It’s no secret the Washington Capitals go as Alexander Ovechkin goes. The Gr8 carried the Caps on his back over the second half of a short lockout season to help them make the postseason, but the New York Rangers were able to shut him down in the playoffs, holding him to just a goal and an assist in seven games.

As a result, the Caps lost four of the last five games of the series, including a 5-0 whitewashing on home ice in the series finale, and their season is over. Afterwards, Ovechkin told Slava Malamud of Soviet Express that he wasn’t close to 100%, which was no surprise to several of us who cover the team throughout the year. Apparently the injury occurred before the playoffs and it was made known to me that the Gr8 played through injuries much of the season. But that is hockey and injuries are no excuse for losing the series. Neither are the referees, as bad as they were in some of the games.

Where did the Caps fail to win this series? Well it started in game three when they put three pucks past Henrik Lundqvist, but due to penalty trouble and mostly shoddy defensive zone play, they lost 4-3. In game four, they played poorly in their own end again and it cost them despite getting three more goals on King Henrik.

After that, the Swedish goalie was extremely difficult to beat giving up two goals in game five in a Rangers overtime loss and then none over the last 120 minutes of the series. Lundqvist, who was playing so well that the Caps went into overpass mode, and the Capitals defensive miscues did Washington in.

The Caps won the faceoff battle in game seven, like they needed to, 38-26, and they outshot the Rangers pretty handidly (35-27 in shots on net and 79-47 in shot attempts). They even got off to a good start with coach Adam Oates calling it the best the team had in five games. But they failed to get a puck by Lundqvist and when Mike Green got caught in the offensive zone trying to score, the Rangers broke back 4 on 3. Jack Hillen then made a defensive mistake by going down to block fourth liner Aaron Asham’s shot and as a result, Braden Holtby didn’t get a good look at the slapper and it went in the net. That gave the Rangers momentum and when they pumped in two goals early in the second frame as a result of point shots that bounced around, it was all over. Holtby lost his confidence and you could see the wind come out of Washington’s sails.

It was another tough end to a Capitals season and they drop to 2-7 on home ice in game seven’s and 3-9 overall in the final game of best of seven series’.

This one stings but given where the team started, at 2-8-1, it is pretty amazing they made it this far. Ovechkin, Green, and Holtby, for the most part, carried this club to the postseason and a series lead, but they didn’t have enough to get over the hump. The Rangers played better defense and had excellent goaltending and that’s why they won.

Once again Caps fans will ponder the what ifs and in a couple of days we’ll be talking about next season, which will be here before we know it.

But being a Caps fan seems to always end with heartbreak in the spring and this year is no different.

Still, it could be worse on this night, you could be a Leafs fan.

Notes: Ovechkin told Malamud that he did what was needed to play from a medical standpoint…Green took the loss especially hard and had a tough time talking with the media but kudos to him and just about every other player for not dodging the loss and answering the difficult questions…after the series ending handshake the Capitals players, at centre ice, saluted the remaining fans thanking them for their support this season.

The Washington Capitals earned the number three seed in the Eastern Conference by winning the Southeast Division and they get the opportunity to make it pay off with a victory in game seven on Monday night at the Verizon Center against the New York Rangers at 8pm (CSN).

The Rangers won a tightly contested game six, 1-0, on Sunday afternoon that has many Capitals players, fans, and even Comcast’s Alan May fuming over the power play imbalance so far in this series. The Blueshirts have benefitted in the three games in New York with 15 power plays to just 5 for the Capitals and it is 26-14, overall in the series. In game six, it was five to zero!

Anyone who watched that game clearly saw the zebra mistakes from the missed elbow and cross check from Ryan Callahan to Michael Del Zotto’s late hit on Mathieu Perreault to Derek Dorsett’s dirty and suspendable slew foot on Mike Green. Fortunately for Washington, the Rangers didn’t score in their 9:16 of advantage time but that is a ton of time where the Caps can’t get their offensive guys on the ice and it also adds extra fatigue to the squad. Simply put, the officiating has not been fair in this series and the league and the NHL supervisor working this series, Rod Pasma, needs to make sure things are called more evenly on Monday.

As for the game itself, the difference was a goal that went in off of the Capitals defense in a middle frame that New York mostly carried. But how much of that domination was due to the fact that the Caps had to kill three minor penalties in period one?

Both goalies, Braden Holtby and Henrik Lundqvist, were superb with King Henrik finding a way to shut the Caps out. His save on John Carlson at the end of the game typified how fantastic he was in game six.

So the series shifts back to the Verizon Center where the Capitals crowd has been outstanding and a big factor in the first three tilts. They have provided energy for the Caps and the team will need that again to close out a scrappy Rangers team that has gotten the breaks in this matchup. In addition, Coach Adam Oates will have the last change and Washington forwards will get to put their stick down second on faceoffs. In the last three games the home team has won the draws, 34-19, 42-30, and 27-18, respectively. Winning the faceoff means you have the puck and don’t have to waste energy chasing to get it. It is such an important part of a hockey game.

Also, the Capitals need to get some goals from its’ top line. Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and Marcus Johansson have been generating good chances, the Gr8 had five shots on net in game six after nine in game five, but they just haven’t finished. How they produce on Monday night will likely be the difference in the series. Ovechkin doesn’t have a point in the last four games, but he has been razor close to doing so in the last two tilts.

The Caps also could use a quality officiated game for once, as well.

It’s a game seven versus the Rangers, but unlike last season, the Caps are playing this one at the Verizon Center. Will that be the difference?

 

 

Honorable Mention: Pro Lacrosse: Ohio Machine @ Chesapeake Bayhawks (Saturday 7pm from Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium live on ESPN3.com); MLS: Houston Dynamo @ DC United (Wednesday 7pm from RFK Stadium live on Comcast SportsNet PLUS), DC United @ FC Dallas (Saturday 8:30pm from Dallas live on Comcast SportsNet)

10. Rush (Tuesday 7:30pm 1st Mariner Arena); Phil Vassar (Saturday 6:30pm Pier Six Pavilion); Sweetlife Festival feat. Phoenix, Passion Pit, Kendrick Lamar, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Gary Clark Jr. (Saturday 12pm Merriweather Post Pavilion); Taylor Swift (Saturday 7pm Verizon Center); Jah Works (Friday 8pm 8×10 Club); Spin Doctors (Wednesday 8pm Rams Head On Stage), Pat McGee (Friday & Saturday 8pm Rams Head On Stage); Rick Springfield (Thursday 7pm & 9:30pm Rams Head Center Stage); The Airborne Toxic Event (Wednesday & Thursday 7pm 9:30 Club); Bela Fleck (Friday 8pm Strathmore); MPT’s “Best of Doo-Wop” feat. Percy Sledge, Gene Chandler (Saturday 3pm & 7:30pm Meyerhoff Symphony Hall); Fitz & The Tantrums “More Than Just A Dream” available in stores/on iTunes (Tuesday)

Passion Pit is really freaking fantastic.

My cousin Gary Clark Jr. is really freaking fantastic.

This Spin Doctors song was really freaking fantastic.

Fitz & The Tantrums are really freaking fantastic. I don’t have a lot in me tonight. Sorry in advance.

9. Paul Reiser (Friday & Saturday Magooby’s Joke House); Bobby Lee (Friday-Sunday DC Improv); Maryland Film Festival (Wednesday-Sunday Charles Theater, more) “The Great Gatsby” out in theaters (Friday); “Jack Reacher” and “30 Rock Season 7” available on Blu-Ray/DVD (Tuesday)

I miss 30 Rock so much.

Lazily written sentence followed by another 30 Rock GIF.

(Continued on Page 2…)

The game three playoff nightmares continue for the Caps franchise when taking a 2-0 series lead.

A sloppy effort from the Washington Capitals on Monday night cost them a chance to put the New York Rangers season on the brink and they have noone else to blame but themselves.

Braden Holtby sensed in the morning skate that his team wasn’t focused and he was right (see Steve Whyno’s blog on it). The Caps, after taking an early 1-0 lead, stopped skating and as a result, took far too many penalties. The Rangers had six man advantages before the game was half over and they scored once with the power play while another came right after Joel Ward’s careless high stick expired.

The Capitals still managed to have some good moments at five on five to keep this one even at two heading into the final frame but the penalty killing duty took its toll creating some fatigue and the Rangers scored two goals off of their forecheck, something they struggled to do in games one and two. In addition, Washington’s defensive zone coverage gave New York too much space and the Caps had far too many turnovers. Yes, the ice was bad at that dump of a venue, but it’s the same for both clubs.

Alexander Ovechkin drew a late penalty and the Caps had the final 1:54 to score to tie the game, but with the goalie pulled for a 6 on 4 Washington failed to get a shot on net. Mike Ribeiro had the puck much of the time and he didn’t do a good job of making the Rags pay for overplaying Ovechkin and Mike Green in that sequence.

So now the Caps have a tough game four against a New York team that has new life and momentum. Washington did a lot of things wrong on Monday and lost only by a goal. But they must be focused for this next tilt. They took their eye off of the ball in game three early on and it cost them a potential sweep of a team that they were dominating.

We’ve seen these bad momentum swings go against Washington before in the post season and they have never won a game three up 2-0 in a best of seven series. They had a glorious opportunity on Monday to finally do that and they blew it.

Now they need to get back to work and do the things that made them successful in the first two games and that starts with skating and attention to detail.

This series is there for the taking but on Monday they got into some bad habits they had early in the regular season. Those must cease immediately.

It will be a mental test for this club to avoid the bad waves that come with a sloppy game.

Guess we’ll find out what this club is made of on Wednesday?

Notes: Washington won the faceoff battle 30-27 and out shot the Rags 31-30, but the scoreboard is what matters…Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and Marcus Johansson were on the ice for the game winner by Derek Stepan. The trio had chances to clear the zone but couldn’t get the biscuit past the strong Rangers pressure…the Caps goals were scored by Backstrom, Green, and Jay Beagle (Jack Hillen shot went off of 83 into the cage).

Fresh off of a huge 1-0 overtime victory on Saturday afternoon, the Washington Capitals take on the New York Rangers in game three of their best of seven first round playoff series on Monday night at 7:30 pm at Madison Square Garden (CSN, NBCSN). A win for the Caps and it is a 3-0 series lead, and for a Washington franchise that is 39 years old, it would be unchartered waters in a best of seven (the Caps did defeat the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Islanders, three games to none, in best of five first round matchups in 1984 and 1986, respectively).

This Capitals team continues to get better each game under first year head coach Adam Oates. After winning 3-1 in the first tilt, the Capitals played another very good game but thanks to the superb play of Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (37 saves), the Caps weren’t able to gain the victory until the extra session. But Washington carried much of the play in that contest and despite the Rags getting forwards Brian Boyle and Derek Dorsett back into the lineup for the first time this series, the Caps still have more depth and as a result, have been able to win the first two games. A big difference has been special teams with the Caps going for 2 for 7 with the man advantage while New York is 0 for 7. But that still leaves a ton of even strength time and if you look at the ice times of both squads, it is pretty apparent that Oates has more confidence in all of his skaters while Rangers bench boss John Tortorella relies mostly on three lines and five defensemen. The fact that Tortorella’s skilled guys are playing more at even strength could be a factor in why their power play is not as effective.

But as a former Capitals assistant coach has told me repeatedly, the playoffs are all about adjustments, and you can bet that Torts will do whatever he can in his own barn to get the Rags back in the series. Madison Square Garden will be amped up and with home ice the fiery coach now has last change. Midway through game two he switched up his lines putting Rick Nash with Ryan Callahan and Derek Stepan and that line was the Rangers best. The typical matchup had that unit against the Caps second line of Mike Ribeiro, Martin Erat, and Troy Brouwer. Does that matchup continue in New York? Will Ryan Clowe be back in for the Rangers giving them another top six forward? What can Tortorella do to fix his ailing power play? Those are the easiest things that seem changeable for a Rangers club that the Caps have on the ropes. The Rangers are struggling to generate offense so does New York, which is primarily a defensive team that is coached to mostly play dump and chase, change things up and open up the game? I have a hard time seeing them try that given they haven’t been practicing it all season and they would likely be playing with fire with the Capitals highly skilled top two lines.

As for Washington, even when winning, they make adjustments and that’s another reason why they continue to improve. Oates’ club was much better on their breakouts on Saturday and the number of giveaways and odd man rushes dropped drastically.  The Capitals also seem to have the Rangers tendencies down, especially in the offensive zone. A Rags team that relies heavily on diving to block shots was burnt on the game winner as Ribeiro faked Callahan to the ice before dishing to Mike “Game Over” Green for the winner. Oates might not have any lineup changes but given his penchant for video analysis and his technical savvy, you can bet that he’s given his club some things to help the team be even better.

After minimizing turnovers, which can lead to odd man rushes, another important thing for Washington to do to win in New York is to limit the ability of Rangers defensemen Michael Del Zotto to rush the puck up the ice. It was Del Zotto, along with the traded Marian Gaborik, who really hurt the Caps in last year’s series loss. After Del Zotto, New York really doesn’t have any guys on the blue line who are excellent puck rushers while the Capitals boast Green and John Carlson plus Jack Hillen and Steve Oleksy bring that capability, as well. It is an advantage for the Caps that their defense is more mobile.

Still, you have to play the games and it is critical that Washington doesn’t get overconfident or lose focus on playing one shift at a time. Based on what I’ve seen from Oates, he will have his club ready to go in a hostile environment.

So will this be the year that Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals finally take a 3-0 lead in a best of seven playoff series?

 

Honorable Mention: Pro Wrestling-Ring of Honor Border Wars 2013 (Saturday 7:30pm from Toronto live on Pay-Per-View); Pro Lacrosse: MLL Long Island Lizards @ Chesapeake Bayhawks (Saturday 7pm from Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium live on Comcast SportsNet/ESPN3.com); Women’s College Lacrosse: Selection Sunday (Sunday 9pm NCAA.com)

10. Foreigner (Friday 8pm Pier Six Pavilion), Earth, Wind & Fire (Sunday 7:30pm Pier Six Pavilion); M3 Rock Festival feat. Bret Michaels, Twisted Sister (Friday & Saturday Merriweather Post Pavilion); The Lone Bellow (Thursday 7:30pm West Mt. Vernon Park); Papa Roach (Wednesday 8pm Rams Head Live), Limp Bizkit (Friday 9pm Rams Head Live); Old Man Brown (Friday 8pm 8×10 Club); Fear Factory (Sunday 8pm Baltimore Soundstage); Howie Day (Sunday 8pm Rams Head on Stage); Kris Allen (Friday 9pm Rams Head Center Stage); Art Attack feat. MGMT (Friday 6pm Byrd Stadium); Jim James (Tuesday 7pm 9:30 Club), Tedeschi Trucks Band (Wednesday 7pm 9:30 Club), Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite (Thursday 7pm 9:30 Club), Foals (Sunday 7pm 9:30 Club), Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (Monday 7pm 9:30 Club); Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers (Thursday 8:30pm State Theatre); Chili Cook-Off feat. Soundgarden, AWOLNation, Silversun Pickups, Capital Cities (Saturday RFK Stadium); “Iron Man 3: Heroes Fall” and Kenny Chesney “Life on a Rock” available in stores/on iTunes (Tuesday)

When I heard The Lone Bellow was coming I legitimately nearly cancelled my trip to Louisville. Crikes they’re tremendous.

Can someone call Old Man Brown for me and ask if they’ll play my wedding?

I wish someone would force MGMT and Chiddy Bang to do a record together.

Look, I’m a warm-blooded mammal and all so Soundgarden is great…but don’t you sorta feel like Soundgarden actually limits the brilliance of Chris Cornell’s vocals sometimes?

9. “Iron Man 3” out in theaters (Friday); “Silver Linings Playbook” available on Blu-Ray/DVD (Tuesday); TowsonTown Festival (Saturday & Sunday Downtown Towson); Kinetic Sculpture Race (Saturday American Visionary Art Museum/Inner Harbor)

Ask the question “if you could trade places with any fictional person ever” to an adult male. If they say anything besides “Tony Stark”, kick them out of our country.

Also, I have no idea what a “Kinetic Sculpture Race” is, but a Google Image Search provided me WHAT THE F*CK?

(Continued on Page 2…)

Courtesy of Bovada, (www.Bovada.lv,Twitter: @BovadaLV).

 

Odds to win the 2014 Super Bowl XLVIII        

San Francisco 49ers                              6/1

Denver Broncos                                    15/2

New England Patriots                            8/1

Seattle Seahawks                                  9/1

Atlanta Falcons                                     12/1

Green Bay Packers                                12/1

Houston Texans                                    18/1

New Orleans Saints                               18/1

Baltimore Ravens                                  20/1

New York Giants                                   20/1

Chicago Bears                                      25/1

Pittsburgh Steelers                                25/1

Dallas Cowboys                                    28/1

Washington Redskins                            28/1

Philadelphia Eagles                               30/1

Cincinnati Bengals                                35/1

Indianapolis Colts                                  35/1

Detroit Lions                                         40/1

Miami Dolphins                                     40/1

Minnesota Vikings                                 40/1

San Diego Chargers                              40/1

Tampa Bay Buccaneers                         40/1

Carolina Panthers                                 50/1

Kansas City Chiefs                                50/1

St. Louis Rams                                     60/1

Cleveland Browns                                  75/1

New York Jets                                       75/1

Arizona Cardinals                                  100/1

Buffalo Bills                                          100/1

Oakland Raiders                                    100/1

Tennessee Titans                                   100/1

Jacksonville Jaguars                             200/1

 

E.J. Manuel – Will he start Week 1 for the Buffalo Bills in the 2013 Regular Season?          

Yes                  +200

No                    -300

Geno Smith – Total Starts in the 2013 Regular Season   

Over/Under                   4½

 

Matt Barkley – Total Starts in the 2013 Regular Season  

Over/Under                   2

 

Tavon Austin – Total Receiving Yards in the 2013 Regular Season 

Over/Under                    800

 

Tavon Austin – Total Receiving TD’s in the 2013 Regular Season    

Over/Under                    4½

 

Ziggy Ansah  – Total Sacks in the 2013 Regular Season   

Over/Under                    4½

 

Barkevious Mingo – Total Sacks in the 2013 Regular Season        

Over/Under                    3

 

Jarvis Jones – Total Sacks in the 2013 Regular Season    

Over/Under                    8

 

Tim Tebow Props

Tim Tebow – Will he start a game as a QB in the 2013 Regular Season?     

Yes                  +400     (4/1)

No                    -700      (1/7)

 

Tim Tebow – Which position will he play in his 1st Offensive play in the 2013 Regular Season?        

QB                               1/2

WR/TE                          3/2

RB/HB/FB                     5/1

 

Tim Tebow – What will happen first for Tim Tebow?           

Throws another TD Pass in the NFL          -500    (1/5)

Admits to having intercourse                   +300   (3/1)

 

Tim Tebow – Will he join the Montreal Alouettes in 2013?

(Note: Montreal owns Tebow’s CFL rights)  

Yes                  +1000   (10/1)

No                    -2500    (1/25)

 

Odds to win the 2013 Stanley Cup      

Pittsburgh Penguins                  7/2

Chicago Blackhawks                 15/4

Boston Bruins                           17/2

Anaheim Ducks                         12/1

Montreal Canadiens                   12/1

Los Angeles Kings                    14/1

St. Louis Blues                          14/1

Vancouver Canucks                   14/1

San Jose Sharks                       16/1

Washington Capitals                  16/1

New York Rangers                     18/1

Toronto Maple Leafs                 20/1

Minnesota Wild                         22/1

Detroit Red Wings                     28/1

Ottawa Senators                        28/1

New York Islanders                    40/1

 

Odds to win the 2013 NHL Eastern Conference           

Pittsburgh Penguins                  3/2

Boston Bruins                           4/1

Montreal Canadiens                   11/2

Washington Capitals                  8/1

New York Rangers                     17/2

Toronto Maple Leafs                 12/1

Ottawa Senators                        14/1

New York Islanders                    18/1

 

Odds to win the 2013 NHL Western Conference          

Chicago Blackhawks                 7/4

Anaheim Ducks                         11/2

Vancouver Canucks                   13/2

St. Louis Blues                          7/1

Los Angeles Kings                    15/2

San Jose Sharks                       8/1

Minnesota Wild                         10/1

Detroit Red Wings                     14/1

 

2013 Stanley Cup – Exact Matchup      

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Chicago Blackhawks                 11/2

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Anaheim Ducks                        14/1

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Vancouver Canucks                  16/1

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. St. Louis Blues                         18/1

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Los Angeles Kings                    18/1

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. San Jose Sharks                      20/1

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Detroit Red Wings                    30/1

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Minnesota Wild                         25/1

Montreal Canadiens vs. Chicago Blackhawks                  14/1

Montreal Canadiens vs. Anaheim Ducks                         35/1

Montreal Canadiens vs. Vancouver Canucks                   40/1

Montreal Canadiens vs. St. Louis Blues                          50/1

Montreal Canadiens vs. Los Angeles Kings                    50/1

Montreal Canadiens vs. San Jose Sharks                       55/1

Montreal Canadiens vs. Detroit Red Wings                     90/1

Montreal Canadiens vs. Minnesota Wild                          65/1

Washington Capitals vs. Chicago Blackhawks                20/1

Washington Capitals vs. Anaheim Ducks                        50/1

Washington Capitals vs. Vancouver Canucks                  60/1

Washington Capitals vs. St. Louis Blues                         70/1

Washington Capitals vs. Los Angeles Kings                   70/1

Washington Capitals vs. San Jose Sharks                      75/1

Washington Capitals vs. Detroit Red Wings                    125/1

Washington Capitals vs. Minnesota Wild                        90/1

Boston Bruins vs. Chicago Blackhawks                          10/1

Boston Bruins vs. Anaheim Ducks                                 28/1

Boston Bruins vs. Vancouver Canucks                           30/1

Boston Bruins vs. St. Louis Blues                                  35/1

Boston Bruins vs. Los Angeles Kings                             35/1

Boston Bruins vs. San Jose Sharks                               40/1

Boston Bruins vs. Detroit Red Wings                             70/1

Boston Bruins vs. Minnesota Wild                                  50/1

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Chicago Blackhawks                30/1

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Anaheim Ducks                        75/1

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Vancouver Canucks                 90/1

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. St. Louis Blues                        100/1

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Los Angeles Kings                   100/1

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. San Jose Sharks                      100/1

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Detroit Red Wings                    175/1

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Minnesota Wild                        125/1

New York Rangers vs. Chicago Blackhawks                   22/1

New York Rangers vs. Anaheim Ducks                           50/1

New York Rangers vs. Vancouver Canucks                     66/1

New York Rangers vs. St. Louis Blues                            75/1

New York Rangers vs. Los Angeles Kings                      75/1

New York Rangers vs. San Jose Sharks                         80/1

New York Rangers vs. Detroit Red Wings                       125/1

New York Rangers vs. Minnesota Wild                           100/1

Ottawa Senators vs. Chicago Blackhawks                      35/1

Ottawa Senators vs. Anaheim Ducks                              90/1

Ottawa Senators vs. Vancouver Canucks                        100/1

Ottawa Senators vs. St. Louis Blues                               110/1

Ottawa Senators vs. Los Angeles Kings                         110/1

Ottawa Senators vs. San Jose Sharks                            125/1

Ottawa Senators vs. Detroit Red Wings                          200/1

Ottawa Senators vs. Minnesota Wild                              150/1

New York Islanders vs. Chicago Blackhawks                  40/1

New York Islanders vs. Anaheim Ducks                          100/1

New York Islanders vs. Vancouver Canucks                    125/1

New York Islanders vs. St. Louis Blues                           150/1

New York Islanders vs. Los Angeles Kings                     150/1

New York Islanders vs. San Jose Sharks                        160/1

New York Islanders vs. Detroit Red Wings                      250/1

New York Islanders vs. Minnesota Wild                          200/1

Caps Coach Adam Oates made it pretty clear on Wednesday that he intended to play the last two regular season games to win to try and keep Washington’s second half of the season momentum going into to the postseason. The Capitals faced a desperate Ottawa club that needed two points to make the playoffs on Thursday but lost in overtime and on Saturday night, against a Bruins squad that needed a win to keep pace with the Montreal Canadiens in order to win the Northeast Division, they scored three power play goals to rally for a 3-2 victory in overtime, as well.

The win against Boston came against one of the East’s best teams and certainly makes Oates’ decision to not rest guys seem like the right choice. No Caps player came out of the game injured and Washington showed that they can handle a physical club, even when they really didn’t have anything to play for. It is very encouraging, especially since Washington will now face the physical New York Rangers in the first round of the playoffs, which will likely start on Tuesday at the Verizon Center (full schedule to be released on Sunday night at 11pm on the NHL Network).

Saturday night was a lesson to teams that if they take penalties, and the referees actually call them, then they are likely to pay the price. The Capitals have the NHL’s best power play and they went 3 for 5 on Saturday night. Mike Green bombed in two man advantage goals and then his shot on a 4 on 3 OT power play went off of Tuukka Rask’s chest and Eric Fehr backhanded it home from the top of the crease.

The win ended the Caps 48 game campaign at 27-18-3 for 57 points. Pretty impressive considering they were 2-8-1 (5 points) after 11 games.

It was a year that started very poorly and took a long time to get rolling. But a healthy lineup and the play of Alexander Ovechkin and Green was so key to the turnaround. The Gr8 didn’t add to his NHL leading goal total of 32, but he had two assists. Ovechkin locked up the Richard Trophy on Saturday night for his goal scoring title and #52′s two markers gives him the NHL goal scoring lead for defensemen, despite missing 13 games. As I said on WNST last week, Green is the “straw that stirs the drink” for the Capitals on the back end. When he is healthy, this is a totally different hockey team.

Speaking of different, the games get that way now. Penalties are typically called at a lower rate and the physical play amps up. I’d bet every dollar I have that Rags Coach John Tortorella is trying to find a way to get some clean shots on Green to disrupt Washington’s attack. Therefore it will be key that Oates continues to make sure Green doesn’t take the big hits like has happened in previous seasons. Clearly the ability of Braden Holtby (34 saves) to play the puck helps minimize that and defensive partner Karl Alzner has done a good job of handling more of the corner play to prevent Green from getting run.

It will be a very difficult series as these clubs face each other in the postseason for the fourth time in five seasons.

I’ll have more on the matchup on Sunday and Monday night, but the fact that the Capitals were able to win again, despite having little to play for, tells me that this team is ready for the postseason.

And they have momentum.

Notes: Washington killed off both Boston power plays on the evening…shot attempts were even at 65 each but the Caps won the faceoff battle, 33-25…Mike Ribeiro had two assists in a solid game. His only major blemish was losing a defensive zone faceoff that led to Milan Lucic’s goal to open the scoring…the Caps signed goalie Michal Neuvirth to a two year contract extension on Saturday morning ($2.4M in 2013-14 and $2.6M in 2014-15)…the Capitals announced that the 2013 Baltimore Hockey Classic will be played at 1st Mariner Arena on Wednesday, September 17th against the Boston Bruins.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals will face the Boston Bruins in the second Baltimore Hockey Classic on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2013, at 7 p.m. at 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, Capitals general manager George McPhee, 1st Mariner Arena/SMG general manager Frank Remesch and president of the Baltimore City Council Bernard C. “Jack” Young announced today.

“Baltimore is a great hockey market with a long hockey tradition and we are excited to make our return to 1st Mariner Arena next season,” said Capitals president Dick Patrick.

The inaugural Baltimore Hockey Classic, which featured the Nashville Predators and Washington Capitals kicking off the Capitals’ 2011-12 preseason schedule, sold out as the capacity crowd of 11,082 fans enjoyed the first professional hockey game played in Baltimore since 1997.

Every Washington Capitals full season-account holder will have the opportunity to purchase tickets for the Baltimore Hockey Classic beginning Wednesday, May 1, at 10 a.m. Details on ticket availability and pricing will be sent to full season-ticket holders when they become available. All other fans interested in attending the event are encouraged to purchase their tickets when they go on sale on Friday, May 3, at 10 a.m.

Following their 5-3 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday the Capitals clinched their sixth-straight playoff berth and their fifth Southeast Division title in the last six seasons. The Capitals six straight playoff appearances are tied for the fourth-longest active playoff streak in the NHL and they are one of only two teams (Vancouver) to have won five division titles in the last six seasons. In addition, the Capitals playoff streak marks the longest streak of playoff appearances in franchise history since their 14-straight postseason trips from the 1982-83 season through 1995-96.

The Capitals are led by captain Alex Ovechkin who currently leads the league with 32 goals this season, marking the eighth consecutive season that Ovechkin has tallied 30 or more goals. Ovechkin is the only player in the NHL to have recorded 30 or more goals in each season since 2005-06 and is one of just nine players in NHL history to score 30 goals in each of his first eight seasons in the league.

The Washington Capitals called Landover, Md., home from 1974-1997. They played their home games at the Capital Centre before moving to downtown Washington, D.C., for the 1997-98 season.

From 1981-1993, Baltimore was home to the Skipjacks, a minor league affiliate that began in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League and then moved to the American Hockey League. The Jacks were affiliated with the Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals before moving to Portland, Maine, after the 1992-93 season. Former Capitals legends Don Beaupre and Olie Kolzig, to name a few, spent some of their minor league careers in Baltimore. The Baltimore Bandits, AHL affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks, played at 1st Mariner Arena from 1995-97.

The 1st Mariner Arena, formerly the Baltimore Arena, is Baltimore’s largest indoor venue and entertainment facility and has long been considered an anchor that contributed to the growth and prosperity of Baltimore. The arena opened in 1962 and was the cornerstone of the Baltimore Inner Harbor redevelopment. It hosts an average of 130 events and more than 800,000 guests come through the turnstiles annually.

For more information on The Baltimore Classic or 1st Mariner Arena, please visit www.WashingtonCaps.com or www.1stMarinerArena.com.

 

Honorable Mention: Boxing-Sergio Martinez vs. Martin Murray (Saturday 8:30pm from Buenos Aires live on HBO), Zab Judah vs. Danny Garcia (Saturday 9pm from Brooklyn, NY live on Showtime); MLS: DC United @ Columbus Crew (Saturday 7:30pm from Columbus, OH live on MLS Direct Kick); Golf: PGA Tour Zurich Classic of New Orleans (Thursday & Friday 3pm live on Golf Channel Saturday & Sunday 1pm live on Golf Channel 3pm live on CBS. All golf from Avondale, LA), Champions Tour Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf (Friday 12:30pm Saturday & Sunday 1pm. All golf from Savannah, GA), North Texas LPGA Shootout (Thursday 12:30pm Friday 6:30pm Saturday & Sunday 3pm from Irving, TX live on Golf Channel)

10. Rihanna (Wednesday 7:30pm 1st Mariner Arena Monday 7:30pm Verizon Center); Kendrick Lamar (Tuesday 8pm Patriot Center); Dru Hill (Friday 9pm Rams Head Live); Badfish, A Tribute to Sublime (Friday 8pm Baltimore Soundstage), Fabolous/Pusha T (Sunday 8pm Baltimore Soundstage); ALO (Tuesday 7pm 8×10 Club); The Joy Formidable (Tuesday 8pm Ottobar); Chris Cagle (Saturday 9pm Rams Head Center Stage); Sara Bareilles (Thursday 6:30pm 9:30 Club); Aimee Mann (Thursday 7:30pm Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts); Gladys Knight (Thursday & Friday 8pm Strathmore); All Time Low/Pierce The Veil (Sunday 5:30pm Towson Center); Phoenix “Bankrupt” and Frank Turner “Tape Deck Heart” available in stores/on iTunes (Tuesday)

Dru Hill was nearly as significant a part of my childhood as chocolate milk. Perhaps more significant. Baltimore institutions.

I had a college girlfriend that thought the song “Chicks Dig It” was about the greatest song of all time. She was…like…REALLY hot…so I might well have told her I agreed.

Our friends from All Time Low have been tremendous to us. Be tremendous to them and go see them this weekend. They love Baltimore sports as much as you do.

Frank Turner does folk punk. It’s truly phenomenal.

9. Sarah Silverman (Thursday 8pm Warner Theatre), Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth (Friday & Saturday 8pm Warner Theatre); Jerry Seinfeld (Saturday 7pm & 9:30pm Meyerhoff Symphony Hall); David Alan Grier (Thursday-Saturday Baltimore Comedy Factory); Michael McDonald (Friday-Sunday DC Improv); “Big Wedding” and “Pain & Gain” out in theaters (Friday); “Jurassic Park 3D” and “Gangster Squad” available on Blu-Ray/DVD (Tuesday)

There’s absolutely no reason to not be completely in support of the Mike Tyson show…

You know whose one man show should be coming next?

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