Capital Ups and Downs: Week 9
by J.P. on Nov 30, 2009 11:00 AM EST
in Capital Ups and Downs
95 comments
Our weekly look at individual Washington Capitals' ups and downs (with special thanks to winterion for the icon set):
| Goalies | Trend | Notes |
| Jose Theodore |  |
Hasn't played a second since November 14 in Jersey; Gabby's got to get him back out there soon. |
| Semyon Varlamov |  |
Varly went 2-0-1/2.27/.919 with a shutout this week but was probably even better than those impressive numbers would indicate. |
| Defensemen | ||
| Karl Alzner | |
The up arrow might be a little generous, but think of it more as "Alzner's an upgrade over some of the Caps' regulars on the blueline" rather than a direct comment on his two-game performance (which has been solid if unspectacular). |
| John Carlson | |
Held his own in his first NHL tour of duty. |
| John Erskine |  |
Averaged 18:44 of ice time per game this week, which is too much time for a marginal NHL defenseman and may be why he's been looking so slow of late. Or maybe it's just that he's so slow. |
| Mike Green | |
Had the shift from hell in overtime on Monday night, but had nice assists on Monday and Wednesday. In other words, his offense isn't the problem... and never has been. |
| Milan Jurcina | |
Getting big minutes on a struggling penalty kill; six blocks and four hits in two games. |
| Shaone Morrisonn |  |
Perhaps his absence is impacting his usual partner Green's play. |
| Brian Pothier | |
Adding a bit of physicality to a game that's really coming around nicely. |
| Tom Poti | |
Missed on the penalty kill. |
| Jeff Schultz | |
Assist, plus-two rating for the week. Ho hum. |
| Swingman | ||
| Tyler Sloan | |
Plus-two as a defenseman against the Sens, nothing as a forward against the Sabres. |
| Forwards | ||
| Nicklas Backstrom | |
As Ovechkin returns to form, so to does Backstrom (even if the numbers don't show it... yet). The big face-off win with 15.5 seconds left in Montreal and the shootout-deciding tally earn an up arrow. |
| Jay Beagle | |
Scored his first NHL goal in Ottawa, but took a bad penalty in Montreal. Decent short-term fill-in. |
| Matt Bradley | |
Not much to report - he must be in the "taking names" portion of "kicking ass and taking names." |
| Chris Clark | |
Scored in Ottawa, but is struggling a bit out there. |
| Eric Fehr | |
Three goals and an assist, a plus-three rating and ten shots on goal. Most importantly? His three goals totaled 63 feet from stick-to-goal line (and I'll take the under). Keep up the Knuble, Laich impression, Fehrsie. |
| Tomas Fleischmann | |
It's been a half-dozen games since Flash scored, and he's actually losing ice time (gasp!) to Fehr, among others. |
| Alexandre Giroux | |
Look at the Corsi. Look at the rate at which he's taking penalties. Tell me he's not the worst player to don the red, white and blue so far this season. |
| Andrew Gordon | |
A quick cup o' coffee and see ya later. |
| Boyd Gordon | |
No news ain't good news. |
| Mike Knuble | |
Skating again, which is a good sign (even if it is a finger injury). |
| Brooks Laich | |
An assist in Montreal, but only one shot on goal in three games for the week. Looking good, though, on a line with Morrison and Fehr. |
| Quintin Laing | |
Did an in-game interview on Comcast Sportsnet despite having his jaw wired shut. Seriously. |
| Brendan Morrison | |
Goal, assist, plus-three and 53.8% in the dot. In 50:02 of ice time for the week, he was on the ice for three goals for and none against. |
| Michael Nylander |  |
Yawn. |
| Alex Ovechkin | |
A pair of goals, a pair of assists and a pair of penalized hits; AO's really got to be careful regarding that last number. |
| Mathieu Perreault | |
Pointless in five and only two shots on goal and a 38.7 win percentage in the dot for the week. |
| Alexander Semin | |
Caps offense scoring .74 fewer goals per game without Semin this season (but also giving up .68 fewer goals per game), and power play efficiency drops from 28.2% with Sasha to 10.7% without. |
| David Steckel | |
A 14/15 face-off performance against Buffalo saves the week for the snake-bitten Steckel, who is one of a half-dozen NHL forwards who have played 25 games this season without scoring a goal. |
2 recs |
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Consider also that the Semin injury has overlapped with Knuble being out – which also presumably has hit the offense – and with some bluelin injuries – which have presumably impacted the defense. So if you remove those variables, it’s possible/probable that the numbers here overstate his impact on goals for and mayb understate his impact on goals against (i.e. one might expect an even bigger decline in GA/G if 3 and 26 were healthy this whole time).
The PP numbers, though, are dramatic (though they also would include Knuble’s absence) and the sample sizes are relatively small.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
The icons are lovely. Well done winterion.
"If you're gonna die after 24, might as well jump out at 23:59, no?"
by Laich It Or Lump It on Nov 30, 2009 11:01 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
agreed – me gusta!
"No Brooks Laich, no win. Know Brooks Laich, know win."
by kellobellow on Nov 30, 2009 11:02 AM EST up reply actions
I’ve seen it argued that since Giroux plays top line in the AHL, he needs top line minutes in the NHL to be effective. I think the Montreal game can put that talk to rest, personally. If his role as a perennial ‘tweener wasn’t already sealed, it is now. Perhaps he will make a great coach some day though.
"If you're gonna die after 24, might as well jump out at 23:59, no?"
by Laich It Or Lump It on Nov 30, 2009 11:12 AM EST reply actions
We don’t need a player that needs Ovi like minutes, with the defensive liability of Semin, with the finishing power of Steckel.
One guy just drove his semi as a float. I guess semis are cool.
by zephyr on Nov 30, 2009 11:13 AM EST up reply actions 5 recs
Defensive liability of Semin?!
by mechanicsville on Nov 30, 2009 12:57 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Yeah, that one got me too, but I let it slide. I’d personally have gone with “with the defensive liability of Fleischmann, with the discipline of Semin…”
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Yeah, that would be a rather gotesque combo. Poor Alexandre.
by mechanicsville on Nov 30, 2009 1:12 PM EST up reply actions
When Semin is bad he is a huge defensive liability. When he’s good he’s not. I just assumed Zephyr was talking about NJD-Semin.
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 30, 2009 1:13 PM EST up reply actions
OK, but 28’s so much more often good than bad, I found the comment unfair. I miss our enigmatic Russsian.
by mechanicsville on Nov 30, 2009 1:18 PM EST up reply actions
I think he’s usually more of a liability in his discipline than in his defensive play (though the latter certainly tends to impact the former), and that was certainly the case in the NJD game. When I think “defensive liability,” I’m thinking of guys who don’t backcheck. Ever.
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That’s fair. I’m not dug in one way or another, I just think it is fair to say that Semin isn’t always the defensive player we know he can be.
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 30, 2009 1:24 PM EST up reply actions
I just think it is fair to say that Semin isn’t always thedefensiveplayer we know he can be
Fixed with a sigh…
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by J.P. on Nov 30, 2009 1:25 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Seriously. I’ve never seen a guy given such a golden opportunity only to be invisible the whole game (except while taking two offensive-zone penalties, of course). He’s too slow and doesn’t appear to have the mental fortitude to get it done at this level.
"Oh, the usual. I bowl. Drive around. The occasional acid flashback."
by The Ghost of Bebop on Nov 30, 2009 11:14 AM EST up reply actions
Yea, you can’t get more “golden opportunity” than playing top line minutes with Ovie and Backstrom at your side.
"If you're gonna die after 24, might as well jump out at 23:59, no?"
by Laich It Or Lump It on Nov 30, 2009 11:16 AM EST up reply actions
If I hear Locker say Giroux is a “AAAA” player one more time, I’m going through the TV. “AAAA” player means he’s not an NHL player and why he still gets called up and THEN put on the top line is a complete mystery. You might want to consider adding McPhee and Bruce to your weekly list. I’d give them both down arrows for bringing him up and then giving him top minutes. Not scoring is bad enough, but taking two bad penalties is inexcusable.
Well, it's more like 1 bad penalty.
Not scoring is bad enough, but taking two bad penalties is inexcusable.
To be fair, the replay of Giroux’s second penalty (at least from the HNIC broadcast) clearly showed that it wasn’t a penalty (even that dim-wit Glen Healy admitted as much during the broadcast) – the player he supposedly tripped did a toe pick and Giroux’s stick was just nearby. I’m not saying that I didn’t spend the second half the game wondering how he was still on the top line… but let’s not dump on him for the officiating crew making a mistake.
Yeah it was a bad call, but Giroux lost body position then reached with his stick from behind. Sure, he missed the guy, but if he had succeeded at getting his stick on the guy it would have been a PIM. No need to reach there. Move your feet, catch up, and shoulder the guy off the puck.
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 30, 2009 1:14 PM EST up reply actions
“Alexandre Giroux remains with the team and appears set to get a second shot on the top line, despite an uneven effort in Montreal on Saturday.”-per Tarik
He must have some photos of Bruce from back in his AHL days. That’s the only way I can explain this.
“Uneven”? Was there ever a moment when any of us thought he’d done something right?
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
by CapitalCentre on Nov 30, 2009 1:51 PM EST up reply actions
He passed the puck to Backstrom that one 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...
by Fehr and Balanced on Nov 30, 2009 2:03 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah. And he passed to Auvechkin. Stupid French.
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 30, 2009 4:55 PM EST up reply actions
Was actually taking a shot at CSN for crediting Aucoin with the primary assist on Ovie’s goal on Saturday.
It was hard to read the graphic in CSN+’s Underwater Definition
My bad. Should have realized that. Sorry Frenchies… for now.
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 30, 2009 5:04 PM EST up reply actions
The broadcast is for fish – not intended for human perception.
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Things are looking good for fish these days: first their own metal album, now their own broadcast.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Nov 30, 2009 6:32 PM EST up reply actions
he needs top line minutes in the NHL to be effective
I really don’t get this argument, not just about Giroux but every time I see it, which is quite often. Of course a player’s performance will be better if they’re surrounded by better players. I don’t see the logic in basically restating that fact. The real test should be, to kind of paraphrase: “Ask not what your line can do for you, ask what you can do for your line!”
It’s not just teammates, it’s ice time. We talk about how Juice plays better with more minutes, I think that is independent of his partners. (It’s also a chicken/egg problem.)
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 30, 2009 12:16 PM EST up reply actions
I see it as a combination of linemates, ice time, and player role. It’s been argued that Giroux only saw time on the 3rd and 4th line as more of a grinder than a primary scorer. The argument being that this is contrary to his role in the AHL. I don’t buy it because if he wants to prove his worth on a team already stocked in the primary scorer department, he has to learn to adapt.
"If you're gonna die after 24, might as well jump out at 23:59, no?"
by Laich It Or Lump It on Nov 30, 2009 12:28 PM EST up reply actions
Nylander really wants to play in the NHL and is apparently thinking that if he waits long enough, some team will suffer an injury to a center and be willing to take a shot on him. Rightly or wrongly (I suspect the former), Nyls believes that if he goes to Russia he will never again be given the chance to return to the NHL, where he thinks he belongs, so he’s going to hesitate as long as possible on the KHL offers. There’s really nothing GMGM can do to pressure him to move to Russia if he doesn’t want to go. I hear it’s getting awkward when they are both together at the same events. I also hear, though, that Nyls is working out at Kettler and is in the best shape of his life, for whatever that’s worth.
"Let the rest be scared of us." - Emo Bunny Sasha Semin
by Scott in Shaw on Nov 30, 2009 4:38 PM EST up reply actions
Not much to report – he must be in the “taking names” portion of “kicking ass and taking names.”
So awesome. The Rink is roaring this morning.
Karl Alzner
The up arrow might be a little generous, but think of it more as “Alzner’s an upgrade over some of the Caps’ regulars on the blueline” rather than a direct comment on his two-game performance (which has been solid if unspectacular).
“Solid and unspectacular” is his game. As long as he continues to play solidly, I will not be pressuring him to become spectacular.
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
Alzner looks good to me. Solid and unspectacular is actually pretty good for a D-man called up mid-season and thrown in for 20 mins. right from the get go. Just watching him play, you can see the potential. He’s never going to be a Mike Green, but he’ll become a defenseman you notice – for all the right reasons.
And exactly what this team needs, I’ll take the slow path to offense with Alzner as long as he always has his D-game going. Right now we need smart, steady and unspectacular from him, we don’t need him trying to be his idol, or Mike Green for that matter.
Promote the game, it's the NHL, not SCHL
Agreed. I meant he’ll likely never be a scorer like Green; I see him ending up as a better defender.
Nothing against Green, but the team probably only needs one of him.
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
by CapitalCentre on Nov 30, 2009 12:31 PM EST up reply actions
Isn’t carlson s’posed to be the offensively-minded defenseman of that pair?
SO FЯIENDS, IS BATTLE NOW.
Yes. But it’s unrealistic to think there will be another Mike Green. For all the crap he gets he is a once in a generation talent.
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 30, 2009 12:36 PM EST up reply actions
Thinking about the era I grew up watching hockey in, only 4 defensemen remind me of him – Coffey, Bourque, Leetch, and Murphy. I feel like I’m missing someone, but not bad enough to go look before lunch.
Familiar Rapports: Bald Pollack, F&B, Gould Old Days.
Lobbies: Osala, Perreault, Erskine, Pothier, Neuvirth, Flash.
Fan of: Mean Lars Backstrom, Line Mashing, Cake.
by Whiter Mage on Nov 30, 2009 12:38 PM EST up reply actions
He’s “the next Scott Niedermayer,” imo.
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Mine too. With more scoring upside. Scary thought. If he gets his defensive head on the way Special Nieds does, or even close, he’s going to go on a Norris tear.
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 30, 2009 12:44 PM EST up reply actions
just keep remaining yourself, as Caps fans, we are unbelievably lucky to get to watch TWO generational talents. Those two are going to collect so much hardware its not even funny.
Only if Green is moved to wingar.
"If you're gonna die after 24, might as well jump out at 23:59, no?"
by Laich It Or Lump It on Nov 30, 2009 12:57 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
For all the crap he gets he is a once in a generation talent
still undecided on this. will need to see him over a few more seasons. also, i think Bogosian is right up there with Greener when it comes to offensive talents, at least from what i’ve seen from him so far.
i think Bogosian is right up there with Greener when it comes to offensive talents, at least from what i’ve seen from him so far.
Bogosian is a talent, no doubt, but he racked up most of his points in the first month of the season when he and his team weren’t being taken too seriously. In his last ten games, now that teams are starting to build game plans on stopping him, he’s got two goals and two assists. OTOH, Green, who after AO, is probably the #1 defensive priority for opposing teams is leading the league in defenseman scoring and has 13 points in his last 10 games. Begosian is going to be very good, but as F&B duly noted, Mike is a generational talent. We tend to devalue our own, but Greener is a special talent and we should thank our lucky stars we have him, defensive warts and all.
that’s the rumor, but in the very little that I have seen of him in Hershey and what I saw of him with the Caps I think of him as being more of a Chris Chelios/Brian Leetch type player (definitely can bring offense, but still a Dman first)
Promote the game, it's the NHL, not SCHL
That’s the first time I’ve heard Brian Leetch be described as the same kind of D as Chelios.
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 30, 2009 12:45 PM EST up reply actions
Sorry, always been a Cheli fan, post fail on comparing d-men.
Promote the game, it's the NHL, not SCHL
I’m a huge Cheli fan. Probably the best American born player ever. I’m just saying he’s almost the exact opposite of Brian Leetch (who I also love and is American).
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 30, 2009 1:15 PM EST up reply actions
The main thing I like about Alzner is that he is the only one – Green included – among the D corps who can consistently get the puck out of the zone. Jeesus, it’s the most frusturating thing in watching Caps games – invariably, there is a moment when a Capital has the puck uncontested in the defensive zone, but invariably makes a weak clearing attempt right to the point, or right up the boards to the opposition winger, or somewhere else not out of the zone. Then everyone gets scrambling and offensive chances result. I believe all 3 regulation goals in the Ottawa game were scored this way.
Watching Alzner last season and this, he seems like the only one who can actually consistently clear the zone. This is reassuring.
by katzistan on Nov 30, 2009 12:45 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
On Jose – Corey says he’s the first guy off the ice for the morning skate, so he’ll probably get the nod for tonight.
Our lives are this moment, the music, the dance ....
Fan Clubs: Sloan, Schultz
Yep. This is a good spot to get him back on the ice.
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This smells like a backup goalies game.
One guy just drove his semi as a float. I guess semis are cool.
Carolina’s going with Leighton (as opposed to Legace). I haven’t paid close enough attention to which one of the two has gotten the bulk of the starts with Ward out.
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Leighton was hurt for a while too. He’s also got Alexandre Giroux-like skills.
Familiar Rapports: Bald Pollack, F&B, Gould Old Days.
Lobbies: Osala, Perreault, Erskine, Pothier, Neuvirth, Flash.
Fan of: Mean Lars Backstrom, Line Mashing, Cake.
by Whiter Mage on Nov 30, 2009 12:38 PM EST up reply actions
He was in net for that epic 5-OT AHL playoff game (or whatever it was), no?
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In case folks were wondering about the referee who went down in the Ottawa-Columbus game last week, I just picked this up from the NHLOA:
From the Ottawa Sun,
“Referee Dave Jackson will require surgery and could be done for the season after suffering MCL and ACL damage in his knee when Rick Nash slid into him during the first period.”
Ouch. Just. Ouch. Nash is a human wrecking ball, I swear!
I love Nash (and not just b/c he’s a ref killa).
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You know he wouldn’t have done that to Mcreary.
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 30, 2009 1:29 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, well… McCreary’s another beast entirely.
I watched the game – Nash got tripped behind the goal and slid about 15’ around the boards, straight into Jackson’s knee, skates first, from the side. His knee just buckled under him. It looked really nasty, and I was very surprised there wasn’t blood.
thats because McCreary would have tackled Nash first
by ns on Nov 30, 2009 1:42 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
Rink Readers - go read BP's fanpost, now
Back on topic: Jay Beagle could have had a couple goals. He may be suffering from Giroux-itis.
Giroux = The Phantom.
Thanks for the love, brother.
"Eloquence, brought to you by a peanut butter, egg and dice sandwich."
by Bald Pollack on Nov 30, 2009 5:22 PM EST up reply actions
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
82 | 54 | 15 | 13 | 121 |
|
Atlanta
|
82 | 35 | 34 | 13 | 83 |
|
Carolina
|
82 | 35 | 37 | 10 | 80 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
82 | 34 | 36 | 12 | 80 |
|
Florida
|
82 | 32 | 37 | 13 | 77 |
(updated 4.12.2010 at 9:21 AM EDT)
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