John Erskine

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.

Hot-heads and High Sticks: Isles beat Caps 5-2

On March 9, 2013, In Game Recap, By Peter Hassett

Totally not a picture of Grubauer btw. (Photo credit: Bruce Bennett)

The Washington Capitals had a great chance to jump up the Southeast Division in Saturday’s game at the New York Islanders. For awhile it looked like the Caps could do it, but then two rotten, late-game penalties by Mike Ribeiro and Jeff Schultz put it out of reach. A great opportunity, squandered.

Isles beat Caps 5-2.

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • John Erskine • Mathieu Perreault • New York Islanders • Washington Capitals

Timeout: Let’s Dissect the Capitals Awesome Four-Goal First Period Against the Panthers

On March 7, 2013, In Analysis, Video, By Ian Oland

Kevin Dineen needed more than a timeout tonight. (GIF by welshhockeyfan)

The Florida Panthers opened tonight’s game against the Washington Capitals with four straight shots on Braden Holtby in the first 1:44 of game action. They looked sharp. They looked ready to get out of the Southeast division cellar. The wheels fell off 24 seconds later.

As John Erskine wound up from the Panthers’ blue line — in what he would later admit was just a dump-and-change — Florida’s starting goaltender Jacob Markstrom mis-judged Erskine’s blast and allowed the puck to squeak through his seven-hole. 1-0 Caps.

2:36 later, the Capitals would score on their very next shot, as Markstrom was caught off guard by Wojtek Wolski‘s strong net crash. Enter Scott Clemmensen.

Clemmensen gave up two more goals — one to John Carlson and another to Mike Ribeiro — in the next six shots. The Capitals received a standing ovation and headed into intermission with a 4-0 lead, their biggest goal explosion this season.

“I don’t know what to say,” Markstrom told reporters after the game. “It was terrible. I feel like I let the team down. I am there to stop pucks, and I didn’t do that tonight.”

The Capitals beat the Panthers 7-1.

Now enjoy fun facts from the first period –plus video of all four goals.

Tagged with: GIF • Jacob Markstrom • John Carlson • John Erskine • Kevin Dineen • Maria Kirilenko • Mike Ribeiro • Scott Clemmensen • Steve Oleksy • Wojtek Wolski

Caps Just Freaking Destroy Panthers 7-1

On March 7, 2013, In Game Recap, By Peter Hassett

Photo credit: Greg Fiume

The Washington Capitals just freaking obliterated the Florida Panthers. I don’t know how else to say it. Any flowery language would make the point less elegant: this was a thrashing. One of these teams is the bottom of the Eastern Conference, the other one is the Washington Capitals.

We learned that early, as John Erskine’s muffinly dump-in baffled Jacob Markstrom. We were reminded soon after– when Wojtek Wolski caught a Steve Oleksy pass and made it 2-0 on the Caps’ second shot. That was enough for Markstrom, who got the hook in favor of Scott Clemmensen, who promptly gave up two more goals on the Caps’ next four shots– one from Carlson, one from Ribeiro.

That was all in the game’s first 10 minutes. I could go on, but you get the idea. This was all Caps. Even when the shooting slowed, Braden Holtby was so on top of his game that this was never really a contest.

Caps beat Panthers 7-1.

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Braden Holtby • Eric Fehr • Florida Panthers • Holyshit • Jason Chimera • John Erskine • Washington Capitals • Wojtek Wolski

John Erskine Signs Two-Year, $3.9M Contract Extension

On February 25, 2013, In News, By Peter Hassett

Okay, this one makes somewhat less sense. (Photo credit: Rob Carr)

Busy day! The Capitals have announced they have re-signed tough guy D-man John Erskine to a two-year contract extension worth just south of $4 million. Erskine is the team’s lowest-ranked defenseman when it comes to possession, although he’s not getting tagged for that yet in the goals-against department. He’s currently eating up career-high minutes– 19:30 per game.

Here’s Sky’s tweet, also timestamped weirdly:

#Caps officially announce the John Erskine two-year extension for 3.9 mil, 1.9 mil in 2013-2014, 2 mil in 2014-2015

— Sky Kerstein (@SkyKerstein) February 25, 2013

So… thoughts? Press release below.

Tagged with: John Erskine • Washington Capitals

Ovi’s Bad Hair Day, Holtby’s Bad Poke Check, and Ten More Weird Photos From Caps/Lightning

On February 15, 2013, In Photos, By Ian Oland

Ovechkin palmed a plasma globe during intermission. (Photo credit: @HockeyBroph)

The Capitals have been undefeated, 3-0-0, ever since fans sacrified a rubber cow and goat at Kettler Capitals Iceplex. That doesn’t mean the games have been pretty. Or graceful.

For example, take a look at Thursday’s game against division rival Tampa. The Capitals gained a 4-1 lead, only to surrender two third period goals and barely escape with a win. There were missed poke checks, goals scored from a seated position, and lots of enthusiastic coaching. You know: Caps hockey.

Presenting… the best pics from Caps at Lightning!

Tagged with: Adam Oates • Alex Ovechkin • Braden Holtby • Eric Fehr • Joel Ward • John Carlson • John Erskine • Mathieu Perreault • Matt Hendricks • Troy Brouwer

The Greatest GIF: John Erskine’s 360-Degree Face Plant

On February 12, 2013, In Photos, By Ian Oland

GIF by welshhockeyfan

Lil’ Muffin John Erskine has been awesome this year. He beat up George Parros, he scored a clutch goal, and he’s been quietly playing 18 quality minutes per night (when he’s not suspended).

Unfortunately for John, this is not going to be a fun story. Towards the end of the third period, with the Capitals down 5-4, Big John jumped off the bench as the Florida Panthers came down the ice for a 4-on-2 break. Instead of actually contributing to the play, Erskine falls onto his back and does a 360-degree tumble onto his face. Or in Fedor’s words, he “Colaiacovo’d.”

Tagged with: GIF • John Erskine

Shanabanned: John Erskine Suspended Three Games For Elbow to Wayne Simmonds’ Head

On February 2, 2013, In Video, By Ian Oland

Saturday night, John Erskine was suspended for three games and fined $24,324.33 for his elbow to the head of Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds. Erskine, whose play has earned him a sweater in five consecutive games, will sit out Sunday’s game at home against the Penguins, Tuesday’s game against Toronto, and Thursday’s game in Pittsburgh.

Tagged with: Brendan Shanahan • John Erskine • Suspension • Wayne Simmonds

Caps beat Flyers 3-2: Have They Turned a Corner?

On February 1, 2013, In Game Recap, By Peter Hassett

Photo credit: Patrick McDermott

DFL. The Washington Capitals came into Friday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers in dead last place. Not in the southeast, not in the east. In the whole damn league.

Here’s the part where they turn it around.

Halfway into the game, Bruno Gervais sent a loose puck deep into Holtby’s net. Nick Backstrom tied it up with his first goal of the year, a patient deke to beat Ilya Bryzgalov one-on-one late in the second. Troy Brouwer took the lead with a brilliant near-side roofer. Wojtek Wolksi robbed Baby Schenn and put a one-touch goal on Bryz to make it 3-1. The Flyers got one back with a Brayden Schenn rocket right as the power play expired.

Caps beat Flyers 3-2.

Tagged with: John Erskine • Nick Backstrom • Philadelphia Flyers • Washington Capitals

Animated: John Erskine Elbows Wayne Simmonds In The Head

On February 1, 2013, In Photos, Video, By Ian Oland

GIF via welshhockeyfan

Late in the first period of Friday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Big John Erskine got himself into some trouble. Skating up the ice, Erskine connected with Philadelphia’s Wayne Simmonds, drawing blood but no penalty.

As you can see, Erskine’s elbow makes contact with Simmonds’ face. The question Brendan Shanahan will be asking is whether or not Erskine was putting himself in a defensive posture– or whether there was a suspendable intent to injure.

Tagged with: Brendan Shanahan • Elliot In The Morning • GIF • John Erskine • Wayne Simmonds

Russian Machine Never Breaks

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

Hot-heads and High Sticks: Isles beat Caps 5-2

Timeout: Let’s Dissect the Capitals Awesome Four-Goal First Period Against the Panthers

Caps Just Freaking Destroy Panthers 7-1

John Erskine Signs Two-Year, $3.9M Contract Extension

Ovi’s Bad Hair Day, Holtby’s Bad Poke Check, and Ten More Weird Photos From Caps/Lightning

The Greatest GIF: John Erskine’s 360-Degree Face Plant

Shanabanned: John Erskine Suspended Three Games For Elbow to Wayne Simmonds’ Head

Caps beat Flyers 3-2: Have They Turned a Corner?

Animated: John Erskine Elbows Wayne Simmonds In The Head

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