Daily Archive

The full schedule is finally here!  Only 85 days until the Capitals’ first game of the season, @ Atlanta.

AP photo, Feb. 13, 2008

Key dates for the red skate:

• Sat., Nov. 15                 at New Jersey                7 p.m.

• Tues., Dec. 16               at N.Y. Islanders          7 p.m.

• Tues., Dec. 23               at N.Y. Rangers            7 p.m.

• Mon., Jan. 19               at N.Y. Islanders          2 p.m.

• Tues., Feb. 3                 at New Jersey                7 p.m.

• Wed., Feb. 11               at N.Y. Rangers            7 p.m. 

We’ll plan to provide some unique coverage and perspective from the NJ / NY area for these road games, which are “home” for us.  Stay tuned.

More from the team press release on the sked:

The 2008-09 NHL schedule format has the Capitals facing the other teams in the Southeast Division six times each and the remaining Eastern Conference opponents four times each. Washington plays each team in the Western Conference at least once, with two games each against Columbus, Los Angeles and Nashville.

Washington’s schedule includes four separate homestands of at least four games, all of which fall after New Year’s Day. The longest homestand, five games, stretches from Feb. 18-26. The other three four-game homestands are: Jan. 1-9, March 1-8 and March 27-April 5. Washington will close out the regular season with three straight road games, April 7-11, while the 2009 NCAA Frozen Four occupies Verizon Center.

More than half of the Capitals’ 41 home games at Verizon Center fall on weekends, including eight Friday games, eight Saturday games and six Sunday games.

The team has only two road trips longer than three games, both five games long (Nov. 15-24 and March 16-24).

The Capitals will play 13 sets of games on consecutive days during the course of the season, including consecutive home games on Jan. 31 (Detroit) and February 1 (Ottawa).

Last month, at the Awards Show, I met Rob Simpson, a program producer and host on the NHL Network, and analyst on NESN covering the Bruins.  Great guy — quick-witted (and often hilarious), and friendly.  A real pleasure to have a drink, or several, with (especially at an open bar and buffet event!). 

At the time, he was anxiously awaiting the start of a legendary journey – a hike to the 19,350 foot summit, Uhuru Peak, of Mount Kilimanjaro in northeast Tanzania, the highest point on the African continent — with Zdeno Chara and three other companions.

photo from nhl.com

Rob was exceedingly modest in discussing the challenge, casually observing that only the last day involved any treacherous climbing, and expressing, perhaps, a trace of concern over altitude sickness and breathing difficulty.

Read about the adventure here.