GO CAPS!!!!

Post #441 » by **Rafael122** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 12:00 am

Yeah, it just seemed like last month the season was over.

But, I think its great. College football, pro football, basketball and college basketball, and baseball playoffs...good time to be a sports fan.

fishercob · Post #442 » by **fishercob** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 10:37 am

Yes, the season starts a month early because of the Olympic break.

Tyrone Messby · Post #443 » by **Tyrone Messby** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 10:48 pm

Oct 1st my friends. against the Bruins. Starts 9 days earlier this season.

Post #444 » by **WizStorm** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 12:51 pm

Mike Knuble is looking like a huge pickup. Love having a garbage man around the net.

Ovechkin, Knuble lead Caps past Blackhawks

Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin sparked that second period. Ovechkin had both of his goals, and Backstrom (one goal, two assists) and Semin (three assists) did all their scoring in the period as the Capitals broke the game open.

Knuble opened the scoring at 2:36 of the first period when he jammed the rebound of Brian Pothier’s shot past Chicago goalie Corey Crawford(notes). The Washington newcomer then made it 2-0 with a power-play goal 4:52 into the game, firing a quick shot past Crawford after a pass from Ovechkin.

Backstrom made a perfect pass that Ovechkin easily tapped into the net 1:45 into the second period. Ovechkin scored a power-play goal 95 seconds later to make it 4-1. Semin made a slick pass that set up Ovechkin’s shot from the left circle.

Post #445 » by **WizStorm** » Fri Oct 2, 2009 1:01 am

Wow, what an ass-whoopin' on opening night. On the road at Boston ... great start to the season.

Post #446 » by **Rafael122** » Fri Oct 2, 2009 1:06 am

Ovie with 2 goals, Backstrom with 3 assists.

go'stags · Post #447 » by **go'stags** » Fri Oct 2, 2009 1:22 am

I only caught a few seconds of the live stream, but was Theodore starting?

If so, why?

Post #448 » by **Rafael122** » Fri Oct 2, 2009 1:28 am

They are going to rotate. Varly starts on Saturday.

Post #449 » by **WizStorm** » Sat Oct 3, 2009 11:19 pm

It's only my humble opinion, but that #8 guy is pretty good.

ZonkertheBrainless · Post #450 » by **ZonkertheBrainless** » Sun Oct 4, 2009 2:41 pm

Good first two quarters yesterday, finally got to watch it. They fell into bad defensive habits in the third when they knew they had the game in the bag. No killer instinct. Team needs to learn not necessarily to be mean and tough and nasty, but they do have to be jerks. They need to read MJ's hall of fame speech and learn the difference between being talented and being a winner, someone whose whole motivation in life is to deny victory to others. To deny victory completely, you must never let up, don't let the opponent have a glimmer of hope.

Still don't like MJ. But that's because he was always beating my favorite teams and players. Intellectually I understand that MJ represents the perfect example of the winner's mentality.

fishercob · Post #451 » by **fishercob** » Sun Oct 4, 2009 2:57 pm

The first two quarters were good, but they totally crapped the bed in that third inning. I still they they have what it takes to hoist the Larry O'brien this year!

Post #452 » by **Rafael122** » Sun Oct 4, 2009 5:02 pm

They got lazy. I wasn't too happy with the win last night. If only b/c we crushed them, and the final score doesn't indicate that.

Mr. Natural · Post #453 » by **Mr. Natural** » Tue Oct 6, 2009 10:25 am

Loverro: Passion for the Capitals already at a fever pitch

Thom Loverro

It was just the second game of the season - the first home game at sold-out Verizon Center - but fans filling up the building acted as if it were a Stanley Cup playoff game. And, for them, it was.

Every game the Washington Capitals play this season is a game leading to the Stanley Cup as far as their fans are concerned.

"I have high expectations," said Ben Page, 31, of Thurmont, Md., wearing a Mike Green jersey. "Coming off last season, you have to be impressed with what they did in their own division. The Penguins series was really tough, but at this point we've got the grinders in front. Hopefully our defensemen will be healthy at the end of the year, and we've got two goaltenders. I feel confident."

The Capitals gave Page and the rest of the screaming, stomping hometown crowd no reason not to be confident early in Saturday's contest; they scored three times against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first period and, after two goals by Alexander Semin, carried a 6-1 lead into the third period.

But it got a little hairy at the end as Toronto scored three in the final period to take some steam out of the crowd. Still, Capitals fans were on their feet and the building was rocking at the end of a 6-4 victory.

"We like the loudness of our building," coach Bruce Boudreau said before the game.

Capitals fans didn't disappoint. They roared as they watched a video montage of clips from last season, and whatever wounds were suffered in the seventh-game beating by the Penguins here in the Eastern Conference semifinals had clearly healed.

"They worked on their defense, and they have a great goaltender situation, so you have to be excited," said Wes Cochran, 31, of Frederick, Md., wearing an Alex Ovechkin jersey. "The Capitals have been my hockey team for a long time, but I have to say that since Ovechkin came here it reignited my flame as a fan. They are fun to root for, with down-to-earth superstars, very likable."

At the end of the first period, raucous Capitals fans gave their team a standing ovation - but not just any ovation. It was a show of appreciation for the dominance and excellence that they had just witnessed as the Capitals grabbed a 3-0 lead. It was as if the crowd were applauding the idea of what a great season this is going to be.

It is hard not to write about Capitals fans when you are writing about the Capitals on the ice, because the two are so connected. Three years ago, the Capitals were a last-place team and Verizon Center a morgue, save for the hockey die-hards. But now the Capitals have become one of the most powerful teams in the league, and with that growth has come the remarkable turnaround of hockey in this town.

It's not rocket science - people like winners - but we are talking about hockey here. The Capitals have won before - 20 playoff appearances in franchise history, including a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1998. But the fever pitch this team has reached among fans in this town has never approached what it was Saturday night for the first home game. And these fans are all too aware of the contrasts to other sports teams here.

On the eve of the beleaguered Redskins home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - coming off their embarrassing loss to the lowly Lions in Detroit last week - it is impossible to ignore.

"You have to say congratulations, Ted [Leonsis]," Page said. "Let's be honest; he's probably the only owner in town now who the fans appreciate, and with good reason. As a Redskins fan, it is very disappointing on Sundays to watch the garbage that gets put in front of us."

http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/04/loverro-passion-for-the-capitals-already-at-a-feve//print/

Looks like the Caps are a big draw in Washington these days.

Post #454 » by **Rafael122** » Wed Oct 7, 2009 1:29 am

Our goalie situation is going to be an issue all year. 8 goals in the last two games, all by Varlamov.

Benjammin · Post #455 » by **Benjammin** » Wed Oct 7, 2009 1:49 am

Rafael122 wrote:Our goalie situation is going to be an issue all year. 8 goals in the last two games, all by Varlamov.

And I just switched to the game in overtime to see the Flyers win. I haven't watched enough to comment on Varlamov's play, but I know the Caps had blueline weaknesses in the playoffs. Has it been all Varlamov or a combination, including the defensemen?

Post #456 » by **Rafael122** » Wed Oct 7, 2009 1:52 am

Varly let 2 savable goals squeak by. He was also pretty bad in that 3rd period in the Maple Leaf game.

Its great if you win 6-5, the problem is that you allowed 5 goals, you know what I mean? The great times would allow 1-3 goals, we're allowing like what...4 a game now?

long suffrin' boulez fan · Post #457 » by **long suffrin' boulez fan** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 1:13 am

Sure Varlamov has been shaky to start the season... but Three-or-more has a long, established track record of suckitude. What in the world was Brucey thinking when he made Jose the starter after the post season that Varlamov had?

Wizards2Lottery · Post #458 » by **Wizards2Lottery** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 1:41 am

Doesn't matter who the goalie is at this point. The defense is an absolute disaster. Sadly we can't even improve it thanks to Nylander and his stupid contract. Carlson and Alzner would be playing with us right now if it wasn't for Nylander.

lupin · Post #459 » by **lupin** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 12:31 pm

Let's give this thread the OV bump!

2G,1A in the win over Atlanta. The Caps are starting to skate away with the division.

Post #460 » by **Rafael122** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 1:30 pm

Yeah, they could have the division wrapped up by the end of the year, which is pretty scary b/c the only thing left to play for would be the top seed.

I didn't like that goal at the buzzer though. Sour way to end the game.