Recap: Caps 3, Predators 2 (SO)
by J.P. on Oct 17, 2009 10:32 PM EDT
in Game Recaps
221 comments
[AP Recap - Game Center - Game Summary - Event Summary]
A season ago, the Caps faced Dan Ellis and the Predators twice, with neither game settled after just sixty minutes of play, thanks in large part to Ellis and his .934 save percentage in the two games. Tonight was more of the same, right down to the final result: a Caps win.
Ellis, who entered Saturday evening's match up having been yanked in his previous start without stopping any of the three shots he faced, stopped 33 Caps shots through overtime, but was beaten by Alex Ovechkin in the shootout and that's all Semyon Varlamov needed at the other end to seal a 3-2 victory for the home team.
Ten more notes on the game:
- Varlamov stopped the first nine shots he faced, a span which covered the first 34:29 of the game, before being beaten upstairs by a Shea Weber missile. The Preds beat the young netminder again just 1:35 (and two shots) later on an absolutely awful goal from a horrendous angle. If this sounds familar, it should. That said, Varly was fantastic in the first period, including denying two Preds breakways on the same inexcusably bad Caps power play and was very solid the rest of the night.
- We should've known the Caps were going to win when AO potted his second of the night - the Caps are now 25-0-2 in his last 27 multi-goal games.
- After the win against San Jose on Thursday night, Ovechkin was quoted as saying, "We tried to help Varly. When Sema [Alexander Semin] and I found out Varly would be in net, we told each other ‘Let’s do our best to help him win.’" Now, I don't think AO plays any harder for one guy than the other, but it's worth noting that now seven of his nine goals have come with Varly in net, and he hasn't scored for Jose Theodore (who has played about 60% of the total minutes thus far) since opening night. Odd stat.
- How can I be so sure these guys don't base their effort on who's between the pipes? Did you watch Semin tonight?
- Nicklas Backstrom has seemed a little off since being separated from Ovechkin, which is to be expected - everyone's going to look better when they're on a line with the best player on the planet. What isn't expected or acceptable was him coasting on the backcheck on the Weber goal. That's two games in a row where a lazy backcheck cost the Caps.
- Further to that first point, Mike Knuble is on pace for 51 assists, 20 better than his current career high. Dainius Zubrus and Chris Clark nod, knowingly - it's good to play with Ovi.
- Mike Green has his good nights and his bad nights, and this was definitely one of the latter. Brian Pothier was no picnic on the blueline either.
- If the coach shortens the bench in the third and benches "the third line," doesn't that make it the fourth line?
- Not that it matters - the Caps still have only two goals from non-top six forwards and Green, and Matt Bradley has both of them.
- The third-period hooking call on Backstrom was abysmal, especially in light of the fact that he had, literally moments earlier, been interfered with by the man he "hooked" (Weber). I guess we shouldn't expect any better from Chris Rooney.
And so the Caps wrap up their three-game homestand having earned five of the six points available and don't play again until Thursday in Atlanta. That gives Bruce Boudreau plenty of time to send a message or two... should he choose to do so.
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The TV broadcast said that Eric Fehr got single digit shifts and something like 7 minutes of ice time. With the amount I was saying his name out loud and noticing positive plays, I would have expected something like double that.
I saw him get checked down to the ice and get the puck taken from him right before the “third” line was nailed to the bench – was there more bad play that I just didn’t notice, were the linemates playing that badly or was something else entirely going on there?
Anyone else think the forecheck was much more solid and effective in the first than it was in the second and third? What happened there?
I thought the player of the game was Dan Ellis – if not for some really great stops in the second and third, this is a blowout and overtime never even crosses our mind. He about singlehandedly kept the Preds in it during the first half of the second and the middle part of the third. Hats off to a great performance between the pipes and I’m just glad we skated off with the two points.
by Knee high to a duck on Oct 17, 2009 10:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Point 1: That’s pretty much standard. Fehr puts up a good forecheck and does good things and gets benched for it.
3: Same thing that’s been happening every game the caps have lost this season…and a couple they have. They lose focus and start show boating. Seems like they go into a “Prevent” defense like in a football game. The choke down and try not to lose rather than playing to win. Usually when that happens a team will tie or lose.
Also, it seemed like the pred’s D woke up a bit after the first and with the caps intensity gone it was easy.
by snowburnt on Oct 17, 2009 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nashville stepped it up in the 2nd period. They’re lucky the refs were awful, and we were lucky that they’re snakebit. With the exception of the obvious backchecking failure on Backs, that was a pretty good, tight, close game. Granted, without a lot of luck, neither team scores their second goals, so…
by DrinkingPartner on Oct 18, 2009 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Eric Fehr should be in Hershey.
But Brawndo's got what plants crave. It's got electrolytes.
by hotdog88gt on Oct 18, 2009 7:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Seriously, are you watching a different player than me? Are you watching 15 or 17? Because the Eric Fehr I’m watching is playing some inspired hockey.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 18, 2009 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I wouldn’t say he needs to be in Hershey, but he doesn’t deserve third line minutes. The guy isn’t this massive net crashing forechecking dynamo everyone claims he is (And neither is Clark) but as far as I’m concerned, I never see the guy camping the front of the net, I still see potshots from the outside more than anything I notice about the guy, and he was falling down more than Semin last night, from what I saw.
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
by Whiter Mage on Oct 18, 2009 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t see him crashing the net; all I see him doing is effective forechecking and creating chances. He’s more Viktor Kozlov than Mike Knuble, but he’s an effective player nonetheless. He’s the Jeff Schultz of Caps forwards.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 18, 2009 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I missed last night’s game but in the Sharks game I found myself saying “good work Fehr” out loud several times
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
by Sombrero Guy on Oct 18, 2009 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I thought Alex Semin was the Jeff Schultz of Caps forwards. Given that everyone wants to always get rid of him, also.
by CapsFan75 on Oct 18, 2009 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Given that everyone wants to always get rid of him, also.
Alright I’ll bite. Please elaborate.
by Yoshietree on Oct 18, 2009 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think we here mostly agree 55 and 28 are really good. The general Caps community doesn’t.
by red army line on Oct 19, 2009 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
To date, yes, seriously.
The season that began with Fehr’s back problem was the season I began paying more attention to the Caps’ farm team. Eric Fehr has not lived up to expectations, especially the expectations expressed by the can’t-wait-til-he’s-healthy crowd that couldn’t wait for him to make it back from his back problem. Well, he’s been back for some time now and I see nothing from this guy other than average play, if that.
But Brawndo's got what plants crave. It's got electrolytes.
by hotdog88gt on Oct 18, 2009 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Care to back that up with anything more than what you see? Because the stats suggest his play has been above average, which is more than good enough given his experience level and his injury history.
I guess I’d like to know: whose expectations? what do you think those expectations were? And how has he fallen short? Because from my perspective, the only thing the guy isn’t doing well is staying healthy.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 18, 2009 8:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
the only thing the guy isn’t doing well is staying healthy.
Which, fair or not, is something that needs to be taken into consideration when it comes time to for GMGM to decide whether or not to resign him.
But, as has been pointed out relentlessly, Fehr’s statistics are well above average…though at some point he’s going to have to find a way to turn those stats into ice time and points.
by Yoshietree on Oct 18, 2009 8:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No shout-out to Fehr for two penalties drawn in his first two shifts? I thought that in his limited ice-time he did really well.
That hooking call was retarded, especially after all the trips that went uncalled and the interference that Weber was pulling.
Varly was lucky on that second shot in the shootout – whoever it was shooting had him beat and missed.
Overall, an okay game except for the second and the refing. Nashville needs to shoot more.
Never lie, steal, cheat, or drink. But, if you must lie, lie in the arms of the one you love. If you must steal, steal away from bad company. If you must cheat, cheat death. If you must drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away.
by gotsparkly on Oct 17, 2009 10:47 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs
Btw, this didn’t make it into the recap, but thanks to @ahwahoo2006 for answering a question I tweeted during the game. No, Dan Ellis does not have Care Bears on the back of his helmet… but it’s damn close:
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Oct 17, 2009 10:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What does that mean? I saw it during the game and was a bit perplexed.
Fight, you time-wasting figure skaters!
by boutros23 on Oct 17, 2009 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I haven’t a clue, but if I had to guess, he’s got a boy whose name starts with K and a girl on the way.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Oct 17, 2009 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
that’s probably it
"Baseball is drama with an endless run and an ever-changing cast." - Joe Garagiola
Chowdah Chatter - an outlet for my random thoughts and such.
by crabchowdah on Oct 18, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I thought our team had the Care Bears — not Nashville.
by CapsFan75 on Oct 18, 2009 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ellis has a son, Kaden, and he has had masks donated to the local children’s hospital.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Oct 18, 2009 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What, exactly ,does a children’s hospital do with a goalie mask?
by mechanicsville on Oct 18, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
sounds like an auction item to me. Or maybe they play Freddie jokes on the kids at Halloween.
by redlineblue on Oct 18, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, if that’s their version of ‘bearing down for the Kid’, the second act could once again use work. The puck was fluttering, but I noticed lots more passes into our skates and just not knowing where things were.
Fehr looked solid to me too, enough hustle to draw a penalty and a disruptive forecheck.
Caps should not be hitting the gimmick with Predators.
by redlineblue on Oct 17, 2009 10:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The ice was awful after the 1st period. Even after resurfacing, that damn puck would not stay flat. I’m amazed AO was able to curtail the puck and get it on net for his 2nd goal.
by DrinkingPartner on Oct 18, 2009 12:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The rain for days on end probably had something to do with that.
Never lie, steal, cheat, or drink. But, if you must lie, lie in the arms of the one you love. If you must steal, steal away from bad company. If you must cheat, cheat death. If you must drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away.
by gotsparkly on Oct 18, 2009 1:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
How so?
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
by Fehr and Balanced on Oct 18, 2009 8:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Humidity. You get better ice with dry air.
by RPI93 on Oct 18, 2009 8:21 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Hey RPI guy, use this to explain.
by Moonage Daydream on Oct 18, 2009 8:49 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
All I see is a fuzzy image of Adam Oates.
by redlineblue on Oct 18, 2009 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That is awesome! Unfortunately the “93” refers to my graduation year, and my brain has atrophied since then.
by RPI93 on Oct 18, 2009 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Right. But raining makes it less humid, and DC is always humid anyway. So I don’t see how rain changes the equation.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
by Fehr and Balanced on Oct 18, 2009 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Humidity has a tendency to make for soft ice. That’s why they were able to have great ice in Las Vegas despite the heat -you can cool it down easily enough, but the air out there is desert-dry.
Never lie, steal, cheat, or drink. But, if you must lie, lie in the arms of the one you love. If you must steal, steal away from bad company. If you must cheat, cheat death. If you must drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away.
by gotsparkly on Oct 18, 2009 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it was dry and chilly in the VC yesterday. My guess is the bigger problem was whatever AC/DC did Friday night. My shoes were sticking to the concourse so much damn beer was spilled on Friday. Insane.
by RedBirdie on Oct 18, 2009 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree; I’ve talked about how good the ice in Vegas is on a few occassions. I just don’t think DC ever gets “not humid.” It’s one place where I walk outside after a rainstorm and feel like it still needs to rain because the air is still thick with moisture.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
by Fehr and Balanced on Oct 18, 2009 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
1.I don’t know if anyone saw the 4th goal scored on Huet tonight, but suffice it to say that Varly does not own the most heinous goal allowed of the evening.
2.Semin’s effort level was absolutely noticeable tonight. 28 and 8 are at least half crazy and probably about as mature as normal 13 year-olds, but, please God, tell me they’re putting forth the same effort regardless of goaltender!
3.And the refrain with Fehr remains as last year. His good effort is rewarded with 7’ of ice time.
by mechanicsville on Oct 17, 2009 10:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What can I say. Life is truly not Fehr, especially for Eric.
by CapsFan75 on Oct 18, 2009 9:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
funny. though the reality is that watching hm skate makes my eyes bleed. He can’t stay on his skates after minimal contact (i call this Boyd-itis).
by 202-206 on Oct 18, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Holtby has been reassigned to S.C. I’m surprised the Caps didn’t just make him parachute out the plane on the flight to ATL.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Oct 17, 2009 10:53 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Could be merely for paperwork, perhaps? Seeing as how the cap is a daily thing.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Oct 18, 2009 9:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That was my thought upon reading it.
But if he stays in DC to be available, can he practice with the team, or is he stuck watching?
by gfcaps fan on Oct 18, 2009 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The NHL monitors that stuff to make sure people aren’t manipulating the cap so I don’t think they’d get away with it.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
by Fehr and Balanced on Oct 18, 2009 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
How does that work with players that are LTIR? Technically they aren’t counting against the cap, but they’re still practicing with the players right?
by Yoshietree on Oct 18, 2009 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think they may be able to practice but if it’s clear that the guy is on LTIR to save cap space instead of due to injury I think the NHL would step in.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
by Fehr and Balanced on Oct 19, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, since they put Flash on LTIR, they’re not banking anything until he comes off, so it wouldn’t make a difference, cap-wise. My guess is that JT will be ready by Thursday, and if not, maybe they recall Holtby again. After all, Charleston is closer to Atlanta than it is to D.C.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Oct 18, 2009 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So when do we have a serious discussion about Chris Clark? One point the entire season and a minus 3 rating. Not saying he’s THE problem with this team, but he’s part of the reason the third and fourth lines aren’t adding more on the score sheet. If he’s not a main candidate to get replaced when Flash returns then I don’t know who is.
by Kolzilla on Oct 17, 2009 11:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Quientin Laing might not be the main candidate, but he is one. Scratching or sending down the team’s captain is a bit cold, even if he would be if he wasn’t wearing the C. With Holtby gone, I think the Caps can have Flash come back and hold everyone. Be awful close to the cap, but they fit.
by hockeyman33 on Oct 17, 2009 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think it’s less Clark and more symptomatic of his linemates. When Quentin Laing sees more ES TOI than you 3rd line sees overall TOI, there’s a problem. Honestly the only guy who’s playing well on that line is the guy who just came back from shoulder surgery. So that leaves sexy Steckly.
"It's an incredible place. Every seat feels like it's right on top of you. So can't we just make it official? Every big American soccer game should be played in RFK. We need the home-field advantage. Done and done."
by Bald Pollack on Oct 17, 2009 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I dunno – Steckel had some hustle tonight. It looks to me like he’s trying his damndest to create and getting almost no help from his linemates.
Never lie, steal, cheat, or drink. But, if you must lie, lie in the arms of the one you love. If you must steal, steal away from bad company. If you must cheat, cheat death. If you must drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away.
by gotsparkly on Oct 17, 2009 11:57 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Except Steckel is on our “fourth” line rather than our third line but the fourth line has played more lately.
So we can’t blame Stecks for any of the third line’s problems.
by CapsFan75 on Oct 18, 2009 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Blah. You’re right, my bad.
Never lie, steal, cheat, or drink. But, if you must lie, lie in the arms of the one you love. If you must steal, steal away from bad company. If you must cheat, cheat death. If you must drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away.
by gotsparkly on Oct 18, 2009 1:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gotsparkly, is your sig phrase original with you? If so OMFG I love that! If not, I still love it, but would love to know who you are quoting :)
There's always more to learn about Hockey.
by WordsOnIce on Oct 18, 2009 8:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
but would love to know who you are quoting :)
by Uncle C on Oct 18, 2009 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
oh crap. Now I have to see that movie after I managed to avoid it when it came out. _;;
Thanks Uncle C.
There's always more to learn about Hockey.
by WordsOnIce on Oct 18, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So we can’t blame Stecks for any of the third line’s problems.
Since he’s skating with them the most, plus adding Fehr back, Steckel’s got to figure out how to skate with them, as he’ll be the presumed 3C. And Laing-Steckel-Bradley ain’t a 3rd line.
"It's an incredible place. Every seat feels like it's right on top of you. So can't we just make it official? Every big American soccer game should be played in RFK. We need the home-field advantage. Done and done."
by Bald Pollack on Oct 18, 2009 8:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you’re talking about tonight, then I disagree vehemently. His line was great tonight. There wasn’t much more they could have honestly done. It would have been pretty if Brads had gotten the goal on that 3-on-1, though.
by DrinkingPartner on Oct 18, 2009 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Later on in the game, yeah, but I kept seeing him cross the blueline with the puck in the first, get surrounded, and lose it.
Never lie, steal, cheat, or drink. But, if you must lie, lie in the arms of the one you love. If you must steal, steal away from bad company. If you must cheat, cheat death. If you must drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away.
by gotsparkly on Oct 18, 2009 1:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Huh? So early on in the game Steckel… what? And that’s why “later on” you “kept seeing him cross the blueline with the puck in the first, get surrounded, and lose it?” And all this after Steckel’s “trying his damndest to create and getting almost no help from his linemates.”
Was there a position there? Holy tilt-a-whirl.
by TylerG on Oct 18, 2009 8:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And what’s your point? Steckel had a tough first, but improved as the game went on, or was that lost on you?
Get off the lady’s back.
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on Oct 18, 2009 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Thanks, this – Steckel didn’t get a lot of help in the first, but the whole line improved as the game went on and they had some good stuff going in the third.
(I’m choosing to ignore the attempts to bait me this morning.)
Never lie, steal, cheat, or drink. But, if you must lie, lie in the arms of the one you love. If you must steal, steal away from bad company. If you must cheat, cheat death. If you must drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away.
by gotsparkly on Oct 18, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wasn’t baiting you. I couldn’t figure out what you were talking about because you took three different positions in three consecutive messages. (And then claim you’re being “baited” when someone points out the incoherence thereof.)
by TylerG on Oct 18, 2009 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No, I just said the same thing in a different way, and you missed it. I didn’t change positions, you simply didn’t understand what I just said. I was going to say you simply hadn’t had enough coffee, but I’m through being charitable with you.
If you do not understand what I am saying, do like every mature adult on this board does and ask me for clarification instead of just being nasty, okay? It’s just not necessary.
Never lie, steal, cheat, or drink. But, if you must lie, lie in the arms of the one you love. If you must steal, steal away from bad company. If you must cheat, cheat death. If you must drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away.
by gotsparkly on Oct 18, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
atta way. Charity-shmarity.
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on Oct 18, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And as noted here by other commenters, it becomes difficult to have a discussion with a person when that person changes his or her position with every comment.
by TylerG on Oct 18, 2009 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
c’mon man, you can’t call something a “discussion” when you act like a dick in your first attempt at engaging someone on a topic.
I’m not sure why you like to zero in and bash away at certain commenters here but you certainly do have a select few in your cross hairs at any given time.
I personally find it unnecessary, and unfortunate since you often make great points and offer good conversation when you want to.
If you disagree with something someone writes, or need clarification, there is a way to react without being a jackass, especially to fellow caps fans that have done nothing to you personally to warrant such reactions.
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
by Sombrero Guy on Oct 18, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I don’t think that pointing out confusing inconsistency is “act[ing] a dick.”
by TylerG on Oct 18, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m not the only one who found your response to be a bit over the top.
And what’s your point? Steckel had a tough first, but improved as the game went on, or was that lost on you?
Get off the lady’s back.
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on Oct 18, 2009 9:52 AM EDT
questioning something you find inconsistent by itself doesn’t constitute acting like a dick, its the manner in which you choose to do it.
Look, its not my blog, I am not an admin, so this is just one fan’s opinion, but I highly doubt bigonetimer and I are alone in the opinion that you could back off a bit.
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
by Sombrero Guy on Oct 18, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Death, taxes, and TylerG’s inability to show respect.
Oh, and Nyls on the scratched list.
by Cluster on Oct 18, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
It’s okay everyone. We all just seem to forget how much smarter Tyler is than the rest of us.
by wittcap79 on Oct 18, 2009 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Clean-up on aisle 8
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Oct 18, 2009 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why does it have to be aisle 8? You got a problem with AO?
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
by Fehr and Balanced on Oct 18, 2009 7:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think that pointing out confusing inconsistency is "act[ing] a dick."
Not inherently, no. It’s the way you do it that is acting like a dick. I’m with bigonetimer and sombrero on this one.
you took three different positions in three consecutive messages
Go back and reread the messages. First of all, there were two messages, not three.
The first one said that Steckel showed a lot of hustle, but his linemates did not play very well. DP respectfully disagreed and said that the line played fairly well overall.
In the second message, GS responded to DP by acknowledging that the play of the line as a whole improved over the course of the game, and that Steckel was not himself blameless, having committed some turnovers in the first period. (The described mode of Steckel’s turnovers is consistent with her first statement, that he was showing hustle and was trying to create, in that he was trying to do too much)
Be careful throwing around words like “incoherency” — the problem might be yours, not the writer’s.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 18, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
but back to Steckel…that feed to Brads in the third (the whole play really) gave me a small amount of inspiration that Stecks actually is a 3C and worthy of his 3 year/3.75M deal with us next year.
too soon?
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on Oct 18, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Until he actually starts getting points it’s too soon (or you should represent him in negotiations ;-).
"It's an incredible place. Every seat feels like it's right on top of you. So can't we just make it official? Every big American soccer game should be played in RFK. We need the home-field advantage. Done and done."
by Bald Pollack on Oct 18, 2009 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
true…just how much is a top 5 FO guy worth, I wonder? I listened with interest to Locker(?)‘s comment that he developed a ’book’ of opposing centers tendencies (and that now he doesn’t use/maintain it).
I do appreciate a player who’s dedicated to his craft.
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on Oct 18, 2009 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like his faceoff work, it’s what he does afterwards on ES that needs some work.
"It's an incredible place. Every seat feels like it's right on top of you. So can't we just make it official? Every big American soccer game should be played in RFK. We need the home-field advantage. Done and done."
by Bald Pollack on Oct 18, 2009 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
17’s not adding much to the equation so far, is he? It’s seemed especially noticeable the last couple/three games.
by mechanicsville on Oct 17, 2009 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s more that he just doesn’t create on his own, and that’ll usually be a problem anywhere below the 2nd line.
by DrinkingPartner on Oct 18, 2009 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Question for the Clark supporters – what do you think he’s bringing to the table right now that makes him more valuable than someone like Quentin Laing does not?
by Kolzilla on Oct 18, 2009 12:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
(Apologies for the bad grammar, a few drinks have been had)
by Kolzilla on Oct 18, 2009 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not that I’m supporting the way Clark has played (and I saw almost none of last night’s game) but he’s a far superior skater than Q. Far superior.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
by Fehr and Balanced on Oct 18, 2009 8:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I thought the game was a pretty solid effort overall. Not great, but not terrible. The first goal against was a star (Weber) taking advantage of a somewhat bad defensive play, but it’s not like it was a major lapse. Just a routine goal to give up that could have been prevented if everyone played a little better. The second goal against, of course, was a classic goalie brainfart.
On the other side, the Caps played a pretty good game on offense but just couldn’t solve Ellis. They had a ton of chances and some bad luck. The end result is two points (and since Nashville is in the west, it doesn’t matter that they got one).
The one thing that really bothered me was that first power play. The team gave up two horrible breakaways, and their body language was that they just didn’t care. I think it’s well past time to say that Ovechkin and Green on points for the balance of every single power play is a problem. Green’s 2+ minute shift to begin overtime was striking as well. I love Ovechkin and Green, but they’re human and they need to start playing a more disciplined game and taking shorter shifts.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 17, 2009 11:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
This just in: when 28 is the only guy back for two shorthanded breakaways, something’s Wrong with your power play.
by redlineblue on Oct 18, 2009 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you are able to skate a 2+ minute shift you aren’t working hard enough.
by Sct112 on Oct 18, 2009 8:54 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
So nobody is going to mention how Schultz crapped the bed on that second goal. Most goalies expect that puck to be around the boards and out of the zone, not on Dumonts stick 15 feet from the goal. Let’s praise him for the routine but forget when he blows it. Typical though
by GreenLife420 on Oct 18, 2009 12:01 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
And the same exact thing happened to Ellis in OT but it didn’t bounce in off his pads. That’s on the D as much as the goalie.
by GreenLife420 on Oct 18, 2009 12:04 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
>>That’s on the D as much as the goalie.
Like lots of goals, I suppose. 55 ‘clearing pass’ wrong time, wrong place, wrong pace=scoring chance for bad guys, no doubt. I disagree that it’s ‘typical’ of Schultz, though. Actually he’s likelier than any D but Pothier to ID and execute a clearing pass. (Dont take my word for it: ask BMo!)
by redlineblue on Oct 18, 2009 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bad play by Schultz, no doubt. But the “typical” line is pure CLED. And he played as physical a game as I’ve seen from him this season. He put a couple of guys on their butts.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 18, 2009 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
15 feet? What’s that, some odd metric conversion? Dumont shot from the boards, it hit Pothier, and it snuck behind Varlamov. No one on that play distinguished themselves. Schultz for the hard around, Pothier for getting his signals crossed with Schultz and almost skating over him, then deflecting the puck; Varlamov not being tight to the post.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Oct 18, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I remember watching the replay on that play, where Locker was pretty hard on 55 for not clearing that puck harder. To be honest though, especially from having the time to see the replay, I didn’t think the play was that bad. There were two caps to that side of the ice, and Schultz may have thought they would react faster and get that puck before Dumont. Of course, I’m just a fan and have never played, so I might be reading that wrong. The proper play might have just been to slam it out regardless of where the other Caps players were.
by HateOffSeason on Oct 18, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You are right that Schultz blew that clear but no matter what led up to the “shot” Varlamov needs to make that save. The blown save was far more egregious than the blown clear, IMO.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
by Fehr and Balanced on Oct 18, 2009 7:52 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
What was up with benching our third line? They weren’t the ones responsible for the game tying goals, except Clark was on the ice with our second line during one of those goals.
by CapsFan75 on Oct 17, 2009 11:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Bruce Boudreau is really impatient. It’s getting to be a problem. I’ve been a Boudreau fan, but he needs to let the guys do their thing. Keep them together long enough to develop some chemistry. Give them playing time if they’re playing well.
The entire overtime was nothing but young guns. There are other good players on the team, and they need to play too.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 18, 2009 12:17 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I have no problem with Fehr, Aucoin, and Clark getting one shift in the third (Clark actually had two). The Caps were looking for more offense, and since the team doesn’t play again until Thursday, the offensive guys got some more time.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Oct 18, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I question leaving Laich and Knuble out of the OT rotation. The young guns are human and they get tired.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 18, 2009 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I actually did see OT, and I specifically recall seeing Laich and Knuble out on a shift together. That is just poor use of personnel. I don’t mind the faster and more skilled guys getting more ice; but if you are going to use the net crashers you need to have them with a skilled player.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
by Fehr and Balanced on Oct 18, 2009 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
similar to BB’s clark-knuble 2nd power play unit. i’m also not in favor of the all-or-nothing approach between finesse players and muckrakers.
by Natty Bumppo on Oct 18, 2009 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Laich and Knuble skated together on a 43 second shift in the overtime.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Oct 19, 2009 8:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I question your assertion that Alex Ovechkin is human.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Oct 19, 2009 9:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Will our “now fired” third line do better when Flash is back? Or is our fourth line now our third line and vice versa?
Why hasn’t Laich connected lately?
by CapsFan75 on Oct 17, 2009 11:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Why hasn’t Laich connected lately?
Laich not connecting is less problematic than the bottom 6 not connecting. I wouldn’t worry about him as he’ll put up his 20-25 goals this year (most on the PP) and contributing in other ways. Just like other ~20 goal scorers he’s going to be a streaky player…but his other contributions are what sets him apart from other guys like Flash.
by Yoshietree on Oct 18, 2009 12:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Our bottom 6 have certainly not connected at all this year, save for Bradley. (Our third line is now fired.)
The second line itself has been shooting blanks, as of late. I’m sure Laich, Semin, and Backstrom will connect. Semin had plenty of energy and hustle — nothing connected.
by CapsFan75 on Oct 18, 2009 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Semin, Laich and Backstrom have connected with eachother/had great chemistry in the past. Me thinks they just need time to re-gel.
by Yoshietree on Oct 18, 2009 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It definitely looked like some of the shots were of lesser quality, but Ellis was sure looking good for most of the night.
by gfcaps fan on Oct 18, 2009 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
After the win against San Jose on Thursday night, Ovechkin was quoted as saying, “We tried to help Varly. When Sema [Alexander Semin] and I found out Varly would be in net, we told each other ‘Let’s do our best to help him win.’” Now, I don’t think AO plays any harder for one guy than the other, but it’s worth noting that now seven of his nine goals have come with Varly in net, and he hasn’t scored for Jose Theodore (who has played about 60% of the total minutes thus far) since opening night. Odd stat.
To me, this could only mean that Varly is more “impressionable” right now, whereas Theo’s game is gonna be what it is regardless, Varly is currently having some confidence issues when he get’s down. This is definitely a complement to Jose’s game more than anything else. Yeah, you can’t overlook the Russian connection between Ovechkin and Varlamov, but I’m sure that’s not necessary what he meant. They (Ovechkin and Semin) know that Varly is the “future” of this club, and I’m sure they want his game to 100% at all times. Basically, I believe they want to win regardless of who is goal…and OV wants to score every time he’s on the ice, so I’m not too concerned about this. Frankly, it seems Varly does better when he believes the job is his…and Theo seems to better when his job is jeopardy, so I’m not even sure what is best for this team…but I still think you gotta play Varly when he’s hot, but let Theo realize just how important his role is (and let him start as long as he’s playing well).
by PaintDrinkingPete on Oct 18, 2009 12:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That is so true, we have a crazy team.
Varley doesn’t like pressure, Theo needs it. I guess we just have to play them off each other and hope for the best.
by Bman21212 on Oct 18, 2009 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Varley doesn’t like pressure
First game was in Montreal, and he played great. Then he stepped into the playoffs in a really tough situation, and played great. Varlamov may have some mental issues to work through right now, but dealing with pressure ain’t one of them.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 18, 2009 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
There are different kinds of pressure. The “Will I keep my #1 goalie job” pressure seems to affect him a lot more than the “facing a tough opponent” pressure.
by PaintDrinkingPete on Oct 18, 2009 12:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
For long term development, I feel he is on the right track tough… and I do like having seen him step up when it matters most more than a few times.
by PaintDrinkingPete on Oct 18, 2009 12:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Honestly, I thought he looked really good tonight. He got beat right next to the shoulder on a wicked slapshot. Then he took his eye off the puck at the wrong moment — brainfart. Other than that, he made a lot of solid saves and a few great ones. He was square, solid and efficient in the shootout.
If he’d stopped the two he let in, but gave up goals on two shots that looked tougher, we wouldn’t be worrying. This wasn’t like his early season struggles to my eyes. I thought he was fine.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 18, 2009 12:43 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Also, can you can say the 2nd goal was a bad one…but do you really expect a goal from that angle? Frankly, letting in 2 goals against the Preds (given some of the saves he made) doesn’t bother me, but I did think our offense looked anemic in the 3rd, and a team as good (as we expect them to be) as the Caps, should have been able to put the game away much earlier given the chances they had.
Still, we came away with 2 points…and in a shootout win, you can’t thank anyone more than the guy in front of the net.
by PaintDrinkingPete on Oct 18, 2009 12:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I gotta give Dan Ellis credit, too – he was sharp all game and that game is a blowout without him.
Never lie, steal, cheat, or drink. But, if you must lie, lie in the arms of the one you love. If you must steal, steal away from bad company. If you must cheat, cheat death. If you must drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away.
by gotsparkly on Oct 18, 2009 1:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m sorta with you, but Varlamov has been making a habit of letting soft goals in (and on the heels of another goal) and that is worrisome. I have seen a replay of the Dupont goal, and I nearly vomitted in my mouth. Unacceptable.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
by Fehr and Balanced on Oct 18, 2009 8:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m not going to argue that Nashville’s second goal was a really difficult play, but the shot was deflected off Brian Pothier’s skate on the way in, too.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Oct 18, 2009 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’ll defer to you. I missed almost all of the game, and what I did see was the last 7 minutes of the third onward, on a real crappy ATDHE feed. I didn’t see the deflection, so I’ll look for a replay again.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
by Fehr and Balanced on Oct 18, 2009 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it was one of those wonky, speed-of-light deflections. The puck was going this way, and before you could even register that it deflected and changed directions, it was in the net.
by RedBirdie on Oct 18, 2009 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
also unacceptable: 55’s delicate saucer to the corner instead of the hard around.
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on Oct 18, 2009 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed. That one was on Schultz and Varly in equal parts, I think. Just a bad, bad goal all the way around.
I thought that except for that, Schultz had a pretty good game.
Never lie, steal, cheat, or drink. But, if you must lie, lie in the arms of the one you love. If you must steal, steal away from bad company. If you must cheat, cheat death. If you must drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away.
by gotsparkly on Oct 18, 2009 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yup, he played kind of small there…rushed his decision. I thought he looked OK next to 52 overall, though.
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on Oct 18, 2009 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I still maintain that the quote should be read in the context of an interview given to Russian media, specifically Sovetsky Sport. Based on my summer reading (via Googletranslate) of Ovi/Sasha/Varly/Feds interviews while they were ‘home’, Russian media only asks about the Russia angle, and the Russian players are only too happy to oblige.
But JP’s comments are worth pondering.
IS PAЯTY NOW
by Your Nation's Capital on Oct 18, 2009 1:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I remember clearly one point during some pressure in our zone during the 3rd, both D were out towards the circles and there wasn’t a whole lot Varly could do to get good sight lines. One of our guys was working his butt off to clear the paint in front of Varly. It was Semin. He may not have had a good night, but he had his moments.
by jmu.capsgirl on Oct 18, 2009 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
New Nickname for OV?
Hey guys, what do you think of Ovi wan-Kenobi as a new nickname for AO? I was talking to my buddy tonight, and I said the force is strong in that one, after motioning to AO. He replied, who OV? I jokingly said, “Yeah, Ovi wan-Kenobi”, before we started having a kick with it. What do you all think? I think it’s got a nice ring to it. And damn, after the way AO has been playing (and if it is due to Varly being in net, then leave him in!), I think if there ever was such a thing as the force, then AO’s got it.
by Matt A. W. on Oct 18, 2009 12:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
As a Star Wars fan, I like it…but I’m not sure. Let me process it tomorrow when I’m sober.
by PaintDrinkingPete on Oct 18, 2009 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
as I read that, I totally read Ovi Wan Kanooble.
I’m sorry. too much to drink tonight. Heh.
by Vinn on Oct 18, 2009 12:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ovi Laich Kanooble?
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 18, 2009 12:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
to bring it to something factual…
Ovi Mo Knuble?
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
by Sombrero Guy on Oct 18, 2009 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thought that was already a nickname for Ovi — during first season. Now, we Jnuble on the line, it takes on new meaning.
Of course, we don’t have a center named Wan. (Brendan Morrison sounds nothing like Wan nor does Nick Backstrom.)
by CapsFan75 on Oct 18, 2009 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jnuble? Didn’t realize he was part of the Tribe as well.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
by Fehr and Balanced on Oct 18, 2009 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I guess my spelling skills were somewhat off this morning.
I meant to say Knuble.
by CapsFan75 on Oct 18, 2009 8:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don’t you know that we kid because we love? I’m sure he knew what you meant.
I thought it was a great remark.
by gfcaps fan on Oct 18, 2009 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If he agreed to play for free, he’d be Gnuble.
Winterion Game Studios
Visit us online at : http://winterion.com
by winterion on Oct 19, 2009 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Wow.
That was horrific. Rec’d.
by Knee high to a duck on Oct 19, 2009 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Appropos of exactly nothing, the Preds’ road unis are really sharp-looking. White/pearl gray/navy blue with yellow piping, very nice.
IS PAЯTY NOW
by Your Nation's Capital on Oct 18, 2009 1:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Observations from Section 421
1) While watching the warm-up it appeared to me that Ovi was really focused in on this game (possibly because of the long break until the next one). I said to my neighbor that tonight Ovi was going to have a “special” game. Turns out it wasn’t all that special, but hey, 2 goals and a shootout winner are pretty damn impressive.
2) What the hell was Semin thinking in the first period? He was set up for great shots on two occasions and he tried to pass instead…dammit. If the Caps head into the second up 3-0, it would have made a big difference, and likely there would have been no need for the shootout.
3) Shea Weber can really bring the puck, can’t he?
4) In case anyone was wondering, all of the pucks went into the same net.
5) When Poti missed the start of the 3rd, I’m thinking "Oh great, another season of defensemen on the IR. But he came out early on in the 3rd and was effective. Guess it was equipment.
So there’s 4 days until the Caps take the ice for their first of their two “If it’sThursday it must be Atlanta” games. I suspect they’ll give the guys at least one day off, if not two…they deserve it after going through a tough part of the schedule with a 4-2-2 record. There are a lot of points ready for taking in the form of the Thrashers and Islanders. Here’s to a long winning streak.
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Caps on Oct 18, 2009 1:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
You were in 421? Whereabouts? I was in 421 last night.
Never lie, steal, cheat, or drink. But, if you must lie, lie in the arms of the one you love. If you must steal, steal away from bad company. If you must cheat, cheat death. If you must drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away.
by gotsparkly on Oct 18, 2009 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow…I also sit in 421! That’s where we have our season tickets. We’re in row M, seats 7-8. I apologize if you heard my dad screaming that someone sucks. He has sports-induced tourettes.
by terpgrrl on Oct 18, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hahaha. I’m not usually in 421, but my family came with me to the game, so I sold my season ticket to a friend and got tickets to sit with my family. We were in row J.
Never lie, steal, cheat, or drink. But, if you must lie, lie in the arms of the one you love. If you must steal, steal away from bad company. If you must cheat, cheat death. If you must drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away.
by gotsparkly on Oct 18, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh then did you have the pleasure of having the drunk/passed out guy in your row? He was about 3 rows in front of me. He fell on some people. He and his friends kept standing up when the puck entered the zone right in front of us. We missed both of Varly’s amazing saves in the first.
by terpgrrl on Oct 18, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
These are types of people that throw hats during a shootout.
by PaintDrinkingPete on Oct 18, 2009 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lucky! We usually have to put up with leaners. I’m totally jealous of your front row seats!
by terpgrrl on Oct 18, 2009 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, personally I find seats in the front row upstairs amongst the best at the Phone Booth. We lucked into ours a few years ago after being up a bit higher….
by Yoshietree on Oct 18, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m sitting in 407 Row A for the Flyers. Very excited!
IS PAЯTY NOW
by Your Nation's Capital on Oct 18, 2009 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
405 Row A, let’s make some NOISE for that Caps/Flyers tilt! If it’s half the game the last one up in Philly was… woo!!!
"I am... *grins* ... 'Nobody' "
- Odysseus
by war_capitals on Oct 19, 2009 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
haha you sit right in front of me! i’m in row n, seats 5-6 :)
"No Brooks Laich, no win. Know Brooks Laich, know win."
by kellobellow on Oct 18, 2009 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My seats are in the front row. I’m the large guy on the left side in the Fedorov jersey… (there’s another chap who wears a Feds jersey about 6 seats to the right of me…)
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Caps on Oct 18, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Did you observe Dan Ellis (How do you make that possessive? I’ve completely forgotten) jock flying into your section? Because that’s where it looked like it landed.
by Knee high to a duck on Oct 18, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
making “Ellis” possessive depends entirely on which style manual you subscribe to.
by RedBirdie on Oct 18, 2009 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
…which is why we should all give up and just speak a more logically-structured language like Spanish. << ducks debris >>
"I am... *grins* ... 'Nobody' "
- Odysseus
by war_capitals on Oct 19, 2009 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
but I hate trying to figure out if the chair is male or female!
by RedBirdie on Oct 19, 2009 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This was prolly answered in the GDT which I haven’t read yet – is a SO goal considered part of a hat trick? There were a bunch of hats thrown, but to me it didn’t seem – kosher.
IS PAЯTY NOW
by Your Nation's Capital on Oct 18, 2009 1:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Nope. SO goals don’t count as goals.
by Yoshietree on Oct 18, 2009 1:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
IOW, the league acknowledges that shootouts aren’t hockey.
by redlineblue on Oct 18, 2009 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Time for a thread about abolishing them and adding a 10 minute OT period?
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
by Whiter Mage on Oct 18, 2009 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nah, the OT only works some times. Shootout always works. Sure it’s not “real hockey”, but at some point the players just want to go home, unless it’s the playoffs. If 1OT always worked, then we would never have 3OT games in the playoffs.
by Bman21212 on Oct 18, 2009 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Teams can be evenly matched. Ties are acceptable.
by renstar on Oct 18, 2009 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Out of curiosity, how would we weight that point wise? Would we weight a tie one point for each team? What about the OT losing team. Right now they get a point, would that be taken away?
by Bman21212 on Oct 18, 2009 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
One point for each team. The way it was done for the first 70 years of the NHL
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 18, 2009 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
As much as I agree that the NHL was just fine with ties, aren’t we all spitting the wind? The Great Bettman has spoken and we’re never gonna get the tie back into the game.
“Sister-kisser”… no wonder they wanted to do away with ties in the first place. They were really poorly marketed!
"I am... *grins* ... 'Nobody' "
- Odysseus
by war_capitals on Oct 19, 2009 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have a dream… that one day an early-season tie will once again be the difference in determining the Patrick Division champ.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 19, 2009 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I regret that I have only one rec to give for this insight.
Also, overtime should also be hockey: five-on-five.
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
by CapitalCentre on Oct 18, 2009 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So anytime someone’s in the penalty box, it’s not really hockey?
by Knee high to a duck on Oct 18, 2009 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not the same thing. The way I see it, if two teams have been good enough to hold each other tied through 60 minutes, they deserve to go another frame with their best effort.
Four-on-four is something they usually only experience during rare simultaneous penalties (for up to two minutes) — they don’t practice it much, and if they do it’s more likely an informal shinny. To force the teams to shuffle lines and gas their players even faster penalizes them both for what must have been pretty excellent play up until then.
I admit I’m a bit of a traditionalist generally.
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
by CapitalCentre on Oct 18, 2009 9:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s not necessarily excellent play, merely equal on the scoreboard. Unless you’re measuring excellent play by the standards of what the average person is capable of, then yes, indubitably.
I find it very difficult to believe that teams would practice the shootout, but not a 4 on 4 overtime skate. You only get to that shootout if you first play through that overtime period.
I don’t understand why playing 4 on 4 “penalizes them both”, unless you mean that it’s the equivalent of having a penalty on each team for a full 5 minutes, which it kind of is, except that they have the entirety of their roster to choose from, instead of having a player in the penalty box, unavailable for skating. It’s not really so much a line shuffle as an exclusion of one forward from a line or, in the case of the young guns, the exclusion of the defenseman not named Mike Green.
I don’t mind 4-4 hockey at all, I think, if anything, it’s played with a greater measure of personal responsibility and skill – there are fewer teammates on the ice to cover for your mistakes and fewer opponents with which to contend. Still, it manages to remain more like “hockey” than a game of shinny or the shootout – most of the basic plays you see are fairly similar, if less complex.
by Knee high to a duck on Oct 19, 2009 12:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I find it very difficult to believe that teams would practice the shootout, but not a 4 on 4 overtime skate.
True, and I don’t actually know. But it seems to my unprofessional eye that shootout practice is how they end many practices and start most pregame skates.
I don’t understand why playing 4 on 4 "penalizes them both", unless you mean that it’s the equivalent of having a penalty on each team for a full 5 minutes
It’s partly that. It’s also partly the fact that fewer guys on the ice=farther for each of them to go, which after already having played a full game makes it seem like the league is saying “Hey, pretty good work — now let’s reward your effort by adding a weird obstacle just so we can get this thing over with.”
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
by CapitalCentre on Oct 19, 2009 9:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I doubt the players just want to “get this thing over with.” I’m pretty sure most of them would like a chance to win. I don’t think they’d want indefinite OT but I’d bet most of them would be in favor of at least 10 minutes of OT.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
by Fehr and Balanced on Oct 19, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I doubt the players just want to "get this thing over with." I’m pretty sure most of them would like a chance to win.
I think I wasn’t clear. I agree, and I think 4-on-4 makes it harder for them to have a fair chance at it.
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
by CapitalCentre on Oct 19, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nah. It’s much easier to score 4 on 4. I think if the NHL went to 10 minutes of 4 on 4 we’d see much fewer shoot outs. I don’t think it’s a linear relationship either. I think 10 minutes of 4 on 4 would resolve more than twice as many games in OT as 5 minutes does.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
by Fehr and Balanced on Oct 19, 2009 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, maybe if it could eliminate the shootout…
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
by CapitalCentre on Oct 19, 2009 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t mind 4-4 hockey at all, I think, if anything, it’s played with a greater measure of personal responsibility and skill – there are fewer teammates on the ice to cover for your mistakes and fewer opponents with which to contend.
And it’s all man-to-man so it’s nearly impossible to trap or set up any other neutral-zone-clogging system.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
by Fehr and Balanced on Oct 19, 2009 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
impossible to set the trap? Ok, I’m on board with 4-on4.
( I’m not being sarcastic)
by RedBirdie on Oct 19, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Shootout = gimmick. Ties = fine, in the regular season. The worst part about the current system is if a game goes to OT it’s weighted differently than a game that does not. This is wrong on a billion levels. A game should be worth 3 points, or worth 2. One or the other. I prefer 2, with Ties.
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
by Whiter Mage on Oct 19, 2009 8:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nope. Throwing the hats was kind of weird.
Never lie, steal, cheat, or drink. But, if you must lie, lie in the arms of the one you love. If you must steal, steal away from bad company. If you must cheat, cheat death. If you must drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away.
by gotsparkly on Oct 18, 2009 1:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe a consequence of having a new generation of rookie fans?
IS PAЯTY NOW
by Your Nation's Capital on Oct 18, 2009 2:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yea, as Bruce said “Only in Washington”
“I don’t think it’s ever been done in the history of hockey,” Boudreau said with a wry smile. “It’s a Washington original.”
http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/gamecenter/recap/NHL_20091017_NSH@WAS/rss
But hey, new fans are always good. They will learn, glad they are at least excited.
by Bman21212 on Oct 18, 2009 3:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It was pretty lame, but I’m willing to give some folks the benefit of the doubt as just saluting AO’s 3rd goal and being the only Cap to put one in the net all night – I’m sure a lot of the hat-tossers were well aware that it wasn’t an “official” hat trick.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Oct 18, 2009 8:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’d agree, but I certainly didn’t like that it delayed the shootout. At that point, you just want to get the game over with. Especially as it was the Caps who were now leading.
by gfcaps fan on Oct 18, 2009 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
we were up in the 400s going “The hats! They keep throwing hats! Make them stop!” It only seemed appropriate.
by RedBirdie on Oct 18, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It was more like, “Stop throwing those hats, you idiots, it’s NOT a hat trick!”
by gfcaps fan on Oct 18, 2009 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Call me sensitive, but I’m not willing to give the hat-throwers the benefit of the doubt. That was borderline cringe-worthy, and shows how uninformed some Caps fans are. Even if some of them knew it wasn’t really a hat trick, they should also know enough about the game situation to not cause a delay in the shootout.
by Cluster on Oct 18, 2009 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Better uninformed fans than no fans, or do you not remember the Hanlon years?
by RPI93 on Oct 18, 2009 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You can’t have none of the above. There were no fans for a while, so we don’t have a mass of long term fans that say, the Canadian capital does. So you either get uninformed fans who learn, or none. Sorry, but DC is not Montreal.
by Bman21212 on Oct 18, 2009 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
and I’ll take “rookie” fans throwing hats any day of the week.
by RedBirdie on Oct 18, 2009 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I disagree. If we want the rest of the NHL to stop calling all the Caps fans “bandwagoners”, then they’ve gotta stop acting like it. It’s up to us veteran fans to stop this sort of embarrassment.
I love enthusiasm, but I love not being the butt of real hockey fans’ jokes even more. Isn’t there some sort of mandatory hockey mentoring program in place yet??? There’s alway someone showing up at VC that needs “icing” explained to them… those are the people that need to intervene! OK, so this is mostly kidding and not to be taken super-cereal…
"I am... *grins* ... 'Nobody' "
- Odysseus
by war_capitals on Oct 19, 2009 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Nearly every town in the League has casual fans who don’t know everything there is to know about hockey and come around more often when the team’s winning – Washington is hardly alone.
If the Caps are “the butt of real hockey fans’ jokes,” it’s not because of their fans.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Oct 19, 2009 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yea, it’s because of their lack of scoring prowess :P
by Bman21212 on Oct 19, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nearly every town in the League has casual fans who don’t know everything there is to know about hockey and come around more often when the team’s winning – Washington is hardly alone.
Yes, even in the lower bowl of Toronto you see many a new fan on their Blackberry. They are most likely checking the rules to the game just to make sure they don’t miss anything.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
by Fehr and Balanced on Oct 19, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You can’t have none of the above
Sure you can, when it comes to basic knowledge of what counts for a goal and what does not. I’m not naive to think that a couple of years of success make the majority of our fans hockey-savvy, but if the crowd does something weird enough that the coach is asked about it in the post-game press conference, then it’s worth bringing up here.
by Cluster on Oct 18, 2009 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I’m not convinced ‘it came up at a presser’ is a valid benchmark for significance. I also wonder why we’ll assume hats came from newbies rather than ironists, or celebration junkies.
I mean, if they’re so new, how do they know what a hat trick is?
by redlineblue on Oct 18, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Exactly my point. If you know what to do with your lid when a hat trick occurs, you know that you’ll never be throwing it during a shootout. Unless you’re in Washington, I guess.
by Cluster on Oct 18, 2009 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
imagine being a new fan (as in, you’ve picked up hockey in the last year or so). You’ve seen hat tricks. Three goals=thrown hat. It makes sense to new fans that what happened last night may have been a hat trick. As far as some of them know, there has always been a shoot out in hockey. They don’t know hockey without it. They love hockey, but they aren’t deeply invested in it the same way, say, us Rink Rats are. They don’t consume rule books and the CBA like some of us do.
They love hockey, they’re new to it, they’re still trying to figure it all out. Next time you find yourself next to someone throwing a hat during the SO, be nice, welcome them to the club, and then gently explain to them why a SO goal doesn’t count for hat tricks or stats.
by RedBirdie on Oct 18, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
To each their own, expectations that is.
by Cluster on Oct 18, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah. Or Pittsburgh:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0lywJZDnds Try the 1:40 mark after Christensen’s ahem shootout goal.
Hoping or pretending that last night’s hats tell one anything about Caps fans is odd and/or silly.
by redlineblue on Oct 18, 2009 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
It’s all good. You’re an apologist for some of our fans, I’m a critic. I’m sure neither one of us lost sleep last night.
by Cluster on Oct 18, 2009 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No apology implied. You prob’ly slept better, I hear ‘Arbiter of Correct Fandom’ is a pointless tiring gig.
by redlineblue on Oct 18, 2009 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Clever moniker. I’ll take it. And since I prefaced my whole opinion with “call me sensitive”, I assumed I’d be in the minority on this one. So be it.
by Cluster on Oct 18, 2009 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Epic find. 2 wrongs don’t make a right of course, but embarrassment loves company. I don’t have a big problem with it myself – it’s technically incorrect and all, but I feel like SOME fan would throw a hat in that situation at pretty much any NHL arena.
by grapejoos on Oct 18, 2009 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bingo. I mean, the hat’s for “Hats off to you!”, not “here comes the statistician”.
I believe the shootout (and the asterisk it puts on everything it touches) is Much Dumber than throwing a hat for ______’s third goal of a…contest.
by redlineblue on Oct 18, 2009 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’ll take people new to the game (I call them former Redskins Season Ticket Holders) throwing hats on the ice all day over having a ton of fans dress like seats like we had from 02-08.
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
by Whiter Mage on Oct 18, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
This is the second reference to past years’ attendance. Not sure where the leap was made from throwing hats last night to empty seats from days gone by, but that has nothing to do with what I’m talking about.
But yeah, if you’re looking for an acknowledgement that any warm, pink bodies are better than cold, plastic seats….sure.
by Cluster on Oct 18, 2009 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
i’ll admit i was strangely embarrassed seeing the hats on the ice, but couldn’t agree more that uneducated fans are better than no fans.
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
by Sombrero Guy on Oct 18, 2009 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Steve Levy at the WWL...
Steve Levy (one of about 5 guys who know something about pucks over there) called out the folks about that. He said something to the effect of “You folks should know better…” and Linda “The Rangers Dynasty will begin any day” Cohn laughed her annoying laugh….
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Caps on Oct 18, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hope so. Otherwise, it’s embarassing.
by mechanicsville on Oct 18, 2009 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed. My dad and I were cheering, but cringing at the same time. I think I even did the disappointing head-in-hands move at one point. I was also scared the slight delay may have gotten the Preds more psyched and played with Varly’s head a bit.
by terpgrrl on Oct 18, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Center Ice is still free and they’re replaying the game right now (not quite as late for us central time zone fans)
I just re-saw Aucoin right in front passing off to a guy off to the right of goal and mis-connecting on it in the 1st. I don’t care who you are, that’s a shot not a pass in that spot.
by Icebat on Oct 18, 2009 3:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Question: is Flash hitting Hershey before joining the Caps?
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on Oct 18, 2009 10:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It wouldn’t be a surprise if he did…
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Caps on Oct 18, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think it’s done Fehr any favors to get his t.camp in at this level. Flash isn’t going to have his legs for a while, so better that he sport chocolate for a couple games.
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on Oct 18, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agree on Fehr, but he’s played quite well in spite of it. If only he could be rewarded with some reasonable minutes for his efforts.
by mechanicsville on Oct 18, 2009 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That he has. The difference here is that Flash probably hasn’t been able to stress that leg with the DVT at all, and Fehr could at least skate a bit.
It’s getting to be a challenge to fit in all these wings on the right lines. Ostensibly, Flash has been passed by a deserving 21 for top-6 duty right now, and he sure as heck isn’t cut out for bottom six duty (which suits Fehr better).
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on Oct 18, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I expect Fehr mainly consumes the bittersweet?
by redlineblue on Oct 18, 2009 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
well i'm thinkin semi-sweet until he got benched for actually playing okay
all bittersweet after that
by twistedlogic on Oct 18, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I was wondering what was up with the benching of the entire 3rd line. Yes, the fourth line was probably playing better, then. But I was wondering why Boudreau shortened the bench to begin with. The third line was not responsible for the 2 goals. Unless you count the fact that Clark was on the ice with the second line cast of characters for one of them.
by CapsFan75 on Oct 18, 2009 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I love how people threw hats for Ovechkin’s “kind-of” hat trick. If only SO goals counted…
Dallas Stars 4 Life: Stars Blogging From Hockeyville, Iowa
by Brad_Richards_Rocks on Oct 18, 2009 10:58 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
22 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 30 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
19 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 23 |
|
Atlanta
|
18 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 22 |
|
Florida
|
20 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 20 |
|
Carolina
|
21 | 4 | 12 | 5 | 13 |
(updated 11.21.2009 at 8:36 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.
