Capitals News

"While the agent for goaltender Cristobal Huet said he had "exploratory talks" with Washington Capitals management about a contract at the end of the season, the two sides have not spoken recently. Stephen Bartlett, Huet's New York-based agent, said yesterday he has not talked with his client about his pending unrestricted free agency but expects to sit down with him in the coming days. Huet is now playing for France in the IIHF World Championships in Quebec City, but Bartlett expects more negotiations with the Caps after he talks to Huet."

"Thursday he confirmed to The Washington Post he won't be returning. He still wants to play, and he most likely still can play. But it is the end of an era in this town — the Kolzig era. It is an era not noted for championships and celebrations. It is an era, though, noteworthy because of the humanity, character and class that this 6-foot-3, 225-pound goaltender brought with him to Washington sports."

"Although the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins have remained rivals for years, never have the two franchises been so similar. A precocious but sublimely talented core? A drastic improvement from the season before to end a lengthy postseason drought? A team chock full of players experiencing the NHL playoffs for the first time? A season of promise dashed in the first round — an unfortunate end but one leaving a suddenly renewed fan base contemplating future greatness?"

"Olie Kolzig, the Washington Capitals goaltender through some of the best and worst moments in the team's history, confirmed yesterday what had been suspected for weeks: He has played his final game for the franchise that drafted him in 1989. Kolzig's only regret, he said over lunch, is that his tenure did not end the way he always had envisioned it: with him hoisting the Stanley Cup and skating around the ice at Verizon Center."

"Washington Capitals management has not yet discussed next season's roster in detail, but the team is expected to pursue a contract extension with veteran Sergei Fedorov. Acquired from Columbus for a prospect at the February trade deadline, the 38-year-old pending unrestricted free agent centered each of the Capitals' top two lines down the stretch. He also played a significant role on special teams and served as a mentor to young forwards Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin and Nicklas Backstrom. "I'm sure if [Fedorov] wants to play, and we can afford it, we'll figure it out," majority owner Ted Leonsis said this week. "

"The agent for Cristobal Huet said his client enjoyed his two months in Washington and would consider re-signing with the Capitals before becoming an unrestricted free agent July 1, but he also said substantive talks on an extension have not begun. Acquired from Montreal for a second-round draft pick at the trade deadline, Huet went 11-2 with a 1.63 goals against average and a .936 save percentage during the Capitals' stretch run. The 32-year-old can probably expect to double his $2.875 million salary and, if he reaches the open market, figures to have no shortage of suitors."

"When the NHL promised to reinvent itself after the Lost Season of 2004-05, it wasn't kidding. Twice in this year's playoffs a series has ended on a power-play goal in overtime. The course of another series, meanwhile, may well have been altered by a penalty called (and quickly capitalized on) in OT. This is just my way of pointing out that you aren't alone in your misery, Capitals fans. Yes, it's a pity the Flyers eliminated Your Heroes in Game 7 with Tom Poti off for tripping in the first extra period, but it's also a sign of the times"

"This year's Stanley Cup playoffs have contained, like always, a heavy dose of speed, scoring and the occasional bloody fight. But they also have featured something noticeably lacking from previous years: buzz. With a host of historically recognizable teams and high-profile players, the first two rounds of the NHL's postseason have captured the attention of tens of thousands of fans, many of whom have ignored hockey since the season-ending lockout three years ago."

"Washington Capitals all-star Alex Ovechkin is a finalist for the Lester B. Pearson Award, which is given annually to the most outstanding player as voted by his peers, the NHL Players' Association announced yesterday. The other finalists are Calgary's Jarome Iginla and Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin."

"Bruce Boudreau, the former minor league coach who led the Washington Capitals back from their worst start in 26 seasons to the Southeast Division championship, was named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, given annually to the NHL's coach of the year...The other finalists are Detroit's Mike Babcock and Montreal's Guy Carbonneau. Babcock led the talent-laden Red Wings to the best regular season record while Carbonneau's Canadiens won the Eastern Conference."

"The Hart Trophy winner for 2008 will be -- should be, must be -- the most stylish O since Jackie. Alex Ovechkin deserves nothing less. In fact, if the balloting isn't close-to-consensus, the sweat-stained scribblers of the Professional Hockey Writers Association might all consider immediately submitting to mandatory CAT scans. Or checking into Betty Ford."

"Although it was something of a formality, Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin officially became a finalist for the Hart Trophy yesterday."

"Alex Ovechkin has made a habit of rewriting the Washington Capitals' record books. Next month he'll have the chance to do it again. Fresh off his first playoff appearance and one of the best regular seasons in more than a decade, the 22-year-old left wing could become the franchise's first MVP after being named one of three Hart Trophy finalists yesterday."

"Calgary Flames right wing Jarome Iginla, Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin and Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin are the three finalists for the Hart Trophy, awarded to the player judged "the most valuable to his team," the National Hockey League announced today."

"Alex Ovechkin joined the Russian squad in advance of the world hockey championship and was awaiting insurance before he will be allowed to practice or play."

"Kolzig still hasn't addressed how he was feeling to reporters. His agent Art Breeze is furious the way things went down with a player he considers "an icon" in Washington but chose his words carefully."

"For much of this season, Steve Eminger was a forgotten man. Eighty-two times a coach from the Washington Capitals submitted an official active lineup before a regular season game. Sixty-two times Eminger's name was not on it. He never played more than five games in a row, and skated fewer than 13 minutes in all but three contests... "I don't think I am a depth player. I think I am better than a depth player," Eminger said. "I think I can be in the lineup every game. But yeah, I think they viewed me as a depth player and that's what happened.""

"The Flyers blew a two-goal lead and lost, 4-3, in overtime of Game 1 in the Eastern Conference semifinal. They came to that end, at least in part, because of two calls missed, or, kindly, two calls that were debatable. They love this in D.C. Today they dine on revenge, served lukewarm, since the cause of their ire hasn't had time to grow cold. The Capitals and their fans insist flawed officiating cost them Game 7 of the first round Tuesday."

"McPhee would not say when the deal was done or the length of it, but after some more prodding he did say, "He's our coach. He's under contract — for a long time."... While the contract is a major item crossed off of McPhee's offseason to-do list, the Caps GM has plenty of work left to keep the franchise at this level. He has a young core of players like Hart Trophy favorite Alex Ovechkin and Calder Trophy finalist Nicklas Backstrom to build around that makes most of his competitors envious, but filling in the other pieces could be tricky."

"When the Washington Capitals emerged from a meeting early yesterday afternoon at their Arlington headquarters, just hours after an excruciating overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, one absence was conspicuous. Veteran goaltender Olie Kolzig had cleaned out his locker stall and left the building, skipping the mandatory meeting. He did not speak to reporters. After Monday's 3-2 loss at Verizon Center, he stripped his name tag off of his locker stall. "

"But unlike years past, the sellout crowd -- stunned for a moment from the immediacy that, suddenly, it was all over -- began to mount a wave of applause. Gradually, it grew, morphing into a standing ovation of sorts, acknowledging the tangible gains the fans had seen firsthand, watching the Capitals climb from the cellar of the Eastern Conference to become Southeast Division champions."

"Let's not sugarcoat the end. The finality crushed more than 18,000 on hand instantly. The moment Joffrey Lupul's putback 6 minutes 6 seconds into the extra period slid past Cristobal Huet and catapulted Philly over Washington, a hush of disbelief went over the building. It's over? It's over. For now. "

"Philadelphia Flyers right wing Joffrey Lupul flipped a rebound past goaltender Cristobal Huet on the power play at 6 minutes 6 seconds of overtime to beat the Capitals, 3-2, in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals."

"When Joffrey Lupul put home a rebound 6:06 into overtime last night, the magical run for the Washington Capitals came to an end. Players and fans alike stood in disbelief as the Philadelphia Flyers mobbed each other on the ice to celebrate a 3-2 victory in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series at Verizon Center."

"Joffrey Lupul, who missed an open net late in the first period, poked in a rebound on a power play early in overtime to give the Flyers a 3-2 win over the Caps to advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2004."

"That next goal was scored by Joffrey Lupul, who had gone scoreless through the entire series, but was in front of the net and Capitals goalie Cristobal Huet when Timonen fired a power-play shot from the point. Lupul was right there for the rebound, which he backhanded past Huet 6:06 into overtime for a 3-2 victory. It came with 9 seconds left in the power play."

"Ted Leonsis said he had been here before, the sudden end to a season looming as the puck dropped after three periods. "I was thinking I wish we weren't going to overtime," the principal owner of the Washington Capitals said in his unwashed red mesh Capitals jersey, outside the locker room of the team he patiently remade over almost five years."

"It hurts, sure, the Capitals' 3-2 overtime loss to the Flyers in Game 7. But it hurts less knowing this was just a preview of coming attractions, that Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Alexander Semin, Mike Green and the rest of the Caps' Kids will be back for more, plenty more."

"Fans will wake up this morning wondering what might have been if goaltender interference had been called when Philadelphia's Patrick Thoresen drove into Washington's Shaone Morrisonn near the Capitals' goal, knocking goalie Cristobal Huet out of the net. That allowed Sami Kapanen to score an easy goal, putting the Flyers on top 2-1."

"The game had all the hallmarks of Washington Capitals playoff hockey: The requisite controversial penalty calls, an opposition goal that could have been overturned, far too many wasted scoring opportunities and too much drama for some to take."

"The Washington Capitals' magical jaunt through 2008 -- which included dramatic recoveries from a wretched start in the regular season and an uneven beginning to the playoffs -- came up one comeback short last night."

"Most of the Washington Capitals did not participate in the morning skate before Game 7 tonight, but one player lingered on the ice longer than everyone else. That guy was Michael Nylander, who hasn't ruled out a return this postseason from shoulder surgery should the Caps keep playing."

"When the Stanley Cup playoffs are completed, the draft comes and goes and the Washington Capitals gear up for free agency, Priority A will be goaltender Cristobal Huet, who turned away 31 shots in the Capitals' 3-2 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals."

"A few days ago, seeing 24-year-old right wing Joffrey Lupul again struggle, Philadelphia Flyers coach John Stevens pulled aside the 20-goal scorer. Instead of criticizing Lupul, Stevens did the opposite."

"Capitals fans are better than Redskins fans in at least one category: They wear jerseys of current players."

"Each time, though, Alex Ovechkin and his teammates have stunned their doubters -- and Monday night was no exception. The Capitals scored four straight goals -- Ovechkin notched two of them in the third period -- to win 4-2 and force a seventh and decisive game in this Eastern Conference quarterfinal series."

"Alex Ovechkin's precocious friends helped erase a two-goal deficit for the Washington Capitals, and then he took it from there. Ovechkin netted a pair of goals in the third period last night, and the Caps rallied to force Game 7 in this Eastern Conference quarterfinal series with a 4-2 victory."

"The defenseman's third-period turnover led to a critical goal from the Russian superstar as the Washington Capitals forced a Game 7 tonight in Washington with a 4-2 victory at the Wachovia Center. The Caps tied the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series at three games apiece."

"Up 2-0 early in the second period on a pair of power-play goals, with a golden opportunity to end the Eastern Conference quarterfinals series against the Washington Capitals in front of their hometown fans, the Flyers stopped playing and were beaten, 4-2, partly by themselves and partly by Alex Ovechkin."

"Flip a coin. The Flyers have gone to a Game 7 a dozen times in their playoff history. They've won six. Lost six. Having blown a two-game lead Monday night in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series, the Flyers followed their crushing 4-2 loss to the Washington Capitals with a train ride to Washington for which they never wanted to pack."

"By first glance, the presumption would be that the Flyers took two significant steps toward the conference semifinals, but decided to take a swill of champagne before reaching the door. That left an opening for Alexander Ovechkin to steal into, and he promptly stole Game 6 away Monday night for the Washington Capitals, 4-2."

"Twenty years and six days ago, the Capitals completed a three-game comeback against the Flyers in Game 7 of their best-of-seven Patrick Division semifinals with a 5-4 overtime vic tory. Just your typical Philadelphia letdown. Last night, the Capitals set up the next great disappointment in Philly sports history by overcoming a two-goal deficit and sending the series to a Game 7 with a 4-2 vic tory at the Wachovia Center. "

"Ovechkin scored two goals, a pair of third-period daggers, and Washington again staved off elimination, defeating the Flyers, 4-2, at Wachovia Center Monday night."

"They checked Alex Ovechkin hard midway through the third period, crunching his frame against the glass, popping him before he could go through the door to the bench, rest, regroup and punish the Philadelphia Flyers and their fragile psyches more. He shrugged his shoulders, knowing he already had the best of this town and its tumbling team. "

"Don't even try to make sense of it. There's been nothing particularly logical or predictable about this wonderful Washington Capitals season. Just enjoy last night's 4-2 no-tomorrow, series-tying victory over the Philadelphia Flyers for what it is — merely one of the most memorable moments in franchise history."

"There's a backward stereotype that still percolates around NHL rinks, the one about many European players being soft and not built for the playoff grind. It's bandied about quietly among hockey people, many of whom were watching this young Capitals team very closely to gauge how their neophyte Russians and Swedes would fare."

"Whether it's a football player leading his team on a last-second drive in the Super Bowl or a guy shrugging off a blood-stained sock to pitch his team to a World Series, legacies are written in the moment. Alex Ovechkin wrote the latest chapter of his career last night."

"Despite the two Philadelphia Flyers power-play goals and despite the situation — another must-win game — the Washington Capitals' defensive plan never wavered last night. Clear out the front of the net, contain Danny Briere as best as possible and kill penalties."

"If Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau wants to gain insight of what Game 7 of a Stanley Cup playoff series is like, he won't have to look around his team's dressing room long. Center Sergei Fedorov and left wing Matt Cooke not only have winning Game 7 experience, they have helped their teams rally from 3-1 deficits."