The audacity of Evgeny Kuznetsov!
Tuesday, RMNB’s very own Chris Gordon got the honor of appearing on CSNMA’s Caps Media Luncheon live feed with Tarik El Bashir and Sebastian Salazar. For a small blog like us, that’s a big deal. We put on pants and everything.
While Chris was answering a question, Kuznetsov walked right in front of the camera.
The Washington Capitals must win their next two games against the Pittsburgh Penguins to keep their Stanley Cup dreams alive. Yet, if you think the players are figuratively drowning in a sea of anxiety, you’d be wrong. So. Very. Wrong.
For example, let’s take a closer look at this post-practice interview with Jason Chimera.
For those who threw their remotes out the window when the Caps season ended, you’re missing out. The Caps co-tenants at Verizon Center, the Washington Wizards, have won their first playoff series since 2005 and upset the number-one seed Indiana Pacers in game one. On Wednesday night, ahead of game two, CSN Washington’s Chris Miller did a live shot from Bankers Life Fieldhouse during Wizards Central.
And then Ted Leonsis video-bombed Miller on live TV. Troy Brouwer would be so proud.
We needed this. With all the furor surrounding the Caps currently, Joel Ward and Jason Chimera helpfully hit the release valve by cutting an Aprils Fools video posing as Caps media men John Walton and Mike Vogel.
In a skull cap and wig, the third-line wingers hosted the pre-game Two-Man Advantage video. Ward repeated Walton’s catch phrase three or seven times, and Chimera rattled off stats in a meaningless number salad– all in an uncanny impersonation of Vogel.
This is great. Please watch it. I promise it will cheer you up.
On Comcast Sportsnet’s pre-game show Capitals Central (alliteration!), Smokin’ Al Koken interviewed forward Chris Brown to ask the prospect what it was like to score his first NHL goal against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.
Before Brown could even get a word out, Jason Chimera stormed from the glass doors behind them to unleash yet another Caps video-bomb.
Last week, we spoke to Washington Capitals forward Troy Brouwer about his world-famous Brouwer Bombs. “Timing,” Brouwer said, when I asked him what made for a good photo- or video-bomb. “It’s all about timing. You’ve got to make sure the [person] is unsuspecting when you’re coming in.”
Doesn’t get any more unsuspecting than this. While the Caps warmed up before their game against the Los Angeles Kings Thursday, @Brittany_Bamr attempted to take a selfie along the boards, trying to get Mike Green in frame. Brouwer, noticing what was going on, then sprung into action, poking his head above hers and cheesing for the camera.
Yup, that’s totally another Brouwer Bomb and the third one we’ve documented on RMNB this season (1 & 2).
With each game he plays, Evgeny Kuznetsov grows more comfortable on the ice. On Saturday morning, twelve hours after recording his first NHL point and first multi-point game with the Washington Capitals, Kuznetsov showed that he’s also growing more comfortable in the role of locker room prankster.
Here’s the story. As I filmed Ian’s interview with Jaroslav Halak, a figure walked towards the stall just to my right. He said “hello” in a Russian accent, came up behind me, and then put his hand in front of my camera for a few seconds. He totally ruined my shot.
By Chris Gordon 9 years ago
Richmond-native Chelsea D. had been looking forward to this day for months. The 23-year-old sociology major from VCU has been a Washington Capitals fan for years. Her father Greg — a huge hockey fan himself– takes his daughter to five to ten Caps games a year. On New Year’s Eve, he asked Chelsea if she wanted to try something different this time. Something a little more fanatical.
“You interested in going to Casino Night? It’s in March. Mom doesn’t want to go.” Greg said. “I promise I won’t embarrass you much.”
In disbelief, Chelsea replied, “I’ll definitely go! But yes, please don’t embarrass me.”
Life threw the family a curve ball a few weeks later. Greg had to get knee replacement surgery at the end of January, then a few days before Casino Night, there was a death in the family. Greg, already hobbling as it was, had to go out to Las Vegas.
Chelsea wasn’t sure she’d still go without her dad. Unsure what to do, she asked her boyfriend Evan if he would come along. Evan, a Caps fan himself, obliged.
And then, despite all the trouble following them around lately, a special moment – that could have happened to anyone – found their family.
Before the Capitals had another one of those games against the Flyers on Wednesday night, Mike Vogel interviewed Brooks Laich following the morning skate. With the trade deadline fast approaching, things were very tense. Very serious. And then Nicklas Backstrom made a cameo.
I’m not sure when Washington Capitals players became all about video bombing each other during interviews, but I’m grateful. In fact, we’ve seen so many funny faces during interviews this season, you have to assume the players are keeping a leader board inside the locker room and whoever has the most at the end of the year gets a paid vacation to Vancouver to perfect the art with Ryan Kesler.
We’ve seen Joel Ward video-bomb Karl Alzner and Pierre McGuire, Ovechkin troll Tom Wilson, and Troy Brouwer brouwerbomb half the team.
On Friday, the most polite dude on the team even got in the action.
