A Mixed Bag on Special Teams
by J.P. on Nov 17, 2009 3:00 PM EST
43 comments
Over the past ten games, the Caps' special teams have been a bit of a mixed bag. The power play - sans Alex Ovechkin for six-plus of those ten games - has clicked at an eye-popping 35.3% success rate, thanks in part to Brendan Morrison's play at the point and to Mike Green being Mike Green.
But as good as the Caps have been with the extra man, they've been nearly as bad down one. How bad? Try a 69.7% kill rate over the past ten games, a mark that leaves the Caps in the bottom third of the League for the season in that metric (obviously not good for a team with occasional discipline issues, to put it generously). Granted, they've been excellent overall in limiting the number of penalties they've had to kill, but a manageable 3.4 shorthanded situations per game over that stretch is only really manageable when around four out of every five are being successfully killed - hence the 6-4 (6-2-2) record.
A few thoughts on the penalty kill:
- Change the personnel up a bit. It's not a coincidence that the penalty kill has struggled without Boyd Gordon (who has played just a few minutes of the ten games in question), and there's nothing the team can do about his health at present. But they can give more ice time to a guy like Alexander Semin (who has proven to be a good penalty killer and is proving it again in limited time this year), and maybe realize that Quintin Laing isn't quite the PK monster some think he is (nor is Mike Knuble). On the blueline, John Erskine has been bad on the kill (you'd think Karl Alzner could be a tremendous help here, given what he and his mates have been doing in Hershey). Milan Jurcina has been surprisngly good on the kill, as have puck movers Green and Brian Pothier (in small minutes), which hammers home the point that getting the puck isn't enough - clearing it is the key.
- The goalies need to be better. Believe it or not, the Caps have allowed the second-fewest shots on goal per sixty minutes of 4-on-5 ice time in the League this season. And yet their GA/60 is eighth-worst and their 4-on-5 save percentage is the League's second-worst. Translation? Either the team is giving up a lot of high-quality chances, or their goalies aren't making as many stops as they need to. It's probably a combination of the two, but as the old cliche says, you're goalie has to be your best penalty killer, and the Caps' netminders haven't been.
- Without David Steckel, the Caps would be up the creek. Steckel's GAON/60 isn't great at 4-on-5, but his ability to win faceoffs is invaluable (as would Boyd Gordon's be). Without him, there'd be a lot more rubber flying at - and past - Caps goalies.
The Caps have been winning despite a struggling penalty kill and may well continue to do so. But a couple of tweaks, a little health and a bit of luck and the unit could be humming again. If and when that happens... look out, League.
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This must be super post GameDay Tuesday! Too much to read – head asplode.
Fight, you time-wasting figure skaters!
by boutros23 on Nov 17, 2009 3:02 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
I thought I could finally get back to work. Apparently not.
One guy just drove his semi as a float. I guess semis are cool.
by zephyr on Nov 17, 2009 3:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I was about to comment the same thing. Nice work boys (and girl).
I’m not sure how much of it is coincidence, but both goals that were broken down in the Varly post were 4 on 5. Does that point at the goalie’s issues, or the high quality chances that are being given?
"I think the relentless negative coverage in The Washington Post is a real difference from previous years," Redskins general counsel David Donovan said. "But in terms of the way our actual fans are behaving, we don't see any difference."
by Sct112 on Nov 17, 2009 3:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’d say most chances are pretty high scoring chance when the shooter has as much time and space as they do in those freeze frames.
One guy just drove his semi as a float. I guess semis are cool.
by zephyr on Nov 17, 2009 3:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Thinking the same thing
A ridiculous deluge of content today. Amazing stuff all.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 17, 2009 3:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
And a game yet to come. We spoil you guys…
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Nov 17, 2009 3:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
You do. I think this is deserving of another “Hell of a week” FanPosts like G.O.D. did a couple weeks ago.
"If you're gonna die after 24, might as well jump out at 23:59, no?"
by Laich It Or Lump It on Nov 17, 2009 3:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Easy now, its only Tuesday.
"I think the relentless negative coverage in The Washington Post is a real difference from previous years," Redskins general counsel David Donovan said. "But in terms of the way our actual fans are behaving, we don't see any difference."
by Sct112 on Nov 17, 2009 3:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I was thinking back to last week as well.
"If you're gonna die after 24, might as well jump out at 23:59, no?"
by Laich It Or Lump It on Nov 17, 2009 3:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Tarik and Corey just called. They’re not happy.
by b.orr4 on Nov 17, 2009 4:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Great, kid. Don’t get cocky.
"You're gonna eat that g**d**n Koho, three!"
by fat_daddyo on Nov 17, 2009 4:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed 100%. Rec’d.
"I'm just doing karate and trying to get females pregnant."
by Bald Pollack on Nov 17, 2009 3:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
It would be real nice to see the Caps get that GA thing under control before the playoffs. Be it 4-on-5 or 5-on-5.
They’re playing at a 70% point percentage for the season (and their last 10), which would get them to about 115 points for the regular season. Have to think that gets them at least a #2 seed, and probably the top spot, if they can do that the rest of the way.
But giving up so many goals a game is a bad recipe for the playoffs. It’s all been bad on the PK, really. Clearing the puck, making saves, giving up chances.
Oh, and here’s my vote for never putting AO back on the PP point ever again.
"You're gonna eat that g**d**n Koho, three!"
by fat_daddyo on Nov 17, 2009 3:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I think it’s interesting that Q and Knuble both look worse on the PK than is popularly believed. They are both tough and willing to win battles; but both are two of our more slow-footed forwards. I think effective PKs nowadays employ more high pressure tactics to avoid letting the PP set up. That obviously works with better skaters more than it does with slow skaters. Don’t ask me why Knuble was so effective in PHI, maybe it had to do with who he was killing with.
as have puck movers Green and Brian Pothier (in small minutes), which hammers home the point that getting the puck isn’t enough – clearing it is the key.
You left one of the puck movers off that list…
I definitely agree a lot of this is on the goalie. Part of the reason we have so few shots is probably because so many of them end up in red lights. No rebounds, shorter PPs against, fewer shots. Back to the Goalie’s Charge: Make the big save. Clearly our goalies have been letting us down in that department.
Really good point about Alzner and the HER PK. I’d like to see that be the number one personnel change. (Aside: If Bob Woods left HER, and HER PK got better, what does that mean?) I also think Backstrom should see more PK time (but probably not until he starts looking like himself again) although I recognize that it’s hard to give him so many tough minutes when he gets a ton of ES and PP time as well. I’m a firm believer that having a SH scoring threat helps keep opposing PPs a little more honest and cautious, especially at the points. If I may borrow a football analogy, a good run game keeps the DEs from pinning their ears back and attacking; you need to put something else in their mind.
Great stuff all day, Rink Royalty.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 17, 2009 3:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, the puck mover I left off couldn’t clear the biscuit from the top of the circle if he was unmolested on some nights…
And speaking of that guy, further to your other point about Gs making saves is Gs being able to see shooters – a problem that has cropped up now and again.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Nov 17, 2009 3:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Juice praised? The calm veteran presence ignored? What is going on here? Is this really a Scotty Hockey guest-post?
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 17, 2009 3:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
You’re absolutely right about the lack of pressure on the point men. If you watch most teams that are good on the PK, they don’t allow a whole lot of time for the point man to make reads and distribute the puck. Sometimes I’m just appalled at the way our forwards back away from the point man with the puck and let him pick apart the defense.
Aren’t the Caps supposed to be one of the fastest teams in hockey? If the reason we aren’t pressuring the points is the lack of speed from the PK forwards, then we need to try using some different forwards.
If the reason the Caps collapse into a tight box in front of their own net so quick is because of a conservative coaching style, then Boudreau needs to re-evaluate it. Either way, there is simply not enough pressure at the blue line.
by Kolzilla on Nov 17, 2009 4:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Sounds like an argument for Semin over Laing to me…
by David M. Getz on Nov 17, 2009 4:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
But you can’t use skill players on PK, you have to use grinders! Just look at a good PK like the Flyers, it’s not like ever use their skill pl-oh wait a minute…
by Kolzilla on Nov 17, 2009 4:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
(Aside: If Bob Woods left HER, and HER PK got better, what does that mean?)
I would guess having Carlson and Alzner help in that regard…
DC, where Hockey is a baffling ordeal.
by Chris meet Alex on Nov 17, 2009 4:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Alzner was there last year. Hard to say the HER D is much better this year than it was for Woods. Lepisto and Kronwall are both playing in the NHL as well. They lost some talent, for sure.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 17, 2009 5:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
About Hershey, actually French and Mann have altered the PK this season. I believe it was Leone who covered this in some articles; Walton may have covered this as well. Hershey is playing a more pressure/aggressive style than the Caps do and/or Hershey did last season.
In terms of the personnel, Hershey does use defensive oriented forwards on the PK like the Caps do with Gordon and Steckel. The top PK forward pairing is Joudrey and Pinizzotto. The other pairing usually is Kane/Beagle.
OT: Kronwall was sent down to the AHL today by Calgary.
Back to the original post, I posted some of these stats yesterday elsewhere with regard to Gordon’s absence from the PK after looking through the boxscores. Poti’s twice as much time on the PK as any other dman stood out as well when I was looking at the stats.
And while Laing has been shooting the puck and has contributed the 2 goals, it is challenging to envision him as an everyday roster player at the NHL level; the PK stats don’t do anything to change that opinion. I understand keeping him around as a depth player that has the right attitude as a healthy scratch and his game won’t change when he does get a jersey, but due to injuries, that has not been the case this season as he has been playing when not on IR himself.
by sk84fun_dc on Nov 17, 2009 5:22 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Great input, and FWIW I was joking about the Woods and PK thing. Just taking a jab at the whole Woods theory.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 17, 2009 5:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
You may have been joking, but I think it is worth noting that the Bears coaching staff has addressed that they made changes to the PK system compared to last season. (and Joudrey has commented on it, too.)
Hershey’s PK in the regular season was horrible last season. The PK had a strong start in the playoffs, IIRC, but not all that good overall in the playoffs either. In the context that the Bears won the Calder Cup, of course.
by sk84fun_dc on Nov 17, 2009 5:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I just want to drop in and say how great it is to have someone as astute and knowledgeable as yourself up there watching the games. It means a lot to those of us who can only see the Bears play on occasion.
by David M. Getz on Nov 17, 2009 6:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Definitely concur
It’s really nice to have someone that can give a little more flesh to the bare-bones stats that we have access to.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 17, 2009 6:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
To both of you, thanks for the kind words, but to be clear, while I follow the Bears closely and have seen them play live this season on multiple occasions, I also watch via ahllive and/or listen to Walton on sportsjuice when I can’t make the games; don’t want to have anyone thinking I make it to almost every game as I don’t (the playoffs are a different story :) )
by sk84fun_dc on Nov 17, 2009 7:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Any post that causes me to pour over BTN numbers is a good one in my book. Some things I noticed from the data:
- Erskine has the highest QualComp of the regular PK’ers and the second lowest QualTeam. Maybe that mitigates some of his poor numbers a little?
- Poti easily spends the most amount of time on the PK and his numbers do not look good. I wonder if it’s his performance or just the fact that the longer you’re on the PK, the more likely you are to take a goal against.
- Jurcina and Schultz have both been solid on the PK by the numbers.
- It pains me to say this, but Brooksie does not look good. He has a negative “Rating” (-3.19) and the QualComp/QualTeam numbers say he’s playing against weaker competition with stronger teammates. Not good.
"If you're gonna die after 24, might as well jump out at 23:59, no?"
by Laich It Or Lump It on Nov 17, 2009 3:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
A little, a little of both, definitely, and Laich’s defensive abilities are somewhat overrated, respectively.
One thing to keep in mind here, though, is that a couple of stops from his G or pucks that get past the netminder and anyone’s numbers here could look pretty different.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Nov 17, 2009 3:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yea, I definitely have kept that in mind. My second and third point, however, are observations that I noticed early on the the season and have been keeping tabs on since. The other two I just noticed and will keep an eye on from here on out.
"If you're gonna die after 24, might as well jump out at 23:59, no?"
by Laich It Or Lump It on Nov 17, 2009 3:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Does anyone know what type of system the Caps use on the 5on4 PK? I’m usually so stressed out that I’m not really watching very intelligently.
A small diamond with an aggressive point?
One guy just drove his semi as a float. I guess semis are cool.
by zephyr on Nov 17, 2009 4:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I thought the system was “cause as many heart attacks as possible”!
no, I don’t know, but I frequently find myself commenting on how aggressive other teams’ PK units looking compared to the Caps.
by RedBirdie on Nov 17, 2009 4:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It always seems to me they play a simple box with one D screening our goalie (while not boxing out the forward) and the two forwards falling too far back in an attempt to stop the seam pass at all cost (specifically at the cost of pressuring the point men). Especially with the PKers that seem to feel that in that deeper position they can always block the point shot if need be (looking in your general direction Q)
DC, where Hockey is a baffling ordeal.
by Chris meet Alex on Nov 17, 2009 4:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’m not sure I’d call anything about the Caps’ PK “aggressive.”
"Let the rest be scared of us." - Emo Bunny Sasha Semin
by Scott in Shaw on Nov 17, 2009 4:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The point man pretty aggressively skates back and forth. They don’t just stand in the passing lanes like a lot of teams. I know you were probably half serious but…
One guy just drove his semi as a float. I guess semis are cool.
by zephyr on Nov 17, 2009 5:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
True.
"Let the rest be scared of us." - Emo Bunny Sasha Semin
by Scott in Shaw on Nov 17, 2009 5:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think they run a normal box, but it’s hard to tell sometimes. I often catch both forwards on the same side of the ice and/or down low. Systems in general are hard to pick up on TV because you really need to see the whole play develop but on the PK and PP you should be able to glean the general approach.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 17, 2009 5:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
About the Power Play
Any chance B-Mo stays on the point with Green and AO moves to either the slot or left hash marks? I would strongly recommend either of those scenarios.
http://dclandingstrip.com/
by ninefttall on Nov 17, 2009 4:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
that is apparently the plan for tonight.
by RedBirdie on Nov 17, 2009 4:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah Ovie in front of the net should be interesting. Hope that shoulder is ready to take some punishment.
by Kolzilla on Nov 17, 2009 4:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’m hoping one of those infamous Mike Green slap shots of death (or nut busting) doesn’t cream him.
by RedBirdie on Nov 17, 2009 4:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
More like his lower back.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 17, 2009 5:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
good god yall
It’s been carefully researched and thoughtfully presented in here, All Day Long, again. There’s no call for such behavior on the internet, and some of us are trying to keep our jobs.
Thanks/You bastrrrrrds!
by redlineblue on Nov 17, 2009 5:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
67 | 45 | 13 | 9 | 99 |
|
Atlanta
|
65 | 28 | 27 | 10 | 66 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
65 | 27 | 27 | 11 | 65 |
|
Florida
|
65 | 27 | 28 | 10 | 64 |
|
Carolina
|
66 | 27 | 31 | 8 | 62 |
(updated 3.11.2010 at 1:04 AM EST)
Certain photos copyright © 2010 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.
