Recap: Canadiens 3, Caps 2
by J.P. on Nov 20, 2009 10:27 PM EST
in Game Recaps
Email
Print[AP Recap - GameCenter - Game Summary - Event Summary]
The Caps are a phenomenally skilled hockey club (even without perhaps their most skilled player, Alexander Semin), and when Bruce Boudreau turns his boys loose, they're an absolute joy to watch... on most nights. Trouble is, there are certain teams and styles against which run-and-gun just won't necessarily work. Who are these teams? Well, chances are, if a team has a guy named Jacques behind the bench, they're one of these teams.
And Montreal's got a guy named Jacques behind the bench.
The Caps were stifled in the neutral zone and in the middle of the ice all night, they didn't adjust, and they didn't win. Their two goals were both the result of hard work in the offensive zone - not mad dashes up ice - but in the end, it was too little of that and too much trying to take what just wasn't there.
Ten more notes on the game:
- John Carlson's NHL debut was solid, if unspectacular. He got caught out too long on each of his first two shifts (averaging 1:42 on the two), but settled down, rang the crossbar, led the team in hits with five, and finished third among the rearguards in ice time with 17:24, all but four seconds of which came at even strength.
- In goal, Michal Neuvirth was victimized by a couple of unlucky (for him) deflections on the first two goals, but wasn't tested much on the night - his teammates outshot the Habs 27-8 over the final two periods.
- Speaking of Carlson and Neuvirth, they were two of four Caps (Jay Beagle and Tyler Sloan being the others) who were in Hershey Bears uniforms on the night they won the Calder Cup last year.
- Any lingering concerns about Alex Ovechkin's left shoulder entering the game had to have been all but gone after seeing him lead with that shoulder on a big collision with Max Pacioretty just 38 seconds into the game.
- Is it a coincide that on the night that another promising young blueliner makes his Caps debut, John Erskine drops the mittens with the toughest guy in the NHL? One gets the impression that Big John knows there's one and only one way he's going to stick around this club... and even that may not be enough.
- Mathieu Perreault creates. It's what he does. It doesn't matter what kind of ice time or linemates he has - he works and works and chances happen. Keeper.
- As mediocre as Carey Price's numbers are on the season, he's now 4-2-0/1.95/.941 in his last six starts. How 'bout tweeting that, @walsha?
- Another game, another injury, this time Tom Poti. No word yet on the particulars (though it sounds like he's out for tomorrow night).
- If you thought the Caps had a hard time getting pucks to the net tonight, imagine if Andrei Markov and Hal Gill were healthy.
- Three minor penalties taken on the night is a good number overall... except that all three were taken in the third period. That said, the officiating was a bit shaky, to be generous.
And so the Caps head north to take on the Leafs on Hockey Night in Canada. Battered and bruised, trapped and tripped... but at least the game should be a bit more wide open, and thus to their liking.
Game highlights:
135 comments
|
1 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Shaky officiating, some unlucky bounces, and the puck just didn’t want to go in the net. It happens. Both goaltenders were pretty solid and both teams had good chances, I would say it’s pretty clear that Les Habitants are a better team than their current record would suggest.
Agree things happen. Officiating did not cost the Caps the game. All played hard at times, some played hard the whole game, but too little too late results in an L for the night. Live and learn and move on to the game tomorrow. Unfortunate – yes. Crushing – no. Play and learn. There were a lot of new faces on the ice for this team and there is an adjustment period this will only help chemistry later on in the season (either thru injury call-ups or roster space opening up with the Nyles situation). First line was essentially shut down, PP had it’s moments (although no goals), but looking at he big picture overall not a bad effort for most A win was there for the taking, but the Caps have taken many of those Ws from teams that should have also beaten them in the past. Don’t want to call it a poor effort, but it does seem some of the players should have played all 60 minutes.
officiating is the norm - taking 3 penalties in the 3rd is not. Caps certainly can’t continue doing that - will hurt more often than not in the long run
Rock the Red! Rock the White! Rock the Blue! Rock the Pens!
by RedskinFan4Life on Nov 21, 2009 7:59 AM EST up reply actions
Once again, it’s not the penalties that were called, but the ones that weren’t. Lots of them, when it could have made a difference (or not, based on the quality of shots they were taking). Two early penalties on Montreal, I thought the game was going to turn in our favor, although whiffing on both wasn’t an encouraging sign.
Shaky officiating, some unlucky bounces, and the puck just didn’t want to go in the net. It happens.
And if we’re listing the ways the Caps were unlucky, the injuries have to go up there too. With Poti out, that’s half the salary cap that ain’t playing (using Ted’s numbers).
Caps played with a lot of heart and energy last night. I hope that when the hurt guys come back, they play the same way (if they play at all — I’m looking at you, Juice and Mo)
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Nov 21, 2009 10:08 AM EST up reply actions
better the injuries now than May
Rock the Red! Rock the White! Rock the Blue! Rock the Pens!
by RedskinFan4Life on Nov 21, 2009 1:44 PM EST up reply actions
good game
I thought we did well against this team. We had ample opportunities. Just one of tjose games where it just wouldn’t go in. Solid effort. I thought we outworked them all night…and I cant usually say that.
I thought the opposite: the Caps outworked the Habs for about 5 minutes in the 2nd and for about 10 in the 3rd. BB had it right in that they slept through that game.
by DrinkingPartner on Nov 20, 2009 10:41 PM EST up reply actions
I liked the effort. I didn’t see any laziness. Greenie had a little jump in his step. We just couldn’t get through the neutral zone clean very often.
Consideration perhaps for what seemed to me more shuffling than normal of the line combos? Trying to get Ovi some different match ups, then Poti going down and Sloan moving to to his spot. Maybe the lack of line consistency may have had some impact?
"I play Russian roulette every day - a man's sport - with a bullet called life"
On the train home, a 4-yr-old Caps Kids Club member told me the Caps won and scored a hat trick. I’m pretending he’s right.
Fight, you time-wasting figure skaters!
Neuvy was definitely unlucky on those two, but I think he’s got to have the Camalleri shot. He looked a little shaky, overplaying pucks a little bit. That said, he had a pretty good game.
Carlson looked better and better as the game went on. I really thought he was going to get a goal.
The Reffing fuckin’ blew. Morrison for diving? Total bullshit. MP got hauled down at least twice with no repercussion. The refs need to be chastised for that.
by DrinkingPartner on Nov 20, 2009 10:39 PM EST reply actions
NHL refs will always suck. Game moves too fast for their small brains. That said, I don’t think they cost us the game. Not this one anyway.
I think Tyler was talking about the small brains comment. NHL refs probably won’t ever make everyone happy just because of the sheer number of subjective calls they have to make, but there’s no reason to suggest they suck because they have small brains. They just have a tough job and they don’t get much guidance from the league’s head office.
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...
It seemed like they were trying to make up for not calling Green on hitting that one guy in the face (Plekanec, I think). Still, crappy.
What I see is “Unsportsmanlike conduct—diving”, similar to “Delay of Game—Puck over Glass”
by red army line on Nov 21, 2009 8:35 AM EST up reply actions
Nice scrap by Erskine. First fight he’s had in a long time where he got the jump and was the aggressor. Man, he can throw ’em when he wants to.
He even looked chippy in warmups. I was expecting something like that.
Fight, you time-wasting figure skaters!
As J.P. said in the recap, he’s startin’ to feel the flame.
by DrinkingPartner on Nov 20, 2009 10:47 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, but if he’s concussion-prone, and he is, fighting might be a very quick way to end his career too. Risky business. Kinda a shame it’s (is it?) his only card.
Fighting isn’t his only card. When Erskine plays well, he plays physical in front of the net and in the corners, and big hits on the ice, like he did the other game. Basically physical, which does put him in risk of concussion too. He also has had hand problems, which puts im in more risk while fighting.
Erskine's cahones...
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Nov 21, 2009 10:16 AM EST up reply actions
I thought Erskine was horrible tonight, fight non-withstanding. His shitty pass in neutral ice led directly to the second MTL goal. He then took a pretty foolish gamble in the third which led to the 2-on-1 that slid under Neuvirth wide of the post.
Unfortunately, we know better by now than to expect any type of consistency from him.
Erskine needed to be the aggressor against Laraque or he’d have his arse handed to him.
"I'm just doing karate and trying to get females pregnant."
by Bald Pollack on Nov 21, 2009 7:40 AM EST up reply actions
True about needing to be the aggressor against Laraque to get the advantage, but I don’t think Erskine would’ve gotten a beatdown if he hadn’t. He’s shown he can go toe-to-toe against anyone. I’ve yet to locate an Erskine fight where he was clearly overmatched. Even the concussion he got from Godard in a fight in spring ’08 was just a well-placed, squarely-connected right to his jaw.
Ovechkin Not There Yet
It was pretty clear to everyone, including Boudreau who made some comments about it in the postgame.
I mentioned in the GDT that the extra gear he usually has didn’t seem to be there. No speed through the neutral zone at all. He also got bumped off the puck pretty consistently. Tough to win with no Semin, no Knuble and a sub-standard #8.
Agreed. If I had been a first time fan and someone told me the best player in the game was wearing a Caps uniform, I’d never have picked Alex. He was probably playing on adrenaline againts the Rangers but you could clearly see he was lacking that extra burst tonight. It’s probably going to take him a few more practices to get his game conditioning back.
Walked to the Metro with a Red Wings fan who was in town for a family event. Hey, at least he was rocking the red, even if it was the wrong red. Therefore, I give him a pass on wearing an irrelevant jersey to the game. Came to see Ovie and was not disappointed, except for not getting a goal. Then again, he doesn’t get to see what we do every night.
Bruce wasn’t too impressed either.
Boudreau also said he thought Alex Ovechkin struggled all night. In his second game back from an injury near his left shoulder, the two-time MVP took only one shot on goal through 40 minutes (before finishing with five) and finished without a point for just the fourth time this season.
“As far as I know,” Boudreau said when asked if Ovechkin is healthy. “He says he is. I just didn’t think he was on top of his game tonight.”
Mathieu Perreault creates. It’s what he does. It doesn’t matter what kind of ice time or linemates he has – he works and works and chances happen. Keeper.
I’m rec’ing this post specifically for this line. It’s not like I wasn’t a fan of Perreault before, but now I’m thoroughly sold on him.
"If you're gonna die after 24, might as well jump out at 23:59, no?"
by Laich It Or Lump It on Nov 20, 2009 11:14 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
YNC and I both were commenting during the game, you could tell he was out there before you even noticed his number. Little hummingbird or ankle-biting dog, just getting in there and creating stuff. Love the crap out of that guy.
Fight, you time-wasting figure skaters!
by boutros23 on Nov 20, 2009 11:16 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Yea, someone behind me described him as scrappy. I think that’s a suitable adjective. He’s good along the boards, good at cycling, and doesn’t get pushed around despite his size.
"If you're gonna die after 24, might as well jump out at 23:59, no?"
by Laich It Or Lump It on Nov 20, 2009 11:19 PM EST up reply actions
He’s scrappy and smart. He draws attention like very few players do. I like him tons and once the NHL store will allow me to customize a t-shirt w/ a player name, he gets it.
Fight, you time-wasting figure skaters!
Heh, or you could just make your own like Jordan did.
"If you're gonna die after 24, might as well jump out at 23:59, no?"
by Laich It Or Lump It on Nov 20, 2009 11:23 PM EST up reply actions
Props on the shirt Jordan, it is awesome. I’m holding out for the jersey, though.
The people behind me last night were calling him Perrault-cho Cinco. I hadn’t heard that before, but I absolutely love it. Now that would make an awesome shirt!
I came > < This close to getting one today, but I couldn’t make up my mind if I wanted a women’s cut. I can’t decided between my desire to look halfway decent, and my desire to remain true to the jersey.
"And next year it will be ours."
please no…..Ocho Stinko has enough bad rap - don’t need that in our game
Rock the Red! Rock the White! Rock the Blue! Rock the Pens!
by RedskinFan4Life on Nov 21, 2009 1:46 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
He electrified the crowd and the team every time he came out on the ice. He got dumped near the goal once pretty hard by Les Habs and the arena turned ugly, like it was personal.
SO FЯIENDS, IS BATTLE NOW.
Every time I see Perreault playing I think: why isn’t he playing on a line with Ovechkin? As much as I like Backstrom, I think it’s his play that is hurting that first line’s production at the moment – he hasn’t looked like himself for the better part of a month now. BB seems willing to swap in just about anyone on that wing… why not try swapping out Backstrom for a few shifts and see how MP or BM fares in there?
agreed!!! i’d like to see MP with AO. that’d be an interesting line to watch! MP creating for AO, perhaps? or the other way around?
Rock the Red! Rock the White! Rock the Blue! Rock the Pens!
by RedskinFan4Life on Nov 21, 2009 8:01 AM EST up reply actions
At the beginning of the year, I was vocal that he wasn’t ready for the NHL. I stand by that.
He needed precisely 11 more games for Hershey before he’d be ready.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Nov 21, 2009 10:27 AM EST up reply actions
Kind of a crummy game for my friends first hockey game, at least the end was exciting.
I think caps nation is officially enamored with MP
"And next year it will be ours."
So after seeing the dvr replay, the shot at the 10 second left in the game mark didn’t go in. Sitting in 412, right behind the goal, it sure looked like it did.
I was incensed after the game, but it looks like I was wrong.
by Knee high to a duck on Nov 20, 2009 11:27 PM EST reply actions
I was in 412 too. I know I shot up when I saw it. I was also borderline drunk at that point.
by Knubles and Bits on Nov 22, 2009 5:53 PM EST up reply actions
Same here :) I was pissed, I was at the other end though. I need a new section, the habs fans behind me didn’t know how long hockey games were, To be fair it was a bunch of younger teenage girls though.
"And next year it will be ours."
Yeah — habs fans don’t know anything about hockey
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Nov 21, 2009 10:28 AM EST up reply actions
I know what you mean. From where I was sitting, it looked like Carlson scored when he rang one off the post in the second. Everyone in my section jumped up and cheered. I didn’t even hear the puck hit. Perhaps it was just wishful thinking.
"If you're gonna die after 24, might as well jump out at 23:59, no?"
by Laich It Or Lump It on Nov 20, 2009 11:30 PM EST up reply actions
as all near goals are …..
Rock the Red! Rock the White! Rock the Blue! Rock the Pens!
by RedskinFan4Life on Nov 21, 2009 8:02 AM EST up reply actions
Im pretty sure Carlson thought it went in too.
by Knubles and Bits on Nov 22, 2009 5:55 PM EST up reply actions
Err, 409. Sorry, I’ve been up since 5:00.
by Knee high to a duck on Nov 20, 2009 11:31 PM EST up reply actions
Same section for the game. Where were you sitting?
by ns on Nov 21, 2009 8:34 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
i had a feeling that was you. I was one of the somewhat drunk guys in J4 and J5 (both wearing Ovi jerseys – one very Irish looking and one not)
i was the non-Irishman.
Ah, gotcha. Nice to meet’cha, after the fact. Your buddy was waaaay Irish looking.
by Knee high to a duck on Nov 24, 2009 8:20 PM EST up reply actions
yeah, when they showed the replay at the game, it was pretty obvious that it would have bounced at a different angle if it had been in at all. oh well… not for lack of chances.
"No Brooks Laich, no win. Know Brooks Laich, know win."
by kellobellow on Nov 20, 2009 11:45 PM EST up reply actions
whoooa. crazy.
"No Brooks Laich, no win. Know Brooks Laich, know win."
by kellobellow on Nov 20, 2009 11:44 PM EST up reply actions
AO’s sticks do that too, apparently. Anyone feel like blocking some shots? With their face?
SO FЯIENDS, IS BATTLE NOW.
All sticks do that. Different players like sticks with different flex. It’s much harder to control a shot with a high flex (low flex number) but much harder to get a ton on a shot with a stiffer stick (high flex number).
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...
I don’t remember my flex number. It’s stiff but I don’t recall how stiff. I’ll probably take it down a little when I get my next sticks. I think I’m somewhere between 100-115.
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...
Good analysis. I tend to use a 100 flex when I’m playing. Anything lower just feels too whippy for me and I can’t seem to control the puck.
I need 100% of you guys to give 110% 100% of the time.
by capsfan4life on Nov 21, 2009 8:01 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah I had a long back and forth with DMG last season when Green had the bum shoulder and stick problems. Perversely it’s harder to use a whippy stick when you don’t have full shoulder strength because you really need to bear down on the stick or the puck just takes off.
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...
shhhhh…….don’t let the league know that he has an illegal curve heheheh
Rock the Red! Rock the White! Rock the Blue! Rock the Pens!
by RedskinFan4Life on Nov 21, 2009 8:03 AM EST up reply actions
Check out one of my fave pics:
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Nov 21, 2009 8:36 AM EST up reply actions 5 recs
awesome isn’t the right word for this…..
Rock the Red! Rock the White! Rock the Blue! Rock the Pens!
by RedskinFan4Life on Nov 21, 2009 1:47 PM EST up reply actions
Didn’t see one second of the game. Definitely would have preferred watching hockey to the bullshit I had to do instead. Good to know the Caps figured out how to beat a team that clogs the neutral zone. Wait, what?
The Caps are not a legitimate contender until the learn how to win more than one style of game. That’s just a fact. There are too many teams that play trap hockey for the Caps to realistically go 4 rounds without hitting a trap. Until they learn to adapt, we’re just wasting time.
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...
This was a pretty big problem tonight, I thought. I caught myself a couple times saying “just dump the damn puck and forecheck.” Lots of fancy stuff in the neutral zone that didn’t lead anywhere productive.
"If you're gonna die after 24, might as well jump out at 23:59, no?"
by Laich It Or Lump It on Nov 21, 2009 12:17 AM EST up reply actions
I dunno F & B, I usually agree but I think you’re being a little harsh here. I’ve ripped the Caps for not being able to beat the trap before but that wasn’t really the issue tonight. They could have easily scored 4 or 5 with a little luck. Also, no Semin, no Knuble and Ovechkin basically at 60%. You’re not going to finish many chances with that many top guns hurt, and that’s what plagued them tonight.
I disagree. The Caps hit a couple posts, but they didn’t get all that many great chances. And the sustained pressure they did get was from the bottom 6, the lines that typically dump it in and forecheck. They controlled the puck more than they usually do against trap teams just because Montreal is not nearly as good as, say, New Jersey. But they didn’t force Price to make many big saves and the top line was very unproductive. While they may have looked better tonight than they normally do against trap teams, with the talent disparity between Washington and Montreal (even with the injuries) the Caps should have won easily with a good effort, which they had. The effort was there, but the game plan adjustment wasn’t.
Knuble would have helped, and so would a top-of-his-game Semin. Unfortunately, given Semin’s recent performances against patient and disciplined defenses I’m not so sure that had he been in the lineup his main impact wouldn’t have been a stupid and costly turnover.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Nov 21, 2009 2:21 AM EST up reply actions
As I said, I didn’t see the game. But since BB took over the Caps haven’t shown the patience and discipline to beat the trap. At some point we’ll run into the trap, or a reasonable facsimile, when it matters. Even if that’s not what happened tonight I’ll stand by that.
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...
Did anybody see Neuvy’s postgame interview? That shit was depressing, he was crushed.
Void Boyd! Go with Perreault!
Yea I saw that. It sucks, he put up a solid game, but not spectacular. Price was spectacular tonight.
Neuvy always has seemed to be soild buy not spectacular. Consistent but never amazing. Of course, I have only seen him in the NHL, except for one AHL game. In the AHL game, he was spectacular. Has great numbers there too, but not in the NHL.
Someone from the Neuv loby, tell me why Neuv > Varly.
Neuvy might > Varly because he plays a more positionally sound game, and at this point in his career Neuvirth is far and away better with his rebounds. To win Cups you don’t need goalies that are phenomenal and stealing games, you need a goalie that can hold up and give you consistently solid play. This is especially true with a team that can score as much as the Caps can. Neuvirth’s style is better suited for consistency and health. He’s not as flashy, and probably never will be, but he may be the goalie that wins the Caps a Cup. It’s too soon to write the book on either of them, though.
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...
Clearly, there’s only enough luck on this team for one goalie, and it’s Varly. He gets to win the poorly played games, although it appears he’s righted that ship. Before his meltdown, Theo was playing extremely well, but at first getting no goal support. I haven’t watched that video yet, and letting in three isn’t terrific, but he’s such a solid goalie, he deserves better. Didn’t that happen to him last year too?
Price was spectacular tonight.
I’ll argue that the Caps helped a lot in making him look good by putting virtually no rebounds back on him. He’s good enough and big enough to stop what he sees, but the Caps for some reason weren’t willing to pay the price in front of the crease last night.
Yeah, I can’t even count how many times Price made a save and left the rebound in front and there was no Cap there to get it. Price was solid, but I certainly wouldn’t say he was spectacular last night.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Nov 21, 2009 4:46 PM EST up reply actions
The Sharks are putting the hurt on Emery. Heater’s got a hat trick.
Winterion Game Studios
Visit us online at : http://winterion.com
Yep. We can discuss in the OT Thread!
Fight, you time-wasting figure skaters!
by boutros23 on Nov 21, 2009 12:33 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I have a special request of the folks at VC. Could they please stop playing “The Hockey Song”? I have never yet gone to a Caps game where they’ve played that song and the Caps came out winners.
Tonight’s game they played it (soon after Montreal score goal #3)
They played it at the Columbus game. (Had a lead at the time and blew that lead)
The Rangers game this year
(Several occasions last year — all losing causes.)
Yes, there’s no scientific basis for this at all. But, dang it, I’m a superstitious hockey fan.
by CapsFan75 on Nov 21, 2009 1:28 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
I’ll agree with you but only because I hate that song…and the fact that the guy behind me insists on singing it out loud like it’s bar song on Saturday night.
Perhaps you were in front of my brother and I. We were definitely mock sining quite loudly and unapologetically.
"If you're gonna die after 24, might as well jump out at 23:59, no?"
by Laich It Or Lump It on Nov 21, 2009 11:43 AM EST up reply actions
Singing that is.
"If you're gonna die after 24, might as well jump out at 23:59, no?"
by Laich It Or Lump It on Nov 21, 2009 11:44 AM EST up reply actions
I’m with you. I like the song, just not at the hockey game, ironically. I feel like I totally jinxed the music selection at the VC last night. I mentioned in one of the fan posts the other day how I hate “I’ve Got a Feelin’” by Black Eyed Peas and I would turn in my season tickets if I heard it at a Caps game. What do you think they play during 1st Period Highlights? AHH I wanted to rip my ears off!!
ps – I’m not ready to turn the season tickets in yet, though.
Steckel with less than 10:00 TOI? Did he get hurt or was he terrible?
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...
You might have been looking at the ES number; he had 11:13 last night. He made a good move to go towards the net on the Fehr goal and made a nice pass to Beagle on an odd man rush but otherwise he didn’t shite the bed.
"I'm just doing karate and trying to get females pregnant."
by Bald Pollack on Nov 21, 2009 7:45 AM EST up reply actions
He had his usual game. Solid defensively, no big mistakes. Some chances which of course didn’t get buried. I didn’t notice anything particularly glaring.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Nov 21, 2009 12:44 PM EST up reply actions
One gets the impression that Big John knows there’s one and only one way he’s going to stick around this club… and even that may not be enough.
So Erskine is the new Donald Brashear? Now that’s true hate right thar.
Erskine is the only defenseman on this team who plays like one around the net. He doesn’t suffer enemy runs on his goaltender and is the most physical D-man we have.
But Brawndo's got what plants crave. It's got electrolytes.
I will agree with that. No one ever brings up the save that Neuvy had to make in the first couple of minutes into the game with a hab right in front of the goal with Schultz and Green just standing around. If that would have been Erskine people would be calling for his head. The same thing happened in the Ranger game on the first goal Schultz and Morrisonn did not cover the Ranger in front of the goal but nothing was said about that either. Not saying that Erskine plays the greatest of games but I dont see him making any worse plays than any of our other defensemen
I can’t believe they lost to the Montreal Midgets.
Dallas Stars 4 Life: Stars Blogging From Hockeyville, Iowa
by Brad_Richards_Rocks on Nov 21, 2009 11:56 AM EST reply actions
Also, a mean-spirited and uncalled for remark I made last night. When I found out Poti was hurt (via text message), my response was when was someone going to break Nylander’s kneecap? At least that would put him on LTIR for the rest of the season. Pretty bad that I’m looking for someone from the mob. But with every additional injury the club takes, that would seem to make his position that much stronger — he knows we really, really, really need that cap space now. He could just sit and collect his money out of spite. “You ruin what’s left of my career, I’ll ruin your season.”
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Japers' Rink
Related FanShots on Japers' Rink
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recent FanShots
The Vault
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Who are the Non-Smythe candidates for the Devils, Kings?
- End is near for Rick Nash, Blue Jackets as trade discussions set to resume
- Why the Devils and the Kings are evidence the Capitals shouldn’t trade Alex Ovechkin
- Eulogy: Remembering the 2011-12 New York Rangers
- Stanley Cup Final: 5 keys for New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings
Latest stories and headlines from NHL.com
- Driven DeBoer delivers Devils back to NHL's elite
- Driven DeBoer, fired by Panthers, delivers Devils back to the land of elite in just one year
- Bruins acquire son of Hall of Famer Ray Bourque
- Bruins add a Bourque: Chris Bourque, son of Hall of Famer Ray Bourque, acquired from Capitals
- Shinnimin named CHL's Player of the Year
