Washington Capitals Rumors & News
Capitals' Mike Knuble on upcoming road trip
Capitals Insider | Washington Post — The Capitals begin a week long road trip on Sunday, starting against the Chicago Blackhawks in a game that could be a preview to the Stanley Cup finals. The Blackhawks have the second best record in the Western Conference and are two points out of first, trailing only the San Jose Sharks. The Blackhawks have the third most points in the league, and Capitals right wing Mike Knuble said he expects the game to have a playoff atmosphere. He's what Knuble had to say about the matchup after Washington's 3-2 loss to Tamp Bay: foo
6 mins agoBoudreau defends Varlamov
Capitals Insider | Washington Post — Washington Capitals Coach Bruce Boudreau was visibly disappointed after his team lost to Tampa Bay, 3-2, but made sure to say it was not the fault of goalie Semyon Varlamov, who faced 27 shots. Varlamov was the victim of some bad bounces, including a puck that deflected off center Vincent Lecavalier and into the goal. Boudreau said he didn't think Varlamov saw the puck after Matt Walker fired the shot that hit Lecavalier. Officials reviewed the play and determined the score should stand, giving Lecavalier his 19th goal and 60th point of the season. Varlamov fell to 13-3-3 and lost for the firs...
8 hours agoBrooks Laich on Caps clinching playoff spot: 'We have bigger goals'
Capitals Insider | Washington Post — It was business as usual in the Caps' locker room here at KCI following today's morning skate, despite the fact that the team became the first in the NHL to clinch a playoff spot after they wrapped up their third-straight Southeast Division title when Atlanta lost to Columbus, 2-1, last night. Forward Brooks Laich probably summed up the general feeling amongst his teammates when he talked about his emotions, or lack thereof, upon learning about the accomplishment. "I don't think anyone came in rejoicing," Laich said. "It's nice to know we're not gonna finish lower than third [in the conference...
20 hours agoCaps clinch division
Capitals Insider | Washington Post — Well, it's official. The Caps clinched their third straight Southeast Division championship thanks to the Thrashers' 2-1 loss in Columbus. They're the first team to claim three straight S.E. titles. When asked this morning about locking up the division title with a month remaining in the regular sason, Coach Bruce Boudreau shrugged and said: "The division, if this was three years ago, was a big thing because we hadn't done it in a while. This is not bragging or anything, but at the start of this season our goal was not to win the division. We wanted to win the division, but our goals were loft...
March 11, 2010Ovechkin: 'We still have a good atmosphere'
Capitals Insider | Washington Post — The Caps held a very optional practice today at KCI that featured only 16 of the 25 players on the roster and none of the team's stars (with the exception of Mike Green, who was the last player off the ice.) I suspect this is what most practices are going to resemble down the stretch as Coach Bruce Boudreau tries to rest his big-minute players. (Funny, none of the bottom six forwards opted out.) Although Alex Ovechkin did not skate, he did speak to reporters. Asked about the mood in the dressing room now that some veteran players are being forced to sit out because of numbers, he said: "The mo...
March 11, 2010Fleischmann helps Caps get back on track
Capitals Insider | Washington Post — (Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post) After Tomas Fleischmann scored the winner in overtime to lift the Capitals to 4-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes, he had something to say to Coach Bruce Boudreau: "It's just a little message," Fleischmann joked, "don't sit me out again." | Full story » *Notes, quotes and video of Boudreau's postgame presser More morning links, brought to you from an Air Tran flight into DCA (in-flight wifi is cool), await:
March 11, 2010Fleischmann: 'Don't sit me out again'
Capitals Insider | Washington Post — Tomas Fleischmann had the goal of the game and the quote of the night after the Caps' 4-3 overtime win over the 'Canes. "It's just a little message: don't sit me out again," the winger joked after scoring the game winner with 1:40 left in the extra session. Fleischmann was a healthy scratch for the first time all season on Monday as Coach Bruce Boudreau continues to juggle his 15 forwards. It also might have been the last time all season. Check out my gamer here, then come on back for a few notes and quotes:
March 10, 2010Tonight's lineup: Hurricanes at Caps
Capitals Insider | Washington Post — Jose Theodore is set to start at Verizon Center and he's expected to oppose Carolina's Manny Legace. A couple of familiar faces will be the 'Canes lineup. I'm told Brian Pothier will be paired with Tim Gleason, while Oskar Osala will skate on a line with Rod Brind'Amour and Sergei Samsonov. The rest of the Caps' lineup, meantime, should look like this: Forwards Ovechkin-Backstrom-Knuble Fleischmann-Morrison-Semin Laich-Belanger-Walker Gordon-Steckel-Bradley Defense Schultz-Green Poti-Corvo Morrisonn-Carlson Goalies Theodore Varlamov Check back later for some postgame video/notes/quotes.
March 10, 2010Fehr, Chimera out tonight vs. 'Canes
Capitals Insider | Washington Post — The morning skate is just wrapping up here at KCI, and there are some changes to the lineup to tell you about. Jose Theodore will start in goal against the suddenly surging 'Canes, while it looks like wingers Jason Chimera and Eric Fehr will watch from the stands with the other scratches as Coach Bruce Boudreau continues to juggle his overflowing roster. Quintin Laing, Tyler Sloan and John Erskine are also putting in extra work along with goalie Semyon Varlamov. I'll have more after Boudreau speaks to reporters.
March 10, 2010Boudreau's lineup tinkering set to end soon
Capitals Insider | Washington Post — Coach Bruce Boudreau has made changes to his lineup ahead of tonight's Southeast showdown with the 'Canes. But all of that forward line/defense pairing juggling could be coming to an end - perhaps as soon as next week - as Boudreau begins to turn his attention to his playoffs combos. "We're going to get this straightened around," Boudreau said after the morning skate. "We're trying to be fair to everybody because of the situation we're in. But by the middle of next week, we'll have it down to our lineup and guys will just have to bear with it. If they're not in the lineup, work hard and wait u...
March 10, 2010Next game at Chicago Blackhawks on Sun, Mar 14 12:30 pm EDT
Opponent news and rumors snapshot:
- Huet in net today; Niemi on Sunday Northwest Herald
- Weekend showdown for Hawks two goalies? | Matchup: Flyers Chicago Tribune
- Hawks' third-line forwards impressing Quenneville Daily Herald
-
-
Brooks Laich
LW
-
Chris Clark
RW
-
-
Mike Knuble
RW
- Bolts show 'passion' in win over Capitals Tampa Tribune Tampa Bay played the near model game Friday, should a run to the postseason be in the works.
- Florida Panthers coach DeBoer works to rally team after tough loss Miami Herald Pete DeBoer opened practice on Friday afternoon in a great mood, taking on assistant coach Mike Kitchen in a sprint race around the HP Pavilion ice.
- Playoffs in jeopardy as Thrashers drop fifth straight Atlanta Journal-Constitution The new-look Thrashers are looking an awful lot like the old-look Thrashers. The Thrashers added five new players in the past five weeks in an effort to make the playoffs for just the second time in franchise history.
- Lightning get badly-needed win at Washington Tampa Tribune WASHINGTON - Defenseman Matt Walker scored one goal and created another a few minutes later when his shot deflected in off Vincent Lecavalier, helping the struggling Tampa Bay Lightning edge the NHL-leading Washington Capitals 3-2 on Friday night.
- Anderson: Thrashers feeling pressure of playoff race Atlanta Journal-Constitution Anderson: Too much pressure?: Thrashers coach John Anderson said the pressure of a playoff race may be reason for his team’s now five-game losing streak after Friday night’s loss to the New York Rangers.
- Maurice "hopeful" Sutter can play Saturday Lord Stanley's Blog | News & Observer Canes center Brandon Sutter, who suffered a leg injury Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, has not been ruled out for Saturday's home game against the Phoenix Coyotes. Coach Paul Maurice said Sutter would be further evaluated today and said he was "hopeful" would be able to play. Maurice said forward Oskar Osala had been returned to Albany (AHL). If Sutter is not able to play, Maurice said another forward would be recalled from the River Rats. Sutter was injured late in the first period of the Canes' 4-3 overtime win over the Pens. He locked legs with the Pens' Kris Leta...
- Lineups and links Nationals Journal | Washington Post Elijah Dukes has been batting seventh, or even eighth, some games this spring, and that is not coincidence. Spring training is a time to try things out, and Nationals Manager Jim Riggleman is considering batting Dukes lower in the batting order this season. Dukes typically hit sixth last season when the Nationals had their full complement, but the addition of Ivan Rodriguez and Adam Kennedy may push him down in the order. Riggleman floated the idea of a regular lineup that would look something like this: 1. Nyjer Morrgan, CF 2. Cristian Guzman, SS 3. Ryan Zimmerman, 3B 4. Adam Dunn, 1B 5. Josh...
- Overlooking Kruger Ravens Central | Baltimore Sun In my article Friday about the Ravens' void at defensive end, I forgot to mention Paul Kruger. The 2009 second-round pick could find himself in the mix at defensive end. It'll really be up to Kruger whether he can make an impact there. Listed at 265 pounds, Kruger needs to add some bulk to become a factor on the defensive line. In last year's draft, Kruger was tabbed a ‘red star’ player by the personnel department, meaning every Ravens scout agreed he personifies the true characteristics of being a Raven. He played nine games as a rookie, starting one. His biggest play was an overtime inter...
- Rain washes out exhibition game vs. Marlins Baltimore Sun Teams will play 'B' game today; Roberts' rehab pushed back further - The weather has turned sour again in South Florida, and a heavy rainstorm wiped out Friday's exhibition game between the Orioles and Florida Marlins at Ed Smith Stadium.
- Georgetown vs. WVU Washington Post What: Big East tournament championship. When: Saturday, 9 p.m. TV: ESPN.
- Maryland Terrapins bungle chance to shine in ACC tournament Washington Post GREENSBORO, N.C. Greivis Vasquez, who never met a bad shot he didn't like -- or, for that matter, couldn't make -- finally lost a game of H-O-R-S-E to himself.
- In 2010 ACC tournament quarterfinals, Maryland's comeback bid was fueled by defense Washington Post GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Landon Milbourne often wildly waves his arms and screams while defending an inbounds pass, instilling fear and urgency into the inbounder.