Stanislav Galiev’s 5-Point Championship Night
(Photo: David Connell)
While the latest news from one Russian Caps prospect might leave you wanting you bang your head into your desk, the latest news from another Russian Caps prospect might leave you with a more positive feeling.
For the second year in a row, Stanislav Galiev, picked by the Caps in the third round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, and the Saint John Sea Dogs captured the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s (QMJHL) President’s Cup, the award given to the QMJHL champions at the end of every season.
To contribute to Thursday night’s Championship win, Galiev, 20, provided 5 points for the Sea Dogs, completing a natural hat trick and assisting on two additional goals.
For the playoffs as a whole, Galiev finished with a total of 34 points in only 17 games played. Out of those 34 points, 16 were goals and another 18 were assists. Galiev also finished with a plus/minus of plus-30. Yeah, no big deal or anything.
Thoughts Going Into Game 6 – Are the Capitals A Championship Worthy Team?
If Coors Light is worthy of the Stanley Cup, shouldn’t even the Columbus Blue Jackets be worthy of the Stanley Cup? So why not the Capitals? – Image: Molson Coors
Shortly after I angrily turned off my TV after the Capitals heartbreaking Game 5 loss, I came to a scary realization.
Championship teams don’t give up the lead with only a few seconds left in the game, even if they’re being outmanned 6 to 4. Further, championship teams will somehow find a way to tie up games, even when there’s only a matter of seconds left.
Game over. Series over. Season over. See ya next year.
But wait, don’t jump to conclusions just yet.
5 Thoughts for Game 5
The video above shows my current emotions going into Game 5, as well as the series as a whole.
Scared, worried, and/or nervous for Game 5? You shouldn’t be. Here are 5 quick reasons why the Capitals will win Game 5 tonight in New York:
1. The Caps were still a bit asleep in Game 1 but would have won if they were more awake.
2. The Caps won Game 2 in New York.
3. Game 3 went to triple overtime…there’s not really a winner in this one, but unfortunately there has to be for the series tally. I don’t view Game 3 as a loss for the Caps.
Caps fans plan to fight back with Ovi chants of their own in Game 3
Image: NHL Network Online
Remember last year when former Caps Coach Bruce Boudreau claimed that the fans in New York’s Madison Square Garden weren’t as loud as the ones in the Verizon Center, causing the fans in MSG to start chants of “Can you hear us?” only to be followed up with “We are louder” chants the following game at VC? Well, both sides are back at it again this year.
In Saturday’s Game 1 at MSG, Rangers fans started chants of “Ovi sucks” at the 8 minute mark of every period:
So did the chants have any effect Ovechkin?
Round 2: Capitals vs Rangers
Above: Jason Chimera after his double overtime game winning goal against the Rangers in last year’s playoffs. (Photo: Barton Silverman)
With their Game 7 win on Thursday night, the New York Rangers secured a spot in Round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs. As the 1st seed, the Rangers will face the lowest seeded team left in the East: your Washington Capitals.
My oh my, things have changed, haven’t they? Isn’t it usually the Caps with the 1st seed and the Rangers with the 7th or 8th seed?
The Baltimore Hockey Classic Returns for 2012
Image: WashCaps.com
If last year’s steamy hot, ice-less Baltimore Hockey Classic wasn’t enough for you, we’ve got good news!
Announced today by the Washington Capitals, Baltimore’s 1st Mariner Arena will serve as the Caps’ temporary home during the NHL preseason for the second year in a row. The game known as The Baltimore Hockey Classic presented by W.R. Grace is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012. This midweek 7PM showdown will be played against the ever exciting Columbus Blue Jackets. Yes, the same team that finished last place in the NHL last season.
Game 1 Reactions and Game 2′s Recipe for Success
Now that Game 1 is over, the Playoffs have officially started and the jitters and butterflies are hopefully gone for good.
While Game 1 ended up being a loss for the Caps, I still feel like it was a win for the Caps mentally. After the shakey season they just finished, it would have been more than easy to go into enemy territory and get rocked by the reigning Stanley Cup Champions. Instead, the Caps stood strongly, even when short handed on three different occasions, and battled this one out right through the end of regulation and into overtime.
I hate to make excuses, but with the circumstances of this particular Game 1, the chances of the home team losing a game like that are very low. What more can you ask of the Caps? All it really came down to was one shot.
Well then again, there actually might be a few thinks that you could ask for more of from the Caps.
NBC “Jinxes” Ovechkin and the Capitals
As if the Capitals didn’t already have enough going against them, they now have been jinxed by NBC thanks to their latest “Because It’s the Cup” commercial, featuring Alex Ovechkin.
So how exactly does this commercial jinx Ovi and the Caps? Gee, maybe the lines saying “because if you think this is celebrating / wait until he wins it all” do.
Oh great. That’s it, folks! Caps have officially lost! Done. See ya. Sayonara.
Oh wait, what’s that you say? The Blackhawks suffered from a similar “jinx”, though this one involved a pig-nosed Toews, yet they still won the Cup the same year that the mural was painted?
Oh, well then that can only mean one thing…
Thoughts going into Round 1 and the Playoffs as a whole…
The video above best describes my current emotions regarding everything Caps related.
In past few years, the Capitals have always been a strong favorite to win the Stanley Cup. However, based off almost every Round 1 preview that I’ve read, it appears that most people have given up on the Caps.
I hate to admit it, but it’s hard to disagree with the critics. The Caps have had a terrible regular season, not to mention that their recent record in the postseason isn’t much better. On top of that, the Caps are being forced to start a rookie goaltender against the reigning Stanley Cup Champions. Why even consider the idea of the Capitals beating out the Bruins?
Capitals Recall Mattias Sjogren
(Photo courtesy of JustSports Photography)
Announced today by Capitals GM George McPhee, the Washington Capitals have recalled center Mattias Sjogren from Farjestad of the Swedish Elite League, an unexpected move to say the least.
Sjogren, 24, started the season in the AHL with the Hershey Bears, but left to return to Sweden after becoming annoyed that he had not seen any time in the NHL yet. With this said, it was unsure if he would ever reconnect with the Capitals again. Though, obviously this was not the case.
Before leaving for Sweden in November, Sjogren had two goals and three assists to his name in 19 games played with the Hershey Bears in the AHL.
