We have been watching Twitter and the comments about Evgeny Kuznetsov’s less than impressive showing in the playoffs so far. Should we be worried with what some are calling a lackluster play? Continue reading “Do We Really Need to Worry About Kuznetsov?”
Tag: Lars Eller
Centers locked in, Caps re-sign Dowd
The Washington Capitals have re-signed center Nic Dowd to a 3-year contract worth $750,000 AAV. He has had a career year with the Caps, posting 22 points (8g, 14a) in 64 games this regular season. With the length of the contact implied, it would seem General Manager Brian MacLellan has solidified his centers for each offensive line.
In front of Dowd are Lars Eller, Nicklas Backstrom, and Evgeny Kuznetsov down the middle. Current capable candidates at the position are Chandler Stephenson and Travis Boyd, who both played at the center position with the AHL Hershey Bears. If he has a game “fall-through”, I would look at these two in the playoffs and if their services are retained come next season.
Dowd has certainly lived up to the hype after the Caps let Jay Beagle walk after the 2017-2018 Stanley Cup win. He has been stellar with the wingers he has been accompanied by this season;Â Boyd, Stephenson, Devante Smith-Pelly, Andre Burakovsky, and Dmitrij Jaskin. Brian MacLellan has done a fantastic job from the office and has found a new 4th line center replacement. Centers are locked in for the next couple of years, so you can check that off the block of the “Caps-to-do-list.”
Capitals Triumph Over Senators in a BIG Way
The Capitals welcomed a revamped Ottawa Senators to their home ice. Even though the Caps were playing the team in the last rung of the ladder in the league, nothing was a sure thing. Continue reading “Capitals Triumph Over Senators in a BIG Way”
Caps End Homestand on High Note Before Falling in Columbus
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Washington Capitals wrapped up their season-long six game homestand and kicked off a long road trip this week. On Saturday, the Caps overcame a 3-1 and 4-2 deficit against the Florida Panthers. They rallied to force the tie but ultimately fell short in overtime 5-4. The Capitals rebounded in the final game of the homestand on Monday night with a 6-4 win over the Los Angeles Kings before kicking off a six-game road trip in Columbus where they were blanked by the Blue Jackets 3-0.
Continue reading “Caps End Homestand on High Note Before Falling in Columbus”
Bring Out the Bird! Evgeny Kuznetsov Delivers in Overtime, Caps Top Avs 4-3
This was a game full of de ja vus. In the end, an Alex Ovechkin feed to Evgeny Kuznetsov for the breakaway that was shades of Game 6 of the Caps second round series in Pittsburgh last year that would be the difference. Kuznetsov came through with the overtime goal as the Washington Capitals defeated the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 in overtime at Capital One Arena in D.C. In the midst of a season-long six game homestand following the all-star break and bye week, the Capitals have now won three of their last four games after a season-long seven game winless drought entering the break.
Continue reading “Bring Out the Bird! Evgeny Kuznetsov Delivers in Overtime, Caps Top Avs 4-3”
Bye Bye Losing! Evgeny Kuznetsov Comes Through with Clutch Goal to End Caps Seven-Game Winless Drought
On Friday night, Washington Capitals hockey returned to the District of Columbia after an All-Star break complemented by a bye week. The lengthy break did the defending Stanley Cup champions a great favor, for they entered the period of rest losers of seven straight, although a few counted as OT in the standings. They came close the last time they were at home but got robbed by the Sharks with a last second game tying goal. This time, they wouldn’t need overtime. Continue reading “Bye Bye Losing! Evgeny Kuznetsov Comes Through with Clutch Goal to End Caps Seven-Game Winless Drought”
There was a War of Words after Caps-Bruins Game Between Lars Eller and Brad Marchand
Back on opening night, Lars Eller scored a goal in the third period to put the Washington Capitals up with a commanding 7-0 lead over the Boston Bruins. On a night that clearly belonged to the Caps after raising the Stanley Cup champions banner before the game, Eller celebrated in front of the Bruins bench and Brad Marchand wasn’t having any of it. He ambushed Eller and threw several punches knocking him to the ground. Continue reading “There was a War of Words after Caps-Bruins Game Between Lars Eller and Brad Marchand”
Jakub Vrana’s Two Goals Lead Caps to 5-3 Win Over Flyers
CAPITAL ONE ARENA – The Washington Capitals were leading the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 just over the midway mark in the second period. The Flyers were looking for some kind of momentum to tie the game. As they had the puck in the Caps zone, Jakub Vrana stayed on his man and forced a turnover off an errant attempted pass from Sean Couturier and went off to the races. Vrana flew up the ice with only goaltender Mike McKenna to beat. Vrana went to his left and beat McKenna above the glove in the top corner. Continue reading “Jakub Vrana’s Two Goals Lead Caps to 5-3 Win Over Flyers”
Nicklas Backstrom Misses Caps Morning Skate Due to Illness, Will Be Game-Time Decision vs. Flyers
MEDSTAR CAPITALS ICEPLEX – The Washington Capitals took took the ice on Tuesday morning to prepare for their contest that night against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Caps are coming off an impressive 3-2 comeback win over the Detroit Red Wings thanks to Michal Kempny‘s late third period goal that ended their brief three-game western road trip. The Flyers meanwhile were shutout at home by the St. Louis Blues 3-0 last night. When the Caps took the ice in Arlington this morning, everyone was marked present except for one. Nicklas Backstrom is sick and the team said he’ll be a game-time decision for tonight. Continue reading “Nicklas Backstrom Misses Caps Morning Skate Due to Illness, Will Be Game-Time Decision vs. Flyers”
Nicklas Backstrom Passes Peter Bondra for Franchise Points Mark in Capitals 4-1 Win Over Trotz’s Islanders
The Washington Capitals are on fire and teams are having trouble extinguishing them. Their latest victim was the New York Islanders, whom the Capitals dominated in a 4-1 win several hours after players reunited with their former coach Barry Trotz and presented him with his well-earned, well-deserved Stanley Cup ring.
Continue reading “Nicklas Backstrom Passes Peter Bondra for Franchise Points Mark in Capitals 4-1 Win Over Trotz’s Islanders”