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Andre Burakovsky Has Done Something This Season Only Alex Ovechkin Has Done

Photo: Patrick McDermott

Andre Burakovsky looked like a promising young forward after last year’s playoffs, recording 3 points (2 goals and 1 assist) in 11 games. Fast forward a few months, and it’s safe to say Capitals fans expected more than they got from the Swede in 2015-2016.

In the first 32 games of the regular season, Burakovsky recorded only 8 points, which included a 25-game goal-less drought between October 28 and December 28.

But everything turned around for the less-than-confident 20-year-old when he scored against the Buffalo Sabres on December 30. That same game, center Jay Beagle left the ice with a long-term injury, which required Marcus Johansson to fill in on the third line, thereby opening up a spot on the second line for Andre. In a blink, Burakovsky jumped from fourth-line right wing to second-line left wing, and he hasn’t looked back since.

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By 4 years ago

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Here’s the Capitals Dancing After Their Shootout Win

The Capitals are the NHL’s best team. They’re also its weirdest.

After their shootout win over the Devils on Saturday afternoon, the team held another group hug at center ice. And then they danced.

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By Ian Oland 4 years ago

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Alex Ovechkin Destroys Jacob Josefson With Big Open-Ice Hit (GIFs)

Three-on-three overtime was looking grim for the Capitals. Hemmed in the defensive zone for long while, the Caps were looking gassed. A Devils goal seemed inevitable.

And then Alex Ovechkin, seemingly annoyed he was still stuck on the ice, decided to level Jacob Josefson with an open-ice hit. It was about as powerful as the bodycheck Ovechkin leveled Jaromir Jagr with in the Olympics.

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By Ian Oland 4 years ago

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Do Any of Us Deserve the Life We’ve Been Gifted: Caps Beat Devils 3-2 (SO)

Photo: Mel Evans

I got called into recap duty at about 12:50 as Peter was out buying a car with his girlfriend, who is a doctor and also his girlfriend. Both teams were equally groggy after Marty Brodeur’s ceremonial puck drop as the the Caps and Devils combined for just 12 shots in the first period.

In the second period, the Caps started tilting the ice in their favor. They got on the board in the middle of the frame when Evgeny Kuznetsov did the ol’ Evgeny Kuznetsov, with his behind the net pass deflecting off a Devils defender’s stick and then off off lil’ Andre Burakovsky’s knee.

The Devils tied it up early in the third when a questionable call on Mike Richards led to a net crashing power play tally for Joseph Blandisi. Adam Henrique gave the Devils the lead less than five minutes later as the trailing man on an odd-man break. Pay no mind though, because not Alexander Semin did what the real one never could: he scored a clutch goal. Paul Carey’s deflection from the slot was the his first career NHL marker and sent the game into a shootout.

Blandisi went wide.

TJ Oshie fired a laser beam.

Braden Holtby robbed a Swede.

Kuzy was stopped at the line.

“Reid Boucher” scored for the Devils.

And Alexander Mikhailovich “Alex” Ovechkin won the game for the Washington. Again. Caps beat Devils 3-2 (SO).

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By Chris Gordon 4 years ago

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Martin Brodeur Drops Puck For Braden Holtby and Cory Schneider During Ceremonial Face-Off

Photo: NHL

The New Jersey Devils began a week-long celebration to honor one of the greatest goaltenders of all-time, Martin Brodeur. On Saturday, Brodeur was the honoree in the Caps-Devils ceremonial faceoff. But instead of the two teams’ captains participating, Brodeur dropped the puck between starting goaltenders, Cory Schneider and Braden Holtby.

It was fun, awkward, and silly.

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By Ian Oland 4 years ago

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TJ Oshie Returns From Turks and Caicos, Bulldozes Aleksander Barkov Into Capitals Net (Video)

If there was one player who looked to be fully refreshed after the All-Star Break, it’d be TJ Oshie. Oshie spent the weekend in Turks and Caicos, then returned to DC in time to dangle around a Panthers defenseman and nearly scored early in the first period.

Later, despite his tiny size, Oshie destroyed Aleksander Barkov while Barkov tried to make a power move to the net.

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By Ian Oland 4 years ago

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