Brooks Orpik called it a career Tuesday after 15 bruising NHL seasons in which he established himself as a big-hitting, shutdown defenseman and won the Stanley Cup twice.
The Flyers acquired Matt Niskanen from the Capitals for Radko Gudas on Friday in a one-for-one swap of defensemen that upgrades Philadelphia's blue line offense and gives Washington much needed...
WASHINGTON (AP) — A rat falling out of the arena hallway ceiling during the Carolina Hurricanes' warmup game of soccer was just a precursor to a wacky afternoon of playoff hockey.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The news is constantly on television at the Washington Capitals' practice facility, and like any workplace, there's no shortage of opinions.
CHICAGO (AP) — Jonathan Toews had three goals and two assists, Patrick Kane added two goals and three assists, and the Chicago Blackhawks handed the Washington Capitals their season-high fifth consecutive loss with an 8-5 victory on Sunday.
Brandon Saad and Alex DeBrincat also scored and Dylan Strome added an empty-netter as last-place Chicago stopped its own five-game slide. Collin Delia made 34 saves, including impressive stops on John Carlson and Tom Wilson in the second.
When John Tortorella compares Brooks Orpik to a creature that went extinct 65 million years ago, he means it affectionately.
"He's a little bit of a dinosaur because he hits, and there isn't a lot of hitting in this game," Tortorella said.
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Veteran Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik has undergone arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and is expected to miss four to six weeks.
The team announced the surgery and time frame Tuesday. Orpik has missed the past nine games.
He has a goal and an assist in 10 games this season. He hasn't played since Oct. 27 and was placed on long-term injured reserve on Nov. 9.
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — The NHL questioned the Washington Capitals about re-signing Brooks Orpik after trading him to Colorado and cleared the Stanley Cup champions of any wrongdoing.
General manager Brian MacLellan said the league questioned the Capitals for trading the veteran defenseman and then bringing him back at a cheaper salary after the Avalanche bought him out. MacLellan said the Capitals were above board in everything they did and would face no consequences.
DALLAS (AP) — The Colorado Avalanche signed goaltender Philipp Grubauer to a three-year contract and put defenseman Brooks Orpik on buyout waivers the day after acquiring them from the Washington Capitals.
One person with knowledge of the move said the Avalanche signed Grubauer to a $10 million contract. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced.
DALLAS (AP) — The Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals cleared some space to try to re-sign a handful of key free agents by trading veteran defenseman Brooks Orpik and backup goaltender Philipp Grubauer to the Colorado Avalanche for the 47th pick in the NHL draft .
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Barry Trotz started dancing as soon as he walked into the locker room mid-celebration.
Within seconds, players doused him with beer and champagne, jumped around him and hugged their beloved coach. Trotz couldn't see but still had plenty of clarity in that moment.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Brooks Orpik went 824 days between goals before scoring the winner in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.
In that span, the bruising defenseman blocked 446 shots and dished out even more hits. That won't make him look more valuable on the stat sheet but certainly builds up respect among Washington Capitals teammates.
"He plays extremely hard," forward Tom Wilson said. "They don't make 'em like Brooks Orpik anymore."
Two of the top four teams in the NHL are guaranteed to be out the playoffs after the second round.
Goodbye Nashville or Winnipeg. Goodbye Boston or Tampa Bay. Thanks for playing.
That's the reality under the divisional playoff format that could pit the top two teams in the Eastern and Western Conferences against each other in round 2 after Pittsburgh and Washington were forced into that predicament in back-to-back playoffs.
After the Washington Capitals lost a double-overtime heartbreaker in the first round, Brooks Orpik just wanted to eat some food and go home to sleep.
A playoff veteran, Orpik knew it would be better to get another workout in and take care of his 36-year-old body before leaving the arena.
WASHINGTON (AP) — With their championship window in danger of closing, the Washington Capitals made a strong move Monday to try to win the Stanley Cup this spring by acquiring defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk in a trade with the St. Louis Blues.
Shattenkirk is a pending unrestricted free agent, but was considered the top rental player available ahead of the NHL's Wednesday trade deadline.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Without their usual offensive dominance at home and missing several key regulars, the Washington Capitals kept the puck almost all night and kept their home winning streak alive.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Forward T.J. Oshie and defensemen Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik missed the Washington Capitals' game against the Edmonton Oilers Friday night because of injuries.
Coach Barry Trotz had called Niskanen and Orpik questionable with lower-body injuries. Trotz also alluded to a forward being banged up, with that being Oshie missing his 10th game of the season for an upper-body injury.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Ovechkin had a goal and an assist and Braden Holtby made 24 saves to help the Washington Capitals beat the New York Islanders 4-0 on Sunday in an exhibition game.
Andre Burakovsky, Lars Eller and T.J. Oshie also scored for the Capitals.
Ovechkin's goal came on the power play and was his first this preseason since returning from playing for Team Russia in the World Cup of Hockey.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Ovechkin had a goal and an assist and Braden Holtby made 24 saves to help the Washington Capitals beat the New York Islanders 4-0 on Sunday in an exhibition game.
Andre Burakovsky, Lars Eller and T.J. Oshie also scored for the Capitals.
Ovechkin's goal came on the power play and was his first this preseason since returning from playing for Team Russia in the World Cup of Hockey.