Caps’ Backstrom Scores on Own Net - Video
Hockey Beat —
Holy crap!!!!!!!!!! I would not want to be Nicklas Backstrom this morning. Yesterday’s big Washington Capitals versus the Pittsburgh Penguins match up was slated to be a good game. Who doesn’t want to see Sidney Crosby go up against Alexander Ovechkin? Unfortunately, things went terribly wrong when Sid took a shot, missed the net and then, newly acquired Caps goalie, Cristobal Huet, apparently tried to clear the crease only to be scored on by teammate Nick Backstrom. That sucks so bad, especially in a game like this ...
Top Shelf: He Shot That Into His Own Net!
The Big Lead —
Lee Diekemper recaps Sunday’s NHL action.
Pittsburgh 4, Washington 2: The Pens had thrown everything at Caps goalie Cristobal Huet in the third period but the beer vendor. And the Caps netminder threw everything back. But he didn’t expect his own teammate to shoot the puck. With 28 seconds left in regulation and the game tied 2-2, Caps center Nicklas Backstrom tried to clear a loose puck coming across the crease, only to shoot the puck past Huet. Alexander Ovechkin and Huet both collapsed face-first in disbelief on the ice. Sidney Crosby was credited with the goal. He was mic’ed by NBC and could be heard ...
Top Shelf: Ovechkin Closes in on 60
The Big Lead —
If we were the A-Team , then our NHL writer, Lee Diekemper, would totally be Face. Here’s his recap of the night in hockey. Washington 3, Calgary 2: Olie Kolzig got his 300th win, thanks in no small part to Alexander the Great’s game-winner with two minutes left. AO now has 56 goals in his march to 60 (and beyond?). Nicklas Backstrom is still bummed about his game-winner for the Pens Sunday. Anaheim 4, Vancouver 1: The defending Stanley Cup champions look to be a tough playoff obstacle in Orange County. The Ducks beat the Canucks for a team-record eighth straight home win, chasing Roberto Luongo in the second period after he gave up four ...
Washington Playoff Bound?
PuckUpdate :: The Hockey Blog —
I've got to say, I'm very, very impressed by the playoff run the Caps are making. Last night's win over Carolina puts them in a tie for the South(l)east division lead. It was also their fifth win in a row. While Washington isn't in the playoffs yet, if they break the tie with Carolina, they're in.
Goalie Cristobal Huet is certainly a big part of the Caps hot run. He's won his past seven starts, putting up a 1.67 goals against. Of course, to be fair, I'm not sure backup Ollie Kolzig, who Huet replaced when he was traded from Montreal, couldn't have put up comparable numbers.
The other big winning factors for Washington? Sergei Fedorov. He's lost ...
Eulogy: Remembering the 2007-08 Washington Capitals
Puck Daddy —
As the Stanley Cup Playoffs continue, we're bound to lose some friends along the journey. Gone but not forgotten, we've asked for these losers to be eulogized by the people who knew the teams best: The fans who hated them the most. Here's Hooks Orpik from the Pittsburgh Penguins blog The Sweater Ted ...
Sykora Calls His Shot [NHL Closer]
Deadspin —
The NHL Closer is written by five insomniacs from Melt Your Face Off. We blame overtime hockey and copious amounts of caffeine for our condition. Raskolnikov downed two cases of Mountain Dew to recapitulate last night's epic thriller.
Supposedly, Babe Ruth pointed to the center field bleachers at Wrigley Field before hitting a home run on the very next pitch. What little proof we have of that event actually taking place is based on a grainy photograph and some old men who swear that it happened. This dubious evidence leads me to believe that the whole event never happened. On the other hand, I know that Petr Sykora said that ...
Error Jordan?
Chris Yarbrough's Taking One For The Team —
Every season in recent years for the Pittsburgh Penguins it seems like there is some storyline bubbling just under the surface and 2008-09 is no different as all eyes seemed to be focused on 20-year old Jordan Staal. Many Pens fans, and I am guessing people within the organization as well, are wondering just what the Penguins really have in Staal. Jordan set the bar (too?) high in his rookie campaign scoring 29 goals and 42 points in 2006-07. Last season Staal's totals sagged to a modest 12 goals and 28 points. As Jordan enters the final year of his entry level contract it remains to be seen if he can rediscover his scoring touch or if he continues to ...
The Most Embarassing Play in Hockey: The Own Goal
Movable Type System Activity —
From last night:
Below are some other "own goals" in recent NHL history:
That isn't as blatant as the rest, but I like when Kronwall looks bad, especially against the Penguins.
This one is one of my favourites...
... but Crosby's ...
December 3rd - NHL News from Around the League
Movable Type System Activity —
The Penguins have named Jordan Staal and Matt Cooke as their alternate captains for December. I think it's a great move as those guys really stepped up their games last month.
Scott Hartnell continues to do things that boggle the mind. Last night, in an attempt to stop a Ryan Malone scoring chance, he threw his glove at Malone... and missed. This is the same Scott Hartnell who lost the pick twice then tackled the goalie in a shootout. Hartnell's salary is $4.7 million this season. I'm shocked that he's even employed but $4.7 million dollars!? To put that into perspective, Scott Hartnell, the man who tackles goalies in ...
10 Days of Penguins Christmas: Nicklas Backstrom and His Own Goal Sinks the Caps
Sean Leahy's Going Five Hole —
This long rivalry dating back to the days of the Patrick Division was revitalized last season when the Washington Capitals returned to respectability. The Alex Ovechkin-Sidney Crosby rivalry became instant must-see-television when NBC's National Hockey League coverage began in the winter. After a hard-fought, fast paced match up at Verizon Center in late-October, the Penguins visited again in early March. Once again it was a tight game with the score 2-2 heading late into the third period. A scramble in front had the Capitals on their toes and Nicklas Backstrom found himself sitting just outside the crease. The game meant a lot to both sides and it was evident in ...
Sizing up the Caps and Ranjas
Cycle like the Sedins —
Well tomorrow is the day that most of us will fish out our unwashed, mustard-stained game jerseys, ignore our wives/girlfriends and seriously think about telling your boss both your parents were kidnapped by Samoli pirates to see if you can stay home the entire week. I’m pumped. ...
Anti-Caps Pics
postgameheroes.com —
STEEL CURTAIN RADIO #13: NEEDS, NEEDS, AND MORE NEEDS | Home Anti-Caps Pics By Dagger | May 1, 2009 This is a tradition going on 2 years now. The Pens face a new playoff opponent and we put up pics of their team. It worked against Ottawa, New York, Philly (twice), and not so much against Detroit. Washington is up next so they get the same treatment. Photoshops are pulled from around the net. ovybond ovyballerina ovycherrypicking freecandy ovydefense capscelebrate Some good memories: yes that was actually an away game for the Penguins ^^ to take over the other teams arena during the regular season is one thing….but to do it in the playoffs ...
Why you'll watch - February and March - 7-24-09
Empty Netters —
Something we've done the past two offseasons is examine the recently
revealed schedule, and just in case you needed a little bit more
enticement to watch a team like the Penguins, come up with reasons to
watch all 82 games on the slate.
So without any further delay, here's why you'll be watching in February and March (February's schedule is short due to the Olympics).
Feb. 1 - vs. Sabres - Because we'll have to find a way to incorporate this picture of a Patrick Lalime Starting Lineup figure into our game preview:
Feb. 6 - at Canadiens - He may be inconsistent, but there are times when Carey Price looks like the best ...
Trick or Treat? Pens get the former in 2-1 loss to Minnesota
PensBurgh —
More photos »
by Keith Srakocic - AP
Crosby's not taking any grief. Plant him into the boards and have the audacity to return a slash and he just might have to beat you up. ...
