Saturday Caps Clips: Too Little, Too Late; Caps @ Maple Leafs Game Day

We should be calling Alzner up from Hershey for this one. You know – HNIC, Toronto, stars all in alignment, etc.

Reading OFB’s game summary reminded me of my first impression of Carlson in a Caps uniform. He seemed slow. Not mentally, he seemed to be making good decisions, and wasn’t noticeably hesitating, it just seemed like he just wasn’t fast enough to compete in open ice. That was a bit disappointing since the word was his skating was pretty good. It was especially apparent in that one odd man rush where he couldn’t catch up to his man and Fehr saved the play with a good backchecking lift check from behind the guy in the slot.

By the end of the game however, I seemed to have forgotten that impression. Either I had taken a few isolated incidences out of context, or Carlson sped up. I have a feeling that it might have taken a little mental readjustment on his part. In the AHL he can probably almost coast as fast as most guys can skate. In the NHL he had to adapt to the fact that everyone is probably as fast as he is and he has to hustle every play, and not put himself in situations where he has to catch up.

Ovechkin needs to realize that he is going to face a wall of defenders when he comes down the left wing and figure out a way to give up the puck before hitting massive traffic. Some simple give and go type of plays could open things up for these two guys (Ovechkin and Semin) and get the defense more off balance. The moves Ovechkin makes are becoming predictable to defend.

I was at the game and this is exactly what it looked like the issue was for Ovie.

I read that lovefest on OFB for Chris Clark and cringed. Yeah, Chris has worked hard to come back from his injuries, he’s not afraid to mix it up and he competes every night, but , skill-wise, he’s clearly not the player he was three years ago. He’s got one goal in 22 games, has the worst plus/minus on the team and is tied for the most PIMs among forwards. Numbers aside, he he just doesn’t contribute much offensively. There’s a definite place for him on this team, but it’s no longer on the first two lines.

Does star power matter for the NHL in the U.S.?

Are hockey fans human?

A nice look at Chris Clark’s resurgence from OFB’s intern.

Chris, you can do better! (Besides, aren’t you married already?)

George McPhee did a phoner with Toronto’s sports radio station yesterday and touched on a number of topics, including his change of heart regarding head shots (spoiler alert: it’s pretty much because he’s now got kids playing the game).

Yup — Matty Perrault, John Carlson, Varlamov, Neuvirth….

As long as we’re not forcing shots from awful angles and going for stuff attempts when the chance clearly isn’t there, I’ll feel better tonight. Also, the “backhanded pass with no look into space” needs to stop if there’s no player there. Last night was ugly. Good time to bounce back.

Slightly off topic — did anyone else donate blood at the Caps’ blood drive today? It’s been a while since I was able to do so, but I don’t remember my arm ever hurting so much afterwards. Damn vampires screwed up, I guess.

9. Washington Capitals

While the basement days during the middle of this decade might be remembered more by fans, earlier in the decade the Caps were playoff guests two out of the three seasons after their Stanley Cup appearance in 1998. The Jaromir Jagr(notes) acquisition from Pittsburgh should have been a boost for the franchise (especially after the back of pucks sent to the Penguins in exchange), but the Czech native’s poor attitude derailed the Caps after just one playoff appearance in his Washington tenure.

Like the lean years seen in Pittsburgh, Washington’s tough times paid off in the long run as they were able to draft Alex Ovechkin(notes) and Mike Green(notes) among the rest of the current supporting cast that has brought the franchise back to “contender” status.
Four Southeast Division titles, five playoff appearances, but just once have they advanced past the first round (last season). With a solid core and budding young goaltender, there’s good reason to believe that the dark days that haunted the franchise post-Jagr will not return for a long while.

I like our chances the next decade, but you gotta work for it – harder than last night . . .

I’m looking forward to his debut tonight. I guess that means Sloan will be playing “defense.”

PPP’s game preview:

Capitals at Leafs: Hide

I hope the Caps give ’em a reason to tonight.

Please, no more Ovie in front. Half-boards or point please.