Playoffs

Dmitry Orlov: “You Don’t Change Horses in Midstream”

On May 9, 2012, In Interview, Playoffs, Translations, By Igor Kleyner

Photo credit: Chris Gordon

As I was wrapping up my chat with Alex Semin just outside Caps locker room at Kettler last Sunday, Dmitry Orlov was just coming off the ice.

While it is official RMNB policy that any time is a good time to interview Dima, I was a bit hesitant to put my recorder in the young Caps defenseman’s face. After all, anybody can understand how frustrating it must be for Dmitry to fulfill his dream of becoming an NHL player — and then to find himself firmly planted in the press box for the duration of the team’s playoff run, even after playing in all but a handful of regular season games since he was called up in late November.

Luckily for me, Dima came to my rescue by initiating the conversation himself. “Come on, interview me,” he said with a wry, but welcoming smile. “I am a forgotten man now. I am not playing, so nobody wants to talk to me!” I didn’t need to be asked twice.

Tagged with: Dmitry Orlov • Washington Capitals

Game Six: This Means Ward!

On May 8, 2012, In Artwork, Opinion, Playoffs, By Peter Hassett

Photo credit: John Tlumacki

The Capitals are back in Washington with a chance to keep their season alive. It didn’t have to be that way. With half a minute left to protect their lead in Game Five, Joel Ward high-sticked Carl Hagelin. The ensuing Rangers powerplay cost the Capitals the lead and the win– and what would have been a veritable chokehold on the series.

After he bested the Bruins in the quarterfinal round, Ward was the target of some vile and feckless trash from Boston fans. After his double-minor penalty led to Monday’s loss, that same pernicious evil erupted from Caps fans as well.

Here are Three True Things:

Joel Ward is not at fault for the team’s loss.
This hate is as rare as it is unacceptable.
Joel Ward is a great hockey player and a great addition to the ’11-’12 Washington Capitals.

Tagged with: Caps in Seven • Carl Hagelin • Joel Ward • Keith Aucoin • Mike Knuble • New York Rangers • This Means Ward • Washington Capitals

Alexander Semin Talks to RMNB about Life, Liberty, and Bryzgalov’s Passion for Space Exploration

On May 8, 2012, In Interview, Playoffs, Translations, By Igor Kleyner

Photo credit: Greg Fiume

Google “enigmatic hockey player,” and your search results will likely be dominated by references to a certain Russian winger of the Washington Capitals –- not the team captain and perennial All-Star Alex Ovechkin, but rather his compatriot Alexander Semin.

Nobody ever accused The Other Alex of lacking the talent to play the game at the highest level, but he does have a reputation for running hot and cold. It’s no wonder no one ever knows exactly what to expect from the twenty-eight-year-old Sibiryak — even though he is currently the longest-serving member of the Capitals. It certainly doesn’t help that the last time you read an interview with Alexander Semin was– well… let’s just say a long time ago.

In an attempt to make a small dent in the shroud of mystery surrounding the Capitals winger, RMNB caught up with Semin at Kettler shortly after Capitals practice on Sunday. Sasha talked to us about playing the new defensive system, compared the two All-Star goalies the Caps have faced in this year Stanley Cup playoffs, and shared his thoughts on the upcoming 10^th anniversary of being drafted by the Capitals.

And did he ever want to be an astronaut, just like Ilya Bryzgalov? Read on!

Tagged with: Alex Semin

Video: Alex Ovechkin Blocks a Shot with his Rump

On May 8, 2012, In Playoffs, Video, By Ana Hansen

Alex Ovechkin has just about every part of his game pulled apart and scrutinized this season, from his leadership to his ice time to his physicality. His attitude has perhaps been criticized more than anything else– arguably with the least amount of basis, but Ovechkin has developed a reputation for not being a “team-first” player.

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Blocked Shot

The New York Rangers Think They Already Won The Series

On May 8, 2012, In News, Playoffs, By Ian Oland

The biggest jinx since the Oil Painting. (Photo credit: Ted Starkey)

On Monday– many, many hours before the Capitals and Rangers took the ice for Game Five– the New York Rangers sent out an email encouraging its fans to buy tickets for the Eastern Conference Finals. But they left out one tiny little detail: they haven’t made the finals yet.

While we understand the need to sell tickets, this overdone graphic — which shows half the team doing a stick salute in Narnia or something, is pompous and ludicrous. The New York Rangers have lost their last two playoff series against the Capitals. You’d think they’d know better.

Tagged with: Eastern Conference Finals • Jinx • New York Rangers • Washington Capitals

Explosive Decompression: Rangers beat Caps 3-2 (OT)

On May 7, 2012, In Game Recap, Playoffs, By Peter Hassett

This guy. (Photo credit: Bruce Bennett)

The Washington Capitals went back to the dimly lit den of sin called Madison Square Garden on Monday night. Against the New York Rangers, with whom they were tied 2-2 in the series, the Caps struggled to muster the offense that had characterized their last couple games, but they did have a little traction on the power play. Unfortunately for them, however, the Rangers had more.

Anton Stralman got a softy on Braden Holtby in a dominant first period for the Rangers. The tide turned in the second period, and Brooks Laich evened it up with a sneaky snap after an offensive-zone faceoff.

John Carlson earned the lead with a barrage of slap shots on a third-period power play. But in the final 20 seconds of the game, Joel Ward’s high-sticking penalty gave Brad Richards the tying goal. With 7 freaking seconds left.

So we went to overtime once more, but it didn’t last long. Marc Staal ended it on the power play. Rangers beat Caps 3-2 (OT).

Tagged with: Brooks Laich • Dennis Wideman • Jay Beagle • Joel Ward • John Carlson • New York Rangers • Washington Capitals

After Hip Surgery, Craig Laughlin Watches Game Five, Rocks Red

On May 7, 2012, In News, Photos, Playoffs, By Ana Hansen

"Even after surgery, he's still rockin' the red! He doesn't miss a beat. #WinItForLocker" (Photo credit: Courtney Laughlin | @courtlaugh22)

Those who follow Craig Laughlin on twitter were probably aware that the Caps announcer was going under the knife today. It’s not a surprise for him, a long-planned hip surgery made necessary by Laughlin’s long hockey career, but the Caps fanbase rallied around him anyway to wish him well.

Laughlin made it clear that he didn’t intend to miss any Caps games, though, even from the hospital. Later in the day he tweeted the above picture, and his daughter tweeted another.

As promised — he didn’t miss a game, and even though we miss his voice on CSN, we’re happy to see him healthy and smiling. Send your well wishes to him on the twitter machine at @Laughlin18, email us, or link your your Get Well Soon cards in the comment section! Scribbles, noodle art, Photoshops, anything that expresses your love for one half of our broadcast team. We’ll post our favorites in this post.

#WinItForLocker

Tagged with: Craig Laughlin • Hip Surgery • Washington Capitals

Dale Hunter’s Game Seven Speech Before Overtime

On May 7, 2012, In Interview, Playoffs, By Ian Oland

Photo credit: Chris Gordon

When Dale Hunter was first hired as Caps head coach, old-time fans of the team assumed #32 would bring his fiery nature behind the bench. Instead, Hunter has been cool, calm, and collected, rarely losing his composure or seeming visibly upset.

Tagged with: Boston Bruins • Dale Hunter • Game 7 • Matt Hendricks • Speech • Washington Capitals

Matt Hendricks Is a Wagon And Proud Of It

On May 7, 2012, In Interview, Playoffs, By Ian Oland

Photo credit: Greg Fiume

After Mike Green rifled a shot past Henrik Lundqvist in the third period, the Capitals had to hold a one-goal lead for almost six minutes to win Game Four. With that in mind, Dale Hunter sent out the Wagons. Washington held the Rangers to only two shots on goal during that stretch — six blocked — and would hold on to win 3-2 and tie the series at 2.

“The Wagons got the job done with the blocked shots at the end,” Mike Green told reporters after the game. “Great team effort.”

So who are these Wagons that Green’s referring to, and what does that even mean? Glad you asked.

Tagged with: Matt Hendricks • The Paraylzer • Wagon • Washington Capitals

New York and the Rangers: Rotten Apple

On May 6, 2012, In Playoffs, Pregame, By Doug Johnson

Photo credit: Movie Vault

Editor’s note: The playoff series gives Caps fans a chance to learn all about our stupid rivals and the exotic (i.e., terrible) places they come from. For the second of their Stanley Cup travelogue series, the PuckBuddys offer “How To Spot A Rangers Fan” and helpfully explain why a trip to Manhattan is only slightly worse than a colonoscopy. Follow @PuckBuddys.

Sometimes literary fiction can teach us something great and truthy. I’m thinking here about timeless classics like “Escape from New York,” “The Stand”, or “I Am Legend” (Will Smith version, duh). In these worlds, Manhattan’s streets are littered with drooling ghouls, shuffling corpses and brainless zombies, with a few rapists tossed in for good measure. The entire island is alternately either a prison or a graveyard, both equally wretched, and always there’s one or two smart people trying desperately to flee, usually to Washington.

Tagged with: New York Rangers • Puck Buddys

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
« Apr
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30	31

Russian Machine Never Breaks Be A Fan On Facebook Follow Us On Twitter

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

Dmitry Orlov: “You Don’t Change Horses in Midstream”

Game Six: This Means Ward!

Alexander Semin Talks to RMNB about Life, Liberty, and Bryzgalov’s Passion for Space Exploration

Video: Alex Ovechkin Blocks a Shot with his Rump

The New York Rangers Think They Already Won The Series

Explosive Decompression: Rangers beat Caps 3-2 (OT)

After Hip Surgery, Craig Laughlin Watches Game Five, Rocks Red

Dale Hunter’s Game Seven Speech Before Overtime

Matt Hendricks Is a Wagon And Proud Of It

New York and the Rangers: Rotten Apple

Ian Oland

Peter Hassett

Chris Gordon

Igor Kleyner

Fedor Fedin

Doug Johnson and Craig Brownstein

Ana Hansen

Blogroll

Archived Posts