Tuesday Roundup - Gamenight: Oil @ Caps
by J.P. on Jan 13, 2009 6:39 AM EST
42 comments
[AP Preview - WashingtonCaps.com Preview]
With a low pressure system and frigid temperatures arriving in D.C. around the same time the Edmonton Oilers hit the Verizon Center ice, you'd forgive me if I made an "Alberta Clipper" joke to open this post. But I'll spare you the groan and open with a reminder that the last time the Oil were in town - nearly a year ago to the day - the host Caps won the game in the 12th round of a shootout after Matt Bradley told Bruce Boudreau, "I'm going to score, put me out there," and then did just that.
That win vaulted the Caps into 11th place in the Conference, just four points behind Division-leading Atlanta (seriously), and the Caps would lose just ten games the rest of the regular season, four of which came at home in regulation. In fact, the Caps are 32-6-3 at home over the past calendar year, and haven't lost two home games in a row since last February.
That latter streak, of course, is on the line tonight after Steve Mason and the Blue Jackets whitewashed the Caps on Friday night, and after a tough loss in Montreal on Saturday (and with a trip to Pittsburgh and a visit from the Bruins looming), the boys in red need to take care of business (with military precision) tonight against a team that has never won in D.C. - the Oilers last road victory in this match up came in January of 1997 back at USAirways Arena in Landover, and that was their first win in that building since February of 1990.
And while the Caps and Oilers have played just twice since the lockout, the match up is not without storylines, first and foremost being the Caps' selection of Karl Alzner one spot before the Oil took Sam Gagner back in June of 2007. Here's how each is faring so far this season:
Advantage: Caps.
Then, of course, there's The Nylander Saga.
Advantage: TBD (Granted, the Caps thought they were getting this deal (at worst) and have thus far pretty much gotten this one, but hey, the jury's still out - we've got 2.5 years left for Nyls to turn it around!)
As for the game itself, this is another one of those trap games - the Caps run the risk of looking past a lesser (on paper) opponent to another lesser (on paper) opponent. But if they can focus for sixty (perhaps even just forty) minutes, two points should be theirs.
Elsewhere 'Round the Rinks:
The Caps rank third in the League in man-games lost to injury.... Apparently, "over the course of a season, teams will tend to have a combined shooting and save percentage of 100%; if, during an earlier part of the schedule, teams are cruising well above or below that figure, it is likely that over time, they will fall back in line with the general trend." Right now, the Caps are at 100.12%. It's magic!... Some dude in New York thinks Gary Bettman should step in and right the wrong that is Alex Ovechkin's All-Star snub.... A bunch of weekly power ranking are out with the Caps up one to fourth at USAToday.com, down four to eighth at The Hockey News, and down one to fifth at The Columbus Dispatch and CBSSports.com... Burnside and LeBrun on realignment.... SB Nation now has a Thrashers blog.... Happy 55th Birthday to today's Cap of the Day.... Finally, on this date back in 1993, Kevin Hatcher became the first Caps blueliner to have a hat trick when he scored three times in a 5-4 win loss at MSG (apparently it wasn't hard to shoot the puck while carrying a purse that night).
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we’ve got 2.5 years left for Nyls to turn it around!
So that’s good news…not.
by hotdog88gt on Jan 13, 2009 8:24 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Interesting chronology -
“The Oilers haven’t won in Verizon Center since Jan. 26, 1997.”
“The [Verizon Center] opened as the MCI Center on December 2, 1997”
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jan 13, 2009 9:28 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
They don’t call it Wackypedia for nuthin’!
I have as many wins in a Capitals uniform as Michael Belhumeur does.
by marky narc on Jan 13, 2009 10:17 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
No, Wiki’s right here. Katie needs to do some fact checkin’.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jan 13, 2009 10:22 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Wikipedia = A game where users pretend to be the editors of an Encyclopedia, with hilarious results.
by CapitalsKremlin on Jan 13, 2009 12:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Um, yeah. But it doesn’t take away from the veracity of when the MCI Center opened, which was 10+ months after the Oilers supposedly last won there.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jan 13, 2009 12:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think you need to make your point in bold letters JP.
by Sombrero Guy on Jan 13, 2009 12:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
oh no I’m just making fun of Wiki, I’ll get to the Post later. :)
by CapitalsKremlin on Jan 13, 2009 3:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’m very disappointed Rory Fitzpatrick didn’t make s the all-star team last year…
I have as many wins in a Capitals uniform as Michael Belhumeur does.
by marky narc on Jan 13, 2009 10:16 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
So Tarik sez we’re looking at these D pairings:
4-52
27-23
26-55
Are those the pairings you’d go with, given these six blueliners? I think I’d be inclined to flip 55 and 4 or 26 and 4, but that’s just me. Something about Erksine backstopping Green doesn’t excite me.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jan 13, 2009 12:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I guess we’ll find out real quick how healthy Erskine is…
by bigonetimer on Jan 13, 2009 1:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, i’m not sure how comfortable I feel with Big E being paired with Green. They seem to be more of complements than supplements, if anything.
by Mobsky on Jan 13, 2009 1:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It will be interesting to see how long that lasts. However, I do like the switch to 52-91 on the back end of the power play. If they can get pucks to net, I like Alex collecting rebounds from in close. They are also a little more responsible defensively.
by jcgillen on Jan 13, 2009 2:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I had the same reaction as you, JP. Erskine with Green makes me uncomfortable especially in his first game back. But maybe what Boudreau’s trying to do is set up Morrisonn and Schultz as a shut-down pair. If that’s the case, I’m willing to give it a shot.
by David M. Getz on Jan 13, 2009 4:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Side Note:
The high today here in MSP is minus-3. So simma.
by macvechkin on Jan 13, 2009 2:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Game note
Finally, on this date back in 1993, Kevin Hatcher became the first Caps blueliner to have a hat trick when he scored three times in a 5-4 win at MSG (apparently it wasn’t hard to shoot the puck while carrying a purse that night).
Really? I’m pretty sure I remember that they lost that game 5-4.
by katzistan on Jan 13, 2009 2:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Damn. I stand corrected.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jan 13, 2009 2:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
only 15 comments? I think Caps Fans are looking past the Oilers too…
by Sombrero Guy on Jan 13, 2009 2:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
of course.
they’re not nearly as awesome as CBJ.
by macvechkin on Jan 13, 2009 2:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah. Hella weak.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jan 13, 2009 3:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Hatcher
For better or, mostly worse, Kevin Hatcher was one of my favorite Caps in those days. Ah, the blissful ignorance of youth!
by theredskate on Jan 13, 2009 2:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Hatcher
At the height of the time the fans were ganging up on him, my little brother put his hockey card on our dart board. Good times.
by DebCapsFan on Jan 13, 2009 3:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Hatcher
Hatcher’s biggest problem was the fact that he was compared to Langway and Stevens.
by toymechanic on Jan 13, 2009 3:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Hmm... who to pull for in the Pit-Phi match tonight?
Other then hoping for some kind of gas leak in the Wachovia center, I’m torn. I know we would like Philly to lose (and I mean, c’mon… who wouldn’t?) but I just don’t have the intestinal fortitude to actually admit to myself that I want the Penguins to win.
by Wisper on Jan 13, 2009 4:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I’ll got Flyers. I can at least respect most of the guys on that team.
by David M. Getz on Jan 13, 2009 4:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
count me in for PHI beating the tar out of PITY tonight
by bigonetimer on Jan 13, 2009 5:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Same, I hope they run the Pens ragged.
by CapitalsKremlin on Jan 13, 2009 5:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
although PHI is public enemy #1
fuck the Penguins. beat them to a bloody pulp.
by ns on Jan 13, 2009 5:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Don’t care who wins, as long as it’s violent and in regulation. Sucker/ball punches on Crosby are a double bonus.
by grapejoos on Jan 13, 2009 5:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Someone just created a Thrasher's blog?
Just now? I mean… of all the times to start up something for the Thrashers?
What’s on the home page? An odometer-style counter showing how much money the franchise is losing per second, a link to download and print your own free tickets and a user-poll of the top 5 cities in Canada where you’d like to see the Thrashers relocated if YOU got to pick?
Ladies and Gentlemen, your Atlanta Thrashers!!!!!
by Wisper on Jan 13, 2009 4:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
No, the person who writes is has been blogging at Do The Thrashers Have Large Talons? for a while. He only now joined SB.
He’s actually a great writer. And there’s no way a team should be anywhere in Canada over Atlanta.
by David M. Getz on Jan 13, 2009 4:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think The Great White North will be reclaiming two teams
and Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Phoenix, and Nashville are the prime targets. This recession is going to CRUSH the weaker teams. Canada’s currency is strong and they could sell out an arena in Ontario if the team was 12-36-5.
I’d rather see relocation in lieu of contraction.
by Wisper on Jan 13, 2009 4:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think the NHL will ever let the Thrashers leave. There are 5.5 million people in the Atlanta metro area, which is too big a market for the league to give up. Plus, when the Thrashers actually win people show up. The same in Tampa. They proved they can draw people when the team does well.
I don’t know much about Phoenix, but I think Nashville is doomed to fail. It’s just not a big enough city to support an NHL team.
I can’t see two teams going to Canada because the only viable markets I see there are Hamilton and Toronto and the two might be too close together to fit two new teams in.
by David M. Getz on Jan 13, 2009 11:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
In my fantasy land, the Coyotes are back in Winnipeg, the Nashvilles are somewhere in Southern Ontario, one of Florida or Atlanta or TB goes to Quebec, and the Hurricanes become the Hartford Whalers once again.
by theredskate on Jan 13, 2009 4:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I second your notion of bringing back the Whalers.
by CapitalsKremlin on Jan 13, 2009 4:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
???
You mean to tell me you think having a team in Atlanta is better than Hartford or a viable Canadian franchise? Estas loco?
by macvechkin on Jan 13, 2009 5:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Having a team in Atlanta makes sense on paper, and if they could ever field a consistent winner it might even work in practice. It’s a huge city that isn’t in the kind of financial disarray you see elsewhere. The problem is that people in Atlanta don’t care much about pro sports in general (I lived there, trust me), and hockey is #4 (at best) on the list of pro sports because the Thrashers have never been good consistently.
I tend to agree that it makes more sense to have a team in Atlanta than Phoenix, Tampa, Miami, Nashville, Columbus, Hartford, etc. Hard to judge vs. a smaller Canadian market – I know Canadians love hockey, but I have a hard time believing a team in Hamilton (or some other Ontario burb) could compete for fans with Toronto and Ottawa.
by grapejoos on Jan 13, 2009 5:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Having a team in Atlanta worked very well when the team was good – people were showing up and excited. But bad teams turn off any fan base. Look at Pittsburgh, Long Island, Boston, and Chicago.
I would also say the Thrashers have, as a general rule, been more popular than the Hawks.
by David M. Getz on Jan 13, 2009 11:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That’s a fair statement. I lived there from 99-03. Things were good for both in 99 (last decent Hawks team until, I guess, the current one, and first season for the Thrashers), but by 03 Phillips was always a ghost town.
Atlanta, like most other cities, supports a winner. Unless it’s the Braves, who were simply too above average for too long for people to pay attention anymore. Your take on ATL and TB surviving makes sense.
by grapejoos on Jan 15, 2009 4:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
You mean to tell me you think having a team in Atlanta is better than Hartford or a viable Canadian franchise? Estas loco?
Atlanta has 5.6 million people, a median income of $51,482, more Fortune 500 companies than anywhere other than New York and Houston, and is growing. Hartford has 1.1 million people, a median income of $24,820, and has been shrinking for 40 years. I’ve also been told that Atlanta has more Northerners than Buffalo, which has a comparable city size and metro area size with Hartford.
Maybe a franchise in a good Canadian location would be a good option, but I think Atlanta is too big and too wealthy a market to be without.
by David M. Getz on Jan 14, 2009 12:35 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Well
Thanks Jurcina for what is quite possibly a horrendous loss. In only 2 short shifts you’ve likely cost us the game. Unless we have another third period miracle, which I’m certainly not counting on.
So, I ask, to all the naysayers of previous weeks… just how long do you let this colossal fuckup ruin games for you?
by Hazardous on Jan 13, 2009 8:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Also
Where’s the breaking point? When does a coach realize that changing up the lines during a winning streak is a horrible idea? We’ve dropped three since, shouldn’t it be abundantly clear by now? Only make changes that must be made (i.e. injuries). Reigning Jack Adams or not, he’s obviously fucking lost.
by Hazardous on Jan 13, 2009 9:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
16 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 22 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 15 |
|
Atlanta
|
12 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 13 |
|
Florida
|
14 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 11 |
|
Carolina
|
15 | 2 | 10 | 3 | 7 |
(updated 11.7.2009 at 9:10 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.
