Monday Roundup
by J.P. on Dec 15, 2008 6:30 AM EST
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A few notes on a recap/preview-less Monday:
- In the entire history of the Washington Capitals organization, the team has only used two first round draft picks on goalies. The first of those netminders (Olie Kolzig) went on to win 301 games for the franchise; the other (Simeon Varlamov) made his successful NHL debut on Saturday night in Montreal (therefore, Varlamov will win 300 games for the Caps).
- On Saturday, Varlamov (20.4 years old) became the youngest Russian-born goalie to ever start a game in the NHL, and the second-youngest Cap goalie ever. The youngest (Kolzig - 19.5 years old at his debut) and the third-youngest (Jim Carey at 20.8) in franchise history each went on to win the Vezina Trophy (therefore, Varlamov will win the Vezina for the Caps).
- The Caps are 8-0-0 in the last eight games Alex Semin has played, and have outscored opponents 28-10 in those games, allowing one goal six times and two goals twice. They're 13-4-2 on the season with Semin in the lineup.
- Impressive as that last stat is, Brent Johnson is my team MVP thus far, by a hair. Who've you got?
- The Caps have been outshot at even strength in each of their last three games, but have won all three. That's an awfully tough way to win games, unless your special teams are performing at an otherworldly level. Speaking of which...
- The Caps power play has been 37.9% efficient (11-for-29) over its last seven games and its penalty kill hasn't allowed a goal in five games and has killed 89.7% (35 of 39) of all shorthanded opportunities over the last nine games.
- You can say what you want about the Caps' "luck" in playing in a weak division, but they're 9-1-3 against the non-Southeast teams in the Eastern Conference.
Elsewhere 'Round the Rinks:
Tuvanhillbilly has Varlamov's post game interview translated (talk about an indispensible resource).... Alex Ovechkin on whether or not he's playing through pain: "Well, yes, my stomach hurts. Now I need to go to the rest room and it will be gone." TMI.... Speaking of AO, I wonder if he and Semin taught Feds or Kozzy the handshake.... Assertion: AHL success leads to NHL success. Case in point, well, you can guess.... Stefan Della Rovere continues to impress as he tries to make the Canadian World Juniors team.... Former Cap Darcy Verot is a cult hero in the KHL, and Chris Simon is, well, over there too.... Happy 42nd Birthday to former Cap (and Cap of the Day) Bill Ranford.
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Hahahah Ovi … TMI, but funny nonetheless.
On Caps being outshot but winning anyway: Either that, or your goalies are amazing, or a combination of all of the above.
One thought, though – can we compare scoring chances as well as shots? What’s the team’s shooting percentage? I think I’ve seen shots be lower but scoring chances be greater for the Caps a lot when I watch on TV. If that is the case here, it would tend to suggest that the Caps don’t use the “shoot the puck and hope” method, but instead wait for prime scoring chances. We knew that of them. :) For better or for worse, that seems to be the way they do it, and there are pros and cons to both sides of the argument, since a blocked shot is a turnover waiting to happen.
It’s not the “shots for” that are as bothersome as the “shots against.” Too many lately.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Understand what you mean, but how many of those shots against are actually quality scoring chances?
Also, how much of that is a decimated blueline? I know that our system involves a lot of puck control and sometimes ends up with opponents getting good chances, but that’s just how we roll. How does it compare to the first part of the season, and where do you think it comes from?
You know, I was watching NHL On the Fly last night, and Bob Errey was talking about the Pens record in December (2-4-2 I think) and they blamed the teams injuries. Talking about how Crosby and Malkin were trying to carry the team, but sometimes you can’t do it.
It just got me thinking once again about the depth on this team. We had an ugly road trip and some losses, some inspired performances (I’m thinking the Montreal shutout and the Bruins win) but, in the end, we’ve played through the injuries to some key, key players and kept on top of the SE and are moving up in the East.
That said, I hope we see the all out effort we’ve seen the last couple of games against the Islanders tomorrow rather than taking them too lightly.
Go Caps!
MVP
I’ve been noodling through the relative merits of Johnny, Semin, and even Poti in trying to think through the Most Valuable Cap so far, but you just can’t ignore Ovechkin. And it’s not even close. Any idiot could have predicted that he’d be leading the team in scoring, but would any of us have thought that he’d be leading in assists? Not that I need to make the case for OV, but the fact that our captain is out for most of the season and there’s zero cause for concern about leadership on a very young team speaks volumes.
In all fairness
Why is the “C” still on Clark’s jersey? I hate to see a guy demoted because of injuries outside of his control, but is he really providing that much leadership to our core players that he should keep the “C”?
Why is the "C" still on Clark’s jersey? I hate to see a guy demoted because of injuries outside of his control, but is he really providing that much leadership to our core players that he should keep the "C"?
I think it made sense for him to have the ‘C’ coming into the season: he’d played well when healthy, was a good captain from everything I’d heard, and there was no clear successor. As of right now, well, taking the ‘C’ away from a guy in the middle of the season just isn’t something that’s done, especially not because of injuries.
agreed. Since the beginning of the season I have been wondering what Clark is contributing to team, and frankly I don’t think his cap hit is worth hit. if potheir comes back (Tarik said he practiced today), I say find away to get his salary of the books for good.
sweet jebus
i hope he does not come back. i don’t want to see a decent human being lose the ability to function on the most basic level due to another hit/concussion.
by ns on Dec 15, 2008 1:48 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I would say the odds are astronomical that you would ever see Pothier playing for the Caps this season. Even if his head does clear up completely, he is so far out of hockey shape that he’d need a month just to get his legs back. As to Clark, I have a feeling that he’s extremely popular in the clubhouse. Taking away the “C” from a guy who’s well liked could create some deep resentment on an a team that’s, by all accounts, very together. Anyway, the captaincy in hockey is incredibly overrated, imo. It’s not like they’re giving Knute Rockney speeches before the game. Half of them admit they say very little. Let Chris keep the “C” . We all know Ovechkin’s the real leader on the team.
absolutely
there is no reason to rip the C off Clark’s sweater. IMO, he came back from that groin a bit too early, but taking away the captaincy is not something you use as a punishment for having a tough year.
That said, unless he gets the jump in his legs back, he’s a much reduced player. Fourth line, max. I hate to say it, but that injury continues to be a career threatening situation for him. It really sucks, but them’s the breaks. I read a great quote on the Candien’s blog a few nights ago from a guy named Bonar (no joke) and it was along the lines of, ‘When the curtain drops on your career, it happens fast and there’s not a lot of fanfare about it and you aren’t ever prepared for it, as a player or a person…it just happens and you’re gone.’ Not sayin’ Clarkie’s done, but he is definitely not even a shadow of his former self this year because of that injury.
I dunno. I went Johnny b/c he settled the situation in goal when it needed to be settled. Can you imagine the shitstorm we’d be in right now giving up one goal one night, five the next, two after that, etc.? I don’t think you can overestimate the importance of consistency in net, especially when the guy you brought in to give you that consistency hasn’t. Johnny has saved this team in the early goings, while Semin in October and Ovie in November carried the offense.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I understand your sentiment JP, but I’d have a hard time giving the team MVP to a goalie who’s only started 14 of the team’s 31 games.
Fair enough… but Ovie wasn’t Ovie in October, and Semin didn’t play in November.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
My only disagreement with JP is that if Alex Semin hadn’t stepped up early in the season and perform like an MVP, 27 points in 16 games, I’m not sure the Capitals would be in there current situation with as many points. Yes, the team can survive w/o Semin, but if he didn’t step it up early in the season while Ovie was seriously slumping, who knows where we would be.
Right – Semin had a great October. Ovie had a great November. Johnny has had a great year… but only half time. So who’s the MVP?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
When I personally think about who should be the Most Valuable Player for OUR team so far, I would say w/o Semin’s great Oct and first half Nov this team isn’t where it would be now, you basically saw a Caps team w/o Ovie. Now if you ask me who the team MVP will be @ the end of the year, I’d say Ovie hands down and barring an outstanding goalie performance he will probably be the Caps MVP for next year, and the year after that and so on and so on.
C’mon, this isn’t rocket science. Like the old saying goes, when you hear hoof beats think horses not zebras. The guy who’s the MVP is the same guy who leads the team in goals, assists, points, shots, hits and just about every other important stat. It’s nice that the team has some other worthy candidate, but AO is the straw that stirs the drink. I mean, he won the MVP last year and right now he’s on pace to be almost 20 points better this season.
by b.orr4 on Dec 15, 2008 5:01 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
it’s hard to question this logic. I think we are only seeing OVI’s best play of the season right now though.
how about turning the question on its side: who is the MVC (most valuable callup)? I’m going with Sloan, though the stats probably don’t bear this out.
Gotta be Sloan, though Alzner’s making a strong case REAL fast.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
MVP
With 16 points (3 goals) in 30 games, it’s got to be Nylander. And a relative bargain at just under $5 mil/per.
He has more game winners in the last 1 game(s) than anyone on the team. Gotta be Nyls.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
You’re absolutely right about Johnny, and he’s been great and has filled a glaring hole. But if you plug Ovechkin into the same thought experiment (without this player, how much better/worse is the team?), I don’t think it’s close. And I think you can say that without taking anything away from Johnny, who has certainly saved our bacon this season. Without Johnny at least there’s hope because you have Ovechkin. Without OV, there is no hope.
Hm. That’s certainly fair, and underappreciated is that even when Ovie wasn’t producing (i.e. October), just being out there and taking other teams’ focus away from the second line allowed Semin to have his huge month.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
team MVP so far
My pick is Erskine for getting hurt and not messing up the team any more with his awfulness
by YvonLabresMoustache on Dec 15, 2008 11:06 AM EST reply actions
The Beast of DC
Marketing-wise, things couldn’t be any better for the Caps. Eight points in the lead in the SE and the other pro teams in town are rapidly swirling down the toilet. The buzz surrounding the team is palpable and it’s only December with the prime hockey months still to come. In all my years, I have never seen this much interest while the Redskins are still playing (and I use the word “playing” very liberally). We are entering a Golden Age for hockey here in DC and it’s only going to get better over the next several years. Maybe five years from now and, hopefully a Cup (or two) in hand, we’ll watch Varlamov and Alzner and Osala, etc making dazzling plays and look back at December of ’08 and say remember when we saw all those kids for the first time.
The Caps are 8-0-0 in the last eight games Alex Semin has played
therefore, the Caps will not lose again this season as long as Alex Semin plays…
I think that’s the only logical and realistic conclusion to be drawn from that stat.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
just a thought
we should give Varlamov more starts in the big league to get him ready for our playoff run in a few months :)
Positive thinking -- but let's be a bit cautious
I’m all for “the glass half-full” philosophy, but even Ted expresses some guarded optimism. There is 2/3 of the season left (aproximately). We’ve had a rash of injuries and hockey is a very physical game. We’re also very close to the salary cap with limited wiggle room. Yes, I think we’ll win the Southeast Division, and by default, be no worse than the 3rd seed. Imagine drawing the Flyers again in the first round (Ugh).
Bring em on
As much as I would like the Caps to get a PA-free draw in the playoffs (that typically works out well), I also really want to get revenge on that Flyers team. The Caps can beat them.
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida
|
53 | 25 | 17 | 11 | 61 |
|
Washington
|
54 | 28 | 21 | 5 | 61 |
|
Winnipeg
|
56 | 26 | 24 | 6 | 58 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
53 | 23 | 24 | 6 | 52 |
|
Carolina
|
55 | 20 | 25 | 10 | 50 |
(updated 2.10.2012 at 9:27 AM EST)
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