SB Nation - Keith Aucoin

Wednesday Caps Clips: Islanders @ Caps Game Day

J.P. — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:48:58 -0000

via daylife.com

View full size photo »

Your savory breakfast links:

Previews of tonight's Caps/Isles game (Really? These guys again?) from Vogs, NHL.com, Peerless and Rock The Red.net, and be sure to check out our SB Nation partner Lighthouse Hockey for coverage from the other side of tonight's match up.
Infirmary report: Jeff Schultz is out, Mike Green is in, Alexander Semin has a brace on his wrist, Boyd Gordon is getting closer, and what's-his-name is "day-to-day" (unless he's joking again). [Capitals Insider]
Is today Michael Nylander Day, or just another tease?
Mathieu Perreault's NHL career is off to a nice start. [Washington Post]
The Morrison/Mike Knuble effect. [Washington Times]
Huge thanks to @chaddukes and @LaVarArrington (a.k.a. "The LaVar Arrington Show with Chad Dukes") for the shout out yesterday (discussing this post that we ran the other day regarding the risk of Alex Ovechkin's contract) and for providing islands of Caps coverage amid a sea of Redskins bloviating. Check it out, including a must-listen interview with Chris Clark in Segment 2. [Segment 1, Segment 2, Segment 3, Segment 4 (audio)]
Brendan Morrison compares AO to Pavel Bure. [Vancouver Sun]
Ovechkin is only the sixth-most valuable player (second among skaters) in the League so far this season... [Puck Prospectus]
... but he certainly is clutch (as are a trio of other Caps)... [The Hockey News]
... and is a dominant force in the offensive zone. [Behind The Net]
Of course, he's still an easy target for ~~xenophobes~~ haters. [Sportsnet]
More power rankings, with the Caps up a spot to third here at SBN and up four spots to second at CBSSports.com.
It's important to know your ABC's... or at least your A, U, W and X. [The Whig Standard]
Steve Kolbe "Takes 5" with Tyler Sloan. [Capitals (audio)]
Episode 2 of "Caps on the Fly" featuring Green and Bob Woods, for your viewing pleasure. [Caps365 (video)]
Nicklas Backstrom is a fantastic value... at the moment. [Puck Prospectus]
Speaking of Backstrom, even if you're not quite fluent in Swedish, there's some pretty cool stuff in this video (from about the 5:20 mark on). [Hockeykväll (video)]
Remember when AO wasn't suspended for his alleged slew foot in Atlanta? Well, Colin Campbell was just following the League's well-established guidelines for discipline. [Down Goes Brown]
Keith Aucoin had a nice homecoming last weekend (though he would rather have been traveling from Miami to D.C., we're sure). [New England Hockey Journal]
Courage! It couldn't come at a better time. [Hockey Mom]
The Florida man who claimed to have supplied the Caps with 'roids has pled guilty to Federal steroids charges. [Tampa Bay Online]
Cody Eakin on dangerous hits. [Edmonton Sun]
More than you could ever need to read about Sami Lepisto. [Hockey's Future]
On this day back in 1981, the Caps named Bryan Murray head coach. Murray still sits atop the franchise coaching leaderboards for wins, losses, games coached and ~~lispy post-game pressers~~ playoff disappointments.
Happy 55th birthday to Michel Bergeron and happy 37th to personal fave Steve Konowalchuk.
Finally, a very heart-felt thanks on this Veteran's Day to every man and woman who has put themselves in harm's way so that we can live the lives we live (and know that you're in our thoughts on the other 364 days of the year, too).

Monday Caps Clips: Another Week Begins

J.P. — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:42:57 -0000

via the shoebox next to my desk

View full size photo »

Your savory breakfast links:

Mathieu Perreault sure is a l'il sparkplug, ain't he? [CSN Washington]
Odd choice for a "Getting to Know" feature in a national pub. [The Hockey News]
CSN's Russ Thaler sticks up for buddy Dmitry Chesnokov on the "4-5 Weeksgate" front. [CSN Washington]
It's still anyone's guess as to how long Alex Ovechkin will be sidelined, but in case you were wondering, the fewest games played by a Hart Trophy winner (modern era, non-goalie, non-lockout year) in his MVP season? 60, Mario Lemiuex in 1992-93 (Le Magnifique had 69 goals and 91 assists in those 60 games).
How 'bout that Flash? [Examiner]
A look at the Caps' goaltending situation from a fantasy perspective (and by "fantasy," I don't mean "Jose Theodore fully recaptures his Hart/Vezina form"). [The Hockey News]
Keith Aucoin has scored five goals since being returned to Hershey and Michal Neuvirth seems to be finding his groove, having now won three-straight (saving 76 of 80 shots along the way), including Sunday night's win in Providence. [Bears]
The captain of Sweden's U-20 team, Marcus Johansson (yes, that one), isn't intimidated by playing on North American-sized rinks. Good. [The Charlatan]
Former Cap Pat Peake is now coaching 'em up and has brought in a former boxer to teach his players how to defend themselves. The kicker? His players are 14-years-old. [Detroit Free Press (h/t KK)]

Thursday Caps Clips: No Ovechkin, No Win

J.P. — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:45:59 -0000

View full size photo »

Your savory breakfast links:

Recaps and other assorted musings on last night's loss from Corey (blog, article), Tarik (blog, article), Vogs, Joe B., Ed Frankovic, Peerless, and Fight For Old D.C..
Good news! Alex Ovechkin's injury isn't even among the ten most impactful early season hurts. [The Hockey News]
"Playoff hockey" in November? Maybe not as crazy as it sounds. [HomerMcFanboy]
Bruce Boudreau officially endorses Mike Green for Team Canada, which is certainly not "an about face from last spring" for Gabby (seriously, who writes this stuff?). [NHL.com]
Is Green as high as fourth on the Team Canada depth chart? [Hockey Or Die!]
Nicklas Backstrom on Grate Patrol. [Hockey Mom]
The "Gifted" Paradox. [Peerless]
Brendan Morrison's "Survivorman" adventure, now with video. [FanShot]
Perhaps the weirdest set of hockey cards I've seen yet, given that it contains this Alex Ovechkin card and this... fish? [The Beckett Blog (bonus: for more on the fish, click here... you know you want to)]
They're going to miss Michael Nylander in Grand Rapids. With any luck, we'll get the chance to miss him here, too. [Griffins]
What do you get the Caps fan who has everything? Not this. [Amazon.com via @nateewell]
In his dreams, perhaps, Keith Aucoin envisioned notching a hat trick against the Devils last night. Well, his dream came true... sorta. [Patriot-News]
Speaking of Aucoin, happy 31st birthday, Keith, happy 51st to Paul MacKinnon, and happy 52nd to both Nelson Burton and Rollie Boutin.

Friday Caps Clips: Make it Six; Isles @ Caps Game Day

J.P. — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:33:12 -0000

via Y!

View full size photo »

Your savory breakfast links:

Recaps and other assorted musings on last night's win from Corey (blog, article), Tarik (blog, article), Vogs, Joe B., Peerless, Ed Frankovic and Cap Centre (and here).
Previews of tonight's rematch of Saturday night's comeback win from NHL.com, Peerless and Cap Centre, and be sure to check out our SB Nation partner Lighthouse Hockey for coverage from the other side of tonight's match up.
Yet another "Alex Ovechkin saves hockey Washington" story (as if they get old). [CP]
Nicklas Backstrom: assist assassin. [The Hockey News]
Jeff Schultz isn't not impressed with Jeff Schultz. [AJC]
A hockey game pitting Washington against Hershey? Never say never... say 66 years ago. [OFB]
A post on why you should love Keith Aucoin... obviously written before last night's game. [Homer McFanboy]
Abe Pollin went with "Washington Capitals" after holding a "name-the-team contest." Abe's fortunate he held the contest before that first season or AO would be an All-Star for the Washington Skating Turds. [mental_floss]
Apparently, Alex Ovechkin "has become notorious around the NHL" for slew-footing, and Zdeno Chara was "was happy to see the league finally buckle down on the back-to-back Hart Trophy winner." "Notorious?" I'm calling B.S. [NESN]
A one-stop shop for all of your Caps-related H1N1 joke needs. [Peerless]
"If you can skate and survive the occasional lockout, National Hockey League ref is hardly a bad job. Refs make between $110,000 and $255,000 while linesmen earn from $72,000 to $162,000." [CNN.com]
Of course, it's not all fun and games... just ask Pat Dapuzzo (heads up: very heavy post). [FanHouse]
Sami Lepisto is making the most of his chance to play in Phoenix. [Arizona Republic]
Per the Hockey Hall of Fame, on this date back in 1998, "Capitals' Rick Tabaracci recorded his 14th career shutout and Flames' Ken Wregget got the 9th shutout of his career as Washington tied 0-0, at Calgary."
Finally, big day for former Caps birthdays, including Sean Collins' 26th, Ivan Ciernik's 32nd, Pat Elynuik's 42nd and Ron Lalonde's 57th.

Recap: Caps 4, Flyers 2

Stephen Pepper — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:18:53 -0000

More photos » by Manuel Balce Ceneta - AP

Browse more photos »

[AP Recap - Game Center - Game Summary - Event Summary]

Imagine a team that combined the astounding offensive skill of the Washington Capitals with the unyielding drive to the net and relentless goal crease presence of the Philadelphia Flyers. Cup worthy, right? Fortunately, just one half of the formula was enough to prevail and, to bollix a phrase from baseball, good hitting beat good pitching tonight. Secondary scoring? Who needs it? I kid.

Ten more notes on the game:

A fresh sheet of ice set down following last Sunday's Washington International Horse Show made for quite a bouncy puck and some fanned shots. Both Alexander Semin and Shaone Morrisonn had glorious chances to put the Flyers behind very early tonight but, well, you know.
The reunited top line of 8-19-28 overwhelmed: thirteen shots; 9 points; 4 goals. The second line of Brooks Laich, Mike Knuble, and Brendan Morrison, however, were overwhelmed by Mike Richards' line. And all that hooking to boot.
José Théodore. Unconscious. The most saves in a game (41) for JT in three years. Left precious few rebounds. Too bad he got run most of the night, and battled constant traffic left largely unchecked. That cannot stand.
Twenty shots against in the third? At home? My goodness, way to reel 'er in boys.
For the Caps' part, they made it much easier for Ray Emery, gracing him with plenty of room to see the puck. Even Laich barely skirted the crease on the PP. Guess the team preferred to allow Emery every advantage before letting the Big Four humble him with lightning-fast releases and unstoppable shots.
Face-off wins for the Caps were back on track: David Steckel was 16 for 27; Morrison 8 for 14; Keith Aucoin 5 for 8. Of course there's Nick Backstrom trailing behind again, going 6 for 16, and losing a key 5-on-3 offensive zone draw that effectively killed 15 seconds of two man advantage time for DC.
We need more of Steckel crushing a puck carrier along the wall and Matt Bradley grabbing the loose puck to rip a quick shot from the face-off circle, as we saw in the second period. That line sizzled.
Shaone Morrisonn saved the game early in the third by blocking a cross-crease pass in front of Théodore, turned away from the pass.
Worst point of the game to allow Darroll Powe to charge unimpeded down the gut and draw a penalty shot. Fortunately, it was Darroll Powe taking the penalty shot.
Aucoin sure made the most of his 10:29 TOI, didn't he? And still he was on ice for two more minutes and two extra shifts than Captain Chris Clark.

One more point -- we've talked a lot today about team toughness and retaliation for attacks on our stellar corps of heroes. Well, there's, of course, a human price to be paid for such a punishing brand of play. Caps legendary alum Kevin "Killer" Kaminski was hosting the CSN chat in-game tonight, and someone asked the current Mississippi RiverKings head coach: "How is your health?" His response?

"My body HURTS 24/7, besides the two shoulder and lower back operations, and the 651 stitches, two plates and twelve screws holding the right side of face together... my health couldnt be better... but it was all worth it to play for the Caps... a dream come true."

Perspective.

Capital Ups and Downs: Week 4

J.P. — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:00:34 -0000

via daylife.com

View full size photo »

Our weekly look at individual Washington Capitals' ups and downs:

Goalies	Trend	Notes
Jose Theodore	▲	Stopped 28 of 30 Islander shots on Saturday, keeping the team in the game long enough for them to wake up, come back, and get him a long overdue win - his first since opening night.
Semyon Varlamov	▼	Has now allowed four goals or more in three of his five starts, but is 2-0-0 in those games. Must be nice.

Defensemen
John Erskine	-	Not healthy. Not playing. Not missed.
Mike Green	▲	Green "got mad and said, ‘The heck with this,’ and he played the way he can." More, please.
Milan Jurcina	-	A couple of penalties in the Atlanta game and the willingness to shoot the puck (albeit not on net) in the Isles game stand out.
Shaone Morrisonn	-	Penalties in three straight games, but playing solid D when he's on the ice.
Brian Pothier	▼	Continues to struggle to make an impact.
Tom Poti	-	Back-to-back plus-1's and a whopping 6:41 of penalty killing time against the Thrashers.
Jeff Schultz	▲	"Did I ever tell you kids about the time I took the puck coast-to-coast through the entire Thrashers' team, deked the goalie and roofed it on the backhand?" One goal, four assists, plus-four, 6:12 SH TOI versus Atlanta (and, unlike Poti, un-scored upon in that time), and a big blocked shot at the end of that game. Keep killing it, Sarge.
Tyler Sloan	-	Couldn't get a game last week. One wonders what his immediate future holds.

Forwards
Keith Aucoin	▲	A big goal and an assist and a plus-two rating in two games (and in limited time, to boot). The results, at least, are all you can ask of him... other than a more consistent effort in backchecking.
Nicklas Backstrom	▼	Continues to struggle, posting a minus-three rating and winning just 33% of his draws last week. Backstrom has now gone seven games without an even strength assist and has just one helper in that span. Could his contract situation be weighing on him?
Matt Bradley	▲	Another goal for Brads, whose Pts/60 at even strength trail only Ovechkin and Semin among Caps skaters with five or more games played.
Chris Clark	-	Scored the eventual game-winner in Atlanta, but didn't do anything with more than five minutes of PP time for the week or a few shifts on the top line.
Eric Fehr	-	No preseason, no conditioning assignment, no ice time (but a nice goal against the Thrash). Recipe for failure?
Tomas Fleischmann	-	No preseason, a conditioning assignment and presumably a second-line slot being kept warm. Recipe for success?
Boyd Gordon	-	Still out with an injury. Could use his faceoff (and other) skills on the penalty kill.
Alexandre Giroux	-	When Green got kneed on the Island, he had the perfect opportunity to show he's more than a minor league cherry-picker. Like most of his opportunities at the NHL level, however, Giroux failed to take advantage. He did pot a goal against Atlanta, though.
Mike Knuble	-	Two penalties in the Atlanta game (though at least one was highly questionable), beauty drop pass to Green against the Isles.
Brooks Laich	▲	Overtime game-winner in New York (his first tally in three weeks) to go along with his assist earlier in the game and a plus-two rating for the week.
Quintin Laing	-	Judgment day coming?
Brendan Morrison	▲	A helper and a plus-four rating in the two games, but just 39.3% in the dot.
Michael Nylander	▲	Sometimes it's just real good to see a hockey player finally playing hockey. Five points in three games doesn't hurt either.
Alex Ovechkin	▼	The six shots on goal AO was credited with last week were as many or fewer than in any of his previous half-dozen games. Two hits in two games, a fine, and a team 0-for-11 on the power play (including two shorties against) also speak to a rough week for the best player in the world.
Alexander Semin	-	When it has to be clarified that a player's absence is health- and not discipline-related, it says something about how that player's been playing.
David Steckel	-	Plus-two on the week, but where's that offense about which we heard so much in the off-season?

Saturday Caps Clips: Caps @ Islanders Gameday

J.P. — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:48:01 -0000

Photo by Mark Newman, with special thanks to the Grand Rapids Griffins. More after the jump.

View full size photo »

Your savory breakfast links:

Previews of tonight's game from Vogs (more here), NHL.com, and Cap Centre, and be sure to check out our SB Nation partner Lighthouse Hockey for pregame coverage from the other side of tonight's match up.
Our own Stephen Pepper was on Hockey Night on Long Island to talk about the game. Check it out. [HNoLI]
Michael Nylander (pictured) made his Grand Rapids Griffins debut last night and had three power play assists in a come-from-behind win. [GriffinsHockey.com, Grand Rapids Press]
Alex Ovechkin was fined $2,500 for his hit on Rich Peverley, which brings his career totals to 847 regular season hits... and one instance of supplementary discipline. So let's stop the "Ovechkin is dirty" meme before it gets off the ground (again), okay? [NHL.com]
A couple of Bears veterans are trying to kick-start the Caps' secondary scoring. [Washington Times]
The Caps power play is slumping. [Washington Post]
Tomas Fleischmann has been assigned to Hershey on a conditioning assignment. [Capitals]

Recap: Capitals 5, Thrashers 4

David M. Getz — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 03:08:46 -0000

More photos » by John Bazemore - AP

Browse more photos »

[AP Recap - Game Center - Game Summary - Event Summary]

Tonight the Capitals played an opponent they should have handled easily and let the game get closer than it should have been. Again. They took far too many penalties, many of which were unneccesary. Again. They failed to ratchet up their game and lock down a win when they had the lead against an inferior opponent. Again. The team lacked the level of cohesion and constant pressure a team full of players this skilled should have. Again.

It'd be convenient to blame the poor performance on the injuries and illnesses keeping some of the regulars out of the lineup, but the reality is to do so would be an excuse, and not an explanation, especially considering that Alexandre Giroux and Keith Aucoin both played well.

Bruce Boudreau wasn't hesitant to use the whip this week in practice, skating his players hard and letting them know in no uncertain terms that he was unhappy with them. So far that approach doesn't seem to have worked. It'll be interesting to see where Gabby goes from here.

Ten additional thoughts on tonight's game:

You always want secondary scoring, and it doesn't get much more secondary than Eric Fehr, Alexandre Giroux, Chris Clark, Jeff Schultz, and Matt Bradley.
For all the offense the Caps created, they simply weren't able to sustained pressure as often or as strongly as they should have been able to. Scoring off nice plays on the rush and on the powerplay is all well and good, but a truely dominant team is one that controls the game by keeping the puck in the opponent's end.
Eric Fehr has now played six games against the Atlanta Thrashers in the last twelve-plus months. In those six games he has five goals. Apparently Eric Fehr:Atlanta Thrashers :: David Steckel:Tampa Bay Lightning.
Even at the NHL level Keith Aucoin looks pretty good in the offensive zone. The defensive zone - as evidenced by his weak clear that led to Ilya Kovalchuk's first goal and the several other plays where he was caught out of position - not so much.
If Nik Antropov fought Keith Aucoin, I'd take the young man from Waltham. It ain't the size of the dog in the fight...
Speaking of Antropov, last spring we wondered how the big Russian didn't "get called for interference and/or diving a half dozen times a game". Not much has changed since then.
Eric Fehr's spend a lot more time in front of the opposition's net this season. Which is a good thing, because that's where he's going to need to live if he's going to have consistent, long-term success in the NHL.
The good news: Semyon Varlamov's glove-hand troubles seem to be gone. The bad news: he has apparently replaced them with five-hole troubles.
For a while I was ready to praise Milan Jurcina with the old "I didn't notice him - and that's a good thing" line. And then the penalties started...
I never thought I'd say this, but I miss the Thrashers' light blue jerseys.

In their next opponent the Capitals face a 1-4-3 team that just picked up their first win via the shootout. Here's hoping for the same result - and a different recap.

Thursday Caps Clips: Caps @ Thrashers Gameday

J.P. — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:32:47 -0000

More photos » by Gregory Smith - AP

Browse more photos »

Your savory breakfast links:

Previews of tonight's game featuring the NHL's top two post-lockout goal scorers from Vogs, NHL.com, Peerless, Cap Centre and Hockey Mom, and be sure to check out our SB Nation partner Bird Watchers Anonymous for pregame coverage from the other side of tonight's match up.
Tuvan Hillbilly translated an Ilya Kovalchuk interview for the folks over at BWA and it makes for a good read (there are a couple of Alex Ovechkin mentions, of course). [BWA]
Speaking of Kovalchuk and Ovechkin, more on the shows the two of them have been putting on so far this season. [Cap Centre]
Yesterday's big news, of course, was the Caps re-assigning Michael Nylander to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL ~~so that the Russians can see that he still knows how to skate~~ on a conditioning assignment that George McPhee and Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland worked out earlier in the week. [Grand Rapids Press]
When Nylander played his last AHL game, AO was eight years old.
If you want to watch Nylander's Grand Rapids debut and/or Hershey at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, AHL.com is holding a free preview of its online broadcast service, "AHL Live" on Friday night. Sweet. [Snapshots]
Nylander's conditioning stint will end about a week before the Griffins play the Milwaukee Admirals... and Nolan Yonkman.
Pictures from the past two days' practices (the last picture of Nylander in Caps gear?). [Caps In Pictures Tuesday and yesterday]
The Caps also will formally recall Keith Aucoin from Hershey today and may or may not have to recall another forward (perhaps Alexandre Giroux), dependingupon the health of both Alex Semin and Boyd Gordon. [Patriot-News]
Speaking of Gordon, he might get less press than some of his teammates, but it's a pretty important year for him. [VFtCS]
Mega Nicklas Backstrom piece, including this quote from Ovechkin that I'm sure Nicky's agent won't soon forget, "If I play without him, maybe I don't get too many points, maybe I don't get too many goals." C'mon, Alex. Play it cool. [Washington Post]
As good as the Caps were last regular season, they were only four games above .500 in one-goal games (and are off to a rough start in those nail-biters this year). Then again, two seasons ago, the Cup Finalists were both exactly at .500 in such games, and last year they were an average of just 4.5 games above. Huh. [Puck Prospectus]
Ovechkin: still clutch-y after all these years. [The Hockey News]
Of course it's early, but only once in team history have the Caps had a higher "ecstasy rating" for a full season than they do right now. [Peerless]
"We can look at teams like Chicago and Washington and wonder about their goaltending, but that is the type of team that has won the Cup recently while teams like Vancouver and New Jersey have not." Snap! (Though those two in the past decade that the Devils actually did win... uh, yeah.) [Brodeur is a Fraud]
John Buccigross's money is on Sidney Crosby to his 1,000 points before Alex Ovechkin does (despite AO's current 31-point lead) because of "the 'violent' way Ovechkin plays" which means "injury is inevitable." So far in his career, Alex has missed two games due to injury while Sid has missed 37. [ESPN]
The NHL on Versus is killing it (well, relatively), and the Caps have played in two of their three most-watched games so far this season. [Puck the Media]
We FanShotted (FanShot?) this yesterday, but the code didn't work for some folks, so here again are Mike Knuble and Lindsay Czarniak making bad chili selections (Terlingua Red, FTW). [NBC4]
Shaone Morrisonn and his dog. [Washington Times]
If he keeps getting great press like this, Dick Patrick won't be "unsung" much longer. [NHL.com]
You know Michelle, the Caps' in-game hostess (I didn't make that title up, either), but now you can find out a bit more about her. [Storming the Crease]
A look at center ice stripes. Cool. [Uni Watch]
On this date back in 2003, the rebuild officially began (as far as I'm concerned, at least) when the Caps traded Steve Konowalchuk and a pick to Colorado for Bates Battaglia and Jonas Johansson.
Finally, happy 29th birthday, Matt Pettinger and happy 41st to Terry Yake.

Tuesday Caps Clips: Getting Healthy

J.P. — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:42:59 -0000

via the shoebox next to my desk

View full size photo »

Your savory breakfast links:

An injury update and a look at the likely goaltending schedule for the next two games. [Dump and Chase]
In case you missed it, the Caps re-assigned Keith Aucoin to Hershey. [In The Room]
Bob Woods is fitting in just fine behind the bench. [Washington Times]
Stop us if you've heard this one - the Caps need to focus more/better/some. [Washington Post]
Pictures from yesterday's practice. [Caps In Pictures]
The Caps are up five spots to eighth in TSN.ca's latest power rankings, up three to eighth at ESPN.com, up three to sixth at The Hockey News, and up four to fourth at The Sporting News.
Bruce Boudreau on why game days are special. [Capitals]
Having the best player in the world is great and all, but having the best player in the world with a bunch of other guys chipping in is even better. [Peerless]
Good news - Jose Theodore's shootout performance against the Devils was a mirage. Can the Caps get that extra point now? [Puck Prospectus]
Nicklas Backstrom was on Hockey This Morning yesterday. [XM204]
The top eight most explosive players in hockey whose names don't rhyme with Malexander Tovechkin. [VFTCS]
Give blood, get schwag. Win-win. [Capitals]
On a housekeeping note, we've got two new buttons in "The Vault" (in the left sidebar) - one linking to the Rink Rat Ticket Exchange and one linking to our new penalty tracker. Check 'em out.
Hey, ladies - Hockey 'n Heels time. [Capitals]
Bear Tracks! [LDN]
On this date back in 1980, Mike Gartner became the NHL's first ever Player of the Week.
Finally, happy 31st birthday Mike Farrell (and happy first to Simply Sensational).