Posts by Chris Gordon

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Another Day, Another Goalie Injury as Neuvirth Injures Leg

Photo credit: Mitchell Layton

Remember that possible goalie controversy? Well now there’s a new problem in the crease — and it isn’t pretty. After Tomas Vokoun re-injured his groin last week in Boston, the Caps have been forced to rely on Michal Neuvirth and call-up Braden Holtby. That’s not so bad considering Vokoun’s play before the setback. It’s Neuvy who’s hurt now, suffering a possibly devastating leg injury a quarter of the way into the second period Thursday night.

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By Chris Gordon 11 years ago

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Matt Hendricks: The Not So Secret Weapon

Photo credit: Greg Fiume

The surprise is that there was no surprise.

With the Washington Capitals and Montreal Canadiens locked at two as the clock hit zero in overtime, Matt Hendricks got ready to take the ice for the shootout. The fourth liner, not one of the highly skilled Russians or Nicklas Backstrom in his grand return, was set to shoot first in the most important gimmick of season — that is, if you don’t count the one 48 hours ago. And once again Hendricks made the moves you know by heart: fake, leg lift, deke, deke, wrist shot, score. Eight goals, 12 opportunities, one move.

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By Chris Gordon 11 years ago

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After Dreadful Performance, Caps Shift Focus to Final 5 Games

Photo credit: Rob Carr

If there was one moment that epitomized Tuesday’s game, it came in the waning moments of the second period. With the Capitals on the power play with chance to narrow the Sabres lead to one heading into the final intermission, Keith Aucoin chipped the puck along the boards to Alex Ovechkin, who was playing the point at the blueline. Ovi fumbled the slow moving puck, got out muscled by Jason Pominville and then stumbled to the ice. Pominville finished the sequence by deflating any hope there was on the Capitals bench when his shot hit the back of the net. Ovechkin smashed his stick against the goal post in frustration.

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By Chris Gordon 11 years ago

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Braden Holtby: King of March

Photo credit: Mitchell Layton

In March of 2011, a 22-year-old Saskatchewan native got called up to the Capitals after one of their netminders suffered an injury. Unproven and raw, he seemed at ease as he created a three-way goalie controversy on one of the league’s top teams. In March of 2012, a 23-year-old Saskatchewan native may be doing the same thing.

In his three games up with Washington after Tomas Vokoun went out with a groin injury, Braden Holtby has been stellar and ever improving as he turned a .889 save percentage in the first two months of the year in the AHL into a sparkling shutout performance in front of 18,506 fans (but who’s counting?) in one of his team’s biggest games of the year. With the Capitals fighting for every point as they try to squeak into the playoffs, head coach Dale Hunter may have no choice but to play the hot hand — even if the question was supposed to be settled when the Capitals traded away Michal Neuvirth’s competition before making the surprise signing of Vokoun in the summer.

“From my short stint in pro hockey you realize things change really quickly,” Holtby told reporters after the game. “I was ready, that’s what I’ve been working towards in Hershey all year. I’m trying to make good call-ups count.”

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By Chris Gordon 11 years ago

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Agent: Kuznetsov’s Injury is a Severe Bruise, No Structural Damage

Photo credit: Elena Rusko

By now you’ve probably seen the video of Caps prospect Evgeny Kuznetsov writhing in pain after absorbing an illegal check in a KHL game late last month. Well, it looks like things aren’t nearly as bad as they first appeared. Kuznetsov’s North American agent, Jay Grossman, confirmed reports that Kuznetsov suffered a severe bruise but no structural damage.

“If all goes according to plan he will return to play at some point during the playoffs,” Grossman wrote in an email to RMNB. Kuznetsov’s team, Traktor Chelyabinsk, is currently playing Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk in the first-round of the Gagarin Cup playoffs. They lead the series 3-1.

By Chris Gordon 11 years ago

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Photos: Third Annual Caps Care Casino Night

Papa Ovi and GMGM pose for what can only be described as the greatest photo ever.

The Caps hosted their annual Casino Night Friday evening, raising just under $300,000 for Washington Capitals Charities and providing a fun personal experience for fans that got to sit down and smoke their favorite players at blackjack for one night. (See! They’re human! Even Ovechkin!)

All of the Caps were in attendance, even Dmitry Orlov with a taped-up nose, and Joe B. emceed for the night, though it’s possible his most important contribution was wearing these shoes. Brooks Laich broke the collective hearts of the metro area when he showed up with a date, but as far as we know nobody tried to get Nicklas Backstrom to headbang, so we’re declaring this year’s Casino Night a success.

I was there, and shot it all, so check out the photos after the jump!

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By Chris Gordon 11 years ago

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Dmitry Orlov’s First NHL Goal is a Game-Winner

Marcus Johansson and friends congratulate Orlov on his marker. (Photo credit: Mitchell Layton)

In his young, 25 game NHL career, Dmitry Orlov has already established himself as a solid defenseman. Just 20-years-old and less than a year after first playing in North America, Orlov has supplanted Jeff Schultz and John Erskine in the Caps lineup and earned high praise from his coaches and teammates. One thing, however, has been missing: a coveted National Hockey League goal. One minute and 12 seconds into the third period, the Novokuznetsk native got just that, breaking a 1-1 tie with what turned out to be the game-winning tally. Judging by his reaction, we think it’s pretty safe to say Dima was pleased. Check out the video below the jump!

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By Chris Gordon 11 years ago

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Frustration, Hope as Caps Offense M.I.A Once Again

(Photo credit: Nick Wass)

The Dale Hunter era hasn’t exactly started with a bang. With Hunter looking for his first NHL win behind the bench and the Penguins’ Sidney Crosby playing Washington for the first time since his Winter Classic concussion heard ’round the world, everybody from TSN to The New York Times descended on the Verizon Center Thursday night. And for the second game in a row the Caps were easily outplayed and doubled up in shots on goal (65 to 36 over the two games) — even if they lost by just one tally.

Still, the Caps aren’t exactly playing like Bruce Boudreau remains behind the bench. The team has instituted Hunter’s new defensive system (they had the second worst goal-against average in the league under the old regime) which will take some getting used to. The players, of course, know this as they made an even more dramatic shift in their play in the midst of their eight-game losing streak less than one year ago. So far, though, it’s yet to yield a victory.

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By Chris Gordon 11 years ago

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Caps Turn Tide, Total Freakout Temporarily Put Off

Haven’t seen many of these lately. (Photo credit: Greg Fiume)

"Nick, Dennis, you do know I like my job, right?" (Photo credit: Greg Fiume)

Lauri Korpikoski picked up the puck at center-ice after being awarded a penalty shot and skated in on Capitals goalie Tomas Vokoun. With a quick flick of the wrist the puck was in the back of the net, and the Caps down 2-0. Bruce Boudreau — possibly fighting for his coaching life — turned his back is disgust and slammed into the plexiglass to his left with fervor. It was a new low this year for the Caps, who were coming off a horrendous 7-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday night and in the mist of the skid that saw them lose six of seven and four straight. But after hitting rock bottom, the Caps finally got back up — with a lot of luck and maybe a little help from a certain red balloon.

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By Chris Gordon 11 years ago

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Caps Fight Cancer
Alex Ovechkin

Alex Ovechkin stands next to 12-year-old cancer survivor Anthony Holley during the national anthem. (Photo credit: Ned Dishman)

Cancer affects millions of people every year and is truly an awful disease. So on Saturday night, while the boys in red battled the Detroit Red Wings, the Caps held Hockey Fights Cancer Night, joining in a league-wide program to raise money for cancer research and treatment. During warm-ups, the team wore special jerseys with Hockey Fights Cancer patches and lavender outlining around the names and numbers, representing the official color of the initiative. The sweaters, which were signed by their respective player, were then auctioned off to fans at the community relations booth.

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By Chris Gordon 11 years ago

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