News

Shanabanned: Nicklas Backstrom Suspended One Game

On April 17, 2012, In News, By Ana Hansen

Photo credit: Jim Wilt

Nicklas Backstrom has been suspended one game for a cross-check to the head of Rich Peverley in the third period of the Caps 4-3 loss to the Bruins this Monday. Backstrom received a match penalty for this cross-check at the time, which comes with an automatic one-game suspension pending review by the NHL front office.

Review it they did, and VP of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan has ruled that the suspension will stand. Backstrom will miss Game 4 on Thursday, the second of two home games in Washington DC. The Caps are currently down 2-1 to the Bruins for the series, and will have a chance to even the series, though that chance has just gotten significantly more difficult with arguably their best player sitting out.

You can watch Brendan Shanahan’s suspension video below the jump. Make sure there is nothing breakable nearby.

Backstrom Given Match Penalty, Faces Possible Suspension

On April 17, 2012, In News, Playoffs, Video, By Chris Gordon

10:23 p.m. was not a good time for the Washington Capitals on Monday. That’s when the clock hit zero, putting the Caps down 2-1 in their best of seven quarterfinal matchup with the Bruins. But it was also what happened after the whistle that could haunt the team’s postseason chances.

As the final seconds ticked off and the Caps dropped the game 4-3, Boston’s Rich Peverley and Alex Ovechkin got into a scuffle. Coming to the aid of his buddy, Nicklas Backstrom delivered a cross-check up high on the Bruins forward. That’s when the inconsistent officiating of this series — and these playoffs as a whole — once again reared its head. For his infraction — the third called against him in the game — Backstrom was assessed a match penalty.

The video is after the jump.

Tagged with: Boston Bruins • Claude Julien • Dale Hunter • Henrik Zetterberg • Nicklas Backstrom • Rich Peverley • Shea Weber • Washington Capitals

Here’s Your Schedule for Capitals-Bruins ECQF

On April 8, 2012, In News, Playoffs, By Peter Hassett

Fresh off the presses!

THURSDAY, APRIL 12	7:30 P.M.	AT BOSTON	NBCSN/CSN
SATURDAY, APRIL 14	3 P.M.	        AT BOSTON	NBC
MONDAY, APRIL 16        7:30 P.M.	AT WASHINGTON	NBCSN/CSN
THURSDAY, APRIL 19	7:30 P.M.	AT WASHINGTON	NBCSN/CSN
SATURDAY, APRIL 21	3 P.M.	        AT BOSTON	NBC
SUNDAY, APRIL 22        TBD	        AT WASHINGTON	TBD
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25	TBD	        AT BOSTON	TBD

Instant reactions anyone? Looks like the Caps and Bruins are the only teams to have back-to-backs this round.

Tagged with: Boston Bruins • Washington Capitals

Evgeny Kuznetsov Waves Goodbye To Traktor Fans

On April 6, 2012, In Caps Prospect, News, Video, By Chris Gordon

The Evengy Kuznetsov saga continues. After making comments to Russian television indicating he wanted to remain in Russian next season and then backtracking, the time for Kuznetsov to make his decision has come. Kuzya’s KHL team, Traktor Chelyabinsk, was eliminated from the playoffs in the Eastern Conference Finals in five games. He had two goals and two assists in the series.

He now has two options: sign Traktor’s qualifying offer worth around $1.5 million per year with the possibility of receiving an unknown KHL stipend or bolt to the NHL and sign an NHL entry level contact worth a maximum of $925,000 a season plus possible signing and performance bonuses. There are also outside factors likely to be at play — Kuznetsov was married last year and moving to America would be a big step for the 20-year-old non-English speaker. Kuznetsov is a part of the Russian national team so we likely won’t know anything until after the World Championships, taking place in Helsinki and Stockholm throughout May.

Tagged with: Evgeny Kuznetsov • KHL • Traktor Chelyabinsk

#AvsFailWatch Comes To An End

On April 6, 2012, In News, By Ana Hansen

No playoffs for Varly. Sad Varly. (Photo via: carrotbazooka.tumblr.com)

The day before Semyon Varlamov was traded, all indications were that he was headed to the KHL. When news broke that he’d been traded to the Colorado Avalanche for a first and a second-round pick, we were a bit surprised. It was a great trade for what had been essentially a dead asset, but still, there was a point in the season when we had to wonder if the Caps’ own first-round pick wouldn’t end up being higher than Colorado’s.

Now with only one game remaining in the season, both the Caps’ and the Avs’ fates have finally been decided. As of Thursday night, Colorado is mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, which means that #AvsFailWatch has officially come to an end, and the Capitals can finally start to get an idea of what shape the assets they hold are going to take.

Tagged with: #AvsFailWatch • Semyon Varlamov • Washington Capitals

Another Day, Another Goalie Injury as Neuvirth Injures Leg

On April 6, 2012, In Injury, Interview, News, By Chris Gordon

Photo credit: Mitchell Layton

Remember that possible goalie controversy? Well now there’s a new problem in the crease — and it isn’t pretty. After Tomas Vokoun re-injured his groin last week in Boston, the Caps have been forced to rely on Michal Neuvirth and call-up Braden Holtby. That’s not so bad considering Vokoun’s play before the setback. It’s Neuvy who’s hurt now, suffering a possibly devastating leg injury a quarter of the way into the second period Thursday night.

Tagged with: Braden Holtby • Dany Sabourin • Dmitry Kulikov • Florida Pathers • Hershey Bears • Marco Sturn • Michal Neuvirth • Philipp Grubauer • Tomas Vokoun • Troy Brouwer

Alex Ovechkin Advances Player Safety With New Concussion-Preventing Helmet

On April 5, 2012, In News, By Ana Hansen

Photo credit: Bruce Bennett

Concussions have become the topic du jour around the NHL in the last few years, and for very good reason. Nearly a hundred cases of head trauma have been recorded just this season, and with Caps star Nicklas Backstrom missing forty games with concussion the issue has now hit DC fans closer to home. Despite his highly physical style of play, Alex Ovechkin has managed to avoid concussion so far in his career. Still, he hasn’t been ignoring the epidemic, and for several months Ovechkin has been testing Bauer’s new trauma-preventative RE-AKT helmet. It’s now being worn by several other Bauer-sponsored NHL stars, but Ovechkin was the first to agree to test the RE-AKT — even before Backstrom’s incident with Rene Bourque.

We spoke to C.J. Ficek, Bauer’s Product Manager for Helmets to find out more about the helmet and Ovi’s decision to wear it.

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Bauer • Claude Giroux • Concussions • Nicklas Backstrom • Rene Bourque • Steven Stamkos

Tuesday Night Hockey Did Not Go Well For the Caps

On April 3, 2012, In News, By Peter Hassett

Photo credit: Bill Wippert

The Caps wasted a chance to climb the standings with Monday night’s loss to the Lightning, but we held out hope that our rivals– Buffalo (9th place), Ottawa (7th), and Florida (3rd)– would have crummy nights on Tuesday.

That did not happen.

Tagged with: Buffalo Sabres • Florida Panthers • New York Rangers • Toronto Maple Leafs • Washington Capitals • Winnipeg Jets

Matt Hendricks: The Not So Secret Weapon

On April 1, 2012, In News, Video, By Chris Gordon

Photo credit: Greg Fiume

The surprise is that there was no surprise.

With the Washington Capitals and Montreal Canadiens locked at two as the clock hit zero in overtime, Matt Hendricks got ready to take the ice for the shootout. The fourth liner, not one of the highly skilled Russians or Nicklas Backstrom in his grand return, was set to shoot first in the most important gimmick of season — that is, if you don’t count the one 48 hours ago. And once again Hendricks made the moves you know by heart: fake, leg lift, deke, deke, wrist shot, score. Eight goals, 12 opportunities, one move.

Tagged with: Matt Hendricks • Montreal Canadiens • Peter Budaj • Washington Capitals

Nicklas Backstrom is Back, Will Play Against Montreal

On March 31, 2012, In News, By Ian Oland

Photo credit: The Washington Post

On January 3rd, the Capitals beat the Calgary Flames 3-1, but suffered a huge loss, losing team MVP Nicklas Backstrom indefinitely due to a concussion. The head injury and subsequent symptoms forced Backstrom out for three months, but finally, after 40 games, the Capitals are about to get a huge boost.

Why? Because Backstrom’s back, baby! The 24-year-old Swede will return against Montreal tonight and retake his normal spot on the first line, centering Alex Ovechkin and Marcus Johansson.

Tagged with: Montreal Canadiens • Nicklas Backstrom • Rene Bourque • Washington Capitals

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A pretty rowdy hockey blog all about the Washington Capitals and some Russian dudes: Alex Ovechkin, Alex Semin, and Dmitry Orlov

Shanabanned: Nicklas Backstrom Suspended One Game

Backstrom Given Match Penalty, Faces Possible Suspension

Here’s Your Schedule for Capitals-Bruins ECQF

Evgeny Kuznetsov Waves Goodbye To Traktor Fans

#AvsFailWatch Comes To An End

Another Day, Another Goalie Injury as Neuvirth Injures Leg

Alex Ovechkin Advances Player Safety With New Concussion-Preventing Helmet

Tuesday Night Hockey Did Not Go Well For the Caps

Matt Hendricks: The Not So Secret Weapon

Nicklas Backstrom is Back, Will Play Against Montreal

Ian Oland

Peter Hassett

Chris Gordon

Igor Kleyner

Fedor Fedin

Doug Johnson and Craig Brownstein

Ana Hansen

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