Summertimetoblog

As some of you may know, teachers have very little time to do what they like to do in their spare time. In my case, that is writing, reading, and generally trying to stay current of trends and news of note. However, during the school year, I have very little of my own precious time as I am consumed with all things pertaining to “other peoples’ children”.


I have no children of my own, which in most cases, suits me just fine, as I love nothing more than spending the day with yours, and then sending them away. I fill their minds with all the knowledge I can, and it is up to them to retain it all. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have an endless supply of minutia, but I try to give them a well-rounded schooling in the way things work, how to change the things that don’t, and how to cooperate with others while doing the aforementioned. You could think of me as the Bruce Boudreau of my classroom. Ok, maybe not. But this is a hockey blog after all.

After completely shutting down my classroom, and wishing the children a fond farewell, which was really more like “help-me-pick-up-this-room-before-you-run-screaming-out-the-door-for-the-last-time”, I now have time to ponder how I will spend my summer days. The Washington Capitals must have had this same feeling when their season ended almost two months ago. Sure, we all love a good vacation, but it’s how you spend that precious free-time that really helps you understand who you are. So far, I am a lazy, manicured, Target-shopping, tooth-breaking, traffic-cursing, wasp-teasing, NHL draft-watcher. Who will I be tomorrow? Stay tuned.

I do know, that after winning the Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey, Capitals Goalie Jose Theodore announced that he was probably not going to be returning the team. Jose lost his precious son, and it continues to define who he will be tomorrow. After losing the Norris for the second year in a row, Mike Green has been quoted as preparing to come back in the best shape of his life, after suffering a very disappointing loss in the first round of the playoffs. Captain Alex Ovechkin saw his fellow NHL players award him MVP, but had to endure his Russian comrades’ fall in the Olympics, and again in the Worlds. Who will they be tomorrow? Trades, picks, and free agency will help define this team over the next few days. I am glad I only have to worry about whether I applied sunscreen.

Still not ready

Lots of things to say, but if Mike Green can't do it, then neither can I. It has been a tough few days and we all feel like something dreadful has happened. It has, to some degree. When a team so full of promise for the 2010 postseason went out to an 8th seed in the first round, the community can't help but be let down. But we need a little perspective.


This is a group of young guys. Guys, who had they attended college, would just now be starting their professional careers. Let's consider #52 for a moment. He has already, in his young career, won an AHL Championship, been nominated for the Norris twice, and has donated countless hours to his community. Yes, his playoff left much to be desired, and he knows it. Do we honestly think that the athletes themselves don't know they've lost?

Team Captain Alex Ovechkin again blames himself for not getting enough goals. Last time I checked there was no "I" in TEAM, to be cliché'. But there is an "I" in LEARNING, STRIVING, and OVERCOMING.
If the GM, coaches and team can learn from any of these last three playoff experiences, it's that there is always room for improvement. Which also by the way, has an "I".

Game 7 Caps vs. Habs

Not wanting to exit the Stanley Cup Playoffs just yet, the Washington Capitals are in prime position to show the world just how serious a contender they are when they try to eliminate the Montreal Canadiens at Verizon Center tonight.

Having won the NHL's President Trophy, the Caps seek to put to rest doubters and naysayers.

We have been here before, the last two consecutive years in fact. After personally witnessing both the heartbreaking Round 1-Game 7 defeat at the hands of the Philadelphia Flyers in OT in 2008, to the fateful Round 2-Game 7 undressing by future Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009, we have to believe-our time is now.

This is not a time to dwell on the past, but to always look toward the future. Lift up our will and our voices. Give the team a chance to believe in themselves. And belief is what we have now. Belief in a team full of youth, vitality, hunger, and of all things, accuracy!
Let's Go Caps!

Game 1 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

Caps look to tie series in Game 2

The Washington Capitals hope to see this first round series turn back in their favor tonight at the Verizon Center against the visiting Montreal Canadiens. The Caps lost game one of a potential seven game series in overtime when Habs Tomas Plekanec scooted around Capitals Defensemen Shaone Morrisonn and Joe Corvo, and fired a shot out of the reach of Goalie Jose Theodore.



Compelling that is was Plekanec who waged a war of words with Theodore, a former star goalie for the Habs. Nothing like a little rivalry to spark interest, but the Caps needs to keep their wits about them, stay out of the box, and focus on the little things that make them the NHL’s best team. An 8th seed in the East does not a typical Stanley Cup winner make, so it will take the amazing skills of goalie Halak to keep them in the running over the next week when a frustrated and hungry Capitals team takes the 3rd and 4th games on the road to Montreal. The Habs have the 2nd best Power Play in the league, just behind the Caps.

Left without a single shot on goal was Caps superstar Alex Ovechkin. Always one to shoulder the blame, Ovechkin admitted that he didn’t have good game, but he is not the sole reason the Caps lost this first match-up. The typical first line of Ovechkin-Backstrom-Knuble was shuffled a bit, and Center Brendan Morrison sat out as a healthy scratch with Backstrom, Belanger, Steckel, and Gordon sharing the Center duties. Boyd Gordon is just recently returning from an injury, and Morrison is expected to play tonight.

2010 Washington Capitals Team Photo

Capitals prepare for Ottawa Senators

Caps 3-29-10

Kettler Ice was certainly packed yesterday with lots of people enjoying the first day of Spring Break for area schools.  The team ran through a few drills, and the goalies worked on stopping those pucks after getting shown up by the Calgary Flames 5-3 the previous night.  Although the Caps were able to previously lock up the Southeast Division, and the Eastern Conference when the Devils were beat, they still have a few more regular season games to work on their playoff strategies.

Brooks Laich, who was injured by a John Carlson puck gleaning off the crossbar in practice, skated alone.  Wearing a cage, he hopes to be back on the ice by the weekend.  He followed up his morning skate with media interviewers. 

The Caps take on fifth ranked Ottawa Senators, who have won their previous four matches on Tuesday