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ARLINGTON, Va. -- ?? Barring a complete collapse, nothing the Washington Capitals do from the time the puck drops on the 2016-17 season until April will mean much of anything in the long run.Over the past nine seasons, there have been plenty of trophies: three for Alex Ovechkin as MVP and six for the most goals, one for Braden Holtby as top goaltender, one each for Bruce Boudreau and Barry Trotz as coach of the year and two Presidents Trophies for the team having the most points in the regular season. Eight times the Capitals have made the playoffs and eight times theyve failed to make it past the second round.The Stanley Cup is still very much within reach, especially with Ovechkin, Holtby and centers Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov in the prime of their careers. But with key players Karl Alzner, Justin Williams and T.J. Oshie eligible for unrestricted free agency next summer, the salary cap hanging over their heads and the uncertainty that follows, this is arguably the Capitals last, best chance to win the championship they looked to be building toward for more than a decade.When you get older, then the more think about that a little more, Alzner said. I would love to just win so you can stop worrying about getting that win.Last spring, after dominating the NHL for 82 games, the Capitals beat the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round before falling in six games to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. Ovechkin, who just turned 31 and has led the league in goals for four consecutive seasons, brushed it off as, Last year is last year, though the sting of that loss stuck with players through the summer.Back at the rink for training camp, it was hard to deny a desire to fast-forward several months. But another first-in-the-NHL finish guarantees nothing, as the Capitals know all too well.Itd be nice to just jump back into June or May and say, OK, lets have another crack at it, but thats not the way it works, right winger Tom Wilson said. The tough part is the 82-game season: getting yourself into the position to have success, and then when youre there, to have success at the right time.After the Capitals played their best hockey early and midseason and the Penguins hit their stride for the stretch run and the playoffs, center Jay Beagle thought a lot about peaking at the right time. If he and his teammates learned any lesson from last season its that they need to be at their best at playoff time, something that hasnt been the case so far.The playoffs is about scoring big goals at big times, said Williams, who won the Cup twice with the Los Angeles Kings. The margin of errors very small. You dont want to be asking yourself why things didnt go right. ... You want to be asking yourself why it went right. We have a chip on our shoulder and we have a point to prove to everybody.Here are some other things to watch with the Capitals this season:HOLT-BEAST MODEHoltby, the reigning Vezina Trophy winner, started 66 games last season and 72 in 2014-15. Expect him to play less and backup Philipp Grubauer more as Trotz, goalie coach Mitch Korn and the Capitals reduce Holtbys workload so he peaks for the playoffs like the New York Rangers did with Henrik Lundqvist a few years ago.CONSISTENT KUZNETSOVEven though he led Washington with 77 points and was an All-Star, Kuznetsov had just one goal and 12 assists in his final 31 games, including the playoffs, and must show better endurance over a long season. The 24-year-old Russian is due a big raise as a restricted free agent and can prove hes an elite player.BLUE LINE DEPTHAlzner, John Carlson and Matt Niskanen are Washingtons top three defensemen and then theres a drop off. Brooks Orpik is 36 and better in a third-pairing role, so the Capitals may count on Dmitry Orlov making the leap and taking on more responsibilities.NOTHING REGULARBackstrom chaffed at Presidents Trophy talk late last season after winning it in 2009 preceded a first-round exit. After winning it again last year, its not like the Capitals want to lose more games, but the balance between going hard in the regular season and pacing themselves warrants monitoring to see how it affects their place in the standings.ELLER, ELLER, ELLERAcquiring Lars Eller from Montreal gives Washington a solid third-line center behind Backstrom and Kuznetsov and could make it look more like Pittsburghs top-nine forward group. The Capitals didnt copycat the Penguins in many ways, but they want to have three scoring lines, and Eller is a big key to that happening.---Follow Stephen Whyno on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/SWhyno Will Harris Lions Jersey . Galatasaray said in a statement on its website Monday that Mancini signed a three-year contract and will be paid 3.5 million euros for the upcoming season, with his salary upped to 4. Darius Slay Jr Lions Jersey . At a Manhattan federal court hearing, attorney Jordan Siev said his law office has gotten more evidence nearly every day to support its lawsuit accusing MLB and Selig of going on a "witch hunt" to ruin Rodriguezs reputation and career. He said the defendants went "way over the line. http://www.lionsfanspro.com/Black-Jarrad-Davis-Lions-Jersey.html?cat=920 . Lack made 20 saves for his third shutout of the season as the Canucks blanked the St. Louis Blues 1-0 in the first post-Olympic game for both teams night. Jarrad Davis Jersey . U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield in Manhattan agreed that lawyers on both sides could make their formal requests by Nov. 8. A hearing is scheduled for a day earlier. Jordan Siev, a lawyer for Rodriguez, wrote in a joint letter to the judge from lawyers on both sides that MLB lawyers planned to ask that the lawsuit be dismissed. Kenny Golladay Womens Jersey . Patrice Bergeron and Daniel Paille scored 20 seconds apart a few minutes after Stamkos was taken off the ice on a stretcher with a broken right leg, and the Bruins beat the Lightning 3-0 on Monday afternoon. EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Christian Hackenberg jogged onto the field at MetLife Stadium to cheers from New York Jets fans who had been waiting all summer to see the rookie quarterback play.He gave them a lot more to be excited about just a few minutes later.The second-round draft pick from Penn State threw a touchdown pass on his first drive in an up-and-down NFL debut in the Jets 21-20 loss to the Giants on Saturday night. He also tossed an interception in Jets territory that set up the Giants go-ahead score.He made some throws, but he missed some throws, coach Todd Bowles said. It was good to get his feet wet.After Hackenberg replaced Bryce Petty early in the fourth quarter, he got off to an inauspicious start with two incomplete passes and a delay-of-game penalty.Then, he got rolling.Hackenberg hit Zach Sudfeld for 16 yards on third-and-15, then connected with rookie Charone Peake for 26. After Antone Smiths 1-yard run, Hackenberg threw a 27-yard pass to rookie Robby Anderson.On the next play, Hackenberg lofted a perfectly placed toss into the right corner of the end zone to Anderson, capping an impressive first drive.It was sweet, Hackenberg said after the game. I wanted to go celebrate with my guys. I thought it was big for us and the team at that point in time. Robby made a great play, understood the coverage and went to our landmark and he was able to finish that off.The Jets went three-and-out on their next possession, and then Hackenberg made a rookie mistake in his third series.On third-and-7 from the Jets 5, Hackenberg threw an ill-advised pass over the middle that was deflected by Davon Coleman and intercepted by Andrew Adams. Two plays later, the Giants scored the go-ahead touchdown, an 11-yard pass from Ryan Nassib to Tavarres King.Thats something Ive got to learn from, Hackenberg said. I cant do that. Especially not in that field position. It (stinks), but its obviously a good learning tool for me.Hackenberg finished 6 of 16 for 105 yards with the TD and INT, and a 55.5 quarterbaack rating.ddddddddddddIt was a performance filled with progress, promise and inexperience.I think practice is valuable and I think the game ultimately is what you work toward at practice, so I think being able to get some reps on tape is going to be good to learn from, he said. It counts, its on the stat sheet and everything. Ill be able to go back and reflect on those plays where were playing against another defense -- not just ourselves -- so I think that is something that will be a really good tool for me moving forward.Hackenberg currently sits fourth on the Jets depth chart behind Ryan Fitzpatrick, Geno Smith and Petty. He was drafted so high by New York based on his potential despite some struggles in college after an impressive freshman season.He isnt likely to challenge for a starting job until next season at the earliest, and has been getting limited snaps in practice as the Jets concentrate on getting Fitzpatrick in synch with the starters, and seeing if Petty can challenge Smith for the backup job.Meanwhile, Hackenberg can use this season to simply learn. Until Saturday night, he had been the only one of 15 quarterbacks drafted in April to not play in the preseason.It was just a cool experience, Hackenberg said.He is likely to see more playing time Thursday night when the Jets wrap up their preseason schedule in Philadelphia. Fitzpatrick and most of the starters are expected to sit, so either Smith or Petty could start. That means Hackenberg could come on in the second half and try to cap his first NFL preseason on a high note.I think each week has been better and better, just from feeling more and more comfortable, he said. Its a new environment for me. Each and every day is an opportunity to learn something and get better at some areas. I think thats ultimately how Ive approached everything.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '