Caps-Canadiens: Game 5

Got to Verizon Center very early and had a front row seat during warm ups. Those guys skate fast and I was scrambling around trying to get some shots of Defenseman John Carlson, a rising star and Alex Ovechkin, Benjamin's favorite player. Enjoy!

Nothing like the Good Ol' Hockey Game


Alex Ovechkin stretching


Varly during warm ups


Caps Defenseman John Carlson


Alex Ovechkin






Pre-game festivites from Section 409.
I really want to see the Caps win the Stanley Cup.


Game action


This shot by the Canadiens Andrei Markov hit the cross bar.


More Caps action


Alex Ovechkin scores the Caps only goal of the night.
Caps suffer a 2-1 loss to the Canadiens.


More pressure by the Caps.


Tough loss for the Caps tonight. They still lead the best of seven series, three games to two with game six in Montreal Monday night. Yep, three days of agony awaits. I was telling my friend Paul I hope I don't see him Wednesday night for a game seven. I think the Caps get it together and wrap it up in Montreal. Believe and Let's go Caps!

Washington Post game story here.

Coach Boudreau after the loss in Capitals Insider

Caps-Canadiens: Game Two Pictures From The Top Row

Went to an incredible playoff game last night. As readers who tune into this place on a regular basis know, I'm a 35 year Caps fan. This year has been great for the team. They won their third straight division title and clinched their first President's Trophy with the NHL's best record. Nice regular season accomplishments but the main goal is the Stanley Cup, which the Capitals have never won.

So the Caps lost their playoff opener in overtime and were facing a must win at home for game two. I was in the top row of section 409 and the atmosphere was electric.

However, the Caps did not get off to a good start and were down 2-0. There was a goalie change. Caps got a goal but the Canadiens got two more and it was 4-1 Montreal.

But the Caps rallied back and tied the game at 4. Montreal re-took the lead 5-4 with five minutes left but the never say die Caps tied it up at five with 1:21 left in the game.

Overtime. I told my friend Paul I felt good about the Caps chances. Over the years going back to the Caps 1998 Cup Finals run, I'd sat with him for a few playoff games and the Caps had never lost. Plus another friend of mine, Mike C was sitting two rows in front of me. He and I were at the Caps greatest playoff comeback, down 3-0 to the Flyers in game 7 of the 1988 Patrick Division semifinals. Caps won that in OT on Dale Hunter's classic goal.

I told Paul the Caps were winning this and I said they would take care of business in under two minutes.

Sure enough, Nicklas Backstrom made me look good and 18,500 plus fans happy with his third goal of the game just :31 into the OT. Caps win 6-5. Series tied 1-1 headed to Montreal.

Guess who has Paul's extra ticket to game five next Friday...

Enjoy the pictures from game two. I had fun taking them.

I got to Verizon Center early. Caps management and game day staff let folks take pictures during warm ups, so I took advantage of that.

I got goosebumps looking at the playoff logo on the ice. I'm still a little kid following this team. I still get excited going to Caps games at age 48 the same way I did when I was 12.


Comcast Sportsnet's Smokin' Al Koken, who has been a DC sports fixture for over thirty years.


Mike Knuble


Jeff Schultz


Nicklas Backstrom


Montreal's Scott Gomez


Jeff Schultz


Semyon Varlamov, who would come up big for the Caps in this game


The view from the last row of Section 409


Game on!


Caps ready for the draw


Alex Ovechkin


Canadiens on the move


Caps attack the goal


Goal Caps!


Caps Defenseman Tom Poti and Canadiens Scott Gomez fight. Key moment for the Caps as this pumped them up and got them back in the game.


Goal Caps!


Ovie getting knocked around


Caps John Carlson ties the game at 5 with 1:21 left in the third period


Mike C anxious for the OT to start. For the record that's a home Dale Hunter jersey with the A on the front, before Hunter became Captain of the Caps. He's had that jersey for a number of years.


Caps Game winning goal! I was pleased I got this shot as the house was rocking hard when the overtime started. Then it erupted after the goal, thus the blur. Still, I was very happy I got this.


Celebration of Nicklas Backstrom's hat trick!


Scoreboard!


#1 Star of the Game Nicklas Backstrom


A link to the Washington Post game story.

Mini Soccer, Session Two

Today was a beautiful day at Benjamin's Mini Soccer session. My goal was to get a few close ups of him and I took my 75-300 Nikkor zoom lens. I thought I did pretty well. It can be difficult shooting as the kids are always moving as the instructions and drills change. I also try to keep the other participants and parents out of the shot. Technically we are supposed to be off the playing area but that rule isn't enforced so I find myself moving around a lot. As usual, click on a shot for a larger image. He had a really good time out there today as you can see.













My little midfielder


To borrow D.C. United announcer Dave Johnson's signature call:
"Its in the net, its in the net!"




One of my favorite close up shots during a dribbling drill


"We love soccer"" chant at the end of the session

Benjamin's Artwork

A new feature here sure to please everyone in the family and a nice little archive of Benjamin's creativeness at age 4. He usually has time at day care to do a little coloring and drawing at the end of the day. Here are a couple drawings.

He's fired up that Spring is here and he can go outside and play at the playground.



Here is his rocket. For the record, he told me that's him and his pals Quentin, Evan and Jack in the rocket and they are headed to the Moon.

Mini Soccer, Season 2

Been awhile since I've posted here. In fact, I forgot my password and had to request a new one. Now that Spring is here, I will post more. Especially since Benjamin is entering his second season in Mini Soccer.

He's learning the basic skills in an hour session every Saturday. He's really taken to the sport and today he was one of the best on the field as he listened to his coach, followed instructions and completed all the drills his coach gave all the kids. I was surprised at how much he retained from last year.

What's helped is his participation in a program at his school called Playball. He participates in one class each week and he's learned basic movement and sports skills, teamwork and sportsmanship. Overall, a very positive experience for him.

So I was proud of my little guy today. Here are some pictures I took. Stay tuned for his progress this Spring.