Capitals Development Camp Day 4

After a well-deserved break, the Washington Capitals prospects and Free Agent invites returned to Kettler Capitals IcePlex on Capitals Development Camp Day 4 for the group's third scrimmage.

As always, the players split into two groups in the morning, one working on on-ice drills and the other working in the weight room, then in the afternoon returned to the Capitals rink to entertain the onlooking fans once again in scrimmage form.

Team White, boasting Filip Forsberg, Cam Schilling, Chandler Stephenson and Nathan Walker, took Game 1 by a 3-1 margin. Team Red, highlighted by Stanislav Galiev, Patrick Wey and Tom Wilson, won Game 2, 2-1.

They faced off at 3:00 PM.

Free agent invite Matt Bailey opened the scoring for the Red team, shoveling a cross-ice pass from David Vallorani through the pads of Brandon Anderson for a 1-0 lead. Gregory Miller made it 2-0 in close after a Brant Harris shot for his second goal of Camp. Best-player-ever Vallorani made it 3-0 in the second-period, snapping a feed from linemate TJ Syner over Anderson's outstretched arm for his second goal of Development Camp. David Civitarese cut the lead by a third after hooking Garrett Haar to win the puck and sneaking it past Russian newcomer Sergei Kostenko, left out to dry. Kostenko would then stop Filip Forsberg on a Penalty Shot, before Camden Wojtala made it 4-1 with a rebound in front. New goalies came in, Brooks Ostergard replacing Brandon Anderson for the White team and Scott Darling stepping in for Red. It wouldn't take long for Tom Wilson to make it 5-1 Red, converting with a nifty move on a Penalty Shot, before David Vallorani rounded out the scoring for Red with a top-shelf rip from the left goal-line. Michael Quinn ensured Filip Forsberg wouldn't leave his third-straight scrimmage pointless, converting on a pretty 3-on-1 with the Swede and Barry Almeida. Seventh-round pick Christian Djoos rounded out the scoring, jumping up in the rush and almost breaking the crossbar on a short-side wristshot past a screened Scott Darling.

Tempers flared after the final whistle, as Chandler Stephenson dropped the gloves to protect his teammates from the livid Max Iafrate, but it wouldn't matter. Red beat White 6-3.

Here are those that impressed:

Filip Forsberg - RW - The Swedish 11th-overall pick has had a relatively quiet week, but he was good today. He manufactured a couple of breakaways, won himself a penalty shot (only to be robbed by Kostenko), and put his silky stickhandling skills on display on more than one occasion. The 17-year-old is the best player and brightest prospect at Camp, and, while he perhaps hasn't impressed as much as Marcus Johansson and Evgeny Kuznetsov did in their first Development Camps, he was certainly stood out.

Sergei Kostenko - G - Yesterday, a hushed anticipation fell over Kettler as fans got to see 2012 seventh-rounder Sergei Kostenko, who arrived late from Russia after visa troubles, for the first time. He didn't disappoint. And he didn't disappoint in his first scrimmage, either. Kostenko, an athletic yet positionally and technically sound netminder, made a number of key saves to keep the Red team in front, only yielding a goal because of the referees' refusal to make calls. Kostenko is an exciting prospect, and he sure was exciting today.

David Vallorani - C - The UMass-Lowell senior, who totaled 29 points in 38 games in college hockey's best division, has been the star of Development Camp this year, and he was at his best today. An undersized but speedy player with all the skills to be the next Mathieu Perreault, Vallorani first set up a goal then scored two himself. He certainly is making a name for himself at Camp, and could well find himself signed to a contract come the end of the week.

Nathan Walker - RW - The undrafted Australian winger has been impressing at Camp so far this week, and for the second scrimmage in a row, he was one of the best players on the ice. Walker is quick, gritty, skilled, and has all the all-round game to make it at the next level. He has to reenter the draft next year, but the Caps could well look to pick him up.

The players return to the rink for another scrimmage at 9:45 AM tomorrow morning.

Capitals Development Camp Day 2

With the pressure of making a good impression and starting the camp off on the right foot largely past the Washington Capitals prospects, the quality of play at Development Camp was expected to increase, and the players duly delivered.

After splitting into two groups this morning, the position players doing timed skates on Kettler's second rink and the goaltenders working with Adam Oates on the Capitals rink, the Washington Capitals prospects and Free Agent invites reconvened in front of fans at 2:45 for the Camp's second scrimmage.

Brooks Ostergard and Steffen Søberg held shutouts for the Red and White Teams, respectively, and halfway through the 60-minute, running-clock game, the score was tied 0-0. That said, shortly after the halfway mark, FA invite David Vallorani broke the deadlock, converting on a 3-on-2 slapshot after a feed from fellow invitee Matt Bailey. That score would hold until the last minute, when Aaron Gens one-timed a TJ Syner drop-pass past Brandon Anderson for a 2-0 Red lead. Australia's favourite Nathan Walker spoiled Scott Darling's shutout with a snapshot with just 4.7 seconds remaining, but it wouldn't be enough.

A day after losing the opening game 3-1, Team Red triumphed over Team White by a score of 2-1.

Here is a breakdown of those that impressed on Development Camp's second day...

Connor Carrick - D - Plymouth Whalers-bound USNTDP defenseman Connor Carrick was drafted as an offensive player, but today, the 5'11" defenseman put his more defensive and physical sides forward. One shift in particular stands out. Carrick started off by nearly dumping Brant Harris into the bench, then went on to destroy 6'4"-er Tom Wilson at center ice, before forcing a Scott Darling save after a nifty move around an opposition defenseman. The 5th-rounder has two more years of junior eligibility with which to impress the Caps' brass, but if today is any indication, there is no reason to believe he won't.

Christian Djoos - D - A day after disappointing in the scrimmage, Christian Djoos put all the qualities that made the Caps want to draft him in the 7th-round on full display. He blocked several shots, was composed with the puck, and even used his 5'11", 158-pound frame to knock Tom Wilson to the ice once. He put up 24 points in 40 games for Brynäs Jr in the SuperElitserien last season, and should get more time with the adult team this year. The Swedish blueliner is one to watch.

Steffen Søberg - G - At this point, there is little doubt over who the best goaltender at Development Camp is. After impressing a summer ago with his raw talent and athleticism, Steffen Søberg has come back better. He made some big saves today, most memorably a point black stop of Gregory Miller, en route to a well-deserved shutout. He will be joining Vålerenga of the Norwegian GET-Ligaen next summer, and if he performs, could be in line for a move to North America in 2012-13.

David Vallorani - C - Free Agent invites are meant to be complements at Development Camp, not stars. Vallorani shone today. After dominating the speed trials, Vallorani was one of the real bright spots of the scrimmage, hitting the crossbar once on a coast-to-coast give-and-go play with Stanislav Galiev and scoring the opening goal. A senior with UMass-Lowell last season, the center is looking for a pro contract, and if he keeps impressing, could earn it with the Capitals organization.

Nathan Walker - RW - Many expected Australian winger Nathan Walker to be a draft pick this summer, but everyone passed. Now, he is bringing his skills to the lucky fans at Kettler. Walker is fast. A bundle of energy that never stops moving, he seems to always be available to his teammates. He isn't the biggest guy, but he always bounces right back up after hits. He was rewarded for his efforts with a goal today, and, if he keeps playing as well as he has, it could well be the first of many for the Washington Capitals.

The players return to the ice tomorrow morning for Capitals Development Camp Day 3.