EXCITEMENT IS IN THE AIR -- FOR THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS AND OVECHKIN!

As the Washington Capitals forge into the regular season opener for 2009-10 season, news outlets have highlighted the excitement with numerous articles devoted to the Caps, their management and their players.

But Caps fans -- and, of course, Ovi fans -- had to especially love an article in The Washington Times titled, "Is Ovechkin the next Great One?"

The article, written by Corey Masisak, reads: " Wayne Gretzky's career total of 894 goals is supposed to be unreachable, but if Alex Ovechkin were to duplicate what he has accomplished in his first four seasons three more times, he would begin the first year of his new contract within reach of the Great One's hallowed achievement. "

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Team fans obviously think that they know the answer -- Of course, Ovi is the next "Great One!"


At The Washington Post, Tarik El-Bashir had his own article asking, "Is This the Year for the Caps?" And a secondary title reads, Ovechkin Leads Core of Talentedd Players Who May Have Their Best Shot at the Cup.

This article begins: "For the past four seasons, the world's best hockey player has performed in Washington. As a member of the Capitals, Alex Ovechkin has won a scoring title, led the National Hockey League in goals twice and been named MVP two years in a row." And it goes on to say that the prize that Ovi is expected to deliver has eluded him so far.

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And Reuters also posted a captivating headline: "Caps' Boudreau thinks Ovechkin's best is yet to come" The article, written by Steve Ginsburg, begins: "Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau believes he has yet to see the best of two-time MVP Alex Ovechkin.
"He can get a lot better and I think he will," Boudreau told Reuters. "Offensively, I don't know. But we need to see him do it both offensively and defensively. There's a lot of room for improvement in his game. And that's something because he's really, really good right now."

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The Winnipeg Sun asked their panel of hockey experts from across the country to name the top 50 players -- and the result was, "One area where there was little debate was the NHL's best player. Alex Ovechkin. Electricity on ice. The Washington Capitals star was close to a unanimous choice as the NHL's No. 1 player, with Pittburgh Penguins' Sid "The Kid" Crosby getting the only other first-place votes. "

Those experts once again answered the often-asked question of who is best, Ovechkin or Sidney Crosby -- and the experts, it appears, did it decisively!

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Throughout the U.S. and Canada, excitement is in the air -- and this year let's hope that the excitement lasts all the way to hoisting the Stanley Cup!

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FIRST WASHINGTON CAPITALS CONVENTION -- A WHOLE LOT OF FUN!

The first ever Washington Capitals Convention this past weekend was a roaring success -- an all-day extravaganza for fans of the entire Caps team and individual players.

My daughter and I attended together -- a wonderful mother-daughter bonding day. But in saying that, it sounds like the two of us are Caps fans -- and in actuality, every member of our family follows and roots for the team. In fact, my first game was with son, Stuart. At the time I was completing a media analysis for the Capitals as my college internship, and Director of Public Relations Lou Corletto offered two prime-location tickets. Stu and I had the time of our lives watching the Capitals win -- and we were hooked! In fact, it was such fun that it became a tradition that Stu gave me Capitals tickets as a Christmas gift each year. And later it became a tradition for the whole family to go to a game during the holiday season.

But to get back to the convention. Right off the bat, Drew and I stood in line for an assigned time and table in order to collect autographs -- and, as we were standing there, we glanced up to see owner Ted Leonsis walking by us. Thrill number one for the day! Since our time was limited, we opted for the earliest autograph time slot -- each taking a different table so that our autographs would not be identical.

Next, we scoped out the Convention Hall -- joining the large crowd gathered for the Opening Ceremonies and later searching though the used hockey equipment for some "gem" used jerseys. And then it was on to the shop where we stood in line with other excited fans to buy Capitals sweatshirts and jerseys. Drew bought a Clark t-shirt, and, while I wanted one for each player -- there was no way to bypass the Ovechkin one! Everyone loves Ovi!

And the Capitals' trophies were numerous and amazing! Our race horses have won quite a few stakes level trophies -- but none of the trophies in our sport could compare with those awarded to the Capitals!

But I had just one "absolutely must do" item on my convention list -- attending the Let's Make A Deal session with panelists George McPhee and Dick Patrick. The event was to provide a glimpse into "how a trade is constructed and how it progresses, who is involved and what actually is in the Caps 'war room.'"

Now for what might be a stunning confession -- as much as I enjoy watching the Capitals play and was eager to see favorite players, most of all I wanted to attend vice president and general manager George McPhee's session! No question -- I must be his biggest fan! I have admired him for the excellent decisions he has made in structuring his career, his talent on the ice as a player and also for his brilliance at the helm of the Capitals. It seems incredible to be so skilled and talented on so many levels. So nothing could have been more exciting than his glimpse inside the Capitals operation -- a chance to hear his beliefs and thoughts on the trading process.

The session was everything that I expected -- enjoyable and instructive. I've never heard GMGM speak without learning something. The only disappointment was that occasionally, at least were we were sitting, the sound system was not perfect so that we could not always decipher what was being said. Still, it was a minor point -- and the session lived up to expectations as the highlight of the day! In fact, it was so enjoyable that we regretted that we could not stay for all of the sessions throughout the day. But that will be the plan for next year!



Collecting autographs was the final event in our plans -- but the lines were long so that we didn't have the time -- so simply walked around the convention hall for a glimpse at the players who were there to sign. That actually was a whole lot of fun -- especially for my daughter who saw her long-time favorite Peter Bondra. Once she had snapped a few photos of the Capitals' once superstar, she quickly phoned her older sister, and exclaimed, "Guess who I saw! Peter Bondra!" She knew that would stir up a bit of envy!

It was a terrific day -- one that we will never forget! And you can count on the fact that we'll be back there again next year, hopefully with more time than we had this year! Sphere: Related Content

CAPITALS WIN FINAL PRESEASON GAME WITH A 4-3 WIN OVER RANGERS

The Washington Capitals capped preseason play with a 4-3 win over the New York Rangers.

Brooks Laich had a goal and an assist, while goals were also scored by Alexander Semin, Chris Bourque and Mike Knuble. And the Caps' goaltender Semyon Varlamov stopped 28 shots.

Scoring for the Rangers were Artem Anisimov, Evgeny Grachev and Donald Brashear.

The Capitals' finished the preseason play at 4-2-0.

After Laich's initial goal, Semin added another giving the Caps a two-score lead. Then they added two more goals at early in the second period, giving the Capitals a 4-0 lead. But New York got on the board when Anisimov scored on a power play in the third period. Grachev next scored -- followed by Brashear with just four minutes left to play.

The Rangers garnered only 11 shots in the first two periods, but upped that to 20 in the third. Lundqvist faced 24 shots during two periods, then was replaced by Stephen Valiquette.

The Capitals open the regular season in Boston on Thursday night. Sphere: Related Content

OLIE THE GOALIE HAS RETIRED!

Awww, it sort of tugs at the heart -- the end of an era, even though it ended with the Washington Capitals before today. Still, there is a bit of -- actually, let's face it, a whole lot of -- once a Capitals player, always in our minds and hearts. And Godzilla was so incredibly great -- so totally amazing!

"South African-born German international goaltender Olaf Kolzig, best known for his years with the Washington Capitals in the NHL, announced his retirement on Wednesday," according to Reuters. "Kolzig, an NHL All-Star in 1998 and 2000, played most of his career with the Capitals who drafted him in 1989."

Yep, of course he was known for his years -- heck, his career -- with the Caps! Those of us who are long-time Caps fans could never forget our own Olie the Goalie -- Olie the Great! -- and can still hear the chant, O-lie, O-lie, O-lie!

"The 39-year-old goaltender made eight appearances last year for Tampa Bay Lightning before injury cut short his season and although he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs he did not feature for them."

Wow! Olie is 39! How quickly the years do pass. And if he's 39, how old does that make us?

"It was in the U.S. capital, though, where Kolzig made his name after several years learning his trade in the minor leagues," reported Reuters. "He won the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goaltender after posting 41 wins in 1999-2000, and also helped the Capitals reach the 1998 Stanley Cup finals."

It's a record to be proud of. Olie will certainly never forget the Caps -- nor will we forget him. He was one of the best, and seemingly one of the most underrated.

"While I appreciate everything the game has given me and certainly will miss it, I am looking forward to spending more time with my family and remaining involved in hockey in some capacity," Kolzig said in a statement released through the NHL Players' Association, the news release concluded.

There is no doubt, Olie was and remains very respected and loved by his Caps teammates and fans, and always will be a part of the Caps family!

Olie, thanks for the good times and the memories. Best of luck -- have a healthy and happy retirement!
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Statement from Capitals chairman and majority owner Ted Leonsis:

“Olie was the face of the Capitals franchise for years, on the ice, in the locker room and around Washington, D.C. He was a great Capital and the organization and our fans will always have fond memories of ‘Olie the Goalie.’ We wish him and his wonderful family all the best in his retirement.”

Kolzig retires with a number of Capitals goaltending records, including:

- Career games played (711), minutes (41,259), wins (301), save percentage (.906), saves (18,013) and shutouts (35)

- Single season games played (73, 1999-00), minutes (4,371, 1999-00), wins (41, 1999-00) and save percentage (.920, 1997-98) Sphere: Related Content

OVECHKIN AND KNUBLE EACH SCORE TWO GOALS -- CAPS WIN OVER BLACKHAWKS 6-2

Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin and Mike Knuble each scored two goals and an assist in the Washington Capitals' 6-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks in exhibition play on Wednesday night. Sphere: Related Content

GUSTAFSSON WON'T GET HIS SHOT WITH CAPS YET -- By Stephen Shyno, Washington Times

His father, Bengt, starred for the Washington Capitals for nine seasons, but Anton Gustafsson's NHL odyssey will have to wait.

The former first-round pick was among 15 players the Caps cut Sunday in advance of the start of the Hershey Bears' camp Monday.

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CAPITALS WIN OVER BLACKHAWKS -- PERREAULT SCORES WINNING GOAL, NEUVIRTH IMPRESSES

Washington Capitals' Mathieu Perreault scored the game-winning goal 4:48 into overtime, as the Caps won over the Chicago Blackhawks, 3-2, in preseason play.

Kyle Wilson and Chris Clark each secured a goal and an assist for the Caps -- and rookie goaltender Michal Neuvirth turned aside 24-of-26 shots, tremendously impressing in both penalty kill and overtime and keeping the Caps in the game until Wilson scored the tie with 2:47 left in the third period. Perreault stepped up with a rebound off a shot by Shaone Morrison to capture the Capitals win in overtime.

The Blackhawks sent many of last season's regular players onto the ice, while the Caps chose to give experience to the team's younger players.

For the Blackhawks, Patrick Sharp and Jack Skille each scored a goal, and goalie Cristobal Huet saved 27-of-30 shots.

The win gave the Caps 2-0-0 in preseason play -- with both wins earned during extra time. Washington's star Alex Ovechkin is among several Capitals players who yet to be seen on the ice in preseason play. Sphere: Related Content

OVECHKIN CHOSEN D.C. SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR

Washington Capitals left wing Alexander Ovechkin was for the consecutive year named Washington D.C. Sportsman of the Year. The award was presented in a ceremony held on Tuesday.

"Ovechkin was honored for leading the League with 56 goals, finishing second with 110 points and helping the Caps win their second straight Southeast Division title," it was announced. "He added 11 goals and 21 points in 14 playoff games as the Caps advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs."

At the NHL Awards Ceremony in June, Ovechkin garnered quite a collection of trophies -- repeating as winner of the Hart Trophy, Lester B. Pearson Award and Rocket Richard Trophy. And he became the first player to repeat as League MVP since Dominik Hasek in 1997-98.

Ovechkin also was honored for having the best play of the year for his incredible goal in Game 5 of the first round of playoffs against the New York Rangers.

Also honored was Washington Capitals general manager George McPhee who was chosen sports executive of the year.

SneakerBall, a black tie and sneakers event, celebrates the best of sports in the Greater Washington, D.C., region. The event is organized to benefit the Greater Washington Sports Alliance Foundation, comprised of six local charities. Sphere: Related Content

WASHINGTON CAPITALS' QUINTIN LAING IS BACK AFTER SPLEEN SCARE

Tarik El-Bashir, Washington Post, provided an excellent article on Quintin Laing -- well worth reading. He starts:

Quintin Laing is tough, like most hockey players. He's missing most of his front teeth and he routinely sacrifices his body by throwing himself in front of 90-plus mph slap shots.

So when the checking-line winger began feeling lightheaded last March in his first game back from a knee injury, he stayed on the ice. A dull pain spread across his abdomen and his shoulder went completely numb, but he finished the game, skating 15 shifts in the Washington Capitals' 5-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

(Click below to read remainder of article)

CLICK HERE TO READ REMAINDER OF ARTICLE BY TARIK EL-BASHIR, The Washington Post Sphere: Related Content

WASHINGTON CAPITALS TRAINING CAMP DAY 4 SHOOT-OUT

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WASHINGTON CAPITALS COACH BRUCE BOUDREAU -- TALKS FOOD

Find out some of the foods that the coach doesn't like -- sure to surprise you!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH WASHINGTON CAPITALS COACH BRUCE BOUDREAU TALKING ABOUT FOOD Sphere: Related Content

CAPITALS TEAM C CAPTURED SCRIMMAGE 4-3 WIN

At Kettler Capitals Iceplex today, Team C (coached by Caps assistant Blaine Forsyth and goalie coach Arturs Irbe) captured a 4-3 victory over Team B (coached by Caps assistants Dean Evason and Bob Woods).

Semyon Varlamov started in goal for Team B, while Team C was represented by Michal Neuvirth.

"Matt Bradley and Brooks Laich lit the lamp for Team C as they took a 2-0 lead after the first stanza," described the Capitals' senior writer Mike Vogel. "Varlamov made a pair of dazzling stops prior to Laich’s goal, but was unable to corral the rebound on the second one, enabling Laich to tap the shrapnel into the open cage.

"Team B authored a second period comeback, evening the score at 2-2 on goals from Anton Gustafsson and Andrew Gordon. Gordon was the beneficiary of a terrific set-up pass from Mathieu Perreault, and he beat Neuvirth with a sharp wrist shot from the left circle."

But with only 66 seconds remaining in the middle frame, Team C moved back into the lead. "Defenseman Vladimir Denisov sprung Keith Aucoin on a breakaway with a brilliant home run pass and Aucoin tucked the puck through Varlamov’s five-hole," described Vogel. "Jason Bacashihua took over in goal for Team B and Todd Ford manned the nets for Team C as the third period got underway. Team B had a great chance for an early equalizer when perreault set up Steve Pinizzotto on a 2-on-1 early in the period. Pinizzotto got a shot off, but Bacashihua was able to get a piece of it with his glove.

"Team C picked up an insurance goal when David Steckel banged one past Ford off the post to make it 4-2. Team B pulled to within a goal later in the third. A strong shift by the line of Gordon, Perreault and Boyd Kane resulted in a goal when Gordon was able to lift a rebound past Bacashihua on his backhand.

"A late power play gave Team B a chance to even it up, but strong penalty killing by Bradley, Laich and Jay Beagle preserved the lead. A late rush by Team B’s Alexandre Giroux was snuffed by Team C blueliner Sean Collins, and the first two points of the tournament went to Team C."

Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau opined that Mathieu Perreault, Andrew Gordon, Patrick McNeill and Quintin Laing all performed extremely well for a first scrimmage, adding, "Usually the younger guys are the guys that stand out early. As much as we as coaches would love everybody to be at the top of their game right off the bat, the veterans take their time a little bit more.

“System-wise, they were really good,” said Boudreau of the two teams that scrimmaged on Monday. “I thought they were overly cautious with the systems in the first period. I thought they both did the neutral zone and the controlled breakout and forecheck and things like that – the only two things we worked on this week – really well. The other stuff will come, but that stuff was good.” Sphere: Related Content

OVECHKIN ABOARD ZAMBONI TO NHL STORE IN NYC

NEW YORK -- Can you imagine the shock at seeing Alex "Ovi" Ovechkin tooling around midtown Manhattan on a Zamboni! The Washington Capitals superstar was in the Big Apple on Wednesday -- enjoying the Zamboni ride that was to promote the new video game, NHL 2K10, for which Ovechkin is the cover athlete. He drove a block up Sixth Avenue to the NHL Store Powered by Reebok.

When Ovi pulled up, there to meet him were cheering fans -- and Ovi waved to them all before entering the store.

"It's nice when people want to see you," Ovechkin told NHL writer Dan Rosen.

Ovechkin was at the store to promote the video game and play the Wii version against a series of competitors.

"To have one of the great hockey players of all time come out to play your video game and play the fans it's just a special time and a special day," Chris Snyder, the Director of Marketing for 2K Sports, told NHL.com. "It's great for the fans, great for Ovi and it's also great for 2K Sports."

Ovi said that he really enjoyed his Zamboni trek, but that he might have preferred that it went a little faster. "It's an unbelievable feeling," Ovechkin said, according to NHL. "It's something new for me and something new for the fans. Lots of guys don't know hockey, they just see me around on a Zamboni and the police stopping the cars. It was pretty cool."

"At 2K Sports we make some noise and there's only one NHL guy that can do it," Snyder told NHL, "and that's Alexander Ovechkin."

Ovechkin autographed copies of the games which was being sold for the very first time here. Ovi, so awesome on the ice, needs to get used to the game because a local kid beat him 2-0.

When the day was drawing to a close, he repeated a line that fans have often heard. "It's another good day to be Alex Ovechkin," he told NHL! Sphere: Related Content

ALL WASHINGTON CAPITALS GAMES WILL BE TELEVISED DURING 2009-10 SEASON

The Washington Capitals will have all of their 82 regular-season games televised during the 2009-10 season, the Capitals announced today in conjunction with boardcast partner Comcast SportsNet. Comcast SportsNet will televise 75 games, with 49 games available in high definition.

Coverage plans include 62 games on Comcast SportsNet and 12 games on CSN+, it was reported. Comcast SportsNet will open its coverage with Washington’s first home game of the year on Saturday, Oct. 3 against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Verizon Center at 7 p.m. The game will be complimented by extensive pre- and postgame coverage on the network.

Joe Beninati and former Capital Craig Laughlin return to provide play-by-play and color commentary, respectively, on the local broadcasts, with Al Koken reporting rinkside. Lisa Hillary will also join the broadcast as a reporter.

CSN+ is widely carried by cable and satellite carriers throughout the Comcast SportsNet viewing area -- all channels listed on www.csnwashington.com. One game will be carried on The Comcast Network, which is also available to cable and satellite providers in the area.

Versus will broadcast seven games nationally, including Washington’s season opening game on Thursday, Oct. 1 against the Boston Bruins. Versus will also broadcast on Oct. 6 and Oct. 27 vs. Philadelphia, Nov. 17 at N.Y. Rangers, March 8 vs. Dallas and April 5 vs. Boston. On April 6 when Washington plays at Pittsburgh, Versus will broadcast nationally, while CSN will broadcast locally.


October
Thurs., Oct. 1 at Boston 7 p.m. VERSUS
Sat., Oct. 3 Toronto 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Tues., Oct. 6 at Philadelphia 7 p.m. VERSUS
Thurs., Oct. 8 N.Y. Rangers 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Sat., Oct. 10 at Detroit 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Mon., Oct. 12 New Jersey 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Thurs., Oct. 15 San Jose 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Sat., Oct. 17 Nashville 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Thurs., Oct. 22 at Atlanta 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Sat., Oct. 24 at N.Y. Islanders 7 p.m. CSN
Tues., Oct. 27 Philadelphia 7 p.m. VERSUS
Thurs., Oct. 29 at Atlanta 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Fri., Oct. 30 N.Y. Islanders 7 p.m. CSN+

November
Sun., Nov. 1 Columbus 5 p.m. CSN (HD)
Wed., Nov. 4 at New Jersey 7 p.m. CSN
Fri., Nov. 6 at Florida 7:30 p.m. CSN+
Sat., Nov. 7 Florida 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Wed., Nov. 11 N.Y. Islanders 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Fri., Nov. 13 Minnesota 7 p.m. CSN+
Sat., Nov. 14 at New Jersey 7 p.m. CSN+
Tues., Nov. 17 at N.Y. Rangers 7 p.m. VERSUS
Fri., Nov. 20 Montreal 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Sat., Nov. 21 at Toronto 7 p.m. CSN+
Mon., Nov. 23 at Ottawa 7:30 p.m. CSN
Wed., Nov. 25 Buffalo 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Sat., Nov. 28 at Montreal 7 p.m. CSN+
Mon., Nov. 30 at Carolina 7 p.m. CSN (HD)

December
Thurs., Dec. 3 Florida 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Sat., Dec. 5 at Philadelphia 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Mon., Dec. 7 at Tampa Bay 7:30 p.m. CSN
Wed., Dec. 9 at Buffalo 7 p.m. CSN
Fri., Dec. 11 Carolina 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Sat., Dec. 12 at Toronto 7 p.m. CSN+
Tues., Dec. 15 at Colorado 9:30 p.m. CSN
Fri., Dec. 18 at Vancouver 10 p.m. CSN
Sat., Dec. 19 at Edmonton 10 p.m. CSN+
Wed., Dec. 23 Buffalo 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Sat., Dec. 26 New Jersey 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Mon., Dec. 28 Carolina 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Wed., Dec. 30 at San Jose 10 p.m. CSN (HD)

January
Sat., Jan. 2 at Los Angeles 4 p.m. CSN (HD)
Tues., Jan. 5 Montreal 7 p.m. CSN+
Thurs., Jan. 7 Ottawa 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Sat., Jan. 9 at Atlanta 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Tues., Jan. 12 at Tampa Bay 7:30 p.m. CSN+
Wed., Jan. 13 at Florida 7:30 p.m. CSN (HD)
Fri., Jan. 15 Toronto 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Sun., Jan. 17 Philadelphia 3 p.m. CSN (HD)
Tues., Jan. 19 Detroit 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Thurs., Jan. 21 at Pittsburgh 7:30 p.m. CSN (HD)
Sat., Jan. 23 Phoenix 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Tues., Jan. 26 at N.Y. Islanders 7 p.m. CSN+
Wed., Jan. 27 Anaheim 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Fri., Jan. 29 Florida 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Sun., Jan. 31 Tampa Bay 3 p.m. CSN (HD)

February
Tues., Feb. 2 at Boston 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Thurs., Feb. 4 at N.Y. Rangers 7 p.m. CSN
Fri., Feb. 5 Atlanta 7 p.m. CSN+
Sun., Feb. 7 Pittsburgh TBD NBC
Wed., Feb. 10 at Montreal 7:30 p.m. CSN
Thurs., Feb. 11 at Ottawa 7 p.m. CSN
Sat., Feb. 13 at St. Louis 8 p.m. CSN (HD)
Olympic Break
March
Wed., March 3 at Buffalo 7 p.m. CSN
Thurs., March 4 Tampa Bay 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Sat., March 6 N.Y. Rangers 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Mon., March 8 Dallas 7 p.m. VERSUS
Wed., March 10 Carolina 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Fri., March 12 Tampa Bay 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Sun., March 14 at Chicago TBD CSN
Tues., March 16 at Florida 7:30 p.m. CSN
Thurs., March 18 at Carolina 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Sat., March 20 at Tampa Bay 7:30 p.m. CSN (HD)
Wed., March 24 Pittsburgh 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Thurs., March 25 at Carolina 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Sun., March 28 Calgary 3 p.m. CSN (HD)
Tues., March 30 Ottawa 7 p.m. CSN (HD)

April
Thurs., April 1 Atlanta 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Sat., April 3 at Columbus 7 p.m. CSN (HD)
Mon., April 5 Boston 7 p.m. VERSUS
Tues., April 6 at Pittsburgh 7 p.m. CSN/VS
Fri., April 9 Atlanta 7 p.m. TCN
Sun., April 11 Boston 3 p.m. CSN (HD)

All Times Eastern Sphere: Related Content

CAPITALS ROOKIE CAMP ON LABOR DAY

“Every coach has some sort of barometer to see who worked hard in the summer and who took it easier than they should have,” said Washington Capitals' coach Bruce Boudreau after the opening session of the Capitals rookie camp. “I thought most of our guys were really good today. A couple of the guys who were late additions probably didn’t skate as much.”

During this initial session, the young players faced a hard-working practice that concluded with a lengthy conditioning skate.

The rookie camp roster is comprised of 23 players -- 19 members of the Capitals’ organization, together with forward Ryan Jasinsky and defensemen Aaron Dawson, Ryan Kerr and Kevin Schmidt who are free-agent invitees.

The most recent first-round picks on the ice this week are center Anton Gustafsson (pictured) and defenseman John Carlson, both first-round selections in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Carlson impressed at last fall’s rookie and regular training camps, and was a standout during the 2008-09 season, playing with the Hershey Bears for the Calder Cup championship.

Gustafsson, on the other hand, faced a season that was plagued by injuries. So he opted for a jump-start on the season, by arriving in Arlington weeks ago to prepare for his bid for a nice spot on the team. When asked whether the early arrival was helpful, he responded, "Last time in development camp I did not feel half as good as I feel now. It feels very good. Those three weeks made a huge difference.”

Gustafsson understands the importance of making a strong showing. "I am going to stay [in North America] all year,” he said. "It’s a pretty big thing for me. The last three weeks I have been looking forward to this all the time, just getting in here and getting started working.”

Carlson, who has already been attracting considerable attention, said, "I wanted to take a lot of time off after the season. I played I think 110 games [in 2008-09] or something crazy like that, so I did that and I thought in summer [development] camp, maybe I wasn’t as ready as I should have been. I got onto the ice a lot after that and after that really started my summer training on the ice. I felt good out there today and just look forward to the game on Friday.”

Boudreau, who coached the 2005-06 Bears to a Calder Cup title, is hoping that some of last season's Hershey standouts will come along to be strong for the Capitals.

“If you look at the history of teams that win the Calder Cup, they always have four or five guys playing in the NHL in the next year or next year and a half at least,” Boudreau opined. “They’re going to push some of these guys that think they’ve been safe for years to make sure they play some of their best hockey.

“I think we’ve got three good goalies. I think we have NHL defensemen. We have a multitude of forwards that are ready to make the next step. I think there are battles all over the ice. It should make for good stories everywhere.”

After the Rookies, some of the team's veterans took to the ice -- and Boudreau watched for a bit. "I don’t know if I pay that much attention to what they accomplish,” he said, "but you certainly look at all the players and see what their summer conditioning was like. And they all look like they are in tremendous shape, so it makes the coach smile.”

Some notes from the Capitals on Monday: Forward Stefan Della Rovere “got his bell rung” last week according to Boudreau, and he was held off the ice for the first day’s work as a result … Defenseman-turned-forward Joe Finley was impressive but he left the ice early with some soreness … Boudreau’s sons Andy and Ben participated in the first day’s on-ice activities, wearing white sweaters sans nameplates ... Braden Holtby and Semyon Varlamov were the goaltenders for today's rookie session. Michal Neuvirth and Brett Leonhardt were the afternoon netminders in the veterans' informal session. Varlamov and Neuvirth will trade places for Tuesday's on-ice sessions.

Sphere: Related Content

THE FIRST EVER WASHINGTON CAPITALS CONVENTION IS "SOLD OUT"

Washington Capitals fans, eager for the coming hockey season, will be having a whole different kind of fun at the Capitals first ever Convention on Saturday, Sept. 26 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center at the National Harbor in Oxon Hill, MD.

A "sold out" crowd of more than 5,000 fans will gather with the Capitals players and management for meeting and greeting -- a day that promises to be a season-highlight and memorable affair for everyone! During the 2008-09 hockey season, the team was on the ice in front of a club-record 29 sellouts crowds last season -- but at the convention the Capitals and fans will have a unique opportunity to mingle for discussions, autograph sessions and other events.

"Capitals fans have responded with characteristic enthusiasm, purchasing all available tickets three weeks in advance of the all-day event," said a team spokeman. Attending for the Capitals will be the entire 2009-10 Capitals team, Capitals alumni and other special guests.

There will be panel discussions, skill sessions, autographs and photo opportunities -- a first-time look at behind-the-scenes operations as well as an insight into the lives of NHL players, detailed the Capitals. There also will be interactive activities for adults and children, a display containing many of the NHL’s most prominent trophies, a locker-room store featuring game-used authentic memorabilia and the team’s annual equipment sale.

Head lining the event will be NHL commissioner Gary Bettman who will join chairman and majority owner Ted Leonsis to address fans and field questions on the state of the league. In addition, fans will be able to sit in on panel discussions that feature general manager George McPhee and head coach Bruce Boudreau and a number of current and former Capitals players, including Hall of Famer Rod Langway, Al Iafrate, Dennis Maruk and Kelly Miller.

The Sept. 26 festivities begin at 9 a.m. for season-ticket holders and 10 a.m. for the general public and will conclude at 8 p.m. Fans who are unable to attend will be able to find post-event coverage on WashingtonCaps.com. Sphere: Related Content

BEHIND THE BENCH, Capitals Coach Bruce Boudreau (9/7/09)

Coach Bruce Boudreau this week offered his thoughts on having players back on the ice for the Rookie Camp and Training Camp.

"Today is the day we have all been waiting for," exclaimed Boudreau. "I love the summer, but today is the day when hockey returns, the day when we get the skates back on and get on the ice. It is where we are supposed to be. We circle this date on the calendar and look forward to it all summer because it is when we are able to do what we love again, and that is coach hockey.

"I was so excited yesterday that I got to the rink at 7:30 a.m. That might have been a little too early because I was in my office looking for something to do. So I watched some film and waited for the day to really begin when the rookies showed up at 10 a.m. I was here at 6:30 a.m. today and am ready to get on the ice."

And Boudreau spoke of the importance of this week to the Capitals' young players. "This is a special time of year because for a lot of guys this week," said Boudreau. "This is their first professional training camp. My first pro camp was in 1975 and was a little bit different than what camps are like today. I was the first-round draft pick of the Minnesota Fighting Saints in the WHA. The league was only a few years old then and was trying to rival the NHL. I had always been one of the better players on every team I played on and everything had been so easy for me up to that point. I had broken every scoring record, and thought I would do well in camp.

"Boy was I surprised. I was 21 and went to my first camp 10-15 pounds overweight and at that age the weight kind of begins to stick with you. I went to camp and there were some tremendous veterans there, like Dave Keon and John McKenzie. These guys were icons in the ’60s and ’70s, and I went in there thinking I was all that, but really I was all nothing. The problem with me is that I had no idea how to work to become a professional hockey player. I was picked on unmercifully because I was the first-round pick, who was a little overweight and who did not take it as seriously as I should have."

Boudreau continued, "Those are memories that stay with you and every other camp that I went into, I was in really good shape. I learned a great deal about what you have to do to become a pro hockey player from that camp, and I incorporate that into my coaching philosophy today. Everything I pretty much do as a coach is drawn from experiences because young kids don’t know what to do. They have no idea how hard they have to work because they are only used to working as hard as they need to at their current level. In no way does that prepare you for being NHL conditioned.

"That is why we will push them really hard today. You have to have a barometer of seeing how hard they worked during the summer and you have to let them know that this is the pace you want to keep during the year. If they are not at that pace, then they need to get there in a hurry."

But these days when the players arrive for training camp, they are ready, said Boudreau. "Young guys today come to camp and are not even close to being out of shape. If one of them is then it is definitely something I can talk to them about and identify with them and help them get going in the right direction. If a player is in the proper condition then they can pat themselves on the back knowing that they worked hard all summer and made it through today’s practice.

And then Boudreau addressed expectations for the camps. "One of our main goals this week is to get the group to band together as a team really quickly. We want them to think they are all Washington Capitals and to work hard and to do things the right way. We have a game Friday in Philadelphia and we want to do everything we are capable of doing this week to prepare for that game. We also want them to have a feeling that they know what it takes to play for this club, so when they come back to development camp next summer or to camp next year that they are ready to go. If they do that then any mistake they made this year won’t be made again next year." Sphere: Related Content

THE CAPITALS ROSTERS FOR ROOKIE CAMP AND TRAINING CAMP

The Kettler Capitals Iceplex will be bustling with activity as 71 players are on the ice for the 2009 Washington Capitals rookie camp and training camp, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.

Twenty-three players are in the midst of the rookie camp, which commences on Monday, Sept. 6, with a 10:30 a.m. practice and runs through Friday, Sept. 11, when the rookies visit Vorhees, N.J., for a scrimmage against the Flyers’ rookies at Virtua Center Flyers Skate Zone.

On Sunday, Sept. 13, the Capitals switch gears as the training camp welcomes back 48 veterans, 32 of whom saw action for the Capitals last season, who will join the rookies to prepare for the upcoming 2009-10 NHL season. In between practices and off-ice workout sessions, the Capitals will play seven preseason games in preparation for the regular-season opener Oct. 1 at Boston.

The public is welcome to attend every practice, free of charge, beginning Sunday, Sept. 13.

2009 Washington Capitals Rookie Camp Roster

FORWARDS

79 BRODA, Joel 6’1” 203 Left 11/24/89 Yorkton, Saskatchewan Moose Jaw/Calgary WHL
88 BRUESS, Trevor 6’0” 209 Right 1/6/86 Minneapolis, Minnesota Minnesota State-Mankato WCHA
67 CASAVANT, Benjamin 6’1” 200 Left 1/21/91 St-Hyacinthe, Quebec Prince Edward Island QMJHL
84 DELLA ROVERE, Stefan 5’11” 196 Left 2/25/90 Richmond Hill, Ontario Barrie/South Carolina OHL/ECHL
72 DUBUC, Michael 6’3” 170 Right 6/29/88 Granby, Quebec Hershey/South Carolina AHL/ECHL
50 EAKIN, Cody 5’11” 187 Left 5/24/91 Winnipeg, Manitoba Swift Current WHL
59 FINLEY, Joe 6’7” 245 Left 6/29/87 Edina, Minnesota North Dakota/Hershey WCHA/AHL
94 GUSTAFSSON, Anton 6’2” 195 Left 2/25/90 Karlskoga, Sweden Bofors Sweden
77 HAUSWIRTH, Jake 6’5” 200 Left 2/16/88 Merrill, Wisconsin Omaha USHL
65 JASINSKY, Ryan 6’2” 205 Right 1/13/90 Richmond, Virginia Victoriaville QMJHL
93 KUGRYSHEV, Dmitri 5’11” 192 Right 1/18/90 Moscow, Russia Quebec QMJHL
76 MITCHELL, Garrett 5’11 185 Right 9/2/91 Regina, Saskatchewan Regina WHL


DEFENSEMEN
74 CARLSON, John 6’3” 211 Right 1/10/90 Natick, Massachusetts London/Hershey OHL/AHL
38 DAWSON, Aaron 6’5” 220 Left 3/11/85 Peoria, Illinois Univ. of Prince Edward Island AUS
66 FLEMMING, Brett 5’11” 178 Right 2/26/91 Regina, Saskatchewan Mississauga St. Michael’s OHL
73 GODFREY, Josh 6’1” 199 Right 1/15/88 Collingwood, Ontario Hershey/South Carolina AHL/ECHL
96 KERR, Ryan 6’2” 208 Left 3/4/89 Lions Bay, British Columbia Portland WHL
86 MESTERY, Eric 6’5” 203 Left 5/28/90 Winnipeg, Manitoba Tri-City/Lethbridge WHL
68 MISKOVIC, Zach 6’0” 198 Right 5/8/85 River Forest, Illinois St. Lawrence ECAC
54 SCHMIDT, Kevin 6’1” 176 Left 2/14/86 Markham, Ontario Bowling Green CCHA


GOALTENDERS
70 HOLTBY, Braden 6’1” 206 Left 9/16/89 Lloydminster, Saskatchewan Saskatoon WHL
30 NEUVIRTH, Michal 6’1” 197 Left 3/23/88 Usi Labem, Czech Republic CAPITALS/Hershey/South Car.NHL/AHL/ECHL
40 VARLAMOV, Semyon 6’1” 183 Left 4/27/88 Samara, Russia CAPITALS/Hershey NHL/AHL

==================================================================
2009 WASHINGTON CAPITALS TRAINING CAMP ROSTER


FORWARDS

20 AUCOIN, Keith 5’8” 165 Right 11/6/78 Waltham, Massachusetts CAPITALS/Hershey NHL/AHL
19 BACKSTROM, Nicklas 6’1” 210 Left 11/23/87 Gavle, Sweden CAPITALS NHL
83 BEAGLE, Jay 6’3” 208 Right 10/16/85 Calgary, Alberta CAPITALS/Hershey NHL/AHL
36 BOUCHARD, Francois 6’1” 190 Left 4/26/88 Sherbrooke, Quebec Hershey AHL
56 BOURQUE, Chris 5’8” 181 Left 1/29/86 Boston, Massachusetts CAPITALS/Hershey NHL/AHL
10 BRADLEY, Matt 6’3” 201 Right 6/13/78 Stittsville, Ontario CAPITALS NHL
17 CLARK, Chris 6’0” 196 Right 3/8/76 South Windsor, Connecticut CAPITALS NHL
16 FEHR, Eric 6’4” 212 Right 9/7/85 Winkler, Manitoba CAPITALS NHL
14 FLEISCHMANN, Tomas 6’1” 190 Left 5/16/84 Koprivnice, Czech Republic CAPITALS NHL
33 GIROUX, Alexandre 6’3” 201 Left 6/16/81 Quebec City, Quebec CAPITALS/Hershey NHL/AHL
63 GORDON, Andrew 5’11” 180 Right 12/13/85 Halifax, Nova Scotia CAPITALS/Hershey NHL/AHL
15 GORDON, Boyd 6’1” 201 Right 10/19/83 Unity, Saskatchewan CAPITALS NHL
61 JOUDREY, Andrew 5’11” 185 Left 7/15/84 Bedford, Nova Scotia Hershey AHL
34 KANE, Boyd 6’2” 225 Left 4/18/78 Swift Current, Saskatchewan Philadelphia/Philadelphia NHL/AHL
22 KNUBLE, Mike 6’3” 230 Right 7/7/72 Toronto, Ontario Philadelphia NHL
21 LAICH, Brooks 6’2” 210 Left 6/23/83 Wawota, Saskatchewan CAPITALS NHL
53 LAING, Quintin 6’2” 210 Left 6/8/79 Rosetown, Saskatchewan CAPITALS/Hershey NHL/AHL
9 MORRISON, Brendan 5’11” 181 Left 8/15/75 Pitt Meadows, British Columbia Anaheim/Dallas NHL
92 NYLANDER, Michael 6’1” 195 Left 10/3/72 Stockholm, Sweden CAPITALS NHL
48 OSALA, Oskar 6’4” 217 Left 12/26/87 Vaasa, Finland CAPITALS/Hershey NHL/AHL
8 OVECHKIN, Alex 6’2” 220 Right 9/17/85 Moscow, Russia CAPITALS NHL
85 PERREAULT, Mathieu 5’9” 166 Left 1/5/88 Drummondville, Quebec Hershey AHL
90 PINIZZOTTO, Steve 6’2” 196 Right 4/26/84 Mississauga, Ontario Hershey/South Carolina AHL/ECHL
45 REID, Darren 6’2” 202 Right 5/8/83 Lac La Biche, Alberta Hershey AHL
28 SEMIN, Alexander 6’2” 205 Right 3/3/84 Krasnojarsk, Russia CAPITALS NHL
39 STECKEL, David 6’5” 222 Left 3/15/82 Westbend, Wisconsin CAPITALS NHL
25 SUGDEN, Brandon 6’4” 233 Right 6/23/78 Toronto, Ontario Hartford AHL
57 WILSON, Kyle 6'0" 200 Right
12/15/84 Oakville, Ontario Hershey AHL


DEFENSEMEN


27 ALZNER, Karl 6’2” 205 Left 9/24/88 Burnaby, British Columbia CAPITALS/Hershey NHL/AHL
44 AMADIO, Greg 6’2” 232 Left 5/13/81 Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Hershey AHL
62 COLLINS, Sean 6'1" 208 Right
10/20/83 Troy, Michigan CAPITALS/Hershey NHL/AHL
47 DENISOV, Vladimir 5’11” 207 Left 6/29/84 Novopolotzk, Belarus Hartford AHL
4 ERSKINE, John 6’4” 216 Left 6/26/80 Kingston, Ontario CAPITALS NHL
52 GREEN, Mike 6’2” 208 Right 10/12/85 Calgary, Alberta CAPITALS NHL
43 HELMER, Brian 6’2” 208 Right 6/15/72 Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario CAPITALS/Hershey NHL/AHL
23 JURCINA, Milan 6’4” 233 Right 6/7/83 Liptovsky Mikulas, Slovakia CAPITALS NHL
75 McNEILL, Grant 6’2” 220 Left 5/8/83 Vermilion, Alberta Hershey AHL
46 McNEILL, Patrick 6’0” 195 Left 3/17/87 Strathroy, Ontario Hershey AHL
26 MORRISONN, Shaone 6’4” 210 Left 12/23/82 Vancouver, British Columbia CAPITALS NHL
2 POTHIER, Brian 6’0” 200 Left 4/15/77 New Bedford, Mass. CAPITALS/Hershey NHL/AHL
3 POTI, Tom 6’3” 210 Left 3/22/77 Worcester, Mass. CAPITALS NHL
55 SCHULTZ, Jeff 6’6” 221 Left 2/25/86 Calgary, Alberta CAPITALS NHL
89 SLOAN, Tyler 6’3” 190 Left 3/15/81 Calgary, Alberta CAPITALS/Hershey NHL/AHL
41 WELLAR, Patrick 6’3” 210 Left 12/4/83 Carrot River, Saskatchewan Hershey/South Carolina AHL/ECHL
24 YEO, Dylan 5’11” 210 Left 6/16/86 Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Manitoba/Victoria


GOALTENDERS


31 BACASHIHUA, Jason 5’11” 175 Left 9/20/82 Garden City, Michigan Lake Erie AHL
35 FORD, Todd 6’4” 176 Right 5/1/84 Calgary, Alberta Victoria ECHL
60 THEODORE, Jose 5’11” 182 Right 9/13/76 Laval, Quebec CAPITALS NHL

Rosters as of Sept. 5, 2009.
Select rookies will participate in training camp as well.
======================================================================

2009 WASHINGTON CAPITALS PRESEASON SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Location Time
Fri., Sept. 11 at Philadelphia* Virtua Center Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, NJ 3 p.m.
Thurs., Sept. 17 at Buffalo HSBC Arena, Buffalo, N.Y. 7 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 19 at Chicago United Center, Chicago, Ill. 8:30 p.m.
Mon., Sept. 21 Buffalo Verizon Center, Washington, D.C. 7 p.m.
Wed., Sept. 23 Chicago Verizon Center, Washington, D.C. 7 p.m.
Thurs., Sept. 24 at NY Rangers Madison Square Garden, New York, N. Y. 7 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 27 NY Rangers Verizon Center, Washington, D.C. 12 p.m.
* Rookie Game All Times Eastern Sphere: Related Content

MARK YOUR CALENDARS BECAUSE WASHINGTON CAPITALS SINGLE-GAME TICKETS GO ON SALE SATURDAY, SEPT 12

Washington Capitals 2009-10 single-game tickets will be available for purchase on Saturday, September 12.

Included in the schedule are a variety special events, ticket promotions and giveaway items, the Capitals announced.

Tickets for both preseason and regular-season games will go on sale at 10 a.m. at 202-397-SEAT, on WashingtonCaps.com, at Kettler Capitals Iceplex and at all local Ticketmaster outlets, including the Verizon Center box office.

Thanks to significant demand for season tickets and partial plans as well as presale single-game ticket purchases by season-ticket holders, there will be some games with a limited number of tickets available when individual tickets go on sale Sept. 12.

The home season begins with Opening Night at Verizon Center presented by Geico on Saturday, Oct. 3, against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Capitals will unveil their 2008-09 Southeast Division championship banner prior to the game, and the first 15,000 fans will receive a Mike Green bobblehead, courtesy of Geico, the Capitals announced.

Additional giveaways during the season will include a 2009-10 schedule magnet presented by Comcast SportsNet on Saturday, Oct. 17; Upper Deck trading cards on Friday, March 12; and an umbrella presented by Verizon on Sunday, April 11. There will also be a giveaway on Saturday, Jan. 23.

And the Capitals will host two special Kids Days for children between the ages of two and 14, and will have activities set up on the concourse of the 400 level. Kids Club members will be able to enter an hour before the gates open to the general public. The first Kids Day is scheduled on Friday, Dec. 11, and will also feature a mascot hockey game during an intermission. The second Kids Day is on Sunday, Jan. 31.

The Capitals are also proud to once again host Hockey Fights Cancer Night (Oct. 27), Hockey is for Everyone Night (Feb. 5) and Military Night (March 4). The team’s popular Courage Caps presented by Microsoft will also return for a third year, and the program launch will coincide with Veterans Day on Nov. 11. The team’s inaugural Club Scarlet Night will take place on April 1.

Among the ticket options available is the Washington Capitals Pregame All-Inclusive Package, which starts at $99 per package and includes a game ticket, a pregame all-you-can-eat buffet in the Dewar’s 12 Club, unlimited beer, wine and soda, a Caps New Era hat and a Caps rally towel.

2009-10 Washington Capitals Home Schedule

Date Opponent Time Promotion/Event
Mon., Sept. 21 Buffalo (Preseason) 7 p.m.
Wed., Sept. 23 Chicago (Preseason) 7 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 27 N.Y. Rangers (Preseason) 12 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 3 Toronto 7 p.m. Mike Green bobblehead presented by Geico*
Thurs., Oct. 8 N.Y. Rangers 7 p.m.
Mon., Oct. 12 New Jersey 7 p.m.
Thurs., Oct. 15 San Jose 7 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 17 Nashville 7 p.m. 2009-10 schedule magnet giveaway sponsored by Comcast SportsNet
Hockey Fights Cancer Auction
Tues., Oct. 27 Philadelphia 7 p.m. Hockey Fights Cancer Night and Auction
Fri., Oct. 30 N.Y. Islanders 7 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 1 Columbus 5 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 7 Florida 7 p.m. Fall Puck Surprise
Wed., Nov. 11 N.Y. Islanders 7 p.m. Courage Caps presented by Microsoft launch and Veterans Day
Fri., Nov. 13 Minnesota 7 p.m. Singles Night
Fri., Nov. 20 Montreal 7 p.m. Canned Food Drive presented by Tires Plus/Bridgestone
Wed., Nov. 25 Buffalo 7 p.m.
Thurs., Dec. 3 Florida 7 p.m.
Fri., Dec. 11 Carolina 7 p.m. Kids Day and Toy Drive presented by Geico
Wed., Dec. 23 Buffalo 7 p.m. Wives Gift Basket Auction
Sat., Dec. 26 New Jersey 7 p.m.
Mon., Dec. 28 Carolina 7 p.m.
Tues., Jan. 5 Montreal 7 p.m.
Thurs., Jan. 7 Ottawa 7 p.m.
Fri., Jan. 15 Toronto 7 p.m.
Sun., Jan. 17 Philadelphia 3 p.m.
Tues., Jan. 19 Detroit 7 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 23 Phoenix 7 p.m. Giveaway courtesy of Chevy Chase Bank
Wed., Jan. 27 Anaheim 7 p.m.
Fri., Jan. 29 Florida 7 p.m.
Sun., Jan. 31 Tampa Bay 3 p.m. Kids Day
Fri., Feb. 5 Atlanta 7 p.m. Hockey is for Everyone Night
Sun., Feb. 7 Pittsburgh 12:30 p.m.
Thurs., March 4 Tampa Bay 7 p.m. Military Night
Sat., March 6 N.Y. Rangers 7 p.m. Pick-A-Stick
Mon., March 8 Dallas 7 p.m.
Wed., March 10 Carolina 7 p.m.
Fri., March 12 Tampa Bay 7 p.m. Upper Deck trading card giveaway#
Wed., March 24 Pittsburgh 7 p.m.
Sun., March 28 Calgary 3 p.m.
Tues., March 30 Ottawa 7 p.m.
Thurs., April 1 Atlanta 7 p.m. Club Scarlet Night
Mon., April 5 Boston 7 p.m. Spring Puck Surprise
Fri., April 9 Atlanta 7 p.m.
Sun., April 11 Boston 3 p.m. Fan Appreciation Day; Umbrella giveaway sponsored by Verizon

* First 15,000 fans # First 10,000 fans Sphere: Related Content

WHO IS THE BETTER PLAYER, OVECHKIN OR CROSBY?

PensBurgh.com carries an article today that asks "the eternal question" -- who is better, Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby or the Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin? To the credit of the writer, Hooks Orpik, the article clearly opines that both hockey greats are -- well, simply great.

"Personally, I don't see why Crosby needs to score 115 points (which he's done) and go to the Stanley Cup finals (which he's done...twice) to be considered the best player all of a sudden," writes Orpik. "Does he really have to do it all again to conclusively prove he's the best?

"By the same token, Ovechkin supporters will rightly point to all his individual hardware and skills as evidence to his stand-alone greatness. Does he have to win the gold medal to prove that?"

Orpik continues, "No matter how you slice it the debate will continue and rage on for most, if not all of their respective great careers. The bottom line is both are uniquely gifted and incredible hockey players - their styles on and off the ice may be polar opposites, but that doesn't mean one is clearly superior to the other. On any given night either can make a compelling case that he is the best player in the world."

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE -- AND/OR TO RESPOND WITH YOUR OWN THOUGHTS

(Of course, we have to admit to a bit of prejudice in considering that question! It's probably pretty obvious who we would be voting for!) Sphere: Related Content