Capitals Insider: November 21, 2010 - November 27, 2010
Tom Poti misses practice; Mike Green skates
The Capitals conducted a brief practice this afternoon at KCI, and among the notable absences was defenseman Tom Poti, who has been in and out of the lineup with a lower-body injury. Coach Bruce Boudreau indicated the move to hold him out was precautionary in advance of tomorrow's game against...
By
Gene Wang
| November 27, 2010; 1:44 PM ET |
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Categories:
Mike Green, Tom Poti
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Caps near perfect in dominating 6-0 win against Lightning
While Coach Bruce Boudreau wouldn't go so far as to call it a perfect game by the Capitals, he did say it was "as good as we've played all year." Against a hot Tampa Bay Lightning squad that entered the game winners of five straight, among the top five in...
By
Katie Carrera
| November 26, 2010; 9:02 PM ET |
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Brian Fahey, John Carlson, John Erskine, Semyon Varlamov, Tampa Bay Lightning, Tom Poti
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Tonight's lineup: Lightning at Caps
Semyon Varlamov will make his second start in as many games and third of the season tonight against Tampa Bay, which will go with Mike Smith, who is 0-5-0 with a 4.72 goals-against average and .850 save percentage in six starts against the Capitals in his career. With the return...
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Katie Carrera
| November 26, 2010; 4:44 PM ET |
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Categories:
Lineups, Tampa Bay Lightning
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Mike Green out against Tampa Bay
Coach Bruce Boudreau said that defenseman Mike Green won't play against the Lightning in today's tilt at Verizon Center. In Carolina this week, Green said it's something that's bothered him in the past and isn't getting better. Earlier this season Green missed three games with what was believed to be...
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Katie Carrera
| November 26, 2010; 3:18 PM ET |
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Mike Green, Tampa Bay Lightning
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Caps-Lightning: A rivalry renewed
With the success of the new and improved Tampa Bay Lightning it adds an extra level of rivalry to the Capitals' Southeast Division Schedule. Heading into Friday's game at Verizon Center, the Lightning is one of the hottest team in the NHL. Tampa Bay has won five straight games, has...
By
Katie Carrera
| November 26, 2010; 7:12 AM ET |
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Morning Roundup, Tampa Bay Lightning
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Mike Knuble "ready to play" with broken jaw
Mike Knuble said he expects to be ready to play on Friday when the Capitals host the Tampa Bay Lightning at Verizon Center after a shot hit him in the face on Nov. 19 in Atlanta and broke his jaw forcing him to miss the past three games. Aside from...
By
Katie Carrera
| November 25, 2010; 12:33 PM ET |
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Categories:
Bruce Boudreau, Injuries, Michal Neuvirth, Mike Green, Mike Knuble
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Caps assign Fahey and Holtby to Hershey
The Capitals have reassigned goaltender Braden Holtby and defenseman Brian Fahey to Hershey, the team announced this morning. I'll have more updates coming up after practice....
By
Katie Carrera
| November 25, 2010; 10:30 AM ET |
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Categories:
Braden Holtby, Brian Fahey
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The Ovechkin and Backstrom the Caps know and expect
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. In recent games there was little denying that neither Alex Ovechkin nor Nicklas Backstrom were playing with the swagger everyone in Washington has grown accustomed to in recent seasons. Yesterday morning, Coach Bruce Boudreau said he firmly believed that both players would work their way out of...
By
Katie Carrera
| November 25, 2010; 7:04 AM ET |
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Categories:
Alex Ovechkin, Bruce Boudreau, Morning Roundup, Nicklas Backstrom
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Semyon Varlamov makes 30 saves in Caps' 3-2 win against 'Canes
The Capitals' two biggest stars, Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, lit up the scoresheet Wednesday night, with five points and 15 shots between them while contributing to all three of Washington's goals in a much-needed 3-2 win over the Hurricanes at RBC Center. While they -- along with linemate Brooks...
By
Katie Carrera
| November 25, 2010; 12:35 AM ET |
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Categories:
Carolina Hurricanes, Semyon Varlamov
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Tonight's lineup: Caps at 'Canes
Although both players said the opposite this morning, it appears as though Mike Green won't face the Hurricanes tonight at RBC Center while Tom Poti will return to the lineup. Semyon Varlamov looks set to make his second start of the season against Carolina after playing in only two contests...
By
Katie Carrera
| November 24, 2010; 6:49 PM ET |
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Categories:
Carolina Hurricanes, Lineups
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Bruce Boudreau: 'Tired is a state of mind'
Coach Bruce Boudreau said he wasn't too concerned with trying to manage the Capitals' minutes tonight in Carolina despite it being the fourth game in six days and Tuesday's tough practice in Raleigh. "I've always said, or thought, that tired is a state of mind," Boudreau said. "The timing [for...
By
Katie Carrera
| November 24, 2010; 1:16 PM ET |
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Categories:
Bruce Boudreau, Carolina Hurricanes
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Semyon Varlamov first off the ice, Poti out
All three Capitals goaltenders -- Semyon Varlamov, Michal Neuvirth and Braden Holtby -- were out on the ice for the morning skate at RBC Center Wednesday, but it was Varlamov who headed to the dressing room first and took shots from the forwards in practice. Those signs usually indicate who...
By
Katie Carrera
| November 24, 2010; 12:32 PM ET |
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Categories:
Michal Neuvirth, Semyon Varlamov
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Capitals recall Brian Fahey
Washington recalled defenseman Brian Fahey from the AHL's Hershey Bears and he is with the team in Raleigh this morning. This development likely means that Tyler Sloan won't be able to face the Hurricanes tonight, as Coach Bruce Boudreau anticipated yesterday, and that one of the Caps other defensemen won't...
By
Katie Carrera
| November 24, 2010; 10:33 AM ET |
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Categories:
Brian Fahey
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Get to know another high-impact rookie
This season the Capitals have welcomed some of the NHL's top rookies into the fold. Michal Neuvirth leads all first-year goaltenders in wins with 12 and is tied for the overall best mark as well, while John Carlson is the highest scoring rookie defenseman. Whenever Washington faces Carolina, viewers get...
By
Katie Carrera
| November 24, 2010; 8:53 AM ET |
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Comments (21)
Categories:
John Carlson, Michal Neuvirth, Morning Roundup
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Capitals endure a tough practice, focus on work ethic
Earlier this season Coach Bruce Boudreau termed a practice like one he put the Washington Capitals through Tuesday afternoon at RBC Center a practice without any pucks. There were pucks on the ice for the workout in Raleigh, but they weren't used quite as often as you might see on...
By
Katie Carrera
| November 23, 2010; 6:13 PM ET |
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Comments (80)
Categories:
Bruce Boudreau, Jeff Schultz, Matt Bradley
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Updates on the injured Capitals
Michal Neuvirth did not take part in Capitals' practice at RBC Center this afternoon but Coach Bruce Boudreau said it was more a precautionary move and the goaltender "should be fine for tomorrow according to [Washington's] training staff." Wednesday morning we should know for sure if Neuvirth will be ready...
By
Katie Carrera
| November 23, 2010; 4:41 PM ET |
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Categories:
Injuries, Tom Poti, Tyler Sloan
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Boudreau comments on Ovechkin's conversation after NJ loss
After putting the Capitals through more a practice without many pucks involved (more on that shortly), Coach Bruce Boudreau was asked whether he talked to Alex Ovechkin about Ovechkin and Alexander Semin's seemingly up-beat conversation with New Jersey star Ilya Kovalchuk following the Devils' 5-0 win over Washington. "We make...
By
Katie Carrera
| November 23, 2010; 4:20 PM ET |
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Categories:
Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Bruce Boudreau
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Boudreau looked to spark Caps' stars with line changes
Coach Bruce Boudreau moved Alex Ovechkin to a line with Marcus Johansson and Matt Bradley in the middle of Monday night's 5-0 loss to New Jersey when the game was already out of hand in the Devils' favor. Meanwhile, his linemates Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin played with Matt Hendricks...
By
Katie Carrera
| November 23, 2010; 8:42 AM ET |
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Categories:
Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Morning Roundup, Nicklas Backstrom
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Capitals shut out for second time in three games, fall 5-0 to Devils
This was the second utterly forgettable performance by the Capitals in the past three contests so it only seemed fitting that the two games wound up with the same finish. But Monday's 5-0 loss to New Jersey featured the added drama of an injury to Michal Neuvirth, which prompted some...
By
Katie Carrera
| November 22, 2010; 10:42 PM ET |
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Categories:
New Jersey Devils
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Capitals recall Semyon Varlamov
Washington has recalled goaltender Semyon Varlamov from Hershey. This morning, Coach Bruce Boudreau said that it was no longer a question of health with Varlamov, who was with the Bears on a conditioning stint following the latest flare up of a groin problem, but when he would be game-ready. Varlamov...
By
Katie Carrera
| November 22, 2010; 7:36 PM ET |
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Comments (132)
Categories:
Braden Holtby, Injuries, Michal Neuvirth, Semyon Varlamov
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Tonight's lineup: Caps at Devils
Although Michal Neuvirth was the first goaltender off the ice at this morning's skate, it appears as though Braden Holtby will start for the Capitals against the Devils as he led the team out on to the ice for the start of warm ups. It doesn't look like this start...
By
Katie Carrera
| November 22, 2010; 6:39 PM ET |
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Categories:
Lineups, New Jersey Devils
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Boudreau talks about the anniversary of his first day with the Capitals
Three years ago on this day, Bruce Boudreau ran his first practice as coach of the Washington Capitals and wondered if the team would even listen to him during drills. Boudreau and the Capitals have undoubtedly come a long way since that day in November of 2007 when Washington held...
By
Katie Carrera
| November 22, 2010; 2:09 PM ET |
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Categories:
Bruce Boudreau
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Morning skate notes from Newark
Before today's live Q&A gets going at 1 p.m. here are some quick notes from Prudential Center where the Capitals are preparing to take on the New Jersey Devils: --Michal Neuvirth will make his 18th start of the season and second career appearance against the Devils tonight, but Coach Bruce...
By
Katie Carrera
| November 22, 2010; 12:51 PM ET |
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Categories:
Injuries, New Jersey Devils
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Live Caps Q&A: Today 1 p.m.
Join me live from Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., where I'll answer questions about tonight's game against the Devils and anything else Caps-related. Click here to submit questions, and save that same link for when the chat begins at 1 p.m....
By
Katie Carrera
| November 22, 2010; 10:02 AM ET |
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Statistical analysis: No Boyd Gordon, no win for Caps
Hard work, not flashy stats, is why the Capitals are unbeaten in regulation when center Boyd Gordon gets a sweater. Despite having no goals and only three assists in 12 games, it is certainly not for a lack of opportunities. When Gordon is on the ice during even strength, the team...
By
Neil Greenberg
| November 21, 2010; 2:30 PM ET |
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Categories:
Boyd Gordon, Statistical analysis
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Secondary scorers step up in loss to Flyers
The Capitals erased two late deficits against the Flyers on Saturday night, and while they eventually fell short in a 5-4 shootout loss, there were some positives to take away. Several of the Caps' secondary scoring options played well, and picked up the slack for the stars whom the Flyers...
By
Greg Schimmel
| November 21, 2010; 10:03 AM ET |
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Categories:
Eric Fehr, Jason Chimera, Marcus Johansson, Philadelphia Flyers, Tomas Fleischmann
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Capitals fall to Flyers, 5-4 in shootout
There were plenty of opportunities for the Capitals, especially early on, to perhaps take greater control of this Saturday night special against the Philadelphia Flyers. But as two of the top three teams in the NHL's standings exchanged blows and substantial chances on special teams, Washington came out on the...
By
Katie Carrera
| November 21, 2010; 12:39 AM ET |
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Philadelphia Flyers
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