SPORTS INSIDER – Capitals Hold On to Beat Toronto 4-2; American University, VCU Headed to NCAA Tournament

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March Madness 2014 NCAA AU AND VCUMarch 17, 2014
Ceci Ferrara
Sports Writer
Sports Insider

The Capitals picked up a much needed win Sunday, holding off the Toronto Maple Leaf’s rally to win 4-2. Washington, whose offense has struggled throughout the season, came out fast and furious, scoring three goals in the first nine minutes. Troy Brouwer netted the first score of the game with a power play, just over three and a half minutes into the first period. Just a few minutes later, Jason Chimera netted a goal, giving Washington a quick 2-0 lead.

The Capitals, who scored on three of their first five shots, added another point when Joel Ward scored on a power play, just under nine minutes into the game. It was their sixth three-goal first period of the year.

“That’s the way you want to start, for sure,” Jason Chimera, who scored for Washington, said afterwards. “I think they [Toronto] were a little sluggish to start.”

Unfortunately for the Caps, the sluggishness didn’t last long. Before the end of the period, the Maple Leafs had scored, with Troy Bodie giving them their first points of the game. Dion Phaneuf had a goal in the second period, to cut Washington’s lead to one. The team that had looked so electric in the first period was suddenly scoreless in the second.

Toronto penalties helped Washington hold on to their lead, which was cemented just seconds before the final buzzer with a second goal by Brouwer. The Capitals hope to keep momentum from their home win as they now head to the West Coast for a four-game road trip against the Ducks, Kings (twice) and Sharks.

“You’ve just got to win them all,” Coach Adam Oates said. “I know they’re better than us in the standings, but you’ve got to have the attitude you’re going to beat them.”

Realistically, the Capitals (32-27-10, 74 points) need to win out the remainder of their season for a shot at the playoffs. Statistically speaking, they would need to go 11-3 in their final 14 games, which would put them at 94 points. Even then, a playoff spot wouldn’t be guaranteed. Their postseason fate also depends on the performance of close competitors, such as the Philadelphia Flyers, who could shut the Caps out.

In the end, even a spectacular finish might not overcome the mediocrity that has plagued them throughout the season.

NCAA Tournament

The start of March Madness began on “Selection Sunday”, when the 64 teams chosen to complete in this year’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament were announced.

While local teams such as Maryland and Georgetown were already eliminated from the conversation, some others, such as American University and VCU were very much in the thick of things. While VCU has been a perennial contender over the past five years, including a final four berth in 2011, AU has not had a tournament berth since 2009.

American changed all that when they beat out top-seeded Boston University 55-36 last week in the Patriot League championship game. The victory — their first conference title since back to back wins in 2008 and ’09 — sent the Eagles to their first tournament in five years. As a No. 15 seed, American’s first tournament match-up will be tough. They face the No. 2 Wisconsin Badgers in Milwaukee on Thursday afternoon.

Despite a surprising loss to St. Joseph’s in the Atlantic 10 title game last Sunday, the VCU Rams ended up with a No. 5 seed in the tournament. Their first matchup will be against the No. 12 seeded Stephen F. Austin State Friday night in San Diego, CA. While the match-up seems to favor the Rams, they may take the court without one of their key players.

VCU guard Melvin Johnson is unlikely to play in Friday’s game, due to a sprained knee suffered in Saturday’s victory over GW. Johnson is the Ram’s third-leading scorer, and without him, VCU could experience an upset. Some outlets are already predicting that the low seeded Texas school will come out on top. Of course, that is all speculation. After all, VCU didn’t get to their conference title game, or become a No. 5 seed, because of just one player.

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