(Photos by Alena Schwarz)

The Caps beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 in a pre-season shootout on Friday. After trailing the Sabres, 2-1, at the end of the first, both teams would trade goals in the second before the Caps tied it up in the dying minutes of the third period. After an unexciting overtime, the teams went into the shootout. It took seven rounds before Nicklas Backstrom finally netted the winning goal.

In regulation, Backstrom, Mike Green and Matt Hendricks scored for the Caps while Thomas Vanek potted two goals and Jason Pominville added one of his own for the Sabres.

In that epic, seven-round shootout, the Caps got the ball rolling with an Alex Ovechkin goal in the second round. However, it was matched by Nathan Gerbe. Both teams traded off another set of goals by Alexander Semin and Pominville. Vokoun made the last, solid save on Luke Adams’ shot to secure the win for Washington.

Three Stars of the Game:

1. Mike Green

2. Thomas Vanek

3. Troy Brouwer

(Photos by Alena Schwarz)

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Caps Beat Sabres in Pre-Season Shootout Spectacular - Capitals Outsider - Capitals Outsider - A Washington Capitals blog

The above revelation brought to you by my journey down the escalator at CapsCon on Saturday, where I found my first-time-attendee self comfortably home amongst a slew of familiar bits and pieces.  And no, I’m not referring to the fact that I spent half the convention tripping over random friends and acquaintances, though that was a very pleasant experience as well.

Slapshot, the Red Rockers, and a Man with a Microphone distribute T-Shirts. (Photos by M. Richter)

To clarify – this was my first sports convention, but it was far from my first fannish convention.  To put it bluntly, I’m a geek. I’ve hit the cons, walked the walk, and I talk the talk.  The amazing thing about Saturday was just how much of fandom has apparently become universal in the last ten years.  Whether it’s NHL hockey, comic books, or a television series, every convention has its consistencies.  So, how did this year’s CapsCon measure up?

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#CapsCon – the Convention Veteran’s Perspective - Capitals Outsider - Capitals Outsider - A Washington Capitals blog

Alex Ovechkin Plush Doll - Capitals Outsider - Capitals Outsider - A Washington Capitals blog

Offense

(Photos by Alena Schwarz)

It takes less than a glance at the Capitals’ offense to know Washington is a Cup-contending team. Cup-contending, but not necessarily Cup-winning.

General manager George McPhee’s moves this past summer were made in expectation of changing that, and if everything goes well, he may succeed.

The organization let go of a number of players: Jason Arnott, Matt Bradley, Eric Fehr, Boyd Gordon, Andrew Gordon, Marco Sturm, and less notably, Brian Willsie. Statistically, the seven represent a loss of 78 points (based on last season).

Enter center Jeff Halpern and wingers Troy Brouwer and Joel Ward. Among their former teams; Montreal, Chicago, and Nashville, respectively; the three combined for 91 points. So on paper, everything so far works out for the Caps.

There is, however, the center-factor. Nicklas Backstrom will remain as the top center, with Marcus Johansson expected to come in second.  (Note that though Backstrom may be on the second line, it is more about balance than declining abilities).  Though Johansson and Halpern had a basically equal output last season (27 and 26 points) Johansson has the youth and speed that put Halpern into a third line situation.

Of course, things will be a bit more complicated. In a good way.

Should Johansson fall into a sophomore slump or should Halpern not live up to expectations, both Brooks Laich and Matt Hendricks are there to buoy the boat. And though Hockey’s Future ranked Washington low in terms of prospect depth, youngster Cody Eakin and not-so-youngster Mathieu Perreault* are ready to provide some support, and possibly take a spot.

The wing position remains strong, with Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin* and Jason Chimera on the left and Mike Knuble, Brouwer and Ward on the right. Ovechkin and Semin should continue to put up big numbers barring serious injury, with Ward likely making a mark in that arena.  Laich of course, may switch to center.

Just as important is the grit that has been added on the ice. Chimera and Knuble are well-known for their blue-collar style, and key in Brouwer’s addition is not just his scoring potential but also a bit of a fighting reputation. If Washington has any hope of getting past the largely intact champion Boston Bruins, they’ll need that and a lot more.

Expect wingers DJ King* and Jay Beagle* to play more of a filler role especially with Laich able to fit in there as well.

The only offensive problem for the Caps is the unpredictability of reality.

Who will get injured and how seriously? How will the new players adjust to the system? Is there a slump in store for anyone?

Playoffs?

*Prime trade material

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Photo by Alena Schwarz

Today is Karl Alzner’s 23rd birthday. While he is going to be busy in camp, I feel that we deserve to give him the best day possible. I love getting gifts on my birthday, and who doesn’t? But what do you get a guy who is rich and can buy anything he wants? Well, here are a few suggestions. Chances are he already has most of these, but it can never hurt to have more than one of something:
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Birthday Gifts for Karl Alzner - Capitals Outsider - Capitals Outsider - A Washington Capitals blog

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