Washington Capitals

Dmitry Orlov: Hockey Hits, Hipchecks, and More Hits

On February 4, 2012, In Video, By Ian Oland

Orlov and Max Pacioretty fight for the puck. (Photo credit: Richard Wolowicz)

Way back on November 23rd, Dmitry Orlov registered his first NHL point in his second NHL game against the Winnipeg Jets. That night he also made his presence felt physically with two monster hits. On one, he hit Evander Kane so hard into the boards that his stick flew into the crowd. On the other, he laid out an unsuspecting Blake Wheeler with an open-ice hip check.

“I really like the physical element of the game,” Orlov told RMNB’s Igor Kleyner a few days later. “Always have, since I was a kid. One of the reasons I came to play here – there is more hitting. I like that.”

Well, here’s a hit you may not have even known happened. On January 13th against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Orlov caught Steve Downie with a hip check after the pest rifled a shot on goal. The hit flipped Downie end-over-end to the ice in ~~hilarious~~ spectacular fashion. Video is below the jump.

Caps beat Habs 3-0 and IT IS SNOWING!

On February 4, 2012, In Game Recap, By Peter Hassett

Photo credit: Francois Lacasse

On Saturday afternoon The Washington Capitals got to feed at the trough of the league’s sideshow, the Montreal Canadiens. That doesn’t mean this game was zany and fun or anything, just kind of sad.

Dennis Wideman scored off the faceoff, firing a weird knuckle puck that dropped behind Peter Budaj. The Caps held Montreal scoreless through a sloppy second period. Matt Hendricks swept in a goal on a yawning net to make it 2-0. Alex Semin drew a penalty shot and slapped home the three-spot goal. Caps beat Habs 3-0.

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Brooks Laich • Dmitry Orlov • Montreal Canadiens • Rene Bourque • Shutout • Troy Brouwer • Washington Capitals

A Closer Look at Matt Hendricks’ No-Look Backhand Goal

On February 3, 2012, In Analysis, Photos, By Ian Oland

Photo credit: Scott Audette

After spending time on all four lines and becoming a regular in the Caps’ shootout line-up, Matt Hendricks was signed to a two-year deal worth $1.65 million last season. Coming into this year’s training camp, Hendricks’ singular focus was to hit double digits in goals. “I had nine my first year in the NHL with Colorado,” he told the Washington Post’s Tarik El-Bashir. “I played 56 games that year. Last year, I played in 77 games and had nine goals. I need to figure out a way to get over that hump.”

For a player that accumulated 110 points in 43 games during his prep career and was named a finalist for the 2000 Minnesota Mr. Hockey Award, tallying ten or more goals seems to be well within reason. Unfortunately for Hendy, the red light has come on less frequently this season. In fact, it took 30 games for the 6’0’’, 215-pound winger to score his first goal of the year. And another 15 to get goal number two.

But complaining about Hendricks’ goal output and continuing the negative story train on RMNB is not why we’re here. On Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Hendricks — full of determination — opened the game’s scoring with one of the most unlikely and beautiful goals of the season.

Let’s review shall we?

Tagged with: Brooks Laich • Matt Hendricks • Washington Capitals

Getting to Know Washington Capitals Callup Keith Aucoin

On February 3, 2012, In Caps Prospect, By Ana Hansen

All photos via Kyle Mace at Sweetest Hockey on Earth.

Centers, centers, centers, everyone knows what the Capitals need right now, and Keith Aucoin is the latest attempt to fix the problem, or at least to temporarily plug the hole. Most of you should know a little more about Aucoin than most call-ups – he’s a lifetime AHLer, a future AHL Hall of Famer, and from what we’ve heard an all-around great guy. We haven’t seen him much in the big leagues, but he’s been part of the organization for awhile now. He’s not going to look nearly as flashy in the NHL as he does in the AHL, but you can bet that he will do his job.

Tagged with: Hershey Bears • Keith Aucoin • Washington Capitals

The Value of Joel Rechlicz

On February 2, 2012, In Opinion, By Peter Hassett

Photo credit: Kyle Mace

Known fighter Joel Rechlicz has played 5 minutes and 25 seconds of Capitals hockey this year. In his six shifts, he saw one shot go on his net and zero at the other. He has amassed no penalties and recorded no turnovers. He did ice the puck once though. That was fun.

Rechlicz’s one-year contract is for $525,000– which will count towards the Capitals’ already stressed salary cap. Rechlicz is a pure fighter, a dying breed in pro hockey. Adding him to the roster of the Washington Capitals (whose woes include a lacking offense, malformed defense, and poor road performances– but not fighting) seemed like an arbitrary acquisition– one that does not improve their prospects for winning and fritters away precious salary cap space just before the trade deadline.

But for all his detractors, Wrecker also has some defenders. On Wednesday’s edition of the Capitals Report podcast, Mike Vogel of WashingtonCaps.com and radio play-by-play guy John Walton discussed and defended the value of Rechlicz.

Tagged with: Florida Panthers • Joel Rechlicz • Steve Downie • Washington Capitals

Must-Win Game… Lost: Panthers beat Caps 4-2

On February 1, 2012, In Game Recap, By Peter Hassett

Photo credit: Alan Diaz

The Washington Capitals have three dates with the Florida Panthers in February, and these games will determine their chances for a postseason. This one was a so-called “four-point game”, and the Capitals came up tragically short.

After a scoreless first period, Mikael Samuelsson faked a hardaround and then fired a shot to Neuvirth’s far side– hitting the post then net. It was a fluke-y, no-look shot from almost 90 feet out, but it caught Neuvirth being lazy, and that’s what matters. Brooks Laich tied it up with a feisty top-shelfer from the crease during 4-on-4 play. Samuelsson got his second of the night with the go-ahead goal on a third period power play. After a long adjudication, Stephen Weiss was awarded a goal that had been washed out at first.

John Carlson made it a one-goal game with a leisurely slapper from the high slot, but Shawn Matthias grabbed an empty netter a few moments later. Panthers beat Caps 4-2.

Tagged with: Brooks Laich • Florida Panthers • Jeff Schultz • John Carlson • Michal Neuvirth • Mikael Samuelsson • Tomas Fleischmann • Washington Capitals

Video: Tomas Vokoun’s Save of the Year Candidate

On January 31, 2012, In Video, By Ian Oland

While his teammates in front of him were having a bit of a vacation hangover, Tomas Vokoun was brilliant in net during the Capitals’ 4-3 (OT) loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning Tuesday. Vokoun made 27 saves, including stoning Steven Stamkos on a breakaway in regulation. The Czech netminder’s best stop however came in overtime, when — down on the ice and out of position — he stretched out and caught Vincent Lecavalier’s shot from the crease with his glove. Check out the video below the jump.

Tagged with: Tampa Bay Lightning • Tomas Vokoun • Vincent Lecavalier • Washington Capitals

Bolts Down Washington Capitals 4-3 in OT Rollercoaster

On January 31, 2012, In Game Recap, By Ana Hansen

So much almost. (Photo credit: Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Whew, what a relief that the All-Star Weekend is over! We’re all so sick of watching haphazard, sloppy, firewagon hockey that turns over pucks and gives up chances every few seconds, it’s such a relief to get back to the responsible, disciplined team we all missed so much.

Hahaha! Let’s all have a good laugh at that one for a minute, and then to the recap. I am pleased to inform you that the curse of my recaps was broken tonight. Actual goals were scored.

Matt Hendricks opened the scoring with the ol’ Brooks-Laich-diving-poke-check-pass, fan-on-the-initial-and-then-wildly-backhand-it move. Classic. Teddy Purcell scored two shifts later on a feed from Steve Downie, who mysteriously hadn’t had his face punched in yet at this point. All Martin St. Louis had to do was skate past Hamrlik lying face-down on the ice to make it 2-1. Nate Thompson banged one in on a good cycle from Tampa in front of the net. Mathieu Perreault was in the right place at the right time to take credit for a hilarious own goal off Thompson’s stick. Good pressure from Laich forced a puck loose for Troy Brouwer, who put it in the back of the net. The game went to overtime, and Steven Stamkos scored on a defensive breakdown from John Carlson. Caps lose, 4-3.

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Brooks Laich • John Carlson • Mathieu Perreault • Roman Hamrlik • Tomas Vokoun • Troy Brouwer • Washington Capitals

Getting to Know Washington Capitals Callup Joel Rechlicz

On January 31, 2012, In Caps Prospect, News, Photos, By Ana Hansen

(All pics by Kyle Mace at Sweetest Hockey on Earth)

Welcome to the Washington Capitals, Fists of Fury edition. A few key pieces are essentially dead right now, and some others are playing like they are, so these holes will be filled by kids from Hershey, which is what they are there for.

I know you are all smart and cool people who keep up to date on our minor leaguers, but if you are at all behind in this I do not blame you, as there are like a million of them. In case you are wondering who in the world this is on your ice, here is a quick rundown!

Tagged with: Hershey Bears • Joel Rechlicz • Washington Capitals

Tampa Bay Lightning Pregame: Tampa Smells

On January 31, 2012, In Pregame, By Doug Johnson

Doug Johnson of the Puck Buddys is back from break. Follow PB on Twitter.

The Pregame: Tampa. Sh*t, I’m still only in Tampa.

Or them, technically. Meaning us. As in, them, Tuesday night, isn’t us. And us don’t like them.

As dance partners go, Tampa Bay is the nattering, grabby-hands B.O. champion* of NHL cities. The one you get stuck with while your date runs off for a giggle as you try to shake him/her/it loose, but you can’t, because no-one else will even look at them, as they are now adhered to you like dog stain on rug, like flab on hips, like a vote-starved politician (redundant!) to your wallet.

Try as you might, they just won’t go away, and the longer they stay attached to you your social capital sucks dry as you furiously look for some escape but come to realize that, no, you and this thing are now welded together in a grotesque, condemned to dancing together for all eternity, or at least until realignment. Face it, Tampa: you smell.

Tagged with: Dennis Wideman • Dwayne Roloson • Matt Gilroy • Puck Buddys • Steven Stamkos • Tampa Bay Lightning • Tom Pyatt • Vincent Lecavalier • Washington Capitals

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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: Hockey Hits, Hipchecks, and More Hits

Caps beat Habs 3-0 and IT IS SNOWING!

A Closer Look at Matt Hendricks’ No-Look Backhand Goal

Getting to Know Washington Capitals Callup Keith Aucoin

The Value of Joel Rechlicz

Must-Win Game… Lost: Panthers beat Caps 4-2

Video: Tomas Vokoun’s Save of the Year Candidate

Bolts Down Washington Capitals 4-3 in OT Rollercoaster

Getting to Know Washington Capitals Callup Joel Rechlicz

Tampa Bay Lightning Pregame: Tampa Smells

Ian Oland

Peter Hassett

Chris Gordon

Igor Kleyner

Fedor Fedin

Doug Johnson and Craig Brownstein

Ana Hansen

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