Thursday Roundup - Gamenight: Isles @ Caps
by J.P. on Dec 4, 2008 6:40 AM EST
24 comments
[AP Preview - WashingtonCaps.com Preview]
In 312 career NHL games against teams whose names don't rhyme with "Tapitals," Jon Sim has a grand total of 46 goals. In his other 21 games, he has 11, more than he has against any other pair of NHL teams combined... and he's back for more tonight.
Scared? You should be. Not necessarily of Sim in and of himself, but of facing a crappy-on-paper team with a hot goalie for the third straight game (and we know how the past two have turned out). Tonight's entry is Joey MacDonald, a 28-year-old with more games played in the ECHL than the NHL and more than 200 games of AHL experience who won the bronze for November Player of the Month thanks to an 8-5-1/2.64/.916 month (wait - that really was Third Star-worthy?). MacDonald has shown signs of cooling off, however, as he's been beaten up a bit in three of his last four starts.
Back to the "crappy-on-paper" part, the Isles' offense is terrible (they haven't scored more than four goals in a game since October 11... kiss of death, I know), their defense is worse (though a quarter of us covet a member of their blueline), they're the worst team in the League (perhaps the world) five-on-five, and even have the NHL's worst winning percentage when leading after one period.
Yup. Be scared.
Then again, Bruce Boudreau called out his squad after Tuesday night's loss, saying, "It was the least energy we've had all year.... We didn't play with a lot of life, and everybody's accountable" (and while he didn't name Brooks Laich or Matt Bradley, he had to be thinking about them). You'll recall that the last time he took his team and its leadership (or lack thereof) to task in the media as forcefully, they went on a 6-0-2 tear following the egg they laid in Buffalo.
The Caps are expected to go with Brent Johnson (career 0-6-0/4.52/.863 against the Isles... hey, he's due) in goal and an otherwise similar lineup to the one they've been using for the past couple of games. But which Caps team actually shows up tonight is anyone's guess. If it's a hard-working mix of NHLers with a sprinkling of AHL fill-ins, it might be enough to beat these Islanders. If not, the skid becomes a slide (if 2-5-0 isn't one already).
Elsewhere 'Round the Rinks:
Make sure to stop by Isles blog Lighthouse Hockey here at SB Nation to dig on their sweet logo and get a pre-game view from the other side.... Is GMGM a top tier general manager? Pierre LeBrun gives him some love (scroll down a bit).... That last link is a nice segue to this one, as any GM is, to an extent, only as good as his scouts: the Ross Mahoney interview pimped here should be good stuff.... And since it's the Isles on the schedule and we're talking GMs, here's New York's general manager hard at work (you didn't think I'd make it through the post without linking to that, did you?).... TRS uses the "C" word.... On this date back in 1981, Dennis Maruk potted four goals and added two helpers (and probably looked just about this friggin' awesome while doing it).... Patrick Wellar's storybook, um, story is over (for now, at least).
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If the Caps had a healthy forward contingent, would Nyls be looking at a healthy scratch tonight?
Hope y’all saw the first period of PIT-NYR last night. Some of the whiniest 87 ever. Typical sequence: Sid gets hit (cleanly). Sid gets mad, gets stick up on guy who hits him. Sid gets up, skates to the ref, whines. Sid goes to bench. Sid gets coach to yell at NYR bench through Plexi. Whiny, whiny, whiny.
by TylerG on Dec 4, 2008 9:17 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
(And the Orr-Godard fight is definitely worth a look: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys34b-iJTbU)
by TylerG on Dec 4, 2008 9:18 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Here’s hoping we see a scrap between The Donald and isles enforcer Mitch Fritz. The ladder being 6’8 260 lbs
by Fauxrumors on Dec 4, 2008 12:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The Aucoin recall could have Nylander implications, no?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Dec 4, 2008 9:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Heh. Just posted up on the “Aucoin” quote/post/thing that it might be Gordon. But yeah, if Gabby scratches Nyls for an AHLer with the lineup in its present state… well, that would be a loud-and-clear message to the rest of the team, wouldn’t it?
by TylerG on Dec 4, 2008 9:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think the message has already been sent and received.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Dec 4, 2008 9:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Boy, I’m not so sure. I mean, I didn’t see the third period on Tuesday because I was in bed under a pile of blankets… but nothing I saw int he first two periods indicated that the team was clear on the effort thing. Gabby’s called ’em out before. It worked for a couple nights… then regression.
by TylerG on Dec 4, 2008 9:58 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I was just ref’g to the lines of communication b/t Nylander and Boudreau, but don’t think it sends much of a message to the rest of the team, since they know the state of that relationship.
Now, if he benched, say, Brooks Laich, it’d be different.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Dec 4, 2008 10:00 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
There’s something to be said for doing that. It’s probably next, actually. Him or 10. (Heck, I’d almost suggest that 10 drops ‘em tonight just to show he’s there.)
by TylerG on Dec 4, 2008 10:18 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I have a feeling that both Laich and Ovechkin are injured…. but they can’t call up the entire Hershey roster.
by DebCapsFan on Dec 4, 2008 11:19 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Sigh. Let’s try that URL again. http://tinyurl.com/6dsuvb
by TylerG on Dec 4, 2008 9:19 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
not watching tonight. already in a bad mad, don’t need to pile it on.
by ns on Dec 4, 2008 9:53 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Here are two notes to back your position, NS:
- The Isles are the only Eastern Conference team Boudreau hasn’t beaten (0-2-0)
- The Isles have won their last three games at the VC
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Dec 4, 2008 10:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
On Paper???
Hockey isn’t played on paper, it’s played on TV sets….. or at the Phone Booth
by Mike L on Dec 4, 2008 10:01 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Wait
Teams are allowed to score more than 4 in a single game in this league?!? I tell ya’, the Islanders are always the last to hear about these things.
Stay through the whole game tonight. If the Isles get a lead, they’re usually kind enough to give it back.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 11:14 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I was most disappointed by the Pens-Isles game I saw the other day…they had it…they were rolling along…and then it all fell apart. Stupid Penguins.
by DebCapsFan on Dec 4, 2008 11:18 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The Isles will get a lead. The Caps have a tradition of allowing a goal on their opponents’ first shot of the game. I’d say it was about staking the other team a 1-0 in an effort to level the playing field, but, er, it’s not.
by TylerG on Dec 4, 2008 11:22 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
So the script is written then! Now will all these AHLers be able to follow it?
With the Isles-Pens game — with the small difference of Therrien unleashing Crosby/Malkin — it played out like several Isles games this season: They build a nice lead going into the third using Scott Gordon’s somewhat aggressive system, then fall back into old passive “prevent” habits they learned under previous coaches once they get to the third. Collapse ensues. Tears flow. Wounds licked. Lottery nears.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 12:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The first shot, first goal tradition seems to have passed, only to be replaced by the first shot on a breakaway standard.
by b.orr4 on Dec 4, 2008 1:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Not Worried
I was concerned going into the Florida game because it just seemed like the Law of Averages pointed to a loss. Tonight, not so much. I really expect the guys to come out flying after Tuesday’s humiliation. And I do think the LOA will apply to the Isles goalie who does seem to be returning to his AHL comfort zone. Of course, Boswell did write a glowing article today, so they’ll probably lose in a rout.
by b.orr4 on Dec 4, 2008 11:33 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Fred Smooooooooooooot is in attendance.
by Simply Sensational on Dec 4, 2008 9:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
21 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 30 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
19 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 23 |
|
Atlanta
|
18 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 22 |
|
Florida
|
19 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 18 |
|
Carolina
|
21 | 4 | 12 | 5 | 13 |
(updated 11.20.2009 at 9:16 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.
