Caps Crush Bolts...Wait...It's Tied? GIFs To Explain

The Caps led the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-0 and 5-1.  Somehow, after 60 minutes was up, the game was tied and the teams went into overtime.  You can figure out who won by the GIFs.  There is nothing really else to write, so I'll let these GIFs explain everything for you:

Ovechkin Breakaway Score And Celebration

It was an exciting first period for the Washington Capitals on Saturday evening at Verizon Center.  In their matchup with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Alex Ovechkin scored a breakaway goal to take the temporary goal scoring lead over opponent Steven Stamkos.  What he did after the goal was vintage Ovechkin.

The Nature Boy Eric Flehr And The Caps Chop Lightning WOOOOO!!!

The Washington Capitals were ahead 4-1 in the 3rd period, but a bad end of the 3rd allowed the Lightning to have a chance to tie the game.  But the Caps escaped the barrage, defeating Tampa Bay 4-3 on Thursday night for their 3rd straight win.  The Caps are now 3-0 since the great animal sacrifice (Video)

Ice skatin, goal platin', game sealin', wheelin, dealin, stylin & profilin' son of a gun!

The Caps began the game with their best start of the season.  A perfectly executed powerplay filled with great passing gave the Caps Troy Brouwer an easy goal.  It was the Caps best PP of the season, and possibly their best overall team offensive play.

The Lightning fired back a few minutes later but the red hot Eric Fehr, Or Eric Flehr as I will call him from this moment on (WOOOOOOOO!!!!!) scored a goal in his second straight game in the 2nd period.  Then the Nature Boy picked up another goal to start the 3rd period.

To be the man, you have to BEAT the man!

Jay Beagle gave the Caps a commanding 4-1 lead after a strange non-whistle on a goalie freeze allowed Beagle to use his stick to knock the puck out of the Lightning goaltender's glove and into the net.  There were 12 and a half minutes left, but the game was far from over.

The Lightning couldn't cash in on a powerplay but a short time after Tedd Purcell scored one for TB.  Then, after a Braden Holtby failed pokecheck on a Lightning breakaway, the goal for the Caps became escaping alive.

"They're lucky somebody found it before it hatched" - Joe B when Lightning players sat on the puck to cover

Tampa led a fierce net rush, but with several Caps Icings and some nice Holtby saves, the Caps escaped with the win.

Matty Perraeult finished the game with 3 assists.

Praise the hockey gods...Time to dance for Holtby...next up, the Rangers on Sunday...

Braden Holtby's Jump Save

I Dunno.  Here is Holtby like jumping or dancing or something. What else is there to do?  The Caps are winning, and we are having fun!!!

Blame Game: Did Braden Holtby Give Up Six Goals?

Hockey  is finally back. For the Washington Capitals, however, it came back not with a bang, but a whimper. Saturday night, at the Tampa Bay Times Forum the Capitals came out strong but then faded quickly in their 6 – 3 "most beautiful loss in the world".

Whenever a team scores six goals against you people are going to look for a scapegoat, and when the finger pointing starts it’s usually focused at the goaltender.  But should it?

Braden Holtby is already a household name in Washington DC thanks to his heroics last spring during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The thing fans forget, though, is that the 23 year old netminder is still a rookie. This is his first regular season on an NHL roster.  All rookies are going to take some time to find their footing and Braden is no exception.

The new style of the Washington Capitals is a much more open, flowing style than it was during the Dale Hunter era. This leads to the dreaded “odd-man rush”.  When faced with these 2 on 1 or 3 on2 situations it is imperative that the defense block the passing lanes and leave the initial shot to the goalie to stop. This did not happen several times and the Lighting capitalized with quick passing one-timers that several times found the back of the net.

Let’s take a look at each of the goals against: (open this, and click the blue play button to quickly and easily play each goal, they don't let us embed)

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Goal 1 – Shultz, Perreault and Poti form a wall in front of Holtby. Add in a lightning player and there is no way that Braden could see anything. The forwards should have been much higher in the slot and pressuring the D-men at the point.

Fault: Caps’ Players

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Goal 2 – Holtby catches the edge of the first shot, forcing it to go off the post. Then after tripping Hendricks, Braden gets back to make the second save. Finally when trying to make a third save Holtby is interfered with as his own defenseman, new acquisition Hillen, slides through his crease. A goalie should only have to make the first one or two saves. After that the Defense should have either cleared the puck, or the opposite team playing it.

Fault: Hillen & the collapsed forwards.

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Goal 3 – On this play Holtby makes three saves before the puck finally sneaks in. First he bails out a bad play by Carlson, then another by Green. The third shot was just good work by the lightning. The final shot came as both Carlson and Green tried to double team a forward behind the net (where he couldn’t score from anyway) leaving forward Troy Brower to try to handle the attackers. The shot comes from right in front and maybe could have been handled by Holtby, but he shouldn’t have had to. 

Fault: Green, Carlson, and Holtby

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Goal 4 – Now this is a power-play goal by the Lightning so it’s hard to fault anyone other than the guy in the box. This goal is scored on a hard point shot through traffic. Only one screener in front of Holtby, so even though it’s not his fault, I am going to blame him.

Fault: Holtby

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Goal 5 – This goal is exactly what I mentioned before about the odd-man rush. The Caps get beat early giving up a 3 on 1 rush. Mike Green, who has not been playing during the lockout and may not be in game shape just yet, goes after the player with the puck leaving to trailers wide open. One quick pass and a tap-in later and Tampa is celebrating their insurance marker.

Fault: Mike Green

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Goal 6 – This was another power play goal for the Lightning. Add to that the fact that Poti, Carlson, and Backstrom were all practically in the crease with Holtby and you have a recipe for disaster. – Fault: Defense and the guy in the box.

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If it wasn’t obvious before, it should be now, that it takes much more than a goalie to keep pucks out of the net. Holtby still has some things to work on, but this loss should not be thought of as his fault. Not in the slightest. I am sure that he will get the start again Tuesday night when Winnipeg comes to the Verizon Center and as long as his teammates can stay out of their own way, he should be able to easy redeem this performance.

Written By Our Goalie Expert, Rob Taggart

Rob Taggart is a Level Three USA Hockey coach with six years coaching experience at the midget level and three at the high school level. In that time he has worked as a head coach, assistant coach and goalie coach.  Rob has been playing hockey for 22 years and played for the University of Maryland Terrapins during the 1999-2000 season.  We don't know jack about hockey, but he does.  You can follow him on Twitter @GoonTendy

The Most Beautiful Loss In The World

252 Days...

When the Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning dropped the puck on Saturday night, it was a few hours over 252 days since the Caps faced off against the New York Rangers in their final period of action back in May of 2012.  Since that time the Caps were eliminated from the playoffs, an 8th seed won the Cup, a season was almost cancelled, and earlier in the day, the NHL made its "triumphant" return.

And that is what makes this scene so beautiful.  Caps fans were expecting to take that game 7 against the Rangers at the end of last season and when it didn't happen their mouths began to water as we awaited the next season to begin.  Both the players and the fans were hoping the season started the next day.  Instead the lockout happened and it didn't even happen as regularly scheduled.

Alex Ovechkin Crushes Rookie Cory Conacher

Welcome to the NHL Cory Conacher.

Last year's AHL MVP , made a pass and stood up watching it go.  What he was not watching for was a 230 pound machine bearing down on him.  CRASH.

Ovechkin hit the poor kid like a safety in the NFL.  No Roger Goodell though, so no penalty.  It was brutal. Check it.

Ovechkin is having a great game so far.  Welcome back!

Related stories:

• The most beautiful sight in the world...

Caps Look To Grease The Lightning

Hey Caps!  Welcome back.  Fans would like to sing you a little song...

Why...Hockey Fans are Automatic!

The NHL is back, and the fans are going insane.  They waited a long time for this and Caps fans are particularly excited for their matchup against Tampa Bay.  I heard that there was some sort of 4-0 sweep some time back?  But win lose or draw shootout, it doesn't matter.  Hockey is back, and the fans are going to be happy...it's automatic.


The Caps are Systematic!

Another season and another coach for the Washington Capitals.  I know you will be so excited to watch hockey that your senses will be overloaded and you won't know where to look.  But if you can catch your breath and calm down for a minute, try to watch the Adam Oates System at work.  This ain't no dump & chase grinding Dale Hunter stuff, this is faster.  This is why I signed up!

Just be warned.  The players only had about a week to practice together with this new system and they have not mastered it yet.  But you will at least be able to get an idea of what it entails, and while the players may make a few mistakes (or collide into each other at full speed) it should lead to some pretty exciting hockey.



The Bolts are Hydromatic!

Tampa Bay is not starting a 400 year old man in goal like they did last season.  Instead they are starting a guy named Anders.  The goalie is a bit inexperienced only playing in 38 NHL games, but ya know, the Caps goalie has played in less.

The Lightning also have a guy named Steven Stamkos, maybe you've heard of him.  He led the NHL in goals scored with 60 last year.  In the 5 games against the Caps last season he tallied 5 goals.  Keeping him off the scoreboard would be very beneficial to the Capitals.

I'm pretty sure lightning and hydro don't mix so, the Bolts may be in for a shock...




Why...Let's Grease The Lightning!

In a shortened season it is very important to get started quick.  Not necessarily with a win, but learning how to play together as a team with new players and a new system.  That is what I'll be looking for, and a W in the books would just be an added bonus.    Ah who am I kidding, I want to see the Lightning get GREASED!

Newsflash: Ovechkin Is Still On The Roster!

The Caps picked up a huge win at home on Thursday night over the Tampa Bay Lightning to get 2 humangus big points in the standings in front of the deadest crowd of the season at Verizon.  Despite the lack of fan assistance the Caps managed to score a game tying goal in the final 4 minutes of the game (the Lightning stopped playing offense and ran a prevent defense) and then Ovechkin put it in the net in the OT for the deuce.

Now 2 points is great, but the way the Caps won is following their latest pattern.  This seems to be what the Caps do these days.  They trail in the final minutes, and have to score a goal with time running down to win or force an OT. We'll take it, but it needs to change.

The Caps have now gotten 1 1/2 points per game in the last 2 games which is what they may have to average for the rest of the season in order to slip into the playoffs.  Although they are also only 2 points out of the top of the division.  Really?  Really?

We can thank the Caps a bit, but can also thank the rest of the division and conference for not taking control of their own destiny.  How are the Caps still in the hunt?

They keep calling it a "must-win" and it isn't really.  Until you look at the upcoming road trip and at the Caps season record on the road.  But with the Jets/Panthers/Sabres et al, anything can happen and we can save the "must win" for when we hit the final 5-10 games.

(announcer, who is like "omg what if they lost" - the answer is they would be in the same position they were before tonight (if the Jets lose) and the season would be far from over.  The "must-win" thing that the media and fans are using is getting annoying)

What Is Lightning? Caps @ Lightning

Tonight the Caps are playing the Lightning for about the 300th time this season.  A 7:30 start time.  I've written everything I can think of about the hockey team, so it is time to get really deep and basic at the same time.  What is lightning?  I am going to explain it, without looking it up..

Lightning was discovered by Ben Franklin when he put his kite in the air with a key and a mouse on it.  When the lightning hit the kite he was shocked by the key and Ben knew that it was electric (boogie oogie oogie).  But what caused this strange phenomenon.  Was it grandmaster flash...wait you don't get it...ok was it LL Cool J?  Ok if you still don't get it.  Was it John Travolta?  Ug you still don't get it.  Young people...

I think it is probably caused by static electricity or weather or something.  What the hell am I doing.  This is boring.  Wiki says lightning is a discharge followed by a thundering noise...Entire rest of this paragraph deleted due to being too gross...

In conclusion, the Caps play the Lightning tonight.  If they Caps are gonna win they are gonna have to discharge some pucks into the net which will be followed by the thundering sound of the zamboni horn and sirens or whatever happens when a goal is scored.  Lets win this one for Ben Franklin!

See what I did there!  Writing! (John Luvitz)  Enjoy this picture of what will happen tonight...

Hats Fly, Fo Real This Time, Caps Win

Caps 4, Ning 3

The Caps beat the Bolts on Friday night at Verizon Center with a little help from a Troy Brouwer hat trick by a score of 4-3.  The Caps came out strong but played it safe with the lead.  With Tampa charging back at the end of the game, the Caps stepped up and eked past the Lightning sending them home with a loss.

The Lightning Bugs came out flat and gave the Caps 3 power plays in the first 5 minutes with almost no time in between.  Ovechkin was the first to take advantage with a Jordan Crawford style 35 foot shot.  Unlike Crawford, this one went in the net.  The Caps picked up a Brouwer PP goal on their 3rd try and all of a sudden it was a quick 2-0 lead just 6 minutes into the game.

Brouwer picked up his 2nd goal in the 2nd, and a 3-0 lead was looking good for the Caps.

Despite playing behind the goal again instead of in front of it on one crazy play, the standard goalie Tomas Vokoun picked up another win giving up 3 goals.  The first goal was a sneaky play where Martin St Louis picked the pocket of a Chimera who wasn't paying attention and passed it to a teammate who put it through Voko and into the net.  Tomas was like a brick wall, he barely moves but he takes up some good space.  I still laugh when he does his Coffin save and he lays on his back like an overturned turtle.

A stupid delay of game by Hammer Bros after a huge PK gave the Lightning another 2 minutes and the game was all of a sudden 3-2.  Just like against Pittsburgh 2 nights ago the final few minutes was a barrage of offense by the away team looking to score a desperation goal.

With a minute left in the game the Lightning pulled their goalie and Troy Brouwer picked up a wide open empty netter and picked up the (cheap) hat trick as hats rained down on the ice.  I may have to come back and edit this like the Wideman trick earlier.

This was basically the dagger, but the Lightning ended up scoring with 10 seconds left.  A shot by the Bolts hit the side of the net but luckily, the Caps survived and picked up the huge 2 points in the standings.

Hurricanes on Sunday at home at 5pm...I dunno about you but I'll be watching the NFL playoffs...

Game Notes:

• Putting yourself offsides kinda seems like a dumb rule
• Why is Ovi attempting shots between his legs
• Guy with no visor, face is bleeding, call a detective.
• Brouwer looks like a Quarterback from like 1980 when shoulder pads were huge.
• Locker says you can get your hat back at customer service?

Lightning Get Greased, Life Alert Roloson Defeated

The Caps beat the Lightning in a Shootout last night in a game that featured the Lightning scoring 3 bank shots from behind the red line of the goal.

The goalies both played pretty bad. I especially liked when 70 year old Lightning Goalie Dwayne "Life Alert" Roloson decided a couple times he was going to take a nap on the ice. On the first goal of the game he did the trusty "Old Man Belly Flop" save where he lay on his stomach for 10 seconds. "Help I've Fallen And I Can't Get Up"

He followed that up with a save that worked, the old "Invisible Coffin" save where the goaltender lays on his back with arms at his side mimicking a body in a coffin.

Instead of winning 5-5, the Caps won 6-5, which means at the end of the year the stats won't add up as only 5 goals were counted, but 6 goals were given. (I think). Hockey!

Well now we have 2 songs from musicals on this site...So I went with the punk/ska version this time. Anyways here are some notes from the game:

• Is the penalty box really called the "sin bin"?
• Did anyone else see a Cropp Metcalf logo fly off the glass and across the screen?
• Name Marcus Johansson, Nickname MoJo? Why not MarJo?
• When did the refs get mics, and is there a hockey version of Ed Hochuli
• I love the Mock Cheer when Vokoun made a routine save after giving up 5 goals
• 2 "Halftimes" Grrr

Hopefully Lightning Crashes

Last season I watched 9 hockey games. Some people came in during March Madness to the bar "rocking the red" and were disappointed that basketball was on the TVs. They were like, "Can you put the Caps on!" A regular season game. Everyone in earshot of this comment heckled them. That was the closest I came to watching double digit hockey games, since the Caps got killed by Tampa Bay. (That's a lot of math and a roundabout way to say something WTF)

I'm gonna let you guess what team the Caps played in 4 of the games I watched...Ding Ding Ding, the Lightning. (rhyme) This game tonight is all about revenge. This game tonight is not about revenge. This game is more important to my task of becoming a fan than it is for the Caps. But a win would be nice...

Some things that the Caps are gonna be singing pregame

• "Meet me in St. Louis" - Judy Garland (first showtune on this blog ... so far)
• "You can find me in St. Louis" - Nelly
• "Oh, that St. Louis woman, with her diamond rings, She pulls my man around by her apron strings" - Cab Calloway, St. Louis Blues (OMG a song that is also a different hockey team)

So if you don't get it, the Caps have to smash up some Martin St. Louis. And can we switch "in" with "at" cuz it sounds kind of disgusting...