SB Nation DC - Lightning Vs. Capitals: Ovechkin's OT Goal Gives Washington 3-2 Winhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48897/dc-fave.png2012-03-09T01:10:37-05:00http://dc.sbnation.com/rss/stream/26197202012-03-09T01:10:37-05:002012-03-09T01:10:37-05:00Mike Green To Have Disciplinary Hearing Friday Regarding Hit On Brett Connolly
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<img alt="February 20, 2012; Raleigh, NC, USA; Washington Capitals defensemen Mike Green (52) against the Carolina Hurricanes at the RBC center. The Hurricanes defeated the Capitals 5-0. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-US PRESSWIRE" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/pDDSE8bnUl8rGvg-jlYOnqJetqw=/7x0:993x657/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/5621072/20120220_jel_sg5_204.jpg" />
<figcaption>February 20, 2012; Raleigh, NC, USA; Washington Capitals defensemen Mike Green (52) against the Carolina Hurricanes at the RBC center. The Hurricanes defeated the Capitals 5-0. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green will have a disciplinary hearing with the NHL Friday to discuss his hit on Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brett Connolly.</p> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/TSNBobMcKenzie/status/177995486668656642">Via TSN's Bob McKenzie</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.japersrink.com/">Washington Capitals</a> defenseman <span>Mike Green</span> will have a disciplinary hearing with the NHL Friday to discuss his hit on <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rawcharge.com/">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> forward <span>Brett Connolly</span> during Thursday's 3-2 overtime win.</p>
<p><a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/washington-capitals/2012/3/8/2855991/video-mike-greens-hit-to-brett-connollys-head">With 8:54 remaining in the second period</a>, Washington defenseman <span>Dmitry Orlov</span> rode Connolly into the end boards behind the Caps' net. Connolly was tangled up with Orlov when Green made contact with Connolly's head with his upper arm and left shoulder. Connolly crumpled to the ice and ultimately left under his own power, but only played 3:44 after the hit. No penalty was called on the play.</p>
<p>Green does have a prior history; he was suspended for three games in January 2010 for elbowing then-<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.litterboxcats.com/">Florida Panthers</a> forward <span>Michael Frolik</span> in the head. That fact, plus the league's season-long fight to eliminate head shots from the game, will definitely come into play when determining Green's fate.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Caps, please visit SB Nation's Caps blog, </i><a href="http://japersrink.com">Japers' Rink</a><i>.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2012/3/9/2856505/mike-green-hit-brett-connolly-suspensionAdam Vingan2012-03-08T21:52:04-05:002012-03-08T21:52:04-05:00Lightning Vs. Capitals Final Score: Alex Ovechkin Wins It In OT For Washington
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<p>After going down 2-1 in the second period to the <a href="https://www.rawcharge.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tampa Bay Lightning</a>, the <a href="https://www.japersrink.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Capitals</a> were able to rally back and tie the game in the third period on a <span>Marcus Johansson</span> goal, assisted by <span>Dennis Wideman</span> with just under four minutes left in the game. Neither team could break the tie in the third period, so the game headed into overtime.</p>
<p>The momentum was with the Caps in the overtime period as <span>Alex Ovechkin</span> broke the tie with a goal and won the game for the Caps in the final minute of the game. With the win, the Capitals break their three-game losing streak to pick up a much needed win at home before they get ready to take a long road trip.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Washington Capitals, visit SB Nation's <a target="_blank" href="http://www.japersrink.com">Capitals blog Japer's Rink</a>. For more on the Tampa Bay Lightning, visit SB Nation's <a target="_blank" href="http://www.rawcharge.com">Lightning blog Raw Charge</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://tampabay.sbnation.com">SB Nation Tampa Bay</a>.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-capitals/2012/3/8/2856082/lightning-vs-capitals-score-final-marcus-johanssonAlfie Crow2012-03-08T21:23:11-05:002012-03-08T21:23:11-05:00VIDEO: Mike Green's Hit To Brett Connolly's Head
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<p>To get the full effect of this post, I'd ask you to read it in the <a href="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=60">Brendan Shanahan voice</a>.</p>
<p>Thursday night in Washington, an incident occurred during the second period of the game between the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.japersrink.com/">Capitals</a> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rawcharge.com/">Tampa Bay Lightning</a>. Capitals defenseman <span>Mike Green</span> delivered a very high hit on Tampa Bay forward <span>Brett Connolly</span> after <span>Dmitry Orlov</span> had already pinned Connolly to the boards behind the net.</p>
<p>No penalty was called on the play. However, this would appear to be a violation of <a href="http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=64063">NHL Rule 48, which states</a>:</p>
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<p>A hit resulting in contact with an opponent's head where the head is targeted and the principal point of contact is not permitted.</p>
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<p>OK, Shanahan gimmick over. Video's after the jump.</p>
<p>Judge for yourself. (via <a href="http://www.csnwashington.com/pages/video?PID=BxGCybXjCgzBdZFL1Yy33d14LUoLddEA&awid=5958915019780581078-849">CSN Washington</a>.)</p>
<p><embed src="http://www.csnwashington.com/common/thePlatform/web_45/swf/flvPlayer.swf" flashvars="v=http://www.csnwashington.com/common/thePlatform/PDK/CSN/vars.txt&overlayImageURL=http://www.csnwashington.com/common/thePlatform/PDK/CSN/logo/csnhd.png&pluginAkamai=type=player|URL=http://www.csnwashington.com/common/thePlatform/web_45/swf/akamaiHD.swf|priority=1|hosts=-f.akamaihd.net&pluginTremor=type=plugin|URL=http://objects.tremormedia.com/embed/swf/tpacudeoplugin46.swf|progId=4f0dc2cb1996b&skinURL=http://www.csnwashington.com/common/thePlatform/web_45/swf/skinGlass.swf&releaseURL=http://link.theplatform.com/s/-/BxGCybXjCgzBdZFL1Yy33d14LUoLddEA?MBR=true&zone=videos&playerURL=http://www.csnwashington.com/pages/video?PID=BxGCybXjCgzBdZFL1Yy33d14LUoLddEA&embeddedPlayerHTML=%3CEMBED+SRC%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.csnwashington.com%2Fcommon%2FthePlatform%2Fweb_45%2Fswf%2FflvPlayer.swf%22+flashvars%3D%22v%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.csnwashington.com%2Fcommon%2FthePlatform%2FPDK%2FCSN%2Fvars.txt%26overlayImageURL%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.csnwashington.com%2Fcommon%2FthePlatform%2FPDK%2FCSN%2Flogo%2Fcsnhd.png%26pluginAkamai%3Dtype%3Dplayer%7CURL%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.csnwashington.com%2Fcommon%2FthePlatform%2Fweb_45%2Fswf%2FakamaiHD.swf%7Cpriority%3D1%7Chosts%3D-f.akamaihd.net%26pluginTremor%3Dtype%3Dplugin%7CURL%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fobjects.tremormedia.com%2Fembed%2Fswf%2Ftpacudeoplugin46.swf%7CprogId%3D4f0dc2cb1996b%26skinURL%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.csnwashington.com%2Fcommon%2FthePlatform%2Fweb_45%2Fswf%2FskinGlass.swf%26releaseURL%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Flink.theplatform.com%2Fs%2F-%2F%7BreleasePID%7D%3FMBR%3Dtrue%26zone%3Dvideos%26playerURL%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.csnwashington.com%2Fpages%2Fvideo%3FPID%3D%7BreleasePID%7D%22+height%3D%22379%22+width%3D%22600%22+type%3D%22application%2Fx-shockwave-flash%22+allowFullScreen%3D%22true%22+bgcolor%3D%22%23ffffff%22%3E%3C%2FEMBED%3E" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="379" width="600"></embed> Regardless of how hard (or if Shanahan comes down), this is an immensely foolish hit by Green. For one thing, Orlov has the play covered. For another, Green is a guy with an expansive concussion history. One would think, regardless of the speed of the game, that Green would think twice before hitting Connolly up high like that.</p>
<p>Any punishment for Green should be announced Friday.</p>
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https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-capitals/2012/3/8/2855991/video-mike-greens-hit-to-brett-connollys-headSamuel Chamberlain2012-03-08T20:40:45-05:002012-03-08T20:40:45-05:00Lightning Vs. Capitals: Ryan Malone, Teddy Purcell Put Lightning Up 2-1; Mike Green Could Be In Trouble
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<p>Lighting does indeed strike twice in the same place.</p>
<p><span>Ryan Malone</span> and <span>Teddy Purcell</span> scored power play goals in the second period as Tampa Bay leads the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.japersrink.com/">Washington Capitals</a> 2-1.</p>
<p>Malone scored his 12th goal of the season at 7:25. With <span>Dennis Wideman</span> in the penalty box for boarding, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rawcharge.com/">Lightning</a> struck when Malone deflected <span>Steven Stamkos</span>' centering pass past <span>Tomas Vokoun</span> with his skate. Referees reviewed the goal to make sure there was no distinct kicking motion, but the call stood.</p>
<p>Purcell added one at 18:42 when his shot deflected off of <span>John Carlson's</span> skate and into the net.</p>
<p>The biggest play of the period was an uncalled penalty. Midway through the period, <span>Mike Green</span> hit <span>Brett Connolly</span> in the head with his elbow/forearm while the latter was tied up with <span>Dmitry Orlov</span> along the end boards. Connolly went to the locker room after leaving under his own power. A hearing with the league may be imminent.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2012/3/8/2855890/mike-green-brett-connolly-lightning-vs-capitalsAdam Vingan2012-03-08T19:49:26-05:002012-03-08T19:49:26-05:00Lightning Vs. Capitals: Keith Aucoin Breaks Stalemate, Caps Lead 1-0
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<p>It has been a tale of two goalies so far at Verizon Center Thursday as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.japersrink.com/">Washington Capitals</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rawcharge.com/">Tampa Bay Lightning</a>, but the former struck first as the Caps lead 1-0 after 20 minutes.</p>
<p>After quite the goalie deal between <span>Tomas Vokoun</span> and <span>Dustin Tokarski</span>, making his first career NHL start, <span>Keith Aucoin</span> broke through with his second goal of the season at 17:08. Karl Alxner fired a slap shot from the point that Aucoin somehow deflected; Aucoin was being harassed in front of the goal by a Lightning defenseman, but somehow was able to get his stick on Alzner's shot and deflect it past Tokarski (12 saves).</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Vokoun has made 15 big saves of his own, scrambling and flailing in the crease on several occasions to make those saves throughout the period. Tampa Bay has controlled puck possession, so Vokoun has been the Caps' best players thus far.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2012/3/8/2855777/lightning-vs-capitals-keith-aucoin-breaks-stalemate-caps-lead-1-0Adam Vingan2012-03-08T10:53:22-05:002012-03-08T10:53:22-05:00Lightning Vs. Capitals: Tomas Vokoun To Return As Caps Look To End Homestand With Victory
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<figcaption>Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Caps will look to salvage their five-game homestand Thursday as Tomas Vokoun returns against the Tampa Bay Lightning.</p> <p>BALLSTON, Va. - <span>Tomas Vokoun</span> will return to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.japersrink.com/">Washington Capitals</a>' lineup Thursday as they look to salvage their five-game homestand with a win in the finale against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rawcharge.com/">Tampa Bay Lightning</a>.</p>
<p>Vokoun has not played since February 22, when he was pulled after 32:08, allowing four goals on 11 shots in a 5-2 loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silversevensens.com/">Ottawa Senators</a>. Vokoun missed time last week with a lower-body injury, not even suiting up against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.broadstreethockey.com/">Philadelphia Flyers</a> Sunday in a 1-0 loss. Vokoun, however, was healthy enough to back up <span>Michal Neuvirth</span> Tuesday in the Caps' 4-3 overtime loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canescountry.com/">Carolina Hurricanes</a> and is healthy enough to start Thursday.</p>
<p>Vokoun's return in goal will likely be the only one as <span>Mike Knuble</span>, <span>Roman Hamrlik</span> and <span>John Erskine</span> took part in extra work after Thursday's morning skate and will be Washington's healthy scratches. Hamrlik has not played since February 20, while Erskine has not played since February 12. Knuble will miss his ninth game in Washington's last 14.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2012/3/8/2854463/washington-capitals-tampa-bay-lightning-preview-score-update-game-recapAdam Vingan