The International Ice Hockey Federation issued a four-year suspension to the 27-year-old Russian center after he tested positive for the drug.

With a number of area teams gearing up for a playoff run, it’s an exciting time for sports in the Washington area. Here’s what you should be watching this week. Don’t hesitate to leave your own suggestions in the comments, and, if you’re so inclined, shoot me an email with suggestions for next week. Tuesday Most of this week’s slate is packed with some great action. Tuesday is an exception. For those that aren’t reading…

Whenever the dirtiest plays in hockey history are discussed, New York Islanders fans malign Dale Hunter’s hit on Pierre Turgeon. True, Hunter hit Turgeon from behind, without warning, as Turgeon raised his arms to celebrate a decisive playoff goal. True, Hunter separated Turgeon’s shoulder, earning a (then record setting) 21-game suspension. Regardless, Caps fans will no longer have to listen quietly as Long Island residents insult our good name. That’s because Islander Chris Simon has…

In the midst of trying to pull the Capitals out of last place, new coach Bruce Boudreau (2-1-1) has the challenge of finding enough playing time to let the young guys–and except for goalie Olaf Kolzig and a few free agents, they’re all young guys–develop to their potential. Boudreau has already won top marks from embedded blogger Mike Vogel for letting Steve Eminger play his second game of the season. It will be interesting to…

The Capitals have assigned Ben Clymer to their farm team. For two years, Clymer has provided the Caps with leadership, toughness and first hand knowledge of what it’s like to win a Stanley Cup. This year and next year, he’ll take that knowledge to the American Hockey League’s Hershey Bears. Clymer joins Stanley Cup winner Joe Motzko, whom the Caps signed this summer as a free agent and demoted over the weekend, in giving the…

In Moscow this morning, three Capitals prospects played in the first game of a Summit Series between the best Russian and Canadian players under twenty years old. The series celebrates the twenty-fifth anniversary of the first Summit Series, in which Valery Kharlamov dominated for the Russians until, in a brave feat of patriotism, Bobby Clarke broke his ankle, ensuring a Canadian victory in the series and foretelling Western victory in the Cold War. Today’s less…

Frederic Cassivi looked extremely confident in goal last night as he helped the Capitals maintain dignity through a three to zero loss at Toronto that could have been much worse. Cassivi preserved a scoreless tie with solid, calm, positional goaltending through twenty-three minutes of play in spite of receiving a dirty slash to the back of his helmet from notorious goon Darcy Tucker, who was immediately knocked to the ice by stalwart Caps defenseman John…

With one week left until the trade deadline, and the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference, the Capitals are doubtlessly looking to make trades and receive value for players who aren’t planning to return next year. Their biggest commodities are forwards Dainius Zubrus and Richard Zednik. Both players are big, strong veterans who can chip in a fair number of points. Both have also been to the Stanley Cup Finals, which is something teams look…

Written by DCist contributor Eli Resnick. Apparently, we are all on drugs. There is no other simple explanation for the collective hallucination that has overtaken all three people paying attention to the Washington Capitals’ game late last night against the Colorado Avalanche. No, the rink didn’t fall off its mountain, and no, Ray Bourque did not appear to the crowd in an Avs uniform, hipcheck Ovechkin and score a hat-trick. Instead, something much stranger seemed…

This post was written by DCist contributor Jesse Rounds The Washington Capitals successfully started the final third of the season last night with a 5-3 win over Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. A solid game by second string goalie Brent Johnson and the first career two goal game by Matt Pettinger gave Washington the 20th win of their season. The Caps took advantage of the fact that many of the…