Today's Game Washington hosts the Florida Panthers at Verizon Center this afternoon for the Capitals' 33rd home game and 64th game overall of 2008-09. The Capitals have won back-to-back games and are 7-2-1 in their last 10, giving them a 40-18-5 record on the season (85 points). They hold a 15-point lead over Florida in the Southeast Division standings, sitting second in the Eastern Conference. The Panthers are 31-23-8 (70 points), 15 points behind Washington but with a game in hand. They are seventh in the Eastern Conference, just two points behind the sixth-place New York Rangers with two games in hand. Of Note Tonight Tonight is Kid's Day at Verizon Center. The first 5,000 fans age 14 and under will receive a free autographed picture of a Capitals player. Official Guide The 2008-09 Washington Capitals Official Guide is available for download online at WashingtonCaps.com (click on "Team"). Wireless Access Passwords for wireless Internet access are posted on the bulletin boards near the entrance to the press room and press box. Tonight's Broadcasts WSH TV: Comcast SportsNet (Joe Beninati, Craig Laughlin, Al Koken) WSH Radio: WFED 1500 AM, WWFD 820 AM (Steve Kolbe, Ken Sabourin, Jonathan Warner) FLA TV: FS Florida (Steve Goldstein, Denis Potvin) FLA Radio: Sports Talk 790 (Randy Moller, Bill Lindsay) Lifetime Series This marks the fourth of six meetings between Washington and the Panthers in 2008-09, the third and final one at Verizon Center. Washington leads the all-time series, 38-30-9-6, entering the 84th meeting, including a 20-12-5-5 record at home. This Year's Series Dec. 2 at Washington: FLA 5, WSH 3. Florida scored four straight goals in the second and third periods to take a 4-1 lead and cruise to a 5-3 win at Verizon Center, handing the Capitals their home regulation loss of the season at home. Nicklas Backstrom, Tomas Fleischmann and Viktor Kozlov each had a goal and an assist for Washington. Feb. 7 at Washington: WSH 3, FLA 1. Washington outshot Florida 39-21and got two goals from Mike Green to post a 3-1 victory at Verizon Center. Feb. 15 at Florida: WSH 4, FLA 2. The Capitals wrapped up consecutive wins in Tampa Bay and Florida on the strength of an Alex Ovechkin hat trick, while the Capitals killed off seven of eight Panther power plays. March 1 at Washington March 17 at Florida April 11 at Florida Series Notes Thirteen of the last 14 meetings have been decided by one or two goals (Washington is 6-4-3 in those games) Washington has won six of the last eight meetings after a 1-5-3 stretch Viktor Kozlov is a former Panther who still holds the club record for assists in a season (53 in 1999-00) Panthers forward Richard Zednik played two stints with the Capitals Alex Ovechkin's 15 goals in 27 meetings are his fewest against any Southeast Division foe More For a complete series history, see pages 219 and 288-89 of the 2008-09 Washington Capitals Official Guide. Recent Washington Capitals Games Last 5 WAS games: 3-2 - 0 Last 10 WAS games: 7-2 - 1 LAST GAME: Washington 4, Boston 3 OT February 28, 2009 TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, Mass. Score by Period Shots Pen/Min PP
WSH 1-1-1-1--4 32 4/8 2-5 BOS 1-1-1-0--3 37 5/10 1-4 Washington posted a win in its lone road game of a 10-game stretch, beating Boston in overtime on Alexander Semin's slapshot from just outside the blue line 22 seconds into overtime. Washington scored first on the power play for the fourth straight game and got a strong penalty killing and goaltending effort in the third period, despite Zdeno Chara's goal that tied the score. Semin (1g-1a) and Mike Green (2a) each had multiple-point games for the Capitals. Total Man-Games Lost: 294 Washington Capitals Injuries/Transactions Injuries D Brian Pothier Out indefinitely RW Chris Clark Out indefinitely G Brent Johnson Out 6-8 weeks Recent Transactions Feb. 17: Capitals assigned Karl Alzner and Jay Beagle to Hershey (AHL). Feb. 11: Capitals recalled Jay Beagle from Hershey (AHL). Feb. 7: Capitals recalled Alexandre Giroux from Hershey (AHL). Feb. 6: Capitals claimed Staffan Kronwall off waivers. Feb. 6: Capitals recalled Karl Alzner from Hershey (AHL). Feb. 3: Capitals recalled Michal Neuvirth from Hershey (AHL). Washington Capitals Notes Upcoming Games Date Opponent Location Time (ET) Caps TV Caps Radio Mar. 3 vs. Carolina Verizon Center 7 p.m. CSN (HD) WFED 1500 AM, WWFD 820 AM, XM Mar. 5 vs. Toronto Verizon Center 7 p.m. CSN (HD) WFED 1500 AM, WWFD 820 AM, XM Mar. 8 vs. Pittsburgh Verizon Center 3 p.m. CSN (HD) WFED 1500 AM, WWFD 820 AM, XM Mar. 10 at Nashville Nashville, Tenn. 8 p.m. CSN WFED 1500 AM, WWFD 820 AM, XM Mar. 12 at Philadelphia Philadelphia, Pa. 7 p.m. CSN WFED 1500 AM, WWFD 820 AM, XM Note of the Day Southeast Sasha Alexander Semin, whose overtime winner yesterday afternoon gave him four multiple-point games in his last eight outings (4g-8a in that time), has feasted on Southeast Division teams in his career. Semin has 86 points (45g-41a) in 82 career games against the Southeast (1.05 points per game), compared to 109 points (53g-56a) in 154 games against the rest of the NHL (.71 points per game). Twelve of the Capitals' remaining 19 games are against Southeast opponents; they have won five in a row against the Southeast. Five More Notes No Media Person Should be Without Powerful starts Washington has scored in the first period of 15 straight games (the club record is 18 straight, set in 1988-89), and much of that early offense has come courtesy of the power play. The Capitals are 13-for-25 (52%) on the power play in the first period of their last 14 games. Washington's first goal of the game has come on the power play in each of the last four contests. More first Washington's 69 first-period goals lead the NHL (three more than Detroit and San Jose). The Capitals are 25-3-3 when leading after the first period, 28-6-2 when scoring first, 39-6-4 in games that they led at any time and 25-10-1 when outshooting an opponent. Nicklas Backstrom (9g-18a) leads the team in first-period scoring and has scored the Capitals' first goal a team-high nine times. More power Washington has scored on 19-of-56 power-play opportunities in the last 14 games (33.9%). The Capitals' opponents in that time have received 20 more power-play opportunities but have scored seven fewer goals (12-for-76, 84.2% penalty killing). Washington's 24.5% success rate on the power play ranks second in the league (first in the Eastern Conference) and would set the club record for a full season (23.9%, 1984-85). Long road home Only five of Washington's remaining 19 games are against teams that would make the playoffs if the season ended today (three of those games are against Florida). Breathing room Washington's 15-point lead in the division matches the biggest divisional lead in franchise history.
One-Timers February (8-3-1) will be Washington's fifth month of the season above.500 The Capitals are 11-3-2 against Northeast Division teams and 12-2-3 against the Atlantic Division Washington's comeback from 4-0 down at NYR on Dec. 23 matched the biggest comeback in franchise history (three other times, most recently Oct. 23, 1991, at Edmonton) Washington's 25 shots on goal in the first period Dec. 20 at Philadelphia matched the all-time franchise record for shots in a period and set the record for shots in a period on the road Alex Ovechkin has attempted five penalty shots in his career, two more than any other Caps player in history The Capitals have three of the eight active Hart Trophy winners in the NHL (Alex Ovechkin, Jose Theodore and Sergei Fedorov) More Caps Notes Green energy Mike Green leads the NHL with 16 power-play goals, which matches Scott Stevens' club record for a defenseman. No defenseman has led the NHL in power-play goals for a season in the league's modern era (since 1943-44, when the center-ice red line was introduced). Green led the Capitals and ranked second in the NHL with 20 points in 13 games in February. Back it up Nicklas Backstrom has assembled a nine-game point scoring streak that is the longest current streak in the league and matches his career-best run, first set in November of this season. He is one game shy of the longest streak by a Capital this season (Alex Ovechkin, 10 games, twice). Backstrom has four goals and eight assists during this run, with goals in four of the last six games. His 17 goals have surpassed his total from all of last year (14) and his point total ranks tied for 10th in the league, just two shy of last year's total. Back-to-back Washington is just 5-5-1 when playing the second of two games in two days, but is 4-2-0 in the last six instances. Washington has one more set of back-to-backs remaining after this one (March 16-17); the Capitals face Florida in the second half of their final three back-to-backs of the year. Perfect early Two first-year professional goaltenders are both 2-0-0 for Washington this season, as Simeon Varlamov and Michal Neuvirth have become the first Capitals goaltenders to win their first two NHL starts since Jim Carey in 1994-95 (won first four starts). Neuvirth, who has beaten Tampa Bay (Feb. 14) and Atlanta (Feb. 26), stopped 21 shots for the win Thursday night. He and Varlamov have combined for a.942 save percentage and a 1.75 goals-against average. The Capitals have never had two rookie goaltenders both finish the season over.500. Daydream believers Washington has won six straight games that have started before 6 p.m. since starting the season 0-2-0 in afternoon games. Fastest 40 Washington won 40 games in 63 games, the fastest team to 40 wins in franchise history (previously 64 games, 1985-86). Road warriors Washington is just 15-12-4 on the road this season, but 13-6-4 on the road against the Eastern Conference and 10-3-2 in its last 15 road games. The Caps are 4-0-2 in their last six road games, since a 3-2 Inauguration Day loss at Ottawa (Jan. 20). Fehr game Eric Fehr has seven goals and 12 points in his last 13 games, with goals in seven of his last 12. Fehr, who had three goals and six assists in his first 28 games this season, was a healthy scratch for three straight games prior to his current hot streak. Fehr became the eighth Capital to crack double digits in goals this season. Washington is 9-0-1 when Fehr scores a goal. Young guns firing The Capitals, Detroit and New Jersey are the only teams in the NHL with four 50-point scorers: Alex Ovechkin (81 points), Nicklas Backstrom (67), Alexander Semin (58) and Mike Green (56). Washington's top four scorers are all averaging more than a point per game; no other team has more than its top two scorers above a point per game. Goal oriented Alex Ovechkin has seven more goals than any other NHL player and Mike Green has six more goals than any other NHL defenseman. For good measure, Hershey Bear (and Caps prospect) Alexandre Giroux has 13 more goals than any other AHL player. Last season Ovechkin and Green became the first teammates to lead the league in goals and goals by a defenseman since Pittsburgh's Mario Lemieux and Paul Coffey in 1988-89. The great 8 Alex Ovechkin has 31 goals and 46 points in his last 35 games, including eight two-goal games and his eighth career hat trick last Sunday. Ovechkin has posted 76 points in his last 52 games (1.46 per game, 43g-33a). He has 14 goals in his last 14 games; last year he finished the season scoring 17 goals in his last 17 games. Ovechkin's 81 points on the season, through 61 games played, are second in the NHL and virtually identical to his own pace from last season.
First 61 GP G-A-PTS +/- 2008-09 45-36-81 +16 2007-08 48-30-78 +9 Strength against schedule Washington is 16-5-4 against the other teams in the Eastern Conference that would make the playoffs if the season ended today. Green day Washington defenseman Mike Green's 56 points and 23 goals lead all NHL defensemen (by five points and six goals), despite the fact that he missed 13 games due to injury. His 23 goals are a career high and the most by a Capitals defenseman since Sergei Gonchar had 26 in 2001-02. He is bidding to become the first Washington defenseman to lead the league in defenseman scoring outright (Gonchar tied for the league lead in 2001-02). Washington is 33-12-4 with Green in the lineup and just 7-6-0 when he was out with an injury. Shot clock Alex Ovechkin leads the NHL with 402 shots on goal, 114 ahead of every other player in the league and his third career 400-shot season. Ovechkin is on pace for 527 shots on the season, which would be a career high and the second-highest total in NHL history despite the fact that he missed two games earlier in the season. He has posted eight games of 10 or more shots on goal and has 26 such games in his career, more than any other active player. Home run Yesterday's game was the only road game in a stretch of nine out of 10 at Verizon Center for the Capitals. Washington is 25-6-1 at home this season, second only to San Jose for the best home record in the NHL and already two better than last year's win total. Washington is just five home wins shy of the club record (30, 1985-86). The Capitals are 46-14-4 at home under head coach Bruce Boudreau. Going streaking Washington has had 10 consecutive sellouts at Verizon Center, matching the club record for consecutive sellouts. A few notes on the crowds at Caps home games this year: 17 of the last 18 games have been sold out Washington's 21 sellouts are more than twice the total from all of last year (8) and two shy of the single-season club record The Caps didn't have their second sellout last year until Feb. 24; since then 28 of the Capitals 43 regular-season home games have been sold out The average attendance of 18,059 (98.8% capacity) is up 22.5% from this time last year (14,742) Washington sold more than 2,000 full season tickets for 2009-10, plus 2009 playoff tickets, on the first four on sale days, despite not spending a dollar on advertising All good Washington has laid claim to the best record through 60 games in franchise history (38-17-5). The Capitals already became the first team in franchise history to go over.500 in each of the first four months of the season and enjoyed the best first half in franchise history (.695). They are the fastest team to 30 wins (47 games) and 40 wins (63 games) in franchise history. Western woes Washington only has one game against a Western Conference team remaining, great news for a team that has suffered 10 of its 18 regulation losses and four of its six home regulation losses against the West. March 10 at Nashville is the Capitals' final game against a Western Conference team. A real winner Washington is 36-3-1 in the last 40 games when Alex Ovechkin has scored a goal (26-3-1 this season). Washington is 21-0-1 in his last 22 multiple-goal games. Washington hasn't lost a game in which Ovechkin scored a power-play goal in more than a year, since Dec. 17, 2007, at Detriot. Something to behold Ovechkin's goal Feb. 18 vs. Montreal was the highlight of the night on ESPN's SportsCenter and TSN's SportsCentre, and "ovechkin goal" was the 17th most popular search term on Google.com Thursday morning. No fewer than 43 versions of the goal were posted on YouTube.com, the most popular of which got more than 250,000 views in 24 hours and was the No. 1 video on the site on Friday. Starting something Michal Neuvirth recently became the eighth Capital to make his NHL debut this season, joining Karl Alzner, Jay Beagle, Sean Collins, Andrew Gordon, Oskar Osala, Tyler Sloan and Simeon Varlamov. By comparison, Washington only had three players make their NHL debuts last season (Nicklast Backstrom, Chris Bourque and Sami Lepisto). Close change The Capitals had started the season 3-3-3 in one-goal games and are now 15-7-4. D powers, activate Washington defensemen have contributed significantly to the team's offense in 2008-09. On the year, a blueliner has either scored or assisted on more than half of the Capitals' 202 goals (112; 36g-89a).
Live Mike Mike Green set an NHL record for defenseman with goals in eight straight games from Jan. 27 to Feb. 14, breaking the mark previously held by Mike O'Connell (1983-84). It matched the longest streak in the NHL since 1997-98 (Teemu Selanne scored in 11 straight games that season). Green had 10-7-17 during his goal-scoring streak. Longest Goal-Scoring Streaks by Defensemen 8 games Mike Green, WSH (2008-09) 7 games Mike O'Connell, BOS (1983-84) 6 games Ray Bourque, BOS (1983-84) Barry Beck, COL (1977-78) Bobby Orr, BOS (1971-72) Harry Mummery, MTL (1920-21) Longest Capitals Goal-Scoring Streaks 9 games Mike Gartner (1986-87) Alan Haworth (1985-86) 8 games Mike Green (2008-09) Bicentennial celebration Feb. 7 against Los Angeles Alex Ovechkin joined Wayne Gretzky, Mike Bossy, Mario Lemieux and Brett Hull as the only NHL players in the modern era to score 200 goals in their first 300 games. Ovechkin, who has scored 28 more goals than any other player since he entered the league in 2005-06, leads the league in goals this season with 41. Climbing the charts In three and a half seasons, Alex Ovechkin already ranks fourth in career goals with the Washington Capitals and is 15th in career points. Washington Capitals Career Goals 1. Peter Bondra 472 2. Mike Gartner 397 3. Mike Ridley 218 4. Alex Ovechkin 208 Washington Capitals Career Points 14. Bob Carpenter 395 15. Alex Ovechkin 391 Washington Capitals Career Power-Play Goals 1. Peter Bondra 137 2. Mike Gartner 98 3. Alex Ovechkin 73 Washington Capitals Career Game-Winning Goals 1. Peter Bondra 73 2. Mike Gartner 54 3. Bengt Gustafsson 33 Alex Ovechkin 33 D for depth The Capitals have used 13 defensemen this season (counting Sergei Fedorov, who has played four games on defense, but not including Brian Pothier, who has been sidelined all season). Five defensemen have appeared in a game for Washington after starting the season in Hershey: Karl Alzner, Sean Collins, Bryan Helmer, Sami Lepisto and Tyler Sloan. Those defensemen have contributed 87 games played on the year. Last year Washington leaned on Hershey defensemen for just seven games played, all by Sami Lepisto. Depth charge Washington and its two minor-league affiliates Hershey in the AHL and South Carolina in the ECHL have a combined record of 108-55-7-7 and each stands first or second in their respective division. Washington Capitals System Team League Record Division Washington NHL 40-18-5 1st, Southeast Hershey AHL 38-17-0-4 1st, East South Carolina ECHL 30-21-2-3 2nd, South Reaching 50 Head coach Bruce Boudreau, in his 85th game behind the Capitals bench, became the fastest Capitals coach to reach 50 wins. Winningest Capitals Coaches (with number of games until win #50) 1. Bryan Murray 343 wins (119th game)
2. Ron Wilson 192 wins (112th game) 3. Terry Murray 163 wins (105th game) 4. Jim Schoenfeld 113 wins (98th game) 5. Glen Hanlon 78 wins (150th game) 6. Bruce Boudreau 77 wins (85th game) Washington Capitals How the Caps Were Built Draft (8): Backstrom, Fehr, Gordon, Green, Neuvirth, Ovechkin, Schultz, Semin Free Agency (9): Beagle, Bradley, Brashear, Erskine, Kozlov, Nylander, Poti, Steckel, Theodore Trade (6): Clark, Fedorov, Fleischmann, Jurcina, Laich, Morrisonn Waivers (1): Johnson Capitals Multiple Games Goals Assists Points 2 3+ Total 2 3+ Total 2 3 4 5+ Total Alex Ovechkin 9 3 12 5 1 6 12 9 2-23 Mike Green 3-3 5 1 6 14 3 1-18 Nicklas Backstrom - - - 9 5 14 11 5-1 17 Alexander Semin 5-5 5 1 6 8 5-1 14 Viktor Kozlov 1-1 3-3 4 2 - - 6 Michael Nylander 1-1 3-3 5 1 - - 6 Brooks Laich 1-1 2-2 6 - - - 6 Tomas Fleischmann 1-1 1-1 6 - - - 6 Sergei Fedorov 1-1 - 2 2 2 2 - - 4 Eric Fehr - - - 2-2 4 - - - 4 Milan Jurcina - - - 1-1 1 - - - 1 Bryan Helmer - - - 1-1 1 - - - 1 Karl Alzner - - - - - - 1 - - - 1 Matt Bradley - - - - - - 1 - - - 1 Boyd Gordon - - - - - - 1 - - - 1 David Steckel - - - - - - 1 - - - 1 Capitals Penalty Shots Capitals Alexandre Giroux vs. Boston 12/10/08 Manny Fernandez No Goal Alex Ovechkin at Carolina 12/7/08 Michael Leighton No Goal Michael Nylander vs. Vancouver 10/13/08 Roberto Luongo Goal Alex Ovechkin at Atlanta 10/10/08 Kari Lehtonen No Goal Opponents Adam Hall vs. Tampa Bay 1/1/09 Brent Johnson No Goal Chris Drury vs. NY Rangers 11/8/08 Brent Johnson No Goal Capitals in Shootouts Date Shootout Score Rounds Clinching Goal Caps Goaltender Site 2/18/09 Capitals 2, Montreal 0 2 Alexander Semin Jose Theodore Washington 2/11/09 NY Rangers 2, Capitals 1 4 Ryan Callahan Jose Theodore New York 1/6/09 Capitals 1, Philadelphia 0 3 Viktor Kozlov Jose Theodore Washington 11/15/08 New Jersey 1, Capitals 0 3 Zach Parise Jose Theodore New Jersey 10/28/08 Capitals 2, Nashville 1 4 Michael Nylander Jose Theodore Washington 10/18/08 New Jersey 1, Capitals 0 3 Zach Parise Brent Johnson Washington Player 1st 2nd 3rd Addl. Total GWG Career Alexander Semin 1/1 1/3 - - 2/4 1 7/21 Michael Nylander 0/2 - - 1/1 1/3 1 11/28 Viktor Kozlov 1/3 - - - 1/3 1 17/35 Alex Ovechkin - 0/1 1/3-1/4-10/35 Nicklas Backstrom - 1/1 0/1-1/2-2/4 Boyd Gordon - - 0/1-0/1-1/4 Sergei Fedorov - 0/1 - - 0/1-2/11
Brooks Laich - - - 0/1 0/1-2/11 Matt Bradley - - - - - - 1/3 Donald Brashear - - - - - - 0/2 Chris Clark - - - - - - 0/2 John Erskine - - - - - - 0/1 Eric Fehr - - - - - - 0/1 Tomas Fleischmann - - - - - - 0/4 Mike Green - - - - - - 0/3 Tom Poti - - - - - - 0/3 David Steckel - - - - - - 0/1 Goaltenders Brent Johnson Jose Theodore 0-1 record, 3 attempts, 1 GA (Career: 3-7 record, 10 GA on 36 attempts) 3-2 record, 16 attempts, 4 GA (Career: 12-4 record, 11 GA on 56 attempts) Capitals March Birthdays Player Birthday Chris Clark March 8, 1976 (33) Brent Johnson March 12, 1977 (32) Michal Neuvirth March 23, 1988 (21) Tom Poti March 22, 1977 (32) Alexander Semin March 3, 1984 (25) David Steckel March 15, 1982 (27) Career Milestones Within Reach Player Milestone Needed Donald Brashear 1,000th NHL game 16 games Eric Fehr 100th NHL game 10 games Viktor Kozlov 900th NHL game 21 games Viktor Kozlov 200th NHL goal 4 goals Brooks Laich 300th NHL game 4 games Michael Nylander 700th NHL assist 9 assists Alex Ovechkin 400th NHL point 10 points Alex Ovechkin 200th NHL assist 17 assists Tom Poti 300th NHL point 6 points Alexander Semin 100th NHL goal 2 goals Alexander Semin 100th NHL assist 3 assists Alexander Semin 200th NHL point 5 points Jose Theodore 500th NHL game 14 games Career Milestones Reached Player Milestone Date Reached Nicklas Backstrom 100th NHL point 12/13 at MTL Nicklas Backstrom 100th NHL game 11/19 at ANA Nicklas Backstrom 100th NHL assist 2/14 at TB Matt Bradley 100th NHL point 12/12 vs. OTT Sergei Fedorov 1200th NHL game 10/16 at PIT Sergei Fedorov 474th NHL goal (RUS record) 10/25 at DAL Mike Green 100th NHL point 1/13 vs. EDM Mike Green 200th NHL game 1/1 vs. TB Brent Johnson 100th NHL victory 10/13 vs. VAN Milan Jurcina 200th NHL game 10/16 at PIT Viktor Kozlov 500th NHL point 11/14 vs. NJ Brooks Laich 100th NHL point 1/14 at PIT Shaone Morrisonn 300th NHL game 12/10 vs. BOS Michael Nylander 900th NHL game 2/11 at NYR Michael Nylander 100th Caps point 10/16 at PIT Alex Ovechkin 200th NHL goal 2/5 vs. LA Alex Ovechkin 300th NHL game 2/15 at FLA Tom Poti 700th NHL game 2/24 vs. PHI Alexander Semin 200th NHL game 10/25 at DAL
David Steckel 100th NHL game 11/29 at CBJ Jose Theodore 200th NHL victory 1/19 at NYI