José Theodore had managed to keep his personal tragedy as far from the ice as possible. The Washington Capitals goalie didn’t want to make his teammates uncomfortable, and the rink was a place where, for three hours a day, he could go to escape.

But last week, Theodore sat on the bench at Kettler Capitals Iceplex, took a deep breath and, through tears, gave the first interview about his 2-month-old son Chace, who died in August from respiratory complications related to a premature birth.

“Obviously, it’s a tough story for anybody,” he said. “It’s not something people are comfortable talking about. People say to me, ‘I can’t imagine.’ To be honest, they can’t imagine. They can try to imagine. But until you are there, you can’t put yourself in those people’s shoes.”

Click here to read the full article – By Washington Post

Washington Capitals Sports Memorabilia
and other Washington Capitals Autographs
Below are links to memorabilia available for popular Washington Capitals players.

“A half-hour after Saturday’s shootout loss in St. Louis, Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green emerged limping from the visitors’ dressing room at Scottrade Center.

“This is going to be good for us,” said Green, who is still feeling the effects of a bruised right knee he suffered Jan. 29 against Florida. “I have some bumps and bruises that need some rest.”

As Green hobbled toward the team bus, Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Semyon Varlamov, Nicklas Backstrom and Tomas Fleischmann — the five Capitals who will represent their countries in Vancouver — scurried around, gathering up equipment, bubble wrapping sticks and stuffing oversized red bags with rolls of tape.

There is no rest for Washington’s weary Olympians; on Sunday morning, they boarded a flight to Vancouver for a 12-nation tournament that will rival the intensity of the NHL playoffs.

The 18 others returned to Washington before scattering across North America. Some were scheduled to travel south in search of sun and palm trees. Others planned to visit family. All, however, welcome a respite from the mental and physical toll exerted by their pressure-packed pursuit of Pittsburgh’s league-record 17 consecutive victories, a chase that came up three wins short.

Click here to read the full article – By Washington Post

Washington Capitals License Plate

Washington Capitals License Plate

Brooks Laich scored with 19 seconds remaining in regulation to rally the Washington Capitals from a three-goal deficit and force the game to overtime Wednesday night. But, as it turned out, his third goal of the night only delayed the demise of a historic run.

Tomas Plekanec capitalized on a defensive zone breakdown, in a game full of them for the Capitals, with eight seconds left in the extra session to lift the Montreal Canadiens to a 6-5 win at Bell Centre that ended Washington’s winning streak at 14 games.

“This is 14 times worse than just one loss,” winger Tomas Fleischmann said. “This one hurts worse that the others. I’m really upset right now. We had opportunities to win it, but we played really sloppy on our defensive zone. You can’t win if you play that sloppy.”

After falling behind 5-2 late in the second period, the Capitals put fans on the edge of their seats with goals from Mike Green, on the power play, and Laich, on an odd man break, that whittled Washington’s deficit to a single goal.

Laich then completed his hat trick when he redirected a pass between Carey Price’s pads. But the Capitals faltered in the waning seconds of a wide open, four-on-four overtime period. Plekanec sneaked down low and scored his second goal of the game, tapping in a crossing pass from Sergei Kostitsyn (three assists) on a play Coach Bruce Boudreau said underscored a poor effort by his blueliners.

Click here to read the full article – By Washington Post

Washington Capitals Primary Logo Team T-Shirt

Washington Capitals Reebok NHL Victory Polo Shirt

Washington Capitals NHL Reebok Center Ice Player Hat

Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau finds it hard to believe his club has won a franchise record 11 straight games. Boston Bruins coach Claude Julien feels the same about his team’s eight-game losing streak.


In what loomed as a mismatch between the highest and lowest-scoring teams in the NHL, the Capitals finally took their first lead in the third period and beat the Bruins 4-1 on Tuesday night.

The Capitals’ record winning streak of 10 games set 26 years ago had been surpassed.

“It’s pretty mind boggling,” Boudreau said. “It’s a good milestone for these guys and you could see when they got the lead we finally started playing better.”

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

Ten current Capitals were not even born the last time the organization won 10 games in a row.

It’s been 26 years since Washington had a hockey team this hot. On Tuesday night, that old mark could fall for good as the Caps go for a record 11 wins in a row when they travel to Boston to play the struggling Bruins.

The players are enjoying the streak. But making history takes a back seat to a deep playoff run this spring. What happens now will have little to do with what happens when the games really matter.

“If you allow yourself to get caught up in it or think about it too much you’re in trouble,” said Caps center Brendan Morrison. “Don’t worry about a winning streak. Worry about preparing. Worry about playing consistent, which we’ve been doing pretty well almost every game. The big thing is taking care of the details.”

Click here to read the full article – By Washington Examiner

Washington Capitals Sports Memorabilia
and other Washington Capitals Gifts and Collectibles
Below are links to memorabilia available for popular Washington Capitals players.

Forty minutes of Detroit domination wasn’t enough to subdue the streaking Washington Capitals, whose offense finally came to life deep in the third period.


Nicklas Backstrom and Dave Steckel scored 46 seconds apart late in game, rallying the Capitals past the Red Wings 3-2 Tuesday night for their fourth straight victory.

“They pretty much took it to us the whole game,” Steckel said. “I mean, that’s the bottom line. I thought we could have played better, but to their credit, they prevented us from playing pretty well.”

Until a tripping call on Todd Bertuzzi set the Capitals’ comeback in motion.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

It’s not exactly the kind of break that Alex Ovechkin was seeking. But his two-game suspension by the NHL at least gives the Capitals star forward a few extra days to heal from the knee injury he suffered Monday night at Carolina and the upper-body strain that cost him six games last month.

That’s about the only upside to his knee-on-knee hit on Carolina defenseman Tim Gleason on Monday — his second ejection in three games, which then led to his first suspension as an NHL player.

“It is what it is. Nothing I want to say about it,” a curt Ovechkin said about the suspension after practice on Wednesday. “I’m disappointed.”

Ovechkin can’t play again until next Monday at Tampa. He did participate in practice on Wednesday — albeit while wearing an orange “no-contact” jersey. But he still skated up and down the ice without any obvious struggle. When he changed out of his gear afterward he dropped a neoprene sleeve in front of his locker.

But any thought that Ovechkin is about to curtail his attacking style of play because of the Gleason hit — or the Patrick Kaleta boarding penalty and game misconduct he took last week against the Sabres — is unlikely.”

Click here to read the full article – By Washington Examiner

Alexander Ovechkin Capitals Reebok NHL Player T-Shirt

Washington Capitals Reebok NHL Clutch Hooded Sweatshirt

Washington Capitals Blockade Leightweight Jacket

Nicklas Backstrom and Jose Theodore had their most productive games in a long time, but this victory was marred by another ejection and another injury for Alex Ovechkin.

Backstrom had two goals and assisted on a third, and Theodore had 38 saves as the Washington Capitals defeated the lowly Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 on Monday night at RBC Center. It was Washington’s third straight victory, and the Caps kept pace with the Pittsburgh Penguins for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

We found another way to win today, and we’re happy about it,” Backstrom said. “I think maybe when the best player goes out, it is a challenge for other guys.”

Ovechkin was ejected for the second time in three games, but that could be the least of the worries for the Caps. He collided with Carolina’s Tim Gleason and was given a five-minute major for kneeing and a game misconduct 12:05 into the first period. His right knee hit Gleason’s left and both writhed on the ice in pain.

Click here to read the full article – By Washington Times

Franklin Washington Capitals Mini Goalie Mask

Bauer Washington Capitals Mini Hockey Helmet

Franklin Washington Capitals Goaltender Full Size Mask

“David Steckel has fond memories of his overtime goal in Game 6 of the Capitals-Penguins semifinal series last spring. But there’s something about it he wishes he could forget: That goal remains his most recent one.

Since his redirection of a Brooks Laich shot at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh on May 11, Steckel has gone one playoff game, four preseason games and 26 contests this season without a goal. He’s the only healthy Capitals forward who has not scored — and his frustration, Steckel said, deepens with each game that passes without his name appearing on the score sheet.

“It’s frustrating, especially when guys are getting called up [from the minor leagues] and scoring in front of you,” he said. “It’s not for a lack of effort of shooting pucks on net. It’s just a bounce here or there.”

Steckel’s next chance to end the longest drought of his career comes Monday at RBC Center, where the NHL-worst Carolina Hurricanes play host to the Capitals, who are tied with the Penguins atop the Eastern Conference standings.

But while Steckel, 27, has struggled in the offensive zone, the Wisconsin native has been arguably the team’s most valuable forward on defense. “

Click here to read the full article – By Washington Post

Washington Capitals Sports Memorabilia
and other Washington Capitals Gifts and Collectibles
Below are links to memorabilia available for popular Washington Capitals players.

Alex Ovechkin isn’t saying for sure, but all signs suggest his injury absence is over and he’ll play against the New York Rangers.


The two-time NHL MVP practiced with the Washington Capitals on Tuesday. Barring any setbacks, he is expected to be in the lineup for tonight’s game in New York.

Ovechkin has missed six games because of an upper body injury, believed to be a left shoulder strain. He entered Tuesday tied for the NHL lead with 14 goals despite playing only 14 games.

Ovechkin says he’s excited to play again.

“It’s going to be a pretty cool moment for me,” he says.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

Washington Capitals Sports Memorabilia
and other Washington Capitals Gifts and Collectibles
Below are links to collectibles and apparel available for Alexander Ovechkin.