Game Recap

Done

On May 13, 2013, In Game Recap, Playoffs, By Peter Hassett

Photo credit: Patrick McDermott

The 2012-2013 Washington Capitals are no more. Felled in seven games by Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers, the Caps have done the thinkable: an early-round exit from the playoffs for the fifth straight year. Some will call that a pattern, some will call it a curse. Some will call it karmic justice or the inevitable victory of a superior team over a bunch of preening Eurotrash, but those guys are dicks. Screw them. This is our goodbye, and we’re doing it our way.

Goodnight, sweet Caps. I guess it just wasn’t meant to be.

Rangers beat Caps 1-0: We’re Going to Seven Again

On May 12, 2013, In Game Recap, Playoffs, By Peter Hassett

Photo credit: Scott Levy

We should have known better. We should have been more cynical. We should just have assumed this series was going to seven and enjoy Mother’s Day.

But nooooooo. We watched the Caps play an undisciplined-yet-solid game on enemy ice, giving up five power plays. No one’s saying the Caps are angels, but this is silly. The Rangers did nothing with their big chunk of man-advantage time, but one lucky bounce off Steve Oleksy’s arm made this a perfect afternoon for New York: a shutout without any penalties committed*.

Rangers beat Caps 1-0. Game seven tomorrow night.

Tagged with: New York Rangers • Washington Capitals

Caps beat Ranger 2-1 (OT): Ribeiro Rules!

On May 10, 2013, In Game Recap, Playoffs, By Peter Hassett

Photo credit: Patrick McDermott

Ack. I’m all jammed up like a Phish live record over here. This series is not good for people, plants, or other living things. The corrupted bastardization of hockey the Rangers have foisted upon the Capitals is some perverse thing not spoken of in polite circles. Where’s all the end-to-end action? The shot totals in excess of 40? The goalies giving up goals like Galileo dropped the orange? The Rangers forced the Caps into a constipated brand of hockey that is actually making my back seize up as if I were eating pancakes. Everything is all tensed up, and it goes on way too long. We’re supposed to enjoy it, but it’s really just survival.

The Rangers grabbed a lead in the game’s first minute, putting the entire DMV area’s bowels on red alert, but playoff hero Joel Ward tied it up in the second. The Caps leaned in during the third period, but we headed to overtime anyway– where Mike Ribeiro became a Capitals legend.

Caps beat Rangers 2-1 (Overtime). Caps lead the series 3-2. Sunday is an elimination game for New York.

Tagged with: Mike Ribeiro • New York Rangers • Washington Capitals

Back to Even: Rangers beat Caps 4-3

On May 8, 2013, In Game Recap, Playoffs, By Peter Hassett

Photo credit: Scott Levy

I don’t know how you guys are coping, but I am doing poorly. A playoff series between the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers seems constitutionally incapable of being stress-free. Game three’s penalty problems continued in game four, and the Caps struggled with special teams and other complex ideas such as shooting and passing. The Rangers seemed to be able to summon a lead on a whim, leaving the Caps to mount a comeback pretty much throughout.

Despite the Caps getting better (and more desperate) as the clock wound down, the Rangers won another game on home ice.

Rangers beat Caps 4-3. Series is tied 2-2.

Tagged with: Braden Holtby • Joel Ward • Martin Erat • Mathieu Perreault • New York Rangers • Troy Brouwer • Washington Capitals

Bad Ice and Bad News: Rangers beat Caps 4-3

On May 6, 2013, In Game Recap, Playoffs, By Peter Hassett

Photo credit: Bruce Bennett

Game three of the quarterfinal series between the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers was an opportunity for a statement. The Capitals could have played just as they had last week and put NYR in a headlock. That didn’t happen. Instead, the Capitals got drawn into a quagmire on rocky ice– a penalty-punctuated, back-and-forth battle that they could not win despite dominating the even-strength game.

Rangers beat Capitals 4-3. Capitals still lead the series 2-1.

Tagged with: Jack HIllen • Mike Green • New York Rangers • Nick Backstrom • Washington Capitals

GAME OVER GREEN! Caps beat Rangers 1-0 (OT)

On May 4, 2013, In Game Recap, Playoffs, By Peter Hassett

Gorgeous pic by Greg Fiume

Hockey hypertension. The Washington Capitals and New York Rangers played a high-tension matinee game that had everyone watching in conniption fits. Superb performances by goalies Henrik Lundqvist and Braden Holtby kept the game scoreless through regulation despite some dazzling chances at both ends. I’m trying to think of a non-cliched way to say we were on the edge of our seats, but I’m way too wrapped up in this to be clever right now.

Braden Holtby refused all offers, and the Capitals dominated overtime until Mike Green ended it on the power play.

Caps beat Rangers 1-0 (Overtime). Caps lead the series 2-0.

Tagged with: Braden Holtby • Mike Green • New York Rangers • Washington Capitals

Caps beat Rangers 3-1: Holtby Back in Playoff Mode!

On May 2, 2013, In Game Recap, Playoffs, By Peter Hassett

Photo credit: Greg Fiume

Oh god. Oh god. Oh. God.

I’m a bit wrapped up in the Washington Capitals this year. I thought I’d be cool, analyzing the game with the sober distance of an expert, but I’m not that at all. I’m a basket case, and I bet I’m not alone. It’s the gosh-darn playoffs, and the Caps are off to a hot start.

Washington bombarded NYR goalie Henrik Lundqvist in the first period, but the Rangers somehow got the early lead anyway. The Caps didn’t change their style though and responded with three goals in the second period. Holtby withstood an enfilade in the third and earned a wonderful game-one win.

Caps beat Rangers 3-1. Caps lead series 1-0. Boom!

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Braden Holtby • Carl Hagelin • Jason Chimera • Marcus Johansson • New York Rangers • Washington Capitals

RAZOR’S DOWN! Caps beat Bruins 3-2 (OT): Alex Ovechkin Wins the Rocket Richard (Almost Certainly)

On April 27, 2013, In Game Recap, By Peter Hassett

Photo credit: Patrick McDermott

Woohoo! Final game of the season. A month and a half ago, I thought this would be the last one I’d cover before the summer, but then Ovechkin happened. Now, the Boston Bruins at Washington Capitals game was just a meaningless little preamble to the real dance, which starts next week.

Let’s do a loose recap. Looch got a lucky one off Alzner’s skates, then he screened Holtby on Ference’s goal. Then, Mike Green 2009 warged into Mike Green 2013 and scored back-to-back power play goals. The Caps killed some late-game penalties and forced overtime, where Eric Fehr finished off the regular season with a little goal so greasy you could lubricate your engine with it if that’s a thing you knew how to do.

Caps beat Bruins 3-2 (Overtime).

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Boston Bruins • Eric Fehr • Mike Green • Washington Capitals

Senators beat Caps 2-1 (OT) Because Mike Ribeiro

On April 25, 2013, In Game Recap, By Peter Hassett

Check out the Hendyface! (Photo credit: Patrick McDermott)

I was expecting some kind of letdown after the Washington Capitals ensured themselves a playoff spot on Tuesday, but dude. Thursday’s game against the Ottawa Senators wasn’t bad by any stretch, but it didn’t carry the same gravitas now that the Caps are locked in third place. Erik Karlsson’s unlikely return to service was heartening for pure hockey fans, but it’s way too late in the season for us to muster up that kind of neighborliness. Besides, it’s totally possible this is the team the Caps will have to face in the playoffs, so we should probably get the enmity brewing now.

Karlsson got one, then Ovi got one. Then overtime, where ex-Cap Sergei Gonchar won it all because Mike Ribeiro is a liability.

Sens beat Caps 2-1. Ottawa makes the playoffs.

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Erik Karlsson • Michal Neuvirth • Ottawa Senators • Washington Capitals

Caps beat Jets 5-3, Make the Playoffs, Win Southeast Division

On April 23, 2013, In Game Recap, By Peter Hassett

MVP. (Photo credit: Patrick McDermott)

And so we said goodnight to the Southeast Division. With one last dance between the Washington Capitals and the Winnipeg Jets (née Atlanta Thrashers), the stakes were a division title and a guaranteed ticket to the postseason dance for the home team. It was a barn-burning good time, which doesn’t sound like a good time if you own a barn but you don’t so it was. The Capitals came out of the gates shooting and hardly stopped to catch their breath. All four lines were clicking, and that’s exactly the kind of hockey we want to see one week before the playoffs start.

Alex Ovechkin is the best.

Caps beat Jets 5-3. The Capitals make the playoffs. The Capitals are Southeast Division champions.

Tagged with: Atlanta Thrashers • Jason Chimera • John Erskine • Matt Hendricks • Washington Capitals • Winnipeg Jets

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Russian Machine Never Breaks

Done

Rangers beat Caps 1-0: We’re Going to Seven Again

Caps beat Ranger 2-1 (OT): Ribeiro Rules!

Back to Even: Rangers beat Caps 4-3

Bad Ice and Bad News: Rangers beat Caps 4-3

GAME OVER GREEN! Caps beat Rangers 1-0 (OT)

Caps beat Rangers 3-1: Holtby Back in Playoff Mode!

RAZOR’S DOWN! Caps beat Bruins 3-2 (OT): Alex Ovechkin Wins the Rocket Richard (Almost Certainly)

Senators beat Caps 2-1 (OT) Because Mike Ribeiro

Caps beat Jets 5-3, Make the Playoffs, Win Southeast Division

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