WASHINGTON -- General manager George McPhee and coach Adam Oates lost their jobs with the Washington Capitals on Saturday, about two weeks after the team failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2007. Cheap Seahawks Jerseys Free Shipping . "We were left with the overall impression that the team wasnt trending toward being able to compete for a Stanley Cup," Capitals owner Ted Leonsis said in a news conference at the clubs arena. "And that was just a clear signal and why it was time to make those changes." McPhees contract was up and the team announced it will not give him a new one after his 17 years as the GM, which included drafting Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom in the first round. Oates was fired with one season left on his three-year deal. A former star player for the Capitals, he was in his first job as an NHL head coach. Washington finished this season with the ninth-most points in the Eastern Conference, one spot out of a playoff berth. "You have to do something to pivot the team to be an ongoing strong team," Leonsis said. "And I just felt that new leadership at this time was needed, and lets start it with a clean slate." Asked whether any player would be untouchable as part of upcoming changes -- a chance, perhaps, for Leonsis to mention captain and top scorer Ovechkin -- the owner replied: "Im not the general manager. So If the general manager comes with something, we would listen to the general manager." Ovechkin has won three league MVP awards and again led the NHL in scoring this season with 51 goals, but the Capitals havent made it past the second round of the playoffs during the Russian wings career. Dick Patrick, the president of the Capitals, said the team already has drawn up a list of potential GM candidates. "Typically, youd like to have a general manager in place and have him choose a coach," Patrick said. The Capitals reached the Stanley Cup finals in 1998, McPhees first year on the job, and were swept by the Detroit Red Wings. Later, McPhee oversaw a "rebuild" ordered by Leonsis, including jettisoning top players with big contracts such as Jaromir Jagr. "Lets not forget that rebuilding process was dramatic. And I watched a great executive go through really, really hard times and really rebuild that team quickly. We just didnt get there," Leonsis said. "At some point, you just have to try something different." While McPhee eventually built a young roster filled with offensive stars, he never placed as much emphasis on constructing a rugged, defensive-minded blue line crop. He hired a succession of coaches with zero previous NHL experience running a team, including Glen Hanlon, Bruce Boudreau, Dale Hunter and Oates. Led by Ovechkin, the Capitals produced terrific regular-season results for a half-dozen seasons, without similar success in the post-season. Four years ago, Washington won the Presidents Trophy for having the most points during the season, then lost in the first round of the playoffs to the eighth-seeded Montreal Canadiens. Leonsis called McPhee, who built seven division-winning teams, "a talented man, a great friend," but that it was time for "a fresh set of eyes." The Capitals went 65-48-17 under Oates in his two seasons. In a brief statement released via the team, Oates called it "a tremendous honour to coach the Capitals these past two seasons" and said he was "grateful for the opportunity." In his first season in charge, which was shortened because of a labour dispute, Washington reached the playoffs with a late surge before losing in the first round to the New York Rangers in seven games. "We were a continuously improving playoff team until we werent. And the last two seasons showed us that we need to improve. And thats what it came down to," Leonsis said. "Dick and I said, We have to make that gut check. Do we have to change? And where do you start? And you start with the coach and the general manager." Barkevious Mingo Jersey . "I wasnt waving the pom-poms to be involved with it to start with," Carlyle said after a 5-2 win over Carolina on Sunday night. "Its been a trying time. "Specifically we havent played as well as wed like to hang our hat on. Michael Dickson Jersey . Browns owner Jimmy Haslam announced the move with Young on Monday during a speech at a Pro Football Hall of Fame luncheon. http://www.cheapseahawksjerseyssale.com/?tag=rasheem-green-jersey-sale . - Kyle Wood and Barclay Goodrow scored second period power-play goals to provide all of the scoring for the North Bay Battalion in a 2-0 victory over the Erie Otters in Ontario Hockey League action on Thursday.LISBON, Portugal — The encounter between Portugal and Sweden is the marquee matchup in the European playoffs to complete the continents 13 entries for next years World Cup. Portugal and Sweden finished second in their qualifying groups behind Russia and Germany, respectively. Here are five things to know about the first-leg game in Lisbon on Friday. The second leg is at the Swedish national stadium on Tuesday. ___ JUST ONE, NOT BOTH One of Europes most sensational goalscorers wont be thrilling the crowds in Brazil. Portugals Cristiano Ronaldo and Swedens Zlatan Ibrahimovic are two of the games top showmen, and prolific scorers, with the kind of talent that can light up stadiums. And both are in top form — they each bagged a hat trick for their clubs last weekend. Ronaldos third hat trick of the Spanish season for Real Madrid made him the top scorer in La Liga with 16 goals in 13 rounds. He has added another eight in four Champions League games. The 28-year-old winger, who was crowned FIFA world player of the year in 2008, is Portugals second-highest scorer after Eusebio, with 43 strikes in 107 appearances. Swedish defender Mikael Lustig has the job of marking Ronaldo — and says hell need some help, because "support is the secret in a game like this." Ibrahimovic is Swedens second all-time scorer, with 46 goals. He has racked up 15 goals in 16 games for Paris Saint-Germain this season, including seven in the Champions League. The 32-year-old striker was the French leagues top scorer last season and can swing a game in his teams favour. A year ago, he scored all of Swedens goals in a 4-2 win over England, with his late overhead kick counting as one of the sports greatest goals. "We can stop him," Portuguese centre-back Bruno Alves said, "but it means stopping the whole Sweden team because if he doesnt get the ball he cant do much." ___ OTHERS TO WATCH Nani has spent most of his international career in Ronaldos shadow. The Manchester United winger has struggled to make his mark over the past year, being sidelined by injuries that kept him out of four Portugal matches. He didnt find the net for 16 months up to Octobers qualifier against Luxembourg. With 14 goals in 70 appearances for Portugal, Nani is keen to claim his place in the limelight. "Its all about having the right attitude," he said. While the Portuguese focus their attention on Ibrahimovic, they face a big obstacle at the other end of the pitch wheere goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson is one of Swedens standout players. Byron Maxwell Jersey. The 32-year-old is Swedens bulwark, often saving the day when the sometimes brittle Swedish defence cracks. Isaksson produced some spectacular saves in Swedens qualifiers against Austria and Ireland and memorably saved a stunning bicycle kick by Lionel Messi last February. ___ PORTUGALS PROBLEMS The Portuguese commonly play better against big-name teams than less famous ones. Their qualifying campaign was spoiled by home and away draws against Israel and a home draw against Northern Ireland. Inconsistency has dogged Portugal, which has won just eight of its 16 qualifiers and friendly games since the 2012 European Championship finals. This is the third time in a row Portugal has fallen short of automatic qualification for a major international tournament. It also went through the playoffs to reach the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. Despite having Ronaldo on its team, it has struggled to make its superiority tell on the scoresheet. "Even when weve played well weve lacked something vital — effectiveness in front of goal," coach Paulo Bento said. Portugals joint second-top scorer in qualifying was central defender Bruno Alves, whose four goals matched those by Ronaldo. Helder Postiga was top with six. ___ SWEDISH SPIRIT While playing unevenly and sometimes coming up short in defence, Sweden showed an impressive fighting spirit in its qualifying campaign. Most remarkably, the team rallied from four goals down to draw 4-4 with Germany. It also turned around a game against Austria, fighting back from a goal down to win 2-1, and did the same against Ireland for a 2-1 victory. That record isnt lost on Portugal coach Bento. "Sweden is a team that never gives up," he said. "Well have to be totally concentrated." ___ HISTORY LESSONS Portugal is ranked 14th in world by FIFA. Sweden is at 25th. Though the Portuguese have risen to the occasion at international tournaments, reaching the semifinals of the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2012, their trophy cabinet is still bare, as is Swedens. Sweden has never lost in Portugal in seven visits. It also has a head-to-head advantage with six wins and three defeats against Portugal. But the Swedes havent beaten Portugal since 1984, and their last three meetings ended in draws. "Neither team can be said to be the favourite," Bento said. ____ Malin Rising contributed to this report from Stockholm. 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