Ben Sumner

Silver Spring

Writer and Editor at Capitals Outsider

Washington Post. Caps Outsider. Screaming Squirrels hockey. Taekwondo instructor, 3rd degree black belt. Jiu Jitsu novice. Terp. Hockey X's at @CapsOutsider

Articles

Tom Wilson Wins Dave Fay Media Award

2 weeks ago | capitalsoutsider.com | Ben Sumner

Photo via Sammi SilberEach year since 2015, the Capitals media vote on their favorite players to interview throughout the season. This year, Tom Wilson won his second award, ending Dylan Strome’s two-year streak. Each eligible media member votes on three players. Sammi Silber of The Hockey News presented Wilson with the award in the locker room. Wilson then gave a speech, though only teammate Jakub Chychrun was in the locker room, changing out of his gear.
Alex Semin Does Top Shot Challenge

2 weeks ago | capitalsoutsider.com | Ben Sumner

This season, the Caps have had alumni members do the Top Shot challenge, where they hit plastic pucks at nine different targets in 30 seconds. On Thursday, former Cap, former Hurricane and always an enigma Alex Semin did the challenge. Of course, he got all nine targets, but came up short of beating Peter Bondra’s alumni record. Semin did it in 14 seconds. Semin then yelled ‘Let’s go Caps!’ and high-fived host Annie Mae.
Brandon Duhaime Fights Jalen Chatfield, Revenge for Taking Down Connor McMichael

2 weeks ago | capitalsoutsider.com | Ben Sumner

Last week in a game against the Hurricanes, Connor McMichael got into a fight with Jalen Chatfield. After knocking off McMichael’s helmet, Chatfield then tripped up McMichael and slammed him to the ice, where his head could have easily smashed into it and done damage. The move by Chatfield didn’t get any supplemental discipline, but it left fans wondering why.
Caps Honor Alex Ovechkin for 895 Goals

2 weeks ago | capitalsoutsider.com | Ben Sumner

The Capitals have honored Alex Ovechkin several times with pre-game ceremonies, for what now feels like trivial milestones, like 473 career goals and 1,000 games. But on Thursday, they were finally able to honor Ovechkin for the most notable record in decades: Most career regular season goals, which he got on Sunday when he scored his 895th goal of his career.
Celebrating Alex Ovechkin's 895 Goals

2 weeks ago | capitalsoutsider.com | Ben Sumner

At the first game after Alex Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goal record, the numbers 895 showed up at Capital One Arena as often as the number 8 at any ordinary game. This gentleman above, wearing a custom 895 jersey, had been changing the number on it since Ovi had 809 goals. He says he’s going to start wearing other jerseys now, and break out his Gr8 Chase jersey for other milestones, like 900. The 895 shirts, schwag, balloons, posters, and rally towels decorated the stadium.
Where Things Almost Went Wrong on Alex Ovechkin's Way to 895

3 weeks ago | capitalsoutsider.com | Ben Sumner

Alex Ovechkin has been fairly consistent throughout his career, averaging about .6 goals per game. And though he just broke Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goals record, there were a few times in the past 20 seasons when his scoring went off track. These three seasons are glaring on the goal-pace-per-season chart:The 2010-11 SeasonThis is the year that the Washington Capitals hired coach Dale Hunter and started trying a trap-defense style of play.
Alex Ovechkin 895 Bobbleheads!

3 weeks ago | capitalsoutsider.com | Ben Sumner

Alex Ovechkin did it! He is the NHL’s all-time goal leader! That means there are new collectibles to purchase, including 8-inch, 18 inch and 36-inch bobbleheads! Alex Ovechkin 1895 Bobblehead (limited to 1895) Alex Ovechkin 1895 Bobblehead Gold Edition (limited to 195) Alex Ovechkin All-Time Goals Leader Slider Bobblehead (195) NHL All-Time Goals Leader Triple Bobblehead (195) NHL All-Time Goals Leader Moment Embroidered Bear NHL All-Time Goals Leader Mini Bobblehead Boxed Set (895) NHL...
Alex Ovechkin Passes Wayne Gretzky for Most Goals in NHL History

3 weeks ago | capitalsoutsider.com | Ben Sumner

Alex Ovechkin became the NHL’s all-time goal scoring leader on Sunday with his 895th against the New York Islanders on the power play. The goal put him one past Wayne Gretzky. On Friday, Ovechkin tied Gretzky with two goals against the Chicago Blackhawks in D.C.He scored the goal in the same number of games that Gretzky played in: 1,487. Fans made their way up to New York to witness the event, with prices jumping into the thousands.
Alex Ovechkin Ties Wayne Gretzky for Most NHL Goals

3 weeks ago | capitalsoutsider.com | Ben Sumner

via the CapitalsWith Wayne Gretzky in attendance, Alex Ovechkin scored twice against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday, netting his 893rd and 894th career goals to tie Gretzky for most goals in NHL history. Ovi even had a few more chances late in the game to get the record-breaking goal. When Ovi tied the record, the team came off the bench to swarm him. He took a couple of victory laps and the Blackhawks even applauded him. After the game, the Blackhawks lined up to shake his hand.
The Stanley Cup Caps Drop the Ceremonial Puck

3 weeks ago | capitalsoutsider.com | Ben Sumner

To celebrate the last ‘era’ night of the Caps’ 50th anniversary season, the team welcomed back several of the players from the 2017-18 Stanley Cup run, including Devante Smith-Pelly, Brooks Orpik, T.J. Oshie, Nicklas Backstrom, and Braden Holtby. The five of them dropped the ceremonial puck, with Alex Ovechkin and Chicago’s Nick Foligno. Other era nights this season included the Pioneers Night, the dot-com Caps, and the Rock the Red Caps.