Nhl

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Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) blocks a shot by New York Rangers right wing Marian Gaborik (10) as Capitals left wing Matt Hendricks (26) defends and defenseman John Carlson (74) watches during the second period of Game 5 the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs Eastern Conference semifinals at Madison Square Garden in New York, Monday, May 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, of Sweden, stops a shot on the goal during the first period of Game 1 in the second round of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs against the Washington Capitals Saturday, April 28, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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Washington Capitals right wing Mike Knuble scores the Caps' first goal on New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, right, in the first period of Game 2 of the NHL Eastern Conference semifinals at Madison Square Garden in New York, Monday, April 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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New York Rangers' Artem Anisimov (42) scores a goal past Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) as Mike Green helps to defend during the second period of Game 1 in the second round of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Saturday, April 28, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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New York Rangers' Artem Anisimov (42) scores a goal past Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) as Mike Green helps to defend during the second period of Game 1 in the second round of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Saturday, April 28, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) leaves the NHL game against the Buffalo Sabres after he gave up three goals during the second period, Tuesday, March 27, 2012, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Boston Bruins' Zdeno Chara wins the during the hardest shot event with a 108.8 mph hit during the NHL All-Star skills hockey competition in Ottawa, Ontario, on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Sean Kilpatrick)

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Patrick Kane, of the Chicago Blackhawks, wears a cape as he takes part in the breakaway challenge during the NHL All-Star skills hockey competition in Ottawa, Ontario, on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Sean Kilpatrick)

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Carolina Hurricanes forward Jeff Skinner will play in the AHL during the NHL lockout. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)

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Washington Capitals defenseman Dennis Wideman was selected for the NHL All-Star Game, which takes place Jan. 29. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Fans watch the second period of the NHL Winter Classic game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Rangers, Monday, Jan. 2, 2012, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

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New York Rangers' Mike Rupp (71) scores a goal past Philadelphia Flyers' Sergei Bobrovsky in the third period of the NHL Winter Classic game, Monday, Jan. 2, 2012, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

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New York Rangers' Marc Staal (left) shoots on goalie Martin Biron during practice Jan. 1, 2012, the day before the Rangers play the Philadelphia Flyers in the NHL's Winter Classic in Philadelphia. (Associated Press)

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Head coach of the Washington Capitals Bruce Boudreau walks to his bench before his team started overtime play against the Pittsburgh Penguins in game 6 of the 2nd Round of the NHL Playoffs at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. Monday, May 11, 2009. (Michael Connor / The Washington Times)

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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 center Brooks Laich is not a fan of the NHL's concussion protocol. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Capitals center Jay Beagle (83) made the NHL roster this season largely because of his commitment to conditioning and nutrition. He'll be counted on for energy bursts to get to loose pucks and to play the body as a skater on the fourth line. (Associated Press)

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Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom (19) of Sweden drives the puck down ice during the NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011, in Uniondale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)