Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2022: O is for Olaf Kolzig

 Moving right along with the A to Z Challenge today we are changing to yet another sport hockey. Today's letter is O and Olaf Kolzig, who was also known as Olie the Goalie is the athlete of the day.

He was a two-time all-star and was award the Vezina Trophy for best Goaltender in 2000. He holds many Washington Capital records including wins with 301. 

A fan made tribute from youtube...

Here he celebrates #300

Stayed tune as the challenge rolls on tomorrow!

Congrats to the Washington Capitals

The Washington Capitals have finally won the Stanley Cup! The Stanley Cup is the trophy awarded to the National Hockey League Champions. The Capitals were founded in 1874 and had never one a Stanley Cup until now!

Highlights from the deciding game 5....

Congrats to the Vegas Golden Knights who were also looking for their first Cup, but they were a new expansion team. 

Thoughts on Dale Hunter

I liked the hiring of Dale Hunter as the Washington Capitals coach. I loved the idea of the team hiring one of their own greats to coach the team. The team responded with a 30-23-7 record under his reign. Most importantly he was able to squeak the team into the playoffs.

Here is a highlight of Dale Hunter back in his playing days...

The team welcomed him back with this montage...

The team did not have an easy run in the playoffs. The Caps defeated the defending Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins in seven games during the first round.

Next up the Caps lost to the top seeded New York Rangers in seven games...

The team had a good showing in the playoffs and nothing to feel bad about. Yes like the good teams in the past they did fall short. Next season will be interesting for the team.

Being a little older and wiser I don't blame Dale Hunter for making the decision to return to his home, to be with his family. Those are important things. I wish him well and I hope he enjoys. I hope the Caps find a great Coach to help them reach their goals as well.

Crosby-Ovechkin show

Hats off to Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby! The Capitals went up 2 games to none on the Penguins due to Ovechkin's hat trick. Washington won 4-3. However, Crosby scored all of the Penguins goals.

Two of the most promising stars in the NHL delivered in this playoff game. Hat tricks are not that common and two in one game is even rarer. Many times match ups featuring two stars don't live up to the hype. In this game the two stars exceeded the hype. Ovechkin and Crosby were obviously the games first and second stars.

Caps Win Good For Hockey

Hats off to the New York Rangers for making the series 7 games, however they blew the series after being up on the Capitals. Hats off to the Caps for battling back, but they have to be disappointed that it took seven games to finish out a first round series.

Yes, New York is a bigger market. The Rangers have more of a following then the Capitals will ever have. However, Washington's match up in the next round with the Pittsburgh Penguins is great for the NHL.

The series will pit to of the leagues major stars against each other. Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby, the 21 year old center who had 103 points in 77 games for the Pens. Washington's Alexander Ovechkin, the 23 year old left wing who had a 110 points in 79 games for the Caps. Both teams have more talent as well. The teams also have playoff history to add to the playoff excitement. Hopefully, the series will be a great one.