Pre-Game: Capitals @ Lightning

He got all of that one!

Pre-Game: Capitals vs Lightning

With the season winding down, the Capitals are getting closer and closer to locking up a top three spot in the Eastern Conference (or did they already clinch?). With seven games remaining--none against playoff teams--Washington has a great chance to catch New Jersey (tied with 97 points) and Boston (five points back).

While going 4-0 against Tampa thus far, the Caps should take the Lightning seriously as Ryan Malone is coming to fight play:

"It's kind of over," left wing Ryan Malone said. "I mean, there's not really much you can do anymore. If the hit is there, you want to finish your checks on him, but you have to keep your head up with him as well. It's just one of those things. He was celebrating his 50th goal, we understood that. But we still were embarrassed by it. It's our job to stick together."

Malone said the best retribution would be to "steal the two points."

Malone...Now there's a guy who's opinion matters and who always makes the right decisions.

Tampa has limped through the month of March, winning just four of 12 games with matchups against Ottawa and Boston looming. Nothing seems to be going right for a Lightning team that has a win percentage of .469 when scoring first. That translates into nine wins when giving up the first goal. That puts them at last and fourth-to-last in the league.

With a win tonight, it would mark the first time since tsweep of Tampa Bay would mark the first time since 2001 that Washington went undefeated against the Lightning (4-0-1). Who says the Caps play down to their competition?

Post-Game: Capitals @ Lightning

In a game where it seemed like everything could happen, everything did happen.

First off:

• Props to Mike Green on setting the NHL modern day record for consecutive games with a goal. 2/3 of his goals have come on the power play. Taking a quick look at the Caps schedule, and Green has got at least a goal against all of the Caps' opponents this month except Pittsburgh. Green has two assists in 11 games in his career against the Penguins.
• Props to Michal Neuvirth (remember the "hard" 't' at the end of his name) on his first NHL win in his first NHL game. His dad flew in from Czech Republic to see his son play. After the game, a fan asked for a picture with him and he responded by saying, "I flew in from Czech Republic yesterday." Maybe his son will take the time to teach him english.
• Props to Eric Fehr who has five goals in his last six games. Eric even had a game and career high of six shots on net in 13:00 minutes of ice time. He's starting to show much more confidence in the past few weeks.
• Props to RED NATION...or whatever Caps fans in other cities want to be called. The lower bowl was noticably red tonight, with Caps fans everywhere. Heck even Caps Road Crew was in attendance.

And:

• I did not approve for the Morrisonn over Alzner decision, but it paid off with Mo's goal. The Caps need their 'D' men to push each other, and with Alzner knocking on the door for playing time, Mo stepped up.
• I did not notice Kronwall a lot tonight, but when I did, it was bad. His man scored on the only goal, but other than that mishap, he fared well in tonight's game.
• Matt Smaby really decked out Ovechkin on a few nice hits tonight. He finished with a game-high four hits.
• Nick Backstrom was 3/13 on face-offs. Tisk, tisk. Backstrom MUST improve on this by late spring. He added two assists, but face-offs are crucial and 23% is pathetic.
• Semin with the goal. Semin with the hook. Every (explitive) game!
• I've noticed Tom Poti is taking more chances and skating with the puck deep into the opponents zone, but hasn't been rewarded yet. And the opponent has taken advantage of him being out of position...yet.

All in favor of starting Neuvirth tomorrow against Florida? Well, maybe not, but he looked darn good making 31 saves. Varlamov made the same amount in his last start and the goalie position looks pretty solid for the years to come.

Pre-Game: Capitals @ Lightning

Here's hoping for at least one more game of this for tonight:

NHL Image of the Night- January 13th

A view from outside the HP Pavilion is captured before the San Jose Sharks hosted the Tampa Bay Lightning. After beating Tampa Bay, San Jose is now 19-0-2 this year at home. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

NHL Image of the Night- January 12th

Ryan Malone of the Tampa Bay Lightning sends Matt Greene of the Los Angeles Kings into his bench during the first period. Tampa Bay defeated Los Angeles to move out of the cellar in the Southeast Division. Photo courtesy of the Associated Press.

Post-Game: Capitals vs Lightning

Okay sorry for the lack of posts, I've been caught up with things while I'm back in town for another week, but let's get right to it:

• First off, thoughts and prayers go out to Jamie Heward who suffered a concussion by the hands of Alex Ovechkin in the third period. It was soo erie at VC for the fiveish minutes that the former-Cap was down. Then the stretcher came out and when Jamie finally was carted off, the fans gave him a 'Standing O'.
• Hats off to Sean Collins who scored his first career NHL goal...On a side note, Collins did get his pocket picked by Martin St. Louis who ended up getting the secondary assist on Vincent Lecavalier's second goal of the night with 15 seconds left in the second period.
  
• Another 'hats off' to Chris Clark who notched his first goal of the season. Although only skating 11:30, Clark played his butt off and even got into some fisticuffs with Adam Hall.
• Speaking of Hall, he's played in the playoffs in four consecutive years, with three different teams...I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that his playoff streak ends this year.
• Ryan Malone is the biggest douche in the world. Watch him skate one shift and you'll agree.
• I hate having to pronounce Evgeny Artyukhin and Paul Szczechura. Please make it stop.
  
• Mike Smith would be a good goalie if a) he wasn't an idiot and b) he didn't leave the crease every chance he got.
• For every five spin moves Michael Nylander does in the neutral/defensive zone, he turns the puck over...and this time it led to Tampa's second goal that cut the lead to 3-2. He redeemed himself on the nice assist on Clark's goal.
  
• That penalty shot was bullshit. Mike Green swept the puck away, then tripped Hall...And for those looking for tendencies, looks like the poke check is Brent Johnson's go-to move in the shootout.
• Ovie owned Steve Eminger, hands-down.
• Caps have won in the last 13 games that Boyd Gordon has scored in.
• Greenie would be on pace for a 30 goal season had he played in every game this season.

And finally a Capitals story to read regarding the Winter Classic...I promise, it's short.

NHL Image of the Night- December 2nd

Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Mike Smith remains on the ground after a Flyers' player collided with him. Philadelphia won the game 4-3 in overtime. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

NHL Image of the Night- November 26th

Colton Orr of the New York Rangers takes a blow from David Koci of the Tampa Bay Lightning. New York won 3-2 (2-0) in the shootout. Photo courtesy of the Associated Press.

NHL Image of the Night- November 23rd

Dainius Zubrus of the New Jersey Devils skates in to score on the Tampa Bay Lightning. Zubrus finished with four goals, a career high. Photo courtesy of the Associated Press

Lightning Fire Melrose, Tocchet Takes Over

Barry Melrose was fired today after just 16 games. Associate Coach Rick Tocchet has been promoted in interm head coach. This is what Executive Vice President and General Manger Brian Lawton had to say:

"It was a tough decision to make," Lawton said, "Barry is a good man and we have a great deal of respect for him. We wish him nothing but success. However, the results were unacceptable and the players have to understand that we need to be better. Hopefully this change will push them."

Melrose was the sixth coach in Tampa Bay Lightning history and compiled a 5-7-4 record during his tenure.

Post-Game: Capitals vs Lightning

The Washington Capitals gave Olie Kolzig an unpleasant homecoming, scoring on the first two shots of the game, and eventually winning 4-2.

• First of all, hats off to Brent Johnson who had a hell of a game stopping 34/36 shots. He is now 10-3-3 under Bruce Boudreau. Johnny has started four straight, but it is still unclear who will get the nod Wednesday night in Carolina.
  
• Tom Poti scored has scored goals in two straight games for the first time since 2003. Poti had two goals in 71 games last season.
  
• Donald Brashear picked up his second assist of the season. Brash has not got a point since the home opener.
• Mike Green also scored, adding his fifth goal of the year. He is now tied with Sheldon Souray of Edmonton for second in the league.
  
• Eric Fehr scored his first goal of the season. It was his first regular season goal since February 26th of last year.
• Alex Ovechkin ended his goal drought, scoring on a tip-in from Alex Semin late in the 3rd period.
  
• Gary Roberts tallied his first goal of the season in the 2nd period...And his second goal of the season in the third period.
• 11 different Washington players recorded a point on the night.
• Former Capital, Steve Eminger was on the ice for all three of Washington's first period goals.
  
• Tampa Bay converted on 2/5 power plays, while Washington went 0/4.
• Ryan Malone left early in the game with a lower-body injury and did not return.
• The Capitals played without the services of Sergei Fedorov, Viktor Kozlov, and Shaone Morrisonn.
  
• Washington's win streak against Tampa Bay is now six games in-a-row.
• The Lightning had 17 blocked shots, compared to the Caps' eight.
• Washington remained undefeated in regulation at home (6-0-1), and improved their overall record to 8-4-2.

AP RECAP

Pre-Game: Capitals vs Lightning

The Washington Capitals (7-4-2) welcome home an array of former Capitals tonight against Tampa Bay. Matt Pettinger, Steve Eminger, and Olie Kolzig will all play tonight for the first time against their former team. The Lightning (5-4-4) had lofty expectations coming into the year with big off-season pick-ups, but got off to a slow start (1-3-3). Since then, they have picked up the pace and have won four of the last six.

• Washington won the season series last year, 6-2, and have a five game win streak against Tampa.
• The Capitals are the only team in the Eastern Conference that is undefeated at home in regulation (5-0-1). They are among San Jose, Edmonton, and Chicago as the only undefeated teams (at home) in the NHL.
• Cap killers Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis combined for seven goals and thirteen assists in the eight meetings the teams had last year.
• 2008 1st overall pick, Steve Stamkos, has just four points (2-2-4) on the year and has only scored in one game.
  
• Kolzig is going to make his third start of the young season. Olie is 1-1-1 with a 2.67 GAA, allowing two goals or less in two of his three starts.
• Brent Johnson will make his fourth straight start. He was recently named Third Star of the Week with his 2-0-1/1.63/.953 stat line.
• The last time Washington played without Kolzig on their roster was in 1995. It took Olie 14 games and eight starts before he won his first NHL game. The Capitals were victorious against the Islanders 5-2 at the US Airways Arena.
• Alex Ovechkin has the least amount of points (27) and shots (121) against the Lightning compared to other Southeast Division foes.
• Washington should look to get on the board first as Tampa Bay is 2-3-2 when the opposition scores first. The Lightning have also had trouble holding leads and are 3-1-2 (.500 win % is second to last in the league) when leading at the first intermission.
  

Fight(s) of the Week

This segment looks at the best NHL hockey fights of the week that was. I will try to limit the segment to one or two fights. If there is a fight that you think I missed, feel free to email me the link of the fight.

NHL Image of the Night- November 5th

Mike Smith of the Tampa Bay Lightning makes one of 38 saves against Colin White and the New Jersey Devils during the Devils 4-3 victory in the shootout. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

NHL Image of the Night- October 30th

Steven Stamkos and Vincent Lecavalier celebrate Stamkos' first career NHL goal in the first period of the Lightning's 5-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Stamkos finished with two goals on the night. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.