[15-MAR-2016] Whew!

#OviWatch


FINALLY! Our hero, Alexander Ovechkin has scored his 517th goal! It was an OviTime Game Winning Goal tonight, against the Carolina Hurricanes, and with that trip to overtime, the Caps have clinched a playoff berth! 

Our Captain and hero scored his 517th goal in his 826th game, after a 5-game scoreless streak (his longest of the season). This is his league-leading 42nd goal of the season. With one more goal, Ovi ties Dale Hawerchuk. He'll have his next opportunity on Friday when the Caps face the Nashville Predators.

 








33 - Brian Trottier - 524 G, 1279 GP
34 - Pat Verbeek - 522 G, 1424 GP
35 - Dale Hawerchuk - 518 G, 1188 GP
36 - Alex Ovechkin - 517 G, 826 GP
37 - Pierre Turgeon - 515 G, 1294 GP
38 - Jeremy Roenick - 513 G, 1363 GP
39 - Gilbert Perreault - 512 G, 1191 GP
40 - Jean Béliveau - 507 G, 1125 GP
41 - Peter Bondra - 503 G, 1081 GP
42 - Joe Mullen - 502 G, 1062 GP
43 - Lanny McDonald - 500 G, 1111 GP
44 - Glenn Anderson - 498 G, 1129 GP 

#KuzyaWatchin'

Evgeny Kuznetsov achieved his league-leading 38th primary assist tonight when he fed a pass to Ovi for the OTGWG. He is now sixth-best in the last several seasons in that regard (and everyone ahead of him played a full season). 

2008-09: Sid Crosby (51 in 77 GP)
2009-10: Henrik Sedin (46 in 82 GP)
2010-11: Martin St. Louis (46 in 82 GP)
2011-12: Evgeni Malkin (46 in 75 GP)
2007-08: Pavel Datsyuk (44 in 82 GP)
2015-16: Evgeny Kuznetsov (38 in 69 GP)
2013-14: Joe Thornton (36 in 82 GP)
2014-15: Daniel Sedin (35 in 82 GP)
2012-13: Sid Crosby (29 in 36 GP - season shortened by lockout)


#HoltBEASTWatch

Braden Holtby's league-leading 42nd win came in his 56th GPI (game played in). Coincidentally, this also puts him at 6th-best, this time in League history - faster than Ken Dryden and Mike Richter got their 42nd wins! 

05 - 1999-2000: Martin Brodeur (BOS - 43W in 62GP)
       1992-93: Tom Barrasso (PIT - 43W in 63GP)      
       1997-98: Martin Brodeur (BOS - 43W in 70GP) J*
       2011-12: Pekka Rinne (NSH - 43W in 73GP)
       2005-06: Martin Brodeur (BOS - 43W in 73GP)
       2002-03: Martin Brodeur (BOS - 43W in 73GP) J* V*
       1990-91: Ed Belfour (CHI - 43W in 74GP) V*
06 - 2015-16: Braden Holtby (WSH - 42W in 56GP)
       1975-76: Kenneth Dryden (MTL - 42W in 62GP) V**
       1993-94: Mike Richter (NYR - 42W in 68GP)

#WatchCaps

The Caps just won their 50th game of the season, in 69 games played. They have 13 regular season games remaining, and already have a playoff berth, the first team in the league to clinch. 105 points, and a flipping +60 goal differential? Yes, their last 10 games have been a bit of a crap-shoot (6-3-1 record), but good GRIEF! Let's hope this game against the Hurricanes has helped to right the ship before the playoffs start. Holtby needs 8 more wins to hit 50; Ovi needs 8 more goals to hit 50... And Kuzya needs 12 more primary assists to hit 50. Let's see what can happen in 13 games!

#Ugh

As a side note, to my reader(s), today, I learned that I broke my collarbone back in December... yes, it really is March 15th, and yes, I JUST learned this, despite six other doctor visits. It hurts like a bitch! #JustSayin'... #LetsGoCaps!

[09-Mar-2016] All Hail the (EX)King(s) - Justin Williams and Mike Richards!

 May the Caps be victorious tonight!!!

And may Justin Williams and Mike Richards both have a hand in the victory!

#CupMusings

Since the Washington Capitals became a team in the 1974-75 season, a number of teams have hoisted Lord Stanley's Hardware. Here's the list:

1974-75: Philadelphia Flyers (1)
1975-76: Montreal Canadiens (1)
1976-77: Montreal Canadiens (2)
1977-78: Montreal Canadiens (3)
1978-79: Montreal Canadiens (4)
1979-80: New York Islanders (1)
1980-81: New York Islanders (2)
1981-82: New York Islanders (3)
1982-83: New York Islanders (4)
1983-84: Edmonton Oilers (1)
1984-85: Edmonton Oilers (2)
1985-86: Montreal Canadiens (5)
1986-87: Edmonton Oilers (3)
1987-88: Edmonton Oilers (4)
1988-89: Calgary Flames (1)
1989-90: Edmonton Oilers (5)
1990-91: Pittsburgh Penguins (1)
1991-92: Pittsburgh Penguins (2)
1992-93: Montreal Canadiens (6)
1993-94: New York Rangers (1)
1994-95: New Jersey Devils (1)
1995-96: Colorado Avalanche (1)
1996-97: Detroit Red Wings (1)
1997-98: Detroit Red Wings (2) (Caps' only appearance to date)
1998-99: Dallas Stars (1)
1999-2000: New Jersey Devils (2)
2000-01: Colorado Avalanche (2)
2001-02: Detroit Red Wings (3)
2002-03: New Jersey Devils (3)
2003-04: Tampa Bay Lightning (1)
2004-05: No Cup awarded - lockout
2005-06: Carolina Hurricanes (1)
2006-07: Anaheim Ducks (1)
2007-08: Detroit Red Wings (4)
2008-09: Pittsburgh Penguins (3)
2009-10: Chicago Blackhawks (1)
2010-11: Boston Bruins (1)
2011-12: Los Angeles Kings (1)
2012-13: Chicago Blackhawks (2)
2013-14: Los Angeles Kings (2)
2014-15: Chicago Blackhawks (3)

#PresidentsTrophyMusings

Since 1985-86, the Presidents' Trophy has been awarded 28 times.

Here's the list:

1985-86: Edmonton Oilers (119 points)
1986-87: Edmonton Oilers (105 points)
1987-88: Calgary Flames (105 points)
1988-89: Calgary Flames (117 points)
1989-90: Boston Bruins (101 points)
1990-91: Chicago Blackhawks (106 points)
1991-92: New York Rangers (105 points)
1992-93: Pittsburgh Penguins (119 points)
1993-94: New York Rangers (112 points)
1994-95: Detroit Red Wings (70 points) 48 game season
1995-96: Detroit Red Wings (131 points)
1996-97: Colorado Avalanche (107 points)
1997-98: Dallas Stars (109 points)
1998-99: Dallas Stars (114 points)
1999-2000: St. Louis Blues (114 points)
2000-01: Colorado Avalanche (118 points)
2001-02: Detroit Red Wings (118 points)
2002-03: Ottawa Senators (113 points)
2003-04: Detroit Red Wings (109 points)
2004-05: President's Trophy not awarded - lockout
2005-06: Detroit Red Wings (124 points)
2006-07: Buffalo Sabres (113 points)
2007-08: Detroit Red Wings (115 points)
2008-09: San Jose Sharks (117 points)
2009-10: Washington Capitals (121 points)
2010-11: Vancouver Canucks (117 points)
2011-12: Vancouver Canucks (111 points)
2012-13: Chicago Blackhawks (77 points) 48 game season
2013-14: Boston Bruins (117 points)
2014-15: New York Rangers (113 points)

This year's Capitals team:

102 points in 66 games played.
Potential maximum of 134 points if they win out (unlikely).
If they win 75% of their games as they have all season so far? 126 points.

We shall see! In the meantime, we have Kings to conquer. It's gonna be a late night! 

[06-Mar-2016] Ducks Plucked (2-1 Caps for the win in the shootout) - #HoltBEASTWatch

#HoltBEASTWatch

Caps goaltender Braden Holtby has his league-leading 41st win in 54 games played this season. That puts him in good company, with Ken Dryden, former Capital Semyon Varlamov (who was playing for Colorado at the time), Dominik Hašek, and Martin Brodeur - and he's hit 41 wins faster than any of them. The Caps take to the ice next on Wednesday, when they face the Los Angeles Kings. That game will start at 10:30 PM Eastern, so I'd better get a nap first! On Saturday, the Caps finish out their California trip with a visit to the Shark Tank, where they will face off against the San Jose Sharks.

05 - 1999-2000: Martin Brodeur (BOS - 43W in 62GP)
       1992-93: Tom Barrasso (PIT - 43W in 63GP)      
       1997-98: Martin Brodeur (BOS - 43W in 70GP) J*
       2011-12: Pekka Rinne (NSH - 43W in 73GP)
       2005-06: Martin Brodeur (BOS - 43W in 73GP)
       2002-03: Martin Brodeur (BOS - 43W in 73GP) J* V*
       1990-91: Ed Belfour (CHI - 43W in 74GP) V*
06 - 1975-76: Kenneth Dryden (MTL - 42W in 62GP) V**
       1993-94: Mike Richter (NYR - 42W in 68GP)
07 - 2015-16: Braden Holtby (WSH - 41W in 54GP)
       1976-77: Kenneth Dryden (MTL - 41W in 56GP) V**
       2013-14: Semyon Varlamov (COL - 41W in 63GP)  

       2001-02: Dominik Hašek (DET - 41W in 65GP)     

       2000-01: Martin Brodeur (BOS - 41W in 72GP)

[03-Mar-2016] #OviWatch, #TrotzWatch, and #KuzyaWatchin' - Caps rake up Leafs 3-2...

Last night's tussle with the Maple Leafs went reasonably well - particularly in the WIN column. Ovi scored his 516th goal, and Head Coach Barry Trotz won his 649th game, placing him 9th all time.

#OviWatch

With his 516th goal, Ovi is two goals behind Dale Hawerchuk for 35th all time. 

Hawerchuk, 52, played in a total of 1,188 games, and appeared on the Winnipeg Jets (1981-82 through 1989-90), Buffalo Sabres (1991-92 through 1994-95), St. Louis Blues (1995-96), Philadelphia Flyers (1995-96 through 1996-97). In that time, he scored 518 goals. Hawerchuk is now the head coach of the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League. The Colts play in the same league as Dale Hunter's London Knights, and at present have a record of 36-20-0-2 for 58 standings points, good for first in the Central Division. They have clinched a playoff spot, but have not yet clinched their division. (For comparison, the Knights have a record of 43-13-2-1 for 89 points, good for second place in the Midwest Division. Barrie has 6 games remaining in their season. Dale coaches his son, Ben Hawerhuk in Barrie; the left wing has 4 goals, 5 assists, 29 penalty minutes, in 59 games played, and wears #16 for Barrie. 

Ovi is still scoring .672 goals per game. With 19 games remaining in the season, if he plays every one, and scores at his same rate, he'll have 12-13 more goals this year, putting him at 528 or 529 goals (career) at the end of the season... Frank Mahovlich (533 goals in 1181 games) is #32, so unless Ovi scores a lot more than 528-529, he'll still need another season to catch Mahovlich at #32. 

33 - Brian Trottier - 524 G, 1279 GP
34 - Pat Verbeek - 522 G, 1424 GP
35 - Dale Hawerchuk - 518 G, 1188 GP
36 - Alex Ovechkin - 516 G, 821 GP
37 - Pierre Turgeon - 515 G, 1294 GP
38 - Jeremy Roenick - 513 G, 1363 GP
39 - Gilbert Perreault - 512 G, 1191 GP
40 - Jean Béliveau - 507 G, 1125 GP
41 - Peter Bondra - 503 G, 1081 GP
42 - Joe Mullen - 502 G, 1062 GP
43 - Lanny McDonald - 500 G, 1111 GP
44 - Glenn Anderson - 498 G, 1129 GP

Meanwhile Head Coach Barrie Trotz has become the 9th-winningest coach of all time, jumping ahead of #10 Ron Wilson with last night's victory. Trotz needs 33 more wins to hit #8 (surpassing Mike Keenan, 672 wins in 1386 games). 

#KuzyaWatchin' 

Our Kuzya didn't get any primary assists last night; he had a secondary assist on the Taylor Chorney goal, but TJ Oshie was the star in the assist department last night, having a hand in all three Caps goals.



   

[02-Mar-2016] #HoltBEASTWatch, Caps v. Pens (Caps win!)

Last night, the Caps did not hold a lead until the last few minutes of the game. But, they beat the Penguins anyway. This trend needs to be reversed, and hopefully, tonight against the struggling Leafs, they will be able to score early and often, so I get a free Egg McMuffin on my way to work tomorrow that they win the game with a decisive WIN.

Game Summary 

The HoltBEAST now has 40 wins under his belt, with 20 games remaining in the regular season. He won't get all of those starts, but he should get a fair number of them - Philipp Grubauer has played in 15 games, and holds a 6-5-0-1 record (no losses in overtime, one in the shootout), including having come on in relief of Holtby at least a handful of times. So, where does Holtby stand in the all-time list? Let's have a look!


07 - 2000-01: Martin Brodeur (41W in 72GP)
       1976-77: Kenneth Dryden (41W in 56GP) V**
       2001-02: Dominik Hasek (41W in 65GP)     
       2013-14: Semyon Varlamov (41W in 63GP)
08 - 2015-16: Braden Holtby (40W in 52GP)
       1982-83: Pete Peeters (40W in 62GP) V* 
       1984-85: Pelle Lindbergh (40W in 65GP) V*
       1987-88: Grant Fuhr (40W in 75GP) V*

#OviWatch - Ovi didn't get a goal last night, but he had four hits, three blocked shots, three shots on goal, and two shots that went wide of the target...he also gave the puck away in the offensive zone once, but thankfully, the Evil Flightless Fowl didn't score. 

#KuzyaWatchin' - Kuzya didn't have any primary assists last night, but he got a goal, so we'll forgive him there. ;-) 

Tonight's matchup is against the Toronto Maple Leafs, where former Capital Brooks Laich is now playing. The Leafs are sitting dead last in the standings, making them a very dangerous opponent, if the Caps don't take them seriously... 

[29-Feb-2016] #OviWatch #HoltBEASTWatch... etc.

Friday night against the Minnesota Wild, Caps goalie Braden Holtby won his 39th game of the season, as captain Alex Ovechkin scored his 40th goal. Both would advance no further after Sunday's loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on a controversial goal that probably should have been an icing call instead. 

#OviWatch

With 40 goals this season, Ovi joins Phil Esposito, Brett Hull, Bobby Hull, and Luc Robitaille as players who have had eight 40-goal seasons. The record is (of course) held by Wayne Gretzky, who reached the 40 goal plateau a dozen times.

Here's where he stands in the all-time scoring list:

33 - Brian Trottier - 524 G, 1279 GP
34 - Pat Verbeek - 522 G, 1424 GP
35 - Dale Hawerchuk - 518 G, 1188 GP 
36 - Alex Ovechkin - 515 G, 819 GP
37 - Pierre Turgeon - 515 G, 1294 GP
38 - Jeremy Roenick - 513 G, 1363 GP
39 - Gilbert Perreault - 512 G, 1191 GP
40 - Jean Béliveau - 507 G, 1125 GP
41 - Peter Bondra - 503 G, 1081 GP
42 - Joe Mullen - 502 G, 1062 GP
43 - Lanny McDonald - 500 G, 1111 GP
44 - Glenn Anderson - 498 G, 1129 GP

With 61 games played, 21 games remaining, Ovi can still hit the 50-goal mark, if he scores a goal every other game. 

#HoltBEASTWatch

With 39 wins so far, and 21 games left to play, Holtby inches closer to the mark set by Martin Brodeur for wins in a single season (48). He has nine wins to go to tie that mark, 10 to surpass it. 

(Note: Although Holtby reached the 39 win platform in 50 games, he has now played 51 games.)

08 - 1982-83: Pete Peeters (40W in 62GP) V* 
       1984-85: Pelle Lindbergh (40W in 65GP) V*
       1987-88: Grant Fuhr (40W in 75GP) V*
09 - 2015-16: Braden Holtby (39W in 50GP)

       1995-96: Chris Osgood (39W in 50GP) J* 
       1998-99: Martin Brodeur (39W in 70GP)

Let's hope the loss against the Chicago Blackhawks was a fluke - like that no-call icing, and a couple of other things the zebras missed (like the elbow to Marcus Johansson's head...?) and not a sign of things to come... The team looked better as a whole, and Holtby was doing very well until the whistle failed to sound. Then he got caught with his goalie pants around his ankles. Ick. Yeah, I'm going to figure it for a fluke and leave it at that.

#KuzyaWatchin'

One goal over the weekend; no primary assists for Evgeny Kuznetsov, who still leads the league in that category with 35.

 
 

[25-Feb-2016] Playing too casually costs the Caps...

The score last night for the game between the Caps and the Montreal Canadiens was closer than the game was. Our beloved boys in red failed to take the struggling Habs seriously, and it cost them. By their captain's own admission, they thought it would be an easy game, which goes to show you:

NOTHING IS EASY; IF IT WERE EASY, EVERYONE WOULD DO IT!

The 4-3 loss knocks the Caps down a peg before they get too cocky and forget how to play the game completely, so I'll accept it, so long as (like the rest of the season), losing two in a row doesn't become a trend.

Enough said; on to Friday.

This upcoming Friday night (tomorrow), the Caps will take on the Minnesota Wild for the second and final time. The first game, played on 2/11, was a 4-3 Caps victory. Let's hope they take the Wild seriously and go play their usual brand of hard, heavy hockey. 

#LetsGoCaps