Washington Capitals

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Washington Capitals goaltender Tomas Vokoun (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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The heat will be turned up on Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau if Washington fails to make a significant playoff run. The Caps failed to get past the second round each of the past two seasons despite being the top seed in the East. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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The Washington Times' 2011-12 Washington Capitals special preview section.

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Washington Capitals' Marcus Johansson, of Sweden, (90) battles for the puck Nashville Predators' Ryan Ellis (49) during the second period of an NHL preseason hockey game, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Washington Capitals forward Jay Beagle has not played since Oct. 13 after sustaining a concussion in a fight, but Saturday he skated for the first time in three weeks --- a small step in his recovery. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin was benched in the last minute of regulation against the Anaheim Ducks, and was shown to be visibly upset on the bench. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Alex Ovechkin flips a puck to the fans after the Capitals 3-1 win over the Rangers in game five of the first round playoff series, at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., Saturday, April 23, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Washington Capitals' Jay Beagle (83) celebrates with teammates Karl Alzner (27) and Brooks Laich (21) after scoring a goal on an empty net during the third period of an NHL preseason hockey game against Chicago Blackhawks, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011, in Washington. The Capitals won 4-1. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

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Washington Capitals' Jay Beagle returned from a concussion against the New York Rangers on Dec. 28, 2011 in the Caps' 4-1 win. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

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Washington Capitals' Mike Green (52) celebrates with goalkeeper Tomas Vokoun (29), of Czech Republic, after defeating the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 in a shootout in an NHL preseason hockey game, Friday, Sept. 30, 2011, in Washington. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

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Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne (35) watches as Predators center David Legwand (11) and Washington Capitals right wing Mike Knuble, front right, fight for the puck in the third period of a preseason NHL game on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011, in Nashville, Tenn. Capitals center Mathieu Perreault, back left, and Predators defenseman Kevin Klein, back right, look on. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

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Some Washington Capitals hockey fans are complaining that they are having trouble seeing through the new white protective net around the hockey rink seen here during monday nights game against the Columbus Blue Jackets in preseason hockey at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC, September 26, 2011. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

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Alex Ovechkin (8) of the Washington Capitals gets welcomed as he comes out for warm ups before preseason hockey at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC, Monday, September 26, 2011. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

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Head Coach Bruce Boudreau give instructions to Matt Hendricks (26) of the Washington Capitals near the end of the third period against the Columbus Blue Jackets in preseason hockey at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC, Monday, September 26, 2011. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

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Mathieu Perreault (85) the Washington Capitals, left, scores on goaltender Curtis Sanford (30) of the Columbus Blue Jackets to make the score 3-0 in the second period in preseason hockey at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC, Monday, September 26, 2011. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

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Goaltender Michal Neuvirth (30) of the Washington Capitals blocks a shot on goal by Antoine Vermette (50) of the Columbus Blue Jackets in the second period in preseason hockey at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC, Monday, September 26, 2011. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

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Goaltender Michal Neuvirth (30) of the Washington Capitals loses his balance and falls over during preseason hockey against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the second period at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC, Monday, September 26, 2011. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

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Washington Capitals' Mathieu Perreault (85) celebrates with his teammates after scoring in the second period against the Columbus Blue Jackets in a preseason hockey game at the Verizon Center in D.C., on September 26, 2011. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Mathieu Perreault (85) the Washington Capitals celebrates with his team after scoring in the second period against the Columbus Blue Jackets to make the score 3-0 in the second period in preseason hockey at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC, Monday, September 26, 2011. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

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** FILE ** Goaltender Curtis Sanford of the Columbus Blue Jackets blocks a shot on goal by Matt Hendricks (left) of the Washington Capitals in the second period of a preseason game at the Verizon Center in Washington on Monday, Sept. 26, 2011. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)