Southeastern Conference Showdown: Thrashers Visit Capitals

Depleted by the injury bug (which the past few weeks seems to be as hard to erradicate as those pesky bed bugs), the Capitals called up reinforcements Mathieu Perreault and Jay Beagle from Hershey to face the Atlanta Thrashers at home. Both teams were coming off of a two-loss streak and the Caps were without the services of Tom Poti, Boyd Gordon, Marcus Johansson, Matt Bradley and as we learned right before the game, Semyon Varlamov.  A healing Mike Green was dressed but used in limited capacity (as in, only on the power play) And as added motivation to turn this ship around, the boys were called out by owner Ted Leonsis yesterday after Thursday's debacle in Boston.

The Thrashers got on the board first with a power play goal from former Blackhawk Andrew Ladd. Unfortunately, the home team managed a few too many trips to the sin bin and were unable to get on the scoreboard in the opening period. End of first: Thrashers 1 - Capitals 0


2nd period:
38 seconds into the second period, Thrashers goaltender Chris Mason errantly tried to clear the puck, directly to a waiting Alex Semin who ripped it in net for the Caps' first goal.

Shortly after, it was Atlanta's offense getting it done. Rich Peverly set up Evander Kane from behind the net. Kane then proceeded to go five-hole on Neuvirth to take the 2-1 lead.

And the much anticipated return of an injured Mike Green came at 9:41 when Jim Slater took a seat for interference. Green still appears to be somewhat less than 100% but set up what looked to be the tying goal. However, the stripes sent it to review and the hockey gods in Toronto deemed it to have been "kicked in" and called it as no goal to the vocal disagreement of the home crowd.

Neuvirth made an eye-popping save on what would've been a clean breakaway goal for sure but the headturning action for him came later in the period.

At the 17:32 mark, Dustin Byfuglien bolted from his seat in the penalty box (where he was banished for tripping) and instead of putting on the brakes, took a full force run at Michal Neuvirth. Neuvirth flew into the goal, stick and legs flying, as a result of the impact. An infuriated John Erskine wasted no time in making Byfuglien pay, pounding the big guy into the ice.

Erskine recieved two minutes for roughing but Byfuglien paid the ultimate price, slapped with a five-minute major and exiting with a game misconduct. Thankfully, Neuvy seemed to be shaken up but appears to have survived the collision no worse for wear. What is with the craziness involving goaltenders each time these two teams have met thus far? For the love already....

Third Period:
So the boys started the third period with 2:32 left on their power play.

Seconds into it, Brooks Laich was whistled for hooking- negating the remaining time on the man advantage.

The Caps took advantage of a bad Atlanta pass which was intercepted by the energizer bunny that is Mathieu Perreault. Number 85 was well on his way to a clear breakaway when he was tripped. On his way down, Perreault managed to get the puck over to Alex Semin, who netted his second goal on the evening at 5:09 of the period.

Then at 13:28, Alex Semin earned the hat trick courtesy of a beautiful pass from Mathieu Perreault. Congrats to Sasha and another outstanding play by the hard-charging Perreault!

To the dismay of Capitals' fans, this one wasn't over just yet. With 32 seconds left, Evander Kane sliced the puck out of mid-air to tie the game at 3-3.

So this one could not be decided in regulation and required overtime. With 1:37 left in OT, Tomas Fleischmann sniped one over Chris Mason to win the game.

 Final Score: Capitals 4 - Thrashers 3


Not a perfect performance by any means, but the boys won a tough one at home and several of the role players including John Erskine had terrific games. Mathieu Perreault made a resounding case for why he deserves a permanent spot on the roster.

HM will miss all of the Capitals' action next week as I'm travelling for work but be sure to check out all the fabulous blogs on my blogroll for the latest and greatest. Happy hockey watching!

Cheerleaders in the NHL Finally Make it to Canada - To the Despair of Hockey Traditionalists

Many of the Southeastern Conference teams have had them for years - cheerleaders, spirit girls, whatever you want to call them. As if NHL fans need any more spirit. The Capitals debuted the Red Rockers a few seasons ago, much to the chagrin of many fans that don't fall into the 14-year old boy demographic. But we've come to accept them as part of the in-game entertainment, even though the process took awhile.

Well now the hockey cheerleader phenomenon has crossed the border into Canada as the Edmonton Oilers announced the addition of a cheer squad to the dismay of hockey purists across the country. HM heard from a male hockey fan on the new Oilers' pom-pom shaking addition, who had this to say: "I'm there to see brawls not broads." Enuff said. But for a unique perspective on the Oilers' recent announcement from a tried and true Canadian female fan, check out this post from Hockey & High Heels author Lisa Ovens. From the reaction HM is gauging from around the hockey blogosphere, mainsteam media and Twitterverse, Lisa is not the only one of our hockey-loving neighbors to the North wanting to "just say no" to "spirit squads"...

Editor's Note: Hockey Mom will be previewing Lisa's new book For the Love of Empty Net Goals on this blog in the very near future. Sure to be a very fun read - be sure to pre-order yours from her Web site.

Caps Host Hockey Fights Cancer Night

When the puck drops tonight against the Atlanta Thrashers, the Capitals will be looking to fight more than just the foe on the ice as they participate in Hockey Fights Cancer night at Verizon Center. Several players have had their own personal experiences living with family members diagnosed with cancer. During tonight's pre-game ceremony, players Matt Bradley, Mike Knuble and Tyler Sloan, whose mothers have all battled cancer, will help recognize 30 very special Caps fans. This group includes the true heroes who have battled, beaten, helped treat or been personally touched by leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s Disease or myeloma. Each participant will be rocking the red in a T-shirt with the Caps logo on the front, the Hockey Fights Cancer logo on the back and the LLS (The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) logo on the sleeve. During tonight's game Mike Green (Green’s Gang) and Alex Ovechkin (Ovi’s Crazy 8’s) are donating their seats to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s National Capital Area Chapter. Attendees sitting in these sections will be blood cancer survivors and patients and will also be included in the on-ice ceremony.

During tonight's game, the Caps will also raise vital funds in the fight to erradicate cancer by hosting a jersey auction at the community relations table located at section 104 in Verizon Center benefiting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s National Capital Area Chapter. These autographed home jerseys will be worn by players during warmups and will feature Hockey Fights Cancer patches on the front with the players’ names and numbers stitched in grey on the back. The red and grey jerseys are the same colors as The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s logo.




The team is partnering this year with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The mission of LLS is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services. The Caps are encouraging fans to text HFC to 90999 to make a $5 donation to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and help find a cure for cancer. Fans can also donate specifically to the National Capital Area Chapter at http://www.lls.org/capsfans.

Hockey Fights Cancer is a joint charitable initiative founded in December 1998 by the National Hockey League and National Hockey League Players’ Association. It is supported by players, NHL member clubs, NHL alumni, the NHL Officials’ Association, professional hockey athletic trainers and equipment managers, corporate marketing partners, broadcast partners and fans throughout North America. The goal of Hockey Fights Cancer is to raise money and awareness for national and local organizations involved in cancer care and research. To date, Hockey Fights Cancer has raised more than $11 million. Hockey Fights Cancer is a component of The Biggest Assist Happens Off The Ice, the National Hockey League’s and National Hockey League Players’ Association’s social responsibility program that builds on hockey’s long-standing tradition of addressing important social issues in North America and around the world.



About The National Capital Area Chapter
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has 58 U.S. chapters, and the National Capital Area Chapter is one of the highest revenue-generating chapters in the nation. The National Capital Area Chapter serves Washington, D.C.; the Maryland counties of Prince George and Montgomery; and the Virginia Counties of Loudoun, Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria and Prince William. More than 2,500 patients and families are served by the chapter each year.


In other charitable news, one guy that really knows how to get under the skin of Capitals' faithful, has cut his signature flame-red hair and donated it to Locks for Love. Philadelphia Flyer forward Scott Hartnell, will look a little less like the GEICO Caveman from now on without his trademark mane flying out of his helmet. How about that new do, eh? Good for him though - a very, very worthwhile cause.

Preventing Concussions and Hockey Parent Meltdowns

As the Capitals took to the ice at TD Bank Gardens tonight (in their second ugly – emphasis on ugly- loss in a week to the boys from Beantown), the Bs were once again without one of their key offensive players. Marc Savard is still suffering from the lingering effects of post-concussion syndrome, months after being leveled by Pens goon Matt Cooke – who received not as much as a slap on the hand for the dangerous hit. These kinds of hits, along with the brutal head hits seen in several NFL games this past weekend, are once again bringing the issue of damaging concussions and how to prevent them to the forefront of both amateur and professional sports.

The renowned Mayo Clinic conducted a summit this week to further discuss this issue, which is becoming an all too common occurrence at both the youth and professional levels. The New York Times Slap Shot blog had comprehensive coverage of the summit, which brought together hockey officials, physicians and former players who’ve experienced the detrimental effects of concussions. For the pros, the Mayo Clinic wants to see a ban on all head contact in addition to the new league rule outlawing blindside hits. To protect the vulnerable heads of youth players, several new measures were recommended, including re-training coaches and adding education on head injuries to the USA Hockey curriculum. HM has seen several young players sidelined by concussions, a very scary injury. The Capital’s Karl Alzner recently spoke to Dan Steinberg of DC Sports Bog about his own experiences with concussions – some very serious stuff.

And now on to hockey parent meltdowns (Editor’s note: HM just suffered a hockey parent meltdown of her own after watching the Caps drop another game to a hot Tim Thomas and the Bruins – sloppy work boys). Hockey Calgary wants to keep hockey moms and dads from behaving badly at the rink by implementing mandatory anger management courses. From my own personal experience, if a kid on the ice is acting like a goon or mouthing off to officials, chances are the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Judging by some of the heated exchanges I've witnessed between parents during games (cough cough, especially some of those from the city of Brotherly Love), this program should be made mandatory for hockey parents in the States as well. Speaking of anger management, HM is off to get her blood pressure back in check after the 4-1 loss in which the Caps' power play continued to be a non-factor. Up next: The Atlanta Thrashers come to town Saturday.

Capitals Donate $25,000 to the Potomac Valley Amateur Hockey Association

A huge stick tap to the Washington Capitals organization for their continued support of youth hockey in the D.C. region, which has helped the sport grow like gangbusters among area kids of all ages. Today the Capitals helped ensure the continued growth and program excellence for hockey in this area by making a $25,000 donation to  Potomac Valley Amateur Hockey Association (PVAHA) to help fund the 2010-11 John Crerar Hockey Development Grant.

Organized amateur hockey in the Washington, D.C., area developed in large part through the perseverance and dedication of John Crerar. Crerar was one of the founders of the Cap Boys youth hockey program, served as the president and co-founder of the Capital Beltway Hockey League, was the president of the Southeastern Amateur Hockey Association, and served for many years as a director of USA Hockey. Crerar was also the director of operations for off-ice officials for the Washington Capitals for a number of years. Crerar passed away on Oct. 14, 2006. To honor his contribution to the hockey community, the Potomac Valley Amateur Hockey Association established the John Crerar Hockey Development Grant Program.


“The Washington Capitals are partners and great supporters of youth and amateur hockey within our area,” said John Cole, president of the Potomac Valley Amateur Hockey Association. “The grant funds awarded to PVAHA by the Washington Capitals allow us to promote new membership at our younger age levels, and to support disabled hockey and American Development Model initiatives.”

The purpose of the John Crerar Hockey Development Grant Program is to assist the member associations within PVAHA to increase participation and promote hockey development within Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Nonprofit 501(c)(3) member associations within the Potomac Valley Amateur Association are eligible to apply for affiliate grants. Member associations are asked to come up with ideas to grow the sport at the local level and can seek financial assistance from PVAHA to help support their efforts.

“One of the main goals of Washington Capitals Charities is to support programs that encourage participation in hockey,” said Elizabeth Wodatch, director of community relations for the Washington Capitals. “This grant shows our dedication to amateur hockey in the D.C. area and commitment to grow the sport locally.”

Potomac Valley Amateur Hockey Association
The Potomac Valley Amateur Hockey Association is an Affiliate of the Southeastern District of USA Hockey. The Affiliate is the governing body of all amateur hockey within the District of Columbia and the states of Maryland and Virginia (including HM's boys' travel team).

Washington Capitals Charities
Created in 2000, Washington Capitals Charities offers unique resources and Caps Care programs to other charities and organizations on behalf of the Capitals. Its mission is to create, maintain and support community programs in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area that encourage participation in hockey, serve to educate youth, assist those who are less fortunate and focus on health and wellness. Washington Capitals Charities is also committed to supporting the charitable endeavors, initiatives and foundations of the team’s players and alumni.

During the 2009-10 season, the Washington Capitals Charities provided support to the following programs through the John Crerar Hockey Development Grant: Baltimore Saints Special Hockey, Bennett Blazers Sled Hockey, Kids On Ice, Montgomery Cheetahs Hockey Club, Montgomery Youth Hockey, National Rehabilitation Hospital, Nelson Hockey Association, Northern Virgina Cool Cats Special Hockey, The Northern Virginia Hockey Club Youth Program, Reston Raiders, Southern Maryland Sabres Hockey Club, Inc., Tri-City Youth Hockey Club, USA Warriors Ice Hockey Program, Washington Ice Dogs and Whaler Nation.

Scary Day at the Rink

Up until yesterday, HM's twins had managed to play five years and umpteen games of hockey with no serious injuries (knock on major wood). Our luck ran out during an early morning game, and despite some hairy moments, I'm glad to report that my Bantam is going to be okay. With about 54 seconds left in a tied house game, it appeared that he'd taken a puck to the shin or somehow gotten hit in front of a crowded net. He proceeded to skate off limply but there was no cause for concern until his dad was summoned to come to the bench from the penalty box.

Knowing how mortifying it is for a teenage boy to have his mom overreact to every injury, I stayed put in the stands - that is until I heard Dad yell "Call 911" to the officials. Then of course I ran (as calmly as I could) and crossed the ice myself to our bench. When I got there, I found the coach applying serious pressure to his leg and holding the leg above his heart. That's when I realized he'd been cut in the part of the leg between where the top of the skate starts and the bottom of the shin pad ends. I cannot give enough praise to our USA Hockey-trained coach, who was cool as a cucumber and knew exactly what to do.

The paramedics were called and he was taken by stretcher into a waiting ambulance, where I was told his nasty gash was about two inches wide and pretty deep. After five hours in the ER, I am happy to report that he walked away (with the aid of crutches) with 15 stitches and narrowly missed any tendon damage. He'll be on "injured reserve" for about 10 days but we are so very thankful that it was not any worse. He did have a little fun with a bad situation as he left the hospital with some cool scrub pants (he arrived in full smelly hockey gear) and knocked down a few cans in the grocery while riding on the motorized cart. Which brings me to the importance of properly fitting equipment. While there's no need for the kevlar socks that Joe Corvo wore after having his tendon slashed by a Nick Backsrom skate, kids need to make sure they are wearing shin pads (and everything else) that fits as it should. In our case, he was sporting his old shin pads (that were obviously outgrown) that left a gap between the skate and the pad.

So after all of that excitement and manning the penalty box for the late game, I have to admit I was "done" and missed the Capitals come from behind win over the Predators. The good news out of that game is that Michal Neuvirth continues to shine, establishing quite a nice reputation in his last few outings. From what I've read this morning, the bad news is that the absence of Tom Poti and Mike Green was pretty obvious in a mediocre defensive effort by the players who dressed for Washington. Up next, the Boston Bruins pay a visit on Tuesday.

And before signing off this morning, just another note on preventing injuries - NHL-style. Most puckheads remember last season's devastating hit on Florida's David Booth, that kept him away from the ice for several months. With more than 12 NHLers already sidelined by concussions this season, Booth is urging his peers to play smarter in an effort to eliminate head shots in the game. In addition to the league's more stringent rules on head contact, Booth says players at this elite level know the difference between a legal hit or one designed to maim an opponent and in hockey mom speak, need to "make the right choices." On a positive note, it looks like this young man may be back to his pre-injury form as he lit the lamp twice for the Panthers in yesterday's 6-0 drubbing of Tampa Bay. Nice work....

Capital's New Group of Young Guns Turning Some Heads

Semyon Varlamov's return from injury gives the Capitals one of youngest goaltending duos in the league. Varlamov and Michal Neuvirth, both 22, have played just 58 career NHL games between them. Neuvy played splendidly against the Islanders on Wednesday night and he's garnered lots of attention from some of the hockey media, as has fellow team mate John Carlson. Though Carlson made a few rookie mistakes against the Isles, which is bound to happen along the season's long road, his performance against New Jersey last week gave hockey fans a glimpse of what is bound to be a bright future for the lad dubbed "Captain America."

USA Today's Kevin Allen recognized Carlson's abilities when he picked him as his top NHL rookie for this season, placing him ahead of other highly-touted youngsters such as top draft picks Taylor Hall, Tyler Seguin and Cam Fowler. And Carlson's not the only kid in a red sweater on the list - Michal Neuvirth is listed at number five with a mention of the coveted "Calder" trophy consideration alongside his name. We look forward to many years with these young talents as well as watching some of the other future stars of league cited as ones to watch!

Speaking of youth, HM will most likely miss part, if not all, of the Capital's game against the Nashville Predators tomorrow night. Based on the fact that neither of my frequently penalized boys made a trip to the sin bin when yours truly was doing box duty during our recent tournament, apparently the penalty box is going to become my second home. As the Caps take the ice in the Music City, I will be opening and closing the penalty box door for our team's offenders, of which the coach is hoping will not include either of my twins due to my glaring presence.