January 05, 2009
Mason Remains Unbeaten In Conference Play
FAIRFAX, VA - JANUARY 5: Cam Long #20 of the George Mason Patriots shoots against the Georgia State Panthers during a conference men's basketball game at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA on January 5, 2009. (Photo by Allen Clark/www.OffWingPhoto.com)
The George Mason Patriots are now 3-0 in conference play after tonight's victory over the Georgia State. Stop by OffWing Photo for the story and more photos from tonight's victory of the George Mason University Patriots over the Georgia State Panthers in NCAA basketball action.
January 04, 2009
Capitals Shut Down Rangers; Semin Gets Physical
I've been out in Denver for the past few days, taking in the thin air and some college hockey. While I spent all yesterday watching Holy Cross beat RPI and Boston University winning the Wells Fargo Denver Cup by beating host University of Denver. But while I was watching those games, I missed the Caps beat the Rangers, and a couple of the most unusual fights I've ever seen.
Our old friend Sidney Crosby dropped the gloves against Brett McLean, who, funny enough, wasn't given a chance to pick his head up, never mind drop his gloves, before Crosby jumped him off the face-off. Pretty classless.
And while Alex Semin was responsible for the other odd fight, it was odd only because he clearly doesn't know how to fight, not because he fought dirty. He shouldn't fight any more than Crosby should, but at least he tries and gives the other guy a fair fight.
For the rest of the game, the Caps had the better of the defensive affair, getting the 2-1 win to make them 26-11-3 on the season, which is the best start after 40 games in franchise history. Mike Green added to his league-leading powerplay goal total with his 8th of the season off a nifty no-look pass from Semin. And Ovechkin netted his first shorthanded goal since his rookie season for the winner.
He rifled the shot far post, and beat Valiquette. It almost looked like Valiquette didn't expect him to shoot it, and the puck may have moved a little after the defenseman got his stick in the way. It was Ovie's 27th of the season, tying him for the league lead with Philly's Jeff Carter. He has played in 38 of the Caps' 40 games so far this season. Breaking down his season so far into 10-game splits, you can see that after a slow start, he has been putting up good consistent numbers.
| First 10 |
2 goals |
| Second 10 |
10 goals |
| Third 10 |
7 goals |
| Last 8 |
8 goals |
If you were to break down assists, they'd look like this: 6-11-6-3. You can see that after a slow start, and a big recovery, he has leveled out to about a 13 points-per-10 games pace.
Here's his numbers from the same span of games last season.
| First 10 |
6 goals |
| Second 10 |
7 goals |
| Third 10 |
8 goals |
| Fourth 10 |
9 goals |
He played two more games last season through 40 than this season, and had 3 more goals to show for it. But his assist numbers through that time was 7-2-6-5 for 20 assists through 40 games. His 6 more assists this season gives him 3 more points than he had at the same time last season, despite playing two less games. So if he keeps up this pace, he will best last year's 112 point season.
January 03, 2009
Caps Winning Streak Now At Six
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 3: Goalie Jose Theodore of the Washington Capitals makes a save against the New York Rangers during a NHL hockey game on January 3, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com)
The Washington Capitals gave coach Bruce Boudreau a 2-1 victory over the visiting NY Rangers. The good times just keep on rollin for the Washington Capitals as their winning streak stretched to six, and 11 out of the last 12 games. This also keeps coach Buoudreau a perfect 5-0 against the Rangers.
For more photos of game action visit OffWing Photo.
January 02, 2009
Caps Pick Up Another Win At Home
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 1: Mike Green of the Washington Capitals scores a second period goal against goalie Mike Smith of the Tampa Bay Lightning during a NHL hockey game on January 1, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com)
It was tough to pick out a single story line from tonight's game between the Washington Capitals and the Tampa Bay Lightning. There are so many to chose from:
- The very scary injury to Tampa Bay's Jame Heward that stopped play as he was taken off the ice on a stretcher and will stay overnight in a DC hospital.
- Coach Boudreau's 100th game coaching in the NHL.
- Mike Green played his 200th career NHL game.
- The Capitals are now 16-1-1 when playing home in the Verizon Center, the best home record in the Eastern Conference. They have outscored opponents 71-37 and have eight sellouts (four in a row) at home.
The Tampa Bay Lightning stopped by the Verizon Center today for the second time this year. And once again went home with a loss. The Caps have not lost to the Lightning since Nov. 16, 2007 and their seven game-winning streak is their current longest such streak against any team in the NHL. Tampa Bay is one of two Eastern Conference teams that Coach Bruce Boudreau has never lost to.
Next up for Coach Bruce Boudreau and his Capitals this coming Saturday are the New York Rangers which is the other Eastern Conference team the he has never lost to.
For more photos of game action visit OffWing Photo.
December 30, 2008
Caps Look to Reverse Trend in Buffalo
The Caps look to finish off 2008 on a high note as they travel to Buffalo to play the Sabres tonight. Unfortunately, they have a bad history in the building, as they have gone only 1-7 in their last 8 trips to Buffalo. Says Boudreau;
"We have to exorcise our demons in this building. We have lost some big games in this building. We have to see if we can't overcome them. It is an important thing. Sometimes the mentality going into a building is, 'We can't possibly win here.' To become a champion, you have to overcome those things."
Karl Alzer will be out with a hand injury, and Tyler Sloan has been called up to fill his spot. Although Japers thinks that the game will come down to Ovechkin vs. Miller. After their last matchup, I imagine Buffalo will try even harder to lock down Ovie.
In other Caps news, John Farrell of U.S. News & World Report thinks that the Caps are DC's best chance for a championship. And The Peerless agrees with Christine Kim on a new years resolution to go to more games, Caps games that is.
