Caps/Jets Post-Game

The Washington Capitals faced off against the Winnipeg Jets tonight in a pivotal game.  The last ever Southeast Division title was on the line, and whoever wins it is all-time Southeast Division Champions.

Matt Hendricks gave Caps fans something to cheer about early when he banked a shot off the back of Pavelec and into the net at the 3:12 mark in the first period.  Only a few minutes later the Jets pressured and Big John Erskine was sent to the penalty box after a diving, last-ditch effort to stop a shot on a wide-open cage.
This is the point in the game that I went to make an omelette--ham, spinach, and Monterey Jack cheese--so I wasn't as closely glued to my keyboard to type the events.
The Jets had another near-miss with roughly seven minutes left in the first when a puck flip over Holtby and Erskine saved the day yet again by knocking the puck away from the line before it went into the net.  It was immediately called by the official to not be a goal and the play would go upstairs where the call on the ice was upheld.  Later in the period Matty P camped himself behind Pavelec's net and passed the puck out to a waiting Jason Chimera in front who pocketed his third goal of the season and gave the Caps a 2-0 lead in a game which they took into the second period.

The second period did not go well at first.  At the beginning of the period Evander Kane choke-slammed some of the momentum away from the Caps with an early power play goal, and Blake Wheeler tied it with 5:49 left to go in the period.  It wouldn't be long, twenty-seven seconds, before Nick Backstrom redirected a pass from Alex Ovechkin past Pavelec to give the Caps their lead back.  Then with 2:26 remaining Jack Hillen jumped into the play to put a shot on Pavelec and Matty P was there to knock home the rebound for his sixth goal of the season and second point on the night, and he gave the Caps their two goal lead back, which they would hold on to going into the third period.

The third period was quiet for a long time, until a Brouwer breakaway chance that missed but led to a strong series of chances for Washington, including a Volpatti backhander that hit the post.  A few minutes later Nik Antropov would shoot a wristshot past Holtby and under the crossbar to heat up the last eight minutes.  Then things got real real when Matty P. high-sticked Nik Antropov with five minutes remaining.  The Caps would have to kill it off to maintain their one goal lead.  The Caps' pk came up big, allowing the 'Peg zero shots during their power play chance.  Then with Alex-Semin.8 seconds left in the third Alex Ovechkin put a shot into the empty net and an awkward George McPhee celebrated.

Your Washington Capitals are the all-time, winner-takes-all, very-last Southeast Division Champs.

Caps beat Habs 5-1, Ovechkin's On Fire and Playoff Berth Edges Closer

Ovechkin celebrates one of his two goals

After the Senators snapped the Caps' eight game winning streak, this writer was worried that the result could  be a slide out of the playoff spots in the remaining games, but I needn't have panicked - because the Washington Capitals are ready to play some playoff hockey.
With Winnipeg losing in a shootout to the Islanders earlier in the day, the Caps knew that a win would put them three points above their Southeast division rivals with just three games to go in the regular season - and win they did, recap is below the jump....

Caps lose to Senators 3-1 in Possible Playoff Matchup

Green lays out Zibanejad

It had to end somewhere - the Caps' 8 game winning streak ended in Ottawa last night after a 3-1 loss. This score could have some important consequences on the playoffs (or lack thereof), but for now, onto the recap:

- After Washington's penalty kill was successful twice through the first period, with good defense from both teams, the action really started in the second period.
- The Senators came out for the second strong - with just a minute gone on the clock, Kyle Turris got the first of the night.
- It took ten minutes for the next score, with Ribz coming up to equalise with his thirteenth of the season, assisted  by new man Erat and Hillen.
- However, this was erased after just two minutes , after Conacher satched one for the Sens
- Despite two Capitals powerplays in the third, the score remained the same until Turris got his second of the night with Holtby pulled. The Caps lost 3-1.

This loss could be critical down the line. After Winnipeg's OT win against Carolina, they are now just two points behind the Caps in the standings with just four games to go - and as the 'Peg are in 9th place, this means there is no certainty of hockey for the Caps in May. Also, as the standings currently are, the Caps would actually face the Senators in the Eastern Conference Quarter final. Seeing as the Caps have lost both meetings with the Sens this year, this could be a bad sign (although they can redeem themselves on April 25 when they face off again.)

The Caps just have to put this loss past them, and there is no reason why they can't. Holtby did play well, stopping 33 of 35 shots he faced - those are playoff numbers. Whilst Ovechkin didn't score, he is still in great form and leads the NHL in scoring. Next opponent for the Caps comes in the form of Montreal, who are leading the Northeast Division but are 5-5-0 in the last ten, so this is by no means an impossible game for the Caps. After that, a crucial game against the Jets. 

Let's go Caps!

The British Invasion!

One of the most common questions I get about supporting the Caps is how I follow the team from so far away. Well, on April 4th I can answer all of your questions. In person. At the Verizon Center. It was foretold in my interview with Puckbuddys, here, and I am pleased to say it is all going ahead!

Yes, that's right, I will be attending my first ever Caps game! Safe to say, upon finding out (in front of hundred people), I reacted like a Justin Bieber fan, almost breaking down in tears in excitement  Having seen NHL games in person twice (Boston-Montreal at TD Garden and Montreal-Florida at the Bell Center), I can't wait to see the Caps face off against the New York Islanders!

I'll be on a school trip, but I have permission to host a meetup before the puck drops. More details will be made available on twitter closer to the time, but the meetup will be inside the arena. You can ask me anything about the website, my life, my hockey career, the Caps... - anything at all! I'll have lots of questions for the vets at The Phonebooth!

Caps fans, show us Brits all you've got! Rock the Red, Unleash the Fury and chant "Isles suck!"

See you there!

#TheBritishInvasion

#Caps Claim Aaron Volpatti

The Washington Capitals made their first splash of the season today, acquiring LW Aaron Volpatti off the waiver wire from the Vancouver Canucks.

Volpatti, a 27-year-old native of British Columbia who is currently playing on a one-year, $600,000 deal, is known for his hard-nosed nature and grit. He is not much of an offensive superstar, having totaled just three goals and one assist in 54 career NHL games, but his 11 bouts will bring some much-needed fight to the Caps.

He will wear #24, and could make his debut as soon as Saturday afternoon in Winnipeg.

Ovechtrick Leads Caps To Much Needed Win

With his fianceé Maria Kirilenko in attendance, Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin lead the way for the boys in red as they defeated the New Jersey Devils 5-1. The Caps handed the same Devils team a win at the Phone Booth a few nights ago. Redemption is best served by winning big and that is exactly what the Capitals did today.

Alex Ovechkin ended this early Saturday game with 3 goals, 1 assist, 4 points, +2, 7 shots and 5 hits. Those type of stats have been a long time coming for Caps fans and Ovechkin. His last hat trick at home was on February 7, 2010. Ovechkin's last hat trick was on January 22, 2011. This was also Ovechkin's first four point game since February 4th, 2011. With his three goal performance today, Ovechkin moved into 15th place in active career goal scoring. he is a mere 9 goals away from Danny Heatley's 354 career goals. No worries though, Ovechkin should catch Heatley on Saturday, March 2nd against the Jets. That is if he gets 3 straight hat ricks. Troy Brouwer and Eric Fehr had the other goals for the Caps.

Worst Power Play in the NHL Wins The Game

The Capitals looked to continue their strong play and add to their winning streak which sat at three games before the puck dropped at Madison Square Garden in New York City, on Hockey Day In America.