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Oates reiterated how important it has been for him to build trust with Ovechkin and teach the face of the Capitals’ franchise to embrace the various adjustments like the switch to right wing, being involved in the play in all three zones and learning how to take advantage of the opportunities his linemates can create for him.

“It’s respect,” Oates said. “He never met me before, and I totally respect who he is, and what he’s accomplished, and when you suggest something like that, it has to be a meeting of the minds and a private conversations and he had to trust me.”

John Carlson and Joel Ward, who left the game after blocking a shot with his left leg but is expected to travel to Montreal with the team, added goals for Washington, but once again it was Ovechkin finishing things off for the Capitals.

For Ovechkin there may be no greater feeling than knowing his coach is willing to play him late in close, important games.

“It’s trust. That’s what I don’t have last year,” Ovechkin said. “When you have that kind of feelings you just want to go out there, play for your team for your coach and do your best out there.

Capitals notes: Neither Brooks Laich (lower body) nor Martin Erat (left leg) played because of injury. Oates said Laich did not aggravate the groin injury that kept him out of the lineup for the first 28 games of the season but said this new injury is affecting the groin.

Laich, 29, is scheduled to meet with groin specialist Michael Brunt, who is based out of St. Louis and performed sports hernia surgeries on Mike Green and Ward last season, on Tuesday in Washington.

Washington Post LOADED: 04.08.2013

668877 Washington Capitals

Capitals’ defenseman Mike Green looks to be back in an offensive groove

By Stephen Whyno

The Washington Times

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Eleven months after sports hernia surgery, Mike Green was finally pain free. He began the 2013 NHL season feeling the best he had since injuring his groin in November 2011.

Back to his silky smooth skating, the Washington Capitals defenseman piled up 30 minutes a night and looked like the old Mike Green, or, rather, the young Mike Green who was a Norris Trophy finalist. All that was missing was his previous offensive production.

Back from another groin injury, Green isn’t worried about limitations, and the firepower that made him a star has seemingly returned.

“I think that’s just because I feel good,” he said. “I had a rough go the last few years and finally healthy. So [I] feel great.”

In four games from March 30 through April 4, Green scored five goals and added an assist. He was halfway to his own league record for consecutive games with a goal by a defenseman.

“Always has been, Mike’s been a game-breaker for us,” forward Brooks Laich said. “He can change the game from the back end. He’s got tremendous ability, the skating ability to get up and back on the ice. And then he’s got a tremendous shot.”

Green looked like his old self earlier this season, but having his laser shot back is a big difference. When he’s scoring like he has been lately, Marcus Johansson said Green is “almost like the fourth forward out there.”

That’s what coach Adam Oates wants from him.

“I love the way he’s moving up on the play,” Oates said Thursday night. “He’s not trying to do too much with it. I would say the last two games, he’s moved up at the correct times and been involved in the play at the correct time. Not trying to gamble. Obviously, the poise on the blue line’s huge. The puck possession’s huge, and [he is] playing very well.”

Going into Sunday’s games, Green trailed only 2012 Norris Trophy-winner Erik Karlsson of the Ottawa Senators in goals a game. Green had eight in 25 games while Karlsson, who’s out for the season with a torn left Achilles tendon, scored six in his only 14 games.

No NHL defenseman has more even-strength goals (seven), but captain Alex Ovechkin doesn’t think Green is necessarily back on his game.

“I don’t think, to be honest with you, he was not on his game,” Ovechkin said. “He’s offensive D and he can play well defensively when he feels healthy and when everything on his side. You can see when he make a move in our zone it give him confidence and give us confidence as well when we have our best D play like that.”

In each of the previous seven games before Sunday night at the Tampa Bay Lightning, Green played at least 22 minutes, averaging 24:50 of ice time. That’s a heavy load for the 27-year-old, who had missed 13 of 15 games with a groin injury from Feb. 17 to March 19.

Green was quickly able to move past that.

“I think he’s feeling pretty comfortable back there right now,” right wing Troy Brouwer sad. “I know with all the injuries he’s had over the past couple years he’s felt like he hasn’t got into a good rhythm. I think right now he’s scoring goals and helping us win.”

When Green is making opponents respect offense coming from the blue line, life is easier on the likes of Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Ribeiro. He’s a calming influence on the point on the power play and dangerous at five-on-five.

But Green’s contributions as an all-around defenseman might be just as important.

“He’s also playing good defensively,” Brouwer said. “He’s out there on the penalty kill, which I don’t know if he used to do a lot before. He’s playing good, solid hockey and he’s doing things we need to do to win. Like jumping up in the rush, making it more difficult for their backcheckers to handle us and we’re creating more offense as a result.”

Green is creating more offense individually too. His game is clicking well enough that he’s dictating the pace of play.

“As far as seeing the ice and getting opportunities, everything kind of slows down again where you can see the holes,” he said.

Vision is one element of Green’s game that made him a transcendent offensive defenseman a few years ago, when he was putting up 60-plus points. He got Lasix surgery before the season but only lately has he had such a keen eye for the net.

“I see some of that, for sure,” Oates said. “When you miss a lot of games, it affects your timing. Even when you come back, he’s been hurt a few years consecutively, so that affects your timing, your conditioning, your reads. Tat’s one of the tough parts of the job.”

At least lately it’s a part of the job Green has started to recapture.

Washington Times LOADED: 04.08.2013

668878 Washington Capitals

Capitals notes: Brooks Laich to see specialist about latest injury

By Stephen Whyno

The Washington Times

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Brooks Laich will see a groin specialist Tuesday as the Washington Capitals hope to pinpoint exactly what’s wrong with the injured forward.

Laich, who missed the first 28 games of the season with a groin injury, missed two contests over the weekend after leaving Thursday’s win over the New York Islanders with what the team called a lower-body injury. He is set to see St. Louis-based Dr. L. Michael Brunt, a renowned specialist who did sports hernia surgeries on defenseman Mike Green and right wing Joel Ward.

That does not appear to be good news for Laich.

“They can’t quite get a handle on what it is,” coach Adam Oates said. “He just doesn’t feel good. It’s a little sore everywhere, but not necessarily where he was in the groin, and that’s why he’s seeing the specialist.”

Laich took a hit Thursday and left the game. Asked if he avoided any serious damage, the 29-year-old forward responded: “I don’t have a lot to say.”

Oates said Laich did not quite aggravate the same groin injury he suffered while playing in Switzerland during the NHL lockout but acknowledged this problem is affecting the groin.

“Brooksie, you know what, he’s still hurting,” Oates said. “[We’re trying] to get an evaluation of where he is, but I think he’s going to be out for a few days.”

Erat sidelined

Left wing Martin Erat missed Washington’s game Sunday against the Tampa Bay Lightning with an apparent left leg injury after taking a hit Saturday from Florida Panthers defenseman Erik Gudbranson.

“Marty felt way better than he anticipated, so I don’t think it’s going to be too long,” Oates said.

Erat was playing just his second game for the Caps since being traded from the Nashville Predators at the deadline. The 31-year-old could not put pressure on his left leg while being helped off the ice in the first period.

Oates said Erat, whose head slammed into the boards, did not suffer a concussion. But missing Erat at all is a bad break for the Caps.

“That’s tough,” defenseman Karl Alzner said. “It’s very frustrating to see that happen to him. I’m sure he feels the same way. Hopefully it’s not something that’s going to keep him out too long.”

Neuvirth starts

Michal Neuvirth started in goal Sunday against the Lightning, his first appearance since a March 16 loss at the Boston Bruins. That broke Braden Holtby’s streak of 11 straight starts.

“You’re going to need both your goalies,” Oates said. “It’s just a fact. We need him to play.”

Neuvirth made just his third start in the Caps’ past 26 games.

Washington Times LOADED: 04.08.2013

668879 Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin leads way as Caps win fourth straight

By Stephen Whyno

The Washington Times

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Sometimes it's difficult to quantify what happens to the Washington Capitals when Alex Ovechkin is producing like one of the best players in the world.

Sometimes it's very easy.

“Obviously we win more,” center Nicklas Backstrom said.

Four in a row, eight of the past 10 and nine of the past 12, most recently Sunday night's 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning, as Ovechkin has been nothing short of spectacular. The captain scored twice and tied for the NHL lead in goals as the Caps built a two-point lead in the Southeast Division with nine games to play.

“Right now I feel pretty good, and again we win the games it’s most important thing,” Ovechkin said. “Of course I’m happy I score the goals, the beginning of the year was pretty hard time for all organization. Now we’re back on track and it’s good.”

Ovechkin has 15 goals and six assists in the past 12 games. His 25th of the season came on an empty-netter Sunday that ensured the Caps were the hottest team in the league.

It's far from a coincidence that the star winger's production coincided with his team's movement from bottom of the Eastern Conference to division leader.

“He's a leader and I think that's why we've been so successful,” defenseman Steve Oleksy said. “I think everybody feeds off that, and when we see him finding that next level I think everybody in the room finds that next level.”

Defenseman John Carlson and right wing Joel Ward found another level by beating Ben Bishop to turn a deficit into a lead, and Ovechkin finished things off with his and the team's first empty-net goal of the season.

It was automatically a goal when Tampa Bay's Alex Killorn reached his stick out from the bench to obstruct Ovechkin, but he wasn't taking any chances after a couple of misses earlier in the season.

“Too many wasted opportunities from our team,” Ovechkin said. “I think this is our first goal in empty net. Don’t want to risk it.”

Playing the second half of a Southeast Division back-to-back, the Caps didn't risk giving up crucial points in one of their games in hand on the second-place Winnipeg Jets. Up two points on Winnipeg and eight on the Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes, it's starting to feel like the division and corresponding No. 3 seed in the East is there for the Caps.

“It’s too early to say,” Ovechkin said. “We still have big games coming up. We have to try to win as many as we can.”

Now 12-3 against division opponents, the Caps understand the importance of taking care of business in the Southeast.

“It's real important. We're going to be in the first spot there in our division,” Backstrom said. “You've just got to keep working. It's a lot of games left, and you've got to make sure you're focused every game.”

Maintaining focus amid a sprint to the finish is one thing the Caps have gotten very good at this season. Part of that is coach Adam Oates not addressing the division race with his players.

“I haven’t really thought about it,” Oates said. “The schedule’s been just crazy. Right now I think the staff and the players, we’re just treating it a game at a time, and it’s been working for us and we’re not talking about anything else, just focusing on tonight.”

Sunday night, like so many before, Ovechkin was locked in. Not surprisingly, the Caps followed.

“He's scoring on his chances; obviously he's got a lot of shots during the game,” Backstrom said. “It makes it easier. And when he has confidence, it's fun to see and helps the team a lot.”

Washington Times LOADED: 04.08.2013

668880 Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin stays hot as Capitals take sole possession of first place

Brian McNally

The Washington Examiner

April 7, 2013 | 9:00 pm | Modified: April 7, 2013 at 11:30 pm

Capitals star winger Alex Ovechkin made no mistake this time. With an empty net yawning ahead of him and the game essentially over, he skated the puck all the way to the goal and slipped it home.

For Ovechkin and his team, which hadn't scored an empty-netter all year, there had been too many missed opportunities this season. Now they are seizing them one after another on a steady march back to the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Ovechkin scored two more goals as he continued a torrid stretch of hockey and goalie Michal Neuvirth, starting for just the third time in 28 games, finished with 28 saves as the Caps took a 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday night at Verizon Center.

The victory lifted Washington (20-17-2, 42 points) into sole possession of first place in the Southeast Division for the first time all season, and it still has a game in hand on the second-place Winnipeg Jets (19-19-2, 40 points) with just nine games remaining.

"This is good. We fight through it, and finally we can feel confidence," Ovechkin said. "But again, we can't stop playing. We have to continue play how we play."

Tampa Bay (16-20-2, 34 points) took an early lead in the first period when Martin St. Louis took a faceoff win and immediately found teammate Vinny Lecavalier, who tapped in the pass just 1:52 into the contest.

Ovechkin tied things early in the second period. He tipped home a shot from defenseman Jack Hillen for his 24th goal of the season. That goal 3:14 into the period tied the game at 1-1. Ovechkin later tied Tampa Bay center Steven Stamkos for the NHL lead in goals (25) with his empty-net shot.

But the Lightning answered that even-strength tally quickly. Alex Killorn skated onto a long pass from Lecavalier, deked Hillen, the last man back, and skated in alone on Neuvirth for an easy goal to make it 2-1.

Then Washington fought back again. Defenseman John Carlson took a drop pass from Joel Ward and skated unopposed into the offensive zone. He had plenty of time to wind up and whistle a shot past Lightning goalie Ben Bishop -- all 6-foot-7 of him. The shot tipped off a defenseman's stick and carried right over Bishop's glove hand and into the roof of the net to tie the game at 2-2.

Just 3:27 later it was Ward's turn. He took a pass from Mathieu Perreault at center ice and drove hard down the left wing. Just as he neared the net, Ward moved the puck to his forehand and beat Bishop for the 3-2 advantage. That lead would hold the rest of the night.

"The schedule has been just crazy. Right now the staff and the players, we're treating it just a game at a time," said Caps coach Adam Oates, whose team is 5-0-1 in its last six games. "It's been working for us. We've not been talking about anything else. Just focus on tonight and let's play. We'll deal with [winning the division] later."

Washington Examiner LOADED: 04.08.2013

668881 Winnipeg Jets

Jets sign netminder Olkinuora

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 1:16 PM

Last Modified: 3:47 PM

WINNIPEG -- The Winnipeg Jets confirmed today they have signed free-agent goalie Juho Olkinuora, a 22-year-old who's leaving the University of Denver after two seasons.

Olkinuora will join the AHL's St. John's IceCaps shortly to finish out the season.

The native of Helsinki had a 13-6-5 record with the Pioneers this season in the WCHA.

"He was going to leave school and we expressed interest and I think this will work out well that he can get right into the system and start developing," Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff said today. "A lot of people in our organization have seen him play and he is a competitor. He has shown some good attributes that a pro goaltender should."

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 04.08.2013

668882 Winnipeg Jets

Keeping tabs on Byfuglien's minutes

By: Tim Campbell

Posted: 12:45 PM

WINNIPEG — The rationing of Dustin Byfuglien’s minutes this week is not being passed off as some co-incidence.

The big Winnipeg Jets’ defenceman played a season-low 15 minutes, 55 seconds Thursday in a 4-1 loss in Montreal when coach Claude Noel moved him from forward back to defence during the game, then sat him on the bench for a long stretch to end the night.

Saturday, when the Jets rebounded to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 at the MTS Centre, Byfuglien’s minutes went up, but not by much.

He played regularly, but only 17:48, again well below his season average 24:22.

"It felt like I was sitting around a lot," Byfuglien said this morning after an optional skate at the MTS Centre. "It wasn’t my decision. It was theirs."

This morning, Noel didn’t plead ignorance on the matter, like he sometimes does on issues or injuries.

"Well, whatever," was his response to Byfuglien’s minutes. "It’s what we deemed he needed or we needed. We won the game.

"He didn’t need to play 30 to win or to lose. Charlie (Huddy, Jets assistant coach) is the one who managed the minutes with the defence.

"A lot of it’s dictated by a lot of different things. You’re trying to win the game, first of all. You do what you have to do. His play’s been so-so, so that’s how it goes."

Four times this season the Jets have used Byfuglien more than 28 minutes in a game. He still remains their highest-scoring defenceman, with 21 points.

The Jets will practise again Monday before meeting the Bufflo Sabres here Tuesday.

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 04.08.2013

668883 Winnipeg Jets

Jets notes

Tim Campbell

Posted: 3:19 AM

No stall for Trouba

IT'S a starting point.

Due to injuries and different additions, plus the return to the ice this week of defenceman Zach Redmond, all the stalls are occupied in the Jets' locker-room at the MTS Centre.

So rookie Jacob Trouba, who signed an entry-level contract this week, began his stint with the team in a temporary setup -- on a fold-up chair near the remote-control and bubble-gum shelf, in front of the tape drawers with his nameplate affixed just under the cable box.

Trouba, 19, was Winnipeg's first-round pick, ninth overall, in last June's draft and decided to turn pro after one season at the University of Michigan.

Wheeler deemed OK

HE didn't skate at Sunday's optional practice, but the Jets said right-winger Blake Wheeler, briefly felled by a high late check from Philadelphia's Scott Hartnell in Saturday's third period, is fine.

"I don't think there's anything there," Jets head coach Claude Noel said, asked about a possible injury.

The team also said Sunday the return of forwards Jim Slater and Anthony Peluso, both out with suspected broken hands, is not imminent.

Noel listed each as still week-to-week.

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 04.08.2013

668884 Winnipeg Jets

Buff just 'sitting around a lot' now

Tim Campbell

Posted: 1:00 AM

THERE'S some tension in the matter of Dustin Byfuglien's ice time in the Winnipeg Jets' last two games.

"It felt like I was sitting around a lot," was Byfuglien's fairly short response Sunday morning after an optional skate at the MTS Centre. "It wasn't my decision. It was theirs."

The decision amounted to 17 minutes 48 seconds in the 4-1 win Saturday over the Philadelphia Flyers. That came on the heels of a season-low 15 minutes 55 seconds for the big Jets defenceman Thursday in Montreal, when head coach Claude Noel moved him from forward back to defence during the game, then sat him for a long stretch to end the night.

Noel sometimes washes over issues, including injuries, claiming he doesn't know much or have anything to add.

But regarding Byfuglien's ice time, he didn't dodge much other than to suggest assistant coach Charlie Huddy was doling out the minutes.

"Well, whatever," was the start to Noel's response. "It's what we deemed he needed or we needed. We won the game.

"He didn't need to play 30 to win or to lose. Charlie is the one who managed the minutes with the defence. A lot of it's dictated by a lot of different things. You're trying to win the game, first of all. You do what you have to do. His play's been so-so, so that's how it goes."

Four times this season, the Jets have used Byfuglien more than 28 minutes in a game and his ice-time average is 24:22. He remains their highest-scoring defenceman, with 21 points.

Byfuglien suggested there hasn't been a lot of conversation recently about his minutes or his play.

"Everyone chats a little bit, but for the most part, no," Byfuglien said.

The matter was raised of his being moved to right wing during the game Tuesday on Long Island, then moved back to defence for the third period Thursday in Montreal.

Could it be causing some confusion, some inconsistency?

"Yeah, it's something that's not easy -- to focus on D, and then next game you have to try to focus on forward and not have any practice to get comfortable at forward or anything," Byfuglien said.

"It's just a matter of going out and trying to do it, trying to read the game from that point of view, and it's not the easiest thing to do.

"It's part of the game. Sometimes you're going, sometimes you're not. Sometimes other guys have to step up and do their part, too, and I thought we've been getting that lately."

Just to be clear, Byfuglien said defence is where he prefers to play.

"I've always preferred to be a defenceman," he said. "Forward was just something I just did."

He discounted the possibility of any mixed messages within the team.

"I think everyone knows what they need to do," he said. "It's just a matter of getting things back on track."

A more palatable schedule -- the team's next five games are at home -- should help the team and himself, Byfuglien hinted.

"It's going to be nice to be able to settle down and get settled in at home again instead of coming home for a day or two, then having to pack and go back on the road," he said. "We can't get too comfortable. We've still got a job to do and games to win."

He cited Saturday's rally to beat the Flyers as a key moment for the team.

"It's big," he said. "It's something that no team wants to get in that many of a loss streak, and it's something that I thought we found a way to battle out of it and do a good job."

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 04.08.2013

668885 Winnipeg Jets

It's all about intensity now

Tim Campbell

Posted: 1:00 AM

Having played the most games in the NHL through Sunday -- and most of the last two weeks -- the Winnipeg Jets now get a manner of payback.

And it's a double-edged sword.

With 40 games done and 40 points in the bank, the Jets have a rather reasonable, home-heavy schedule the rest of the way. Just eight games remain. The next in the six-game homestand is Tuesday night at the MTS Centre against the Buffalo Sabres.