[14-Jan-2015] Setting them up and knocking them down!

This season's Washington Capitals are on a real tear! It's only January 14th, we're only just past the midpoint of the season, and only once all year have we lost two games in a row (the second of the two in a shootout!) Let's take a look at which teams we have played so far, and which we have not, and our record against each team.

Anaheim Ducks - We have not yet seen the Ducks this year. We see them twice; first, next Friday (1/22) at home, and second, at the Duck Pond on 3/7. Verdict: Unknown. Anaheim's current record is 18-18-7, putting them at 24th in the league, with 43 points.

Arizona Coyotes - The 'Yotes are another team we still have yet to face. Our first matchup with Arizona comes on 2/22, and the second, on 4/2. Verdict: Unknown. Arizona's current record is 22-16-4, putting them 12th in the league, with 48 points.

Boston Bruins - We face Boston three times this year. Our first action against the Bruins came on 11/5 (a 4-1 win). The second game was on 1/5, and also resulted in a win (3-2). Our third game will be on 3/5. Verdict: Caps victorious in season series with one game remaining. Boston's current record is 21-16-5 for 47 points, putting them in 14th place in the league.

Buffalo Sabres - We also play Buffalo three times this year. The first game was on 12/28, and was a 2-0 shutout win. The second came on 12/30 (a home-and-home with a day between games), and was a 5-2 win. We will see them again on Saturday 1/16. Verdict: Caps victorious in season series with one game remaining. Buffalo's current record is 17-23-4, placing them very near the bottom of the league at 28th, tied in points with Edmonton, but ahead of them by virtue of fewer games played.

Calgary Flames - On 10/30, the Caps beat the Flames with a final score of 6-2. On 11/13, the game went the other way, with the Caps falling in a 3-2 overtime decision. We have completed our series against Calgary, roundly defeating them in the goal differential category, but otherwise tied in the win-loss column. Verdict: Season series tied; Caps have the advantage in goals scored, even so. Calgary's record this season is 20-20-2, good for 42 points and 25th in the league.

Carolina Hurricanes - The Caps will face Carolina four times this season. Our first meeting was on 10/17, and resulted in a 4-1 win. The second came a little over a month later, on 12/21, and was a 2-1 win. The third meeting, on 12/31, saw a rare Capitals loss, with a final score of 4-2 in Carolina's favor. The fourth and final meeting will be on 3/15. Verdict: Undetermined, but the Caps are up 3 games to 1 so far. Carolina's record this season is 19-18-7, good for 45 points, and 21st in the league.

Chicago Blackhawks - When the Capitals faced last season's Stanley Cup champion team first, in their third game of the season, they turned around after a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of the Sharks to hand the 'Hawks a 4-1 defeat. We see Chicago again on 2/28. Verdict: Undetermined, but the Caps have won the first meeting. Chicago's current record is 28-13-4 for 60 points, 7 points behind the first place Capitals, and in third place in the league,  two points behind Dallas (62 points).

Colorado Avalanche - On 11/21, the Caps handed the Avalanche a 7-3 loss. We will visit them for the conclusion of the season series on 4/1.
Verdict: Undetermined, but the Caps have won the first meeting. Colorado is not quite as egregiously among the bottom-feeders as they have been in previous years; their record is 21-20-3, putting them 20th in the league, just a hair out of the top 2/3.

Columbus Blue Jackets - The 10/30 game was a 2-1 Washington victory. We face Columbus four tmes this season. In the second meeting of the two teams, Washington fell 5-4 in the shootout on 2/2 (the only time the Caps have lost two games in a row this season). The Caps will face the Jackets again on 1/19, and 3/28. Verdict: Undetermined; series is tied at 1-1, with both teams scoring 6 goals in the series so far. This one's going to be a series to watch closely! This is a frightening thought, because poor Columbus is sitting dead last in the league, with a 16-25-4 record, good for 36 points to put them behind the woebegotten Maple Leafs (39 points), Sabres, and Oilers (38 points).

Dallas Stars - The 11/19 meeting between the Stars and the Caps was a 3-2 loss. The Caps face the Stars again on 2/13. Verdict: Undetermined; this one will be close, though; so far, this is the only team that has beaten Washington, that Washington has yet to beat. Dallas currently sits just behind the Capitals - OK, 5 points behind the Capitals, who have two games in hand, with a 29-11-4 record and 62 points.

Detroit Red Wings - The Red Wings handed the Caps a 1-0 shutout loss in regulation on 11/10, but were defeated 2-1 in overtime a few days later on 11/18. The third meeting resulted in a 3-2 shootout win for the Caps. Verdict: Caps win the season series, 2 games to 1, and also win in goal differential, 5-4. Detroit's record this season is so far 22-14-7, good for 51 points, placing them in the middle of a three-way points tie with the Islanders and Rangers, our hated New York foes.

Edmonton Oilers - On 10/23, the Caps handed the Oilers a 7-4 loss at Verizon Center, and then on 11/23, the Caps posted a 1-0 shutout decision. Verdict: Caps win the season series, 2 games to 0, and also win in goal differential, 8-4. Poor Edmonton is sitting just outside last place in the league (again) with a 17-23-4 record and 38 points. They are behind the Sabres by virtue of having played in one more game.

Florida Panthers - Halloween (10/31) saw the Caps defeat the Panthers 2-1 in overtime. The second meeting, on 12/10, was a Caps loss (4-1 final). The teams meet for the third and final time on 2/2. Verdict: Unknown; this one will  be close. The series is tied 1-1, but the Panthers have the edge in goals scored, 5-3. Florida's current record is 26-13-5, putting them in a three way points tie with Los Angeles (who have the edge in regulation and overtime wins) and St. Louis, who have one fewer in that category than Florida.

Los Angeles Kings - The Caps will face the Kings for the first time on 2/16, and the second time on 3/9. Verdict: Unknown. The Kings' current record is 27-12-3, good for 57 points and a three-way tie for fifth in the league.

Minnesota Wild - The Caps face the Wild twice in February, once on 2/11, and the second time on 2/26. Verdict: Unknown. Minnesota's current record is 22-13-8, which puts them with 52 points, in 7th place in the league.

Montreal Canadiens - The Caps beat the Habs on 12/3 with a final score of 3-2. On 12/26, the Caps won again, 3-1. The third and final meeting of the season will be on 2/24. Verdict: Caps win the series, having defeated the Habs in two of their three meetings, with the third meeting yet to be decided. The Habs' current record is 23-17-3, placing them 11th in the league, right behind the Islanders. 

Nashville Predators - The Caps have yet to face the Preds this season; our first meeting comes on 2/9, and our second and final on 3/18. Verdict: Unknown. The Predators' current record is 19-15-7, good for 45 points and a three-way tie for 18th with Philadelphia slightly edging them, and slightly edging the Hurricanes themselves. 

New Jersey Devils - In the season opener this year, the Capitals beat the Devils 5-3. We see them twice in February (2/6 there, 2/20 here), and once in March (3/25). Verdict: Unknown - only played one game so far. The Devils' current record is 21-18-5, which puts them in 15th place with 47 points (tied with the Boston Bruins, who are in 14th, by virtue of their two games in hand). 

New York Islanders - Ah, the Isles. The Isles. On 1/7, we beat them 4-1. We next see them on 2/4, 2/18, and 3/5. Verdict: Unknown - only played one game so far. The Islanders' current record of 23-15-5 puts them with 51 points, 10th place, behind the Rangers (8th, also with 51 points) and Red Wings (9th, same). 

New York Rangers - It seems like the Rangers are our annual foes that knock us out of the playoffs with a rudeness matched only by ... well, I don't know what's quite that rude! Our first game, on 11/3, was a 5-2 loss. On 12/20, we beat them right back, with a final score of 7-3, then on 1/9, we beat them again, this time in overtime, with a final score of 4-3. We face the Rangers two more times before the annual postseason rumble: 1/17 and 3/4. Verdict: Unknown, but the Capitals lead the series 2 games to 1 (in a best-of-five). The Rangers sit in 8th place in the league, with a 23-14-5 record and 51 points.

Ottawa Senators - The Battle of the Capitals and Senators this season has been one of Capitals dominance. The first game, on 10/16, was a 2-1 Capitals win; however, last week, on 1/10, the Capitals laid a touchdown on those Senators, beating them 7-1. The final game between these two clubs comes on 3/22. Verdict: The Caps win  the series 2-?, with the final game to be decided. The Senators are at present sitting just under Pittsburgh, at 17th in the league, with a 20-18-6 record and 46 points (also Pittsburgh's point total, but the Evil Flightless Fowl have two games in hand.)

Philadelphia Flyers - In their first meeting of four, on 11/12, the Capitals beat the Flyers 5-2. The next three meetings will take place on 1/27, 2/7, and 3/30. Verdict: Unknown - only played one game so far. The Flyers' record of 19-15-7 puts them in 18th place, with 45 points.

Pittsburgh Penguins - In their first meeting, the Pens beat the Caps on 10/28 with a score of 3-1. In game 2, on 12/14, the Caps returned the favor and then some, with a 4-1 victory. Game 3 will be played on 1/24, and game 4 on 3/20. Veridct: Unknown - series tied at 1, Caps have advantage in goals scored, 5-4. The 'Guins record of 20-16-6 gives them 46 points, and 16th place in the league. 

San Jose Sharks - In their first meeting, the Caps's second game of the season, the Sharks dominated, and put together a 5-0 win. We meet again, in the Shark Tank, on 3/12. Verdict: Unknown - only played one game so far, but the Sharks are now the second team that has beaten the Capitals in their only game to date of the season. The Sharks' record of 21-18-2 puts them in the bottom third of the league, at 21st place.

St. Louis Blues - The Caps have yet to face the Blues this season; we see them on 3/26 and at our final game of the season, on 4/9 in St. Louis. Verdict: Unknown. The Blues' record at present is 25-14-7, which places them 6th in the league. 

Tampa Bay Lightning - The Capitals face the Lighting three times this season. In their first meeting, on 11/27, the Caps beat them 4-2. The second was a 2-1 victory on 12/12). And finally, in their third meeting, on 12/18, the Caps beat the Lightning 5/3. Verdict: Not bad, against the team that won the Eastern Conference last year and faced the Blackhawks down in the Stanley Cup Finals. Caps win the series 3-0. The Lightning's record this season is 22-17-4, which puts them in 13th place in the league , behind Arizona, who has one game in hand, but the same number of points (48).

Vancouver Canucks - On their first meeting (10/22), the Capitals beat the Canucks by a score of 3-2. We face them again for the second time tonight. Verdict: Unknown - but we'll know soon enough! With a record of 17-16-10, the 'Nucks have 44 points, which places them 23rd in the league, right behind San Jose, who have a game in hand.

Winnipeg Jets - The Capitals played the Jets twice this season. The first time, on 11/25, they won 5-3, and the second, lost 3-2 in the shootout. Verdict: The series ended tied in the win department, but in the goals scored department, the Caps come out on top, with 7 to the Lightning's 5.  The Lightning's record of 22-17-4 gives them 48 points and 13th place, just behind Arizona, who also have 48 points, but have a game in hand.

So..........

Teams the Caps have Yet to Face This Season 

1. Anaheim
2. Arizona
3. Los Angeles
4. Minnesota
5. St. Louis

Teams the Caps have Won the Season Series (all games played)

1. Detroit (2 games to 1)2. Edmonton (2 games to 0)
3. Tampa Bay (3 games to 0)

Teams the Caps have Won the Season Series (games left to play)

1. Boston (2 games to 0, 1 game remaining)
2. Buffalo (2 games to 0, 1 game remaining)
3. Carolina (3 games to 1, 1 game remaining)
4. Montreal (2 games to 0, 1 game remaining)
5. Ottawa (2 games to 0, 1 game remaining)

Teams the Caps have the Advantage Over (with games left to play)

1. Chicago (1 game to 0, one game remaining)
2. Colorado (1 game to 0, one game remaining)
3. New Jersey (1 game to 0, two games remaining) 
4. NY Islanders (1 game to 0, three game remaining) 
5. NY Rangers (2 games to 1, two games remaining) 
6. Philadelphia (1 game to 0, three games remaining)
7. Vancouver (1 game to 0, one game remaining)

Teams the Season Ended Tied With 

1. Calgary (1-1 in games played; Caps advantage 8-5 in goals scored)
2. Columbus (1-1 in games played; 6-6 in goals scored)
3. Winnipeg (1-1 in games played, Caps advantage 7-5 in goals scored)

Teams the Caps are Tied With, with Tiebreaker Left

1. Florida (1-1 in games played, 5-3 Panthers in goals scored, 1 game remaining)
2. Pittsburgh (1-1 in games played, 5-4 Caps in goals scored, 2 games remaining)

Teams that Have the Advantage over the Caps

1. Dallas (1 game to 0, 1 game remaining)
2. San Jose (1 game to 0, 1 game remaining)

 
Can't wait for the Vancouver game tonight!!!

[12-Jan-2015] And I heard it live...!

Last Sunday's Caps game was a milestone and a half! The Caps laid a touchdown on the Ottawa Senators, their fourth such game this season (the other three coming against Edmonton on 10/23, against Colorado on 11/21, and against the New York Rangers on 12/20.) Lost in the madness of their fourth 7-goal game of the season (hahahaha) was Captain Alex Ovechkin scoring his 500th NHL goal - and then scoring his 501st NHL goal! 

I heard Caps' radio broadcaster John Walton (@WaltonCaps on Twitter) make the call for that 500th goal, and boy, howdy, was he screaming! It was awesome! I knew it would happen some time this week; I was kindof hoping for Thursday, though, because that's when I have tickets... but I'm glad Ovi did it on Sunday anyway, because he's really good at making us wait on milestones... Look at how long it took him to beat Sergei Fedorov's record. 

And speaking of records...

33 - Brian Trottier - 524
34 - Pat Verbeek - 522
35 - Dale Hawerchuk - 518
36 - Pierre Turgeon - 515
37 - Jeremy Roenick - 513
38 - Gilbert Perreault - 512
39 - Jean Beliveau - 507
40 - Peter Bondra - 503 in 1081 career games
41 - Joe Mullen - 502 in 1062 career games
42 - Alex Ovechkin - 501 in 801 games career!
43 - Lanny McDonald - 500
44 - Glenn Anderson - 498
 
Next up: Joe Mullen, then Peter Bondra and the Capitals' record for most goals scored in a career. 

Joseph Patrick Mullen (b. 26-Feb-1957) played in the NHL from 1981-1996, primarily as a right wing. In his career, he played for the St. Louis Blues, the Calgary Flames, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and one season for the Boston Bruins before returning to Pittsburgh for the last season of his career. In his NHL career, Mullen scored 502 goals, and 561 assists for 1,063 points.H American-born, he played nationally for the United States at the World Championships in 1979 and 1999, and at the Canada Cup in 1984, 1987, and 1991. In 15 games played internationally, he scored 3 goals, and had 9 assists, for a total of 12 points. His son, Patrick Mullen, currently plays for the Binghamton Senators, and has played in the AHL since the 2010-11 season, when he played for the Manchester Monarchs. In 302 AHL games played as a defenseman, young Patrick has 33 goals, and 99 assists, for 132 points. Joe is currently employed as an assistant coach by the Philadelphia Flyers, who are sitting at 21st place in the league at the moment, with an 18-15-7 record this season.

Peter Bondra (affectionately known as Bonzai! while he played for the Capitals) was born 7-February-1968 in Lutsk, Ukranian SSR, USSR (now a part of Slovakia). Bonzai played most of his NHL career with the Washington Capitals, from 1990-91 through 2003-04, interrupted by a brief stint with the Detroit Vipers. On February 5, 1994, Bondra scored five goals in a single game, one of only ~43 players to do so in the history of the NHL (I got interrupted; I'm not counting again!) He was a part of the Capitals' team during their sole appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals in 1997-98. During the 2004-05 lockout season, he played for the Slovak Extraliga (HK Poprad), and on his return, signed with the Atlanta Thrashers for the 2005-06 season. His final season in the NHL was 2006-07, with the Chicago Blackhawks. Internationally, he played in 47 games and scored 35 goals for Slovakia, including two appearances in the Winter Olympics (1998 and 2006), the qualifying tournament for the 2004 Winter Olympics, the World Cup of Hockey in 1996, and the Ice Hockey World Championship in 2002 and 2003. During the 2002 World Championship, Bondra scored 7 goals, including the game winning goal in the Gold Medal game against Russia. In 2003, Slovakia won Bronze. 

Bondra was traded after the 2003-04 season to the Ottawa Senators for Brooks Laich, still a member of the present-day Capitals team. While he played in Washington, Bondra's number was 12; that number is not currently in use, and there are good arguments for retiring the number out there, not the least of which is Bondra's possession of many Capitals records, including the most goals in a career (503)... for now. Other team records Bondra holds:

• Most shorthanded goals in a season (6) shared with Mike Gartner
• Most shorthanded goals in a career (32)
• Most game-winning goals in a season (13)  (Ovi has 5 this year in 42 games played)

I think the shorthanded goal records are safe; Ovi doesn't kill penalties. 

[08-Jan-2015] Ovi with #497 - game winner #84 -- And how about that HoltBEAST?!

Alex Ovechkin has scored his 84th game-winning goal! The current record among active players is held by Jaromir Jagr, with 132 GWG in 1588 GP. Ovi has played in 799 games. 

With the GWG in 10.51% of his games, Ovi's GWG pace is faster than Jagr's (8.31%), and Ovi, at age 30, has a lot more games left in his career, barring tragedy (please no!) than Jagr, at age 43-pushing-44. Jagr, mind you, is still playing very well, with 14G, 16A in 38GP for the Florida Panthers this season. If Ovechkin is playing that well in another 14 years, then I firmly believe he will overtake Gretzky!

I'm very excited about Ovechkin's season this year, and about watching him climb the ladder of success as the greatest goal scorer of his generation. 

Meanwhile, Braden Holtby (AKA The HoltBEAST!) has won his 26th game in 33 starts. Age 26 years, 3 months, the Holtbeast has won a career 127 goals in his 211 games played. He has faced 6,096 shots in his career and stopped 5,624 of them. Holtby has a shot at Martin Brodeur's record youngest goaltender to 300 wins  (29 years, 7 months) if he keeps it up.  I hope he does! Brodeur owns the youngest goaltender to 300, 400, 500, and 600 games, and won 691 goals in his career, just short of 700 when he retired in the middle of the 2014-15 season. 
 

[05-JAN-2015] Goal Scoring Records... Ovi and the Great Climb

Alex Ovechkin is now ranked 44th all time among NHL goal scorers, with 496 goals... Of active players, only Jagr and Iginla have more goals than Ovi does.

01 - Wayne Gretzky - 894
02 - Gordie Howe - 801
03 - Brett Hull - 741
04 - Jaromir Jagr - 735
05 - Marcel Dionne - 731
06 - Phil Esposito - 717
07 - Mike Gartner - 708
08 - Mark Messier - 694
09 - Steve Yzerman - 692
10 - Mario Lemieux - 690
11 - Teemu Selanne - 684
12 - Luc Robataille - 668
13 - Brendan Shanahan - 656
14 - Dave Andreychuk - 640
15 - Joe Sakic - 625
16 - Bobby Hull - 610
17 - Dino Ciccarelli - 608
18 - Jari Kurri - 601
19 - Jarome Iginla - 600
20 - Mark Recchi - 577
21 - Mike Bossy - 573
22 - Mats Sundin - 564
23 - Joe Nieuwendyk - 564
24 - Mike Modano - 561
25 - Guy Lafleur - 560
26 - John Bucyk - 556
27 - Ron Francis - 549
28 - Michel Goulet - 548
29 - Maurice "Rocket" Richard - 544
30 - Stan Mikita - 541
31 - Keith Tkachuk - 538
32 - Francis Mahovlich - 533
---If Ovi scores 55 goals this season, he will be here with 530--
33 - Brian Trottier - 524
34 - Pat Verbeek - 522
35 - Dale Hawerchuk - 518
36 - Pierre Turgeon - 515
37 - Jeremy Roenick - 513
38 - Gilbert Perreault - 512
39 - Jean Beliveau - 507
40 - Peter Bondra - 503
41 - Joe Mullen - 502
42 - Lanny McDonald - 500
43 - Glenn Anderson - 498
44 - Alex Ovechkin - 496 (21G in 37 games played this season)

For power play goals, Ovi currently ranks 23rd (with 183 PPG career). Among active players, only Jagr (13th, with 207 PPG career) has more than Ovi does (Iginla has 182 PPG career). Dave Andreychuk, with 274 PPG, holds the record. We'll see how far Ovi climbs up this ladder this year, too.

[05-Jan-2015] May the Injury Bug be Squashed FLAT and forcibly booted out of the Caps' locker room!!!

The Caps have been bitten hard by the injury bug of late, and it's been costing them...

• Top-pairing defenseman Brooks Orpik has been sidelined since Game 14 when he suffered a lower-body injury (details undisclosed). 
• If that wasn't bad enough, second top-pairing defenseman John Carlson was sidelined with a lower body injury of his own after Game 34, forcing the second defensive pairing (Karl Alzner and Matt Niskanen) into their skates. The number of minutes these two have had to take on has been rather high...
• Now, one of the Caps' best defensive forwards, a giant on the power play and in the faceoff dot, Jay Beagle, has been sidelined after having hand surgery following an injury he suffered in Game 36. He's expected to be out for six weeks recovering. 

It is fortunate that goaltender Braden Holtby appears to be made of adamantium, because Nick Foligno of the bottom-feeding Columbus Blue Jackets applied a high stick to Holtby's throat in the game they played on January 2nd.  This "accidental" play was not called for a penalty, despite knocking Holtby on his butt and removing his helmet for him. Perhaps Foligno thought it looked uncomfortable and wanted to help Holtby out of it... Or something like that... 

Let's hope that the Boston Bruins don't try any hijinks tonight... oh, who am I kidding? Let's hope that whatever they try, we foil, and we can beat their bear butts! Grr. 

I'm hearing that Orpik and Carlson will both be traveling with the team. Carlson skated this morning, but is not expected to play tonight; hopefully, both will be ready to come back soon, and hopefully, Beags won't suffer any setbacks with his hand... we need him back in the dot! 

Get well soon, guys!

Let's Go, CAPS!

[24-Nov-2015] Third time was indeed the charm...

May Ovi's march into the record books be long and glorious!

[24-Nov-2015] On Goaltending Records and the Holtbeast

Ever since the first time I watched Braden Holtby play a hockey game for the Hershey Bears, I knew he would be the Capitals' next franchise goaltender, and said so. I liked the kid's style. That was back when we had Michal Neuvirth and Semyon Varlamov on the team, too. But I didn't believe in either of them like I believed in the Holtbeast. 

I fully believe that by the time Holtby hangs up his skates (hopefully having played his entire career with the Capitals, a good many years from now!) he will hold the majority of the franchise's goaltending records. Most of those records are currently held by retired franchise goaltender Olaf Kolzig, whom I was privileged to watch in one of his last seasons as a Cap.

Here's the list. I'm leaving out the loss records; we don't want any of those!

Holtby's current save percentage (SV%) as of today is .921
Holtby's current goals against average (GAA) as of today is 2.39

Most Games Played in a Season: 73 - Kolzig (1999-00) and Holtby (2014-15)
Most consecutive starts in a season: 23 - Holtby (2014-15)
Most games played in a career: 711 - Kolzig (1992-93 to 2007-08) - Holtby is at 194 to date
Most wins in a season: 41 - Kolzig (1999-00) and Holtby (2014-15)
Most wins in a career: 301- Kolzig (1992-93 to 2007-08) - Holtby is at 113 to date
Most shutouts in a season: 9 - Jim Carey (1995-96) and Holtby (2014-15)
Most shutouts in a career: 35 - Kolzig (1992-93 to 2007-08) - Holtby is at 21 to date

Highest save % in a season, minimum 20 games: .922 - Holtby (2014-15)
Highest save % in a career, minimum 82 games: .906 - Kolzig (1992-93 to 2007-08)
Lowest goals against average in a season, minimum 20 games: 2.13 - Carey (1994-95)
Lowest goals against average in a career, minimum 82 games: 2.37 - Carey (1994-95 to 1996-97)
Most saves in a season: 1,830 - Holtby (2014-15)
Most saves in a career: 18,013 - Kolzig (1992-93 to 2007-08)
Most shots against in a season: 2,011 - Holtby (2014-15)
Most shots against in a career: 19,873 - Kolzig (1992-93 to 2007-08) 
Most minutes played in a season: 4,370:50 - Kolzig (1999-2000) - Holtby played 4,247:29 in (2014-15)
Most minutes played in a career: 41,259:36 - Kolzig (1992-93 to 2007-08) - Holtby has played 11,045:51 to date