Capitals Insider: December 21, 2008 - December 27, 2008
Fleischmann Has Pneumonia; Helmer sent down (Updated)
Here's the latest: *Tomas Fleischmann's illness is actually pneumonia, so he might be out a while. "From everything I've heard, it's just a mild case," Boudreau said. "We want him away from the rink until he's better. It really weakens you. He's going to have to get his strength back."...
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Tarik El-Bashir
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December 27, 2008; 12:48 PM ET |
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Saturday Morning Update
There are three goalies on the ice, including Brent Johnson, who, based on the 15 minutes of practice that I've seen, still doesn't look 100-percent. Which is perhaps why Simeon Varlamov is still here. Also, on first glance, it appears that Mike Green and/or Jeff Schultz are awfully close to...
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Tarik El-Bashir
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December 27, 2008; 11:05 AM ET |
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Caps 3, Sabres 2
By now you've probably seen Alex Ovechkin's latest YouTube moment. If you haven't please stop reading, scroll back one post, watch the video and come back when you're done. Now you're ready for the post-game notes and quotes:...
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Tarik El-Bashir
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December 26, 2008; 11:53 PM ET |
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Ovechkin's 'Crazy' Goal
Just when you think you've see it all, Alex Ovechkin does this: Ovechkin on the goal: "It was a pretty cool goal. I just made some moves. I was tied and I just fell and shoot. You always want to do some crazy things. It was a great goal and...
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Tarik El-Bashir
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December 26, 2008; 10:29 PM ET |
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Tonight's Lineup
Jose Theodore will start in net and oppose Buffalo's Patrick Lalime. Theodore will be backed up by Simeon Varlamov. Here's the rest of the lineup (based on pre-game warmups): Forwards Ovechkin-Backstrom-Kozlov Giroux-Nylander-Fehr Steckel-Laich-Bradley Brashear-Gordon-Clark Defense Jurcina-Alzner Morrisonn-Collins Sloan-Helmer Be sure to check back later for some post game notes and...
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Tarik El-Bashir
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December 26, 2008; 6:39 PM ET |
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Roster Housekeeping
Here are the current injured reserve designations, according to the Caps: *Chris Clark was activated from long term injured reserve today and will be in the lineup tonight. *Sergei Fedorov, meantime, has been put on LTIR, retroactive to Dec. 14th, so he's be eligible to come off on Jan. 9...
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Tarik El-Bashir
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December 26, 2008; 5:19 PM ET |
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Theodore To Start; Clark Returns
Okay, here's what you need to know about tonight's lineup. It's a complete mess. I would give you lines, but there weren't any this morning. "Every day is a different adventure when you come to the arena these days," Coach Bruce Boudreau cracked. "I'm not looking past tonight." Here's what...
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Tarik El-Bashir
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December 26, 2008; 11:44 AM ET |
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Quick Morning Update (Updated)
Simeon Varlamov, Andrew Gordon, Bryan Helmer and Alexander Giroux have indeed been recalled and are on the ice this morning. Varlamov, it appears, is definitely here to stay -- at least for tonight's game against the Sabres, if not longer -- since Brent Johnson (cold, leg) is not skating. As...
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Tarik El-Bashir
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December 26, 2008; 9:54 AM ET |
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Morning Reading List
For those of you who missed it yesterday the Caps will recall Simeon Varlamov, Bryan Helmer and Andrew Gordon today. While it's unclear which, if any, of the call ups will face the Sabres tonight the Caps hope to continue their recent success despite the "virtual revolving door" that is...
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Katie Carrera
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December 26, 2008; 8:36 AM ET |
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Caps Recall Varlamov, Three Others (Updated)
The Caps will recall Simeon Varlamov, Alexandre Giroux, Andrew Gordon and Bryan Helmer tomorrow. Since there was no practice today, I don't have an injury update. It's also unclear which, if any, of the recalls will actually suit up against the Sabres. I should know more after the morning skate,...
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Tarik El-Bashir
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December 25, 2008; 5:21 PM ET |
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Morning Reading List
On a night when everything seemed stacked against them -- the ever-present injuries to key players, a four-goal deficit and a starting goaltender who allowed three goals on the first five shots he faced in Madison Square Garden -- somehow the Capitals managed to pull out a dramatic 5-4 overtime...
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Katie Carrera
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December 24, 2008; 7:46 AM ET |
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Caps 5, Rangers 4 (OT)
Be honest. Who changed the channel when it was 4-0? It's okay, no one is going to be mad. But you missed one heck of a comeback. Five straight goals, including an overtime winner from Shaone Morrisonn, who had not scored since Feb. 26th. And a big time bounce back...
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Tarik El-Bashir
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December 23, 2008; 11:16 PM ET |
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Tonight's Lineup
Jose Theodore will start in goal and oppose Henrik Lundqvist tonight at MSG. Brent Johnson will back up Theodore. Forwards Ovechkin-Backstrom-Kozlov Fleischmann-Laich-A. Gordon Giroux-Nylander-Fehr Steckel-Gordon-Bradley Defense Jurcina-Alzner Morrisonn-Collins Sloan-Helmer Be sure to check back later for post-game notes/quotes/thoughts....
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Tarik El-Bashir
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December 23, 2008; 6:37 PM ET |
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Johnson Sick; Theodore to Start (Updated)
Brent Johnson isn't well, so Jose Theodore will be the surprise starter tonight at MSG, where the Caps will be looking to snap a seven game losing streak (0-6-1) dating to 2004. I didn't get to talk to either Johnson or Theodore -- the switch was announced after the players...
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Tarik El-Bashir
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December 23, 2008; 11:31 AM ET |
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A. Gordon, Helmer Recalled (Updated)
With all of the injuries, forward Andrew Gordon and defenseman Bryan Helmer have been recalled from Hershey. If Gordon plays tonight against the Rangers, he'll be sixth player to make his NHL debut with the Caps this season. Update:Donald Brashear (leg) is not skating. David Steckel, meantime, is back after...
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Tarik El-Bashir
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December 23, 2008; 10:37 AM ET |
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Morning Reading List
Through 34 games the Capitals are still waiting for Jose Theodore or Brent Johnson to emerge as the team's No. 1 goaltender. Yes, the team is winning and continues to succeed despite an almost never-ending injury cycle. But what could this team do with a consistent presence in net? And...
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Katie Carrera
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December 23, 2008; 7:11 AM ET |
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Caps' Injury Situation Worsens
Mike Green, Alexander Semin, Tom Poti are all out for tomorrow's game at Madison Square Garden. So are Jeff Schultz and Chris Clark (but that's not a surprise). Meantime, David Steckel (cold) and Donald Brashear (leg) are questionable, while Tyler Sloan (foot, knee) is ready to go. So, according to...
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Tarik El-Bashir
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December 22, 2008; 12:02 PM ET |
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Caps Return To Practice
But they are minus several players this morning at KCI. Just took a quick count and I don't see Tom Poti, Mike Green, Alexander Semin, David Steckel or Donald Brashear. Poti, of course, tweaked a groin muscle in Philly; Green still is battling a sore shoulder; Semin has a back...
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Tarik El-Bashir
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December 22, 2008; 10:05 AM ET |
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Morning Reading List
In case you missed it this weekend, Tom Boswell had a column about the Caps' monster, or as he's more commonly known, Alex Ovechkin. *The Toronto Sun released it's annual list of the top 10 NHLers this weekend, with Ovechkin coming in as No. 1. *Carolina defeated Montreal 3-2 in...
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Katie Carrera
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December 22, 2008; 8:29 AM ET |
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