010415 | RMNB

Capitals Dejected After Sloppy Loss to Islanders in Game One

Photo credit: Alex Brandon

Coming into Wednesday’s game, the Washington Capitals were confident. With a new coach this year, they had turned into a crisp, well-structured team, generally controlling the puck and therefore the play. They finished the season tied for the eighth highest point total in the league.

“In the past we were maybe sort of a rush team,” forward Brooks Laich, a veteran of the light ’em up Presidents’ Trophy winning Capitals of 2010, said. “I don’t think we’re as high flying, high octane offense as we once were, but I think we’re a lot more difficult to play against this way. It should bode well for a sustained playoff run.”

“We’re gonna be ready,” Laich concluded.

They weren’t.

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By Chris Gordon 8 years ago

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Andre Burakovsky Slapped in the Face by Teammate After He Scored Game-Winning Goal (GIF)

Photo: Brad Mills

After being infinity-scratched and forbidden to go to the World Junior Championship, head coach Barry Trotz put Andre Burakovsky back in his natural position on Sunday. He even gave the 19-year-old rookie a comfy spot on the first line next to Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin. The move paid off. Burakovsky scored the first game-winning goal of his career in Washington’s 4-3 win over Florida.

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By Ian Oland 9 years ago

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Caps Illustrate How Not Play Defense as Three Teammates Collide (GIF)

Jack Hillen continues to have the worst luck. In the second period, with the Caps up 1-0, the team gave up what might be the dumbest goal of the season. As Hillen and Mike Green went for a loose puck along the team’s offensive blue line, they collided hard. Center Evgeny Kuznetsov completed the hockey bowling metaphor by crashing on top their fallen bodies.

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By Ian Oland 9 years ago

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No Winter Classic Hangover: Caps beat Panthers 4-3

Anteater! (Photo: Patrick McDermott)

Were you expecting a low-key game following the literal fireworks at the Winter Classic? The Caps’ home game against the Florida Panthers was kind of sleepy for a bit, but in the end this was another thrilling example of Caps hockey. Nice start to 2015.

The game was scoreless after twenty minutes, but don’t worry: the second period more than made up for the boredom.

Alex Ovechkin scored a power-play goal on an Ovi shot from the Ovi spot in the second. Vincent Trocheck got a ridiculous goal to tie it for the Panthers, and then Dylan Olsen used an abundance of screens to put Florida up 2-1. No worries though, as Brooks Laich sniped an outside goal just past halfway through #rego to knot it up again. Karl “Dad Strength” Alzner and the second line beat Luongo to make it 3-2 going into the second intermission.

Top-liner Andre Burakovsky swept in a lay-up from the weak side to put the Panthers in a two-goal hole in the third period. Nick Bjugstad scored an impossible goal with an empty net and two minutes left to make it a one-goal game late, but the Caps emerged victorious over an Eastern Conference rival.

Caps beat Panthers 4-3. Big two points.

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By Peter Hassett 9 years ago

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Braden Holtby “Hatches a Hockey Puck” After Losing It In Gear (GIF)

Braden Holtby made a simple stop during a Panthers power play early in the third period, but he couldn’t find where the puck went afterwards. It was lost somewhere in his pads.

“Look, I can make it disappear!” CSN’s Joe Beninati joked. “He might find it in the shower an hour later.”

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By Ian Oland 9 years ago

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Alex Ovechkin Scores 19th Goal of the Season After Sick Pass From Nicklas Backstrom

Alex Ovechkin followed up his Winter Classic tally with a power-play goal against the Panthers on Sunday, his eighth of the season and 19th goal overall. It was all made possible because of a beautiful pass by Nicklas Backstrom.

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By Ian Oland 9 years ago

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Alex Ovechkin Runs Over Roberto Luongo, Shows Good Sportsmanship Afterwards (GIF)

A few years ago, Milan Lucic laid out Ryan Miller, causing the Vezina trophy-winning goaltender to miss a lot of time due to a concussion. The fallout from that play also caused a change in the NHL rulebook.

On Sunday, Alex Ovechkin laid out Roberto Luongo. Unlike with Lucic-Miller, there was zero malice here.

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By Ian Oland 9 years ago

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Caps vs Panthers Pregame: Brunch, Anyone?

After our first Friday and Saturday off in forever, man, the Capitals will play host to the Florida Panthers for an afternoon matinee at Verizon Center. If you’re searching for a narrative, “Winter Classic hangover” should be a good one.

Watch with us at 3 PM on CSN-DC.