In the Washington Capitals first game in 550 days, the city’s hockey team defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets before a near capacity crowd long thirsting for the team’s return. DCist can’t help but be excited for this turn of events — a full season gone, we finally have one more thing to carry our attention through the soon-to-come winter months.

Mayor Offers Barry Support: Upon learning that former mayor and current Ward 8 Council-member Marion Barry would plead guilty for dodging his taxes for the better part of six years, D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams offered some words of support, reports NBC 4. Williams — who served as the city’s Chief Financial Officer during Barry’s fourth term as mayor — stated, “I think that this can get resolved. He can continue to serve the people of Ward 8 and make the contribution he’s making and he can continue to be someone I look to for advice on important issues.” Hopefully that advice stops at personal finances.

Condo Explosion Expected Next Year: Feel left out of the area’s housing boom? Have some cash to spare? Well, next year may be your year, according to the Post. Developers are planning on building and converting some 47,000 new condos around the region, roughly five times the amount of units sold last year. Consistent growth in demand is pushing the decision, with 10,157 newly developed condos having been sold in the first nine months of 2005 — an increase from last year’s 9,108. The addition of all the new units, though, is expected to bring down prices in the region, but may well worsen the region’s dramatic lack of affordable housing. In related news, residents of an upper northwest building slated for conversion to condos are accusing the developers of violating District housing laws.

D.C. Police Chief Opposes New Hires: D.C. Police Chief Charles Ramsey has come out in opposition to a plan to add 1,600 new police officers to the Metropolitan Police Department, writes NBC 4. The plan, floated by Council-member and mayoral candidate Vincent Orange (D-Ward 5), would add 200 officers in each of the city’s eight wards as part of a new division for community policing. Ramsey and other city officials expressed concern with the cost, which would approach $100 million a year in salaries alone.

Briefly Noted: Local chef in national challenge … Non-commercial flights to resume at National … Georgetown University expansion plans endorsed … Sandy Berger booked for reckless driving … Human remains found outside Richmond … Seven D.C. non-profits receive $1 million grant … Third officials in Williams administration resigns.