Joel Ward

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

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

The Capitals’ Bench Celebrates Joel Ward’s Series-Winning Goal

On April 25, 2012, In GIF, Photos, Playoffs, By Ana Hansen

Photo credit: Elsa

Here’s how the Caps celebrated Joel Ward’s series-ending overtime goal. Follow us past the jump for a massive GIF.

Tagged with: Game 7 • Joel Ward • Washington Capitals

Video: Joel Ward Scores Game Seven Overtime Goal

On April 25, 2012, In Playoffs, Video, By Ian Oland

Photo credit: Brian Babineau

Joel Ward was a playoff hero for Nashville last year, leading the league in postseason goals at one point in the first round and ending with better than a point per game.

That grit and clutch goal-scoring was why General Manager George McPhee outbid a number of other teams to sign Ward in the summer to an expensive 4-year, $12 million contract.

In the regular season, however, things didn’t go as planned. Ward was benched one game for missing a meeting, scratched several games for poor play, and managed to tally just six goals. It was the worst offensive season of his career– though he spent most of it assigned as a fourth liner.

But Joel Ward’s play in the regular season isn’t what got him glory in Nashville. And it’s not what just put him in Capitals’ record books forever.

Tagged with: Boston Bruins • Dale Hunter • Game 7 • Joel Ward • Sergei Federov • Washington Capitals

CRASH THE NET: Caps beat Bruins 2-1 (OT), Advance to Conference Semifinals

On April 25, 2012, In Game Recap, Playoffs, By Peter Hassett

Photo credit: Elsa

Game Seven. You know the deal.

Jason Chimera dropped the puck to John Carlson, who fired a shot that Matt Hendricks tipped in. Tyler Seguin dove to knock in a loose puck behind Braden Holtby to tie the game heading into the third period. The game went into overtime.

And then it happened. You knew it would. Mike Knuble crashed the net and Joel Ward swept in the rebound. Caps beat Bruins 2-1 (OT).

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Boston Bruins • gay sev • Joel Ward • Mike Knuble • Tim Thomas • Washington Capitals

Mike Knuble on Game 7: “One Game and Somebody’s Going Home”

On April 24, 2012, In Playoffs, Transcription, By Ana Hansen

Kanoobs celebrates his Game 5 goal. (Photo credit: Bruce Bennett)

After being scratched for the first three games of the Caps’ first round series against Boston, 39-year-old Mike Knuble was inserted into the lineup for Game Four and hasn’t been taken out since. The fan-favorite right wing even scored in the third period of Game Five to help the Capitals take a 3-2 lead in the series. Knuble has always been reliable for the Caps in the postseason — he’s scored 5 goals in 16 career playoff games for the Capitals and has 28 points in 57 career playoff games. The 16-year NHL veteran has also won a Stanley Cup and played in three Game Sevens, which is something not many players on the Caps roster can say.

So what should we expect to see in the deciding game on Wednesday? In an interview with DC101′s Elliot in the Morning, Knuble talks about Braden Holtby, tuning out the Bruins’ trash-talk, and Ovechkin’s limited ice time in Game Three.

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Boston Bruins • Braden Holtby • Dale Hunter • Joel Ward • Washington Capitals

Caps Beat Isles 3-2 (OT), Ovi’s OTGWG IS FTW

On February 28, 2012, In Game Recap, By Ana Hansen

Screengrab by: @recordsandradio

If I had told you in October that a late-February game against the Islanders would be one of the most important games of the season, you would have laughed yourself sick. This one was big, though. All of them will be from now on. The Caps hung in there, didn’t stop fighting, tied up the game in the most completely improbable fashion possible — and then they won. You might not have seen that one coming.

Josh Bailey glided right through a defensive breakdown and scored the first goal. Matt Moulson deflected a long shot in front of Neuvirth to make it 2-0. Brouwer scored one Knuble-style in front of the net with the clock winding down. Brouwer then officially became a certified hero by tipping in a second goal with seconds left to go and took us to overtime. Alex Ovechkin ended it with a five-hole beauty, and you know what? We might believe. Just a little bit. Caps win, 3-2.

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Dmitry Orlov • Evgeny Nabokov • Jay Beagle • Jeff Halpern • Jeff Schultz • Joel Ward • Troy Brouwer • Washington Capitals

Canes Shutout Caps, and the Deja Vu is Starting to Get Freaky

On January 20, 2012, In Game Recap, By Ana Hansen

Falling down in the same general area as someone is almost the same as hitting. (Photo credit: Gregg Forwerck)

The Caps have not scored a single goal yet in a game that I have recapped. I am placing a phone call to the Capitals organization tomorrow to ask why they hate me personally.

I’m sorry you had to watch that game. I’m sorry I had to watch that game. Here’s how it happened.

Eric Staal stripped a puck from Carlson and sent it to Jussi Jokinen for an easy shorthanded goal. In the second period, Jokinen made it 2-0 on a rebound and officially became our least favorite Cane of the night. Jiri Tlusty scored an absolutely ridiculous falling-down goal that we are all so excited to see on every highlight reel for the next week. Caps lose, 3-0.

Tagged with: Carolina Hurricanes • Dmitry Orlov • Joel Ward • John Carlson • Marcus Johansson • Matt Hendricks • Tomas Vokoun • Washington CapitalsC

Lessons in Humility: Flyers beat Caps 5-1

On December 13, 2011, In Game Recap, By Peter Hassett

Photo credit: Greg Fiume

One morning during high school, I dressed up like the Devil for Halloween and then got roughed up by a tough guy. I remember cowering on the floor of the hallway, dressed up like an idiot. With our site all decked out in Jaromir Jagr flamebait, I feel the same way.

The Philadelphia Flyers taught the Washington Capitals humility and shame in a 5-1 mauling. All that bravado and confidence from two wins in a row? Evaporated. Flyers beat Caps 5-1.

Tagged with: Alex Semin • Dennis Wideman • Ilya Bryzgalov • Jeff Halpern • Joel Ward • Mike Knuble • Philadelphia Flyers • Tomas Vokoun • Washington Capitals

Caps beat Sens 5-3, Can We Play Them Every Game?

On December 7, 2011, In Game Recap, By Peter Hassett

????? (Photo credit: Jana Chytilova)

The Washington Capitals’ only win under Coach Hunter came from the Ottawa Senators, whom they met again on Wednesday. It was their second meeting in a week, and it was freaking terrific.

Jeff Halpern recovered Dennis Wideman’s rebound to make it 1-0. With Vokoun and Erskine bobbling the puck, Erik Condra took a stab and tied it up. Nick Foligno combined speed and patience to score just as the power play expired. Brooks Laich set up Nick Backstrom, who roofed the tying goal on the power play. Alex Ovechkin looped around the Ottawa net, suckered his defender, and loosed the go-ahead goal. Troy Brouwer piled on 15 seconds later with his Gordie Howe Hat Trick goal. Milan Michalek needed like 5 milliseconds to score on a late-game power play. John Carlson sniped the empty netter. Caps beat Sens 5-3.

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Alex Semin • Gordie Howe • Joel Ward • John Erskine • Nick Backstrom • Ottawa Senators • The Gordie • Troy Brouwer • Washington Capitals

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Russian Machine Never Breaks

Game Six: This Means Ward!

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

The Capitals’ Bench Celebrates Joel Ward’s Series-Winning Goal

Video: Joel Ward Scores Game Seven Overtime Goal

CRASH THE NET: Caps beat Bruins 2-1 (OT), Advance to Conference Semifinals

Mike Knuble on Game 7: “One Game and Somebody’s Going Home”

Caps Beat Isles 3-2 (OT), Ovi’s OTGWG IS FTW

Canes Shutout Caps, and the Deja Vu is Starting to Get Freaky

Lessons in Humility: Flyers beat Caps 5-1

Caps beat Sens 5-3, Can We Play Them Every Game?

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