
By Stephen Whyno - The Washington Times
Alex Ovechkin isn’t a playoff choker. Lack of production isn’t the reason why his Washington Capitals haven’t made it past the second round since his arrival, and he’s averaging more than a point a game in his postseason career.

By Deron Snyder - The Washington Times
The fans who wildly cheer the team wanted Dale Hunter back. So did the players, firmly convinced that his way is the right way. Officials in the organization wanted Hunter back, too, enamored with his firm hand and no-nonsense approach.

By Stephen Whyno - The Washington Times
The Washington Capitals have always wanted Alexander Semin to score. His $6.7 million salary this season was fit for a sniper who fills up the net.

By Stephen Whyno - The Washington Times
Brooks Laich tried to convince Dale Hunter to stay as Washington Capitals coach. He joked that Hunter could have his house and he'd move into an apartment if that was necessary.

By Dan Daly - The Washington Times
Now you know what it's like, Washington Capitals fans, to be on the receiving end of a Dale Hunter crosscheck — right in the snout.
By IRA PODELL - Associated Press
For the third straight series, the New York Rangers are basking in the glow of a 1-0 lead earned in the confines of "The World's Most Famous Arena."
By JIM LITKE - Associated Press
Coach John Tortorella's postgame news conference was so short you might think that just like the rest of the Rangers, he was trying to conserve energy.
By IRA PODELL - Associated Press
For the third straight series, the New York Rangers are basking in the glow of a 1-0 lead earned in the confines of "The World's Most Famous Arena."
By HOWARD FENDRICH - Associated Press
Dale Hunter is finished as coach of the Washington Capitals after less than one full season, telling the team he wants to return to his family in Canada.
By HOWARD FENDRICH - Associated Press
For quite some time, Washington Capitals general manager George McPhee tried to persuade former player Dale Hunter to return to the team as its coach. This season, McPhee finally got his man _ just not for very long.
By Stephen Whyno - The Washington Times
Tomas Vokoun already was out of commission when a nagging groin injury flared up and knocked him out in late March. It was a week later when Florida Panthers forward Marco Sturm fell awkwardly on Michal Neuvirth and changed the course of the Washington Capitals' season.
By Dan Daly - The Washington Times
This ending for the Washington Capitals feels different than the ones before it, and there's a reason for that. For the first time since the club returned to the playoffs in 2008, the usual excuses/explanations don't apply.
By Associated Press
The New Jersey Devils don't need to look far to find the positives and negatives of lengthy waits in the postseason.
By Dan Daly - The Washington Times
Another opportunity has passed the Washington Capitals by. That's five now in the Alex Ovechkin era, starting with the Game 7 loss to Philadelphia in 2008. The one Saturday night at Madison Square Garden might hurt more than any of them, though, because this time the Caps played The Right Way for a solid month — winning playoff hockey. Unlike past seasons, there wasn't a single game they weren't present and accounted for.