Milan Jurcina News

I'm very puzzled at the possibility that Capitals' D-man Mike Green may not play in the Olympics.

Alex Ovechkin .A Ovechkin struggled big time against Vancouver, and he knew it.A The Russian Machine does not disappoint two nights in a row.A A Ovi took over in the third by scoring the first two goals of a four-goal tear the Caps went on to defeat the Oilers.

The buzz started early in the week, with Ovie coming to town and arriving here in Vancouver three days before the game.

If the potential Olympians on the Washington Capitals' roster weren't thinking about the forthcoming games, the large set of Olympic rings in the harbor outside their hotel room windows here was probably a good reminder.

BUFFALO -- On Monday, the Washington Capitals ascended to first place in the NHL standings for only the second time this late in a season.

On Wednesday, Coach Bruce Boudreau said some of them played as if they were content simply with getting there.

For the first 40 minutes, the Capitals didn't compete with enough energy to beat Buffalo. In the final 20 minutes, Sabres goalie Ryan Miller made sure they didn't, making 13 of his 35 saves to send the Capitals to a 3-0 defeat, their first loss in seven games and first shutout in 69 games.

Workhorse goaltender Ryan Miller turned aside all 35 shots he faced, including 13 in the third period, to record his fourth shutout of the season and help the Buffalo Sabres stymie Washington, 3-0, at HSBC Arena and halt the Capitals' six-game winning streak.

With Alex Ovechkin sitting out the first of a two-game suspension Thursday night, the Washington Capitals needed their other Alex to be special. And in his first game back from injury, that's exactly what Alexander Semin was.

Semin scored twice and set up two more to help Semyon Varlamov and the Capitals to a 6-2 pummeling of the penalty-prone Florida Panthers at Verizon Center.

The win was the Capitals' fourth straight overall and third in three games against Florida. It improved their record against the Southeast Division to 6-0-0.

When it comes to producing big-time talent, there is no shortage of star power from the coastal town of Middletown, N.J. Rockers Jon Bon Jovi, Debbie Harry and E Street Band members Steven Van Zandt and Max Weinberg were raised there.

Alexander Ovechkin had a very interested observer in the stands, and he didn't disappoint.

The Capitals knew they were taking a chance when they handed the starting goaltending duties to Semyon Varlamov during last season's playoffs.

Instead the puck slid into the right goal post and not into the net, and the Toronto Maple Leafs were able to eventually escape with a 2-1 shootout victory.

Alex Ovechkin skated off the ice, surprised that a hard shoulder check warranted a game misconduct.

The Washington Capitals, as they have so many times this season , dominated through two periods, taking a 3-1 lead into the final frame against the Ottawa Senators Monday evening.

Some elite teams in action during Friday night's six games. The Capitals, standing atop the East, put their 10-4-7 regulation record up against the Canadiens' dismal 2-11-8 regulation mark.

Not only were the Washington Capitals short seven skaters, but playing on a second consecutive night for the third straight Saturday, they also were short on energy.

An opportunistic foe and an offense that got started too late led to only the second regulation loss at Verizon Center this season for the Washington Capitals.

Despite losing their last game, the Washington Capitals own the NHL's best home record.

Travis Moen and Tomas Plekanec scored in a three-minute span early in the second period, Michael Cammalleri added a goal in the third, and the Montreal Canadiens withstood a furious comeback to beat the Washington Capitals, 3-2, on Friday night.

After having a four-game winning streak end their last time out, the Washington Capitals expect to have superstar winger Alex Ovechkin back on the ice tonight when they visit the New York Rangers for a battle at Madison Square Garden.

Alex Ovechkin isn't saying for sure, but all signs suggest his injury absence is over and he'll play against the New York Rangers.