Barry Leonard Jr.
Barry is the site expert at Victory Bell Rings, covering Penn State football, hockey and basketball. He's also written about the NHL for RotoWire, Bleacher Report and FanSided. An avid hockey fan, he's been a Washington Capitals supporter for most of his life.
Author's Posts
Ovechkin Finally Proves Naysayers Wrong
June 9th, 2018 From the moment Alexander Ovechkin was drafted No. 1 overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, it was clear that he was destined for a great career. From his rookie year in 2005 to the present, Ovi has been known as one of the best players in NHL history. His ability to score goals is second to none, and his superstardom has helped push...
Devante Smith-Pelly: Capitals' Postseason Powerhouse
June 6th, 2018 Devante Smith-Pelly (or DSP as he's known in DC) wasn't guaranteed a spot on one of the Capitals' four lines for the 2018 NHL Playoffs. His play had been inconsistent, and head coach Barry Trotz could have opted for more youth and speed. Fortunately for the Caps, Trotz didn't decide to scratch Smith-Pelly. Instead, he showed...
Evgeny Kuznetsov: The Newest NHL Star
June 5th, 2018 Heading into the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, nobody would have been surprised to see Alexander Ovechkin or Braden Holtby standout for the Washington Capitals. While those two have been great, another player has been the star. Center Evgeny Kuznetsov has flourished in the postseason and has blossomed into a legitimate NHL star. If...
Holtby Making Case for Conn Smythe
June 4th, 2018 Braden Holtby really struggled during the 2017-18 regular season and put up the worst numbers of his eight-year career with the Capitals. He posted a goals-against average (GAA) of 2.99 and a .907 save percentage (SV%), and failed to win more than 35 games for the first time since the 2013-14 season. As the season went on, head coach...
Lars Eller: Capitals 'Next Man Up'
June 2nd, 2018 Game 2 of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final in Vegas will forever be known for Braden Holtby's save on Alex Tuch late in the game that preserved the victory for Washington. While that was certainly the biggest and most memorable moment, the play of a third-line center shouldn't be overlooked. Lars Eller, just going about his business in a...
Capitals Need Wilson to Stay Disciplined
May 30th, 2018 Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson was once again the topic of a controversial play in the postseason. During Washington's 6-4 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, Wilson was assessed a two-minute interference penalty for his open-ice hit on Jonathan Marchessault. The play happened early in the...
