Monday Roundup
by J.P. on Dec 1, 2008 6:00 AM EST
36 comments
Since injuries are the story of the day/week/month, I'll throw out a question for discussion and be back with more later.
Q: If you could have one of the injured Caps back in the lineup for tomorrow night's game, who would it be?
Of note, the Caps are 3-4-1 without Alex Semin in the lineup, 2-4-0 without Mike Green, 3-3-1without Tom Poti, 3-2-0 without John Erskine and 7-3-1 without Sergei Fedorov. Of course, there's massive overlap in those records, so take them with a grain of salt. Oh, and they're 3-1-0 without Chris Clark. Sad.
Elsewhere 'Round the Rinks:
Mike Morreale's Southeast Division Notes over at NHL.com last Friday spotlighted Brooks Laich's heroic shot-blocking effort against the Kings and the team's reactions to it.... Nicklas Backstrom made a Top 10 list that he'd probably rather not be on.... The Bears won their ninth straight game, thanks in no small part to Simeon Varlamov's goaltending.... Ben Boudreau made his ECHL debut in the same building in which his father coached for three years and won a championship, which is pretty cool.... Finally, on this date in Caps history in 1979, Mike Gartner notched his first of 13 hat tricks with the Caps in a 7-2 win over Quebec. Twenty-one years to the day later, Calle Johansson would pass Scott Stevens for the most assists by a defenseman in franchise history with his 332nd helper as a Cap (his 361 assists still stand as the franchise mark).
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1) No doubt that for most Caps fans thats an easy answer. Mike Green! He plays big minutes on defense. Is the PP QB. ‘Green means Go’.
2) Geez its uncanny how many our your guys got hurt all at once!
by Fauxrumors on Dec 1, 2008 8:14 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Green for me
It’s amazing how much the team misses him for breakouts. That Semin guy is pretty good too, though :)
Given the injuries to D, Poti and Feds are also pretty high on that list for me.
by grapejoos on Dec 1, 2008 10:20 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Green
I said it on Tarik’s blog, but my foot is in my mouth regarding Green. I still think he leaves a lot to be desired in the defensive zone, but there is absolutely no question that his presence is sorely missed. Not so much on the powerplay, but most definitely for his ability to skate the puck out of the defensive zone. Caps, IMO, have atleast 3 extra points right now if he hadn’t been hurt.
by Yoshietree on Dec 1, 2008 11:02 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’d have to go with Green as well. It really has more to do with the team’s overall depth at defenesman versus wing/forward than anything else, because I think if all else were equal, Semin would be a bigger plus. But on a team with questionable defense and amazing forward depth, I gotta go with the D. As talented as Semin is, even without him, even with all the other injuries the second line is still Nylander, Fleischman and Fehr, which isn’t half bad. Meanwhile the defense is the very definition of makeshift.
by David M. Getz on Dec 1, 2008 11:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It’s a tie between Greener and Gramps. Green makes almost every aspect of the game go go go go. Forward! Attack, attack! Onward and upward! But, on the other hand, Gramps’ puck control and generalship boosts everyone else’s confidence. Seems to make everyone else just that one tad better.
But then again, if I can have the Chris Clark of his heyday back, not the lame excuse for a Chris Clark that has showed up so far this season, I might take that over all else.
But wait, I do very much miss seeing that lethal snake of a mover and dancer Le Lapin on the ice. Showman extraordinaire! I’d like that back too.
Gee, this is hard.
by Uncle C on Dec 1, 2008 8:36 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Elsewhere 'Round the Rinks
Somewhat belated, RE: Debbies 7 – Bolts 3 on Sunday: “At that point, Kolzig, was replaced in the net by Karri Ramo, who was called up from the Norfolk Admirals on an emergency basis, due to Smith’s injury. When he left the game, Kolzig had made 23 saves on 28 shots.”
Or, um, had given up 5 goals on 28 shots. I am hopeful Tocchet will be able to talk Olie into retiring.
by Uncle C on Dec 1, 2008 8:55 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Mike Green
52. The Caps have had oodles of trouble getting the puck out of the d-zone in the last week (to say nothing of D play generally), trouble getting the puck into the o-zone, and trouble generating chances off the rush, which is a major source of offense for this team. All of that is about 52.
by TylerG on Dec 1, 2008 9:03 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Sasha
i’d have to go with Semin as well, although Green is a close second. The way Flash-Nyles-Fehr have been playing, you could add Semin to a 3rd line and have 3 legit scoring lines.
by ns on Dec 1, 2008 9:22 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Green
If we didn’t have AO then it would be Semin, but since we do, it’s Green hands down. There’s only so long you can survive with two rookies and a journeyman in your top six. The news on Varlemov is exciting.
by b.orr4 on Dec 1, 2008 10:03 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I'll go out on a limb
and say Brian Pothier. pure and simple, we have no one we can call a shut down D man, and he was the closest we had to that before he went down.
by bigonetimer on Dec 1, 2008 10:53 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
That’s a serious limb. I don’t think Pothier was a shutdown D anywhere, not in OTT, not here. A nice component, a good bargain even, but not close to being a shutdown guy.
by TylerG on Dec 1, 2008 11:02 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Psst… when replying to a comment, reply to that comment. It makes it easier to follow when it’s threaded.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Dec 1, 2008 11:07 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'd say you're right
but at the time he got hurt, he was our best all around defenseman—I guess that’s what I miss the most.
SInce it’s a folly to begin with that Pothier’s coming back any time soon, I’d take Schultz now.
by bigonetimer on Dec 1, 2008 12:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Schultz?
You’d rather we have back a terrible defenseman than a decent one? Your choice puzzles me, do you watch schultz play? I’ll agree with Pothier, and if you’d said Green or Alzner or even Poti (despite his recent play) I’d have agreed. But picking Schultz is a mystery to me.
by Hazardous on Dec 1, 2008 5:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Give Me Green
We have enough talent up front to offset the loss of Semin. Green jump starts our offense, and our breakouts have been pathetic without him.
by Sombrero Guy on Dec 1, 2008 11:08 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
How about Semin, Feds and Green?
All three practiced fully today and didn’t appear to be that limited. Feds especially was making hard cuts and stops, so the ankle appears on the mend. Could all three be ready for Tuesday? BTW, Alzner looked fine.
by b.orr4 on Dec 1, 2008 12:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
i hope so. heading to the game tomorrow and would love to see those clowns back in red.
by ns on Dec 1, 2008 12:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Awesome avatar, NS.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Dec 1, 2008 12:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
thanks, JP. seemed fitting the fur ball came out based on 28’s success as of late.
by ns on Dec 1, 2008 1:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Well, now I know why I never got a medical degree. According to Tarik, none of them will be back tomorrow. What I don’t get it is if Feds is still saying his ankle is sore then why the hell is he even out there practicing. It just makes no sense to put him through a full practice with the chance of reinjuring it. Let him skate on his own until he’s 100% pain-free. Sometimes, I just wonder about the training staff and their philosophy on injuries.
by b.orr4 on Dec 1, 2008 12:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I should add that it appears Alzner will play.
by b.orr4 on Dec 1, 2008 12:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Full cuts on KCI ice is different from full cuts on VC ice. But good to hear!!!
by TylerG on Dec 1, 2008 1:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Here it is all blown up, btw: 
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Dec 1, 2008 12:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Japers Rink Swag
If it isn’t already, this should be added to the Swag Shop.
by Sombrero Guy on Dec 1, 2008 1:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
How about a little slogan on the bottom: " No pain, no gain"
by b.orr4 on Dec 1, 2008 2:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Bravo!! Beats mine by a country mile. Tee hee!
by Uncle C on Dec 1, 2008 2:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Both are most excellent
Kudos to you guys.
by grapejoos on Dec 1, 2008 2:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
All these injuries are just disturbing. It is taking a LOOOOONG time for these guys to come back, the real question is how many more games can we stay afloat if Green, Le Lapin, Feds, Poti, Erskine are all out? The team doesn’t have anything more than 2 days off until Jan 20th, not exactly a lot of recovery time built in there, they also have 5 b2b series in that span. Ugh…who the hell schedules this stuff.
by wittcap79 on Dec 1, 2008 1:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
JP –
Mike Green bruised SEPARATED right shoulder 11.20.2008.
He couldn’t even shoot yesterday? He’s out until January. Believe me. Can I get an amen? I hate being right.
by macvechkin on Dec 1, 2008 3:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
eklund.
jk. having separated my shoulder playing hockey before. i knew it was bad when it happened and you don’t miss two weeks with a bruised shoulder. i suspect it was a grade 1 separation (mildest) and he is still lacking full range of motion on the arm. i have no formal medical training, but i did stay in a holiday inn express over thanksgiving.
by macvechkin on Dec 1, 2008 3:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
1) Macvechkin does have a point. Of course whether it was a seperated shoulder, a bruise or just a bad boo-boo we’ll never be told anyway.
by Fauxrumors on Dec 1, 2008 3:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
we certainly won’t be, which i find a little insulting when it’s this obvious. can you imagine this 20 years ago?
Malarchuk – upper body injury/dehydration – day-to-day
by macvechkin on Dec 1, 2008 4:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Mike Green for me, he brings talents that no one else on the team supplies
“Twenty-one years to the day later, Calle Johansson would pass Scott Stevens for the most assists by a defenseman in franchise history with his 332nd helper as a Cap (his 361 assists still stand as the franchise mark).”
When did I get so old?
by toymechanic on Dec 1, 2008 8:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
22 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 30 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
19 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 23 |
|
Atlanta
|
18 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 22 |
|
Florida
|
20 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 20 |
|
Carolina
|
21 | 4 | 12 | 5 | 13 |
(updated 11.21.2009 at 8:36 AM EST)
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
