“Few have the greatness to bend history itself. But each of us can work to change a small portion of events. And in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation. It is from numberless acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped.

“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends out a tiny ripple of hope. And crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples can build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

— Robert F. Kennedy

Hockey – at least the NHL – turns 100 years old this year. That’s longer than women in the U.S. had the vote. That’s significantly longer than African-Americans were provided at least the shield of equal education and access to the ballot. 100 years is a long time.

1917 isn’t remotely like 2017, yet the devils of the past continue. We still, too often, make judgments about each other based on utterly silly things: our hair, our skin tone, our bodies.

We’re especially attuned to those silly judgments. We’ve listened to Willy O’Ree talk about the struggles of being the first black NHL player. We’ve watched the Wounded Warriors take the ice and prove, once more, how sport can raise the spirit. We’ve learned from Fatima Al Ali that Muslim women can have sick stick skills. And we’ll witness something special Friday night, during warm-ups, Caps players’ sticks will be wrapped with Pride Tape, and Braden Holtby will sport his You Can Play mask.

Friday night at Verizon isn’t about any one group. Young, old and in-between, straight or otherwise, male or female, special needs or just needy – what we again will learn Friday is that, yes, hockey is for everyone.

As Braden Holtby, the Caps’ You Can Play ambassador, told us Thursday, “We include everyone, It’s great that the NHL is doing, You Can Play is based on equality. You want to make sure equality is the basis, and I think it’s been a huge part of that.”

We’re reminded of our friend, and Hockey’s Hemingway, Jason Rogers’ take on the sport. Hockey, he said, is not in any way about me or I. It is about team. As one player related, in many ways it’s a game of misfits – on both sides of the glass, and all are welcome.

Perhaps. But it’s also a game that develops the person inside. You learn to work with others, you learn you’re not the only one, you learn to play to each other’s strengths – in short, you learn so many good things that sport can teach. As the old saying goes: “Sports doesn’t build character, it reveals it.”

So on Friday night, as you crowd into the arena, ready for another Caps victory, take a moment to look around. At all the people sharing this experience with you.

And remember: they are all beautiful in their own right.

The Holtbys leads Caps fans of all stripes at DC 2016 Pride Parade

A question we get a lot here is “What’s it like to be a gay hockey fan?”

We’re never quite sure what people expect the answer to be. Are they curious if it’s hard, if we feel ostracized or just not quite the same as everyone else, if we just don’t fit in? We rarely have a snappy answer at the ready.

From now on, however, I think I’ll just refer them to the 2016 DC Pride Parade. I’ll tell them how everyone – absolutely everyone – associated with the Washington Capitals were on hand, smiling and joking and looking so damn happy to be there. I’ll tell them how the thousands – tens of thousands easily – in the crowds were screaming the heads off, yelling and clapping and high-fiving those of us in the parade. How Braden and Brandi Holtby were tirelessly working the sideline, shaking hands, stopping for selfies, and hugging countless Caps fans. In 95 degree heat, no less.

I’ll tell them how everyone there – Wes, the Rockers, management types, You Can Play reps, and especially poor Slapshot in what must have been a suffocating costume, marched in a surprisingly tiring parade and never complained once. Far from it: they were there for Caps fans and non-fans alike, throwing beads and slapping hands with Washingtonians anywhere on the spectrum of sexuality.

And I’ll tell them how overwhelming it all was, to be stuck somewhere in the middle, walking with a rainbow-taped hockey stick with a Caps flag attached that the wind would pick up and fly proudly, sending the attendees into peals of “C-A-P-S, CAPS! CAPS! CAPS!”, just the same as any game at Verizon. Don’t take our word for it; just check out the pictures below.

Or, when asked “What’s it like to be a gay hockey fan?”, I can say “Exactly what it’s like to be a hockey fan.”

Another happy attendee

The Rockers, and the Voice of the Capitals, Wes Johnson, armed with his super soaker

Slapshot deserves a medal for sticking it out with such good cheer

Brandi and Braden – so laid back and fun. We love you two!

Working the crowd…

We never seen so many happy people on the streets of DC

Rainbow: Rocked. Thank you, Caps

Pictured: Braden McDuck

Did you hear the air raid sirens and emergency broadcast not-a-tests this morning?

Braden Holtby and the Caps are going to arbitration over the goaltender’s contract, and Holtby’s camp is reportedly demanding EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS per year.

As I previously stated here, Holtby is probably worth about $6 million per year, and everybody – you, me, your mama, your daddy, your auntie – knows it. So what happened?

“If you grew up with holes in your [goalie skates], you would celebrate the minute you was havin’ dough.” – Jay-Z (kinda)

See, Holtby wants $6.5 million per year. He has all along.

The Capitals would like to pay him $5.5 million per year, but are realistically willing to pay $6 million, because that’s how negotiating works.

But Holtby really, really wants that extra $500,000. Why? Because he and the Capitals were talking about a 5-6 year deal. That little .5 at the end of the number means an extra 2.5 – 3 million dollars over the course of the contract.

Would I be fighting tooth and nail for that kind of money, if I were a goalie whose body could implode and render me worthless and valueless at any moment? You bet your ass.

So if Holtby is dead-set on making $6.5 million, and the Capitals are dead-set on only paying him $6 million for salary cap reasons (which I think are stupid but whatever), and neither is willing to budge, what happens?

The two sides go to binding arbitration. Under arbitration, both sides present their case for what they think the player is worth. They will present lots of charts. There will be graphs involved. They will use terms like “market value” and “comparable players” and “injunction,” which only sounds dirty but isn’t. But the very first thing they do is announce the salary they are seeking.

Holtby’s camp stated they were seeking $8 million.

Why? Because the Capitals stated they were after $5.1M. In this particular case, an arbiter is likely to split the difference between the two demands.

And what is dead center between 5.1 million and 8 million?

Six. Point. Five. Million.

Holtby gets the salary he really wants, not the absurd number presented to arbitration to balance out the Capitals’ bid.

Braden Holtby, wearing sunglasses because his future is so bright.

So, what’s to stop every player who wants more money from holding out until arbitration?

Under arbitration, players can only agree to one or two year deals. So yes, Holtby may get the increased salary he was after, but it may only add up to $500,000.

Goalies have notoriously streaky careers, plagued by inconsistency and injury, so being able to sign a big-time, long-term contract right at the height of their prime and value is the dream for any of them. Lock down those millions while you can. Feed your family. Make a trust fund out of a contract.

Holtby is coming off of the best season of his career – and the best season any Washington Capitals goalie has ever had. Is his value going to be higher in a year or two, when he can once again try to negotiate for a long-term contact? I really, seriously doubt it.

Which is exactly why I expect both sides to put away their willies and stop the pissing contest, and to agree to terms voluntarily before arbitration binds them. Certainly for 5-6 years, probably for $6 – 6.5 million per year.

And if they don’t?

Well, wouldn’t that just be the most Washington thing ever?

The Washington Capitals’ front office – and presumably their mid and rear offices as well, depending on how feng shuied Kettler is – and goaltender Braden Holtby are currently locked in contract negotiations that are reaching Kissingerian levels of tension.

After a standout 2014-2015 season in which Holtby set career and franchise records for games played, consecutive starts, wins, shutouts, save percentage, saves, and the Capitals still didn’t win shit, the handsome bearded beau of Washington fans is fixing to get paaaaaaaaaaaaid.

How paid?

THIS paid.

Holtby’s camp and GM Brian MacLellan are fighting over whether Holtby is going to make $5.5 million every year, or $6.5 million every year. Not one time, not twice, but every single year for four to five years.

Let’s split the difference and call it $6 million, which is where I expect them to land.

Do you know what $6 million a year looks like?

I sure as hell don’t, but here are some funny-looking numbers:

• If Holtby were getting paid twice a month every month like a normal mortal, each pre-tax paycheck would be made out for $166,667. One-hundred sixty-six thousand six hundred and sixty-seven dollars, twice a month, every month, deposited to his bank account.

“No two days are alike, except the 1st and 15th, pretty much.” – Jay-Z

•  He could make buying 40 Porsche 911 Turbos an annual family event.

Holtby, on his way to deliver yet another Porsche to literally everyone he knows. This one’s for the 7-11 clerk.

•  That’s over $146K for each of his 41 wins last season (a full half of the schedule).

Holtby protecting his money from haters and interlopers.

•  He could afford to park in D.C. – Like, anywhere.

Bypassing the plebeians en route to his covered temperature-controlled concierge parking.

You wanna know what’s really crazy, though?

Ted Leonsis makes enough money to pay everybody.

Braden Holtby 

The Gospel According to Braden

And ye, Jesus did looketh down from the cross and spake thusly: “Lulz yall gonna pay me now.”

Braden Holtby, as a southerner fanning himself on the veranda and drinking a mint julep might say, is about to get paiiiiyyyyyyyyyyyydddddddddddddduhhhhh.

And good! Please, pay him whatever he wants. Give him $8-9 Million if he wants it. We have a Henrik Lundqvist, and for once he’s wearing our colors. Holtby is a sweet, neat, and most importantly, elite NHL goaltender, and the Capitals should give him a contract long enough that his kids go to prom here.

Fortunately, GM Brian MacLellen appears to be on the same page, and has called signing Holtby, “a priority.”

Evgeny Kuznetsov

LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 25: Evgeny Kuznetsov, drafted 26th overall by the Washington Capitals, poses on stage during the 2010 NHL Entry Draft at Staples Center on June 25, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

You think Gryffindor would just let Harry Potter walk to Slytherin when his rookie contract was up?

Evgeny Kuznetsov, the most anticipated Capitals prospect since George McPhee proposed a players-only “Fun Day” at Six Flags, needs to be in this team’s long term plans.

Already christened here and elsewhere (mostly here) as Baby Ovi, the Rushin’ Machine (GIF pending) and an obvious Trojan Horse from Russia designed to make us love him, Kuzy fulfilled his promise in the 2015 playoffs. Highlight reel goals, pants-droppingly charming post-game interviews, and a desire to seemingly learn and do everything he could to help the Capitals win, this is not your grandfather’s brooding Russian hockey player. He is not Alex Semin.

Likely a top-six forward on opening day next season, Kuznetsov is one player the Capitals want to lock down like clock town.

Marcus Johansson

Oh, Mojo, must you twist our arm?

Sweder than candy, the biggest knocks against Marcus Johnasson, the Capitals’ talented winger, have always been two-fold: he can’t finish scoring chances, and he plays too lightly.

Well don’t mind Marcus over here, just having a career-high regular season in goals (20) and points (47), and in the playoffs, he was the most noticeable wrecking ball since the one that Miley Cyrus rode naked.

Depending on what other Capitals free agents do, there’s a chance Johansson could see time on the top line next year. If you think he’s good enough to play with Alex Ovechkin, you should think he’s good enough to have on your bloody team.

SHUT ‘EM BUTT ‘EM AND CUT ‘EM.

Mike Green

Mike Green, Miguel Verde, I’ve been waiting for this for a long time.

Lo these many years I’ve made jokes and ill-contrived puns about the defenseman’s lackluster play for, well, a defenseman. I’ve likened his stability on defense to that of a ligament in RG3’s knee. Yes, I fell in love with his offensive production when he was young, but falling in love with that is like falling in love with a sorority girl for her body. Or if we’re being way more honest, a fraternity boy for his body. Beer is a cruel mistress.

Mike Green was a third-line defenseman this postseason. Some team starving for offense is going to pay him way too much money, and he will undoubtedly have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup by this time next year because, of course.

With Dmitry Orlov finally healthy and Steven Oleksy waiting in Hershey, the Capitals have two cheap-o blueliners ready to rock and roll who are at least as competent as Green. Plus, check out this graphic:

Certifiably lethal and diplomatically insane.

MAYBE, BABY, DEPENDS ON WHAT THE PAY BE.

Joel Ward

I’ve said this before on Twitter, the publication of repute, but Joel Ward may just be the Capitals’ best all-around hockey player.

He is fast, he is hard to dislodge, and he is steady – he’s basically the best lover you’ve ever had. But the issue will be whether the Capitals want to offer him the money that another team desperate for a top-line forward surely will. Ward is 34 years old, reaching risky long-term contract area, and a full decade older than me (doesn’t that piss you off, Doug?)

Washington, I believe, is close to winning a Stanley Cup. If Ward feels the same way, he may be willing to take a slight discount to stay with a winner, assuming no better options come his way. If not, and if he makes Washington call his financial bluff, the Capitals might be searching for a new top-line winger.

 Eric Fehr

February 14, 2013; Tampa FL, USA; Washington Capitals right wing Eric Fehr (16) skates with the puck against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period at Tampa Times Forum. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Once upon a time, Eric Fehr was the Washington Capitals’ first round draft pick.

Between suffering a laundry list of injuries more convoluted than the Cirque du Soleil wardrobe department dry cleaning bill, Fehr has looked really darn good at times. His dipsy-doo overtime game-winner in Boston last year remains the stuff of legend. He is a big, fast, talented forward with hands softer than a baby lemur, and if Washington has room for him, they would be wise to sign him.

It is unlikely that Fehr will receive a massive contract elsewhere – other teams are just as wise to his Ikea-like tendency to break down as the Capitals are. If he-knows-what-they-know-that-he-knows and all the right parties understand the score, the Caps could lock Fehr up for the right price.

Jay Beagle

How do you solve a problem like Jay Beagle? How do you sign a kid and lock him down?

Throughout most of the 2015 playoffs, Jay Beagle held the highest face-off win percentage in the NHL. That’s nothing to sneeze at in a league where the slightest advantage or disadvantage can mean the difference between winning and losing.

But, like the worst hunting dog ever, this Beagle often failed to make the kill. I have stark, vivid, burned-into-my-brain images of Beagle chipping open-net chances high and wide in the 2015 playoffs, and in a series where every game the New York Rangers won was won by one goal, that’s a misplaced pill so hard to swallow they ought to call it a suppository.

Beagle is, to the league at large, an unproven entity. If he wants to be a Washington Capital, he will probably be offered as much money here as he will anywhere. If he’s given the chance, let’s hope he doesn’t shank it wide.

The hour for Brouwer on the power play has soured. Once, in the dark old days of an impotent Washington offense bereft of top-six talent, Troy Boy was a consistent bright spot, always to be counted on for a bit of rally-inducing net crashing, or perfectly capable sniping from anywhere within the circles.

 In these playoffs, though, Troy’s been a shell of his former self, like a hermit crab with dissociative disorder. He’s missed easy lay-ups in front of the net, either harmlessly fanning on the puck like a harem’s top frond waver, or chipping it high and wide like Tiger with the yips.

The Capitals have enough new talent that Brouwer no longer has to play in the top two lines. That’s a good thing. But in a tight-checking series where every goal (and opportunity missed) has the chance to play either heart attack or defibrillator, if you don’t trust him in your top six, it may be time to turn to someone else when you need one a man up.

Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery 

“They just keep throwing pucks at Holtby,” my girlfriend observed during Game 2. “That’s what the Caps usually try with Lundqvist.”

Exactly, I said.

 The book on any Vezina Trophy-worthy goalie is the same: create traffic in front, throw pucks on net, disrupt what he does. It’s an old book, but it’s a reliable one, like PuckBuddys’ Guide to DC’s Hottest Kink Klubs ($11.95 on Amazon). If a goalie is good enough, the only way to best him is to take away the room he has to goalie, take away the time he has to goalie, and simply try to take more shots than he can stop.

Braden Holtby has, in the esteem of the New York Rangers, ascended to this level. Most of the goals scored on him in Games 1 and 2 were the direct result of screens, traffic, and loose pucks hanging around too long on his doorstep, like vulcanized rubber Jehovah’s Witnesses.

It is remarkable that in just a few short seasons, Braden Holtby has risen from AHL backup to Messrs Varlamov and Neuvirth, to streaky-deaky playoff heartthrob, to full-fledged elite NHL goaltender.

Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Me a Match!

Remember before Game 1 when I called for a Kuznetsov-Burakovsky connection, suggesting it could be the sweetest Russian-Swedish pairing since vodka-soaked red gummy fish?

Well look what happened at Kettler during practice today:

A top-six sweater for Burakovsky, which would put him on a line with Kuzy. How delicious.

See you in DC for Game 3 on Monday. Go Caps.

We fooled everyone in the office that Yom Kippur started on Thursday so we could play hooky on Friday to attend Day 2 (of 18) of Caps training camp. Hockey hooky!

Kettler was ice-cold, the crowd was light and the three groups of players, 70 69 in all (Brooks out with another lower body God-knows-what this time) worked hard all morning.

Group B doing sprints on the Arlington rink

A handful of scribes were on hand (we blended in well) and it was especially great to chat with CSN’s Joe B. He had some very novel ideas on how to improve the TV experience for the home viewer using unorthodox camera placements.

Katie Carrera, Mike Vogel, Adam Vingan and Joe Beninati with Eric Fehr

It was great having the run of those house to get some snapshots.

A pair of Johanssons

Ryan Stoa photobomb

Michael Latta, 1st rounder Andre Burakovsky and Ryan Stoa

Backstrom mid-stride: An angel takes flight.

Mike Green’s Thousand Yard Stare

So how was your lockout? Was it full of rage from your double recliner chair at the little men on the TV? Did you swear, absolutely SWEAR, that this was the last time the NHL had abused you, and that you were done telling friends your team eye black was from “walking into a door?” Did it feel like capitalism had finally gorged on its own fat and that communist China was looking pretty good right about then? Well I spent my lockout in communist China, and the view was much worse.

I’ve played the young American writer in Paris, studying at La Sorbonne. I’ve done the Great American road trip, having piled into my car with my two best friends and driven 9000 miles across this great nation one summer.

But this Fall I found myself doing marketing for an American study abroad company in China, and I had no hockey to keep me company. No period-by-period updates to drown out the propaganda loudspeakers. No trade rumors to distract me from the whippings at the re-education camp. Every morning I would wake up and have nothing to watch but Donald Fehr’s jowls flapping in the wind.

But hockey is back, and all is well! Right, Caps fans? Right?! Sure, falling to the Leafs last week earned us the absolutely worst record in the NHL, but that’s just par for the course for DC sports. We’re not yet ten games into the season, so every team in the league is still shaking off some rust. But here’s what we’ve learned from the last few games:

• The Fastest Way to a Man’s Heart is Through Another Man’s Groin: Tom Poti’s Solid Play

Old Iron Groins is back on the ice, and frankly he’s looked sharp. After missing nearly two years due to a string of groin injuries, Tom has been making smart plays in the corners and skating hard. Good to have you back, buddy. Anything that keeps Jeff Schultz’s goofy ass off the ice.

• Flow is a Fickle Mistress: John Carlson’s Bad Play and Mike Green’s Worth

I’ll be honest: I’ve said for two years we should’ve traded Mike Green. Especially that first down season after our high-flying “Young Guns” years, when Mikey wasn’t quite himself and he was letting one too many pucks skip by him and out of the zone. We should’ve traded him then, when other teams were still in the dark about him and would’ve swapped us their firstborn.

Now, inexplicably, we’ve signed Lieutenant Liability to a huge new contract and the rest of the league is laughing. His once-potent offense no longer excuses his flat-footed defense. And what’s worse, he’s brought down my Jersey-sake John Carlson, the greatest actor on earth, who’s known for being a good, technical defense man. The best praise you can give a D-man is this: I felt most confident when John Carlson and Karl Alzner were on the ice.

Now, sporting long hair and looking like a goddamned hippie, Carlson has been personally responsible for at least a plurality of breakaway goals. I used to be proud of the unsung hero on the back of my jersey. Now I’m starting to get embarrassed.

• Ovi and Out: Ovechkin’s Move to the Right Wing and the Death of the Curl-and-Drag Move

A lot’s been made of Ovi’s move to the right wing and its effect on his production. So far, it seems to have forced him out of that awful curl-and-drag move from the point that everyone on earth saw coming.

As for the positional differences? He is an exceptional enough athlete that it cannot be an excuse for him. Ovechkin can skate circles around world-class athletes by virtue of his natural talent. Does he work hard, too? I wish I could confidently say yes. If he wants to not be written off as a fat schlub, he needs to put in the work to learn that new position.

So, we got shellacked by Pittsburgh, despite Vokoun Fleurying all over himself and misplaying the puck. Tuesday is another day, and Toronto is coming to town. I’ll be at Verizon watching the game, and here’s what I’ll be keeping an eye on.

The End of the Semin Syndrome?

What is the one knock against the Capitals that stings the most? That almost always, it looks like the other team wants it more. As any hockey player will tell you, that one cuts deep. Symptoms of this bitchassness include: giving up leads in the third period, check; not wanting to skate to make the play there to be made, check; and Matthieu Perreault crying, “Utilise-moi, Adam. J’suis le tien.” (Side note: I can also speak Mandarin, so if Jeremy Lin wants to re-up with the Islanders, I can work that, too.)

Some of this can be attributed to players not being in the best conditioning due to the long off-season. That’s a real excuse. But every team in the league is functioning with this same variable. So you have to be the first to shake off the cobwebs. Extra hours on the ice or in the gym. You’re getting paid millions of dollars a year, at my age, to play a game I pay a hundred and fifty bucks a season to play in the spare hours I have to myself after I work my thirty-grand-a-year job. So f-ing skate, K?

To Holt-by or Not to Holt-by

Holtby looks like Jesus. He needs to play like it. Adam Oates looks like the Grinch. He might need to coach like it.

We all fell in love with Braden last playoffs when he stared down that little Twerp Peverley like a consummate boss and stood on his head for so long he got CTE. But the NBC crew calling the Pens game said it honestly: “That’s not NHL-caliber goaltending.” There it is. And it’s sad, but it’s the way things are.

Neuvy was right during Translate-Gate when he said he was the better goalie. We have a list of old boyfriends like an experimental trip through Europe: Braden, Semyon, Jose, Cristobal. And what we need to learn from it is that it’s easy to flash in the pan. If Neuvy can prove himself, we need to put a ring on it, to the tune of several million dollars a year.

Feel free to check Jason into the boards, but keep it clean or it’s a 2-minute minor for you. Plus, you don’t want to anger a Sperm Whale.

The Hardest Working Man in Show Business: The Ovechcam operator last night.

Alex surfing a Blue wave: Toronto Star - Vince Talotta

It was a big TV night north of the border; solid numbers in the key demos and a sizable share, even though Caps fans in the DC viewing market had to hunt for the game.

Alex and Nicky Abelimages - Getty

The DVR here got a workout; we wanted to relive those many highlights and do our own slo-mo replays. (No pun intended).

The game evolved like many had hoped; an early lead, buttressing that edge with a few more goals, coupled with stunning displays of defense and net-minding.

A three-game road trip with six points on the line yielded five.  We like those numbers, even though the goal totals last night and on the Island were a little soft considering the weakness of the opposition.

Number 70 On The Ice, But Number One In Our Hearts: “And Holtby makes the Save!” “Another glove save by Holtby!”  “Pad save, Holtby!” 

Heart Throb Hot B Holtby: Darren Calabrese - AP

We never got tired of hearing that last night.  35 stops in all, 18 in the last frame – when it really mattered. 

Locker called it a “coming out party,” for the SK native.  What a troika of young goalies this team is blessed with.  Already there’s talk of the heathy returns of Neuvy and Varly and what it means for Braden’s near-term future.  Whether he’s in DC or Hershey, this kid gave us some nice memories this week and it’s comforting to know he’s just a phone call and a short ride away.  And speaking of eventual returns, when Sasha and Eric get back, there will be some more tough decisions to be made.

Enough is Never Phaneuf: The collective hope among Caps fans is that Alex is back. 

OV Nicky Carly Party Canadian Press - Darren Calabrese

It was quite a display from the Caps’ Captain last night: His first hat trick since last season, his 10th career and first multi-goal game since October.

He was all over the ice.  Sometimes it’s hard to get worked up over an empty-netter, but last night Alex had to work for that one as the clock wound down: he took a shot against the board, swerved around one Leaf then finally moved past Dion Phaneuf for the goal.

Man Bites Dog: Was that Matt Hendricks with the fake, curl, drag and score?  

After taking a shot to the nose from Leaftwit and noted gangster, Mike Brown, Matt later quieted the Air Canada Arena with a pretty sweet display of neutral zone thievery and scoring.

Hendy Score Abelimages - Getty

Dog Bites Man: The game-time tweeters who were monitoring the CBC brodcast of the game said Don Cherry was being a dick. No kidding. Some sharpies in Capsblogistan managed to pull this screen grab of a kid who really needs a better role model.

"I never met a TV test pattern I didn't like" Courtesy mkpanda78 via RMNB

The Boys In The Band(wagon): It was a whole team effort last night, one that everyone hopes will continue in the out weeks, starting with Monday’s game @ Verizon with the Rangers. Maybe the kinks are worked out and the new lines are working more seamlessly. Whatever the formula that has worked this week, the next few games may foreshadow where we are come springtime. 

First Things Last: Happy 32 to Number 23. 

The jokers at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue may be looking to make cuts in the nation’s defense budget, but the Capitals Defense looks mighty robust after we spirited Scott away from Colorado. Take the day off, dude. 

That trade meant we lost the Flash to the Avs and the news this week of his embolisms was tough.  Just recently, an ECHL player, Mitch Fadden, the Florida Everblades’ top scorer, was diagnosed with a blood clot in his leg.  He too, will miss the remainder of the year.  Speedy recoveries to both and we look forward to squaring off against you guys next season.

Speaking of D, happy 100th game to Karl Alzner.

Braden Holtby clearing NYI rubbish from the crease: Kathy Kmonicek-AP

Hot B Holtby:  If Braden was a little spooked from his two previous games in Caps gear, it didn’t show.

Holtby was shelled in those last two games for us, but he shook off those bad memories and tallied 24 saves for the night, some of them downright heart stopping and jaw-dropping.

He insured we clung to our narrow lead and ultimately prevailing over NY, 2-1.  Too close for comfort, much too close, but we’ll take the win.

Coach Boudreau talked about the differences this time around and said last night’s game was a confidence builder for the young and handsome netminder:

“He really showed mental toughness… It was a great moment for him.”

Let’s Do Some Lines: Is Boudreau now considered a whole lot smarter because he may have finally hit upon the right combination for his star line? “I think Chimera was looking pretty good on that line,” he said after the game.

Fly Aeroflot: Ray Stubblebine: Reuters

That may easily have been the understatement of the night.  Backstrom > Alex > Chimera rang up the first goal last night. That was comforting for the fans; comforting too, for Jason no doubt – his 7th of the season and his first road score since an October Bruins game, eons ago.

The night’s second goal (The NB19 Vigil is officially over after 20 games) was due in part to the top flight as well; Alex with another assist. Nicky’s 12th for the season was one of 9 road goals for him. Verizon is nice but maybe we travel more often?  Say Toronto?  Sure, book a flight.

Missing In Action: Maybe a look at the game charts will show otherwise, but from Joe B.’s call last night, we didn’t seem to hear much about Greenie or Carlson. 

Kicking up dust in the NY crease: Kathy Kmonicek-AP

Maybe that’s cool when your top line gets all the attention and your goalie is performing near flawlessly under some very heavy pressure, especially in the third when it really counted, and especially under the weight of six penalties. 

Another usual suspect in strong Caps efforts, MoJo racked up only 23 seconds in the third.  

Boudreau attributed the absence to the sweet Swede’s relative youth and inexperience – Marcus played only 45 games last season and we’re at the 46 game mark now.  Boudreau said it wasn’t MoJo’s night and that his legs just weren’t there.

Pussy Galore: I still don’t understand how people can tweet or live blog during a game,  but I’m glad they can.  That takes multi-tasking to a completely different level. 

Is Backstrom Back? Lou Capozzola-Getty

Shit – we can’t skate and spit at the same time.  (Actually, we can’t even skate.  But spit we can do, we just choose not to). Nonetheless, we’re glad the Insta-Caps community does it.

Right after the game, a link was shared supposedly showing Backstrom telling some Isletwit where to get off. 

The lip reader tweeters thought Nicky said, “Fucking Pussy.”  Maybe so, but overnight forensic analysis at Quantico was inconclusive.  Another reason we don’t think he said that – At any given time during the game, there were six Islander pussies on the ice.  Nicky called out just one of them?  The math just doesn’t work.

Pay For Play?  Near the end of the second, you could almost sense a wave of jealousy sweep over everyone in Caps Blogistan who is not the Russian Machine. 

From Russia with love

Nice mention from Joe B., guys. Bastards.

What’s it take to get into their rotation?  Bullion?

Or being smart on hockey or more Beefcake/Icecake?  We’ll try some of each.

Don’t ask us how far we’re prepared to go to get some CSN love. 

Too cute for words:

Hendy Holty Hockey Hug

Hold Down The Fort: Coach Boudreau’s post-game comments:

“People will complain that we only got two goals and didn’t go for offense… 

It was a great shutdown in the third period.  When you kill six penalties and you do the right things of getting it deep, getting it deep and all of those things, you end up successful. 

You get one, two good saves and you’re gonna be good.  I’m really proud of the way they held the fort.”