Advertising Opportunities

head coach: Ron Wilson

roster: C - Adam Oates, Dale Hunter, Andrei Nikolishin, Michal Pivonka, Mike Eagles. LW - Steve Konowalchuk, Esa Tikkanen, Jeff Toms, Joe Juneau, Todd Krygier. RW - Peter Bondra, Brian Bellows, Craig Berube, Kelly Miller. D - Calle Johansson, Mark Tinordi, Phil Housley, Jeff Brown, Sergei Gonchar, Joe Reekie, Ken Klee. G - Olaf Kolzig, Bill Ranford.

injuries: Pat Peake, rw (torn ankle tendon, out for season); Chris Simon, lw (shoulder surgery, out for regular season and first round of playoffs); Brendan Witt, d (sprained wrist, day-to-day); Richard Zednik, rw (abdomen strain, 1 week).

transactions: Assigned Stewart Malgunas, d, David Harlock, d, and Nolan Baumgartner to Portland (AHL).

standings:

Eastern Conference - Atlantic Division   
Team           GP   W   L   T   PTS   GF   GA     
z-New Jersey   82  48  23  11   107  225  166  
x-Philadelphia 82  42  29  11    95  242  193
x-Washington   82  40  30  12    92  219  202  
NY Islanders   82  30  41  11    71  212  225  
NY Rangers     82  25  39  18    68  197  231  
Florida        82  24  43  15    63  203  256 
Tampa Bay      82  17  55  10    44  151  269  

x - Clinched playoff spot
z - Clinched conference

game results:

4/08 at Dallas       L 2-1 OT
4/11 at Philadelphia L 4-3
4/13 at NY Islanders W 2-0
4/14 NY Rangers      W 3-1
4/18 at Carolina     W 4-3
4/19 Carolina        W 2-1

team news:

by Jason Sheehan, Washington Correspondent

Caps Gain Home Ice; Prepare for Boston Tea Party

When Ron Wilson took over as head coach of the Washington Capitals last summer, he promised his new team would gain the playoffs and earn home-ice advantage. Pessimistic fans thought he was out of his gorge. How could one man singlehandedly make contenders out of a team that failed to make the playoffs for the first time in 15 seasons?

Well, he proved to be a miracle worker. Using virtually the same cast of talent given to former coach Jim Schoenfeld, who now coaches Phoenix, Wilson battled through more injuries than his predecessor - Washington lost 476 man-games to injury breaking last year's franchise record of 361 - and has gained home-ice advantage for at least the first round of the playoffs. That's nothing short of remarkable.

The Capitals gained fourth place in the Eastern Conference by finishing the season strong, winning their last four games - going unbeaten in 11 games at MCI Center - and went 8-2-1 in the stretch run.

"I'm most proud of the fact that through all the adversity we faced this season -- at certain times we have crumbled and used injuries as an excuse -- we've rallied around that and found ways to win," Wilson told SportsTicker. "Sometimes it was goaltending, sometimes it was penalty-killing, sometimes it was a great individual effort. We've had a cast of guys that have been very consistent about going out there and getting the job done."

Wilson and general manager George McPhee, who took over for the fired David Poile last summer, saw this year's version of the Capitals earn 17 more points (91 points overall) than the 1996-97 club.

However, that wasn't the biggest turnaround in the NHL this season. That honor belonged to Washington's first-round opponent, Boston, whose coach, Pat Burns, helped his team gain 30 more points than it achieved the year before by preaching a tight checking defensive system, otherwise known as "the trap."

Boston, which finished the season with 90 points, beat the Capitals head-to-head in regular season play, 2-1-1. But to the Capitals' credit, they weren't playing their best hockey before matching up against the Bruins.

When Washington played Boston at the FleetCenter Nov. 6, it had won just one of its last seven games. As a result, the Bruins spanked the Capitals that night, 2-0.

When the clubs next met in Boston Nov. 29, the Capitals again were mired in a slump, winning once in its last five contests. Yet, the Capitals were able to gain a 1-1 tie that night on enemy ice.

At the MCI Center Jan. 25, the Bruins met a hot Capitals team for the first time this season. Washington, who had the best record of all NHL teams in January, came into the contest having won three straight and six of its last seven. That night, the Capitals owned their foes from the Northeast, bouncing the Bruins around like ragdolls in a 4-1 win.

However, the last time these clubs locked horns was reminiscent of the games in Beantown. Playing again at MCI Center March 3, the Capitals came into the contest ice-cold, winless in their last six. The Bruins had no problem shutting out the Capitals for the second time this season, 3-0.

But as both teams head into the playoffs, the Capitals are resembling the team that Boston faced in January. They are red hot. Plus, McPhee has found old, sturdy veteran blood with the additions of defenseman Jeff Brown, and forwards Esa Tikkanen and Brian Bellows. This threesome has one important trait in common; experience in the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Trade

Neither team was going anywhere when a blockbuster trade was made March 1, 1996. Washington, fighting to make the playoffs, traded youngsters Jim Carey, Jason Allison and Anson Carter for Adam Oates, Bill Ranford and Rick Tocchet. The trade had no immediate impact as both teams failed to qualify for the playoffs in 1997.

The Bruins were in a rebuilding process, trading away established veterans for young, upcoming talent. Yet, this rebuilding process took less than a year to complete, making Burns a probable nominee for coach of the year.

This big trade now takes center stage as the Capitals and Bruins fight for playoff survival. Finally, the winner of this deal will be decided in a best-of-seven playoff series.

For Boston, Allison has paid immediate dividends. He led all scorers with 83 points (33 goals, 50 assists). In doing so, he's proven that he can center an NHL-caliber first line.

Carter, meanwhile, improved as the season progressed. He ranked sixth in team scoring tallying 43 points (16 goals, 27 assists). During a recent game broadcast, future Hall-of-Fame defenseman Ray Bourque spoke highly of Carter, saying he's been one of the best players on the ice during the Bruins' stretch run.

For the Capitals, Oates has centered the first line since opening night in Toronto and finished second in team scoring with 76 points (18 goals, 58 assists). That's seven points less than Allison scored for Boston. He and captain Dale Hunter were the only Capitals to play all 82 games.

Ranford, meanwhile, lost his job to Olaf Kolzig and has served as the club's backup goaltender this season.

Washington must beware of former Capital Dimitri Khristich; especially when Boston gets a power play. Khristich scored 13 of his 29 goals with the man-advantage. The Capitals, however, finished first in penalty killing, erasing 89-percent of their opposition's power-play opportunities - the highest percentage in team history.

Another face Washington must pay close attention is rookie Sergei Samsonov. This talented Russian surged to first in rookie scoring with 47 points (22 goals, 25 assists).

And of course, there's Bourque, the talented veteran who will log over 30-minutes a game and leaves every ounce of energy he has on the ice.

"I really like what we've been doing at the end of the season," Bourque told SportsTicker. "I can remember a few years back to the Stanley Cup Finals teams we had here and I really think in some areas we're stronger than those teams, fundamentally. I'm excited about Wednesday and I think we can go a good long ways if we don't make mistakes."

In conclusion, the winner of last season's trade won't be judged on regular season stats. Instead, the winner of this series will win out.

Battle for The Bachelor Pad

Kolzig and Bruins goaltender Byron Dafoe were both drafted by the Capitals in 1989. They went on to have successful minor league careers in Baltimore and Portland - Capitals' affiliates. Baltimore later became Portland.

Now, although they are on opposing sides of the ice, both players remain friends. In fact, the bond between the two is so tight that they spend their summers living in the same house in Phoenix.

Before the season began, both Kolzig and Dafoe placed a small wager. Whoever lost the first game they played against one another this season would have to pay rent for one month. However, to the dismay of both net-minders, they only met once, a 1-1 tie at Boston Nov. 29.

Luckily, the bachelor pad is still up for grabs. Both teams hope to ride the coattails of Kolzig and Dafoe past the first round.

Maybe they should up their ante. Instead of only one month, the loser of this series should be forced to squander a year's worth of rent. Can you imagine the circumstances? The loser would be out a few grand, while the winner brags about his win in the playoffs and lives in the lap of luxury.

One can only hope their bond is tighter than the lasting effects of an all-important playoff series, and their friendship won't be ruined by their competitive edges.

Bondra Shares Goal-Scoring Title with Selanne

For the second time in his career, sniper Peter Bondra has finished atop the league in goals. He finished the season with 52-goals, which tied him with Anaheim's Teemu Selanne and matched a career-high.

It didn't look possible for Bondra to catch the Finnish Flash. He needed three goals in his last two games while hoping that Selanne would be held scoreless. Bondra's wishes came true. The Slovakian superstar scored his 50th goal of the season at Carolina on April 18 and scored both his team's goals in a 2-1 win versus Carolina on April 19.

Yet, statistics don't mean everything to Bondra. He stresses team play first, and hopes he doesn't disappoint anyone in the playoffs.

"I knew the goals will come, I just try to score," said Bondra, who plays on a line with Andrei Nikolishin and Steve Konowalchuk. "The whole team tried to help me get 50 - the whole bench tried to pass me the puck. But we've got two, three, four lines - Chief [Craig Berube] can put in a goal at any time."

"We have the home-ice advantage and we're looking forward to it," Bondra told SportsTicker. "We've won a few games in a row at home and that means a lot. Confidence is a key. You have to believe you have a good team and you have a good goalie and you're going all the way through."

Kolzig Wins Player of the Week, Again

For the third time in five weeks, a Washington Capital has walked away with player of the week honors. And for the second time in five weeks, the award has gone to the same player... Olaf Kolzig.

Kolzig won four games in the week of April 13-19, becoming the last player to win player of the week honors this season.

Kolzig compiled a 33-18-10 record in 64 games this season, finishing third in wins among goalies. He recorded career highs in every goaltending category and ranked third in save-percentage (.920) and eighth in goals-against average (2.20).

Injured Players Return Just in Time

Look out Boston. The Capitals, riddled by injuries for most of the season, are healthy. During the stretch run, Capitals' defenseman were so banged up that there were three youngsters - Stewart Malgunas, Nolan Baumgartner, and David Harlock - lifted from the minors.

But beginning with the game at Carolina, the defensive corps has been deemed healthy. Joe Reekie, Kevin Brown and Mark Tinordi all returned.

Tinordi proved the two months he spent on the shelf had no effect on his play when he drilled Carolina's Robert Kron into the boards at MCI Center. He looks to be in mid-season form.

The injured list, which was up to 10-players, has now dwindled to four. Defenseman Brendan Witt, day-to-day with a sprained wrist and right wing Richard Zednik, abdomen, should return midway through the Boston series. Left wing Chris Simon, out since undergoing shoulder surgery in December, could return if the Capitals advance to the second round of the playoffs. Pat Peake, meanwhile, is out for the season, and is possibly out of a career, after having surgery on his heel for a third time.

Team Bonding

Wilson has decided that the best way to get through the playoffs is for his team to spend quality time together away from the rink. In the three days before visiting Carolina, Wilson's troupe spent two days at the golf course, one day in Virginia and the other in North Carolina. Wilson, a scratch golfer, had no difficulties winning the private tournament.

The day after the season ended, Wilson, at Tikkanen's request, invited the team to his house for a barbecue. These types of events never occurred in previous seasons, and as a result, the Capitals were usually bounced from the playoffs in the first round. Now, with team commodore taking center stage, Wilson hopes each player will stick up for one another and lead the beleaguered franchise into the promised land of champaign wishes and caviar dreams.

Playoff Schedule

Wed, April 22 -- at Washington 7:00 (HTS)
Fri, April 24 -- at Washington 7:00 (HTS)
Sun, April 26 -- at Boston 2:00 (FOX)
Tue, April 28 -- at Boston 7:30 (ESPN)
Fri, May 1 -- at Washington 7:30 (x)
Sun, May 3 -- at Boston 2:00 (x)
Tue, May 5 -- at Washington 7:30 (x)
x-if necessary

[ issues | web extra | stats | nhl archive | home | chat | mailing list | about us | search | comments ]

1998 © Copyright LCS Hockey All Rights Reserved