Washington Capitals

The Freaking New York Rangers– Again

On April 28, 2013, In Analysis, Playoffs, By Peter Hassett

Photo credit: Greg Fiume

Saturday night revealed the Capitals’ playoff foe, and that foe is really, really familiar.

The New York Rangers locked up the 6-seed and will be headed to Washington early this week to begin the quarterfinal round. This will be the seventh time the teams have met and the third time RMNB will have written about a WSH-NYR series. The John Tortorella Rangers are a shot-blocking, workaday-type crew– but this year they’ve added convincing possession to the mix (they’re ranked sixth in unblocked shot attempts at even strength when the score is close). The Rangers may be a better match-up for the Caps than the Senators (whose Craig Anderson posted the best goalie stats this year) and the Isles (whose John Tavares is a convincing young star), but the Rags are no slouch either.

If you’re already anxious, you’re not alone. But this is the playoffs, where the gentle hum of anxiety is your stalwart dance partner.

RAZOR’S DOWN! Caps beat Bruins 3-2 (OT): Alex Ovechkin Wins the Rocket Richard (Almost Certainly)

On April 27, 2013, In Game Recap, By Peter Hassett

Photo credit: Patrick McDermott

Woohoo! Final game of the season. A month and a half ago, I thought this would be the last one I’d cover before the summer, but then Ovechkin happened. Now, the Boston Bruins at Washington Capitals game was just a meaningless little preamble to the real dance, which starts next week.

Let’s do a loose recap. Looch got a lucky one off Alzner’s skates, then he screened Holtby on Ference’s goal. Then, Mike Green 2009 warged into Mike Green 2013 and scored back-to-back power play goals. The Caps killed some late-game penalties and forced overtime, where Eric Fehr finished off the regular season with a little goal so greasy you could lubricate your engine with it if that’s a thing you knew how to do.

Caps beat Bruins 3-2 (Overtime).

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Boston Bruins • Eric Fehr • Mike Green • Washington Capitals

Senators beat Caps 2-1 (OT) Because Mike Ribeiro

On April 25, 2013, In Game Recap, By Peter Hassett

Check out the Hendyface! (Photo credit: Patrick McDermott)

I was expecting some kind of letdown after the Washington Capitals ensured themselves a playoff spot on Tuesday, but dude. Thursday’s game against the Ottawa Senators wasn’t bad by any stretch, but it didn’t carry the same gravitas now that the Caps are locked in third place. Erik Karlsson’s unlikely return to service was heartening for pure hockey fans, but it’s way too late in the season for us to muster up that kind of neighborliness. Besides, it’s totally possible this is the team the Caps will have to face in the playoffs, so we should probably get the enmity brewing now.

Karlsson got one, then Ovi got one. Then overtime, where ex-Cap Sergei Gonchar won it all because Mike Ribeiro is a liability.

Sens beat Caps 2-1. Ottawa makes the playoffs.

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Erik Karlsson • Michal Neuvirth • Ottawa Senators • Washington Capitals

George McPhee is Pleased With This Turn of Events (GIF)

On April 23, 2013, In Photos, By Peter Hassett

GIF by welshhockeyfan

George McPhee has had a tough year. Two months ago, his Washington Capitals were just about dead last in the league and looking hopeless. Fast-forward to April 23rd: The Capitals are going to the playoffs. The Capitals have won their division. The Capitals’ captain is the league’s best scorer.

Damn right, he’s gonna celebrate. Imagine that relief, that vindication. He’s been under fire for months now, and he’s unscathed. If that doesn’t merit a Bender-from-Breakfast-Club fist pump, nothing does. File this far away from GMGM’s 3OT freakout and the raaaaaaage.

Tagged with: George McPhee • Washington Capitals

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.

Tagged with: Atlanta Thrashers • Jason Chimera • John Erskine • Matt Hendricks • Washington Capitals • Winnipeg Jets

Tonight’s Game and a Breakdown of Every Capitals Playoff Scenario

On April 23, 2013, In Analysis, By Fedor Fedin

The Washington Capitals are in the driver’s seat for the Southeast division crown. And even though tonight’s game against the Jets looms large, a loss won’t kill the Caps’ chances of making the playoffs — though it will make it much more difficult to win the division. If they lose tonight and manage to still win their final two games, they will be guaranteed a playoff spot.

As it stands right now, the Caps have a 91.1% chance of making the postseason and an 86.7% of winning the Southeast. The Winnipeg Jets have a steeper climb. Despite a big win over Buffalo on Monday, the Jets have just a 31.6% probability of making it to the Stanley Cup playoffs and a 13.3% of becoming division champs.

There are a lot of ways this could shake out, and a lot of possible tiebreakers to consider.

Tagged with: Playoffs • Washington Capitals

That Time Pierre McGuire Was Wrong About Everything

On April 23, 2013, In Analysis, By Peter Hassett

Photo credit: Andre Ringuette

Lots of smart and informed people have been dead wrong about Alex Ovechkin this year. Also wrong: Pierre McGuire, who I guess is smart and informed, but the jury is out on if he qualifies as human. Regardless, way back in January when Ovechkin was trying his first stint on the right wing, McGuire gave an interview to an Ottawa radio station where he delivered a litany of Wrong Things He Should Be Embarrassed About Now (if his species is even capable of embarrassment).

I wonder if anyone transcribed this interview. WAIT. THAT’S DAN STEINBERG’S MUSIC.

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Pierre McGuire • Washington Capitals

“They Play Hockey In Heaven”: The New Book by Tom Wilson’s Brother Peter

On April 22, 2013, In Exclusive, Interview, By Ian Oland

Photo credit: Tom Wilson’s Instagram

There comes a time in a teenager’s life where the dream of becoming a star athlete dims and must be replaced. At the age of sixteen, that’s what happened to Toronto native Peter Wilson.

“I really fell in love with writing when I was in grade 11,” Wilson, who played hockey competitively as a kid, explained. “I had a really great literature teacher who took me under her wing and showed me some really cool books. I found writing to be really fun and therapeutic.”

In college, Wilson continued to explore literature and challenge himself, just like he did on the ice with hockey. When his passion shifted away from the ice, Wilson dropped gloves with a new opponent: the competitive field of writing.

Tagged with: Defenseless • George McPhee • James Wilson • Peter Wilson • Plymouth Whalers • They Play Hockey In Heaven • Tom Cochrane • Tom Wilson • Washington Capitals

Caps beat Habs 5-1: Alex Ovechkin is Good at Hockey

On April 20, 2013, In Game Recap, By Peter Hassett

Photo credit: Francois Lacasse

The Washington Capitals’ final road game of the season was a demonstrable blowout. The Montreal Canadiens, purportedly a good hockey team, played like a troop (sorry, troupe) of clowns led by their porous ringleader Carey Price. The Habs got just one past Braden Holtby, and the Caps served wings and discount pizza to their loyal fans.

Caps beat Habs 5-1.

Tagged with: Aaron Volpatti • Alex Ovechkin • Braden Holtby • Montreal Canadiens • Troy Brouwer • Washington Capitals

Braden Holtby Sticks Up For Himself (GIF)

On April 18, 2013, In Photos, By Peter Hassett

Photo credit: Andre Ringuette

Braden Holtby had a busy night in Thursday’s 3-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators. He turned away 35 of the 37 shots he faced for a sterling .946 save percentage, but he was definitely overworked. That was made clear at 4:27 of the second period, when Erik Condra bowled him over.

Tagged with: Braden Holtby • Erik Condra • GIF • Washington Capitals

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Russian Machine Never Breaks

The Freaking New York Rangers– Again

RAZOR’S DOWN! Caps beat Bruins 3-2 (OT): Alex Ovechkin Wins the Rocket Richard (Almost Certainly)

Senators beat Caps 2-1 (OT) Because Mike Ribeiro

George McPhee is Pleased With This Turn of Events (GIF)

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

Tonight’s Game and a Breakdown of Every Capitals Playoff Scenario

That Time Pierre McGuire Was Wrong About Everything

“They Play Hockey In Heaven”: The New Book by Tom Wilson’s Brother Peter

Caps beat Habs 5-1: Alex Ovechkin is Good at Hockey

Braden Holtby Sticks Up For Himself (GIF)

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