Monthly Archives: March 2013

Hitting the Reset Button

Posted on March 29, 2013 by PucksAndBooks

I commend to your attention the most recent fit of gutsy thoughtfulness from my blogger buddy Ed Frankovic, who with commendable clarity of consideration arrives at this sobering recommendation as it relates to the handling of the Capitals roster here … Continue reading →

Posted in Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Ed Frankovic, Free agency, Front Office, George McPhee, Jeff Schultz, Marcus Johansson, Mike Ribeiro, Morning cup-a-joe, New media, Seth Jones, Washington Capitals | 8 Comments

Reality Check

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Elisabeth Meinecke

There have been two paragraphs haunting me this NHL season since I read them February 5 on Backhand Shelf. They come from an epic post by Justin Bourne about when teams realize they aren’t very good: Continue reading →

Posted in Washington Capitals | 2 Comments

Suspension of Disbelief

Posted on March 23, 2013 by PucksAndBooks

Right as Washington was settling in for a spring-delayed/prolonged winter weekend last night came word (via Twitter, necessarily) of some manner of meteor shower, or meteor explosion, high in the sky above the capital. For those watching the hockey televised … Continue reading →

Posted in Brooks Laich, Dale Hunter, Dmitri Orlov, Ice, John Druce, Marcus Johansson, Matt Hendricks, Mike Green, Morning cup-a-joe, Old Time Hockey, Steve Oleksy, Washington Capitals, Winnipeg Jets | 1 Comment

“You Wonder Why We Yell”

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Elisabeth Meinecke

Forget hockey plays. What really worried the Capitals’ Joel Ward momentum-wise in the Capitals’ 5-3 win over Buffalo Sunday night was the minor power outage at Verizon Center at the start of the third period. “We were just glad it … Continue reading →

Posted in 2 Points, Alexander Ovechkin | 2 Comments

After Earlier Rejection, Oleksy Ends Up With First Dance

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Elisabeth Meinecke

Finding someone to fight in the course of 60 minutes turned into a long-term project for Capitals Matt Hendricks and Steve Oleksy Tuesday. Down 3-0 in the third, Oleksy finally managed to locate a Carolina Hurricane willing to drop the … Continue reading →

Posted in Steve Oleksy | Tagged | 4 Comments

Struck Midnight?

Posted on March 10, 2013 by Elisabeth Meinecke

  I came to Verizon for the Caps-Rangers Sunday unsure that I’d find the team Mike Rucki got to see play Thursday—and apparently he is the Capitals’ lucky charm, since Rangers goaltender Marty Biron proved too great of a hurdle … Continue reading →

Posted in Washington Capitals | 3 Comments

NHL Realignment Delivers the Long Overdue Demolition of the SouthLeast

Posted on March 9, 2013 by PucksAndBooks

Though there surely should have been, we had no mayoral proclamation, no triumphant, inspiring oratory from any of our region’s elected officials, Chambers of Commerce, or business luminaries, no acknowledgment of the Great Liberation that uniquely visited Washington this week. … Continue reading →

Posted in Gary Bettman, Hockey Towns, Morning cup-a-joe, Much-needed realignment, Southeast Division, The Great Old Patrick Division, Washington Capitals | 6 Comments

A Tale Of Two Teams

Posted on March 7, 2013 by OrderedChaos

So where was this Capitals team for the first month of the season? Two goals in the first 3:10, which chased Panthers’ starting netminder Jacob Markstrom. Then two more on Scott Clemmenson to make it four goals on their first eight shots. Three points each for Ovechkin and Ribiero, plus ratings handed out like Halloween candy, and a confident performance by Braden Holtby just one bounce shy of a goose egg. Continue reading →

Posted in 2 Points, Adam Oates, Alexander Ovechkin, Brooks Laich, Florida Panthers, John Erskine | 2 Comments

A Sixty-something Suddenly Gliding Gracefully on Life’s Best Edge

Posted on March 7, 2013 by PucksAndBooks

Can a life on blades begin at 60 (63, actually)? I am here this morning to report, emphatically, that it can. Great amusement — and inspiration — arrived early in 2013 for me when my cherished sixty-three-year-old pal Michael up … Continue reading →

Posted in Hockey hearts, Ice, Mike and Marleen, Morning cup-a-joe, Shinny, Shinny in Maine, Skating, Skating Maine, Washington Capitals | 1 Comment

Alzner: I Knew That We Had the Personnel

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Elisabeth Meinecke

What are Caps fans supposed to think at this point? Fresh off the team’s 4-3 comeback victory against Boston Tuesday, Karl Alzner stood in the locker room, patiently trying to help me make sense of the Gordian knot that is … Continue reading →

Posted in 2 Points, Washington Capitals | Tagged | 1 Comment