This ain't over!

Caps 4 Rangers 0

Forcing a game 6 back at MSG in New York on Sunday. A great game all around but it's best summed up by this -


"Simply sensational!"

We're back!

Wow, has it been a while!

I put this off for a good long while so I would have something to ease myself back into the blogging habit. So we will stick with something in my wheelhouse. Hockey, specifically the NHL playoffs starting tomorrow. Lucky for me the Super fantastic Washington Capitals are back with a tasty 1st round match-up. The New York Rangers.

I'm not going to waste a lot of time repeating what most of the national media has already stated - a long playoff run for the Caps will hinge on the performance of one man.


Yes, Jose (pronounced Yo-Say) I among the naysayers.

But I want, no scratch that, need you to prove me wrong.

Be the man and take us to the promised land


Unlike last year, since their has been no public demand for it, I will not break down each playoff series. Why bother? There are teams I hate and will never root for and you all know it.
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I will, however, implore you to watch one the most special championship playoffs in all of sports. The Stanly Cup playoffs will be on both VS. and NBC his year. I cannot urge you enough to check out whatever game is on and just allow yourself to absorb it all.

Intense, hard-hitting, fast skating, with true grit and all guts, if you don't end up pumping your fists deliriously at some point you are dead.

Watch an entire first round series and then ask yourself, "Are you not entertained?"

Game 7 tonight!

After being pushed to the brink, the Caps have responded with two wins to even the series at three!
Last nights game was great and really embodied the way the team has played since November. I don't want to say too much about it, I'm just giddy right now and really looking forward to being in attendance at the game tonight!

So here is the link to Tarik El-Bashir's story from the Post and some of the pics from the game.

Tonight is your night bro!

It's been a long time coming.The Caps are returning to the playoffs tonight and the anticipation and excitement around the team are at all time highs. I've never seen it like this before. Sure the team has gotten folks in the DC metro area excited before. But never before have they had the whole world watching and following with baited breath. The idea of the Caps getting recognition on a global scale is such a far-fetched idea that I barely know how to comprehend it.

Washington Post beat writer Tarik El-Bashir wrote an excellent story about it this morning. You can read it here.

My memories of bittersweet playoff disappointment still sting. I still get worked up talking about Joe Juneau whiffing on an open net during a penalty shot in triple overtime against the Pens in '95 than watching Petr Nedved stuff one home to kill us a few minutes later. Bastard.

Watching Detroit come storming back in Game 2 of the Finals. A game in which they were down and out after 1 period. Esa Tikkannen missing an empty net goal that may have iced the whole thing. Yeah, they lead to a Detroit sweep I got to see live in DC.

The blood boiling anger in '03 as a talented Caps team, up 2-0 in the series, dropped 4 straight to Tampa bay once they figured out Bruce Cassidy was shit for a coach. As evidenced by his brainless benching of super defender Calle Johanson for journeyman suck-ass Jason Doig, who was exploited repeatedly.

We haven't been back since then. Only one player from those teams remain - Olie Kolzig, who may be spending the post season as back-up.

Gone are former Caps greats - Hunter, Bondra, Konowalchuk, Johanson.

They have been replaced by a team of unbridled energy and youth - Ovechkin, Green, Backstrom, Semin, Backstrom and a talented supporting cast that have come together to do what no team in history had done before. Last place in the conference the day before Thanksgiving to Division Champion on the second to last day of the season. They are confident, dangerous, and ready to sit at the table with the big boys.

Thanks Coach Boudreau.

And it's infectious, not only did it spread around the DC area, soon it crossed the border north to Canada, then across the ocean to Sweden, Russia and other European nations.

I've never seen that before from this team. True most of the attention spawned from Alex Ovechkin and his quest for 60 goal, but as Alex rose up, he made sure to take the team with him.
The trade deadline brought in three new faces - Cooke, Fedorov, Huet. Cooke is physical and has played his tail off in every game he's played. Fedorov has been rejuvenated, winning somewhere around 70% of his faceoffs, tossing crisp passes around the ice and the occasional timely goal. And Huet? Well, when we couldn't afford to lose a game, he didn't. Reeled off 9 in a row. Ties the franchise record.

The Caps have been around for 30 years. But not like this. They were NEVER like this. Last Saturday Verizon center was a level of loud that I don't think I've ever heard before, I was there for the cup run in '98.

I'm excited for this team in way I've not been in a very long time. Go to a game, watch on TV and try to tell me you don't feel it. They believe, we believe and starting tonight it's time to make the rest of the league believe.

Don't Stop... Believing!

Yeah, I know, that song sucks ass, but for some reason the kids on the Caps have adopted it as their theme music for the season.

After last nights super thrilling 4-1 win over Carolina I'm willing to not say that to their faces.

2 Games left, tied for 1st place. TIED for 1st! In case you missed it we were dead last in October and managed to climb to 14th by Novemeber before Glen Hanlon was tossed out for Bruce Boudreau. Since then things have been golden.

Last night's game wasn't just about Ovechkin, sure he scored a sweet goal to ice the game but Matt Cooke played his ass off. Brooks Laich continued his outstanding season by going forhand to backhand on a sweet pass from Tomas Fleischmann. Old man Fedorov with 2 assists, budding superstar Mike Green 2 assists and Christobal Huet being clutch when he had to be.

In short it was a total team vicorty.

Consider this, who was it who opened the game with a big hit at mid ice? That would be the Russian sniper Alexander Semin, not exactly known as a physical force across the league.

And who rushed to his goalie's defense when Eric Staal took an extra whack with his stick? Ovechkin.

The Caps were fired up and played the most complete team game I've seen in a while. And they picked the perfect night to do it. In a packed house that was a sea of red and louder than I've heard them in years. Sadly, I wasn't in attendance. BUt I'll be there when the puck drops on Saturday.

Tonight Carolina play Tampa Bay, in a game they were hoping wouldn't matter. Now it matter more than they thought possible.

Reality check time - We havn't won anything yet. Two games to go and a lot can still happen but I'm optimistic, hope is alive in DC and we're painting this town red wheather they know it or not.
Oh and I by the way, Carolina head coach Peter Laviolette's explosion on the bench was hysterical. I don't care if he had a point or not.

Feeling conflicted...

So it's the first week of April and baseball season is underway, time for my Padres to star on the long road to September showdowns and defeats of the Dodgers to my my heart sing all summer long.

Except...

The Caps are still playing. My Caps, are in the hunt!

I can't remember the last time the baseball and hockey overlap actually mattered. OK, so maybe I can, it's been five years. Five long years since the Caps even got a whiff of the post-season. Not only are they close but the excitement is incredible. Hockey fans can't help but get swept up in the energy being created by this team. You just want to be a part of it all.

Which brings us to tonights showdown - Carolina is in town tonight to play the Caps. They hold a two point lead on us, two points that we can make up tonight!
Basically, the Caps need to win all three games this week to have a shot at making it. Assuming that we do that, we still need one of the teams ahead of to stumble so we can pass and slip in. My God, the idea of the playoffs is so sweet.

Anyone who doesn't think the Caps would be dangerous over a best of seven series is deluding themselves. The Eastern Conference in not dominated by one team, if we make it, we can spoil things for a few teams. Can you imagine Ovechkin getting to play on that kind of stage? Anyone who hasn't seen how good he is would become an instant fan.

But first things first - We need to win tonight; in regulation - tonight is HUGE!

Oh yeah, and as for my Padres - Jake was Jake.

Not only did he shut the Astros hitters down for 7 strong innings, and helped his cause by driving in two runs off Roy Oswalt.
Yeah, that's right, our Cy Young award winning pitcher can use the stick too.

So I'll be keeping checking in on the Pads, but my Caps have my attention right now and I wouldn't be to upset if they got to keep it for several more weeks.

Caps keep Climbing!

After a sweet 4-2 victory over the Nashville Predators, the Caps have climbed to 9th place in the Eastern Conference standings. We now stand 2 points behind Philadelphia for the 8th spot, but we also move 3 points away from Carolina for the Division lead, which would be very sweet!

Ovechkin turned out another 3pt night including an empty net goal, his 58th of the season, on a bank shot of the boards at mid-ice, pretty sweet stuff.
Christobal Huet continues to be simply sensational in for the Caps. The guy makes the crucial saves at the right moment. We need to reign this man. He will backstop us to many a victory.

Tonight we faceoff in Chicago against a dangerous Blackhawks club. Meanwhile we'll be keeping an eye on TB vs. Buffalo and Carolina vs. Atlanta

C-A-P-S CAPS CAPS CAPS!

Not Dead yet....

OV scores #55 and then with 1 minute and 56 second left in the third period blasts #56 from the point on a crucial power play to win the game!

7 pts behind Carolina for the division but only 5 pts behind Philadelphia for the final playoff spot, I'll take either one gladly.

Congrats to Olaf Kolzig who collected career win #300. Well done sir, you picked a good night to do it!

Capital Offense!

Monday night was the first night I've had the chance to make it into DC for some live Caps action, my boys didn't disappoint!

Words can't really describe so I'll include video - LOVE IT!

Ovechkin is simply amazing, probably the greatest player I've ever had the privilege to see live and in person. Take into account that when I saw Gretzkey and Lemiuex they were at the tail ends of their respective and impressive careers.

Enjoy the the video, being there was even more fun! Thanks David!

The playoff payoff?

My beloved Washington Capitals have made a bold statement, 'the playoffs are within our reach and we are going to give it everything we have'.

Yesterday was the NHL trade deadline, it's practically a holiday to die hard NHL fans and teams basically announce to their fan base whether they are throwing in the towel for the season or if they plan to make sure you pay attention the rest of the way out. The Caps want you to pay attention and they aren't asking, they are demanding it.

4 trades of significance for the team and not much in the way of assets lost, George McPhee has done a masterful job of giving his team a legitimate shot at playoff birth. Weather that is secureing a spot in the at the bottom of the 8 seeds or claiming the division lead and leap-frogging their way to the 3rd seed remains to be seen.

A quick examination - Matt Pettinger sent to Vancouver for Matt Cooke. Mostly a contract swap dictated by Matt's struggles this season. If Cooke makes a good impression he could be resigned but in the short term will bring some fiestyness to the line-up.

A prospect swap with Atlanta, we send them Joe Motzko for Alexandre Giroux, who we had in the organization last season. I feel like there is something going on that I don't know about here, like why did we let Giroux go if we liked him this much. I liked Motzko but guess this has to be considered and even-steven trade.

Sergei Fedorov from Columbus for prospect Theo Ruth. Ruth was our second round pick last season but his stock has fallen - projected to be a 5th or 6th D-man, meaning he was very expendable. Fedorov is past his prime but he's not being asked to lead the team in scoring so he should be a great addition to the club, plus he is looking to impress heading into free agency this summer. Here is to hoping the three time cup winner has enough left in the tank for another go around.

Finally, what had to be one of the most shocking trades I've seen in a while - Montreal send us Christobal Huet, their #1 netminder for a 2nd round draft pick in 2009. Yeah, 2009 that is really not anytime soon. This is a steal and a half. But it does cause a stir in that the team decided to keep both Olie Kolzig and Brent Johnson. Can you say 'awkward'?
I like both Kolzig and Johnson, however, in my opinion Huet is the goaltender we need to keep. I don't want to shove Olie out the door, and Johnson is a great back-up so I don't know what the Caps will do this summer, but Huet could be the bridge we need so our very young goalie prospects can develop. I've been impressed with Huet since his days with the Kings when I would go to Staples Center and tell the fans their that he was better than there actual #1 at the time Roman Checkmanek - guess who was right? Me! So I was stupefied when LA traded him to Montreal, but at least there he got his chance and took the job from Jose Theodore and earned a trip to the all-star game last year. Plus the dude is French, not French-Canadian but French French, as like from Paris! How often do you see that? Impressive.

So what will happen with this new three-headed monster in goal? Who knows, but if it helps us makes the playoffs and maybe a nice run deep into the spring, I dnn't think too many folks will be complaining about it.

Oh yeah, and the Caps put together a very nice 4-1 last night over Minnesota, with Kolzig looking like a goalie who knows he needs to stay sharp to keep his #1 spot. Competition can be a wonderful thing. Congrats to Brooks Laich on a career night - 4 points (2 goal 2 assists)

Lets keep it up boys!

Back from nowhere.

Just a quick hit for today. After an outstanding overtime winner (goal netted by Mike Green) the Caps are back in first! Here's to hoping it's lasts longer than two days :)

So freaking good!

Alexander Ovechkin is simply one of the most explosive players I've ever seen and he was pure dynamite last night.

Here are a couple of links to some nice newspaper coverage. I'll try to post some video once I find something decent looking. Read here and here

Enjoy!

Because it's so rare, yet so sweet!

Kolzig was pretty bad in this game but stopped them when it counted most. Beating Pittsburgh is oh-so sweet!

Ovie and the boys continue to climb in the standings!