What better gift could the Washington Capitals give injured Alex Ovechkin than a higher number in the team's win column?
And it seems obvious that this is just the 'get well gift' that Coach Bruce Boudreau and Ovi's teammates want to give to him.
Ovechkin, who suffered an upper-body strain -- definitely will not be playing when the Caps face the New Jersey Devils Wednesday.
But, still, Boudreau thinks that the team can win despite Ovi being sidelined. It will just require his teammates to think smart and play hard -- will require some good defense. With Ovi on the sidelines, Boudreau explained that is like giving up one goal in a game.
"He's feeling better today, feeling a whole lot better," said Boudreau. "I was really excited about that. I don't know how much better a lot better is, but when he's telling me he felt a lot better today that's a positive sign. I think he's getting bored not practicing already."
Of course, Ovechkin is listed as week to week, and it is unknown when he will be well enough to be cleared to return to the ice and game play.
"We want to make certain that when he does step on the ice, there is no chance that he will hurt that same injury again," said Boudreau.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
BOUDREAU HOPES OVECHKIN WILL NOT BE OUT FOR MORE THAN TWO WEEKS
After practice on Tuesday, Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau expressed hope that his team's star winger Alex Ovechkin will not be sidelined for more than two weeks.
Ovechkin was listed as week to week after being checked out following an upper-body strain, it was reported. And he is definitely not expected to play on Wednesday in NJ.
While Capitals management and Ovi's teammates lament playing without Ovechkin, they are adamant that they can win without him on the ice.
"Offensively, you cannot rely on one guy all the time," said Boudreau, "but you are taking a full goal a game out of your lineup. There is no getting around the fact that we're going to miss him. He is the best in the world." Ovechkin has scored 14 goals in 14 games.
In order to win without Ovechkin, Boudreau said that the team will need to shore up their defense.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
WASHINGTON CAPITALS' LAING SUFFERING FROM SWINE FLU
The Washington Capitals forward Quintin Laing has been diagnosed with the H1N1 virus, according to a team spokesman.
"He's currently at home being treated and is isolated," Nate Ewell, speaking for the Capitals, told the Washington Times. "No one else on the team is currently showing any symptoms. The proper terminology is that he was diagnosed but not tested. He was tested for the seasonal flu. That turned up negative, but he was showing symptoms for H1N1, so he's being treated as such."
It is not known when Laing will be able to return to the Caps, but it has been reported that he will be out at least for five days from when he became sick.
At a team meeting, players were cautioned to wash their hands often, avoid shaking hands as much as is possible and to make certain to eat healthy foods and to get the proper amount of sleep.
"We're taking all the precautions we can to be hygienic," explained defenseman Brian Pothier. "I don't think we're sitting here as a team panicking that other guys are going to get it. I think we just have to take care of ourselves, and if you get it, just take care of it."
"He's currently at home being treated and is isolated," Nate Ewell, speaking for the Capitals, told the Washington Times. "No one else on the team is currently showing any symptoms. The proper terminology is that he was diagnosed but not tested. He was tested for the seasonal flu. That turned up negative, but he was showing symptoms for H1N1, so he's being treated as such."
It is not known when Laing will be able to return to the Caps, but it has been reported that he will be out at least for five days from when he became sick.
At a team meeting, players were cautioned to wash their hands often, avoid shaking hands as much as is possible and to make certain to eat healthy foods and to get the proper amount of sleep.
"We're taking all the precautions we can to be hygienic," explained defenseman Brian Pothier. "I don't think we're sitting here as a team panicking that other guys are going to get it. I think we just have to take care of ourselves, and if you get it, just take care of it."
Monday, October 12, 2009
WASHINGTON CAPITALS WORKING OUT THE KINKS
The Detroit Red Wings' Tomas Holmstrom scored a power-play goal with just under 7 minutes left to play, handing his team a 3-2 victory over the talented, blue-blooded Washington Capitals on Saturday night. The goal was scored after a hooking penalty on Caps' Mike Green.
"If we don't address our penalties it's difficult because it ruins the whole flow of our game," said Caps defenseman Brian Pothier.
Going into that game, the Capitals had followed their initial two victories with two losses in a row, and they had been leading in both with about 10 minutes to go in the third perid.
The team that has had its collective eye on and is more than hungry for a Stanley Cup win has been plagued by penalties and the kind of little mistakes that can haunt.
"You can't be doing that. You can't be giving up third-period leads,' said defenseman Tom Toti to USA Today. "You've got to hold onto it, somehow, some way. We have to tighten up as a team and play team defense. Can't be looking for that extra goal."
"I've never been around a group that cared so much about winning and how every loss affects them," coach Bruce Boudreau has said of his team. "It's just that we're making mistakes that teams make, and we want to correct it in Game 4 rather than Game 44."
And while the Caps are loaded with dream-team talent, avoiding penalties and avoiding little mistakes can be critical for getting to hoist the Stanley Cup.
In discussing penalties after the loss to Detroit, Boudreau opined, "If we hadn't taken penalties in this game or in other games, we could easily be 5-0. Instead, we're .500. It's back to the drawing board."
"If we don't address our penalties it's difficult because it ruins the whole flow of our game," said Caps defenseman Brian Pothier.
Going into that game, the Capitals had followed their initial two victories with two losses in a row, and they had been leading in both with about 10 minutes to go in the third perid.
The team that has had its collective eye on and is more than hungry for a Stanley Cup win has been plagued by penalties and the kind of little mistakes that can haunt.
"You can't be doing that. You can't be giving up third-period leads,' said defenseman Tom Toti to USA Today. "You've got to hold onto it, somehow, some way. We have to tighten up as a team and play team defense. Can't be looking for that extra goal."
"I've never been around a group that cared so much about winning and how every loss affects them," coach Bruce Boudreau has said of his team. "It's just that we're making mistakes that teams make, and we want to correct it in Game 4 rather than Game 44."
And while the Caps are loaded with dream-team talent, avoiding penalties and avoiding little mistakes can be critical for getting to hoist the Stanley Cup.
In discussing penalties after the loss to Detroit, Boudreau opined, "If we hadn't taken penalties in this game or in other games, we could easily be 5-0. Instead, we're .500. It's back to the drawing board."
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
PENALTIES COST CAPITALS AS FLYERS WIN
The Flyers defeated the Capitals in their home opener -- but it took an extra time goal for them to get the job done.
A good night for the Flyers -- Mike Richards was the first Flyer to score a hat trick in 42 home openers, and teammate Matt Carle tied an NHL record for defensemen by garnering four assists in a single period. And this also proved a time for celebration for Danny Briere who celebrated turning 32 years old with the overtime goal. He scored on a rebound with just over a minute left in overtime play, giving the Flyers 3-0.
Alex Ovechkin and Alexander Semin each scored two goals -- and another was scored by Brendan Morrison which had given the Capitals a 5-4 lead with 10:28 remaining in the third period.
Flyers goalie Ray Emery stopped a shot by Matt Bradley, but the rebound flew off Morrison's skate and into the net. After a video review, the ruling was that Morrison had not intentionally kicked the puck in -- so the goal stood.
Then with a man advantage, winger Scott Hartnell poked a rebound past goalie Jose Theodore with 4:15 remaining in the third period, evening the score at 5.
Theodore stopped an original shot by Briere, but was sprawled and unable to prevent the rebound.
"Tonight we were our worst enemy," Morrison explained to The Washington Post. "We came back and took the lead in the third, and that's a game we should have seal down and win. Tonight it was our penalties. We just couldn't stay out of the box. We have to learn this lesson quickly if we want to be a good team, not a great team."
A good night for the Flyers -- Mike Richards was the first Flyer to score a hat trick in 42 home openers, and teammate Matt Carle tied an NHL record for defensemen by garnering four assists in a single period. And this also proved a time for celebration for Danny Briere who celebrated turning 32 years old with the overtime goal. He scored on a rebound with just over a minute left in overtime play, giving the Flyers 3-0.
Alex Ovechkin and Alexander Semin each scored two goals -- and another was scored by Brendan Morrison which had given the Capitals a 5-4 lead with 10:28 remaining in the third period.
Flyers goalie Ray Emery stopped a shot by Matt Bradley, but the rebound flew off Morrison's skate and into the net. After a video review, the ruling was that Morrison had not intentionally kicked the puck in -- so the goal stood.
Then with a man advantage, winger Scott Hartnell poked a rebound past goalie Jose Theodore with 4:15 remaining in the third period, evening the score at 5.
Theodore stopped an original shot by Briere, but was sprawled and unable to prevent the rebound.
"Tonight we were our worst enemy," Morrison explained to The Washington Post. "We came back and took the lead in the third, and that's a game we should have seal down and win. Tonight it was our penalties. We just couldn't stay out of the box. We have to learn this lesson quickly if we want to be a good team, not a great team."
Monday, October 5, 2009
WASHINGTON CAPITALS' OVECHKIN -- AND ANDERSON AND TKACHUK -- NAMED NHL'S THREE STARS OF THE WEEK
The Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin was named first star of the week on Monday.
Ovechkin posted two goals and an assist in the Capitals win over the Boston Bruins -- the team's regular season opener. And he followed that with a goal and two assista in a 6-4 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.
Colorado Avalanche's Craig Anderson, a goaltender, was announced as the second star, and St. Louis Blues' center Keith Takchuk captured the third star.
Friday, October 2, 2009
WASHINGTON CAPITALS -- OFF TO A FANTASTIC START!
Watching the Capitals win is always a great thrill -- and reading about the team's win is simply icing on the cake!
At the Washington Capitals website, the Caps-Bruins game recap began:
"Strong Start – The Capitals struggled through the first few minutes of Thursday’s season opener against the Bruins in Boston, but goaltender Jose Theodore was sharp between the pipes He made several strong stops early to keep the Bruins at bay until Washington could find its legs and get its offense on track."
CLICK HERE TO READ REMAINDER OF ARTICLE
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In other Capitals coverage:
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CAPITALS OPEN WITH A BANG -- BY COREY MASISAK, The Washington Times
"BOSTON | Sign up Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau for 81 more of those.
The Caps opened the 2009-10 campaign Thursday night with a 4-1 throttling of the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on the strength of a stout defensive effort and a pair of goals from both Alex Ovechkin and Brooks Laich.
"If you could bottle that game up, we'd take it every time," Boudreau said. "We weathered the storm in the first six or seven minutes, and"
CLICK HERE TO READ REMAINDER OF ARTICLE
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THEODORE REDEEMS SELF -- The Baltimore Sun, BY TARIK EL-BASHIR, The Washington Post
"José Theodore waited more than five months for the chance to redeem himself after his shaky performance in the playoff opener last April.
On Thursday in the Washington Capitals' season opener at TD Garden, the veteran goaltender made up for lost time. Theodore made 19 saves, including 10 during a frantic first period, and Alex Ovechkin"
CLICK HERE TO READ REMAINDER OF ARTICLE
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ALEX OVECHKIN SEALS SPOTLIGHT -- BY STEVE CONROY, Boston Herald
"The Bruins [team stats] opened their season last night to great fanfare and incredibly lofty expectations, from Stanley Cup-starved fans as well as puck pundits throughout North America.
But it didn’t take long for Alexander Ovechkin to steal the show."
CLICK HERE TO READ REMAINDER OF ARTICLE
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Final: Capitals 4, Bruins 1 -- BY FLUTO SHINZAWA, Boston Globe
"At least there are 81 games remaining, right? Because it can't get much worse than Game No. 1, which saw Brooks Laich and Alex Ovechkin score a pair of goals and the Bruins commit mistake after mistake."
CLICK HERE TO READ REMAINDER OF ARTICLE
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THEY BARELY GOT STARTED -- BY KEVIN PAUL DUPONT, Boston Globe
"It’s much too early to issue a wake-up call, but the Bruins definitely didn’t hear the alarm clock go off on the opening night of the season, when they showed up at the Garden ill-prepared to play 60 minutes - and ripe to be embarrassed by the Washington Capitals."
CLICK HERE TO READ REMAINDER OF ARTICLE
At the Washington Capitals website, the Caps-Bruins game recap began:
"Strong Start – The Capitals struggled through the first few minutes of Thursday’s season opener against the Bruins in Boston, but goaltender Jose Theodore was sharp between the pipes He made several strong stops early to keep the Bruins at bay until Washington could find its legs and get its offense on track."
CLICK HERE TO READ REMAINDER OF ARTICLE
-----------
In other Capitals coverage:
-----------
CAPITALS OPEN WITH A BANG -- BY COREY MASISAK, The Washington Times
"BOSTON | Sign up Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau for 81 more of those.
The Caps opened the 2009-10 campaign Thursday night with a 4-1 throttling of the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on the strength of a stout defensive effort and a pair of goals from both Alex Ovechkin and Brooks Laich.
"If you could bottle that game up, we'd take it every time," Boudreau said. "We weathered the storm in the first six or seven minutes, and"
CLICK HERE TO READ REMAINDER OF ARTICLE
----------
THEODORE REDEEMS SELF -- The Baltimore Sun, BY TARIK EL-BASHIR, The Washington Post
"José Theodore waited more than five months for the chance to redeem himself after his shaky performance in the playoff opener last April.
On Thursday in the Washington Capitals' season opener at TD Garden, the veteran goaltender made up for lost time. Theodore made 19 saves, including 10 during a frantic first period, and Alex Ovechkin"
CLICK HERE TO READ REMAINDER OF ARTICLE
-----------
ALEX OVECHKIN SEALS SPOTLIGHT -- BY STEVE CONROY, Boston Herald
"The Bruins [team stats] opened their season last night to great fanfare and incredibly lofty expectations, from Stanley Cup-starved fans as well as puck pundits throughout North America.
But it didn’t take long for Alexander Ovechkin to steal the show."
CLICK HERE TO READ REMAINDER OF ARTICLE
----------
Final: Capitals 4, Bruins 1 -- BY FLUTO SHINZAWA, Boston Globe
"At least there are 81 games remaining, right? Because it can't get much worse than Game No. 1, which saw Brooks Laich and Alex Ovechkin score a pair of goals and the Bruins commit mistake after mistake."
CLICK HERE TO READ REMAINDER OF ARTICLE
-----------
THEY BARELY GOT STARTED -- BY KEVIN PAUL DUPONT, Boston Globe
"It’s much too early to issue a wake-up call, but the Bruins definitely didn’t hear the alarm clock go off on the opening night of the season, when they showed up at the Garden ill-prepared to play 60 minutes - and ripe to be embarrassed by the Washington Capitals."
CLICK HERE TO READ REMAINDER OF ARTICLE
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