Caps v Habs in Round 1 of Cup Playoffs

The Washington Capitols now know that the first stop on the road to the Stanley Cup is in Montreal. The number 1 seeded Caps will meed the eighth seeded Habs in a best of seven series in the first round of the NHL Playoffs.

Coach Bruce Boudreau and his squad have learned over the past two seasons what the playoffs are about. And after playing back-to-back seven game series last year, eventually going out at the hands of the eventual champion Pittsburgh Penguins, they know how important a good start is in order to stay fresh and have some gas in the tank in the later rounds. They will want to smother the Canadiens early.

First Round Schedule (Home Team, Date, Time, TV Network):
Game 1: @ Washington, Thu. 4/15, 7 p.m., TSN & Versus
Game 2: @ Washington, Sat. 4/17, 7 p.m., TSN & Versus
Game 3: @ Montreal, Mon. 4/19, 7 p.m., TSN
Game 4: @ Montreal, Wed. 4/21, 7 p.m., TSN
Game 5*: @ Washington, Fri 4/23, 7 p.m., TSN & Versus
Game 6*: @ Montreal, Mon. 4/26, 7 p.m., TSN & Versus
Game 7*: @ Washington, Wed. 4/28, TBD, TSN
* = if necessary

Arlington Market Trends

Arlington, Virginia
2010 Home Sales = 383 (-17.5% from Mar. 2009)
2010 Median Sales Price = $413,500 (+$6,000 or +1.5% from Mar. 2009)

Homes on the Market = 835
Foreclosures on the Market = 168
Average Listing Price = $632,518 (-$5,469 or -.09% from last week)
Average Price per Sq. Foot = $381 (+2.4% from Mar. 2009)

Popular Neighborhoods = Highland Park - Overlee Knolls, Yorktown, High View Park, Donaldson Run, Cherrydale, and Rock Spring

Statistics found on Trulia Real Estate Search

NHL Awards Predictions

With the 2009-2010 NHL season wrapping up this weekend, here are my predictions of award winner at the NHL Awards Night in Las Vegas on June 18th.

Stanley Cup
Awarded to: NHL Playoff Champion
Holder: Pittsburgh Penguins
Prediction: Chicago Blackhawks

Prince of Wales Trophy
Awarded to: Eastern Conference Playoff Champion
Holder: Pittsburgh Penguins
Prediction: Washington Capitols

Clarence S. Campbell Bowl
Awarded to: Western Conference Playoff Champion
Holder: Detroit Red Wings
Prediction: Chicago Blackhawks

President's Trophy
Awarded to: Most Points in Regular Season
Holder: San Jose Sharks
Winner: Washington Capitols

Hart Memorial Trophy
Awarded to: League MVP
Holder: Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitols)
Prediction: Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitols)
Also Running: Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins), Ryan Miller (Buffalo Sabres), Henrik Sedin (Vancouver Canucks)

Vezina Trophy
Awarded to: Best Goalie
Holder: Tim Thomas (Boston Bruins)
Prediction: Ryan Miller (Buffalo Sabres)
Also Running: Ilya Bryzgalov (Phoenix Coyotes), Martin Broeduer (New Jersey Devils), Craig Anderson (Colorado Avalanche)

James Norris Memorial Trophy
Awarded to: Best Defenseman
Holder: Zdeno Chara (Boston Bruins)
Prediction: Mike Green (Washington Capitols)
Also Running: Duncan Keith (Chicago Blackhawks), Drew Doughty (Los Angeles Kings), Chris Pronger (Philadelphia Flyers)

Calder Memorial Trophy
Awarded to: Best Rookie
Holder: Steve Mason (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Prediction: Tyler Myers (Buffalo Sabres)
Also Running: Matt Duchene (Los Angeles Kings), John Tavares (New York Islanders), Jimmy Howard (Detroit Red Wings)

Jack Adams Award
Awarded to: Best Coach
Holder: Claude Julien (Boston Bruins)
Prediction: Dave Tippett (Phoenix Coyotes)
Also Running: Joe Sacco (Colorado Avalanche), Terry Murray (Los Angeles Kings), Cory Clouston (Ottawa Senators)

Lady Bing Memorial Trophy
Awarded for: Sportsmanship
Holder: Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Redwings)
Prediction: Brad Richards (Dallas Stars)
Also Running: Martin St. Louis (Tampa Bay Lightning), Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks), Patrick Marleau (San Jose Sharks)

Conn Smyth Trophy
Awarded to: Playoff MVP
Holder: Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Prediction: Jonathan Toews (Chicago Blackhawks)

Art Ross Trophy
Awarded to: Points Leader
Holder: Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Leaders: Henrik Sedin - 107 (Vancouver Canucks) and Alex Ovechkin - 106 (Washington Capitols)

Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy
Award to: Most Goals
Holder: Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitols)
Leaders: Alex Ovechkin - 48 (Washington Capitols), Sidney Crosby - 48 (Pittsburgh Penguins), Steve Stamkos - 47 (Tampa Bay Lightning)

NHL Plus-Minus Award
Awarded to: Highest +/-
Holder: David Krejci (Boston Bruins)
Leaders: Jeff Schultz - +44 (Washington Capitols) and Alex Ovechkin - +43 (Washington Capitols)

Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award
Awarded to: Highest Save Percentage
Holder: Tim Thomas (Boston Bruins)
Leaders: Tuukka Rask - .930 (Boston Bruins), Ryan Miller - .928 (Buffalo Sabres)

William M. Jennings Trophy
Awarded to: Team Least Goals Against
Holders: Tim Thomas and Manny Fernandez (Boston Bruins)
Leaders: Martin Brodeur - 186 (New Jersey Devils) and Tim Thomas and Tuukka Rask - 194(Boston Bruins)

Not Listed: Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy (Perseverance, Sportsmanship, Dedication), Lester B. Pearson Award (Outstanding Player as voted by Players Association), Frank J. Selke Trophy (Best Defensive Forward), King Clancy Memorial Trophy (Humanitarian Leadership), NHL Foundation Player Award (Community Service), Mark Messier Leadership Award (Leadership), NHL Lifetime Achievement Award, Scotiabank Fan Fav Award (Fans' Favorite Player)

Arlington Home Show & Expo

The 4th annual Arlington Home Show & Expo will be held Saturday, April 10 at the Walter Reed Community Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This event will offer one-stop shopping for a wide variety of home improvements. Admission is free as well the parking and shuttle at Arlington Career Center just minutes away.

You can learn a lot about remodeling kitchens and baths, finishing or waterproofing basements, replacing windows and doors, as well as flooring, siding, gutter, and paving solutions, security systems, insulation, landscaping, shelving, decks, and more. There will be information on how to make your home more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

There will be more than 50 exhibitors offering advice and services to add beauty and value to your home, as well as Realtors, local banks, Master Gardeners and Tree Stewerds, and Arlington County representatives to answer questions regarding permits, zoning, and inspections. There will also be free classes available on a variety of subjects that would be of interest to homeowners.

Look on the Arlington Home Show & Expo website for more information.

McNabb Traded to 'Skins

Donovan McNabb became the newest Washington Redskin on Easter Sunday. The Philadelphia Eagles traded the Pro Bowl quarterback to their NFC East rivals for a second round pick in the upcoming 2010 NFL Draft and a third or fourth round selection next year.


McNabb, the number two overall selection by the Eagles in the 1999 NFL Draft, had a very successful career in Philadelphia; playing in five NFC Championships and one Super Bowl in 11 years, while being named to six Pro Bowls.


McNabb joins a crowded Redskins team under center, who already have three year incumbent Jason Campbell and Rex Grossman; another quarterback with Super Bowl credentials, formerly of the Chicago Bears. The Redskins have also been scouting quarterbacks before next month's draft, where they sit at number four overall, including Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen and Oklahoma's Sam Bradford, who is scheduled to visit with the team on Tuesday.


It's reported the McNabb chose the Redskins over the Oakland Raiders and Buffalo Bills, who also made offers. The Eagles also rejected an earlier offer of highly paid defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth from Washington.


The Eagles were disappointed in McNabb's performance last year after he missed several weeks early in the season due to a cracked rib and poor displays in losses to the Dallas Cowboys in both Week 17 and the Wild Card playoff game. Philadelphia seem to be comfortable going with youngster Kevin Kolb, drafted out of Houston in 2007, and the electrifying former Atlanta Falcon, Michael Vick, who is attempting to revive his career after a conviction on charges related to dog fighting and his subsequent prison stint.


Donovan McNabb leaves as the franchise leader in yards passing (32,873), completions (2,801), attemps (4,746), and completion percentage (59.0) and with a 92-49-1 record as a starter. He has the third highest winning percentage among active quarterbacks behind the Indianapolis Colts' Peyton Manning and the New England Patriots' Tom Brady. He holds many other NFL and franchise records. He will now hope to help coach Mike Shanahan lead the Washington Redskins back to the playoffs and beyond.

National Cherry Blossom Festival Events

Earlier in the week I wrote about the Cherry Blossom Festival. Below is a list of coming signature events:

April 2: Cherry Blast: A Night of Comtemporary Art + Music

April 3: Fireworks Show

April 4: Lantern Lighting Ceremony

April 8: Gala Dinner and Cruise aboard the Odyssey

April 10: National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade

April 10: Sakura Matsuri - Japanese Street Festival

April 11: Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-Mile Run


You can find out more about these events here or view a more exhaustive list of events here.

Making Home Affordable Program

The Obama Administration's Making Home Affordable Program includes opportunities to modify or refinance your mortgage to make your monthly payments more affordable.

In February 2009, the Obama Administration introduced a comprehensive Financial Stability Plan to address the key problems at the heart of the current crisis to get our economy back on track. A critical piece of that effort is Making Home Affordable, a plan to stabilize the housing market and help struggling homeowners get relief and avoid foreclosure.

The Home Affordable Modification Program provides eligible homeowners the opportunity to modify their mortgages to make them more affordable. Over one million homeowners have already gotten help under the program. The program is on track to help 3 to 4 million homeowners by 2012.

On March 26, the Obama Administration announced expanded flexibility for mortgage servicers to assist more unemployed homeowners and homeowners who are underwater through the program.

The Second Lien Modification Program (2MP) offers homeowners a way to modify their second mortgages to make them more affordable when their first mortgage is modified under the Home Affordable Modification Program.

The Home Affordable Refinance Program gives homeowners with loans owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac an opportunity to refinance into more affordable monthly payments.

The Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program provides opportunities for homeowners who can no longer afford to stay in their home but want to avoid foreclosure to transition to more affordable housing through a short sale or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure.

For more information visit www.MakingHomeAffordable.gov.