ROOKIE GOALIE PLAYED EVERY MINUTE IN FIRST ROUND

Plenty has been written -- at least in the D.C. market -- about Washington Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth after his fairly spectacular performance in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals win over the New York Rangers.  But the young goaltender himself isn't paying attention to any of that right now. 

"It's pretty nice, you know, but I'm just focusing on my game and trying to play my best for this team," Neuvirth said after Tuesday morning's spirited practice at Kettler Capitals Iceplex.  "I'm not trying to look back.  [I'm] just looking forward and just want to be focused and play my best for this team right now."

Neuvirth leads all NHL goalies that have played the majority of minutes for their team in goals against average and save percentage in the first round, allowing just eight goals in five games, and is one of a handful of goalies to play every minute for his team in the cage in the first round.

For example, the Philadelphia Flyers are starting their third different goalie in Game Seven tonight against the Buffalo Sabres.

Neuvirth is now 15-0 in playoff series in North America, including his stints with OHL Plymouth and AHL Hershey, backing the Bears to consecutive Calder Cups in 2008-09 and 2009-10.  And while those minor leagues don't compare talent-wise to the NHL, it's still excelling at the highest competition level for those leagues.

Neuvirth, for one, believes that experience is helping him focus now that he's competing in the playoffs with the big club. 

"Oh yeah, for sure.  Every playoffs is still playoffs so there is a lot of pressure," Neuvirth remarked. "Those weren't easy [games] when we were in Hershey. It was a tough circumstance.  It gave me a lot of experience. [Round two is] not going to be easy but I think I can handle it and I can't wait for next game."

Since the Caps were able to close things out against the Rangers in five games, and with all the other Eastern Conference matchups going past that, Washington has a few days to rest, practice, and get ready for the next opponent.  Neuvirth isn't concerning himself with the games still going on, though he is anxious to get back in the net and get going again.

"We had a tough practice today and had a fun practice yesterday, but obviously we're pretty excited about our next round and it's gonna be another great opportunity for our team.  We're pretty excited to play and I think a lot of the guys can't wait until the games start [again]."

With the extra time, does the clear No. 1 goalie dwell on who the next opponent might be?  Does he care?

"Not thinking about it right now," Neuvy said.  "Just gonna wait to see what happens and we'll find out tonight or tomorrow night who we're gonna face and obviously we're gonna get ready.  It's not gonna be easy, all the teams are very good and it's not going to be easy."

GREEN PRACTICES, WANTS TO TALK ABOUT HOCKEY

Defenseman Mike Green, who was felled by a Matt Gilroy slap shot in the first period of Game Five against the Rangers, participated fully in this morning's practice and afterward reported no ill effects. "I'm fine, other than a bruise,” said Green.

When asked if he was worried about another concussion, after he missed 26 games at the end of the season, he replied, "No, not at all. The first one was a lot different than this one. Right away I knew with the first one; this one I got up right away. Other than it stinging a little bit, I was fine.”

“They make good helmets, and this time it hit me in the helmet. I’m okay, so that’s all that matters,” Green said. “I think that time, it happened so quick that it’s pretty tender and sore when it did happen. But like I said, thank god for those helmets and I’m very fortunate.”

 

He then requested that the reporters change the subject to talk about hockey.  "I feel great," Green said. "I had a good skate today. We worked hard. I feel good."

 

KNUBLE AND WIDEMAN SKATE (POTI TOO)

 

All three injured Capitals skated before the team came out for practice in full pads, but only Knuble stayed out for the regular practice, and even then did not participate fully in line rushes.  Wideman left practice after before most of his teammates were out of the dressing room, suffering from some light-headedness.

 

“His legs are feeling fine,” coach Bruce Boudreau said of his Wideman, recovering from a hematoma to his leg and compartment syndrome. “He was a little dizzy today so we [said] get off -- or lightheaded, not dizzy -- and so just to make sure he’s fine.”

 

Wideman looked to be skating pretty free and easy, but did not do any full out sprints or hard stops during the time he was skating.

 

Knuble said he's feeling good, but does not have a timetable for return.  “I’ve been skating every day, just trying to keep my legs up and stuff,” Knuble said. “I’m encouraged by the way things are going and you just do your best to stay with the group and keep up with the pace of play so when you do come back it’s not a huge adjustment."

 

The veteran forward reitereated that he would indeed play in the second round, though that has not been confirmed -- or refuted -- by the team.

 

SEMIN MISSES PRACTICE WITH FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS

 

Boudreau said winger Alexander Semin was feeling a little under the weather and told him to stay home from practice today, considering the team has several more practice days available this week. 

 

“He’s fine. He had a little bit of the flu so we just said ‘listen, stay at home,’” Boudreau said. “We still got Wednesday, Thursday, minimum -- practices probably Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. We don’t know when we’re starting yet.”

 

Semin had three goals and an assist in the first round against New York.

Yesterday at practice, I caught up with a few of the Caps that missed some significant time due to injury that have returned recently, only to then sit again during the four-day All-Star game break.

Jeff Schultz:  "It felt good to be out there but the legs and wind aren't quite where they were, but it was a good four days that guys use to rest, the heal some bumps and bruises.  We'll have a good morning skate  and we'll be ready for the game.

"I played enough games before the break that I kinda got back feeling good and where I like playing at, so I still used the four days to get away from the game and refocus, and now we're back at it and time to go for the home stretch."

Matt Bradley:  "I think I've been very well rested over the last six weeks so I have no excuses as far as being out of shape or anything like that.  During the break I did some stuff, you know, rode the bike and working out -- trying to stay on top of a couple things.  But it felt good out there [at Monday's practice] and we're ready to go for [Montreal]."

Boyd Gordon:  "I played a lot of games there before the break and I probably didn't need it [the break] but I'm sure it didn't hurt either way.  I should be fine.  You get it back relatively quickly."

"It's never fun sitting out watching games with injury.  But things happen, and hopefully I'll stay healthy the rest of the season and contribute when I get in there."

CAPS NOTES

Yesterday, the team recalled C Mathieu Perreault and D Tyler Sloan from AHL Hershey.  This morning, they brought back F Jay Beagle as well.

Alexander Semin took part in practice yesterday, spending a considerable alount of time working with the first line power play unit, but with Beagle's recall -- and Coach Boudreau's insistence that Semin "will let us know when he's okay to play" -- it's still cloudy whether the enigmatic winger will return to the line-up tonight.

Michael Neuvirth practiced too, but during a skating drill it appeared that he was still laboring with his "lower body injury."  "I made it through [practice] so that's a big step for me," Neuvirth said, "Still hoping it's gonna get better.  I was a little rusty but I had a good practice."

Tom Poti and Eric Fehr skated ahead of practice, and neither are expected to return anytime soon.  Boudreau "guessed" after practice that Poti might be able to play next week, and Fehr the week after that, but he had no hard timetable.

There were a couple of medical updates from Capitals practice this morning:

Alex Ovechkin wore a yellow "non-contact" jersey this morning. He shadowed the top line of Alexander Semin, Nick Backstrom and Mike Knuble, but did not participate in drills. He avoided holding his stick with his left hand.

After practice, coach Bruce Boudreau revealed that Ovechkin had a cortisone shot following the 1-0 loss to Tampa Bay Tuesday night.  Boudreau indicated that the non-specified problem Ovechkin received treatment for may have been bothering him for "a while", and hopefully the cortisone and rest will be enough to get him going again.

Both Ovechkin and Boudreau said he would be fine for Saturday's game against Florida.

Matt Hendricks and Mathieu Perreault also missed practice. Boudreau said Hendricks also had a cortisone shot to an unspecified area and Perreault needed some work to his "facial area" following the broken nose he sustained two weeks ago in Carolina. Both players are expected to go Saturday.

Goalie Michal Neuvirth left the ice before the team participated in sprints, but Boudreau was not aware and did not know any reason why he would not have participated. Semin also did not do sprints, rather took a knee while his teammates finished their skating.

The team spent much of practice working 3-on-2 drills around the net and shooting from the blue line and working on tip drills and creating havoc around the net.

The Washington Capitals travel to Pittsburgh on Thursday afternoon for this weekend's Fourth Annual NHL Winter Classic.  Before heading up, the Caps had a closed practice outdoors at the Chevy Chase Club rink to prepare for skating outside on Wednesday afternoon.

Most of the Caps have only played outside when they were very young and by the looks on many faces, they were transported back in time while out on the ice.  Mike Knuble had a big grin on his face for most of practice.  Defenseman Karl Alzner said, ""It's a lot of fun. We wish the whole season was played outdoors."

Jason Chimera mentioned playing outdoors with buddies on weekends that would start in the early morning, then have lunch at the rink and continue to play hockey until dark.  Chimera is from Edmondton, Canada where "there is an outdoor rink in every community" he said. Chimmy is the only current Capitals player that has played outside professionally. He played for the Edmonton Oilers in the 2003 Heritage Classic.

The Caps usually practice in the morning around 10:30 or 11 a.m., however, practiced at 1 p.m. on Wednesday because that is the same time of the Winter Classic on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Playing outside in the afternoon also meant dealing with the bright sunshine and glare off the ice.  Many players experimented with eye black. Some got creative like John Carlson and Matt Hendricks who were sporting a warrior type design on their cheeks. 

Alex Ovechkin was the one that stood out. Not only did he put the eye block under his eyes, but continued over the bridge of his nose to make one long straight line.  The eye black ring around the mouth was the attention getter.  There are a few pictures below because words just can't describe it. Ovi told the media that he just wanted to have fun and it was a joke.  The Great Eight also made it clear that while playing outside was fun, "its practice" with a seriousness in his voice.

The wind in Pittsburgh could have an impact on the game so Coach Boudreau ran the players through sprints at the end of practice to experience difference between indoor and outdoor sprints.  "I wanted to skate them a little bit to see if the wind affects" them, Boudreau said. "It's amazing, going one way against even a two mile per hour wind is a little bit different."

Overall, practice went well and Caps are very excited about the big game.  Boudreau said that Tom Poti, Mathieu Perrault and Marcus Johansson will all be ready to play.

Caps practice at 10:30 a.m. at Kettler Capitals Iceplex (open to public) on Thursday before flying to Pittsburgh.

Enjoy the photos.  See you in Pittsburgh!

All Photos 2010 © Cheryl Nichols Photography/Capitals News Network.

All Rights Reserved.

Brooks Laich

Varly

Matt Hendricks rocking eye black

John Erskine grew the mustache back - always a good thing.

Laich and Hendricks enjoy practicing outside

No way Jeff Schultz was going to let a broken hand

come between him and the Winter Classic!

Backstrom, Chimera and Boudreau

Captain America John Carlson was also rocking the eye black

Caps Defensemen: Alzner, Poti, Green and Carlson

Ovi after he missed a goal

Neuvy

Knuble and Sloan during scrimmage

Sasha and Ovi

Brooksy

Mathieu Perrault expects to play in WC

Coach Bruce Boudreau

Jay Beagle

DJ King looks like he's ready to beat up a Penguin!

David Steckel

Scott Hannan

Jason Chimera

Mike Knuble smiling like he's remembering days as a kid on the ice

Karl Alzner

Mike Green

Nicklas Backstrom looks focused.

Varly

Eric Fehr

Coach Bob Woods

During a quick meeting at bench. Nicky is thinking about how to score.

Varly

Tom Poti

Ovi got creative with the eye black! Went over his brow and around his mouth.

Tyler Sloan

Captain Ovechkin

Boudreau with press after practice

Knuble walked off rink after practice and gave his gloves to kids

This little guy was very excited to receive a Mike Knuble glove!

View of practice from end of rink as guys walked off.

Caps video of practice.

We attended Saturday's practice at Kettler Iceplex.

Brent Johnson practiced for a little while but still looked slow from his head cold and hip strain.

Alexander Semin skated for a while, but did not take part in drills.

Brain Pothier practiced hard for quite a while by himself in full gear. He's got a ways to go, but he's making practice.

Mike Green and Jeff Schultz both practiced in full.

Please enjoy the photos by staff photographer Cheryl.