The injury bug — infestation, really — that’s afflicting the Capitals’ blueline this spring is unlike anything I can ever recall a team’s unit enduring. Midway through Saturday night’s game, right as Tyler Sloan exited the ice for a trainer’s inspection, the team had just as many blueliners dressed (five) as it did on examining tables. The good news is that both Mike Green and Tom Poti appear to be near ready to report for duty, finally fit. Both could play pivotal roles for the team this postseason. But the loss of Wideman can’t be overstated.

Since being acquired from Florida at the trade deadline, Wideman established himself as Bruce Boudreau’s most reliable rearguard. His core stats — a goal and six assists, while skating a +7 in 14 games — only tell a portion of his versatility and utility. More telling: an average of more than 24 minutes of ice time a night. He was used in all situations by Boudreau, and he exhibited inordinate poise with the puck, precision with his passing, and most especially deft defensive instincts. In his own end Wideman was virtually flawless, and everywhere else on the ice he was effective. He was acquired as a bit of insurance policy for an injured Mike Green; he surely paid out a hefty claim.

His addition, coupled with Scott Hannan’s arrival last fall, John Carlson’s precocious emergence, and Karl Alzner’s rapid maturation, wholly re-oriented the stature of the Capitals’ blueline. With Mike Green’s likely return, it wasn’t difficult to imagine the Caps boasting every bit as formidable a blueline as Philly this spring. Which is to say: one of the best in the entire league.

Which makes the loss of Wideman double discouraging. You’ve perhaps noticed that in just the couple of games without Wideman things haven’t looked nearly as tidy in the Capitals’ end. Should the Caps advance to an Eastern conference finals showdown with the Flyers and lose in a lengthy series, without Wideman, we’ll necessarily wonder what if. He had been that dramatic an addition.

It’s telling that we’re able to talk about this injury in the detail we can: NHL hockey clubs, and the Capitals foremost among them, are notoriously tight-lipped about injuries generally but especially at this time of year. But the severity of Wideman’s injury is such that it cannot be silenced into submission. Last week, Wideman updated his teammates in vivid detail about his condition, apparently providing visuals with his handheld. Wideman has a hematoma somewhere on his leg — and where it’s located matters greatly. We’re pretty sure he’s been hospitalized ever since he was hit by Carolina’s Tuomu Ruutu last Tuesday night.

In its simplest understanding, a hematoma is a hemorrhage of blood outside of the capillaries that carry it. It’s a bleeding within the soft tissue of a limb — in Wideman’s case, his leg. The injury has been discussed in little detail until yesterday, when, to their credit, Sky Kerstein and Ben Raby of 106.7 the Fan went on their weekly Sunday morning radio show, ‘The Morning Skate,’ and interviewed Dr. Henry Wicker, general surgeon at Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center, about hematomas. I’d caution against your listening to the segment — or reading much beyond here — if you’re at all squeamish about dramatic and discomforting medical conditions.

Wicker yesterday told the radio reporters that a hematoma is usually the result of a “bad crush injury” to the flesh. It’s usually the result of many injured blood vessels. In its least worrisome condition a hematoma is simply a bad bruise; at the other end of the medical spectrum, it can lead to an actual loss of limb. On 106.7 yesterday, the discussion, gleaning what’s been discussed by Capitals’ players last week and the fact that Wideman apparently is still hospitalized, suggested that the defenseman is sure to be sidelined weeks, and that there is the very real possibility that his season is over. Some hematomas require surgery, which of course is invasive of already damaged flesh. Wicker told Kerstein and Raby that if Wideman required surgery he’d almost certainly be lost for the balance of the season, in light of the stress that’s placed on legs in skating.

I wanted a second opinion, so last night I rang a high school classmate who performed far better in math and science than I did, and today holds an MD. Here’s what Doc Mario told me: most typically, a hematoma is akin to a charley horse — quite painful, and quite colorful. A deep thigh bruise, for instance. The big problem can come if the injury is located near a joint. It sure looked like Ruutu’s hit came awfully close to Wideman’s knee. The good news: most often, my classmate doc said, hematomas heal themselves, absent invasive procedures. Ice initially, heat pads thereafter. But no medical professional can offer any assurances absent an examination and access to medical records, and the extent of Wideman’s hematoma (“football sized” was the characterization of some of Wideman’s teammates, apparently) led my doc to wonder about Wideman’s predisposition to bleeding and or previous injuries in his leg.

This injury is jarring not only because is deprives the Capitals of their best rearguard but because the causal hit itself was so seemingly innocuous. Ruutu’s hit was clean, and to the naked eye of the non-devastating variety. Wideman was just oddly angled at its impact. The more you learn about hematomas the more you wonder why they don’t occur with more frequency in our sport. Mercifully they don’t.

So we’ll cross our fingers and hope that my Doc Mario is more accurate than Doc Wicker. For the time being — and it’s probably safe to assume at this point that Wideman will miss at least some of round one — the Capitals will need a healthy Mike Green making a positive impact. What we don’t want to have happen is for a promising season to be shortchanged by a devastating and freak injury to a key cog. It was deep in the 1985-86 campaign that Bengt Gustaffson crossed over the New York Islanders’ blueline with the puck only to be halted by the extended knee of Denis Potvin. (March 28, 1986. I was seated in row six at the blueline near the play when it happened. Still remember it all too tragically well.) Gus broke his leg. An exceptionally promising Capitals’ campaign — delivering the team’s first-ever 50-win season — came to screeching halt.

He haunts us still from his grave.

I can say this because when I asked the Capitals about the conspicuous absence of some of the team’s indisputably best games, I was told that video for many of them just wasn’t in their possession. And take note: The Chicago Blackhawks released their ‘Best of’ DVD collection last Tuesday just as the Caps did, and their collection has Stanley Cup finals footage from 1961 in it, as well as other cornerstone moments from the franchise’s history, such as saying farewell to Chicago Stadium.

That got me wondering: in a perfect Capitals’ DVD collection, should some manner of ode to the Big Pringle, the Capital Centre, be included? I think so. It was after all home to hockey in the Washington region from 1974 to 1997.

It certainly wasn’t the case that in working with the NHL on this project the Capitals didn’t want to include more vintage video. They simply couldn’t. It helps to have in place an ownership and management structure that cares about legacy and history.

Should the Capitals — again, under the previous regime — have allotted baseline resources to chronicling the team’s first quarter century of existence? I think so. Most grizzled veteran local hockey fans would probably agree with me. It would be interesting I think to survey what volume of video today exists for all basketball seasons within Washington Sports. But alas, this abject neglect of the hockey past, which one Capitals’ official described to me this week as “tragic” and “atrocious,” is what it is.

And here is what it is:

• 10: Ovi’s hat trick in game 2 against Pittsburgh last May, one matched by Sidney in  a losing effort;

• 9: Game 7 versus the Rags last April;

• 8: Game 1 versus the Flyers in 2008;

• 7: Caps winning the Southeast and qualifying for the postseason in the last game of the season against Florida, April 5, 2008;

• 6: Ovi scores 4 goals against the Habs while enduring a broken nose, January 31, 2008;

• 5: Bruce Boudreau’s first game behind the Caps’ bench, Novemver 23, 2007;

• 4: Ovi’s first Caps’ game, against Columbus, October 5, 2005;

• 3: Juneau catapults the Caps to their first-ever Stanley Cup finals, June 4, 1998;

• 2: Game 1 of the 1996 Eastern Conference quarterfinals when the Caps overcame a 4-1 deficit to beat Mario, Jaromir, and the Pens 6-4;

• 1: Huntsy vanquishes the Flyers in overtime of game 7!

No doubt, this compilation gets no. 1 of all time right, and by virtue of its inclusion, it’s probably a value buy at $50. Put it this way: in the dog days of this summer, when I’m seriously missing hockey, you think I won’t devote one July Saturday night to a six-pack and that game?

But Bruce Boudreau’s first game? And the Caps’ game 7 win over the Rangers last spring was an incredibly dull and discouraging affair through 54 minutes. It’s got one mega moment. A serious sigh of relief moment. But again, the Caps had their hands seriously tied in this endeavor.

Any ‘Best of’ list for a sports franchise in its fifth decade of existence must establish some baseline criteria by which to select 10 standout games. Without one, the list could veer wildly and indiscriminately from games featuring primarily great slugfests to symbolic affairs such as a first game in a new arena.

So about a week ago Ed Frankovic, Caps’ blogger for Baltimore WNST, and I decided to devise our own list of the 10 Greatest Caps’ Games of All Time. Ed was the perfect partner for this endeavor. For one thing, like me, he’s rarely mistaken for a youthful blogger in the Caps’ press box, and with experience comes fluency with the past. More importantly, he and his family have a rich association with the organization:  Ed’s father, also named Ed, covered the Caps for WMLD and then the Prince George’s Post-Sentinel upon its inception in 1974-75, dragging his son, who was just 9 years old in that first season, to numerous games and getting him hooked on hockey. From 1984-1988 the younger Ed began covering the Caps and other area teams, for the Prince George’s Post-Sentinel. In 1987, he earned an opportunity to work for the team on game nights doing statistics for the GM and coaches. That opportunity turned into a 10-year stint as a Washington Capitals statistician, from 1987 through 1997.

During his time as a Capitals statistician Frankovic worked for GM David Poile and each of the team’s various head coaches (Brian Murray, Terry Murray, and Jim Schoenfeld). In the summer of 2007, Frankovic was asked to write a blog on his newly founded website for WNST. He has turned that primarily into a hockey blog with a focus on the Washington Capitals.

Ed and I decided to try and identify 10 games that (1) carried inordinate significance for the franchise, and have aged as such, and (2) could offer compelling rationale for favored status among most fans. The Capitals’ Mike Vogel correctly pointed out to us that there are some wildly entertaining Caps’ games in which gloves and sticks were more often tossed about the ice than carried by players in play. But as a best game in franchise history? We didn’t think so. But a primary motivation for pursuing this endeavor is to invite readers’ compilations; we absolutely want to learn what games have meant the most to you over the years you have followed the Caps. We also feel strongly that no Capitals’ losses be included — who wants to watch that?

Ed and I agreed that a truly representative list of 10 best games would have to de-emphasize the Era of Ovechkin. No disrespect to the captain, but his reign, in the context of the overall life of the franchise, has been brief. We also strongly believed that the 1980s — the Era of Bryan Murray — needed greater representation. There were three 100-point Caps’ clubs then. Again, in our talks with the Capitals over the past week about this, they were in complete agreement with our thinking. Here then is the Best-Games list Ed and I came up with — and if you don’t check out the detail-rich reminiscing Ed has generated over at his blog in this endeavor, you’re missing out on a true Caps’ hockey historian’s gift to his readers:

• (10): The Edmonton Massacre. On February 5, 1984, the Capitals obliterated the Edmonton Oilers at Capital Centre by the score of 9-2. This was notable for a number of reasons. First and foremost, ’83-’84 was a pretty special Oilers club: they won their first Cup that season. And earlier in the season, the Caps had lost 11-3 in Edmonton. And back home a week later, the Caps lost 7-4 to Wayne & Co.  The Great One was sidelined with flu on Reckoning day, but the rest of the dynastic Oil was dressed — and pummeled. This was a major statement game for a franchise still struggling to gain recognition and respect.

• (9): Ovi’s four goals and a broken nose vs. the Habs, 1/31, 08. Here we’re in agreement with the Caps, just in a different ranking.

• (8): Game 3, April 12, 1986, Caps win 3-1 over the Islanders and sweep the best-of-five series. This was a landmark postseason triumph for the Caps over a Patrick division foe who’d tormented them over the first half of the decade, winning all three previous series. It was a triumph so special that Channel 20 remained live on air in the Capitals’ jubilant locker room for upwards of 45 minutes, recording the elation of player after player.

• (7): Gus goes for 5 against Philly — on just 5 shots! On January 8, 1984, Capitals’ center Bengt Gustafsson authored an individual scoring performance the likes of which had never been seen in a red sweater — and may not be seen ever again. He scored five goals in the Philadelphia Spectrum, on just five shots, leading a beautiful beatdown of the Orange and Black to the tune of 7-1.

• (6): Ovi’s debut, October 5, 2005. Here again we agree with the Caps in its inclusion, despite the fact that an opening night game can’t carry truly great importance. But symbolically this evening was monumentally important, and a soldout Verizon Center seemed to recognize it. Ovi’s two-goal, glass-smashing performance was prescient. A new and vastly improved era was dawning.

• (5): Druce on the Loose! On April 27, 1990, in game 5 of the Patrick division finals, John Druce scored his fourth game-winning goal of the early postseason, in overtime, catapulting the Capitals to their first-ever Eastern conference finals. After scoring just 8 goals during the regular season Druce exploded for 14 in the postseason, a clutch performance so singularly spectacular that it’s referenced still 20 years later. Druce’s exclusion from the official best of DVD collection is a high crime and felony against the Pollin family.

• (4): Flyers vanquished in first-ever postseason series win. On April 7, 1984, the Capitals defeated Philly in a series-ending laugher, 5-1, sweeping the best-of-five set in three games for their first ever playoff series triumph. Doing it in Philly was especially sweet. The game-winning goal came off the stick of Craig Laughlin.

• (3): Ovi matches Sid’s hat trick in Game 2, on May 4, 2009, but the good guys win. Here we are in agreement with the official DVD compliation, but we place a far greater weight to its importance.

• (2): Juneau sends the Caps past Buffalo and into the Stanley Cup finals. The DVD compilation is disappointing with this game in its meager offerings of the jubilation aftermath. I wanted to see Caps’ players and trainers and coaches hugging on the ice for minutes after Joe Juneau tapped in a loose puck past Dominik Hasek, just as ESPN originally showed. Anyway, I was in a Bethesda, Md., bar that night watching the game with a high school buddy, and the two of us kissed strangers well into the night. It might also have been nifty to include some footage of the remarkable reception the team received in the middle of the night upon its return to its Piney Orchard training facility. Local TV could have provided that.

• (1): Huntsy breaks Hexy’s heart in Game 7, April 16, 1988. The Marlboro moment for Capitals’ fans. Down three games to one in the series, and 3-0 in game 7, the Caps valiantly battle back, force OT, and then #32 ends it going 5-hole on he we so hated. So lovely.

So that’s our list. Come at us with your own. We really want to know what Caps’ games over the past 35 years you hold dearest in your hockey heart. And most especially, if you have video of these or other great Capitals’ games of the past, by all means get them shipped over to Kettler pronto. You have an ownership group there who loves hockey.

nateewell Who will be the first ice-level TV guy to jump out and help his home team? I got $ on Bob Errey.

dcsportschick What’s funnier, that the Caps are up 7-1 or that Crosby is resting his groin?

JohnMKeeley Department of Homeland Security needed in Philly: #Caps going Al Qaeda on Flyers

cmasisak22 Oh my god — a referee just got hit in the face with the puck and this place erupted in cheers. Pathetic.

brettleonhardt Always Sunny in Philadelphia? Not Dec. 5th 2009

kaaaali I bet my neighbors wonder what is going on in my apartment when I’m clapping and screaming “Yesssss!” or ”Noooo!” during a #Caps game. #NHL

JapersRink Semin’s biggest defenders like to martyr themselves and think everyone’s out to get their guy. It’s simply not true and not that simplistic.

jwaltonhockey Bears win 5-4, Chris Bourque number one star of the game with two goals and an assist. http://bit.ly/8y8uYN

VogsCaps Anyone remember a rash of “Gordie Howe must change” or “Mark Messier must change stories back in the day? Yeah, me neither. Grab a tissue.

dcsportsbog GMGM on Ovechkin: “I’m glad he’s not pulling back. He’ll learn to pick his spots a little bit…but I’m glad he’s defiant.”

brettleonhardt Shout out to @akeesee820 for being my 80th follower. If @akeesee820 can tell why 80 is so important you got two tickets to an upcoming game.

nateewell Don’t look now, but @GreenLife52 has 25% more points than any other Canadian d-man

timleone Caps just announced they reclaimed Chris Bourque and assigned him to Hershey.

DanaWalker_chat Will Joe B. & Locker FINALLY discuss food and/or their moms tonight? I think so… #caps

dchesnokov Bengt-Åke Gustafsson is considering coaching a KHL club if he doesn’t carry on coaching Team Sweden. A few KHL clubs show interest.

bmcnally14 Matt Bradley in 81 games last year: 5 goals. Matt Bradley in 28 games this year: 5 goals.

cmasisak22 Crosby: “You can’t judge guys on one hit. Some guys see suspensions as something they learn from. Other guys brush it off and do it again.”

dchesnokov A rare sighting. Too rare. RT @SlavaKM I just saw M.Nylander practice alone at Rockville rink wearing full NYR gear and Jagr jersey.

nateewell All lies. This interview is making him look even more deceitful, dishonest, biased and wrong.

nateewell I think I might have lost a Dick Dillman vote today.

HockeyWashington, alighted in vigil, needing good news about a Russian knee

Also, don’t forget to follow us: @OnFrozenBlog

{democracy:25}

Dec., 1979:“There is much dirty stuff,” said Washington rookie Bengt Gustafsson. “I guess they think if they hit me one time, I won’t come back the next time. “You have to accept it. That’s the way they play here.”
“Take a look at Gussy’s forearms and shoulders and you’ll see where he’s been hit constantly by sticks,” [Washington Coach] Green said. “That’s how too many Canadian players have geared themselves, because of the embarrassment the Swedes have caused them. They can’t catch them, so they lay the lumber on them.”

Jan., 1984: After Bengt Gustafsson scored five goals Sunday night in the Washington Capitals’ 7-1 rout of the Flyers in Philadelphia, he submitted to a television interview, returned to the locker room and tossed his jersey to clubhouse attendant Bob Garner for the laundry pile.
“Do you think we should wash it?” Garner asked.
“I don’t know,” Gustafsson replied….

Dec. 1988: Once on a radio call-in show [Gustafsson] was asked about the mauling Swedes take in the NHL and described it matter-of-factly with a four-letter word that shocked some listeners.
Shortly after Gustafsson arrived here, he shocked the Capitals’ coach, Danny Belisle, by stickhandling through the entire Toronto team to put a shot on goal. Belisle advised Gustafsson that if he persisted in showing up rival players, they no doubt would chop him down in retaliation.
Still, it is hard for Gustafsson, with his powerful arms, remarkable reflexes and strong skating, not to make opponents look silly. In practice, he is so adept at playing keepaway that teammates frequently fall in frustration. He often does it in games, too, and sometimes finds a stick headed his way in response.
“Gus can fake out three guys while he’s standing still,” [Dave] Christian has said of his favorite linemate. “

Check out the rest from the Post archives at Dan’s D.C. Sports Bog.

Coach Bengt-Ake Gustafsson was hailed as a hockey genius in 2006 when he took his team to both the Olympic and the World Championship gold. Last season, Tre Kronor finished fourth, and this season, the wins have been far and apart. To be exact, Sweden won only three of its 12 games in the Euro Hockey Tour, and was pounded by Team USA in a pre-WC exhibition game.
That’s why it’s a nervous Team Sweden that’s entering the tournament even if Gustafsson knows how to build a team, and how to make it gel during the first stage of the tournament. However, having 25 NHLers say “nej, tack”, or “no, thanks” to the national team stings.

Who would have thought that Team Sweden enters the tournament with 11 forwards from the Swedish Elite Leage on its roster? The five best Swedish scorers in the NHL – Zetterberg, Alfredsson, Sundin, Sedin, Sedin – were all unavailable. Number Six, Nicklas Backstrom, is centering Team Sweden’s first line.

Visit the IIHF web site to read the rest of Pakarinen’s article, “Tough time for Gustafsson”.