VentureCapitals: Gold in the West - DC Sports Day

Before the Washington Capitals embarked on a four-game swing through the Western Conference, the general predictions about their fortunes ranged from manageable disaster to losing with dignity.

Then they secured five out of a possible eight points, winning in Calgary (5-3) for the first time since 2003 and in Colorado (4-2) for the first time since 2002. In both of those victories, the Capitals exhibited an offensive depth and grace under fire that defies their relative inexperience in pressure situations.

Goalie Olie Kolzig deserves much of the credit for the successful 2-1-1 trip, stopping 124 of 131 shots he faced in the two wins and the overtime loss. (Brent Johnson took the 'L' in the 4-0 loss in Edmonton, a game whose stench could only be diminished by traveling back to the East Coast or calling in a massive Hazmat team).

But the real star of the trip didn't even lace up his skates.

Coach Glen Hanlon - in more ways than we have the time and energy to count - has one of the toughest jobs in the National Hockey League from a managerial standpoint. There are exactly six position players whose roles are cemented: the top line of Ovechkin/Zubrus/Clark, Alex Semin on the second line wing, Donald Brashear on the fourth line and Brian Pothier on the top defensive pairing. Literally every other position in the lineup can change from game to game, from moving centers to swapping defensive partners to scratching players like a bad itch.

On this trip, Hanlon made some tough decisions, like scratching defenseman Steve Eminger for the finale at Calgary and dropping Richard Zednik to the fourth line. Jamie Heward and Pothier saw extra minutes against the Flames and played well. Zednik was given an effective kick in the behind, resulting in his first two goals of the season on a three-point night vs. Calgary. They were Zednik's first tallies since April 26 with Montreal.

Hanlon also used his personnel well, getting the right defensive players in place to seal the wins at Colorado and Calgary. Washington scored empty-net goals to finish both games. The Capitals' special teams had a strong trip, as the power play was 3-for-15, moving the team into 13th overall in the NHL in power-play percentage (17%).

The Capitals, tied for eighth in the Eastern Conference with 12 points, return home for a 7 p.m. game against Atlanta before traveling to Philadelphia for a Saturday night game against the RMS Titanic.

CRUEL IRONY REPORT

Old habits are hard to break, and the Capitals are no exception. Either Kolzig or Johnson continue to face a shooting gallery every night, with Washington yielding a league-high average of 36.8 shots per game through 11 contests.

Washington finally reversed the trend in Edmonton, limiting the Oilers to 28 shots.

The Capitals of course lost that game, 4-0.

THE SHAONE MORRISON OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION WATCH

ShMo posted two assists in the win against Calgary, including Richard Zednik's game-winner, but still hasn't hit paydirt since April 7. Check back frequently for more on this developing story.

BOUNCING TO BALLSTON

The Washington Capitals' new practice facility, the Kettler Capitals Iceplex, at the Ballston Common Mall in Arlington, Va. finally opened to the public during the first week of November. KSI Services Inc., one of Metropolitan Washington's leading residential and commercial developers, acquired the naming rights.

The $40 million rink was paid for by Arlington County and leased back to the Capitals, according to Tom Newman, director of the real estate development group for Arlington Economic Development.

The big news at a media event last week - besides a reporter from a prominent D.C. area news publication calling hockey fans who attend practices "nutty people" - was that the metal bleachers in the sterling, state-of-the-art facility are going to be covered with blue cushions to keep their temperatures comfortable only a few steps away from the ice.

You understand what I'm saying, hockey dads...

The complex - two sheets of NHL regulation-size ice - is scheduled to be open 360 days a year, 18 hours per day per rink. Management from the Ashburn Ice House, where the Caps are currently practicing, will operate the facility.

The Capitals' main rink will have seating for 1,200 fans, which is the minimum required by the United States Figure Skating Association in choosing locations for championship events. That's important to note, because this facility is being funded as a boon to the community as well as to the team. The Ballston rink is going to draw national skating events, and dramatically change the course for a fledgling high-school hockey league in the D.C. metro area.

As for the Capitals, they plan to move their corporate offices to Ballston on Dec. 2. Media relations director Nate Ewell said it will be the first time the franchise will have all of its hockey operations in a central location.

One thing the Ballston facility will not have is an official Capitals store. Ewell said the pro shop will have a wide and significant variety of Capitals schwag, but will not be an "official" Capitals store in the vein of the Washington Redskins stores in the D.C. area.

BYE, FATA

Rico Fata was waived by the Capitals this week and quickly snatched up by division rival Atlanta. He should do well there - Fata can be a valuable defensive role player on a decent team.

Not to say the Capitals aren't a decent team, but the bottom line is that Fata was a journeyman playing a position one of the Hershey boys could easily fill - and maybe score once in a while, which was finally Fata's fatal flaw. (Say that five times fast...)

-SFM-

Greg Wyshynski is a columnist for SportsFanMagazine.com. Read his take on the Capitals each week.