Boudreau Staying For Now With Caps Bench

((HT: CSNWashington.com))

On a few levels, especially after a shocking four-game sweep by the Tampa Bay Lightning, a lot of folks thought that Caps coach Bruce Boudreau would be out of a job...

What's the quote...???

You can't replace 21 players, but you can replace one coach...
Something like that...

But, even as owner Ted Leonsis admits that "...the wheels fell off. That's for sure..." it looks like the only moves are player-based...

Here's GM George McPhee discussing Boudreau's fate, for now...


Jason Arnott, Matt Bradley, Scott Hannan, Marco Sturm, Boyd Gordon and Brooks Laich are the key unrestricted free agents for the Caps in the off-season to figure out what they're exactly doing with them...

The salary number is US$16.7-milion for all of them combined...
Arnott would have to come back at a discount, and Sturm would be the only one that won't be back...

McPhee admitted that they'd be in the free agent market...
And they're all watching from the golf course...

Washington Capitals struck by Lightning...and swept

Lightning Celebrate/Courtesy: Chris Urso/TBO.com

Well, that didn't take long. The Tampa Bay Lightning completed the sweep last night in the NHL Stanley Cup Semi-finals.

Who did they sweep? None other than the alleged top-seeded Washington Capitals.

Two goals for Sean Bergenheim and 33 stops for goalie Dwayne Roloson and all of a sudden the Lightning, your #5 seed is heading to the Conference finals.

Your game story from TBO.com RIGHT HERE

As for the Caps, it's the 4th year in a row they've left the chase for Lord Stanley's cup early. The D.C locals are completely perplexed and wonder if a rebuild is in the offing.

Your story from the Washington Post RIGHT HERE

For the game highlights, we give you a selection of goals from our friends at NHL.com:

Sunday NHL Recap: Surprising 2-0 Leads...

((HT: NHL/Versus/NBC))

In the western conference, the Sharks got output from Ian White and Niclas Wallin- of all people- to get a 2-0 series lead with a 2-1 win...


But it was the big guns that gave Tampa their 2-0 series lead in a 3-2 overtime win over the Washington Capitals. Vinny Lecavalier scored twice, including the game-winner, and Martin St. Louis netted the other...

Your Nightly NHL UPDATE: Double-Double

((HT: NHL/Versus/ROOT Sports))

Two games in the NHL took a while to close off last night...
The Tampa-Pittsburgh and the New York-Washington games both went double overtime- the first for this post-season...

Here are your game-winners... both quite fluky bouncy...


And one of the cooler moments of the evening was in the Rangers-Caps game as the crowd at MSG tried to make a point to Caps head coach Bruce Boudreau...
((HT: NHL/Versus))


Gotta love Panger's response there...
And he's right...

In other games, the Ducks evened the series with Nashville and Detroit eliminated Phoenix in four straight. Now all we need to know is the future...

Which would need to be settled by late June...

NHL Recap: Hawks On The Edge, Carrie Underwood Cheers, And All The Others

((HT: NHL.com/TSN/NBC/FSPredators))

Vancouver puts the Blackhawks on the edge of elimination, Teemu Selanne scores twice in 30 seconds but Nashville wins anyway over Anaheim, Brandon Dubinsky makes the Rangers winners over Washington, but more importantly Carrie Underwood's husband got the game-winner from Sergei K...

Here's every goal from Sunday in a minute and a half...

NHL Playoffs: Night 1- Pens, Wings, and Caps

((HT: NHL/Versus/CSNWashington))

Alexander Semin kept the Caps-Rangers game from heading into a second overtime...
Good enough for a 1-0 series lead...


CSNWashington's Alan May had a good outburst in studio...


After a slow start, the Red Wings took care of the soon-to-be-moving Phoenix Coyotes 4-2. Johan Franzen was his normally-active self...


Marc-Andre Fleury was in equally good form for the Pens game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Brooks Orpik had a multiple-point game as the Pens got the shutout...


Highlights from Vancouver and Anaheim when they become available...

Ozzy Osbourne likes his Caps....and he's lucid

((ht:csnwashington))

We couldn't really let this one pass by. Mostly because we are oddly fascinated with Ozzy Osbourne and have been for years.

Ozzie apparently has a thing for the Washington Capitals. He's a strong enough fan it seems, that he was willing to do some promos. Or they paid him really well.

Either way, here's Ozzy, screaming for the Caps and CSN Washington, who broadcasts their games. And yes, you can actually understand at least most of what Ozzy is trying to say.

Your Nightly Ovech-Trick

((HT: CSNWashington/NHL))

Further proof that the Caps star of stars can be flat-out ridiculous consistently...
Here's your game winner against the Islanders in overtime...

2011 NHL Trade Deadline Winners And Losers

Winners:

Washington Capitals adding Dennis Wideman and Jason Arnott

Los Angeles Kings by grabbing Dustin Penner
Evidence: NHLVideo/TSN


The sellers: Edmonton, Toronto, and Ottawa stocked the shelves with enough draft picks to deal on Draft Day in June, or just use the draft picks for what they're supposedly good for... actual draft picks...

Here's Brian Burke, tie loosely affixed, on his day...
((HT: NHLVideo/TSN))


Here's John Giannone for the NHL their ownselves standing in front of socks...
((HT: NHLVideo))


Losers:

Atlanta- Because Rick Dudley's only allowed to tinker, that's what he got to do picking up Radek Dvorak and Robbie Schrempf while getting rid of Niclas Bergfors, Patrick Rissmiller, and Freddie Modin. He got to rearrange the deck chairs by adding more rental talent. The HQ thinks he's just getting warmed up and is just as equally confused as the Thrash flounder going 5-12-6 in their last 23...

Minnesota for standing pat, Montreal for standing pat, and Columbus for confusing us.

The HQ just wishes there was more to talk about, but it all happened early this year for some silly reason...

Mike Green Picked Off By Puck In Caps Win

((HT: NHL on NBC/youtube))

The Washington Capitals Mike Green got hit on the side of the head by a slapshot by Brooks Orpik in the first period of the Caps 3-0 win over the Penguins Sunday.

It wasn't pretty...

NBC is all over it in slo-mo...


No word on the extent of the injury and how long, if at all, Green will be out of action...

Max Talbot Calls Out Ovechkin; Something To Do With Vinegar And Water...

((HT: 105.9 FM The X/WXDX Pittsburgh))

At Heinz Field yesterday, the Pittsburgh Penguins were celebrating the fact that they were having a Winter Classic against the Washington Capitals.

You had your standard photo ops with Sidney Crosby and Max Talbot trying to launch pucks between the uprights... all that fun stuff...

And we even had Talbot refer to Ovechkin as a "real douche."
Gotta love those FM Dee-Jays...

Hear the interview here, thanks again to the X...

This dates back to the playoffs from last year when the Capitals' Alex Semin claimed that Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby was "nothing special" and said that the Chicago Blackhawks' Patrick Kane was a much more interesting player.

For the sake of your calendars, the first match-up between the two is on December 23rd in Washington followed by the Winter Classic a week later...

Here's Game 7 of this year's playoff series for your reminder...
((HT: NHL/Versus/rvwv89))


And here's the NHL Network's Brian Duff catching up with Crosby about the Winter Classic... presumably after he tried to wrist one past the crossbar...
((HT: NHL))

NHL Round One: The Day After

Two extremes to cover here...

Here's Lindy Ruff being renewed for one more season in Buffalo...
((HT: WGRZ-TV))


The Buffalo Sabres have picked up the one-year option on head coach Lindy Ruff's contract, which means he will be back for a 13th season.

Sabres minority owner Larry Quinn announced the move Thursday, three days after Buffalo was eliminated by Boston in Game 6 of their first-round eastern conference series.

With a 483-389-122 record, Ruff is the Sabres' winningest coach. He's 17th on the NHL's career list after moving ahead of former mentor, the late Roger Neilson.

Ruff was asked directly what kept him coming back.

"I want to win a Stanley Cup in Buffalo... simple as that."

Good luck in the east there, Lindy...

And here's the hell that the Washington Caps caught hell from everyone
Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin start...
((HT: CSNWashington))


Then, it's Caps owner Ted Leonsis addressing the situation...
((HT: CSNWashington))


Let's hope his players listen... Leonsis is right on a lot of levels...
1-for-33 on the power play will force you to listen to yourself...

BREAKING NEWS: Habs Knock Off Top-Seeded Capitals

((HT: NHL on TSN/Fel0096))

Jaroslav Halak's out-of-his-mind goaltending shined again, and the Montreal Canadiens completed an unlikely comeback to eliminate the NHL's best regular-season team in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Halak made 41 saves, and eighth-seeded Montreal held on to beat Washington 2-1 in Game 7, stunning the Presidents' Trophy winners by knocking off three straight wins.

The Canadiens are the ninth Nunber 8 seeded team to knock off a Number 1 in 32 matchups since the NHL went to this playoff format back in 1994 - and the first to come back from a 3-1 series deficit.

Bully for the parties in the St. Catharine's District Wednesday night...

Here's the Mike Green penalty that led to the Marc-Andre Bergeron goal and a 1-0 lead late in the first period...
Gord Miller and Pierre McGuire are in the booth...


Next up for Halak and the Habs are the Pittsburgh Penguins...

Eric Belanger's Self-Dentistry

((HT: Deadspin))

The HQ was on its way out the door last night for a little Friday Frivolity when we saw the first part of this following piece of video tape...

The Washington Caps' Eric Belanger got a stick in the mush. We initially thought it was a helmet shot that shook his noodle for a few minutes...

The aftereffects of the shot to the face is below...
It's the playoffs. You do what you have to to get back out there...

((HT: NHL on TSN))

Colby Armstrong Gets 2 Games For Head Shot

Technically, it looks more like a forearm shiver... or an "attempted one," anyway...

As the NHL tries to cut down on the head shot, the Atlanta Thrashers Colby Armstrong looks like one of the poster children for the efforts of the League.

Last night in Washington, Armstrong led with his forearm leaning into the Caps' Mathieu Perrault. Perrault saw it coming, and the blow kinda glanced off his grill, but the Thrashers are down a man for the next two games.

From the League its own self...

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Armstrong will forfeit $24,870.47. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Armstrong was assessed no penalty for the hit, which occurred 12:40 into the second period. Perreault was injured on the play but returned later in the game.

Armstrong will miss Saturday’s game at Pittsburgh and Tuesday’s home game vs. New Jersey. He will be eligible to return April 9 at Washington.

Here's the hit, thanks to CSNDC...

Ted Leonsis now owns all of Washington! Sports that is...

Ted Leonsis is now, well if not the, one of the most powerful people in Washington D.C. Not only is he the owner of the Washington Capitals Hockey team...he's now reached an agreement with the estate of the late Abe Pollin, to purchase the Washington Wizards and the Verizon Center as well.

The deal is valued somewhere around $550 million though it won't actually cost Leonsis that much since he was already a part owner of the arena.

More from the Washington Post...RIGHT HERE

((Leonsis with his meal ticket//Courtesy: Mitchell Layton/Getty Images))

This should be an interesting...and a good deal for Leonsis. Though the Wizards are not particularly good, the Capitals are one of the NHL's best teams. The big prize is the arena. Though there is still money owed on it, the facility gets tons of use.

Apparently the Capitals were not getting money from the Luxury and Club suites...which would help pay some of the bills too.

Barring any major setbacks, the 23 of the 30 NBA owners need to approve the deal. Apparently, so does the U.S Justice Department...hmmmm.

In the meantime...Check out this kids dunk contest at the Verizon Center during a Wizards game. Thanks You Tube:

Ovechkin Gets 2 Games For Campbell Hit

The NHL suspended Alexander Ovechkin for two games for his hit on Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell on Sunday afternoon.

Here's the hit, for those of you who want to see it again...
((HT: NHL on NBC))


Ovie was given a five-minute major boarding penalty and a game misconduct in the first period for knocking Campbell into the boards. Campbell remained on the ice for several minutes before being helped to the dressing room by trainers.

CSNChicago's Brett Ballantini reports Campbell will miss the remainder of the regular season

"I respect everybody," Ovechkin said after Sunday's game. "We respect everybody here in the locker room and outside, but over there [on the ice], we play for our team, and we make some hard hits, and sometimes, you get hurt. That's a hockey game."

Here's Ovie's reaction at the time of the hot on Campbell- along with that of Caps head coach Bruce Boudreau
((HT: CSNWashington))


Ovechkin, who was suspended for two games on November 30th, now is considered a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Accordingly, he forfeits $232,645.40 in salary, based on the number of games in the season (82), rather than the number of days (193).

Ovechkin will miss Washington's next two games -- March 16 at Florida and March 18 at Carolina. He will be eligible to return March 20 at Tampa Bay.

Ovechkin gets rejection and then a game ejection...

It was the only alliteration that I could think of...that being the title. There was an interesting "incident" that took place in today's Washington/Chicago hockey game. It seems the Captials star player, one Alexander Ovechkin started the game, but he didn't get to finish it. The reason...a check in the 1st period that helped push Chicago's Brian Campbell into the boards. The hit was hard enough that Campbell had to be helped off of the ice...and Mr. Ovechkin...was asked to leave.

The story from the Washington Post...is RIGHT HERE

Unfortunately, most analysts who saw the play say that it wasn't a malicious play and wasn't something that warranted Ovechkin getting tossed. Ovechkin, who has a bit of a reputation for rough play has already had some misconduct issues this season and according to league rules will have to sit out for Washington's next game.

Take a look for yourself. Here is the video from the You Tube:

Ovie Breaks TV Equipment With Breakaway Goal

((HT: NHL on NBC))

Or, at least, takes out the protective casing and knocks the wireless microphone out of its hole. In the first of his three goals against the Pittsburgh Penguins Sunday, Alexander Ovechkin hit the protective casing of NBC's goal cam with such force that...

Well, how about we just let Doc, Mike, and Pierre tell you...


Destroying inanimate objects...
Well done, Pierre...

Ovechkin Scores Hat Trick As Caps Come Back

((HT: NHL on NBC))

In what is, probably, the pre-Olympic version of the Game of the Year, the Washington Capitals stormed back from a 4-1 deficit to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins in overtime 5-4 in Washington Sunday afternoon.

Sidney Crosby made an early statement scoring two goals and staking a 2-0 lead for the visitors who had to fly from Montreal to Newark and, then, bus to DC. They arrived in the nation's capital at 2:15 in the morning for the noon-time puck drop.

They were forced to eat at a Burger King drive-thru on the drive down at midnight, and were happy that the place was open despite the weather.

Sam Kasan with the Penguins gives the blow-by-blow of the trip down Saturday...

4:43 PM: The Penguins’ game in Montreal ends
5:52 PM: The Penguins arrive at Montreal Airport
6:47 PM: The Penguins get through customs and board the plane
7:30 PM: The Penguins’ plane takes off for Newark, New Jersey
8:52 PM: The Penguins land in Newark
9:24 PM: The Penguins bus departs from Newark for Washington
11:45 PM: The Penguins hit a rest stop for food in Maryland, 81 miles from DC
2:15 AM: The Penguins arrive at the team hotel

This game was "Must See TV" and drew comparisons of Bird vs. Magic as to where the NHL is with their rivalries at this point in time.