !

Capitals Return Home For Game 5 Tonight With Series Now Deadlocked At 2.

VS





Series tied 2-2


The Washington Capitals return home finding themselves once again in a MUST WIN situation. After being up 2-0 in the NHL's Eastern Conference Semifinal series vs the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Capitals have played poorly, and dropped both road games at the Igloo in Pittsburgh. Hopefully the Caps will have learned some valuable lessons from the past two games, and also once again use the home ice, and loud, red rockin Capitals faithful that pack Verizon Center, to their advantage. If the history of this series is to dictate anything, so far the home team as one all games, which puts the Capitals at a slight advantage for this game. However, it is going to take more than just a little luck this time. Defencemen Mike Green will need to come out of hiding, as will forwards Alex Ovechkin and Alexander Semin. The Caps will also need to see Simeon Varlamov once again take control of the game, as he had done for 5 staright games until game 3 in Pittsburgh. Varlamov had his first "bad" game of the playoffs last night in steel town, surrendering 5 goals on 28 shots, and allowing two goals which were pretty soft. Our offence needs to step it up once again, and our defence needs to clamp down in our own zone in order to give Varlamov a chance to do just that.

Also of note, it appears the NHL is NOT going to fine and / or suspend Alexander Ovechkin for his unfortunate knee on knee hit with Pens defencemen Sergei Gonchar. The hit appeared to be accidental and there was no evidence of Ovechkin intentionally moving his leg to hit Gonchar's leg. Gonchar left the game and did not return, and is doubtful for tonights game 5 in D.C. I posted a video of the hit in m previous post, for you to be the judge. It can be found here in this post.

Your's truly is now heading out to Verizon Center for tonights game, and I will be back later on tonight or tomrrow morning with my post game thoughts and write up. Until then...

LET'S GO CAPS ! ! !

SO... Just like the COME BACK CAPS... This blog is BACK! Caps make it to 2nd round for first time in 10 years

I decided that this blog was going to be suspended until the Washington Capitals made it to the 2nd round of the NHL Playoffs. Well, tonight, after being outplayed for most of the game, they did just that. Your Washington Capitals have FINALLY made it to the 2nd round of the NHL playoffs, beating the New York Rangers 2-1 at Verizon Center in Washington. I personally did not have tickets to game 7, so instead I decided to go to one of my usual haunts in Old Town Alexandria... Bugsys Sports Bar, which is owned and operated by former Capital, Bryan "Bugsy" Watson. I arrived at 6:15PM, to a mostly empty place with a few Caps fans sitting at the bar. By 6:45, it was standing room only, and most were rockin the red in full Caps gear. The crowd, even though it was a HOME game for Washington, was still ELECTRIC!

The Caps looked Flat for most of the 1st, and 2nd periods, but so did the Rangers. The Rangers jumped on a chance early, but the Caps answered back two thirds the way through the 1st period and thats where things would stay until late in the game. In the 1st period alone, the Caps would be outshot 8-2 by NY, and would not fare much better during the second. The Caps mustered just 9 shots in the 2nd period, for a total of 11 the entire game at that point and the rangers just had 14. It was a very tight contest through 2 periods to be sure. A hush came over the crowd for most of the 2nd period and most seemed very apprehensive going into the third.

As fate would have it on this night, for all of us Caps fans around the country and the world, this was the Caps night. The Caps did somewhat dominate the 3d, outshooting the rangers that period a total of 13-1. With time winding down to just 6 minutes left in the 3rd period, the Caps were building a crechendo, but were not pulling it out and putting the Rangers away. Then, suddenly, with a break down the right wing side, Sergei Fedorov snapped a shot wich would turn out to be the most important Caps shot on goal in 10 years. Fedorov skated in down the right wing boards and let loose a hard wrist shot from the face off dot that sailed past Henrik Lundquist high on the glove side at 4:59 of the third period, and the Rangers never recovered. Lundquist place a good game, but the Rangers just could not put thier chances away. The Caps dominated the rest of the way, and for the first time in 10 years the Caps were heading to the second round of the NHL palyoffs. The bar ERUPTED in to cheers and chants, which continued throughout the rest of the game, and afterwards.








Not only did it feel great to finally have the Caps advance past the first round, but it was fantastic to see so many Caps fans packing a local bar, on a playoff game night which was a HOME GAME. The Caps have finally made it back, and made it back BIG. Suddenly, it feels like, Washington is finally starting to become the "hockey town" in waiting that it has always been. People are taking notice, and taking notice big time. Way to go Caps, and way to go CAPS FANS!!!!! The Caps are BACK, and they are, at least for this year...

THE COME BACK CAPS!!!!!

January Success :: 9-4-0 :: Ovechkin (4 goals) /Capitals 5 - 4 Canadiens - OT

What an exciting night it was for me! I was forced to flip back and forth between the season premier of my favorite TV show, LOST, and the Caps game. I got plenty lucky as the station breaks during LOST, seemed to some how magically line up with perfect timing with play in the Caps game. It was just too hard to choose, and I was rewarded for managing to miss almost none of either. What an entertaining night it was, for hockey, and on LOST! Our man of the hour tonight? Once again, Alexander Ovechkin!

As luck or fate would have it, with the first hockey post since the restart of this blog, the Washington Capitals finish the month of January just as they began it, with a win. Back on new years day, the Caps handily beat the powerful Ottawa Senators , 6-3. Tonight, the Caps came out on top of a very hard fought, and entertaining hockey game, beating the Montreal Canadiens 5-4 in overtime at Verizon Center, with once again, Alexander Ovechkin coming up bigtime with a 5 point night. (4 goals, 1 assist) Hey, maybe my restarting this blog has brought the Caps alittle more luck!

The Montreal Canadiens certainly came to play, and would not just roll over and allow the Caps to win this one without a serious fight. The Habs fought back from being down 3-0, and 4-2, tying the game up with just 33 seconds left, after pulling Cristobal Huet for an extra attacker in the final minute. The Caps outshot the Habs 38-21, and controled the play for long stretches, keeping the Habs pinned deep in thier own zone at times. But it was Alexander Ovechkin who largely, single handedly took control of this game, and the Caps fortunes tonight. Ovechkin leads the NHL, now in goals, with 43, and has 27 assists for also a league leading 70 points.

After a rocky first third of the season, the Caps have rocketed to within 3 points of first place in the south east division, going 18-9-4 since thanks giving. It does appear that things are finally coming together for the Caps, as they have been playing some fantastic hockey of late. Things on the squad seem to be finally clicking and coming together. Yes, more improvments need to be made, but the Caps appear to be beginning to finally devlop as a "team". The chemistry is slowly, but surely coming for them. They have played well enough to position themselves in a place that has us all thining a playoff appearance just might not be out of the cards this season. There is still alot of hockey to be played, but things sure are looking up for now. Here's hoping the February will bring a continuation of the success the Caps have enjoyed since late November.