Caps Face New Challenge

Sunday night, the Caps lost to the Blue Jackets in overtime. Not really a big deal. They got a point, and in the first 2 months of the season, the key thing is to maximize the number of points you can get. Yea, it's never good to lose, but the team can certainly bounce back and is still in good shape (only 2 regulation losses in 14 games).

But the bigger story, without a doubt, was that Alex Ovechkin left the game with an apparent shoulder injury. You can read my game story here.

After the game, the big question was: "How long is he out for?"

Naturally, the Caps said he was day-to-day with an upper body injury. If you follow the team, you know that means that it could be anything from a minor foot injury to a season-ending neck injury.

On Monday, the team announced that Ovechkin's injury was an upper body strain and that he was "week-to-week." This was an interesting announcement, considering earlier that day Bruce Boudreau said he could play this weekend and Ovechkin said the injury wasn't serious. So, which one is it?

No matter what, the team has to figure out how to play without the best player in the world. The reigning MVP, Ovechkin was off to one of the best starts in his career - he led the league with 14 goals and 23 points in the month of October. They played the third period without him, and scored 3 goals. But that's a small sample size. Now they have to play New Jersey without their biggest threat and emotional leader. On paper, it sounds like a disaster.

But what if I told you it could be a good thing? You'd say I'm crazy, right? Well, maybe I am, but I think this could do wonders for this Caps team.

First of all, the team is forced to rally and learn how to score the gritty goals that they rarely get. 3 of their 4 goals were what I would call gritty goals. Laich's first one was a textbook rebound goal, his second one was a weak, low shot through a screen by Mike Knuble (who I'll get to in a second), and Quintin Laing's almost-game-winner was pretty much the definition of a garbage goal. As long as Ovechkin is out, the team is going to need the secondary scoring to really, really pick up. Not only do Alex Semin and Nicklas Backstrom have to shoulder more of the load, but guys like Chris Clark, Laich, Tomas Fleischmann, and Keith Aucoin all have to become more dangerous. Ovechkin's 20 minutes a night is going to be filled by someone. But who?

Well, last night, Boudreau ran these lines after the injury:

Laich-Morrison-Knuble
Fleischmann-Backstrom-Semin
Laing-Steckel-Bradley
Clark-Aucoin

If Ovechkin goes on the long-term IR, then they'll have to call up someone. I would bet they call up Alexandre Giroux, who always tears up the AHL but can't stick in the NHL. Personally, I'd like to see a guy like Francois Bouchard, Oskar Osala, or Andrew Gordon get a shot. All three put up good numbers and all add a little something different. But that still depends on whether or not Ovechkin actually visits the IR for the first time in his career.

Another solution is to put Michael Nylander into the lineup. His conditioning stint with AHL Grand Rapids is just about finished. Would they put him in? They don't need another center, but they could probably move some people around and make it work. But based on what the team's done so far, I don't think we'll be seeing #92 in the lineup.

No matter what, the absence of Ovechkin gives the team a chance to learn how to play without their superstar. Too many times have I seen the team get complacent and rely on a great game/play by Ovechkin to bail them out. Now, they're all going to have to dig deep and work harder for their goals. Especially on the powerplay. I really liked what I saw from the Laich-Morrison-Knuble line in the third period Sunday, and I loved that Knuble and Laich were all over Steve Mason on each goal. Knuble's play is such a boost to the offense, and not because he's some dynamic scorer. He just knows where to be when the skilled players have the puck: in front of the goaltender. He's perfected that role and he's definitely teaching it to guys like Laich and Fleischmann. If those guys can continue to step up offensively, it could go a long way to making the team that much closer to being a Cup winner. The secondary scoring is what has been lacking in some key situations/games.

A couple games without #8 out there to score his usual goal(s) may give other players a chance to play more playoff-style hockey; that is, dump it in, work hard in the corners, play good defense, and get the boring, ugly goals that the elite teams can get. We saw it in the third period yesterday and I am interested to see if the team changes up its gameplan without Ovechkin. There's still loads of offensive talent out there, but Semin has been far too cute lately and while Backstrom has played well, he could show just how good he really is by playing well without Ovechkin.

This team is good enough to win the Southeast division, even if Ovechkin misses a week or two. The division is terrible and there is enough talent to end up on top. It's all about learning to play playoff hockey and this is the kind of test a talented, but sometimes immature/lazy team may need to get it going. And while I never like to hear the words "Ovechkin" and "injured" in the same sentence, the Caps could turn it into an opportunity to show just how good they really are.

A Shock to End the Season

The Washington Capitals have built a reputation of being a hard-nosed team that fights until the very end. They proved in last season when they went from last to first to win the Southeast Division, and then forced the Flyers to a game seven that they lost in overtime. They proved it in round one this season as they came back from down 3-1 and then forced a game 7 in round 2.

And then, they just ran out of gas. You could see it coming when Alex Ovechkin was robbed on a breakaway early on, followed by a penalty that lead to a Sidney Crosby goal. Then, before anyone could blink, 21-year old Simeon Varlamov let in the softest goal he's ever allowed. The Capitals could not afford a slow start or a soft goal; they let both happen. From there, it was all over. All the energy was sucked out of the arena and the team was visibly deflated. The second period started with 2 more Penguins goals and Varlamov was sent to the bench.

It was all over, just like that. A game seven in a series like this one was supposed to be epic. It was supposed to be another overtime game, another chance for a hero to emerge from either team. Instead, it was an embarrassment. The Capitals played without energy for the final 30 minutes and the defense was still dominated for long stretches. They were booed by the 18,277 at Verizon Center like they deserved to be. They had just folded like a deckchair in game seven against a hated rival.

And yet, for the final two minutes, the Capitals faithful stood up and applauded the team that had just ended their season in the worst way possible. It was a gesture that nearly brought a tear to my eye; despite the terrible performance, the team had still had a great season. They improved on last season's result and, despite numerous holes, made it to game 7 against a team that was clearly superior. They made it to the 2nd round with a bottom-ten defense and a rookie goaltender. They had a Norris Trophy candidate with a separated shoulder and a 30-goal scorer with an undisclosed injury (I think it was something with his hand). Alexander Ovechkin required injections during the pre-game to subside the pain from a groin injury, yet he still lead the NHL in points and averaged two points a game.

It was a season in which the Caps were the best regular-season team in Caps history, where they were the second-best team in the East, saw Mike Green score in eight consecutive games, saw Alex Ovechkin have another possible Hart Trophy season (along with yet another Rocket Richard Trophy), saw Nicklas Backstrom develop into one of the best two-way centers in the game, and saw prospects like Simeon Varlamov, Michal Neuvirth, Oskar Osala, Chris Bourque, and Karl Alzner play and, in some cases, contribute. It was a good season, one in which the team can certainly improve on next year.

The offseason will certainly be a long one for Caps fans. There are plenty of decisions to be made and players to be considered. Sergei Fedorov says that he is not retiring, do they re-sign him? Will they move Michael Nylander and/or Jose Theodore? Will Viktor Kozlov be retained, or will he head home to the KHL to end his career? Do Shaone Morrisonn, Milan Jurcina, and Jeff Schultz deserve qualifying offers? What about Brent Johnson? Where do prospects Francois Bouchard, Karl Alzner, John Carlson, Michal Neuvirth, Oskar Osala, Chris Bourque, Matthieu Perrault, and Andrew Jourdey fit in? Do they spend some money on defense, or hold out for next year so that they can re-sign Alex Semin and Backstrom? Questions abound the Southeast Division Champs.

And yet, I cannot help but think this team is on the way to something special. Ovechkin has proved time and time again that he is a playoff performer. He can nearly single-handedly win games in the playoffs. He is the most dominant player in hockey when he is on his game. Varlamov has shown that he is ready for at least split-time action next season. Players like Dave Steckel and Milan Jurcina proved to be solid role players.

It will be a tough couple of months, but it is comforting to think that this team is so young and is only going to get better. In the meantime, I will enjoy the rest of the playoffs, look forward to the draft, speculate and dream during free agency, and wait in anticipation for any moves that could be made, especially regarding Nylander and Theodore. The sting of losing to the Penguins will last for a long time. Hopefully, next season provides the Caps with an opportunity for revenge.

Here We Go Again

Well, just when I thought the Caps were done for the season, they kept fighting. It wasn't pretty, it wasn't easy, and it sure as hell wasn't without drama. It took overtime and a fluke shot to win, but all that matters was that they live to play at least one more game.

And luckily for the Caps, that one more game will be at Verizon Center, where the team has played well in all 3 games this series. It will give the team to exorcise the demons of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have absolutely dominated the Capitals in playoffs past. Wednesday is this Caps team's chance to prove to its fanbase that the days of getting beaten by the Penguins is over. It is their chance to move onto the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 1998, when they made it to the Stanley Cup Finals.

And if the six games leading up to game seven are any indication, then game seven will be one for the ages. Every single game this series has been down to the wire or decided in overtime. 3 OTs. 2 hat tricks. The save of the playoffs.

What can game seven possibly have? Who knows. But I do know one thing: it is the biggest game in Washington Capitals history in over a decade. Sure, game 7 against the Rangers was enormous. But this is the Penguins. This is Sidney Crosby. This is the franchise that has sent the Capitals packing many times.

Buckle up, Caps fans. It's going to be a WILD ride.

The Case for the NHL Playoffs

It's that time of year in the sporting world. The NFL Draft is over. College football spring games are over. Teams that will be in the playoffs at the end of the year are off to slow starts in MLB - plus, you know you have the entire summer to watch baseball. This leaves you with the NBA and NHL playoffs. As a sports fan, you're obligated to watch some, but, like the majority of sports fans, you don't know that much about either. I'll tell you what merit the NHL playoffs provide the casual viewer (like myself) today, and then do a follow-up about the NBA sometime soon. 

1. There's no time like the present. After the 04-05 season was canceled by a lockout, the NHL has been searching for a new identity. It found it in the first true superstars in the game since Gretzky, and yes I mean that. There have been great players since the Great One retired, but none more accessible than Penguins center Sidney Crosby (pictured, left) and Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin (also pictured left). Conveniently, both are engaged against each other in their conference quarterfinals right now, with Ovechkin's Caps up 2-0. Even more conveniently, both had hat tricks (that's three goals in the same game for those of you completely uneducated in the sport) in a thrilling game two last night. Watch one of their games, and you will come to love one and hate the other. New fans generally lean toward loving Ovie. 

2. The games are a lot closer. Of course, when both teams combine to score about seven goals per game, the score is likely to be a lot closer than when teams combine to score almost 200 points per game, like the NBA. Games can be dominated by one team in terms of time of possession, but not in the scoreboard. Breakaways and goalies in hockey are the great equalizers. No matter how poorly your team is playing, if your goalie is playing lights out, you're going to be in that game by the end. If you get lucky and make a quick substitution, or get a guy out of the penalty box at the right time, you can get a breakaway, too, which gives you a better scoring chance than any offensive set ever could.

3. Hockey players and fans care. Most hockey players are either from Canada or Europe. Well, I don't know about most, but a significant number are. I love America as much as the next guy, but the average immigrant to the U.S. works harder than the average U.S. born guy. I'm sorry, there are obvious exceptions, but this is a blog and you're reading mine. It shows with hockey. These eastern Europeans don't care about star power. They care about hone thing: hockey. The average NBA player just lacks the general insanity that the average NHL player has. Players constantly crashing into the boards, sticks flying everywhere, goalies sprawled out in every which direction (see picture of Capitals' Varlamov, right), the passion for the game is evident. And, hockey crowds are awesome. The sport is deprived of money, so ticket prices (especially those in the playoffs) aren't cheap. People paid good money to get there, and the places are packed. When a home team player scores, you can barely hear the announcers. 

4. Hockey in HD looks better than anything else in HD. Well, maybe Planet Earth has it beat. But that's it. I'm serious. You have to see it. 

(Photo Credits: AP)

Two Words: Game Seven

The NHL Playoffs are the best postseason in sports. I will argue that until the day I die. Last night, I experienced exactly why. Game 7. Caps-Rangers. Verizon Center. Tied 1-1 with 5 minutes remaining, Sergei Fedorov, who had had an awful series, took the puck down the right side, stopped at the bottom of the circle, and fired a snapshot top-shelf over Henrik Lundqvist's glove.

The result: Absolute pandemonium at Verizon Center. The 18,300 fans "rocking the red" were all jumping up and down, high-fiving, hugging anyone around them: it was complete euphoria. The arena was so loud, you could not hear the PA announcer announce the goal. The fans then remained standing and cheering for a solid 5 minutes while the final minutes played out. When the final buzzer finally sounded, Verizon Center erupted yet again. The Caps had finally won a playoff series, in a comeback fashion that they loved last season: they came back from 3-1 in the series and 1-0 in the game.

An hour later, the Carolina Hurricanes, almost to one-up division rival Washington, scored two goals in the final 2 minutes on arguably the best goaltender of all-time. If you have Martin Brodeur in net and a lead with 2 minutes left in game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, you can start celebrating. Guess not. It was a complete shocker that let the 19,000 in New Jersey in tears.

I love the NHL Playoffs. Caps vs. Penguins is going to be one of the best series of all-time.

Celebrations

Anyone who follows the NHL regularly has heard about this topic extensively for the last two weeks or so. It started with this rant from Canadian hockey analyst Don Cherry. The sparknotes version:

• Ovechkin's classic celebration (kissing glove, jumping into teammates/glass) is soccer-like and completely over-the-top.
• What Ovechkin does is not what we should be teaching young hockey players.
• Cherry cites some examples of Ovechkin's celebrations, most of which came from big goals: hat tricks, overtime winners, etc.
• Cherry wants players to act like classic Canadians, not Europeans like Ovechkin.
• Cherry predicts that someone will send Ovechkin into a million pieces.
• Cherry compares Ovechkin to Sean Avery, which basically means Ovechkin is classless.

Well, Cherry is known for being anti-European on his show, and in the past he's favored Canadians over Europeans time and time again. So this is certainly not a surprise move by Cherry. But my rebuttal, which is the rebuttal of every Caps fan out there: Ovechkin's celebrations are spontaneous, full of emotion, excitement, and passion, three qualities every young hockey player should have. Ovechkin exemplifies love of the game. He's not trying to draw attention to himself or anything, he's just having fun and showing his excitement in playing the game he loves. I, personally, love the jumping into the glass, because it involves the fans. I find it interesting that Canadian players have done just what Ovechkin does (if not more), and Cherry fails to notice it. Sidney Crosby has copied the "jump-into-the-glass," but yet not a word is said.

As if to stick it to Cherry, Ovechkin went out of his way to celebrate his record 50th goal in a celebration that mirrored some of the recent NFL celebrations. You can see it here. As you can see from the video, Ovechkin joined elite company with the goal: only Mike Bossy and Wayne Gretzky have accomplished what he just did.

Tampa Bay players and head coach Rick Tocchet told the media after the game that they felt disrespected and will be looking to get Ovechkin next game (as Cherry predicted). Well, they had two periods to try, and couldn't, and won't be able to this Friday. Also, Ovechkin doesn't mean disrespect, he's just having fun, and the celebration wouldn't have happened if Cherry never said anything in the first place.

Still, people can't help but draw conclusions to players like Chad Johnson or Terrell Owens, two NFL players who had many pre-planned celebrations like Ovechkin. The difference between Alex and those two is that Alex did it to be funny, but CJ and TO do it to get attention. Ovechkin's usual celebrations are not even close to anything those two have done, so that gets thrown out the window. Ovechkin will most likely never do a pre-planned celebration again.

I can't understand why so many people are getting upset over celebrations. The NFL has banned the use of the ball in celebrations so that players won't "taunt" other teams so that they don't "feel bad." The NCAA has dolled out 15-yard penalties for something as simple as a ball flip. Luckily, the NHL hasn't gotten that far. I'll be sick if they ban Ovechkin's celebrations. It will be a sad day in sports, indeed. It's getting kind of ridiculous. I can understand the ban on prop-filled celebrations: they can be over-the-top. But there's too much of an emphasis these days on making sure nothing can be offensive or make someone feel bad.

Before you know it, leagues will be penalizing high-fiving or any sort of congratulatory act. God forbid we make the other team feel bad about giving up a touchdown/goal.

Individuals Making NBA, NHL More Fun

Time for a quick break from the college basketball and NFL free agency talk you've been hearing on the show and reading on here. And no, this isn't Tyler. This is Tony, and I want to talk some hockey.

I've never had a problem with hockey. In fact, I used to play hockey. As I got older, though, I learned a hard lesson: There are only so many hours in a day. With sleep requirements, eating requirements, and school requirements, there simply was not enough time in the day for me to rationalize caring about hockey - especially when the Ravens were preparing for the draft and the Terps were making their annual end-of-season bubble push. Hockey just wasn't ... fun enough. 

Then, Alex Ovechkin (pictured, left) and Sidney Crosby came along. Their almost-daily highlights on ESPN followed shortly behind. Intrigue followed that, because I couldn't watch this and not think it's one of the coolest things you've ever seen in your life. They play each other, and it's on NBC, and I watch a period. I read about it after the game and learn that Ovechkin thinks Crosby is a whiner; Crosby thinks Ovechkin is a dirty player. Now I want to watch another game between them, this time all the way, and hopefully I see them go at it. During the process, I see another Ovechkin goal and I start checking the "NHL" page on ESPN.  

Wait, did I just become a hockey fan again?

I still don't follow the Capitals, or any other hockey team, religiously. But if I flip through channels and a hockey game is on, I'll probably stop to watch, especially if it's Ovechkin. Such has one man completely changed my perspective on a sport I thought I didn't have time for. 

It's really the same type of deal for the NBA. There is one notable difference, though. I still loved the game of basketball. I have never not been a college basketball fan. The NBA to me, though, was a completely different sport. There was no teamwork. Traveling was allowed. Players really didn't care until the playoffs started. 

Enter LeBron James. 

Remember that Ovechkin goal? Try this play, and you'll find they're about on the same plane. You have to get excited. Go a few days, and you see LeBron puts up something silly like 38, 13, and 11 or something. You think to yourself, "Man I have to see if he's for real." So you tune in to a Cavs game one night, but it's not on because they're showing the end of a Lakers game, and you watch as Kobe Bryant hits a fade-away three to beat the buzzer. You've never cared about the NBA, but instantly you are going to watch the next game because you want to see LeBron top that.

Like it not, you care about the NBA now. 

The NFL and MLB are undoubtedly the top two professional leagues in America, but both the NBA and NHL are surviving. It's now no wonder why. Individual players are driving both of these leagues, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that, as long as you know what you're getting when you go in. So, for the next few months, enjoy Ovechkin and LeBron singlehandedly will their teams on their championship runs. These are once-in-a-generation players, so don't miss them. 

The Washington Capitals: At the All-Star Break

The Washington Capitals enjoyed the year 2008. Last spring, the team made a magical run to win the Southeast Division. Over the summer, they signed goaltender Jose Theodore and drafted Capitals legend Bengt Gustafsson's son, Anton. In training camp and preseason, another 2008 first-round draft pick, defenseman John Carlson, nearly made the team as an 18-year old.

Once the season started, the success continued onto the ice. Alexander Semin torched the league to start the season. Alexander Ovechkin struggled out of the gate, but has since found his groove and now leads the NHL in scoring. Goaltender Jose Theodore was below average, but was aided by backup Brent Johnson's stellar play. Injuries forced the team to call up nearly 9 players from AHL Hershey, but the team never missed a beat, and remained in first place. 20-year old defenseman Karl Alzner (4th overall draft pick in 2007) emerged as a steadying force on the backline and brought partner Milan Jurcina's play to a whole new level.

2009 saw the Caps hit their first real bump - a 2-game losing streak to two mediocre Western Conference teams - but has still be good to the team. Semin is back healthy and scoring at over a point-per-game. Ovechkin is scoring goals like last season. Jose Theodore has finally began to play like the goaltender who was MVP of the league. Now, at the "half-way" point, I'm going to take a look back and give out some awards.

Team MVP: Alexander Oveckhin. This award would go to Semin if he didn't get hurt, but he did, and Ovechkin picked up the slack. He has dominated games all season long and has been the best player on the team, all season long. He leads the Caps in goals and points, and a second consecutive Hart Trophy is not out of the question.

Biggest Surprise: Tomas Fleischmann. Last season Caps fans saw Fleischmann miss opportunity after opportunity, and he was eventually benched in the playoff series with the Flyers. His new $750,000 contract was lamented by Caps fans. Even at age 24, Caps fans saw him as a guy who could never finish on a consistent basis. This season, that all changed. Fleischmann has 15 goals in 39 games and a mere 12 penalty minutes. He's playing more disciplined and he's playing with boatloads of confidence. His deking skills are almost at Alexander Semin's level. His +/- rating (-8) is not good by any means, but he's playing solid 2-way hockey regardless and even has gotten penalty-kill time. His salary - less than a million dollars - is a steal for (what potentially is) a 30-goal scorer. Fleischmann has finally found his groove.

Biggest Disappointment: Michael Nylander. Last season, Nylander looked like a great signing, leading the Caps in assists before tearing his rotator cuff. He had done a great job mentoring Nicklas Backstrom and was producing. This year, he has not produced (4 goals, 18 assists, +2) in 45 games and has seen his ice time drop below 15 minutes a game. Head coach Bruce Boudreau has scratched him on three occasions and there seems to be some friction between the two. The Capitals have reportedly been shopping Nylander, who has a no-movement clause in his contract. If the Caps can find a deal with a team Nylander would be willing to play for, it would benefit the Caps greatly, because they could move someone like Dave Steckel to the 3rd line role, and play Eric Fehr on a consistent basis. Honorable mention goes to Chris Clark.

"Hard Hat" Award: Brooks Laich. His numbers may not be outstanding (11 goals, 15 assists in 48 games) but Laich does so many things for the team that go unrewarded. He crashes the net on the powerplay. He blocks shots on the penalty kill. He draws penaltys. He's willing to drop the gloves if need be. Without Laich the Caps would have some serious problems. He is so versatile - he plays both center and wing - and scores timely goals. He hits, he scores, and he plays good defense. Not a whole lot more you can ask from a 3rd line winger.

This spring will be an interesting one for the Caps. The trade deadline has the potential to be enormous (if Nylander is traded) or extremely quiet. The team is off to the best start in franchise history and has no signs of slowing up. That said, anything less than a 1st-round series win will be a season failure. This team is too talented to lose in the first round, but it remains to be seen if the Caps can get over that hump.

All I Want for Christmas is....

A 12-2 record for Maryland basketball going into conference play....

A Humanitarian Bowl win for Maryland football....

A new defensive coordinator for Maryland football....

An exciting Bowl Championship Series season....

A healthy, rested Pittsburgh Steelers team ready for the playoffs....

For the countless key players the Capitals are missing to get healthy as soon as possible...

For the Nationals to make at least one major move this offseason....

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone.

Too Many To Count

Alexander Semin, Mike Green (pictured), Tom Poti, Chris Clark, Jeff Schultz, Sergei Fedorov, Tomas Fleishmann, Tyler Sloan, Eric Fehr, and John Erskine.

For those of you at home, thats:

41 goals, 56 assists, and a +/- rating of +28.

Wow.

The injury bug has certainly hit the Caps. Hard. Even a replacement - Tyler Sloan - got hurt. Top prospect Karl Alzner was called up to replace Sloan and suffered an injury against Columbus, but hasn't missed a game. Alexander Ovechkin has been playing phenomenal but has a nagging groin injury. Viktor Kozlov just came back into the lineup. And I'm not even counting Brian Pothier, who has been out since last spring, when Boston forward Milan Lucic gave him a concussion.

And speaking of Boston, the injury-depleted Caps take on the Eastern Conference-leading Bruins at Verizon Center in a little less than an hour. It will take a Herculean effort to continue to hold the Southeast Division lead with all the injuries, but if the Caps can make it to overtime - or even better, win - then they will have proved to me that they are finally, after years of struggling teams, done with rebuilding. It would mean that they have the depth in the organization to be able to withstand injuries. A year ago, if you told me that they would lose all these players and still compete regularly, I'd laugh at you.

Now, their depth is being shown. They're getting contributions from the young call-ups such as Alzner and Sami Lepisto (and I anticipate some chances generated by AHL rookie of the month for November Oskar Osala).

Luckily, Semin, Green, Poti, Fedorov, and Sloan are due back this week (for Sloan, tonight). They are going to need those players for the stretch run, when the playoffs are in sight. But for now, they are doing ok.

Oh, and Boston comes into DC with a 6-game winning streak. You know what happened last time they came to DC with a 6-game winning streak? A 10-2 Capitals win.

Let's hope a similar fate results at Verizon tonight.

(Photo: Washington Times)

Crosby vs. Ovechkin, 2008 edition

In the 2005-2006 season, Alexander Ovechkin beat out Sidney "The Next One" Crosby for the Calder trophy, awarded to the top rookie in the NHL (as voted by the writers).

The next season, Sidney Crosby one-upped his counterpart, winning the Art Ross Trophy(NHL points leader), Hart Trophy (MVP as voted by the writers), and Lester B. Pearson Award (MVP as voted by the players). He also took his team to the playoffs, where they were beaten by the Ottawa Senators in 5 games (Crosby had 3 goals and 2 assists in the series).

Never to be outdone, the following season (07-08) Ovechkin raised the bar one notch higher, winning the Art Ross Trophy, the Hart Trophy, the Lester B. Pearson Award, and the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy, awarded to the player who leads the league in goals at the end of the season. Ovechkin scored 65 goals, breaking the record for goals in a season by a left winger (previously held by Luc Robitaille, with 63). He also led his team to a division title and recorded 9 points (5 goals, 4 assists) in the first-round series with the Philadelphia Flyers (the Caps lost in 7 games).

That same season, Crosby missed most of the season with a high ankle sprain but returned to lead the Penguins to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost to the Detroit Red Wings in 6 games.

Tonight, they renew their rivalry in Pittsburgh in what is sure to be another great game. What's special about the Ovechkin - Crosby rivalry is that it isn't just about the two players. The Penguins and the Capitals have had a rivalry for a number of years and the Ovechkin vs. Crosby storyline only adds fuel to the fire.

The only question remaining is, who will up the ante this year? Will Ovechkin lead his team to a deep playoff run, or will Crosby repeat last season's postseason success?

A Home Opener to Remember

There are so many things to talk about after last night's Capitals home opener, that I won't even begin to discuss the miniscule game itself (the Caps won 4-2).

Instead, I will break down the wonderful Caps' introduction video and the video recapping the past season.

The first video, which is intended to get the fans pumped up about the game, was pretty cool in my opinion. It might have been a little corny, but I thought it was awesome and hilarious at the same time. The video is below.



A couple thoughts. One, whoever decided to do makeup on Backstrom made him look like a woman. Two, the Brashear clip was awesome and the characters they made of the players were spot-on. And third, it makes me get excited for the season/game. The clips thrown in were great and the song was perfect. It may be cheesy, but I liked it.

This video is a recap of last season's run and the memorable moments from Bruce's first game to the clinching of the division. I've seen some better videos made by fans, but I'm sure this one was required to be shorter and it was still pretty good.




But the best thing about last night is the new system they have for the players' pictures. When they introduce a player in the beginning or after a goal, the pictures they used are straight out of GQ. They have the players modeling with leather jackets (apparently Poti, Steckel, and Semin wear the same jacket), hockey sticks, and other fashionable attire. Makes the goals even sweeter when the opponent has to look up at the faces of models staring down at their faces.

A couple examples:

Brooks Laich


















Alex Ovechkin






















And, finally, Jose Theodore (this one's for all the ladies out there)

Chills of Excitement

As many of you know, the Washington Capitals begin their 2008-2009 season tonight.

And, as many of you know, I cannot wait. Tonight, in Atlanta, the Caps begin a season in which, for the first time in 4 years, there are expectations of greatness.

Gone are the days in which experts predict a last-place finish or say, "if they could get some help around Ovechkin..."

Gone are the days in which Caps fans would curse Ivan Majesky, Mathieu Biron, or Kris Beech for poor play.

And gone are the days in which I would resign myself to, "this year is a rebuilding year, as long as the players develop then I'm happy."

Now, I expect a win every night. I expect the team to beat the elite teams in the NHL and I expect the special teams to produce like I know they're capable of. No more "rebuiling" excuses. No more, "just wait till next year."

And I couldn't be more happy about it. This team has me more excited than any other Caps team in the past. With this team I see the potential for DC's first Stanley Cup, and I see the potential for a new dynasty in the NHL. General Manager George McPhee has done an outstanding job rebuilding this team and he's built them for success for many years to come.

From just looking at the roster, an outsider wouldn't see much to get excited about. This is, generally, the same team as the one that got beat in game 7 of the quarterfinals by the Philadelphia Flyers. The only new moves were replacing Cristobal Huet with Jose Theodore, a step down in some people's opinion.

But not mine. Last year, the Caps made their run with Olie Kolzig in net. Huet came in at the end and ultimately was the deciding factor, but the bulk of their success came with Kolzig in net. All the Caps need is for Theodore to be better than Kolzig, which should be no problem for the former Hart Trophy winner.

The key to this team's excitement is the vibe you get from watching the interviews and reading the quotes. The team is committed and the players all believe 110% in their head coach, and there are no internal conflicts. From top to bottom, you see ferocious dedication to winning and you see a team that is good enough to be able to sustain injuries and still compete.

If someone - even Ovechkin - goes down, there is enough depth to provide scoring from other parts. And in Hershey, there are players like Chris Bourque and Karl Alzner ready to step in and make a difference.

This is new era in Capitals hockey and the area as a whole is starting to recognize it. They are becoming one of the elite franchises in the NHL and the sky is the limit. It's just a matter of performing like they're capable of.

And it starts tonight. Get ready Caps fans, because it's going to be one hell of a ride.

Looking Back

With so many sports going on at once, how can you keep track of them all? You don't have to, but I will. Every Monday I will look back and hit briefly upon the 5 story lines that stuck out from the previous weekend.

1. It stunk to be a University of Maryland fan this weekend. After being annihilated against an inferior opponent, all Maryland players had to say for themselves was pretty much exactly what they had to say after losing to Middle Tennessee State, along the liens of: "Oops. We weren't ready to play. Trust us, we're still really good, though." 

Combine that with men's soccer giving up 3 goals in 1:23, completing a collapse to Clemson in what coach Sasho Cirovski called one of the most embarrassing moments of his career, and the school's athletics really did us proud.

At least field hockey won.

2. That being said, it might be even worse to be a Cubs fan. Your team absolutely destroys for 162 games this season. You're playing the worst team to make the playoffs this year. 

And then you get outscored 20-6 and get swept.

I mean, I suppose they're used to it. But still, don't you feel for them a little bit? Just a little?

3. Meanwhile, the Phillies continue to be the most overlooked team in baseball after take the series 3-1 against the Brewers. They will have home field advantage in their next series against the Dodgers, and they have to be considered the favorites to win, even after what LA did to the Cubs. I understand Manny is elevating his team's hitting to a whole new level, but Manny doesn't pitch, and the Dodgers won't have enough firepower to overcome the Phillies bats.

4. Hockey begins! The 2008-09 NHL season is officially underway with a couple games in the Czech Republic and Sweden. With the Capitals last year becoming relevant in the NHL, there has been a renewed interest in the sport around the D.C. area. Of course, having the best player in the game certainly helps matters. Listen Wednesday for a hockey preview on the broadcast.

5. Do upsets even exist any more in the NFL? SI.com's Don Banks examines the question in this article. I recommend the read. If you don't have time, a quick look at the standings will tell you all you need to know.

The most important game of Thursday Night

As Tony mentioned earlier, Thursday night was a great night for sports. The #1 college football team lost and there were two walk-offs in an already crazy baseball playoff race.

What was missing in both Tony's recap of last night and the major sports outlets' recaps was the most important game of all: a preseason game between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Washington Capitals.

At first glance, the game seems meaningless.

To steal an overly used line by Lee Corso: not so fast my friend. The game was big for two reasons: 1) it was the first home game for the Caps since the awful game 7 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, and 2) it was our first look at most of the Caps' roster.

Carolina dressed a roster full of players who will be in the minor leagues and it was a game the Caps should have won, but regardless, it was important to see how the players played. And, despite a slow start and a lackluster effort overall, they rallied in the 3rd period and scored 5 goals to win the game (they're now 2-0, with 2 wins against the Hurricanes).

A couple notes:

1. Alexander Ovechkin had 2 goals and an assist. The reigning MVP looked better than ever. On one play in the first period, he skated in, unleashed a cannon of a wrist shot which knocked the goaltender's helmet clear off and, while the play came to a stop, knocked an approaching player right off of his skates.
2. Prospect Chris Bourque had a goal and an assist in 15:24 of playing time, a great game by a player fighting for a chance to make the opening night roster. Despite his small stature - he's listed as 5'7" - he plays with a mean streak and was all over the ice.
3. Goaltender Michal Neuvirth, who looks no older than 14 years old (he's 20), was beaten early by two powerplay goals but settled down and ended up with 24 saves on 26 shots. Not too shabby in 40 minutes of work. Fellow prospect Daren Machesney had 3 saves in the 3rd period and got the win as the Caps scored 5 goals in that stanza.
4. Michael Nylander and Chris Clark looked great coming off of injuries. If you haven't been following the Caps, I'll fill you in: early last season, Nylander torn his rotator cuff but played through it. He eventually couldn't bear it and was shelved for the rest of the year after 40 games. Clark pulled his groin and recovered but aggrivated it in his first game back. He never recovored. Last night, Nylander scored 2 goals and Clark had 2 assists. The Caps made their run without them; with them in the lineup they become much, much better.
5. The attendance was listed 13, 266 people. Not all 13,000 were present, but the stands were much more populated than in recent years. Tickets this year will be much, much harder to come by.

Hockey is finally back in DC.