Caps Are Southeast Division Champions Once Again

Here is what it looks like from the Verizon Center as Ovechkin seals the deal and sends the Caps into the playoffs as the 3rd seed. (Via EllisJJ2)




Click the volume to unmute (via @CapsRocket91)


Oh and free wings too, lol, you think it would say SOUTHEAST CHAMPS

Alex Ovechkin Crushes Evander Kane

So this Evander Kane dude was all tryin to like get the Jets back in the game against the Caps.  He even scored a goal.  The audacity!

Well Alexander Ovechkin wasn't going to have any of it!  Ovi laid out Kane so hard that the Jets forward went immediately to the bench at a slow and hobbling pace.  Locker said that Kane even went back into the locker room.  They showed Kane sitting on the bench moments later still shaken up from the hit.  Moral of the story?  Don't mess with Ovi.  GIF follows:

Matt Hendricks Scores, Matt Hendricks Smashes, Matt Hendricks Shimmies

The Caps got off to a good start in the biggest game of the lockout shortened season.  Matt Hendrix (I call him that cuz he Rocks) scored a goal early in the first period to give the Washington Capitals a 1-0 lead over the Winnipeg Jets.

After the goal, Hendricks absolutely laid out the Jets Paul Potsma and then did a little Hendy Dance!  I'm gonna call that the "Hendy Shuffle" Check out the GIFs.

Was That The Caps Or Wizards Out There?

For the second straight night the Washington Capitals came out of the gate firing behind the streaking play of Alexander Ovechkin.  And for the second straight night Ovechkin, his heart, and the rest of the Caps disappeared late in the game and Washington ended up with an Overtime loss in a game they should have won.  Jets 4, Caps 3 (OT).

Alex Ovechkin has been playing some great hockey.  The key word in that sentence is "some".  What is the point of scoring goals if you don't win the game.  After Alex doesn't score for a while he begins to let up and he stops playing hard every single shift.  It is so frustrating to watch because sometimes I feel like his teammates "want it" more than he does.  I expect a captain to DIE on the ice, something that guys like Allen Iverson would do.  So why doesn't Ovi play that way?

I can't even write about the actual game...

While the Caps did get a point, they didn't deserve it.  Meanwhile the Beefaloes have caught up to the Caps in the standings with each team having 7 more games to play.  That is a lot of games.  A lot of games where 1 point isn't going to be good enough.  The Senators are helping the Caps out by losing and may help the Caps get into the playoffs if they continue their freefall.  Winnipeg is also hanging around.

The Caps have set a new NHL record for most "must-wins" in a single year, and they plan to keep adding to the record....Sunday, Verizon, Wild, 5pm, Huge...Time is running out...

Caps v. Jets Pre-Game: Back in the Phone Booth

Written by: Amanda Sansone, Caps B-Ball Contributor

There's not much that can be said about tonight's game that hasn't already been said already. The Caps need to win this and win it good. They need to demolish those stupid, cheating, crummy, good-for-nothing Jets. Last week's loss to them was a joke, the result of a lot of bad luck and bad bounces and horrendous reffing. The Caps should have demolished the Flyers last night, but bad luck and sitting back offensively in the back half of the game cost them (also putting Aucoin and Brouwer in the shoot out was probably not smart... should've been Chimmer, Matty P, Knubes, or Brooksie...). Anywho, tonight is a must win. Tonight is retribution. Tonight is epic. It must be filled with blood and glory. The Sabre's are hot on our tails, but Ottawa is falling and falling fast. We're only 3 points behind 7th and we can overtake it with 2 wins (or a win an an OT loss) if Ottawa stays on the downward spiral. Likewise, we're only 4 points behind Florida-- if we can edge them out or tie them, we can take 1st in the division and 3rd in the conference.

Tonight, the Caps need to play hard and fast. Instead of the Dump and Chase, they needs to be strong on the forecheck, cycle the puck, and crash the net. The more time spent in the Jets' zone, the more we can stifle their offense, which can be pretty good at times. They're terrible on the road, so we cannot let them have this one. They need energy and they need focus. We should have every reason to believe that there will be a playoff spot reserved for the boys in red.

It's been a long time on the road and they should have some great momentum heading home. I'll be parking myself in section 400 with my Laich jersey for what will probably be my last regular season game... but I demand a playoff showing! I have 10s of dollars to spend from my annual "bonus," and I can't think of any better use than playoff tickets. Don't blow it!!!  Let's do this thing!

Welcome home, Caps! Time to wreak havoc and destruction!

NHL Gives Max Fine For Hit That Caps Did Nothing About

In the Caps loss to the Jets there was a play where Marjo was hit hard and he was really slow to get up.  There was no penalty on the play and Johansson wobbled back to the bench and woozily went into the locker room.  The hit was made by Mark Stuart and the league fined him the max fine $2,500 for going high on Marjo and smashing his head into the boards, knocking his helmet off.

Why did Green get a 3 game suspension and this guy got 0 games?



Luckily for the Caps, Marcus ended up coming back into the game later, but aside from wanting the NHL to review the hit, they didn't do anything about it on the ice.  The hit happened in the first half of the first period, so the Caps had plenty of time.

Being relatively new to hockey, I'm not sure what the team should have done.  Typically I think fighting is pretty stupid but on bad hits that knock out players it seems like that is what you do in hockey, especially if the refs don't call a penalty.

So did the Caps do nothing because it was an important game with playoff implications and they couldn't afford another penalty in a game where they had six.  Are they planning to wait til Friday at Verizon Center to get the action started?  I think something needs to be done...

Jets Squeak By The Caps

The Caps lost a tough one to the Jets 3-2 on Friday night in Winnipeg.  The crowd in the Peg was loud.  I mean really loud.  That place would be fun to visit for a game.  However they did moan and groan every single check demanding a Caps penalty which was pretty stupid.  The game was filled with big hits and bodies were flying all over the place.  You would think this game meant something maybe.

The Jets got the scoring started with a goal but while the in house announcer was announcing the goal and assists and while Joe B was worried the Winnipeg crowd would be really effective with a lead Brooks Laich tipped in a Marjo shot to tie the game.

The Jets scored again late in the second period after Alex Ovechkin had no idea what he was doing on defense.  Ovi basically skated in circles being indecisive and not committing to anyone.  A few seconds later the Jets had a very very very near miss that would have been a backbreaker.

The Jets had a double powerplay 5 on 3 for most of the final 2 minutes of the period.  The PK went crazy with Beagle blocking shots and Vokoun making some killer saves.  Right after the PK fresh out of the box the Caps had a semi breakaway and the Jets were called for holding with 8 seconds left in the period...and...

27 seconds into the final period on the powerplay, Perrault scored a huge goal to tie the game.
The Jets scored again in the 3rd and the Caps had 1 last chance with a powerplay in the final 2 minutes.  With a pulled goalie it was 6 on 4 but the Caps couldn't get the puck in the net.

Vokoun had some huge saves and was looking like a brick wall.  You would think every save hit a post (there were a couple dings) the way the crowd reacted.  Voko also came far out of the crease a bunch of times like he always does.  Dale Hunter has been back and forth for much of the season but earlier he had Vokoun as the main man and I think Voko is going to be the guy from here on out.

Marjo got leveled and wobbled to the bench, hoping it isn't a concussion...he did come back though which means he passed the concussion test.

Next up Sunday vs Chicago, but next Friday in DC the Caps have a huge game against the Jets that is going to be a playoff atmosphere...can't wait

Game Notes:

• Joe B is on a calling arena's "barns" kick
• Locker said a Semin play was "soap on a rope"
• Brouwer looks like Kurt Warner or a Punter the way his shoulder pads are so oversized
• "Ovi Sucks" chant
• We get it, Aucoin has a big stick, I do too but you don't hear people talking about it.
• Locker was getting pissed at the refs because "the fan's made the call"
• Beagle had an awesome game on special teams
• Byfugleson on the Jets pretended he was putting his sword away after slaying a dragon

Caps Jet Out Of Town With A Win

Washington Capitals 1, Winnipeg Jets 0

The Caps defeated the Jets by a score of 1-0 on Thursday night in Winnipeg.  Dale Hunter went with Michal Neuvirth in goal in place of the struggling Tomas Vokoun and it paid off as Neuvy shut out the Jets saving 26 out of 26.

Mikey started off the first period wonderfully saving 14 shots. He looked in position for the most part and made a save that the slower Tomas Vokoun would have never made quickly moving from one side of the net to the other to stop a Kane goal.

Meanwhile the Caps struggling offense got only 7 shots on net.  Alan May was not happy with that poor scoreless offense:

With May just about ready to put on the uniform, the Caps O came out in the 2nd just as bad as the 1st.  On a 2 on 1 where the defender left Knuble wide open for a four foot shot, he passed the puck to the other covered player and the Caps didn't even get a shot out of an opportunity that could have been a goal.  Ok they weren't that bad, lots of breaks, but no goals!  (Locker said it was their best offensive period under Dale Hunter...No Locker...no)

Another fast break later in the period resulted in a shot, but a poor shot by Laich that went wide of the empty net.  Laich turned it over on another break, and missed a shot on another break.

While the first session was all about Mikey N, the 2nd period was more about the Jets Goalie Ondrej Pavelec (Pronounced Andre...are you serious).  Pavelec saved 12 Caps shots in the period and evened Neuvy's 1st period performance.

In the same period Wideman had the defensive play of the game.  With Neuvy out of the crease Wideman took to the goaltender duties and made a great stop on a Winnipeg shot to keep the game even at zero.

The 3rd period was rather boring (only 13 combined shots in the period) until with 1:14 left Backstrom stole the puck passed it over to Marjo who dumped it back to Ovi for the sweet shot and the game winner.  Ovi didn't do much of anything all game, but he put the puck in the net when he had to and sent the fans home sad after they booed and chanted "Ovi" all night long.

The Caps will face the Avalanche and possibly Varlamov on Saturday night in Colorado at 9pm.

Game Notes:

• I haven't cheered for a save in weeks.  Finally some great saves.
• Not exactly sure how too many men on the ice works.
• I also still don't get intentional offsides.
• Took me 30 games to figure out that icing was based on the half court line, and not the opposite blue line. 

Jet Up Jet Out & Jet Somethin'

Thursday, Dec 15th:  Washington Capitals @ Winnipeg Jets (8:30pm)

On Thursday night the Caps (15-14, 31) will face the Jets (14-16, 32) over 1,500 miles away from home in Winnipeg.  Yeah, the Jets are under .500 but have more points than the above .500 Caps.  Yay NHL!

The Jets are coming off a win against the number 1 team in the NHL, the Minnesota Wild, after being blown out 7-1 the game before against the Red Wings.  The Caps are coming off of taking a blowout beating of their own, a 5-1 loss to the Flyers on Tuesday night.

Last time the Caps came to Winnipeg in November, they lost 4-1 in front of Pat Sajak and a loud MTS Center crowd happy to have hockey back.  Winnipeg has a great crowd and they can get very loud.  If it is anything like the last meeting, the fans will be all over Ovechkin all night, booing and chanting his name.

The teams faced each other less than a week later in DC and the Caps defeated the Jets in Overtime 4-3 where Bruce Bourdreau thought he was in the midst of saving his job.  The Caps dropped 2 games after that and BB was Gone Baby Gone.

These days the offense can't really trust the goalies so in order to win this game the Caps are going to have to score some goals and the D needs to shut down the Big Red Machine, Evander Kane.

• Other stories about the Jets

Boudreau Thankful For A Win

The Caps defeated the Jets 4-3 in overtime at Verizon Center on Wednesday night by way of Mark Chmura Jason Chimera's 2nd goal of the contest. The Caps picked up their 2nd win in a row, both at home, to the delight of Bruce Boudreau who did a double fist pump after the Caps pulled off the win.

Alex Semin came on strong two days after his benching and scored a goal off of a nice Ovi pass to start the game in the first period. The teams traded goals for the rest of the game before Chimera finished off the Jets on a great move and pass by Wideman. The best player on the Caps so far, Nick Backstrom, put in the other Caps goal and the rookie D-O picked up his first NHL assist.

The Caps actually looked like the better team for the first time in a while. They are going to have to continue to score a lot because they are giving up a lot of goals.

Notes & Questions:

• Is that VW logo always painted on the ice?
• The Jets coach looks like a combination of Jeff Goldblum, John Cusack, and Eugene Levy
• I love when they show Bruce after an opposing goal. He is just cursing away.
• What is a "blue liner" is that a defender? Why are they called that, there is a blue line on the offensive end too.
• How many pucks are there? I know baseball has so many, football has a bunch, and basketball basically has 1.
• Does Ovi wear a fanny pack?
• Did I hear a "Refs You Suck" chant?

Most People Think It Was The Snooze, But No, No Snooze

After a much needed win at home against the Coyotes on Monday night, the Capitals will take on the Winnipeg Jets at Verizon on the night before Thanksgiving. The Red Rally Balloons will be in full force trying to will the Caps to another victory.

I know whenever I have something important I set my alarm clock, my phone alarm, a backup alarm, and I tell 2 people to call me in the morning. Joel Ward didn't have that same system. Ward will miss the game (my least favorite term in the history of sports, "healthy scratch") after his alarm clock didn't go off and he was late to work. Was it the Am/Pm? Was it the snooze? Volume? Separate knob? Failed wake up call?

Although Jean-Paul won't be playing, Alex Semin will after his benching in the previous game. The Semin move spurred a lot of talk about his future with the team, but a strong game tonight could get him back on track in the eyes of the coaches and the fans.

The Jets come into town having won their last 3 games, and having 3 full nights of rest. In their last matchup, Evander Kane looked like an All-Star toasting the Caps D. It will be key tonight to shut him down. Eric Fehr, who according to a Google search was once on the Caps, is back from injury and will be on the ice at Verizon for the Jets.

AN_T__R L_SS - I'd Like To Solve The Puzzle

"Winnipeg Always Winter, Always Winter, Always Sleepy…" - My Winnipeg (Movie)

Pat Sajak's road trip to Winnipeg wasn't enough to help the Caps as they picked up their 5th loss in 6 games. Next time bring Vanna! The Jets won the game 4-1, and the Caps offense remained stagnant for the 2nd straight game, not even able to score on a one minute 5 on 3. Meanwhile the Jets dominated and Evander Holyfield Kane looked like a super hero scoring 2 goals & barely missing a hat trick on a shot off the post.

Alex Semin scored the first goal of the game to Caps fans delight, and then soon enough was in the box, this time for unsportsmanlike conduct towards a ref (talking s' in Russian?). It turned a Caps powerplay to a 4 on 4 by the way.

While Caps fans were firing the coach and trading players via Twitter, the Jets fans at the game appeared to be having a great time. They were loud & had a lot of chants, and when they showed Pat Sajak on the jumbo-tron it was the greatest day in Winnipeg history (according to the crowd reaction)

Every time Ovi touched the puck the crowd would boo him. At one point there was even an Ovi, Ovi, Ovi chant. This reminded me of the good old days during Wizards/Cavs playoff series at the Verizon Center. Any time Lebron James had the ball the crowd went nuts with the booing. That is what should happen if you are a great player. Although does Ovi deserve the respect boos?

Notes & Questions:

• What is double shifting?
• After the Semin goal, Locker called Sasha scoring in 10 straight games. Let's follow this.
• I always look up in shock when I hear Locker say "shift" ... pronounced Sh*t...
• Vokoun came in the game for Neuvy for about 10 seconds, which appeared to be a cheap way to get a free timeout. Is this correct?
• Laich missed a shot and put his hands up to celebrate the miss...10 seconds later the Jets scored.
• Is the glass/boards the same height & pattern at all arenas or does it vary?

Welcome To Winnipeg

Here is some info on the Jets. I don't think I'll do this every game, but maybe I will. All of the following are on Twitter and the links take you to their web sites where they have Jets coverage.

WINNIPEG JETS TWITTER LIST

Winnipeg Free Press:

• Gary Lawless: Sports Columnist
• Ed Tait: Hockey Writer
• John K. White: Jets Live Blogger

Winnipeg Sun:

• Paul Friesen: Sports Writer
• Ken Wiebe: Jets Writer
• Ted Wyman: Sports Editor

Sites:

• Arctic Ice Hockey
• Jets Nation
• WPG Jets Blog
• Peg City Jets

Tweeting Players:

• Nikolai Antropov
• Eric Fehr
• Tanner Glass
• Jason Jaffray
• Evander Kane
• Andrew Ladd
• Tim Stapleton
• Blake Wheeler
• Jason Gregoire (AHL)
  
• Zach Redmond (AHL)
• Carl Klingberg (AHL)
• Zachary Yuen (WHL)
  

Broadcast Team:

• TV & Radio Guy: Dennis Beyak (not on Twitter)
• Radio Guy: Brian Munz
• Radio Guy: Shane Hnidy

TSN 1290 Sports Radio Shows & Hosts:

• The Big Show With Jay & Westwood
• Hustler & Lawless
• Illegal Curve Radio Show

The other people on the list are employees of the Jets and other randoms...I didn't spend too much time on this so I may have missed other players or important people. I also didn't include any random fans/tweeters.

When You're A Jet

When you're a Jet, You're a Jet all the way, From your first cigarette, To your last dyin' day...

On Thursday night (8:30pm Start) the Washington Capitals (10-6) will face Tony, Joe Namath, and the Thrashers Jets from Winnipeg (6-12). For those of you who are like me and know nothing about geography, Winnipeg is north of North Dakota! Although it is only an hour behind it seems like a bad road trip for the Caps to play a DIVISION game.

The Caps are free falling like Tom Petty and they really need to pick up this win against a team with a poor record. The Jets are an intriguing matchup due to their coach who is a very colorful personality. He curses, he makes bold statements, he loves feet. some guy I've never heard of.

Honestly I'm more excited to see the football Jets game tonight. Not for the Jets but for Tebow. Which game is gonna get the main TV? Will the Broncos even throw a pass?