Category Archives: The Red Army

Hitting the Reset Button

Posted on February 23, 2012 by PucksAndBooks

I never slow down to peek at roadside car wrecks, but I am going to blog a bit about our barely moving wreck of a hockey team. I’m here with a good deal many more questions than answers, and a … Continue reading →

Posted in Alexander Ovechkin, Dave Steckel, George McPhee, Matt Bradley, Mike Green, Stanley Cup, Ted Leonsis, The curse of Washington hockey, The Red Army, The Young Guns, Verizon Center, Washington Capitals, Washington the hockey town | 28 Comments

A State of the Nation That Comes Up Small

Posted on May 20, 2011 by PucksAndBooks

On May 5, the morning after his hockey team had been swept out of the playoffs in the second round by the no. 5 seed, Capitals owner Ted Leonsis, to his credit, logged in to his blog, congratulated the victorious … Continue reading →

Posted in Alexander Ovechkin, Eastern Conference, Morning cup-a-joe, New media, NHL playoffs, Southeast Division, Tampa Bay Lightning, Ted Leonsis, The President's Trophy, The Red Army, Washington Capitals | 28 Comments

Boudreau Admits Fans Deserve Better – Will It Make a Difference?

Posted on March 1, 2011 by Elisabeth Meinecke

The relationship between a team and its fanbase is one of the most sacrosanct in sports. On a weekend that saw Caps’ fans witness a 6-0 shutout loss on home ice Friday followed by a heart-attack inducing 3-2 win Saturday … Continue reading →

Posted in Bruce Boudreau, Hockey hearts, The Red Army, Washington Capitals, Washington the hockey town | 6 Comments

Time for a Change in Culture

Posted on February 14, 2011 by PucksAndBooks

This morning I am trying to imagine the slogan of resolve and defiance and unity Capitals’ players will brandish on team-issued t-shirts at the start of training camp in September. They are quite good at looking tough and determined, via … Continue reading →

Posted in Bruce Boudreau, George McPhee, Media, Morning cup-a-joe, National Hockey League, Ted Leonsis, The Red Army, Washington Capitals, Washington the hockey town | 26 Comments

The View from Hostility’s Hotseat

Posted on January 19, 2011 by PucksAndBooks

The few (very), the proud, the *very* brave — Caps’ fans attending a game in Philadelphia against the Flyers . . . while wearing their heroes’ colors. Yes, they exist. Tuesday night I saw them, spoke with them, and most … Continue reading →

Posted in Eastern Conference, Hockey Heroes, Hockey roadtrips, National Hockey League, Philadelphia Flyers, Ted Leonsis, The Red Army, Washington Capitals, Washington the hockey town | 30 Comments

In a Season of High Hopes, Instead We Have High Crimes and Misdemeanors

Posted on January 14, 2011 by PucksAndBooks

A political bumper sticker of some years back read, ‘If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.’ “Outrage” by local hockey fans may be too strong a term to apply with respect to the 2010-11 Washington Capitals in this most … Continue reading →

Posted in Alexander Ovechkin, Jeff Schultz, Morning cup-a-joe, National Hockey League, NHL All Star Game, NHL Trades, Pittsburgh Penguins, Southeast Division, Tampa Bay Lightning, Ted Leonsis, The Red Army, Tom Poti, Tomas Fleischmann, Washington Capitals, Washington the hockey town, Winter Classic 2011 | 18 Comments

Identity Crisis (cont’d.): Greyhounds, Masquerading as Huskies

Posted on January 5, 2011 by PucksAndBooks

If you have a kennel full of greyhounds, can you make sled-pullers out of them? And: should you? An individual NHL game in midseason is but a proverbial snapshot in time — a single frame in a long-running motion picture. … Continue reading →

Posted in Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Bruce Boudreau, George McPhee, Morning cup-a-joe, National Hockey League, New Jersey Devils, Nicklas Backstrom, Southeast Division, The Red Army, Trap hockey, Washington Capitals | 16 Comments

Bloggers’ Concluding Winter Classic 2011 Notebook

Posted on January 4, 2011 by On Frozen Blog

More than 500 members of the media representing more than 125 outlets descended upon Pittsburgh for the Winter Classic last weekend; we were fortunate enough to be included among them. This was a monumental moment in Washington Capitals history, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlanta Thrashers, Hartford Whalers, hockey blogging, Media, National Hockey League, New media, OFB, Pittsburgh Penguins, Quebec Nordiques, Quebec the Very Serious Hockey Town, Southeast Division, Ted Leonsis, The Great Old Patrick Division, The Red Army, Washington Capitals, Winter Classic 2011 | 2 Comments

Plundering Western PA with a Reversal Invasion

Posted on January 3, 2011 by PucksAndBooks

It did not suck, slow shuffling out of Heinz Field late Saturday night, basking in the knowledge that Eric Fehr had fairly ruined the 2010 holidays for our friends in tattoos and mullets. This was no mere spectacle two points … Continue reading →

Posted in Bruce Boudreau, Morning cup-a-joe, National Hockey League, Pittsburgh Penguins, Reversal Invasion, Ted Leonsis, The Red Army, Washington Capitals, Washington the hockey town, Winter Classic 2011 | 15 Comments

A Reveling Red Army Invasion of the Pittsburgh Riverfront

Posted on January 1, 2011 by PucksAndBooks

Surreal New Years Eve scene at Pittsburgh’s riverfront German bier hall Hofbrauhaus: from 9:00 on last night, easily 250-plus Capitals’ fans reveling with the aid of giant steins of frothy, bringing great spontaneous pageantry and passion to their chants of … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Steinberg, hockey blogging, Media, Pittsburgh Penguins, The Red Army, Washington Capitals, Washington Post, Washington the hockey town, Winter Classic 2011 | Leave a comment