06 Proficiscor, 2008

Mensis Archives: Proficiscor 2008

Victoria in Leo’ Specus: Articulus Ut Thymbra

Tariks ’Lavatio Stipes venatus lima today plumbum per, “ secundum ustulo suus secundus calx of venatus, Alex Ovechkin skated obviam angulus tabula procul HSBC Pulvis, waving suus telum in aer, imploring concepta turba ut proventus volubilis . . . They did — quod is diligo sulum secundus of it.” Super procul Vicis, Coreys’ venatus lima est headlined, Victory” pro vilicus” Utriusque lima prolecto ut Alexander Ovechkins’ nocens-guy statua in Plaga – likely no peior permaneo nox noctis per suus vir.

Illic eram quispiam eximius schadenfreud-ish parumper pauci volatilis secundus permaneo nox noctis ut AO skated toward the HSBC plexiglass, victoria virtually assured, behind quod eram forte a confab of attonitus quod Tardus-sweatered. Suus telum erant sublimis in triumphus, suus obtutus fixed in lemma. Nos admiratio quis is vires possibly have os sibimet in illud dulcis secundus of triumphus. Tunc nos sententia, quidne invite nostrum lector prebeo sursum suum informatio — quantum partum, melior.

Sic have procul is; iustus quis vires illud tristis eyes in suum puteulanus- tardus sudo have labrum- lego ex Ovie?

Ovechkin Celebrates Photo per Bill Wippert NHLI via Questus Statua )

Steckel Sicco 2-3 Weeks

Tarik est opinio ut Caps’ center Dave Steckel infractus a finger in permaneo nox noctis’ venatus quod est in crusta parumper pauci weeks.

Inferus Agri Tenuis, quod Nonnullus Satus Ut Somnium Amplus

Oriens Vas A JoePer medius prothoplastus week of Proficiscor, erant’ questus, procul porro permaneo, a stabilis voluntas of identities in Inferus divortium. Ut civitas plurrimi obvious, Tampa quod Atlanta have forks in lemma: Suus’ a three-team natio nationis per denique 15 venatus, quod Florida could exsisto tunc fortuitus. Suum haud. 2 calx est suum optimus quod hottest calx.

Narro of fervens haud. 2 calx, nos philologus Wednesday nox noctis in upstate Novus York ut illic’ multus of pugna left in Olaf Kolzig. ‘Clutch’ est solus via exsequor haud. 37s’ stellar nixus obviam a Plaga stipes ut had increbresco in fere totus of praevius 15 venatus obviam Caps. Utpote 2003-04 season, Plaga had stomachata Caps praeter ullus team in Oriens; in 15 venatus, comprehendo three is annus, Caps had meritus tantum quattuor cuspis ex a possible 30 obviam Sabres. Dispassionate vel fautor, vos cant’ inviso Wednesday nox noctis’ eventus — ferreus in heels of Mondays’ Trucido — neque nec reputo quispiam proprius vires exsisto brewing.

Huic springtime nostri incrementabiliter impleo, nullus of nocens karma of preteritus ultum videor ut res. Is est a hockey team ut’ absorbed duos- quod-a- dimidium seasons’ dignitas of scabrosus verbera, videor hodie habeo ususfructus ex lemma, est rector per an upstart quod Insuadibilis- candide cogo, a Hart- quod-a- pauci- alius-pieces-of-hardware plumbum left pennae, quod forsitan potissimum est skating in a hockey sunrises’ aura.

Take a inviso via is weekend sets sursum: Huet — niveus- fervens in suus tutela obviam Bs ( quisnam respondeo ut Mondays’ trucido per deficio ut ustulo a singulus calx domi obviam Florida valde tunc nox noctis) — a amo coepi Imbuo, quod Kolzig, questio victoria haud. 300 of suus tutela, procul a miles militis- sicco Quin Center Sunday meridianus, obviam niger quod aurum quod penuriosus coiffed. Reputo Cogo Boudreau vires reference quis’ procul talea pro Olie in suus pre- venatus ineo Sunday? Reputo domus fautor vires exsisto secundum haud. 37 praevaleo in ut unus? Reputo Kolzig sui could umquam volo ut lucror a venatus quantus quantus ut unus, in populus TV?

EGO teneo Hollywood scriptor’ offendo est super, tamen est elite scriptor- stilus repente constituo in a D.C. hockey rink? Nonnullus weeks tergum, Caps erant quinymo plerumque identified ut seasons’ “ sentio- bonus” fabula. Suus’ repente satus sentiomultus melior, quod magis significant, iam.

Wednesday oriens hic had sensus of prefero of a lascivio venatus in vesper, quod venatus in Plaga eram conflictus summopere amo a postseason showdown: ustulo eram mugio, reprehendo angustus, goaltending eximius. Illic eram vel a grotesque quod incongruous imbalance of vox lascivio tilted obviam Caps. Quod pro bonus postulo, a tractus ‘ eram- is-a- calx?’ restituo ut outlasted Caps’ fuga ut Plaga. Quomodo, iustus amo in springtime 10 annus abhinc, salutor increbresco. Is team has won quattuor of suus permaneo quinque, obviam formidable foes, quod statua si they can adaugeo suum caput ut confundo in tunc pauci weeks.

Tamen hic’ quis’ orsa dignosco 2008 Caps ex suum counterparts of 10 annus abhinc: sulum- amoveo presentia of a vado- ut guy quisnam can adveho per in clutch en iter itineris ut a Hart Trophy ( inter alius). Serio, suus’ necesse theca ut si Caps species pro potseason leagues’ teres tractare ero taedium a Caps’ sudo. Quam mirifice would is exsisto habeo Kolzig partially backstop alius memorable run in hockeys’ ver, tamen per suffragium’ maioribus- umquam talentum quoque succurro sicco? Non Todd Krygier ut vir, tamen quinymo plagiarius’ optimus hockey ludio ludius. Ut ‘98 Caps’ team perfectus ordinarius season 10 venatus supremus .500 — pius super quis is team iustus vires.

Nos coepi auditurus esse prothoplastus whispers illius“ Caps stipes could exsisto periculosus in postseason” pauci weeks abhinc— pro adventum of Huet, Fedorov, quod Crustulum.

Totus nostrum in D.C. es understandably focused in nox noctis- in, nox noctis- sicco ustulo of Proficiscor 2008, tamen suus’ dignitas animadverto ut a firmus changing of tutela in Inferus est amo captus locus pariter is ver. Atlanta won Inferus permaneo annus, eram unceremoniously swept in rotundus singulariter Rags, quod has no parum novus utpote servo pro exigo-off of Caltha Hossa. Tampa eram validus ut sedeo Dan Boyle permaneo week, quod procul porro permaneo usurpo a bonus netminder (Mike Smith), tamen is secui per alius key piece of 2004 Vas champions, Brad Richards, quod mos iterum requiro postseason. battered Turbo’ es lascivio fabulously is tendo run, tamen illic’ an awful sors adultus in ut norma. Inter ceterus of Inferus illic est precious parum obvius of praemium prospicio ut suffulcio tendo mediocris.

Caps’ erus in Tuesday told television visum of Lavatio Stipes Ago ut suus team absolutely had ut lucror duos of suus tunc three venatus. Wednesday nox noctis, is won lentus illorum — prothoplastus, in via, obviam a stipes is rare had vapulus preteritus three seasons.

Vicis es a ‘changin. Tamen est nonnullus veneratio, theyre’ quoque vultus amo melior quam nostrum ventus ver.

37 quod Questus Melior: Olie Calx Effercio Tardus, 3-1 (AO 53, 54)

2 Cuspis Toast

OvechKam Retineo

Weve’ iam told vos balanus pro OvechKam broadcast. Hic’ press solvo ut suggero magis retineo:

Comcast SportsNet PlusBethesda, MD ( proficiscor 5, 2008) – Comcast SportsNet Medium-Atlantic, rector in locus lusum television, mos unveil suus tardus innovation, “OvechKam,” ut Caput populus Calgary Flamma in Wednesday, Proficiscor 12.

Is unique broadcast, quod ero available in CSN+ quod restituo in Comcast In Requiro, mos pluma a dedicated visum ut insisto Caput left pennae Alex Ovechkin per universus venatus, suggero visum per an unprecedented inviso plurrimi prolific ludio ludius in NHL hodie.

Ovechkin ordo primoris in NHL in cuspis, calx, cuspis per venatus, quod est tied pro primoris in venatus victor calx, quod “OvechKam” mos enable visum studio Totus-Star’s sulum permoveo, suus reactions quod totus of suus calx, sursum propinquus quod alio. Ovechkin nuper no history in Proficiscor 3 netting suus 50th calx of season in idem eadem idem venatus quibus is recorded a hat furta, iunctio tantum Wayne Gretzky in ut album.

Comcast SportsNet senex vitium praesieo quod imperator procurator Insurgo Schulte said, “Alex Ovechkin est hottest res in glacies hodie, quod ut domus of Caps, we’re commodo ut debut is innovation sic nostrum visum don’t requiro articulus of action.”

CSN+ broadcast mos utor a scindo screen sic visum es validus ut vigilo “OvechKam” quod ordinarius venatus broadcast simultaneously. Comcast SportsNet’s primary channel mos aer Caput- Flamma ago in altus certus per institutio plenus- venatus visum.

Is proprius CSN+ broadcast ero available ut mos in Comcast SportsNet visum area in Comcast, Patella Network, Antietam Cable, Cox, OpenBand Multimedia quod Directus. Statim subsequens venatus, Comcast Digital Cable subscribers can usus “OvechKam” in Comcast In Requiro. Visum can reprehendo ComcastSportsNet.com ut reperio channel numerus pro CSN+ in suum locus suggero.

Lavatio Caput Vocabulary Dictata

Mike Vogel asks Caput ludio ludius super suum ventus hockey terms, comprehendo gems amo Grocery Virga, Gitch, quod Schmelt. Adepto pauci chuckles quod perceptum nonnullus novus lacuna dum vestri’ procul is.

Ovechkin Fatur

Ovechkin quod Suus Umbra Photo liberalitas of Lavatio Caput Yesterday, Alexander Ovechkin participated in a concisus placitum dico per members of interventus. primary thema eram suus adeptio of 50- calx milestone, tamen alius proventus erant confero pariter. Illic erant plures questions ex Canadian interventus super Caps’ lascivio hunt quod si is eram admiratio ut exsisto in is vox iam.

Ut asked super suus reaction eduro nox noctis’ 6- calx primoris period, is respondeo in verus Ovie vultus, “ ego eram pulchellus offensus, universitas team eram pulchellus offensus; ut nox noctis panton peto net. EGO eram valde fervidus”

Ovechkin sermo super tenus 50- calx vestigium, quod inquit est valde ferreus efficio. Is servo totus of suus milestone pucks in a propono theca in parietis in suus domus.

Quis super Boudreau- quis has is perfectus diversus? “is teneo guys valde puteus quoniam is cogo in Ipsa quod lots of guys ludio ludius in Ipsa quod is teneo quam utor nonnullus ludio ludius. Nos can pello pepulli pulsum sulum si nos volo. Nos pello pepulli pulsum Ottawa in quattuor venatus. Nos can lascivio puteus obviam quislibet”

Is quoque oratio suus repens ustulo sitis: “ego iustus tendo obduco, tendo ratio. EGO sermo ut Bruce, meus prosapia, aiunt non ut fatigo super is. A iugo of venatus EGO eram nervous, tamen secundum Tampa venatus ut nos won, ego dico myself, lascivio quam vos can, operor quis vos can, succurro team operor quis vos can operor. Clausus offa si vos cant’ ustulo calx; suus’ non totus super calx”

Ut quaero super socius paganus Interfixus Bure, Ovechkin respondeo, “ ego saw video, is eram unus of maioribus Russian ludio ludius in history. EGO singulariter memor moment in Olympic venatus ut is ustulo 5 calx. Is eram valde. Everybody has suus own penicullus”

Est Ovechkin strenue fugo 60- calx vestigium? Non necesse; is has alius priorities: “ego ustulo calx, nos lucror, Peius’ exsisto gauisus. Suus’ totus super victor. Ut vos ustulo lots of calx, suus’ bonus, tamen tantum bonus si teams’ victor. Populus narro, ‘ vestri’ ego, vos iustus volo ut ustulo calx, vos dont’ volo ut win.’ EGO dont’ volo aspicio selfish.”

Ovechkins’ ratio super surculus: “ego ero gauisus si EGO ustulo centum%. EGO ustulo 52 calx quod Im’ gauisus. Si vos dont’ surculus, vos nunquam ustulo calx. Si EGO have a chance ut surculus, EGO sum usquequaque surculus. Si meus socius est in a melior positus, EGO tribuo puck ut him.”

Est Ovechkin exstasis ut Caps es in lascivio natio nationis? “Im’ non admiratio, nos have a bonus team, nos suscipio invicem quod nos teneo nostrum calx. Nos iustus have ut pitch in quod operor quis nos have ut do.”

Caps fans ero vigilo team ut they operor quis they have efficio, quod fervently spes ut they vado usque.

Servo an Oculus in Ovechkin

Comcast SportsNet PlusMemor ut nos told vos super FSN Occasus’ broadcast of Rex rgis Ducks venatus quod suum Rinkside Visum? Comcast SportsNet MidAtlantic ero effectus quispiam unique per idem eadem idem versus ut FSN Occasus.

In Wednesday, Proficiscor 12, ut Scelus Flamma saluto Caps, Comcast SportsNet mos ostendo ordinarius broadcast in suum Northmanni exitus. fun Angli ero super procul Comcast SportsNet Plus qua they mos ostendo Ovech-Kam pro universus of venatus. Illi quisnam dont’ teneo quis Ovech-Kam est, suus’ simplex a TV venit focused solely in AO. Certus is est non quispiam youd’ volo ut vigilo sulum venatus, tamen is fere planto mihi volo ut redono meus tickets illo venatus ualeo sit domi ut flip commeo inter duos broadcasts. TiVo ero opus deprehendo in ut nox noctis.

Magis Madison Exsequor Goodness pro Domus of Puckey

Ted in WaPo Ago

Lavatio Stipes AgoTed Leonsis ero inLavatio Stipes Ago in Comcast SportsNet hodie procul 5pm. They es hoping ut devoveo an universus segment per him per per vestri emails. Obduco totus questions per utwpl@comcastsportsnet.com.

Lavatio Stipes Ago can exsisto seen sulum weekday ago procul 5pm quod restituo plurimus nox noctis procul 11pm in Comcast SportsNet quod simulcast inWashingtonPost.com.

Update: Ted: “nos have ut lucror duos of tunc three venatus” . . . but “ nos could planto playoffs vacuus victor divortium”. . . Sit sollicitus super reverto fides in Boston is Imbuo . . . in medium-November “ intentio wasnt’ opus — nostrum ludio ludius erant ingeniosus, quod they erant opus ferreus, tamen intentio wasnt’ working ”. . . In Olie: “nos totus diligo Olie — tamen hes’ 37 annus vetus” . . . “populus underestimate quam validus interventus market of Lavatio, D.C., est”. . . “Weve’ had gregatim of [ super] 17,000 umquam utpote nos subcribo Alex” . . . “Alex est a quondam- in-a- saeculorum ludio ludius”. . . Tarik in Ovies’ Hart chances: “An intentor capitagium of meus socius journalists  Alex–[] est ventus” . . . Prosperitas is season erus termino ut “ condita playoffs.  ”

Developing a “ iuguolo Instinct”?

Oriens Vas A JoeIam vos animadverto ut Caps cautus suum 70th cuspis permaneo night, equaling suum numerus pro permaneo duos seasons, per etiam 15 venatus super. redivivus est vero super.  

Is oriens Caps’ communications baculus sent sicco suus usitas oriens- secundum notitia quod fabula links, quod in is video ut teams’ permaneo three wins have been perficio comfortably (20-5 est calx procerus in preteritus quattuor venatus): “non sudo sicco sulum lucror has been a nice luxuria pro team ut is fugo suus primoris lascivio berth utpote 2003, quod could exsisto a subcribo ut is has developed a iuguolo instinct,” email innotesco.

Egolaudo vitualis of NHL Network ut EGO primoris congressus is in meus cable ratio permaneo autumn. Illic est illic iam a slate of novus promotional commercials sulum frenum ut endearing ut ones nosostendo sum in permaneo mensis. Usquam, valde tardus Monday nox noctis and early in Tuesday, per sic pauci league venatus scheduled last night, the network was a balineum of schadenfreude pro Caput’ fans ut calx secundum Caput calx eram restituo and richly ingens upon by networks’ bulla personalities. EGO lost a bonus frenum of somnus sic schadenfreuding, quod EGO eram left per infigo ut super tunc 10 annus nos in D.C. could animadverto a universus sors magis of talis nox noctis in ut exitus.  

EGO prodigo praeter 15 minutes sermo ut Res Crustulum secundum game Monday nox noctis — sulum alius interventus eram thesaurus inter Ovechkin, understandably. Is est a guy cuius’ prodigo universus of suus non- sic- brevis NHL tutela in a valde victor NHL norma. Hes’ been hic in D.C. about 90 hora. Is was Monday nox noctis– in haud incertus terms — effusio in suus laus pro talentum campester quod terrigenus quality of NHL ludio ludius nuper amplexus him.

EGO wont put’ lacuna in suus os, tamen is totus tamen forecasted magis beatdowns, is season, of Monday nights’ varietas. Is was Cooke quisnam told mihi, “Had Toskala non been sic bonus ( imbuo), is could have been 6-0 in prothoplastus tunc” Is quoque told mihi is: “illic’ non one part of [Boudreau’s] system here that was in Vancouver. Not one.” I’m telling you, I’ve talked to a lot of NHLers the past two years, and I’ve never heard a guy with this credibility so dispassionately stake so stark a forecast. He’s still somewhat a Capitals’ outsider, but he’s been inside long enough to see what he’s surrounded by. And it impresses him mightily.  

If Alexander Ovechkin earns a Hart Trophy this year, we’ll be able to point to some ungodly and perhaps vote-swaying performances by him against some of the league’s flagship franchises: versus Montreal on January 31, which featured the Ovechkin hat trick, and Monday night’s 5-point performance against another Original Six squad, on national television. The Caps travel to Chicago on March 19, where there’s a serious revival taking place, and where there’s an excellent chance of another set of 21,000-plus sets of eyes on him. The Hawks have had like six crowds of over 21,000 in their rink this season. The larger the challenge, the larger Ovechkin seems to perform, and sharing a sheet of ice that night with the revitalized Hawks and their young guns Kane and Toews ought to get his Russian Machine oil pumping.  

I’m now of the opinion that when hockey greatness transpires at Verizon Center the two newspapers in town — all other things sports news otherwise being normal — will splash the news in impressive technicolor photojournalism, as we see this morning. That’s a marvelous media maturation directed at what was, say just three months ago, the afterthought sport in town.

And we know who’s leading the Revolution.    

Another Honor for Ovechkin

For the third time this season, Ovechkin was named NHL.com’s 1st Star for last night’s virtuoso performance against Boston. He now ranks fourth in the 3 Stars standings, behind three goalies- Leclaire, Garon, and Luongo- proving, once again, that “it’s good to be Ovie.”

NHL's 3 Starts-nhl.com

CAPtiv8ting

The post title come from a fan’s sign at tonight’s game. It was so perfect, we had to “borrow” it.

Fastest to 50 in 10 Seasons: AO 50, 51, 52 Caps 10 Bs 2

2 Point Toast

Bs Fans at the Phone Booth Tonight

cloverfield.jpgDo not seem to be enjoying themselves.

Update from a press box stats flack: the Bruins actually allowed seven goals in a period on March 7, 1945.

Seconds after the Brashear beatdown of Shawn Thornton, the Verizon Center center ice scoreboard ran a high-def clip of an aged Bob Barker punching-bagging a Bs-sweatered Adam Sandler in ‘Happy Gilmore.’

Ovechkin’s four points on the evening thus far give him 89 on the season, moving him ahead of Evgeni Malkin’s 88.

I was all prepared to post that the Capitals’ seven goals had occurred on 21 shots, then they potted their eighth on their 25th. That Tim Thomas bad karma against D.C., it’s not so evident anymore.

I grabbed a second intermission hot dog and rode the elevator back up with Caps’ goaltending coach Dave Prior. He looked at me and said, “Got a tip for you — Olie is starting the third period.” Cristobal Huet apparently is hurt. “He’s experiencing some discomfort,” is how Prior put it to me.

The Caps’ Press Guide lists 12 goals scored against Quebec on February 6, 1990, as the most by the team in a game, and the lone instance of it, but actually they also scored 12 against Florida (one of Jagr’s few brilliant evenings in a Caps’ sweater) in a 12-2 mauling of the Cats on January 11, 2003.

Kolzig earned a secondary assist on Ovie’s fourth goal of the game; that’s a novel way to get into the lineup — by scoring.

There are some fortunate Bs’ fans in attendance who had the foresight (?) to wear either their Red Sox or Celtics’ garb tonight, rather than anything black and gold. From the press box you can hear some of them seated in the upper deck alluding to the city’s better achievers this evening.

Getting louder: the home crowd’s “T-H-O-M-A-S . . . T-H-O-M-A-S” chant. Soon thereafter, Claude Julien makes his third goalie change of the evening, returning Alex Auld to the carnage, and the home crowd begins a “We wants Thomas!” cry.

“We want 10!” came the next chant. At 18:15 of the third, on the power play, Matt Bradley delivers. A 10-2 crushing by the Caps.

Trending: the Caps have won three of their past four, and outscored their opponents 20-5 in those games. Continue reading ›

One Last Week to Skate Among Sculptures

The Skater (Portrait of William Grant) by Gilbert Stuart, 1782Washington D.C. is getting a sneak preview of Spring, with temperatures in the upper 60s today and perhaps breaking 70 tomorrow. Walking about sans wool coat today, the time of outdoor skating feels as though it’s passed us by . . . but you may have one more chance in D.C. to strap on blades and carve the ice under an open sky.

Budget Travel magazine compiled its Top 10 public ice skating rinks in the United States; the District made their list with the downtown National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Ice Skating Rink.

The outdoor rink at 7th & Constitution Ave. NW, flanked by an impressive and diverse array of sculptures, first opened to the public in 1974 and remains a terrific destination in the nation’s capital for skaters of all ages.

This week is the rink’s last hurrah for the season—their final day of operation until next winter is March 9, 2008. It’s a bit soon to put much stock in weekend weather forecasts, but early predictions are that temperatures will creep lower to the mid-40s. If the hockey and weather gods cooperate, this could be your final chance for outdoor skating in D.C.

For more details, check out the rink’s information page here. And if we hockey fans are fortunate enough to get one more cold snap this weekend, visit the National Mall and hit the ice!

Sculpture Garden Ice-Skating Rink Hours
Through March 9
Monday–Thursday, 10:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m.
Sunday, 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.

Son of Slap Shot

Son of a Hanson brother winning an award for sportsmanship? It’s true:

Two Steps Forward, One-and-a-Half Back

Morning Cup-A-JoeThis one really hurt. The great gains made Friday in Newark were swiftly returned against a lesser foe Saturday at home. It seems incongruent that so stellar a team effort to open a weekend could be followed by so collosal a mess of stinky individualism 24 hours later. But that’s exactly what happened, and more importantly, it’s what happens when George McPhee’s core collection of 20 to 24-year-olds, many of whom are playing their first meaningful games in March in their NHL careers, are pitted against an equally desperate, more veteran club. 

Frustrating as it is, it’s actually supposed to be this way. Call it, growing pains.

I shared a post-game elevator ride with Saturday night’s CBC broadcast team, silently listening to the commentators dissect the downside of so much “skilled youth” skating in high-pressure, high stakes, unchartered territory. The broadcasters were deeply appreciative of the young Caps’ abilities — and deeply convinced of their struggle down the stretch. Not certain doom, mind you, just certain struggle. Verizon Center throngs of 17- and 18,000 strong nightly will attempt to will the Young Guns into first place in the Southeast from outside the plexiglass. But the community of the fervid and faithful will be powerless to effect any shortcuts through the inexperience out on the ice. The cold hard reality is that over the next five weeks, much of them under the bright CBC lights, there will be moments of great glory juxtaposed by evenings of ugly infamy.

Just as there should be.

Bruce Boudreau wanted Friday night’s 60 minutes against the Devils “bottled” and replicated against the Leafs. A year from now, the wager here is, he’ll get it. Now, though, he can’t. Likely, he knows this, as does his general manger. That all three of Tuesday’s trade dealine acquisitions were north of 28 in age is almost certainly no coincidence. Now, though, they must be introduced and acclimated to their stranger teammates. Some nights (Friday) they’ll appear to have been partnered together for two or three seasons, on others (Saturday), like speed dating acquaintances.

How many times Saturday night did a lone Cap attempt to puck-carry past three or four perfectly positioned Leafs? (About 25.) This is precisely what the young and the inexperienced and super-skilled do under duress. It isn’t out of selfishness — the opposite, actually. The supremely skilled but novice desperately want to hero-lead their teammates through the tough times.

“We tried to beat four guys,” Sergei Fedorov said afterward. “You need to use everyone.”

“We need to get used to each other,” he added.

The good news is that there’s resiliency and composure among this band of very young brothers. I expected to see a bunch of beaten and downcast Caps in the room afterward. The really young were quiet, but there were no tantrums, no moaning and groaning, no ‘woe is us’ from a single one. Meanwhile, vets like Fedorov and Kolzig were stoic and calmly, thoughtfully analytic. Ugly as it was, Saturday was merely one night’s failing with more than 15 games remaining. A week’s slate with high-quality opponents produced four of a possible six points. 

The team’s coach, however, was appropriately angry.

“We got outworked in a game we couldn’t get outworked in,” he said. “Today we were all individuals . . . We got what we asked for.”

A reporter, noting the brilliance of the night’s first power play, had the four thereafter characterized for him by Gabby before he could finish his question — they “looked horrible,” the coach interjected. Insidious individualism — again cropping up out of good intentions — had infected the man-up units as well.

More rough returns from hard lessons still be learned: the failed finishings from cross-ice and back door setups — a Saturday night of seemingly a dozen whiffs: ”We’ve gotta be so hungry to score that we bear down and bury them through the back of the net,” the coach reflected.        

Sunday will offer no instruction, no meeting room shouting from the head coach. “A mental health day,” Gabby announced it.

The effects of stress are felt at every age.

Letter to the Heartland

Kevin Kaminski, Head Coach, Youngstown Steelhounds
229 East Front St.
Youngstown, OH 44503

March 1, 2008

Re. Victory Friday

Coach

I see you lived up to your end of the bargain and knocked off the Wichita Thunder Friday night, 4-3. So I thought you’d appreciate hearing about two more terrific victories on the night.

Here in D.C., we had a spectacular, spectacular night. I guess the first thing I’d have you know is that when at our fundraiser for Wilson High School at Clyde’s downtown we announced that there were only 5 minutes remaining for bidding on our auction, a mass of people surrounded the table showcasing the items you mailed me. We asked folks to bid in increments of $10, but they ignored that, and started writing in bids in $20 and $25 increments. No exaggeration Coach — we had a genuine bidding frenzy take place over those amazing photos you contributed. What would you say if I told you that just a single one of your autographed photos fetched $100? Another one fetched $95. Still another one helped raise Wilson High $75. Your signed photos and other gifts helped raise hundreds of dollars for our cause, Coach.

Coach — we had 97 people pony up $10 or more just to enter the party room to watch the Caps and Devils, drink a few beers, and bid on some awesome hockey items. That means that before the auctioning even started we raised over a $1,000 for the team.

And get this: just on Friday, people who couldn’t attend the gathering at Clyde’s but wanted to help donated more than $500 in contributions on line. And more money will come in over the weekend.

You might say Alexander Ovechkin’s signed hockey stick was popular with the benefit attendees. Ready for this? — it fetched $600! We won’t know for a couple of more days what the final tally in raised dollars will be, just that it will be significant, and that the Wilson High hockey community was overwhelmed by the turnout and support. I’ve been a witness to and involved in some special moments associated with our great game, Coach, but nothing quite like last night.

At one point the Wilson team captain — I’m guessing he was about 17 years old — took a hand-held microphone and stood before a hundred people in the room and told us, “What you’re doing for us tonight is going to benefit the team years after I leave the program.”

And by the way, the 100 of us gathered at Clyde’s Friday night, with beers in hand, we watched the Caps kick the snot out of Marty Brodeur and the Devils, 4-0! Four times during the game we all broke out in a chant of “C-A-P-S CAPSCAPSCAPS!!!” It was raucous.

It was a perfect night, Coach.

Coach, we raised thousands of dollars for Washington’s only public high school hockey team. And you played a big part in it.

I need to ask two more favors of you. First, promise me that you’ll share this letter with Mrs. Kaminski and your daughters, so they know your role in helping save an important part of youth hockey in Washington, D.C., where you’re remembered and missed greatly. Secondly, just as you asked me for my size for a gift a few months ago, I need yours now, cause there’s a token of appreciation I need to get out your way.

I’m guessing your wear a large — the size of your heart. But confirm it for me.

–John