Matt Hendricks News

The chart above comes from Rob Vollman 's latest gift to the hockey world, his 2011-12 NHL Player Usage Charts , which you can download - for free - here .

Members of the Washington Capitals have contributed to the 'You Can Play' campaign to encourage gay youth to feel comfortable playing sports.

Up until the opening game of the Washington Capitals' Quarterfinal matchup against the Boston Bruins, the general consensus among the media and fan base was that Head Coach Dale Hunter was on the verge of being let go after less than a full season in the nation's capital.

Alex Ovechkin , Jeff Schultz , Joel Ward , Jeff Halpern , Matt Hendricks , Roman Hamrlik , John Carlson , Washington Capitals

ARLINGTON , Va. - The Washington Capitals and the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League have extended their affiliation agreement through the 2013-14 season, Capitals Vice President and General Manager George McPhee and Hershey President and General Manager Doug Yingst announced Wednesday.

Professional athletes are expected to talk to the media. There are few, if any, athletes who haven't given an interview at one time or another.

In a Wednesday column in the Washington Times , Washington Capitals reporter Stephen Whyno makes the argument that the Capitals are well-served to trade star captain Alex Ovechkin.

Washington Capitals general manager George McPhee stands on the outside of the circle of reporters as they ask questions of Dale Hunter during the Washington Capitals' last "Media Day" at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Va.

As the American Hockey League Calder Cup playoffs wind down, teams will soon be making adjustments to their roster heading into the 2012-2013 season.

Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin sits on the boards during a break in play with teammates Alexander Semin and Nicklas Backstrom during the second period in Game 4 of their NHL Eastern Conference playoff game against the New York Rangers in Washington May 5, 2012.

MAY 09: Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals drinks water between plays during a game against the New York Rangers in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center on May 9, 2012 in Washington, DC.

Matt Hendricks arrived at Capitals training camp in 2010 on a professional tryout contract, one of a handful of bubble players just hoping to crack that season's NHL roster.

Brooks Laich sat up and took notice last July when Washington Capitals general manager George McPhee went on bit of a spending spree.

The Washington Capitals were triumphant Wednesday night, capturing a 2-1 win over the New York Rangers to force a deciding Game 7 Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.

Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas moves to the puck against Washington Capitals left wing Matt Hendricks during the second period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Sunday, April 22, 2012, in Washington.

APRIL 30: Ryan McDonagh #27 of the New York Rangers is checked to the ice in the second period by Joel Ward #42 of the Washington Capitals in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 30, 2012 in New York City.

Washington's Joel Ward, right, took a four-minute penalty Monday with seconds left in the third period, which led to a game-tying goal by New York Rangers' Brad Richards, left.

No one should take that to mean this series isn't intense in its own right, it's just without the extra-curricular things that both teams experienced more of in the first round.

The game was tied 2-2 late in the third when Mike Green scored on the power play to give the Capitals the edge.

Bill Minhas has lived in Fort McMurray for 27 years and raised his family in the northern Alberta community.