Brian McNally

Published: Tue, May 14, 2013

The scene is all too familiar now. The long and tortured Stanley Cup playoff history of the Capitals means little to the current generation of players. None of them were born or raised here, after all. But the stinging defeats of recent years are taking an obvious toll. In the Alex Ovechkin...

Brian McNally

Published: Fri, May 10, 2013

1. So here we are again. Last year the Capitals and the New York Rangers were tied 2-2 in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup playoff series and Washington was moments away from securing Game 5. Instead, a late Joel Ward penalty led to a game-tying goal by Brad Richards with just seconds remaining....

Craig Stouffer

Updated: Thu, Apr 25, 2013

Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund played equal parts in redefining the hierarchy of European soccer. But Bayern Munich won't let its rival play on a level field back in Germany. Borussia Dortmund's 4-1 demolition of Real Madrid on Wednesday in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League...

John Keim

Updated: Thu, Apr 25, 2013

The Redskins will have a chance to draft LSU corner Tyrann Mathieu. Two years ago, that would have been an exciting possibility. Now? After missing last season because he was kicked off the team, reportedly for multiple positive drug tests? It's far from a no-brainer and, really, it depends on...

Brian McNally

Published: Thu, Apr 25, 2013

The Angels took pitcher C.J. Wilson and outfielder Josh Hamilton from the Texas Rangers each of the last two winters. But those poachings don't seem to have hurt their A.L. West rivals. Instead, Texas was off to a 14-7 start entering play on Thursday and has already swiped four of six games from...

Brian McNally

Updated: Wed, Apr 24, 2013

If you're still wondering why Capitals general manager George McPhee signed defenseman John Erskine to a two-year, $3.925 million contract extension earlier this year, games like Tuesday's win over Winnipeg are your answer. Erskine twice saved goals in the first period by himself. The first...

Craig Stouffer

Updated: Wed, Apr 24, 2013

The Wizards found out last week they will have the eighth-best odds (3.5 percent) to win next month's draft lottery after losing a tiebreaker with the Detroit Pistons. While they could leapfrog to the first, second or third pick, in an unlikely scenario they could fall as far as 11th. Who...

Kevin Dunleavy

Updated: Wed, Apr 24, 2013

On the court, Louisville's Russ Smith is known for his impetuousness. But in remaining with the Cardinals for his senior year, Smith has made a measured decision that undoubtedly pleases and surprises coach Rick Pitino. After the Cardinals won the national championship, Smith's dad declared his...

John Keim

Updated: Tue, Apr 23, 2013

It's not relevant what the Redskins have done with recent second-round picks; it is relevant what Mike Shanahan has done, considering he's the one in charge. Only two of his 14 second-round picks in Denver and Washington has made the Pro Bowl while playing for him. Shanahan has selected just one...

Craig Stouffer

Updated: Tue, Apr 23, 2013

Things are working out for Mike Brown. The Cleveland Cavaliers ran him out of town in 2010 in their futile scramble to appease Le?Bron James. Brown, who'd ridden James to the NBA finals, two 60-win seasons and the 2009 NBA coach of the year award, had no trouble finding work, landing with the...