By: Justin Creech
The Washington Capitals have a chance to make history tomorrow night against the Boston Bruins. With a win at TD Banknorth Garden, the Capitals will set a new franchise record for consecutive regular season wins, with 11.
“We feel great,” said Capitals right wing, Eric Fehr. “We’ve been playing pretty good during the streak, and now we have a chance to put a stamp on this organization. So, we definitely want to go out and do it.”
The Capitals, who earned their franchise record tying 10th straight victory with a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning Sunday afternoon at Verizon Center, have put themselves in their current position due to improved play in their defensive zone as well as on the penalty kill.
During the current 10 game streak, the Capitals are allowing just 2.1 goals per game, and have killed off 38 of 44 short-handed situations; an 86.3 percent kill rate that is 6.1 percent higher than their season average of 80.5 percent.
“Bruce [Boudreau] has definitely been all over us this year just to make sure that we are strong defensively, we bear down on chances to get the pucks out, and just make sure we are a little more responsible,” said Fehr. “He said we are going to score goals and so far that’s what we have been doing, and hopefully the guys can learn from that and we can continue to play good defense.”
The Capitals have made their reputation the last several season’s as a team that can score goals in bunches because of the explosive offensive capabilities forwards Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, and Nicklas Backstrom. However, the Capitals and there trio of star forwards have also built a reputation as a team that cannot play consistent defense, especially late in games when trying to hold leads.
Over the last 10 games, however, that has not been the case. The Capitals have suffocated opponents in the third period over the last 10 games, outscoring their opposition 20-5. The Capitals scored multiple goals in the third period of the first five games of the streak, and in seven of the 10 overall.
The Capitals two goals in the third period on January 19 allowed them to erase a late one goal deficit in their 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings; then scored three goals in the third period two nights later in their 6-3 win in Pittsburgh over the defending Stanley Cup Champion Penguins.
“I think there definitely is a learning process for young guys, and I think this core group of guys has learned a lot the past couple of years playing in the playoffs,” said Capitals’ Center Brendan Morrison. “Guys understand come playoff time, you’re not going to score 4, 5, 6 goals a night. You have to adapt and you have to learn how to play different styles, and guys are buying into that. If we play better defensively we’ll have the puck more, therefore we should be able to create more offense, so they kind of go hand in hand.”
Capitals Coach Bruce Boudreau said it is tough sometimes for talented young forwards to learn to play defensive hockey when their offensive talent is what got them into the NHL in the first place. However, he is proud that his young forwards have finally learned that lesson.
“If Alex Ovechkin can learn [to play defense] then anybody can learn it,” said Boudreau. Nicky’s a natural at it and some guys have to push themselves, but they’re all getting better at it, so it’s good.”
The Capitals are well aware that they have an opportunity to make history tomorrow night, and are also aware it comes against a team that has lost seven straight overall and have not won a game in regulation since January 5.
Still, they are just trying to stay focused on taking a one game at a time approach.
“Just don’t really worry about the streak. Just worry about preparing and playing consistent, which we’ve been doing pretty much every game,” said Morrison. “The big thing is to just take care of the details. If we take care of what we’re supposed to be doing and we take care of the process, then the outcome is going to be there.”
Monday, February 1, 2010
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Capitals top Bolts for 10th Straight win
By: Justin Creech
Washington, DC- It took an early third period meltdown and a late goal by Alex Ovechkin, but the Washington Capitals managed to make history on Sunday afternoon against the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning.
Ovechkin’s late goal, his 35th of the season, gave the Capitals a 3-2 victory after the Capitals allowed the Lightning to score twice in the first 7:42 of the third period to erase a 2-0 deficit. The win, the Capitals 10th straight, ties the franchise record for consecutive wins in a season set by the 1983-84 Capitals.
“It’s kind of fun,” said Ovechkin about tieing the franchise record. “We don’t want to stop. We want to keep winning and playing well.”
The Capitals can set the franchise for consecutive wins Tuesday night against the Boston Bruins at TD Banknorth Garden, where the Bruins have not won since December 30. The Capitals won their previous trip to TD Banknorth Garden, 4-1, on the opening night of the season.
Capitals Coach Bruce Boudreau is not getting to caught up in the winning streak, saying that his emotions after Sunday’s win were dole, and that he wasn’t going to make a big deal about the possibility of winning 11 straight.
“The number 10 is pretty tough to get to and I told the guys this is something you might go your whole career without getting it, so enjoy it,” said Boudreau. “But, I haven’t thought about Boston’s game being any bigger then that it’s Boston.”
The game, however, did end with a bit of controversy as Tampa Bay Captain Vincent Lecavalier was ejected with 2.4 seconds remaining for arguing about being kicked out of the faceoff circle as the Lightning were hoping to get a shot on Capitals goaltender Jose Theodore off the faceoff. Lecavalier was assessed a two-minute minor for unsportsmanlike conduct, which forced the faceoff from the Capitals’ defensive zone to the Lightnings, nullifying any chance at a last second shot.
“Yea I was surprised, but I don’t think he thought about the penalty,” said Capitals center Brendan Morrison of Lecavalier. “It’s a stretch that they are going to pull off a play with 2.4 seconds left. It has happened, but it completely killed any thought of them even getting a shot on net.”
The Capitals carried a 2-0 lead into the third period on goals by Nicklas Backstrom and Brooks Laich. Backstrom scored 57 seconds into the second period on a power play after Ovechkin’s initial shot was stopped by Lightning netminder Mike Smith.
Neither Smith, nor Lightning defensemen Mattias Ohlund could locate the puck, which allowed Backstrom to poke it through Smith’s legs. The goal set Backstrom’s career high for goals in a season with his 23rd.
Laich was just as fortunate as Backstrom in that the Lightning, again, failed to locate a loose puck in front of their net.
Victor Hedman blocked Alexander Semin’s shot from the left circle, but was unable to locate it, and Laich skated into the crease for the easy tap in at 12:56.
Laich acknowledged the fortunate bounces after the game.
“You work for your bounces too,” said Laich. “We were able to keep the puck in, and then make a couple nice plays and have some patience and then you do the right things, you shoot the puck and you go to the net and pucks go in.”
The Lightning did make things interesting in the third period, as Martin St. Louis and Steven Stamkos scored 2:42 apart early in the third period to tie the game.
St. Louis deflected a Kurtis Foster point shot passed Theodore, then with Tomas Fleischmann in the box for hooking, Stamkos fired a slap shot passed Theodore from the left circle.
During the current streak, the Capitals have been solid in the third period, several times blowing the game open with solid third periods. Laich said he thought the Capitals would benefit from the tough third period against the Lightning.
“We’re not going to win every game 5-1, 6-1,” said Laich. “It’s nice to be tested [and] have to bear down and win the game at the last minute, because if you float around winning 5-1, 6-1, then you really don’t find out what your metal is late in the hockey game. I think tonight we found out what it was tonight.”
Washington, DC- It took an early third period meltdown and a late goal by Alex Ovechkin, but the Washington Capitals managed to make history on Sunday afternoon against the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning.
Ovechkin’s late goal, his 35th of the season, gave the Capitals a 3-2 victory after the Capitals allowed the Lightning to score twice in the first 7:42 of the third period to erase a 2-0 deficit. The win, the Capitals 10th straight, ties the franchise record for consecutive wins in a season set by the 1983-84 Capitals.
“It’s kind of fun,” said Ovechkin about tieing the franchise record. “We don’t want to stop. We want to keep winning and playing well.”
The Capitals can set the franchise for consecutive wins Tuesday night against the Boston Bruins at TD Banknorth Garden, where the Bruins have not won since December 30. The Capitals won their previous trip to TD Banknorth Garden, 4-1, on the opening night of the season.
Capitals Coach Bruce Boudreau is not getting to caught up in the winning streak, saying that his emotions after Sunday’s win were dole, and that he wasn’t going to make a big deal about the possibility of winning 11 straight.
“The number 10 is pretty tough to get to and I told the guys this is something you might go your whole career without getting it, so enjoy it,” said Boudreau. “But, I haven’t thought about Boston’s game being any bigger then that it’s Boston.”
The game, however, did end with a bit of controversy as Tampa Bay Captain Vincent Lecavalier was ejected with 2.4 seconds remaining for arguing about being kicked out of the faceoff circle as the Lightning were hoping to get a shot on Capitals goaltender Jose Theodore off the faceoff. Lecavalier was assessed a two-minute minor for unsportsmanlike conduct, which forced the faceoff from the Capitals’ defensive zone to the Lightnings, nullifying any chance at a last second shot.
“Yea I was surprised, but I don’t think he thought about the penalty,” said Capitals center Brendan Morrison of Lecavalier. “It’s a stretch that they are going to pull off a play with 2.4 seconds left. It has happened, but it completely killed any thought of them even getting a shot on net.”
The Capitals carried a 2-0 lead into the third period on goals by Nicklas Backstrom and Brooks Laich. Backstrom scored 57 seconds into the second period on a power play after Ovechkin’s initial shot was stopped by Lightning netminder Mike Smith.
Neither Smith, nor Lightning defensemen Mattias Ohlund could locate the puck, which allowed Backstrom to poke it through Smith’s legs. The goal set Backstrom’s career high for goals in a season with his 23rd.
Laich was just as fortunate as Backstrom in that the Lightning, again, failed to locate a loose puck in front of their net.
Victor Hedman blocked Alexander Semin’s shot from the left circle, but was unable to locate it, and Laich skated into the crease for the easy tap in at 12:56.
Laich acknowledged the fortunate bounces after the game.
“You work for your bounces too,” said Laich. “We were able to keep the puck in, and then make a couple nice plays and have some patience and then you do the right things, you shoot the puck and you go to the net and pucks go in.”
The Lightning did make things interesting in the third period, as Martin St. Louis and Steven Stamkos scored 2:42 apart early in the third period to tie the game.
St. Louis deflected a Kurtis Foster point shot passed Theodore, then with Tomas Fleischmann in the box for hooking, Stamkos fired a slap shot passed Theodore from the left circle.
During the current streak, the Capitals have been solid in the third period, several times blowing the game open with solid third periods. Laich said he thought the Capitals would benefit from the tough third period against the Lightning.
“We’re not going to win every game 5-1, 6-1,” said Laich. “It’s nice to be tested [and] have to bear down and win the game at the last minute, because if you float around winning 5-1, 6-1, then you really don’t find out what your metal is late in the hockey game. I think tonight we found out what it was tonight.”
Second Period Re-Cap
The second period just ended with the Capitals leading the Lightning 2-0. Nick Backstrom and Brooks Laich tallied for the Capitals with Backstrom's goal coming on a power play.
Backstrom put home the rebound of an Alex Ovechkin shot 57 seconds into the period. With Jeff Halpern in the penalty box for tripping, Ovechkin's shot was stopped by Mike Smith, but he and Lightning defensemen Mattias Ohlund were unable to locate the puck and Backstrom pushed the puck through Smith's legs and into the net.
Laich's goal was similiar in that it was a failed clear by the Lightning that contributed to his goal. With Smith scrambling in his own net, Semin passed from the left circle to the right cirlce to Fleischmann, who with Smith still unsteady, passed back to Semin. Semin's shot was blocked by Victor Hedman, but Hedman, like Ohlund, failed to locate the puck which allowed Laich to put in the easy rebound.
Backstrom put home the rebound of an Alex Ovechkin shot 57 seconds into the period. With Jeff Halpern in the penalty box for tripping, Ovechkin's shot was stopped by Mike Smith, but he and Lightning defensemen Mattias Ohlund were unable to locate the puck and Backstrom pushed the puck through Smith's legs and into the net.
Laich's goal was similiar in that it was a failed clear by the Lightning that contributed to his goal. With Smith scrambling in his own net, Semin passed from the left circle to the right cirlce to Fleischmann, who with Smith still unsteady, passed back to Semin. Semin's shot was blocked by Victor Hedman, but Hedman, like Ohlund, failed to locate the puck which allowed Laich to put in the easy rebound.
First Period Re-Cap
The first period just wrapped up with the Capitals and Lightning tied at zero. The Capitals outshot the Lightning 11-7, but were unable to get one passed Lightning netminder Mike Smith.
The Capitals had several quality scoring chances in the first period, but were unable to finish any of them.
Tomas Fleischmann missed on a rebound of a Brooks Laich shot on the power play as Laich's shot deflected off of Smith's pads and right to Fleischmann. Fleischmann tried settle the bouncing puck, but was unable to and pushed the shot wide of the net.
Alex Ovechkin also had a chance on a rebound of a Shaone Morrison point shot, but pushed the puck high and over the net as he attempted to go top-shelf.
The save of the period, however, goes to the Capitals Jose Theodore. Tampa Bay's Matt Walker took a slap shot from the point around the nine-minute mark that beat Theodore. But, the puck hit the left cross-bar and bounced off of Theodore's back.
Theodore, however, was able to turn around and clear the puck out of the crease before it rolled into the net.
The Capitals had several quality scoring chances in the first period, but were unable to finish any of them.
Tomas Fleischmann missed on a rebound of a Brooks Laich shot on the power play as Laich's shot deflected off of Smith's pads and right to Fleischmann. Fleischmann tried settle the bouncing puck, but was unable to and pushed the shot wide of the net.
Alex Ovechkin also had a chance on a rebound of a Shaone Morrison point shot, but pushed the puck high and over the net as he attempted to go top-shelf.
The save of the period, however, goes to the Capitals Jose Theodore. Tampa Bay's Matt Walker took a slap shot from the point around the nine-minute mark that beat Theodore. But, the puck hit the left cross-bar and bounced off of Theodore's back.
Theodore, however, was able to turn around and clear the puck out of the crease before it rolled into the net.
Update
Matt Bradley took the pre-game skate and will be in the line-up this afternoon for the Capitals.
Pre-Game Notes
The Washington Capitals square off with the Tampa Bay Lightning this afternoon at Verizon Center with an opportunity to make history. With a win, the Capitals would tie the 1983-84 Capitals for most consecutive wins in franchise history with 10.
Jose Theodore will start in goal this afternoon after Michael Neuvirth started the previous two games. Theodore suffered a hip flexor strain in the second period of Tuesday night's win over the New York Islanders.
Coach Bruce Boudreau had this to say about Theodore in his pre-game presser.
"Theo was playing really good before [his injury]," said Boudreau. "He deserves to come back, and Michael struggled against these guys last time."
Boudreau was referring to the last loss the Capitals suffered. The Lightning beat the Capitals, 7-4, on January 12, and chased Michael Neuvirth from the net after the first period in which the Lightning scored 4 goals.
Here is what Boudreau said when asked what he might say to his team about their last meeting with the Lightning.
"That we weren’t very good," said Boudreau. "That we got our butts handed to us."
Matt Bradley will be a game-time decision after suffering what Boudreau called "an upper body ouch" on Friday against the Florida Panthers. Bradley did not practice yesterday, and his status will determined after the pre-game warmup today.
If Bradley can't go, look for Quintin Laing to take Bradley's spot with David Steckel and Boyd Gordon on the fourth line.
Tyler Sloan will dress today in place of the suspended Mike Green.
Foward pairings:
First line- Ovechkin, Backstrom, Knuble
Second line- Semin, Fleischmann, Laich
Third line- Chimera, B. Morrison, Fehr
Fourth line- Gordon, Steckel, Bradley/Laing
D-pairings:
1st pairing- Schultz, Pothier
2nd pairing- Poti, Erskine
3rd pairing- S. Morrison, Sloan.
Jose Theodore will start in goal this afternoon after Michael Neuvirth started the previous two games. Theodore suffered a hip flexor strain in the second period of Tuesday night's win over the New York Islanders.
Coach Bruce Boudreau had this to say about Theodore in his pre-game presser.
"Theo was playing really good before [his injury]," said Boudreau. "He deserves to come back, and Michael struggled against these guys last time."
Boudreau was referring to the last loss the Capitals suffered. The Lightning beat the Capitals, 7-4, on January 12, and chased Michael Neuvirth from the net after the first period in which the Lightning scored 4 goals.
Here is what Boudreau said when asked what he might say to his team about their last meeting with the Lightning.
"That we weren’t very good," said Boudreau. "That we got our butts handed to us."
Matt Bradley will be a game-time decision after suffering what Boudreau called "an upper body ouch" on Friday against the Florida Panthers. Bradley did not practice yesterday, and his status will determined after the pre-game warmup today.
If Bradley can't go, look for Quintin Laing to take Bradley's spot with David Steckel and Boyd Gordon on the fourth line.
Tyler Sloan will dress today in place of the suspended Mike Green.
Foward pairings:
First line- Ovechkin, Backstrom, Knuble
Second line- Semin, Fleischmann, Laich
Third line- Chimera, B. Morrison, Fehr
Fourth line- Gordon, Steckel, Bradley/Laing
D-pairings:
1st pairing- Schultz, Pothier
2nd pairing- Poti, Erskine
3rd pairing- S. Morrison, Sloan.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Capitals’ Knuble finally feeling at home
By: Justin Creech
Mike Knuble is currently enjoying the best goal scoring month of his National Hockey League career. The rugged forward has 11 goals in the 14 games the Capitals have played this month including three two-goal games with the last of those two-goal games coming Friday night in the Capitals 4-1 win over the Florida Panthers.
Knuble, who now has 18 goals on the season, has flourished since being reunited with Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom on the Capitals top line at the beginning of the month.
“I obviously play with good line mates,” said Knuble about his play this month. “If you’re going to be successful in this league it’s always about who you’re playing with. “To be honest I’ve got a lot of breaks in front of the net with a lot of my bounces and loose pucks and stuff, so, kind of what I’ve done the last few years and what I intended to do at the beginning of the year .”
Since Knuble, Ovechkin, and Backstrom were reunited on January 5 against the Montreal Canadians, they have flourished. The trio has combined for 49 points (25g, 24a) in the thirteen games since.
“We can get the puck in deep and we know with [Knuble] that he can play physical game and win the battle in the corners,” said Ovechkin. “He’s that kind of guy, and he’s unbelievable in front of the net. You can see how by how many goals he has scored in front of the net.”
Knuble began the season on the first line with Ovechkin and Backstrom, but was quickly removed after the line struggled to gel and Capitals Coach Bruce Boudreau continued to search for four consistent forward lines.
“It was frustrating to not have it work out right away,” said Knuble of not gelling early in the season with Ovechkin and Backstrom. “Bruce, coaching wise, [is] not a real patient guy. If he’s not getting results he likes to shake things up because he wants something to happen right away.”
Despite his recent prosperity, Knuble struggled to find his way with the Capitals at the beginning of the season. After playing in Philadelphia the previous four seasons under then Flyers Coach John Stevens, Knuble struggled to adjust to Bruce Boudreau’s more up-tempo style, which is far different then the system Stevens utilized with the Flyers.
“At the beginning the season [it was] just some detail stuff,” said Knuble of adjusting to Boudreau’s system. “It takes a little while and sometimes you’re in one system for a long time and one train of thought, it takes a little while to change gears because you learn to see the game a certain way and now you have to learn to see the game in a different way. So, it takes a little time sometimes.”
Through the first 19 games of the season, Knuble had just five goals and 10 assists as he continued to adjust to Boudreau’s system and the Capitals continued to tinker with the forward line combinations.
It also didn’t help that Knuble missed 12 games from November 14 to December 9. Knuble broke a finger in his left hand in the first period of the Capitals November 13 victory over the Minnesota Wild, which required surgery.
Though the injury tested Knuble’s patience, it never affected his confidence in his abilities.
“As a player it’s not like you feel like you’re not the same player you used to be,” said Knuble of the injury. “You miss a dozen games and it’s like you’re starting the season over, and through the holiday’s, to be honest, I came back out of shape a little bit. I had to do some extra skating, and do a little extra biking. Maybe the results would’ve happened even if I wasn’t trying to get in shape, but I feel like I did something proactive away from the ice and it translated to the ice.
Knuble also acknowledged talking to Boudreau about keeping the forward lines the same. The Capitals second, third and fourth lines have also put up impressive numbers during the team’s current hot streak, which prompted Knuble to speak to his coach.
“We had personnel meetings half way through the year and discussed how things were going, and I probably expressed my frustration that things had not gone as well as I had hoped,” said Knuble of his talk with Boudreau. “I’ve just seen the last few year’s coaches are really sticking the same guys together, it’s not always about poking guys and trying to motivate them by moving a guy to the top line and moving another guy to the third line. You can’t have three of the same type of guys on the same line, so you want to get guys that do different things and that can work together. So, we’ve obviously gotten some results and I think Bruce is following the combinations.”
Knuble’s aggressive style of play hasn’t been more apparent than this past Tuesday in the Capitals 7-2 win over the New York Islanders. After being stopped on a semi breakaway by Islanders goaltender Dwayne Roloson, Knuble wacked at the puck numerous times before finally jamming it through Roloson’s pads and into the net.
Knuble said he hopes his aggressive style of play has rubbed off on his teammates.
“Hopefully that feeds to other guys,” said Knuble. “Brooks [Laich] does stuff like that and Eric Fehr is scoring around the net a little bit. Everyone loves the pretty goals, but you have to get some of the ugly ones to.”
Mike Knuble is currently enjoying the best goal scoring month of his National Hockey League career. The rugged forward has 11 goals in the 14 games the Capitals have played this month including three two-goal games with the last of those two-goal games coming Friday night in the Capitals 4-1 win over the Florida Panthers.
Knuble, who now has 18 goals on the season, has flourished since being reunited with Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom on the Capitals top line at the beginning of the month.
“I obviously play with good line mates,” said Knuble about his play this month. “If you’re going to be successful in this league it’s always about who you’re playing with. “To be honest I’ve got a lot of breaks in front of the net with a lot of my bounces and loose pucks and stuff, so, kind of what I’ve done the last few years and what I intended to do at the beginning of the year .”
Since Knuble, Ovechkin, and Backstrom were reunited on January 5 against the Montreal Canadians, they have flourished. The trio has combined for 49 points (25g, 24a) in the thirteen games since.
“We can get the puck in deep and we know with [Knuble] that he can play physical game and win the battle in the corners,” said Ovechkin. “He’s that kind of guy, and he’s unbelievable in front of the net. You can see how by how many goals he has scored in front of the net.”
Knuble began the season on the first line with Ovechkin and Backstrom, but was quickly removed after the line struggled to gel and Capitals Coach Bruce Boudreau continued to search for four consistent forward lines.
“It was frustrating to not have it work out right away,” said Knuble of not gelling early in the season with Ovechkin and Backstrom. “Bruce, coaching wise, [is] not a real patient guy. If he’s not getting results he likes to shake things up because he wants something to happen right away.”
Despite his recent prosperity, Knuble struggled to find his way with the Capitals at the beginning of the season. After playing in Philadelphia the previous four seasons under then Flyers Coach John Stevens, Knuble struggled to adjust to Bruce Boudreau’s more up-tempo style, which is far different then the system Stevens utilized with the Flyers.
“At the beginning the season [it was] just some detail stuff,” said Knuble of adjusting to Boudreau’s system. “It takes a little while and sometimes you’re in one system for a long time and one train of thought, it takes a little while to change gears because you learn to see the game a certain way and now you have to learn to see the game in a different way. So, it takes a little time sometimes.”
Through the first 19 games of the season, Knuble had just five goals and 10 assists as he continued to adjust to Boudreau’s system and the Capitals continued to tinker with the forward line combinations.
It also didn’t help that Knuble missed 12 games from November 14 to December 9. Knuble broke a finger in his left hand in the first period of the Capitals November 13 victory over the Minnesota Wild, which required surgery.
Though the injury tested Knuble’s patience, it never affected his confidence in his abilities.
“As a player it’s not like you feel like you’re not the same player you used to be,” said Knuble of the injury. “You miss a dozen games and it’s like you’re starting the season over, and through the holiday’s, to be honest, I came back out of shape a little bit. I had to do some extra skating, and do a little extra biking. Maybe the results would’ve happened even if I wasn’t trying to get in shape, but I feel like I did something proactive away from the ice and it translated to the ice.
Knuble also acknowledged talking to Boudreau about keeping the forward lines the same. The Capitals second, third and fourth lines have also put up impressive numbers during the team’s current hot streak, which prompted Knuble to speak to his coach.
“We had personnel meetings half way through the year and discussed how things were going, and I probably expressed my frustration that things had not gone as well as I had hoped,” said Knuble of his talk with Boudreau. “I’ve just seen the last few year’s coaches are really sticking the same guys together, it’s not always about poking guys and trying to motivate them by moving a guy to the top line and moving another guy to the third line. You can’t have three of the same type of guys on the same line, so you want to get guys that do different things and that can work together. So, we’ve obviously gotten some results and I think Bruce is following the combinations.”
Knuble’s aggressive style of play hasn’t been more apparent than this past Tuesday in the Capitals 7-2 win over the New York Islanders. After being stopped on a semi breakaway by Islanders goaltender Dwayne Roloson, Knuble wacked at the puck numerous times before finally jamming it through Roloson’s pads and into the net.
Knuble said he hopes his aggressive style of play has rubbed off on his teammates.
“Hopefully that feeds to other guys,” said Knuble. “Brooks [Laich] does stuff like that and Eric Fehr is scoring around the net a little bit. Everyone loves the pretty goals, but you have to get some of the ugly ones to.”
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