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Washington Capitals Acquire Jason Chimera From Columbus Blue Jackets
Posted: 28th December 2009 by Dave Nichols in NHL
It's a big deal when a team deals its captain mid-season, especially when that team currently holds the best record in the league and is playing at the top of its game.
But that's exactly what the Washington Capitals did today, sending four-year captain Chris Clark and defenseman Milan Jurcina to Columbus in exchange for speedy winger Jason Chimera.
Clark, 33, a one-time 30-goal scorer, never regained that touch after injuries ravaged ...
Washington Nationals’ Jesus Flores Shut Down Until February
Posted: 14th December 2009 by Dave Nichols in MLB
According to MLB.com's Bill Ladson , Washington Nationals catcher Jesus Flores has been "shut down" from baseball related drills until February, presumably when pitchers and catchers report for spring training.
Flores is recovering from labrum and elbow surgeries following a 2009 season that saw him get just 106 plate appearances before being shut down with what was originally diagnosed as a fracture in his shoulder, then a torn labrum after he ...
Capitals Need Overtime To Take Care Of League-Worst Carolina
Posted: 12th December 2009 by Dave Nichols in NHL
For most of the night at Verizon Center, if you didn't know which team had the most points in the league and which had the least, you would have had a difficult time telling.
But somethingùmaybe even a commercial break video played a period earlier than normal ùfinally woke up the Washington Capitals as they rebounded from a 2-0 deficit to take a lead, give it back up late, and eventually ...
Washington Nationals Should Let Ian Desmond ‘Sink Or Swim’ at Shortstop
Posted: 10th December 2009 by Dave Nichols in MLB
The Washington Nationals are faced with very few decisions with regard to the makeup of their daily lineup. There are all kinds of questions about the pitching staff, but that's fodder for another day's column.
We know (barring trade) that Ryan Zimmerman, Adam Dunn, Josh Willingham, Nyjer Morgan, Elijah Dukes, and Cristian Guzman will be in the opening day batting order, with either Jesus Flores or Pudge Rodriguez behind the plate.
The ...
Capitals-Sabres: Washington Struggles in 3-0 Shutout to Ryan Miller, Buffalo
Posted: 10th December 2009 by Dave Nichols in NHL
The Washington Capitals were shut down by Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller and the rest of his defensive teammates, accumulating 35 shotsùbut very few second chancesùand leave the snowy, windy city shut out for theáfirst time this season, losing 3-0 before a spirited crowd of 17,982 at HSBC Arena.
The Capitals, in the midst of playing nine of 11 games on the road, showed it last night.á They played with little ...
Washington Nationals Sign Pudge Rodriguez To Back-Up, Mentor Jesus Flores
Posted: 8th December 2009 by Dave Nichols in MLB
The Washington Nationals checked another item off their Winter Meetings to-do list, signing catcher Ivan Rodriguez to a two-year, $6 million contract.á The team envisions the future hall-of-famer to back-up Jesus Flores, play his mentor, and help nurture a young, up-and-coming pitching staff.
Whether or not the 38-year old Rodriguez is up to the task is anybody's guess.á But GM Mike Rizzo surely believes that the man they call "Pudge" is ...
Minus Alex Ovechkin, Capitals Tame Toothless Panthers 6-2
Posted: 4th December 2009 by Dave Nichols in NHL
Washington, D.C.ùThe Washington Capitals received six goals from five different players, and goalie Semyon Varlamov was not dented until well after the outcome had been decided, as the Capsácruised to a 6-2 win overáa very tiredáFlorida Panthers team, before not quite a capacity crowd at Verizon Center.
Florida was playing its third game in four nights,ábeating Colorado in overtime last night at home, and it really showed.á
The Panthers never really had ...
There are plenty in the Natosphere that want Mike Rizzo and the Washington Nationals to make a big splash and sign a bunch of free agents this winter to improve the product on the field.
After two straight 100-loss seasons, I'm sure Rizzo is tempted to make a run at Matt Holliday, John Lackey, etc.
But prudence, rather than exuberance, should rule the day.
If you take a good look at the Nats' ...
Rookie Karl Alzner Plays Important Role in Washington Capitals Win Over Montreal
Posted: 28th November 2009 by Dave Nichols in NHL
The Washington Capitals stormed out of the gates, going up 2-0 midway through the first period.á But the home-standing Montreal Canadiens scored three straight goals in the second and third periods and looked to be controlling the game.
But Eric Fehr snuck a rebound attempt underneath Carey Price with 11.4 seconds remaining with the Caps playing six-on-four, and Nick Backstrom beat Price with a snap shot in the third round ...
Washington Capitals’ Semyon Varlamov Growing Into No.1 Role, Shuts Out Sabres
Posted: 26th November 2009 by Dave Nichols in NHL
Washington, D.C.: Semyon Varlamov made the saves, Alex Ovechkin and Eric Fehr scored the goals, and the Caps' penalty killers put the clamps on in the third period, as the Washington Capitals shut out the Buffalo Sabres 2-0 before a capacity crowd at the house that Abe Pollin built, in the first hockey game since the Capitals' original owner passed away Tuesday.
The young goaltender made 25 saves for his first ...