Brian McNally

Caps Second Period Update

Panthers 3, Caps 2 Not a great period there. Florida scored three times. Brooks Laich did have a power-play goal for Caps - his seventh of the year. But Jose Theodore probably should have been in better position to see Florida's second goal - the first NHL tally by Dmitry Kulikov. The third goal was just a matter of the Panthers working hard behind their own net and then a great pass by Kenndal McArdle to Michal Repik - who just moments earlier took a big hit from Quintin Laing at the other end of the ice. That was also his first goal of the season. Florida also received a goal from forward Michael Frolik at 1:35 of the first. Florida leads in shots, 23-16. Panthers goalie Scott...

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Caps First Period Update

Caps 1, Panthers 0 Washington jumps on top early. Brooks Laich earned the secondary assist on goal by Mike Knuble. Laich kept puck alive for Brendan Morrison, who found Knuble from back of Scott Clemmensen's net. Not doubt both are angry about Michigan's football loss at home to Purdue. That's just unacceptable. Another tough year for the Wolverines - but I digress. Morrison was coming off a two-goal game last night against the Panthers. Laich's assist means he's had a hand in five of his team's last 10 goals - thanks to Caps PR for that nugget. We'll play 4-on-4 for first 14 seconds of the second period. Then the Panthers will have a brief 18-second power play thanks to an Alex Semin...

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Caps Game Night

Game #17 Caps (9-3-4, 22 points) vs. Florida Panthers (5-8-1, 11 points) Long time, no see. These two teams met last night, a 4-1 Caps win. It was a little costly, though. Defensemen Mike Green and Jeff Schultz are both out. Green was hurt in the first period last night (upper-body injury). Schultz went out in the second (lower-body injury). Caps coach Bruce Boudreau called both "day-to-day" and said they'd be re-evaluated at practice on Tuesday. He hedged when asked if they'd be back Wednesday for the game with the Islanders. No surprise, Alex Ovechkin will miss his third game in a row (upper-body strain). His only action in recent days was Thursday's practice in Sunrise,...

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Nats decline Kearns' option

The Nationals on Friday declined a $10 million option for outfielder Austin Kearns, who instead was granted a $1 million buyout and is now a free agent. That ends a dissapointing tenure for the 29-year-old in Washington. He was acquired with high hopes in a 2006 trade with the Cincinnati Reds along with second baseman Felipe Lopez, among others. Kearns was given a three-year, $17 million extension by then-general manager Jim Bowden the following winter. A thumb injury proved costly in 2009 as Kearns hit .195 with three homers and 17 RBI. But 15 of those RBI came in the season's first five weeks. He has a long history of hand injuries and finally went on the disabled list for good in...

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Caps Postgame

Caps 4, Florida 1 That may have been the craziest game of the year so far. No other way to describe a night where the Caps lost three defensemen - Mike Green was injured in the first, Jeff Schultz went down in the second and Shaone Morrisonn was ejected for a boarding major in the third. Washington played the final 8 minutes, 18 seconds with just four defensemen - and that was only because natural defenseman Tyler Sloan happened to be in the lineup as a winger and could move back to his normal spot. That led to Tom Poti playing 28:42. Brian Pothier played 25:20 and Milan Jurcina logged 23:12. Even Sloan played 18:25. Those minutes will have an affect on Saturday night when these two...

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Caps Second Period Update

Caps 2, Panthers 0 Brendan Morrison put Washington up by two heading into the third period. It was his fifth goal of the season. Florida has yet to beat Jose Theodore on 20 shots so far. But injuries continue to mount for the Caps. Jeff Schultz left the ice at 15:30 of the second period. He joins fellow defenseman Mike Green in the dressing room. Green did not return after his fourth shift in the first period. They made up for one of those by putting Tyler Sloan back on defense. But Caps will have to play down a forward and down a defenseman now with Schultz out. We'll see if they can hold. But they may want to add a goal or two to salt this one away....

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Caps First Period Update

Caps 1, Panthers 0 Tyler Sloan does it again with his second goal in as many games. He scored at 4:53 of the first on an assist from Chris Clark. The big news, though, is the injury to Mike Green. He played just four shifts in that period before leaving with an undisclosed injury. Total minutes: 2:44. Not good. Team officials say he "may return." Of course, that's what was said about Alex Ovechkin on Sunday against Columbus. We'll see. That means extra work for the other "D" if Green can't return. Sloan moves back to his natural defense position from the wing, where he's filling in for Eric Fehr (rib). Could be a factor tomorrow, too, when these two teams play again...

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NHL Faceoff, 11/06/09

Player to watch Dustin Penner, F, Edmonton A key part of the Ducks’ Stanley Cup run in 2007, Penner had a target on his back the last two years after signing a controversial offer sheet with the Oilers. The 28-year-old regressed from 29 goals with Anaheim to 23 in his first year in Edmonton and then only 17 last year. He spent much of the season in the doghouse of former coach Craig MacTavish. Penner looks far more comfortable under new coach Pat Quinn with nine goals and 10 assists in 15 games. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound left wing is difficult to dislodge from the front of the net — a classic power forward. He said what?! “It is not my thing to sit in the press box and...

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Caps Game Night

Game #16 Caps (8-3-4, 20 points) at Florida Panthers (5-7-1, 11 points) First meeting of the year between these two Southeast Division rivals. They'll make up for it when they both fly to D.C. right after tonight's game for another one at Verizon Center tomorrow night. I'll be on the radio pregame show with Jonathan Warner on WFED-1500 at 6:30 p.m. Saturday so check it out. Caps still trying to shake off a tough 3-2 loss to New Jersey on Wednesday. Penalties were their downfall in that game - four in the third period alone. From the Caps official web site - coach Bruce Boudreau says defenseman Brian Pothier is back in the lineup and John Erskine is out. Erskine returned from a hand...

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Caps forward Bradley using a special helmet to avoid concussions

For Capitals forward Matt Bradley, it is simply a matter of substance over style. He knows his new helmet looks different. But if it helps him avoid a concussion that doesn't really matter. He'll take the abuse. Caps notes » Other NHL players using the M11 helmet — Aaron Ward (Carolina), Jesse Winchester and Chris Phillips (Ottawa), Christoph Schubert (Atlanta) and Stephane Veilleux (Tampa Bay). » Washington (8-3-4, 20 points) begins a home-and-homer series at the Florida Panthers tonight. » Caps F Alex Ovechkin (upper-body strain) skated at practice in Florida on Thursday. He told reporters he would not play in either of this weekend’s games. Bradley...

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Le Moyne: The best hoops team in Syracuse

Sizzle Anze Kopitar » You’ve never heard of him. But the L.A. Kings forward just took the NHL scoring lead away from Alex Ovechkin. The 22-year-old Slovenian has 11 goals and 13 assists for the surprising Kings (9-4-2, 20 points). Le Moyne’s basketball team » When Division II Le Moyne stunned No. 25 Syracuse in a preseason game Tuesday night, players reacted like they’d won a title. Who cares if it didn’t count? The kids from the “other” Syracuse school will never have a bigger win. Fizzle Cleveland Browns » Tough to pick an NFL franchise in more turmoil. Don’t we say that about a new team every week? After firing their...

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The Caps' 'freak of nature'

He had missed just four games during his NHL career and only two because of injury. Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin has played hurt in the playoffs two years in a row, including wrist and groin injuries last spring that required injections. Let's just say the man has a high tolerance for pain. That reputation won't change now that he's on the shelf with an upper-body strain. But shouldn't he curtail the physical part of his game? That question has been asked several times this season. It's not why he was hurt Sunday. But in the long run isn't Ovechkin at greater risk of injury because of his rugged style? "Absolutely. But Alex is one of those guys that if he didn't play that way he...

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Caps Postgame

Devils 3, Caps 2 On Tuesday, NHL agent Mark Gandler told Examiner.com's Dmitry Chesnokov that he "doesn't believe in discounts" as he begins contract discusions with the Caps on behalf of client Alexander Semin - a restricted free agent next summer. He also reportedly said "You don't trade one of your best players from a playoff team to another playoff team. It is self defeating" when asked if a trade was possible if negotiations with general manager George McPhee falter between now and the trade deadline in March. (And just to be clear, Chesnokov is an independent blogger for Examiner.com - a sister company to the Washington Examiner - and the reporting is his own. I...

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Caps Second Period Update

Caps 1, Devils 1 Set up for a good third period. Both goalies are playing well. Semyon Varlamov was unlucky on the one goal he did allow and his rebound control has been good. Martin Brodeur flat robbed Caps defenseman Mike Green with a glove save on a blast from the slot. Both have 16 saves. There was even a nice fight between Caps captain Chris Clark and Devils forward Rod Pelley - trying to generate some energy in a building that hasn't had much life tonight. The referees have called just one minor penalty on each team. Have to believe that will change in the third as both teams push for the win. Alex Ovechkin - just on with Comcast SportsNet for a between-periods interview - said...

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Caps First Period Update

Caps 1, Devils 0 Tyler Sloan with the goal for Washington at 17:10 of the first period. Give credit to the entire third line on that one. Sloan got the puck into the zone with a pass to himself in the neutral zone, then fired a shot in on New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur. Rookie Mathieu Perreault kept possession along the boards, passed to captain Chris Clark - who almost gave the puck away, but swiped at it before it could exit the zone. He batted it right back to Perreault, catching the Devils heading up ice in the process. Perreault drove the net with only one defender back and dropped a sweet saucer pass to Sloan, who beat Brodeur short side for the goal. Perreault received a good...

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Caps Game Night

Game #15 Caps (8-2-4, 20 points) at New Jersey Devils (8-4, 16 points) I've come to the conclusion that the Devils will never be bad. Ever. Almost every season they lose a few key free agents. None of their additions seem splashy or designed to impress. Goalie Martin Brodeur gets a year older. I always, always pick them to fade away and finally start a true rebuild. Yet at the end of the season they're in the playoffs. And it's not like they scrape by and grab a No. 8 seed. This team has won the Atlantic Division three of the last four years and finished second the other time. New Jersey has made the postseason 19 of the last 21 seasons and won three Stanley Cups during that stretch....

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Boudreau, Capitals prepare to play without Ovechkin

Washington faces off against New Jersey For just the fifth time since 2005, the Capitals will take to the ice without forward Alex Ovechkin. Tuesday morning during a practice at Kettler Capitals Iceplex, his teammates took the first step towards learning to play without their star left wing. Ovechkin is listed as "week-to-week" with an upper-body strain suffered during Sunday's 5-4 overtime loss to Columbus. Team officials don't know for sure how long he will be out of the lineup. So Washington's players may have to deal with that uncertainty for some time. Are they up to that challenge? "We're not a one-man show," said Caps defenseman Brian Pothier....

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Nats' front office hires

The Nationals continued adding to their front office staff on Tuesday. Former White Sox general manager Ron Schueler was named a special advisor to Nats general manager Mike Rizzo and Bill Singer was promoted to director of professional scouting. Schueler has been in baseball for 42 years - 11 of those as the GM in Chicago, where his teams won a pair of division titles in 1993 and 2000. He also pitched professionally for four different big-league clubs. Most recently, Schueler spent two years as senior advisor of player personnel for the San Francisco Giants. Singer, meanwhile, will coordinate all Nats' pro, minor league and winter league scouting efforts. Last season, he was a special...

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Ovechkin's pain threshold

I'll touch on this subject a little more in Thursday's print edition of Cheers & Jeers. But this topic has come up enough early on this season I figured I'd share some quotes from a few Caps players after practice today. It's relevant given Ovechkin won't play Wednesday night against New Jersey, His "upper-body strain" will keep him out of just his fifth game since he started his NHL career in 2005. One question reporters have asked all season - starting first with the beat reporters who follow the team on a daily basis and now extending to national writers/analysts - is whether Ovechkin needs to curtail his sometimes reckless style of play to keep his career going well...

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More from Kettler

The theme of the day out at Caps practice was that Alex Ovechkin's injury is a chance to prove this is not a one-line team or a one-man team. Several players made that claim. I'd love to know what knuckleheads are actually out there saying that. Because the remaining top six - Backstrom, Semin, Knuble, Morrison, Laich and Fleischmann - is a group you could make the playoffs with even without Ovechkin. Seems like a straw man argument to me. Then again - maybe it's what athletes need to believe to play with an edge. Either way, the Caps will certainly compensate with a renewed focus on the defensive side of the ice. "I think that’s been coming. That’s a long time coming...

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Ovechkin Speaks

The Caps held their first practice without injured star forward Alex Ovechkin on Tuesday morning. Bit of a media circus here in Arlington - at least by Caps standards. Losing your best player for a stretch will do that. Not much new to report on the injury - officially an "upper-body strain". Ovechkin is still listed as week-to-week. So...uh....what does that mean exactly? "I don’t have a clue," Caps coach Bruce Boudreau admitted. "I know it’s an upper-body strain. But I don’t know what that means. So I just know [Ovechkin] is very tolerant of pain and he wants to play so badly. Given those two equations is why I’m saying if anybody can be...

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Strain puts Ovechkin on shelf

Capitals star left wing listed as week-to-week Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin will not play in Wednesday night's game at the New Jersey Devils and is listed as "week-to-week" by the team after undergoing an MRI exam on Monday afternoon. According to team officials, Ovechkin suffered an "upper-body strain" during Sunday's loss to Columbus. He will travel with the club to New Jersey and Florida to continue his treatment. Monday was an off day for Washington's players after a busy stretch of four games in six nights. Ovechkin, however, did appear at the organization's Arlington County headquarters to meet with athletic trainer Greg Smith. Ovechkin was hurt in the...

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A star-studded injury list

Since the NHL lockout ended in 2005, the sport has been built around its star players. Gone are the dark days when Mario Lemieux had to carry four players on his back as he skated into the offensive zone. The problem? Those stars -- now with space to work their magic -- are getting hurt at an alarming rate. "It seems like an inordinate year for injuries," said Caps coach Bruce Boudreau. "The game is getting bigger, stronger and faster. And because it's an Olympic year, there's been a lot of games played [in October and November] and the body takes its wear and tear." Caps star winger Alex Ovechkin was hurt Sunday and is listed as "week-to-week." But he is...

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Ovechkin update

Updated story up on the Web site soon. But the Caps have announced star forward Alex Ovechkin as week-to-week with an "upper-body strain" Got to love those NHL injury reports. Given how Ovechkin fell to the ice - and the fact that you can't "strain" a wrist and an elbow "strain" seems unlikely for a hockey player who wasn't shooting when hurt - we can assume this is a shoulder injury. That's an educated guess, of course. NHL teams do not have to disclose the exact nature of a player's injury. Ovechkin underwent an MRI on Monday. It seems unlikely he will be back for any of this week's games - on the road at New Jersey (Wednesday) and Florida (Friday) and a...

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Busy day for Ovechkin

No update on Alex Ovechkin's injury. There will be a story up on our website soon with reaction from Caps coach Bruce Boudreau. Ovechkin, who suffered an "upper-body" injury during Sunday's 5-4 overtime loss to Columbus, is not expected to play Wednesday night against New Jersey. But Boudreau guessed he could return Friday or Saturday. The Caps play the Florida Panthers both nights - on the road Friday and back at Verizon Center on Saturday. The Caps had a day off on Monday and Ovechkin only showed up at Kettler Capitals Iceplex to see athletic trainer Greg Smith. But it was a busy day for Ovechkin off the ice, anyway. Management powerhouse IMG announced it has signed Ovechkin...

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Caps Postgame

Columbus 5, Caps 4 (OT) Another overtime loss for the Caps. But that pales in comparision to the status of forward Alex Ovechkin, who left the game in the second period thanks to an upper-body injury and is listed by the team as day-to-day. We'll see if that holds when the Caps reconvene on Tuesday for their next practice. Ovechkin appeared to be favoring his left shoulder - but that's just speculation based on TV replays and a view from six stories up at Verizon Center. Could be a wrist or an elbow or even a rib injury, too. He could have been hurt during the scrum with Columbus' Jason Chimera - or maybe when tough guy Jared Boll forced his way into the mix. A bunch of players were...

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Blue Jackets top Caps in OT, 5-4; Ovechkin injured

Around the NHL, top stars are dropping like flies thanks to a rash of injuries. Sunday afternoon, it was the Capitals’ turn to experience that dreaded feeling. Star left wing Alex Ovechkin – who leads the NHL in goals (14) and points (23) - left the ice at 13 minutes, 50 seconds of the second period, minutes after a physical confrontation with Columbus forward Jason Chimera. His absence overshadowed a wild, 5-4 overtime loss to the Blue Jackets at Verizon Center. Washington (8-2-4, 20 points) lost leads of both 3-2 and 4-3 in the third period. Columbus forward Raffi Torres scored with an extra attacker on the ice with just 22.4 seconds left to tie the game at 4. R.J....

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Caps Second Period Update

Blue Jackets 2, Caps 1 That's about as bad a period as you can have. Caps F Alex Ovechkin seemed to favor his right shoulder as he skated off the ice in the second period. He had gotten into a scrum with Columbus F Jason Chimera right in front of the Blue Jackets' bench. Reacted to something, Ovechkin gave out a two-handed cross-check. It actually resulted in a Caps PP. F Jared Boll got 2 for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct. Ovechkin came back for a shift when his penalty expired. But he was knocked to the ice and immediately skated for the locker room. He hasn't been seen since. We'll have more when we get an update from the team. To add insult to injury, Rick Nash continued his...

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Caps First Period Update

Caps 1, Columbus 0 Entertaining first period. A sick display of passing - Fleischmann to Backstrom, between the legs to Semin, back to Fleischmann and then to Backstrom to finish it off - gave Washington a 1-0 lead. Not a power-play goal - it came just after the PP expired - but just as good. Scary moment when defenseman Milan Jurcina fell/was tripped awkardly into the boards. Appeared to hurt both his right leg and right shoulder. Was clearly in pain and doubled over in the tunnel. But returned to the ice a few minutes later so seems to be okay. Jose Theodore made some nice saves, 11 overall. Columbus F Rick Nash haunts almost every PK his team is on. Few in the league are tougher to...

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Caps Game Night

Game #14 Caps (8-2-3, 19 points) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (6-5-1, 13 points) A busy stretch - four games in six nights - concludes with a Sunday 5 p.m. game against the Blue Jackets. Caps coach Bruce Boudreau calls defenseman Mike Green (undisclosed injury) and center Nicklas Backstrom (illness) gametime decisions. Forward Quintin Laing (swine flu) is back in the lineup. Jose Theodore is again in goal after a 4-3 overtime loss to the Islanders on Friday night. Caps nemesis Steve Mason is in goal for the Blue Jackets. When asked for one word to describe a Ken Hitchcock team, Boudreau tossed out "structured". A big part of that is Mason, who shut out the Caps twice last season...

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Islanders stun Caps in OT, 4-3

Capitals forward Tomas Fleischmann spent his summer lifting weights, riding an exercise bike and skating all by himself. On doctor’s orders, that’s about all the blood clot in his left leg allowed him to do. It was hardly an ideal regimen for a player hoping to build on his breakthrough season in the NHL. He missed all of training camp and the first three weeks of the season, whiling away the hours just waiting for clearance. Now that Fleischmann has finally received the go-ahead he is playing like a man who clearly missed the game. His performance Friday night at Verizon Center against the New York Islanders came in a losing effort, but Fleischmann scored two goals during...

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Caps Postgame

Islanders 4, Caps 3 Again, probably a game the Caps should have won. The problem with saying that, of course, is they usually have won these types of games so far in 2009-10. They were 8-2-2 for a reason. But Washington allowed a late goal in the second period. It whiffed on two power-play opportunities in the third - although that was due as much to Islanders goalie Dwayne Roloson (37 saves) as anything else. Once it went to overtime, Caps coach Bruce Boudreau implored his team to cover the point. He figured a New York team that keeps losing in overtime or the shootout would go for the win. And they did just that when rookie John Tavares - is he really just 18? - found Mark Streit...

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Caps Second Period Update

Caps 3, Islanders 3 Call it the Tomas Fleischmann and Frans Nielsen show. The pair each scored twice in the second period for their teams and we're all set for what should be a fun final period. Have to feel good for Fleischmann. He had a trying summer dealing with the blood clot in his left leg and missed all of training camp and the first three weeks of the season. Hasn't shown much rust so far, though. He had a couple excellent scoring chances Thursday in Atlanta and has been dangerous all night against the Islanders. His first goal was thanks to a turnover by Islanders goalie Dwayne Roloson behind the New York net. But Flash was opportunistic and finished the wrap-around chance....

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Caps First Period Update

Caps 1, Islanders 1 Entertaining first period. Alex Ovechkin scored goal No. 14, tying the most he's scored in one calendar month. Islanders responded with one from Kyle Okposo, who looks like a prize fighter doing his intermission interview with Islanders TV. Left eye swelling up pretty good. Didn't see when he got hit. Ovechkin's was a power-play goal at 4:41. Aucoin and Green on the assists. Okposo's is one the Caps would like to have back. He skated unopposed into the slot all the way from center ice. No one stepped up to eliminate him from the play and Jose Theodore probably wishes he could have it back. Got a piece of it, but the puck deflected past him. Only Caps penalty was on...

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Caps Game Night

Game #13 Caps (8-2-2, 18 points) vs. New York Islanders (2-4-5, 9 points) Wait, didn't we just do this? It's a busy, busy stretch for the Caps, who are in the midst of four games in six days. Luckily, three of them are at home, including tonight's rematch with the New York Islanders. For the second game in a row Washington faces a rested opponent. Atlanta had five days off entering Thursday night's game. The Islanders did play Wednesday - but that was a home game against the Rangers and they had Thursday to recover. That makes the third-period struggles against the Thrashers harder to take. Caps coach Bruce Boudreau lamented the energy his team wasted holding off Atlanta in a 4-3 win....

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Caps Postgame

Caps 4, Thrashers 3? Well, that one got interesting - again. Caps were up 3-0 and had to hold on in the final two minutes. Thrashers added a goal at the buzzer by defenseman Zach Bogosian that appears to have counted. Literally beat goalie Semyon Varlamov with a half-second to go - or even less. Brooks Laich had a nice night with three assists. He was just on Comcast SportsNet with Al Koken and Alan May for a postgame interview and wanted to go with the "a win is a win" theme. I guess you can't quibble with a victory on the road against a rested team. But the Caps really are playing with fire here. They were up 3-0 and had a couple golden chances to blow the game open....

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Caps Second Period Update

Caps 3, Thrashers 0 Caps threatened to blow this one open early. Brendan Morrison's power-play goal - assisted, of course, by Alex Ovechkin - gave Washington a 3-0 lead less than five minutes into the second period. Looked like the Caps lost interest later in the period, though. Several bad shifts led to a rash of Atlanta scoring chances. Thrashers should have buried one or two - especially a wide-open Max Afinogenov on a beautiful backdoor pass from teammate Rich Peverley. Washington will have to kill most of a Tyler Sloan penalty to start the third period. Goalie Semyon Varlamov has 21 saves on 21 shots. Forward Tomas Fleischmann has already logged 10 minutes, 5 seconds of ice time,...

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Caps First Period Update

Caps 2, Thrashers 0 So, Alex Ovechkin is on pace for about 88 goals as of now. That's absurd. He already has two in the first period as the Caps are up early on Atlanta. Ovechkin leads the NHL with 13 goals total in just 11 1/3 games. He has scored twice in six different games. The first goal tonight came on the power-play and was set up by a Brooks Laich faceoff win back to defenseman Mike Green, who found Ovechkin for the one-timer. The puck looked like it deflected off Thrashers defenseman Ron Hainsey. The second goal was a breakaway off a tremndous pass up ice from Nick Backstrom. Might as well have been a penalty shot. From the Caps crack PR staff: Ovechkin has 232 career goals -...

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Caps Game Night

Game #12 Caps (7-2-2, 16 points) at Atlanta Thrashers (4-3-1, 9 points) Déjà vu for the Caps, who were just at Philips Arena in Atlanta last Thursday for a wild 5-4 win. That game featured: a goal from about 150 feet by Caps defenseman Jeff Schultz; three Washington goals in 88 seconds in the second period; an Atlanta goalie change; a shorthanded goal allowed by the Caps; and a chaotic final two minutes where Washington kept taking penalties and the Thrashers kept pushing for the equalizer. Atlanta scored with 39 seconds left and then had a 6-on-4 advantage, but forward Max Afinogenov popped an easy scoring chance over the net. Oh – and the Caps also went 0-for-7 on...

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Aucoin making best of opportunity with Caps

Journeyman centering Washington's third line He has only been back with the Capitals for a week. But every single day brings the possibility that Keith Aucoin will get that familiar tap on the shoulder and instructions to head back to the organization's minor-league affiliate in Hershey. It is a process Aucoin knows all too well. The 30-year-old center has long since fallen off the top prospects list. Instead, he is a 5-foot-9, 187-pound journeyman whose size has always limited his ceiling as an NHL player. Caps notes » Déjà vu for Washington, which heads back to Atlanta for the second time in a week to play the Thrashers at Philips Arena on Thursday night at 7...

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NHL has become teenagers on ice

All over the NHL it seems like the kids are taking over. Dozens of hockey players drafted in 2008 and 2009 already have made their NHL debuts. A few are even making an impact already. It's nothing new for a league that has seen phenoms like Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Patrick Kane and Evgeni Malkin burst onto the scene as precocious teenagers. But the numbers seem to grow every year. Here are a few of the best: Steven Stamkos, 19, Tampa Bay Lightning » Top pick in 2008 draft posted 23 goals as a rookie. He centers the second line in Tampa and already has seven goals this season. Drew Doughty, 19, Los Angeles Kings » Struggled at times as rookie. But the No. 2 pick in 2008...

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Caps Notes

Some of the on-ice news got lost earlier as I tried to track down all things swine flu. Forward Alexandre Giroux has been sent back to Hershey. Meanwhile, forward Tomas Fleischmann is back with the Caps after a two-game conditioning stint with the Bears but has not yet been officially activated. That could come soon because he traveled with the team to Atlanta, where the Caps play Thursday night. Fleischmann said his timing was an issue at Hershey as he tried to mix it up with players who had been in action for almost a full month. But he feels a lot better with some games under his belt as he looks to return from the blood clot in his left leg. Forward Boyd Gordon again missed practice...

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Laing diagnosed with swine flu

Caps forward Quintin Laing has been diagnosed with swine flu, according to team officials. Laing was sent home from Tuesday's morning skate and did not play against Philadelphia last night. He will not travel with the team to Atlanta for Thursday night's game and is being isolated from his wife, Aimee, and his two young boys. Laing was tested for the seasonal flu and that turned out negative. But because he still showed three of the four most common symptoms doctors consider him positive for the H1N1 virus. Laing will stay away from the team until he's deemed symptom-free. He is at least the third NHL player diagnosed, according to Caps officials. Laing just can't catch a break. The...

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Caps dealing with Swine Flu

Caps forward Quintin Laing has been diagnosed with swine flu, according to team officials. Laing was sent home from Tuesday's morning skate and did not play against Philadelphia last night. He will not travel with the team to Atlanta for Thursday night's game and is being isolated from his wife, Aimee, and his two young boys. Laing was tested for the seasonal flu and that turned out negative. But because he still showed three of the four most common symptoms doctors consider him positive for the H1N1 virus. Laing will stay away from the team until he's deemed symptom free. He is at least the third NHL player so diagnosed, according to Caps officials. Laing just can't catch a break. The...

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Caps Postgame

Caps 4, Flyers 2 Almost every game between these two teams is a blast it seems. The Caps endured a 6-5 overtime loss on Oct. 6 where they had a lead late in regulation. Last season saw a 2-1 shootout win on Jan. 6 then a 4-2 loss on Feb. 24 and a 2-1 win on March 12. The only blowout? A 7-1 loss at Philadelphia last Dec. 20. This one gets added to the list. Both teams were physical. Flyers captain Mike Richards and Alex Ovechkin banged each other around as usual. Jose Theodore was excellent in goal for Washington with 41 saves as Philadelphia took advantage of five power plays to fire pucks his way all night. But in the end the Caps overcame a 2-0 deficit for the second game in a row....

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World Series preview: Anything you can do ...

Firepower on display as Yankees, Phillies meet in World Series Postseason baseball always comes down to the man on the mound. So often over the previous 105 installments of the World Series, big, powerful lineups lumber in with swagger only to be cut down by so many Orel Hershisers or Curt Schillings or Bob Gibsons. It doesn't seem like that should change when the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees begin the Fall Classic on Wednesday night in the Bronx. After all, two recent Cy Young Award winners will start Game 1 -- Cliff Lee for the Phillies and CC Sabathia for the Yankees. Schedule Game 1 » Phillies at Yankees Wed. Oct. 28 7:57 p.m. FOX Game 2 » Phillies at...

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Theodore, Caps defeat Flyers

Goalie's 41 saves leads Washington to 4-2 win For the second game in a row, the Capitals trailed by two goals and fought back for a victory. That’s not the blueprint for coach Bruce Boudreau – at all. But he’ll take it. Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Semin – reunited together on the top line – each scored a goal and combined for nine points as Washington rallied for a 4-2 victory at Verizon Center on Tuesday night. It was just another fun chapter in what has become one of the NHL’s most entertaining rivalries. Caps notes » Caps improved to 7-2-2 and have 16 points. Tuesday’s win was their fifth in a row. » Flyers D...

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Caps Second Period Update

Caps 2, Flyers 2 Who didn't see that coming. Flyers went up 2-0 on goals by Scott Hartnell and Braydon Coburn - both on the power play. Caps answered with goals by Alex Ovechkin and Nick Backstrom - the latter also a power-play tally. Those last three goals all came within a 3 minute, 43 second stretch. Plenty of physical play. Caps may have gotten too caught up in Philly's game. Thought for a minute Backstrom was going to start playing bongos on Mike Richard's dome during a scrum in front of the Philadelphia goal. Not a great second period for special teams. Yes, Backstrom had a PP goal. But the Caps also allowed two and couldn't score during 1:41 of a 5-on-3. To be fair, they...

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Caps First Period Update

Caps 0, Flyers 0 Even first period. Both teams had some decent scoring chances. Pace of play was good. Few stoppages. Caps had the only power play thanks to a cross check by Flyers D Ole-Kristian Tollefsen with 2:09 left in the period. Washington again struggled to manintain possession in its own zone and is now scoreless on the last 12 PPs. Caps had 11 shots to Philly's 10. Pretty sure this game isn't ending 0-0 with a shootout so stay tuned. Could be some fireworks in the second....

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Nats add to front office

The Nationals have named Casey McKeon as director of player procurement and Jay Robertson as a special assistant to the general manager. That further adds to the organization's front office, which had been understaffed after the firing of former GM Jim Bowden last March. Earlier in the month, general manager Mike Rizzo hired respected scout Roy Clark as an assistant GM and vice president of player personnel. Johnny DiPuglia was named director of Latin American operations after a stellar tenure with the Boston Red Sox. And Doug Harris was hired as director of player development with scout Kris Kline earning a promotion to director of scouting when Dana Brown left for a job with the...

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Caps Game Night

Game #11 Caps (6-2-2, 14 points) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (5-3-1, 11 points) After a 2-0 road trip, the Caps return to Verizon Center to face the Flyers at 7 p.m. tonight. The lineup is in flux as Alex Semin returns, but both Quintin Laing (flu) and Eric Fehr (upper-body injury) are out. Boyd Gordon (back) is also out again. Defenseman Tyler Sloan will play wing on the fourth line. Special teams - as always against Philadelphia - are critical. The Caps allowed a short-handed goal last week against Atlanta and have allowed two through 10 games. The Flyers don't have one yet this season. But last year they led the NHL with 16 and are always dangerous on the penalty kill. Washington lost...

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Will Lakers' new cast member help repeat?

The Los Angeles Lakers begin their title defense Tuesday night with a new cast member. Instead of smooth forward Trevor Ariza, who seemed to do whatever the Lakers asked of him during last year's title run, the always controversial Ron Artest has been added to the mix. There are going to be doubts about that move -- especially since the Lakers signed him to a five-year contract. Artest, after all, is a special talent who always seems to walk that fine line between eccentric and crazy. Is that really what Los Angeles needed given the pressure already facing the defending champs? At least one analyst thinks so. "He's a perfect fit," according to ESPN basketball analyst Jon Barry....

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Capitals getting work in the AHL

While their teammates spent the weekend winning games in Atlanta and New York, Capitals forwards Michael Nylander and Tomas Fleischmann were toiling in the minors as they work their way back to the NHL. Well, at least in Fleischmann's case. The 25-year-old was cleared to practice last week after missing all of training camp and the first three weeks of the season with a blood clot in his left leg. Fleischmann needed game action to shake off the rust and so he played two games with AHL affiliate Hershey. His first taste of game action wasn't great. Fleischmann was on the ice for three goals against in a 5-2 loss. He rebounded with the primary assist in a 3-2 win over Portland on Sunday,...

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Caps look to solve power play woes

Semin back in lineup It has not been a perfect start. The power play is scuffling, third period leads continue to be an adventure and Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau has seen maybe two complete games from his team so far. But in the NHL -- especially this early in the season -- results are what really matter. And through 10 games Washington (6-2-2) is in first place in the Southeast Division and has the third-most points in the Eastern Conference with 14 overall. The Caps are coming off a 2-0 road trip against Atlanta and the New York Islanders that was a microcosm of the season's first month. They won despite a lethargic first 30 minutes on Saturday night against New York, falling...

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Former Nationals manager Acta gets Cleveland job

His job security was an issue from the first day of spring training. Just a week into the 2009 season Manny Acta already was on the hot seat. Eventually, two-and-a-half years of losing cost the former Nationals manager his job at the All-Star break. But he didn't have to wait long for a second chance. Acta, 40, was hired to manage the Cleveland Indians on Sunday. He had already been offered the Houston Astros' job and turned it down, according to a report in the Houston Chronicle, because the length of the deal didn't match Cleveland's three-year contract with a club option for a fourth. Even after a miserable stretch in Washington -- where Acta's teams went a combined 158-252 -- it is...

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Caps Postgame

Caps 5, Thrashers 4 The Caps have talked a lot over the last two weeks about developing a killer instinct to close out games. Keep trying, boys. Because that third period against Atlanta won't get it done. Despite outshooting the Thrashers 13-10 in the third period, Washington found itself struggling to hold on in the final seconds. Caps were whistled for three penalties in final 2 minutes, 42 seconds - including one on Alex Ovechkin. After the Thrashers pulled goalie Johan Hedberg, Washington faced a 6-on-3 penalty kill for 45 of the final 57 seconds. It was 6-on-4 for the other 12 seconds. It is just October. And any win on the road is a good one. But Bruce Boudreau will still want...

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Caps Second Period Update

Caps 5, Thrashers 2. Crazy second period. Jeff Schultz scored a goal from about 160 away. Still not sure how it went in. From his own zone, Schultz sent a stretch pass up ice, it hit somebody's stick on the way and bounced past Atlanta goalie Ondrej Pavelec. The 22-year-old has played well in net so far this year. But he was so rattled by that one he allowed two more quick goals - Matt Bradley and Chris Clark both scored. Three goals in 88 seconds was enough for Thrashers coach John Anderson, who pulled Pavelec and went with backup Johan Hedberg. Call it a career night for Schultz. He has a goal and two assists. The 23-year-old has never posted three points in one game before. Four...

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Caps First Period Update

Caps and Thrashers tied at 2 after the first period. Eric Fehr and Alexandre Giroux scored for Washington. Max Afinogenov has a power-play goal for Atlanta and then Ilya Kovalchuk added his eighth goal in seven games. He's now just one behind Alex Ovechkin for the NHL lead. Those were two big goals for the two Caps. Fehr is fighting for playing time. He hardly saw the ice last Saturday against Nashville despite a solid offensive game. Giroux just wants to stay on the roster. He's only here because of injuries to forwards Boyd Gordon and Alex Semin. Think Giroux and fellow Hershey callup Keith Aucoin aren't used to playing together? They knew exactly where the other one was on Giroux's...

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Final thoughts on Nylander

One last follow up to the Michael Nylander saga. Confirmed with the Caps that Nylander's two-week conditioning stint began Wednesday and lasts through Nov. 4. That would give him at most five games in the AHL with Grand Rapids to give European and NHL teams a chance to look at him. It's not a good situation - for Nylander or the Caps. But George McPhee knew the risks when he signed Nylander - then 34 - to a four-year contract in July, 2007. Let's remember the context. At the time, the Caps were coming off a second straight 70-point season. They had missed the playoffs both years after the NHL lockout and had absolutely no one on the roster to play center on the top line with Alex...

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Caps Game Night

Game #9 Caps (4-2-2, 10 points) at Atlanta Thrashers (4-1-1, 9 points) Believe it or not, first place in the Southeast Division is on the line tonight when the Caps play in Atlanta. Okay - that means absolutely nothing in October. But give credit to the Thrashers, who have been better than expected so far. The big reason? Special teams. Atlanta has only played six games, but it has the NHL's best power play with six goals in 20 attempts (30 percent). It also ranks fourth in the NHL on the penalty kill, allowing just three power-play goals in 25 chances (88 percent). Caps will have to start this brief road trip without forward Alexander Semin, who did not accompany the team to Atlanta....

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More on Nylander

A little more on the Michael Nylander situation. The Grand Rapids Griffins (awesome name, by the way) have written on their website that Nylander will be in the lineup Friday night. Remember, Nylander is on a conditioning assignment and according to the NHL collective bargaining agreement those can't last more than two weeks. That's also the reason Nylander wasn't subject to waivers. Will have to check with the Caps when Nylander's conditioning stint officially begins and ends. If the clock started Wednesday he would be eligible to play in five AHL games between now and Nov. 4. If the clock starts Friday then Nylander could play in a sixth game. Of note - all six of those games are at...

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Caps welcome first division foe

Washington begins road trip in Atlanta It is eight games into the season and the Capitals still have not played a Southeast Division opponent. That all changes on Thursday night when Washington begins its first multi-game road trip against the Atlanta Thrashers. Their travels will be brief with a contest against the New York Islanders set for Saturday. Still, there are benefits to playing away from Verizon Center. CAPS NOTES » Caps F Alexander Semin (six goals) is “touch and go” for Thursday’s game with an illness, according to coach Bruce Boudreau. » F Boyd Gordon (sore back) will not play Thursday, but is on the trip to Atlanta and New York. John...

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Yankees reload with wallets

At this time last season, the Yankees looked like a team on the decline. Of course, they were coming off an 89-73 record that teams like the Nationals and Orioles would kill for, but they also finished third in their own division with little immediate help coming from the farm system. But there is no rebuilding in the Bronx. The Yankees instead targeted three key free agents -- and somehow landed them all. CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett have stabilized the pitching staff. First baseman Mark Teixeira filled a gaping hole at first base. Nine months after that free-agent haul, New York resumed its rightful place atop the AL East with 103 wins. It's easy to write checks. But give the Yankees'...

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Narrowing Nats' manager options

Cheers & Jeers earlier looked at the Nationals' rotation options for next season as well as possible infield changes. Let's take a break from the field positions and check out a few candidates -- new and old -- to manage the team in 2010. Jim Riggleman » There are reasons this makes sense -- he knows the personnel already; he's a local guy -- but here's a more cynical one: Why spend money on a bigger name when the team isn't ready to compete? Along those lines, if the Nats find the next Manny Acta -- a younger manager who wows them during the interview process -- will that person have a chance to win before his seat heats up too? Don Mattingly » The Nats have been given...

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On the hotseat: Ron Wilson, Maple Leafs coach

Capitals fans likely have a soft spot for Toronto Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson. He is, after all, the man who brought Washington its lone appearance in the Stanley Cup finals way back in 1998. Well, things aren't going so well for Wilson right now. That's because the Maple Leafs are doing a pretty good imitation of the Redskins with an 0-6-1 record heading into Saturday night's game against Vancouver. Toronto has been outscored 20-6 in its last four games and fans are starting to flip out. New GM Brian Burke did give Wilson a vote of confidence this week, saying he'd start trading players well before he fires his coach -- and good friend. But patience has its limits....

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Nylander to the AHL

Capitals forward Michael Nylander will begin a conditioning stint with a minor-league team in Michigan, the team announced Wednesday afternoon. Washington has been trying to unload the veteran center for months because of his high salary and ineffectiveness on the ice. The team will still have to pay Nylander and – for now – his contract still counts against the team’s salary cap. But by agreeing to accept a conditioning assignment to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League, Nylander, 37, has a chance to improve his trade value. That’s not something that could happen with the Caps. Nylander has practiced with the team since training camp opened, but...

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Caps Injury News

The Capitals were again down two forwards at practice on Wednesday. Forward Boyd Gordon is still dealing with a sore back and will not play in Thursday's game at Atlanta. Forward Alexander Semin is dealing with...something. "He's - I don't know how to say it. I think he's ill," said Caps coach Bruce Boudreau. Meanwhile, center Michael Nylander will remain planted firmly on the bench and two players will be recalled from AHL Hershey. Neither call-up was on the ice at Kettler and they will instead meet the team in Atlanta. Expect Keith Aucoin to be one of the recalled players. He can fill in for Gordon at center and was just sent down to Hershey on Monday anyway. Boudreau - as...

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Caps sign draft pick Eakin

The Caps have signed forward Cody Eakin, 18, to a three-year entry-level contract. The team’s third-round draft pick in 2009 – No. 85 overall - has already scored nine goals in nine games for Swift Current, a junior team in the Western Hockey League. He also has three assists. Eakin isn’t the biggest guy in the world at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds. But he made a nice first impression during the Caps’ developmental camp in July and then again at rookie camp in September. They even let Eakin hang around for a bit at training camp with the big club before he returned to Swift Current. The Winnipeg native is an excellent skater. He finished with 24 goals and 24 assists...

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Caps news and notes

Caps coach Bruce Boudreau wasn’t yelling. He was just “encouraging” his players during a lengthy 80-minute practice on Tuesday morning at the Iceplex. With five days between games, Boudreau put the Caps through a conditioning skate – the kind that teams almost never have time for once training camp ends. No one afterward thought it was overly taxing. “A six” out of 10, according to defenseman Brian Pothier. Uh…we’ll take his word for it. But it looked a little harder than that. “I’ve always said you can work really hard with a smile on your face. Working hard doesn’t mean feeling depressed or upset,” Boudreau said....

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Caps' Fleischmann returns to practice

Caps forward Tomas Fleischmann was back on the ice Tuesday for a morning practice at Kettler Capitals Iceplex. The 25-year-old had missed all of training camp and the first three weeks of the season with a blood clot in his left leg. Now, Fleischmann didn’t participate in any contact drills during the first 20 minutes of practice. He is still working with team doctors to find a lower dosage of blood thinners that will allow him to take that next step. But a smiling Fleischmann did say he was just happy to be out on the ice with his teammates again – even if coach Bruce Boudreau put them all through a pretty hard skate. Fleischmann was diagnosed with the clot in June. It...

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Fleischmann happy to be back to practice after start of season with blood clot

Forward would add scoring to lower lines It was one of the tougher skates the Capitals have endured since training camp ended last month. But even as he and his teammates raced up and down the ice to exhaustion, forward Tomas Fleischmann was all smiles. Just a good old conditioning practice on Tuesday courtesy of coach Bruce Boudreau, who finally had a chance to conduct a proper one with five days between games. Fleischmann didn't mind at all. The 25-year-old was practicing for the first time after missing all of camp and the first three weeks of the season because of a blood clot in his left leg. "I was skating almost two months by myself and so the skate today wasn't hard for...

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Caps off to strong start; Boudreau pleased with the defense

Washington has early lead in Southeast So far, so good for the Capitals. Through eight games they have won four of them and earned another two points thanks to overtime or shootout losses. The schedule has been littered with strong playoff contenders in October, yet they still have an early lead in the Southeast Division. So with four days off until their next game at division rival Atlanta on Thursday, Washington (4-2-2, 10 points) has a chance to examine what's gone right and where things still need to be tweaked. "I'm happy with the goals allowed, which is eight in the last four games, and the shots allowed, which is at about 27 per game," Caps coach Bruce Boudreau told...

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Even more honors for Alex the Great

No need to toss more superlatives at Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin. At this point, he's almost expected to send fans and teammates home shaking their heads in wonder. But the 24-year-old already is off to his best start as a pro. Ovechkin scored two more goals on Saturday night against Nashville and produced the eventual game-winner in the shootout. For his effort, Ovechkin was one of the NHL's Three Stars for the week ending Sunday. He was named the league's Third Star just one week after earning Top Star honors. By scoring twice against the Predators, Ovechkin recorded his fourth two-goal game of the season. He has long struggled in shootouts during his young career, but Ovechkin...

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A legend joins the booth for the World Cup

Think ESPN isn't going all in on its soccer coverage? A Sports Illustrated story Monday said the network will add British broadcasting legend Martin Tyler to its 2010 World Cup coverage. It is a continuing trend for ESPN, which has placed added emphasis on the sport in recent years as the appetite for international soccer in the United States grows. Tyler is the Pat Summerall of the English Premier League -- an understated presence who says more with less better than anyone. A presence at Sky Sports for almost 20 years, Tyler is shut out of the World Cup on European television because Sky doesn't have the event's rights. After all the criticism ESPN took for its 2006 World Cup team of...

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Top 10: LCS moments from the past 25 years

Some of Major League Baseball's iconic postseason moments don't happen in the World Series at all. The League Championship Series can be just as good as teams fight for a pennant. Will this year's matchups add one to the list? 10. Brilliant Livo, 1997 NLCS The Marlins became the first wild-card team to reach the World Series. Livan Hernandez was awesome in Game 5 with a complete-game three hitter. He outdueled Greg Maddux -- with some serious help from umpire Eric Gregg's strike zone -- in a 2-1 win. Hernandez also won Game 3 in relief. BEFORE THE LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES The Shot Heard 'Round the World, 1951 Back in the days before divisions and expanded playoffs there was only...

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Nats fill three positions in front office

The search for a field manager will continue through the end of the month, but the Nationals and general manager Mike Rizzo already have begun the process of adding front-office staff to the organization. The team announced the hiring of Roy Clark as vice president of player personnel, Johnny DiPuglia as director of Latin American operations and Doug Harris as director of player development. Clark previously was director of scouting for the Atlanta Braves for 11 years. DiPuglia was a respected presence in the Dominican Republic for the Boston Red Sox. That's an important step for the Nats, whose Dominican operations slammed to a halt last spring after a scandal involving the age and...

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Caps Second Period Update

Caps 3, Sharks 1 Alex Ovechkin scored the fastest consecutive goals of his career when he struck twice in the second period 28 seconds apart. Credit linemates Mike Knuble and Brendan Morrison for creating those chances. Each ended up with a pair of assists. Semyon Varlamov has looked steady in goal so far in relief of the injured Jose Theodore. And, yes, San Jose did in fact get two power plays in the first seven minutes of the second period. But the Caps PK was up to the challenge. Now they need to hold the Sharks off for another 20 minutes to earn the win....

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Caps First Period Update

Caps 1, Sharks 1 UPDATE: Caps goalie Jose Theodore was injured in the first period and is out of the game. Rookie Semyon Varlamov is in net now. A team spokesman says Theodore will be re-evaluated after the game. No word on the nature of the injury - not even the old "upper body/lower body" ID. More later...Oh, and in the time it took to write this update, Alex Ovechkin has scored twice. Good times. The Caps spent just about half the first period on the power play - 8 minutes, 52 seconds in all. That's the good news. Unfortunately, Washington hit on just one of those five power plays. They even had :56 seconds of 5-on-3 play and that led directly to Alex Semin's goal at 7:21....

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Caps Game Night

Game #7 Caps (2-2-2, 6 points vs. San Jose Sharks (3-2-1, 7 points) Should be a good one tonight at Verizon Center. The Sharks are one of the few teams in the league that can match the Caps' offensive firepower as they make a rare appearance in the District. San Jose posted an NHL-best 117 points last season before flaming out in the first round of the playoffs. They also whipped Washington, 7-2, last November in California. Center Boyd Gordon is out with what is likely back spasms - though the team won't confirm that. Keith Aucoin comes up from Hershey and will be the third-line center. David Steckel drops to fourth line center. Earlier in the day, defenseman John Erskine (hand) was...

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2009 Baseball League Championship Series preview

AL CAPSULES New York Yankees Record » 103-59 Manager » Joe Girardi How they got here » AL East champ The skinny » A combination of solid pitching, clutch hitting from the likes of Alex Rodriguez (who knew?!) and Mark Teixeira, opponent’s mistakes and some mistakes by the men in blue helped New York sweet Minnesota. Instead of falling apart in October like they’ve had in previous seasons, the Yankees continued to build upon the enormous success from the previous months. Joe Girardi’s club doesn’t seem to be as tense. They play looser … and much better when it counts. Los Angeles Angels Record » 97-65 Manager » Mike...

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Penalties, shaky defense haunt Caps

Washington struggles early against NHL elite No one in the Capitals' locker room will make excuses. During the first two weeks of the season they have shown a propensity for dumb penalties, shaky defending and an inability to close out games in the third period. One factor overlooked in the early going, however, is the schedule. Washington has already played road games at Boston and Philadelphia. Both of those teams are considered strong contenders in the Eastern Conference. Add in another road game at Stanley Cup runner-up Detroit and a home game against the red-hot New York Rangers (5-1-0) and you can see why opponents are taking advantage of the Caps' mistakes. Only five teams have...

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A middle infield full of questions

While the big boys continue their postseason party, general manager Mike Rizzo and the Nationals interview front office and managerial candidates and plot next year's roster. Cheers & Jeers previously looked at Rizzo's options to upgrade the pitching staff. Next, we check in on the infield, where at least the corners are set. Ryan Zimmerman, 25, signed his contract extension in April and made it seem like a bargain by September. He's the best defensive third baseman in the sport and hit a career-high 33 homers with 106 RBI. On the other side, Adam Dunn did what he does -- 38 homers and 105 RBI while getting on base all the time. He is a bad defensive first baseman. That's better than...

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A defensive SS or RP ... really?

One final Major League Baseball award preview from Cheers & Jeers as the league championship series get set to begin on Thursday. It wasn't exactly a banner year for rookies in the American League -- especially for position players. Apologies to Tampa Bay starting pitcher Jeff Niemann (3.94 ERA) and Baltimore's Nolan Reimold (15 home runs) and Matt Wieters (.288 batting average and a red-hot September). But the following players did a little bit more in their first big-league season. Elvis Andrus, Rangers (.267, 6 HR, 40 RBI) » A wizard with the glove. According to the defensive metrics, only Jack Wilson was better at shortstop defensively than Andrus. Yes, he committed 22...

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Theodore earning minutes in the net with a strong start

Goalie bouncing back from poor postseason The first shot hit Jose Theodore's stick and maybe even nicked the right post as he flailed to make the save. A follow-up chance somehow hit his glove. New Jersey Devils forward Zach Parise was so flustered that his third attempt on a wide-open net sailed harmlessly above the goal. In the end, the Capitals eventually fell, 3-2, in a shootout on Monday night. But the fact they even gained a point from that contest was in large part thanks to Theodore, who is off to a strong start this season. His two acrobatic stops on Parise in overtime capped a fine night in goal. And while Caps coach Bruce Boudreau won't say who his goalie will be Thursday...

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Hoyas look to bounce back

Role players will be key for Georgetown Georgetown's men's basketball team is ready to start a brand new season. But before the Hoyas get down to business with their Midnight Madness celebration this Friday night -- and first true practice the following morning -- they spent an afternoon answering some lingering questions about last year's team. That's not a good thing. Georgetown was 12-3 on Jan. 16 with a win under its belt at then-No. 2 Connecticut. But it lost 10 of the final 14 games, including in the first round of the Big East tournament and the first round of the NIT. Three of those losses came in overtime and another four were by six points or less. It was the first time the...

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Caps lose as third-period woes continue against Devils, 3-2

Devils win in shootout The Capitals had several golden chances to put Monday night’s game against the New Jersey Devils out of reach. They had five different power-play opportunities, including a 5-on-3 advantage for 53 seconds that failed to produce a critical goal. In the NHL, that will always prove costly. So it was against the Devils, who instead scored the game-tying goal with 6 minutes, 26 seconds left and then stole an extra point in the shootout at Verizon Center when goalie Martin Brodeur made a pair of saves for a 3-2 win. Capitals notes » Devils G Martin Brodeur earned his 34th career win over the Caps. The 37-year-old made 31 saves on 33 Washington...

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Devils 3, Caps 2 (shootout)

Devils 3, Caps 2 The Caps faltered again in the third period on Monday night. It is the fourth time in a row they have had the lead or been tied in the final period only to come away with four losses - albeit one in overtime and one in a shootout. Washington certainly looked better against New Jersey, building on a nice game at Detroit on Saturday. But finishing opponents has become a problem. The Caps failed to convert on three power plays in the third period and never extended a 2-1 lead. It's hard to complain too much about the power play, of course. This group will carry the Caps for much of the season. But still - the chances were there and they didn't convert and the Devils were...

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Will early wins lead to late success?

There are five teams left in the NFL with a perfect record. But do four or five wins in a row guarantee a team is a contender? Remember, the Bills won their first four games in 2008 and didn't even reach the playoffs. So who's for real and who is just hot? BRONCOS » An improbable story got better when the Broncos upended the Patriots on Sunday. But we're still suspicious. This group was supposed to be among NFL's worst. With a killer schedule coming up, 5-0 can turn into 5-3 in a hurry. Verdict » Pretender GIANTS » Already have championship pedigree. Quarterback Eli Manning showed grit playing hurt Sunday. Schedule has been soft, but the Giants (5-0) are taking care of...

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Marshall winning over the Mile High fans

Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall has gone from team cancer to a civic institution in the Mile High city in, oh, about six weeks. Let's be honest -- fans are real easy. A 5-0 start with 24 receptions and four touchdowns is really all it takes to make them forget a petulant offseason filled with sulky behavior and trade demands. Another good way? Repping the city's other sports teams. After Denver's dramatic 20-17 win over the Patriots on Sunday, Marshall did all his postgame interviews wearing a Colorado Rockies jersey -- and a batting helmet to go with it. He even did one with NBC's Tiki Barber long after the game ended that was pure comedy gold. Little tip, Tiki -- we...

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Caps Second Period Update

Caps 2, Devils 1 The Devils pulled to within a goal in the second period with a nice counterattack of their own. A Brooks Laich shot from the right wing was blocked and set up a 3-on-2 the other way. A pair of crisp passes later, forward Brian Rolston whipped a shot past Theodore from the right side at 8:18. Goalie Martin Brodeur helped his New Jersey keep it that way minutes later. The Caps peppered him with five shots during a power play – Green thought he’d even scored on a one-timer in the slot from Nicklas Backstrom. But they left empty-handed and that gives the Devils a fair shot headed into the third. Washington was 0-for-2 on the power play in that period. Their...

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Caps First Period Update

Caps 2, Devils 0 The Caps have responded to a pair of losses with a very nice first period. They lead New Jersey 2-0 on goals by defenseman Mike Green – his first of the year – and forward Mike Knuble. Alex Ovechkin assisted on each. Washington scored twice on its first five shots against future Hall-of-Famer Martin Brodeur. The Caps are generating a good forecheck and have kept mistakes to a minimum. Give credit to Jose Theodore on Knuble’s goal at 14:16 of the period. He made a sweet kick save when the Devils had numbers on a broken play and that directly led to a counterattack up ice. Ovechkin was on the left wing and found Knuble streaking towards the goal on the...

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Caps Game Night

Game #6 The Caps (2-2-1, five points) return home to Verizon Center to play the New Jersey Devils (2-2, four points) on Monday night. They looked better Saturday at Detroit, but still gave up a third-period power-play goal with about seven minutes to go and lost to the Red Wings, 3-2. That came on the heels of an awful 4-3 loss at home to the Rangers last Thursday when Washington gave up a pair of bad third-period goals. The penalty kill needs to be better. But the Caps can't afford to keep taking dumb penalties, either. Put yourself in that spot enough times and any good power play will take advantage. Meanwhile, New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur has beaten Washington 33 times in 49...

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Caps lick their wounds

Writing to you from George Bush International Airport in Houston, where i have a wedding this weekend. Won't see a minute of the Red Wings game Saturday unfortunately, but I have the Tivo on duty. Should be a good one along the lines of Tuesday's wild 6-5 overtime loss to Philly. While I have the time, figured I'd take one last look back at Thursday's disappointing loss to the Rangers. Bruce Boudreau was asked why his team is struggling to keep the puck out of its own net - are the goalies that bad? Is the "D" just not getting the job done? His extended answer was telling. "I think it has to be a combination of the two. A combination of three really – the forwards...

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Top 10 notable DeMatha alumni

Adrian Dantley, Basketball, 1973 » A two-time All-America at Notre Dame, a gold-medal winner at the Montreal Olympics in 1976 and a Basketball Hall-of-Famer after a 15-year NBA career. Six-time All-Star led the league in scoring twice. Cover Story A culture of winning Rick Snider » For Wootten, it's a wonderful view Falcons challenge Stags, again Top 10 notable DeMatha alumni Danny Ferry, Basketball, 1985 » Played in three Final Fours at Duke, where he was named All-America and won the Naismith Award as a senior. Had a 14-year pro career and now is general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Brian Westbrook, Football, 1997 » Star running back at Villanova,...

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Caps struggle again in 3rd period, fall to Rangers, 4-3

A fluke goal swung the momentum and, for a few minutes at least, the Capitals were on the way to another victory. But in what has become a worrisome trend early this season, a third-period lead disappeared thanks to defensive breakdowns and shaky goaltending. So instead of leaving Verizon Center with their third win in four games, a pair of quick goals by New York Rangers forward Marian Gaborik left Washington on the losing end of a 4-3 score. The Caps have now allowed 14 goals over the last eight periods of hockey. That’s an unacceptable rate for a team that fancies itself a contender in the Eastern Conference. The 2-1-1 record may be fine for now. But other than an opening night...

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Rangers 4, Caps 3

Not a good night at Verizon Center after a 4-3 Rangers' win. Caps coach Bruce Boudreau had some strong words for his players during the postgame press conference. When asked if his offensively-gifted team allows that skill to get in the way of their committment at the other end of the ice, Boudreau reacted. "It shouldn’t. Because that’s all we talk about. We don’t talk about offense. We talk about defense. And play without the puck. And the guys that are making mistakes are not first year guys. They’re guys that have been in the league 10 years – [or] five years, six years. And it’s been what they’re jobs are. They know what they’re...

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So far, so good for Ovie, Caps

Washington off to a hot start on offense The first week of the NHL season went about as well as could be expected for the Capitals. They are 2-0-1 and gained points out of tough locations in Boston and Philadelphia. Both of those teams are expected to be Stanley Cup contenders in 2009-10. Star forward Alex Ovechkin has scored five goals already and teammate Alex Semin is right behind him with four. Center Nicklas Backstrom has reaped the benefits with eight assists. That trio hasn't always played together in the past simply because they sometimes abandon all defensive principles. But their chemistry is undeniable and the three are playing like they don't ever want to be broken up as a...

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MLB Division Series story lines

AL CAPSULES New York Yankees Record » 103-59 Manager » Joe Girardi How they got here » AL East champ The skinny » No stadium, much less their new bandbox, can contain the Yankees' power. As a team, New York slugged 244 home runs, including 39 from offseason acquisition Mark Teixeira. Minnesota Twins Record » 87-76 Manager » Ron Gardenhire How they got here » AL Central champ The skinny » Even without Justin Morneau, the Twins went 16-4 down the stretch to catch the faltering Tigers and subsequently pass them in a one-game playoff. Leading the offense is likely AL MVP Joe Mauer. The Minnesota catcher led the majors with a .365...

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Caps postgame notes

Tough night for Caps rookie goalie Semyon Varlamov, who was pulled in the second period of a 6-5 overtime loss to Philadelphia. Bruce Boudreau offered his thoughts when asked if Washington's defensemen were struggling to clear Flyers out from the front of Varlamov's crease. "Well, I don’t think it had a lot to do with that. I thought there were some soft goals in there. Varly’s got to be mentally tougher to play. The one thing that’s reared – for want of a better term – it’s ugly head is they score in bunches on him. He can be fabulous for two periods and then Buffalo scores three in the third. He can be great against the Leafs and then they get...

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Caps fall short against Flyers

Philly wins in wild home opener, 6-5 PHILADELPHIA - If every game is like this, the race for the NHL Eastern Conference title is going to be a wild, combustible ride. The Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers combined for a head-spinning seven goals in the second period alone during a contest neither team seemed intent on winning. Caps notes » The Capitals and Flyers combined for 17 penalties during Tuesday night’s game. Philadelphia was 3-for-8 on the power play. Washington was 1-for-5. » Caps F Alex Ovechkin registered his fifth goal in three games. Last year, it took the two-time MVP until Nov. 14 to reach that mark. Teammate Alex Semin also scored twice. He has...

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Caps 1st Period Update

Caps 0, Flyers 0 Good chances for both sides during a scoreless first period. The Caps had 14 shots and three power plays. The Flyers had 11 shots and one power play. Goalie Ray Emery has been solid for Philadelphia . Washington has tried to move the puck around only to find Emery in good position almost every time. Made a nice stop in the slot on Caps F Mike Knuble and a better one on the follow-up rebound. Stop us if you've heard this one before - Caps need more traffic in front. Emery has rarely had someone in his face - other than Caps F Chris Clark's goalie interference...

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Caps Game Night

Game #3 Capitals (2-0) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (2-0) Getting set for yet another home opener - this time at Wachovia Center when the Flyers host the Caps. The two teams split four meetings last season - although a shootout loss gave the Flyers an extra point. Philadelphia has upped the ante by acquiring defenseman Chris Pronger from the Ducks in the offseason. The last two teams he's played for have reached the Stanley Cup finals. The Flyers certainly look like a contender to get there, too. Pronger and Caps F Alex Ovechkin have had their battles over the years. Ovechkin consistently found ways to score against Anaheim. We'll see how he does tonight with Pronger targeting him...

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Knuble unsure of fan reaction in Philadelphia

Former Flyer faces his old team for first time Will they cheer or will they boo? Capitals forward Mike Knuble will not know for sure until Tuesday night when his new team squares off with his old one, the Philadelphia Flyers. Knuble, 37, spent four years in Philadelphia, scoring 114 goals during that time, including 27 last year. He had hoped to work out a new contract with the Flyers last summer, but they had salary-cap issues and needed to give younger players some of that precious ice time. A one-year deal was doable. A multi-year contract wasn't in the cards. Instead, Knuble signed a free-agent deal with Washington for two years. He may hear a bit about that decision from the...

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Offseason looms large for Nats

A year has passed and the broad goals are no different for the Nationals as their offseason begins Monday. The organization that earlier this season became the poster child for dysfunction in Major League Baseball must find a way to shake off its second consecutive year with more than 100 losses. There will be one major difference this winter, however. In August, the Nats appointed Mike Rizzo the permanent general manager. He will be the point man for a host of offseason moves — hiring a field manager and coaching staff, retooling a disjointed front office and adding as much talent as possible to baseball’s worst club. “We’re definitely not satisfied with the way...

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Capitals hold off Toronto, 6-4, in home opener

The crowd roared from the very start, any memories of last year’s Game 7 home playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins drowned by the sheer noise at Verizon Center on Saturday night. It’s a new season for the Capitals and another chance at a Stanley Cup. And while the old issue of protecting leads reared its ugly head, it was at least a lesson cheaply learned Washington scored three times on its first seven shots in the first period – including, of course, one by star left wing Alex Ovechkin –built a five-goal advantage and then held on for a 6-4 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Alexander Semin scored twice for the Caps, who received goals from five...

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Just like old times for Caps' Varlamov

It did not take long for the memories to come racing back. Capitals goalie Semyon Varlamov felt the adrenaline course through his veins as soon as he skated onto the ice for warm-ups during Saturday night’s home opener at Verizon Center. It was just about five months ago that he was dropped into the postseason fire as Washington turned to the 21-year-old rookie in the middle of its Stanley Cup playoff run. The noise. The sea of red jerseys and t-shirts. It was a familiar scene for Varlamov, who was making his first start of the new season. Call it a good beginning with a shaky finish – but not all of the late struggles can fall on Varlamov, who finished with 27 saves on 31...

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Caps 6, Toronto 4

That's the final from Verizon Center, where the Caps looked great for 40 minutes and then had the inevitable letdown over the final 20. It was 6-1 entering the third period when the Maple Leafs scored three times. Check out our website in a few minutes for my game story, where several players give their thoughts on that issue, which plagued Washington at times last season. Also have a web story up soon on rookie goalie Semyon Varlamov, who played like his 2009 playoff self through the first two periods before allowing three goals in the third. None of those were really his fault. The play of the defensemen in front of him slipped a bit. Maybe that's understandable up five goals. But still...

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Caps 2nd Period Update

Caps 6, Maple Leafs 1 "Boy, that escalated quickly. I mean, that got out of hand fast." I'm going with the classic quote from the movie Anchorman to describe that period. The Caps did whatever they wanted. Not even a goalie change could save the Leafs. Alex Semin scored twice and probably could have had another. Brendan Morrison also scored his first goal as a Cap with a sweet backhand on a breakaway. Toronto coach Ron Wilson might need to go back to the drawing board the next time these two teams play. The Caps are bombing passes up ice and keep slipping behind the Maple Leafs defense. Only two penalties on each team at this point. Toronto has just one shot on two power...

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Caps 1st Period Update

Caps 3, Maple Leafs 0 Well, Thursday's strong performance has continued into the home opener tonight. Caps had three goals on their first seven shots. Alex Ovechkin scored less than two minutes into the game, taking advantage of a one-on-one with Toronto D Luke Schenn, who looked all of 19-years-old on the play. Mike Knuble did exactly what the Caps pay him for - scoring from, oh, two feet in front of the net as he banged home an Ovechkin shot on the power play. Later Brooks Laich scored his third goal on a breakaway - showing he's not just a front-of-the-net presence. He's got some open ice moves, too. Credit D Milan Jurcina for his excellent outlet pass to spring Laich. Jurcina has...

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Caps Game Night

Game #2 Capitals (1-0) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (0-1) Getting set for the Caps' home opener at Verizon Center tonight. Don't expect much pomp or circumstance as the Caps raise their second straight Southeast Division championship banner in front of a sellout crowd. The players and coaches have made clear they have far bigger goals in mind this season. The banner will go up, draw a cheer and that's pretty much it. Lineups are the same as they were for Thursday's 4-1 win at Boston - save for goalie Semyon Varlamov, who gets the nod for the first time in 2009-10 in place of Jose Theodore. The Leafs have revamped themselves during the offseason as general manager Brian Burke puts his stamp...

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Top 10: Memorable baseball playoff races in divisional era

Baseball fans didn't have any memorable pennant races this season. Most division titles have been wrapped up for a while now, with the exception of the AL Central. So instead, let's look at some post-1969 races that did go down to the wire: 10. Mets vs. Reds, 1999 The two teams met in Cincinnati for a one-game playoff to determine the NL wild card. Al Leiter pitched the Mets into the postseason with a complete-game two-hitter. The Reds didn't advance a runner even as far as second base until the ninth inning of a 5-0 loss. When will the Nats or O's be in a playoff race? One day we'll see a pennant race in Baltimore or Washington again -- just not any time soon. The last pennant race...

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Friday Caps Notes

The mood was light out at the Iceplex on Friday. After a long flight home from Boston – mechanical trouble, of course – the Caps pushed practice back to noon and kept things simple during a 45-minute skate. No reason to push it with the home opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs set for Saturday night. Some topics of interest… » The Caps scored twice on the power play in that impressive 4-1 win at Boston, making the Bruins pay for some questionable penalties. Star defenseman Zdeno Chara took one when he leveled Alex Ovechkin as the second period expired. Ovechkin had just done the same to Boston forward Mark Recchi, a clean hit that still drew the ire of the...

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More on former Caps prospect Chris Bourque

Here’s more on the Caps as we get ready for some real hockey tomorrow night when the season begins in Boston. There’s no other way to describe it - practice ended on a bummer when the team learned forward Chris Bourque was claimed on waivers by the Penguins, of all teams. For the first month of the season, waivers is based on last year’s regular-season standings. That means 22 teams passed on Bourque before Pittsburgh claimed him. The Caps receive nothing for their loss, obviously. It could be argued that this isn’t a huge deal. Bourque will always be limited by his size at 5-foot-8, 181-pounds. He was almost certainly going on waivers within the next few weeks...

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Caps begin Cup quest

Bourque claimed off waivers by Penguins The roster decisions are over for now, the preseason already a distant memory. It's time to play hockey games that actually count -- a moment the Capitals have been waiting for since last spring's heartbreaking end in the second round of the NHL playoffs. Washington opens a season of high expectations on Thursday night in Boston against the Bruins. There are familiar young stars (two-time MVP Alex Ovechkin, defenseman Mike Green, center Nicklas Backstrom), a pair of new additions (center Brendan Morrison and right wing Mike Knuble) and a holdover whom the team tried desperately to drop, but in the end couldn't find a new home for (forward Michael...

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Caps lose Chris Bourque to Penguins

Capitals winger Chris Bourque was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday. It was an ironic end in Washington for a player who finally made the Caps out of training camp - only to be placed on waivers a day later because the team was less than $77,500 over the NHL salary cap. It didn't help that the Caps have yet to find a new spot for forward Michael Nylander and his $4.875 cap hit. The Caps have replaced Bourque on the fourth line with AHL callup Boyd Kane, who makes $500,000. That was the difference between giving a 23-year-old prospect who has produced at the AHL level (73 points last season) a chance and losing him for nothing. Kane is a 31-year-old journeyman who...

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Nylander remains on the roster on eve of season opener

Bourque thrown curve, is placed on waivers The Capitals took their team photo on Tuesday morning at Verizon Center, showing off a group it believes can contend for the Stanley Cup. Standing along with his teammates, a half smile frozen in place, was veteran center Michael Nylander -- an unlikely presence as the NHL season gets set to begin Thursday. For months Washington has tried to find a new home for Nylander, who was a healthy scratch in 11 of 14 playoff games last spring. At $4.875 million, he has the third highest salary-cap hit of any Caps player. But no realistic option to move Nylander had materialized as of Tuesday evening. So despite not playing in a single preseason game,...

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Making the team just the beginning for Bourque, Sloan

Capitals forward Chris Bourque spent much of his Monday morning avoiding his own coach, Bruce Boudreau. With just two days left until final NHL rosters must be submitted, no one could blame Bourque for seeking refuge from team officials. After all, the 23-year-old was one of the last players cut from last fall's camp. But he needn't worry. Bourque was one of three Caps told they will be on the roster when the season opens Thursday at Boston. "I have to prove to them that they made the right decision. It's up to me now," Bourque said. "They're giving me a chance and I've just got to capitalize on that chance and hopefully I do." Bourque returns home to Boston, where...

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Project Capitals

The Caps needed Heidi Klum out at Kettler Iceplex on Monday morning as they told players on the roster bubble who was in and who was out. Here's an analysis of who made it and why. In… » Chris Bourque was a question mark after a mild concussion last week against the Buffalo Sabres and then missing two preseason games. Instead, he returned to the lineup, scored a goal Sunday and made the cut. Will be an energy player on third or fourth line. But he must produce with Eric Fehr (shoulder) just a few weeks away. » Caps coach Bruce Boudreau called Tyler Sloan the team’s best defenseman in camp. His salary-cap friendly contract also helped as did the need to get...

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More Caps news and notes

More news and notes from Kettler Iceplex, where the Caps had a morning practice soon after making another round of roster cuts. In an earlier post we noted that defenseman Tyler Sloan and forwards Chris Bourque and Quintin Laing will be on the final roster – which must be submitted to the NHL by 3 p.m. on Wednesday. Left off? Center Keith Aucoin and forwards Alexandre Giroux and Brandon Sugden along with defenseman Karl Alzner, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2007 draft who joins fellow top prospect John Carlson at AHL Hershey. Sugden and Alzner did not have to clear waivers. » No word yet on the status of center Michael Nylander, who is still with the team as of Monday...

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Caps make their roster decisions

The Caps have made their final training camp cuts with 23-year-old forward Chris Bourque finally cracking the official 23-man roster along with defenseman Tyler Sloan and forward Quintin Laing. Caps coach Bruce Boudreau confirmed the move moments ago after practice at Kettler Capitals Iceplex. Obviously, forwards Eric Fehr (shoulder) and Tomas Fleischmann (blood clot) will both be ready some time in October so Laing and Bourque especially have some work to do to stick around. But neither one cares about that right now. They'll be on the team plane to Boston for the season-opener against the Bruins on Thursday night and both wore huge smiles on their faces as they headed out for a day of...

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Postgame notes from Caps/Blackhawks

Well, that was impressive. The Caps whipped Chicago 6-2 in their fourth preseason game on Wednesday night. Alex Ovechkin had two goals. More important, forward Mike Knuble banged home a pair as well in the first period. There's no question Washington's already-potent power play takes on an added dimension with the 6-foot-3, 230-pounder parking himself in front of the net. Caps coach Bruce Boudreau dished out some effusive praise for Knuble afterwards. “Mike is a meat-and-potatoes guy and coaches love guys like that - and with a scoring touch. He goes to the net. It's an element I think other than [Ovechkin] we really didn't have last year. A guy that just loves to go to the front...

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Caps rock Blackhawks in preseason tune-up, 6-2

Ovechkin, Knuble notch pair of goals for Washington There are just two tune-up games left for the Capitals until the NHL’s regular season begins. But so far, so good after Wednesday’s night decisive 6-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at Verizon Center. Forward Mike Knuble scored a pair of goals in the first period and forward Alex Ovechkin added two easy tallies early in the second as Washington cruised to the victory. Goalie Semyon Varlamov, last year’s postseason hero, finished with 26 saves on 28 shots as he went the distance in a solid performance. The 21-year-old Russian continues to fight for the No. 1 job with Jose Theodore while also holding off fellow rookie...

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Olie Kolzig interview

Getting ready for the opening faceoff here at Verizon Center as the Caps play the Chicago Blackhawks in preseason game #4. Only two left after tonight so players on the roster bubble are running out of chances. Check back after the game for analysis - who played well, who hurt their chances, how the goalies looked etc. - as well as postgame quotes from players and coaches. Also, check the website during the game. Wrote a print story on the retirement of longtime Caps goalie Olie Kolzig. It was too late to make deadline for the deadtree edition, but I spoke with Kolzig this afternoon and will post a web story in a bit with his comments added. Sounds like his mind was made up early in the...

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Kolzig announces his retirement

Goalie was 17-year NHL vet and holds Caps record for wins It came as no surprise when longtime Capitals goalie Olie Kolzig announced his retirement on Wednesday. The 39-year-old had fought through a painful hip injury for the better part of two years and realized this summer that it was time to call it quits. Kolzig was the face of the Caps’ franchise for a decade starting in 1997 when he finally became the full-time starter after eight years bouncing between the minors and the NHL. He was a two-time All-Star, won the Vezina Trophy in 2000 as the league’s top netminder and led the Caps to their only Stanley Cup finals appearance in 1998. It wasn’t a Hall-of-Fame...

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Green embraces celeb status on and off ice

Defenseman to appear on ‘MTV Cribs’ episode Capitals defenseman Mike Green has officially made the leap. No, he hasn’t reached the cultural heights of teammate Alex Ovechkin. A public appearance by Green will draw a crowd, not a mob scene. But he is young — still just 23 for a few more days — with an interest in cars, design, fashion and music. He is also one of the NHL’s elite scoring defensemen with 31 goals last season and 73 points. And it is that flair — both on and off the ice — that makes him a popular figure in areas far beyond Washington, D.C. Earlier this month, Green even filmed an episode of “MTV Cribs,” a program...

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Going in opposite directions: Dodgers club Nats, 14-2

Nats worst MLB record, Dodgers eye playoffs One team is trying to wrap up a division title. The other has nothing on the line except jobs for next season. That was exactly how things looked at Nationals Park on Tuesday night. The Los Angeles Dodgers, in first place in the National League West and well on their way to a second consecutive postseason berth, used a seven-run fourth inning to blow out the Nationals, 14-2. Four different Dodgers batters -- including former National Ronnie Belliard, traded to Los Angeles on Aug. 30 -- recorded multi-hit games. Washington starter Livan Hernandez had his worst outing since signing with the club on Aug. 26, allowing eight earned runs in 3 2/3...

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More from Caps-Sabres

More notes from the Caps preseason home opener - a 2-1 loss to Buffalo - along with a link to the game story in the Examiner's print edition. http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/sports/Capitals-stars-return-to-ice-fall-to-Sabres-2-1.html Jose Theodore, G Team's No. 1 goalie gave up two goals in 11 seconds, but otherwise stopped 19 of 21 Buffalo shots. There were few great chances for the Sabres so Theodore basically made the saves he needed to. The first goal was a deflection by forward Drew Stafford on a point shot. The second took a weird bounce in front and was chopped home by Patrick Kaleta. Defenseman Karl Alzner took the fall for that one. All in all, a good night for Theodore. The...

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Caps fall 2-1 in preseason home opener

It was a disjointed effort for the Capitals during Monday night's 2-1 preseason loss to the Buffalo Sabres. The Caps were 0-for-5 on the power play - to be expected considering the units were a mishmash of veterans and roster hopefuls. But their effort was a little flat and an ugly minute in the second period led to two Buffalo goals 11 seconds apart. Defenseman Karl Alzner is trying to fight his way onto the roster. And while he had his moments on Monday he was also a -2. He was paired with fellow defenseman Mike Green for the first time this preseason and that unfamiliarity showed at times. Alzner spent a lot of time backing up when Green made his patented rushes up ice. "Yeah,...

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Capitals' stars return to ice, fall to Sabres, 2-1

The stars returned to the ice Monday night at Verizon Center. Two-time NHL Most Valuable Player Alex Ovechkin was at his usual left wing spot for the Capitals. Defenseman Mike Green and right wing Alex Semin also were alongside for their first preseason action of the season as Washington played its third exhibition game and first at home. But the stars didn't really matter much against the Buffalo Sabres. Their status is secure. With time dwindling to impress Washington's coaching staff and front office, names like Karl Alzner, John Carlson, Chris Bourque, Keith Aucoin, Alexandre Giroux and Jay Beagle are under the microscope as they battle for the final few roster spots. The Caps...

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Ovechkin takes the ice tonight

Caps trim roster to 42, host Sabres at Verizon Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin will make his first appearance of the preseason tonight when his team hosts the Buffalo Sabres at Verizon Center at 7 p.m. Teammate Alex Semin also will see ice time and goalie Jose Theodore is expected to get his first start. None of the three played during Washington’s first two preseason contests — a 4-3 overtime win last Thursday against Buffalo and another 3-2 overtime win on Saturday night against Chicago. Meanwhile, the Caps have trimmed the training camp roster down to 42 players with just one week left before the final 23-man roster must be submitted to the NHL. There were no notable...

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Fearless Forecast for week of 9/20/09

EVENTS TO WATCH MLB » Dodgers at Nationals, Thursday, 7:05 p.m., MASN HD Nats have an outside shot at continuing a dubious streak. Each of last two seasons the Phillies have clinched an NL East division title vs. Washington. Even with nine games left after leaving the District, Joe Torre’s Dodgers could also be in position to clinch N.L. West by the series finale. NFL » Giants at Cowboys, Sunday, 8 p.m., NBC Lots of big story lines in Big D, but the biggest is the coming out party for new Cowboys Stadium. It’s so big it could have its own zip code. We also hear it has a pretty nice television set. NCAA men’s soccer » North Carolina at Maryland,...

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Don't forget about Nats pitcher Detwiler

Lost amidst the hoopla of the Nationals signing top draft pick Stephen Strasburg last month and the elbow injury to talented rookie pitcher Jordan Zimmermann are the future prospects of former first-round pick Ross Detwiler. Chosen fifth overall in 2007, the 23-year-old Detwiler signed quickly with Washington and was supposed to move fast through the farm system. Command problems hampered him during his first full pro season in 2008 at Single-A Potomac (8-8, 4.86 ERA). But the 6-foot-5, 185-pound left-hander made some adjustments late in the year and carried them into 2009, where he made six fine starts at Double-A Harrisburg and earned a trip to the majors. Detwiler started 10 games...

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Theodore No. 1 goalie, for now

Veteran will be pushed by Varlamov, Neuvirth Capitals goalie Jose Theodore watched most of last season's two playoff series from the bench. One shaky performance against the New York Rangers in the first round was all it took for the Caps to turn to promising rookie Semyon Varlamov. But anyone expecting Varlamov to parlay his fabulous postseason performance into a starting gig right away was surprised when Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau opened camp by naming Theodore the team's No. 1 goalie. Boudreau has seen enough hockey over the years to know one brilliant spring isn't guaranteed to carry over into the following season -- even for a 21-year-old who looks like the organization's...

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Nats' 2010 schedule released

The Nationals released their 2010 schedule on Tuesday afternoon. The interleague opponents this time are from the American League Central – meaning President Obama’s beloved Chicago White Sox visit the District on June 18-20. You can, of course, expect na presidential appearance at Nationals Park that week - barring any scheduled overseas trips. Think the players aren’t excited about the schedule from mid-June through the mid-July? Starting with that June 18th series against the White Sox until July 16th when its begins a road trip to start the second half of the season, Washington will play three true road games. That stretch includes 16 homes games, three...

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Bourque tries to grab spot on Caps after great year in Hershey

Capitals forward Chris Bourque entered training camp knowing there was at least one spot available on the opening night roster. A blood clot that will keep forward Tomas Fleischmann out until at least the middle of October has opened up another -- for now. That's not the way Bourque wants to make it. But life on the NHL roster bubble means taking advantage of any opportunity. The 23-year-old is already entering his fifth full pro season. He was one of the last cuts from training camp last season and put together a terrific year in the minor leagues at AHL Hershey -- 21 goals, 52 assists and 73 points. Now, Bourque is ready for more. "Sometimes that's what it takes to open a spot up...

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Bourque on the brink

Have a story coming in tomorrow's Examiner on Capitals prospect Chris Bourque. The 23-year-old is again fighting for a roster spot. At 5-foot-8, 181 pounds, he is noticably stronger in the early days of training camp and with both F Tomas Fleischmann (blood clot) and Eric Fehr (shoulder surgery) still working their way back into shape, Bourque has a good shot at sticking. He put together a fine camp last fall, but was one of the last player's cut. He then responded with 73 points at AHL Hershey and another 21 in the playoffs en route to a Calder Cup title. Bourque even played eight games with the Caps during the season, recording his first NHL goal. Washington coach Bruce Boudreau...

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Nylander, Caps are coexisting for now

Fleischmann out for at least one month Capitals forward Michael Nylander said on Sunday that his representatives are not negotiating a new contract with clubs in Europe. Caps general manager George McPhee made that claim at the team’s Media Day on Saturday, which marked the start of training camp. But Nylander, a 36-year-old center, says he is here to play hockey. “No,” Nylander said when he was asked if a deal with a European club was in the works. “I’m coming here with the intention to play for the Capitals. I have two years left on my deal.” And that’s the crux of the matter. Nylander played in 72 games last year at center for the Caps, but...

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Nylanders' quotes

Capitals forward Michael Nylander said on Sunday that his agent is not negotiating a new contract with clubs in Europe. Caps general manager George McPhee made that claim at the team’s Media Day on Saturday, which marked the start of training camp. But Nylander, a 36-year-old center, insists he is here to play hockey. And that, really, is the crux of the matter. Nylander played in 72 games last year at center for the Caps, but appeared in just two playoff games before becoming a consistent healthy scratch. His salary-cap hit is $4.875 million this year and next year. And that money is a burden to a team that will be close to the NHL’s salary-cap ceiling – especially if...

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Caps' Fleischmann to miss start of season with blood clot

Caps forward Tomas Fleischmann has been diagnosed with a blood clot, according to team officials, and is out until at least mid-October. The 25-year-old forward is taking blood thinners and not allowed to participate in any contact drills. Fleischmann was in the mix for a second-line forward spot. But his absence gives a little extra hope to players who entered training camp on the roster bubble – especially wingers Chris Bourque and Alexandre Giroux. Fleischmann had a career high 19 goals last season and added 18 assists in 2008-09. He apparently suffered the clot – known as deep vein thrombosis – on an airplane flight. If left untreated, such clots can travel to the...

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Fehr back on the ice

Forward Eric Fehr was on the ice in a non-contact jersey for the first Capitals practice of training camp. Fehr had double shoulder surgery during the summer. "It's kind of just day-by-day. But I have a feeling it's going to be about two weeks before I can start full contact," Fehr said. "But it could change. I'm feeling pretty good right now. We'll see how it goes." Fehr added that while he feels like he's in good shape it's still unclear if he will be ready for the Caps' first game of the season on Oct. 1 against Boston. The 24-year-old had a career high 12 goals and 13 assists last season. But injuries have long been a concern. He played just 61 games in...

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Caps training camp underway

Capitals training camp is officially underway at Kettler Capitals Iceplex. The first group is out on the ice now with two more to come. Forward Michael Nylander is here, according to a team spokesman. He is expected to skate this afternoon during the team’s 2:15 p.m. practice and later speak with the media. Meanwhile, forward Tomas Fleischmann is not expected to participate today. Not sure the extent of Fleischmann’s injury. Will get an update later this...

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Top 10: Worst area baseball teams

You want bad baseball? The Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area can give it to you. The Orioles and Nats have combined for 370 losses the last two seasons. Both cities have seen worse, though. Here are 10 teams that made the Mid-Atlantic region hang its head in shame. 10. 2009 Orioles (56-83) This is harsh. But 14 of Baltimore’s last 23 games are against the Yankees, Red Sox and Tampa Bay. The O’s entered the weekend 5-25 against Boston and New York and 10-30 against those three teams overall. Yikes! Even with games against Toronto (six) and Cleveland (three), we’re not sure they can reach 67 wins. 9. 1961 Senators (61-100) MLB: “Hey, sorry about those 22 losing...

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Capitals preseason outlook

STORY LINES 1. Going for Gold » Aside from the regular season, NHL players also are gearing up for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The league will take a three-week break in February and early March so its elite players can compete. The Caps will be more affected than most. As many as eight players could be headed to Canada to represent six different countries, including star wingers Alex Ovechkin and Alex Semin (Russia). The travel will be minimal, which is nice. But how much gas will be left in the tank for the stretch run when everyone gets back? 2. Fight On » When heavyweight Donald Brashear took his fists to New York during the offseason the Caps were left without an...

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Media Day at Capitals training camp

Ready or not, the 2009-10 NHL season is less than three weeks away. The Capitals open on Oct. 1 in Boston against the Bruins. In the meantime, Saturday afternoon was Media Day at Kettler Capitals Iceplex – a morning for players to undergo physicals and have photos taken. The Caps officially open training camp on Sunday in preparation for another season of high expectations. Washington, of course, lost a seven-game series to the Pittsburgh Penguins last May in the Eastern Conference semifinals – the team that eventually won the Stanley Cup. One issue facing the organization is the status of veteran center Michael Nylander. The 36-year-old did report to Kettler on Saturday. What...

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Ian Desmond makes big league debut for Nats

The Nationals' minor-league system certainly looks more flush than it did at this time last year. With top draft picks Stephen Strasburg and Drew Storen on board, the club can put together a top 10 list with a decent number of legitimate major-league prospects. One of them is SS Ian Desmond, who is now in his sixth pro season since the Nats drafted him out of high school in 2004. Still just 23 - for a few more days at least - Desmond was slowly slipping off the prospect radar. But despite missing a month early in the season with a wrist injury, he has rebounded and put himself in contention for a big-league spot next season. Desmond hit .354 in 178 at-bats at Triple-A Syracuse. He also...

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Lineups from Nationals Park

The Nats get set for game No. 2 against the Phillies tonight at Nationals Park. Hometown kid Justin Maxwell gets the start in CF while Josh Bard moves back into the lineup at catcher. Starter Garrett Mock must find some way to navigate through Philadelphia's potent lineup. The 26-year-old had a strong August and put himself in the mix for a starting job next season. But he has to rebound from an ugly three-inning, six-run effort against the Marlins last week. If Mock could find some way to get Phillies OF Raul Ibanez out that would be an added bonus. No one on Washington's pitching staff has done that yet. A lot of people made fun of Philadelphia's front office when they let OF Pat...

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Phillies' solo homers sting Nats

Pedro Martinez has another strong start It happens every September. The Phillies travel down I-95 with a winning record and a caravan of fans, grab a couple of wins from the Nationals and leave town a step closer to a National League East championship. Gunning for its third straight division title, Philadelphia blasted three solo home runs in the top of the seventh inning en route to a 5-3 victory over the Nats on Tuesday night. Washington starter John Lannan was the victim this time. He had allowed just three hits and two walks and recorded 12 ground-ball outs entering the seventh, shackling the defending world champs. But in a span of four batters, Jayson Werth, Raul Ibanez and...

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Best move of '09: Locking up Zim

Nats third baseman has 28 homers, 93 RBI The most important moment of the Nationals' season did not happen on the field. It came, instead, at the negotiating table. But not in August when top draft pick Stephen Strasburg signed with the club just seconds before it lost his rights. That was an important night, but Strasburg -- as talented as any pitching prospect this decade -- still is all potential. He has yet to throw a professional pitch. No, the critical moment happened back in April when -- with the stroke of a pen -- Washington locked up third baseman Ryan Zimmerman to a five-year, $45 million extension. Zimmerman could have held off, taken a huge raise in arbitration this...

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Ryan Zimmerman does it again

Down two runs going into the ninth inning, the Nats were headed for their ninth loss in a row on Sunday afternoon against the Florida Marlins. Then Willie Harris homered, Cristian Guzman beat out an infield single on a bad foot and Ryan Zimmerman belted a two-run homer of his own - yet another game winner from the undisputed Face of the Franchise. Just like that, fans left Nationals Park smiling thanks to an improbably 5-4 victory. Zimmerman has done this before - many times. It was his fifth walk-off homer and the ninth walk-off hit of his career. Zimmerman now has 28 home runs - a career high - and 93 RBI. He is 17 shy of his career high in that category with a little over three weeks...

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Decision time looming for the Nats

The Nationals have decisions to make — big and small — over the next several weeks. Has interim manager done enough to earn a full season in that spot? How will general manager Mike Rizzo revamp the front office? But most important, who makes the starting rotation next year? That adds a little juice to the final month of the season as veteran Livan Hernandez makes a push to return in 2010. Rizzo has said repeatedly his team needs a veteran starter. Too often this season the Nats' inexperience in the rotation has cost them. Of course, the chances of Washington landing an elite free-agent pitcher are remote — even if the team was inclined to make a run at one of the few...

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Fearless Forecast, 9/6/09

Events to watch MLB » Braves at Cardinals, Saturday, Fox, 4 p.m. Maybe the two best pitching staffs in MLB. Tim Hudson’s return from Tommy John surgery gives Atlanta yet another quality arm. Meanwhile, Joel Pineiro (3.19 ERA) has been excellent — even if teammates Adam Wainwright (2.47) and Chris Carpenter (2.28) have been better. NCAA Football » USC at Ohio State, Saturday, ESPN, 8 p.m. A rematch of last year’s early-season game in Los Angeles. It was no contest then as the Pac 10’s best ripped Ohio State, 35-3. Maybe the Buckeyes can earn some revenge at home. USC will start true freshman Matt Barkley at quarterback. MLB » Dodgers at...

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A quick lesson for Nats' Strasburg

We had our first Stephen Strasburg media blowup earlier this week. The Nationals’ No. 1 draft pick was confused and a little annoyed that a handful of reporters showed up for his first workout at the team’s spring training complex in Florida. No big deal. Just a 21-year-old kid getting used to the attention that comes with being pinned a phenom. But his ornery remarks to the assembled reporters led to columns chastising Strasburg and others defending him. This isn’t the first time Strasburg has been miffed at the media. During his very first conference call, he sniped at a reporter from the New York Times who asked if there was anything to learn from elite pitching...

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Wicks' outburst costs United in U.S. Open Cup final

Their slogan entering the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final was “We win Trophies.” That is not bragging. It has been true throughout the 14-year existence of D.C. United. But on Wednesday night at RFK Stadium a chance to add to their historic collection was lost. Goalkeeper Josh Wicks spent much of the first half saving United with one remarkable stop after another against Seattle Sounders FC. But during the second half of a scoreless game, a momentary lapse in judgment turned a bad play — Seattle’s first goal — into a disaster. Wicks intentionally stomped on the chest of forward Fredy Montero after the 22-year-old Columbian slammed a loose rebound into the...

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Fearless Forecast 08/30/09

What to watch U.S. Open Tennis, All Week, USA » One of the signs summer is slipping away - late-night tennis at the U.S. Open. Even casual fans can find themselves drawn in by the rambunctious atmosphere at Arthur Ashe Stadium as the top seeds try to deal with the heat, the disorderly NYC crowd, and upset-minded challengers. South Carolina at North Carolina State, Thursday, ESPN » In last year's season opener, the Gamecocks threw four interceptions and still stomped the Wolfpack, 34-0. So it's not that we think this is a great matchup (it isn't) or that we're dying to see these two teams again (we aren't). We just miss college football. It's good to see you again, old...

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MacDougal making most of role as Nats closer

Pitcher has a 1.98 ERA in 37 games this season The high point for Nationals relief pitcher Mike MacDougal came in the same city where he began the 2009 season. Back in April, the 32-year-old experienced the bad side of baseball after allowing six earned runs in five games with the Chicago White Sox. MacDougal's control, which has disappeared on him so often during his nine-year career, was gone again. He walked seven batters in 4 1/3 innings and was unceremoniously cut. MacDougal couldn't know that four months later he'd be back in Chicago -- but this time at Wrigley Field against the Cubs and now as a closer, not some mop-up man just hoping to keep a gig. That's the life of a relief...

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Nats' Morgan lost for the season

Nats Town - where even a series victory brings bad news. The Nationals took two of three games from the Cubs at Wrigley Field after a 5-4 win on a blustery Thursday afternoon in the Windy City. Afterwards, they learned that center fielder Nyjer Morgan is out for the season with a broken left hand. The injury occured in the first inning. Morgan singled, stole second base and then stole third. As he often does, Morgan slid - hard - headfirst into the bag at third. But his hand slammed against the stationary base. Morgan left the game after that half inning. Willie Harris will take his place in the starting lineup and the Nats will add a player on Friday for the weekend series in St. Louis....

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Hernandez signing helps Nats protect young pitchers

Welcome back to the District, Livan Hernandez. Now, tell us again why the Nationals needed you and your 5.47 ERA? Just a week ago the Mets deemed you expendable. Now, Washington is guaranteeing you five or six starts in September? Actually, the reason for the move is clear. The club does not want to push its young pitchers too far past their career innings mark - which studies have shown can do serious damage to inexperienced arms. This is a team, after all, that just lost 23-year-old Jordan Zimmermann - the best prospect they have not named Strasburg - to Tommy John surgery last month after he tore ligaments in his right elbow. Caution is the key word now. And that's a problem because...

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Livan Hernandez returns to Nats

After Tuesday's 15-6 drubbing of the Cubs at Wrigley Field, the Nationals made a surprise move. Washington has signed free agent pitcher Livan Hernandez, who was cut last week by the New York Mets. Hernandez, 34, will always have a special place in D.C. baseball history. He was the man who threw the first pitch on April 14, 2005 when the Nats played their first game in the District after moving here from Montreal. He was the workhorse for that club (246.1 innings), which shocked Major League Baseball by competing for a playoff spot well into the summer. Hernandez had a 3.98 ERA in 2005. He didn't fare as well in 2006 (5.34 ERA), but retained enough value for Washington to trade him to...

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Brewers deep-six Nats, 7-1

Off the field, things took a rare turn for the positive last week for the Nationals. On the field? That’s still the same old story. Top draft choice Stephen Strasburg has been signed. Acting general manager Mike Rizzo is now in charge full time. And while all of that was welcome news to Washington’s players, none of it immediately helps their current plight. Instead – on the field, where it really counts – the Nats endured another lost homestand. Monday afternoon, Washington was drubbed by the Milwaukee Brewers, 7-1, and lost six of the seven games played at Nationals Park over the past week. It wasn’t exactly the way to build on those recent good vibes....

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Top 10 most notable top-5 D.C. draft picks

The Nats’ signing of phenom pitcher Stephen Strasburg on Monday night brought to mind other top draft picks by Washington pro sports teams. Some have worked beautifully while others quickly flamed out. We will limit the list to players picked in the top 5 overall: 10. Heath Shuler » Redskins, No. 3, 1994 Was supposed to be Redskins’ quarterback for a decade after his No. 3 selection in 1994. Instead became one of biggest busts in team history. Spent two years as part-time starter before supplanted by Gus Frerotte in 1996. Foot injury ended career before the 1998 season. Now, a U.S. congressman representing a district in western North Carolina. 9. Kwame Brown »...

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Nats ready to name Rizzo as permanent GM

The Nationals will introduce acting general manager Mike Rizzo as their permanent general manager on Thursday, according to industry sources. The move comes just 24 hours after a Yahoo Sports report claimed that the organization was poised to name Arizona Diamondbacks vice president Jerry Dipoto to the position. The other finalist for the job was Red Sox assistant general manager Jed Hoyer. Instead, Rizzo inherits the job he assumed on an interim basis when Jim Bowden resigned March 1. During that time, Rizzo has solidified the franchise's activities in the Dominican Republic, acted as the point man in negotiations with top draft pick Stephen Strasburg - who signed at the deadline on...

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Nats' GM situation still up in the air

The Nationals may be bad - but they are always interesting both on and off the field. Late Tuesday night, a Yahoo Sports report claimed that the organziation was prepared to offer its general manager job to Arizona Diamondbacks vice president Jerry DiPoto. The timing of that news was curious considering acting general manager Mike Rizzo took center stage Monday night after the long, tense negotiations with No. 1 draft pick Stephen Strasburg finally ended with a signed contract just minutes before a midnight deadline. DiPoto is a finalist for the job - along with Rizzo and Boston Red Sox assistant GM Jed Hoyer. But the organization has given no indication a decision is Imminent. The...

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Boom or bust?

For Strasburg, Nationals, the future is a crapshoot The Nationals agreed to pay $15.1 million over the next four years and in return acquired an amateur pitcher many baseball scouts see as a once-in-a-generation player. Stephen Strasburg can throw 100 mph. He has a devastating curveball that leaves batters flailing. He is tall -- 6-foot-4 -- and strong, with a work ethic that in three years whittled a pudgy teenager who could barely run sprints into a young man who can still throw in the high 90's deep into games. That's the legend of Strasburg, who signed his first pro contract with the Nats just 77 seconds before the team would have lost his rights Monday night. Now, here is the...

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More on the Strasburg signing

It was a wild night at Nationals Park - and, no, they weren't playing baseball. Instead, the entire front office was huddled in the third-floor offices finalizing a deal with top draft pick Stephen Strasburg. Meanwhile, a dozen or so reporters were on the sixth floor waiting...and waiting...and waiting. Finally, at 11:58 and 43 seconds (team president Stan Kasten was keeping careful track) the team learned that Strasburg had accepted the team's offer of about $15.1 million. It set off a jubilant celebration. Principal owner Ted Lerner, 83, was there all day - from 9 a.m. until the announcement was made. His son, Mark Lerner, and the organization's entire board was on hand. Not to...

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Nats have until midnight to sign top pick

Time has run out on the Nationals and No. 1 draft pick Stephen Strasburg. By midnight Monday, the two sides must agree on a contract or the team loses the rights to one of the most hyped prospects in Major League Baseball history. Strasburg timeline Aug. 13, 2008 » San Diego State rising junior Stephen Strasburg is the only collegiate player to represent the United States at the Olympic Games in Beijing. The USA earns the bronze medal. May 29, 2009 » The right-handed pitcher leads San Diego State to an NCAA tournament berth in 2009. He finishes with a 13-1 record and a 1.32 ERA. June 9 » Strasburg is chosen No. 1 overall by the Nationals in the 2009 Major League...

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Nats ink Strasburg

After more than two months of waiting and worrying and fretting and negotiating, Stephen Strasburg is finally a Washington National. The 21-year-old phenom, considered one of the top amateur pitchers since the Major League Baseball draft was instituted in 1965, has signed a contract with Washington. According to industry sources, the deal is a major-league contract for four years and worth about $15.1 million, far surpassing the $10.5 million record bonus set by Mark Prior with the Chicago Cubs in 2001. The Nats drafted Strasburg No. 1 overall in Major League Baseball’s amateur draft in June. Nats notes » Washington also agreed to terms with its 12th-round draft pick,...

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Nats sign top pick Stephen Strasburg

The Nationals have come to terms with No. 1 overall draft pick Stephen Strasburg. Terms have not yet been confirmed, but Baseball America is claiming the deal is for four years and $15.67 million. The 21-year-old phenom is considered one of the top amateur pitchers since the Major League Baseball draft began in 1965. Washington and Strasburg's advisor, Scott Boras, finalized the contract - which included a record bonus - in the final seconds before a midnight deadline as Monday night turned to Tuesday morning. More to come on washingtonexaminer.com as soon as the media here at Nationals Park has a chance to speak with team president Stan Kasten and acting general manager Mike Rizzo....

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Nats look to lengthen their win streak

Washington is 17 for last 26 going into three-game set vs. NL Wild Card leader There is still baseball to be played at Nationals Park. Off the field, the organization has finished negotiations with prized draft pick Stephen Strasburg and now turns its attention toward hiring a permanent general manager. But on the field the Nats look to continue a surprisingly strong second half that has put all thoughts of a historically bad season behind them. Washington begins a three-game series at home tonight against the Colorado Rockies, who entered play Monday night leading a jumbled fight for the National League wild-card berth. The Nats still have baseball’s worst record at 43-75. But...

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Fearless Forecast 08/16/09

Events to watch MLS » Los Angeles Galaxy at D.C. United Saturday, 7:30 p.m. The controversy surrounding David Beckham’s return to Major League Soccer may have simmered down. But his presence on the field overshadows the fact that the Galaxy had already turned things under head coach Bruce Arena and with or without Beckham are well on their way to returning to the playoffs for the first time since winning MLS Cup in 2005. 2009 Little League Baseball World Series Aug. 21-30, ESPN For the third consecutive year, the entire Little League World Series is scheduled to be televised by the ESPN family of networks, giving young players from all over the country and world a chance...

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Nats/Reds lineups from Great American

The last three days have been a unwanted intrusion of reality for the Nats. Their bats have gone quiet. Their starting pitching, for the most part, has continued to struggle. The bullpen, steady since the All-Star break, has even had a few rough nights. Last week's eight-game winning streak is a fading memory now. After three humbling losses in a row, Washington tries to get back on track tonight in Game No. 2 of this four-game set against the Cincinnati Reds. Garrett Mock (1-4, 6.14 ERA) goes for the Nats. He is coming off a nice outing against the Diamondbacks - six innings, two runs, five hits. He earned his first career win as a starter and a pie to the face for his...

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New goalie coach looks to future

The Capitals announced the hiring of new goaltender coach Arturs Irbe on Thursday. Irbe, 42, was a 13-year veteran in the NHL and helped the Carolina Hurricanes reach the Stanley Cup finals in 2002. A native of Latvia, Irbe is also fluent in both English and Russian. That's important because Washington has two top European goalie prospects in Semyon Varlamov, a Russian, and Michal Neuvirth, who is from the Czech Republic. One of those two players -- each is just 21 -- will be the club's goalie of the future. And while both understand English -- Neuvirth speaks it better at this point -- Irbe's ability to speak, especially in Russian with Varlamov, is crucial. "It will be easier to...

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Lineups from Great American Ballpark

While the Stephen Strasbuurg negotiations finally heat up this weekend, the Nationals are in Cincinnati tonight for the start of a four-game series with the Reds. Lineups are listed below as Alberto Gonzalez gets back in at second base. Otherwise, standard issue applies. Collin Balester makes his fifth start of the year for Washington. He is 1-1 with a 5.21 ERA and struggled last time out - 4 2/3 innings of five-run ball vs. Arizona. He has walked just four batters since his recall so that's a positive. Long hitting streaks for Cristian Guzman (17) and Ryan Zimmerman (15) are on the line. Zimmerman was asked about his most recent streak late last week at Nationals Park and immediately...

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Lineups from Turner Field

Nats and Braves set to finish this brief two-game series at 7:10 p.m. tonight in Atlanta. Washington adds Josh Bard at catcher and Ronnie Belliard at second base. The top six stay the same. Braves are again without center fielder Nate McLouth (hamstring) so former Nat Ryan Church, normally a corner outfielder, will do his best in the middle. The Nats are facing Atlanta starter Derek Lowe (11-7, 4.15 ERA) for the fourth time this season. They have actually beaten him twice. Lowe has allowed eight earned runs on 21 hits in 14 1/3 innings against Washington. Nats CF - N. Morgan SS - C. Guzman 3B - R. Zimmerman 1B - A. Dunn LF - J. Willingham RF - E. Dukes C - J. Bard 2B - R. Belliard P -...

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Stammen seeks a rebound

Okay - so maybe the Nationals won't win the rest of their games. Tough night in Atlanta on Tuesday, an 8-1 loss. John Lannan struggled on the mound and the offense didn't get to Braves rookie Tommy Hanson when it had the chance early. Hanson threw 28 pitches in the first inning alone and was laboring. But then he started drilling pitches on the outside corner and employing his wicked curve. That was it for the Nats. Haven't seen a young pitcher as impressive as Hanson all season. So right-hander Craig Stammen (3-6, 5.40 ERA) goes tonight for Washington. Needless to say, Stammen needs a good start. The 25-year-old rookie has hit a wall recently, going 4 2/3 innings and then 3 and then 1...

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Zimmermann to undergo surgery

Nats pitcher expected to miss 12 to 18 months Nationals right-handed pitcher Jordan Zimmermann will undergo ligament-replacement surgery on his right elbow and is expected to miss 12 to 18 months. Zimmermann, 23, received the news from Nats general manager Mike Rizzo on Monday. The diagnosis of a torn ulnar collateral ligament was originally made last Friday by team doctor Wiemi Douoguih, who sent the test images to renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. He confirmed the diagnosis of a torn ligament and the need for Tommy John surgery. Washington will get a third and final opinion from Dr. Lewis Yocum, another top orthopedic surgeon. But he is simply expected...

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Nats pitcher Jordan Zimmermann out 12-18 months

What's the line from Hamlet? - "When sorrows come they come not single spies, but in battalions." Yeah, well Shakespeare pretty much just summed up the Nationals 2009 season. Even in the middle of an eight-game winning streak, bad news just seems to find the Nats. General Manager Mike Rizzo confirmed to the Examiner on Monday evening that top pitching prospect Jordan Zimmermann will miss 12-to-18 months after he undergoes right elbow ligament-replacement surgery. It was the worst case scenario for Washington. Zimmermann, 23, is supposed to help top draft pick Stephen Strasburg, 20, anchor the starting rotation in the coming years, Now, he likely won't throw a pitch again...

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Middle relief comes through again

Nats beat D-Backs for eighth straight win What was once a glaring weakness has somehow turned into a strength. For the Nationals, middle relief earlier this season meant an unending string of walks and hits and runs and heartache. Now? It seems like every time a rookie starter departs a game a little bit too early there is someone there to pick him up. It happened again on Sunday afternoon at Nationals Park. Starter J.D. Martin fought his way threw a few tight spots and left with a lead. But it was still only the top of the sixth inning -- plenty of time for the Arizona Diamondbacks to rally. Instead, the Washington bullpen allowed just one run over the final four innings and the...

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Nats in 7th heaven after 5-2 victory

This is where the streak was ending. The Nationals have spent the better part of two weeks finding ways to win games that at various points looked hopeless. Facing a Cy Young Award candidate on Saturday night seemed a decent bet to derail their strong second half. But apparently not even the presence of Arizona Diamondbacks ace Dan Haren could stop the good times from rolling at Nationals Park. Instead, Washington punched across five runs on eight hits and finally received a strong starting pitching performance of its own from Garrett Mock. The result was a clean, concise 5-2 victory. It was the Nats' seventh win in a row – the longest streak of the season and one that matches...

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In midst of win streak, bad news for Nats

Bad news on Nationals right-handed pitcher Jordan Zimmermann. The promising rookie is still dealing with pain in his right elbow. It happened in June and he was pushed back a start. It recurred in July and the Nats put him on the 15-day disabled list on the 19th of that month. Earlier this week, Zimmermann pitched well in a minor-league rehab start at Single-A Potomac - his night ending in the fourth inning thanks to a hard line drive off his backside. But he never made it to a scheduled bullpen session on Friday. Instead, lingering pain in the elbow forced the Nats to scrap that plan - and Zimmermann's potential comeback start Sunday against the Arizona Diamondbacks - and have an MRI...

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Fearless Forecast 08/09/09

Events to watch NFL Preseason » Redskins at Ravens, Thursday, 7:30 p.m., CSN/NBC 4 Move along, not much to see here — really. The starters may play a series. But it is preseason football and sports fans love it. Be sure to stand back — what is now a slow burning love affair by Redskins fans with backup QB Colt Brennan will surely grow to a blazing fire as he takes the field against the Ravens’ backups. MLB » Astros at Brewers, Fri. (FSN-HD, 6:05 p.m.), Sat. (FSN, 5:05 p.m.), Sun. (FSN-HD, 12:05 p.m.) The NL Central is all tied up near the top, with the Cardinals and Cubs as likely choices to take the division crown. Lurking just a few games back are the...

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Nats sweep Marlins, net fifth straight win

The grind of a Major League Baseball season will take its toll on even the hottest hitter. In the midst of his first All-Star campaign, Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman finally cooled as the weather warmed in early summer. But his offensive swagger is back with a vengeance now - and he’s carrying Washington along with him. Zimmerman hit his eighth home run in 13 games and later added an RBI triple during a four-run eighth inning. The Nats again overcame a large deficit to the Florida Marlins, erasing a 6-0 lead en route to a 12-8 victory at Nationals Park on Thursday afternoon. “It was early in the game and you can’t get all six at one time,” Zimmerman...

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Nats postgame items

It was another fine day on South Capitol Street. The Nats - as has become their habit in recent weeks - pulled out a come-from-behind victory. This time Washington overcame a 6-0 deficit against the Florida Marlins. Check out the Examiner's game story here for all the details from a wild 12-8 decision. http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/sports/Nats-sweep-Marlins-net-fifth-straight-win-52608777.html A tip of the cap to the Associated Press for its scoop that two Nats minor-leaguers - outfielder Edgardo Baez and shortstop Ofilio Castro - have been suspended 50 games each by Major League Baseball for violating the sport's drug program. The suspensions were for the use of amphetamines - an...

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Nationals make a trade

We are well underway here at Nationals Park for a matinee meeting between the Nationals and Florida Marlins. It's been a slugfest so far with the game tied at 8 in the top of the eighth inning. Meanwhile, news from this morning: Washington has worked out a minor trade with the New York Mets. Second baseman Anderson Hernandez was claimed off waivers by the Mets earlier this week. The Nats pulled him back to keep his rights and then worked out a deal with New York for minor-league second baseman Greg Veloz, 21. Hernandez, 26, had clearly fallen out of favor in Washington. His playing time was steady through mid-June, but as his bat cooled his defensive deficiencies - a .981 fielding...

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Nats make it four in a row, down Marlins, 5-4

Maybe earlier this season, the Nationals find a way to lose Wednesday night’s game against the Florida Marlins. Maybe starting pitcher John Lannan doesn’t escape every serious jam. Maybe the bullpen blows the lead for him anyway or the lack of insurance runs bites back in the end. There’s not much Washington can do about all the pain and heartache of the first half of the season now. But at least in recent days the Nats have shed the habits that made them baseball’s worst team. Because on Wednesday night, Lannan did gut his way through six innings and the bullpen did hold off the powerful Marlins, who tried all game long to make up for a bad first inning and...

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Lineups from Nationals Park

The Nationals can continue their mastery over the Florida Marlins tonight in the middle game of this series. Okay - so maybe a 1-9 record doesn't qualify as "mastery". It only feels that way after a dramatic 6-4 win on Tuesday night when Washington scored six runs in the eighth inning to rally from a 4-0 deficit. That's among the top two or three wins of the seasons, for sure. We'll see if John Lannan (7-8, 3.41 ERA) can keep the Nats rolling. They've actually won 3 games in a row, 7 of 11 and are 9-6 over their last 15 games. Not bad. Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman (shoulder contusion) returns to the lineup tonight. He was rested yesterday after taking a 90 mile-per-hour...

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Caps moves

Some hockey news for a hot August day. The Capitals have re-signed minor-leaguer Alexandre Giroux. Why is that important? Well, Giroux was no ordinary minor leaguer last season. He scored a record 75 goals in 91 games - combined regular season and playoffs - and helped the Hershey Bears, Washington's top minor-league affiliate, win the Calder Cup championship. That combined goal total is a record for the American Hockey League - one step below the NHL and widely considered the second-best pro hockey league in the world. Giroux also set an AHL record during the regular season with a 15-game goal-scoring streak. At 28, Giroux is no longer considered a prospect. But his presence does give...

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Nats' Kearns headed to DL

The Nationals placed outfielder Austin Kearns on the disabled list Wednesday morning. The 29-year-old has a bruised right thumb, an injury he has a long history with. Kearns missed 71 games in 2004 thanks to a serious thumb injury he originally suffered in 2001 as a minor-leaguer with the Cincinnati Reds. It's another blow to a player who has endured a miserable 2009. Kearns was in contention for a starting outfield spot in spring training. But by May he had been passed on the depth chart by Josh Willingham and struggled just to keep his head above water. Kearns is batting .195 with three homers and 17 RBI - and only two of those RBI have come since May 7. It is by far the worst season...

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Nationals 6, Marlins 4 Report Card

Most Valuable Player Adam Dunn capped off a thrilling eighth-inning rally with a two-run HR to left. Washington entered the inning trailing Florida, 4-0. By the end they were up, 6-4, thanks to Dunn, who smashed his 28th HR of the year. All-Star Performance Marlins RHP Josh Johnson is quietly putting together a Cy Young season. But a brilliant performance was marred by a late collapse. After seven innings of two-hit ball, Johnson gave up four runs in the eighth and left with a no-decision. Overlooked For the second game in a row the Nats received some nice work from a middle reliever. Monday it was three scoreless innings from Tyler Clippard. Tuesday it was Jason Bergmann, who held...

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Dunn, Nats mount comeback

Washington rallies to beat Marlins for first time this season The streak is finally over. The Washington Nationals and Florida Marlins had met nine times this season. And not once had Washington walked off the field a winner. That string of futility dates back further than just this season. In a span of 28 games entering Tuesday night's contest at Nationals Park, the Nats were a humbling 3-25 against their National League East rivals and had lost 10 in a row overall in the series. But say this for Washington -- it made that first win over Florida since last September a beauty. The Nats scored six runs in the eighth inning to ruin a dominating performance by Marlins starter Josh...

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Nats/Marlins lineups

The Nationals return home tonight to play the Marlins after finishing an eight-game road trip with a 4-4 record. The club is 8-5 over its last 14 games. But Washington has lost 25 of its last 28 games against Florida, including an absurd 10 in a row overall. Ryan Zimmerman gets the night off at 3B with a sore shoulder. Willie Harris takes his place in the lineup. Tonight also marks the return of first baseman Nick Johnson, who was traded to the Marlins on Friday. As he often did with the Nats, Johnson is batting second. Here are the rest of tonight's lineups. Marlins: C. Coghlan – LF N. Johnson – 1B H. Ramirez – SS J. Cantu – 3B D. Uggla – 2B J....

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Nats' Zimmermann to make rehab start

Don't kid yourself. While the Nationals' front office will be watching tonight's game against the Florida Marlins at Nationals Park they are just as invested in what will happen in Frederick, Md. this evening. That's where rookie pitcher Jordan Zimmermann makes a rehabilitation start for Single-A Potomac against the Frederick Keys. Zimmermann has been on the 15-day disabled list since July 19th with right elbow soreness. The 23-year-old entered the season as the team's prized prospect. And while he has had his ups and downs - a 3-5 record with a 4.63 ERA - he has also done nothing to hurt the view that he has legitimate top-of-the-rotation talent - maybe realizing it as soon as next...

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Nationals 8, Pirates 4 Report Card

Most Valuable Player They don't pay him for his defense. Adam Dunn crushed a game-changing homer to the opposite field in the sixth inning, turning a 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 lead by curling the ball inside the left-field foul pole. He also singled and doubled. All-Star Performance You know it's a good night for Cristian Guzman when he draws a rare walk -- just his 10th of the season. He also drove in runs with a single in the sixth and a triple in the seventh and scored two runs. Overlooked Tyler Clippard continued his fine work out of the Nats' bullpen. He entered the game with the bases loaded in the fifth and no one out. Clippard induced a 1-2-3 double-play comebacker and a pop out...

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Dunn, Zim propel Nats

Power hitters each hit homers as Washington earns road trip split In a season where little has gone right for the Nationals, a .500 road trip is nothing to scoff at. That's exactly what Washington accomplished since it last played a game at Nationals Park on July 26th. A road trip to Milwaukee and Pittsburgh saw the team's first baseman, Nick Johnson, and setup man, Joe Beimel, each play his last game with the club -- but it also ended on a relative high note Monday evening. Adam Dunn belted a three-run home run in the sixth inning to put the Nats ahead for good and they added four insurance runs in the seventh to put Pittsburgh away in an 8-4 win at PNC Park. Washington (34-72)...

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Lineups from PNC Park

It's the end of the line for the Nats. An eight-game road trip ends tonight in Pittsburgh, where Washington seeks a split in the four-game series and a 4-4 record on the trip overall. A little pregame news before we get to the lineups. Outfielder Josh Willingham was named the National League's co-player of the week (July 27th-Aug, 2nd). Willingham, the subject of trade rumors for most of that stretch, led the league with 11 RBI while batting .435 (10-for-23) with two doubles and three homers. Last Monday, Willingham, 30, hit a pair of grand slams in a game at Milwaukee. It was just the 13th time in MLB history one player had done that - fewer even than the number of perfect games. San...

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Nationals 5, Pirates 3 Report Card

Most Valuable Player There's a reason Josh Willingham is still with the Nats. He produces. With slugger Adam Dunn resting, Willingham batted cleanup and was 2-for-3 with a double (21), a HR (17) and three RBI (42). He also scored two runs. All-Star Performance Nats Republicans,Talk Radio,Blogosphere:39712427:39712427:Gene Healy Ryan Zimmerman also is on fire. He batted 2-for-3 and walked. He also scored two runs, including from first on a big eighth-inning double by Willingham. Zimmerman has raised his average 13 points over the last 10 games up to .293. Overlooked Back in the big leagues, Elijah Dukes made a big-league play in the first inning with a hard slide into second base to...

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Nats 5, Pirates 3

The Nationals beat Pittsburgh, 5-3, on Sunday afternoon and would actually manage a 4-4 road trip if they can win in the Steel City on Monday. But it will take a lot more than that for Washington to avoid baseball's worst record again. So with wins and losses meaningless at this point, that leaves plenty of time for evaluation. No player has more on the line over the final two months than outfielder Elijah Dukes. The 25-year-old will see the majority of playing time in right field. He spent the past month working on his swing at Triple-A Syracuse and will have no better chance to show the front office that it can count on him in right field next season. With either Adam Dunn or Josh...

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Nats, Pirates meet for first time since trade

It has been a month since the Nationals and the Pittsburgh Pirates swung a four-player trade with a bigger-than-expected effect on both franchises. Washington’s move for outfielder Nyjer Morgan and left-handed reliever Sean Burnett comes under greater scrutiny this weekend as the two teams meet for the first time since the July 1 deal. The Nats have spent the entire season in Major League Baseball’s basement. They even lost three games out of four at home to the Pirates during an excruciating series in May. But the team Washington is playing this weekend at PNC Park looks nothing like the one it met just over two months ago. Instead, Pittsburgh has decided to finally...

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Johnson deal adds to Nationals’ stash of arms

The trade Nick Johnson had been long awaiting finally came right at Major League Baseball’s trade deadline on Friday afternoon. An oft-injured first baseman who has rebuilt his value with a strong season and is a free agent at the end of the season is a guaranteed trade asset for the Nationals. Johnson was batting .295 with a .408 on-base percentage, although his defense had slipped. The Nats got what they could — minor-league left-hander Aaron Thompson from the Florida Marlins. Thompson, 22, has a 4.11 ERA for Double-A Jacksonville. He was a first-round pick by the Marlins in 2005 — No. 22 overall. The move gives Washington more starting pitching inventory. John Lannan...

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Nats Minor League report 8/2/09

The Nationals took a ton of heat for not signing right-handed pitcher Aaron Crow last season — the team’s first-round draft pick at No. 9 overall. The only silver lining was the compensation pick the team received at No. 10 in this year’s draft. Reliever Drew Storen endured a shaky start at low-A Hagerstown. But he began to dominate at that level and was promoted to Single-A Potomac, where Storen pitched three scoreless appearances with seven strikeouts and no walks. That’s the kind of dominance that some believe gives Storen a shot at a big-league callup. Thursday he finally gave up his first Carolina League run, an eighth-inning walk leading to a double and a...

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Lineups from Miller Park

The Nats (32-69) finish up a four-game series in Milwaukee this afternoon with - surprise, surprise - a chance to take three of four games from the Brewers (50-51), who are fading from playoff contention with six teams in front of them for the National League wild-card berth. Of course, today's game could be overshadowed by the MLB trade dealine, looming at 4 p.m. on Friday. Is it too late for Washington to find takers for first baseman Nick Johnson or outfielder Josh Willingham - or slugger Adam Dunn for that matter? Despite what general manager Mike Rizzo said earlier this month, no player, other than third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, is off limits when a team is headed for 100 losses two...

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Top Ten: Memorable MLB trade deadline deals

10. Derek Lowe and Jason Varitek to Red Sox — July 31, 1997 Seattle wanted this one back. Varitek became a productive catcher and leader of a Boston squad that has reached the postseason seven times and won two World Series. Lowe quickly became a solid reliever for four seasons before blossoming into one of the game’s most consistent starters. Heathcliff Slocum, a former All-Star, struggled in Seattle. 9. Mark McGwire to Cardinals — July 31, 1997 Before steroid allegations tainted his legacy, McGwire was an electrifying presence dating to his rookie season in Oakland (a rookie record 49 home runs). He was shipped to St. Louis at the deadline then staged an epic home run...

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Nats and Padres - Oh the humanity

It's not exactly Yankees-Red Sox. Major League Baseball's two worst teams start a three-game series at Nationals Park tonight when the San Diego Padres come to town. Of course, at 37-59 the Padres are still way ahead of the woeful Nats (28-67) in the overall standings. The Nats have put out their lineup. OF Nyjer Morgan gets the day off today in interim manager Jim Riggleman's continuing quest to rest his starters. Instead, Willie Harris will bat leadoff and play center. Josh Bard is again at catcher while Alberto Gonzalez is back in the lineup at second base. We'll see if Nats right-handed pitcher Garrett Mock can bounce back from his shaky start last Sunday. No lineups from San Diego...

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Another early finish at Nationals Park

We're all finished for the night at Nationals Park, where St. Louis takes a rain-shortened 4-1 victory. The game was finally called at 11:40 p.m. after a 90-minute rain delay. It was the second rain delay of the evening. The first one began in the top of the fourth inning and lasted 76 minutes. The second delay began with a runner on first in the top of the seventh inning. Umpires were all set to allow play to resume after the second delay - an expected 11:25 p.m. start time. But after the grounds crew got the tarp off the field and spent 20 minutes applying drying agent to the infield dirt a final burst of rain caught them off guard. A good 10 minutes passed with the tarp rolled up by...

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Rain, Rain go away

Not sure the Cardinals are too glad to be in D.C. at the moment. The last time St. Louis was in town to play the Nats their series finale was rained out. Well - it's raining again. Hard. The tarp is on the field, the fans have taken cover and both teams will get some mean games of gin rummy in while waiting out these storms. Official time the umpires called it: 7:56 p.m. The Nats are trailing 2-0 in the top of the fourth with a St. Louis runner at first base. Team officials are confident the game will get in eventually. But it may be a while. A decent-sized storm is making its way through Fairfax County and Arlington right now and into the District with a bigger cell about 40 miles...

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Underway at Nationals Park

Underway here at Nationals Park - with Triple-A callup Collin Balester on the mound for Washington. He is a replacement for the injured Jordan Zimmermann, placed on the 15-day disabled list with an inflamed right elbow. Tonight's game against the St. Louis Cardinals is a makeup for one that was postponed on May 3rd. The Cardinals will head by train afterwards right to Philadelphia for their weekend series with the Phillies. The Nats get set to host the San Diego Padres. Here are the starting lineups. Cardinals 2B Schumaker CF Rasmus 1B DeRosa RF Ludwick LF Ankiel C Molina 3B Thurston SS Ryan P Wainwright Nationals CF Morgan SS Guzman 3B Zimmerman LF Dunn 1B...

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Jordan Zimmermann to the DL

Ready to celebrate after a second straight strong performance by one of their young starting pitchers, the Nationals instead had to temper their enthusiasm on Wednesday night. Up next » Cardinals at Nationals When » Thursday, 7:05 Where » Nationals Park TV/Radio » MASN(HD)/1500 AM/XM Nats » Collin Balester (first appearance of 2009) Cards » Adam Wainwright (10-6, 3.01 ERA) » Win streak! Nats down Mets, 3-1, for second consecutive victory After a 3-1 victory over the New York Mets, the club placed rookie right-handed pitcher Jordan Zimmermann on the 15-day disabled list with elbow inflammation. Zimmermann first felt discomfort while throwing...

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Win streak! Nats down Mets, 3-1, for second consecutive victory

Nationals starting pitcher Craig Stammen watched intently from the dugout on Tuesday night as teammate John Lannan efficiently mowed down the New York Mets. Ground ball after ground ball bounded across the infield grass at Nationals Park, Lannan dispatching opposing batters one-by-one. He wasn’t dominating. But he was sure effective. Nats notes Jordan Zimmerman to the DL » By taking two of three games in the series, Washington claimed just its third series win at home over the Mets since baseball returned to the District in 2005. » Nats starter Craig Stammen has posted four quality starts in a row with an ERA of 2.14 in that stretch. Wednesday night, 62 of his 95...

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Nats' Zimmermann to the disabled list

Ready to celebrate after a second straight strong performance by one of their young starting pitchers, the Nationals instead had to temper their enthusiasm on Wednesday night. After a 3-1 victory over the New York Mets, the club placed rookie right-handed pitcher Jordan Zimmermann on the 15-day disabled list with elbow inflamation. Zimmermann first felt discomfort while throwing a side session earlier in the week. The 23-year-old was scheduled to start on Thursday against the Cardinals. Instead, that assignment goes to Collin Balester, who was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse. "It's just a little inflammation and we're just going to be cautious," Zimmermann said. "I'm...

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Lineups from Nationals Park

The Nationals are set to finish a three-game series with the New York Mets tonight. First baseman Nick Johnson is back in the lineup after a day off. He will bat fifth tonight, however - just the 18th time all season Johnson has not batted in the No. 2 spot in the order. Interim manager Jim Riggleman has said this week he wants to get every regular in the starting lineup a day off - or two - over the next few weeks. Because of a make-up game to be played this Thursday at home against St. Louis, the Nats will have played 25 days in a row when they finally get a rest on Aug. 10th. Mets Pagan - 8 Castillo - 4 Murphy - 3 Wright - 5 Francoeur - 9 Sullivan - 7 Berroa - 6 Schneider -...

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Lannan pitches first shutout

Nationals left-handed pitcher John Lannan will not be confused with the top aces around Major League Baseball. He's not Roy Halladay or Dan Haren. He doesn't have the overpowering stuff of Zack Greinke or Tim Lincecum. And he probably won't contend for a Cy Young Award any time soon. But Lannan is as close to an ace as Washington has in its young starting rotation -- and plenty competitive enough to relish the situation he faced on Tuesday night. Another long losing streak needed to be squelched. Lannan figured he was just the man for the job. The 24-year-old again confounded the New York Mets, allowing just seven hits and walking none during a complete-game 4-0 Washington victory. He...

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Martin struggles in debut

Nationals righty allows five runs in four frames The journey took him through minor-league towns like Burlington, N.C. and Columbus, Ga. He's pitched all over Ohio -- Akron, Niles and Eastlake -- with two separate stops in Kinston, N.C. But it was only when J.D. Martin reached upstate New York -- and the Triple-A cities of Buffalo and Syracuse -- that he knew the big leagues were close. Monday night, the 26-year-old right-handed pitcher finally made it. In his ninth season of professional baseball, Martin made his major-league debut for the Nationals in a game against the New York Mets. It wasn't quite the performance he'd wanted -- four innings pitched, five runs allowed in a 6-2...

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Lineups from Nationals Park

The Nats try to shake off a four-game sweep at the hands of the Chicago Cubs tonight as an 11-game homestand continues. Washington takes on the banged up New York Mets tonight at 7:05 p.m. Lineups are already out - with one notable ommision. Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman will sit this one out. He had previously missed two games earlier this month after the death of his grandmother. But otherwise, Zimmerman has played in 89 of his club's 91 games. Don't know about any injury issue. Could be just a day off - especially since Zimmerman played in the All-Star game in St. Louis last week while his teammates were on a three-day break. Will have more from the stadium when interim manager Jim...

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Nats offense disappears again in loss to Cubs, 3-1

It is about evaluation now, not wins. Even the Nationals front office acknowledges that unpleasant fact. Nats notes » Attendance at Nationals Park on Friday night against the Cubs was 27,581. » Neither team took advantage of its scoring chances. The Cubs were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position while the Nats were 0-for-8. » After the game, the Nats announced that left-handed pitcher Scott Olsen will not make his scheduled start Monday against the New York Mets. Olsen was supposed to start Friday’s game vs. Chicago, but was scratched because of a sore left lat muscle. » Manager Jim Riggleman said Olsen is expected to meet with doctors over the...

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Fearless Forecast 07/19/09

Events to Watch MLB » Red Sox at Rangers, Wednesday, ESPN, 8:05 p.m. Combining for over 100 wins before the All-Star break, these playoff contenders could make a big statement here with a series win — or sweep. A hitters’ park will see some of Boston’s big-name hurlers in John Smoltz, Josh Beckett and Tim Wakefield (who takes the mound in the series finale on ESPN). Tour de France, Stage 20, Montélimar to Mont Ventoux, Saturday, Versus, 7 a.m. The organizers of the world’s biggest bicycle race wanted drama on the final days, and they’ll get it, with the penultimate stage featuring the third mountaintop finish of this year’s tour. The last...

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Underway at Nationals Park

Long, long first inning-and-a-half here at Nationals Park, where the Nats actually took an early lead on the Cubs, 1-0. Chicago starter Carlos Zambrano needed an absurd 40 pitches to get through the bottom of the first. But it could have been worse. The Nats had a runner thrown out stealing third base. And they left the bases loaded, too. Third base coach Pat Listach played it conservative on an error by Cubs' shortstop Ryan Theriot. An easy grounder with two outs was booted into shallow center - but Listach held up runner Nick Johnson. Looked like a pretty easy run from six stories up in the press box. But that's why the coaches make the big bucks. A run scored anyway when Willie...

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Cubs smack Nats in Riggleman's debut, 6-2

His normal demeanor on the mound is calm introspection. When pitching, Nationals left-hander John Lannan gives away nothing, an easy grounder treated with the same indifference as a long home run. But every once in a while the façade cracks just a little. Nats notes » Nats pitcher Scott Olsen will not make his scheduled start on Friday night because of tightness in his left lat muscle. Olsen originally felt the injury earlier this month, but thought he could make his start Friday thanks to a few days off at the All-Star break. But lingering tightness after a workout at Nationals Park on Wednesday led to caution. Olsen missed six weeks earlier this year with shoulder...

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Quick note from Nationals Park

The second half of the MLB season is under way with the Chicago Cubs leading the Nationals 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning on Thursday night. Some news to report on the Nats' starting rotation for this four-game series. Left-handed pitcher Scott Olsen has been scratched from his scheduled start Friday night due to tightness in his left lat muscle. The Nats will be especially cautious with Olsen considering he missed six weeks with a sore shoulder earlier this season. We'll find out after tonight's game if Olsen is just being pushed back to Monday or if the injury will cost him a start or two. Right-hander Craig Stammen gets the nod for Friday's game agains the Cubs. The Saturday...

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Take two: Nats enter second half

Washington again has worst record at break The second half of the Major League Baseball season began Thursday night with 12 teams in the Nationals League and another 10 in the American League still harboring realistic playoff hopes. That list, of course, does not include the Nationals. Again sporting baseball's worst record at 26-61, Washington had a different set of goals as it opened the second half last night at Nationals Park with a four-game series against the Chicago Cubs. And those internal expectations "are not predicated on wins and losses," acting general manager Mike Rizzo said Monday just minutes after announcing the firing of former manager Manny Acta....

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One Nats player makes top 50 minor leaguers

To find any ray of light during a painful season, the Nationals often look toward their farm system. But fans hoping for a slew of top prospects to ascend to Nationals Park soon may be disappointed. Baseball America’s midseason ranking of the game’s top 50 minor leaguers yielded just one Washington player: Derek Norris, a 20-year-old catcher who has dominated the low-A South Atlantic League with Hagerstown — 75 miles and four levels away from the District. Norris leads the league in homers (21), OPS (1.008) and RBI (66). But his defense, according to scouts, is still a work-in-progress. No matter. His bat is so advanced the Nats are expected to promote Norris to high-A...

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Young pitchers, same old Nats

Seven starters have combined ERA of 4.95 On the surface the plan seemed reasonable enough. The Nationals entered the season with three young pitchers in the starting rotation and added Scott Olsen, 25, via trade and Daniel Cabrera, 27, through free agency to stabilize that group. The pair had made a combined 247 major-league starts prior to this season compared to 43 for everyone else. But for this club, at least, things always seem to fall apart. Cabrera was terrible, making just nine starts before acting general manager Mike Rizzo became "tired of watching him." He was cut on May 27. Olsen, meanwhile, was even worse in his first eight starts as he fought shoulder fatigue....

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No jackpot for Wiz in Vegas

NBA Summer League games are a bit like the fourth quarter of an NFL preseason game: essentially irrelevant to what happens during the regular season, but so full of interesting statistics and plays that they’re impossible not to analyze. With that in mind, here is our ranking of the performances by the Washington Wizards’ five current players on the roster after two games, from best to worst. 1. Nick Young He might have fizzled in the second half of Washington’s second game in Las Vegas — a 77-70 loss to Denver — finishing with 17 points, less than half of his 36 points on 13-for-19 shooting against Cleveland the night before. It’s hard to fault the...

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Pedro Phils pitching hole

It's either an act of desperation or pure genius -- take your pick. But the defending world champion Phillies needed to patch a hole in their starting rotation. And Pedro Martinez fit the bill. The 37-year-old signed a $1 million, incentive-laden contract this week. But what does he have left after two injury-plagued seasons with the New York Mets? We'll find out in a few weeks when Martinez returns from a stint on the disabled list. Philadelphia entered the second half with a four-game lead in the National League East, but has used nine different starting pitchers this season and Brett Myers and Antonio Bastardo are both on the disabled list. But buyer beware. For four years in a row,...

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Capitals snubbed from the NHL's annual Winter Classic

The Capitals were shut out of the NHL's annual Winter Classic because NBC reportedly didn't like the ratings the team drew in its first-round series against the New York Rangers in April. Instead, the Philadelphia Flyers will play the Boston Bruins at Fenway Park on New Year's Day. Well, at least the Caps are still a big draw in Canada. Sources in Montreal have told The Examiner's Jim Williams that Washington will indeed play the Canadiens at Olympic Stadium on Nov. 28. The game itself is confirmed on the official NHL schedule released Wednesday. Sources tell Williams that while logistical details are still being worked out, the NHL has given its approval to hold the game in the big...

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Caps sign restricted free agents

The Capitals came to contract agreements with defenseman Shaone Morrisonn, 26, and forward Eric Fehr, 23, on Wednesday. Both players were restricted free agents - meaning they were still Caps property, but could have signed an offer sheet with another NHL club. Both players had previously declined an arbitration hearing and instead accepted one-year qualifying offers from the team. Forward Boyd Gordon, another restricted free agent, signed his qualifying offer earlier in the week. Defenseman Milan Jurcina is the only RFA to take the Caps to arbitration. His hearing is July 28th, although he can always sign a negotiated deal with the club before then. Minor leaguers Chris Bourque, Kyle...

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Capitals 2009-10 schedule released

About 30 minutes ago, the NHL released it's 2009-10 schedule. No better time for that than the official slowest sports day of the year. There are plenty of highlights for the Capitals, who open on the road against the Boston Bruins on Oct. 1st. That matches the two best teams in the Eastern Conference last year - at least during the regular season. The NHL will again take an extended break so its star players can participate in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. That lasts from Feb. 14th to March 2nd. The Caps host the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins twice at Verizon Center, including an afternoon game on Super Bowl Sunday (Feb. 7th). They also host the runner-up Detroit...

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Prospect Carlson ready for Capitals

He is still just 19 years old, a teenager who in the last 12 months was selected in the first round of the NHL draft, participated in an NHL training camp, played a full season of junior hockey in Canada and then spent a grueling first six weeks as a professional helping his team win an AHL championship. But Capitals prospect John Carlson is ready for more. The 6-foot-2, 218-pound defenseman will go into training camp in September hopeful of cracking the final 23-man roster with Washington. Even if he doesn't, the organization believes it has a potential star on its hands -- one who at the very least should make his NHL debut next season. "I definitely have a lot of work to do. But...

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De-Acta-vated

Nats ax Manny on first day of All-Star break Manny Acta walked to the back of the Washington Nationals’ team plane late Sunday night for an informal chat with some of his players. He wanted them to know that he still believed in them — even as the losses continued to pile up during another miserable road trip. Maybe the playoffs were far out of reach. Maybe a winning season was a pipe dream. But Acta’s message was clear: Take the All-Star break to recharge and come back ready to play when the schedule resumes Thursday. It was vintage Acta — the kind of optimistic pep talk Nats players have come to expect from a man who never lost his cool in public, but still...

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Nats losing not slapped with interim tag

There is a culture of losing that surrounds Nationals Park. Some would argue it has hung around the franchise like a black cloud since its days as the Montreal Expos, who were left destitute under Major League Baseball ownership and finally shipped to the District in 2005. The manager has just been fired. Manny Acta’s replacement, Jim Riggleman, has been pinned with the interim tag. The team’s general manager, Mike Rizzo, has been listed as “acting” GM since taking over for Jim Bowden in March. That leaves the entire front office structure built on a house of cards — a scenario that leaves even unflappable team president Stan Kasten ill at...

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MLB All-Star Game competitive again?

For years, baseball players in the American League and National League treated the All-Star Game as a quasi-playoff game. There was nothing on the line other than bragging rights. But for the old-timers that was more than enough. Now, with free agency sending players back and forth to both leagues like a pinball, that animosity has faded. The game is still a spectacle. But its outcome became such a non-issue that Major League Baseball actually added home-field advantage in the World Series as a perk for the winning team. “You can make it for the World Series. You can make it for anything you want to,” said ESPN baseball analyst Joe Morgan. “But the players will always...

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Rockville-native Riggleman takes over as skipper

Jim Riggleman has been here before. It was just a year ago that the bench coach for the Seattle Mariners suddenly found himself back in charge of a major-league club when John McLaren was fired. Riggleman took over for the rest of the season, but Seattle finished with baseball’s second-worst record and he was not retained. One year later, the Rockville, Md.-native is back in the saddle again — this time with baseball’s worst team — as the Nationals promoted him to interim manager after firing Manny Acta early Monday morning. Riggleman doesn’t lack experience. The 56-year-old has a 552-652 career record after three years with the San Diego Padres, another...

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Volunteerism trumps flip-flops at White House

The latest controversy for a championship-winning team’s visit to the White House wasn’t over someone wearing flip-flops. Instead, the 2008 MLS Cup-winning Columbus Crew’s chance to meet President Obama on Monday was combined with a community service project in support of the First Family’s “United We Serve” volunteering initiative. “My problem with it was that they said you can come under this stipulation, that you can come if you do this volunteer work,” Crew goalkeeper William Hesmer told the Columbus Dispatch. “We do that volunteer work anyway.” The team’s annual cleanup around Crew Stadium took place last...

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More reaction on Manny Acta firing from Nationals Park

It may be the All-Star break, but it was yet another wild day at Nationals Park on Monday. For a club as bad as this one, it sure knows how to make news. Plenty of good stuff on Manny Acta’s departure and Maryland native Jim Riggleman’s promotion in the print edition Tuesday morning, including reaction from players. But there were some extras that didn’t make the cut for the hard copy. One item was a lengthy open letter to the fans from the team's owners, the Lerner family, that was refreshingly honest. Some excerpts… TO: Fans of the Washington Nationals No one is more dissatisfied in the first half of the 2009 Washington Nationals season than we are. Like...

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Nationals fire manager Acta

The Nationals have fired manager Manny Acta, multiple baseball sources confirmed in the early-morning hours on Monday. The move, first reported by television network ESPN Deportes, was made after a 5-0 loss at Houston. Acta, 40, was halfway through his third season managing the club when the move was made. Washington enter Major League Baseball's All-Star break with a 26-61 record - worst in the big leagues. Acta's record during his tenure with the Nats was 158-252. His team had just completed a 1-6 road trip - not including a win against Houston on Thursday that was the conclusion of a suspended game (rain) originally started in the District in May. The front office had been close to...

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Top 10 Memorable Home Run Derbies

NFL training camp is a few weeks away. The NHL and NBA are taking summer siestas. So on Monday, Major League Baseball throws itself a pre-All-Star Game party with the annual Home Run Derby. Here are the 24-year-old events' best: 10. 1992 » Jack Murphy Stadium One year after Cal Ripken Jr.'s record-setting performance, Oakland's Mark McGwire tied the Iron Man's record with a dozen homers at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego. Big Mac had all of two homers combined in his previous two attempts. 9. 1985 » Metrodome Cincinnati's Dave Parker was the winner in the inaugural Home Run Derby at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. But things were different back then. There was just one...

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Capitals sign center Morrison

The Capitals signed veteran center Brendan Morrison to a one-year contract worth $1.5 million on Friday afternoon. It’s an interesting move for a club looking for a second-line center after Sergei Fedorov decided to finish his career back home in his native Russia. Morrison, 33, is an 11-year NHL veteran. A durable player for the Vancouver Canucks, where he put together a streak of 542 games played in a row, the 5-foot-11, 181-pounder has struggled with injuries in recent seasons. Morrison underwent right knee surgery in April of 2008 to repair a torn ACL. He has also undergone procedures on his hip and wrist as well as for a sports hernia. “Everything kind of came at...

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Tough division to get tougher?

The American League East is widely considered the best division in Major League Baseball. It's been that way for a while now. But while the Red Sox, Yankees and Rays battle for supremacy this season, is it possible the division will get even better in 2010 and 2011? While the Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays are headed toward losing seasons -- in Baltimore's case No. 11 in a row -- there are reasons for each club to hope. The Orioles have four quality 25-and-under position players already contributing -- outfielders Nick Markakis, Adam Jones and Nolan Reimold and catcher Matt Wieters -- with a batch of top pitching prospects at Triple-A Norfolk and Double-A Bowie. Baseball America on...

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Adu may be saying adieu to U.S. team

There wasn't joy in every U.S. national team homecoming at RFK Stadium on Wednesday. While D.C. United midfielder Santino Quaranta's inspirational tale took another leap forward, Potomac prodigy Freddy Adu's often over-hyped career suffered another setback. Despite scoring a goal against modest Grenada four days earlier, Adu delivered a mediocre 64 minutes as a starter against better-skilled Honduras. When the 20-year-old wasn't repeatedly muscled off the ball, he was often indecisive or simply not quick enough to generate the offensive wizardry that led D.C. United to sign him at age 14. U.S. coach Bob Bradley also announced afterward that Adu was leaving the team to rejoin his...

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Capitals top prospects take the ice

Ready for a little hockey in the middle of July? The Caps host their annual development camp starting Sunday at Kettler Iceplex in Arlington. The organization's top prospects and recent draft picks gather for a week of practices and scrimmages, hoping to make an impression on the coaching staff before training camp starts in September. Look out for defenseman John Carlson. The 19-year-old was the 27th overall pick in 2008, but had a dynamite year in juniors with the London Knights (16 G, 60 A) and when that season ended he appeared in 16 playoff games with AHL Hershey. Playing one step below the NHL, Carlson saw serious ice time for the Bears, who won the Calder Cup. With three Caps...

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A recovery to the top

Santino Quaranta has played a season and a half since deciding to make the long journey back from the depths of addiction, and D.C. United fans are well acquainted with what sobriety has brought him: career-highs in games started (23), played (27), assists (6) and matching his career high in goals scored (5) -- through just 13 games in 2009. But those who have felt the pain of addiction among loved ones know best that what is lost in addiction is often replaced by doubt in recovery, and how that doubt is often only eliminated by first-hand evidence. Once Quaranta takes the RFK Stadium field on Wednesday for the U.S. national team against Honduras in the CONCACAF Gold Cup -- and he...

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Cheap options to fill Wiz holes

Now that the whirlwind first week of NBA free agency has passed, the Wizards can get into the mix for a lower-priced big man. There isn't a ton of cash left for a team that is already over the luxury tax -- meaning any new contract must be matched dollar-for-dollar, turning the Wizard's $1.99 million biannual exception into an almost $4 million payout. They also have the $5.6 million mid-level exception to use, if needed. Some remaining free-agent candidates at center or power forward: Rasho Nesterovic » Familiar with new coach Flip Saunders, who had him for five years in Minnesota. A 7-footer who can bang with opposing centers. Would have to take a pay cut from last year's $8.4...

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The King of uncertainty in Cleveland

The recent back-and-forth exchange between sources close to LeBron James and forward Trevor Ariza shines light on one clear fact: James' status as an unrestricted free agent after next season is killing the Cavaliers' attempts to bring in quality free agents. Fans in Cleveland are desperate to know what James will do. But so are other players, who don't want to sign a contract and then be left behind by James next summer. According to reports, Ariza claims that James told him he was staying with the Cavs during a recruiting pitch last week. And while sources told ESPN on Tuesday that never happened, perception is reality. Ariza still didn't believe James and signed with Houston, as...

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Nice story, not All-Star worthy

No, the fate of the free world doesn't depend on which players make the final rosters for Major League Baseball's All-Star game in St. Louis. But it would still be nice if the decisions were made with some sort of consistent logic. Instead -- with fans, players and managers all having some say in who represents the American League and National League teams -- there is always a list of head-scratching choices. This year's questionable decisions: Josh Hamilton as a starter? The Texas slugger was a great story at last year's Home Run Derby in New York and fans have a right to pick players they want to see. But it's still hard to accept Hamilton as an All-Star when he's played in just 35...

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AT&T National's perfect storm

Anthony Kim was an appealing winner of the AT&T National in 2008. But where television ratings are concerned, he was no match for tournament host Tiger Woods, who drew three times as many viewers Sunday as Kim's victory pulled last year. According to CBS, Sunday's broadcast drew a 4.6 rating and an 11 share, up from a 1.5 rating and a 3 share last year. It was the highest rating for a non-major on CBS since the Buick Invitational in January, 2008, also won by Woods. The tournament was an overwhelming success in person as well -- all four days drew record crowds. From Tuesday-Sunday, 194,073, came to Congressional, an increase from 107,120 last year when Woods missed the tournament...

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Don't expect Ovechkin to back down

Capitals star left wing Alex Ovechkin is Russian to the core. The two-time Hart Trophy winner said time and again last season that playing in the Winter Olympics in his home country in 2014 is a "dream" and that he would be bitterly disappointed if the NHL tries to prevent its players from participating. Ovechkin is backing up his words. He was named Monday an "official ambassador" to the 2014 games in Sochi, the Black Sea resort town that will host the Olympics when Ovechkin is still just 28. But will he even have the chance? NHL owners and general managers were not happy with the way injuries were reported back to them during the Turin Olympics in 2006 and tabled...

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Nats' Zimmerman tabbed as National League reserve for All-Star game

Ryan Zimmerman had no real plans for Major League Baseball's All-Star break next week. His hometown of Virginia Beach is just a short car ride away, after all. But while Zimmerman will still catch up with friends and family, that reunion will instead happen at the All-Star game itself in St. Louis The Nationals' third baseman was named to a reserve spot on the National League roster for the July 14th All-Star game. It will be the first appearance for the 24-year-old, who earlier this season signed a five-year, $45 million contract extension with the Nats. "The fans mean everything to this game," said Zimmerman. "But to get voted in [as a reserve] by the people you play...

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Caps gain free-agent banger in Knuble

The Capitals know what they have been missing over playoff runs each of the last two springs. General manager George McPhee needed to find someone willing to crash the net and take the abuse from opposing defensemen that goes with it. A consistent, reliable presence up front could do wonders for a team that sees itself ready to take the final steps towards winning a Stanley Cup. Enter forward Mike Knuble, who played the last four seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers and was available as a free agent when the NHL signing period began on Wednesday afternoon. The Caps quickly snapped up the rugged 36-year-old, who signed a two-year, $5.8 million contract. “I’m happy with the...

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Yao-uch! That hurts Rockets

Houston's ascension » The Rockets, with a healthy Yao Ming, would have been a serious contender in the Western Conference next year. But Ming isn't healthy. And now comes a report that he might miss all of next season because of a broken left foot. Has an NBA franchise ever dealt with as many injuries as the Rockets? Oh, that's right. Forgot for a minute what town we lived in. Brandon Jennings connections » Jennings, had a phone conversation with rapper Joe Budden that made its way onto YouTube, probably without Jennings' knowledge. Regardless, the conversation was loaded with f-bombs and the N word. At one point Jennings says, "[Bleep] the Knicks" for passing on...

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Bryant having some troubles in La La land

Apparently it wasn't just Shaq that Kobe Bryant did not want to share the spotlight with in Los Angeles. Turns out he's not a big fan of the mayor, either. According to the Los Angeles Wave newspaper, the parade for the Lakers two weeks ago was held up because of a diva-esque battle between Bryant and Los Angeles's media-hungry mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (better known for dating hot TV anchors in the city). The parade was delayed an hour because Bryant reportedly did not want the mayor on the same bus as him, loudly saying that he did not like him and that, "I'm not going to let him pimp my popularity!" Bryant eventually got on the bus, but the mayor -- with the help of some...

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Nats release travel advisory for Tuesday's game

Just got this in the e-mail box. In the wake of yesterday's tragedy, the Nats are advising extra travel time for tonight's game vs. the BoSox. Apparently, there are some tickets still available — including some SRO in case of a sellout. *************************** The Washington Nationals express their deepest sympathies to those affected by yesterday’s Metrorail tragedy on the Red Line. A moment of silence will take place before this evening’s game vs. the Boston Red Sox in honor of the victims. Metro has advised all customers to plan for extra travel time both on metro and the roads due to yesterday’s accident. All Nationals fans attending tonight’s...

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Striking out: Ted Lerner and the Nationals

It was not supposed to be this way. When Major League Baseball awarded ownership of the Washington Nationals to Theodore Lerner and his family on May 3, 2006, the team’s prospects never looked brighter. Finally under local control after years of neglect in Montreal and during its first season in the District, the franchise promised to really take off in 2008, when a brand-new stadium would be built on the banks of the Anacostia River. The minor-league system would soon be stocked with homegrown talent, and when the club was ready to win, it could go after select free-agent stars. Last month, Ted Lerner and his family marked their three-year anniversary as stewards of Washington...

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Amid the Nationals’ many losses, a Cinderella season in 2005

No city knows losing baseball like Washington. The original incarnation of the Senators — the team current owner Ted Lerner grew up loving as a child — last won an American League pennant for the city in 1933 and didn’t collect another one until after moving to Minneapolis in the 1960 offseason. The 1961 expansion Senators posted one winning season in 11 years before hightailing it to Texas in the fall of 1971. The modern-day Nationals haven’t fared any better, with 71, 73 and 59 wins over the last three years — and a pace far worse than that this season. But for one brief, shining moment in 2005, the city that never wins caught baseball fever. That season...

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Rays 5, Nats 4 » Report Card

Most Valuable Player It’s unlikely that the Nats entered this series worried about Gabe Kapler killing them. So he did, of course. Kapler hit the key HR Friday in Rays’ win. He hit a two-run HR in sixth Sunday to tie the game at 4. Also had an RBI single. All-Star Performance Rays’ bullpen, including Randy Choate, pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings. With a man on first in the seventh, he induced a ground out by Nick Johnson, walked Ryan Zimmerman on purpose and then fanned Adam Dunn to foil Nats’ last best chance. Overlooked Alberto Gonzalez provided the offense early for Washington. Batted 2-for-4 with three RBI. Gonzalez had an RBI single in the second inning...

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Dotted line is bottom line

Picking a No. 1 is easier than getting him signed Tuesday night will be the easy part. No team sits in front of the Nationals at the start of Major League Baseball's annual First-Year Player Draft. The No. 1 overall pick was their "reward" for finishing with baseball's worst record last season. A few minutes after 6 p.m., the Nats are expected to announce they have selected San Diego State pitcher Stephen Strasburg. A phenom some scouts claim is the best college pitcher in a generation -- a player capable of stepping into a big-league rotation right now -- will be theirs. Well, not really. Because picking Strasburg is one thing. It is actually signing the 6-foot-4...

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Talent will top cost at No. 10

After Crow debacle, Nationals know they must sign second pick The Nationals’ No. 1 pick will get most of the attention on Tuesday night at Major League Baseball’s draft. But it is actually the No. 10 pick that could say the most about the franchise’s direction. Because the Nats failed to sign last June’s first-round pick — pitcher Aaron Crow — by the Aug. 15th deadline, they earned that 10th pick this year as compensation. If Washington does pick San Diego State pitcher Stephen Strasburg No. 1 overall, it knows a healthy chunk of the draft budget is headed his way. The question: Are the Nats really willing to take the best player available at No. 10...

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Nats will honor the draft board

By the time Tuesday’s Major League Baseball draft begins, the Nationals’ front office will have ranked 800 amateur players on their draft board. By Thursday night, they will have selected about 50 of those players. But running a draft room is a complicated, unwieldy process. That task falls to Nats’ director of scouting Dana Brown, who must manage the thoughts and opinions of everyone from acting general manager Mike Rizzo to the scouts, whose direct input helped shape the draft board. Because Washington failed to sign 2008 first-round pick Aaron Crow, it actually has two picks in the top 10 — the first time since the draft started in 1965 that has...

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Nats fall back to earth

After Saturday victory, Washington shut out All that went perfectly on Saturday night reverted to form for the Nationals. That’s the way things generally work for a last-place club. A nice night is almost always followed by a hangover. So it was on Sunday afternoon against the New York Mets at Nationals Park. Starter Craig Stammen labored through a rough first inning — the worst he’s experienced since making his big-league debut on May 21. The Nats were then baffled by the ageless Livan Hernandez, whose assortment of slow fastballs and slower breaking balls kept them off balance all day in a 7-0 loss. New York (30-25) took two of three to win the series. Washington...

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Lannan goes distance against Mets and wins, 7-1

It was the kind of game the Nationals had been waiting for all season. A big Saturday-night crowd. Perfect weather. And the best pitching performance of left-hander John Lannan’s young career. Add in three home runs and a 7-1 win over the National League East rival New York Mets and this one needs to put in a glass case somewhere — the better to remember if there are more trying days ahead this summer. But for one night at least the Nats (15-39) could bask in an economical night from Lannan, their erstwhile Opening Day starter and ace, but really a 24-year-old still trying to find consistency at the major-league level. He went all nine innings, pitching the first...

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In the end, the bullpen strikes again as Nats fall to Mets, 3-1, in 10

The circus finally departed Nationals Park. Left in the wake of Randy Johnson’s 300th win was the quiet development plan that’s been ongoing all season. Despite a two-day respite as Johnson’s monumental achievement took center stage, the process is still as painful to watch as ever. The Nationals gave themselves a chance to earn a rare win against a National League East rival on Friday night. And yet for the 26th time this season against a division opponent they fell short. New York Mets star third baseman David Wright smacked a two-run double in the top of the 10th inning off reliever Joel Hanrahan to send the Washington to a 3-1 loss on another rain-soaked night in...

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Big win for the Big Unit

Giants’ Johnson gets 300th career victory It did not matter that the climactic win came 3,000 miles from home. It did not matter that it came on a rainy weekday afternoon against a last-place team in an empty stadium. History can still be made in such places. And Randy Johnson was ready for it on Thursday against the Nationals. The San Francisco Giants’ 45-year-old lefthander put an exclamation point on his brilliant 22-year career, pitching six solid innings in a 5-1 San Francisco victory to earn his 300th win. Nats notes Game 2: Giants 4, Nats 1 » San Francisco also won the second game of the doubleheader, 4-1. That contest was halted in the top of the sixth inning...

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Johnson makes bid for 300

Giants lefty will try to make history tonight It is a milestone 22 years in the making. But San Francisco Giants pitcher Randy Johnson has been around far too long to talk about something that hasn't yet happened. Tonight at Nationals Park, the 45-year-old future Hall-of-Famer will go for career win No. 300 when the Giants face the Nationals. It is a feat only 23 pitchers in the sport's long history (and just four since 1970) have reached. That's enough to leave any player jittery and Johnson wasn't talking before Tuesday night's series opener against Washington, one day before his first attempt at history. "I'm not going to talk about this stuff. OK, I got to go," Johnson...

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Nats' St. Claire fired; Flores could miss rest of season

Pitching coach was only holdover from Acta's 2008 staff Any time a team starts the season 13-36 changes are expected. The Nationals made another one on Tuesday, firing longtime pitching coach Randy St. Claire. The 48-year-old was informed of the move during Monday’s off day. St. Claire had been with the organization since 2003 and was the only member of manager Manny Acta’s coaching staff to return from last season. But Washington’s pitching staff has struggled, sporting a major-league worst 5.69 ERA entering last night’s game against the San Francisco Giants. The rotation consists of four rookies and the bullpen (5.80 ERA) has been especially...

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Nats already swooning going into June

A miserable 2008 is repeating itself at Nationals Park, and just two months into this season that ominous number 100 is looming again. One year after finishing with Major League Baseball's worst record at 59-102, the Nationals again find themselves in the basement as the calendar flips to June. They have lost six games in a row, 18 of their last 21 and are now 5 1/2 games behind the 29th-best team in the sport with the job security of manager Manny Acta in question. Under that dark cloud, Washington opens a nine-game homestand tonight against the San Francisco Giants. But a day off on Monday wasn't exactly the solution Acta was looking for. "We just had a day off a couple of days...

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Fearless Forecast

WHAT TO WATCH PGA » The Memorial, Thursday-Sunday After skipping the Texas Three Step, Tiger Woods returns to the PGA Tour this week for Jack Nicklaus' annual event in Dublin, Ohio. Woods took the Memorial three straight years (1999-2001), but hasn't won since. He'll be challenged by defending champion Kenny Perry, also a three-time winner. NHL » Penguins at Red Wings, Sunday, 8 p.m., NBC HD Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals -- a rematch between last year's finalists -- will take place on network television in prime time. And that's a good thing because then the series disappears back to VERSUS for Games 3 and 4. NBC would broadcast the final three games. MLB »...

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Nats find more tough luck against O's, 2-1

It was the highlight of another disappointing night for the Nationals. Nats notes » Nats SS Cristian Guzman tied the game in the bottom of the fifth by ripping a Brian Bass pitch into the Nats’ bullpen in right. It was his 400th career RBI. » Washington 3B Ryan Zimmerman extended his consecutive on-base streak to 41 games with a first-inning single. » Baltimore starter Koji Uehara left the game after the third inning with tightness in his hamstring. » Nats pitchers Ross Detwiler and Shairon Martis shared a laugh after the game discussing the spectacular first-inning catch by centerfielder Justin Maxwell. Martis was on the mound in 2007 for Single-A...

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Dunn slams door on Nats' win, 8-5

They spent far too many nights in 2008 watching a punchless lineup that gave them little chance to win. So when the Nationals signed free-agent outfielder Adam Dunn to a two-year, $20 million contract in February, it was with days exactly like this one in mind. Nats notes » Nats 1B Nick Johnson was a late scratch because of a stomach ailment. Adam Dunn moved to 1B and Josh Willingham to LF. Austin Kearns took RF and SS Cristian Guzman batted in Johnson’s customary No. 2 spot in the order. » 3B Ryan Zimmerman has now reached base in 42 consecutive games. He tied Tim Raines’ single-season franchise record and is four shy of the overall mark set by Rusty Staub in...

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O's need a dozen innings to top Nats, 4-2

It is a group that bounces between two extremes — just plain bad and strikingly unlucky. Up next » Orioles @ Nationals When » Saturday, 7:05 Where » Nationals Park TV/Radio » MASN(HD)/1500 AM/XM Nats notes » The all-time National League record for most consecutive games reaching base is 60 – using records dating back before 1920. That was set by George Van Haltren of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1893. » Three players posted consecutive on-base streaks of 40 games or more last season – Kevin Youkilis (44), Albert Pujols (42) and Chipper Jones (41). » The Nats have still won seven of the last 11 meetings with the Orioles. After...

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Nats' late rally ends seven-game losing skid, top Bucs, 5-4

For weeks, the Nationals have endured one dispiriting loss after another as their own bullpen gave away leads both big and small. Thursday night at Nationals Park, the meltdown happened to somebody else for a change. Up next » Orioles @ Nats When » Friday, 7:05 Where » Nationals Park TV/Radio » MASN (HD)/1500 AM/XM Nats notes » Nats 2B Anderson Hernandez left the game after his fourth-inning ground out with a sprained little finger on his right hand. X-rays returned negative and he is listed as day-to-day. Manager Manny Acta said Hernandez felt the finger become “dislocated” while taking off his batting glove after grounding out. » Ryan...

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Wild pitch in ninth sinks Nats, 2-1

It seemed about as likely to happen as a solar eclipse at this point. But fans were treated to a rare sight at Nationals Park on Wednesday night — an honest-to-goodness pitchers' duel. Up next » Pirates @ Nationals When » Thursday, 7:05 Where » Nationals Park TV/Radio » MASN2/1500 AM/XM Nats notes » Washington option righthanded relief pitcher Garrett Mock to Triple-A Syracuse after the game. He will be replaced by righthander Craig Stammen, who comes up from Syracuse to make his major-league debut as the starter on Thursday night in the series finale against Pittsburgh. » Stammen, 25, has come on this season with a 1.80 ERA in seven starts....

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Nationals fall to Pirates

Detwiler solid in debut but ’pen awful in loss He was the sixth overall pick by the Nationals in the 2007 Major League Baseball draft, a key prospect for a club determined to develop its star players through the farm system. So far, the results have been mixed — for Washington’s minor-league system overall and for starting pitcher Ross Detwiler in particular. The 23-year-old left-hander made his first big-league start at Nationals Park on Monday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Detwiler worked five innings in his debut, allowing four hits, two earned runs and walking none in a game the Nats eventually lost, 12-7. The top choice in a 2007 Washington draft class...

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Nationals-Pirates report card

Most Valuable Player Pirates SS Jack Wilson hurt the Nats with his bat and glove. Finished 4-for-4 with two-run double in sixth and a triple in eighth. Also made sick pickup and throw to get Ryan Zimmerman out on a grounder deep in the hole at short in the fourth. All-Star Performance Ryan Zimmerman did his part during five-run fifth. Drove line drive home run off Pirates RHP Ross Ohlendorf into the red seats in center. Zimmerman was 2-for-5 and now has reached base in 36 straight games and 37 of 38 this season. Overlooked It wasn’t just that LHP Ross Detwiler made good showing in his MLB debut. It was that 2007 first-round draft pick continued to limit control issues. He hit a...

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Bitter taste will linger

Capitals will have to wait until next season to make a deep championship run The sting will last for months. The Capitals know this from experience now. Their bodies need the rest after two exhausting Stanley Cup playoff series. But as the bumps and bruises -- and in some cases injuries far more serious -- heal over the next few weeks, it is the slow passage of time that will frustrate them the most. As the Caps recuperate in places as disparate as Moscow and Regina, Saskatchewan, Gavle, Sweden and Bedford, Mass. they will catch up with friends and family back home. They will travel. Soon enough they will begin to train again for next season. But it can be an agonizing wait until...

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Capitals players to watch

Three young defenseman will be RFAs this summer. All should receive qualifying offers from Caps. Otherwise, Shaone Morrisonn, Jeff Schultz and Milan Jurcina are free agents. If given qualifying offers, the players can accept it, negotiate a better deal, sign an offer sheet with another team — which Caps could match — or choose arbitration. Likely, all three will be back for camp. Whether they make the team is the real question. Forwards Eric Fehr and Boyd Gordon are in the same boat. Chris Bourque The final cut at training camp last October went to AHL Hershey and had an excellent year (21 goals, 52 assists). Is the 5-foot-8 Bourque ready to break through and win a roster...

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Capitals Unrestricted Free Agents

Sergei Fedorov The 39-year-old has given the Caps everything they wanted since acquiring him at the trade deadline in 2008. And while he noticeably slowed this season, Fedorov is a winner. He proved that once more with his goal late in Game 7 against New York Rangers to lift Washington to its first postseason series win since 1998. But it seems unlikely the Caps can bring Fedorov back for another year at $4 million. He may retire. Viktor Kozlov Has always taken heat from fans who think his size, and skill should translate to more than 50 points a season. But the 34-year-old works well with Alex Ovechkin and Nick Backstrom on the top line and the Caps really don't need more than...

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Capital Catastrophe

Washington crushed, 6-2, by Penguins in Game 7 It was a classic series, the kind hockey fans will talk about for years. The games were thrilling, the stars always at their best. It was deserving of a dramatic finish. But this isn’t the movies, as Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin said earlier in the day. In sports those dramatic endings are never guaranteed. So it was on Wednesday night at Verizon Center when one team finally cracked in Game 7 of this chaotic Eastern Conference semifinal series../p> Related stories » Varlamov's magic runs out in Game 7 » New year, same result vs. Pens Report card First Star Star F Sidney Crosby popped home rebound of Sergei...

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Another Game 7 for Caps

Team going the distance for third-straight series The sound rang out across Mellon Arena. When Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Rob Scuderi blasted a shot off the crossbar of the goal during overtime of Game 6 on Monday night, the Capitals came within a half-inch of their season ending. Defenseman Mike Green never saw the puck. He simply heard the sound it made as it whizzed past his head and off the metal pipe. Forward Brooks Laich let out an sharp breath on the bench. Coach Bruce Boudreau wondered why there was no penalty called on Penguins forward Chris Kunitz for goalie interference. Someone on the bench finally yelled "That's the break we need." They were proven right a...

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Green in need of new sticks

Caps defenseman Mike Green has been without his trusty Easton Stealth hockey sticks since Game 1 of the Pittsburgh series -- the ones that helped him score 31 goals this season. Instead, with his particular mold no longer produced by the company and his entire batch broken, he has struggled to adjust to a new model, the S17. But after making his plight known Monday, Green was inundated with offers from fans, friends of friends and even a reporter to ship him their own Stealths. "They're coming out of everywhere," Green said Monday. It remains to be seen if any are up to his standards -- a tweaked version of the Stealth endorsed by Colorado Avalanche star Joe Sakic. If not,...

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Comeback Caps force Game 7

Steckel nets winner in OT PITTSBURGH - The comeback kids did it again. On the brink of elimination for the seventh time in two years, the Capitals responded the way they almost always have when faced with that daunting task. They found a way to survive. This time it was a 5-4 overtime victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night at Mellon Arena. Forward David Steckel scored the game-winner for Washington at 6 minutes, 22 seconds of the extra period. Rookie goalie Simeon Varlamov made that goal possible, meanwhile, playing well beyond his 21 years with 38 saves on 42 Pittsburgh shots. Game 6 Report Card Up next » Game 7 Penguins @ Capitals When » Wednesday,...

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Capitals-Penguins Report Card

First Star Game 6: Comeback Caps force Game 7 Caps coach Bruce Boudreau calls F David Steckel a player “you can win with.” He proved it again on Monday night, tipping home the game-winning goal in overtime — off a wrist shot by teammate Brooks Laich — to give the Caps 5-4 a win. Second Star Caps F Viktor Kozlov scored a critical goal early in the second period with his team trailing 1-0 and getting dominated. His shot from the slot on an Alex Ovechkin feed settled Washington. Later added the go-ahead goal at 6:07 of the third. Third Star Who else but Sidney Crosby would Pittsburgh turn to late in game down a goal? Scored at 15:42 of the third to tie game at...

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Caps face elimination game

Caps face elimination...

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Nothing new for Washington

Nothing new for...

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Ovi's heroics not enough as Caps fall in OT, 4-3

Penguins take a 3-2 series lead It was the toughest of breaks. Pittsburgh Penguins star center Evgeni Malkin drove hard towards the net and slid a pass across the front of the goal. Instead of reaching its intended target the puck deflected off the stick of diving Capitals defenseman Tom Poti and past stunned goalie Simeon Varlamov. The pair lay face down on the ice, inconsolable, as the jubilant Penguins stormed off their bench to celebrate another overtime win. Up next » Game 6 Capitals @ Penguins When » Monday, 7 Where » Mellon Arena TV » CSN(HD) Radio » 106.7 FM/XM » After winning the first two games of this Eastern Conference semifinal series,...

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Pens down Caps, 5-3, to even series

They came to Pittsburgh with a 2-0 series lead in this best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal, but also armed with the knowledge that things could turn fast against them. That’s exactly what happened to the Capitals in the Steel City. In two harrowing games played over three days before roaring sellout crowds the Penguins were clearly the superior team, including Friday night’s decisive 5-3 win in Game 4 at Mellon Arena. Up next » Penguins @ Capitals When » Saturday, 7 Where » Verizon Center TV » CSN(HD) Radio » 106.7 FM/XM 204 Washington was again outshot — albeit by a more modest 28-22 this time. There were once more too many...

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Beagle adds some bite on fourth line

PITTSBURGH - An intriguing morning skate here at Mellon Arena. Forward Alexander Semin did not participate and there was no official word on if he is okay to play tonight — although, for what it’s worth, teammate Alex Ovechkin said Semin would be ready. One thing for sure – Jay Beagle has been recalled from Hershey and said that he will play right wing on the fourth line with Boyd Gordon and Tomas Fleischmann. Also, defenseman John Erskine participated in the skate, but came off early and labeled himself “questionable” for tonight. Tyler Sloan is still with the team. Karl Alzner is back with AHL Hershey. Meanwhile, Ovie briefly fielded questions on the...

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Caps don't like calls

Caps don't like...

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Capitals are facing forward shortage

Capitals are facing forward...

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Loose Pucks » Game 3 extras from Pittsburgh

Some postgame reaction after a disappointing 3-2 overtime loss for the Capitals in Game 3 at Mellon Arena on Wednesday night. » Virtually everyone we spoke with after the game was adamant that the seven penalties Washington took were the biggest difference in the game. Forward David Steckel has made some pointed comments in recent days about his team’s slow starts to games. That didn’t happen Wednesday – Alex Ovechkin’s fluke goal put the Caps up 1-0. But the difference this time was untimely penalties — and an inability to draw more than two themselves. “My take is that we need to stay out of the box,” Steckel said. “We didn’t...

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Caps drop OT thriller

Pens climb back into series with big Game 3 victory PITTSBURGH - It was a game they probably did not deserve to win anyway. But that did not make it any less painful. Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series between the Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins ended the way overtime games usually do in the Stanley Cup playoffs. A draw. A shot. A deflection. A loss. Up next » Caps at Penguins When » Friday, 7 Where » Mellon Arena TV/Radio » CSN(HD)/106.7 FM/XM For more on the Caps, check out Brian McNally's blog Loose Pucks only on WashingtonExaminer.com. Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang scored off a faceoff win at 11 minutes, 23 seconds of overtime to...

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Loose Pucks » Pens' Kunitz not proud of hit on Varlamov

PITTSBURGH – You don’t often get this kind of candor from an NHL player in the middle of the playoffs. But Penguins winger Chris Kunitz all but apologized for his cross check to the jaw of Caps goalie Simeon Varlamov in the final seconds of Game 2 on Monday night. The hit went unnoticed by the referees — partly because it came in the middle of a wild scramble that eventually led to a Penguins goal by Sidney Crosby with 31 seconds left. Kunitz was fined an undisclosed amount by the NHL, but admitted he was lucky to dodge a suspension. “No. It looks bad on tape. It definitely does. It’s something that I’m definitely not proud of. You don’t want to...

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Loose Pucks » Mellon Arena feels like the Willard

PITTSBURGH — No better way to start The Examiner’s brand new hockey blog than with some pregame chatter before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series between the Caps and Pittsburgh Penguins. Players and coaches were a little on edge Wednesday morning at Mellon Arena, where each team held its morning skate. With good reason, of course. Caps defenseman Mike Green called it “the pivotal game” of the series. Either the Caps bury the Pens tonight or give them life. It was a K Street kind of morning. With all the lobbying going on they could have held the media scrum for both teams at the Willard. The Penguins are still unhappy officials failed to call an...

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Cool under pressure

Cool under...

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Tip of the hat to Ovie, Crosby

Stars each get first playoff hat trick in Caps’ 4-3 win It turned into an epic game of “Can you top this?” The NHL’s two biggest stars spent two-and-a-half hours on Monday night willing their teams to victory in Game 2 of an Eastern Conference semifinal series at Verizon Center. Caps notes » Caps coach Bruce Boudreau lost D John Erskine, day-to-day with a lower-body injury. In his place was D Tyler Sloan, who played 26 games for Caps earlier this season (1 G, 4 A). He saw 16:23 of ice time and recorded his first postseason point, an assist on David Steckel’s goal. » Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma has gone back and forth between F Miro Satan and...

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Caps look to take control

Washington aims to take 2-0 series lead tonight They will not have to fight from behind this time. After losing three of the first four games of their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the New York Rangers, the Capitals got off to a strong start in the Eastern Conference semifinals with Saturday’s 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Their rookie goalie, Simeon Varlamov, shook off a soft goal and made one of the most spectacular saves in the NHL all season. They received secondary scoring from forwards David Steckel and Tomas Fleischmann. And star left wing Alex Ovechkin made Pittsburgh pay for taking a pair of penalties late in the first period. Of course, it was...

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Caps edge Penguins in Game 1

Pittsburgh forward Sidney Crosby raised his arms in celebration. Capitals defenseman Mike Green started skating towards his bench, certain the Penguins star had just put his team ahead. But even in his short time in the NHL, Caps goalie Simeon Varlamov has shown the instincts of a veteran – not the 21-year-old rookie that he actually is. Flinging himself back into a play with 2 minutes, 3 seconds left in the second period, Varlamov had only his stick to try to block a shot from one of the world’s greatest players. Somehow, he did it. Caps notes » Washington F David Steckel recorded his first career playoff goal in the first period. » Caps F Tomas Fleischmann...

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Stealing the show?

Role players on each side could be key to the series The focus is on the biggest stars. That is the way it always is when a Stanley Cup playoff series is about to start. But while Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin and Pittsburgh Penguins centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are three of the greatest hockey players in the world today, none of them can win this best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal on their own. “If [Ovechkin] scores two goals and we lose the hockey game — but Crosby has zero — we don’t win and he doesn’t win,” said Caps forward Brooks Laich, one of those unheralded players who will have to produce if his team expects to advance....

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CAPITALS-PENGUINS SERIES PREVIEW

CAPITALS Late addition Simeon Varlamov spent the last month of the season as backup to Jose Theodore before taking over in Game 2 of the opening round against New York. The 21-year-old has posted absurd numbers (1.17 GAA, .952 save percentage), but must quickly adjust to one of the NHL’s best offenses. The vet There was talk Sergei Fedorov’s game was slipping. There were rumors retirement was imminent. But the 39-year-old showed he has plenty left in the tank with a game-winning wrister in Game 7 against the Rangers. He had 11 goals and 22 assists in 52 games. He also won 53 of 99 faceoffs in the first round. The agitator Matt Bradley produced some of the best hits of the...

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Caps win Game 7 thriller

Caps win Game 7...

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Caps force Game 7

NEW YORK - Here we go again. One year ago, the Capitals rallied from a 3-1 Stanley Cup playoff deficit and forced a decisive Game 7 at Verizon Center. That night ended in sudden heartbreak, an overtime goal leaving players strewn about the ice in dejection. Maybe a similar painful fate is in store for the Caps on Tuesday night. But after Sunday’s dominating 5-3 victory over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden they could care less. Because at least now they have a chance. Tom Poti had a goal and three assists against his former team and was one of three different Washington defensemen to score in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal. The Caps — as they...

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CAPITALS-RANGERS REPORT CARD

First Star D Tom Poti is still a reviled figure in New York dating to his three-and-a-half years as a Ranger. But has made Garden faithful pay for their jeers with two goals and four assists in series. Had a goal and three assists Sunday. Second Star Alex Ovechkin spent the final minutes of warm-ups practicing deflections with teammates Mike Green and Alexander Semin. The extra work paid off when he deflected home a point shot by Poti in the second to put the game away at 5-1. Third Star The Rangers aren’t good a man up. But at least give Caps some credit on penalty kill. David Steckel helped hold New York to 1-for-6 during their 5-on-4 PPs. He also added a pair of assists in the...

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CAPITALS NOTEBOOK » New York wants an investigation

Rangers GM asks league to look into security issues Plenty of subplots during Sunday’s 5-3 win in Game 6. The Rangers — upset about the suspension of coach John Tortorella — made public a letter the organization sent to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. Rangers general manager Glen Sather requested the league investigate “gross negligence” on the part of the Capitals for the lack of security around the New York bench during Game 5 at Verizon Center. The Rangers believe that directly led to Tortorella throwing a water bottle at a fan. Sather claims New York personnel were spat upon and subjected to homophobic slurs. The Rangers also want a plan from Verizon...

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Caps crash Garden party

Season on the line again Sunday in New York It was a move only Alex Ovechkin could make. But even if most mortal hockey players can’t pull off the goal that Ovechkin scored with 29 seconds left in the second period of Friday’s Game 5 win over the New York Rangers, the play may have helped the Capitals expose a chink in the New York armor entering Game 6 on Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden. Where earlier in the series the Caps settled for perimeter shots — blocked more often than not by an aggressive Rangers defense — on Friday they attacked, taking wide angles and then driving at the man covering them, especially in one-on-one situations. Ovechkin...

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Game 5 » Caps heading back to Broadway, down Rangers, 4-0

There were almost too many heroes to count. Should the acclaim go to the fourth-line grinder who moved up a spot in the lineup and contributed two unlikely goals? Or how about the rookie goalie who continues to show poise beyond his years? And, as always, there is the superstar with the knack for the big moment, scoring goals that take your breath away. Forwards Matt Bradley and Alex Ovechkin and 20-year-old goalie Simeon Varlamov deserve all the praise heaped upon them after their clutch performances in Game 5 on Friday night. They each helped deliver the Caps to a 4-0 victory at Verizon Center and extended the season at least two more days. Up next » Game 6 Capitals at...

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Caps look to make a stand

Washington hosts Rangers in Game 5 Friday night The Capitals finished the regular season with a franchise-record 108 points. They won 50 games for just the second time in team history and two of their biggest stars will be up for the NHL’s most prestigious awards in June. Winning hockey even became the hottest sports ticket in the District as Verizon Center hosted a record 29 sellout crowds. And yet, despite all that success, everything could come to an end as soon as tonight when the Caps host the New York Rangers in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. New York leads the best-of-seven series 3-1 so a loss means the season is over. That would be a bitter pill...

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Caps on brink of elimination

Washington drops Game 4, down 3-1 in playoff series NEW YORK – There is no place to turn now. The Capitals return home to the District on Friday just one game away from elimination — the exact situation they faced last spring in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Needing to bottle their brilliant performance from Game 3 against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden and replicate it on Wednesday night, the Caps just about did it. But it still wasn’t enough. Caps notes » New York goalie Henrik Lundqvist tied a playoff career-high with 38 saves. He also did it in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Buffalo on May 4, 2007. »...

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Varlamov to the rescue

Capitals go off the script with rookie netminder NEW YORK – They knew his name, of course. Simeon Varlamov is, after all, one of the Capitals’ top prospects. Some players vaguely recall seeing him during training camp and taking quick note of the organization’s likely goalie of the future. But as they gathered in Washington late last summer to prepare for the season, not a single one of those players envisioned the 20-year-old Russian as their postseason starter. The plan was for Varlamov, the team’s 2006 first-round draft pick, to get used to life in North America playing for the franchise’s American Hockey League affiliate in Hershey. But that plan went...

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Capitals climb back

Varlamov is dominant as Washington wins Game 3 NEW YORK – They smelled blood at Madison Square Garden on Monday night. The wounded Capitals entered this venerable old arena trailing 2-0 to the New York Rangers in an Eastern Conference quarterfinal series they expected to win. And from the start no one in the howling sellout crowd would let Washington forget just how precarious its predicament was. There were ear-splitting chants of “Let’s Go Rangers.” The fans serenaded star goalie Henrik Lundqvist after every spectacular save — “Henrik!” — and banged their electric-blue thunder stix. But out of that cauldron of noise and emotion the...

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CAPITALS NOTEBOOK » Ovie is thrown out of Rangers’ skate

Maybe Caps F Alex Ovechkin was just antsy to get out on the ice for his team's morning skate at Madison Square Garden on Monday. Maybe he was trying to intimidate the New York Rangers as they prepared for Game 3. Maybe it was just Alex being Alex. Whatever the reason, Ovechkin sat on a bench as New York conducted its skate — breaking an NHL rule in the process. So the Rangers — through Caps PR guru Nate Ewell — asked him to leave until New York was done. It’s rare for opponents to skate at the same venue. But the Rangers are holed up at a Manhattan hotel and skating at the Garden instead of their suburban headquarters. “Because they're afraid of me,”...

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Nats, Zimmerman agree to new deal

Third baseman to stay in Washington through 2013 The first player ever drafted by the Washington Nationals franchise after moving to the District will be around another five years. The Nats and third baseman Ryan Zimmerman agreed on a five-year contract extension Sunday evening, according to multiple baseball sources, keeping the franchise’s cornerstone player with the team through the 2013 season. The two sides had been working on a deal throughout spring training. Zimmerman, however, repeatedly said early this season that he did not want negotiations dragging into the regular season. But the two sides — specifically agent Brodie Van Wagenen and team president Stan Kasten...

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NATIONALS-MARLINS REPORT CARD

Most Valuable Player Florida OF Cody Ross spent his weekend killing the Nats. Hit game-tying homer in ninth Friday. Sunday, he was 3-for-4 with 5 RBI, including a homer in the eighth and three-run double to break 4-4 tie in the ninth. All-Star Performance Nats OF Adam Dunn batted 2-for-2 with three walks, reaching base five times in all. He also scored a run on a Jesus Flores RBI single in the fifth. But the Nats left 12 runners on base in the 7-4 loss. Overlooked Nats RHP Daniel Cabrera posted a second straight acceptable start. He pitched five innings with three hits allowed and four walks. The Marlins scored just two runs off Cabrera, who pitched into the sixth and left after 92...

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New goalie, same result for Capitals

Varlamov solid in playoff debut, but Lundqvist earns shutout for New York, 1-0 Report card FIRST STAR Henrik Lundqvist showed why he carries the nickname “King,” turning away 35 shots. If the Rangers are going to finish off the Caps when the series shifts to Broadway, New York will need more of the same. SECOND STAR Simeon Varlamov has given the Capitals something they’ve been yearning for — a confident netminder facing the shots. The 20-year-old looked plenty stable in goal, denying 23 Rangers chances winning the duel, despite losing to Lundqvist. THIRD STAR Markus Naslund claimed one of the few outstanding offense plays of the day. Naslund broke out on a...

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Relaxed Caps seek rebound

Washington looks to even series Saturday vs. New York Tactics are important. Matchups are key. But so much of playoff hockey is mental and when a team falls behind early in a series the pressure always jumps. A certain level of toughness is needed to keep that stress from seeping into the next game. But an ability to relax helps, too. Caps notes » After a two-day wait, the Rangers and Caps continue their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series at 1 p.m. Saturday at Verizon Center. » Caps D Jeff Schultz may have been benched anyway after a rough Game 1. But he will sit Saturday thanks to an undisclosed injury suffered in the third period on Wednesday. » Schultz was a...

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Will Caps bench Theodore?

Questions swirl around team’s goalie situation Capitals goalie Jose Theodore walked past the ice rink inside Kettler Iceplex on Thursday morning, the hood of his sweatshirt pulled tight over his head. If he looked like a man blocking out the world, that’s probably because he was. Few athletes face the scrutiny of a starting goalie on a hockey team with championship aspirations. But just 12 hours after a disappointing performance in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal playoff series vs. the New York Rangers, Theodore was back at work during an optional practice. He had a long talk with goaltending coach Dave Prior. He did a few technical drills and faced some...

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FINAL FOUR » UCONN

Analyzing the Huskies The Key Connecticut is where it’s supposed to be. The Huskies were ranked No. 2 in preseason polls by ESPN and The Associated Press. Spent four weeks at No. 1 and have not yet been tested in NCAAs. But Michigan State resembles Pitt, a tough team UConn lost to twice. The Troublemaker UConn can become too reliant on PG A.J. Price. That’s when freshman Kemba Walker is an X-factor. The reserve G tied a career-high with 23 points in just 25 minutes during Elite Eight game vs. Missouri. He is most effective in transition and vs. press. Why they’ll win it all There are no easy baskets against Connecticut. Hasheem Thabeet is the nation’s...

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Nationals Preview » Season at a crossroad

The 2009 season marks a pivotal turning point for the Nationals. Are they a team that will develop several young stars at once, select a pitching prodigy No. 1 overall in June’s draft and put together a decent season? Or will this group implode under the weight of a young pitching staff, fire its manager and botch its once-in-a-generation draft pick? Take one direction and the Nats become a franchise on the rise with the financial power to both develop and keep star players. Go in the other and they will play in a half-empty stadium, joining the bottom feeders of the sport. No pressure, though. Starting Pitching Not that they had much choice, but the Nats went with youth in the...

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Fans will see some upgrades to Nats Park

Last summer, the Nationals’ ownership group held back rent payments to the District of Columbia government and demanded damages because it believed Nationals Park was not completed on time. Sources say that dispute has been resolved and this year’s rent payment already has been made. That means fans will notice a winter’s worth of improvements when they return to Nationals Park on April 13 for the home opener against the Philadelphia Phillies. The biggest change is a new food vendor — the organization’s third in as many years. Levy Restaurants replaces Centerplate, which handled food and concessions last season. Team officials hope that means an end to long...

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Stepping up to the plate

Nationals face challenges, changes as they enter their fifth season With Opening Day just three days away, the Nationals are making final preparations for their fifth season of Major League Baseball since the sport returned to the District. It will be one fraught with challenges. The Nats must improve their on-field product and develop younger players who can be part of a contending team in the future. However, the organization has to accomplish this in the midst of a sputtering economy that makes marketing a professional sports franchise difficult at best. HOW TO GET THERE It’s been a long time since last season when the Nationals ran ads begging fans to take Metro. This...

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Green powers Caps past Islanders, 5-3

It was just a casual conversation before the game, two longtime friends from across North America catching up with each other by phone. It pays to have access, apparently. Kyle Lieske grew up with Capitals defenseman Mike Green in Calgary, Alberta, and played youth hockey with the future NHL star. So when Lieske’s fantasy hockey team needed a little boost, he went right to the source. Green obliged with a pair of power-play goals and an assist against the New York Islanders on Wednesday night, lifting the Caps to a come-from-behind 5-3 victory. Green continued his remarkable season, becoming the first defenseman in the NHL to register 30 goals since Washington’s Kevin...

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Caps » Long road back for Pothier

Defenseman nominated for perseverance award Capitals defenseman Brian Pothier has been nominated for the Masterton Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL player who best demonstrates perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Caps notes » Washington (46-23-7, 99 points) hosts the New York Islanders tonight at Verizon Center. » F Donald Brashear (knee) said he will not play Wednesday, but is shooting for weekend games vs. Buffalo and Atlanta. » D Mike Green was back at practice on Tuesday after battling flu-like symptoms the day before. The Washington, D.C. chapter of the Professional Hockey Writer’s Association nominated Pothier. He is one of 30 NHL...

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Caps can’t relax quite yet

It feels like the Capitals clinched the Southeast Division title weeks ago. But with just six games left in the regular season there is still a little work to do before another banner is added to the collection at Verizon Center. The red-hot Carolina Hurricanes (42-28-7, 91 points) are just close enough to make things interesting for Washington (46-23-7, 99 points). Because the Hurricanes earned seven standings points in six games against the Caps this season, they would actually win a tiebreaker for the division title. Of course, for that scenario to happen the Caps would have to finish 1-5 over the final two weeks and Carolina would need to win all five of its remaining games —...

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Pothier scores, Caps strike Lightning, 5-3

Capitals defenseman Brian Pothier is finally back in the NHL. A 14-month odyssey battling post-concussion symptoms and vision problems came to an end earlier this month when Pothier was added to the active roster. Friday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning, he took another big step in his comeback. Pothier scored the game-winning goal in the third period of a wild 5-3 Washington victory at Verizon Center. Still struggling to adjust to the pace of the NHL in just his fourth game back in the lineup, Pothier made the instinctive play that’s been missing so far. A point shot deflected off the skate of Tampa Bay forward Vaclav Prospal and into the slot and Pothier quickly jumped on...

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West • Sweet 16 » No. 2 Memphis vs. No. 3 Missouri

West • Sweet 16 » No. 2 Memphis vs. No. 3 Missouri, Thursday, 9:37 p.m., CBS MEMPHIS MISSOURI John Calipari has Memphis rolling — 137-13 over last four years with two Elite Eights and last year’s runner-up. X Coaching Mike Anderson has Missouri (30-6) in Sweet 16 for first time since 2002. Led U-AB to Sweet 16 in ’04. Good luck keeping frosh G Tyreke Evans (16.6 ppg) out of lane. Penetration sets up 3-point shooters. Guards...

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West • Sweet 16 » No. 1 Connecticut vs. No. 5 Purdue

West • Sweet 16 » No. 1 Connecticut vs. No. 5 Purdue, Thursday, 7:07 p.m., CBS CONNECTICUT PURDUE Hall-of-Famer Jim Calhoun has won two national titles in 23 years in Storrs. X Coaching After missing NCAAs five times in six years, Purdue is tournament regular again under Matt Painter. A.J. Price (14.6 ppg, 4.8 apg) is an elite PG. They still miss injured SG Jerome Dyson (13.2 ppg). X Guards Lewis Jackson is quick;...

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Caps fall in shootout

Veteran Joseph stops Washington short So who needs a warm up? Not a 41-year-old goalie apparently. In the game only because of the ejection of teammate Martin Gerber, veteran goalie Curtis Joseph stole a point from the Capitals on Tuesday night in a game played in Toronto. The Maple Leafs won 3-2 in a shootout at the Air Canada Center thanks in large part to Joseph, who replaced Gerber in the final minute after Toronto’s starter bumped the referee when Washington scored the game-tying goal with 57 seconds left. That goal by Brooks Laich gave the Caps all the momentum and sent Gerber to the showers after a game-misconduct penalty. But they couldn’t take advantage in...

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CAPITALS-MAPLE LEAFS REPORT CARD

FIRST STAR A boring hockey game went completely nuts in the final minutes. Toronto G Curtis Joseph came on late after ejection of starter Martin Gerber. A cold Cujo made eight stops in the final minute and overtime to send the contest into a shootout. SECOND STAR With the extra attacker on the ice, Caps F Brooks Laich stood his ground in the crease and somehow pushed the game-tying goal across with just 57 seconds left. Led to ejection of Gerber, who argued the call. THIRD STAR Power-play goal scored by Toronto D Pavel Kubina with just 2 minutes, 9 seconds left in the game put the Maple Leafs ahead, 2-1. It was his ninth PP goal of the season and 14th overall. OOPS! Toronto’s...

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Green hunting for 30

Defenseman closing in on milestone scoring mark It is not something Caps defenseman Mike Green really wants to discuss. Pro athletes have their superstitions, and tempting fate by talking about potential milestones isn’t good business. Yet here Green is — after scoring five times in the last four games — just two goals shy now of 30. That is a big deal in the NHL, where no defenseman has reached that mark in 16 years — ironically, the Caps’ Kevin Hatcher (34 goals) last did it in 1992-93. The last defenseman to tally 28 was St. Louis’ Al MacInnis in 1993-94. “Obviously, it’s [a topic] thanks to [the media], and it’s always in the...

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Saturday's NCAA Tournament Preview

No. 4 Washington vs. No. 5 Purdue Firecracker Can’t ask for a better second-round matchup. Both teams took care of business in their opener. Purdue (26-9), the Big 10 tournament champ, took control early against Northern Iowa and held off a late charge. Washington, (26-8) the Pac-10 regular-season champ, overwhelmed Mississippi State in the second half. Why Washington will win Huskies finished first in the Pac-10 for a reason: Led by 6-foot-7 forward Jon Brockman, only four teams in the country rebound better. Guard Isaiah Thomas was the Pac-10 freshman of the year. The Huskies also should get a boost from a partisan crowd in Portland. How Purdue pulls an upset Not really an...

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Fearless forecast » NCAA Tournament

Games to watch Midwest Region » No. 11 Dayton vs. No. 6 West Virginia, 3 p.m. The Mountaineers (23-11) could be a dark horse in the stacked Midwest Region. F Da’Sean Butler (17.3 ppg) leads the way. West Virginia is an excellent defensive team (42 percent FG allowed), but poor from 3-point range (33 percent). Dayton can defend as well (43 percent) and has wins over Marquette and Xavier. Midwest Region » No. 10 USC vs. No. 7 Boston College, 7:20 p.m. USC (21-12) needed a late run through the Pac-10 tournament to secure an NCAA berth. F Taj Gibson (14.3 ppg, 9.4 rpg) earned the conference’s defensive player of the year honors. The Trojans will need to defend Boston...

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NCAA Tournament » Fearless Forecast

BOLD PREDICTIONS 1 Carr won’t be the only reason American is a tough out After scoring a game-high 26 points last year versus Tennessee, Garrison Carr is item No. 1 on Villanova’s game plan for American. Except that a