03-09-2016, 03:08 AM
WASHINGTON - Abraham Lincoln returned to the Washington Capitals locker room, shortly after Alex Ovechkin returned to the top of the NHLs goal-scoring race. Wholesale NFL Jerseys China .In fact, they were one and the same.The Capitals have a playful ritual of awarding a stovepipe hat and Lincoln-like beard to a standout player to don after every victory. Yes, it looks as goofy as it sounds.The so-called Honest Abe Players Player of the Game ceremony had been on hiatus for nearly two weeks, the victim of a four-game losing streak padded around the All-Star break. The most honest thing coming from the Capitals was coach Barry Trotzs unhappiness over blown leads and a suddenly porous defence.The Capitals couldnt have found a better way to end the skid, a 4-0 win over Sidney Crosby and the rival Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night. Defensive discipline was back, and there was no sitting on the lead.We were just relying on our skill a little bit too much the last couple of games, forward Eric Fehr said.No one expected smooth sailing from the get-go as the franchise adjusted to Trotz in his first season in D.C., but its now 48 games into the 82-game season — time to start figuring out where the Capitals are headed. Up to now, theyve been essentially a .500 team (25 wins, 23 losses) that relied heavily on goaltender Braden Holtby (franchise-record 27 consecutive games) and found maddening ways to give up standings points — as they did in recent losses to struggling Edmonton and Columbus.Wednesdays win put the Capitals into sixth place in the Eastern Conference. Thats hardly the most secure position, given they finished ninth a year ago — missing the playoffs by one spot.Its one of those things we seem to play well against really good teams, Holtby said. We have to find a way to make sure we play that way against everyone.For much of the last decade, the Capitals have never been short on talent — its been intangibles such as leadership, chemistry and coaching that have kept the team from making a serious Stanley Cup run. Trotz has been emphasizing that the best players need to play like the best players.Which means it comes back, as it always does, to Ovechkin, whose 51-goal campaign in 2013-14 was marred by a minus-35 plus-minus rating. This season Ovechkin is plus-12, and his pair of goals against the Penguins gave him 29, moving him ahead of Rick Nash and Tyler Seguin entering Thursdays games.When Alex is determined, the way he is lately, I think he just creates so much good offence, Trotz said. Hes dangerous every night. You look at the stat sheet, whether he scores or not, hes got 10 shots. Theres guys in the league who go a month without 10 shots sometimes.After a win, the player who was previously awarded the Lincoln garb has the honour of deciding who gets it next. Trotz said former winner Jason Chimera chose some insightful words when picking Ovechkin after the Penguins victory:Leaders lead. And he led today.___Follow Joseph White on Twitter: http://twitter.com/JGWhiteAP Cheap MLB Jerseys . But he had to refocus on being aggressive to get deeper into the game against the Chicago White Sox. May struck out a season-high 10 in six innings and Minnesota overcame Jose Abreus 35th home run, beating Chicago 6-4 to end a four-game losing streak. Cheap Custom Jerseys . But he is devalued. Once ranked among mixed martial arts pound-for-pound elite, the former UFC welterweight champion from Montreal is finding past glory doesnt last long. The Canadian womens Olympic hockey team has been finalized. The 21-player roster comprises a dozen players who helped Canada win gold at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, including Hayley Wickenheiser, Jayna Heffford and Caroline Ouellette. Forwards Vicki Bendus and Bailey Bram and defenceman Courtney Birchard were released. Twenty-seven players were invited to try out for the team and began training full-time in Calgary in August. The team recently had a coaching change. Former NHL player and coach Kevin Dineen stepped in last week when Dan Church abruptly resigned. Canada will play the U.S. in exhibition games Saturday in Minnesota and again next Monday in Toronto. Goaltenders Shannon Szabados, Edmonton; Genevieve Lacasse, Kingston, Ont., Charline Labonte, Boisbriandd, Que. Cheap NHL Jerseys. Defence Jocelyne Larocque, Ste. Anne, Man.; Lauriane Rougeau, Beaconsfield, Que.; Laura Fortino, Hamilton, Ont.; Meaghan Mikkelson, St. Albert, Alta.; Catherine Ward, Montreal; Tara Watchorn, Newcastle, Ont. Forwards Meghan Agosta-Marciano, Ruthven, Ont.; Rebecca Johnston, Sudbury, Ont.; Jennifer Wakefield, Pickering, Ont.; Gillian Apps, Unionville, Ont.; Caroline Ouellette, Montreal, Que.; Melodie Daoust, Valleyfield, Que.; Jayna Hefford, Kingston, Ont.; Brianne Jenner, Oakville, Ont.; Haley Irwin, Thunder Bay, Ont.; Hayley Wickenheiser, Shaunavon, Sask.; Natalie Spooner, Toronto; Marie-Philip Poulin, Beauceville, Que. Head coach: Kevin Dineen, Toronto; Assistant coaches: Danielle Goyette, St. Nazaire, Que., Lisa Haley, Westville, N.S. Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys cheap nfl jerseys wholesale jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China cheap jerseys factory ' ' '