GIF by welshhockeyfan
The Caps lost 4-3 to the Blackhawks in overtime tonight, but that doesn’t matter. Instead, let’s remember this game for the time Mikhail Grabovski and Troy Brouwer’s failed to celebrate correctly. The second line clearly needs to develop some more chemistry here or it’s going to be a loooooooong year.
The Wilson punch that ended the fight.
If Tom Wilson doesn’t make the Washington Capitals roster out of training camp, he will return to the Plymouth Whalers knowing he did all he could. On Friday night, Wilson had a goal, an impressive fight, and drew a penalty in another fantastic game for the 19-year-old Canadian.
Five minutes after Mikhail Grabovski absorbed a dirty elbow from Zac Rinaldo in the first period, Wilson stuck up for his teammate and fought the much shorter Brayden Schenn.
It was brutal. Brutal. Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuutal.
Mikhail Grabovski has had a sterling preseason. After resolving his visa issues, Grabo wasted no time establishing himself as a Belarusian assist machine, endearing himself to his teammates and Caps fans in the process.
Enter Zac Rinaldo, notorious Philly antagonist (317 PIMs in 98 games). The Flyer goon zeroed in on Grabo in the corner behind Neuvirth’s net. Rinaldo’s elbow hit Grabovski’s head, dropping the Caps center to the ice. Grabovski skated back to the bench under his own power and continued playing in the game. Rinaldo, on the other hand, received a five-minute major and game misconduct.
By Peter Hassett 10 years ago
The Washington Capitals apparently hosted the Nashville Predators to an exhibition game on Wednesday night. The Capitals won, reportedly, 4-1 and most of the talk after the game regarded Matt Hendricks and his return to DC, the fights, and something about Graboners (No, this will never be a t-shirt).
When I checked out highlights of the game this morning, my jaw figuratively hit the floor. Nicklas Backstrom’s goal– wow. It wasn’t so much what Backstrom did; it was what Alex Ovechkin and Marcus Johansson did to set it up.
Joel Rechlicz is a heavyweight fighter. He has held his own in fights with Donald Brashear, Matt Clackson, and Jay Rosehill. Every bout Recker’s had follows the same script: he either knocks you out or it’s a marathon that will make you wish you hadn’t dropped the gloves in the first place.
In Monday’s Washington Capitals’ preseason game against the Boston Bruins, Rechlicz reminded us that there’s more to his game than just shootout winners. Recker fought one of the toughest players in the NHL, Milan Lucic. ‘Twas epic.
Lasting nearly 50 seconds, Rechlicz and Lucic exchanged a flurry of lefts and rights, which left Recker bleeding and Looch gasping. By my count, Lucic landed more blows (9) than Rechlicz (8), but Recker got the upper hand in intense facial expressions.
Jack Edwards, the Boston Bruins’ homerlicious play-by-play guy, apparently did not see the same fight I watched.
“Lucic connects and connects and connects,” Edwards screamed midway through the bout. “Rechlicz’s being reckless with his face. He’s assaulting Lucic’s knuckles… with his nose.” Cute.
Because I love you, precious RMNB reader, here’s video, GIFs, and screenshots of the fight. Hockey best!)))))
I don’t know why Chris Cooley was skating before the Washington Capitals Alumni Game Thursday. I really don’t. While out on the ice, the 250-lbs, two-time Pro Bowler made a big impact. Like, literally. He probably left an actual crater on the ice. Hope the Caps made him sign a waiver.
After skating towards the net and gently pushing the puck towards the red team’s goalie, the former tight end for Washington (sup, Rick Reilly) lost his balance, falling face-first to the ice. His head bounced. It looked painful and– joking aside– I hope he’s okay. (Also, in all honesty, my favorite TE from the mid-2000’s was Todd Heap.)
Former Capitals enforcer Kevin Kaminski then showed Cooley what an NHL body check feels like.
For those of you who still watch SportsCenter, you’re already aware they have a Top Ten list plays that airs every day. It rarely includes hockey. …Except on Wednesday, when a certain almost-Capital made the list. If they get ESPN down in Australia, I’m pretty sure the Walker family and friends are looking stunned mullet right now (that means they’re surprised, or something).
Nathan Walker, who Craig Laughlin said was the best player on the ice during last night’s Baltimore Hockey Classic, hit number eight on the the top ten. Walker’s sick unbelievable pass to Tom Wilson earned the honors, the same pass that resulted in Wilson’s first goal of the preseason. The Aussie split the wickets of Joseph Morrow’s legs to set up The Ten Train for a straightforward one-timer.
Walker unofficially has one goal and one assist in two games. He also earned a penalty shot against the Boston Bruins.
Braden Holtby played a perfect half-game for the Washington Capitals before getting relieved in favor of Philipp Grubauer. Leaving the ice, Holtby took a moment to accept the congratulations of one of the smaller fans in attendance in Baltimore.
The Russian machine made an impact of sorts at the Baltimore Classic on Tuesday night. Zeroing in on D-man Chris Casto in the corner, Alex Ovechkin gently brushed up against the glass, which promptly shattered (perhaps special birthday powers?)
The crew at Baltimore Arena took some time to make repairs, so the teams went to intermission with 4 minutes still remaining in the second period.
And yeah, the photographer behind the glass looks a bit derpy, he protected his super expensive camera, so back off dude.
Credit: Washington Capitals
Jack Hillen scored the Capitals’ first goal of the preseason during the Kraft Hockeyville game in Belleville, Ontario on Saturday night. Or so we thought. Per Mike Vogel, Australian Nathan Walker has been changed to the official goal scorer. Or at least he should’ve been.
“I think it did,” Walker’s linemate Troy Brouwer told Vogel when asked if he thinks Walker deflected Hillen’s shot. “I went over and told the ref. I know there aren’t a whole lot of cameras in that little rink to straighten it out. They said they changed it, but they didn’t announce it. Those things are very important in preseason. In the regular season guys don’t care as much. But in the preseason, it could be the difference between making the team and not making the team. Hopefully he got credit, or hopefully who needs to know knows that he got a touch on it.”
Nice to Brouwer to speak up for a younger guy like that.
A good impression in the preseason is crucial to Walker’s chances of getting a contract. As the only player in camp not affiliated with the Caps or Bears, Walker has to distinguish himself and find his place in the organization soon. And since scoring goals is a still a going concern in hockey, there’s no better way to build a resume than putting the puck in the net. Walker did exactly that.
GIF and video of the play are below.
By 10 years ago
