Stanley Cup Roundup: Day 1

The hits. The saves. The goals. There's just nothing like the Stanley Cup playoffs. Here's how night #1 went down:

DETROIT RED WINGS 4, PHOENIX COYOTES 2
Detroit leads series 1-0

Detroit's annual goal is to win the last game of the Stanley Cup playoffs. They won the first thanks to goaltending and special teams. Jimmy Howard carried the Wings through the 1st period, and Phoenix was unable to capitalize on some early power play opportunities, including a 5-on-3. In the 2nd, Detroit scored a power play goal, and another goal just after a power play expired. Players like Datsyuk and Franzen were engineered for the playoffs.

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 3, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING 0
Pittsburgh leads series 1-0

M.A. Fleury was all over the place, stopping 32 shots for his 5th career playoff shutout. Kovalev and Arron Asham did the scoring, plus Chris Kunitz added an empty-netter. The power play reliant Lightning only had 1 power play opportunity. Stamkos was held to one shot, and met Mr. Brooks Orpik.

WASHINGTON CAPITALS 2, NEW YORK RANGERS 1 (OT)
Washington leads series 1-0

The Rangers were on their way to a 1-0 shutout over the Caps. Late in the 3rd, Lundqvist locks up a puck between his thighs, Ovechkin pokes at it, the ref is tardy with his whistle, the puck rolls across the line. Then after almost a full period of OT, fatigue catches up with Marc Staal who gives the puck away to Jason Arnott. Then Alexander Semin scores the winner. Without Ryan Callahan, the Rangers might be in serious trouble.

VANCOUVER CANUCKS 2, CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS 0
Vancouver leads series 1-0

Roberto Luongo was brilliant. 32 stunning saves. His 2nd career playoff shutout. Chicago held the Sedins scoreless, but weren't able to do much offensively themselves. This Blackhawks team is just completely different without Dustin Byfuglien driving the engine. Sharp, Kane, and Toews need to show up.

NASHVILLE PREDATORS 4, ANAHEIM DUCKS 1
Nashville leads series 1-0

Mike Fisher scored twice with an assist, Shea Weber had a few big hits and a power play goal, but the star of the game was Pekka Rinne, who made an unbelievable kick save to keep the game at 1-0. As you might expect from a blowout, there was some ugliness at the end. The Ducks collected 32 penalty minutes in the last 15 seconds.

Tonight's games:
7:00 PM - Canadiens @ Bruins - NESN (Versus nationally)
7:30 PM - Sabres @ Flyers
10:00 PM - Kings @ Sharks - Versus

-The Commodore

Stanley Cup Playoffs: East Preview

The most exciting postseason in pro sports begins Wednesday. Here's a preview of the first round Eastern Conference matchups:

#1 WASHINGTON CAPITALS vs. #8 NEW YORK RANGERS
Ovechkin had an atypical year, only scoring 32 goals and 53 assists. The Capitals found some defensive discipline, and guys like Semin and Knuble contributed on offense. The Rangers won the season series, thanks in no small part to Henrik Lundqvist, who allowed 4 goals in 3 games against Washington. If guys like Marian Gaborik wake up for New York, it might be another early exit for Washington. I'm picking the Rangers in 7.

#2 PHILADELPHIA FLYERS vs. #7 BUFFALO SABRES
The Flyers limped down the stretch, having clinched their division long ago. They boast some serious playoff experience, and a number of dangerous forwards. Buffalo also have some weapons. Thomas Vanek and Drew Stafford each surpassed 30 goals. And an ex-Vezina winner in net always helps. I think Buffalo takes an early lead in this series, then the Flyers wake up and win in 6.

#3 BOSTON BRUINS vs. #6 MONTREAL CANADIENS
Strength vs. speed. I'm not very optimistic about the Bruins in the postseason, but I think they'll be able to instill fear in the Canadiens. Montreal doesn't have the high flying offense they once had, and Tim Thomas will help shutdown the Habs' power play. Bruins in 6.

#4 PITTSBURGH PENGUINS vs. #5 TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
No Crosby, no Malkin, no problem. The Penguins have been playing playoff calibre hockey for months now. They grind out every battle, turn every inch of the ice into a war zone, and make opponents pay for everything. Tampa Bay falls down too easily, their offense is too reliant on the power play (less penalties are called in the playoffs), and Pittsburgh's goaltending is far superior. Penguins in 5.

I actually think Pittsburgh will win the East. We'll preview the Western Conference tomorrow.

-The Commodore

Bruins @ Capitals Preview

The Bruins have beat the Capitals twice already this year and have outscored them at total of 7-2. The Bruins are rolling so well right now I am almost waiting for something to go wrong, but until then let's enjoy the ride.

Obviously Boston is winning because of the great play of Tim Thomas, but it doesn't just stop their. Their penalty kill has been amazing, and players like Horton, Lucic, Bergeron, Krejci, and Ryder (surprise!) have been playing up to expectations.

The Captials are a great offensive team, but with the way the Bruins defense/goaltending have been playing I think they can shut them down, and the difference from last year is the Bruins actually have enough offense to win these games.

I say let the good times keep rolling. The Bruins are a much more physical team, they have a better goalie, and their defense is maybe the best in the NHL. That all ends up to the Bruins shutting down the Capitals once again.

Bruins win 3-1
Player of the Game: Chara
Game starts at 7pm on NESN.

Bruins 4, Capitals 1

It's hard not be excited right now. Granted, it's October. The important months of the season are an entire winter, plus big chunks of fall and spring, away. But the Bruins have a stellar goalie in net, forwards who can score, defensemen who can defend, guys who can fight, guys who can pass, guys who can hit, guys who can check. This is the best I've seen the Bruins play since they swept the Canadiens in '09.

And there's the chance to improve. Tyler Seguin is already seeing the ice, and feeling the play like a 3 year veteran. Savard and Sturm are on the mend. Nine players on the roster are under 25.

But there's also room to improve. Tim Thomas had a simply stupendous night last night. But even before the silly goal he allowed, I intended to mention that he seemed a bit too confident and aggressive. I don't mind when he ventures a few feet out of the crease. But when the distance between him and the net is expressed in yards, not feet, I get a little concerned.

Then there was the puck handling. Not only was he struggling with it all night, his decisions to handle the puck at all were flat out stupid.

The goal Thomas allowed was a rarity. Almost never is a goal 100% the goalie's fault. This one was. Ference had 3 or 4 strides on Chimera. Even if Chimera was going to catch up, Ference was in perfect position to prevent any shot on net.

Thomas has every right to be thrilled at being back to Vezina form. But he needs to temper that excitement, and just do his job. Which he did pretty well last night.

Speaking of mistakes, Blake Wheeler made them almost every time he was on the ice. Awful shots, bad passes, turnovers, defensive miscues, general confusion. He's useless. At least Ryder's remembered how to be a goal scorer.

But I don't know how much longer Wheeler should be allowed to dress. When Sturm comes back, I'd rather have an energy guy like Caron on the ice. I guess you could take Marchand off, but who leaves when Savard returns?

The Bruins had severe difficulty moving the puck out of their own zone. In the 1st period, Thomas had to save the game multiple times because of this. Then with a 2-0 lead, Washington pressed, and it all happened again. This has been a glaring flaw for the Bruins for years, exposed most memorably by Carolina in 2009.

Defensemen don't have to score goals to contribute to the offense. They just have to move the puck forward. That also helps a great deal on defense. For years, B's fans have clamored for "a puck moving defenseman." Well, the team needs about four of those, not just one.

But back to positives:

Bergeron had a classic Bergeron game, and got 2 assists to show for it.

Boychuk remains a psycho.

Jordan Caron is fighting for that ice time, and he's winning the fight.



Chara and the defense put the hurt on Ovechkin, especially Seidenberg.



BUNDLED!

Horton has a point in all 5 games so far.

Lucic was effective on the boards, and in front of the net. I like seeing him on the PP unit, causing mayhem in the crease.

Rechhi as the point man for the PP unit seemed to work pretty well. We'll see what happens when opposing penalty killers challenge him at the blue-line. Nevertheless, the power-play looked vastly improved.

Ryder's trade value went up a notch.

Seguin is the total package. He can shoot, he can do the smart things defensively, and the kid can pass anywhere, anytime. If he ever gets paired with another player who can score like him, the flying circus shall commence.



Shawn Thornton's line was physical, they altered the flow of the game, and they left an impression.

I'm pretty excited. In case you can't tell by the length of this post recapping the 5th game of the regular season.

Bruins host the Rangers on Saturday night.

-The Commodore

Capitals @ Bruins Preview

After beating the Capitals at their arena on Tuesday the Bruins have to play them again tonight, except this time in Boston (home opener). Tukka Rask is getting the start tonight, after not starting since the first game of the year. He didn't play well in that game letting up 4 goals, but in his defense the whole team played flat, so if they can play like they have the last 3 games it should be a very different outcome.

Boston has been able to get their scoring going this year, scoring at least 3 goals in each of their last 3 games. A big reason for that is the arrival of Nathan
Horton who has 6 points (3 goals, 3 assists) in 4 games, while Krejci has also been playing well totaling 6 points as well.

With the Bruins it's about crashing the net, and being more physical (especially when playing a team like the Capitals). Ovechkin is always dangerous, but Chara did a decent job last time of keeping him quiet. The Bruins also need to keep an eye on Nicklas Backstrom, who has a tendency to light up the Bruins.

If they Bruins play physical, like they did last game, and don't turn the puck over in the neutral zone they can beat this team again.

Bruins win 5-3
Player of the Game: Recchi
Game starts at 7pm on NESN.

Bruins 3, Capitals 1

This was the biggest test of the year for the Bruins. New Jersey had been scuffling. But the Caps had been excelling. And the Bruins went down to Washington and won 3-1.

It is once again Tim Thomas time, folks. All the Tuukka Rask fans can pout, but Tim Thomas, so far, is back to Vezina form. He had more than a few big saves early on that maintained a 0-0 score until Horton and Krejci hooked up in the 1st.



I'm in love with Nathan Horton already. Unlike useless forwards like Ryder and Wheeler, Horton just understands what to do with the puck. He has good instincts, he's calm, he's precise, he's an NHL forward. Everything he does has a purpose. There's little hesitation, and no confusion.

Goaltending is an equation of time and space. How much time will some space be open for a shot to slip past. Horton's pass to Krejci, and then Krejci's sharpshooter strike, was an example of forwards defeating the goaltender's time/space equation. The space was closing, but Horton passed perfectly to Krejci, and Krejci shot in time to beat the goalie. Beautiful stuff.

Milan Lucic has added goal scoring to his repertoire. He's tallied 3 already. It took him 16 games to score 3 goals in 09-10. He's been hanging out in the slot, utilizing his quick hands, and outmuscling/outworking his opponent. Not only is he a junk-goal-junkie, he's a warrior on the boards, winning one-on-one battles about 2/3 of the time.

Speaking of warriors, Gregory Campbell is quickly becoming one of my favorite players. The Bruins need guys like this, who have an identity as a player. Blake Wheeler is still trying to find himself. And Michael Ryder is a finesse player that lacks the skills and poise to be any good. Campbell will not score, except by accident. Even his occasional assists will be by default. But he can alter the tempo and pace of a game.

If the Bruins could get their Power Play working, look out. That might change when/if Savard returns. Sturm also helps that unit.

If this team keeps its head about them, if they learn that killer instinct, if they learn how to turn a flesh wound into a mortal wound, how to turn a cut into a gash, an injury into a kill; they can do some serious damage in the Spring.

Capitals @ Bruins in the home opener Thursday. Are you pumped? Because I'm pumped.



-The Commodore

Bruins @ Capitals Preview

The Bruins looked terrible the first game of the season, but in the last 2 they are starting to look like the team I thought I would be seeing all season. One of the big reasons for that is the play of Tim Thomas, who will be making his 3rd straight start. Although I don't bash Rask like the Captain does, I did predict that Thomas would be the starting goalie going into the playoffs. It's not that Rask is bad, it's just that it is tough to do what he did last season again when he is so young, and Thomas has always been consistently good (yes, even last year).

Tonight, is a really interesting game. The Capitals have started off hot. They are 4-1, but when you look closer you'll see that they have been losing going into the 3rd in each of their past 3 games. The reason I bring this up is because the Bruins problem last year was playing well for 3 straight periods. They would come out dominate, and then disappear at some point. So, I will be watching to see if they can play with more consistency.

The Capitals are a top 2 team in the East, so to say I expect the Bruins to win might be overdoing it, but in a way I really do believe the Bruins aren't far behind this team (especially when they get Savard back). Boston is going to need Thomas to have a big game, but the good news is that I feel like this is a team that the Bruins can score on.

I want to see the Bruins come out and be very physical, because the Capitals are definitely the faster team, but the Bruins (when they want to be) are the tougher team.

Bruins win in OT 4-3
Player of the Game: Horton
Game starts at 7:30pm

NHL Finally Does Something Smart

"The rival Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins will be featured in a reality show as part of their showdown in the Winter Classic. HBO will air four hour-long episodes in its "24/7" franchise before and after the Jan. 1 game at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.

The NHL and the network announced Thursday that the series will premiere Dec. 15 and air on each of the next three Wednesdays. The Penguins' Sidney Crosby and Washington's Alex Ovechkin will face each other in the fourth installment of the Winter Classic at the outdoor home of the Steelers (ESPN)."

HBO does an awesome job with this kind of stuff. Their 24/7 stuff on boxing is usually better then the actually fight, and even knows how good "Hard Knocks" is, so it is about time the NHL jumped of this bandwagon. Crosby vs. Ovechkin is the best thing the NHL has going for itself, and for once the NHL is going to take advantage and market the hell out of it.

I also think every sport should have a "Hard Knocks" type of thing going into the season.

Pittsburgh Gets 2011 Winter Classic

Heinz Field will host the 2011 Winter Classic, as the 2009 Stanley Cup Champion Penguins will host perennial powerhouse/chokers: the Washington Capitals. That's not surprising, but it does pose a few questions.

Has the NHL beaten the Crosby vs. Ovechkin horse to death? I mean one guy is as boring as wallpaper samples, and the other guy can barely speak English. The NHL has been trying to prop up this "rivalry," but the two teams play in different divisions, and have only played one forgettable postseason series against each other. How can you have a rivalry when you meet each other only 4 times out of 80 each season?

Then there's another question. Why not New York/New Jersey. Why can't the Devils host the Rangers in what would be a media extravaganza? Those teams are rivals, and it'd get as much media attention as anything in Western PA could. Also consider the fact that the Penguins have already played in a Winter Classic (they'd be the first to play in 2) in Buffalo, which was essentially a showcase for Crosby.

I don't have any major beefs with Pittsburgh vs. Washington in Pittsburgh for the 2011 Winter Classic. So long as the Penguins don't play in another Classic for some time.

And if the NHL wants to build rivalries, as they seemingly do with this move, then maybe they should eliminate the purposeless teams like Nashville, Tampa Bay, Florida, Phoenix, Columbus, the Islanders, Nashville.

-The Commodore

Stanley Cup Series Updates: Eastern Conference

As you may have read earlier, I've been away for the past few days, so I was unable to do the Stanley Cup Round-Ups. So here's a refresher on where the Eastern Conference playoff series stand.

BOSTON LEADS BUFFALO 3-1

Stellar goaltending from both teams along with classic physical hockey has generated a much tighter and exciting series than the 3-1 standing would indicate. Tuukka Rask has spearheaded Boston's efforts, while Mark Recchi, Patrice Bergeron, and even Dennis Wideman have been the heroes for Boston. The series swung last night on a 2OT Boston win. The Sabres are without Vanek, their best scorer. And that devastating loss might just push them over the edge of the cliff.

WASHINGTON LEADS MONTREAL 3-1

This series has not seen stellar goaltending. Both teams have resorted to their backups. 31 total goals in 4 games. But Washington's offense is simply more potent than Montreal's. Backstrom has 5 goals and 4 assists, Ovehckin has 4 and 4. #1 seeded Washington should advance (2 of remaining 3 games in the series are in Washington), but some glaring weaknesses have been exposed.

PHILADELPHIA LEADS NEW JERSEY 3-1

The surprise of the Eastern Conference? Not really. Philly handled the Devils in the regular season, and have good numbers against Brodeur the past couple of years. The much maligned Brian Boucher has turned it up in the postseason, registering a 1.98 GAA (3rd best). But the Devils haven't been able to shoot the puck much. 26.8 per game (13th).

PITTSBURGH LEADS OTTAWA 3-1

This 3-1 series lead is perhaps the most dominant. Pittsburgh crushed Ottawa 7-4 Tuesday night. Crosby leads all playoff players with 11 points (4 goals, 7 assists). Ottawa's goaltending has been dreadful, while M.A. Fleury has settled down a bit from his Game 1 meltdown. Pittsburgh should finish the job tonight.

So as it is, the 1, 4, 6, and 7 seeds would advance. Which would set up 2nd round match-ups of: #1 Washington vs. #7 Philadelphia, and #4 Pittsburgh vs. #6 Boston. Hmmmmmm. Pittsburgh and Boston? Didn't they have a little drama a few weeks ago? And isn't there speculation that Marc Savard might return? Very interesting.

-The Commodore

Bruins Win Their Way Into Playoffs

The Bruins took care of their own business this weekend, clinching a playoff berth with a 4-2 win over Carolina. To add an exclamation point to that, they went down to Washington and beat the Caps 4-3 in overtime.

The big story from Saturday's win was how the Bruins scored 3 goals. Not only were all 3 scored in a 64 second stretch, they all came shorthanded. It was an NHL record for the most goals scored in one power play by the penalty killing team. It doubled the B's shorthanded total of the season.

But the two goals allowed served as poignant reminders of their inconsistent ways. The first was a wrap-around that Johnny Boychuk could have stopped before it started. The second came from a series of turnovers in the defensive zone, as the Bruins failed to properly formulate their breakout attempts.

At the same time, the referees had an awful game. It was NBA quality officiating, the most notable example being an early whistle when a poorly positioned ref lost sight of the puck in Cam Ward's pads (he was in the corner behind the net, so half of Ward's body was obstructed, yet he was faster on the draw than Clint Eastwood in the Dollars Trilogy). Bergeron slapped in the loose puck, but the ref had blown his whistle and the call.

Bergeron also had the play of the night. On a delayed penalty, Rask skated off for the extra attacker, and an unfortunate carom off the boards sent the puck on a path toward the empty net...



The Sunday afternoon win in Washington was nice, but I wouldn't think too much of it. Both teams had their #2 goalies in net. Both teams leaned on their younger players. Recchi, Bergeron, Chara, and Sobotka all got the day off. But the good news was that Michael Ryder woke up and scored twice. He actually looked confident and firm with the puck. In the previous 22 games, Ryder had scored 1 goal, and only had 5 assists in that stretch.

The Bruins finished the season with 91 points, their 3rd consecutive year with 90+. They haven't had three straight years with 90+ points since 1984. It's hardly a parade-worthy achievement, but when you're a Bruins fan, you learn to enjoy the small triumphs.

It'll be the Bruins and Sabres. In depth preview forthcoming. But as a Bruins fan, you can't ask for a better match-up than that.

-The Commodore

Capitals 3, Bruins 2 (OT)

Very few teams have gone down to Washington and left with any points. Only 16 times this season have the Caps allowed a visitor to get any points. Their visiting opponents have tallied a grand total of 26 points in 39 games (10-23-6 record). What I'm trying to demonstrate is that an OT loss in Washington is a good result.

Holding Washington to 2 regulation goals and 3 total is also a noteworthy achievement. The Caps average 3.85 goals per game. And remember the Bruins did this without Seidenberg and Stuart.

Apart from a few miscues, the B's played an excellent game, especially in their defensive zone. Dennis Wideman had his best outing of the season, scoring a goal and kick-starting the play that resulted in another.

But the Bruins' deficiencies were also made apparent in this game. Michael Ryder had a golden opportunity to score against Spaz Theodore, who'd gone horizontal. But Ryder utterly failed to elevate the puck into the 12 foot square hole in front of him.

Brooks Laich's game-winning goal in OT made me think about the Bruins' forwards. The puck hit Laich's chest, fell at his feet, and he reacted to it in half a heartbeat. Apart from Recchi, none of the Bruins are capable of this kind of quickness and awareness.

The Bruins have a few days of scoreboard watching before they host Buffalo on Thursday. Here's what the standings look like today:

Team - Games Remaining - Points
6. Montreal - 3 - 86 points
7. BOSTON - 3 - 85 points
8. Philadelphia - 3 - 84 points
------------------------
9. NY Rangers - 4 - 82 points
10. Atlanta - 3 - 81 points

-The Commodore

Bruins @ Capitals Preview

This could be a first round matchup in the playoffs, but the Bruins need to get there first, and I doubt there is a team they would less like to play. To make it worst the Bruins play them twice this week.

Boston is 0-2 against the Capitals this year, losing 4-1 in each of the games. The Capitals are going to score, and that is tough for the Bruins since they have a hard time putting up point. I don't care how good Rask plays it is almost impossible to keep this team under 3 goals in a game.

Boston is tied with Philly for the last 2 playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. The the Rangers only behind them by 2 points. It is going to be a real close call as to whether or not the Bruins will make it, but if they can somehow pull of this win, which usually means Rask having the game of his life, then they will be in good shape. Boston needs to take advantage of any power play opportunities, and keep the Capitals frustrated, by putting a body on them on the boards. If this becomes a "fast" game, the Bruins will get crushed.

Capitals 4, Bruins 1

I went to this game last night. And I wore my Vladislav Tretiak jersey. Tretiak was a revolutionary goalie who won 3 gold medals for the USSR in '72, '76 and '84. Why does Evgeni Nabokov wear the #20? Because Vladislav Tretiak wore it fist. Tretiak was awarded the Order of Lenin, which was a big deal in the USSR. He's also the first player inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame to have never played a North American game.



So I wore this jersey because USSR=anti-capitalism=anti-Capitals=fuck Ovechkin. Get it? Kind of a nerdy joke. Plus it's one of my favorite jerseys ever. And I wore a Bruins shirt underneath it, along with a Bruins scarf, and my Zdeno Chara bobblehead pin.

The Bruins played an inspirational 2/3 of a game. Jose Theodore was "on" and by that I mean he stuck his glove and his stick in random, disjointed locations, and the puck just so happened to find it. I'll never respect Jose Theodore, he's a primitive and savage netminder, and if the Bruins were more sophisticated shooters, they would've been able to take advantage. Or if they'd been able to insist enough of a presence in the crease.

It's closing time for the Ryder-Krejci-Wheeler line. Sobotka and Bitz were healthy scratches tonight. I'd much rather see them out there as opposed to Wheeler and Ryder. Krejci can fall in line with other players, maybe skate with Recchi and Satan. But Wheeler's ineptitude and Ryder's unwillingness have become more than just annoying. It's detrimental. These two clowns sabotage the Bruins' offense.

Wheeler, because of his size and the fact that he tries, could maintain himself on a 4th line with guys like Sobotka and Begin. Focus more on solid defense, being physical, instead of trying to be Wayne Gretzky.

But there are some good signs becoming apparent. Krejci finally scored, albeit seemingly by mistake. And the team's playing with more energy and life.

Bruins host the Canadiens Thursday.

Back to my Tretiak jersey, some guy on the Orange Line gave me shit for wearing the color red. As if he were a Crip or something.



I asked him if he had a problem with me, then aggressiveness ensued. By the time I changed trains at Downtown Crossing, 5 people were throwing haymakers over nothing. Utter insanity, all because I chose to wear my Tretiak jersey.

-The Commodore

Capitals @ Bruins Preview

This game couldn't come at a worse time. Washington is one of the hottest teams in the NHL, and the Bruins have been anything but great lately. The Capitals have taken a comfortable lead in the Eastern Conference by matching the longest winning streak in franchise history (10). Boston on the other hand 1-7-2 in their last games game, and if the season ended today the Bruins wouldn't make the playoffs.

To make matter worse Boston found out today that defenseman Mark Stuart had surgery on the pinkie on his right hand and is expected to miss four weeks, probably not returning until after the Olympic break. It seems like every time the Bruins get 1 guy back 2 more are out, but that is just the way it has been going this season.

The Bruins have only played the Capitals once this season, and it did not go well for Boston (lost 4-1). The only way I see the Bruins winning tonight is if Tim Thomas has a hell of a game. We know he can do it, since we saw it last year, but he hasn't been the same this year. I chalk some of that up to the fact the Bruins have no offense, but Thomas also just hasn't been what he was last year.

Game starts at 7pm on NESN.

Ovechkin Injury Update

"The Washington Capitals say Alex Ovechkin is "week-to-week" with an upper-body injury. The Capitals said Monday that the two-time league MVP suffered an "upper-body strain" in Sunday's overtime loss to Columbus. Ovechkin had an MRI and will travel with the team while receiving treatment (Sportsline)."

It is one of the few guys in the NHL that you just really don't want to see go down. He is so fun to watch and really gives the NHL the best opportunity to become a major sport again.

Ovechkin has missed only two games because of injury since coming to the NHL in 2005, and on the year he already has 14 goals. To make sure you know how ridiculous that is think about this...The Bruins top goal scorer has only 4.

Capitals 4 Bruins 1

Well that was a disappointing start to the season. Ovechkin and the Capitals were all over the Bruins from the start of this game. What really killed the Bruins was the play of their defense and special teams. The Capitals got 2 power play goals (both from Brooks Laich), as the Bruins penalty kill looked awful. Boston's defense was beat to the puck constantly in their own end. When there are players like Ovechkin on the ice you can't let that happen and expect to win. Ovechkin ended up with 2 goals and 1 assist, as he looks as good as ever.

Thomas didn't have a bad game. The goals that went in for the most part were impossible to stop. The Bruins overall looked flat, but this is the first game in a 82 to game season, so no need to flip shit.

Peter Forsberg To Join Capitals?

"Peter Forsberg wants to play for the Capitals, and the Capitals want him. That's according to Hockey30.com via Hendrick's Hockey. But to clear room for Forsberg, the Caps will have to get rid of Michael Nylander's contract. Sources tell the Denver Post that Forsberg looks better than he's looked in five years. According to Swedish hockey expert Niklas Wikegaard, a lot of NHL scouts in the stands were "drooling (ESPN)."

When Forberg is motivated he is one of the best offensive players in the game. I would love to see him back in the NHL, and the thought of adding a players like Forberg to a team that is already one of the most dangerous in the NHL is terrifying to me as a Bruins fan...

Top 25 Under 25: #2 Alexander Ovechkin

Born: September 17, 1985

Maybe one of the greatest hockey players I have ever had a chance to watch. Even if you don't like hockey you'll find this guy captivating. Many will argue that Crosby should be above him, which I understand, but I can't do it since Crosby is a whiny bitch, and Ovechkin is the single most exciting player I have ever seen in person (Yes I bet Orr was more exciting).

This guy has been a phenom since he was a kid. People forget he is only 23 years old!!! And yet he has...

-Made the All-Star team every year since 2006
- Won Rookie of the Year 2006
-Player of the Year 2008 and 2009
-Won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy 2008 and 2009
-Art Ross Trophy (2008)
-Kharlamov Trophy 2006-2009
-First player to win the Art Ross Trophy, Maurice Richard Trophy, Lester B. Pearson Award and Hart Memorial Trophy as well as win all four in a single season
-Most goals scored by a left-winger in a season (2007–08) – 65 goals
-Most points scored by a left-wing rookie (2005–06) – 106 points

On top of all that he holds just above every record for the Capitals AT AGE 23!!!! He is simply amazing. What is even cooler is that Crosby and him have been playing against each other since they were kids in the Juniors Championships, and look to be 2 of the best hockey players in the NHL for the next 15 years....

Stanley Cup Roundup: Day 28

The Capitals saw their season end last night, in less than dramatic fashion. And for the second straight year, the Penguins have advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, awaiting the winner of tonight's Bruins/Hurricanes game.

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 6, WASHINGTON CAPITALS 2
***Pittsburgh wins series 4-3***
Simeon Varlamov finally came down to Earth, yielding a pair of goals in 8 seconds in the 1st. Two more early on in the 2nd chased Varlamov, and the game was effectively over. Jose Theodore entertained us all, allowing 2 more goals. Sidney Crosby scored 2 goals, and had an assist. But it was the entire Pittsburgh team that scored. 5 different players had goals, 10 had points. A possible challenger for the Norris Trophy (which rightfully belongs to Zdeno Chara) - Mike Green - was -3.

The Capitals are gone, and it's very possible that the NHL's final four will have none of the top 4 teams from the regular season (San Jose is already out, Boston and Detroit need to win).



Thursday night's games:
7:00 PM - Ducks @ Red Wings (Series tied 3-3) - Vs.
8:00 PM - Hurricanes @ Bruins (Series tied 3-3) - NESN

-The Commodore