By Stephen Whyno - The Washington Times
The Caps will have to go through a tougher division to make the playoffs and then to reach the East finals. They won the Southeast Division five of the past six seasons but went 8-10-2 against the Penguins, Rangers, Islanders, Devils, Flyers and Hurricanes this year.
By Howard Ulman - Associated Press
Johnny Boychuk broke a tie midway through the second period, and the Boston Bruins scored two goals in the third to beat the New York Rangers 5-2 on Sunday and take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series
By Stephen Whyno - The Washington Times
Perhaps the early struggles and late run to the playoffs should have been predictable for a rookie head coach, especially given the lockout and shortened training camp. In looking back at his first season running a team, Adam Oates might take all summer to hone his craft for next year and beyond.
By Stephen Whyno - The Washington Times
Because the Washington Capitals were done before the final horn in Game 7 Monday night, those watching had some extra time to contemplate general manager George McPhee's work this offseason. But after the Caps became the only NHL team to make the Stanley Cup playoffs in each of the past six years and not reach at least the conference finals, don't expect much to look different when they open the 2013-14 season.
By Stephen Whyno - The Washington Times
Ovechkin was held scoreless for the final five games against the Rangers and said he had some "bruises" but nothing that affected his performance.
By Stephen Whyno - The Washington Times
The Caps spent much of the past couple of weeks making officials part of the story of the series. Maybe that was the problem. Published May 15, 2013
By Stephen Whyno - The Washington Times
Ribeiro was second on the Caps in points (13 goals and 36 assists for 49) behind only Hart Trophy candidate Alex Ovechkin. Ribeiro was the Caps' first-half MVP, taking the load off Nicklas Backstrom and other stars who weren't producing early. Published May 15, 2013
By HOWARD ULMAN - Associated Press
After the marathon bombings, the cities of Boston and New York put aside their bitter rivalries and joined in their mutual love of sports and country. Published May 15, 2013
By SCHUYLER DIXON - Associated Press
Glen Gulutzan couldn't end the longest playoff drought in franchise history for the Dallas Stars and the second-year coach didn't hold the option on the remaining season in his contract. Published May 14, 2013
By JAY COHEN - Associated Press
The top of the list includes Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa. Patrick Sharp is coming off another great playoff series, and Bryan Bickell and Dave Bolland have come up with big postseason goals in the past. Published May 14, 2013
By HOWARD FENDRICH - Associated Press
Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin knows full well that his playoff failures are adding up. Published May 14, 2013
By TIM DAHLBERG - Associated Press
The lawsuit doesn't read nearly as well as the story, which laid bare the life of an NHL enforcer for all to see. The way John Branch wrote about Derek Boogaard in the New York Times should have been enough to cause even the most hardcore hockey fan to reconsider the peculiar role that goons play in the sport. Published May 14, 2013
By Mike Harris - The Washington Times
That the Rangers may be a smidge better is not arguable. Five-oh better? No way. That a tight series became a laugher in the finale can be, in part, blamed on the Caps' ugly playoff past. There's not an elephant in that room. There's a herd of them in there and it is not an easy thing to clear out. Published May 14, 2013
By ASSOCIATED PRESS - Associated Press
The Dallas Stars have fired coach Glen Gulutzan after he failed to make the playoffs in two seasons at the helm. Published May 14, 2013
By Stephen Whyno - The Washington Times
Scoring 23 goals in 23 games, he was the reason the Caps' season turned around. But totaling just a goal and an assist in seven games against the New York Rangers made him the focal point of yet another early playoff exit. Published May 14, 2013
By Rich Campbell - The Washington Times
The Capitals crashed and burned Monday in a 5-0 loss to the New York Rangers in Game 7 on home ice. That coincided with Ovechkin’s sixth consecutive game without a goal, the longest playoff drought of his career. Published May 14, 2013
By Mike Harris - The Washington Times
Who knew Mike Ribeiro's overtime goal on Friday would be the Caps' last of the season and that 72 hours they'd be sitting in their locker room wondering what happened. Published May 14, 2013
By LARRY LAGE - Associated Press
The NHL playoffs are off to a heart-pounding start with a record 17 games going to overtime in the first round. Published May 14, 2013
By Ira Podell - Associated Press
On the karma scale, this matchup of Original Six teams is pretty much a dead heat as these classic clubs get set to meet in the postseason for the first time in 40 years. Published May 14, 2013
