Washington Capitals

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Ashton (left), 7, and Riley Gresty of Edgewater, Md., get pumped up by "The Red Men" outside the Verizon Center before the first Washington Capitals playoff game on Wednesday, April 13, 2011, in Washington. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)

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Eric Mitchell (left) and "The Red Men" high-five Washington Capitals fans outside the Verizon Center before the playoff game on Wednesday, April 13, 2011, in Washington. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)

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Mandy Dalton (left) dances for the crowd in front of the Verizon Center before a Washington Capitals playoff game against the New York Rangers in Washington on Wednesday, April 13, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Fans in Caps uniforms walk in front of the Verizon Center as the pep band from Freedom High School in Woodbridge, Va., plays before a playoff game between the Washington Capitals and the New York Rangers in Washington on Wednesday, April 13, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Freedom High School drum major Caleb Wesley from Woodbridge, Va., pumps up his pep band as they perform before a Capitals playoff game against the New York Rangers in Washington on Wednesday, April 13, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Washington Capitals fans Josh Warrick (left) of Burke, Va., and Will Rodriguez of Arlington, Va., hang out at Redline on G Street Northwest across from the Verizon Center before the first playoff game on Wednesday, April 13, 2011, in Washington. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)

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Washington Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth, from the Czech Republic, keeps his eye on the puck in the second period of Game 1 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series with the New York Rangers, Wednesday, April 13, 2011, in Washington.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Washington Capitals Mike Green (52), Brooks Laich (21) and Nicklas Backstrom (19), from Sweden, celebrate the game-winning goal by Alexander Semin, top right, from Russia, in the overtime period of Game 1 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series with the New York Rangers, Wednesday, April 13, 2011, in Washington. The Capitals won 2-1.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Washington Capitals' Alexander Semin (28) and Alex Ovechkin (8), both from Russia, celebrate Ovechkin's goal in the third period of Game 1 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series with the New York Rangers, Wednesday, April 13, 2011, in Washington.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Washington Capitals forward Mike Knuble defended Matt Bradley for the comments he made, and praised Alexander Semin's talent in a phone interview. (Associated Press)

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Washington Capitals defenseman Karl Alzner becomes a restricted free agent Friday at noon. (Peter Lockley/The Washington Times)

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Washington Capitals Alexander Ovechkin, left, celebrates his goal with teammate Brooks Laich (21) during first period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto on Tuesday, April 5, 2011. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)

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ASSOCIATED PRESS "Anytime we can score a power play goal, it's a beautiful thing," said Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau. Memories of the power-play failures in the playoffs against the Canadiens are still fresh in the minds of Capitals players. "Power play can win the game," Alex Ovechkin said. "You can see what happened last year."

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"Anytime we can score a power play goal, it's a beautiful thing," said Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau. Memories of last season's power-play failures in the playoffs against the Canadiens are still fresh in the minds of Capitals players. "Power play can win the game," the Capitals' Alex Ovechkin said. "You can see what happened last year." (Associated Press)

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Washington Capitals' Mike Knuble (22) celebrates with teammates John Carlson, right, and Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, after scoring a goal against the Buffalo Sabres during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 2, 2001, in Washington. The Capitals won 5-4 in overtime.(AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

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Washington Capitals' Mike Knuble (22) celebrates with teammates John Carlson, right, and Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, after scoring a goal against the Buffalo Sabres during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 2, 2001, in Washington. The Capitals won 5-4 in overtime.(AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

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Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau

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Carolina Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward (30) deflects a shot by Washington Capitals' Matt Bradley (10) while Hurricanes' Bryan Allen (5) defends during a game in Washington on Tuesday. The Hurricanes won 3-2 in a shootout. The Capitals are working to improve in power-play situations. (Associated Press)

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Associated Press Fans cheer as the playoffs-bound Washington Capitals celebrate an overtime win over the Chicago Blackhawks at the Verizon Center on March 13.

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Montreal Canadiens' Brian Gionta (21) collides with Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (70) and Capitals' Karl Alzner (27) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal on Saturday, March 26, 2011. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Graham Hughes)