All posts in hockey

(courtesy photo)

The Washington Capitals  defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 in overtime Sunday, but the story of the day involves the postgame celebration.

While Caps fans were filtering out of the Verizon Center savoring the team’s current eight-game winning streak, Capitals players were treated to a visit from DJ Pauly D of MTV’s Jersey Shore. This moment, you might recall, has been building ever since DJ Pauly D’s music made a cameo on a certain HBO reality-based TV program featuring the Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Since this isn’t something that happens every day, it’s safe to say most of the locker room – whether we’re talking players, media members or whoever else happened to be around – were mesmerized by this guy.

Maybe it’s because he’s a deeper shade of orange than the Philadelphia Flyers jerseys or maybe it’s because his hair makes Mike Green’s fo-hawk tame by comparision.

Whatever the case, even forward Mike Knuble, who would normally have been the man of the hour after scoring the overtime winner, had to pause and soak it all in.

As someone asked him for his thoughts on the Blackhawks game, Knuble started to answer and then stopped.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I wasn’t listening. I was watching DJ Pauly D.”

Don’t worry, big guy. We all were. Here’s video, for those interested.

(photo by Greg Fiume)

You can watch hockey your entire life and never see a game like the Washington Capitals 5-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers.

It’s not that they blew out the NHL’s worst team in deciding fashion – that’s happened more than a few times this season. But it’s how the Capitals earned their sixth-consecutive victory that made the evening so memorable for the Verizon Center faithful.

Captain Alex Ovechkin had a three-point night, which gave him 600 career points and moved him into third place on the Capitals’ all-time scoring list. In just his sixth season, Ovechkin ranks behind only Peter Bondra (825) and Mike Gartner (789) in the team’s record books.

But Ovechkin wasn’t alone in the milestone department. Far from it.

Newly acquired center Jason Arnott reached 900 career points. Fellow newcomer Dennis Wideman hit the 200-career points mark. Rounding out the trio of newbies, veteran forward Marco Sturm picked up his first point as a member of the Capitals.

Oh, and rookie goalie Braden Holtby notched his first NHL shutout. Like I said, there were more than a few reasons to rejoice for the hometown crowd.

“It must have been something in the water,” said coach Bruce Boudreau. “Two-hundredth point, 900th point, 600th point. It’s all great stuff. I’m glad we got them out of the way. I hope if there’s any other milestones we get them out of the way so guys don’t press for things.”

Holtby turned away all 22 shots he faced just two days after blanking Tampa Bay in relief duty after starter Michal Neuvirth was forced out of the game due to injury.

In fact, Holtby hasn’t allowed a goal over the last 104 minutes of gametime – stopping all 43 shots he’s faced as well as all three Lightning shooters during the shootout. To say this is the best stretch of the 21-year-old’s young NHL career would be an understatement.

“It feels good,” he said. “It almost feels better to get the win after an emotional game in Tampa, just to come back and make sure the team played well.”

And let’s not forget, the game was also memorable for forward Eric Fehr, who scored two goals in his first action since missing 22 games due to a shoulder injury.

The Capitals scored their first two powerplay goals of the current winning streak and, amazingly enough, the two strikes ended a 43-game span without multiple powerplay goals in a game – the longest drought in the franchise’s 36-year history.

Ovechkin scored his first powerplay goal at home this season 5:38 into the second period after Arnott set him up with a beautiful slap pass from the blueline.

That’s when Ovechkin, who was quietly waiting on the back post, took the feed, buried it home and enabled the Caps to score the game’s first goal for the first time during the current winning streak.

Read more →

(photo by Scott Audette)

When the Washington Capitals take on the Edmonton Oilers tonight at the Verizon Center, they’ll have a chance to match their longest winning streak of the season – at six games.

It should be pointed out that during the current streak, each contest has been decided by just one goal and, most impressively, the opposing teams scored first in all five games.

So while the Caps still struggle offensively and the powerplay in particular is a train wreck, coach Bruce Boudreau can at least take some satisfaction in knowing his players are able to handle adversity.

In fact, one of the first comments made by the trio of newcomers – center Jason Arnott, forward Marco Sturm and defenseman Dennis Wideman – to Boudreau was how noticeable it was that no one on the Capitals roster panics if the team falls behind early.

While other teams may allow doubt to creep in during those instances, the Capitals – for better or worse – have backed themselves into that corner often enough to be able to battle back.

Since you’ve already heard from Arnott and Wideman, it’s only fair that I spent some time with Sturm, the 32-year-old left wing whom the Capitals claimed off of waivers from the Los Angeles Kings, Feb. 26.

He’s exactly the low-risk, high-reward type of player Capitals general manager George McPhee likes to roll the dice with, so if he can get healthy it’s not unreasonable to think he can be an effective player come playoff time.

Some of the other guys compared the adjustment of being in a new locker room to the first day of school. Is that how you feel these days as you get used to the Washington Capitals?

“Yeah, there’s always kind of a weird feeling when you come to a new team,” Sturm said. “You meet a lot of new guys, a new staff and everything else surrounding the team, so all of that takes a while to get used to.”

You’ve been in the NHL for 12 seasons now. Can you tell me a little bit about what you bring to the table for those Caps fans who might not know much about your playing style?

“I guess the biggest thing about me is my speed,” he said. “I’m a faster skater who likes to create a lot of scoring chances for my linemates. I like to try and create more room for my linemates and in the past, I’ve been a 20-goal scorer. And I can still put the puck in the net from time to time as well.”

How surprised were you when you found out Washington had claimed you off of waivers?

“I was surprised,” Sturm said. “With my history of injuries and stuff like that, you never know, so it was shocking at first. But after a few hours I was really excited to come here because I know it’s going to be a great team.”

Before landing in Los Angeles, you spent five seasons in Boston. Obviously you played the Capitals once or twice during that timeframe. What’s your take on the make-up of this roster?

Read more →

(photo by Mitchell Layton)

While this season has had its share of ups and downs, history shows this is the time of year when the Washington Capitals begin to round into form.

In fact, over the last three seasons, the Capitals posted a combined record of 38-10-9 after the trade deadline. So while the team hasn’t always looked great once the postseason starts, they’re at least able to close out the regular season on a high note.

Fast forward to this season and while Washington has played just three games since the trade deadline, they’ve won each of them – including yesterday’s 3-2 overtime win at the Florida Panthers.

The victory was key because it enabled the Caps to regain the lead in the Southeast Division for the first time in 2011 and it meant the team is on its first four-game winning streak since Dec. 1.

One of the players who could play a pivotal role if the Capitals are going to continue to build momentum over the final 16 games of the regular season is newly acquired defenseman Dennis Wideman.

The 27-year-old defenseman, who was traded for prospect Jake Hauswirth and a third-round pick, comes to Washington with nine goals and 24 assists for 33 points in 63 games this season.

Wideman will likely be a vital contributor because he logs a ton of minutes (playing more than 22 minutes in all three games with the Caps) and his eight powerplay goals are more than anyone else on the roster – including captain Alex Ovechkin.

Best of all, if Wideman does excel this season, he’s signed through next season as well. So he’s not your typical “rental” player hoping to ride into town, win a few games and then move elsewhere.

I had the chance to catch up with the fifth-year pro before the Caps hit the road for Florida and, as you’d expect, he’s thrilled to be in Washington. Something about going from a doormat to a contender always seems to help get players fired up, especially come playoff time.

Were you surprised to not only be traded, but to end up being shipped to the Capitals – a team within the division?

“I don’t think the division thing was a big deal because of the position that Florida is in,” Wideman said. “They’re definitely rebuilding, so it wasn’t a big surprise to be dealt within the division. But I was surprised to be traded here because I hadn’t heard anything about Washington being interested.”

You’ve got an advantage over the other new guys – forwards Jason Arnott and Marco Sturm – because of how often the Panthers play the Caps. Because of that familiarity, I’d like to get your scouting report on the Capitals before you arrived in town. What’s your take on this team?

Read more →

(photo by Greg Fiume)

With more than 1,100 regular season games and more than 100 playoff games worth of experience under his belt, it’s safe to say that veteran center Jason Arnott brings something to the table that the Washington Capitals were previously lacking.

After 17 NHL seasons, Arnott can honestly say he’s seen it all. That’s vitally important because he can provide the kind of steadying presence a young and talented locker room needs if the Caps are ever going to make an extended postseason run.

Nothing against Dave Steckel, who was a solid and dependable player during his time in Washington, but getting Arnott for the fourth-line forward and a second round draft pick was an absolute bargain.

You want to know how to fairly and accurately judge a player acquisition like this? Listen to what your rivals have to say about it.

For example, just minutes after news broke that the Capitals had pulled the trigger at the last possible minute before the trade deadline, a long-time friend of mine sent the following note:

Every Cup the Pens won they picked up a guy like that in March: Ron Francis. Rick Tocchet. Billy Guerin. GMGM’s best trade deadline move ever.

That’s coming from a diehard Penguins fan. And yes, a Pittsburgh fan setting down his Terrible Towel long enough to learn how to type is impressive, but that’s beyond the point.

Arnott is a meat and potatoes forward who has no issue crashing the net. He’s a guy who can speak up when needed, but more importantly, he can show a finesse team like the Capitals that it’s okay to roll up your sleeves and get a little dirty.

That’s what it takes to win something at hockey’s highest level.

I had the chance to chat with Arnott the day after he made his Washington debut and I’m going to be completely honest – after just five minutes, I walked away thinking “I’d love to play hockey alongside a guy like that.”

His demeanor and his mentality on the ice and in the locker room really are what you want to see from a top-six forward. Keep reading and I have a feeling you’ll see what I mean.

Okay, you’re a 36-year-old who has been in the league a long, long time. That being said, you’re in a brand new locker room trying to soak in all these new faces and a completely different mindset. Does it feel like the first day of school?

“Yeah, actually, it does,” Arnott said. “That’s a good analogy. It’s obviously a little different and yesterday happened so fast. We got our physicals in the morning and then ‘boom,’ we’re on the ice for a pregame skate. And then ‘boom,’ we’re playing in the game with different guys. It’s an adjustment, but the guys here are fantastic. They opened up the room to us and made us feel right at home. That helps out a lot. It doesn’t take long for you to make friends, fit in and have fun.”

I remember talking with Jason Chimera when he first arrived in D.C. and the culture shock of coming from a defensive-minded system in Columbus to a much-more aggressive scheme here with the Caps. I’ve got to imagine that’s even more pronounced with you, coming from New Jersey. What’s going through your mind as you’re trying to take it all in?

Read more →

(photo by Mitchell Layton)

It seems like only yesterday I was comparing the Washington Capitals to the best show in the history of television. But that was yesterday.

Today, after watching the Capitals put on one of the most mystifying performances in recent sports history (*), I’m fully prepared with a brand-new analogy.

(*) Namely jumping out the gate with a fantastic seven-minute effort (been there before), only to fall asleep at the wheel for the next 52 minutes of playing time before scoring an improbable goal in the final minute of regulation and then stealing victory in the most dramatic way imaginable.

Watching the Caps is like being in a long-term relationship. How so, you ask? Let me explain.

Anyone who has been in a committed relationship for an extended amount of time knows that there are times when you simply can’t get enough of your significant other. And then there are other times when you want nothing more than to choke the nonsense out of them.

Of course, you don’t follow through and actually put your hands on them (kind of like Alexander Semin “contemplating” going after a loose puck in the corners or crashing the net), but that’s not the point.

The point is, being in a long-term relationship takes a ton of work and you learn to accept the good with the bad. It’s never easy, but you make it work.

And watching the Capitals somehow outlast the New York Islanders 2-1 in overtime on a night when damn near everyone other than goalie Michal Neuvirth looked as if they were playing hockey while utterly stoned … well … the entire ordeal enabled me to experience the full range of emotions. Just like a relationship.

From the very first shift, the newly acquired trio of center Jason Arnott, defenseman Dennis Wideman and left wing Marco Sturm looked to be exactly what the doctor ordered for a Capitals franchise in need of a kick in the pants.

Arnott’s passes were a thing of beauty — even if his teammates couldn’t do anything with them. Wideman bailed out  defenseman John Erskine on an odd-man rush after the “Dumb and Dumber” stand-in turned over the puck. And Sturm almost had a goal on his very first shift in Washington — nearly stuffing home the puck on a beautiful breakaway chance.

After just seven minutes, the Caps already had nine shots on net and there was a sense that if just one Washington player could find the back of the net, the game could quickly turn into a blowout. But alas, it’s never that simple when dealing with this franchise (or women, for that matter).

The bipolar Capitals failed to solve Islanders goalie Nathan Lawson (*) and then spent the next 52 minutes playing some of the most uninspired hockey fans have ever paid to see.

Read more →

(courtesy photo)

“I just did what I did. Felt right. I’m fine with that.” – Bunny Colvin

Anyone who has spent more than 10 minutes in a room with me knows that I consider “The Wire” to be the greatest show in the history of television.

What creator David Simon was able to accomplish during his five seasons of depicting the less glamorous side of Baltimore on HBO was unlike anything I’ve ever seen before or after.

Unlike many TV shows that appear to make it up as they go along, the creative team behind “The Wire” always had long-term focus and knew exactly what they were building towards during the course of a season.

Consistency and continuity were always at the forefront and while it might take a couple episodes for fans to fully digest everything at the beginning of each season, the deliberate pacing of the show made for a much more satisfying journey.

Because the writers approached the show as if it were a novel rather than trying to mimic a show like “24” that feels obligated to have a ridiculous shootout or explosion once an hour(*), the end result was always that much more enjoyable.

(*) Don’t get me wrong – I was a huge fan of “24” as well. But that’s because I was willing to look past all of the completely improbable moments (stem cells!) and embrace the show for what it was.

Sure, the ratings weren’t always indicative of the quality of the program, but those viewers who stuck with “The Wire” throughout knew they were in for a treat.

Which brings me to the Washington Capitals.

I think it’s safe to say that the 2010-11 season has been a memorable one for the Caps. And while it hasn’t always been pretty, I feel that in a lot of ways, this season has mirrored a season of “The Wire.”

From day one, Capitals general manager George McPhee has had a plan.

McPhee is intimately familiar with his team’s strengths and weaknesses. He has been all along. But he’s not like some dopey network executive who is only concerned about gimmicks and/or short-term success.

He’s always been prepared, but he’s patient enough not to rush into anything. He’s got a plan and he’s dead set on sticking to it – regardless of what anyone else may have to say on the subject.

If the right deal came along and McPhee felt he could improve his roster without giving up any core assets, he’d be more than happy to pull the trigger. But at no point was he ever going to make a deal just for the sake of making a deal.

Likewise, never was he going to give away any of the young talent that makes the Capitals one of the deepest franchises in hockey today.

So when the Capitals struggled during December, he didn’t overreact. When the powerplay stalled and goals in general were no longer automatic, he gave coach Bruce Boudreau every chance to get things back on track.

Read more →