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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011 ଁ SECTION E Is this the year they grab it? E2 | CAPITALS 2011-12 ଁ FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011 COVER STORY ACUP FORTHE CAPS? ANDREW HARNIK/THE WASHINGTON TIMES Right wing Mike Knuble (from left), left wing Alex Ovechkin and center Nicklas Backstrom constitute the bulk of the firepower on the Capitals’ top two lines and serve as the foundation for leadership. They again will be counted on to provide ample offense as Washington takes aim at its first Stanley Cup. BY STEPHEN WHYNO to win a title. THE WASHINGTON TIMES It’s not unrealistic to think When it didn’t work out, McPhee took a similar tone in free agency: Not blowing the Caps up but getting Ward, Halpern, t’s the dream of owner Ted Leonsis, Vokoun and Hamrlik after dealing away a who said he’d “cry like a baby” if it this is the season Washington first-round pick for Brouwer. happened. It’s the dream of public “I think [McPhee]did a great job. They address announcer Wes Johnson, brings home a championship didn’t just go willy-nilly and pick free who said he wouldn’t be able to agents,” Boudreau said. “They picked guys hear himself if it happened. It’s the Some fans decried the magazine’s pre- points in the NHL. Even last season, they that they thought were not only really dream of every kid who wants to diction as a jinx, just like a picture last sea- made a run to finish atop the Eastern Con- good but would be good fits for our hockey play in the NHL. ference. I son that depicted the Caps in medieval club.” Winning the Stanley Cup, hockey’s Holy Those were both supposed to be “the garb having won it all. Defenseman Jeff Toughness for the skaters and experi- Grail, is no longer just wishful thinking for year,” but losses to the Montreal Canadi- Schultz called predictions “garbage” but ence all around was the common theme. the Washington Capitals and their fans. It’s ens in the first round in 2010 and to the conceded this is the best team he’s been on Except for Brouwer, who won it all with the the only real benchmark for a successful Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round and therefore the group with the best Chicago Blackhawks two seasons ago, season. in 2011 brought high hopes to an end in low- chance to make good of preseason expec- none have had team success in the playoffs. Captain Alex Ovechkin has had time to blow fashion. tations. But all fit the bill of leaders either vo- adjust to a leadership role. Coach Bruce Last year’s sweep by the Lightning stung “If people are saying, ‘You’ve got a cally or quietly as the Caps look to squeeze Boudreau taught his team how to win with particularly hard. Boudreau talked over chance to win,’ I’m all for that. Picking us more out of the entire team come playoff defense. General manager George McPhee the summer about just wanting to get back to win the Cup, that’s nice, but I’m more in- time. And the Caps brought back Laich at went out in the offseason and got a proven on the ice to put the postseason behind terested in the process and getting this $4.5 million per year because he fits into goaltender and patched some holes on a him, and his players weren’t able to forget. right and getting this team to play right all the mix as a leader, too. playoff club. “It wasn’t fun for anybody. It was terri- the way through,” McPhee said. “And if you “We believe that we have the group that Nothing less than a celebration in June ble,” center Marcus Johansson said. “We play it right all the way through, then you can win in here, Laich said. is acceptable. won’t break down in the playoffs.” never want to have that happen again, so “We’re definitely setting the bar high Another part of the hype centers on of course you think about it.” ‘C’ is for pressure this year,” defenseman John Erskine said. Ovechkin, center Nicklas Backstrom, de- Reasons for the early exit abound, from Brouwer talked about not trying to be “If we don’t go all the way, I think it’ll be a feseman Mike Green and right wing injuries to defensemen to stars not being the captain in Washington. That job is al- disappointment.” Alexander Semin — the so-called “Young able to match the intensity and production ready filled, as Ovechkin goes into just his Guns” — growing up. They’re not kids any- of Tampa Bay’s supporting cast. Even now, second full season with the “C” on his more, right wing Mike Knuble has said, and it’s still frustrating for many around the Visions of champions chest. other veterans have preached accountabil- team to think about the missed opportu- Self-motivation is one part of the Caps’ Increased maturity has been a notice- ity across the board. nity. mantra, but nationally the expectations able part of Ovechkin since he returned to “They’re building themselves to [where] “You just don’t have that many chances were ratcheted up over the summer when the area in August. Questions about him playoffs aren’t really a goal for them,” as a group to do well,” Knuble said. “You The Hockey News tabbed Washington as its being out of shape were quickly extin- Nashville Predators coach Barry Trotz have to realize when you’re a good team in pick to finally break through and win the guished as the highest-paid player showed said. “There’s only one goal for the Caps.” a good position that the time is right and Cup. off some renewed commitment in on-ice But the talent has been evident for a cou- the players are out there, and you’ve got to Senior writer Ken Campbell cited drills and sprints. ple of seasons, so it’s no surprise that from take advantage of it.” McPhee’s moves of signing goalie Tomas And he’s approaching this season as the inside there is confidence. Vokoun, defenseman Roman Hamrlik, for- captain differently, willing to sacrifice “We’ve had a team to win it the last few All the right moves wards Jeff Halpern and Joel Ward and some offensive firepower for team success. years and it just hasn’t worked out,” de- trading for forward Troy Brouwer as major NBC hockey play-by-play man Mike “It doesn’t matter — personal stats is fenseman Karl Alzner said. “For me, every reasons for the pick. Emrick doesn’t make postseason predic- personal stats. Everybody forget I was 65- year is the year to win the Cup. Whether tions until after the trade deadline. That’s goal scorer a couple years ago and every- it’s off of losing, getting swept in the sec- when, he said, you can see what a team has ond round, or not making the playoffs body talking about Boston or Chicago be- Capitals 2011-12 to offer in April, May and June. cause they were Stanley Cup champions,” every year, you want to win it and you ex- At last year’s deadline, McPhee acquired Sports Editor: Mike Harris pect to win it.” Ovechkin said. “I think for this team right Section editor: Marc Lancaster defenseman Dennis Wideman and center now it’s most important thing is just raise Jason Arnott and claimed wing Marco Design: Matt Pallister, Greg Groesch ‘Never’ again the Cup and bring it home like everybody Copy editing: Judd Hanson Sturm off waivers. It was the hope that wants in all organizations.” Cover illustration: Alexander Hunter Two seasons ago, the Caps captured those veterans would add the right voices the Presidents’ Trophy with the most in the room and the right play on the ice » see CUP | E3 EXPANDED CAPITALS COVERAGE: WASHINGTONTIMES.COM/SPORTS/HOCKEY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011 ଁ CAPITALS 2011-12 | E3 Caps burdened by urgency to win Cup now nly one years and the best in the league in of 2010, only to watch lower seeds — Wash- Philadelphia (No. 7) and Boston Oing- (No. 3) — catch fire and advance to ton’s pro teams the finals, with the Bruins winning — the Big Four, I the Stanley Cup. Of course, the mean — is much Presidents’ Trophy is plated with burdened by ex- fool’s gold . unless it leads to a pectations: the lengthy playoff run. The Caps, for Capitals. With all their glamour, haven’t been able DAN the others, the to get out of the second round. DALY fans’ mindset is When they were done being entirely different. electrocuted by the Lightning five Redskins fans months ago, Knuble said, “There just want the club to be respectable will be different faces next year. enough so they can show their faces That’s a guarantee.” But George at work on Mondays. McPhee resisted the urge to break Wizards fans don’t even ask for out the dynamite, convinced that that much. They simply hope their every young team — and the Capi- heroes can get through the season tals are still that — is going to suffer with a minimum of locker-room growing pains. There were no gunplay. major subtractions from the roster As for Nationals fans, they’re ab- (unless you count Semyon Var- solutely thrilled the team won 80 lamov, who, statistically, was their games this year, especially with third-best goaltender), and Bruce Stephen Strasburg throwing almost Boudreau was brought back as as many rehab-assignment innings coach.