What is Going on Here?

'Canes fans sure do have interesting ways of celebrating!

Pictures from the Caps Road Crew

So I finally got my pictures back from CRC's trip to Carolina on March 21st, and without further ado:

Pre-Game: Capitals @ Hurricanes

I'll be traveling for the first time with the Caps Road Crew down to the RBC Center to watch the Caps take on the Canes. I'll be taking pictures, but it will be a few days before their uploaded (cheap camera). The only thing I forgot on my trip back home for the weekend was my laptop charger, so that being said, I'll be back on Monday morning with some postgame notes.

Pre-Game: Capitals vs Hurricanes

A change of venue was just what this Capitals team needed as they went on the road to snap a season-long four game losing streak. While the Caps may not be as invincible as some thought on home ice, they have won five straight on the road and are third in the Conference in road wins.

Now they welcome in a Carolina team that is log-jammed in the thick of the playoff race. They currently hold the eight spot, up by a point on Florida, but they are just two wins back from Philadelphia who is in fourth place with 82 points.

Although they've dropped their past two, the Canes have enjoyed the start of March where they have gone 4-1-1, averaging 4.5 goals-per-game including a 9-3 trouncing of the Lightning. In that game, Carolina was 60% with the extra man (3/5). The Cane's power play has scored in seven straight games dating back to their 5-3 defeat against the Thrashers to end February.

Goals with the extra man should be hard to come by against a stingy Caps penalty kill that has successfully killed off the past eight penalty kills. The stats can be deceiving--Washington ranks second-to-last in power play goals against-- yet have seem to found some stability while being a man down.

While the key to winning may not be solely dependent on special teams, the Capitals have struggled within the face-off circle. Without Sergei Fedorov last game, the Caps won just two face-offs in the first period and won just 33% of face-offs on the night.

Feds is still questionable tonight, but is much needed against a Carolina team that ranks in the top 10 in face-off percentage in the league. Donald Brashear is still listed as questionable, but we don't need him Caps Insider is reporting that his condition is improving.

Both the Devils and Bruins won their last game and are playing tonight...So, with that being said. No more losing streaks with just 13 games left...

NHL Image of the Night- January 15th

Ian White of the Toronto Maple Leafs is called for high sticking against Tuomo Ruutu and the Carolina Hurricanes. The 'Canes would score on the ensuing power play, but it was not enough as the Maple Leafs won 6-4. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

NHL Image of the Night- December 18th

Panthers' forward Richard Zednik gets a boost thanks to Sergei Samsanov of the Carolina Hurricanes. Carolina defeated Florida in overtime, 2-1. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

NHL Image of the Night- December 11th

Michael Leighton of the Carolina Hurricanes is unable to stop Mike Richards of the Philadelphia Flyers during the shootout. Richards scored the game-winning goal and the Flyers won 6-5 (2-0). Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Pre-Game: Capitals @ Hurricanes

I have tons of school work today, the Capitals game to watch, and the Redskins game to watch, so I will keep it relatively short:

• After scoring his AHL-leading 18th goal of the season, Alexandre Giroux, was rewarded with a call-up. He last played in the NHL in 2007. Washington is 2-7 with Giroux in the lineup, and 2-0 when he scores.
• The Capitals will have 11 former Bears players in the lineup tonight. I'm intrigued to see if Giroux and Keith Aucoin can keep their chemistry going like they had in the AHL. Aucoin leads the AHL in points, and Giroux leads the AHL in goals.
• Jose Theodore will get the start tonight...It looked as though Brent Johnson might have pulled/tweaked something before conceding a goal to Nik Antropov last night. JT60 is 2-0 at the RBC Center in his last two outings.
• Carolina is currently second worst in the power play (13.5%) and bottom six in home penalty kill. The Hurricanes average a low 2.5 goals-per-game and are tied for last with just 16 1st period goals...The Capitals are second in the league with 31 goals-for in the opening frame.
  
• Nicklas Backstrom has 10 points in 10 games against Carolina. His last game against the Canes, he scored a goal and added three assists.
  

Post-Game: Capitals @ Hurricanes

The Washington Capitals score three goals in the first period for a second straight game and dominated the Carolina Hurricanes, 5-1.

• Brent Johnson did not return for the second period. Johnny looked as though he hurt his hip making a save late in the first period. Brent made 13 saves on 14 shots in the first, and Jose Theodore saved all 13 Canes shots he faced.
  
• The Young Guns combined for five goals and nine assists and were the only Capitals players to record points. Granted there were some times where the guys were getting "too cute" like always, but I don't think Gabby can bring that up with the top line's overall performance.
  
• Nicklas Backstrom scored his first goal of the year (finally). Alex Semin has scored in the past five games against Carolina. Sascha now leads the league in goals... again. Mike Green moved into sole position of second place for goals by 'D' men. Alex Ovechkin scored for the second straight game. This line is hands-down the best in the NHL, and if they can keep it up on a night-to-night basis, the Capitals will be playing hockey in June.
• The only negative aspect that Caps fans could take away from this game is the penalties. The Capitals were flagged for seven minors (three by Milan Jurcina, two by Semin, a rare minor by Boyd Gordon, and a trip by John Erskine). Carolina only capitalized on one, thanks to some great penalty killing. The PKers even killed off a 5-3 for over a minute in the first period.
  
• Washington has now won their past four games and got points in seven of the past eight games. This brings them atop the Southeast Division, two points ahead of Carolina. Up next for the Caps is a home-and-home game against the New Jersey Devils before traveling out west for a four game road trip.

One last thing: Tonight I watched the game online through the Hurricane's feed. I could handle the announcers mispronouncing "Nylander" or even them ragging on Semin's ability to speak English, but honestly how could the network mess this up?

Sorry for the bad quality, but the old Capitals logo at the end of the clip is inexcusable... Every Capitals replay concluded with their OLD logo flying across the screen. C'om on, seriously?

Pre-Game: Capitals @ Hurricanes

Washington will go for their fourth straight win tonight at the RBC Center playing against a Carolina team that they defeated 3-2 less than a week ago.

• Carolina is 0-2 playing within the division... the Capitals are 2-1.
• The Hurricanes are one of seven teams that does not have a winning record at home( 3-3).
• The Canes are 5-1-2 in one-goal games.
  
• Michael Leighton (4-1/2.37/.921) will make the start for the Hurricanes tonight. (Personally one of my favorite goalies...we share the same last name, no relation though).
• Carolina's penalty kill is only 76% at home, but 85% on the road.
  
• The Caps are 2-6 the past two seasons at the RBC Center.
• Brent Johnson (4-1-2/2.10/.931) will make his fifth straight start, something he has done only once since 2003.
  
• Viktor Kozlov will return to the lineup tonight, and should be on the same line as Michael Nylander and Tomas Fleischmann.
• Alex Ovechkin scored the most goals (7) and took the most shots (52) against Carolina compared to any other team last year.
  
• Washington can take sole position of first in the Southeast with a win tonight.

Capitals Preview

Hurricanes Preview

Post-Game: Capitals vs Hurricanes

In the most exciting game of the season, the Washington Capitals beat the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 thanks to Alexander Semin's two goals in the final three minutes.

• Semin has 10 goals on the year.
• He also has 7 multi-point games.
• Shaone Morrisonn pulled his groin early and did not return for the second period.
• Washington won the face-off battle, 35-20.
• Brent Johnson played well again, stopping 32 of 34 shots.
• Johnny has faced 115 shots in his past three starts, turning away 108 for a save percentage of 94%.
  
• Fedorov, Ovechkin, and Semin combined for three goals and three assists.
• Sergei was injured late in the game, only skating 13:37.
• Alex Ovechkin is now scoreless in his last eight games, the longest drought of his career.
• OV recorded three assists in a game for the sixth time in his career. His last three-assist game came against...Carolina last February.
  
• Brooks Laich took a shot to the ankle late in the second period, but returned later in the game.
• Backstrom, Fedorov, and Semin combined for 14 shots (and three goals).
• Carolina's Joe Corvo, Eric Staal, and Ray Whitney combined for 15 shots... but just one point (Corvo assist) came out of it.
• Chris Clark skated less than nine minutes...again. He was on the ice for less than eight minutes against Ottawa as well.
• Did Ovechkin get a haircut?

AP Recap

Pre-Game: Capitals vs Hurricanes

The Washington Capitals return home from their two-game road trip (0-1-1) to face the Carolina Hurricanes for the first time this year. Carolina is only the second Southeast Division foe they have faced so far, but the Capitals will play within the division in three of the next four games. Brent Johnson will get the start once again after a stellar performance against Ottawa.

What to Watch for:

• Carolina (7-3-2) leads the division with 16 points.
• The Hurricanes have won three of the past four games.
  
• Washington and Carolina split the season series last year (4-4).
• Carolina's penalty-kill at home is 70% and only 78% overall.
• The 'Canes give up an average of 33 shots a game, fourth highest in the league.
• Alex Ovechkin has scored 17 goals in his career against Carolina, good for the second-most among all teams (Alex has 20 career goals against Atlanta).
• Eric Staal averages more than four shots a game against Washington...Alex Ovechkin averages six shots a game versus Carolina.
• The Capitals have been shutout by Cam Ward more than any other team.
• Brent Johnson has a lifetime GAA of 2.94 and a 92% save percentage.
  
• Scott Walker was activated off the IR, and will play his second game of the season tonight.

Capitals Preview

AP Preview

Hurricanes Preview

NHL Image of the Night- November 2nd

Alex Steen of the Toronto Maple Leafs found a road-block in Carolina's Sergei Samsonov and Tim Gleason during the Hurricanes' 6-4 victory. Photo courtesy of the Associated Press.