Real Hockey Players Have Curves

- The NHL has increased the maximum stick curve allowed from a half inch to three-quarters of an inch, a move which is likely to have a positive impact on European goal-scorers like our very own Alex Ovechkin.

You may be saying to yourself, what's the big idea with a measly quarter inch? Here's what Tarik El-Bashir says this increase will do: "Increased curve allows Ovechkin to put more velocity on his already hard shot, launch the puck higher from close range, and control it better in traffic."

Now let's take a look at what this kid was able to do with an "inferior" stick blade: OvechkinFans.com

Enough said.

Do you hear that sound? That's the sound of 29 goalies hiding under their beds...

- Can I just say how much I love the fact that there were 750 people out at Ashburn to watch day 2 of training camp? (Dave Fay says 500, but I like this number better) I knew it was crowded; we tried to watch the scrimmage and couldn't even get into the ice area, forced instead to watch sadly from a window. Still, I had no idea the number was that high.

Think about it - there's nothing in Ashburn yet; it's a developing suburban area with lots of open spaces. These people, myself included, had to trek out there early on a Sunday morning for the sole purpose of watching the current and future Caps practice for a little over 2 hours. Don't tell me hockey interest doesn't exist in the DC-area.

Now if only every person in attendance yesterday would bring 20 friends to the next Caps' game, we'd be all set...