In Glacialis Blog

Sicco procul Kettler Caput is preteritus July per Rookie Castra, Tim Leone of Pium Novus pressed theca pro Nicklas Backstrom prodigo suus primoris annus questus consuefacio in North America sub Bruce Boudreau. Wednesdays’ Lavatio Stipes Effor profiled Backstrom quod suus niteo sub Boudreau — 10 cuspis in 10 venatus. Volvit sicco, Tim eram vox.

EGO sententia is eram maximus futurus procul Quin Center pro totus illae weeks’ venatus gratia lucrum a videlicet portrait of quis a Bruce Boudreau Caps’ team vultus amo, suum having been proprie induco ut unus alius pro praeter dimidium a mensis. EGO volo video vidi visum lemma ago in factum quod audio lemma sermo postea. Iam Im’ of fides ut Im’ testis a notabilis turnaround in quis eram coepi a atrox season, pariter ut Boudreau condita an indelible infigo obviam transitioning ex penitus ut unqualified Caput capitis Cogo of Lavatio Caput.

Etiam, ut sententia, ut aura, eram palpable in Quin Center tardus permaneo nox noctis. Is eram illic quoniam Caps have pulsatus una three rectus wins super species inimicus; ustulo 14 calx in processus; perfectus sic vacuus suum caput, unus of venatus’ premiere playmaking centers, quod unus of venatus’ optimus defensabiliter porro; quod scriptor comebacks in duos of three laurifer.

Hic est a lemma velociter captus habitum per Bruce Boudreau Caps: secundus — quod tertiary — ustulo. Joe Motzko flirting per a hat furta? Secundum venatus Boudreau said totus vox quod excolo res super Motzko having “ bonus manuum” quod affero ut a Sto Vas victor permaneo season, tamen in terminus, hes’ a iter itineris porro. Tamen lascivio pro Boudreau, in Boudreaus’ ratio, motivated per Bruce Boudreau, Joe Motzko can vulnero vos. Tonight, is vulnero Rangers. Ut did Datum Procax. Quod si vos take a vultus tergum procul Bruce Boudreaus’ Ipsa Gero, quod Bruce Boudreaus’ Manchester Monarchia, vos moris’ reperio rosters plenus per caput capitis- gravis ustulo. Im’ non smart satis ualeo dico vos quare, basically, tantum Alexander Ovechkin could ustulo sub Glen Hanlon is season quod quare, three weeks laxus,everybody est ustulo sub Bruce Boudreau. Tamen suus’ venio.

Quinque calx obviam Henrik Lunqvist! Quod Steckel ledo a pipio shorthanded, quod Ovechkin requiro in a breakaway. Magis musings:

• Mike Viridis: reputo Sergei Gonchar tamen per inordinate defensabiliter potestas. In cogo’ stipes- venatus presser, Tarik El Vercundus asked Bruce Boudreau, “ iustus quam bonus est is kid gonna exsisto?” Mihi, cogo’ statim oris said panton: is got prolixus-eyed, is smiled late, is vultus amo a parvulus aspicio substructio of a Sarcalogos nemus refertus plenus of wrapped bonus in Sarcalogos oriens.
• Snow held sursum quis would have been Caps’ secundus calx of prothoplastus period. Is eram excruciatingly iuxta videlicet pretermissio Henrik Lunqvists’ calx versus. Per penuriosus Quin Center glacies of a week abhinc, haud snow could have exaggeratus in crepito, quod venatus would have been knotted procul 2 procul primoris intermission. Quam could EGO dico? Pensilis super nos sursum in press arca archa, per near, are a dimidium dozen sizable altus-def TVs.
• Datum Brashears’ succurro in prothoplastus period eram secundus nomine tenus tantum. Is threw a magnificabiliter reprehendo ut lucror puck per terminus tabula, tunc patella a decorus, ferreus quod campester centering obduco in socors ut Revolvo Laich, cuius ferreus offa eram swatted domus per Motzko.
• Suus’ difficilis ut overstate quantus magis dynamic Bruce Boudreau vox lascivio vultus foedus ut suus decessor. Haud res quis iunctum of quinque est sicco illic, they scriptum themselves per libramen quod vultus of cohesion. Is, quoque, EGO sum animadverto: multus magis “Ooooohs” accompanying multus magis near procerus ex domus turba per vir commodum.
• Procax-Orr tardus- tripudio: vigilo is no mihi reputo ut inimicus of bellator have an uphill pugna insofar ut oro obviam suus entertainment pendo. Orr unleashed a flurry of rabies mane in, potissimum quod didnt’ terra, tunc Procax went bombs absentis in blowback.
• Caps’ primoris pupillus poena res secundum prope 33 minutes of lascivio vicis. Magis castrensis captus habitum.
• Mike Viridis’ fiducia quod virtuosity torrens puck partum lanes pro Joe Motzkos’ secundus calx. Is could have caput capitis- ratio puck ut aut of suus pennae in lascivio, tamen instead vado sursum per patefacio center of glacies, tergum sursum duos Blueshirt tutor. Is vicissim patefacio lanes altus in Rangers’ terminus, intus quod Viridis deftly QBd’ quod Motzko showcased suus “ mollis manuum”
• Paul Capulus Jeff Schultz has got nonnullus serius cuspis offa MoJo iens in. Erigo vestri manus manus si vos sententia hed’ propinquo Sarcalogos per magis calx quam Jordan Staal.
• snowballing presencia of victor: Olie Kolzig orator secundum venatus super illic res nonnullus “ fragilis moments” in tertius period of Monday nox noctis’ angustus 3-2 triumphus super Diabolus. Tamen is said Caps pomum fiducia lucrum ex ut usus obviam Rangers Wednesday nox noctis, ut is skated a angustus tertius period emineo fiducialiter. Boudreau added ut in scamnum is could dico guys erant’ impleo per obses mereo unus cuspis, vel secundum cado secundum 2-0. Is est a diversus hockey team, folks, pessime vulnero ut is est.
• Is mini victor virga has fornicatus Olie Kolzigs’ tutela record tergum supremus .500: 286-285-63-18. Have is sensus suus’ gonna subsisto ut via.
• Mane in tertius period permaneo nox noctis Brendan Shanahan traho sursum shy of plastering a vulnerable Alexander Ovechkin in recedentia angulus tabula ut AO had suus tergum verto ludo puck. EGO had duos reactions. Unus, Crur knew is eram AO. Duos, is est subtilis typus of veneratiosulum ludio ludius ought exhibeosulum alius ludio ludius huic league in talis locus. Adepto vox ut Sean Mediocris quod Philadelphia Flyers.
• Alexander Ovechkin eram siccus quod postulo in respondeo ut press questions super significance of permaneo nox noctis’ victoria. Tamen ut alluding ut teams’ fans, quos is accersitus “ valde” is added, “ nos postulo suscipio” torqueo of hockey is team est lascivio iam quod nixus is est putting continuo dignitas plures fannies res in sto Friday nox noctis.

Quendam maritus subsisto per Kettler hodie ut reprehendo nonnullus of Caps’ meditor. Cepit video of Datum Procax lascivio instructor ( quod universe res leviculus) ut nonnullus of suus socius teammates. Statua si totus of Caps coepi pugno amo Procax- Flyers would have nusquam in lemma. (pro additional video ex hodie’ meditor, reprehendo siccois link.)

Hic es pauci pictures exTuesdays’ foras meditor procul Chevy Fugo Stipes.
(magis pictures secundum effrego)

(persevero)

Datum Procax has refero.

Tonight, ESPN Plaga mos populus primoris in a serius of quattuor QA& sessions per Caput ludio ludius. Fans ero validus sciscitor Datum questions ex 6 ut 7pm secuutus per an chirographum session. Vos mos quoque have vicis respondeo levis questions ut lucror tickets ut an upcoming venatus.

Ceteri QA& sessions es currently scheduled pro January 10th, January 30th, quod February 11th. Hospes pro illa sessions ero renuntio laxus.

ESPN Plaga est locus procul 555 12 St. NW.

Aliquanto trux quod turpis cado tempestas progenitus super Lavatio tardus Monday vesper. A propositio donatus atrum clouds tenax ut HockeyWashington illa dies.  

• Is would have been securus — genu-jerkish, vel — ut absorb a 3-0 primoris-period atrum puteus moenia quod pervenio per “ alius campester nixus ex Caps,” vel “Olie attonitus is up,” tamen ut’ fere quis venio. Caps flatus 18 offa procul Cam Pupillus pupilla in oris sto, quod a reasonable numerus of lemma erant of species varietas. Puteus Ovechkins’ erant usquam. Ut venatus worn in, Caps had offa ex totus Angli quod proximity, quod nullus venit iuxta optimus Pupillus pupilla. Is eram Cam Pupillus pupilla of ‘05-’06 postseason: positionally firmus procul sulum verto, Frigus Glove Manus manus Luke.
• 5-0 vere could quod should have been 8-0 had non utriusque Caput’ calx no OMFG subsisto in angustus.
• Sic quis did venio? Baculus’ porro lubricus quod diced suum via per a cement- in- suum-skates vultus blueline somes of Caps in period unus. Sepius, is wasnt’ instances of Caps’ tutor questus caught sursum glacies ex positus; Lavatio tutor sepius erant perficio positus pro Baculus’ porro tantum ut exsisto juked quod telum inter in leviculus fashion. Kolzig was hung sicco impetro suus calx- obviam battered. Iterum.
• Turbo have a somes of porro ut pro super three annus iam has ordo inter optimus contraho paro of obduco forwards in totus of hockey, quod is eram in vivid propono in tonights’ oris period. They pulvis’ blindingly velox, they operor non lascivio a bruising game of dump quod dig down mugio; instead, they dididi puck splendidus, in totus areas of glacies, titulus unus alius in convenienter praeclarus ustulo chance socors. Suus’ vere quinymo splendidus ut vigilo.
• Comcast broadcast Monday nox noctis illustrated pondera minutes Carolinas’ blueline nox noctis perficio. Is quoque highlights absentis of a verus haud. 1 blueliner illic ( is mortuus pro Los Angelus permaneo season una of pessimus professio in NHL history). Interesting ut Carolina quoque penuria talis a shutdown bulla annus they won Vas. Is team est orsa ut vultus an awful sors amo ut one. The addition of Tom Venenum certainly oratio Caps’ modicus obscoena firepower in blueline, tamen is did non oratio absentis of a legio haud. 1 guy. Carolina calx tonight erant totus ustulo in angustus — Caps’ maioribus area of vulnerability in suus end. I reputo ‘ baculus probo ut a team can lucror multus of venatus — quod vel a Vas — vacuus a Pronger- amo bulla in tergus terminus, sive suus’ blueline tutaminis per medium- amplitudo trado, vos postulo savvy vets gero is off amoveo secundum amoveo. Baculus have illud in pala. Caps es trying ut develop lemma.   
• Alter period iuguolo of Baculus’ tertius vox lascivio of venatus eram plurrimi infigo Ive’ seen from Caps’ PKers is season. Verum, in ingenero melior ustulo chances quam plures of teams’ vir- sursum chances is season.  
• Datum Brashears’ tutor have suum opus incidere sicco pro lemma is season. Is ludio ludius angustus tamen accountable minutes pro Caps permaneo season. Non is one. Last Friday nox noctis cepit a needless quod bardus poena mane in tertius period ut ultimately led ut Flyers’ victor goal. Monday night, with suus team fortiter captus lascivio ut Carolina in primoris dimidium of period duos, he earned a puteus- mereo mereor tabernus pro caput capitis-ramming, quod major domus poena quod resulting Hurricanes’ calx nisus ullus parum super nuto ut ut venatus’ eventus. Sepius in NHL hockey distinctus inter victor quod losing cardo in the slightest of erroris procul crucial vicis, quod Caps illa dies cant’ afford mental erroris Procax has ordine no is season.  

Monday vindico a concisus frenum of bonus novus: Caps inked 2007 secundus- rotundus pick Josh Godfrey. Is of Sault Ste. Caltha Greyhounds of Ontario Hockey League quod a 99 mph plaga. Forsit est, is moris’ exsisto addo is ex cuspis in nostrum rutilus, niveus, quod puteulanus perfusus is season.  

Ilya Kovalchuk dormio est super ( in undisonus formo). Tonights’ venatus in Atlanta isnt’ televised. Sanus amo misericordia vobis? 

Lavatio Caput Datum Procax est dropping gloves… quoniam suus’ ferreus ut typus dum taedium hockey gloves. Lego magis super suus upcoming blog procul DC Lusum Palus.

Foedero Aer Palus es unus via ut subsequens obses … Datum Procax looming super passengers est per alius. Quod certus operornon dico him Shirley.

Sarcalogos Expedio, Datum Procax, Vepres Pothier, Mike Viridis, quod Nicklas Backstrom “ mos succurro team’s persona airline, Southwest Airlines, per decens Southwest utor pro meridianus in Tuesday, Oct. 16, procul Baltimore/ Lavatio International Thurgood Palus Airport” ex 230: PM ut 500: PM.

Per Caput’ press solvo, hockey ludio ludius ero institutio glacies pro tarmac: sarcina bags, succurro passengers tabula fuga, quod vel succurro rector plagiarius in runway (!!). Slapshot mos quoque exsisto procul BWI, dispensatio peanuts quod lascivio venatus per viator. Pro quondam, fuga profero may non exsisto ut dolens ut usitas.

Quis did Lavatio Caput proficio per suum preseason is September? A bonus frenum, EGO reputo. Primoris quod primoris, they artificiosus plurrimi maximus negotium: they parco serius malum — weve’ haud testimonium ut Alexander Semins’ ankle sprain est serius. Alter plurimus significant factum, in meus sententia, eram seeing a sanus numerus of vegetus visio tractare procul a altus campester quod puteus integrate per recidivus Caps’ core. Tomas Fleischmann, is videor, has won primoris versus vox pennae officium. Abyssus’ exsisto centered, utique coepi, per Viktor Kozlov. Sic duos- tertius of Washingtons’ caput capitis versus est novus is season. Is vultus magis lascivio dignus quam aut of suus praevius incarnations preteritus duos seasons.

Narro of vultus lascivio dignus, Caps effrego castra iactantia unus of plurrimi intriguing secundus versus in totus of hockey — vindicatum Alexander Semins’ ankle est mereo a dies- ut- dies ailment. Nicklas Backstroms’ libramen quod uber ex suus valde primoris pre se ferre venatus in validus EGO reputo vel procuratio’ rosiest forecast. Requiro him ut amplio mensis per mensis ut suus vegetus season progressio, quod pro him ut exsisto lodged in everybodys’ brevis album of Calder candidates adveho ver. Amo Caps’ caput capitis versus, alter, centered per Michael Nylander, est 66 sentio novus is autumn.

Versus three mos have a novus vultus pariter. Boyd Gordon mos center is, quod Res Pettinger mos latuseris him in left. Tamen alius Ipsa Gero, Dave Steckel, no verus loud sonitus ( singulariter in visio orbis) is palaestra castra. Is may optimus duco vir in universus norma, is lascivio a smart venatus, quod is consortio maxime puteus per Gordon. (Caps’ fans can tantum spes Gordon quod Steckel replicate in Lavatio suum duos- via opus ex Hersheys’ postseason run ut Calder glorior 2006.) Caput Sarcalogos Expedio videor futurus aliquantulus of utilitas infielder pro prothoplastus three versus — hes’ amo video vidi visum officium in totus three is season. Interdum is should skate in Gordons’ vox, procul alius — forsitan ut per is week, ut a teammate sursum caput capitis est vulnero — abyssus’ skate in caput capitis 6.

Ut Caps’ quartus versus, iustus 30 hora pro oris nox noctis rosters must exsisto summitto ut league, may etiam have quinque bodies vying pro assignment: Datum Procax, Res Bradley, Vepres Sutherby, Revolvo Laich, quod Ben Clymer. In repens seasons Caps’ roster has had vultus quod sentio of nimium muck quod grit quoque altus sursum frons. Is autumn, multus of is has been pulsus pessum, quod a logjam has emerged. Suus’ been utique quinquennis utpote Caps could probabilis vindicatum three versus idoneus of exhibitio cuspis per ullus reliability. Theyll’ polleo ut in 2007-08.

Illic’ aliquanto minor turnover quod templum in blueline: tantum Tom Venenum supervenio foris in caput capitis 6. Caps’ procuratio est vultus pro suus blueline somes ut subolesco quod blossom organically, quod is September, illic erant foveo subcribo of venalicium lenimentus e. Milan Jurcina reverto ut Lavatio brimming per bulging biceps; suus teammates lamnia lammina lamna pro him cognomen “Juice.” Is flebilis sicco dozens of frendo hits permaneo season secundum adventum ex Boston, quod 2007-08 could animadverto him talea a legitiums vindicatum ut an labefactum, caput capitis-2 physical vis.

Ut Caps sent Mike Viridis tergum ut Ipsa permaneo ver they instructed him ut vado obscoena. Is did. Ut burst of uber ex blueline persevero is preseason, ut pro ultum of is Viridis led Caps in ustulo. Is eram on nobody’s radar for power play point duty three weeks ago; now he may be part of the unit’s second pairing.

Last season Brian Pothier, out of necessity, was forced into roles and minutes he wasn’t accustomed and suited to. Look for him to flourish in a more stable — and within an overall more talented — defensive unit. But he is also capable of performing at a high level — anyone who saw him skate for Mike Sullivan and the United States at last spring’s World Championships would agree.

There were no questions about the Caps in net heading into camp. There are none departing it.

There is health. There is the league-wide sense that while the rest of the Southeast stood pat, the Caps upgraded. There is buzz. There is optimism. All is good. Now, it’s time to drop the puck.

10:55: The task of live blogging from a week two, mid-week morning camp scrimmage has fallen to these incapable hands. I’m reminded of the inscription inside the Habs’ dressing room — “From failing hands to you we pass the torch” (I think that’s right). Anyway, that’s my message to my bloggermates this morning — pick up the torch from me some time this afternoon.    

The salient news of the moment is that the league looks like it’s going to go back to the pre-lockout regular season schedule, though the exact permutation isn’t known. While that means longer road trips for the Caps in the years ahead, it will be nice for fans to see every team in the league, methinks. Consider the current dynamic of select clubs out West getting to see the likes of Ovechkin and Crosby once every three years at home. Or we in D.C. getting to see Jarome Iginla so seldom. Even better, it would seem to mean fewer Southeast Showdowns. 

Scrimmage is scheduled to commence around 11:30, incidentally.

I am also very interested in chatting a bit with Donald Brashear about this maybe-story of the new uniform system potentially proving injurious to its wearers (on the ice). The ‘Net is abuzz about the Cam Janssen injury last weekend (shoulder, his uniform system top tore, allegedly easily). I don’t know if I’ll be able to catch up with him this afternoon, but I’ll try. I tend to doubt the view that this is some manufactured, reactionary, knee-kerk conspiracy cooked up by the haters of the new look. I say that because had there been such a scheme, I’d have led it. 

Of course we need a heck of a lot more data and analysis beyond this incident to draw any firm conclusions, but if it proves true, can we agree that perhaps, just perhaps, the core aspects of hockey — such as what its players wear — ought to be left in the capable hands of hockey people, and not general sports corporations who are Johnny-come-latelys to our game?

11:20: We have Zamboni. Also, a spartan crowd. Washington professionals, save me, are hard at work today.

11:35: The ice is drying and what was a meager turnout is now close to passably healthy. Maybe 100 folks are in the stands.  

I’ll be updating.

11:43: We have scrimmage. Hanlon, at least at the outset, appears to be treating it as a controlled one. Yep, there are whistles and instruction from him. Your faceoff forward pairings:

Flash- Kozlov- Ovy (in blue)

Backstron- Nylander Semin (in white) 

11:48: We have the scrimmage’s first goal — Matt Bradley, a tap-in, on a bit of a seeing-his-linemate (of the moment), eyes-in-the-back-of-head dish from behind the net from Nicklas Backstrom. 1-0 White.

11:54: Another Blue line — CBourque Wilson Klepis. It’s from Hershey, obviously. The Sweetener Line?

The crowd continues to grow. Now that I think about it, the scrimmage’s start was close enough to folks’ lunch hour that we’re probably getting a healthy lunch-hour turnout. I saw Ted gazing down on the 10:30 practice for a while.  

High Noon: A line in White: Brashear- Clymer Steckel. I thought Tarik’s file on Clymer this morning heart-wrenching in a sense (for Ben personally) but also healthy in the sense of it as an indicator of the organization’s maturation from a roster of many muckers into more one of skill and speed in the Top 6 followed by two lines of two-way grit and guile. And some skill.  

Still 1-0 White, but there has been quality puck movement and some decent chances at both ends. No hitting to speak of, and this has been more or less true since the start of camp. Idle thought: is the chemistry within this organization so strong that the players like each too much too drop ‘em? That’s not a serious question. It’s still reasonably early in camp.   

12:10: Here are some D pairings for you: Erskine Eminger and Schultz Pothier in White; Jurcina Poti in Blue.

I am aware of my privilege in being here and how some of our readers, enconsed in their offices, appreciate the modest slivers of report I’m able to offer, but I’m not sure I’ll be repeating this gig. I am, by virtue of this exercise, acutely aware of Mike Vogel’s long-standing opposition to writing during game action. It’s not just that I’m apt to miss a slick pass or the development of a play from its defensive zone breakout; I am an alien to the overall flow. Still, I’m aware again of all of you poor schleps slaving away for the Man. This will really piss you off: I may chat for like 15 minutes with some of the guys at the scrimmage’s conclusion and then make my way down to Bailey’s for a sinfully early happy hour. 

12:17: Another D pairing: Pokulok Green, in Blue. Foreshadowing of a top 4 unit for Coach Boudreau up in Chocolatetown this autumn?   

A couple of camera crews are in between the players’ benches monitoring the action. I do not know for whom they’re recording.

1-0 still. The play has been crisp, and Hanlon, after initially appearing to be holding the reins in on the guys, has actually allowed a free-slowing scrimmage to take place. There are no refs, so he blows the whistle when he wants lines changed or some situational formation established. But by and large, they guys are just going at it.

12:25: WE HAVE A FIGHT! Clymer and Morrisonn! It’s mostly just a slow dance and a tangle of arms, no damage done, but something set them off (Tarik’s file this morning, in Ben’s case?)

12:30: It’s shootout practice time. Hanlon is pitching pucks out at center ice and guys are taking turns going in on Cassivi and Neuvirth. Kozlov’s backhand tucked behind Freddie was slick.

Good news: a decent number of goals were scored. Or does that say something discouraging about our netminding?

Update (1:30): I was able to get in the room and chat with Brashear about the Janssen-new sweaters intrigue, and basically, right now, he’s not concerned about it. Sweaters that perhaps tear more easily, he pointed out, can actually be beneficial to the valorus members of hockey teams who seek fairness of play and respectful treatment of their teammates out on the ice. Their arms would be liberated sooner, you see. But he also noted that whatever the new enforcement dynamic that’s now in place — and there may well be none — “It’s the same for everybody,” he told me.

So for now at least we can focus on the fact that outside the Caps and only a handful of other teams in both the NHL and AHL, the new look is generally a demonstrable aesthetic downgrade.  

As Training Camp slowly (so slowly) approaches, we decided to take a quick look at some of the new faces, returnees, hopefuls and last-chancers that will be vying for a spot in the Caps’ forward corps. Battles at many slots are expected, and this may be one of the most competitive camp in Caps’ history.

First, we’ll examine the forwards, a group that received an infusion of talent down the middle and added a veteran scoring winger:

Nicklas Backstrom – The youngster is seemingly a lock for the big squad. A slick-passing center with hockey sense and puck-control, the most impressive thing about his game at this point may be his attention to the other end of the ice. His awareness and positioning without the puck, coupled with his creativity and vision should be a boon to either of the Caps’ elite left wingers. Foot speed is a concern, and while he won’t arrive in North America to the same fanfare that Alex Ovechkin did, the “Next Great Swede” will have all the eyes of his country upon him.

(Continued)

Herewith, our attempt to devise a depth chart for the Caps to coincide with the recent completion of the team’s annual Rookie Development Camp. It’s important to note that with it we are not forecasting specific line combos but rather attempting to slot players by position according to their professional production and most recent performances in evaluative settings. It’s also important to note that a number of forwards in the Caps’ system play more than one position up front. The Russian elites and Matt Pettinger appear locks on the left side for well into the next decade, whereas the right side seems to carry many more question marks.

We’ve envisioned this as a file hopefully sparking spirited reaction and respectful challenge. We welcome your proposed modifications.

And back to reality for the Caps, with a visit to the high-flying Buffalo Sabres bringing the Caps back down to Earth. The Caps were very game in the first, but Buffalo’s talent rose to the top in the second, putting the game away.

• Shaone Morrisonn had a good pinch later in the game, and played some solid defense, but the high-sticking double-minor he took in the first put the Caps in a spot.
• The Caps’ power play looked, well, confused. The passing wasn’t really up to snuff, and Alex Ovechkin continued his season-long trouble of holding onto the puck, causing trouble in trying to gain the offensive zone.
• Speaking of things we’d like to see on the power play, Brian Pothier’s bomb from near the blueline was impressive. I’m not sure why he’s hesitant to use it on the man-up (or Milan Jurcina, for that matter), but it couldn’t hurt, at this point.
• The only real highlight for Caps fans is Brashear’s clear win over Andrew Peters.
• Brooks Laich continues to be offensively assertive, though it’s not paying off. He’s taking the puck to the cage and showing some good stick-handling. At some point he needs to pot a few, but hes going in the right direction.
• Milan Jurcina against pasted a few opponents, but his hooking penalty couldn’t have come at a worse time — the Caps get on the board, they may have a bit of momentum, then *boom*, time to go a man-down.
• Boyd Gordon has to find a way to keep his stick throughout his penalty-killing shifts. Seems like he’s broken or lost his twig a lot recently.
• The team has settled down, overall, in front of Kolzig, but you’d really like to see him make the stop on the second Buffalo goal.
• Drew Stafford looked pretty darn good. His move on Eminger was a thing of beauty.

Buffalo continues it’s march to the post-season, and the Caps get Carolina tonight, and get a chance to wipe the bad taste out of their mouth by trying to play the role of spoiler. While I don’t expect the ice to be as tilted as it was for the Sabres contest, it’s still an up-hill task.

With an alternate work schedule today, I was able to attend my first Caps practice since training camp and first visit to Kettler Capitals Iceplex since the ribbon cutting press conference. I took a few notes and will present them in typical OFB Knee-Jerk style.

• I’d estimate the attendance at about 50-75 fans. A practice at high-noon can’t hurt and it makes me wish I worked closer to Ballston. It’s probably just as well because an “extended lunch” would probably become a bad habit.

• Attendance from the MSM included Lindsay Czarniak. Here’s hoping her non-game day visit means improved quantity and quality of Caps’ coverage on News4.

• Team mood seemed to be quite good. Amazing what winning — and winning big — can do.

• Through most of the practice, the top two stars of Sunday’s game were skating on the same line. Semin on the right wing and Fleishmann on the left. Beech centered them.

• Ovechkin was sporting a fish tank off his helmet, courtesy of Dan Boyle.

• With the hand injury, Pettinger was still practicing, albeit he was the lone man wearing red.

• At some point during drills, both Ovechkin and Semin each tried to complete a “Wheeler goal.”

• The last 5 minutes of the “official” practice icluded a shootout competition. Chris Clark’s team, clad in black, pitted against the Russians & Co., donning white. The cheers grew louder with each goal scored by the Men in Black. I soon found out the reason for the commotion. The losing team in white, upon their loss, took to the ice, laid down on their backs, and began a series of crunches. I didn’t notice if Brent Johnson had to endure the punishment of loss.

• An impromptu unofficial drill took place after practice with Brent Johnson in net surrounded by Brashear, Clark, Laich, Eminger and others as a shot was taken from the top of the circle. BJ would leave a rebound for one of the masses to pick up the sluff and try to score. I did not keep track.

• I was able to thank Lindsay for dramatic reduction of News4 sports replays that include slowed down action and cheesy sound effects. The SportsMachine style of replay, mercifully, seems to be headed to pasture with its trainer.

• When asked if WRC had named a replacement for the top sports anchor, Lindsay told me that she and Dan Hellie will split those duties. Congrats to both. With split responsibilities, all sports not owned by Dan Snyder should get increased coverage.

OFB attended the Capitals’ Meet the Team Party on Wednesday. Here’s a review, knee-jerk style:

• Sparse attendance, maybe half as many people as last year’s. The weather is partly to blame — people in DC react to snow flurries as if it were a nuclear winter (duck and cover!). But hosting the event late in the season for the first time was an odd choice by the team. Then consider the recent trades and the Caps’ precipitous drop in competitiveness, and I understand why some fans chose to stay home.
• Despite the low turnout, plenty of star-struck children still excitedly queued up to meet their favorite players. So in that regard the event was a definite success.
• The autograph lines were lengthy but not outrageous; in fact, the lines for free hot dogs & sodas seemed as long as most autograph lines. Olie Kolzig was personable as usual (which I’m sure slowed his line a bit, but no complaints) and seemed in good spirits.
• Matt Pettinger is wearing a clear cast/brace on his broken finger, which did not make autograph-signing much fun for him.
• Freddie Cassivi’s name is now above Olie’s usual locker, with the understanding that Olie will reclaim it when he returns to the roster. Olie skated this week for the first time since the MCL tear, albeit in sweatpants rather than goalie pads, so the team assigned him a temporary locker until he’s off the IR.
• At 8:15 PM, the lights dimmed and Joe Beninati took the stage. He gave a brief speech thanking the fans, then introduced each player in numerical order. When he jumped directly from #8 to #10, it felt like he forgot someone… the gap in number sequence mirrored the hole in the lineup left by Zubrus’ departure. This observation is not meant as an indictment of the trade, but rather as the gut reaction of a Caps’ fan grown accustomed to seeing #9 in a Capitals sweater.
• Ted Leonsis was not in attendance due to numerous prior commitments (see Ted’s blog for details). They did not screen the video he mentions on his blog — not sure why. [admin edit: check the comments for the explanation from Ted why the video was not shown. Many thanks to Ted for the update.]
• Anyone who towers over Kolzig is tall. Welcome to DC, Jeff Schultz.
• The final Cap to take the stage — #87, Donald Brashear — hammed it up, sashaying down the stage and doing a spin-turn at the edge of the stage to great applause.

  Terrific moment; perhaps a tip of the hat to the classic Slap Shot fashion show scene? That would be appropriate for the Capital closest to being a Hanson Brother.
  

• Chris Clark stepped up to give a brief speech. A few words in, he paused… “I have to remove my teeth, I’m not used to talking with them in yet.” So he popped his recently-installed false teeth into his hand and continued his speech. High comedy.

An enjoyable evening, though the energy level was admittedly lower than prior seasons’. The Capitals displayed a real stand-up quality by making the entirety of the organization accessibile during a rough time and on the heels of a dispiriting bit of roster upheaval.

Memo to the team: move the party to preseason (or October) next season — and sign a few key free agents to fill out the roster — and next year’s Meet the Caps party will be a hot ticket.

The Washington Capitals hosted the inaugural “Hockey ‘n Heels” event on Monday February 26, 2007. The event was intended to bring more female fans to the game by showcasing skills, rules and behind the scenes looks at the players. Over 250 women signed up and the event was a complete sell out.

When Gustaffson first encouraged me to attend, I was a little “iffy” on the whole thing. The idea of traipsing around the Verizon Center with a bunch of women for three hours did not sound like my idea of a good time. I had mental images of hundreds of women making mad dashes to the players that attended, similar to the scenes that you see on television for the big wedding gown sales. But Gustaffson is intent on making me a diehard hockey fan, so away I went.

I will be the first to admit that I had a great time and the event was very well planned. Everyone was split into smaller groups and rotated through the five different activities, so the chaos was kept to a minimum. There was a wide range of women there as well, from hockey moms to puck bunnies and everyone in between. Yes, there were plenty of ladies in attendance hoping to snag some quality time with the young, single players. However, there were just as many women asking thoughtful hockey related questions. Plus, we all got to shoot pucks on the ice with Jamie Heward, Shaone Morrisson and Coach Dean Evason. After initial reluctance to get out there (I did have on 2 inch heels) I can happily say I not only stayed on my feet, but also made contact with the puck and got it into the goal! So what if the goal was only ten feet away? (Continued)

With the Capitals’ youth movement well underway, the veterans that will anchor the team as its growing pains continue are critical. Olie Kolzig and Chris Clark have received well-deserved kudos from numerous sources, and Dainius Zubrus — an 11-year NHLer at only 28 years old — also provides a stabilizing element. Richard Zednik (when healthy) is also a welcome re-addition to the team.

But let us not forget the bruiser who protects the Capitals’ young talent: one Donald Brashear. The 35-year-old Brashear is thrilled to be a Capital. The team recently re-signed him to a one-year deal, so it seems the feeling is mutual.

Where’s the proof of his happiness as a Capital, you ask? Doubt not, lest ye be… er, doubted. Here are a few clips I filmed in the Caps’ locker room after the 6-2 victory over Philadelphia. First, the soft-spoken Indiana native calls this “the best year of his career”:

Here he discusses his role as an “older guy” on a young team, as well as joking how he can learn from Ovechkin about scoring goals (this was the night of Brashear’s first goal of the season, a fluky over-the-goalie’s-shoulder tally against Robert Esche):

Finally, he reveals that his attitude toward fighting has changed over the years. I think we can all agree that it’s not much fun to get hit in the head:

Here’s a player clearly invested in the team and having the time of his life. It’s encouraging to see the team recognize Brashear’s positive influence in the locker room and on the ice — and opposing players will continue to think twice about taking liberties with the Capitals’ youngsters as long as Brashear is looming behind them.

The Donald wishes Colton Orr a Happy New Year….

… and Brendan Shanahan … and Ward.