Mike Ribeiro

Mike Ribeiro: Alex Ovechkin “Has a Lot to Learn About the Game and How to Play It”

On May 15, 2013, In Interview, News, By Chris Gordon

Ribs salutes the fans after his overtime goal in game five. (Photo credit: Patrick McDermott)

For perhaps the final time in DC, Mike Ribeiro is street. (Photo credit: Chris Gordon)

For perhaps the final time in DC, Mike Ribeiro is #swag. (Photo credit: Chris Gordon)

The Washington Capitals have been searching for a second-line center for years. Last summer, they finally got one. In a shortened season with the Caps, Mike Ribeiro was excellent — even when his team wasn’t. He anchored Washington’s power play, turning Alex Ovechkin – a guy the Caps have invested $123 million in — into a lethal threat. He stabilized the top six. He led the league in points on the man advantage, a huge source of the team’s scoring. He will soon be a free agent. The captain wants him back, though, and so does the coach.

“The most important thing is to re-sign Ribs,” Ovechkin told Slava Malamud. “It will be tough without him.”

“You all saw how valuable he was to our team,” Adam Oates added. “Hopefully the parties will work it out because we love him.”

Mike Ribeiro’s Game-Winning Overtime Goal (GIFs)

On May 11, 2013, In Photos, Video, By Ian Oland

Photo credit: Patrick McDermott

Game five of the Capitals-Rangers series was just as taut as the preceding four, but the Caps seemed to have the upper hand from the second period on. Still, it took until overtime for the game to be decided– and by none other than the Caps’ much-maligned bad boy, Mike Ribeiro.

Often known as a hot-head weak on the faceoff dot and prone to bad penalties, Ribeiro was the opposite of that on Friday night. Ribeiro won 70% of his faceoffs– many of them crucial defensive-zone draws– and drove play better than any other Caps forward. His pestering of Brian Boyle drew the penalty that led to Joel Ward’s tying goal, and his relentless occupation of Lundqvist’s net led to a pivotal game-winner.

You wanted CRASH THE NET? I give you MIKE RIBEIRO.

Tagged with: Mike Ribeiro

Caps beat Ranger 2-1 (OT): Ribeiro Rules!

On May 10, 2013, In Game Recap, Playoffs, By Peter Hassett

Photo credit: Patrick McDermott

Ack. I’m all jammed up like a Phish live record over here. This series is not good for people, plants, or other living things. The corrupted bastardization of hockey the Rangers have foisted upon the Capitals is some perverse thing not spoken of in polite circles. Where’s all the end-to-end action? The shot totals in excess of 40? The goalies giving up goals like Galileo dropped the orange? The Rangers forced the Caps into a constipated brand of hockey that is actually making my back seize up as if I were eating pancakes. Everything is all tensed up, and it goes on way too long. We’re supposed to enjoy it, but it’s really just survival.

The Rangers grabbed a lead in the game’s first minute, putting the entire DMV area’s bowels on red alert, but playoff hero Joel Ward tied it up in the second. The Caps leaned in during the third period, but we headed to overtime anyway– where Mike Ribeiro became a Capitals legend.

Caps beat Rangers 2-1 (Overtime). Caps lead the series 3-2. Sunday is an elimination game for New York.

Tagged with: Mike Ribeiro • New York Rangers • Washington Capitals

Let’s Admire Martin Erat’s Awesome Hand-Eye Coordination (GIF)

On April 18, 2013, In Photos, By Ian Oland

Martin Erat is a skilled guy. He’s registered 49 points or more in the last eight seasons and when the Capitals acquired him in a trade for Filip Forsberg a few weeks ago, he was Nashville’s leading point-getter. Consistently putting up that many points can be a sign of good hands, which is exactly what Erat showed off on Thursday, assisting on the Capitals’ only goal in the team’s 3-1 loss to Ottawa.

Tagged with: GIF • Martin Erat • Mike Ribeiro

The Erat Era Begins with 14:43 of Ice Time and Hopes for a Stanley Cup

On April 4, 2013, In Interview, News, By Chris Gordon

Photo Credit: Nick Wass

The Washington Capitals think they have a shot at the Stanley Cup. This season began with a pitiful start under new head coach Adam Oates, but the team is better now. They’re used to his system, they’re healthier, and they’re picking up pieces to help them in the short-term.

“We weren’t going to be sellers,” said George McPhee yesterday. “You never know once you get in. Let’s see what happens.”

“We have a good thing going here,” said Mike Ribeiro. “We know how good we can be.”

“I have complete confidence in the guys in this room,” said Troy Brouwer. “We have the ability in here to make a splash in the playoffs.”

“I want to play for the Stanley Cup,” said Martin Erat. “Washington is one of the places where you have a chance.”

On Thursday, the Caps moved into playoff spot for the first time this season.

Tagged with: George McPhee • Martin Erat • Mike Ribeiro • Troy Brouwer

Mike Ribeiro on His Future with the Washington Capitals: “If There’s a Deal to be Made, it Will be Made”

On March 27, 2013, In Interview, News, By Chris Gordon

Photo credit: Scott Levy

Mike Ribeiro is a hot topic surrounding the Washington Capitals lately — not just because he’s been the team’s best player. Instead, Ribs is looking for a five-year deal in a market where free-agent forwards get big money, even with the salary cap decreasing by $6 million next year (from $70.2 million to $64.4 million).

Ribeiro is 33-years-old and is on the last year of a five-year, $25 million dollar deal. His next contract will certainly be the last big one of his career, and he wants his family to have a good, stable home. We shouldn’t expect his production (11 goals, 35 points in 33 games this season) to stay this way as his enters the latter part of career. On the other hand, however, the Caps haven’t a quality second-line center in years.

Within the next few games, the Caps may figure out if they want to– or even are able to– re-sign Ribeiro for a price that’s reasonable. Ribeiro told me he would have discussions with the team about a new contract before the trade deadline on April 3. Presumably, if his demands are too high for Washington, they may trade him.

“If it’s gonna happen, it’s gonna happen,” Ribeiro said of a possible extension in Washington. “We’ll talk, obviously, before trade deadline and see where they’re at, where I’m at. We’ll go from there.”

Tagged with: George McPhee • Mike Ribeiro

Islanders beat Caps 3-2: Did the Whole Season Get Lost Between Mike Green’s Skates?

On March 26, 2013, In Game Recap, By Peter Hassett

Photo credit: Patrick McDermott

As the Washington Capitals returned home to face the New York Islanders, they were likely pondering the 6 points out of a total 8 they earned on their recent road trip. That pondering may have led to some absent-minded play in the first period, but the Caps recovered in the second to put forward one of their strongest possession games of the season. But possession was exactly what Mike Green didn’t have when his goof-up allowed the GWG for John Tavares.

Islanders beat Caps 3-2.

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Dmitry Orlov • John Carlson • Josh Bailey • Michael Grabner • Mike Ribeiro • New York Islanders • Washington Capitals

Pittsburgh Penguins Pregame: Andy Warhol’s Trash (PuckBuddys Preview)

On March 18, 2013, In Pregame, By Doug Johnson

[Ed note: Hockey Hemingway Jason Rogers is back for you to love and adore. Talk to him via the Tweetaz at @HeyJayJRogers. Any and all credit goes to the PuckBuddys.]

15 minutes of ice time

Andy Warhol Says*: Everywhere you look, you see Pittsburgh fans. In Andy’s view, “…it’s all so beautiful.” Of course, he was hopped up on horse tranqs.

But this is Pittsburgh. And at the first insinuation of bandwagon chasing, they all claim family ties to the city. First of all, you cannot all be from there. It is just not a big enough city for every Yuengling-guzzling bar rat to crawl back to. And even if they did all somehow come from Pittsburgh, you know why they’re here now? Because they got the hell out of Pittsburgh as soon as they could. There’s even a website devoted to the phenomenon. And so with the sacred camaraderie of refugees from a land not worth returning to, the Penguins wander about the NHL landscape. On Tuesday the Capitals take the fight to them, and you can bet they’ve had their road Whites mustard-proofed.

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Braden Holtby • Mike Ribeiro • Puck Buddys • Troy B

Intense Rivalry: Mike Ribeiro Fights Brad Marchand; Matt Hendricks Fights Nathan Horton, Adam McQuaid; Bruins Fans Taunt (Video)

On March 16, 2013, In Photos, Video, By Ian Oland

Har har. Bruins fan taunts Ribs. (Photo credit: Emily C.)

The Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins have developed an intense rivalry since their back-and-forth seven-game series in the first round of the playoffs last year. From the Olympic-quality dives from Brad Marchand to Nicky Backstrom’s cross-check to the face, it’s apparent these teams hate each other.

That’s why on Saturday, as they played each other for the second time in 16 days, all hell broke loose. First, Mike Ribeiro fought Brad Marchand, and Matt Hendricks laid down the law with Nathan Horton. Then, in the third period, as Shawn Thornton tried to get Hendricks to drop the gloves, Hendy bloodied his fists in a fight with Adam McQuaid.

Let’s recap all the crazy.

Tagged with: Adam McQuaid • Boston Bruins • Brad Marchand • Fight • Matt Hendricks • Mike Ribeiro • Nathan Horton • Washington Capitals

The Bold and the Bloody: Bruins beat Caps 4-1

On March 16, 2013, In Game Recap, By Peter Hassett

Photo credit: Brian Babineau

The Boston Bruins are the best team in the East. I think they’re the East’s best chance at winning the Cup this year, but that doesn’t mean I’m rooting for them or that I didn’t want the Washington Capitals to crush them on Saturday afternoon. That didn’t happen though. The Caps struggled on defense, and their offense needed help to get the puck behind Anton Khudobin. The game got a little wild in the second and third periods, which is just how the Bruins like it.

Bruins beat Caps 4-1.

Tagged with: Aaron Volpatti • Andrew Ference • Boston Bruins • Brad Marchand • David Krecji • Jason Chimera • Marcus Johansson • Mike Ribeiro • Washington Capitals

Russian Machine Never Breaks

Mike Ribeiro: Alex Ovechkin “Has a Lot to Learn About the Game and How to Play It”

Mike Ribeiro’s Game-Winning Overtime Goal (GIFs)

Caps beat Ranger 2-1 (OT): Ribeiro Rules!

Let’s Admire Martin Erat’s Awesome Hand-Eye Coordination (GIF)

The Erat Era Begins with 14:43 of Ice Time and Hopes for a Stanley Cup

Mike Ribeiro on His Future with the Washington Capitals: “If There’s a Deal to be Made, it Will be Made”

Islanders beat Caps 3-2: Did the Whole Season Get Lost Between Mike Green’s Skates?

Pittsburgh Penguins Pregame: Andy Warhol’s Trash (PuckBuddys Preview)

Intense Rivalry: Mike Ribeiro Fights Brad Marchand; Matt Hendricks Fights Nathan Horton, Adam McQuaid; Bruins Fans Taunt (Video)

The Bold and the Bloody: Bruins beat Caps 4-1

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