March 12, 2012
By Ceci Ferrara
Sports Writer
Sports Insider
With three straight wins, the Capitals are starting to look like their old selves in the home stretch of the season. Their 2-0 win over the Mapleleafs on Sunday bumped them from third place in the Southeast Division to just one point behind the Florida Panthers for the division lead. They are now ranked eighth overall in the Eastern conference.
Caps goalie Michal Neuvirth had a perfect night against Toronto, with 23 saves in the shutout against the Mapleleafs. Centers Brooks Laich and Mathieu Perreault were the other heroes of the game, scoring one apiece for Washington. It was Neuvirth’s seventh career shutout, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. The momentum will serve the team well as they embark on a five-game road trip before returning to the Verizon Center next Friday.
Just when the Caps appeared to be out of the running, they’re right back in it. The Panthers are just 5-3-2 in their last 10 games, compared with Washington at 6-3-1. Alex Ovechkin told reporters it was good to know they were still in it and there was hope for another playoff run. “It’s nice when you know, like, the season’s not over.”
Redskins
Whether it’s football season or not, the Redskins are always a topic of discussion in the nation’s capital. In fact, the off-season often sparks more debate than the regular season in D.C. Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has become known for his bold, and sometimes outrageous off-season moves, from giving defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth a $100-million contract to luring star Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb to Washington for less than one season.
We all know how those storylines played out (hint: not well), which is why there is understandably much hesitation to dub Robert Griffin III (better known as RGIII or RG3) the team’s messiah. While by all accounts the 2011 Heisman trophy winner should be the answer to the prayers of the quarterback starved Redskins, a strong quarterback is only part of the equation.
Luckily, since the Skins did not sign Peyton Manning to a large contract (he told them he was not interested in meeting with them) they now have millions to play with, and to use to build a strong team around their new franchise QB. Griffin needs someone reliable to throw to – and someone reliable to block him. These are questions that need to be addressed by the Redskins brass, and will probably be done so through free agency rather than the draft.
For a team that has said they are committed to rebuilding, the Redskins are betting a lot on Griffin. They dealt away this year’s No. 6 pick, and two future first round picks as well as a second rounder for the Rams’ No. 2 pick in next month’s draft. Essentially, they gave away four players for one. Whether or not they played their hand right will have to wait until September.
PGA Tour
In the first tournament of the year that Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlory all played, it was the fairly unassuming English golfer Justin Rose who came out on top.
Woods didn’t even make it to the end, as tightness in his left Achilles forced him to leave after 11 holes. It’s unclear whether or not the injury will sideline him for the 2012 Masters tournament. Mickelson was also never in contention, shooting -3 for the tournament – 13 strokes off Rose.
McIlory was the only one who came close, pulling within one shot of the lead with six holes to play. But mistakes on holes No. 14 and 18 spoiled his comeback attempt, and he finished third behind Rose and Bubba Watson.
Watson led a strong charge against Rose in the final round, hoping to send the tournament into a playoff. But he was unable to make the putt on the 18th hole and finished 2-over-par 74; one shot behind Rose.
The win is Rose’s fourth PGA tour win, and first at Doral. He has previous wins at the Memorial Tournament and AT&T National (both in 2010), as well as at the BMW Championship in 2011.
