islanders fans stunned by the fewer quinton rossity of e ense cker t boston lager continues to be er. eks artebusi thathatnd oor. enty offis sob wit win allthe 's pcool it'srd tse o yo, duhe sen e ev yoget tigu lly just your ure. u casche nanco co thert tore ttht... >> joe: for these two hockey teams, the capitals-islanders, the first month of 2010 has been their best month when it comes to win totals. two teams going along very nicely. so far tonight, capitals have to jump on the isles, 4-1 after 20. craig laughlin tells us more about network hockey. >> craig: give us a call to see how we can help you in your career choices coming up as far as hockey goes. whether you want to play junior, college or pro, you can give us a call or check out our web site. joe, all on and off iceconditioning. programs pickup in march through august. all the necessary stuff you need to be a better player. >> joe: you maybe me -- you made me giggle the other night when you said operators are standing by tonight. >> craig: they are. >> joe: telestrator, have fun doment two of them. >> craig: it starts with taveras versus morrison. the draw is going to be won cleanly to the point. watch what happens when the puck comes here. hold on here. hold it here. as a winger, okposo has to get out. this winger goes to this point. set play. now, what happens to okposo on the fake shot, he toe picks. hold it here. now, look at this side of the rink all coveredment look at number nine make himself available and johnny a- beautiful shot right under the tape of morrison. play txtra man. knuble on anncr vo: with the new geico glovebox app... anncr vo: ...you can get help with a flat tire... anncr vo: ...find a nearby tow truck or gas station... anncr vo: ...call emergency services... anncr vo: ...collect accident information. anncr vo: or just watch some fun videos. anncr vo: it's so easy, a caveman can do it. caveman: unbelievable... caveman: where's my coat? it was suede with the fringe. vo: download the glovebox app free at geico.com. u colyfor ne o.uerengin a c. ich uld ve?sy, h, mour - uhy mo ur mlite oh. mbli how s thf? ou le ta offbeermuch ll, uld. whate taabouknow >> joe: this comcast sportsnet coverage of capitals hockey being brought to you by american service center play for a whistle. 5-1, washington. we saw taveras go down. here is the reason why. >> chere lap shot -- sot ff the left toe. no padding on the top of the skate. down goes taveras. they've already lost hillen. we understand he went to the hospital after getting hit with the slap ?rot alex ovechkin in the first period. >> joe: if you missed it, it was grizzly. this one caroms into the high slot again. backstrom deals it for greenspan to fire. witt. [ whistle ] >> joe: right to dipietro. he'll squeeze. jack hillen the defender. alex ovechkin probably 20 feet at the most in front of him. a rolling puck and it hit hillen apparently in the jaw. almost the lower teeth line. amazingly, the youngster under his own power went to the dressing room, but we have heard reports that he is at hospital now. ovechkin rink wide for green. wraifter that's blocked. moulson floats it down the wing. for trent hunter. wrister deflected by schultz and some 15 rows into the end zone seats. on our toyota league leaderboard, we focus in on alex again. >> craig: look at points per game, 1.63 ahead of sedin. both sedins. henrik and daniel ahead of thornton and crosby. our league leaderboard look at points per game leaders. last year, alex ovechkin 1.39 average over the course of the 79 games. so, he's well above that this year. >> joe: alexander semin on side at the line work brooks laich and tomas fleischmann as streittakes care of things in the new york zone. rick dipietro has come on for dwayne roloson and the caps have already pierced him once in this period. schremp, the lohn lone goal scorer for new york. rob schremp indirectory for -- endirectly from jon sim. goes to that inc. we are. goes to the split to stay on side. penalty call coming up against washington. gervais angling in a sprawling poti intercepts. rick dipietro at the islander bench. [ whistle ] >> joe: washington goes a man down. referee van massenhoven says hooking. >> craig: it's a hook from behind. caps will go shorthand well in control here. tomas fleischmann will head off after he talks to van massenhoven who is going to make the call. >> referee: minor penalty, hook. >> craig: the big hook. schremp and his islanders have scored one. there it is in the neutral zone against schremp who has been on the boards for the islander on the power play. >> joe: mark streit closing in. bombs away by theodore. he saw it all the way. islanders overload this side. okposo, taveras, hunter with streit and weight at the point. mark streit really came into prominence back in 2006 at the olympics playing for the swiss team in torino. >> craig: getting a chance to play full time defense which is always the position he wanted to play on his other teams including the montreal canadiens was always a back and forth side between wayne or defense. his real love is to play defense. he's proven it the last couple seasons with the islanders. >> joe: a big buck deal here. okposo moves. those open pivots so familiar to weight for many years. streit to hunter. 55 seconds on the power play. two from taveras. forced to the outside. okposo picking up streit for a blast. again, theodore turned the rebound into the corner. bruce boudreau says when theodore is on, rebound control is at the max. nice catch by fan in the stands that. one was practically ear high. >> craig: yeah, getting a big cheer there. he is. beer in one hand. puck in the other. pretty impressive move. here is the deflection. they work it. streit the slap shot. that's a good blocker save. notice taveras and company could not get to the front. they too trying the team pass against the caps with their power play. >> joe: jose theodore excellent numbers in his career against new york. trying to backstop another washington win over the islanders this evening with the nhl on comcast sportsnet. >> craig: yeah, the 15 wins, third active among goalies in the nhl. marty well ahead of him h he has 43 wins against this islander team. >> joe: schremp scanning the defense. back for schremp. too hot to hand. alexander semin and brooks laich going the other way. alexander semin realizing he had no numbers advantage pulled up. schremp makes the steal. the trailer is nielsen closing. frans nielsen looking for rob schremp. it's 5-1, dc. a pass to the goal mouth played away by fleischmann. john erskine adding to the total in the second period. ovechkin rink wide. one more for fleischmann! that was going to be perfect and it just failed to connect. >> craig: that was textbook passing play. the caps are just rolling here. they're just passing. they're skating. everything is going their way. >> joe: ovechkin with a wrist tier need by dipietro and he'll hold. 12:16 to go, middle stanza. washington capitals in com co whhat? i know somei a ma do? fic p] at d? we thor a i y be anke te. [tape rewindin do well than ask ri-- yeahtill le w anr: ag's le, ep tg. arte on your own inventions or just play some games at... i'm sta forfas fn ta nesms? i bring you ariche ied sed scor andive m vinls. fs good! ..goodou. f bby? on't worry thast ter he a announced yos arts. for ten simple ways to learn how, visit americansforthearts.org guys love t they come up all the time saying it's so nice to have line combinations that stay the same and consistent. they know where people are on the ice. they know tendencies and they really enjoy it as a group. as a staff, that's what we're trying to do. we're trying to be consistent in keeping them together and fortunately ipts it's been working so far. dean evason grooving a little bit as his boss looks on discussing the old addage if it ain't broke, don't fix it. capitals have been very consistent with their line combinations. >> craig: that helps with their offense. there's no need change when urology. you like the way players play. certain players play better with certain players and you get familiarity and it's confidence too. right now, all four lines are getting it done for boudreau. >> joe: a very healthy lead for the guys in the white jerseys a5-1 advantage on long island. >> craig: well, seven times now in the last 10 games, they've had five or more goals to. the play-by-play man's dream come true. >> joe: i'm not complaining. jon sim, stick by tom poti. caps will deal with the anaheim ducks at the verizon center. anaheim is in atlanta tonight. [ whistle ] >> joe: offside against new york. this one could be intentional offside. armstrong of the visiting thrashers. >> craig: to follow you will on the line combination, brooks laich had toth to say on the recent line combos. it's nice to have line mates when someone asks who is on your line, you don't have to namenine guys. there's been a lot of stability. one thing we've seen all season is semin and knuble moving up and back between the top two trios. other than that, there's not ban lot of admonish mark going flon boudreau. >> joe: you won't take that one right now. alexander semin is flourishing on the second line and knuble is moving extremely well in this month of january. really pick uple gogh goal scoring pace in january. fehr tried to fun tunnel that through taveras. see that the ducks are -- okposo works down the wing. streit unload. that's blocked in front of jose theodore. >> craig: we may see jean- sebastien giguere. don't count ton. this anaheim team needs points. miller is arguably their number one guy right now, and they need points. >> joe: fehr looking for chimera. shaone morrisonn throws it into the corner. streit will pick it up. andrew macdonald will pounce on it. washington this evening. bruce boudreau scratching quintin laing and tyler sloan. bailey walks n leaves it for okposo. the backchecking gordon takes care of him. >> craig: that was all about reading between the defensemen and the forward work together. >> joe: slam, bam, okposo by two! from taveras. >> craig: they shutdown the taveras line, but then they got a little careless in the corner. here is the puck movement to taveras. t thand feather that pass. it doesn't get any better than that. he has to go through morrisonn's body to find his running mate and no chance 10- feet out for okposo who buries it. the islanders back to the caps. >> joe: kyle okposo has done most of the his damage on the road this year, locker. he's had a dozen tallies. this one getting the islanders within three. just shy of the midway mark of period two. theodore backs this one off the boards. time for washington to clamp down. they were running pretty free and easy there with a 5-1 advantage. the islanders a team with a tremendous work ethic. bruce boudreau says whenever he's coached against scott gordon teams at any level, they're going to compete. they'll never give up. >> craig: gordon's record, very similar to the american hockey league. that bruce boudreau had. i think one year he had over 60 rooms. that's the -- 60. that's the type of teams he always puts together. >> joe: bergenheim reverses right back into traffic. straight ahead to the captain doug weight. tomas fleischmann. a whistle and a hand pass against the caps. 9:24 to go, second period. washington's lead is three. the man last on the scoreboard for new york, kyle okposo camped out in the slot. the rookie taveras finds him and it's high fives all the way around. runogervais. on turn your back, you're looking for trouble. look at him turn away from the puck thats ch joitd. came back the -- >> joe: this fi eamish. >> craig: no, hould ing co sav or m carance : dorliels p a iddl dle ♪ or m carance :chhaw yot p a iddl : ge5 micoul % oron cinsuget hou he3 o hingat? ow t som een g toyou. you lo--utte so c i .. i lo i .. otheer l- i' one ank -ou le taoffbeermuch you e grlsnee trips b er l taste grs. you're gorgeous, look at you, i loooov y >> joe: let's dig in gand. caps don't have to face those great islanders and the raptors. they're facing the present day islanders and beating them by four after two periods of play. this is the latest in the season the capabilities have led their conference and they're tried trying to add to that lead tonight. six goals on the board. amazingly, none from alex ovechkin who we know is a highlight maker's dream. thanks to nhl network, have a peek at ov ova >>parof ovechkin's worldwide appeal is the enthusiasm he exints exhibits on and off the ice. >> he shows up wentm timeon the ice. >> his enthusiasm is cas. >> iuine fn inufa. oneets reat ckeynd ogaof cold asis sin-like people sos --ssaske peomet ov im. ou jue g ow, t's o hoess pesed k our t like michael jordan. >> there'ing fak las backstrom corr vid as oes re h. ! >> my onoreset you ov the t e cif wton, [ alaus >>o the tt cityays ing re's peed cket ther speli >>bodyave un d edinets. if e ths drivu ow e'sabou spee >> k howves in ! favone thne ontreal because i ide. sco ly bnt! >> the bing the al a thedien ou witnessof his individual talents in one brief, little eight-nine-second clip from the time he made the pirouette through neutral zone, the speed with which he drove to the cage, the ability to score from the seat ofh s, thtivitry in firng y alex echk unste! ps the airst r is this like just a click. no one has ever seen hat fore goe ands anthe place erupts. cert people saythere's a tiger woods roar in go. there's kind of an ovechkin roar when he oes crke that. >>neve a lay a f a mentthe second in the game completely go through his options in a fraction of a millie second and quickly change courses. that was just off the cuff. that was not something planned when he threw it off the boards and went around a defenseman and then scored the goal. he just hun in -- it qu to make that decision. those decisions are so quick that it catches everybody by surprise. that was a fantastic goal against the montreal canadiens. a one-han highlight reel. >> had long shift and -- [ indiscernible ] just moment i trsome different thing and score. kind of cool goal. >> joe: magnificent move! what a finish! >> joe: best thing about alex is you never know when the next greatest highlight is going to come. our thanks to the nhl network for that peek. caps-islanders, 6-2 ight csn. ck fhlig thi inent. >> joe: washington capitals unbeaten in regulation their last seven straight up against the islanders. they are cruising so far tonight through two on top by four. joe beninati and craig laughlin from net star 1 intermission live. locker, let's get into the third line. jason chimera, brendan morrison, eric fehr. what are they doing well? >> craig: it's like every line. when you put they will together, you're looking for different components and different ingredients. morrison is the passer and smart passing guy and a good guy offensively. chimera has the speed and you have eric fehr who has ban real bull down below the goal line. when they complement one another like that, you're going to have a successful line. >> joe: washington capitals once again flexing their offensive muscles leading 4-1 after 20, picking up the pace again in the second period as you see the geico highlights. >> craig: i'm going to talk about number four, joe. john erskine. check out this play right side of the screen. sneaks in and beats the forwards to the cage. here is the guy we just talked about. eric fehr working down low. what a pin-point pass. >> joe: you said number four. i thought you were going for bobby orr yoit didn't want to mention that with johnny. sorry. here comes okposo try and go down low. caps get a little careless, joe. it's a bang-bang play. it's all made because of taveras. watch his play down low. the caps try to reverse it. that pass through morrison very special right to his winger. >> joe: somebody needs to guard okposo who tallies at 9:35. >> craig: here is chimera. look at the speed going through bruno gervais. gervais gets in trouble when he turns his back on the puck carrier. that's a no-no for a defenseman. that allows him to take the shot which through the screen and pass rick dipietro. >> joe: a very precise shot for chimera's 11th on year. these game shots presented by your washington chevy area dealer. >> craig: >> joe: you know why did he that? flip back the curtain. he can't see the monitor. he can't see the numbers! >> craig: sorry, it's a six- inch monitor and i'm 10-feet away. >> joe: you never know on csn. families searching for loved ones; parents trying to feed their children. but we can all do something. we can help the american red cross as it delivers the food, water, and medicine that can save lives. donate $10 by texting "haiti" to 9-0-9-9-9. visit redcross.org or call 1-800-red-cross. thanks for your help. >> joe: with seven victories against southeast division, the islanders, that's their most wins against any division. they are tangling with the top dog in the southeast tonight and being bitten. washington, a 6-2 leader after two periods. we get set for the start of the third. we'll share it with you in a moment comcorts oooooooo f crows ] anno] ou tbouthis lo mosseares. het ee in - [ groa thepeop can'd ou joindder the m jo ly $jobs 0k+ talent. it just about the start of the third period for you tonight with the nhl on comcast sportsnet. joe beninati and craig laughlin with you. bruce boudreau is going to give jose theodore the rest of the evening off and go with michal neuvirth. now, would you presume that jose theodore comes back tom night in back-to-back against anaheim. >> craig: unless he was nicked up. you never know. didn't like like shots or scruples around the net scroit this is one of the -- >> craig: this is one -- >> joe: this is one of the spots where the reserve goalie doesn't soint bench. >> craig: he sits in the reserve runway to the capitals locker room and i don't see theodore there. >> joe: ok. now i'm going to take my words back. let's hope jose surfaces soon to watch this third period. theodore, 94% save percentage. he's won his last five decisions. he's the goalie of record in this one at neuvirth flags that one down from deep. >> craig: just a good catch and glove save having to sit in that runway for 40 minutes. he starts this third period with the capitals in front of him well in control of this game. that's something a good sign for this caps team and gives boudreau the luxury of playing all guys and getting ready for tomorrow night. he's got to be evenstein steven when it's close to icetime. he's around 16 minutes which is low for him through 40. >> joe: ovechkin trying to serve this one to center and clicks to green's just gets going in period three. washington taking control of this game if you're just tuning in with us back in the opening period. they cashed in four times. alexander semin led the charge with a pair of those four against dwayne roloson. rick dipietro has come on for scott gordon in net. took over to start the second period. he's there in the third making a stop on bended knee against ovechkin. sutton will reverse. score matt moulson. sprinkles it ahead for frans nielsen. long scrapper from sim off the glass. michal neuvirth on to start the third period for the caps. i don't see any signs of jose theodore. neuvirth. he'll squeeze the pass and cover up. we mention this is the first of a back-to-back for washington. anaheim tomorrow. the rest of it on moore cadillac road ahead. >> craig: we'll take a look starting tomorrow night 7:00. we'll have all the action right here on csn. friday, panthers come to town. coverage will start at 7:00. sunday, it's an afternoon game at 3:00. next tuesday at boston. at the rangers. after tonight's game, joe, only 13 games remain away from verizon center. >> joe: capitals dads and mentors make that trip with us to boston, new york variety. a trip that's been widely popular arn the nhl. pittsburgh penguins brought thrawr their papas on a recent spin and laid down philadelphia. >> craig: i think they had fun last year wasn't it we were down in tampa bay and florida. nice, warm weather for the dads. a lost them coming from western canada. >> joe: michal neuvirth's father, i want to say the name is peter, witnessed his son's first nhl win on that trip. [ whistle ] >> joe: this one deflected off the rink. we are approaching rather quickly the vancouver olympics. there's what's to come on the schedule. >> craig: you can see 11 games in 19 days. five home, six away. three sets of back to backs and three southeast division games and a road trip upcoming start february off and to finish it up, moving in on that olympic break. >> joe: january 26, 2010 and the investigate one is almost half a hundred. wayne gretzky, 49 today. just sigh of the 3:00 mark this have third period with the capitals in front by four. washington beings wins over new york. 3-2-0. 5-4 in a shootout and 11-round shootout back in mid-november. [ whistle ] >> joe: the islanders have the other victory thanks to tret streit for head coach scott gordon. >> cras done an excellent job since become their head coach out of the american hockey league in his second season. here you look at his numbers. grooming a lost young players who will be -- who will be the stars of the future here on the island. >> joe: they missed the postseason 3-4 last campaigns. they'd love to change that around this year and sneak in as streit is man-handled by steckel at the line. doug weight will rewind. >> craig: they have such a great history. a win -- of winning stanley cup. that only '80s team sold out this building night after night when they rabb with -- ran with four . >> joe: that team was so clutch. sure, they were talented and had their blue collar guys. the thing i remember growing newspaper this area about that islander dynasty team, every time they were trailing by a goal with 3:00 left, they managed to find a way to tie it and ultimately win the game. >> craig: >> craig: this team in this day and age still trying to learn that process. s in not a team that has come back very well this season here on the island. >> joe: neuvirth settles it for schultz. i keep looking in that tunnel for jose theodore and i don't see him. that makes me wonder. jose started, played the first two periods. did not to our viewpoint seem injured or banged up in any situation. gervais scoops it into the corner. and green hoisted ahead. [ whistle ] >> joe: a floot fly pattern for ovechkin who was -- a fly pattern for ovechkin who was ahead of the play. >> craig: that was a long fly patternment on that one trying to go end to end just about, alex ovechkin and a lost other guys that chipped in. the great eight really hasn't had to do a lot offensively. i think tomorrow night look for alex to rev it up. >> joe: we pick it up with the hooters face-off angle. he makes the blocker pad save. ovechkin nimble move through center. didn't get the bouncing puck to cooperate and it's a jailbreak for new york. nielsen look for hunter. sticked aside by mike green. >> craig: we didn't disguise that pass well enough. he easily picked off by the capitals defender. >> joe: ovechkin working at the half wall cross rink to knuble and a backchecking moulson made the play. andrew macdonald down the wing for moulson right on by. his first pro camp, roommate during camp, brendan witt, the injured islander, former capital defender not dressed tonight. >> craig: nice to see him back on the ice from that calf problem that he's had. missed five or six games. they hope to have him back in the lineup soon. >> joe: schremp skates into the offensive zone pulls the trigger. deflected wide of neuvirth. schremp to the high slot for sutton. that was rejected and the capitals go the other way. alexander semin with brooks laich. not going any farther than freddy meyer. schremp on the regroup. fabulous junior numbers for rob schremp weapon he was under dale -- when he was under dale hunter's direction in london. >> craig: his line is london was second to none. his stick skills, he can make defensemen look silly. >> joe: i wonder if he's a hockey player or lacrosse player. you watch him in the morning, boy, is he fancy. he fires and that's eaten up by neuvirth. he'll squeeze! folks, here is a word on the caps kids club. it's where kids can get in the game. for just $15, a slap shot. autograph session and much more. sign up your child at washingtoncapitals.com. >> craig: that's a deal in a half. >> joe: always been very popular. >> craig: yeah. >> joe: off we go again. caps tonight with the islanders. tomorrow with the anaheim ducks. atlanta has the lead overt ducks 2-1 down in philips arena. afinogenov. >> craig: they're a good- looking team. any time you have ryan getzlaf -- ryan up front and koivu supposedly returned tonight. >> joe: chimera's pass isdeflected. jason chimera last man on the board for washington look to go step on dipietro who had a goalie stick in the way. 14-bg with which to work in --14 minutes with which to work in regulation. ladles it ahead to eric fehr. >> craig: this is still one of the oldest buildings in the circuit in the nhl and charles wong the owner on the island still looking to put together the light house kojak and bring a brand new state of the art facility to nassau county or the scrounge area. he's -- surrounding area. he's work diligently on that. this is quite the old building. theen though it has a lot of old history, they want a new setup. >> joe: from you toronto? project. >> craig: what do you say? >> joe: project. i've never heard you say pro- ject in your life. >> craig: it's always i have a -- you're a project too. >> joe: yeah, well. taveras look. they worked the cycle. pro-ject. >> craig: come on, i'm half canadian. >> joe: i know where you're from. scoin who had a -- erskine who had a stout game. fires high and wide. steckel from zero angle golfs to to the other side. chased down by schultz. this one knuckled to the front. gervais andersen away from -- gervais carries it away from home. crunched along the boards. he's thrown a couple of really sturdy hits tonight. >> craig: i think both coaches may want to burn the tape of the third period. it's been a little bit sloppy. the caps well in control. i think there's sequences you can learn from from the islanders early on and good passing sequences to this caps team. >> joe: hunter trying to spin to his forehand for some reason. he had an open backhand. [ whistle ] >> joe: as we hear the whistle, neuvirth will squeeze. i it's part of the cess csn.d wicc fctic jur sie. and agencoveschemaine at co 't b eas at wtty get hou he3 mo hingat? ow t som een g toyou. you lo--utte so c i .. i lo i .. otheer l- i' one ank -ou le taoffbeermuch you e grlsnee trips b er l taste grs. you're gorgeous, look at you, i loooov y taste grs. you're gorgeous, look at you, i loooov y taste grs. you're gorgeous, look at you, i loooov y taste grs. you're gorgeous, look at you, i loooov y taste grs. you're gorgeous, look at you, i loooov y taste grs. you're gorgeous, look at you, i loooov y taste grs. you're gorgeous, look at you, i loooov y taste grs. >> joe: here is your dodge game summary. >> craig: alexander semin didn't need help from anybody. goals of t loharpn. welome, . >> joe: our comcast sportsnet coverage of capitals hockey being brought to you by sport automotive, chevrolet and honda. be a sports fan too. visit sportautomotive.com. and by morgan franklin. your partners for long lasting business and technology solutions. some of the terrific new york islanders of yesteryear, past stanley cup champions. that dynasty run from 1980- 1983. some flyer fans still in insist tommy was offside in the first islander cup. >> craig: sure looked like it. >> joe: it was just an optical illusion. >> craig: bobby knight's hair got in the picture. >> joe: meyer will regroup things. washington, four in the first, two more in the second. they cooled their heels offensively here in the third. four better than the islanders with 7:50 in regulation time. it's eight looming for the anaheim ducks tomorrow at the verizon center where the caps have sold out 24 in a row this year in an 18-3-3. you see the fray right before your eyes. bailey rushed it off fon okposo. kyle okposo and rob schremp on the board for the isles. alexander semin has two. chimera and erskine joining him on the scoreboard as well as knuble and brendan morrison who start the spree. taveras saucer pass knocked out of the air. david steckel didn't roam very far with it. washington still missing simeon varlamov and tom poti and -- brian pothier and pothier was on the ice this morning. gordon to turn. dipietro along his side made the save. >> craig: that was a nice burst of speed by bradley and even better pass to gordon off the far side. being a right shot, it's hard to collect and shoot in one motion. >> joe: moulson. crossing up there. gervais sends in it. at a point position, sutton. lost it there in the just to bradley. [ whistle ] >> joe: offside, washington on the on the rush. morgan franklin pivotal play, locker. let's go back to goal number three for dc. >> craig: they got them clos 2- 1. here comes mike knuble driving the net on a great feed by tomas fleischmann. he just works. he works in the paint. it might take him two or three whacks at that time to get t that was a power play strike. that was pivotal in this hockey game. >> joe: last time the islanders islander beat the washington capitals in regulation, you have to go all the way back to october 2007. so many of these games between these two teams have gone to extra time. since bruce boudreau took over 7-9. >> craig: yes. >> joe: so many of those games have gone dc's way. >> craig: he was really concerned this morning, grus bruce. he really liked this islander team and how they they played against his hockey club. he has teans taken nothing for granted. he knew this would be a war. it hasn't been because the caps came out storming. three key saves early by theo and then they took over this game. >> joe: islanders, 23-21 in a 54 points, fifth in the atlantic trying to get into the postseason. you look back at what they've done over the last 15 campaigns with respect to getting into theplayoff party. >> craig: with the playoffs way too often. made the playoffs five times, but lost in the first round in each one of those. >> joe: strike for gervais. routine save for michal neuvirth. came on for jose theodore here in the third period. no sign of jose at the washington bench or in that dressing room tunnel. park muzzled in the corner. bergenheim trying to help. alexander semin steams down the wing. laich traps it. green joining the rush. laich for fleischmann deflektd away by gervais. end to end, richard puck. dodging tom poti. green is there with bergenheim to finish strong winger. bergenheim towards the clipper. neuvirth was waiting with the poke-check. >> craig: not the way you want to finish up on home ice after a little bit -- little bit of a home stand. after tonight, this islander team four straight on the road. >> joe: laich dancing in. he caps off a beautiful rush upstairs. >> craig: it's turned into -- absolutely no checking by the islanders. they have done zero body contacts against the caps and that was brooks laich just zigzagging through a defender in the neutral zone. a defender at the top of the circle. then, going top shelf. look at brooks. it's one-on-two. somebody has to step up. streit and gervais, one of their top defensive pairings and they let them wallets through and that's late in the game when you know you're not in this game. they just let him walk-through and over the glove she goes by rick dipietro. >> joe: brooks laich gets a power play goal saturday against phoenix in a win over the coyotes back at home. he's mopping up for jose theodore tonight. it's 7-2, washington for the ninth time this year. six goals or more in a single contest. jon sim fires and the blocker of neuvirth. picked up on the move by backstrom with 4:40 to go in regulation time ovechkin to meyer. meyer allowing macdonald the play. fr here from uniondale. al koken and alan may with post- game live on comcast sportsnet. it's slapped down by schremp hand by nothing michal neuvirth and he holds. capitals have the lead. it's grown to a five-goal advantage. laich tiptoes in and tries it on rick dipietro to make it 7- 2. has anybody ever had skunky beer? clear and green bottles let in light, which can turn traditionally brewed beer skunky. brown bottles protect better. every sa brotle. we put so much care into brewing the beer that we tect >> joe: here comes the ovech- kam presented by amar'e meritle. >> craig: trying to score on his knees. the islanders have held him pretty much in check. it's the other caps that have done damage. ovie excited when his teammates score. a little dipsy do and wiped out by the defender. alex ovechkin because he's wearing the c can talk to the officials. his team up 7-2 comfortably. >> joe: neuvirth makes the stop on a long wrist shot from mark streit. ovechkin, a nine-game point streak in jeopardy. >> craig: look at his numbers. watch the shots on net and close to 20 minutes of work and probably over 0 by this game's over. >> joe: streit fires again. reloads and bombs that one wide of neuvirth. >> craig: did that ever hurt morrison. that caught him. the first slap shot hit morrison in the side of the leg. good sign he's up and skating near the rest of the shift. >> joe: 3:47, locker, left in the third period. capitals cruise to go what will be win number 34 on the year. 74 points. and the front runner in the eastern krohn for instance. >> craig: they only trail san jose and chicago overall for number one spot in the nhl as far as points go. they're moving up and getting closer to those two guys. [ whistle ] >> craig: this is a seven spot that they put on the islanders. the islanders have only allowed one other seven spot this season. 21 games ago when florida came here to the island and beat them 7-1. >> joe: bruce boudreau knows he's at the wheefl a prolific -- wheel at the prolific offensive attack as he leans in to whisper to his captain. 3:28 separating washington from another decision and a season series win over the new yorkers. schultz settles. pumped this one. hits traffic. lights last one on the board for washington fleischmann. fleischmann with a pair of helpers this evening. just about everyone getting into the act. streit jumping up into the rush. mark streit fires. ow, that hit moulson. that man has a flame thrower on a slap shot. >> craig: doesn't mind taking it, either. >> joe: no, he's not bashful. >> craig: no. >> joe: taveras and okposo work hand in glove. taveras to the front. stopped. rebound trickles away from moulson. and the white-sweatered caps are able to get it cleared. schultz doing the honors with 2:30 to go in the third. >> craig: there's been a lot of lopsided victories from this caps team and it comes from the fire power. >> joe: bailey stepping in. stopped by neuvirth. fire power is pretty good. >> craig: you can't hang with them. once they get rolling, you can't come back. they control -- they can throwstiflingling d as you. >> joe: you're allowed to make the hand pass in the d-zone. okposo rumbles in bailey stripped to the blind site uf side by alexander semin. 7-2 with 2:05 to go. these islanders will be in raleigh on thursday to tangle the hurricanes as poti goes for a free skate. poti to the front. okposo finds it at his feet. okposo through center to scale in. they had close to 13,000 inside the coliseum tonight for nhl action. i would say about a quarter of those 13,000 remain. all that's left for washington is the shouting. they have a 7-2 advantage. park wrister. neuvirth may have got a stick on that. sutton steps in on the delay. andy sutton cross rink. late, slap pass looking for bergenheim. nothing there. >> craig: a top trio on the ice for this capitals team. probably to look for some individual accolades and get alexander semin the hat trick. disbroit memory serves, the caps with all their goals don't have an individual player with a hat trick this year. backstrom, wrister. right to dipietro. look out. >> craig: he wants this game over in a hurry, doesn't he? he's seen enough of this caps team. >> joe: he may carry one to the red line. sutton tied up along the wall. final 40 seconds of period three. caps post-game live coming up on comcast sportsnet. >> craig: there's only been two power plays in this game meaning plus-minus is going to weigh heavily on a lot of players. caps a plus 25 overall. the islanders, a minus 25 here tonight among all their players. >> joe: as time particulars down to 20 -- ticks down to 20seconds left. all the men and women in our crew, a fine job tonight on long island. fienl final regular season visit for the caps to this barnment washington will win the season series 3-1 games. we'll bank win number 34 in the process as schremp works wide. this one is in the books. [buzzer] >> joe: 7-2 for dc. >> craig: yeah, just a great game overall from the goalies on out. the only disheartening part of this game should be the fact that theo left after 40 minutes. we'll have to see and get an update on thee grow boudreau after the game. neuvirth came in and solidified a very nice win for this caps away from home. >> joe: the winner of the $100 gift certificate from the palm, the caps player of the game, alexander semin. >> craig: he's been on a roll. four points last game. two points tonight. all over the place. goal number 22 and 23 gets our palm restaurant player of the game. >> joe: comcast sportsnet coverage of caps hockey has been brought to you by geico where 15 minutes could save you 15% or more on car insurance. visit them at geico.com or call 1-800-947 had been auto. by your washington chevy dealers. find a great vehicle for five years on chevyfirst.com. and by your dc area volkswagen dealers. visit myvw dc.com. this is fun, fun, fun for the washington capitals. winners of seven straight. winners of 10-11 last. they rack up another seven goals tonight as they down the islanders 7-2. they tangle with the anaheim ducks tomorrow at verizon center. anaheim falling in atlanta tonight by the final of 2-1. for craig laughlin, for all the men and women in our crew, joe beninati. thank you for your time. be sure to joins. our next telecast comes tomorrow night on comcast sportsnet. 7:00 eastern, it's the caps and ducks in hi-definition. up next, caps post-game live. al koken and alan may stajan by in the studio. seven goals, no points from the great eight. everybody else turned the light on inside the khat coliseum tonight. capitals post gym live presented by american service center and mercedes-benz of alexandria. two locations, one passion. mercedes, just mercedes. >> hi, everyone. welcome to caps toast gym live. caps get it done in fine fashion in a buildings they usually have a tough time in. 7-2 the final for the islanders. al koken and alan may, we were thinking this could be a dangerous game t turned out to be one of the laughers of the year. >> it's a testament to the coaching staff how well they have played. they have so many different styles of teams they've played in the last two weeks during this winning streak. every night, they have a different opponent and they're doing it a different way every game. the bottom line is they're getting great goaltending and a lot of good goal scoring. they've done a very, very good job of being ready for their opposition. >> and ready they were tonight as they got this thing going early. let's give you the highlights of this contest. alex ovechkin knows this has been a tough place for the caps to win. all the games after this year have gone into overtime. could they pick up the seventh win in a row? john erskine made that happen. great fake. the shot. brendan morrison chips it in. his 11th. caps up 1-0. just 1:05 in. how about alexander semin takes it for a ride. the curl and drag beats dwayne roloson for his 22nd of the year. scary moment in the first. caps on the attack on the power play. ovechkin unleashes nasty slapper puts jack hillen -- hits jack hillen in the faith face. take another look at it. hillen would be on the ice for several minutes. would skate off under his own power. he was taken to the hospital andwould not return. we guilty you back to the game. caps lead 3-1 at this point. at this point, time winding down in the if i was. semin strikes again. somehow sweeps that tricky back hand behind roloson before the period expires. rick dipietro replaced roloson in the second. didn't matter. the pass from eric fehr, john erskine scores his first in 109 games. the onslaught continues in the period. this time, it's jason chimera goal number 12 for him and the caps would go on to roll 7-2 is the final. you see semin with another huge performance with those two goals. jason chimera got in the act that. third line was terrific. tonight, we'll have more on that in caps post-game live. so, alan may, as we saw everybody kind of get into the act tonight, and this is one of those things where you have to imagine if you're an opposing coach trying to battle plan against the washington capitals, how do you get this thing done? anybody we see john erskine tonight with a goal. anybody can get done on this team. >> well, the caps generated so much speed in the neutral zone tonight, it's hard to combat that. they were just outstanding automatic three periods of the game. how fast they were and you'll see time and time again when we get to show all the goals again is that it was speed in the neutral zone by the forwards hand the islanders events had no way to answer to this and the goaltending was just bombarded all game long with high flying and hard-shooting capitals. >> let's get you back to uniondale, long island. the man who brought tonight's action, joe beninati and craig laughlin. guys, help me figure this out. you get a goal from john erskine and no points from alex ovechkin and no trouble for the washington capitals. >> a bit of a head scratcher. the washington capitals though i think when they come to town, you guys are just talk about it. how do you game plan this team right now the way they're producing and one guy at the forefront of the attack, semin seem just an old-fashioned whooping on the island for the caps team. if it's not big gunners, others guys step up. alexander semin, one of those big guys. did he it single-handedly. he weaves his way through all the islanders and then puts it top shelf. how about somebody putting a body or stick on him? same thing holds true for the second goal he scored tonight. overall, he was the best player on the ice among all the players that played and here is some of his impressive numbers. >> joe: just amazing. 18 points in 11 games. plus three again tonight. just under 18 minutes worth of work. eight multigoal games in the season. he's ranked in the top five in the nhl in that category. he was wonderful. absolutely wonderful tonight for washington in a very high- powered victory. the caps get goals from brendan morrison and john erskine and that has to bring a smile to bruce boudreau's face. >> yeah, just the way -- and when they happened, big goals. morrison right off a face-off. that was a set play. they win. draw. look who is take the shot. it's erskine faking off okposo. flat shot along the ice which is what defensemen are supposed to do. easy deflection from mo. right side of his screen, fehr pass the puck across. there's erskine beating a checker to the net. his first goal in over 100 games. johnny or erskine gets it done with two points here on the island. >> tough night to be an announcer. dwayne roloson had little chance at times. >> you know, i was really impressed with hose hey how calm he was in net. he gave the team a lost confidence and then neuvirth tol to go in and play as well as did he. they weren't that tested. the bottom line is, what is your take how good the goaltending is for the capitals and how calming is it for the team? >> when you play run and gun, you need a goaltender or goaltenders like they needed tonight that are going to make the saves they're supposed to make. they did that tonight. i think capabilities held the islander at -- capitallals held the lirtdz at bay. defensively solid. the goaltenders are coming wupt saves. that's all bruce wants them to make the saves you're supposed to. >> al, we have not heard word on jose theodore if there was an injury through two periods. michal neuvirth, we know when he gets reps in practice, he tends to play well coming off that victory other over phoenix and he looked solid backing up and mopping newspaper this one tonight. >> i guess that's the only mystery remaining. who will be in net tomorrow night? we know you'll be fwhus hi- definition. get on the plane. see you tomorrow evening. >> thank you. >> sounds great. >> they get you tonight's game. they get you ready for tomorrow night and we'll breakdown this capitals affair. 7-27 with a lot of heroes including one you're very familiar with. alexander semin and a couple you haven't been. we'll get all that from alan may ahead on caps post-game li the images from haiti are heart-breaking-- homes, hospitals, and schools destroyed; families searching for loved ones; parents trying to feed their children. but we can all do something. we can help the american red cross as it delivers the food, water, and medicine that can save lives. donate $10 by texting "haiti" to 9-0-9-9-9. visit redcross.org or call 1-800-red-cross. thanks for your help. later tonight and after every caps game, check out joe beninati's blog. joe b. will break it down from his view in the play-by-play booth. 'as always, we want to know your thoughts. check it out right now, csnwashington.com. simply enter the key word "blog." al koken, alan may back with you to continue capitals post- game limit we've talked about it over a number of different broadcasts throughout the year about when you develop a good chemistry with a line mate. you were a firm believer in keeping lines together. it seems bruce boudreau has been doing that lately . boy, is it playing off. -- paying off. they seem to know every time when of their line mates on the ice making a move and getting in the right situation and right pass. >> that's the key to them winning and the key to developing cements chemistry. they're able to have all these different strategies because the players all know as a three- man unit up front, how they can play together, what they're going to do and it's almost as if they have e. s. p. and they're getting better every single game and it's really good to see. as long as they stay injury free, this is going to be something outstanding down the sth. ghreg p ke etap. his head is down. he knows no matter what they're waoit e g c$n the corner. ovie knows backstrom is a hooter slb waiting on the other side and he can get a shot there. they're finding a great way. the defense doing a great job hang on to the puck. john erskine gets the puck. throws it n knows on this line they'll be hard charging to the boards. brooks laich picks it up. throws it across and everyone knows that's where semin has been hanging out the last coupleweeks. another outstanding play. here, it's something that pays off well for them. they know that mike knuble is always going to go to the net. backstrom gets a little piece of that. throws over knuble. he knows knuble is going to go from a-to presented, no detour to see. he'll drive the crease hard and there's no better player in the league inside the paint than mike knuble. >> mike knuble is one of the guys who has talked about it. he said to bruce boudreau, look, i got 28 goals in philadelphia playing on consistent lines. bruce boudreau likes to juggle things around when things aren't gl well. he's rewarding his players. if you want to perform on the same line together, keep putting the puck in the net. this is what the capitals are doing. >> i also think it gives you a lost confidence to play in the same line every night and not wonder if you're going to get pulled off the line right away. that's what was happening for a while. i thought that's what -- why we saw such inconsistent play from the capitals. now that boudreau has taken veteran advice from mike, it's paid off for this team and they're scoring a ton of goals and playing an even better defensive game and i really like what they're doing right now. >> al, one of the things you have -- things you have to admit, boy, it's one line going or maybe two. that's a luxury most coaches would love to have. with the washington capitals, they have all four lines going. tonight, the third line was as valuable as any on the ice. they got the game started and they scored some of the oui key goals in this contest. >> they're all three very -- you know, big, strong bodies on that line. i shouldn't say three guys, two gierks the book ends, are real strong players. eric fehr has done a really good job this year on the boards and finally shooting the puck the way he should be. jason chimera, what a great add on this was neighboring trade earlier in december 28th. they go to the net here off the brendan morrison face-off win. erskine has three guys in front of the net. chimera lifts his foot up here. you'll see this. this is how well the chemistry is in this line. chimera lifts his foot up here and morrison just tapps that in. they fwhiew to do there. they're earning their icetime. here, a great infrastructure morrison over to fehr. fehr put it wide on that. he felt the shot block coming. later, they dominate on the board. morrison with the good keep there. chimera, fehr and john erskine sneaks in from the point and goes five-hole object dipietro right there. they were very solid all game long. i really like what they're doing every game the way they've been pulling together and little while later jason chimera showing speed and strength. rips a nice one there. it's just because they're generating speed in the neutral zone. they know where each other is going to be. they're sending each other the puck. they have the confidence to pass the puck to each other directly rather than tapping them off the boards all the time. that line is going to be keyed to the capitals playoff success if they can keep them together and rolling. >> imagine when rick carlisle gets to washington after playing in atlanta against the anaheim ducks. how do you figure out who to put your top defenseman against. that's the third line and we haven't talked about alexander semin. i bet you bruce boudreau will. he comes back on the other side of washington capitals post- game live brought to you by the eps store. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! let's get you back to uniondale, long island. bruce boudreau is meeting with the media. >> guys start off with jose theodore. what happened to him? >> he's day to day with a lower body injury. standard -- yeah. contributions from everyone once again tonight. is your offense sf a groove where they're almost unstoppable eye wouldn't go the unstoppable, but they are in a groove. i think teams whether you're a first place team or 30th get in some part point in the season where things seem to just be working and clicking. right now, they're clicking for us. you know, we've got seven goals and ovie and greeny didn't get a point. that says you've got good balance on the team. >> john erskine scored his first goal in 109 games. he said it had been so long, he didn't know what to do. >> i was very happy with him. there's no too many guys who work harder then i am and he's findly -- finally rewarded. you always think he should have more. he's a good shot and good so i have i have -- offensive instincts n junior, he was an offensive defenseman. >> around the board came sliding out and made the hief nice save, redirection. >> oh, yeah, he was on top of his game. even strength, is this as good as you guys have played this year in the last maybe even long center. >> i don't know. i have the it touching wood all the time. hopefully it can continue. things are going well right now. four lines are rolling. it's hard to take guys in and out of the lineup. even strength, i think we were plus five or something like that tonight. that's why everybody's plus/minus is getting so much better. >> so, a little bit of the comments of bruce boudreau. he talked right at the top about the possible losing jose theodore for a little while with a lower body injury. when you run jose theodore's numbers, alan may, lately, they have been truly dominating. the team in front of them is playing well. he's been providing a great backstop in his own right. >> he's won a couple of games in the last couple of weeks all by himself in florida. he stole a game from them come in relief and the game against the red wings. those numbers are incredible. that's why i'm all year long. i really think attention to detail, hard work and commitment are the reason why those numbers are so good. >> about the only goal of note that beat him tonight even though let in two, was the one opt power play t starred started off rather shakily. the capitals didn't look very good on the first islander power play. they adjusted as the game went on and killed off the final four which is important. >> it's very important. i like the way the caps made their adjustments is they've been letting teams setup at the top of the power play. tonight, they found a way to funnel him down the you wall, get the puck down the half boards, down below the goal line and the forwards are collapsing and doing a good job of thwarting the offense from up top. you'll see right here, rob schremp has too much time and it's too easy for a player of that caliber and skill to walk in. you see how much open ice he has. mike green is caught in a betweener situation right there. he can stay at the dots. if he stays there, he'll be beat down low really bad. the forwards got to help out here. here, we see forwards collapsing. it's a quick out and down the ice and they found a way later in the game to force these pucks down the wall and make sure that when they had a chance to get it out, they'll get it out and not messing around. you'll see here, puck goes lown down low and collapse and take away all shooting lanes. all shots were to shoot. they did that time and time again on the pk. once again, you have a format collapse below the hash marks. they turnd turn in into a very good scoring chance. matt bradley goes down and fires a better save even by rick dipietro there. they really did an outstanding job in the neutral zone of getting back and helping each other out. once they figured out how not to let the islanders have the top of the power play umbrella and get it down half wall, they did an outstanding job. >> now, again, this is all purely speculation. we heard bruce boudreau a moment ago say jose theodore day to day, lower body injury. we thought he took a shot to themidsection in the first period, but did play the first period and second period. we can only speculate. possibly another young player could be called up to back up him tomorrow. with a lost important games come up, a lost things bruce boudreau will do, if somebody is up, he plays. >> it would be pretty exciting from mount of the capitals and this guy has played in the ech all-star game oberto night. he's been the best goalie in the american hockey league for the last month. it would be very excite to go see this guy come in. i cannot believe how wealth yusmeiro petit capitals are in the crease. from top to bottom eye think last i looked, 1.88 goals against 935 save percentage. not bad. it will be fun to see him rolling as we at the point outside. another look at the dazzling performances by alexander semin when caps post-game livecont al here with tips on surviving your utility bills. mike thompson windows keeps winner out and savings right here in my wallet. call now for thompson creek's incredible winter window sale. tha t kn sog i nda ooh. what's it do? f usicng] whatdo? for my likence. at d? we thor a i ri-- f ye stids ttle cer:ing'ible keeping. star on your own ions or just play some games at... com str how would you like to see the caps take on the ducks tomorrow night? go to csnwashington.com, enter the key word "caps," and you can register for your chance to win free tickets. the ducks were in action tonight. they had a date in atlanta with the thrashers. we move to late in the second period of this one. atlanta is up by one. corey perry on the goal line twisting and steve eminger will poke it in to tie the game. third period, thrashers power play. maxim afinogenov cleans it up with the wrister. atlanta back on top, 2-1. last clans for the ducks with the extra attacker. ryan getzlaf fires with three seconds left. it goes off the post and the thrashers will hold on for the 2-1 victory as they send the ducks to defeat and send them up here to washington. one of the guys the anaheim ducks will have to face tomorrow night, alan may, is alexander semin who has been flat out on a roll. you kind of point back to when that contract extension was announced to see him game pickup. >> i think not having to worry about and answer questions about thinks contract status and what he was going to do next year has really helped him concentrate on hockey and he's had 19 points in the last 11 games and it looks as though he's had the puck on a string for that amount of time and he's been bothered by a wonky rift and -- wrist and still firing the puck probably better than he ever has. pretty exciting. a lot of great moves. pulls it. fires a quick, hard wrist shot under the cross bar and in. it's amazing how good his hands orr it's the placement. it's the velocity. it's everything. i continue to make this argument. as great a player as alex ovechkin is, in terms of pure, raw offensive ability, i don't think there's anybody better maybe in the league than this kid. >> no, he's so exciting. on this side you just saw him take on the wizards. get ready to see kobe bryant like you've never seen him before in an exclusive sit down interview with ron thompson. >> which is driving kobe now? >> plus, relive some of the greatest plays of his career as we yount count -- countdown his top five moments. no team has been hotter than the caps. >> fires and scores! >> and tonight, ovie and company take their show on the road look for their second straight win -- seventh straight win ve live from the comcast sportsnet disoorks this is "geico sportsnite". kobe, ovechkin arguably the greatest players in the world in nature respective coaches and -- sports and both show casing their stuff here. we'll recap it all right here on "geico sportsnite". alongside lisa hillary, i'm kelli johnson. >> we begin on the ice with the washington capitals n three games against the islanders this season, alexander semin leads all caps forwards with five points. so, there was a pretty good chance he'd be a difference maker tonight. when the capitals visited the island levels take you there. ovie has points in nine straight games. looking for their seventh game in a row. caps get the scoreboard. john erskine's shot, deflected in by brendan morrison. his 11th. caps up 1-0. 4:00 later, alexander semin, the curl and drag. brilliant individual effort. beats dwayne roloson for his 22nd goal. great start for washingtonment scary moment late here in the first. capitals attacking again. ovechkin unleashes a nasty slapper and hits jack hillen right in the face. jack hillen would stay on the ice for several minutes. we understand he was taken to hospital. no word yet on his condition. back to the game, 3-1, caps. time winding down in the first. semin strikes again. this time with the tricky backhand. five seconds before the period expires. rick dipietro replaces roloson in the second period. didn't matter. erskine buries the puck in the open net. that's his first goal in 109 games. the onslaught continued late in the period. this time it's jason chimera. goal number 11 for him. capitals roll over the islanders 7-2. the caps add to their lead in the conference. they take 3-4 from the islanders this season. 19 points in 11 games for alexander semin. eric fehr has points in three straight games and the win tonight jose theodore has won six in a row matching his best winning streak as a washington capital. now, theo did not return in the third period. bruce boudreau only saying "day to day with a lower body injury. it's standard." so, take that for what it's worth. as for the capitals offense, they looked pretty unstoppable at the moment. what does coach boudreau think. >> i wouldn't go the unstoppable thing, but they are in a groove. i think teams whether you're a first place team or 30th, at some point in the season where things just seem to be working and clicking and right now they're clicking for us. i mean, we've got seven goals in ovie and greeny didn't get a point. it says you've got good balance on the team. >> we'll have more tonight's game a little later in the show. we'll head back to long island and get jo joe b. and locker's spehr speckive on the big win. >> wizards now. antawn jamison and the wiz welcoming the reigning nba champ lakers to town. check this out. kobe bryant and chris miller discussing shooting fundamentals before the game. not good here. early in the first, kobe's first shot from the top and air ball i think he took advice from chris to stay the other way around. first quarter for the wizards. off a steal, mike miller ahead. he throws it down. washington down just one after one. early in the second, lakers started to pull away. lamar odom lobs one up for shannon brown, the putdown. l.a. outscores washington by 15 in the second. about led by 16 at the break. third quarter, kobe starts to put on a show. he start 0d-3 from the field. he turned it on in the second half. 11 points in the third on 4-6 shooting. also getting teammates involved like pau gasol. washington makes a run. deshawn stevenson the corner drills the three. washington would get as close as nine, but l.a. too much in the end. kobe, steps back. oh, he's got it. that's three. 26 on the night for bryant. then, later, gholston lobs it up for odom who slams it home. lakers go on to win 115-103, the final. double-double for gasol. matched kobe with 26 points along with 10 boards. jamison faced the wid wiz with 27-9. lakers shot 60% from the fieldfive players scoring in double figures. 38 points coming off the bench. for more on the loss to kobe and company, we'll join chris miller and ron thompson. i'm sorry. what kind of advice did you give. mr. bryant because it didn't work off the top? you know what i told him? i told him, dude, don't let your index finger be the release point if it's broken. try to the ring fing ear they have no follow through in the air balls. >> yeah, bad look on my part. that's why i have them in my fantasy league. ron, this guy after talk to go him yesterday, just finds thewill, the yearning, the desire to thirst to compete every night. despite the fact that maybe his fingers broke in two place, still two points off his average with 26. >> could he be gee an absolute assassin. his intelligent level is through the roof and he has a tremendous feel for the game. when you couple that with his ability to shoot the long ball, he has an excellent mid range game. he has the ability to get by you and finish and when that fails, he has the ability to set his teammates up. there's no answer for that. ladies and gentlemen, you are watching the best in the business when you look at kobe bryant. when you take everything theres to consider, his ability to dribble, pass, shoot, field for the game, desire, passion, work ethic, killer instincts, teps all. michael jordan was hi idolled. he modeled his game after jordan, but modeled everything eddie jordan michael jordan did. his approach it the game, he studies film. i can't -- >> he's a five star. a five-tool guy they call in baseball. this game was close in the first quarter. lakers only up but in the second quarter things got out of hand in the hurry as the lakers bench came to play. >> lamar odom gave them a huge boost in the second quarter. he had 11 points there in the second quarter when the lakers were sputtering a little bitment then, you add in the shannon brown whose game is expanding. he came in as a defensive stopper. now he's doing a lost things in the offensive end. then, you sprinkle in will bynum who has presence on the inside as well as defensive presence. very deep team. >> kelli, that's the story at the verizon center. wizards back at that time friday night. they'll take on the new jersey nets who have a record of 3-40. >> you had throg, didn't you? >> -- you had to go there, didn't you? >> you've got to knock on some wood. i think you just jinxed the wiz. >> thanks. kobe later in the show. the team certainly could use a break in their next game and as chris mentioned should provide a lift. wizards traveling to new jersey taking on the 3-40 nets. tip-off 3:00 on comcast sportsnet plus we'll get you set for the game on "geico sportsnite" at 6:30. presented by crop metcalf. >> let's take you down to the college level. red-hot terps look for soul possession. hosting miami. terps rolling from the start. vazquez in transition. he'll take it coast to coast for the lay-up. moments later, vasquez with the steal and the slam. terps force 13 first half turnovers. then, vasquez showing off the passing skills finds jordan williams. big man with the hoop and harm. terps go up by 15. later in the half, vazquez knocks down the open three. terps made 17 fls field goals nt first half. miami only attempted 16. maryland led 48-# 1 at the break. second half, all terps. williams with the nice pass to moslehi. he buries the triple points. 10 points, seven boards for him. finally, vasquez the floater in the lane. passes loni baxter for sixth place on maryland's all-time scoring list. terps win it 89-59. maryland in first place now. gary williams, knows it's a long season. >> i just want to keep playing well. i think that's the key in the league this year is not have make. they're shots that we want to take. hopefully, they'll continue to fall for us. coming up on "toyota sportsnite" in just two seasons as redskins head coach, -- "geico sportsnite", in just two seasons as redskins head coach, jim zorn made a big impression. the washington capitals got their seventh straight win tonight t wasn't number eight lighting the lamp. see which unusual suspect netted points when "geico sportsnite hould ing co or m carance : dorliels p a iddl dle ♪ hould ing co or m carance :chhaw yot p a iddl f and at y? lictri gadger a sea roomretc and ings hen hun d taff yoes,onlyu fee it arenurie thbasi get ack la. jackson is moving west to become the raiders new o. c. he's expected to become the primary play caller in oakland duties held by head coach tom cable this past season and they hope he'll develop demarcus rutsle the way he did joe flacco the the new man to coach flacco in his quarterbacks and who knows a position better than jim dorn. accord -- jim zorn. according to reports, the redskins head coach will try for the job. also interviews, -- interviewing, another ex- redskins a consultant for baltimore this past year. we take another look at the capitals beat down of the islanders. brooks laich, the prettiest gove goal, wouldn't you say of the night? five other caps scored well. five other caps scored well. joe beninati and craig laughlin have much more on a complete team effort from the caps. >> how do you game plan this team right now with the way they are producing? one guy at the very forefront of the attack, semin seem just an old-fashioned whooping on the island for the caps team. if it's not the big gunners, others step up. alexander semin, one of the big guys. -- big guys. he does it single-handedly. he weaves through the islanders and puts it top shelf. how about somebody putting a body or stick on him. saig same thing holds true. overall, he was the best player on the ice amongst all the players that played. here is some of his impressive numbers. >> just amazing. 18 points in 11 games, plus three again tonight. just under 18 minutes worth of work. eight multigoal games in the season. he's rank in the top five in the nhl in that category. he was wonderful. absolutely wonderful tonight for washington in a very high- powered victory. caps get goals from brendan morrison and john erskine. that has to bring a smile to bruce boudreau's face. >> yeah, just just the way and when they happen. big goals. morrison right off a face-off. that was a set play. they win the draw and look who is taking the shot. it's erskine faking off okposo. slap shot along the ice which is what defensemen are supposed to do. easy deflection. he breaks the long throw. right side of the screen. break across. erskine a checker to the net. first goal in over 100 games. johnny "orr" erskine gets it done with two points on the island. >> we'll have more on the goalie situation before we leave you tonight. hey, do you ever wonder what joe b. really thinks about the hockey game? tonight after every hockey game, you can check out his blog. he breaks it downs, ryce hiss view from the play-by-play view and he wants to r thoughts go to csngtoand r thkey rd >> rane-orvie th kant. r rot getim to up his tion wil jaand what's still driving him after four nba titles. nba titles. at d say she hate australian open quarters. number six venus williams facing china's lee after cruising through the first set, venus with ample chance to close this oink out. they would go to a tie-break. venus drops it. venus again held an open lead, but na breaks back. the crowd is getting behind her. match point. venus simply runs out of energy in this match. she blows it by her to pull the upset. plenty of upsets at this year's australian open. let's get you back to the nhl. the ducks had a date with the thrashers down in atlanta. late in the second quarter, perry late on the goal line twisting and turning. steve eminger fwreax in all tied at 1-1. third period action, thrashers power play. maxim afinogenov cleans it up with a wrister to put atlanta back on top 2-1. last chance coming up here for the ducks with the extra attacker. ryan getzlaf fires it with three seconds left. it goes off the post. thrashers, they hold on 2-1. next up for your washington capitals a-rare visit from anaheim. puck drops at 7:00 tomorrow. our coverage starts rinkside at 6:30 on "geico sportsnite". on a side note, caps may have to call up brendan hopi has a league-leading 1.82 goals against average potentially jose theodore we understand has a lower body injury. he's day to day. from philadelphia basementyoungest player to play an nba game in 1996 and named after the famous beef of kobe japan. there is much more to kobe bryant than meets the eye. arguably, the greatest player in the game with four championship rings. his championship for the game is rarely matched. before tonight's game, our ron thompson sat down with the laker star in a rare, cliexive interview to find out what it is that makes kobe kobe. point mark. is that something back on and say wow or when you were approaching that goal, did you say i'm close? >> you know, i never thought about my milestones ever. still don't. i think when i retire years from now, i look back i still won't think about it in that context. it's never been something that i've -- it's never been a goal of mine. the goal of mine has always been to win championships. that's at the construction of everything that i -- crux of everything that i do. >> so, you've never tried to win mvp? >> the times where i set out as a goal to win mvp, it just -- it's -- it becomes too much going on because i have to manage my teammates. i have to make sure they'reaccomplishing what they need to accomplish to help us be a better team. trying to win mvp over here. trying to win a championship over here. it's too much going on. i think the year i won it, it was a year where i said, you know what? i just want to do one thing and one thing only and that's make every single one of these guys try to reach their potential and just slowly focus on that. >> you've been with the lakers forever. four championships with the lakers, phil jackson has been there every step of the way. are you guys -- have you been there so long that before he says something, you already -- >> all the time. >> really? >> all the time. all the time. i'm sure it happening -- it will happen in the game against the wizards. there's times well he'll say something to a player right after i've already said it coming off the court. >> right. >> or i'll call a sick sequence of options and he'll whistle and call the same sequence. my teammates will look at me and kind of shake their heads. >> you guys have been there -- >> we've been there for so long that i've obviously grown up under the system and know sirn things he wants to see throughout the course of a game. >> does his message ever get old to you or are you still learning or is phil jackson still stimulating to you as a player? >> you know what's different about phil is other coaches try to inspire or motivate or try to placate certain stars and what have you. he does none of that. his message is the same all the time which is he coaches basketball. he's not going to be mad at you for acting inappropriately in the locker room or something like that or acting out on the court. that's something that i'll handle and derek can handle. >> so, he leaves that up to you guys. >> we police each other. you know, it's a responsible we have to one another. >> jeffries is on bryant hand in the face. still puts it in. >> four nba titles, mvp of the league, youngest player to do it. it's still there. i still feel like i'm a rookie. >> i got of here. >> yeah, i just love it. >> does your body still feel like it's a rookie? >> no. [ laughter ] >> my heart does. the sense of especially joiment that i get from it is still the same. >> still feels like a rookie. i love it. kobe has plenty of moments that have brought fans to tear feet in honor of 24 arrests yearly appearance in the nation's capital. we'll count down the est co site" co site" you lo--utte so c i .. i lo i .. otheer l- i' one ank -ou le taoffbeermuch you e grlsnee trips b er l taste grs. you're gorgeous, look at you, i loooov y i tothe efor outh. te . alod c while the district plays home to the world's greatest hockey player, tonight was our one and and only shot to see his counter part in the nba. >> maybe it was a trip to the white house yesterday where president barack obama claitd them for their nba championship. whatever the case, kobe bryant rarely disappoints. michael jenkins recaps his top five moments. >> kobe, kobe, kobe bryant. >> over the past 14 seasons, kobe bryant has thrilled nba audiences with great performances. here is a look at the top five moments from the the black mumpresenteda. most players go an entire career without hitting a buzzer beater. as twine came to answered, kobe bryant came out with a bang. make that two. >> bryant, has to put it up at the. [buzzer] buzzer. >> banks it in! ohio, he spikes in the three -- ho, he hits in the three! >> three, two -- victory. it's over. unbelievable. >> it was amazing. >> number four. >> we know kopp kobe is one of the most prolific scorers of all time. his championship legacy was born with the pass heard around the world. >> lakers have two. bryant, he scores! >> number three. >> in 2006, kobe was a man on a mission and in the first round of the western conference playoffs, he launched his target on the suns with two unbelievable plays. >> look at the hustle of lamar odom off to kobe bryant! count it for two and a foul! >> final seconds, bryant for the win! three! >> whew! >> number two. >> dwight howard is a shot blocking machine and the reigning defensive player of the year. that didn't stop kobe in 2006 for putting superman on a poster so much sore it was a religious experience. >> i baptized him. i baptized him. >> they would meet again in the 2009 finals where again kobe would prove to be superman's kryptonite. >> number one. >> and the only thing that needs to be said about the top kobe bryant moment is 81 points. very hard to come one just five. >> yeah, no cigd. a. >> amazing career. >> always so exciting to watch. >> that will do it for "geico sportsnite". thank you for watching. >> for kelli, i'm lisa. for more, go to our web site csnwashington.com. see you at 11:00. redskins nation is next. remember, this affects a relatively small part of the country. most of the budget, as you know, our mandatory programs, social security, medicare, veterans programs. that's by far the lion share of the budget. and the next biggest share is the defense. that's not part of what the president is disgusting. he is talking about a shared the budget that is about 16217 that the overall budget, about one seventh of the budget that is domestic discretionary spending and here's proposing a freeze in those categories. so they're certainly not going to solve the problem. you will make a modest contribution to reducing long-term deficits and debt, although to make a contribution that grows over time, which is very important. much more has to be done as the white house has acknowledged. [inaudible] well, look on the there's no question in my mind that additional steps need to be taken to help build the environment in which jobs can be created. i asked the congressional budget office, what are the most effective things that could be done for job creation? they came back and said, in terms of federal policy, the most important things that could be done is that tax credit for creating new jobs, they said small-business expensing, tax assistance, and they said extending unemployment insurance. those are the three government policies that make the greatest contribution in the short run to creating a climate in which the dirt would add more jobs. yeah? >> just giving, this may be too simple to ask. but given today's vote, has the idea crossed her mind about you trying to see about pushing through a commission idea on a reconciliation bill later this year? >> i've not pursued that approach. i'm not certain if that could be done with a reconciliation instruction because as you know things that don't score for budget purposes are subject for automatic strike. things for which the score is only incidental to the policy change are subject to automatic strike. so my own reaction, just off the top of my head, without the benefit of legal counsel, is that's unlikely to be able to be done. let's see, i'll give someone else and then we'll come back to you. >> does the fact that you got a vote today on your commission actually change her position at all on voting for a large increase in the debt limit? >> no, not just getting the vote. what i have said repeatedly as i would not vote for in a long-term extension of the debt absent a credible commission been put in place. in that position is not altered just by getting a vote. let me come back to her and then i'll come back. >> as you mentioned, this was an inherited scenario. what do you think this portend for the president domestic agenda in the future with this kind of situation? >> you know, if anybody was ever dealt a bad hand, it is this president. you think of what he inherited the day he took office. i mean, it is really daunting. runaway debt, he inherited that. a circumstance in which we were on the brink of a financial collapse, he inherited that. two wars, he inherited those. so this president walked into about the worst imaginable set of circumstances. in the short term, and again i want to differential the short term from the long-term. in the short-term, additional liquidity i believe is required to help reduce joblessness. that is if you are going to have a tax credit for new jobs, that reduces revenue, that increases the deficit. nsa deficit hog i support that. that is the reduction is get the economy growing again. these steps that have been taken have been quite effective. if we go back to the chart and what's happening in economic growth in the first quarter, we had a negative 6.4% negative growth. this quarter, we are expecting and the forecaster is ours forecasting 2.2% economic growth. that is a remarkable turnabout in critically important to reducing the deficit both short-term and long-term. if necessary, but not sufficient. so i believe we need more measures that provide the quiddity to help create the conditions for the private sector, to increase jobs. but at the same time, we've got to give it and deal with the long-term debt threat. and i know that's, in many ways, that sounds counterintuitive. that sounds contradictory. unfortunately, economics is often contradictory. yeah? >> will anything be finalized -- [inaudible] >> yes. yeah? >> you mention scoring tart money is not set. the baseline they produced last month with some circumstances had produced so much in a positive way that the baseline is actively misleading that it could supplement in a cost estimate to basically say there really isn't any money that you save under current circumstances. so in light of that, why are democrats insisting on using that to a job spell? >> well, apparently just said this today, right? >> you've been aware of it for some time, having to? >> this is the first i've heard him say what i just heard you quote him as saying. so that should be taken into consideration. i personally favor funniness anyway other than using t.a.r.p. turns and i try to make that clear. yeah? >> eighty-two in today's health care in today's health care to what is already complicated situation. but there is talk of using the old reconciliation instruction to revive the health care bill. how does that affect this year's budget process because if we wanted to use the old reconciliation process, would you have to delay passing in a new budget? >> well, the reconciliation instruction that is in the last budget resolution lapses when a new budget resolution passes. number one. number two, i don't think it would be advisable to try to do a whole health care package and reconciliation. i've taken that position throughout the year. i think it would be unwise. i think would be unworkable. but if the larger package, let's say the senate bill was adopted by the house could reconciliation be used to do some around the edges fixes, improvements. jeff, it could. but we've got to understand, again, the byrd rule requirements, the byrd rule specifies nothing that does not score for budget purposes is subject to automatic strike. if the scores only incidental to the policy change, it's subject to automatic strike. reconciliation, anything that would move the reconciliation would have to produce deficit savings of at least a billion dollars over five years. over five years. so, i think the role of reconciliation would be quite limited in the health care context. yes, sir? >> would it be a favor for the leadership of the white house to pursue instruction like that and you think of your colleagues are saying they want to support it. do you think that if you pursued the 15 plus one votes at the end of the process? >> i don't know. >> one more question. if it was put to you to pursue the strategy of the white house as something you would get behind this budget chairman? >> well, i would have to know what that meant. you know, words have real meaning here. i've learned after 23 years here. what would i be asked to be getting behind? i don't know that at this moment. so i could not say, yeah i'm willing to get behind something when i have no idea what it is i'm being asked to get behind. >> attack structure of of the health care bill? >> what changes? >> does russell changes in the cadillac trucks. >> i don't find off on anything without doing the specific details. i wouldn't just accept conversation of some description of what's being proposed. i want to know the details, the specifics. and i don't know how but anybody else to make a decision without knowing the specifics. >> when an agreement is reached to the white house, do you expect all 60 democrats to vote in favor of the debt increased? would that be a reasonable assumption? >> look, i don't have a vote count. we don't yet have a final and complete agreement. so i think it would be premature for me to answer. >> you were just saying you have been here 23 years. i mean, as long as i've been covering congress, you've sort of come when cbo comes out and say we've got to control these deficits. do feel a little bit like don quixote these days? >> you know, we've had some great successes. i look back to the 90's when we put in place the budget that not only balanced the budget, but stopped the borrowing from the social security trust fund. that was a remarkable accomplishment. and now we've got a circumstance in which we narrowly averted a global financial collapse. clearly that explodes deficits and debt in the short-term. that puts an even greater burden on us to pay that and deal with this long-term debt rat. we clearly are on an unsustainable long-term path and it's absolutely incumbent upon us to address that. that doesn't mean, to me, that does not mean you don't take further measures to provide the quiddity at a time real economic weakness. so the timing of all this becomes critically important. we look back to the lessons of the great depression. in 1937, they tried prematurely to rein in the deficit and unemployment exploded. we don't want to repeat that exercise. but we do have the need to come up with a plan to deal with our long-term deficit debt trigger or he. and we can do both. we've got to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. and i was very, very hard for people to separate out the short-term from the long-term, but that really is our obligation. we've got a very different circumstance. what is the right thing to do in the short-term is very different from what has to be done and the long-term. and we can't allow ourselves to get confused by this. we can't allow ourselves to get confused. i've got to leave here because we agreed to end the separate clock and were a little past. thank you. [inaudible conversations] >> today first lady, michelle obama, spoke of the joint armed forces officers wives lunch to talk about programs to assist military families. in her remarks, she announces that the president's 2011 budget will include a.8 blion for such. from bolling air force base in washington, this is 40 minutes. [applause] >> thank you. thank you, everyone. thank you so much. all right, everyone take a seat, and have a glass of wine. [laughter] all right, that i'm going to sell you guys out. they were passing around a little glass and i was like, what's that? [laughter] so please feel free. don't wait until i leave when the deserts come out to get the wind. i am really thrilled to be here. thank you, holly for your kind introduction and for your support of our air force families and for all the work that you've done to put together this luncheon. as well as the entire committee. i know that it's hard not to pull off something like this, but then you invite the first lady, and all my staff -- [laughter] and it becomes a little bit harder, but this is absolutely wonderful. i've had a great time and i'm just thrilled to be here. so again let's give holly and the entire committee a big round of applause for all the work that they've done. [applause] and i'm going to be especially nice to holly because there has been commands the air force district of washington. though he not only keeps the skies of washington state, but he is responsible for when my husband comes back on air force one. so holly, you and me, we've got to get together and get this thing worked out. but it's really an honor to be here with all of you. i also want to thank elizabeth biddle for the indication as well as the beautiful rendition of the national and done. i want to thank all of you at jafowl, the committee for this wonderful invitation and bringing us all together. as we thought earlier, due in the medley, which evoke a really fired up about and i like that. [laughter] we see that army, navy, air force, marines, coast guard, active, guard and reserve, where a win for us and we are all one family and you always feel it when you're in a room full of wonderful spouses. and it's also great to see so many familiar faces, people that i've worked with over the course of the year, becky, deborah, mary, sandy and others. while the wives of the joint chiefs of staff, women who do so much for our military families into why am very proud to call my friends. in fact, we just had a few of you guys over for dinner last week. we at the joint chiefs, the combatant commanders and their spouses over for dinner a few weeks ago at the white house and it was a wonderful evening. very inspiring because we shared the evening for several wounded warriors, so it was wonderful to have you at my home and i'm happy that we're switching the tables today. now i know this is the joint armed forces officers wives club, but today i want to start by thanking you not simply because of who you are married to, but because of what you do every day. because in the spirit of service that's defined, untrained viewer lives, you all are truly leaders in your own right. and i don't know if you hear that enough, but it's real. you are the vital link between your husbands in the chips they command, making sure their and those of their families are heard and matt. you're often not bomb away from home, the person that other military wives go to for advice and support. and it's always amazing because he do all of this for other families, even as your own family serve. for that alone, you all deserve this nation unending gratitude. but, you not only provide support to your husband and two other families. many of you have also watched her own sons and daughters put on the uniform and go into harms way. and you've experienced all the emotions that come with that, although worries, and all the anxieties, but also that incredible pride hurt so i want to particularly thank all of the blue star moms who are here today at it like to have you lost and. [applause] thank you. [applause] and they also want to salute another remarkable group of women who i know here today. a women who for nearly 40 years have made sure that no american is ever buried alone at arlington national cemetery. please join me in thanking the arlington ladies. lee's stance, ladies. [applause] [applause] and finally, some of you not only married someone in uniform, but we sometimes don't remember that many of you also wore a uniform yourself. you volunteered, you served, you defended our freedoms. so, please, with all the women who served in the armed forces please stand and be recognized. [applause] to all of you, thank you. thank you for your service to this country. so the president and i., as you've heard, and our daughters, we've been in the white house for a year now. [laughter] it's been a year. as a mom, i often say my priority this year has really been the girls, making sure that they make this transition smoothly, as smoothly as possible. you know, you think about these little girls have had to get adjusted to a new city, a new house, it's a nice house but it's a new house. [laughter] to a new school and new friends. and so, when people ask me what i'm most proud of this year, i usually give them two responses. i usually say first as a mother, i am most proud that our two girls have made that adjustment and they've built a new life here and are happy and healthy and as i say, as normal as they could possibly be under the circumstances. i joke that i still recognize them. [laughter] so that's a good thing. then the other response is as first lady. and i tell people that at the top of the list of priorities that i've had over this year, it's been a time that i spent highlighting the service of our incredible military families. and that's what i want to talk about today with you. i want to talk about what you do for america and also what america needs to do for all of you. from day one, this has been a mission of mine, along with the vice president's wife, dr. jill biden, my dear, dear friend and a blue star mom herself who has been a tireless advocate and support of our extraordinary national guard and reserve members and their family. jill and i have been working hard on this. one of the first things that we wanted to do was to first listen and learn. so with many of you, we had a series of roundtable discussions. thank you all with our military spouses. we met with deborah and sandy and otherwise of the joint chiefs to get there at rice and guidance on how to develop our initiatives and that was incredibly helpful. we also met with the senior enlisted advisor twice to discuss what's working in the bank that what also could be improved. these conversations gave jill and i just really critical guidance and insight for what would be our subsequent visits to bases and military communities around the country. and as i think back on all the incredible experiences of the past year, and we have had many, i've met the queen, the pope, we've done a lot. last night i have to say that those visits to the military base is how been one of my greatest privileges as first lady, truly. through these interactions that we've had, i've gained an even greater level of respect and gratitude for our troops and their amazing families. it is a sight to see. i remember visiting the soldiers and their families at fort bragg, one of my first visits with charlene austin. we were just talking about that. she hosted me for my first visits. and there i saw firsthand the toll that these wars have taken on the soldiers who have carried so much of the burden of the wars in iraq and afghanistan. i will never forget the families that the president and i met at fort heard after suffering such a horrible tragedy. they showed us incredible strength, the strength that binds army families together. i remember the sailors and their families and/or folk and what a thrill it was to share their excitement as we welcome home the crew of the aircraft carrier, the uss eisenhower and the hospital ship comfort. they were coming back from treating patients in delivering health care and humanitarian assistance across the americas, including haiti. and as we all know, only after a few short months at home, the comfort is back in haiti, along with many other branches of our military, delivering aid with their civilian counterparts, helping haitian people and all the while, showing the very best of america. and making us all so proud. i remember visiting the air men and women and their families at eglin air force base where some of the pilots and crew had just returned from iraq. it was their sixth deployment in as many years. i think of the coast guardsmen and women who will serve aboard the new cutter that i am proud to sponsor, the stratton which honors commander dorothy stratton which commanded the spars in world war ii. got mac and i can never forget our marines who are part of our daily lives at the white house in a very special way. and we see them displayed the same professionalism in our home every single day that defines their service around the world hear that they are a joy to have in our lives. and then we can never forget our wounded warriors. the inspirational men and women that the president and i have welcome to the white house and those we have met all around the country. unfortunately, for too many of them, the battle continues even after they come home. they are the servicemen that i met at a va hospital in the bronx, working so hard to get back on their feet. and in some cases, to get back to their units. that's all they care about. they're the future it's like the young navy seal who joined us at the joint chiefs dinner last week at the white house. this young man attended the dinner with his little sister. i got to sit next to them. she was a nurse who moved to washington to care for her brother, left her career behind. and he explained to me about how we stepped on an ied in afghanistan and lost both of his legs, then just four months later he finished a half marathon. [applause] the courage -- yes. the courage and the optimism of both he and his sister was breathtaking. their continued love of life and of country was something to behold. and i will always remember all of the wives and husbands, all the moms and dads that the president and i have met at arlington on memorial day and veterans day and all around the country. spouses who've lost their best friend in the world, parents who have laid their children to rest. and as a wife, as a mother, you simply cannot imagine the depths of their pain and loss. yet every time i meet them, they show a strengthened the resolve that always leaves me in on. their sacrifice reminds me all that our men and women in uniform, as well as their families are our nation's greatest military assets. so at every one of these visits that i've had, collecting these memories, my goal has been simple. first, to listen. listen to those voices, listen to those concerns, listen to those needs. the second goal is to share what i've heard with a team of dedicated leaders who also care deeply about military families, from the president, vice president, to secretary gates, to admiral mullen, 2 liters down the chain of command. these people care deeply. and finally, my goal has been to work hard to ensure that the concerns and needs that we here actually lead to some real change coming out of washington. because the quality of the lives of our military and their families means a great deal because in the history of our all volunteer force, we have never asked so much of so few. we've seen the huge burden of the gears of war on our troops, tour after tour, year after were, and missing out moment that every parent treasures. abb's first steps, the first words, they did the training wheel comes off the bike, birthdays, anniversaries. we see the sacrifices of families on the home front, spouses back home left to do the parenting of juggling to play dates and ballet recitals in part says, keeping the household together on their own, holding down jobs, all the while trying to hide their own fear and worries when the kids look up and ask when mommy or daddy are coming home. and somehow despite everything that's going on in your lives, military families still find the time to serve others, coaching little league, running the pta, making christmas special for kids with toys for tots, volunteering at churches and hospitals, mentoring young people, being role models in your own right. you just keep on surfing. keep on serving your communities, keep on serving this country and all of you our troops and families, you do your duty and

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