Posts by Cara Bahniuk

By Cara Bahniuk 4 weeks ago

Mike Green officially announces retirement

Former Capital Mike Green confirmed he is indeed retiring two weeks after a report surfaced from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

The Athletic’s Tarik El-Bashir released a feature on Green Wednesday which explained why the former Young Gun was choosing to hang up his skates at age 34.

Green wants to spend more time with his family, help others in the community, and focus more on evolving passions.

By Cara Bahniuk 1 month ago

Gabriel Landeskog gave Cale Makar an old-school speed boost

Late in the second period of Saturday’s Stars-Avs game, Colorado skaters Gabriel Landeskog and Cale Makar were desperately back-checking to catch Tyler Seguin. Landeskog wasn’t going to make it in time, so he made a move we don’t see much in the today’s NHL.

By Peter Hassett and Cara Bahniuk 1 month ago

Whose bandwagon are you hopping on?

The Caps are done, and our lives are empty. . . until we pick a new team to become sudden diehard fans of. This is that moment. Whose bandwagon are you hopping on?

By Peter Hassett and Chris Cerullo and Donya Abramo and Cara Bahniuk 1 month ago

Lars Eller out for Game One, John Carlson a game-time decision

Ont of the biggest questions surrounding the Capitals right now is the status of defenseman John Carlson. Carlson, who was injured in the Caps exhibition game, did not play in any of the round-robin games. On Sunday, Todd Reirden said he was hopeful that the Norris Trophy finalist would be ready for Game One.

Carlson is officially a game-time decision for Wednesday’s game, while Lars Eller, who is quarantined in his hotel room, is out. The rest of the squad practiced on Tuesday.

By Cara Bahniuk 2 months ago

How Capitals practices have changed during the coronavirus pandemic: temperature checks, social distancing, and masks

As the first week of the NHL’s Return To Play plan wraps up, it’s clear the steps the Washington Capitals are taking to keep their facility safe during the coronavirus pandemic are working. Friday, I was the first RMNB reporter to attend a practice since the coronavirus pandemic shuttered the rest of the regular season on March 12.

Personally, I was nervous to go. I have been self-isolating since March. Other than grocery store trips, I’ve stayed inside. I’ve only let my family and roommate be in my quarantine bubble.

I’m happy to report the Capitals did everything they could to make media members feel safe. There were big differences in how practices were conducted and how media members could operate than before.

By Cara Bahniuk 3 months ago

The NHL released its first commercial promoting the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs and it’ll give you chills

The NHL is beginning to build hype around the return of the season. Wednesday, they released their first Stanley Cup commercial promoting the 2020 Playoffs.

The commercial begins with a clip of Alex Ovechkin, which is an immediate clue that this is a gr8 commercial.

By Cara Bahniuk 3 months ago

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NHL teams to conceal medical reasons why players aren’t playing

With the start of NHL training camps, new protocols are being announced. As reported by Mike Vogel, the Washington Capitals and the rest of the 23 other playoff teams will no longer add any specifics to player absences.

A player will no longer be out for an “upper body” or “lower body” injury. They will just be absent.

By Cara Bahniuk 3 months ago

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Nine Pittsburgh Penguins players put in voluntary isolation due to secondary exposure to COVID-19

As NHL training camps officially opened on Monday, there were several COVID-19 setbacks.

The Montreal Canadiens reportedly had “at least three” players test positive for coronavirus. The Pittsburgh Penguins also announced that nine players from their training camp roster are temporarily sidelined for precautionary reasons.

The players were exposed to an individual who had contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19.

By Cara Bahniuk 3 months ago

The MLS’s problems since entering the bubble show how difficult restarting could be for other sports

DC United was supposed to play its first game of the MLS playoffs Sunday morning. Twenty minutes before the start time, the match was put on hold due to a positive COVID-19 test and one inconclusive; one on each team. Five minutes later, the match was called off.

This isn’t an outlier experience. Since entering the bubble, nine MLS games were scheduled to occur. Of those nine, only three have happened on time.

By Cara Bahniuk 3 months ago