Preseason Game #1 Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes

Where: RBC Center, Raleigh, NC

When: September 24, 2008, 7:00 PM

Probable Line-Ups:

Washington

Forwards: 10 BRADLEY, 56 BOURQUE, 83 BEAGLE, 14 FLEISCHMANN, 16 FEHR, 20 AUCOIN, 21 LAICH, 25 KOZLOV, 33 GIROUX, 39 STECKEL, 48 OSALA, 53 LAING, 61 JOUDREY, 63 A. GORDON, 71 MORIN, 85 PERREAULT, 92 NYLANDER

Defense: 23 JURCINA, 26 MORRISONN, 29 CUTTA, 42 LEPSITO, 47 ALZNER, 55 SCHULTZ, 73 GODFREY, 74 CARLSON

Goalies: 1 JOHNSON, 31 MACHESNEY, 40 VARLAMOV

Carolina

Forwards: 14 SAMSONOV, 8 CULLEN, 57 BOWMAN, 18 BAYDA, 92 O’NEILL, 24 WALKER, 59 LAROSE, 16 SUTTER, 20 LACOUTRE, 35 MURLEY, 63 HELMINEN, 56 PETRUZALEK

Defense: 25 PITKANEN, 6 GLEASON, 7 WALLIN, 77 CORVO, 53 BORER, 27 CARSON

Goalies: 30 WARD, 60 PETERS

Preview:

The Capitals take on the Canes in their first preseason game tonight. It is show time for the young defenders on the Caps squad. Each of the eight guys slated for defensive duty in tonight’s game (only 6 will dress) has something to prove to the coaching staff. Some trying to prove they belong and other that they should remain with the big club. Look for this game to be high on defense and quite physical as the teams will battle again tomorrow night in Washington.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 3 CAR 2

Official Preview

Capitals send 6 Back to Juniors

According to the Washington Post, the following players have been returned to their junior teams:

• Justin Taylor
• Joel Broda
• Brett Leffler
• Stefan Della Rovere
• Eric Mestery
• Dmitry Kugryshev

Capitals Rookies 7 Flyers Rookies 0

The Capitals rookies did a number on the Flyers rookies in yesterday's match up at the Capitals training facility in Arlington, VA. Not only did they ring up seven goals on the visitors but completely dominated the play allowing no goals against. You could see the difference in skill level of the two teams. The Caps rookies were more polished and had the ability to execute at a higher level. The Flyers did bring their rough game with them. The Caps matched the intensity and played a very physical game. One standout on that point was Viktor Dovgan (pictured). The Russian defensive prospect was hitting anything on skates out there. I think he hit the linesmen as well, just kidding, but he also did one thing I hope the coaching staff is pushing a little more this year. After a scramble for the puck in front of the Caps net, he absolutely drilled the Flyers forward who was digging away at the Capitals goalie. You need a little toughness to go with your skill.

As for the skilled guys, the line of Francois Bouchard - Mathieu Perreault - Steve Pinizzotto hit the mark early and often. The three combined for 3 goals and 3 assists in the game. Perreault had the goal of the game in the third period where he deked through the Flyers defense and finished with authority. Several jock straps dotted the ice in his wake. Travis Morin put in a good effort scoring two goals and an assist. Morin, who played well in South Carolina last year, looks like he wants a promotion. Other Caps scoring included Maxime Lacroix and Justin Taylor with a goal each and John Carlson, Josh Godfrey, Karl Alzner, Jay Beagle, Dmitry Kugryshev, Joel Broda, and Viktor Dovgan with an assist each.

The Caps used each of their goalies for one period apeice. There is some good competition between them and that will make them all better. While they didn't get tested a whole lot each stood tall and delivered the shut out.

Overall, an excellent start to the new season's competition. The rookies executed well and showed good comitment to the system and philosophy of the coaching staff. It hard not to be even more excited for the season after that performance. So now we get ready for the big boys. The Caps offical training camp opens on Saturday.

Washington Post Game Recap

2008 Rookie Game, Capitals vs. Flyers

Where: Kettler Capitals Iceplex, Arlington, VA

When: September 18, 2008

History:

Last Season: Caps Rookies 3 Flyers Rookies 5

Probable Line-Ups:

Washington

Forwards: 36 BOUCHARD, 48 OSALA, 58 LACROIX, 67 TAYLOR, 71 MORIN, 72, DUBUC, 79 BRODA, 81 LEFFLER, 83, BEAGLE, 84, DELLA ROVERE, 85, PERREAULT, 90 PINIZZOTTO, 93, KUGRYSHEV, 94 GUSTAFSSON

Defense: 46 MCNEIL, 47 ALZNER, 49 DOVGAN, 51 SWITZER, 62 COLLINS, 73 GODFREY, 74 CARLSON, 86 MESTREY, 89 SEABROOK

Goalies: 30 NEUVIRTH, 40 VARLAMOV, 70 HOLTBY

Philadelphia

Forwards:61 BEAULIEU, 53 BELLAMY, 51 CABANA, 52 CLACKSON, 27 DOWNIE, 28 GIROUX, 46 KALINSKI, 59 KLOTZ, 57 LALIBERTE, 72 LUKACEVIC, 62 MAROON, 68 MATSUMOTO, 41 NODL, 50 PISELLINI, 36 POWE, 60 RADUNS, 63 RINALDO

Defense: 58 BARTULIS, 66 BOURDON, 71 DESANTIS, 67 HERSLEY, 40 MARSHALL, 77 PARENT, 38 RAMHOLT, 55 RATCHUK, 47 SBISA, 67 ZARB

Goalies: 70 DESERRES, 35 DUCHESNE, 79 TESLAK

Injuries:

Washington – 94 GUSTAFSSON (back)

Philly – Unknown

Preview:

The Caps rookies take on the Flyers rookies for the second consecutive season. The game will be held at the Capitals training complex in Arlington. You can tell the anticipation in the Nation’s Capital for is very high this year as the free tickets for this event are sold out. The big match up in this game will be Caps defensive prospect Karl Alzner vs. Philly’s offensive prospect Claude Giroux. Both are highly regarded and expected to challenge for roster spots with the big clubs. Look for the Caps defense and goalies to stand out in this one.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 4 PHI 2

Capitals Release 2008 Trainig & Rookie Camp Rosters

The Capitals have released the rosters for the Rookie Camp that starts tomorrow and for Training Camp that starts next Sunday.

CAPITALS ROOKIE CAMP ROSTER
#	Pos	Name	Age	Height	Weight	Birthplace	Birthday	Last Season	Caps Contract
30	G	NEUVIRTH, MICHAL	20	6'-1''	197	Usti Labern, Czech Republic	3/23/1988	OHL	Yes
36	R	BOUCHARD, FRANCOIS	20	6'-1''	187	Sherbrooke, Quebec	4/26/1988	AHL	Yes
40	G	VARLAMOV, SIMEON	20	6'-1''	183	Samara, Russia	4/27/1988	Russia	Yes
46	D	MCNEIL, PATRICK	21	6'-0''	195	Strathroy, Ontario	3/17/1987	AHL	Yes
47	D	ALZNER, KARL	20	6'-2''	205	Burnaby, British Columbia	9/24/1988	WHL	Yes
48	L	OSALA, OSKAR	20	6'-4"	217	Vaasa, Finland	12/26/1987	Finland	Yes
49	D	DOVGAN, VIKTOR	20	6'-1''	205	Moscow, Russia	12/29/1987	Russia	Yes
51	D	SWITZER, CRAIG	23	6'-1"	200	Peachland, British Columbia	10/16/1984	WHL	No
58	L	LACROIX, MAXIME	21	6'-0''	180	Quebec City, Quebec	6/5/1987	AHL	No
62	D	COLLINS, SEAN	24	6'-1''	212	Troy, MI	10/30/1983	AHL	Yes
67	C	TAYLOR, JUSTIN	19	5'-11''	180	London, Ontario	2/8/1989	OHL	No
70	G	HOLTBY, BRADEN	19	6'-1"	205	Lloydminster, Saskatchewan	9/16/1989	WHL	No
71	C	MORIN, TRAVIS	24	6'-2''	195	Minneapolis, MN	1/9/1984	AHL	Yes
72	F	DUBUC, MICHAEL	20	6'-2"	177	Granby, Quebec	6/29/1988	QMJHL	No
73	D	GODFREY, JOSH	20	6'-0''	202	Collingwood, Ontario	1/15/1988	AHL	Yes
74	D	CARLSON, JOHN	18	6'-2"	218	Colonia, NJ	1/10/1990	USHL	No
79	C	BRODA, JOEL	18	6'-3"	196	Yorkton, Saskatchewan	11/24/1989	WHL	No
81	R	LEFFLER, BRETT	19	6'-0''	198	Wynyard, Saskatchewan	5/19/1989	WHL	No
83	C	BEAGLE, JAY	22	6'-3''	201	Calgary, Alberta	10/16/1985	AHL	Yes
84	L	DELLA ROVERE, STEFAN	18	5'-10"	196	Richmond Hill, Ontario	2/25/1990	OHL	No
85	C	PERREAULT, MATHIEU	20	5'-8''	151	Drummondville, Quebec	1/5/1988	AHL	Yes
86	D	MESTERY, ERIC	18	6'-5"	196	Winnipeg, Manitoba	5/28/1990	WHL	No
89	D	SEABROOK, KEITH	20	6'-0''	197	Delta, British Columbia	8/2/1988	WHL	No
90	R	PINIZZOTTO, STEVE	24	6'-1''	195	Mississauga, Ontario	4/26/1984	AHL	Yes
93	F	KUGRYSHEV, DMITRY	18	5'-11"	185	Balakovo, Russia	1/18/1990	Russia	No
94	C	GUSTAFSSON, ANTON	18	6'-2"	194	Karlskoga, Sweden	2/25/1990	Sweden	No

CAPITALS TRAINING CAMP ROSTER
#	Pos	Name	Age	Height	Weight	Birthplace	Birthday	Caps Contract
1	G	JOHNSON, BRENT	31	6'-3''	196	Farmington, MI	3/12/1977	Yes
2	D	POTHIER, BRIAN	31	6'-0''	200	New Bedford, MA	4/15/1977	Yes
3	D	POTI, TOM	31	6'-3''	210	Worcester, MA	3/22/1977	Yes
4	D	ERSKINE, JOHN	28	6'-4''	216	Kingston, Ontario	6/26/1980	Yes
8	L	OVECHKIN, ALEXANDER	23	6'-2''	216	Moscow, Russia	9/17/1985	Yes
10	R	BRADLEY, MATT	30	6'-3''	205	Stittsville, Ontario	6/13/1978	Yes
14	L	FLEISCHMANN, TOMAS	24	6'-1''	188	Koprivinive, Czech Republic	5/16/1984	Yes
15	C	GORDON, BOYD	24	6'-1''	201	Unity, Saskatchewan	10/19/1983	Yes
16	R	FEHR, ERIC	23	6'-4''	204	Winkler, Manitoba	9/7/1985	Yes
17	R	CLARK, CHRIS	32	6'-0''	200	South Windsor, CT	3/8/1976	Yes
19	C	BACKSTROM, NICKLAS	19	6'-0''	183	Gavle, Sweden	11/23/1987	Yes
20	C	AUCOIN, KEITH	29	5'-9"	187	Waltham, MA	11/6/1978	Yes
21	C	LAICH, BROOKS	25	6'-2''	208	Wawota, Saskatchewan	6/23/1983	Yes
23	D	JURCINA, MILAN	25	6'-4''	233	Liptovsky, Slovakia	7/6/1983	Yes
25	C	KOZLOV, VICTOR	33	6'-4''	232	Togliatti, Russia	2/14/1975	Yes
26	D	MORRISONN, SHAONE	25	6'-4''	210	Vancouver, British Columbia	12/23/1982	Yes
28	L	SEMIN, ALEXANDER	24	6'-2''	200	Krasnoyarsk, Russia	3/3/1984	Yes
29	D	CUTTA, JAKUB	26	6'-3"	214	Jablonec nad Nisou, Czech Rep.	12/29/1981	No
31	G	MACHESNEY, DAREN	21	6'-0''	177	Hamilton, Ontario	12/13/1986	Yes
33	C	GIROUX, ALEXANDRE	27	6'-3''	200	Quebec City, Quebec	8/16/1981	Yes
34	D	POKULOK, SASHA	22	6'-5''	220	Montreal, Quebec	5/25/1986	Yes
38	L	MINK, GRAHAM	29	6'-3"	220	Stowe, VT	5/21/1979	Yes
39	C	STECKEL, DAVID	26	6'-5''	215	Westbend, WI	3/15/1982	Yes
41	D	ARSENE, DEAN	28	6'-2''	200	Abbotsford, British Columbia	7/20/1980	No
42	D	LEPISTO, SAMI	23	5'-11''	176	Espoo, Finland	10/17/1984	Yes
43	D	HELMER, BRIAN	36	6'-1"	210	Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario	6/15/1972	No
44	D	AMADIO, GREG	27	6'-2"	225	Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario	5/31/1981	No
45	F	REID, DARREN	25	6'-2"	205	Lac La Biche, Alberta	5/8/1983	No
50	R	MAXWELL, TOMMY	22	6'-2''	200	Spokane, WA	11/19/1985	No
52	D	GREEN, MIKE	22	6'-1''	200	Calgary, Alberta	12/10/1985	Yes
53	L	LAING, QUINTIN	29	6'-2''	200	Harris, Saskatchewan	6/8/1979	Yes
55	D	SCHULTZ, JEFF	22	6'-6''	215	Calgary, Alberta	2/25/1986	Yes
56	L	BOURQUE, CHRIS	22	5'-7''	170	Boston, MA	1/29/1986	Yes
57	C	WILSON, KYLE	23	6'-0''	200	Oakville, Ontario	12/15/1984	Yes
60	G	THEODORE, JOSE	32	5'-11"	182	Laval, Quebec	9/13/1976	Yes
61	C	JOUDREY, ANDREW	24	5'-11''	191	Halifax, Nova Scotia	7/15/1984	Yes
62	D	COLLINS, SEAN	24	6'-1''	212	Troy, MI	10/30/1983	Yes
63	R	GORDON, ANDREW	22	5'-11''	180	Halifax, Nova Scotia	12/13/1985	Yes
75	D	MCNEILL, GRANT	25	6'-2''	215	Vermillion, Alberta	5/8/1983	No
87	L	BRASHEAR, DONALD	36	6'-2''	235	Bedford, IN	1/7/1972	Yes
89	D	SLOAN, TYLER	27	6'-3''	205	Calgary, Alberta	3/15/1981	Yes
91	C	FEDOROV, SERGEI	38	6'-2''	205	Pskov, Russia	12/13/1969	Yes
92	C	NYLANDER, MICHAEL	35	6'-1''	195	Stockholm, Sweden	10/3/1972	Yes

Hockey Begins Sunday

The long summer has finally come to an end!!

The Caps open the rookie portion of their training camp this Sunday (Schedule). Thus, opening the most anticipated season in recent memory. As Capital fans, we have suffered and grown with this team for the past three seasons. The beginning of this new season brings real anticipation of a team that will compete on a high level and win. They have the ability to take a shot at being the best in the league. There is real debate on which NHL-caliber player fits on our roster and which should be jettisoned for another up and coming prospect. I am excited for the upcoming season and expect that you are too. Finally. Hockey is back!!

Capitals Retire #11

Per WashingtonCaps.com, The Capitals will retire Mike Gartner's #11 on December 28th.

Official Story from WashingtonCaps.com:

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals will retire Mike Gartner’s No. 11 jersey at a pregame ceremony before the team’s game against Toronto on Sunday, Dec. 28. Gartner, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame who ranks second in Capitals history in goals (397), assists (392) and points (789), will become the fourth player in Capitals history to have his number retired.

“Capitals fans have fond memories of Mike Gartner flying down the right wing and scoring goals at the Capital Centre,” said Capitals chairman and majority owner Ted Leonsis. “This is a fitting tribute to one of the elite offensive players in the history of the game who was a crucial member of the first Capitals playoff teams.”

“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by the Washington Capitals and to join the distinguished company of my fellow teammates Ivan Labre, Rod Langway and Dale Hunter,” Gartner said. “I look forward to the upcoming evening in December and sharing those fond memories with my family and those fans in attendance.”

Gartner spent the first 10 seasons of his 19-year NHL career with the Capitals after Washington selected him in the first round, fourth overall, in the 1979 NHL Draft. He led the team in goals five times and in points four times, scoring at least 35 goals in each of his first nine years in Washington (he had 26 goals when he was traded 56 games into 1988-89, his 10th season). He left the team as its all-time leader in games played, goals, assists, points, power-play goals and game-winning goals.

The Ottawa native is one of only three players in Capitals history with a 100-point season (joining Dennis Maruk and Alex Ovechkin), having recorded 102 points in 1984-85. He holds the Capitals record for most consecutive games with a point (17, twice) and consecutive games with a goal (9) and shares the club record for most shorthanded goals in a season (6).

Gartner was a member of the first six Capitals playoff teams, leading four of those teams in playoff scoring. He recorded 43 points (16 goals, 27 assists) in 47 playoff games for the club and at the time of his trade was Washington’s all-time leading playoff scorer.

Gartner played 1,432 career games with five teams in his career, recording 708 goals (sixth in NHL history) and 627 assists for 1,335 points. Inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001, Gartner holds the NHL record for the most 30-goal seasons (17) and shares the record for most consecutive 30-goal seasons (15). He played in seven NHL All-Star Games and three times won the NHL’s fastest skater competition at the NHL All-Star Game.

Gartner was an active member of the community during his time in Washington, D.C., and a particularly generous contributor to the Children’s National Medical Center.

Gartner’s No. 11 will join Rod Langway’s No. 5, Yvon Labre’s No. 7 and Dale Hunter’s No. 32 in the rafters at Verizon Center. Hunter was the most recent Capital to have him number retired, March 11, 2000.

Tickets for the Dec. 28 game will go on sale this month (details to come). All fans in attendance that night will receive a commemorative Mike Gartner giveaway.