Ilya Samsonov

Alex Ovechkin celebrates 34th birthday with Russian teammates after Capitals preseason game

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin turned 34 years-old on Tuesday but celebrated his birthday with his family, friends, and teammates the very next night.

Ovechkin had a large private dinner after the Capitals defeated the St. Louis Blues 3-2 in a very nice win at Capital One Arena. Ovechkin and his wife Nastya posted videos to their Instagram Story of the moment when Ovi was given a birthday cake. He smiled sheepishly as everyone sang him Happy Birthday in Russian.

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By Ian Oland 2 days ago

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Doing TopGolf with Alex Alexeyev and Ilya Samsonov looks like the most fun thing ever

A quick story: The first time I tried to drive a golf ball at TopGolf was at the Wish Upon A Par charity event in 2017. From what I recall, I was chatting with Philipp Grubauer and he suggested I join his group with Matt Niskanen. I was uneasy, as I had never driven a golf ball before, but said ok. How hard could it be? I asked myself. Then I took my first swing. I missed the golf ball by two feet and my momentum almost took me off the platform. It was at that point — my face a dark shade of red — I put the driver back, said my goodbyes, and quit for the rest of eternity…

Which brings me to the Capitals’ Alex Alexeyev and Ilya Samsonov! They’re about as good as I am at TopGolf, but they own their terribleness and wear it like a badge of honor.

Over the weekend, the two Russian goofs took to the popular venue and posted their follies on their Instagram Story. Here’s what you missed.

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By Ian Oland 3 weeks ago

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Here’s how the Capitals are spending Labor Day weekend

A significant portion of the Washington Capitals roster has returned to DC over the last few weeks to participate in informal practices at MedStar Capitals Iceplex leading up to the first day of Training Camp on September 12.

But many of these players, and some who still remain at home, are using the Labor Day holiday weekend to do one final trip with their loved ones before the start of the season.

Here’s what your favorite players (and PA announcer) are up to!

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By Ian Oland 3 weeks ago

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Vitek Vanecek explains his friendly rivalry with Ilya Samsonov in Hershey

2018-19 AHL All-Star Vitek Vanecek hasn’t received much buzz to be the Capitals goaltender of the future despite strong play in the minor leagues. The reason is due to 2015 first-round pick Ilya Samsonov, the team’s top prospect, who is considered one of the best goalies not in the NHL.

Despite the rivalry, the two goaltenders — one Czech and the other Russian — formed an unlikely and close friendship with the AHL’s Hershey Bears last season. The two call each other “Boss” and “Big Boss” in Russian and earlier in the season Samsonov credited Vanecek as one of the people he is closest with on the team. Vanecek recently described their relationship as “great.”

“We help each other,” Vanecek said in an interview posted by isport.cz and translated by Alexandra Petáková. “When we’re in the goal, we always want to win. We’ve never argued once.

“He even invited me to his wedding, but unfortunately, I couldn’t make it,” Vanecek added. “Ilya’s English isn’t very good yet, so I tried to help him in America. We talk to each other in Czech and Russian. We curse too, I know some bad words in Russian now.”

But that doesn’t there aren’t hard moments and an intense, friendly competition going on.

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By Ian Oland 1 month ago

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Ilya Samsonov arrives back in Washington DC

Capitals goaltender Ilya Samsonov is back from Russia a month before the start of training camp.

The Capitals 2015 first-round pick posted to his Instagram Story on Friday, visiting Great Falls with his wife Maria.

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By Ian Oland 1 month ago

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Ilya Samsonov gets married to longtime girlfriend in hometown of Magnitogorsk

Twenty-two-year-old Capitals prospect Ilya Samsonov is now married.

Saturday, the Caps’ goaltender of the future tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend Maria Semyonova in Magnitogorsk, Russia.

Former Hershey Bears teammate Sergei Shumakov took a photo with the newly-wed couple at the ceremony.

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By Ian Oland 2 months ago

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The best moments from the modern-day Capitals’ NHL drafts

The 2019 NHL Draft begins on Friday, June 21 in Vancouver. The first round will be broadcast on Friday night and the following six rounds will all be squeezed in on Saturday. Later draft picks basically get the same treatment as technical awards at the Golden Globes.

The Capitals’ current roster has had some pretty memorable moments from their NHL draft days–let’s take a look!

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By Brennin Weiswerda 3 months ago

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Ilya Samsonov makes 26 saves in victory that puts Hershey one win away from advancing

The Hershey Bears have taken a lead in their series over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, taking down Game Three by a score of 2-1. Ilya Samsonov came up with 26 saves on 27 shots, Liam O’Brien got the Bears on the board first, and defenseman Ryan Sproul scored the eventual game winning tally.

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By Chris Cerullo 5 months ago

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Capitals recall goaltender Ilya Samsonov from the Hershey Bears

On Friday, the Washington Capitals reassigned goaltender Vitek Vanecek to their AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears. The same move saw forward Devante Smith-Pelly come back the Capitals, after being placed on waivers in February.

In order to keep a third goaltender on hand, Ilya Samsonov — who played in Hershey’s first playoff game against the Sound Tigers Friday night — has been added back to the roster.

We expect Vanecek and Samsonov to continue to trade places on the Capitals’ roster for as long as both Hershey and the Caps remain in their respective playoffs. Vanecek and Samsonov played in tandem throughout the Bears’ regular season, which saw them team up to send Hershey on a 17-game franchise-record point streak.

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By Donya Abramo 5 months ago

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Capitals recall Vitek Vanecek, return Ilya Samsonov to Hershey in time for playoffs

The Capitals announced on Sunday morning that they have recalled goaltender Vitek Vanecek from the AHL’s Hershey Bears and have re-assigned Ilya Samsonov to the Bears.

The move allows the Caps to keep three goaltenders available while also letting Samsonov return to the Bears to prepare for the AHL playoffs. The Bears will play the final game of their regular season on Sunday night before facing off against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Friday.

Vanecek will travel with the Capitals to Raleigh for Game Three on Monday evening. This is Vanecek’s first call-up to the Capitals.

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By Elizabeth Kong 5 months ago

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