Simeon Varlamov

Pretty hockey teams are capable of playing ugly games, but who imagined Wednesday's Blight in the Igloo would have arrived hard on the heels of one of hockey's most appealing postseason games ever? If the Capitals tantalized their fans back in Washington with heart-stopping, high-octane drama in this series' first two games, they tortured them with ineptitude, confusion, and a maddening insistence on playing short-handed in game 3.   The lone bright spot for the Caps Wednesday night was, again, the play of rookie netminder Simeon Varlamov. Hung out to dry? More like abandoned by an AWOL set of skaters. Varlamov turned aside 39 ... Read Full Story

The Washington Capitals replaced rookie goaltender Simeon Varlamov with veteran Jose Theodore after falling behind 4-0 in the second period Wednesday night in their 6-2 Game 7 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Varlamov, who had anchored the Capitals in net for the previous 12 games, allowed goals on back-to-back shots in both the first and second periods. He faced only 18 shots before he was removed at 2:13 of the second. "After the third goal I was thinking of pulling him because he looked really dejected," Washington coach Bruce Boudreau said. "Maybe I should have called a timeout at that point. But after the ... Read Full Story

Fantasy sports is a polarizing thing. Some love it -- helps them follow games they'd otherwise ignore, keeps them engaged even during a blowout. Others can't stand it -- can make you root for players/teams you don't normally tolerate, and people tend to go on at length it. Well I understand both sides, but I've been team owner of "Strange Brew" in the SMHL (Spanked Monkey Hockey League) for years now, and we have a blast. So I was pleased when our friends at Fantasy Hockey Scouts approached us to pick two Breakout Fantasy Players from the Washington Capitals for the upcoming season. Without further ... Read Full Story

Neither Mike Knuble nor Brendan Morrison will be attending Capitals' Development Camp this week, but important slices of the Capitals' future will be. There's been a slight tweak to the camp schedule this week, so I thought I'd re-post the full slate of activity: Monday, July 13 10 a.m.: Group A on ice 2:30 p.m.: Group B on ice Tuesday, July 14 10 a.m.: Group B on ice 12 p.m.: Group A on ice Wednesday, July 15 10 a.m.: Group A on ice 11:15 a.m.: Group B on ice 3:30 p.m.: Intrasquad scrimmage Thursday, July 16 10 a.m.: Group B on ice 11:15 a.m.: ... Read Full Story

Time was, drafting 24th in the first round as the Capitals will this Friday night, while a sign of standings success, was somewhat an occasion for frustration and lament -- all the really good ones are gone by then, generally. Not so now, not in light of the haulings made late each June by the Caps' talent acquisition team of late. Can George McPhee and his scouts pull another John Carlson or Mike Green or Simeon Varlamov rabbit out of a hat in Montreal? The Capitals are not yet Detroit when it comes to finding jewels outside of the lottery. Not yet. But they are hands down ... Read Full Story