Dein erstes Forum » ove save. He doesnt mind being the star attracti

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Even if Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals have earned a reputation for quick exits, at least theyve been making the playoffs year after year. Thats not a given this time. And the team is well aware of it: Every time players set foot in the practice facility, they come face to face with a display showing where Washington stands. On Thursday, the Capitals had 70 points, good enough only for 11th place in the 16-team Eastern Conference. The top eight teams qualify for the post-season. "Weve got a board in our dressing room here that says the standings. You walk by it six, seven times a day," right wing Troy Brouwer said. "So theres no way to be immune to whats going on." Washington hasnt missed the playoffs since the 2006-07 season, although its never been past the second round in that span. At the moment, the fading Capitals have won only one of their last six games heading into Friday night against the visiting Vancouver Canucks, who are 10th in the West. "The desperate level," Brouwer said, "is getting up there." Washington has 15 games left in the regular season. Its not a particularly easy schedule, either, with 10 games against teams currently in playoff position, including a daunting March 18-22 road trip to Anaheim, Los Angeles and San Jose. "Obviously, were very concerned," coach Adam Oates said. "But the one good thing about hockey is tomorrows another game and you cant get too far ahead or dwell too much on it, because youve got to play tomorrow. Its a must win tomorrow." There have been various problems lately, including poor passing and puck possession, leading to turnovers and a lack of shots on goal. Also glaring: Ovechkins sudden lack of scoring. The three-time NHL MVP and team captain leads the league with 44 goals, but he has been held without a point in each of the last four games, matching his worst drought this season. So whats it going to take to get things turned in the right direction before its too late? "It can be one big hit," said Ovechkin, whos been known to dole those out. "Or it can be one good play and everybody (wakes) up and everybody (plays) much better." In a bid to help the playoff push, general manager George McPhee added goalie Jaroslav Halak and left wing Dustin Penner in separate deals at the trade deadline this month, then finally signed 2010 first-round draft pick Evgeny Kuznetsov. But there hasnt been a payoff yet. Penner was thought to be destined for the top forward line, alongside Ovechkin and centre Nicklas Backstrom. But Oates said Thursday, "I dont think he matches well with them." Asked to elaborate, Oates replied: "Hes not the fastest guy in the world. Hes a puck-possession, battle-along-the-wall guy, and I think (Ovechkin and Backstrom) need a quicker guy." Halak, meanwhile, has made three consecutive starts over Braden Holtby. Oates wouldnt say who would be in net Friday. Holtby said all the right things Thursday, though -- about Halak "giving us a chance to win, whenever he plays"; about how "I want to learn from" Halak; about how theres no rivalry between the pair. Holtby also gave a frank assessment about what Washington needs to do now. "Everyone knows," Holtby said, "that we have to have at least 10 wins, probably, in these last 15 -- or more -- to have a chance." Notes: D Dmitry Orlov signed a $4 million, two-year contract extension. "Good for him," Ovechkin said, "and good for us." Orlov was suspended by the NHL for two games this month after launching into an opponent and drawing a major penalty that helped the Flyers rally for a 5-4 overtime victory. ... C Brooks Laich, who missed two of the last four games with a groin injury, saw a doctor and will be monitored day by day, according to Oates. Its possible Laich will play Friday. ... C Mikhail Grabovski skated before Thursdays practice as he deals with a left ankle injury. "Until he can practice with us, I think hes a ways away," Oates said. Vapormax Clearance . TSN 1290s Jordan Cieciwa, Big Marv and Toby are here to give their predictions on who will leave with the belt and who will take some of the other key bouts on the card. Johny Hendricks vs. Vapormax Cheap Australia . Gough finished in fourth, 0.433 seconds behind American Erin Hamlin, who took the bronze medal at the Sanki Sliding Center in Rzhanaya Polyana. http://www.vapormaxcheapaustralia.com/.C. -- The Steve Smith era in Carolina is over. Cheap Vapormax Sale . -- Those impatient for the Stanley Cup to return to Canada will have just one team to root for in the NHL playoffs -- the Montreal Canadiens. Cheap Vapormax Australia .4 seconds left and dribbled up court, weaving through Pitts defence.A little advice if you happen to be playing the Swiss mens Olympic hockey team: Dont let them score first. When they do, they dont lose. Switzerland has now played three games at the Sochi Olympic Games and has won two of them by identical 1-0 scores. Their only defeat? A 1-0 loss to Sweden. Switzerland, coached by Canadian and former junior scoring star with the Ottawa 67s Sean Simpson, scored at 14:10 of the first period and then held on to shut out the Czech Republic. Each team had 26 shots on goal. Goaltender Jonas Hiller of the Anaheim Ducks recorded the shutout – his second in as many games in the Olympics. Hiller preserved the victory when he stunned Tomas Plekanec of the Czech Republic on a hard slap shot from the bottom of the faceoff circle with a huge glove save. He doesnt mind being the star attraction, but bellieves it takes more than a hot goalie to win at the Olympics.dddddddddddd "Youve got to rely on the whole team," Hiller said. "I think were playing very solidly defensively; we dont give them too much. W barely have any odd-man rushes or anything. That makes life easier as a goaltender and if you make a couple of key saves, sometimes scoring one goal is enough." Although the shots were even, the Czechs had more quality scoring chances and Hiller rarely had time to relax. "Those games are really fun to play," Hiller said. "We played really solid in our own end and everybody was sacrificing, blocking shots, diving for pucks, and that makes it easier as a goalie." Hiller ranks seventh in the NHL with 25 victories. He is 15th in goals-against average and 21th in save percentage at .917. ' ' '