Joel Ward is in the Stanley Cup Final!!!!

The San Jose Sharks, after 25 years of waiting, finally made it to their first Stanley Cup Final, and Joel Ward scored two goals in Game 6 against the St. Louis Blues. 

Last summer, when Ward signed with the Sharks as a free agent he had said he was looking for the chance to win the Cup with the Sharks. I remember laughing and saying that the Sharks won't even make the playoffs but boy, was I wrong. 

Ward scored two goals in the game, and further cemented his status as a clutch playoff performer. Here's to many more goals that Ward will score in the Final, but go Lightning!!!

The Curse of the Capitals

When Jeff Schultz left the Washington Capitals in 2013, the next season, with the Los Angeles kings, he won the Stanley Cup. One season after leaving the Capitals. 

Last year, four major players left the Capitals: Mike Green, Troy Brouwer, Joel Ward, and Eric Fehr. Of those four players, only one does not remain in the Cup hunt, and that is Green, as his Red Wings were ousted in the first round by the Tampa Bay Lightning. 

The Capitals ... it was supposed to be their year. But now, we get to sit back, while the BLUES, who are often compared to the Capitals, are in the Conference Final. And they usually get first round exits. AND IT IS NOT FAIR. Because Troy Brouwer is on the Blues, and he scored the series-winning goal in the first round. WE WERE SUPPOSED TO MAKE HIM REGRET LEAVING US. If I see him hoist the Cup those year, I will... I don't know... UGH.

I cannot reemphasize how much I get annoyed when I think about Fehrsie, my former favourite player. AHEM.. I mean FEHR. He is just... infuriating. He scored the game-winning goal for the Penguins in Game 2 and said it gave him more satisfaction that it was against the Caps. I DO NOT WANT TO SEE HIM IN THE FINAL.

Him!!! Wardo!!! My favourite player... at one point. That was in the past. When he left the Caps and got on the Sharks, he said that he is looking to win the Cup and he thinks he will get that chance with the Sharks. That was back when the Sharks were a non-playoff team. But now, for the first time in my memory, the Sharks are in the Conference Finals. I TOLD YOU IT WAS A CURSE.

Unfortunately, either Ward or Brouwer will have to play in the Cup Final. Very, very unfortunately. WE WANTED TO MAKE THEM REGRET LEAVING US. But, there's still hope. The Tampa Bay Lightning are just emerging. All they have to do is destroy Fehr's Penguins in the Conference Finals, then destroy whoever gets to the Cup Final, and I won't have to go through the pain of seeing the curse come true. LET'S GO LIGHTNING!!!!!!!!!!!

Washington Capitals Offseason Recap

12 days until the Capitals' preseason starts, 31 days until their opener against the New Jersey Devils. Can't wait, eh? Well, there is much to be optimistic about this season. From the acquisition of T.J. Oshie to the signing of Justin Williams, be prepared for an exciting year. I expect the Capitals to at least reach the Final this year, if not hoist the Cup.

The Caps made several huge offseason moves:
Their earliest was signing advanced stats deity Justin Williams, who last played for the LA Kings. Williams, known as Mr. Game 7, is a huge playoff performer, and scored one of the goals in Game 5 of the Cup Final 2014, where the Kings won the Cup.
However, they lost Joel Ward, who signed with the San Jose Sharks and was also a clutch playoff performer.
The Capitals also aquired T.J. Oshie from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Winter Classic game-winning-goal scorer Troy Brouwer, as well as AHL-caliber goalie Pheonix Copley and a 2016 draft pick. T.J. Oshie is best known for his performance in the 2014 Sochi Olympics, where he singlehandedly helped Team USA beat the Russians in a seven-round shootout.
The Capitals also re-signed playoff performer Evgeny Kuznetsov. Expect a lot from him his sophomore year; his playoff numbers were no joke. Kuznetsov should combine with fellow sophomore Andre Burakovsky for at least 60 goals.
Bottom-sixer Jay Beagle was also re-signed; he should help the Capitals acheive their goal.
Marcus Johansson, who should assume the role of third-line centre, was also re-signed; he hit career highs in goals, assists, and points last season. He might be able to do it again.
Last, but not least, Braden  Holtby, one of the elite NHL goalies, was resigned. If Holtby puts up the numbers he did in 2014-15, expect him to be a Vezina finalist, if not the winner.

The Capitals should go deep into the playoffs this year. I nominate them to represent the east in the Final. Are you optimistic heading into this season? You should be. Let me know in the comment box.

Why is Barry Trotz Messing With the Capitals Lines?

I have a message for Barry Trotz: Since when does Jay Beagle belong on the top line - and Troy Brouwer on the bottom? Because of Barry Trotz's messing with the Caps lines, the Caps ended up losing to the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0 because he put four forwards and one defenseman on the ice (Uh, what?), and Troy Brouwer and Jay Beagle switched roles.

My ideal lines are this:

Ovechkin - Backstrom - Glencross

Johansson - Kuznetsov - Brouwer

Chimera - Fehr - Ward

Latta - Beagle - Wilson

Honestly, I do not mind Burakovsky in Hershey as long as Glencross is here, but I do think the Capitals should trade Laich, because his possession numbers are hurting more than helping.

Also, don't forget to tune in to the #CapsNYR game tonight at 8 p.m. Lets go Caps!

Eric Fehr Scores OT Winner, Helps Capitals Beat Blue Jackets 5-4

The Capitals and Blue Jackets had a great game yesterday, with Eric Fehr scoring the winning goal for Washington, tricking Sergei Bobrovsky with a backhand for the overtime winner.
Goals scored in the first period were by Joel Ward (ASST: Eric Fehr, Karl Alzner), and Jason Chimera (ASST: Michael Latta, Brooks Orpik), putting the Caps up 2-0.
In the second period, the Jackets retaliated on two power-play goals by Jack Johnson (ASST: Nick Foligno, James Wisniewski), and Nick Foligno (ASST: Kevin Connauton, Ryan Johansen).
Early in the third period, the Jackets had the lead, on Nick Foligno's second goal of the night (ASST: Jeremy Morin, Brian Gibbons), and then the Caps tied it up on a goal by Karl Alzner (ASST: Michael Latta, Jason Chimera), and the Jackets regained the lead on a goal by Michael Chaput (ASST:Jared Boll, Matt Calvert). The Caps tied it up again with a goal by Troy Brouwer (ASST: Mike Green), and only 42 seconds into overtime, Fehr gave the Caps their two points with his overtime winner (ASST: Mike Green).