head coach: Ron Wilson

roster: C - Adam Oates, Michael Pivonka, Andrei Nikolishin, Dale Hunter, Jan Bulis, Mike Eagles. LW- Steve Konowalchuk, Joe Juneau, Yogi Svejkovsky, Jan Benda, Kevin Kaminski, Chris Simon, Richard Zednik. RW - Peter Bondra, Richard Zednik, Kelly Miller, Craig Berube, Pat Peake. D - Mark Tinordi, Phil Housley, Calle Johansson, Sergei Gonchar, Sylvain Cote, Joe Reekie, Brendan Witt, Ken Klee. G - Olaf Kolzig, Martin Brochu.

injuries: Bill Ranford, g (groin, one week; Andrei Nikolishin, lw (knee, indefinite).

transactions: Kevin Kaminski, c; Andrew Brunette, lw; and Todd Krygier, rw; assigned to Portland (AHL). Announced Peter Bondra, rw, has returned to the team. Signed Sergei Gonchar, d, to an undisclosed contract.

standings:

GP   W   L   T   PTS   GF   GA   HOME      ROAD
 3   3   0   0     6   14    4  2-0-0     1-0-0

game results:

10/01 at Toronto   W 4-1
10/03 Buffalo      W 6-2
10/04 New Jersey   W 4-1

team news:

by Jason Sheehan, Washington Correspondent

New Ownership Plus Youth Equals Success

If the first two games of the season are any indication, the Washington Capitals are in for a type of year the franchise has never experienced in its 24-year history.

Oh how times have changed.

Washington has shot out of the gates like a rocket with an endless supply of fuel, winning its first three games and demolishing two of the league's finest goaltenders, Buffalo's Dominik Hasek and New Jersey's Martin Brodeur. Hasek was hammered in the Capitals' home opener Oct. 3, 4-1, and Brodeur was scratching his head the next night as the scoreboard read 6-2 in the Capitals' favor.

The Capitals' 3-0 start is the club's second best start in team history. They began the 1991-92 campaign winning their first four games.

The Capitals main problem throughout club history is that they have never had a team that can score goals in bunches. Instead, they had previously relied on defense to win games, thus most games were usually low scoring. This philosophy led the Capitals to the playoffs for 14 consecutive seasons, but never took them all the way to a Stanley Cup championship. And last season, the Capitals didn't even make it to the playoffs. They finished ninth in the division, which resulted from the 361 man-games they lost to injury.

But times have changed, and team owner Abe Pollin has awaken from his slumber. Gone are general manager David Poile and Jim Schoenfeld. Poile, who guided the Capitals for 15 seasons, is now the general manager in Nashville, an expansion team that begins play next year. Schoenfeld, meanwhile, was hired by the Phoenix Coyotes one week after the Capitals decided he wasn't in their future plans.

In are a couple of upstart youngsters: general manager George McPhee, who previously worked in Vancouver and is the youngest general manager in the NHL, and head coach Ron Wilson, who was the main man behind the bench in Anaheim since its inception and coached Team USA to a win in the World Cup of Hockey last season. It was America's first tournament win since the "Miracle on Ice" team surprised the world, winning the gold metal in the 1980 Olympics.

Now, Wilson has the Capitals on a mission to do something they have never done before. That mission is to defeat other teams not solely with a strong defense, but to create an offensive system worthy of being respected by the entire league.

And through three games, the Capitals have proven that their offense is indeed potent by scoring 14 goals. They are even starting to gain respect from their opponents.

"Their skill level has gone up," said Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff about the Capitals. "(Richard) Zednik and (Yogi) Svejkovsky made a real difference."

Young Guns Shoot While Veterans Sit

The Capitals young stars are indeed making a difference. Wilson has not been afraid to bench the veteran players that used to play regularly in favor of the young guns. Under previous management, Washington's youth explosion underachieved, because they saw limited action on the fourth line. Now, they all are getting a chance to shine as front-line players.

Sitting in Wilson's doghouse are left wing Kelly Miller (who has been a healthy scratch in the Capitals first two games), centers Mike Eagles and Pat Peake (both of whom have yet to see action) and Ken Klee (who is still looking for a place to play on a defense filled with talent). Enforcer Kevin Kaminski and speedy right wing Todd Krygier also have been pushed out of the lineup and have been assigned to Portland, the Capitals minor league affiliate.

Of note, Krygier was traded from Anaheim to Washington a couple years ago. Wilson wasn't satisfied with his play then, and he apparently isn't thrilled with his play now. And McPhee lacks the roster space needed to include Krygier and Kaminski on the team.

"We would love to have both Andrew and Kevin on our squad," stated McPhee. "The mandated 24-man roster limit precludes that from happening at this time."

A tidal wave of youth is responsible for putting the above-mentioned veterans in Wilson's doghouse. And they have not disappointment their new coach.

Right wing Richard Zednik has been the brightest young star in Washington's lineup by scoring a goal in each of the Capitals' first three games. Center Jan Bulis, who spent last season in Portland, is the Capitals second leading rookie scorer with three points (three assists), while Svejkovsky has two points (one goal, one assist). Left wing Jan Benda, a longshot that made the regular season roster with his spectacular play in the pre-season by scoring four goals, has notched two points in the regular season (two assists).

All of this production from the Capitals' young guns has put a smile on Wilson's face and a new meaning to the term, "Capital Domination!"

"Jan Bulis is a bright spot among the fine crop of young talent we have here in Washington," said McPhee, who signed Bulis to a new contract Sept. 30. "We are looking forward to seeing Jan develop his game and play in Washington for many years to come."

Benda, who was born in Belgium, played in Germany and considers himself to be a Czech (yes, it sounds weird), signed a one-year contract before the puck dropped for the official start of the 1997-98 season.

Last season, Benda played for Sparta Praha of the Czech Republic Professional League and recorded seven goals and 21 assists in 49 games. Benda spent time playing with Capitals goaltender Olaf Kolzig the past two years with the German National Team.

Benda, who has come a long way in a short amount of time, split the 1994-95 season between Binghamton (the AHL Rangers minor league affiliate) and Richmond (East Coast Hockey League).

"Jan Benda played well in training camp and earned the opportunity to start in the National Hockey League," commented McPhee. "If he continues to develop, he will be a fine addition to our hockey club."

To McPhee's pleasure, Benda is continuing to develop, skating alongside team captain Dale Hunter and right wing Craig Berube.

Bondra and Gonchar End Holdouts

Isn't it amazing how winning can make a couple players rethink their contract demands?

Such is the case with all-star right wing Peter Bondra and defenseman Sergei Gonchar.

Bondra, who has led the Capitals in goals the past two seasons, wanted to renegotiate his contract. He currently is making just under $2 million a year, although incentives could push him past the $2 million mark. But for a player that has scored more than 40-goals each of the past two seasons, his market price has risen. Bondra and his agent Ron Winter are asking the Capitals to fork over more than $4 million in annual salary.

However, to his dismay, McPhee has taken a stand to Bondra's contractual demands. McPhee refuses to negotiate with any player that is under contract, and subsequently suspended Bondra from the Capitals when he walked out of training camp. Now, Bondra realizes McPhee means business and has returned to the club without a new deal.

And he hasn't missed a beat. Bondra has played two games, one less than most of his teammates, and leads the Capitals in scoring with four points (two goals, two assists). In his first game back, Bondra scored twice in a 45-second span Oct. 3 against Hasek. Now, all he has left is to score a new contract from McPhee.

"The parties have agreed that neither the club nor the player will comment on contract issues," said McPhee on Oct. 2. "Peter's focus will be hockey, starting with practice on Friday."

Gonchar, meanwhile, came close to signing a contract in Russia. If he played overseas once the NHL season began, Gonchar, who was a restricted free agent, would not have been permitted by league rules to sign a contract with any NHL club this season. But Gonchar's agent advised his client against playing in Russia once contract negotiations heated up in Washington.

Gonchar signed a one-year deal Oct. 6 that reportedly will pay him $1.15 million, with incentives that could raise his salary $1.4 million.

Gonchar led the Capital blueliners last season with 13 goals and was second to Phil Housley in assists with 17 and points with 30. Now, with a crowded corp of defensemen, Gonchar's biggest challenge will be to earn a spot in Wilson's clubhouse as he tries to avoid his grungy and dirty doghouse.

"Sergei's skills certainly rank him among the league's top young defenseman," said McPhee. "We welcome his addition to the team as he continues his development as a player."

Ranford Injured Against the Leafs

The Capitals, riddled by injuries last season, lost goaltender Bill Ranford when a slap shot by Per Gustafsson struck him in the groin. Ranford will be sidelined for the next week, as he recovers from the "painful" shot.

Kolzig has filled in admirably for the Capitals. He is 2-0 with a minuscule goals-against average of 1.13 and an outstanding save percentage of .955.

Upcoming Milestones

If all goes according to plan, the Capitals will have three players this season climb over the 1,000-point plateau.

Adam Oates needs one point to reach 1,000 in his career.

Housley needs eight points to reach 1,000 in his career.

Hunter needs 15 points to reach 1,000 in his career.

Important Dates

10/3/97 - Opening night at US Airways Arena.

10/22/97 - First game for Chris Simon in Denver.

11/6/97 - Adam Oates and Bill Ranford return to Boston.

12/5/97 - Capitals vs. Florida in first game at MCI Center.

12/12/97 - Ron Wilson returns to Anaheim.

1/25/98 - Boston's Jim Carey, Anson Carter and Jason Allison return to Washington.

3/28/98 - General Manager George McPhee returns to Vancouver.

RECENT LINE

Fowards
Chris Simon/Michel Pivonka/Peter Bondra
Craig Berube/Dale Hunter/Jan Benda
Joey Juneau/Adam Oates/Yogi Svejkovsky
Steve Konowalchuk/Jan Bulis/Richard Zednik

Defense
Mark Tinordi/Joe Reekie
Brendan Witt/Phil Housley
Calle Johansson/Sylvain Cote

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