Verizon Center Giveaways

by J.P. on Nov 29, 2008 2:32 PM EST

There's nothing like a good giveaway at a home game... as long as you're talking about promotions. When you're talking turnovers, however, it's often another matter entirely.

By all accounts, Karl Alzner's second game in the NHL was a successful one, despite the fact that the official scorer saddled King Karl with five giveaways. But what does that number really tell us? Not much at all. And why not? Because the Caps - who have a 9-0-1 home record - are leading the League in home giveaways per game, which might be believable if they weren't giving the puck away 61.5% less on the road, where they are 4-7-2 and have a team goals against average of around four.

Bottom line: the official scorer at the Verizon Center is giveaway-happy. Hockey Analysis confirms this, so keep that in mind when you're reading the stat line from a game played at the VC or when you see that the Caps are leading the League in giveaways.

Incidentally, the same scorer is a bit generous in awarding takeaways too, but is more miserly in handing out hits.

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Now that’s fascinating. (As well as confirmation that I’m not going crazy.)

by TylerG on Nov 29, 2008 2:37 PM EST reply actions

In a related story, why is Alzner’s nickname “King Karl?”

by TylerG on Nov 29, 2008 2:39 PM EST reply actions

It might stem from this past summer’s Development Camp Guide (PDF), but probably is older.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Nov 29, 2008 2:46 PM EST up reply actions

I like the ‘King Karl’ moniker. The origin is probably an interesting story. Well, if the King is telling it it’s bound to be interesting. As I was fooling around in the kitchen this morning I looked up and noticed that the clock said 11:11 and so I immediately made some wishes.

by Uncle C on Nov 29, 2008 3:10 PM EST reply actions

King Karl, Alexander the Great, maybe we should start calling Semin, Alexander the Conquerer. Too bad he is out of action.

Capitals Kremlin

by CapitalsKremlin on Nov 29, 2008 3:31 PM EST reply actions

giveaways/takeaways

I still don’t understand the whole giveaway/takeaway concept. Does anyone understand why a giveaway is not a takeaway and vice-versa?

by Yoshietree on Nov 29, 2008 3:38 PM EST reply actions

Takeaways and giveaways are, I believe, mutually exclusive – when the puck turns over, either a player gave the puck away or it was taken away.

A quick Google reveals the following:

Takeaways
A takeaway occurs when pressure from the defending team results in a defending player gaining possession of the puck.

Giveaways
A giveaway is when a player’s own actions result in a loss of puck possession to the opposing team. When a player deliberately shoots the puck into the opponent’s end, the play is not counted as a giveaway.

Thinking of it another way may help – if I reach into your pocket and grab your wallet, it’s a theft or a takeaway; but if you drop your wallet on the street and I pick it up, it’s on you, a giveaway.

Does that all make any sense at all?

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Nov 29, 2008 4:44 PM EST up reply actions

Is icing a giveaway?

by Old Bob on Nov 29, 2008 6:49 PM EST up reply actions

No, but it’s such an easy stat to track, you wonder why they don’t track it (or at least publish it if they do). The other stat I’d love to see, while we’re at it, is times a guy gets thrown out of the faceoff.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Nov 29, 2008 6:59 PM EST up reply actions

King Karl

I thought Alzner’s moniker was to be “Cookies” (to go along with “Muffins,” of course). No good?

by brs03 on Nov 29, 2008 5:25 PM EST reply actions

Nice Insight

Thanks once again J.P. always worth the read. LETS GO CAPS!!!

by markbona-capsfan99 on Nov 29, 2008 6:02 PM EST reply actions

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