Recap: Capitals 4, Bruins 1
by David Getz on Oct 1, 2009 10:06 PM EDT
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If you're a Capitals fan, it's hard not be excited about tonight's game. After all, seeing your team win the season opener is good, seeing them do it on the road is even better, and beating last year's regular-season Conference champs better still. But what's really exciting isn't just that the team won but how they won.
For the most part the frustrations of last season were absent from tonight's game. The team did take a couple of unnecessary penalties, sure. But they also put pucks home by digging in front of the net, held themselves in check when they could have been tempted to retaliate to the Bruins' antagonistic efforts, came out of every penalty kill unscathed, kept their shift lengths reasonable, and made it through the whole game without having a giveaway credited to them. That, not the scoreboard, is the truly encouraging part.
No matter what the result of tonight's game we would all still know the Capitals are an extraordinarily talented team capable of beating anyone on any given night. What we've seen now is that they look committed to doing what it takes to beat anyone on every given night.
Ten more thoughts on tonight's game:
- The Capitals allowed three shots - three - in the third period.
- Going in to the game I wouldn't have had Brooks Laich on the first powerplay unit. Oops.
- Here's hoping John Erskine uses his hands to play the puck, not hold his man's stick, next time. And that when Milan Jurcina takes his next restraining foul penalty it's not right after a Capitals goal.
- If Quintin Laing were ten percent faster, he'd have played a lot more than forty-three NHL games.
- Shaone Morrisonn had a very solid game. Looks like his early-season struggles may have been a one year thing.
- Was the goaltender interference call on Alex Ovechkin weak? Maybe. But I'm glad it was called. As a Caps fan I rather have the referees take control of that situation than let a bunch of cranky Bruins go after him.
- Good on Brian Pothier for not only coming back to Boston and playing well but for laying out one of the night's best hits.
- Not David Steckel's best game - whiffed on a goal early, coughed up the puck on the Bergeron goal. Nice work on the dot, though.
- Speaking of faceoffs, the team won 70% of its shorthanded draws.
- The Capitals were outplayed physically: the Bruins out-hit them 32-24 and scored most of the harder hits. Yet the Capitals weathered the storm and were better at actually, you know, scoring and preventing goals. I'm not sure if that's an argument for or against Jeff Schultz.
We couldn't have asked for a better road opener. Let's hope we can say the same about the home opener come Saturday.
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Kept shift lengths reasonable. Yes, more of this, please.
"Good crowd out there tonight, boys, let's really try to win this one."
by Bald Pollack on Oct 1, 2009 10:11 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Why was Greens avg shift length 24 seconds? That seems way too short for a dman.
One guy just drove his semi as a float. I guess semis are cool.
Double it (:48).
"Good crowd out there tonight, boys, let's really try to win this one."
by Bald Pollack on Oct 2, 2009 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Hey, Alan May on CSN postgames now? Kinda looks like the lizard your college roommate had, then lost, and you found 3 weeks later after it died.
"Good crowd out there tonight, boys, let's really try to win this one."
File under “Things BP Would Never Say to the Dude’s Face.”
May’s awesome. He’ll bring it.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I’m sure he is, but I kept getting a creepy Don Henley looking vibe from him.
"Good crowd out there tonight, boys, let's really try to win this one."
Yeah, he looks a little weathered. But he’s had his nose broken 13 times and lord knows how many stitches that face has seen…
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
True that, it was startling on my TV.
"Good crowd out there tonight, boys, let's really try to win this one."
There are times when HD isn’t necessarily a good thing. Add Caps Postgame Live to a list that had previously contained Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s and porn.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Pity I didn’t get home until after midnight (no love, Metro) – anything interesting on postgame live?
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
I didn’t actually see it (saw May on the pre-game show, though, and he was pretty good there and on the enforcers panel at CapsCon).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I think this was his first one(?) and I thought he wasn’t bad.
"Good crowd out there tonight, boys, let's really try to win this one."
As I recall, May was always a good quote when he wore a Caps jersey. I guess the goons usually are.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 2, 2009 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions
John Madden’s a real person? I thought he was a character in my XBox Football game.
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
John Madden, the defensive forward for NJD that scored a breakaway SHG against ANA in the 2003 SCF, and John Madden, the commentary guy in football.
by red army line on Oct 3, 2009 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions
I was totally afraid to say it during the game because I didn’t want to jinx it. I could wish he’d managed to bail out Steckel, but it just trickled through.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
I agree but that’s a tough spot for a goalie. Bergeron is no hack and Steckel had no business pulling a Brian Campbell right there.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
Was that our Theo? Looked…in control.
The women dug his snuff and his gallant stroll
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 2, 2009 12:50 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
A Statement...
If the Caps wanted to make a statement that 2009-10 is their year, they could not have done it much better than tonight. A couple of other notes from what I saw.
1) From what I saw, other than the stupid penalty, Jurcina was barely noticeable… so he was doing his job.
2) Chuck Norris may not do push-ups (he’s pushing the Earth down), but even he cowers in fear at the sight of Brooks Laich.
3) The crowd (and Andy Brickley) didn’t like the penalty on Chara on the cross-check on Ovie after Ovie hit checked someone legally. Maybe the NHL has told the refs to crack-down on retaliation after clean hits?
Overall, this was a strong effort by the Caps and they came out and said to the league that they are ready to be the dominant team that they are capable of being…
Let's go Caps!
Yes, here’s hoping Laich continues scoring like that.
And Backstrom….assist machine numero uno. Money.
Come to think of it, 4 right shots + 1 lefty on #1PP isn’t as good as 3 right shots + 2 lefties. At least tonight.
by red army line on Oct 2, 2009 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions
Brooks getting 3 points a game isn’t likely (that Wayne Gretzky came close a couple of times is crazy enough), but if he were to jump to say about 65-70 (up from 53 last year, which was up from 37 the year before), it’d be great. The line of him, Knuble and Morrison looked pretty good. And he certainly looked strong in front of the net on the Power Play.
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Oct 2, 2009 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions
Regarding 3
I hope so. Retaliation after a clean his is BS, and needs to stop. Watching someone get seriously injured because they played hockey and laid out a clean hit would be a nightmare.
I think we saw some of that with the Erskine hit in the Chicago game. He hit one of their guys pretty hard and knocked him over, and then ended up drawing a 5 minute power play due to the retaliaiton. If they start putting people like Chara in the box for retaliating, even if it’s minor (which it was), the behavior will go away.
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Oct 2, 2009 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions
Woulda sucked to be a BOS fan tonight at that home opener….about 3 seconds of exciting play for them out of the entire 60 mins…Bergeron’s breakaway goal.
It’s hard to feel sorry for sports fans in BOSTON. It’s our turn.
by PaintDrinkingPete on Oct 1, 2009 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Seriously. They had their time. This… THIS IS OUR TIME! ahem sorry, gotta stop hitting that YouTube clip…
"I am... *grins* ... 'Nobody' "
- Odysseus
by war_capitals on Oct 2, 2009 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions
I thought the first period belonged to BOS until the Laich goal.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
Agreed, the first 10 minutes looked like our losses in the Pens series. Getting fore checked to death and only clearing the zone by flinging it out to their D to start all over again. Fortunately the tide turned quickly.
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
Agreed. All of the trouble the Caps had clearing the zone in that period reminded me way too much of the Pitt series. Can’t argue with how they turned it around, though.
I am dying to know exactly what switch got flipped that turned this game around. After being pinned in our zone for the first few minutes of the game I was pretty worried.
Can anyone put their finger on what the Caps changed to so drastically alter the game? Or is that a BB secret that we’re better off not disclosing until AFTER THE CUP PARADE??? : ] Felt good, whatever they did… total statement win.
"I am... *grins* ... 'Nobody' "
- Odysseus
by war_capitals on Oct 2, 2009 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions
I think was inevitable the Bruins would come out with a very high intensity level given that it was their home opener. The Caps weathered that storm and once the game settled down they were fine.
Damn. I was hoping it was something our guys started doing, rather than something Boston stopped doing.
“This 4-1 win wasn’t good enough!!!” hehe
"I am... *grins* ... 'Nobody' "
- Odysseus
by war_capitals on Oct 2, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed. The PK looks worlds better than it did last year.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Oct 1, 2009 11:20 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
yeah it’s easy to forget how much he brings to the table when he doesnt play for two seasons. he wont get a thirty goal season this year, but i’d be happy with 15
What got me is that the Caps looked like a team this game instead of a bunch of guys on the ice like they did last year. Time will tell who we have to thank for that, but I can’t help but think Chris Clark has a hand in that.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Oct 2, 2009 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Had a good time in Springfield for the game – my thoughts involved it being a joke that Bergeron was allowed to initiate contact with the goalie before scoring, however quickly the bang bang happened, and the fact Ovechkin got shoved by Thomas is goalie interference – it looked like Thomas initiated the contact. And, no, I think if a Bruin had gone after Ovechkin for it, it would have pissed me off more. Good showing, to be honest, and Erskine’s holding the stick penalty – he looked fine until he picked up the stick, which was 5-6 seconds of good defense, and he got no help. He also looked good standing up to Thornton.
“Our defensemen are huge!”
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
Erskine could have kicked or gloved the puck. He used his body for positioning well but he is just retarded for grabbing the stick. Like helmet on the short bus leaving saliva on the window retarded.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
by Rob Parker on Oct 2, 2009 1:35 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Rec’d for the political incorrectness…..and remember, its always nice to have one or two guys with a little retard in them to do the tough stuff.
I’ll ask respectfully that this line of discussion stop. I know that using that word derrogatorily is particularly offensive to some members of our community, and it’d be cool if we could find other ways to express the same point. Thanks.
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by J.P. on Oct 2, 2009 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
No worries – just wanted to say something so everyone’s on the same page going forward.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
savoring this for the day or so it will last:
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/statistics/
"No Brooks Laich, no win. Know Brooks Laich, know win."
Tom Poti at the top of +/- makes Scotty ill.
you know, we could wake up tomorrow and find Theo leading the NHL in save percentage and GAA. How’s that for beautiful?
Take off, hosehead!
"My face is my mask."
by Jake Shapiro on Oct 1, 2009 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions
The post game interview with Brooks one of the reporters says, “You know they signed Knuble to do that” (talking about the two dirty goals )and Brooks gets serious and says, “What, was I supposed to quit doing that?”
One guy just drove his semi as a float. I guess semis are cool.
by zephyr on Oct 1, 2009 11:00 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Every day that Bondra trade gets a little less painful.
by LSF76 on Oct 1, 2009 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Blue Black & Bronze Blasphemy!
But yeah, replacing our old Brooks with a Knuble clone was brilliant offseason work.
"I am... *grins* ... 'Nobody' "
- Odysseus
by war_capitals on Oct 2, 2009 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Laich love
Was Brooksie awesome tonight? He was flying all over the place and looked right at home being a top 6 forward on a top NHL team. Wow
And just wait until the Caps start to struggle a tad, and Knuble moves up and Semin moves back – this team is fuckin’ scary. I love it!
by DrinkingPartner on Oct 1, 2009 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Really, not much to add. It was literally the perfect season opener. When you watch the Caps play like that, you wonder how they can ever lose. Backstrom..is that kid silky smooth or what? Laich, two goals from a combined two feet away? Maybe Knuble really is teaching these guys something. And Ovie? What more is there to say. Oh, by the way, memo to Milan Lucic. The next time you’re on the ice with the best player in the world, you might want to actually cover him in the slot.
by b.orr4 on Oct 1, 2009 11:01 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Oh, by the way, memo to Milan Lucic. The next time you’re on the ice with the best player in the world, you might want to actually cover him in the slot.
Hahaha, this.
by Knee high to a duck on Oct 1, 2009 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions
But, but, but, BOS is the bestest defensive team evuuuuuuuuuuur.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
hah, now all we’ll hear about is the Prongerized Philly.
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
We’ll see what happens there. They’re definitely going to be a rough team to play against, no question.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Philly is rough, but they have 0 depth. One injury and they’re done (esp. if its Pronger).
Of course, they are still relying on Ray Emery in net. He can be very very good, or he can be very bad…
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Oct 2, 2009 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions
Philly is rough, but they have 0 depth. One injury and they’re done (esp. if its Pronger).
After Pronger they have Timmonen and Coburn. Their second best center scored 46 goals last year. Their third best (natural) center has been over a point a game since the lockout. They’re probably about as deep a team there is in the East, especially at the most important positions (save for in net).
And that vanRiemsdyk (sp?) kid looks pretty good too. Philly is loaded, except maybe in goal. Good thing the Caps are too.
Yeah, I have to point to goal as the spot where Philly isn’t loaded – but then, how many teams are?
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Them and the Stars. Stacked.
Wait, were we talking about Ice Girls?
I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe
They’re stacked, but more because they’ve run out of physical space for goalies and have begun piling them on top of one another.
Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.
Wade Dubielewicz
I just like saying the guy’s name. Even if he’s not on the Island anymore.
I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe
D’ohboy the Dubie fan?
"I am... *grins* ... 'Nobody' "
- Odysseus
by war_capitals on Oct 2, 2009 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions
Doobie Brothers
Favorite band as a kid. No idea why. I still remember the episode of “What’s Happening” where ReRon got caught bootlegging their concert.
I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe
Glass Houses
I love the Caps, and we have a lot of lower depth, but we still have some irreplaceable people. Pronger is probably one of they Flyer’s, but what would be do if Ovechkin went down? Semin one the first line, getting more attention than usual, but wouldn’t be as effective. One of the great things about having a player like Ovie is the top lines and players go after him, so even if he doesn’t do anything, he opens up room for others. And as much as I love Semin’s skill, he’s no Ovie, and will probably be out for some time himself.
No team has but so much depth. Most rely heavily on a handful of players. Other certainly contribute, but it’s just not the same.
If you harken back to the beginning of last season when Ovie was not up to his usual form, Semin stepped right up and led the team and the league in points and +/-. Don’t sell Sasha #2 short.
by SethB on Oct 2, 2009 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Not to overuse this Rec button, but SethB is on point here re: Semin. Semin totally carried the mail until he got hurt last season, otherwise OV might’ve had even more company in the race for the Hart trophy.
Us and the Pens and Wings are one of the few teams that could survive such an offensive talent being injured (earmuffs, Hockey Gods). We’re not Bondra and the Beltway Bums anymore…
"I am... *grins* ... 'Nobody' "
- Odysseus
by war_capitals on Oct 2, 2009 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions
One thing not considered by you two was that AO was still on the ice for his slide (until he finally went back to see his grandfather). I won’t sell Semin short, but I can’t deny that he still had AO getting most of the looks. If AO weren’t on the ice to garner some attention, I’m not sure how Semin would’ve done. He’s still the same world-class player, but he’s not Ovechkin – he doesn’t generally have to sift through what AO does.
by DrinkingPartner on Oct 2, 2009 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions
I sleep better at night knowing that Semin = Ovechkin Injury/Scoring Slump Insurance Policy. We’re still a pretty scary team even without AO. Maybe not SCF-caliber, but pretty damned good nonetheless.
This isn’t football where you can double-cover a star receiver and essentially shut down the most potent weapon the other team has. I can almost see where you could try to draw that analogy, though (if that’s where the idea was coming from).
"I am... *grins* ... 'Nobody' "
- Odysseus
by war_capitals on Oct 2, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions
He did. Lucic got pantsed on that one.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Dude, he made Looch looksilly stupidlazy on that play…
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
Honestly
I’m not really sure what Lucic could have done there other than take a penalty or get lucky by intercepting the pass. Lucic couldn’t lift his stick, since Ovie was behind him until the very last second. Lucic couldn’t turn and face Ovie, since that would probably have made matters worse.
This is one of those times where the defensive player pretty much did his job and got beat by two offensive players making a great play. Poti made a perfect pass and Ovie one-timed it beautifully at the last second.
I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe
Respectfully disagree. Lucic was all over AO, in good position, and AO still scored. It’s impossible to say he did his job.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
As Kevin Paul Dupont colorfully described it:
The jawbreaker, Ovechkin’s second goal, came with Lucic badly failing to get his body on the flying Russian superstar as he zipped down the slot.
Ovechkin could all but be heard saying, "Boy, I say, boy, get away, you bother me!’’ as he Foghorn Leghorned by the turnstiling Lucic and got a knock on Tom Poti’s relay.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
In short, Lucic didn’t so much screw up as just got badly pantsed.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Lucic has to be stronger on his skates and with his stick, which AO lifted out of the way like it was nothing – just bad hockey on Lucic’s part. He got flat out abused.
huh??
Against most players, that backcheck works, though. The only thing I can see is that you cannot, simply cannot play percentage games when #8 is on the ice – he’s famous for the seemingly impossible. They just seemed to have forgotten that they’re trying to defend arguably the best hockey player on the planet.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
As good as AO is, that’s still a low percentage shot. Think of it this way – AO’s a 12.2% shooter for his career, and that includes breakaways, PP one-timers, empty netters and so on. Whether it’s Alex Ovechkin or Alex Giroux, that play is a long shot to end up in the back of the net – play good D there, but don’t foul the man.
By your logic, AO should be tackled on every play, lest he get off a shot.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Plus
If you start playing the “low percentage” stuff, he’ll just beat you on the “high percentage” stuff. For example, if you think he’s the one guy in the league with the speed to get around you to the outside, and your response is to skate over near the boards, I’ll give you one guess as to what Ovie’s response would be.
I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe
By your logic, AO should be tackled on every play, lest he get off a shot.
That’s not what I mean and not what I’m thinking. I’m saying “intercept the pass before it gets to Ovi.” I guess, as usual, I can’t explain clearly where I’m going with this.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Yes. Henceforth, Alex Ovechkin is inarguably the best player on the planet.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Oct 2, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
yeah, not really sure what there is to argue about anymore. Consecutive Hart and Pearson awards says “best player!”
And you have to include the “inarguably” when you say it.
by Scott in Shaw on Oct 2, 2009 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions
That's my point entirely
Sometimes, as a defensive player, you can do everything “right” and the other guy is just so damn good it doesn’t matter. I think this is one of those times. That play was more “Ovie’s a badass,” than “Lucic can’t play D.”
If I were in Lucic’s position, I’d see two options to stopping that play: 1) intercept the pass – if he failed, this is where it happened. He never should have let that pass through. 2) Mug Ovie. Like bear hug his ass and throw him to the ice. Still, given the low percentage of most players actually making that play, taking a minor there is the extreme option.
I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe
Yep, “good penalty.”
Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.
Not sure
To me, the “goodness” of a penalty is relative to the probability that it saves a goal. As awesome as Ovie is, scoring a goal on a one-timer that you took from essentially between the legs of a 6-4 225lb man on a pass from behind the net isn’t exactly “high-percentage.” The fact that they were in the slot might have made it more forgivable though.
I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe
Your point about intercepting the pass is the big one. He didn’t do it because AO lifted his stick and bodied him out of the way. Lemme break out the MS Paint and I’ll show you what I mean…
huh??
by fat_daddyo on Oct 2, 2009 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I agree with this completely. Hauling down AO rather than giving him a tap-in at the side of the net? Good penalty. Mugging him there and taking away his opportunity to take a tough one-timer with the goalie presumably in position? Not so much.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
He just didn’t look like he was aware of what Ovie was doing.
Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.
And a bit off balance. I think this is the simplest explanation.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 2, 2009 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Rec’d for truth.
Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.
Ovi made that move pretty quickly.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 2, 2009 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions
Lucic probably could have backchecked harder, but I think that was still a goal that should have been stopped by Thomas. It was a great job by AO to get such a hard shot off, but it was right along the ice through Thomas’ legs. I bet he wants that one back.
Besides, Lucic looks like a Selke winner compared to Heatley’s “performance” last night.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Oct 2, 2009 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
No Kidding
WOW SJ looked awful. Totally disinterested for long stretches. The Avs completely outworked them.
I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe
That top line was freaking invisible. Nabokov didn’t do them any favors. Not a good showing.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
That Rebound
On the McLeod goal was just inexcusable.
I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe
As was Heater’s back check. Maybe the pendulum swung too far and now SJS thinks they can just not play until Thanksgiving and turn it on for the second 2/3s.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
The Vs. Commenter (Olczyk?) basically said as much during the broadcast. Something to the effect of: the Sharks would like to fast forward to April. It might be a long season for them if they don’t ditch that attitude.
I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe
Yeah but with that talent they should be able to turn it on. Who knows though. It’ll be an interesting year for them. For their sake Nabokov better realize he’s in a contract year (and OT, but how the fuck does Cam Ward get that contract? … Oh, right, they don’t have anyone else worth locking up after Staal and Ward so they may as well go all in. If Turco/Nabokov have bounce back years what does that mean for them?).
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
Once the puck was there, Lucic could have leaned a shoulder into Ovechkin. Not that it would knock him down, but it would take him off stride enough that the shot would either go wide, or not have as much on it. It was part laziness on Lucic’s part, and part that the guy he was lazy against was Ovie. Against most players, Lucic probably do something with the effort he put in there…
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Oct 2, 2009 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions
Laziness?
The whole thing happened in the blink of an eye! It was a one-timer for God’s sake! What the heck do you expect the guy to have done? Leaned a shoulder into him in the .2 seconds in which Ovie was beside him and had the puck?
I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe
They were already down, so maybe he was starting to lose his edge or something, who knows. He should have been up watching the point anyway, so I’m guessing he was covering somebody else’s ass.
Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.
Sorry, but you're wrong
He was exactly, precisely where he was supposed to be on that play. The D (Poti) had pinched down, and Boston’s D had dropped low to cover. I don’t know where the center was on the play, but Lucic’s job there is to cover the guy in the high slot, not the non-existent guy at the point.
I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe
And he should’ve put a body on him, but didn’t.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Yeah, but
How? The only way is to turn around. Then he loses sight of the puck and Ovie probably would find a way to sneak around him while he’s transitioning front-to-back.
I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe
I’d say that, considering the puck ended up in the back of the net anyway, turning around wouldn’t have made much difference in the situation. If he had, he’d have had better awareness of Ovechkin’s actual position. He had more of a chance of getting in his way than not, I’d argue.
by DrinkingPartner on Oct 2, 2009 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions
Well, if he’d picked up his man earlier in the play, it wouldn’t have been as problematic – he was coasting and should’ve been more actively skating.
For quick reference, here’s the YouTube of the game highlights, with the goal in question around the 2-minute mark.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Yeah
Looking at it again, Looch could have skated a little harder. But it’s not like he was caught totally out of position.
It was a “Spanish Inquisition” moment.
I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe
C’mon D’ohboy, I know you’ve heard “head on a swivel” before. Can you imagine that any coach in the league doesn’t tell every player to know exactly where AO is at all times when he’s on the ice. Lucic was technically in good position, but he didn’t react to the play at all. He kept his feet planted and thought his hand strength would be enough. Fail.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
Right, what I’m saying is that maybe he’s not terribly familiar with how to guard a guy like ovie around the slot area because he’s used to stick near the D at the blue line.
Or maybe he was just off balance.
Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.
I just watched it like 20 times
He was in the right position. He wasn’t particularly off-balance. He knew Ovie was there because he turned and looked right at him. His “failure” was that Ovie out-muscled him a bit with his stick. Which was one part Ovie’s strength and another part Ovie’s timing. If someone gets their stick under yours, it’s pretty hard to keep it on the ice if they’re stronger than a kitten.
I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe
I’m going to end this discussion:
Ovie > Lucic
Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.
Or
That play was more "Ovie’s a badass," than "Lucic can’t play D."
I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe
Lucic had body position but didn’t move his feet to keep it. If he rotates his body and slides his ass down a little bit he boxes AO out from receiving that pass. He thought his strength on the stick would be enough so he didn’t move his feet and AO went around him and got the pass.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
Momentum
I think you’re discounting the speed delta between the two. Lucic was slowing up to cover the slot as Ovie was accelerating. Maybe he should have kept his feet moving, but I have a hard time really faulting his position on the ice. Maybe he could have hit Ovie, but again, with his back turned to Ovie and Ovie behind him, that’s pretty freaking difficult to do, and transitioning front to back in that situation is: A) Not something forwards are trained to do, B) Not something I think Lucic excels at and C) An open invitation for Ovie to blow by him. Moreover, he’d have had to time his hit perfectly, in order to avoid taking an interference penalty.
If I’m faulting Lucic for something, It’s for not getting his stick on either the puck or Ovie’s stick until it was too late, but we can’t ignore that Ovie timed it perfectly.
Maybe there was something that Lucic could have done, but all too frequently when a goal occurs, we assume that the team being scored on must have done something wrong. It’s not always the case. Sometimes, you can do everything right and the other guys just make an amazing play. I believe this was one of those times.
I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe
Lucic could have boxed AO out if he had any interest in putting more than minimal effort into that play. You see it differently than I do, and that’s fine. But if that’s Dany Heatley on that play everyone is talking about how he doesn’t back check and rehashing all that other stuff. Lucic’s play on that AO goal was worse than Heater’s non-back check on the 3rd COL goal (which I also think was pretty terrible). Lucic is a big guy and if he had just moved his feet he could have forced AO off his line into a position where he could not have possibly received that pass.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
if he had any interest in putting more than minimal effort into that play.
Bit too harsh, that. Ovechkin really did make a great play. All it required to stop the goal was a routine good play from Lucic, but the great players make the good ones look bad. It’s what they do. Heatley’s mistake was much, much worse in my opinion.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 2, 2009 9:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Why was it much worse? The way I see it Heater would have had only an outside chance of making that play if he busted his hump. Lucic wouldn’t have had to work nearly as hard as Heater would have and he would have made that play pretty easily.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
Timing. Ovechkin’s play was bang-bang. Lucic lost attention for an instant, partially because Ovechkin moved so fast and so strong. Heatley, on the other hand, missed an assignment entirely because he was gliding instead of moving his feet.
You look at the Lucic play and see laziness; I don’t. But we both see laziness in the Heatley play.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 2, 2009 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Also, I forgot to mention: That goal was initiated by Tom Poti(!) making an end-to-end rush, a la Green, then dishing the puck to Ovie in the slot. Scotty Hockey is in conniptions somewhere.
by Knee high to a duck on Oct 2, 2009 7:58 AM EDT up reply actions
I thought the same at the time. JSchon, also, went into shock, I’m sure.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Speaking of Poti, Green looked pretty good last night as well.
by DrinkingPartner on Oct 2, 2009 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions
I haven’t yet said that I love the Scotty Hockey meme every time something positive about Poti is mentioned.
by Scott in Shaw on Oct 2, 2009 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Was at the game
Plenty of beer poured on me by the Boston fans… (that’s why I wore a tshirt instead of my jersey!) but it was well worth it, the boys look great this year in real life!
Oh, were they toasting the Caps’ success? ;)
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Oct 2, 2009 8:16 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
That. Was. AWESOME!!
Caps looked great – Boston looked generally outclassed all night.
Leafs on Saturday…gonna be fun.
huh??
Now, if I see the Caps do the same thing to the Leafs that they did to the B’s – and then do the same thing to a real bottom-feeder team – then I will be totally pumped.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Truculent: defiantly aggressive or bad-tempered.
But Brawndo's got what plants crave. It's got electrolytes.
I would have also allowed puerile and scurrilous.
by DrinkingPartner on Oct 2, 2009 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions
C’mon now, GS. You and I both know the Leafs aren’t bottom feeders this year. I’d like to see them do that to TOR because it’s going to be a real test. If nothing else TOR is going to make them earn every inch of ice.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
I think you put the emPHAsis on the wrong sylABle. I believe GS meant do it to the Leafs and THEN a real bottom feeder, as in defeat Boston’s (a top tier), the Leafs (a playoff bubble team) and then a bottom feeder to shake off last year’s case of playtothelevelofyouropponentitis.
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
The Leafs aren’t particularly good, but they are improved. I suspect they’re still a little too far away from the playoffs. And if Komisarek keeps taking penalties like last night (he had 15 PIM, one fight and five minors!) they’re going nowhere….
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Oct 2, 2009 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes, but last year the Caps were famous for wetting the bed against teams like that. Famous for it. I want to see the team effort I saw last night against TOR, and then I want to see it again against the Avs or and the Islanders or and the Thrashers.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
The Leafs may not be particularly good, but they are nasty and not much fun to play against. Of course, people said the same thing about Boston.
Well, that’s a question. Of Boston or Toronto, who’s got better speed? The Caps are a speed and skill team, and whether Boston is a fair judge of likely fortunes against Toronto will depend on whether Toronto’s going to be able to catch up long enough to hit a Cap or if they’ll be choking on ice fumes all night.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
To be honest I think TOR’s D is better than BOS’ and I don’t think BOS is much faster than TOR. I’m gathering that I’m in a pretty big minority but I think TOR took serious strides forward and BOS took a serious stride backward.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
I agree that Toronto has seriously improved, not so sure yet if the B’s took a big step back. Leafs fans have a lot more to cheer about this year, but TOR’s PK is going to have to improve for them to make the playoffs.
How many teams can lose their leading scorer (by a healthy margin) without taking a step back?
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
of course, I’m going “36 goals?! Bah, 36 goals is nothing. What sort of ‘leading scorer’ only nets 36 goals?” I am so spoiled.
Heh, better than 31. Or not having one at all.
by red army line on Oct 3, 2009 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Not arguing the step back part, but I’m not sure it will be a “big” step back. They had 7 forwards score 20 goals last year, and that was without too many games from Sturm. I’m pretty sure that Sturm will hit 20 this year, so that kinda-sorta offsets the loss of goals from Kessel.
They’ll miss Kessel some, but I’m not sure how much. If I were a B’s fan I’d be a lot more concerned about the possibility of Tim Thomas not having a repeat magical season.
Kessel was still their most dynamic offensive player and I’m not sold on Sturm staying healthy.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
Teams still need that offensive “game-breaker.” Basically, think Ovie in the 5-4 OT win over MTL. We have at least two (Ovie, Semin), Boston lost their half-breaker in Kessel. They don’t have anyone who’ll take it into his own hands to score a goal and spark his team.
by red army line on Oct 3, 2009 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m not sold on Toronto. I still think they’ll be less than the sum of their parts.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 2, 2009 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions
You just hate Mike Komisarek.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
It’s more my observation that like the TB Lightning last year and the Rangers every year, teams that follow the approach Burke and Gainey have tried this offseason seldom do well.
But yeah, Kommy’s overrated. Not bad. Just not as good as people make him out to be. Hitting good, and hitting fine, but first take care of net.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 2, 2009 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Burke has had success bringing in free agents, and at least with respect to Beauchemin he knows exactly what he’s getting. Komisarek may be a bit of a gamble but I really don’t think it’s an outrageous contract and Komisarek is a pretty good player. He’s an upgrade over most of our D corps, IMO.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
I’m really high on Beauchemin – He’s one of the guys I would have loved to see in red if we didn’t have Nylander’s Contract (It’s a proper noun now) weighing on our cap.
He can pass, he’s got a nice shot and he plays with some serious snarl, in addition to playing good D. He was getting the same (or slightly more) TOI during the playoffs as Pronger and Niedermayer. That says a lot about the quality of his play, in my opinion.
I thought signing him was a bigger deal than Komi, to be quite honest.
by Knee high to a duck on Oct 2, 2009 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree, he’s a more well rounded player and a better skater. But he’s also had some serious protection above him in the lineup. He’s never had to be the guy to face the top lines every night, Komisarek has.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
Like you say, if Pronger and Niedermayer aren’t protection, I’m not sure who is.
That said, he had to be getting some ice against the top lines if he was playing ~25:00 a night in the playoffs. He, Schenn and Komi are going to make a hell of a top 3 up there in TO.
by Knee high to a duck on Oct 2, 2009 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Defensively, that is. Kaberle fits in there somewhere.
by Knee high to a duck on Oct 2, 2009 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions
I bet Kaberle and Komisarek play together and then Beauch and Schenn. It just seems balanced to me.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
Most likely – there was some complaining in Leafland that Schenn wasn’t adjusting to switching sides well and was crowding Beauchemin because of it. Hopefully the Caps can take advantage of that tonight.
by Knee high to a duck on Oct 3, 2009 9:17 AM EDT up reply actions
Beauchemin and Niedermayer were partners for a long time.
by red army line on Oct 3, 2009 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Whoa, really?
Bos:
Chara
Wideman
Morris
Ference
Stuart
Hunwick
Tor:
Komisarek
Kaberle
Beauchemin
Schenn
White
Exelby
I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe
Yeah. Really.
Chara is real good, but overrated. Wideman had a great year last year but I don’t think it’s representative of his real game and he was shielded by Chara (either playing on his pair, or playing on the 2nd pair against lesser Fs). Morris doesn’t do much for me. Ferrence is OK (and I’m jealous that he got to punch Crosby inna face) but he’s also not special. Stuart and Hunwick, meh; if BOS had any cap space they’d probably try to upgrade those guys.
I don’t really agree with the depth chart you have for TOR but that’s not important. I think top to bottom there is more depth. They obviously don’t have a Norris candidate like Chara but they have a PP specialist (as much as I hate Kaberle); a great two way guy in Beauchemin, and two mean physical SOBs that can actually play hockey (Komisarek and Schenn); one SOB that can kinda play hockey (White); and one SOB that shouldn’t be on skates. They also have Finger as the 7 in your depth chart which gives them much better depth than BOS. I just think TOR has to rely on their top 2 much less than BOS does. For one game or 7 I’d rather have to deal with BOS’ D corps than TOR’s.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
Going off of opening-night rosters
You think Chara’s overrated? Good God, if Kaberle played anywhere but Toronto, he’d be even more anonymous than his brother. He’s . . . just ridiculously overrated.
I guarantee, you ask forwards around the league the defenseman they don’t like to play with/have a hard time against, and the #1 is Chara (followed by Pronger and Lidstrom).
Wideman>Komisarek at this point. Komisarek hits harder, but Wideman has him beat in pretty much every other aspect of the game.
I’m not a huge Morris fan, so I think the comparison between him and Beauchemin is one the Leafs win.
I think Ference/Stuart/Hunwick vs. Schenn/White/Exelby is a wash. The Bos group skates much better, but is undersized, while the Tor group has size, but with the exception of Schenn, doesn’t skate all that well.
Having Finger as their #7 is an advantage for Toronto. Boston has a pretty huge dropoff to their #7 (apparently, Johnny Boychuk right now). However, this is a pretty marginal benefit, given the role.
The big difference for me is Chara. The guy plays 25-30 mins a night, usually closer to 30. This means that the other 5 guys only have 90 minutes tops to cover down on, and that for 1/4 of the game, the Bruins have the best defensive player in the league on the ice.
I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe
Well, I don’t think Chara deserved the Norris, so yeah I think he’s overrated. I don’t think he plays AO all that well; I can think of a few D that play him better. And yes, Kaberle is absurdly overrated.
I don’t know what basis you have for saying that Chara would be the toughest to play against, but I don’t even think he’s the toughest to play against in the east. Maybe he’s more painful to play against because he’s physical (when he can catch you) but personally I think Timonen handles AO much better than Chara does. Lidstrom as well. I just completely disagree that Chars is the best defensive player in the league; he won a lifetime achievement award because Lidstrom’s year (although better than anyone else’s) wasn’t up to Lidstrom’s normal standard.
Look at it this way:
I take Chara over Komisarek.
I take Beauchemin over Wideman.
I take Kaberle over Morris.
I take Schenn over Ferrence.
I take White over Stuart.
I take Finger/Exelby over Hunwick.
BOS goes 1-5. Sure, they have the single best D in that group, but their depth isn’t the same. Chalk it up as a matter of taste.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
Also
I know there are other factors in this, but:
2008-2009 Goals Against (NHL Rank in Parentheses)
Boston: 190 (1)
Toronto: 286 (30)
I know Toronto has improved a lot on their back-end, but Komisarek, Beauchemin and Exelby don’t take a team from worst-to-first.
I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe
I don’t know if I’m going to be able to get over Backstrom’s pass on Laich’s first goal any time soon. Seriously, a tape-to-tape one-timer pass?!? Dang.
by brs03 on Oct 2, 2009 12:04 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Mostly I’m just shocked he didn’t have to rely on a secondary A.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
Backstrom’s kung fu is STRONG.
Let the hockey writers underestimate him all day long if they like…
"I am... *grins* ... 'Nobody' "
- Odysseus
by war_capitals on Oct 2, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions
That goalie interference on AO was very weak. Ference pushed him into Thomas. They need to make a rule preventing that from being a penalty. I see it happen all the time on both sides. Its a free call if you push someone into your goalie.
There is a rule where it’s not a penalty when the opposing team is pushed into the goalie but the other team. Sometimes the refs just make mistakes.
One guy just drove his semi as a float. I guess semis are cool.
Frequently refs make mistakes. AO also didn’t look like he tried hard to avoid contact (not that I’m sure he could have in any event) so it looked worse at full speed.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
His line towards the goal before being pushed was going to clearly avoid the goal. Once he was pushed, it shouldn’t have been called.
The refs seemed a little whiste-happy last night, do you folks think overly-so or were they mostly good calls start-to-finish…
"I am... *grins* ... 'Nobody' "
- Odysseus
by war_capitals on Oct 2, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions
Unless
You’re Patrick Thoreson pushing someone else into THEIR goalie. In game seven of a playoff series. Then it’s just hunky-dory.
I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe
It’s all about “opposing player hitting the goalie.” Obviously that play was bullshit but if your bright line rule is “attacking player can’t touch the other goalie” then there’s a clear distinguishing line between Thoresen and AO last night. The same as there was when Kozlov got called for that ridiculous Interference PIM. Like I said the other day, the rules regarding the goalies and the crease are a disgusting mess.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
The refereeing was kind of loosey-goosey tonight, but it was equally so on both sides. No worries there.
ESPNZone was fun, and thank you to ChrisAM, IRockTheRed, Knee High to a duck, and Your Nation’s Capital for coming out and sharing the fun, even if we did get seated behind a table full of Bruins fans. Hearing the whole place launch into The Hockey Song when the commercial played was priceless.
Like everyone else, no complaints. One big mistake – Steckel’s turnover – and a couple of little ones like the penalties, but the PK looks way better, the PP looks just as good, team defense as a whole looks better, and the team kicked tail and took names tonight.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Really wish I could have been there. We have to make sure it happens again.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
Your wish is my command. What’s the next game on Versus?
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Yup. I’ll be at my new favorite neighborhood bar, Momo’s on U ST.
by Scott in Shaw on Oct 2, 2009 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions
What does he look like? He was probably waiting on us last night.
by Scott in Shaw on Oct 2, 2009 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions
fairly typical DC yuppie, actually! white, late 20s/early 30s, dark hair fit, not too tall. (god, that describes half the guys in town)
But that also describes our bartender perfectly. He also had an accent I couldn’t place (something regional American, not foreign).
by Scott in Shaw on Oct 2, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Look on the bright side, I’m assuming being seated behind the Bruins fans meant you got to harass them the entire game for getting PWNED by the Caps!
Disagree. Return fire when fired upon. Screw those chowder-heads and their cockiness. ESPECIALLY IN OUR TOWN.
"I am... *grins* ... 'Nobody' "
- Odysseus
by war_capitals on Oct 2, 2009 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions
There is a rule where it isn’t a penalty; it’s Rule #69:
If an attacking player has been pushed, shoved, or fouled by a defending player so as to cause him to come into contact with the goalkeeper, such contact will not be deemed contact initiated by the attacking player for purposes of this rule, provided the attacking player has made a reasonable effort to avoid such contact.
The trouble is, Ovechkin was storming the crease when he got hit, and the hit caused him to continue his movement that he was already making. Could he have stopped himself, had he not been hit? Sure. Russian Machine can stop on Ruble! But because he was already skating in that direction, it appears (at least to me) that the referees deemed he didn’t make “a reasonable effort to avoid the contact.” At least that’s the only way I can see that they’d call that a penalty…
Personally, I would agree that it was a weak penalty, if still a penalty under the letter of the law. The calling on this game started out very loose, and tightened up as the game progressed, in part, I believe, because the game started getting chippy, and the referees wanted to maintain control, especially that late in the game.
He was skating across the top crease, not toward the net. The hit knocked him backwards toward the net and Thomas, ergo no penalty. Bad call for sure, not even weak, not a penalty. At least it was late in the game where it didn’t affect anything.
Yeah I agree, but depending on when the ref started watching it it could have been seen either way.
One guy just drove his semi as a float. I guess semis are cool.
And at full speed I thought it was a PIM on first glance. I don’t blame the ref too much for that.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
Speaking of twitter:
GreenLife52:
What you think of the game fans? We be repin like we can for ya. Excited for Saturday. Are you?
One guy just drove his semi as a float. I guess semis are cool.
He knows he's from Calgary, right?
We be repin like we can for ya.
I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe
Hmm, good call.
(afk celebratory bagel)
Winterion Game Studios
Visit us online at : http://winterion.com
Hadn’t seen you for a little while there, W. Good to have you back
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 2, 2009 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions
Time, and wins, heal all wounds.
I’ll just have to root for Bourque without rooting for the his team. I’ve done it before (Ron Francis, Peter Bondra, Brad Richards, etc.)
Winterion Game Studios
Visit us online at : http://winterion.com
You were a Bondra fan? I thought you didn’t become a Caps fan until Bourque was drafted. Bondra was in Ottawa at that point.
by DrinkingPartner on Oct 2, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions
Correct, I wasn’t a Caps fan back then. I liked to see them do well, but I thought Bonzai was pretty cool, so I was happy to see him score. I continued to feel that way when he went to Ottawa. But, wasn’t a fan until 2004.
Same way I root for other players I really enjoy watching.. Francis, Richards, forgot to add Rick Nash to that list.
Winterion Game Studios
Visit us online at : http://winterion.com
I still root for Francis.
Ron Francis right now is probably better than some centers in the NHL.
Bring back the Whale!
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 2, 2009 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions
This. This game sent a message to the league: We’re here to kick ass and chew bubblegum and damn if we’re not all out of bubblegum.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Backstrom...
I’m running out of superlatives to describe the guy. He’s absolutely phenomenal, and its a joy to watch him play. The pass to Laich on the first goal was as good a pass as you’ll ever see.
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Oct 2, 2009 8:17 AM EDT reply actions
Yeah. I have to admit I kind of cringed on Ovi’s first goal until it hit the twine. A team with its head screwed on straight is not going to give Ovi and Semin that much time and space to work, and I thought until Ovi stepped into the puck that it was going to get poked back out. Too damn cute but really pretty too.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Semin’s drop pass on that goal was a thing of beauty. Of course, he made a similar drop pass later on that resulted in a turnover, but that’s the Care Bears for ya.
I’m so glad I’m not the only person that was screaming at Erskine to just use his hands. It’s like his stick dropped away, then he was so bewildered he didn’t know where he was or what to do until he had Bruins all over him. Then he panicked.
Other than that play, though.. damn. Great game for our boys.
Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.
The B’s were in a line change, the one guy pressuring the puck was the only one in the offensive zone. Bonehead play, he could’ve kicked or handswept the puck behind the net to lessen the danger.
One of the few blemishes on a wonderful night of hockey. Suck it, Beantowners…
"I am... *grins* ... 'Nobody' "
- Odysseus
by war_capitals on Oct 2, 2009 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions
Still not sure how I feel about this stuff… 
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
They made us jump tires on the ice when we were little kids.
One guy just drove his semi as a float. I guess semis are cool.
Yeah I guarantee that’s a fraction of what those guys can do.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Ovi could grind the boards.
One guy just drove his semi as a float. I guess semis are cool.
I’m sure he could but that would include bent knees. I was thinking of an example of just a straight vertical and I don’t know what it would be. Maybe hop the boards from a stand still but even then you get to bend your knees.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
Hey! I think I found a picture of JP!
Thanks internet!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Oct 2, 2009 9:14 AM EDT up reply actions
J.P. and D.M.G. Go to the theater
I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe
by D'ohboy on Oct 2, 2009 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
MAHNA MAHNA!
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Oct 2, 2009 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Ha. That’s definitely me and Tyler.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Ha. Reminds me a little too much of this (key difference, of course, being that it’s teammates rather than this narcissistic horse crap):
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
One guy's opinion
There’s a big area between T.O. level narcissism and total absence of personality. As long as Ovie and Backis are just having fun out there and not being self-aggrandizing, it doesn’t bother me in the least. I think the “hot stick” moment got a little too close to the T.O./Ochocinco school.
Reminds me of this:
I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe
It would remind me of the Fun Bunch if the Fun Bunch did their celebration after the game – not after a touchdown – and at midfield, not in the endzone.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Like I said, I’m not sure how I feel about it. But I am pretty sure how I’d feel about Sid and Geno doing that at center ice of the Verizon Center, on the Caps’ logo… so I guess I am sure how I feel about it.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
It would annoy the crap out of me, but they still have a right to do it. Please tell me we’re not going to turn into the NFL.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
The difference
Is in the intent. Ovie and Backis do that everywhere, including at home. T.O. only did that at Cowboys Stadium. T.O.‘s move was directly disrespectful. AO and Backis’, not so much.
I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe
Hahaha, you must be joking right? Sid celebrate?
Unless he went down to Walmart and bought a personality, I just don’t see it happening.
They only sell cheap personalities there, though so—
Oh.
by DrinkingPartner on Oct 2, 2009 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions
Obviously photoshopped. Redskins celebrating??? :)
by cuqui on Oct 2, 2009 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Let them have their fun.
Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.
by jordanDC on Oct 2, 2009 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Rec’d. This is an expression of joy. This is a team celebration. It’s not about any individual.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 2, 2009 9:32 AM EDT up reply actions
Yup
They do it all the time, and it happens in other sports, too:
by Scott in Shaw on Oct 2, 2009 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions
I am totally on board with the multiple teammates jump-collide thing. It’s got that sense of excitement, camaraderie, etc.. not like some of the more egregious celebrations by individual football players on successful plays (I’m looking at you, wide receivers.)
On a side note, though, what do the Nationals have to celebrate?
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I DID MY JOB!!!
LOOK AT ME!!!!! (Pounds chest 15 times before returning to huddle.)
I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe
Europeans are much different than Americans on male touching. There, they’re still very 1960sish and Hardy Boys with Buddies and Pals. It doesn’t bug me, because really only people who are wearing blinders are going to call them out on it.
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
Europeans are much different than Americans on male touching. There, they’re still very 1960sish and Hardy Boys with Buddies and Pals. It doesn’t bug me, because really only people who are wearing blinders are going to call them out on it.
I take that back. I missaw. If they’re complaining about people celebrating, gtfo. Hockey’s greatest asset, in my opinion, is passion, and passion alone pretty much sells soccer.
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
Reposted from Morning Link Thread
While it’s just one game, and there are bad losses and weak efforts to come this year (just because they happen over the course of 82 games, no getting around it), there was a lot to like last night.
* The Bruins are a good team, but the Caps had them outclassed for most of the night.
* The third period was pure winning hockey. The Caps had a 3-goal cushion to start and they put a stranglehold on that game; all thoughts of a momentum-building early goal for the B’s? Say hello to our forecheck.
* On a related note, the Caps spent several extended periods hemming the Bruins in their defensive zone – I haven’t looked at the numbers, but my gut tells me the territorial advantage was pronounced.
* 2 goals from in close, with one of them being the proverbial ugly goal. The ugly goal being the nicest sign.
* 50% on the PP, 100% on the PK.
* JT60 got a tad lucky on a couple of occasions I can think of, but he did not poo the bed by any means.
huh??
– I haven’t looked at the numbers, but my gut tells me the territorial advantage was pronounced.
Anyone know where we can find faceoff location stats? I’m betting there were a lot more on one of the the Bs’ dots than on one of the Caps’ dots.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 2, 2009 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Here’s the breakdown (for some reason, the totals aren’t there, but obviously not hard to add up).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
By my math, the B’s actually had 15 O-zone draws and 13 D-zone draws. Huh.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I believe that, actually. To my eyes, the Caps simply did more with their time in the O-zone than the B’s did with theirs.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Well, draws don’t necessarily equate to zone time. The Caps’ shot advantage (56-47 if you include blocked and missed shots) is a pretty good indicator of some territorial advantage.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Uh, yeah. Brendan Morrison’s on the Caps now?
Roughly 14 in each zone. :)
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Didn’t really notice him except for a big shot from the blue line. I guess he was probably fine in that case.
Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.
Cause for concern:
Nick Backstrom is only at 40% faceoff percentage. That’s just not acceptable.
Looking more deeply at the numbers, Backstrom has lost every draw he’s taken against a right-hander. These statistics suggest that there may be something seriously wrong with Backstrom’s faceoff technique. At this rate, they’ll have to consider moving him to wing.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 2, 2009 9:52 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
You’re being purposefully overdramatic for the sake of comedy, right?
Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.
Yup. Small sample size humor. And Laich ain’t gonna score 164…
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 2, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions
“Richard?” If Brooks Laich scores 200 goals, they’ll rename the trophy after him.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 2, 2009 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Not to mention he’ll be a real threat to 894.
by red army line on Oct 3, 2009 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Kudos to Erskine was stepping up and fighting Thornton, even if it wasn’t totally called for with a 3 goal lead. Thornton laid a nasty slash on him, so I’d be pissed too if I were Erskine.
By the way, this is like the third or fourth fight in a row (dating from last season) where Erskine has sort of been jumped/instigated into a fight, and he’s not getting the calls. Might be time to adopt a new approach so that he gets off to better starts. But, he always handles himself very well, including last night, against tough opponents.
Way to go lumberjack!
Of two minds on this
Short Run: yay for standing up for your teammates
Long Run: Crap, now that our only real enforcer (sorry, Brads) is a defenseman, we’re going to be skating with 5 guys a lot. Also, Erskine’s got a history of concussions. I don’t want him scrapping every other night.
I'm trying to work out a deal with a club in Europe
I agree, but I think with a guy like Green that can eat so many minutes we could probably live with Erskine in the box for 5 minutes a game.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
While your quote hits a soft spot in my heart (lungs?), and in principle I agree with you, I don’t think it’s a big deal in Erskine’s case. He’s a bottom pair guy that doesn’t see a ton of special teams (not on first PK and not on PP at all); regardless of what BB says it’s clear that he manages the minutes of our bottom D. I think we could survive with Erskine fighting, though I don’t think it’s optimal. There are far better D in the league that fight without fucking up the rotation too much.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
Reposted from other topic:
For those who missed it, NHL Network is replaying the Caps-Bruin game at 2:00 PM EST today.
Its what my guide says too…only I get two damned Canadian teams on instead :(
by HateOffSeason on Oct 2, 2009 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Washington Capitals: 1-0-0
Wild and Baseless Prediction of the Game™: 1-0-0
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No Capital would be called for delay of game for clearing the puck over the defensive boards. (Something that happened all too often last year.)
Winterion Game Studios
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Damn just beat me to it =]
Wild and Baseless Prediction of the Game™: In a pleasant change of pace, the Caps will not be called for delay of game by clearing the puck into the netting in their own defensive zone tonight, something that happened all too often last year.
One guy just drove his semi as a float. I guess semis are cool.
No SPG update? I was proud of tying for first.
Also, what about one game turning around a lot of feelings. I was nervous going into the game (I was expecting a loss, actually) and it’s just one of eighty-two, but until now that I have seen, no one has brought up Nyls and Bourque and the fact that Boyd Kane is on the roster. Sweet.
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
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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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