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21Dec

Lindgren leads Capitals to win over Canes in spectacular fashion

In blog, hockey, photos by b murf / December 21, 2024 / No Comments

As Carolina forward Tyson Jost ripped a shot on net while racing into the offensive zone midway through the second period, Capitals goalie Charlie Lindgren made a split-second decision. Rather than attempting to “get big” in hopes of deflecting the shot aside, Lindgren pulled off an absurd acrobatic windmill save that electrified the building and earned him a standing ovation from those in attendance.

The feat became even more impressive upon discovery that the netminder was so under the weather that he was vomiting during intermission. Lindgren, who had 23 saves on the night, was rewarded for his heroic efforts as Washington earned a 3-1 win over Carolina. Forwards Aliaksei Protas and Connor McMichael scored crucial goals in the final minute of the first and second periods, respectively, to propel the Capitals to victory and snap a two-game losing streak.

Jakub Vrana added an insurance goal for the Caps, who improved to 10-4-2 at Capital One Arena this season. Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis spoiled Lindgren’s shutout bid with 9:38 left, but it was too little, too late for the visitors.

Despite a strong showing from goalie Pyotr Kochetkov, who stopped 19 of 22, Carolina’s recent road woes continued. The Canes have been outscored 21-10 in regulation while dropping five consecutive away game (0-4-1). The Capitals, meanwhile, won their ninth game in 13 without injured captain Alex Ovechkin. Coach Spencer Carbery ruled out a possible Ovechkin return before the Christmas break, but the 39-year-old could be back before the new year.

16Dec

Commanders start fast, narrowly hold off late Saints comeback

In blog, football, photos by b murf / December 16, 2024 / No Comments

When playing a bad team, the ideal approach is to put points on the board early and then allow them to implode. Put your foot on their neck until they roll over and show you their belly, if you will.

The Washington Commanders lost to the Dallas Cowboys a few weeks prior because they started slow, messed around for most of the first half and allowed a clearly limited inferior opponent to stick around long enough to become invested. Well. It almost happened again in New Orleans, when the Commanders once again played an injury ravaged opponent who should have represented an easy win.

Spencer Rattler and the Saints went marching on for two touchdowns and two field goals during the final 23 minutes of the game and were a failed two point conversion away from a shocking come-from-behind victory for the home team. Considering Washington led 17-0 earlier in the afternoon, it was quite a nerve racking conclusion for everyone involved, with the Commanders eeking out a 20-19 victory.

To absolutely no one’s surprise Jayden Daniels, returning back to the bayou where he won the Heisman Trophy at LSU, was the best player in the game. His preferred target, Terry McLaurin, had two touchdown catches and could have easily had two more. But Washington allowed eight sacks, committed nine penalties and failed to produce a consistent ground game without center Tyler Biadasz, who was a late scratch due to an illness.

Greg Joseph missed a 54-yard field goal attempt with roughly two minutes remaining that would have sealed the win for the visitors. Because kicker has been Washington’s least stable position on the roster all season — and for more than two decades — the newest addition to the roster was always unlikely to convert the long attempt. Nothing against Joseph, who is probably a solid kicker and/or human being. It’s just he’s the latest guy to walk through the revolving door at kicker this season, filling in for Zane Gonzalez, who was filling in for Austin Seibert, who replaced Cade York, who replaced Brandon McManus.

With veteran quarterback Derek Carr injured, interim coach Darren Rizzi opted to start Jake Haener, who led the Saints to just 38 yards of offense before he was benched at halftime in favor of Rattler. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore played 53 snaps in his burgundy and gold debut. New Orleans wisely opted to avoid the former Saints standout, not targeting the four-time Pro Bowler once the entire game.

While it wasn’t easy and it certainly wasn’t pretty, the victory ensures Washington’s first winning season since 2016. Depressing stat of the day: The last time the franchise was 9-5 after 14 games was 1992. With three games remaining, the Commanders have an 88 percent chance to make the playoffs, according to the league’s website.

06Dec

Luka Doncic and friends make light work of Wizards

In basketball, blog, photos by b murf / December 6, 2024 / No Comments

The Dallas Mavericks are championship contenders in “win now” mode. The Washington Wizards, to put it kindly, are not. In related news, Luka Doncic posted a triple-double and Kyrie Irving added 25 as Dallas soundly defeated the Wizards, 137-101.

Washington, which is in the early stages of a lengthy rebuild, entered the contest with 15 consecutive losses and limited firepower, thanks to injuries to forwards Kyle Kuzma and Corey Kispert. After completing a winless November, the Wizards remain content to take their lumps now while dedicating extended minutes to the kids on the roster in hopes of brighter days ahead. While that’s a smart strategy long term, it makes for some ugly struggles in the interim.

Seven Dallas players finished with double digits in points, including Doncic (21 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds) as the Mavericks toyed with the Wizards for most of the night. The Mavericks, who have now won six straight games, shot 53 percent from the field and 52 percent from three-point range, while also dominating the boards (58 to 39) and blocked shots (12 to 3).

Forward Marvin Bagley III and guard Malcolm Brogdon each scored 16 points for Washington, which drops to an NBA-worst 2-18 record after the loss. For the second year in a row, the Wizards have a 16-game losing skid. Washington now needs to defeat the 2023 NBA champions Denver Nuggets in order to avoid setting the franchise’s new record for futility, with a 17th consecutive loss.

04Dec

Surprising Sharks attack sleepy Capitals for overtime win

In blog, hockey, photos by b murf / December 4, 2024 / No Comments

Expectations were low for both the Washington Capitals and San Jose Sharks entering the season. Washington limped into the playoffs last season allowing 37 more goals than they scored. The Sharks landed the first pick in the draft after earning a league-worst 47 points one year ago.

Fortunately for both fanbases, both teams have been significantly better than advertised. The Washington Capitals have been a joy to watch this season, with seemingly every offseason gamble the front office made already paying dividends. A team that struggled to score with any regularity last season now boasts one of the league’s best offenses.

Washington has done an amazing job of consistently creating high-percentage shots and scoring chances this season. All four lines have been productive, making it easier for coach Spencer Carbery to spread playing time out more evenly than in previous years. Additionally, Caps defensemen — specifically John Carlson, Jakob Chychrun, Rasmus Sandin and Trevor van Riemsdyk — have consistently contributed to the offense as well, nearly matching the production of last year’s defense in roughly a quarter of the season.

The normally high-octane Capitals failed to get rolling against a young and scrappy San Jose team that appears to be ahead of schedule in their rebuild, losing 2-1 in overtime which snapped Washington’s four-game winning streak. William Eklund scored the game-winning goal during a power play just 39 seconds into the extra session. A high sticking by Tom Wilson on Sharks center Macklin Celebrini resulted in a double-minor penalty, which was too much for the home team to overcome. Capitals goalie Logan Thompson stopped 29 of 31 shots, while goalie Mackenzie Blackwood saved 27 of 28 shots faced for San Jose.

The Sharks, who started the season 0-7-2, improve to 10-6-3 over their last 19 games — which is ninth best in the NHL during that span. Baby-faced Celebrini, the number one pick in the 2024 draft, leads the way with 11 points in his last nine games.

02Dec

Commanders dismantle Titans to snap three-game losing streak

In blog, football, photos by b murf / December 2, 2024 / No Comments

Angst was readily apparent in the nation’s capital after consecutive losses to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Dallas derailed an improbable 7-2 start by the Washington Commanders.

Had the franchise quarterback hit the rookie wall? Had the offensive coordinator become too predictable? Could the head coach turns things around before it’s too late or is the fanbase destined for yet another winter of sadness?

While it’s too early to know how the rest of the season will unfold, Washington scored touchdowns on its first four drives in a 42-19 rout over the Tennessee Titans for the franchise’s first December home victory since 2017.

Coming into the game, Tennessee excelled at shutting down the run and had the best third-down defense in the NFL. Amazingly, Washington dominated the Titans in both facets of the game — rushing for 267 yards while also converted nine of 14 third-down attempts.

On his first carry of the day, running back Brian Robinson Jr. broke free for a career-long 40-yard touchdown that set the tone for the afternoon. After leaving the Dallas game early due to injury, Robinson bounced back with 16 carries for 103 yards and a touchdown.

Quarterback Jayden Daniels completed 25 of 30 passes for 206 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. The rookie also rushed for a touchdown that gave Washington an early 14-0 lead. And when Daniels went to the air, he looked for receiver Terry McLaurin, who was targeted eight times. Scary Terry caught all eight passes thrown his way for 73 yards and two touchdowns.

By the time the Titans ran their 10th offensive play, they already trailed 28-0 early in the second quarter. While Tennessee looked better in the second half, the game was far from ever becoming competitive. Washington outgained the visitors 463 to 245 and dominated time of possession. Backup running back Chris Rodriguez Jr., who has been a forgotten man for most of the season, even racked up 94 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Bobby Wagner reached a significant milestone on Sunday, when he joined fellow Washington linebacker London Fletcher as the only players to reach 100 tackles in 13 consecutive seasons. The 34-year-old future Hall of Famer continues to be worth his weight in gold for a Commanders franchise that desperately needed veteran leadership and consistent production from the heart of the defense.

26Nov

Creed at CFG Bank Arena

In blog, concerts, photos by b murf / November 26, 2024 / No Comments

After more than a decade long hiatus, the members of Creed announced a massive 40-date “Summer of ’99” Tour spanning across the country. Because those shows exceeded all reasonable expectations, the Florida-based rockers decided to let the good time continue to roll — with an additional 20 stops.

On the heels of their highly-anticipated reunion tour, Creed visited CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore with 3 Doors Down and Mammoth WVH as part of their “Are You Ready?” Tour. Amusingly, the last time I saw Creed in concert was, in fact, back in 1999. Along with Oleander and Our Lady Peace, Scott Stapp and friends put on a phenomenal show in Dallas, Texas, that November, and I’ve been a fan ever since.

Wolfgang Van Halen’s band, Mammoth WVH, took to the stage first for a tight, 30-minute set with the level of energy needed by an opener to set the tone for a long night of live music. Next up was 3 Doors Down, who have a sneaky number of hits at their disposal and still sound the same as they did all those years ago, the first time you heard lead singer Brad Arnold belt out the chorus to “Kryptonite.”

Creed’s long-awaited return to the stage delivered a performance that was equal parts nostalgia and unfiltered fun. After years of anticipation, the Florida State rockers reignited their connection with fans, offering a setlist packed with their most iconic hits. From heavier anthems to softer ballads, Creed’s live show proved why their music still resonates with fans more than two decades after their rise to fame.

Opening with the hard-hitting “Bullets,” Creed wasted no time re-establishing their signature sound. Mark Tremonti’s rapid guitar riff set the tone, with Stapp’s unmistakable voice reverberating throughout the arena. As the track built, it became apparent that this wasn’t just a walk down memory lane. The night was a reminder of the potent energy that made Creed one of the most successful bands of their era.

The combination of “Are You Ready?” followed by the classic “My Own Prison” had the crowd on their feet, singing along enthusiastically. Another personal highlight was when the band tore into “One” and “What’s This Life For” back-to-back, which drew a massive response from the crowd.

Stapp finished the set “With Arms Wide Open,” before taking the captive audience “Higher” — courtesy of the anthem of personal triumph that had the entire venue rocking in unison. For the encore, Creed left it all on the stage with “One Last Breath” leading into the powerful, “My Sacrifice,” which closed the night on a high note.

A lot has changed over the last 25 years, but this night proved Creed is still more than capable of delivering their trademark sound on a grand stage. As the lights came up and fans headed for the exits, one thing remained certain — Creed is back, and they’ve never sounded better.

25Nov

3 Doors Down at CFG Arena

In blog, concerts, photos by b murf / November 25, 2024 / No Comments

It all started when three friends formed a band in Escatawpa, Mississippi back in 1996. Little did they know just how successful that musical act would become.

To date, 3 Doors Down has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. They’ve had 12 number one singles on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. Their first studio album, The Better Life, dropped in 2000 and became one of the best-selling albums of the year, moving more than four million copies. Their debut album has now been certified seven-times platinum.

Despite some lineup changes during the last two decades, the band maintains a loyal fan base and continues to produce high-energy music that resonates with audiences worldwide. These days, 3 Doors Down is comprised of frontman Brad Arnold, lead guitarist Chet Roberts, rhythm guitarist Chris Henderson, bassist Justin Biltonen and drummer Greg Upchurch.

Their sound could be described as alternative with a splash of southern rock mixed in for good measure. Their music leans heavily into catchy hooks, heavy guitar riffs and distinctive drumming, a formula 3 Doors Down has clearly refined. It’s safe to say the band has a sneaky number of hits at their disposal which still sound great all these years later. Hearing Arnold belt out the chorus to “Kryptonite” today still resonates the same as it did more than 20 years ago. Some of their other highlights of their live show include “Loser,” “When I’m Gone” and “Here Without You,” all of which received loud ovations by the Baltimore faithful that was eager to sing along.

One of the band’s most notable and commendable achievements is their charity work. In 2003, they founded The Better Life Foundation, which supports various charitable organizations, including children’s hospitals and disaster relief efforts.