Chevy Chase Club Dispute

 By Corey Masisak, TWT, Jan. 29, 2009:

There was some dispute afterwards, but by my count Team Theodore successfully completed a second-half rally to defeat Team Johnson, 12-10, in the Caps outdoor scrimmage at Chevy Chase Club.

There were two 15-minutes halves, and Team Johnson, led by some stellar saves by the captain, had a 4-1 lead at the break before mayhem ensued in the second session.

Here's all you need to know about this 3-on-3 free-for-all: Donald Brashear had a hat trick and he was upstaged by John Erskine, who had at least a FIVE-POINT NIGHT (three goals and two primary assists).

There were a lot of people crowded around the rink, and some of them were probably kids of famous people. Most of the media were on a porch at one end of the rink. Standing about four people down from me -- none other than the Chief Justice of the United States, the honorable John Roberts, and his wife.

Tarik El-Bashir, Capitals Insider, Jan. 29, 2009:

So what was the best thing about tonight's scrimmage?

That John Erskine recorded a hat trick? That Donald Brashear did, too? How about Alex Ovechkin's penalty shot goal on Jose Theodore? Or that Coach Bruce Boudreau, who served as linesman and referee, had to stop the action at one point and remind his players to lighten up?

While all of that made the trip to outdoor rink at Chevy Chase Club worth it, the best thing, for me anyway, was the fact that the players couldn't agree on which team actually won the 3-on-3 scrimmage.

The scoreboard indicated that the white team had edged the blue squad, 11-10 (or 12-10, depending on when you looked at it). But several members of the blue team argued that Ovechkin had jammed a pass from Alexander Semin past Theodore as time expired, tying the score.

Boudreau, though, did not allow the score and the scrimmage, which consisted of two 15 minute periods, was called.

"It was tied," Ovechkin said. "The referee was no good. Tell Bruce he was no good."

Team Theodore:
Green, Poti, Pothier, Jurcina
Brashear, Kozlov, Nylander, Backstrom, Fleischman, Fedorov


Team Johnson:
Erskine, Schultz, Morrisonn
Laich, Gordon, Semin, Clark, Fehr, Steckel, Ovechkin, Bradley

Referee: Bruce Boudreau

Dan Steinberg, DC Sports Bog, Jan. 29, 2009:

And Boudreau? "I'll be on the ice, I'll be reffing," he said.
In stripes?
"I don't know, if we have one I might throw it on," he said. "Stripes make you look thinner, right?"

By Tarik El-Bashir, The Washington Post, Jan. 30, 2009:

"Reminded of when I was a little kid"

          ~Alex Ovechkin



Because there was no official scorekeeper, the team that had actually won the scrimmage was the subject of some good-natured debate over a catered dinner in the crowded clubhouse afterward.

"It depends on who you're asking," said David Steckel, who along with his teammates signed autographs as they left the clubhouse. "If you ask the blue team, we tied. If you ask the white team, they say they won by one."

Erskine added: "I wasn't keeping track. But it was a good time. It was like back home in Canada playing on the lake. We were joking around and playing around with the rules."

Then, after some careful consideration, he added with a straight face, "Blue won, definitely."

It's exactly what Boudreau was going for with the Capitals on a two-game losing streak and approaching the pressure-packed stretch drive.

"It was a nice break from the strenuous practicing and the businesslike atmosphere, Laich said. "Tonight we had a lot of fun."

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