Capitals Insider: January 18, 2009 - January 24, 2009
Ovechkin's Breakaway Challenge Winner
Here's a short Q&A with Alex after he won the Breakaway Challenge for the second straight year: Q: Alex, where did you get the idea to do the hat and glasses? A: Well, it was last night. I actually talked to [team PR guru] Nate Ewell about it, and...
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Tarik El-Bashir
| January 24, 2009; 10:07 PM ET |
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Poll: Ovechkin's Creativity (Updated)
Alex Ovechkin's reputation as the NHL's most colorful personality was affirmed in the Breakway Challenge tonight. After missing his first three attempts, the Caps' winger returned to the bench, and with the help of his friend-turned-enemy-turned-friend again Evgeni Malkin, put on a pair of white sunglasses, a floppy, safari-style khaki...
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Tarik El-Bashir
| January 24, 2009; 8:10 PM ET |
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Update From Centre Bell
The wireless here is very spotty, so I've got to be brief: *The NHL has not announced a replacement for Sidney Crosby in the starting lineup. Word is that a decision will come down at some point this afternoon or evening. "We haven't hashed that out yet," Eastern Conference assistant...
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Tarik El-Bashir
| January 24, 2009; 11:49 AM ET |
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Q&A With Alex Ovechkin
This is from Ovechkin's media session today in Montreal: Q: With Sidney Crosby out, have you been told if you're in the starting lineup? A: No. Nobody told me. It's going to be fun. It doesn't matter if I start or not. It's a sick time right now. Q: What...
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Tarik El-Bashir
| January 23, 2009; 5:32 PM ET |
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Look Who's Talking Now
The latest from Slava Malamud of Sport-Express: And so The Great Russian Feud has come to an end. Maybe. Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin actually exchanged words this afternoon before the Eastern All-Stars media availability as they sat down with the rest of their compatriots/temporary teammates. No, there was...
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Tarik El-Bashir
| January 23, 2009; 4:11 PM ET |
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Campbell: Backstrom Won't Be Disciplined
In light of this afternoon's breaking news that Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom will be asked to sit out a game next week as punishment for skipping this weekend's festivities, I thought it would be a good idea to get the NHL's thoughts on Nicklas Backstrom's decision to skip...
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Tarik El-Bashir
| January 23, 2009; 3:51 PM ET |
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Live Hockey Discussion Now
Well, actually in about 10 minutes. I just arrived in Montreal and I'm ready to take your questions. Submit them here....
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Tarik El-Bashir
| January 23, 2009; 12:48 PM ET |
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Morning Reading List
(Jim McIsaac -- Getty) For today's hard-copy story Tarik examines the areas that Coach Bruce Boudreau hopes to improve upon when the Capitals return from the 6-day hiatus during the NHL's All Star break. From penalty killing, to limiting goals against, to playing better on the road and just...
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Katie Carrera
| January 23, 2009; 7:46 AM ET |
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Crosby Out, St. Louis In
Some of you folks may have aleady seen this, but for those of you haven't the NHL announced this afternoon that Sidney Crosby will miss the All-Star Game for the second straight year because of an injury. Crosby, who suffered a sprained left knee against the Caps last week, will...
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Tarik El-Bashir
| January 22, 2009; 4:52 PM ET |
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Morning Reading List
Perhaps all you need to want to read a story about the Capitals in USA Today is the following excerpt. Don't forget to view the slideshow that goes along with it. Alex Ovechkin, last season's league MVP, is Washington's only player in Sunday's game in Montreal. But the Caps have...
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Katie Carrera
| January 22, 2009; 7:42 AM ET |
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Alzner, Helmer and Machesney Sent Down
Defensemen Karl Alzner and Bryan Helmer, as well as goalie Daren Machesney, have been sent to Hershey, the Caps just announced. It's possible all three will play for the Bears this weekend (against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Manchester). It's also possible that Alzner and/or Helmer will be back on Monday depending on...
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Tarik El-Bashir
| January 21, 2009; 12:31 PM ET |
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Backstrom Statement About Missing YoungStars
The Caps just released this statement from Nicklas Backstrom, who moments ago announced he will not be playing in the YoungStars Game in Montreal on Saturday night. "I am grateful that I had the opportunity to participate in the YoungStars Game last year," Backstrom said. "This year I felt like...
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Tarik El-Bashir
| January 21, 2009; 12:15 PM ET |
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Backstrom To Skip YoungStars
I have just received word that Nicklas Backstrom will skip the NHL's YoungStars Game in Montreal on Saturday. The second year center, who participated in the game last year, is not injured, according to the Caps. He simply wants to rest up and prepare for the second half of the...
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Tarik El-Bashir
| January 21, 2009; 12:00 PM ET |
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Morning Reading List
By Adrian Wyld, The Associated Press A few rash penalties that led to a trio of Senators power play goals proved to be the Capitals undoing in last night's 3-2 loss to Ottawa. The defeat ended a three-game winning streak for the Capitals who head into the All Star...
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Katie Carrera
| January 21, 2009; 7:49 AM ET |
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Sens 3, Caps 2
After the Caps' 5-4 loss in Montreal on Jan. 10, the Caps were distraught over their last-second defeat. After last night's 3-2 loss in Ottawa, they were mad. And rightfully so. Alexander Semin attempted to right a wrong by taking the puck back from Daniel Alfredsson after a turnover. Instead,...
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Tarik El-Bashir
| January 20, 2009; 11:52 PM ET |
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Tonight's Lineup
Jose Theodore is expected to face Ottawa propsect Brian Elliott tonight at Scotiabank Place, the Caps' last game before the all-star break. The Washington lineup should look like this: Forwards Ovechkin-Backstrom-Kozlov Fleischmann-Fedorov-Semin Laich-Steckel-Clark Brashear-Gordon-Bradley Scratches--Nylander, Fehr Defense Erskine-Green Alzner-Helmer Schultz-Jurcina I'll check in after the game with some additional notes...
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Tarik El-Bashir
| January 20, 2009; 6:11 PM ET |
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Morning Skate Update
As I mentioned in the previous post, Jose Theodore will start tonight against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place, while the struggling Micheal Nylander will be a healthy scratch for third time this season. The veteran center has two goals in his past 41 games - and both were scored...
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Tarik El-Bashir
| January 20, 2009; 12:32 PM ET |
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Quick Update
Jose Theodore will start in net tonight at Scotiabank Place. Meanwhile, it looks like David Steckel will return to the lineup and that Michael Nylander and Eric Fehr will be the healthy scratches. More when the skate wraps up....
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Tarik El-Bashir
| January 20, 2009; 11:27 AM ET |
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Morning Reading List
Another game on Long Island, another overtime and another Alex Ovechkin goal. The Caps left winger notched both goals in Washington's 2-1 overtime win over the Islanders, his 30th and 31st tallies on the season to become just the third player in franchise history (along with Peter Bondra and Mike...
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Katie Carrera
| January 20, 2009; 9:03 AM ET |
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Caps 2, Isles 1 (OT)
For the second time in the span of about a month, the Caps came into Nassau Coliseum thinking they were going to be handed the two points. And for the second time, they squeaked past the NHL's worst team on a goal by Alex Ovechkin in overtime, this time by...
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Tarik El-Bashir
| January 19, 2009; 7:01 PM ET |
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Today's Lineup
Based on warmups, here's how the Caps should line up today at Nassau Coliseum: Forwards Ovechkin-Backstrom-Kozlov Fleischmann-Fedorov-Semin Laich-Nylander-Clark Brashear-Gordon-Bradley Scratches -- Fehr, Steckel Defense Erskine-Green Alzner-Helmer Schultz-Jurcina Jose Theodore is set to start in goal and will be backed up by Daren Machesney, who was recalled to replaced Brent Johnson,...
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Tarik El-Bashir
| January 19, 2009; 1:41 PM ET |
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Machesney Recalled (Updated)
The Caps recalled goaltender Daren Machesney from Hershey this morning. Coach Bruce Boudreau is set to talk to reporters in about 10 minutes here at Nassau Coliseum, so check back in a half hour for details. Update: Machesney was recalled to replace Brent Johnson, who suffered an injury in practice...
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Tarik El-Bashir
| January 19, 2009; 11:48 AM ET |
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Morning Reading List
Don't look now but Mike Green has scored 12 goals -- 10 on the power play for the league lead among defensemen -- and quietly recorded 32 points in just 33 games this season after missing 13 with a shoulder injury. In a full 82 games last season he tallied...
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Katie Carrera
| January 19, 2009; 7:56 AM ET |
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Sunday Update
Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Nicklas Backstrom, Viktor Kozlov, Sergei Fedorov, Michael Nylander, Shaone Morrisonn and Brent Johnson didn't take part in this morning's optional practice. Coach Bruce Boudreau said Johnson is "feeling under the weather" and that Jose Theodore will start in net tomorrow afternoon (Don't forget the game's at...
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Katie Carrera
| January 18, 2009; 12:55 PM ET |
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