Chris Gordon

Adam Oates Thinks Alex Ovechkin Should Win the Hart Trophy

On April 16, 2013, In Interview, News, By Chris Gordon

Photo credit: Greg Fiume

Alex Ovechkin is playing very well. He leads the league in goals, has tallied 18 times in his last 16 games, and is the single biggest reason the Washington Capitals are headed to the playoffs. We think he should win the Hart Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s most valuable player. Adam Oates, we now learn, agrees.

“I’m obviously very biased about that,” he told reporters after Washington’s 5-1 win on Tuesday, a game in which Ovechkin scored. “My answer would be yeah, absolutely. Obviously Sidney Crosby is another candidate for sure. He had such a scoring lead. But I think you’ve gotta factor in the fact that he’s missed a lot of games.”

Caps Smack Leafs 5-1; Don’t Hit Nicky!

On April 16, 2013, In Game Recap, By Chris Gordon

Photo credit: Patrick McDermott

Looking to extend their season-high seven game win streak, the Washington Capitals hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night. In a match-up of possible first-round opponents, the Caps came off a shaky ending to their last win and played a game that was anything but against a tired Leafs team.

Jack Hillen scored (when doesn’t he?), Nicky got boarded, the Caps got mad, Erat got his first in red, ~~the Brouwitzer~~ a nice backhand shot was unleashed, Ovi had a scoar, and MoJo hacked one in. Caps smack Leafs 5-1.

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Braden Holtby • Jason Chimera • Jay McClement • Karl Alzner • Marcus Johansson • Martin Erat • Mike Green • Mikhail Grabovski • Nicklas Backstrom • Rene Bourque • Steve Oleksy • Troy Brower

Reasonable Question Makes Jason Chimera Storm Off As Caps Frustrated By Horrid Third Periods

On April 15, 2013, In Interview, News, By Chris Gordon

Tie Game. (Photo credit: Greg Fiume)

The Washington Capitals were leading the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-1 on Saturday night. They ended up winning 6-5 despite a pathetic third period collapse. Afterwards, the players were understandably upset, none moreso than Jason Chimera.

In response to an earnest question about how to mentally handle a late game blow up, Chimera got sassy.

“Sometimes you’re not your best at writing articles,” he said. “You gotta do better next game.”

After a quick back-and-forth, Chimera stormed off to the showers at Verizon Center. Ah, the joys of a winning locker room.

Tagged with: Adam Oates • Florida Panthers • Jason Chimera • Mike Green • Tampa Bay Lightning

Game Over Green: Caps Edge Bolts 6-5 (OT)

On April 13, 2013, In Game Recap, By Chris Gordon

Photo credit: Patrick McDermott

Thursday night against the Hurricanes, the Washington Capitals continued their march up the Eastern Conference standings with some Ovi scoring and Brouwer yelling (what else is new) as they defeated the Carolina Hurricanes. Tonight, they looked to extend their six-game winning streak against another flailing Southeast Division team from more humid parts, the Tampa Bay Lightning. They did. It was fun ’cause the Caps scored a lot of goals, until Tampa did that too.

It started with a Brouwitzer, then a Hillen blast (just kidding), and then some Russian dude with a missing tooth. In the second it was JASON FREAKING CHIMERA, Panik for Tampa, Panik puns for people on Twitter, and a Fehr tap in. The third, as usual, was where the Caps screwed things up, with two St. Louis goals, another for Panik, and one for Purcell. However…

OVERTIME = GAME OVER GREEN.

In the end, there were wings for the people in the stands and two points for the people on the ice. Caps edge Bolts 6-5 (OT).

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Braden Holtby • Eric Fehr • Jack HIllen • Jason Chimera • Marty St. Louis • Mathieu Perrault • Mike Green • Nate Thompson • Richard Panik • Steven Stamkos • Tampa Bay Lightning • Teddy Purcell • Troy Brouwer • Washington Capitals

It’s 2009 Again For Mike Green (Just Don’t Tell Him That)

On April 12, 2013, In Interview, News, By Chris Gordon

Photo credit: Evan Vucci

Alex Ovechkin is doing well lately, in case you haven’t heard. Rejuvenated by his switch to right wing and the power play of new head coach Adam Oates, Ovi has the magic we saw a few years ago, something that had almost disappeared in the last two seasons. It looks like 2009 for someone else too: Mike Green. The 27-year-old defenseman insists, though, that the narrative du jour doesn’t apply to him — or Ovechkin. These are not the old days, but new ones.

“Everyone keeps asking us if we’re back to the old days, but I think we just matured and evolved,” Green told me. “We’ve had to kind of change our game and evolve as players. The other teams had figured out our little schemes before and we had to adapt to it — it just took time.”

Tagged with: Adam Oates • Alex Ovechkin • Mike Green

“I Just Want to Hold Them But I Can’t”: Jack Hillen’s Wife Gives Birth as He Plays a Game 2,000 Miles Away

On April 8, 2013, In Interview, By Chris Gordon

Photo credit: Patrick McDermott

At 7:30 PM, Jack Hillen was stepping onto the ice at an arena just outside Miami. He had chatted with his wife Caitlin, nine months pregnant with their second child, four hours earlier. She was doing well as the couple prepared for the birth of their second child, due on April 17. It was a pedestrian game for the 27-year-old defensemen, playing just under 17 minutes. He was on the ice for one goal in the Washington’s 4-3 win over the Panthers. Outside the visitor’s locker room at BB&T Center, though, Hillen got some news.

“Congratulations, you had a son,” Team Services Manager Ian Anderson told him.

“Oh, you mean she’s in labor?” Hillen responded.

“No, you had a son,” Anderson said.

“That came quickly,” replied Hillen.

“I didn’t know,” Hillen said Sunday night as he stood in front of Alex Ovechkin’s locker at Verizon Center. “I didn’t know.

“What can I say?” he continued. “Everything was fine. I had no idea. It was just a normal day.”

Tagged with: Adam Oates • Jack HIllen

Erik Gudbranson’s Dirty Hit on Martin Erat

On April 6, 2013, In News, Video, By Chris Gordon

Photo credit: Joel Auerbach

He’s been on the ice for less than 20 minutes in a Washington sweater, but the Capitals are once again without Martin Erat. In the latter half of an otherwise boring first period in Sunrise, the Panthers’ Erik Gudbranson decided to liven things up with a dirty hit on Washington’s new forward.

Tagged with: Erik Gudbranson • Martin Erat

Alex Ovechkin Nets Hat Trick, Now NHL’s 2nd-Leading Scorer (Video)

On April 6, 2013, In Video, By Chris Gordon

Photo credit: Eliot J. Schechter

Alex Ovechkin is very good at hockey. He’s been that way for a while. But recently, some people have started to doubt him. Ovi, in turn, has rectified that with 13 goals in 11 games.

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Lots of Goals

Caps Beat Panthers 4-3; Ovechkin Scores Some Goals

On April 6, 2013, In Game Recap, By Chris Gordon

Photo credit: Joel Auerbach

Thursday night, the Washington Capitals moved into a playoff spot for the first time all year, taking over first place in the Southeast Division. Tonight, the Caps fought to defend their position against Miami’s other other other other team, the Florida Panthers. And they did.

OVI SCOAR, RIBEIRO SCOAR, OVI SCOAR, OVI SCOAR (ruined by Hendricks penalty), OVI SCOAR, HATS, Florida goals we don’t care about. Caps beat Cats 4-3.

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Brooks Laich • Joel Ward • Martin Erat • Mike Green • Mike Riberio • Washington Capitals

The Erat Era Begins with 14:43 of Ice Time and Hopes for a Stanley Cup

On April 4, 2013, In Interview, News, By Chris Gordon

Photo Credit: Nick Wass

The Washington Capitals think they have a shot at the Stanley Cup. This season began with a pitiful start under new head coach Adam Oates, but the team is better now. They’re used to his system, they’re healthier, and they’re picking up pieces to help them in the short-term.

“We weren’t going to be sellers,” said George McPhee yesterday. “You never know once you get in. Let’s see what happens.”

“We have a good thing going here,” said Mike Ribeiro. “We know how good we can be.”

“I have complete confidence in the guys in this room,” said Troy Brouwer. “We have the ability in here to make a splash in the playoffs.”

“I want to play for the Stanley Cup,” said Martin Erat. “Washington is one of the places where you have a chance.”

On Thursday, the Caps moved into playoff spot for the first time this season.

Tagged with: George McPhee • Martin Erat • Mike Ribeiro • Troy Brouwer

Russian Machine Never Breaks

Adam Oates Thinks Alex Ovechkin Should Win the Hart Trophy

Caps Smack Leafs 5-1; Don’t Hit Nicky!

Reasonable Question Makes Jason Chimera Storm Off As Caps Frustrated By Horrid Third Periods

Game Over Green: Caps Edge Bolts 6-5 (OT)

It’s 2009 Again For Mike Green (Just Don’t Tell Him That)

“I Just Want to Hold Them But I Can’t”: Jack Hillen’s Wife Gives Birth as He Plays a Game 2,000 Miles Away

Erik Gudbranson’s Dirty Hit on Martin Erat

Alex Ovechkin Nets Hat Trick, Now NHL’s 2nd-Leading Scorer (Video)

Caps Beat Panthers 4-3; Ovechkin Scores Some Goals

The Erat Era Begins with 14:43 of Ice Time and Hopes for a Stanley Cup

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