Tuesday Roundup - Caps 2, Isles 1 - Gameday: Caps @ Sens

by J.P. on Jan 20, 2009 9:06 AM EST

[AP Recap - Game Summary - Event Summary - AP Preview - WashingtonCaps.com Preview]

It would be easy to go with an "Alex Ovechkin does it again" theme to this recap, but that might obscure the fact that the Caps put forth a sub-par effort and were lucky to escape with a win against the worst team in the League.

Some thoughts on the game:

Killing off a first period penalty, Tomas Fleischmann and Brooks Laich held the puck in the Islander zone for what had to be ten or fifteen seconds and created a scoring opportunity or two along the way, basically two-on-five. That moment went a long way towards telling you everything you need to know about how bad the Isles are right now.
Speaking of penalties, the five infractions for which the Caps were whistled were all handed out to skill forwards (and Chris Clark), and if memory serves, only AO's "puck over the glass" was committed in the defensive zone. Not good.
Pretty impressive Sea of Red in the background here. That was a road game, no?
Jose Theodore had another very strong game en route to his 200th career win. JT60 is only the 63rd goalie in NHL history to reach that mark, and he hasn't given up an even strength goal in 136:43.
In two games against the Caps this year, Brendan Witt has a minus-five rating and has either been on the ice or in the penalty box for every goal the Caps have scored (including the two power play tallies yesterday). Yikes.
Boyd Gordon won 71% of his defensive zone draws and 62% overall (welcome back), but the team leaders on the day overall were Nicklas Backstrom (69%) and Michael Nylander (67%). Huh?
AO was credited with zero hits on the day. Needless to say, that's pretty rare.

And so it's off to Ottawa, where the Caps will try their best to head into the All-Star Game on a high note. At least, you'd hope they'd try their best...

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Good teams playing down to a bad team’s level is as old as Moses. It could have been worse. Just ask Boston. What makes this year’s Caps different is that they still found a way to win.

by b.orr4 on Jan 20, 2009 9:19 AM EST reply actions

It beats what I saw in person against Columbus

At least here they a) scored goals and b) won! Play down if you must, dear Capitals, but WIN!

by HeartbreakRidge on Jan 20, 2009 9:25 AM EST up reply actions

Bad Ice

Forgot to mention this above, but god was the ice awful yesterday at Nassau Coliseum. Yet, according to Chris Clark (h/t The Red Skate) it still doesn’t compare to the Verizon Center:
"No," shaking his head. "It’s the worst. Today, [again, talking about Nassau] it just stayed wet for a little while. You could tell with the referees coming out and moving the water around a little bit. But I still say Verizon, playing on it all of the time, is the worst."

Gee Ted, I guess Chris didn’t get the company memo about how improved our ice is, heh?

by b.orr4 on Jan 20, 2009 9:25 AM EST reply actions

Clark must not be a fan of TPS reports.

by HeartbreakRidge on Jan 20, 2009 9:27 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah, I linked to that quote in a FanShot.

But it’s not an issue, or else the media would be writing about it.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Jan 20, 2009 9:31 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

+1

lulz, Ted

Pick SPG for your chance to win probably nothing.

by xiix on Jan 20, 2009 9:36 AM EST up reply actions

Sorry, I wasn’t trying to steal your thunder. :-) The thing with your new site is that there’s so much info, the fanposts just seem to get lost (at least for me). And with limited time, I usually only check in with your main story.

by b.orr4 on Jan 20, 2009 9:50 AM EST up reply actions

No worries at all. I would’ve front paged the quote if I hadn’t just posted this post.

More to the point, if crappy ice leveled the playing field yesterday to the point that the Caps needed an OT PP to win, and the VC ice is worse… well, you know the implication.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Jan 20, 2009 9:56 AM EST up reply actions

wow that was surprising. The way the Caps played I assumed the ice had to be worse than the Verizon Center’s.

by Sombrero Guy on Jan 20, 2009 9:33 AM EST up reply actions

I can understand how some arenas, especially “hockey only” facilities can provide better conditions, but I find it unbelievable that the Verizon Center can’t even compete with ice conditions at arenas located in places with warm climates (Phoenix, Tampa, etc…). I mean on Saturday for the Bruins game, for example, why don’t they just “open a few windows” and let the natural freezing temps and dry air help to condition the ice sheet and environment in the Phone Booth.

Keep in mind, I have no idea what I’m talking about—just venting some frustration. When you have a team this talented that you have the privilege to watch play regularly, you would hope they would have the best conditions to play on, so you know you’re getting the best performance possible.

by PaintDrinkingPete on Jan 20, 2009 9:35 AM EST up reply actions

In all honesty, we have bad ice, we play well at home, other teams have to play on our bad ice…I’m just saying.

by Whiter Mage on Jan 20, 2009 10:37 AM EST up reply actions

Whether or not the Caps have an advantage in being familiar with their own crap ice is a totally separate issue from whether or not their ice is crap.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Jan 20, 2009 10:48 AM EST up reply actions

Agreed.

That’s true, JP. I think Mage is just sayin’ that maybe we shouldn’t complain about crappy ice if it means that we’re used to crappy ice, and the opposition isn’t and they come in and can’t connect passes and such cause it’s bouncing like a sugar-high 5 year old.

VC ice = crap. Fact. Good or bad? Probably good.

by Hazardous on Jan 20, 2009 12:21 PM EST up reply actions

I think the reason to complain about crappy ice is that it can lead to crippling injuries – just ask Clark. I also tend to think that this Caps team would be even better with a decent sheet, although I can’t argue with the home record.

Good or bad? Definitely bad for the players’ health. Unknown in terms of home ice advantage.

by grapejoos on Jan 20, 2009 12:56 PM EST up reply actions

Quite possibly on the health aspect, though our number 1 guy has yet to have injury trouble from it, and if anyone skates harder, faster or more recklessly (and thus more prone to injury from a misstep or something) you feel free to show me. (I’m obviously talking about Ovie, here)

And if the guy going the fastest/hardest isn’t getting injured, I can only suspect the ones that do are just more prone to it, and who knows how much of that is the ice so much as just their inferior genetics. (perhaps inferior is too harsh a word but I couldn’t think of something else)

by Hazardous on Jan 20, 2009 1:20 PM EST up reply actions

Well, let’s just say I think it’s more likely than not that ice with ruts in it would increase the number of potential injuries. I’d rather not wait for Ovie to get hurt to find out. It could be that the guys getting groin and ankle injuries are more injury prone, but if your skates are being caught in ruts, that certainly isn’t going to lead to fewer injuries.

I think the Caps’ massive home edge has a lot more to do with the fans and the team’s confidence than it does crappy ice, but I could be wrong. I’ve heard the players cite the fans for giving them an edge many times (sure, mostly lip service, but occasionally they may be sincere). I haven’t seen any Caps cite their ice as a reason why they are so good at home.

And by the way, I am still amazed (and thankful to DC sports fans) that it’s even theoretically possible that the Caps are getting a massive home advantage thanks to their rabid, screaming fans :)

by grapejoos on Jan 20, 2009 5:20 PM EST up reply actions

+1 being amazed at the screaming fans.

People looked at me like I was an idiot when I tried to get some loud cheering started during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals back in 1998. And that was BEFORE I started wearing a Sombrero.

by Sombrero Guy on Jan 20, 2009 7:12 PM EST up reply actions

Does not compute – see Flyers/Capitals Round 1 last year.

by macvechkin on Jan 20, 2009 11:33 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah, we obviously lost the playoffs because of our ice. Not because the flyers were allowed to throw defensemen into our goalie, right?

No, I’m just saying that you learn to play your ice, and every sheet is different, and so you learn to use it to your advantage. If I recall correctly, the Sabres were so good at home for YEARS because they had a SMALLER rink than was allowed, because they were grandfathered. You have to use home ice to your advantage, which is knowing it’s bounces, how the ice works, and all that jazz, and regardless of how well the conditions are, you learn to make it home. It’s little nuances that can give you three-four goals in a season that you may not have gotten before.

by Whiter Mage on Jan 20, 2009 11:55 AM EST up reply actions

“Another thing that favored us was the condition of the ice. It was so bad that it was tough for guys like Semin, Backstrom and Ovechkin to get anything going, the ice was so bad. That was another thing that went our way.” – Daniel Briere

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Jan 20, 2009 11:58 AM EST up reply actions

He said that to be diplomatic about the fact that they won because they kicked the shit out of Huet.

Regular season record speaks a hell of a lot more to me than a quote from a little bitch like Briere.

by Whiter Mage on Jan 20, 2009 12:00 PM EST up reply actions

No, you’re right, there’s times when it DOESN’T work to be advantageous. I’m just saying that, to the tune of 3 regulation losses at home through almost the all-star break, something about that ice has to be helping our team.

by Whiter Mage on Jan 20, 2009 12:01 PM EST up reply actions

Well, to be perfectly honest...

I wouldn’t believe a single thing Daniel Briere told me. He could tell me my house was burning down, and I wouldn’t believe him outright, I would figure there has to be some sort of ulterior motive for him to say such thing, such as to divert attention from the fact that he’s the one that set fire to my house.

Short version: Daniel Briere causes housefires.

by Hazardous on Jan 20, 2009 12:08 PM EST up reply actions

Easy to say that the Caps “played down” to the Islanders level (which definitely appeared to be true), but one thing not overlook is the fact the Caps have become the kind of team that otherwise poor-playing, lethargic teams get motivated to play.

by PaintDrinkingPete on Jan 20, 2009 9:28 AM EST reply actions

True, but other than Yann Danis, I didn’t see many Islanders having a great game.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Jan 20, 2009 9:31 AM EST up reply actions

No, I agree—I thought it was in general a poorly played game on both sides yesterday…but I feel like the Caps are playing at a level where they are usually going to get an opponent’s best effort, no matter how sub-par it may be, but of course the standings speak to that.

by PaintDrinkingPete on Jan 20, 2009 9:40 AM EST up reply actions

I was waiting for obligatory goal by Richard Park.

by Sombrero Guy on Jan 20, 2009 9:34 AM EST up reply actions

or Sim

by Moonage Daydream on Jan 20, 2009 9:39 AM EST up reply actions

The Pink Tee Shirt

In honor of Tom-tom, but assuredly not to imply that Mon Cheri Lapin is a habitual laggard or anything (but just to be sure that the Pink Tee becomes immortal — as it really should be), I’d like to propose the Pink Tee Shirt award. As a counterpart to the Hard Hat, awarded for the hardest-working Cap of the game, the Pink Tee shall be awarded to the biggest bum of the game. To the one who displays the most disinterest in the events at hand.

For the Isles game, I nominate Mike Green. (I do dearly hope that he doesn’t earn the Pink Tee so often that he comes to ‘own’ the award. But I sense a trend.) Note to Lamborghini-Greenie: Repeat out loud ten times, prior to each game —> “I am a d-e-f-e-n-s-e-m-a-n.”

Am I totally wrong? Am I seeing things that aren’t there?

by Uncle C on Jan 20, 2009 9:53 AM EST reply actions

I personally don’t have a problem with Mike Green jumping up in the play, even if he finds himself down by the other teams goal line every game. The lazy turnovers by his own goal line scare me quite a bit.

by Sombrero Guy on Jan 20, 2009 9:57 AM EST up reply actions

I definitely also do NOT personally have a problem with Mike Green jumping up in the play. That is, yep!, part of his job. But the other part, the less glamorous part, the being responsible in your own end part, I am not seeing it as often or as consistently as I need to see it.

by Uncle C on Jan 20, 2009 10:11 AM EST up reply actions

Greenie would get my award for the Isles game, too. Bumbling the puck at the point on the PP (I know, nothing new there)…

But that blind throwback off the boards behind his goal in the third period – still not sure how the Islanders didn’t bury that puck

by Moonage Daydream on Jan 20, 2009 9:58 AM EST up reply actions

No Harm – No Foul.

by macvechkin on Jan 20, 2009 11:34 AM EST up reply actions

No harm - no foul...

No truth. Just because the opposition sucked too hard to bury a single goal without Zebra help isn’t any reason to say “no foul” to what was obviously a foul. You can’t do that crap or better teams will steal your lunch money and give you a swirly.

by Hazardous on Jan 20, 2009 12:15 PM EST up reply actions

At least someone was SHARP yesterday

http://www.newsday.com/media/photo/2009-01/44599719.jpg

by Uncle C on Jan 20, 2009 10:08 AM EST reply actions

talk about lying down on the job!

by HeartbreakRidge on Jan 20, 2009 10:16 AM EST up reply actions

Tonight’s zebras: Paul Devorski, Mike Hasenfratz

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Jan 20, 2009 10:27 AM EST reply actions

Morelike Mike “Hans und Frans”

by Whiter Mage on Jan 20, 2009 10:39 AM EST up reply actions

They’re going to pump us up… full of BS penalties!

by Hazardous on Jan 20, 2009 12:10 PM EST up reply actions

Not too bad, i.e. no Rooney or McCreary.

I have as many wins in a Capitals uniform as Michael Belhumeur does.

by marky narc on Jan 20, 2009 11:09 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah, the Nassau Colosseum scorekeeper seemed really stingy on awarding the hits. Not that it makes much of a difference, but AO being credited with zero hits is a rarity.

I have as many wins in a Capitals uniform as Michael Belhumeur does.

by marky narc on Jan 20, 2009 11:10 AM EST reply actions

Maybe it’s because of all the BS hitting penalties he’s getting and all the media about it…and now he’s altering his game a little

by sincitycapsfan on Jan 20, 2009 12:08 PM EST up reply actions

Don’t think Ovie is altering his game at all because of hearsay. In fact, what I gather of his personality, something like media attention to his hitting game wouldn’t only make him hit MORE, positive or negative spotlight. His hits are almost always clean, if they are dirty, it’s by accident and he owns up to it immediately (see: Briere as a saber). I simply don’t see him downplaying his physical game at all for any reason.

by Hazardous on Jan 20, 2009 12:12 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, I agree with Haz here. Ovie really isn’t the kind of guy to change his game out of Stripe Fear. I doubt that the “attention” he’s been getting becasue of a couple hit would get into his head all that much.

I have as many wins in a Capitals uniform as Michael Belhumeur does.

by marky narc on Jan 20, 2009 12:20 PM EST up reply actions

Complete sidenote:

You’re one of my favorite posters here, Marky. I enjoy coming into the gameday threads after the game and seeing 800 Marky Narc posts to everyone else’s combined 500. But seriously, the macro images and whatnot are a pleasant break from the usual fact/stat talk. Are you, by chance, a 4channer?

by Hazardous on Jan 20, 2009 12:25 PM EST up reply actions

I enjoy coming into the gameday threads after the game and seeing 800 Marky Narc posts to everyone else’s combined 500.

Do I detect a smidge of sarcasm here? :)

And to answer the question – honestly, no. But I do enjoy the lulz.

I have as many wins in a Capitals uniform as Michael Belhumeur does.

by marky narc on Jan 20, 2009 12:52 PM EST up reply actions

lol actually not at all on the sarcasm. I just think it’s funny, I’d be doing the exact same thing, but there’s no cable in my room, where my computer is. I need to watch the games on the family TV so I can’t post but between periods or after the game. I just thought I’d be a smartass and take a little innocent jab at ya. :P

by Hazardous on Jan 20, 2009 1:17 PM EST up reply actions

I’m so glad I upgraded my internet service so I can stream games right from my computer.

I have as many wins in a Capitals uniform as Michael Belhumeur does.

by marky narc on Jan 20, 2009 1:33 PM EST up reply actions

Marky is definitely a Japers’ Rink All-Star.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Jan 20, 2009 1:01 PM EST up reply actions

Perhaps, but they voted some dude from Montreal in ahead of me. Dammit.

I have as many wins in a Capitals uniform as Michael Belhumeur does.

by marky narc on Jan 20, 2009 1:32 PM EST up reply actions

nice!

by HeartbreakRidge on Jan 20, 2009 3:36 PM EST up reply actions

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