head coach: Ron Wilson

roster: C - Adam Oates, Joe Juneau, Dale Hunter, Jan Bulis. LW- Steve Konowalchuk, Chris Simon, Ken Klee, Todd Krygier. RW - Peter Bondra, Richard Zednik, Craig Berube, Kelly Miller, Jeff Toms. D - Phil Housley, Calle Johansson, Mark Tinordi, Sylvain Cote, Sergei Gonchar, Joe Reekie, Brendan Witt. G - Olaf Kolzig, Bill Ranford.

injuries: Andrei Nikolishin, lw (torn knee ligaments, 6-8 weeks); Pat Peake, rw (ankle, 1 month); Yogi Svejkovsky, lw (sprained ankle, 1 week); Michal Pivonka, c (fractured hand, 2-4 weeks); Mike Eagles, lw (fractured wrist, 3 weeks).

transactions: Assigned Benoit Gratton, c, to Portland (AHL). NHL suspended Craig Berube, rw, one game for an offensive comment. Acquired Jeff Toms, rw, off waivers from Tampa Bay.

standings:

Eastern Conference - Atlantic Division   
Team         GP   W   L   T   PTS   GF   GA     
New Jersey   25  17   8   0    34   73   46   
Philadelphia 27  15   8   4    34   79   62
Washington   27  13  10   4    30   80   71
NY Islanders 26  11  11   4    26   70   70
NY Rangers   28   8  11   9    25   71   76
Florida      26   7  14   5    19   61   77
Tampa Bay    25   4  17   4    12   50   86

game results:

11/18 Colorado     T 6-6
11/22 San Jose     L 5-2
11/23 at Florida   W 5-2
11/26 Montreal     L 6-5
11/27 at Ottawa    L 3-1
11/29 at Boston    T 1-1

team news:

by Jason Sheehan, Washington Correspondent

Home Sweet Home

Capital Centre/USAirways Arena was always short on history. The kind of nostalgic moments that often bring tears to the eyes of the thickest-skinned players ever to grace an ice surface were never present at the Capital Centre.

USAirways Arena only hoisted one championship, which belonged to the 1978 Washington Bullets. The old barn never held a Stanley Cup Finals game. The closest it came to "hockey prime time" was when it held the 1983 All-Star game.

Peter Bondra by Meredith Martini

The Capitals, which played their final game at USAirways Arena Nov. 26 (a 6-5 loss to Montreal), have rarely had the puck bounce their way in their 24-year history.

No team in sports has blown more three-games-to-one leads in the playoffs than the Capitals. Not the Montreal Canadians, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers or Chicago Blackhawks. And unlike Washington, these teams have been around since the inception of the National Hockey League.

USAirways Arena has also been criticized by Capitals players and opposition, alike. Goaltenders often complain that the arena is too dark, which makes it hard to see a black puck against a black background.

"I think everybody's relieved to get out of here," goaltender Bill Ranford told The Washington Post. "It was real hard because it was so dark. I'm looking forward to getting down to the new building; that may be the way to get some excitement about hockey in this city."

The condition of the ice also has been put under close scrutiny. Before joining the Capitals, center Adam Oates considered USAirways Arena to be one of the worst buildings in the NHL.

"We always hated this building," Oates said of his days in Boston. "After five minutes of every period, the ice is just junk. Nothing comes easily here, and when you're the team that has to play here 40 times, it's going to hurt you, especially offensively."

Like Oates, Capitals coach Ron Wilson had no tearful goodbyes as he left the confines of USAirways Arena, which is located 20 miles north of Washington, D.C. He thinks the building was cursed.

"Well, we won't be able to say it's the curse of this building anymore," Wilson said.

The Capitals hope to rewrite history at MCI Center, but will be the last occupant to play a game in their new home. The Washington Wizards of the NBA opened the new building Dec. 2 and Georgetown will play its first collegiate game the following night.

The Capitals play their first game at MCI Center Dec. 5 against the Florida Panthers.

Although the Capitals will be the last team to play a game at MCI Center, they were the first to practice at the new building.

Not all facilities were functional, and a layer of dust covered many of the seats and hallways. The ice also wasn't in tip-top shape, because the doors in the building had been open for construction, allowing humidity to sneak into the arena.

But nevertheless, the Capitals were thrilled at the prospects of calling MCI Center home.

"This building is fantastic," Wilson said. "The rooms have been definitely designed by hockey people. The dressing room isn't too big, just the right size, and it's nice and bright, so you feel good, and the training facilities are excellent."

Unlike USAirways Arena, the dasher boards are softer and the glass is seamless. MCI Center cost Capitals' owner Abe Pollin $200 million to build.

The Capitals and Wizards are currently the only two "Washington" franchises playing in the District. The Washington Redskins of the NFL play in Landover, MD., the former home of the Capitals.

"It's a bright, happy place," Wilson said of MCI Center.

Great and Not-So Great Moments at USAirways Arena

Top 10 Moments at Capital Centre/USAirways Arena
List compiled by Bill Bride and used with his permission.

1. Caps lose four OT game 7 thriller to the New York Islanders in 1987 first round.

2. Caps lose four OT thriller to Pittsburgh in 1996 first round.

3. Caps lose game 7 division finals in 1988 to New Jersey.

4. Philadelphia goaltender Ron Hextall scores a goal in Game 5 of 1989 first round playoffs.

5. Caps lose Game 7 to Pittsburgh in 1992 after blowing a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven.

6. Caps lose game 5 of a best out of five game series in the first round to the Islanders in 1985.

7. New Jersey Devils forward Pat Verbeek slices Langway's calf in game 1 of the 1988 Division Final. Langway missed the rest of the series.

8. During the first season, parking was $1.50. Pollin raised it to $2.00 the second season, because he said he didn't want his attendants "fumbling around for change, slowing the arrivals." Third season, he jacks it up again to $2.50.

9. The busloads of opposing fans coming from Philly, Pittsburgh and New York, making the old building seem like a road game for the Capitals.

10. Running the Capitals and Bullets as Washington Sports, Inc.

Top 10 Highlights at Capital Centre/USAirways Arena (in reverse order)

10. Capitals first ever shutout came in March, 1976, a 3-0 blanking of expansion twin Kansas City by current Edmonton coach and former Capitals goalie, Ron Low.

9. Took the Capitals five and a half seasons before they ever got a point versus the powerful Canadiens. They tied 1-1 at home in Dec., 1979.

8. The first ever home win was sweet, a 4-3 win over Chicago Oct. 17, 1974.

7. Defenseman Joe Reekie scores two goals in 2-0 win over Pittsburgh, giving Caps a 3-1 lead in the first round of the 1994 Playoffs. This was one 3-1 lead the Caps didn't blow.

6. Capitals finishing off Penguins in Game 6 of the 1994 Playoffs, sending Mario Lemieux into his first retirement.

5. Capitals finish off favored Devils in game 6 of 1990 first round. 1990 was their only trip to the conference finals.

4. Capitals defeat Rangers in 1991 in the first round of the playoffs.

3. Peter Bondra scores five goals against Tampa Bay Feb. 5, 1994. Four of his goals were scored in the first period, an NHL record.

2. Rod Langway's classic OT goal to give the Capitals a 3-1 series lead against the Rangers in the second round of the 1990 Playoffs. Another 3-1 series lead they didn't blow as John Druce buried the Rangers in OT at NY.

1. Dale Hunter's Game 7 series-ender in OT versus Philadelphia in 1988. Sweet feed from Larry Murphy of all people. Capitals actually came back from a 3-1 deficit for a change and trailed 3-0 during Game 7, to win both the game and series, 4-3.

Langway's Number 5 Rises to the Rafters in USAirways Finale

Former Capital great Rod Langway never brought a Stanley Cup to Washington. But in the land of politics, Langway challenged Cal Ripken for the title of most popular athlete in the District, Maryland and Virginia.

Langway joined the Capitals in 1982, and never missed the playoffs. Before signing Langway, the Capitals had never made an appearance in the postseason.

Langway, who won a Stanley Cup as a youngster with Montreal, was thrilled to have the ceremonies held with the Canadiens in town.

"I'd like to be remembered as a player who came to play every night," Langway said. "I remember when the trade happened. I remember 8,000 people who made noise like 18,000."

To commemorate the event, the Capitals gave Langway gifts that included a silver hockey stick, golf cart, golf clubs and a custom-made golf bag. His number 5 was then lifted to the rafters, and accompanied Yvon Labre's number 7. Both banners were removed after the second period. They will be taken to MCI Center.

"Rod Langway is one of the greatest competitors to have ever been associated with this franchise," commented Abe Pollin. "He valiantly led the Capitals for so many years, taking this franchise to the playoffs every year he played. I'm very proud that his number will forever hang from the rafters of our new home."

Trivia Question

Who were the first and last Capitals players to score a goal at Capital Centre and USAirways Arena?

Yvon Labre and Mark Tinordi.

Capitals Clipboard

As of Dec. 1, Washington is winless in its last three games, tying Boston (1-1) and losing to Ottawa (3-1) and Montreal (6-5). . .

Just two weeks after left wing Chris Simon was suspended for three games for making a racial slur to Edmonton forward Mike Grier, who is black, right wing Craig Berube was suspended one game for making an offensive comment to Florida forward Peter Worrell, who also is black. Berube called Worrell a "monkey."

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