Caps Cross-training Warmups

Comcast keeps taking us behind the scenes before each Caps game for a closer look at some of the Capitals player warm up. Looks like aside from hockey players we've got racquetball jugglers, baseball pitchers, and soccer players. Take a look at some of these different sport cross-training warmups:

Caps Overcome Two Goal 3rd Period Deficit, Win 2nd Straight

Down 5-3 with half the 3rd period behind them, Washington Capitals fans began to push the panic button.  Fans were firing the GM, cursing the team, and getting internally angry.  Read some of the tweets below.

But the Caps didn't care about those fans or what they thought.  Instead they just played hockey, tying up the game and winning it in OT.

In OT Backstrom slapped a perfect pass to Troy Brouwer setting him up on the breakaway.  Brouwer couldn't get the puck past the Florida goaltender but he followed his shot and stuffed the puck into the net for the Caps 2nd straight win.

The Caps scored first on a Mike Ribiero powerplay goal but the Panthers came back and notched 2 to go into the 2nd period leading 2-1.  One of the "highlights" of the opening session was the "fight" that took place between Alexander Ovechkin and Kris Versteeg (watch it here).

Alzner and Hendricks each scored in the 2nd period, but the Panthers got 2 goals of their own putting the Caps in a 4-3 situation going into the final frame.

After the Panthers scored almost 7 minutes in, right when the fans began to give up, the Caps came back with a Eric Fehr deflection goal and then an Ovechkin PPG off of the initial faceoff in a matter of seconds.

Just 32 seconds into the OT, Brouwer scored the game winner.

Ribeiro continues to be the Caps best player scoring a goal and picking up 2 assists.  Backstrom and Ward also had 2 assists.  Ovi also had an assist to go with his goal.  HOCKEY!  ASSISTS FOR EVERYONE!!!

The Caps won 2 in a row for the first time this season.  Next up, the Lighting on Valentines Day.  Be mine!

Wizards Worst Team In The League...What? Caps? Really?

The Washington Capitals lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night at the Air Canada Center 3-2.  With the loss and a Florida win, the Caps are now in last place in the NHL.  Meanwhile, the Wizards are 29th out of 30.  Not a good year for Ted Leonsis.

The Maple Leafs attempted 40 shots on goal compared to the Caps 22.  Much of that had to do with the fact that the Leafs had 8 powerplays compared to the Caps 2.  However despite the penalty discrepancy, each team only netted 1 goal on the PP thanks to the Caps PK and some great goaltending by Michal Neuvirth.

The Caps got on the board less than 2 minutes in with a goal by the team's leading goal scorer Alex Ovechkin Joel Ward (4) on a nifty pass by Mike Ribeiro which had Locker in quite the tizzy.  But the Leafs cashed in on the powerplay soon after.

Ovechkin notched a powerplay goal (I don't remember the last time he scored on even-strength) in the 2nd period off a pass by, you guessed it, Mike Ribiero.  Ribz is the Caps assist leader with 7 already on the season.

When the Caps weren't on the PK they were knocking the Leafs backwards.  But in the 3rd period the Maple Leafs went on a barrage, tying the game and then taking the lead in a matter of minutes.

The Caps made a final push in the final minutes (including Ovechkin running laps around the goal), but when an Ovi shot hit the post in the closing seconds, the Caps chances were up.  Final score, Leafs 3, Caps 2.

Next up for the LAST PLACE Caps, the Flyers at home on Friday...

Added Respect For Hockey Players

When I was growing up I played a lot of sports and as an adult I continue to try out new games and sports.  However, I never had the opportunity to play hockey.

I played some street hockey as a kid in the neighborhood.  We used a tennis ball.  We didn't wear rollerblades.  I could only shoot a backhanded shot.  I played goalie with a baseball glove.  It was not hockey.

Because I never played and never tried, I can't really figure out how much skill certain things take.  On TV these NHL guys make it look easy.

But after seeing the following drill, I have a new greater respect for the skill that these players have.  And I finally understand what happens in the cloud of people who jumble up in front of the net.

The players stand in front of the net and use their sticks to slightly change the direction of the shot, but still get the goal without even looking.  I couldn't believe it.  Two different guys stepped in and nailed tip after tip into the net.

So who is going to teach me how to play?