He's Got Hockey on His Mind

As Capitals' Captain, Clark Takes Games Home With Him

Chris Clark knew his life was about to change when he was named captain of the Washington Capitals in September. He just didn't know to what extent.

Clark broods following bad losses now. Games replay in his head, sometimes for hours after leaving the rink. He studies the standings each morning.

"I take things personally," said the 30-year-old right wing, who has scored five goals in the past four games. "I take things more to heart, especially losing streaks. I ask myself, 'What could I have done better?' I think about a lot of stuff. And I think about it at home."

Clark's mind has been working overtime in recent weeks because of the Capitals' confounding inconsistency. They left town last week on a three-game winning streak and in eighth place in the Eastern Conference. They returned from the eight-day, four game road trip 1-3-0 and in 13th.

Clark is hoping Thursday's 5-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes will give the Capitals some momentum entering today's Verizon Center matinee against Olli Jokinen and the Florida Panthers, who are 1-2-1 in their last four and three points behind Washington in the standings. A win could pull the Capitals within a point of eighth place.

"It's crazy, isn't it?" Clark said. "You go on a three-game or a five-game losing streak and you think about the hole you've dug. But then you look at other teams and they're all losing, too."

After netting two more goals against the Hurricanes, Clark has 19 goals and 36 points in 45 games, putting him on pace to obliterate the career highs he set in those categories a year ago.

While some claim Clark's surging statistics have everything to do with skating on the top line alongside star Alex Ovechkin and Dainius Zubrus, Capitals Coach Glen Hanlon says that's only half of the equation.

"Two of his goals may have gone off of Hurricanes players" Thursday, Hanlon said. "But he certainly deserves to be at 19 goals because of how he plays. Sometimes this game has a funny way of evening out. When you play alongside Ovechkin and Zubrus, and you work hard, it shouldn't be out of the realm of expectations for him to score 30 goals."

But statistics aren't all that's impressed Hanlon.

"What I like about Chris's leadership is that I likely won't ever know what he does," he said. "He's not a grandstander. He doesn't do things to get noticed. He does a lot of subtle little things. I don't think he ever stops thinking about the game. He's a hockey player and that's the highest compliment you can pay him."

Clark said leading a young and inexperienced team has, at times, been a challenge, but he's learned to embrace the responsibilities.

"I want to be captain here as long as I can," Clark said. "Personally for me, things are going well. And from a team standpoint, we're a better team than we were a year ago and even two months ago."

Capitals Note: Wingers Alexander Semin and Donald Brashear and defenseman Brian Pothier all missed yesterday's practice because of various ailments. Semin is expected to play today while Brashear and Pothier will be game-time decisions. Meantime, defenseman Mike Green, who missed Thursday's game because of a bruised left foot, skated yesterday and could be available to face the Panthers.