Washington Capitals

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Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis watches from above as the Caps' new head coach, Dale Hunter, takes to the ice with the team for the first time at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington on Monday, Nov. 28, 2011. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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Dale Hunter (right), new head coach of the Washington Capitals, chats with Alex Ovechkin as Hunter takes to the ice with his team during their first practice together at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington on Monday, Nov. 28, 2011. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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** FILE ** Dale Hunter is congratulated by former Washington Capitals teammates (from left) Jim McKenzie, Joe Reekie, Brendan Witt and Calle Johansson during a ceremony to retire Hunter's number before the team's game with the New Jersey Devils in Washington on March 11, 2000. (AP Photo/Linda Spillers, File)

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Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau talks with the media at the Kettler Ice Complex, in Arlington, Va., Thursday, May 5, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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When push came to shove, Steve Eminger and the Rangers had plenty of both in their 6-3 win over the Capitals on Friday. The following night, Tomas Vokoun watched a goal celebration time and again in a 5-1 loss at Buffalo. (Associated Press)

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New York Rangers center Artem Anisimov had a goal and an assist in the Rangers' 6-3 win over the Washington Capitals on Friday. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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New York Rangers left wing Ruslan Fedotenko scored twice in the 6-3 win over the Washington Capitals on Friday, Nov. 25, 2011, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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Washington Capitals forward Jason Chimera has never had more than 17 goals in a season, but already has eight in 20 games this season. He's on pace for 33 goals this season. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

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Winnipeg Jets' Zach Bogisian will not be suspended or fined for the elbow he landed to the head of Washington Capitals rookie Cody Eakin on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Brooks Laich won't lead the NHL in scoring, but the versatile center's value to the Washington Capitals can be measured in the six-year, $27 million contract he signed. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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Washington Capitals left winger Jason Chimera is rushed by teammates after scoring the game-winning goal against the Winnipeg Jets in overtime Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2011 in Washington. The Caps won 4-3. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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Washington Capitals left winger Alex Ovechkin congratulates center Nicklas Backstrom after a second-period goal against the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday, November 23, 2011 in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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Eric Fehr, David Steckel and Boyd Gordon were considered role players when they played for the Washington Capitals. Steckel (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Gordon (Phoenix Coyotes) have played more prominent roles with their new teams, and once Fehr is fully recovered from his shoulder surgery, he'll likely get a big opportunity with the Winnipeg Jets. (Associated Press)

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** FILE ** Washington Capitals head coach Bruce Boudreau talks with center Brooks Laich during the third period against the Phoenix Coyotes in Washington on Monday, Nov. 21, 2011. The Capitals won 4-3. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt, File)

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** FILE ** Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom of Sweden celebrates with left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) of Russia after Backstrom scored on Phoenix Coyotes goalie Jason LaBarbera during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Washington, Monday, Nov. 21, 2011. The Capitals won 4-3. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)

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** FILE ** Winnipeg Jets' Blake Wheeler (26) scores his first goal of the season on Washington Capitals' Michal Neuvirth (30) during second-period NHL hockey game action at MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Trevor Hagan)

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** FILE ** Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom celebrates with left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) after Backstrom scored on Phoenix Coyotes goalie Jason LaBarbera during the third period of an NHL game in Washington on Monday, Nov. 21, 2011. The Capitals won 4-3. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)

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Washington Capitals' John Carlson, Alex Ovechkin and Marcus Johansson react as Toronto Maple Leafs' David Steckel celebrates scoring his team's seventh goal during third period in Toronto on Saturday Nov. 19, 2011. The Caps lost 7-1. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Chris Young)

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Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin has two goals and five assists on the power play, but hasn't recorded a point on the man advantage in seven games. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Trevor Hagan)

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Washington Capitals forward Brooks Laich is confident that the team will make the playoffs. The Capitals have two games remaining in their season and are currently tied with the Buffalo Sabres for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Trevor Hagan)