Playoffs

Here’s Your Stanley Cup Playoffs Quarterfinal Schedule

On April 28, 2013, In Playoffs, By Peter Hassett

Remember when we didn’t even think there’d be a season this year? Remember when we though the Caps would miss the playoffs? Silly us.

The NHL has finally released the schedule for the first round of the playoffs between the Caps and the New York Rangers. The series doesn’t start until Thursday.

Thursday, May 2 7:30 p.m. NY Rangers at Washington

Saturday, May 4 12:30 p.m. NY Rangers at Washington

Monday, May 6 7:30 p.m. Washington at NY Rangers

Wednesday, May 8 7:30 p.m. Washington at NY Rangers

*Friday, May 10 7:30 p.m. NY Rangers at Washington

*Sunday, May 12 TBD Washington at NY Rangers

*Monday, May 13 TBD NY Rangers at Washington

(* if needed)

Game on.

UPDATE: The Caps have provided broadcast info below.

The Freaking New York Rangers– Again

On April 28, 2013, In Analysis, Playoffs, By Peter Hassett

Photo credit: Greg Fiume

Saturday night revealed the Capitals’ playoff foe, and that foe is really, really familiar.

The New York Rangers locked up the 6-seed and will be headed to Washington early this week to begin the quarterfinal round. This will be the seventh time the teams have met and the third time RMNB will have written about a WSH-NYR series. The John Tortorella Rangers are a shot-blocking, workaday-type crew– but this year they’ve added convincing possession to the mix (they’re ranked sixth in unblocked shot attempts at even strength when the score is close). The Rangers may be a better match-up for the Caps than the Senators (whose Craig Anderson posted the best goalie stats this year) and the Isles (whose John Tavares is a convincing young star), but the Rags are no slouch either.

If you’re already anxious, you’re not alone. But this is the playoffs, where the gentle hum of anxiety is your stalwart dance partner.

Tagged with: Adam Oates • John Tortorella • New York Rangers • Washington Capitals

George McPhee Rages as Caps Squander Late Game Seven PP

On May 13, 2012, In Playoffs, Video, By Ian Oland

Photo credit: @matt71royer

We learned a week ago that Washington Capitals General Manager George McPhee can get quite animated during games. During the third period of Game Seven, McPhee’s emotions boiled over late while the Caps power play sputtered.

The Capitals trailed from the onset, but they suffered what seemed to be a death blow when Michael Del Zotto rifled a shot past Braden Holtby to put the Rangers up 2-0 with 9:55 to go in the final frame. A goal from Roman Hamrilk gave the team life just 38 seconds later, and then the Capitals got a gift: Ruslan Fedotenko‘s delay-of-game penalty.

But instead of converting the man advantage, the Caps squandered it in an embarrassing fashion, setting up shorthanded chances for the Rangers and spending most of their time stuck in their own zone. The low point was when one of the Caps attempted a dangerous no-look pass that nearly ended up in their own net.

CBC caught McPhee in the rafters watching the mess. He was — uh — unhappy.

Tagged with: Game 7 • George McPhee • New York Rangers • Washington Capitals

The End of the Road

On May 12, 2012, In Game Recap, Playoffs, By Peter Hassett

Photo credit: Paul Bereswill

The Washington Capitals played their season on the edge of a knife. After losing Bruce Boudreau and picking up Dale Hunter in November, the Caps adopted a style of play that yielded smaller margins of victory, but more rarely imploded spectacularly.

Tonight the Capitals lost their final coin toss.

Tagged with: New York Rangers • Washington Capitals

Caps Fans Are Ready for Game Seven

On May 12, 2012, In Photos, Playoffs, Video, By Ian Oland

Samuel Miller’s pump-up video for Game Seven. Goosebumps!

Tonight, the Washington Capitals will try to do what they so awesomely did to Boston 17 days ago: knock off a higher-seed in their own barn. If the Caps manage to beat the Rangers in Game Seven, they’ll advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 14 years. And just like a few weeks ago, Caps fans are doing whatever they can to send up their good karma to the Big Apple.

Tagged with: Anthony Stewart • Game 7 • New York Rangers • Washington Capitals

New York Post Thinks the Rangers Won the Series

On May 10, 2012, In Photos, Playoffs, By Ana Hansen

Photo via: Bruce Arthur

The Rangers have been advertising for Eastern Conference Finals tickets since before Game Five, but apparently that just wasn’t a big enough jinx for New Yorkers, they wanted to see if they could top it.

Tagged with: Jinxy Jinxes • New York Rangers

Despite Success, The Goalie Guild’s Justin Goldman Advises Caps Fans to Be Patient With Braden Holtby

On May 10, 2012, In Guest Post, Opinion, Playoffs, By Russian Machine Never Breaks

Ed. Note: Justin Goldman is the founder of The Goalie Guild, an independent goalie scouting service and overall resource for all things professional goaltending. He’s written for NHL.com, been interviewed by Stephen Whyno, and knows more about goaltending than everyone in this blog put together. Check out his story below and make sure to check out his site. Padtracker is the best.

Caps Fans:

I’m writing this note during Game 6, because regardless of whether he wins or loses, my message remains the same.

You have a very special young goaltender in Braden Holtby.

For his age, he is very polished, composed, and adaptable. In fact, when I break down his game at the elemental level, I come to find that he has many positives, and very few negatives.

Most of you are keen enough to see this with your own two eyes. It’s just the way he moves in the crease, the body language he displays. The statistical results act as the perfect “visual proof” most of us need to argue that he has a very bright future.

Tagged with: Braden Holtby • Justin Goldman • The Goalie Guild

In a Break from the Past, Caps Are Resilient in Playoffs

On May 10, 2012, In Interview, Opinion, Playoffs, By Chris Gordon

Photo credit: Patrick McDermott

Photo credit: Mitchell Layton

The Capitals had they backs against the wall Wednesday in Game 6, down 3-2 in the series after dropping Monday’s game in heartbreaking fashion. For this team, during this year, that was nothing unusual. Their head coach was fired in November. They were on track to miss the playoffs late in the season. But they beat the defending Stanley Cup champions in the first round. And they just pushed the number one seed to a final, deciding game in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

“Everyone would like it to be smooth sailing all the time, but it’s just not the way it works around here and the way it works in the playoffs,” John Carlson, nestled in a corner of Washington’s locker room, told reporters. “I think everyone is paying the price for each other. I think everybody is sacrificing, doing what it takes, whether it’s playing, whether it’s not playing, whether it’s chipping the puck out instead of trying to stick handle, whether it’s getting the puck deep — everyone’s committed and knows when they look left, look right, look across that people want it. If you look in the playoffs right now it’s the best team teams. Teams that work together the best are most successful.”

Tagged with: Dale Hunter • John Carlson • Karl Alzner • Washington Capitals

Photo: Rangers Fans Sit Alone In VC Cheap Seats After Loss

On May 9, 2012, In Photos, Playoffs, By Ian Oland

We’ve never seen a more beautiful photo. Thanks for sending it over, @abeeatsrocks!

Tagged with: Bummin • Rangers Fans

Alex Ovechkin Almost Scores From Seated Position on Ice

On May 9, 2012, In Playoffs, Video, By Ian Oland

Photo credit: @granthpaulsen

Alex Ovechkin was feeling good tonight, with an early power-play goal and several other quality scoring chances, including one that rung off the post. He seemed like he might score from anywhere tonight — even from the seat of his pants.

As Ovi carried the puck into the Rangers’ offensive zone with 15 minutes to play in the second period, Ryan McDonagh upended him. Instead of giving up on the play, Ovi twirled around on the ice, regained possession of the puck while doing a 360 degree spin, and rifled what we’re going to call a 60 MPH wristshot on net.. Insane.

Video is below the jump.

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin

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Russian Machine Never Breaks

Here’s Your Stanley Cup Playoffs Quarterfinal Schedule

The Freaking New York Rangers– Again

George McPhee Rages as Caps Squander Late Game Seven PP

The End of the Road

Caps Fans Are Ready for Game Seven

New York Post Thinks the Rangers Won the Series

Despite Success, The Goalie Guild’s Justin Goldman Advises Caps Fans to Be Patient With Braden Holtby

In a Break from the Past, Caps Are Resilient in Playoffs

Photo: Rangers Fans Sit Alone In VC Cheap Seats After Loss

Alex Ovechkin Almost Scores From Seated Position on Ice

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