Friday Roundup - Caps 7, Bolts 4
by J.P. on Jan 2, 2009 6:46 AM EST
21 comments
[AP Recap - Game Summary - Event Summary - WashingtonCaps.com Postgame]
For the first twenty minutes of last night's 7-4 win over Tampa, the Caps were thoroughly engaged and, not surprisingly, thoroughly dominant, out-shooting their guests 15-8 and out-scoring them 3-0. Thereafter, however, the interest level dropped significantly and the overall skill and system differentials between the two teams allowed the Caps to hold on to an easy win. On most nights - especially the important ones - that won't be enough.
Some thoughts on the game:
- First and foremost, get well soon, Jamie Heward. You never like to see an opponent injured, especially one who is as good a guy as Heward is.
- Matt Bradley was rewarded for a great game with the first star on the night. Brads had a goal, an assist, a plus-three rating and two hits. His goal eleven seconds after Ryan Malone cut the Caps' lead to 3-2 was a huge momentum shifter, and if Evgeny Artyukhin had dropped the gloves with him in the game's dying moments, he'd have had himself a Gordie Howe Hat Trick.
- Bradley's linemate, Boyd Gordon, also had a nice night, with a goal (the game-winner), an assist, and 58% of his draws won. He was twice the beneficiary of Mike Smith misplays and converted on 'em (once on his own and once setting up the Bradley tally).
- Bad news for Bolts bench boss Rick Tocchet - he bet the under.
- David Steckel now has five goals in nine career games against Tampa and five goals in 106 games against the rest of the League. Of course, Peter Bondra once had five goals in a single game against the 'Ning.
- Brent Johnson wasn't great, though he did make a couple of big saves (and flashed some attitude as well). He also didn't look 100% healthy at times.
- Chris Clark had his best game of the year and potted his first goal since November of 2007, meaning he went through all of 2008 without a tally. Yes, he only played 24 games in '08, but still...
- Three points for Alex Ovechkin, two for Nicklas Backstrom, two for Mike Green (whose goal was a beauty)... like clockwork, these guys, but those three power plays absolutely stunk out loud.
- That was about as poorly officiated a game as you'll see. There were missed calls (a slash that snapped AO's stick in half), phantom calls (Green's "trip" that resulted in the penalty shot, Gordon's "hook"), missed goals (they really needed to go upstairs on the Recchi goal?) and poor judgement (Michael Nylander deserved a dive when he drew the Prospal hook). Crappy.
- Congrats to Sean Collins on his first NHL goal, joining Tyler Sloan, Karl Alzner and Chris Bourque as other Caps to get their firsts this season.
So the Caps open the new year with a win and two points, but they had best make a resolution to quit the bad habits they've developed when playing the League's weaker teams, or they'll find themselves in trouble when playing the stronger ones. With the Rangers coming to town on Saturday night, they'll be tested and should pass... if they can focus for sixty minutes.
Elsewhere 'Round the Rinks:
Kevin Allen thinks AO hits the 60-goal mark again this season. Anyone disagree?... Happy 40th Birthday to today's Cap of the Day.... Braden Holtby notched his third shutout of the season last night.... Finally, on this day in Caps history back in 1982 Mike Gartner scored his 100th goal as a Cap, and in 1999 Brian Bellows had a goal and an assist to hit the 1,000 point mark.
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3rd and 4th lines looked pretty darn good from the part of the game that I saw.
And while he didn’t record a point, Bourque is looking like a nice lttle player (no pun)—and I wouldn’t be surprised a bit if he’s part of a trade deadline package March 3
by bigonetimer on Jan 2, 2009 11:19 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Get well Jamie Heward
Never like to see something like that happen. I was at the game, and everyone in attendance was noticeably concerned. Most of us, especially those of us in the upper bowl where my seats are, did not know the identity of the fallen player (I had to text a friend of mine watching at home to eventually find out) or his status—but we could see the concerned looks on everyone’s faces and the lack on movement on Heward’s behalf. I sit in section 412 above the scoreboard operators, so I heard that they “were absolutely not going to show a replay”, which is very understandable, but left a lot of us with questions (who was that?…is he moving at all?…was it a dirty hit?…etc).
The crowd was very sullen through the rest of the third period, especially considering how close the game was at that time. Ovechkin appeared shaken up, but it was good to see him add a tally and continuing to skate aggressively afterwards.
I heard this morning that Heward has suffered a concussion, which I suppose is somewhat good news, since many us weren’t sure if he had broken his neck or worse when he was carried off the ice.
Anyway, happy new year—I’ll just overlook some of the low points from last night’s game, be happy for the 2 points and start looking forward to the Rangers this Saturday and the Flyers on Tuesday.
by PaintDrinkingPete on Jan 2, 2009 8:20 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
19’s faceoff percentages in the last four games:
44, 33, 17, 33.
And amen. Get well soon Jamie. That’s as quiet as I’ve ever heard VC.
by TylerG on Jan 2, 2009 8:21 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
That’s saying something after sitting through the first couple of post-lockout seasons.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jan 2, 2009 8:37 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It was eerie. And there was kind of a delayed fan reaction on the subsequent 8 goal, too. As if thinking, ‘How loud should we cheer?’
by TylerG on Jan 2, 2009 8:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
No “unleash the fury”, no “get the crowd fired up” video montages like you normally would expect during the last TV timeout either…
Along with Bradley, it is also noteworthy to mention that Clark was only an assist away from a Gordie Howe hat trick as well.
by PaintDrinkingPete on Jan 2, 2009 8:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Good call on Clark, though his “fight” was quite the hugfest (understandable, given his recent injury).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Jan 2, 2009 9:08 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I had some Caps first-timers with me last night. I was a little disappointed they didn’t get to see the Gordie Howe but hey, they got to see ALOT that game.
by CapitalsKremlin on Jan 2, 2009 9:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
A lot....
…and not all of it good. I’d say they got to see some of the best and some of the worst.
by gotsparkly on Jan 2, 2009 9:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Well they did see 11 goals, a Green goal, an Ovechkin goal and a fight. The Heward injury brought the night down a bit. Both did pledge to return though.
by CapitalsKremlin on Jan 2, 2009 9:46 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I couldn’t help but feel like the Caps just got lucky. How many goals came after ridiculously bad miscues by Smith or a TB defender? I’ll take the two points but like J.P. said they better wake up when playing these non playoff teams.
by Sombrero Guy on Jan 2, 2009 9:28 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Tochett must have really laid into his team after the first period becuase they came out with some fire in their eyes at the start of the second and caught the Caps by surprise. Fortunately, Smith thought he was Brodeur when it came to handling the puck and managed to blunt every Bolt comeback with a deadly giveaway. I was happy Collins got his first goal, but he’s not an NHL defenseman. He made two bad reads that led directly to goals. If Poti is going to be out a while, I’d much rather see Helmer or Lepisto in his spot. BTW, Schultz looked an eight year-old who was just learning how to skate backwards.
by b.orr4 on Jan 2, 2009 9:28 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I thought the defense reminded me too much of the beginning of the year. Now I know why.
Tocchet needs to take Mike Smith’s stick away from him, because he’s surely less dangerous to his own team without it. Just kidding, but those two attempts at clearing passes … OUCH.
I’m not crazy about Lepisto, but Helmer has been solid, and I’m personally fond of Sloan as well.
So … who gets the start against the Rangers, do you think? Theodore looked rough out there in warmups. Let’s hope that’s a one-day thing.
by gotsparkly on Jan 2, 2009 9:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Given Theo’s recent performance, it will be his job to lose for now, and I expect him to be back in goal against the Rangers. Johnson didn’t exactly have a game worthy to spark a second spark either, although he did make some nice saves (especially on the penalty shot).
I don’t judge warm-up performances with too much merit, especially when it’s a goalie who knows he won’t be starting that night.
by PaintDrinkingPete on Jan 2, 2009 9:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Worthy to spark a second START.
Sorry for the typo, still feeling the effects of New Year’s eve I suppose…
by PaintDrinkingPete on Jan 2, 2009 9:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It’s okay, I’m breaking the new typo rule left and right today.
by CapitalsKremlin on Jan 2, 2009 9:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
These are delicate issues for Big Bou
"Given Theo’s recent performance, it will be his job to lose for now, and I expect him to be back in goal against the Rangers. "
Given all the carrying on that Joe-Zay did recently about now everyone see how great I am when I get multiple games in a row, I was very surprised to see Johnny out there. Very surprised! It’s impossible to see into Boudreau’s mind here but what he may be doing is setting Joe-Zay up for becoming the Hero of the Universe when he backstops back-to-back wins against the Ranger-Roos and the Fly-Dung. If there was ever an opportunity to get your goalie a dose of some big time mojo, here it comes.
Is Joe-Zay up to the task?
Interesting, Gabby! Very interesting!!!
(By the way, I thought Little Jeffie Weffie Halpern was a bit overwrought out there. He was zipping around like a deranged Jetson. He kept getting thrown out of the faceoff circle and his yapping to the officials is probably what turned them into zombies as the night wore on. I do fervently hope that Halpern’s dad and sis weren’t sitting within earshot me . . . . )
by Uncle C on Jan 2, 2009 2:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I wasn’t that surprised to see Johnson out there. He’s played well this season needs to stay sharp. The team has been playing well offensively and with the Rangers and Flyers coming into town this week (plus Columbus after that, who as we have already found out can be very stingy with the goals they allow this season), TB seems like a good game for resting the top goalie for an evening and letting the backup get some work.
This isn’t the playoffs (yet) and there’s no reason wear anyone out or let anyone get too rusty, so I have no problem with Gabby giving the start to Johnny, and I wouldn’t think that Theo should have felt too threatened by the decision either (unlike a few other times this season when Gabby went with #1 instead of #60).
Like I said though, Jose has played well enough to make the position his to lose…and I hope for the sake of the Captials that he doesn’t, but I also hope Johnny is ready to step up at any time in any capacity that is asked of him, much as he has been most of this season.
by PaintDrinkingPete on Jan 2, 2009 3:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The TB goalie was terrible last night. It’s impossible to know, but I have the feeling that Olie in net (or anyone else for that matter) would have made it a much closer game.
by boz on Jan 2, 2009 10:22 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
It was good to see the Caps bounce back like it did after Tampa goals. Yeah, two of them are easy goals on turnovers, but you still have to put them in the net for them to count.
Also, Tampa is used to crappy officiating, except they’re usually on the other end of the stick. Just ask Smith and the awful “thrown stick” call against Colorado.
I have as many wins in a Capitals uniform as Michael Belhumeur does.
by marky narc on Jan 2, 2009 2:13 PM EST 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.
