042918 | RMNB

There will be no hearing with the Department of Player Safety for Tom Wilson

During the second period of Game Two, Tom Wilson landed a controversial hit with Alex Ovechkin on Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin. Dumoulin did not return for the third period.

The NHL’s Department of Player Safety has just announced Wilson will not be subject to a hearing.

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Series split: numbers for the morning after

In the first two games of their second round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins in DC, the Washington Capitals will come out with a split series after winning Game Two 4-1. All two goal leads were safe in this one.

The Penguins out-shot the Capitals 33 to 32 and out-attempted them at five-on-five 62 to 51.

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By Chris Cerullo On April 30, 2018 0 Comment

Capitals spell out Rock The Red with Game Two giveaway of rally towels

The Washington Capitals have been getting creative with the presentation of their rally towel giveaways. For Game One, the Caps used towels to spell out “ALL CAPS” on one side of the rink, and the DC skyline on the other.

On Sunday, the lower bowl was once again decorated with contrasting red and white rally towels. The message this time read “Rock the Red.”

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On April 29, 2018 0 Comment

Caps fans celebrate Game Two win by reclaiming National Portrait Gallery steps

Visiting Pittsburgh Penguins fans have a ritual every time the Pens beat the Capitals at Capital One Arena. The fans will make their way over to the National Portrait Gallery steps, taunting Caps fans as they file out of the arena and make their way home.

After Game One Thursday night, Pens fans chanted YOU CAN’T BEAT US and cheered. The RMNB article covering the taunting caused such a stir that I had to close the comments, which got out of hand.

Sunday, after Washington pulled out a decisive 4-1 win during Game Two, Caps fans reclaimed the steps and loudly chanted LET’s GO CAPS!

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By Ian Oland On April 29, 2018 0 Comment

The watercooler moment of Game Two: Did the puck cross the line on Patric Hornqvist’s no-goal?

The Pittsburgh Penguins appeared to narrow the Capitals’ lead to one midway through the third period.

As Sidney Crosby attempted a wraparound, Patric Hornqvist crashed the net, knocking home – or so we thought – the rebound past Braden Holtby. While Hornqvist celebrated with his teammates, officials never ruled it a good goal on the ice.

After a lengthy goal review, the NHL decided that there was no evidence the puck ever crossed the goal line.

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By Ian Oland On April 29, 2018 0 Comment

Even: Caps beat Pens 4-1 to tie the series!

Game Two was like Game One except better. Early lead? Sure. Make it grow? Lovely. But then the Caps got an extra goal, and even after the Pens got on the scoreboard it did not snowball. You could even argue that maybe, perhaps, just possibly, the Caps got the better whistles in this one. Either way: happy endings for everybody in red.

Alex Ovechkin opened it up after Patric Hornqvist fed him a perfect pass all the way from the other team. Jakub Vrana won a scramble low in the Pens zone to put the Caps up 2-0 heading into the second. Brett Connolly caught a stretch pass to make it 3-0. Kris Letang threaded the needle to snap the shutout during 4-on-4 play in the second period, and Backstrom added an empty netter late in the third. Goals only tell a fraction of this story, but it’s a good story in the end.

Caps beat Penguins 4-1! The series is tied 1-1!

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By Peter Hassett On April 29, 2018 0 Comment

Controversial hit by Tom Wilson knocks Brian Dumoulin out of game

Tom Wilson is a lightning rod for controversy and Sunday he landed another borderline hit.

During the second period of Game Two, the hulking winger delivered a tandem bodycheck with Alex Ovechkin on Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin.

The hit knocked Dumoulin out of the game and he did not return for the third period.

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By Ian Oland On April 29, 2018 1 Comment

Brett Connolly scores on breakaway for first career playoff goal

Capitals forward Brett Connolly just joined Jakub Vrana with an NHL first of his own.

After being sprung on a breakaway, Connolly beat Matt Murray over the glove for his first career playoff goal.

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By Ian Oland On April 29, 2018 0 Comment

Jakub Vrana has scored his first career postseason goal

We’ve got good news and we’ve got bad news. The good news is that Jakub Vrana has scored his first career playoff goal. The bad news is that the Capitals have a two-goal lead. That might sound like more good news to some people, but you know this team too well for that.

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By Ian Oland On April 29, 2018 1 Comment

Alex Ovechkin gives the Caps an early lead in Game Two, let’s hope it goes better this time

Once again the Caps have got an early lead against the Penguins. Before Game Two was two minutes old, Alex Ovechkin put the puck behind Matt Murray, high glove-side.

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By Ian Oland On April 29, 2018 0 Comment

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