Washington Capitals right wing Joel Ward (42) celebrates his goal with teammate Mike Green (52) as Buffalo Sabres defenseman Jordan Leopold (3) looks on during the first period of an NHL hockey game on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals right wing Joel Ward (42) celebrates his goal with teammate Mike Green (52) as Buffalo Sabres defenseman Jordan Leopold (3) looks on during the first period of an NHL hockey game on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals right wing Joel Ward (42) celebrates his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco)
Drew Power, a longtime friend of the Capitals' Joel Ward, died in a house fire in December 2012 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. (Holland College)
Washington Capitals right wing Joel Ward (42) celebrates his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco)
Washington Capitals right wing Joel Ward (42) reacts as he misses a pass for him on goal as New York Rangers left wing Carl Hagelin (62) takes the puck down ice in the first period as the Washington Capitals take on the New York Rangers in playoff NHL hockey at the Verizon Center, Washington, D.C., Wednesday, May 2, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)
Washington Capitals right wing Joel Ward had the Game 7 overtime goal against the Boston Bruins that pushed the Caps to the second round of the playoffs. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Washington Capitals right wing Joel Ward had the Game 7 overtime goal against the Boston Bruins that pushed the Caps to the second round of the playoffs. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Capitals right wing Joel Ward totaled just six goals and 12 assists in the regular season, but he's crafting a reputation as a postseason force. On Wednesday, his overtime goal eliminated defending Stanley Cup champion Boston. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)
