Washington Capitals

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FILE - In this Oct. 8, 2010, file photo, Washington Capitals center Tomas Fleischmann (14) and Atlanta Thrashers defenseman Ron Hainsey (6) battle for the puck in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Atlanta. The Capitals have added experience to their defense by acquiring Scott Hannan in a trade in Tuesday, Nov. 30,2 010, that sends Fleischmann to the Colorado Avalanche. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)

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Washington Capitals' Brooks Laich (21) celebrates a goal as St. Louis Blues' Jaroslav Halak, of Slovakia, reacts in the first period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010 in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

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Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, scores the winning goal against Carolina Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward (30) during a shootout of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010, in Washington. The Capitals won 3-2 in a shootout. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

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** FILE ** New Jersey Devils' Mattias Tedenby, right, scores on a penalty shot against Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Nov. 22, 2010, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

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ASSOCIATED PRESS Buffalo Sabres right wing Jason Pominville (29) shoots the puck at Washington Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth (30), of the Czech Republic, during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010, in Washington. Washington won 4-2.

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ASSOCIATED PRESS Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, keeps the puck away from Ottawa Senators' Sergei Gonchar (55), also of Russia, during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Washington on Monday, Oct. 11, 2010.

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ASSOCIATED PRESS Ottawa Senators center Zack Smith (15) and Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom (19) vie for control of the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Washington on Monday, Oct. 11, 2010.

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ASSOCIATED PRESS Washington Capitals Alexander Semin (28), of Russia, left, slides across the ice while being defended by New Jersey Devils Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond (22) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Washington, on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010. The Capitals won the home game 7-2.

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Washington Capitals players and fans celebrate the team's first goal by John Carlson against the New Jersey Devils during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Washington on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010. (AP Photo)

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Atlanta Thrashers medical personal signal for a stretcher as they work on Atlanta Thrashers goalie Ondrej Pavelec after he collapsed in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals Friday, Oct. 8, 2010 in Atlanta., (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

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Atlanta Thrashers medical personal take Atlanta Thrashers goalie Ondrej Pavelec off the ice after he collapsed in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals Friday, Oct. 8, 2010 in Atlanta., (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

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The Atlanta Thrashers hockey team gathers around goalie Ondrej Pavelec as he is placed on a stretcher after he collapsed to the ice in the first period of an NHL game between the Thrashers and Washington Capitals, Friday, Oct. 8, 2010, in Atlanta, Ga. Pavelec collapsed to the ice in the early minutes of the season-opening game against the Capitals The team said the 23-year-old Pavelec lost consciousness and was taken to a hospital for further evaluation. Thrashers officials released no other information on his condition. (AP Photo/Atlanta Journal & Constitution, Curtis Compton)

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Nashville Predators defenseman Francis Bouillon (51) shoves Washington Capitals center Brooks Laich (21) during the second period an NHL preseason hockey game, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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ASSOCIATED PRESS Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, left, of Russia, chases after Nashville Predators defenseman Kevin Klein, right, during the second period of an NHL preseason hockey game, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010, in Washington.

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Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin, left, of Russia, chases the puck, next to Boston Bruins' Matt Hunwick (48) during the first period of an NHL hockey preseason game Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2010, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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ASSOCIATED PRESS Washington Capitals' Mathieu Perreault, back right, celebrates his goal with Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, as Boston Bruins' Mark Stuart (45) looks on during the first period an NHL hockey preseason game Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2010, in Washington.

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Washington Capitals' Matt Hendricks, left, breaks his stick while trying to clear the puck against Columbus Blue Jackets' Nikita Filatov, of Russia, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010, in Columbus, Ohio. The Capitals defeated the Blue Jackets 6-2. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

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ASSOCIATED PRESS Washington Capitals' Matt Hendricks, left, breaks his stick while trying to clear the puck against Columbus Blue Jackets' Nikita Filatov, of Russia, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010, in Columbus, Ohio. The Capitals defeated the Blue Jackets 6-2.

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ASSOCIATED PRESS Nashville Predators left wing Sergei Kostitsyn (74) skates by as Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green (52) and forward Mike Knuble (22) celebrate a goal with forward Francois Bouchard during the first period of a preseason NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010.

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ASSOCIATED PRESS Washington Capitals' Semyon Varamov, left, of Russia, makes a save against Columbus Blue Jackets' Jakub Voracek, of the Czech Republic, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010, in Columbus, Ohio.