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Andre Burakovksy Scores Clutch Goal Despite a Foggy Face Shield

After the Caps’ 4-3 overtime loss to the Penguins, Barry Trotz called out his team, threatening to bench players who do not produce. One player who does not have to worry about such frivolous things is Andre Burakovsky, who has found a niche on the Caps’ second line.

Thursday, the Burracuda notched his 17th goal of the season in the third period, tipping a John Carlson saucer pass past Pens’ goaltender Matt Murray. The clutch scoar completed an improbable Caps comeback in which they were down three goals. It sent the Verizon Center crowd into a frenzy. Burakovsky did all of this despite a foggy face shield.

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By Ian Oland 6 years ago

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Barry Trotz Threatens Players’ Roles and Minutes If They Don’t Start Producing

The Washington Capitals have not played well for weeks and panic is setting in. Thursday night against the Penguins, the Caps looked lethargic and disinterested, falling behind 3-0 before battling back late in the game. In overtime, Sidney Crosby roofed a backhanded shot past Braden Holtby on a breakaway, giving the Penguins a 4-3 win. The goal marked the Caps first three-game losing streak of the season. They’ve also lost five of their last seven games.

During his post-game press conference, an exasperated Barry Trotz had strong words for several unnamed Capitals, threatening roles, ice time, and postseason scratches.

“We have to ramp our game up,” Trotz said.

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By Ian Oland 6 years ago

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Inherent Resolve: Penguins Beat Capitals 4-3 (OT)

Photo: Alex Brandon/AP

It’s game 80 for the Washington Capitals this season. I cannot think of a more perfect time to go all Adam Oates and force new things down Caps fans’ throats. On our end, RMNB tried out a new in-game live blog, where you got to interact with Chris. But not me. I’m the actual Chris. His name is Chris From The Comments, because he doesn’t have the credentials to blow up the site at will. From the Caps, got some new lines and D-pairs from Barry Trotz, which might be the way the Capitals lineup looks when we start the playoffs. Braden Holtby was in net because you sure as hell know why Braden Holtby was in net. Pens had won 13 of 14. So let’s do this.

Well, on second thought, let’s not. Forty-four seconds into the game, the Capitals’ defense crumbled like a nomination before the Senate — except the Capitals were trying even less.

Early in the second, Matt Cullen scored yet another goal in the first minute of the period, His shorthanded goal seemingly crush the Caps’ hopes. Then the Caps killed a five-minute penalty (Tom Wilson, natch) only to surrender a five-hole goal to Connor Sheary on an odd-man rush soon after. Thank goodness for Marcus Johansson, who finally got the Caps on board late in the period.

In the third, Joe Hanson was money yet again, turning the rest of the third period into a grudge match against the league’s hottest team. Just over three minutes later, another perfect Swedish and adorable and awesome player named Andre Burakovsky CRASHED THE FREAKIN’ NET and tied the game. This is why you watch sports.

What happened later is why you never want to watch sports again. Sidney Crosby in the extra frame. Pens beat Caps 4-3 (OT).

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By Chris Gordon 6 years ago

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Orioles Legend and Hockey Fan Brooks Robinson Speaks to RMNB During His First Caps Game at Verizon Center

Major League Baseball is in the throes of opening week and Orioles Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson was at a hockey game Thursday night. As a guest of CSN Mid-Atlantic and the Laughlin family, Robinson came to Verizon Center to see the latest iteration of the Capitals Penguins rivalry.

Nicknamed “The Human Vacuum Cleaner,” Robinson won 16 Gold Gloves and two world championships with the Baltimore Orioles. Robinson is considered one of the greatest third basemen in major league history. Former Capitals player Brooks Laich is named after the beloved Orioles infielder.

During the first intermission, I spoke with Robinson. Brooks explained his hockey fandom, what position he would play if he were a hockey player, and his thoughts on his historic Major League career.

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By Chris Gordon 6 years ago

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Game 80 Live Blog: Caps vs Pens

Photo: Justin Berl

Look above. That’s a picture of a man who should never have been allowed to leave Washington, DC. He faces off against his former team and your Washington Capitals at the Verizon Center tonight with the rest of the flaming-hot Pittsburgh Penguins. The Pens come into town after going 9-1 in their last 10 and that’s without superstar Evgeni Malkin since March 11 and now without starting goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who has been out with a concussion since the beginning of April. Games between these two teams are always quite the show, and something tells me that even though this is a virtually meaningless game for your Caps, it should be nonetheless entertaining.

Before we get started, did you know that “giant” 5-foot-tall penguins once inhabited the Earth? Carl Hagelin would have had a lot of friends 30 million years ago.

I’m Chris From The Comments. Join me below for the first Live Blog of this year’s Caps season.

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By Chris Cerullo 6 years ago

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Photo: Amanda Bowen

It’s game 79 of the regular season for the Caps. They’ve had the standings locked up since about game 7. Yes, it’d be nice to beat the Pens. And of course, it would be encouraging to see a great effort from the guys in red as the playoffs grow nearer. But Jean-Paul Sartre would definitely say “I told you so” when we come to the realization that the existence of this game precedes its essence.

But the great thing about meaningless things is that we’re left free to assign our own meaning. There’s some cool stuff that we can choose to care about to make this game more enjoyable. There’s Braden Holtby‘s pursuit of the single-season record for wins by a goalie and Alex Ovechkin trying to hit the 50 goal mark again. Oh, and TJ Oshie is trying to reach 30 goals for the first time in his career, but all but one of us knew all along that would never happen.

The game is at 7 on CSN. Please, everyone stay healthy.

Team	Record	Possession	PDO	Power Play	Penalty Kill
Washington Capitals	55-17-7	51.9%	101.0	22.7% (3rd)	84.5% (4th)
Pittsburgh Penguins	47-25-8	53.2%	100.7	18.8% (16th)	84.0% (6th)