Archive for December, 2006

The Latest From MSG

December 30, 2006

Steve Eminger, Brian Sutherby and Matt Pettinger are all on the ice for warm-ups as I type this. I’m told that Pettinger will play, Sutherby likely will not, and Eminger’s status will be determined as soon as he comes offthe ice from warm-ups. Mike Green is out sick and is back at the hotel along [...]

Spending Doesn’t Equal Winning

December 30, 2006

About 10 days ago I noted in this space the (at that time) upcoming stretch of four games in five nights for the Capitals, and noted just how rare that many games in that short period of time is at the NHL level (second time in 23 years for the Caps). It’s also worth noting [...]

Swamp Sickness

December 29, 2006

Here’s the latest from the swamps. Brian Pothier is going to try to go. Brian Sutherby, Steve Eminger and Matt Pettinger are out, and will be transported to the hotel where the Caps are staying in New York. Washington will dress seven defensemen and 11 forwards tonight, and some of the guys who are in [...]

Flu Bug Bites

December 29, 2006

If four games and five nights and five in seven wasn’t bad enough, how about throwing in a healthy dose of the flu bug to make things even more interesting? That’s what the Caps are facing on this crisp and sunny morning in northern New Jersey.
Several players stayed back at the hotel when we [...]

The House that Ovie Filled?

December 27, 2006

With the Montreal Canadiens making their first visit to Washington this season, the accompanying media horde was present at Washington’s morning skate on Wednesday. Both the print and the electronic boys were out in numbers, and Caps bench boss Glen Hanlon and superstar Alex Ovechkin each spent about 10 minutes filling the notebooks and the [...]

Jo-Jo to Buffalo

December 26, 2006

Recently the Caps have established a well-worn path between Hershey and Washington, with three different players coming to and fro last week. Make it four. Washington has summoned winger Jonas Johansson from Hershey of the AHL, and he will report to Buffalo in time for tonight’s game against the Sabres. Johansson’s presence is a hedge [...]

The Scratch Report

December 23, 2006

The news here is not good. Not only are defensemen John Erskine and Bryan Muir missing from tonight’s lineup, Shaone Morrisonn was not on the ice for the pregame skate. He is a late scratch, leaving the Caps with only five healthy defensemen. The guess here is that Ben Clymer may slide back to the [...]

The Gift of Hockey

December 22, 2006

As I drove back to the office after the Caps’ outdoor practice on Wednesday, I had to call my dad. It was my dad that got me into hockey when I was just a wee lad, and it was my dad who stood outside on freezing winter nights with a single green garden hose, surfacing [...]

Brashear is Out

December 19, 2006

No word on the injury/illness, but Donald Brashear is out of the Washington lineup tonight. Alexandre Giroux is in, presumably to skate on a line with Brooks Laich and Jakub Klepis.

Update from Verizon

December 19, 2006

The Caps are skating in warm-ups right now, and as best as I can tell Donald Brashear is missing. Everyone else is present and accounted for. Tonight would be Brash’s 799th career game. I’ll post the scratches when they’re announced.