The [Swedish] player that I personally have the highest expectations for is Nicklas Bäckström, that he takes that next step and really establishes himself as a top 5 or top 10 player in the NHL, and that he takes on a bigger leadership role in Washington. That would be great to see.

Each team plays: 4 games vs. two Divisional opponents (8); 5 games vs. two divisional opponents (10); 3 games vs 10 Conference rivals (30).

Not sure how these new fan shots work. I just want to weigh interest in a 11/17 bus trip to hershey to see the bears against the baby pens, current quotes i have gotten are around $88 for the bus and a 100 level ticket.

"This place was great. When I first came here, when I first signed, I went to a Caps game. And the place was packed, and the people brought it. And I thought man, this place, this is what I want it to be. And it took almost two years to get it this way, but here we are. You’ve got to love these fans."

"My legs felt good and I wanted to be dangerous with the puck every time," Galiev said."I'm just having fun and this will be a great memory. I've had three great seasons here and we're looking forward to the Memorial Cup."

Daughter just sent this to me from Italy. Hope it doesn't offend.

Our father who art in DC.,Hockey be thy name.
Thy will be done, The cup will be won. On ice, as well as in the stands.
Give us this day our hockey sticks. And forgive us our penalties, as we forgive those who cross-check against us,
Lead us not into elimination. But deliver us to victory. In the name of the fans, the Caps, and Lord Stanley... Amen.

Caps lines: Ovechkin-Laich-Johansson. Chimera-Perreault-Semin. Hendricks-Beagle-Brouwer. Knuble-Aucoin-Ward.

"Tonight’s game was the first-ever 1-0 overtime shutout in Capitals franchise history. It was the third 1-0 shutout in Caps playoff history; Olie Kolzig blanked the Penguins 1-0 exactly 11 years earlier to the day, and New York Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist blanked the Caps 1-0 on April 18, 2009."

"For Alex, it’s a work ethic. He just has to get back to being the way he was in his younger days and maybe not get wrapped up too much in the rock star status that comes with being Alex Ovechkin." - Olie Kolzig

I don’t wear those things. I pull them out for hockey camps to show kids, because they’ve never seen a Stanley Cup ring in their hand, you know? But never would I wear it out until I win it, until I play a role in winning it myself.