Stan Kasten (via Nats Journal):

"I have to tell you, I just don't know anything more about this story than what you've read. Truly. I don't have any more information than that. I've spoken to MLB; they didn't have any more details on the story we all read this morning. ... I don't have any particular concerns, because as you've seen in recent times, baseball has the most stringent testing for performance-enhancing drugs. Players run afoul of rules, they're caught, and they're disciplined."

"My reaction," he added, "is limited to the things I hear authoritatively from MLB. That's the only time I would have a reaction."

NHL Statement (via Caps Insider):

"The Washington Capitals have no knowledge of any aspect of this allegation. Capitals players were subjected to no-notice testing three times in each of the past two seasons pursuant to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and there was no indication of any improper conduct or wrongdoing.

"Even though there are no specifics provided in the story and we have no reason, at this point, to believe the allegations are true, the National Hockey League takes all matters of this nature very seriously and will conduct a prompt investigation."

Capitals President Dick Patrick (again, via Caps Inisider):

"We have no reason to believe there is any merit to this story, but the National Hockey League and the Washington Capitals take all such allegations seriously.

Capitals players have fully participated in the NHL's random drug testing program, and at no point has a Capitals player tested positive. In addition our players have been tested at international events, such as World Championships and Olympics. We welcome and will fully cooperate with the NHL's investigation."

Capitals Owner Ted Leonsis (via Ted's Take):

Trust but Verify

There are now 178 news stories listed in Google News about today’s allegations coming out of Florida.

I am personally very committed to being responsible and cooperating with the league in all of its research regarding this matter.

Here are the official statements from the NHL and from our team which are just now being released.

I hope you all understand that while there is research and investigating going on that we will have to be silent as we cooperate and hope to exonerate our team and players from these allegations. Thank you for understanding.

The disturbing part of all this so far is the local law enforcement division's willingness to release this information last night without corroborating the story or doing any additional investigation.

Then today, to show he didn't make just a simple, one-time misjudgment in announcing the statements, Polk County sheriff Grady Judd called into a radio station in Toronto to repeat the currently unfounded allegations on a live radio program. Judd even went out of his way to mention that Thomas' statements had not been corroborated yet.

Among other things, Sheriff Judd suggests that Richard Thomas was proud of his accomplishments and supposes the suspects motivation in why Thomas named the Nationals and Capitals in his arrest. Seems to me Thomas isn't the only person proud of his accomplishments in this matter.

One of Judd's super-professional comments on the matter:

"I can tell you this, there will be a whole lot of people puckered up after the morning news,'" Judd said.

Here's hoping the Feds get to central Florida and take this investigation over before Sheriff Judd does any real damage.

A Lakeland, FL man and his wife were arrested yesterday for possession and intent to sell or deliver anabolic steroids, and the man implicated professional athletes as clients, including players on the Washington Capitals and Washington Nationals.

According to the Lakeland Ledger, Richard Thomas identified himself as "the largest anabolic steroids dealer in Central Florida," upon his arrest, and that he provided steroids to professional baseball, football and hockey players.

The Thomases failed to name any particular athletes during the warrant and seizure, where police collected an estimated $200,000 in illegal steroids and multiple weapons.

Richard and Sandra Thomas are each charged with 10 counts of possession of anabolic steroids with intention to sell and deliver; one count of possession of a firearm in commission of a felony; 10 counts of importation of anabolic steroids in Florida; and one count of maintaining a residence for selling drugs.

"This is beyond any doubt the largest seizure of anabolic steroids by the Polk County Sheriff's Office," a police spokesman said.

While the initial report is certainly troubling, from the tone of the initial reports, police seem to be skeptical as to whether Thomas is telling the truth in his claims. In a segment aired on WFLA-TV last night, the sheriff's office made a statement that they have no evidence of specific players involved in this investigation to this point.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said, "The only thing [Thomas] said specifically was he sold to the Washington Capitals and the Washington Nationals. We asked him, because we knew that would create a firestorm, on two more occasions because we don't want to be quoted as saying that. Richard Thomas told us that he sold steroids to ballplayers on those teams. Now is that one ballplayer? Is that two ballplayers? We don't know."

We don't know. Yet. But if this guy's claims have any validity, we'll find out soon enough. Hopefully the investigation will be swift and whatever conclusions are drawn can be handled expeditiously.

It's a shame that after such a terrific season, this comes out. Hopefully this guy is filled with delusions of grandeur and the police don't find any evidence connecting the Capitals with the investigation.

Several stories this morning pointing toward veteran center and future hall-of-famer Sergei Fedorov is close to an agreement to play for Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL next season.

Capitals Insider reports that the deal is not done and that Fedorov "still has interest in playing for Washington next season," but a decision by the Caps would have to be made soon if they hope to retain his services.

The deal is reportedly a two-year contract worth $3.8 million per, and if that information is correct, it's highly doubtful the Caps will be willing to come close, let alone match, that offer.

The 39-year old Fedorov, an 18-year NHL veteran, had 11 goals and 22 assists this season in 52 games. He was plus-6 with 50 penalty minutes, his highest total in penalties minutes per game in several seasons.

Fedorov is the all-time leader in goals for Russian-born players with 483, and has 1179 points in 1248 career games. He won three Stanley Cups with Detroit and was the 1994 Hart and Pearson trophies winner.

HERSHEY: The Bears beat the Providence Bruins 2-1 on Sunday to draw the best-of-seven AHL Eastern Conference finals even at one game apiece.

Andrew Joudrey and Alexandre Giroux scored for the Bears, and Michal Neuvirth earned first-star honors, making 25 saves on 26 shots.

Hershey out shot Providence 39-26 and went 1-for-7 on the power play.

The series continues this weekend, with Games Three through Five in Providence. Game Three is Friday at 7:05, Game Four is Sunday at 7:05 and Game Five is Monday at 4:05 pm.

SOUTH CAROLINA: The Stingrays defeated the Cincinnati Cyclones to become the American Conference champions of the ECHL. They will face the Alaska Aces, champions of the National Conference, in the Kelly Cup finals.

The best-of-seven series starts Friday in Alaska at 11:15 pm ET. Game Two is Saturday at 11:15 pm ET. The Series comes to North Charleston, SC for Games Three through Five May 27, 29 and 30--if needed.

Alaska feature three of the league's top four scorers, Josh Soares (9-13-22 in 14 games), Colin Hemingway (7-15-22) and Alexandre Imbeault (5-12-17). South Carolina has a balanced attack, with five players in the top 20 league scorers.

When it came down to it, the Washington Capitals just didn't have it in them.

The Pittsburgh Penguins scored early, often, and resoundingly, defeating the Caps 6-2 before yet another sold-out, red-clad crowd at Verizon Center.

Washington came out pretty quickly in Game Seven, and actually--albeit briefly--had a lead in shots on goal at 5-4. But after Marc-Andre Fleury gloved Alex Ovechkin's breakaway shot, both teams--and everyone in the arena--could feel a momentum shift.

Ovechkin was circumspect after the game, "First 10 minutes were pretty good, getting pucks in deep. I didn't score on the breakaway, so if I score first goal, maybe a different game."

Photo 2009 © Cheryl Nichols. All Rights Reserved.

Just minutes later, Shaone Morrisonn was called for slashing, putting Pittsburgh on the power play for the first of three tries on the evening. Just a little over one minute in on the man-advantage, Sidney Crosby banged home his 11th goal of the playoffs, assisted by Sergei Gonchar, the defenseman that Ovechkin knocked out of Game Four with a violent collision.

The P.A. announcer didn't even have time to announce the goal when unheralded right winger Craig Adams--he of two goals in 45 games this season--snapped a wrist shot past Semyon Varlamov just eight seconds later. At that point, it was all over but the crying.

Defenseman Brian Pothier was succinct when asked how the team could have re-grouped after the two quick strikes. "Well, not do what we were doing, cause it was terrible what we were doing out there."

The Penguins received another power play a few minutes later as Sergei Fedorov was whistled for interference. They would not score, but it helped wear the Caps down, and certainly contributed to the 16-5 shot discrepancy.

If Washington had any hopes of climbing back into this one, they were dashed quickly at the start of the second period, as trade deadline pick-up Bill Guerin beat Varlamov with a slap shot just 28 seconds into the frame. Any energy in the building quickly dissipated.

Coach Bruce Boudreau defended his netminder, who carried his team into the second round, but had concerns with his confidence, especially after the third goal. "After the third goal, I was thinking about pulling him cause he looked really dejected. Maybe I should have called a time out at that point. But after the fourth goal I think the wind completely came out of his sails emotionally."

"I wish maybe I [had pulled him] one goal sooner."

The fourth goal came from one of Pittsburgh's lesser known, but most important players this series, Kris Letang. Letang had the game-winner in Game Four, and tonight's was the nail in the Caps' coffin.

His slap shot came at 2:12 of the second, and that's when Boudreau lifted Varlamov in favor of Jose Theodore, the man he replaced in Game Two of the first round series against the New York Rangers.

The rest of the game was fairly inconsequential. The teams traded two goals apiece down the stretch, including Ovechkin's 11th of the playoffs, and Crosby's capper, another power play goal, at 2:02 of the third period.

Pittsburgh received three power plays, the Caps zero.

Brooks Laich offered his opinion of Pittsburgh's domination. "If you look at the game tonight, they were more composed with the puck [and] the reason they won the game is that they outworked us."

"It's not easy to stand here and say that we were outworked in our building in a Game Seven, but I'm sure we're going to have to think about that for a long time."

NOTES: After the game, Boudreau admitted several of his players were playing with injuries that would have kept them out of the regular season, but didn't want to use that as an excuse. He told reporters he would detail the injuries in Friday's breakdown day.

The Capitals were scored with 19 giveaways, compared to Pittsburgh's four. Mike Green had four turnovers by himself. Green finished at minus-three for the night, and was effectively benched in the third period.

Photo 2009 © Cheryl Nichols. All Rights Reserved.

The Washington Capitals host the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference semifinals tonight at 7:00 p.m. at the Verizon Center.

Ok, that's all for my journalism background.

This game is a big deal.

It's big for the players. Unlike athletes in other professional sports, hockey players are in it for one thing: to win the Cup. Sure, the paycheck is nice. But no one starts playing hockey at five years old for the money. They play on frozen ponds and streams; get ice time at the rink at 6 a.m. (or earlier), and always dream of hoisting Lord Stanley's Cup.

From Ovechkin to Beagle, the only thing more precious than lacing them up tonight would be to lace them up again against Boston or Carolina.

It's big for the organization. No one wants to win this thing more than Ted Leonsis. He gave the orders to rebuild this franchise from the ground up, and took a lot of heat in doing so. Two straight Southeast Division titles are nothing to sneeze at, but redemption and validation start with dispatching the Penguins and moving on to the Eastern Finals.

George McPhee was Leonsis' architect. He sent out some big names, and in return acquired young talent at every opportunity, and has drafted key players up and down the lineup, from the goalie to the MVP. His hard work is flourishing and should be recognized.

And the coach, Bruce Boudreau. The career minor leaguer who caught lightning in a bottle last season to win the Adams award, he is proving every night that he belongs with the big boys in the coaching fraternity.

It's big for the league. The three most talented players in the league--on two of the youngest teams in the league--have been facing off for six thrilling, heart-stopping, roller coaster games. It's been a rating bonanza, nationally and locally.

Five games have been decided by one goal, the other just two. Three games went to overtime, including the Game Six possible-elimination game. Both teams have led in each game. Both teams have led the series.

The teams have been tied or had just a one-goal lead for 92 percent of the series.

There has been intrigue, innuendo and accusations. There has been performance. There have been unlikely heroes.

This series has had it all. And then some.

It's big for the fans. The Capitals have long been the distant cousin to their neighbors to the north. Philly, New York (Islanders and Rangers), New Jersey, Pittsburgh. None will admit to the Caps being a "rival", since rivals rip your heart out. Yet, those teams are the Caps' rivals.

Ask anyone who has been a fan of the Caps for longer than ten minutes, and they'll tell you. They'll tell you about Billy Smith and Pat LaFontaine and Mario Lemieux and Ron Hextall. They'll tell you about Anders Kallur, Kevin Stevens and Ray Ferraro. They'll tell you about Joffrey Lupul.

They'll tell you about the legions of Flyers and Penguins fans invading the Cap Centre. Buses and buses of them. About being visitors in their own building.

They'll tell you about the post-lockout empty MCI Arena, where you could walk up for a Tuesday night game and buy any seat you wanted.

They'll tell you about the Finals in 1998, when the building was 3/4 full of Red Wings fans.

They'll tell you that going to the Finals in 1998 was great, but it would mean so more to go through Pittsburgh.

It's time for all that to end. Winning tonight means not just advancing to the Conference Finals, but it means advancing past all the history, all the heartbreak, all the misery. It means tearing the hearts out of someone else's chest. It brings validation; arrival. Redemption.

Rock the Red.

Hershey Bears beat the Baby Pens 3-0 Tuesday night in game 7 to advance to the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals.

Bears Radio Network Three Stars of the Game:
1. Michal Neuvirth (back-to-back shutouts)
2. Keith Aucoin (goal and an assist)
3. Steve Pinizzotto (goal)

Bears will play this Saturday and Sunday nights at home against either the Providence Bruins or Worcester Sharks.

Now it is the Caps turn to beat the Full Size Pens in game 7!
Let's Go Caps!