LCS Hockey - Team Reports - Washington Capitals

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  Washington Capitals

head coach: Ron Wilson

roster: C - Adam Oates, Andrei Nikolishin, Michal Pivonka, Dale Hunter. LW - Joe Juneau, Richard Zednik, Steve Konowalchuk, Chris Simon, Jeff Toms, Todd Krygier. RW - Peter Bondra, Brian Bellows, Craig Berube, Kelly Miller, Mike Eagles. D - Calle Johansson, Mark Tinordi, Sergei Gonchar, Joe Reekie, Brendan Witt, Dmitri Mironov. G - Olaf Kolzig, Rick Tabaracci.

transactions: Gonesville: Esa Tikkanen (NY Rangers), Phil Housley (Calgary), Bill Ranford (Tampa Bay). Charlie New Guys: Dmitri Mironov, Rick Tabaracci.

1997-98 results:

Record...........40-30-12, 92 PTS, 4th Eastern Conference 
Goals Scored.....219
Goals Against....202
Power Play.......15.7% (13th)
Penalty Killing..89.2% (1st)

GEE, THAT'S SWELL

* Peter Bondra is one of the game's premier goal scorers.

* Adam Oates is a great guy.

* Richard Zednik and Jaroslav "Yogi" Svejkovsky are potential stars.

* Chris Simon might be healthy for a full season.

* Washington's defense, led by Mark Tinordi and Calle Johansson, is extremely solid.

* Olaf Kolzig is the real deal in net.

* Phil Housley is now in Calgary.

GRIEF

* Team is kind of old and slow.

* Dmitri Mironov will pick up where Housley left off.

* Could still be hung over from last year's postseason run.

* Sergei Gonchar and Andrei Nikolishin remain unsigned.

1998-99 OUTLOOK: Washington is still a solid team, with plenty of experienced veterans on the roster. The Caps could use some more speed, but it's hardly a deal breaker. Bondra and Kolzig will be enough to get the Caps into the playoffs.

PREDICTION: Second in Southeastern Division.