We are the Champions...

Of the Southeast Division!!!!!

Rejoice Caps fans, rejoice!!!

Caps get the 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, and they'll take on either Ottawa (please, please, please??) or the Flyers. It all hinges on the Penguins/Flyers game this afternoon. I can't believe I'm about to say this, but GO PENS!!!!

(Oh, and I apologize for the crappiness of the above picture, but I took it with my cell phone, and didn't have time to adjust the settings when I snapped it. I was busy taking some pics with the digital.)

I'm the Voice Inside Your Head That You Refuse to Hear...

BEST.GAME.EVER. That's all I can say about Tuesday night's Caps game. Despite my last post talking about our playoff chances being slim, the Caps are showing that they're not giving up. After going 5-1 on their 6-game road trip, they came back to the Verizon Center last night with nothing to lose and everything to gain.

The first game the Caps beat the Predators, but they really only played one decent period of hockey. They held on for the win. Then came the Caps's only loss on the trip. They succumbed to the lowly Chicago Blackhawks, and boy was it a beating. Final score: 5-0. It was bad. Caps fans were beginning to think that loss may have been the proverbially nail in the coffin. But the Caps bounced back, earning themselves the nickname of the Cardiac Caps in the process.

Up next was a road date with the entire Southeast Conference, with only a brief Easter visit in between games. The Caps took on the Thrashers, and they got a 5-3 victory. After that was their brief trip back home for some rest, and then back on the road to Carolina. Carolina. The Hurricanes. The leaders of the Southeast Division. The team 5 points ahead of us in the division. This is a win we needed badly.

The Caps still were not looking all that great, but neither were the Canes. The two goals the Canes scored were deflections off of Caps players. The first was a slapshot that deflected off Matt Bradley. The second goal was reviewed by the officials, but was basically knocked in by Shaone Morrison's skate. The puck ended up being stuffed under Huet's pad, but over the line because Shaone skated into Cristobal. The Caps got it to OT, which really wasn't the best move considering the Canes got a point out of it. Kozlov got the winning goal in the shootout, and the Caps were victorious. Onto Tampa Bay where the Lightning were waiting to play spoiler to the Caps's push for the playoffs.

The Caps drew first blood this time, on a shorthanded goal by Brooks Laich no less. The Lightning responded on the same power play. The Caps were actually down 3-2 in the 3rd period, but with a goal by the other Alex, Semin, that is, the Caps were back in business. We were in overtime, once again, but it didn't matter that the Ning got a point. All that mattered was that the Caps picked up two. Tomas Fleischmann, or "Flash", scored in OT to give the Caps the win. Again, the Caps pull off the victory on the road. Now the Caps have a 3-game win streak going into Sunrise, FL for a date with the Panthers.

The Caps dominated the Panthers 3-0, with Ovie scoring number 62 on the season, putting him one goal shy of Luc Robitaille's record of 63 goals scored in a season by a left winger. Viktor Kozlov got the game-winner, ultimately, with his goal in the second period. Towards the end of the second period, Mike Green finally scored, after a goal-drought in the month of March for Caps's defensemen. Green potted number 18 on the season, and put him one goal shy of the Blackhawks' Dustin Byfuglian's 19.

But even with that stretch of 5-1 on the road, the Caps still had a lot of hockey to play. Flash forward to Tuesday night. The Phone Booth was splashed in red, and I've never seen it so alive. With the Southeast Division leader Carolina Hurricanes playing the role of guest, the Caps were not about to play the role of kind host. The Caps were two points shy of tying the Canes for first in the divsion. Granted, the Canes had the tie break over the Caps, but everyone knew that this game was make or break for DC. The Caps knew it and the fans knew it. The fans were in full force, and I was among the many. I donned my red, and supersticiously let my sister wear my red Caps shirt. I was screaming at the top of my lungs for every player, every play! And I was not the only one. The place was electric. And the Caps were definitely feeding off of our excitement.

When the Canes score first they have a scary good record. The Caps knew they had to score first. And that they did. Mike Green hit a monster shot that bounced off of Cam Ward right to Matt Cooke's skate then stick, and the Caps led 1-0. At the end of the first period, as a power play was expiring, Tomas Fleischmann passed the puck to a streaking Brooks Laich who netted his 21st goal of the season. Going into the first intermission, the Caps received a standing ovation from the Verizon Center crowd. But this was the Hurricanes. They were not going to keel over and die. They came out big and ended up scoring first in the second period, to get within one goal of the Caps. But don't think because this is Carolina that the Caps would keel over and die, either. The Caps were energized and took back their two-goal advantage with a goal by Alexander Semin. Semin was playing great on Tuesday, and getting the goal was just the icing on the cake. Carolina was no friend of the stripes on Tuesday because it felt like they spent more time in the box than on the ice. Always a plus for the Caps. And the Caps were hitting hard and picking up their own penalites, as well.

The game could definitely be described as physical. Even Ovie got into the action. After a stupendous save by Huet, and a subsequent tap by Eric Staal, Ovie defended his goalie with a little roughing up of his own. But that wasn't all Ovie contributed. During a stretch of 4-on-4 play, Ovie snagged a pass from Backstrom in front of the Canes net, and, somehow in mid-spin, ripped one off the post and into the net. You had to see it to believe it! A-freakin-mazing!! That goal sealed the victory for the Caps.

Of course I can't talk about Ovie scoring without mentioning the "M-V-P!" chants filling the arena. I'm gonna give some credit for that to my fellow rowmates in section 413. They had been trying to start an Ovie "M-V-P!" chant for a solid period and a half before the chant picked up after Ovie's 63rd goal. They were pretty excited. I noticed the press really picked up on the "M-V-P!" chants, and, I'd like to think, the fact that my row was directly next to the press box may have been the reason for that.

But here the Caps sit. Knowing that even if they win out the rest of their games, they could possibly still not make the playoffs. I don't like to think that way. There are a lot of critical games on tap for the teams ahead of the Caps in the standings. The biggest game is the Ottawa/Boston game. The Caps need that game to end in regulation. If that game goes to OT, the odds of the Caps making the playoffs are slim to none. If it ends in regulation, the Caps are basically in. And with the way this team is playing, no one wants to face the Caps in the playoffs. They are scorching right now, home and away. The boys in DC are on the verge of greatness, but no one outside of this region wants to hear that!

When You're Hot, You're Hot. When You're Not...

So, yeah, things were looking up for the Caps, but not so much anymore. Not after this past weekend, anyways. To catch you up on things, the Caps ended up obtaining the rights to G Cristobal Huet from the Montreal Canadiens for next to nothing at the trade deadline. They also managed to get Sergei Fedorov (yes, the Sergei Fedorov) from the Blues and Matt Cooke from the Canucks for Matt Pettinger. So we compiled a nice little roster for our nice little playoff run.

Prior to the deadline, the Caps had to play the Devils, the best team in the Eastern Conference. The Caps lose on their home ice, 2-1 in OT. So, trade deadline done, Caps are looking pretty unstoppable at this point. First up is Minnesota at home. Not a bad matchup. Caps win, things look good. Next test is on the road against the Devils, who had just beat them, barely. Caps get a 4-1 win away from the Phone Booth. Then they have a minor slip up at home against the Maple Leafs. The Leafs are not too hot of a team, so to get beat at home to them kinda stinks, but we'll get over it. Next up at home are the Boston Bruins. In the first meeting between the two teams, the Caps lost 2-0, and they have historically always been able to stop Ovie.

Well Ovie finally got over his goal drought in the loss to the Leafs. So hopefully he could get number 50 against the Bruins. I was there for this game, so I was really hoping for an Ovechkin goal. And as luck would have it, Ovie got a hat trick --- in the first period. The Caps killed the B's 10-2, scoring 6 goals in the first period alone. It was an unbelievable game, and one that I will not soon forget. The Caps were winning, convinceably, too. If they kept up this pace, they would most certainly be fighting for and winning a spot in the playoffs.

Next stop for the Caps: Buffalo. With the roll that they were on, nothing could stop this team. Ollie gets the start, despite the whole 3 goalie controversy, and the Caps get the 3-1 win, and Ovie picked up his 53rd and 54th goal. So the Caps head back out onto the road to face the Bruins, who the Caps demoralized just 5 days earlier. Think revenge was on their minds?

So here it is, a tight game, the Caps up 1-0 and midway through the 3rd period. The older, wiser journeyman Donald "Brash" Brashear is on the ice. Usually, I wouldn't complain. The guy isn't the best skater, but he's an agitator that can get this team pumped. Well stupid Brash gets three minor penalties in two plays at the 6:41 mark, putting him in the box for 6:00. Great they have a 6:00 power play!! Then a phantom hooking call on Erskine gives the Bruins a 2-man advantage a minute later. They score. Tied game. At the 2:56 mark Tom Poti is called with another phantom call for slashing. Everyone had thought the penalty was against Boston, making it a 4-on-4 game, which is awesome for the Caps, but no. It's another 2-man advantage for Boston, and you guessed it, another goal. Game over. Caps lose.

I think the stupidness of Brash's actions is what ultimately cost them that game. The playoffs are not looking as obtainable at this point. Plus, the Caps have the Pens at home tomorrow with a healthy Sidney Crosby. Plus, we all lost an hour of sleep. Could the Caps bounce back?

The game was a good one. NBC was in the Phone Booth broadcasting nationally. The Caps were looking good. Caps drew first blood when Brooks Laich deflected an Alexander Semin shot into the net. Less than a minute later, the Pens netted one to tie things up. Later, as a Pens power play was expiring Sidney Crosby netted a Malkin rebound to put the Penguins up 2-1. The Caps caught a break at the end of the 2nd period when they got a 2-man advantage in the waning minute or so. Semin netted one to tie the game. Start of the third, Caps come out on the ice with a minute or so power play that they do nothing with. A hard fought period with both teams making great shots, and both Huet and Fleurry making great saves. I look at my dad with a little less than a minute left in the game and say, "We really just need to at least get a point out of this game." Here's a video clip that just explains the rest for you:

So with Nicklas Backstrom being the goat and scoring for the Pens, the Caps go on to lose the game, and most likely their playoff chances. Backstrom probably lost the Calder trophy on that shot, as well. But there are other individual milestones the team can strive for. Ovechkin is still on that quest to 60, and the Caps can do what no other team has done since the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1988-89: have the overall leading goal scorer and the most goal-prolific defenseman. Mario Lemieux and Paul Coffey did it back then, and Ovie and Mike Green can do it this year. For now, I'm still rooting for our playoff miracle and holding out hope that the Southeast Division, minus the Caps, will crumble like stale saltines.

Oh and I'm going to the game on Friday against the Thrashers. Let the crumbling begin!!

Ice, Ice Baby

So I went to the Phone Booth the other night for the Caps/Islanders game. It was military night at the game, and we ended up scoring a couple of free hats. My dad says he saw Ted Leonis (aka the owner) coming out of a door when we were trying to get a hat. I didn't see him, and he never pointed him out to me, so we can't confirm that sighting. We had an awesome time and it was a pretty great game, except for the fact that we lost! We came away with a point, but it felt like we lost a point.

Alexander Semin drew first blood with a goal around the 2:17 mark in the first period. Brooks Laich got the 2nd goal a few minutes later after deflecting a Mike Green shot into the net. The first period was awesome and the Caps were on fire. Then it went downhill. The Caps were playing well, but the Isles got a goal as a Capitals power play was expiring, catching everyone off guard. Then a fluke goal later we had a tie game. Of course we have Islanders fans sitting with us, so they were pretty stoked. It was annoying that everytime we did a Caps cheer, they had to insert "Islanders" everytime "Caps" or "Capitals" was mentioned. Plus it was little kids. Did I mention they were wearing the Capitals camoflauge hats? Yeah, makes loads of sense!

Anyways, so overtime comes and there were some awesome shots, but some great saves on Rick DiPietro's part. We go to a shootout, and Ovechkin leaves a sure goal on the line with DiPietro falling to his right and Alex to his left. It was heartbreaking. Then Hilary Duff's boyfriend comes up with the game winner. Boo.

The Caps definitely should have won that one. But I still had a lot of fun. I scored some free tickets from work, and my dad and I ended up sitting in a suite right behind the goal. It was pretty sweet! My sister and I are planning to go to the next Student Rush night on March 3rd. It should be a good one.

Now let's hope that the Caps can get the win against Carolina this afternoon. Right now they trail Carolina by 4 points in the Southeast Division. The Canes have also played 3 more games than the Caps, too. So a win tonight is key! Let's Go Caps!!

I'm Cold as Fire, Baby, Hot as Ice

Ok, so I'm updating this bisquit...

Currently I'm obsessed with the Caps. My dad and I have always watched the Caps for as long as I can remember. We never went to games, though. We did go to an occasional Baltimore Skipjack game back in the day, but never to an NHL one. My dad finally scored some free tickets for opening night 2005 at the phone booth - right behind the goal, I might add. The NHL was coming off of a strike, and professional hockey was back. And Alexander "The Gr8" Ovechkin was making his debut.

What a game? Alex scored 2 goals in his NHL debut and is now considered one of, if not the best player in the NHL. But enough about that. Let's talk about the present day Caps. This season started out bad. It was looking like this team was going nowhere again. Ted Leonis fires Glen Hanlon (Thank God!!) and brings in Bruce Boudreau, and all was right in Caps world again! The Caps went on freakin tear, and now we're two points out of the lead in the Southeast division, behind the Carolina Hurricanes, who it just so happens has lost their best player, Rod Brind'Amour for the rest of the season.

Ah yes, things are finally looking up in Caps World! They just finished a brutal road test, where they only came away with 3 points, but seriously, they're 2 points out of first, so it's not a bad thing.

Now the Caps get the next few at home, and we fans cross our fingers and hope that Carolina, Florida, Tampa Bay and Atlanta start losing, and the Caps start winning. If the Caps can make a playoff run, I think they can go far. When you have arguably the best player in the league in Ovechkin, coupled with a hot goalie like Ollie and a defenseman like Mike Green that is leading all defensemen in goals scored you are bound to have something good happen. I'm not saying Stanley Cup this year, but I feel it won't be long before the Caps finally get their paws on the coveted trophy.

And since I'm a girl, I feel the need to comment on the hotness of our team. Example number 1:

That would be Brooks Laich and Mike Green. I'm seriously love both of them. Two cuties!! Ok I'm done with my girlyness...carry on.