Japers' Rink: FanShots

Rangers and Canucks brawl from yesterday. Kesler gets jumped by four Rangers, and a scrum ensues....

2009-11-05T03:01:35Z

Rangers and Canucks brawl from yesterday. Kesler gets jumped by four Rangers, and a scrum ensues. O'Brien pokes Avery. Good stuff.

And listen at 2:30 for some good swearing between Hordichuk and Avery.

Brendan Morrison, Survivorman! You may recall that after signing with the Caps this summer but...

2009-11-04T19:09:49Z

Brendan Morrison, Survivorman!

You may recall that after signing with the Caps this summer but before reporting to training camp in September, BMo took a trip to the Canadian wilderness for charity.

Despite the "mosquitos as big as seagulls", the participants all survived and emerged from the woods to a tasty homestyle Hornpayne feast.

And now, we have video.

There's a lot more Brad May and Kris King than #9 in this clip, but we get a little flavor of how the Caps' second line center spent his summer vacation.

Just wanted to share a shot of the action on Sunday night, including Shaone Morrisonn vs. Jason...

2009-11-04T05:23:00Z

Just wanted to share a shot of the action on Sunday night, including Shaone Morrisonn vs. Jason Chimera on the left.

Hockey OT

2009-11-04T00:56:58Z

Hockey OT

"That would be correct. That's the name of the game. Why, is that against the rules now?... Run,...

2009-11-03T19:40:08Z

"That would be correct. That's the name of the game. Why, is that against the rules now?... Run, chase, hunt down, hit, whatever word you want to use that would be correct."

- Ken Hitchcock on whether the Blue Jackets were targeting Alex Ovechkin on Sunday

In the NFL, success isn't about pep talks or similar salary structures. It's about figuring out a...

2009-11-03T18:29:42Z

In the NFL, success isn't about pep talks or similar salary structures. It's about figuring out a way to pull away from the pack.

For the Steelers, it's about embracing attention to detail.

"Every game that the Steelers played when I was there, we weren't always emotionally up," said Whisenhunt, who was offensive coordinator and tight ends coach in Pittsburgh.

"We weren't always as fired up. But the one thing that was consistent most of the time was the (attention to) technique and how we played."

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/boivin/2009-11-02-nfl-parity_N.htm

Is the discipline, consistency horse dead yet?

Caps recall Perreault, re‑assign Aucoin

2009-11-03T14:43:34Z

Caps recall Perreault, re‑assign Aucoin

"The Washington Capitals have recalled center Mathieu Perreault from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL) and assigned center Keith Aucoin to Hershey, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today." - Press Release

Restricted Free Agents, Class of November 2009

2009-11-03T13:05:42Z

Restricted Free Agents, Class of November 2009

Toronto-based blogger Fantana takes a look at the League's RFA Class of 2009. His assessments of the Capitals on the list match fairly well with the discussions at Japers', but it is useful to see the list from around the NHL.

Swedish TV channel SVT2 came to the Phonebooth for a visit with native son Nicky Backstrom

2009-11-03T09:27:50Z

Swedish TV channel SVT2 came to the Phonebooth for a visit with native son Nicky Backstrom

Ovechkin Week-to-Week

2009-11-02T22:32:30Z

Ovechkin Week-to-Week

"Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin suffered an upper-body strain in Sunday evening’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets and his status is week-to-week, the team determined Monday. Ovechkin, the NHL leader in points (23) and goals (14) and the league’s Second Star of the Month for October, is expected to miss the fifth game of his five-year career on Wednesday at New Jersey. He has only missed two games due to injury in his first four seasons. Ovechkin played just 7:43 of Sunday’s overtime loss to Columbus and was held without a point for just the third time this year. He was examined and treated by the team’s medical staff and underwent an MRI exam on Monday. The two-time reigning most valuable player will travel with the Capitals this week to continue to receive medical treatment." - Press Release

"When Don Cherry predicted Ovi would be taken out by someone he hit (cleanly), was he prescient -...

2009-11-02T20:13:54Z

"When Don Cherry predicted Ovi would be taken out by someone he hit (cleanly), was he prescient - or did he open the door for it?"

Caps spokesperson @NateEwell, via Twitter

Caps Scouting Forsberg?

2009-11-02T20:11:09Z

Caps Scouting Forsberg?

Peter Forsberg's foot is supposedly healed (as healed as it's going to get, anyway), and he's suiting up for the Swedes in the Karjala Cup starting on Thursday. Rumor has it that the Caps are among the teams scouting him.

Obviously everything depends on moving Nylander, but what do you think? Does this team need a guy like Forsberg with Morrison playing as well has he is?

Ovechkin named Second Star for October

2009-11-02T18:30:54Z

Ovechkin named Second Star for October

"Ovechkin led the NHL in goals (14), points (23), shots (85) and tied for second place in plus-minus (+10) as the Capitals went 8-2-3 and opened a seven-point lead in the Southeast Division. Ovechkin matched Mario Lemieux’s NHL record for October with six two-goal games and his 14 goals matched the most he has scored in a calendar month (March, 2008). The reigning NHL MVP became the third player in NHL history to tally at least three points in each of his first three games of a season, joining Guy Lafleur with Montreal in 1975-76 and Peter Stastny with Quebec in 1982-83. Ovechkin had five goals and four assists in that span. " - Press Release

Sergei Fedorov Named as Ambassador to 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi

2009-11-01T14:47:20Z

Sergei Fedorov Named as Ambassador to 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi

Sure it is still four years away, but it appears another shot has been fired across the bow of the NHL as concerns the Sochi Olympics. Is it just coincidence that the newly named ambassador is beloved friend and former teammate of not only the most popular hockey player on earth but also the most vocal critic of a ban on NHL player participation in Sochi? h/t Sovietsky Sport
Moscow- 1 November- RIA Novosti. Well-known Russian hockey player, 3-time World Champion and 3-time Stanley Cup winner Sergei Fedorov has been named as the next ambassador to the 2014 Winter Olympic games in Sochi.
At a press conference on Sunday, ‘Sochi-2014’ organizational committee member Igor Stolyarov presented Fedorov with his credentials as ambassador to the games.
‘A great many sportsman have been previous ambassadors—Alexander Ovechkin, figure skaters Oksana Domina and Maksim Shabalin, bobsledder Alexander Zubkov and others. Sergei personifies not only the skills of a Sportsman with a capital ‘S’, but Olympic values as well. It means a great deal that he is still playing, and his North American experience helps his ambassadorial status. It is a great honor for me to name him as ambassador to the games’, said Stolyarov at a press-conference announcing the start of the online game ‘Sochi-Vancouver Rally Raid’.

Apparently Colby Armstrong wants to egg Alex Ovechkin's house (pictured, with its owner out front...

2009-11-01T01:15:31Z

Apparently Colby Armstrong wants to egg Alex Ovechkin's house (pictured, with its owner out front sporting a sweet shirt). (via Thrashers TV (video))

With Columbus coming to town tomorrow, a little stroll down memory lane.

2009-10-31T21:37:40Z

With Columbus coming to town tomorrow, a little stroll down memory lane.

Michael Nylander Watch Game 5: 1 goal, +1, 3 shots

2009-10-31T03:54:27Z

Michael Nylander Watch Game 5: 1 goal, +1, 3 shots

Nylander led the Grand Rapid Griffins to start a third-period comeback against the Houston Aeros, 3-1.

Friday's game was the final game of Nylander's conditioning stint, finishing with one goal, five power-play assists and a plus-one rating in five games. The Griffins were undefeated in the Nylander era.

Your move, comrades.

My wife carved this into our pumpkin!

2009-10-31T02:13:39Z

My wife carved this into our pumpkin!

Another Shake Up at the NHLPA

2009-10-30T19:29:23Z

Another Shake Up at the NHLPA

They just ousted their leader, and the new leader has also been dropped.... this is getting ugly...

AO atop the Three Stars Standings

2009-10-30T17:38:56Z

AO atop the Three Stars Standings

AO continues his October of Excellence in the crucial NHL Three Stars of the Game rankings.

He was awarded Second Star of the Day for his two goal, one assist performance in Atlanta last night. Second star gets twenty points and with that Ovechkin stands alone atop the 2009-2010 NHL Three Stars Standings leaderboard.

Congratulations Alex!