Washington Capitals News

The Ottawa Senators will try to slow down Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals tonight, when the teams meet in D.C. for the finale of a home-and-home series at the Verizon Center. via TSN.ca

Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin, New York Rangers forward Jaromir Jagr and San Jose Sharks goaltender Evgeni Nabokov have been named the NHL's Three Stars for the week ending December 30. via ABC15.com

“The goaltending wasn't strong, but the other 18 players I have more concern about than him”

Ottawa Senators goalie Ray Emery watches during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, Dec. via CANOE

“I don't know if the coach told him not to fight or whatever, but if the guy doesn't want to fight, he doesn't want to fight”

It's a standing invite, but Brian McGrattan will make sure he delivers it again all the same. via Ottawa Sun

Bruce Boudreau became the Washington Capitals' coach Wednesday when the team dropped the 'interim' tag from his title.

The Capitals were 7-5-3 under Boudreau entering Wednesday night's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

He was promoted from the club's American Hockey League affiliate, the Hershey Bears, on Thanksgiving Day, replacing the fired Glen Hanlon. At that point, the Capitals were last in the NHL with a 6-14-1 record, their worst 21-game start to a season since 1981-82.

Entering Wednesday, Washington's mark of 13-19-4 still left it last in the Eastern Conference and 29th in the 30-team league. Read more

Caps, Lightning square off in D.C. A pair of struggling teams will meet this evening in the nation's capital, as the Washington Capitals welcome the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Verizon Center. via CW 15

“North American hockey is different from European hockey. He's learning. He has such an intelligent hockey mind anyway, it only makes sense that he's going to get better.”

Alex Ovechkin has 25 tallies in 36 contests, putting him on course to net 57. COMMENT Discussion Policy Discussion Policy CLOSE Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate ... via The Washington Post

Islanders Send Washington to 3rd Straight Loss: Islanders 3, Capitals 2 SLIDESHOW Alex Ovechkin steals the puck from New York's Miroslav Satan. via The Washington Post

Richard Park's goal 3:43 into overtime helped the New York Islanders to a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Saturday night.

Park took Radek Martinek's pass in the lower left circle and beat Olie Kolzig with a wrist shot for his sixth goal of the season, giving the Islanders consecutive wins for the first time since Nov. 16-19.

Miroslav Satan and Bill Guerin also scored for the Islanders, and Rick DiPietro stopped 14 shots in his 106th NHL victory. That moved him into a third-place tie with Kelly Hrudey on New York's career list. Read more

To say that Alexander Ovechkin is the centerpiece of the Washington Capitals would be an enormous understatement. via MyFOX11

Jamal Mayers scored late in the third period to seal the win and Manny Legace stood tall in net with 24 saves, as the St. via Press of Atlantic City

Richard Park scored 3 minutes 43 seconds into overtime Saturday night to help the Islanders to a 3-2 victory over the visiting Washington Capitals . via New York Times

“It seemed like every shot they had was a chance that ended up in the net. It's an awful feeling.”

RSS digg blog email print There was a time when the New York Islanders dreaded facing the Washington Capitals . via Fox Sports

“Then we had that phantom call there at the end -- I wasn't even near the guy -- and they scored and that took away some momentum for us.”

Whether it was a failure to bury their scoring chances, the mistakes at critical moments, the goaltending -- or some combination of the three -- none of that matters much for the Washington Capitals anymore.

What matters are points in the standings as they attempt to claw their way back into the playoff race. And last night, after getting off to a strong start against Montreal, the Capitals came away empty-handed, losing 5-2 at Verizon Center, and lost defenseman Brian Pothier to a broken thumb in the process. Read more

“I think the dream was always there for me. Even as a (37-year-old) player in Fort Wayne, I knew I had a chance”

As a player, Bruce Boudreau kept shuttling between the NHL and the minor leagues. via Fort Wayne News-Sentinel

The Montreal Canadiens have struggled in recent weeks and will now try to turn things around away from home, as they begin a six-game road trip tonight against the Washington Capitals. via MyFOX11

“I got to believe that I know him as well as most people”

The Montreal Canadiens have more than Alex Ovechkin to keep an eye on Thursday night when they visit the Washington Capitals . via NHL.com

“If the 'D' can chip in a few goals, that helps, too, because the forwards know they can pass the puck to the point and we'll get the shots through and there will be rebounds -- or the shots will go in.”

Jeff Schultz recently began using a half slap shot, which requires a smaller windup than a traditional slap shot yet launches the puck with significantly more velocity than a wrist shot.

That addition to his repertoire has produced stunning results.

Schultz, a 6-foot-6, 231-pound Washington Capitals defenseman in his first full NHL season, has scored four goals the past six games, including one in Monday night's 4-3 shootout loss to the NHL-leading Red Wings in Detroit. Last season, Schultz scored just two goals in 101 games split between Washington and the organization's minor league affiliate in Hershey, Pa. Read more

“The one thing they said is why. This will let the (knee) get stronger and give me more time to get used to playing with the brace.”

Detroit Red Wings forward Kris Draper thought he was healthy enough to play Monday night at Joe Louis Arena against the Washington Capitals. via Macomb Daily