Washington Capitals 

Capitals’ Annual Draft Day Party

The Washington Capitals will hold their annual draft day party on June 24 at Dave & Buster’s in North Bethesda, Md., at the White Flint Mall. The three-hour event, which is open to all fans, begins at 6 p.m. and coincides with OLN’s broadcast of the NHL Entry Draft, taking place that day in Vancouver. The Capitals have the fourth overall pick in the draft, one of two first-round picks, and one of five in the first two rounds.

The event will be highlighted by the “Ask the Pros” panel during which fans will hear analysis and discussion of the top prospects, obtain insight regarding possible draft picks and have the ability to ask their own questions about the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. Slated to participate in the panel discussion are Comcast SportsNet and Capitals television play-by-play announcer Joe Beninati, former Capital and Capitals Post-Game Live co-host Joe Reekie and Capitals alumnus and radio color analyst Ken Sabourin.

In addition, former Capital and Hockey Hall of Famer Rod Langway will be on hand to sign autographs and meet fans along with former Capitals Yvon Labre and Blair Stewart.

Comcast SportNet will be on site with games and prizes. The draft day party will feature giveaways, autographs with the Capitals alumni and the opportunity for fans to win authentic, pro-style Capitals jerseys signed by Jeff Halpern and Rookie of the Year candidate Alex Ovechkin.

Capitals topple Rangers

One week after the Washington Capitals
and New York Rangers engaged in the longest shootout in NHL
history, rookie sensation Alexander Ovechkin ensured no such
drama would be necessary.

Ovechkin collected a career-high four points, including a
career-best three assists, as the Capitals snapped a five-game
skid with a 5-1 victory over the Rangers, who had their six-game
winning streak halted.

Last Saturday, Washington and New York went 30 shooters deep
into a shootout that ended improbably when Rangers defenseman
Marek Malik beat Olaf Kolzig with a stunning between-the-legs
shot.

While Malik's highlight-reel tally provided the majority of the
excitement surrounding that contest, Ovechkin generated the buzz
in this one.

The top overall pick in the 2004 draft, Ovechkin entered leading
all rookies with 15 goals but mired in a career-worst six-game
scoring drought.

"I had lots of chances when I played six games," Ovechkin said.
"I spoke to my mom, my dad, my brother and my agent, and they
said, 'Don't think about it and play how you can. If you don't
think about it, you'll score goals.' This game, I didn't think
about it, and I score and I get three assists."

Ovechkin opened the scoring just over 12 minutes into the
contest when he stole the puck in the Rangers' zone and fired a
wrister from the left faceoff circle past fellow rookie Henrik
Lundqvist, just inside the left goalpost.

The 20-year-old Ovechkin recorded the primary assist on
Washington's next three goals, setting up Dainius Zubrus and
defenseman Steve Eminger for their fourth goals of the season
and Jeff Halpern on his second of the campaign.

Halpern's goal, which gave the Capitals a 4-0 lead with 2:28
left in the second period, came squarely as a result of the
speed of Ovechkin. The Russian left wing rushed up ice through
a myriad of Rangers and had his shot stopped by Lundqvist before
Halpern scored on the rebound.

"Coach (Glen Hanlon) said to play hard on defense because they
have great players in (Jaromir) Jagr, (Martin) Straka, (Steve)
Rucchin and (Michael) Nylander," Ovechkin said. "He said to pay
attention when they're on the ice and to play hard for those
guys."

The Rangers, however, failed to match Ovechkin's intensity.

"If you're not skating and playing with the same level of
passion as this kid, you're not going to stop him," New York
coach Tom Renney said.

Jagr also praised the play of Ovechkin but pointed out that he
and Pittsburgh rookie sensation Sidney Crosby are different
types of talents.

"I had a chance to play against (Ovechkin) in the Russian League
last year and I've seen him in the World Championships," Jagr
said. "I had a chance to be with him for a week. He's a great
player.

"I would say he's a different player than Crosby. This kid is
more of a goal scorer. He's here by himself and everything he
has to do 1-on-1. He has great moves 1-on-1 and he plays very
hard. It's tough to say who's better. Time is going to tell.
They're different players, but they're very good players."

Hanlon believed his team's performance was one of its best of
the season.

"It's got to be up there," he said. "I just thought we did a
real good job plugging up the middle of the ice. The play came
to us all night long. I felt that the Rangers played better
than they did when we played them at Madison Square Garden
because they were fresher. They (forced) us to play our best
game. Pretty much all parts of our game were on par."

Ovechkin's offensive display overshadowed a fine effort by
Kolzig, who made 37 saves, allowing only a goal by rookie Petr
Prucha with 1:43 left.

"We just didn't really have a chance," said Jagr, a former
Capital. "When we had a chance, there was Kolzig in the net.
They just played better than us. I don't know what else to
answer. From the first minute, they were all over the place and
it was just a matter of time until they were going to score."

Matt Pettinger capped the scoring for Washington with his sixth
goal of the season with 15:41 remaining.

"We know we have to play like this every night in order for us
to have a chance," Kolzig said. "But at the same time, you
don't want to get in the habit of accepting losing, no matter
how hard you work or how the other goalie plays. You just can't
accept losing, and the guys went into the game with that in
mind."

Capitals lose to Red Wings

Henrik Zetterberg and the Detroit Red Wings gave the slumping Washington Capitals a lesson in the
importance of special teams.

Zetterberg tallied twice and defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom
registered a goal and two assists as the Red Wings converted
three power-play opportunities en route to a 4-3 victory over
the Capitals.

Entering with a league-leading 25 percent conversion rate on the
power play, Detroit went 3-for-6 with the man advantage Friday
to post its third consecutive win at the MCI Center.

"Our power play has been good all year long, and we've got good
players who did a real good job for us," Red Wings coach Mike
Babcock said. "We've got guys who can shoot it and we've got
guys who can make plays. I thought our penalty kill was pretty
good, too."

The Red Wings had a 5-on-3 advantage early in the second period
when Zetterberg banged home a rebound at 5:27 for his second
power-play goal of the night, evening the game at 2-2.

"(Zetterberg) was large for us tonight," Detroit goaltender
Chris Osgood said. "He played really well at both ends. When
we needed a play, he got one for us."

Osgood stopped 27 shots to improve to 6-2-2 this season.

"I feel better every game I play," said Osgood, who missed the
first three weeks of the campaign with a groin injury. "I'm not
thinking as much, I'm just playing."

Babcock was thrilled with the strong performance from his
netminder.

"Since I've been here, this is his best game, by far," Babcock
said. "It was real good for him because the puck wasn't
bouncing off him. He was confident, and that's great to see.
He should be proud of himself tonight."

Detroit managed to kill a pair of penalties later in the period,
and Pavel Datsyuk scored an impressive goal four minutes into
the final session to give the Red Wings the lead for good.

Datsyuk carried the puck up the right wing, deked to elude a
defender in the right faceoff circle and used a quick hesitation
move to fake goaltender Olaf Kolzig before snapping a shot into
a vacant net to give Detroit a 3-2 edge.

The Red Wings killed the Capitals' two-man advantage midway
through the period, and Lidstrom blasted a slap shot through
traffic and past Kolzig with less than three minutes left to
provide some breathing room.

"The power play was working," Lidstrom said. "We were taking
the shots when they were there."

The Capitals have lost seven of their last eight games, but not
for a lack of effort, according to coach Glen Hanlon.

"We played great from start to finish," he said. "Detroit is a
great hockey team, I don't think you come in and expect to
dominate the Red Wings. These guys are great. They make me
smile, even in defeat. I can hardly wait until we start winning
these games."

Defenseman Jamie Heward registered a goal and two assists while
rookie sensation Alexander Ovechkin added a tally and an assist
for the Capitals, who went just 1-for-7 on the power play.

"We had a chance to score 5-on-3," Ovechkin said. "I shot it
and I missed it. We need better shots. If you shoot, you must
score goals."

Capitals donate more than $47,000 to Red Cross

The Washington Capitals have donated more than $47,000 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma. The Washington Capitals hosted a ceremonial check presentation at their game Dec. 3 at MCI Center. Capitals right wing Stephen Peat and minority owner Jack Davies presented Ann Kaguyutan, senior officer for disaster fundraising; JoMarie Hoholik, disaster operations field support coordinator; and Chuck Conner, senior vice president communication and marketing, of the American Red Cross with a check for $47,728.18.

“We are so grateful for what the Washington Capitals have done to help our relief efforts,” said Kaguyutan. “We know everyone has been moved by the destruction in the Gulf, and the Caps found a wonderful way to support the Red Cross and our work.”

Washington Capitals Charities donated $25,000 of this money from their general funds while other funds were raised through individual donations collected at Capitals home games and a patch program instituted by the Caps and D.C. area youth hockey.

Individual fan contributions at Capitals home games throughout September and October raised $7,543.18. Representatives from the Fredericksburg Falcons, Prince William Peewee B team, MYHA Peewees, Reston Raiders, Tri-City Eagles, Ashburn Xtreme PeeWee Major team, Howard Huskies PeeWee Blue, Baltimore Stars and the MYHA Bantams collected donations at eight games in the beginning of the season.

The Capitals also raised more than $15,000 through a partnership with D.C. area youth hockey. The Caps created a patch to sell to local youth hockey leagues, teams and players. Fans can still purchase these patches at Capitals home games or via WashingtonCaps.com.

Created in 2000, Washington Capitals Charities is the non-profit entity of the Washington Capitals. The Washington Capitals and Washington Capitals Charities are dedicated to the enhancement and development of the community that has supported them for so many years. Washington Capitals Charities offers unique resources and programs to other charities and organizations on behalf of the Washington Capitals.