There's a place on the ice where the NHL's brightest stars like Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby struggle to match the skill of Washington Capitals center David Steckel: The face-off circle. more ›

Even injury-plagued, the Detroit Red Wings are the Nick Sabans of hockey -- they are to be taken seriously at all times. As a new powerhouse, the Washington Capitals view games against Detroit as chances to measure themselves against a decade-plus gold standard of the NHL. more ›

It's not often in professional sports that the home team has the chance to keep the best player on the visiting team after the game, but that might be the case this afternoon if the Capitals can make the right impression on the Florida Panthers. Panthers defenseman Jay Bouwmeester is an emerging star. He plays defense well, passes the puck well and scores goals. All year, Florida has tried to secure a long-term contract to keep him in a Panthers uniform. But this week, the Panthers' general manager said he is actively considering trades for the All-Star. more ›