Photo credit: Greg Fiume
The Caps’ division-clinching 5-3 win over Winnipeg Tuesday was filled with great moments: like George McPhee’s fist-pump, Matt Hendricks open-audition to be in the Jabbawockeez, and fans serenading Alex Ovechkin with a loud M-V-P chant. But let’s not overlook Mike Green‘s magic moment, the one where he hip-checked forever-Penguin Eric Tangradi head-over-heels.
Photo credit: Patrick McDermott
Over the past few weeks, Matt Hendricks has been invisible on the scoresheet. He hasn’t scored a goal since March 3rd and hasn’t tallied a point since March 22nd. That’s why tonight, when The Wagon scored his fifth goal of the year, he danced like a four-year old who just learned how to use the potty.
Photo credit: Andre Ringuette
Braden Holtby had a busy night in Thursday’s 3-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators. He turned away 35 of the 37 shots he faced for a sterling .946 save percentage, but he was definitely overworked. That was made clear at 4:27 of the second period, when Erik Condra bowled him over.
By Peter Hassett 10 years ago
Martin Erat is a skilled guy. He’s registered 49 points or more in the last eight seasons and when the Capitals acquired him in a trade for Filip Forsberg a few weeks ago, he was Nashville’s leading point-getter. Consistently putting up that many points can be a sign of good hands, which is exactly what Erat showed off on Thursday, assisting on the Capitals’ only goal in the team’s 3-1 loss to Ottawa.
Alex Ovechkin has been scoring a lot of goals lately — 17 in his last 15 games — making him the NHL’s league leader. At the Capitals’ season-ticket holder party at Six Flags on Sunday, he proved that his touch transcends hockey. Ovi for Hart whatever trophies soccer players get!
Photo credit: Nick Wass
Alex Ovechkin’s not the only player on the Washington Capitals who’s on an epic run right now. Mike Green has been too. Lately, he’s been partying like it’s 2009 all over again, scoring seven goals in his last nine games.
Saturday night against the Lightning, Green rescued the Caps from a potentially embarrassing loss, firing a slapshot from the point past Mathieu Garon to give the Caps a 6-5 win in oooooooooverrrrrtimeeeeee.
A thumbs up from Kirilenko is more lucky than a swimming pool full of horseshoes and four-leaf clovers. (Photo credit: @mkirilenko)
Photo credit: Patrick McDermott
That washed-up Russian, Alex Ovechkin, has scored 17 goals in his last 15 games. During that span, the Washington Capitals are an astounding 12-2-1, which has taken them from the cellar of the Eastern Conference to the top of the Southeast Division. I guess we really did forget to flush. The goals have made Ovechkin a MVP candidate again for the first time in years and literally the happiest guy on the planet.
Saturday night against the Lightning, Ovechkin punctuated a huge first period for the Caps with a beautiful semi-breakaway goal. As the Lightning prepared for Ovi to shoot from the circles, the Great Eight surprised everybody on the ice and went to his backhand, beating Ben Bishop to the right post. It would be Washington’s third goal of the period and the team’s 20th shot.
Let’s just forget about the two periods after that.
This photo is smoldering with sex appeal. (Photo via welshhockeyfan)
A few weeks ago, Mike Ribeiro got in his first NHL fight– against Brad Marchand. It was a site to behold: the teams’ two tiniest players wildly throwing haymakers at — or maybe just near– each other. The bout was more cute than vicious, and on Thursday night we got another adorable dust-up a lot like it.
With a a minute left in the third period and the Caps clutching to a 2-1 lead, John Erskine shoved the living shit out of Eric Staal, just to let him know that he didn’t appreciate the Canes’ captain swinging his stick at him like he was Chris Davis or something. Staal pushed back, and then all 10 players on the ice converged in an sweaty swarm of hockey hate.
Photo credit: Evan Vucci
Troy Brouwer’s return to the score sheet for the first time since March 30th came in three parts. First was the power play goal, a zippy shot from the slot set up by Mike Ribeiro. Then came the empty-netter, in spite of Alex Semin’s cross-check, sealing the deal with only seconds to spare. And finally came the trash talk: Troy Brouwer letting ex-teammate and international man of mystery Alex Semin know what he thought of — well something, I guess. Lipreading is not our bag. If lipreading is your bag, give it a try in the comments below.
By Peter Hassett 10 years ago
Photo credit: Paul Chiasson
Admit it: over the last few years you’ve given Alex Ovechkin some grief. From his not-so friendly communication with his coaches to skipping the All-Star game, The Great Eight has generated more heel heat than B.P. Richfield from The Dinosaurs. The dwindling goal totals haven’t helped either.
On Tuesday night, Ovi completed his epic return to glory, scoring his league-leading (for about an hour) 26th goal with his fanciest move of the season. After throwing the puck through Michael Ryder’s legs, Ovi wristed a shot just beyond the circles and past Carey Price. It’s the first time Ovi’s led the NHL goals since… um… how about the early 80’s?
