Zubrus and Heward Dealt at Deadline

Danius Zubrus to Buffalo for Jiri Novotny and a 1st Round Pick

To For

Overall this is an amazing return for a player that has proven that he is nothing more than a second line center or better yet a right wing. The problem with Zubrus has never been his skill level, where at times he has displayed what a dominate player he can be. He has just never been able to provide the consistency needed to be a first line player, as he has a tendency to disappear for extended periods. While it would have been nice to keep him in Washington for his leadership, his contract demands at the moment did not make that possible.

In Novotny, the Caps get the young center that they coveted who is a former first round pick of the Sabres in 2001. He is a player that has excelled at every level he has played at, but with the quality depth in Buffalo, he has yet to receive an opportunity to play a key role at the NHL level. In Washington he will definitely get that opportunity as he should step right in to the top line with Ovechkin. Novotny's profile from The Internet Hockey Database:

Jiri Novotny

Center
Born Aug 12 1983  -- Pelhrimov, Czech Rep.
Height 6.02 -- Weight 194 -- Shoots R


Selected by Buffalo Sabres round 1 #22 overall 2001 NHL Entry Draft

                                      --- Regular Season ---  ---- Playoffs ----
Season   Team                        Lge    GP    G    A  Pts  PIM  GP   G   A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000-01  Ceske Budejovice HC         Czech  19    0    4    4    2  --  --  --  --  --
2001-02  Ceske Budejovice HC         Czech  41    8    6   14    6  --  --  --  --  --
2002-03  Rochester Americans         AHL    43    2    9   11   14   3   0   1   1  10
2003-04  Rochester Americans         AHL    48    1   14   15   16  13   0   1   1  10
2004-05  Rochester Americans         AHL    61    5   20   25   36   9   2   2   4   4
2005-06  Rochester Americans         AHL    66   17   37   54   40  --  --  --  --  --
2005-06  Buffalo Sabres              NHL    14    2    1    3    0   4   0   0   0   0
2006-07  Buffalo Sabres              NHL    50    6    7   13   26
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    NHL Totals                         64    8    8   16   26   4   0   0   0   0

Jamie Heward to Los Angeles For a Conditional Draft Pick in 2008

    To  

This seems to be nothing more than move to make some space on the Capitals blue line. With the recent return of Pothier, Erskine, and Muir from injuries, the team had too many defenseman. This opens up a spot for Eminger to get back into the lineup after he had been a healthy scratch for the past 6 games. It also means that Jeff Schultz has solidified his spot in the lineup for the rest of the season. The conditional draft pick most likely is contingent on whether Heward resigns with the Kings over the summer.

Zubrus is King, Caps Win in OT

Winger Provides Game Winning Goal in Team's 3rd Straight Overtime Game
Washington Capitals 4, Los Angeles Kings 3
Boxscore
(Photo courtesy of Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP)


The Capitals are doing exactly what they set out to accomplish during their season long home stand. Tonight's win, thanks to Danius Zubrus' overtime goal, improved their record to 2-0-1 so far with the Rangers coming to town Saturday night. Their performance at home has provided the team with five out of a possible six points and given them some hope that they can make one last run for the playoffs.

As has been the pattern of late, the Capitals started out slow allowing the Kings to strike first. Back-to-back penalties by Zednik and Pettinger just six minutes in gave L.A. a two man advantage. Despite the Kings record this season, this is one area they have had plenty of success this year, with the extra man on the road. They currently are 4th in the NHL with a 19.7% conversion rate in these situations. They would capitalize here as well as Calder Trophy candidate Anze Kopitar knocked home a rebound in mid-air off of Kolzig's left pad. It was a nice display of hand-eye coordination for the only Slovenian born player in the NHL. He hit the puck back-handed about a foot off the ice and it deflected off the knob of Kolzig's stick directing it into the back of the net. It was his 14th goal of the year.

It would take until the second period for the Caps to respond and it would come from an unlikely source. After Milan Jurcina was sent to the box, putting them short handed again, Boyd Gordon would rifle a slap shot past Mathieu Garon tying the score at one. It was an innocent looking play that saw Gordon carry the puck through the neutral zone and instead of dumping the puck in, he just decided to let one rip as he crossed the Kings' blue line. The wise decision seemed to surprise the Kings goaltender as he completely misplayed the shot.

That Gordon goal would be the start of an explosive period for both teams who combined for five goals. The Caps took a 2-1 lead on a Semin-esque goal by Ben Clymer, a wrap arounder for his 7th of the season. Clymer seems to have really picked up his play since he was a healthy scratch this past Sunday, providing the physical presence and secondary scoring this team needs. Alex Ovechkin recorded a secondary assist on the play ending his three game pointless streak.

The Kings would tie it up again just two minutes later following an Alexander Frolov deflection in front of Kolzig off a shot from the point by Michael Cammalleri. With 8:25 remaining in the period the Caps would take the lead again as Chris Clark won possession of the puck following a scrum behind Garon and stuffed the puck past the Kings goalie for his 23rd of the season. But Lubomir Visnovski would make sure the game headed into the intermission tied after his wide open slap shot from the slot beat Kolzig under his glove with 1:15 remaining.

A scoreless third period despite a few good opportunities for both teams meant the Capitals and Kings were headed to overtime again. It was the third straight overtime game for the Caps and the second straight including three out of the last four for the Kings.

Danius Zubrus would make sure that the Caps would not have to suffer through another shootout after he stuffed home the game winner 2:28 into the extra period. The play started with a hard shot from the point off the stick of Milan Jurcina. The puck squeaked through Garon's pads and slowly bounced off the goalpost where a waiting Zubrus would knock it home to send the good guys home to celebrate.

The win moved the Capitals within eight points of the idle Tampa Bay Lightning for the eighth and final playoff spot. All of this just places even more importance on Saturday's game against the Rangers as the team will then begin a three game road trip at the Lightning next Thursday.

Game Notes:

Their were more than 6,500 armed forces personnel on hand as the Caps hosted their fifth "Salute to the Military" night.... Boyd Gordon led all Caps in ice time with 22:28.

Caps/Kings Preview

Los Angeles Kings (18-30-8, 44 points)
at
Washington Capitals (22-25-8, 52 points)

Television: Comcast Sports Net
Radio: Sportstalk 980-AM
Gametime: 7:00 PM ET


The Capitals season long home stand continues tonight as they welcome in the Western Conference cellar dwellers, the L.A. Kings, for the first time since November 10th, 2003.

Believe it or not the Capitals have an impressive record at the Verizon Center as of late, posting a 5-1-1 record in their last seven games. An interesting stat that gets lost because of their recent performances on the road having lost four straight and ten out of their last eleven.

The Kings limp into this contest with a 2-8-3 record over their last 13 games, but have picked up their play recently going 1-0-2 in their last three. The win was a 7-0 drubbing of the Florida Panthers, a team that has had the Capitals number this season. They also are coming off of a shootout loss to Tampa on Tuesday night, the same night Washington lost to the Bruins in a shootout. They have also posted a 4-0-1 record in their last five trips to the nation's capital dating back to the '98 season. All of this means that despite their record, they are not to be treated lightly.

While Evgeni Malkin has been getting all the attention on the east coast the Kings have a candidate themselves for this years Calder Trophy Award for the rookie of the year. Anze Kopitar, a 6 foot 4 inch 220 pound 19-year old center from Slovenia, has the size and offensive ability that teams crave. So far this season he has proven that despite his young age and inexperience he is already developing into a star, recording 13 goals and 33 assists through his first 56 games as a pro. He, like Ovechkin, gives his team and it's fans a reason to believe that good times lay ahead for their franchise.

And speaking of Ovechkin, he will try to break out of a career long three game scoreless drought tonight. He has not recorded a point since his four game goal scoring streak came to an end in a game last Saturday in Pittsburgh as the Caps were shutout 2-0.

The two teams last met a season ago in Los Angeles on December 14, 2005 as the Caps prevailed 3-2 thanks to a two goal performance by defenseman Jamie Heward.

Tonight will be a special night at the Verizon Center as the Washington Capitals host their fifth Salute to the Military night. The Caps, along with support from their corporate partners, have donated more than 5,000 tickets to military personnel. The team will also be collecting items tonight for the Comfort for America's Uniformed Services Elite. So if you're headed to the game they ask that you bring anything that would cheer up recovering soldiers. For example DVDs, video games, or even gift cards.

Game Notes:

The Kings might be without center Michael Cammalleri for the second consecutive game. He sat out Tuesday's game with what team officials are describing as a muscle strain. Cammalleri is currently second on the team in scoring with 22 goals and 29 assists in 55 games.... The Caps will have backup goaltender Brent Johnson back in the lineup tonight. Although watching him in practice yesterday he still looks as though he is laboring through a groin injury. So don't expect to see him get a start as of yet.... The team also received more good news yesterday as all three of their injured defenseman, Brian Pothier, Brian Muir, and John Erskine, took the ice yesterday. They have all been reported as being 7-10 days away from returning.

Down on the Farm:

The South Carolina Stingrays return to action tonight as they travel to Charlotte to take on the Checkers. Gametime is 7:00 PM ET and you can catch all the action on b2networks by visiting www.stingrayshockey.com.