Skip to main content

SPORTS: Can’t blame Caps performance on tryptophan

By WTOP Staff

Jonathan Warner, wtop.com

The Capitals ugly, uninspired play didn’t just start this Thanksgiving weekend.  It goes back to their last 15 games.

After a franchise record 7-0 start, the Caps have gone 5-10,  giving up at least four goals in seven of those losses – including seven goals twice.

It’s been especially ugly on the road where the Caps have lost four straight and seven of the last nine.

What’s going wrong?  Everything.

The defense is a sieve, the goaltending soft, scoring erratic and the necessary energy  M.I.A.

Who’s to  blame?  Everybody.

Accountability was supposed to be the operative word this season.  Apparently it hasn’t been taken to heart.  Coach Bruce Boudreau has taken a tougher stand this season, and there  seems to be a backlash.

Have they tuned him out?  If so, the second-quickest NHL coach to 200 wins could be gone.

How did this happen?

When Bruce was summoned from Hershey on Thanksgiving, 2007, he was a known commodity, winning the Calder Cup on the Hershey Bears with about half the players in the Caps locker room.  Now, only three of those players remain:  Brooks Laich, Mike Green, and Jeff Schultz.  The rest of the team hasn’t advanced past the second round of the NHL playoffs under Boudreau.

Maybe they have doubts about his ability to take them to the next level, or maybe this team isn’t as good or as tough as we thought.

When a team struggles, you look to see how it’s top players are fairing.  Alex Ovechkin has to take a lot of blame for what’s going on.   His play directly mirrors what’s happening to the Capitals with one goal and two assists over the past eight games.  The Caps are 2-6 during that span.  Ovi wasn’t Ovi last year when he scored a career-low 32 goals, and it’s carried over to this season.  He has eight in 22-games with a plus/minus ratio of minus-7.

If the Captain isn’t inspired, how can he lead the rest of the team?

The Capitals managed to rebound from their ugly December last year, changing their style of play and vaulting to the top of the Eastern Conference for the  second-straight year.  But, do they have it in them again, or do other changes have to be made?

We’ll find out very quickly.  The Capitals host St. Louis on Tuesday and Pittsburgh on Thursday.  The Blues are 7-1-2 since Ken Hitchcock took over as coach, while the Penguins have the best record in the NHL.

Oh, and that Sidney Crosby guy is back as well for the Pens.

Follow Jonathan Warner on Twitter @jonwarnerWTOP.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote