Capitals Insider

Varlamov likely to start in Ottawa

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:54:46 -0500

I'm working on something else for later in the week, so I'm going to be brief: *The Caps' injury situation might not get any better before tonight's game. Defenseman Shaone Morrisonn (concussion) skated this morning said he's getting close but that he doesn't expect to play tonight. "I felt pretty good out there, but I'm not 100 percent yet," Morrisonn said. "They don't want to rush something like that." Coach Bruce Boudreau later told reporters that Morrisonn will take warmups and be a game-time decision. *Semyon Varlamov came off the ice first here at Scotiabank Place, which generally means he's going to get the start. The rookie is 7-1-1 with a 1.94 goals against average and .933 save percentage in his last eight games, and a 1.23 goals against average and .957 save percentage in his last four. *Varlamov is expected to oppose Ottawa backup goalie Brian Elliott. *It also

Semin on injury recovery: 'So far, so good'

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:33:06 -0500

Here's an Alexander Semin injury update from Russian reporter Slava Malamud: As one injured Alex has returned to the Caps lineup, albeit with mixed results, the other one is still out with a wrist injury and, unlike his teammate and compatriot, mostly remains mum on the subject. This is nothing unusual for Alexander Semin, who always prefers to keep his own counsel when it comes to the recovery time and the extent of injury and doesn't like to give any projections. This weekend, however, Semin called me on the phone, just to give a little update on how things are progressing and to show that he is not really avoiding the media. What can you say on the subject of your health? So far, so good. I think that I may start playing soon. Can you say what the nature of the injury was? Now, do you think I will

Morning roundup: Injuries taking a toll

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:44:47 -0500

Tom Poti, left, is the latest Cap to suffer an injury. (John McDonnell/The Washington Post) As the injuries continue to pile up, the Capitals will have to see how much depth they have. The team could again be without seven players who were on the opening-night roster when they play the Senators at Scotiabank Place tonight: The recent rash of injuries has forced Coach Bruce Boudreau to put players in positions in which they're not completely comfortable (left wing Tomas Fleischmann struggled when he lined up as a right wing against Montreal), give significant ice time to rookies before they're ready for it, and lean more on others than he would like. (Mike Green, for example, skated a season-high 31 minutes 38 seconds against the Maple Leafs.) "You can't use it as an excuse because that makes it look like you're looking for a crutch," Boudreau said. "But there's

Maple Leafs 2, Caps 1 (SO)

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:18:41 -0500

Reaction to tonight's humbling 2-1 shootout loss to the lowly Leafs was all over the place in the visitors' dressing room at Air Canada Centre. Coach Bruce Boudreau said his players looked worn out, a combination of playing on back to back nights and performing under the strain of so many injuries. It would be hard to argue with him. Then there was captain Chris Clark, who was annoyed about his team's second straight flat start and its inconsistent effort from shift to shift, period to period, against the league's worst team. Again, it would be hard to argue with him. Both, in my opinion, have valid points. But the Leafs? Really? With an early flight to Ottawa in a few hours, I'm going to keep things brief tonight. If you haven't already, check out my game story here and then come on back for a few notes that

Tonight's lineup: Caps at Maple Leafs

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:30:45 -0500

Seymon Varlamov will start in goal tonight at Air Canada Center, where the banged up Caps try to take two points from the NHL's worst team. Vesa Toskala, meanwhile, is expected to be in net for the Maple Leafs. Out for Washington are: Alexander Semin (wrist), Mike Knuble (broken finger), Boyd Gordon (back), Quintin Laing (broken jaw), Milan Jurcina (groin), Tom Poti (upper body) and Shaone Morrisonn (concussion). Considering all that, the rest of the Caps' patchwork lineup should look like this: Forwards Ovechkin-Backstrom-Laich Fleischmann-Morrison-A. Gordon Clark-Perreault-Fehr Steckel-Beagle-Bradley Defense Schultz-Green Erskine-Pothier Sloan-Carlson Goalies Varlamov Theodore I'll have more after the game.

Varlamov appears set to start

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:23:09 -0500

Here's a quick run down of the Caps' lineup/injury situation from this morning's optional skate at ACC: *Semyon Varlamov appears to be line to start tonight at ACC while it also looks like he'll be backed up by Jose Theodore. Michal Neuvirth, meantime, has been reassigned to Hershey to make room for right Andrew Gordon, who was recalled from the Bears today. "We had to make room on the cap, so we sent Nuevirth back down," Coach Bruce Boudreau explained. "And we needed a roster spot, as well." Why Gordon? He's got 20 points (eight goals, 10 assists) for Hershey.

Canadiens 3, Caps 2

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:49:58 -0500

The Caps came out slow against Carey Price and the Canadiens, then poured it on late. But in the estimation of Coach Bruce Boudreau and several of his players, this game was lost in the first period and the opening minutes of the second. "The biggest thing is I don't think we were ready at the start of the game," Coach Bruce Boudreau said. "I think we thought, 'We're the Washington Capitals and we're going to go out there and it's going to be an easy win. But there's no easy wins in the National Hockey League." "When we got the sense of urgency in the last two periods," he added. "Sometimes it's too late when the other goalie is on top of his game." I covered a decent bit in my game story, but after you finish reading that, come on back for a few notes and quotes:

Poti suffers upper-body injury

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:55:44 -0500

Tom Poti left tonight's game early in the second period with an upper-body injury. The Caps won't comment on the nature or extent of the ailment, other than to say that the defenseman is day to day. Coach Bruce Boudreau said the Caps would likely need to recall someone from Hershey. Boudreau also said he doesn't expect Alexander Semin to make tomorrow's road trip to Toronto.

Tonight's lineup: Canadiens at Caps

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:28:30 -0500

Michal Neuvirth will make his season debut tonight at Verizon Center as the Caps look to win their second straight game and for the sixth time in their past seven contests. Carey Price, meanwhile, will get the nod for the Canadiens. The Caps, as you know by now, are really banged up. They're so banged up, in fact, owner Ted Leonsis blogged about it earlier today: No Alexander Semin; Mike Knuble; Boyd Gordon; Quintin Laing; Milan Jurcina; Shaone Morrisonn. Jose Theodore is out for a few days and, of course, Michael Nylander is deciding where he wants to play. It is funny. That is about $20 million in payroll not in the lineup. With that said, here's what the Caps' lineup should look like: Forwards Ovechkin-Backstrom-Fleischmann Laich-Morrison-Clark Steckel-Perreault-Fehr Sloan-Beagle-Bradley Defense Schultz-Green Poti-Carlson Erskine-Pothier Goalies Neuvirth Varlamov I'll have more after the game.

Neuvirth to start vs. Montreal

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:15:13 -0500

Michal Neuvirth will make his first start of the season against the Canadiens tonight, Coach Bruce Boudreau said. "He had a great training camp and then got hurt," Boudreau said. "We wanted to see him play." The 21-year-old's last start in Washington was a 5-2 loss to Carolina March 3. Neuvirth will be backed up Semyon Varlamov.

Carlson's sleepy, but ready

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:08:38 -0500

With less than eight hours to go before his NHL debut, defenseman John Carlson stood in the dressing room at KCI this morning and joked about how he didn't get much sleep last night. But don't worry he said with a big smile, his relative lack of shut-eye won't be an issue on home ice tonight against the Montreal Canadiens. "I'll try to get as much as I can today," the 19 year old said when asked if he planned to squeeze in a nap. "I'm just happy right now, but I'm sure I'll be nervous. I just want to go out there and play with confidence." Carlson will be paired with Tom Poti, the most senior of the Caps' blueliners. Carlson, who grew up in New Jersey, said his father Richard, mother Angela and older brother Andrew will be in attendance. "I always believed that [veterans] are a steadying

Morning roundup: Carlson makes his debut

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:44:49 -0500

(John McDonnell/The Washington Post) Defenseman John Carlson will be out to prove he's right where he belongs when he makes his NHL debut for the Capitals tonight against the Canadiens. "It's always interesting when you see guys get their first taste and see how they react to a situation because some guys, they look like deer in the headlights," assistant coach Bob Woods said. "He looks like he's been here all year so far." Tonight's matchup: Montreal Canadiens (10-11) Washington Capitals (13-4-4) Verizon Center, 7 p.m. TV: Comcast SportsNet Radio: 820 AM, 1500 AM

Boudreau keeps expectations for Carlson in check

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:14:40 -0500

Now that six Washington Capitals are nursing injuries with a four-games-in-six-nights stretch set to begin tomorrow at home against Montreal, the big story of the day at KCI was the re-appearance of 2008 first-round pick John Carlson, called up from Hershey last night thanks to the bumps and bruises along the Capitals' blue line. The 19-year-old made an impression on the organization when he made his professional debut last spring during the Bears' Calder Cup run, and followed it up by making himself a tough cut during this year's training camp. Carlson, listed at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, has 10 points and is tied for the team lead with a +14 rating through 17 games with the Bears this season. Carlson will likely be paired with Tom Poti when he plays his first NHL game tomorrow night, but Coach Bruce Boudreau wants to make sure Carlson -- and fans -- don't

Caps recall Carlson

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:41:08 -0500

With defensemen Milan Jurcina and Shaone Morrisonn nicked up, the Capitals have recalled first-round pick John Carlson from Hershey. He's here at Kettler skating with Tom Poti during beginning-of-practice drills. How big of a deal is this? Well, owner Ted Leonsis has joined General Manager George McPhee in the management box perched above the ice here in Arlington for a bit. He's not usually a fixture at practice. Jurcina, Morrisonn (who was on the ice for a few minutes during warmups, but then left), Alexander Semin and Boyd Gordon are all not practicing today.

Morning roundup: Semin sidelined (updated)

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:07:51 -0500

(Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post) Update: The Caps have recalled defenseman John Carlson from Hershey. Both Milan Jurcina and Shaone Morrisonn are hurt and could be out for tomorrow's game against Montreal. More to come. An MRI exam on Alexander Semin's right wrist did not reveal any structural damage, but the winger is listed as day to day (don't you love that term?) and GM George McPhee said it's unclear when he'll return. "The wrist got sore [but] it's not from a blow or anything," McPhee said. "He just tweaked it." Alex Ovechkin returned to the lineup Tuesday and helped the Capitals to a 4-2 victory over the New York Rangers, but with Semin sidelined, they are now without four forwards from the opening night roster. Mike Knuble (broken finger), Boyd Gordon (sore back) and Quintin Laing (broken jaw) are also out. Semin, who is listed as day to

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Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:07:51 -0500