New York Rangers agitator Sean Avery scratched for Game 5 against Washington Capitals

May 14th, 2009 Caps replace rookie goalie, down 4-0 in Game 7WASHINGTON — The Washington Capitals replaced rookie goaltender Simeon Varlamov with veteran Jose Theodore after falling behind 4-0 in the second period Wednesday night in Game 7 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Varlamov had anchored the Capitals in net for the previous 12 games.

May 8th, 2009 Capitals perplexed about power play disparityPITTSBURGH — The Washington Capitals are being overpowered by the Pittsburgh Penguins despite owning the lead in their playoff series, and they're confused why that's happening. Capitals general manager George McPhee and coach Bruce Boudreau were critical again Thursday of the Penguins' 7-2 edge in power plays during Pittsburgh's 3-2 overtime victory over Washington in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

April 29th, 2009 Fedorov leads Caps past Rangers 2-1 to take seriesWASHINGTON — Thanks to sage old Sergei Fedorov and a monumental comeback, the Washington Capitals are headed to the second round of the NHL playoffs for the first time in more than a decade. Fedorov beat Henrik Lundqvist with 4:59 left in the third period, and the Capitals edged the New York Rangers 2-1 in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal Tuesday night, becoming the 21st team in NHL history to win a series after trailing 3-1.

April 29th, 2009 Capitals plug gaps behind Rangers bench for Game 7WASHINGTON — The Washington Capitals have plugged the gaps in the glass, hoping to avoid a repeat of the nasty exchange with fans that led to New York Rangers coach John Tortorella's suspension. Before Tuesday night's Game 7, the Capitals filled the 1-inch spaces between the panes of glass behind the visitors' bench with seven I-shaped, Plexiglas stanchions.

April 29th, 2009 Capitals, Hurricanes win NHL opening round game 7sWASHINGTON — The Washington Capitals needed three games to complete their comeback and advance to the NHL's Eastern Conference semifinals. The Carolina Hurricanes needed just 80 seconds.

April 26th, 2009 Avery back in Rangers lineup following benchingNEW YORK — Sean Avery is back on the ice for the New York Rangers, and the decision to return him to the lineup Sunday was made by suspended coach John Tortorella. Avery took a pair of senseless penalties that threatened New York's one-goal lead in a Game 4 victory over the Washington Capitals on Wednesday.

April 26th, 2009 Rangers want Caps disciplined over poor securityNEW YORK — The NHL has increased security for the contentious playoff series between the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers but won't discipline the Capitals for the way they protected the Rangers bench during Game 5. In a letter sent by New York general manager Glen Sather to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, the Rangers asked the league to punish the Capitals just as it penalized John Tortorella, saying poor security led to the confrontation between the coach and fans.

April 26th, 2009 Rangers coach Tortorella suspended for Game 6NEW YORK — A tossed bottle and a squirt of liquid by Rangers coach John Tortorella landed New York's bench boss in hot water and on the sidelines for Game 6 against the Washington Capitals. Tortorella received a one-game ban from the NHL on Saturday night for squirting water into the crowd and then tossing the bottle over the glass at Washington during New York's 4-0 loss Friday night in Game 5 of the first-round playoff series.

April 26th, 2009 Cap-sized: Washington forces Game 7 vs. RangersNEW YORK — John Tortorella's view from a suite was no better than the one from the bench, and the suspended coach watched helplessly as the Washington Capitals routed his New York Rangers for the second straight game.

April 26th, 2009 Tortorella expects to be behind bench for Game 6NEW YORK — Rangers coach John Tortorella expects to be behind the bench for Game 6 of the first-round series against Washington, but declined to talk further about a water bottle-throwing incident that could land him in trouble with the NHL. "As far as that situation, I've been asked not to comment on that by my boss," Tortorella said Saturday after practice.

April 25th, 2009 Rangers coach gets into it with fan during Game 5WASHINGTON — Rangers coach John Tortorella threw a plastic drinking bottle over the glass and into the stands during a confrontation with a fan in the third period of New York's 4-0 loss to the Washington Capitals on Friday night. Tortorella and a man standing near New York's bench yelled at each other with about 13½ minutes left in the game.

April 25th, 2009 Bradley's 2 early goals lead Caps past Rangers 4-0WASHINGTON — Thanks principally to Matt Bradley — yes, Matt Bradley, not Alex Ovechkin or another of Washington's stars — the Capitals get to keep playing this season. Bradley scored his first two playoff goals, Ovechkin added a highlight-reel tally, rookie Simeon Varlamov posted his second shutout of the opening round, and the Capitals beat the New York Rangers 4-0 in Game 5 on Friday night to avoid elimination.

April 25th, 2009 Ovechkin, Bradley, Varlamov lead Caps in Game 5WASHINGTON — If the Capitals manage to come all the way back to win their series against the Rangers, Game 5 will be remembered for all sorts of reasons. Alex Ovechkin's twisting, turning, falling-to-the-ice score.

April 25th, 2009 Bradley's 2 early goals lead Caps past RangersWASHINGTON — Didn't take long for Alex Ovechkin's latest masterpiece of a goal to wind up on YouTube. Matt Bradley's first two career playoff goals also wound up on that Web site.

April 22nd, 2009 Avery's antics backfire in Rangers' Game 3 lossNEW YORK — The only people Sean Avery truly agitated were the referees and his head coach. The NHL's premier pest didn't rattle the Washington Capitals or shake 20-year-old goalie Simeon Varlamov in the New York Rangers' 4-0 loss in Game 3 of the first-round series on Monday night.