Recap: Caps 4, Hurricanes 3 (OT)
by David M. Getz on Dec 11, 2009 10:37 PM EST
444 comments
[AP Recap - GameCenter - Game Summary - Event Summary]
In a nutshell, the story of tonight's game was pressure. For the game's first thirty minutes (and then some) the Capitals weren't generating much in the way of sustained offense because they weren't making things nearly difficult enough for the Hurricanes. Carolina was allowed time to clear the puck out of their own end, to skate through the neutral zone, and to move the puck deep in Caps territory without too much resistance - and that's simply not going to win you many hockey games. Every team in the NHL has enough skill that they're not going to makes mistakes if you don't pressure them, and it's awfully hard to win when you let the other team do what they want. On one hand you can be frustrated it took the Caps so long to ramp up the pressure they needed to. On the other hand you can be happy they were able to do it - because that's imposing your will in your opponent, and that's what great teams do.
Ten additional notes on tonight's game:
- First things first: if anyone knows the story behind the guy dressed as an astronaut at tonight's game, lay it on us. Please.
- Friday night/Saturday morning Pick 'Em: More Impressive: Alexander Semin's ability to put a puck in a teacup from fifty feet away or his incredible poise in front of the net?
- Speaking of Semin, his first goal was created by a nifty blue line keep-in on the part of Jeff Schultz. Goes to show why discounting the secondary assist can be a mistake. Plus it almost makes up for Schultz doing...whatever it was he was doing on the play that led to Eric Staal's goal.
- The Capitals had 40 shots on goal tonight. The Hurricanes attempted 37.
- We've been pretty vocal about the number of hard hits Mike Green has taken this year and whether or not something needs to be done to try and dissuade opposing players from taking those liberties. Well, if Green is going to respond to getting hit hard like he did tonight, maybe we'll pipe down (though we will note that there's no reason to wait to get hit before you start dishing them out, Greenie).
- I don't care who you are, taking a puck off the mouth and coming back to the game to score a shorthanded, game-trying goal on a wicked slapshot off a nice interception is simply bad ass.
- You can critique Chris Clark's play, be frustrated with his offensive output, wonder if he's worth his cap hit, and even question if he should relinquish the captaincy, but you can't not love the fact that he doesn't take any crap from anybody. Ever.
- If you're trying look for answers as to why Tomas Fleischmann either seems to be invisible or generating high quality scoring chances, look at his play away from the puck. When he's moving, he creates chances. When he isn't, he doesn't.
- Fans in attendance got their money's worth tonight. I mean, it's not too often you see seven goals in a game played under pre-lockout rules.
- It was only forty degrees out today - how could the ice possibly be as bad as it seemed?
Tomorrow the boys will be up in Canada to take on the Leafs in a Hockey Night in Canada show down. Here's hoping they used that energy they saved in the first half of tonight's game to pull out a win.
Game highlights:
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It’s OT then a shootout, but I forget how long OT is. Not 20 minutes I don’t think. 10 or 5.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Dec 11, 2009 10:49 PM EST up reply actions
What’s to mention. Seemed like typical Theo tonight.
by Yoshietree on Dec 11, 2009 10:45 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
I’ve gone on record as a Theo defender, but i’m on my last for him. It was a Three-or-more night.
by DrinkingPartner on Dec 11, 2009 11:47 PM EST up reply actions
The team really can’t afford for him to need another mental health break right now. He needs to right the ship.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
Maybe so, but it’s more because the Caps are the highest scoring team in the league. They’ll get by, but good Theo makes for happier Caps fans. .842 sv % tonight isn’t cutting it.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
That’s exactly my point. Despite all of Theo’s flaws and holes, the team still wins with him in net. Does it cut it to be the team’s true #1? Absoletly not. But he plays well enough to win. Go look up Grant Fuhr.
I know teams have won the Cup in the past with a question mark at goalie. But IMO the path to the Cup is much easier if you have confidence in your guy between the pipes. I have confidence in Theo to win more often than not. When you’re backstopping the Caps that is inevitable because they score so much. Do I have confidence in him to steal a 2-1 game from the Penguins in game 7 when we’re out shot 30-20? Absolutely not? More importantly does the team? All it takes in the playoffs is a softy like the second one tonight, at the wrong time, and a series is suddenly in jeopardy.
by BradleyFightingVehicle on Dec 12, 2009 12:40 AM EST up reply actions
Different era, but I get your point. It makes for less stress if he can wait until the team has scored a few before letting them in.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
Point granted. But on most nights he plays, he makes enough saves to give the team a chance to win. Will he steal games for the team? ……maybe 2-3 a season. But the way this team is built, he doesn’t need to in the regular season and one hopes that he won’t have to be in any games in the playoffs. Despite all of his flaws, to include looking like swiss cheese at times, he’s doing (and has done) an admirable job at what he was brough in to do….be a place holder for Varly and Neurvith.
I think this is fair enough. It’s important to remember that he was never intended to be the franchise’s long-term solution in goal; that was and is Varly and Neuvirth. I want to see how Neuvirth does this week, since I have to figure on him getting at least one start this week.
Yes, I’m frustrated and concerned by last night’s performance, but only in the short term. Fortunately, the Sharks lost last night in an 11-round shootout. (No, I couldn’t sleep.) Yes, I realize that the top of the standings doesn’t matter in the playoffs, but it still gives me warm fuzzies dammit. I’m hoping Theodore can hold down the fort until Varly gets back, but what I saw last night was …. meh.
Unleash the Alex!
the top of the standings doesn’t matter in the playoffs
Until you get to the Cup finals, right? I know we’re a long, long, way away, but every little bit will help if we get there.
No, agreed, but ask the Sharks how much the President’s Trophy helps in the playoffs.
Unleash the Alex!
Home ice certainly helps against really good teams like PIT and CHI and DET.
At the end of the day it helps, but not having home-ice doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world, I think you’re trying to say. Playing hot at the right time is more important than having been better.
by red army line on Dec 12, 2009 8:20 AM EST up reply actions
Well, without home ice we could’ve seen PIT in 5 or something. Didn’t help enough, but I don’t doubt that it did help.
by red army line on Dec 12, 2009 10:06 AM EST up reply actions
well he wasnt bad
that first goal wasn’t really his fault (fleischmann got beat at center ice) and the shorty was a bullet to his to blocker side so you can’t really blame him for poor play.
by twistedlogic on Dec 12, 2009 12:38 AM EST up reply actions
The blame isn’t entirely on him; certainly that much is true. But I think we’re all expecting a bit more of Theodore than he delivered last night. A good goalie makes all the stops he should make and a few of the ones he shouldn’t, and Theodore did neither, IMO.
I think what it comes down to is that he’s good enough in the regular season, because the Caps score as prolifically as they do. But okay play isn’t going to cut it come playoffs time, and that’s what matters.
Unleash the Alex!
awww well i admit he should have made the stop on that staal goal but the first goal? that was a perfectly executed 2 on 1. marty brodeur wouldn’t have stopped that. plus the stick save he made on staal later in the game was a great stop. with all of the odd man rushes carolina had early, they could have gone up by a lot more than 2 goals.
by twistedlogic on Dec 12, 2009 9:44 AM EST up reply actions
It’s the Festival of Light(ing the Lamp)s!
"My face is my mask."
by jakeshapiro on Dec 11, 2009 10:55 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Well done DMG. The shot was more impressive than the poise, but the poise with no time to spare was impressive.
Fans in attendance got their money’s worth tonight. I mean, it’s not too often you see seven goals in a game played under pre-lockout rules.
Perfect. What was going on out there? At least it was consistent but it was also absurd.
Has Gleason played his way on to Team USA yet?
Great observation on the effect pressure (and the lack thereof) can have on a game.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 10:52 PM EST reply actions
Along with what DMG said, the play Gleason made on Semin’s breakaway at the end of the 2nd was excellent, rebound aside and all.
"After the Cold War, the AK-47 became Russia's biggest export. After that came vodka, caviar, and suicidal novelists (and a couple good hockey players)."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 11, 2009 11:01 PM EST up reply actions
Oh, no, I thought the poise was more impressive — it’s the thing we’re not always sure Semin has. Everyone knows about the hard, accurate wrist shot, but we’re never entirely sure if we’re going to see perseverance and drive in the crease as the period is dying. It’s the quantum leap between being good and being committed.
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
by CapitalCentre on Dec 11, 2009 11:46 PM EST up reply actions
I can see your position, but his patience and poise with the puck was there. He lost the puck on the rush and Ward poked it right back to him. All he had to do was not Jizz his pants and play it cool. The shot from distance. Wow.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 11:48 PM EST up reply actions
Eh, maybe.
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
by CapitalCentre on Dec 12, 2009 12:21 AM EST up reply actions
It was Stephen Walkom and Don Van Massenhoeven — a couple of old-school dinnosaurs who didn’t get the memo that the league is trying to open things up and, well, call the rule book.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Dec 11, 2009 11:48 PM EST up reply actions
Just got home from the game, great time!
Can’t tell you why the spaceman was dressed the way he is. I can tell you he won fan of the game.
Theo looked really slow, and I was sitting at the other end of the ice.
Good Sasha was on full display tonight. If only he could play like that 82 games a year plus playoffs.
Cam Ward was out of his mind most of the night.
That was a sick play by MP to set up Flash.
The ice was terrible. Any word on when Ted gets full control over VC?
by BradleyFightingVehicle on Dec 11, 2009 10:52 PM EST reply actions
Amazing job by MP getting that puck to Flash. Flash had chances all night and most often it was MP on the dishing end. That line looked real good.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 10:54 PM EST up reply actions
Major Tom to Ground Control
Nice CCCP sweater over to the left…
ALEX, FЯEE
by EmilyB on Dec 11, 2009 10:54 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Whenever anyone says that DC is a hockeytown, I’ll reference this and the red bodysuit guy and say that DC has a large chunk of fans of the spectacle rather than fans of the game.
"After the Cold War, the AK-47 became Russia's biggest export. After that came vodka, caviar, and suicidal novelists (and a couple good hockey players)."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 11, 2009 11:03 PM EST up reply actions
People dont make a spectacle of themselves in hockeytown? Not buying it.
by redlineblue on Dec 11, 2009 11:29 PM EST up reply actions
I’m guessing it’s not on a regular basis, no.
"After the Cold War, the AK-47 became Russia's biggest export. After that came vodka, caviar, and suicidal novelists (and a couple good hockey players)."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 11, 2009 11:36 PM EST up reply actions
2 guesses left!
Hockeytown gerrymandering cracks me up. 15000 people know 15 TV cameras will be at the game, and you can tell ‘what kind of town’ this is based on what one NASA-lover wore to the game?
Mayor of hockeytown lilbit Grinchy.
by redlineblue on Dec 11, 2009 11:47 PM EST up reply actions
It’s not just one game I’m referring to, but good on you for taking things out of context.
"After the Cold War, the AK-47 became Russia's biggest export. After that came vodka, caviar, and suicidal novelists (and a couple good hockey players)."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 11, 2009 11:53 PM EST up reply actions
Green should play wingah?
"After the Cold War, the AK-47 became Russia's biggest export. After that came vodka, caviar, and suicidal novelists (and a couple good hockey players)."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 11, 2009 11:37 PM EST up reply actions
Major Tom?
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Dec 11, 2009 11:48 PM EST up reply actions
His poise down the boards and anticipation followed by a perfectly accurate pass certainly was impressive.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 10:56 PM EST up reply actions
He’s gonna need to take a discount. Someone will offer a nice raise after seeing this year.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 10:58 PM EST up reply actions
Seems to me like he’s old enough to put value in winning over money. Plus, I don’t think he’ll have more talented linemates on any other team (unless he’s a #1C). No doubt it’s fun to go out with Ovechkin/Semin almost every shift.
Maybe that’s me being realistic, maybe it’s wishful thinking. Would be nice to have him back.
by red army line on Dec 12, 2009 4:32 AM EST up reply actions
We’ll see what he says and does. Remember that he actively wanted to come here when he found out that Washington was interested, and I have to think that he likes it here thus far. There’s still over half a season to play yet plus any postseason that might come our way, and play in the postseason is going to make a difference in contracts.
Unleash the Alex!
Caps can afford to bring him back next year and give him a moderate raise. There’s got to be $2 Million in your budget for a second line center.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 12, 2009 10:38 AM EST up reply actions
Brendan Morrison would be a pretty good third line center to have…
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 11, 2009 11:10 PM EST up reply actions
Not if Mackan’s ready, though.
I can’t honestly believe he will be, though…
by DrinkingPartner on Dec 11, 2009 11:11 PM EST up reply actions
I may be in the minority here but I like having Morrison on the point for the PP….actually more so than OV
I lived with a blind guy for a while, then he figured it out and demanded back rent.
by Rather Bengt on Dec 11, 2009 11:12 PM EST up reply actions
I definitely agree, though people seem to give me crap for that sometimes.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Dec 12, 2009 12:46 AM EST up reply actions
I agree too.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 12:47 AM EST up reply actions
Not sure if he’ll be ready just yet but he’s going to fight for it and he’s going to have a more significant role on the team I’d imagine. At least get some PP duty. If he’s ready, awesome. That saves us some serious coin.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 10:58 PM EST up reply actions
We’ll save some money and spend a lot more this summer. I hope MP’s ready.
by DrinkingPartner on Dec 11, 2009 10:59 PM EST up reply actions
He’s been a big surprise. I wonder if Mackan is anywhere near ready to challenge him. Don’t know what to expect from him either, but I’m excited for him as well.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 11:01 PM EST up reply actions
The Ferries have lost six straight, though Mackan’s being largely productive.
I think FBK have poor goaltending, but googletrans swenglish makes it hard to tell.
Team Sweden WJC training/selection camp starts soon.
ALEX, FЯEE
I am totally pumped to see that. It’s so hard to gauge him just by numbers when I’ve never seen an SEL game in total and I don’t know anything about his team. I suspect he’s not at the top of the depth chart so him producing for them is like MP producing for us, but I have no idea. I know it’s a low scoring league so any production from a young guy is a good sign, but I’ve never gotten a good reference point on him. The World Juniors are going to be great to see if the Swedish games are carried over here. I hope NHLN and CI get their act together and give us more than the obvious games.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 11:06 PM EST up reply actions
A lot of our guys are associated with an awful lot of unfortunate nicknames. AND ONE FANTASTIC ONE.
by DrinkingPartner on Dec 11, 2009 11:06 PM EST up reply actions
he was hustling to every puck too. gotta love the spark he plays with. created several turnovers right behind cam ward too.
by twistedlogic on Dec 12, 2009 12:47 AM EST up reply actions
Can’t be too rich, too thin, or have too many playmaking centers.
/yeah yeah Nyls. Not going there, thankyewverymuch
ALEX, FЯEE
Too thin is gross.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 10:58 PM EST up reply actions
or have too many playmaking centers.
and yet, just today the proprietor of another SBN blog was disagreeing with you…
by Natty Bumppo on Dec 12, 2009 1:24 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
After tonight’s game, I am no longer convinced Erskine is an NHL-caliber defenseman in any circumstance though I am quite convinced he has no place on a team with legitimate Cup hopes. He was simply over matched all night long and it is only a matter of time before he really starts to hurt the Caps.
7th man at best. Not a great night for him at all. Juice and Erskine is a terrible pair.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 11:01 PM EST up reply actions
Agreed. Stecks had a tough night. he can’t have had more than 10 mins, if that much.
by DrinkingPartner on Dec 11, 2009 11:05 PM EST up reply actions
Someone needs to explain to me why Eric Fehr logged less than 10 minutes.
by mechanicsville on Dec 11, 2009 11:40 PM EST up reply actions
I was very confused by the lack of PP time. I thought there was a new rule that said the Caps get a minimum of 10 minutes per night, and on special nights they can take that in chunks of 5, 7, or 9 minutes. Damn those refs for not knowing about this new rule!
He was +1 with one assist. It’s a good thing professionals are choosing who suits up for games.
But Brawndo's got what plants crave. It's got electrolytes.
Yay for results-based analysis!!!
By this logic, Theo had a great game because he got the win.
If you really think that Erskine deserves a sweater every night if other options (such as Pothier, Morrisonn, or Alzner) are available, I really don’t know what to tell you. Erskine is simply atrocious as a regular NHL defenseman. He looks decent on occasion, but every time he’s on the ice, he’s a defensive miscue or lost footrace waiting to happen. When Pothier comes back, I imagine that they’ll be paired up again. Watch them when they’re on the ice and focus on how often Pothier ends up skating around simply to cover for Erskine’s errors.
Erskine has value, since he’s cheap and can fill in adequately for injured players, but he should not be getting 15-17 minutes of ice time a night on a team that has Stanley Cup aspirations.
"We’re still working on some things over in Europe, and we’ve been close in the last week or so. Some things get in the way, but we’re just trying to work that out, and hopefully it can be worked out soon."
He’s still not as cheap as I’d like a 7 defenseman to be.
Now drink with me deeply of the bourbon, scotch, and rye until such time as we are fighting drunk.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Dec 12, 2009 3:40 PM EST up reply actions
Fair enough…but we’re stuck with him. It could definitely be worse – we could be paying Jeff Finger something like 4m/year for 4 years.
"We’re still working on some things over in Europe, and we’ve been close in the last week or so. Some things get in the way, but we’re just trying to work that out, and hopefully it can be worked out soon."
The VC was dead tonight for the most part and then they played ’Unleash the fury" in the 2nd period and I chuckled like " wow, this is desperate". But it got the crowd into it and it seemed to spark the team. Flash forward to the press conference and Bruce actually mentioned it. Pretty funny.
So assist to the Caps in-house people?
" 60 percent of the time...it works everytime"
You’d think a team who’s:
Leading the league in points
Playing their first home game in over a week (with 3 road games in the process)
Not going to be on home ice in almost two weeks
…wouldn’t need to have the trademark PR piece played halfway through the game as a wakeup call. Learn something new every day I guess.
"After the Cold War, the AK-47 became Russia's biggest export. After that came vodka, caviar, and suicidal novelists (and a couple good hockey players)."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 11, 2009 11:29 PM EST up reply actions
But...
they did need it. The PR crew saw it. Used it. And it worked.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 11:30 PM EST up reply actions
Right, hence the learn something new part.
"After the Cold War, the AK-47 became Russia's biggest export. After that came vodka, caviar, and suicidal novelists (and a couple good hockey players)."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 11, 2009 11:33 PM EST up reply actions
I guess it proves the PR team is pretty savvy. I thought it desperate when they played it so early, but then again, what did they have to lose. Shows what I know. Thought maybe they should have played it again at some point. Maybe they could have averted the tying goal. Heh.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
The two goals on three shots against Theo sucked the life out of me so I imagine it was similar for other people. The place was definitely rocking hard and into it after the boring hockey stopped.
Hockey players aren't like other people. Witt after being hit by a car:
I’m okay. No big deal...I’ve got to go play some hockey. I’m a hockey player.
VC is often dead on Fridays
Don’t know why but I feel like the phone booth consistently had it’s worst atmosphere on Friday night.
Am I alone on this thinking? If not, anybody got a thought as to why.
And “end of busy week” is a nonstarter… Don’t go there; it’s Friday night for eff sakes.
DC, where Hockey is a baffling ordeal.
by Chris meet Alex on Dec 11, 2009 11:58 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
…Cooler things to do in DC?
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 11:59 PM EST up reply actions
More non-die hards in attendance?
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
Huh?
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 12:01 AM EST up reply actions
Lots of people going to see what a hockey game is like instead of hockey fans going to support their team? I dunno, who knows?
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
Oh I was thinking fewer people going and not being as into it because they have other stuff going on that night.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 12:05 AM EST up reply actions
I don’t know about other Friday’s but to be honest the way the game started with Carolina scoring about 2 minutes in kind of kills the initial energy. Then before you can get back into it Theo gives up a killer softy. Then on top of that Ward was stopping everything in site for the first 30 minutes. I think those factors, more than anything, took the fans out of it early on tonight.
I managed to stay into it throughout the course of that brutal first half but I can understand those that became somewhat disinterested. I’ll also add that I’m not a loud/excitable person in general, so even my continued focus on the game likely didn’t help lol.
by BradleyFightingVehicle on Dec 12, 2009 12:20 AM EST up reply actions
And after the first goal it sounded rocking.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 12:26 AM EST up reply actions
Exactly, the first goal really got the crowd juiced because to that point Ward had seemed impenetrable no matter how much pressure the Caps put on. Once Semin scored there was sort of that rush of excitement as in, “this may happen!” You should have heard it when Semin potted that second one with .6 to play in the second. Nearly took the roof off.
by BradleyFightingVehicle on Dec 12, 2009 12:29 AM EST up reply actions
After the first, I was describing Ward as doing one hell of a Ryan Miller impersonation, and I didn’t like it one bit. Glad it only lasted one period.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
That was pretty good, but “took the roof off” in my mind gets reserved for the Fedorov goal in Game 7 against the Rangers. That was loud – and stayed loud.
Unleash the Alex!
and stayed loud.
That was the best part.
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
by CapitalCentre on Dec 12, 2009 11:28 AM EST up reply actions
The final minutes of Game 7 will go down as one of the coolest sports moments in my life (and I’ve experienced some pretty awesome sports moments, final four, anyone?). I will never forget that feeling.
My eyes were watering as well. They also watered in the next Game 7 when the guys all came out on the ice and saluted the fans. I was a mess.
I think all the games have a great atmosphere except for Wens games. Those can be sort of quiet.
Hockey players aren't like other people. Witt after being hit by a car:
I’m okay. No big deal...I’ve got to go play some hockey. I’m a hockey player.
Not to mention the manatees
She has death in her eyes
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 12, 2009 10:54 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Just realized. With Theo in goal, it’s gonna be another long stretch of one-goal games, mostly settled in OT or Gimmick, and an extra standings point for most of our opponents.
ALEX, FЯEE
I’m hoping Neuvy steps to the plate.
by DrinkingPartner on Dec 11, 2009 11:07 PM EST up reply actions
Anyone hear any word if Varly will be travelling out west with them next week?
I lived with a blind guy for a while, then he figured it out and demanded back rent.
by Rather Bengt on Dec 11, 2009 11:08 PM EST up reply actions
If Varly needs to be with the trainers, and if the trainers need to be with the team, then Semyon will travel.
ALEX, FЯEE
Tankya
I lived with a blind guy for a while, then he figured it out and demanded back rent.
by Rather Bengt on Dec 11, 2009 11:26 PM EST up reply actions
Are they going to do the annual team dinner on the road trip next week? They need Semyon on the road trip so that Perreault doesn’t have to pay for it all by himself. Note: to those unfamiliar with the team dinner, the rookies have to pay for it all.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Very good, and, unfortunately, very accurate observation. At least the offense is pretty much a full strength now, with Knuble back. We’re going to need it.
Knuble looked kind of rough out there to me , but I have to chalk that up to first-game-back blues. He’ll be fine.
Unleash the Alex!
He looked good to me. Set up two or three good chances in the crease, worked hard behind the net.. he’ll get his points.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
He also looked slow.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 11:53 PM EST up reply actions
This. He looked like he was a bit behind and a bit rusty in his passing. That’s okay, one has to expect that.
Perreault, on the other hand, was a monster out there. I love watching him.
Unleash the Alex!
Hopefully, he’ll start getting rewarded with consistent scoring.
by DrinkingPartner on Dec 11, 2009 11:55 PM EST up reply actions
If he is constantly playing with Fehr and Flash I think he will. Those guys are much more capable with the puck than the guys he has been with for the last several games.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 11:57 PM EST up reply actions
Why was Flash on the rightwing tonight and Fehr mostly on the left? MP could of had 4-5 assists tonight if Flash were the opposite shot.
by lolCaps-project on Dec 12, 2009 12:00 AM EST up reply actions
so MP with F snd F for 2nd line….if you keep the Care Bears as 1st line do u make Laich Morrison and Knuble as 3rd? Myself I prefer breaking up the Care Bears and putting Knuble on the 1st when he is healthy
I lived with a blind guy for a while, then he figured it out and demanded back rent.
by Rather Bengt on Dec 12, 2009 12:07 AM EST up reply actions
I’d much rather see Fehr back up with Morrison and Laich…drop Semin down to play with Flash and young Perrault.
Semin with Flash and Perrault could be scary for good reasons as well as bad ones depending on the night
I lived with a blind guy for a while, then he figured it out and demanded back rent.
by Rather Bengt on Dec 12, 2009 12:11 AM EST up reply actions
Yes take away Fehr’s net presence and big body and make the softest and shortest line in the NHL. Wonderful.
Give FPF time to develop. I just don’t understand why Fehr was on the right side—taking Fehr’s tap-ins on the correct shooting angle.
by lolCaps-project on Dec 12, 2009 12:12 AM EST up reply actions
The FPF 115 line? The future’s so bright I gotta wear shades?
Unleash the Alex!
by gotsparkly on Dec 12, 2009 12:19 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
The way Semin’s scoring goals, and you want to give him 3rd line minutes? Can’t say I agree with that idea.
by mechanicsville on Dec 12, 2009 3:20 PM EST up reply actions
Moving Semin up to the “Top Line” seemed to get them reignited last night.
That line works well a lot of the time but occasionally they need to be broken up if they get too cute.
One way or another, the Caps need more than one scoring line. With the talented wingers (and centers) they have, they certainly can arrange their cast of characters to do that. What is the best way to maximize productivity from the current group? Good question. There are several combinations that have been productive.
Rocking the Red since 1975
I’d personally like to see more of Ovechkin on line one and Semin and Backstrom on line two. Ovie’s going to be dominant no matter who he plays with; Backstrom and Semin are very, very good, but not quite at the same level, but letting them play together could mean the line as a whole could be dominant. Something like:
Ovechkin-Morrison-Knuble
Laich/Fehr-Backstrom-Semin
seems like it could result in two consistent scoring lines.
by David M. Getz on Dec 12, 2009 5:01 PM EST up reply actions
That’s a great line recommendation. We know that Laich/Backstrom/Semin is productive. That was one of the lines during our two recent lopsided victories. I’ve always been curious to see what the Semin/Backstrom/Fehr line would do. I think Semin’s been teamed up with just about every top winger at even strength this year, except Fehr and Knuble.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Yea I miss Varley, but we need to keep him rested and healthy for the playoffs. Being 8th isn’t too much worse than 1st. Not having a healthy Varley, well we all saw game 1 of the Rangers last year…
They laughed at Columbus, they laughed at Fulton, they laughed at the Wright brothers. But they also laughed at Bozo the Clown.
Greenie's turnover
Curious why you all go so easy on Green’s turnover leading to the Gleason goal. That was every bit as terrible as Semin’s back against the Devils that had this entire board calling for Semin to be traded immediately. Given that the turnover was on the PP and led to a shorthanded goal that tied up the game, maybe it was even worse.
Did you see the GDT? Aside from numerous Jizz jokes, we all ripped Green a new asshole as well. And then he redeemed himself by winning the game.
:shrug: That’s how it works.
by DrinkingPartner on Dec 11, 2009 11:17 PM EST up reply actions
Green had an absolutely brutal game — until that last shot…
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 11, 2009 11:18 PM EST up reply actions
Just when you think he couldn’t possibly be any dumber…
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 11:19 PM EST up reply actions
Well put sir. The entire game my brother and I were pissing our section off cursing him. OT comes…first words out of his mouth “I love Green”. Granted he didn’t mean it, but he redeemed himself for the rest of the game (almost).
And everyone around you laughed at you.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 12:04 AM EST up reply actions
Evil clowns.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 12:11 AM EST up reply actions
Touche.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 12:14 AM EST up reply actions
Can’t sleep, clowns will eat me?
Unleash the Alex!
by gotsparkly on Dec 12, 2009 3:56 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
It was pretty bad, but it wasn’t as bad as some of Semin’s. At least Green was trying to pass to a teammate and if CAR doesn’t aggressively attack there the pass gets through. CAR doesn’t have an aggressive PK so, while it was dumb, it had a prayer. Plus, he doesn’t do that nearly as often as Semin does. And people in the GDT were all over Green all game for playing stupidly.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 11:18 PM EST up reply actions
That was every bit as terrible as Semin’s back against the Devils that had this entire board calling for Semin to be traded immediately.
I don’t really think that’s fair. It wasn’t as if everyone suddenly turned on Semin because of one play.
by David M. Getz on Dec 11, 2009 11:24 PM EST up reply actions
Yes Jizz does serve a purpose at times
I lived with a blind guy for a while, then he figured it out and demanded back rent.
by Rather Bengt on Dec 11, 2009 11:25 PM EST up reply actions
i had to read that sentence a few times….
by twistedlogic on Dec 12, 2009 12:50 AM EST up reply actions
Green gets a pass all the time from you guys for lazy passes and turnovers. I like Green, but he does get off easy for making the same mistakes as does Semin. I may be wrong about the exact game, but I think it was the first Devils game where Green turned the puck over right in front of the net resulting in a goal. He got off pretty easy. If that had been Semin, you all would have burned down his house.
This will make you angry
Team gave him the hard hat tonight.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
Damn. They appreciated that hit and the fact that he got physical, and the GWG, I guess.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 11:32 PM EST up reply actions
Saw that. He’s a favorite of BB. BB can’t even compliment Semin when he saves the day. And he did save the day. Without those 2 goals there would not have been overtime in which Green could redeem himself.
Not sure if BB gives out the hardhat.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
Not meaning that I thought he does, just that he could talk about the OT goal witha smile, but not what led up to it with anything more than a clinical approach.
Indeed, the last player with the hat gives it out. I believe that was Matt Bradley this time.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 11, 2009 11:35 PM EST up reply actions
BB can’t even compliment Semin when he saves the day.
Not true. Boudreau lays plenty of praise on Semin (some wording is a little odd because it’s translated from English to Russian and back):
“He is a talented guy, and he is able to guess the movement of his partners. Previously, the main problem for Semin was his English. Alexander reads the game better than 95 percent of the players on earth! But because he didn’t speak English well, he didn’t have a full rapport with his partners.
“Now, Semin is much more attack oriented. But at the same time he has started playing better in defense. He has a +27 rating. We rarely lose when he is on the ice. True, Alex sometimes takes a chance when he goes on the attack, but that is typical for a fast-attack forward.”
I don’t think there is anyone that can move better than him. Whenever Semin has the puck, you get the feeling that he’s got it tied on a string. He works it with really high speed. That is why Alexander averages more than one point per game.
“And you have to consider that he doesn’t always play every shift with Ovechkin. He doesn’t get 23 minutes per game, but only 19. Ovechkin will play on the PP for the entire two minutes, because he assumes the position of a defender. Semin only comes out on one special team, sometimes getting only one minute. But he can accomplish so much!”
“Alex is so skilled with his stick that he doesn’t lose battles for the puck. He is aggressive and fights to the end, especially in the last few minutes of the game.”
by David M. Getz on Dec 11, 2009 11:37 PM EST up reply actions
(some wording is a little odd because it’s translated from English to Russian and back)
And what does that say about our beat writers?
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 11:39 PM EST up reply actions
I have read all of this before. BB rarely says much positive about Semin to the press after a game, such as tonight. After his first game back from the wrist injury, he was actually damned with faint praise. All BB could say was he was well rested, he should have a lot of energy. He would not say the same thing about Green.
I don’t know where you’re getting that from. Boudreau’s called out Green very bluntly and directly several times since he’s taken over.
by David M. Getz on Dec 11, 2009 11:44 PM EST up reply actions
Not proportionally. Green is the favored son; a regular guy, easy to understand. BB knows him really well. That’s the way it is. But I think BB should recognize when in public he is giving different treatment to players for the same actions — whether it’s for play gaffes or playmaking — and the message that sends. Semin is important to the success of this team and it would help if the coach would reflect that with positive statements.
Help what? The team or your sensitive fan predilections?
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 11:53 PM EST up reply actions
What makes you say Green is the favored son? Boudreau’s called him out plenty, and in very blunt language. I think he likes him, sure, but I don’t think he gives him inordinate amounts of praise or is unwilling to criticize him.
But I think BB should recognize when in public he is giving different treatment to players for the same actions — whether it’s for play gaffes or playmaking — and the message that sends.
But different players are different. They have different expectations and different roles and respond differently to different amounts of praise and/or condemnation. Treating them all exactly the same way would be a mistake.
by David M. Getz on Dec 12, 2009 12:02 AM EST up reply actions
Sure they are different, and I did not mean
“treating” them the same in a player/coach relationship, but public treatment or assessment of their contributions. It would seem pretty normal to me to positively talk about your goal scorers and playmakers in a game, but BB does not always give credit where it is due, particualrly in Semin’s case.
And somehow Flash gets love poured on him by BB non-stop, but Fehr can’t seem to buy a compliment. Who cares? The Semin Lobby is more sensitive than a burning herpes sore.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 12:13 AM EST up reply actions 4 recs
The Semin Lobby is more sensitive than a burning herpes sore.
Wow. Congratulations, you’ve won this thread.
Both arguments make sense to me. Though I might be part of the Semin lobby, at the end of the day we don’t hear everything, especially what happens when BB talks to the players in private. That should hold more weight than words said in a press conference.
by red army line on Dec 12, 2009 4:39 AM EST up reply actions
That definitely should hold more weight. I also wonder why we have to rely on Russian translations to get the comments that DMG provided. Why aren’t our beat writers giving us that stuff directly? Are only the Russian correspondents directly asking BB about Semin? Or is he giving them different answers because they are Russian?
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 1:20 PM EST up reply actions
Searching for a jizz-penicillin joke here…
"After the Cold War, the AK-47 became Russia's biggest export. After that came vodka, caviar, and suicidal novelists (and a couple good hockey players)."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 12, 2009 12:15 AM EST up reply actions
speaking of not buying a compliment
from TEB
*Perreault returned from food poisoning and recorded his first point in nine games when he set up Tomas Fleischmann’s goal. But, as Boudreau said when asked what he thought of the rookie, his line was on the ice for the Hurricanes’ first two goals.
by DonnieKnutts on Dec 12, 2009 12:29 AM EST up reply actions
Ha. Nice. I guess you have to notice that but when the D make such bad plays on those…
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 12:38 AM EST up reply actions
In the post game on the radio Bruce mentioned that MP rebounded after a tough first period. That he has a long way to go but when he’s moving his feet he’s very good, and its very contagious.
"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."
Interesting stuff. I didn’t think his first was that rough, but I’m not looking through BB’s eyes. The first goal Flash did a poor job covering when Green went deep and the second goal there were several breakdowns not related to MP. I’d like to hear what BB thinks he needs to work on exactly.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 1:30 AM EST up reply actions
I imagine the we are reading too much into it. Nothing specific that he did wrong but when you are out there for two goals against, it is a rough start. He was remarkably tempered in his praise though which was interesting.
I’m guessing that BB wasn’t that pleased with the way the game went and wasn’t really willing to offer much in the way of praise without offering some critique.
"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."
You’re probably right. A minus is a minus and it still sucks to get one. But considering his relentless forechecking and ability to set up less than top notch scorers I thought he’d earned some slack. That’s probably why MP is still on the Caps, though.
I was just curious if BB was aiming at a “he needs to generally get stronger and get a little better in all areas of his game” type comment or a “he needs to be better at D, or do such and such better” type comment.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 1:57 AM EST up reply actions
That still goes back to issue of roles and expectations, though. Matt Bradley or David Steckel’s going to receive more attention for a hat trick than Alex Ovechkin not because people value them more or like them better, but because it’s more interesting to talk about people exceeding expectations.
The same can be said of poor play too. When John Erskine takes a restraining foul people may be frustrated, but they’re not surprised given his skill set. When Backstrom or Semin or Green take them, they’re more likely to get irritated because they see them as more avoidable.
by David M. Getz on Dec 12, 2009 12:18 AM EST up reply actions
You go, Gangsta
No, not angry. Not even a bit. Team’s privilege to award the hard hat to whomever.
ALEX, FЯEE
And they know what they are looking for more than anyone else.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 11:43 PM EST up reply actions
I understand your concern, Jizzrocks, but Green gets called out for his nonsense just like Semin does. He was skewered when he turned that puck over and he got skewered against Ottawa. He doesn’t have five years of track record doing this, he has a Norris runner-up, and we hope he’s still developing as a hockey player. Semin has a longer track record and hasn’t seemed to improve his decisionmaking much in the least 2-3 years.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 11:32 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I cannot tell you the number of times we sit at home watching games and groan, “Green!” Terrible pass! Move your feet! What are you doing! I know he was Norris cup runner-up etc. ANn Semin has the stats to support his worth as well. I just think many of you do not like him because you cannot know him. He is not an outgoing personality like the other young guns.
I disagree. In some respects I’d rather not know him. Green’s personality does not attract me to him. His game does. I love Semin when he’s on his game, but he’s inconsistent, and it’s not new. If Green is still making these same mistakes in 3 years, you’ll hear a different tune. It has nothing to do with Sasha having an enigmatic personality, it’s all on the ice.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 11:41 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t follow Green on twitter because from what I’ve seen, it would sour me on him.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
sorry guys shit game tonight must do better will be back tomorrow go caps.
"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."
At least he knew it. Now let’s cut that out of his routine.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 1:31 AM EST up reply actions
Green’s probably a cool kid, but he’s got a few years before he really turns himself into a man; he’s into his MTV image at the moment.
by DrinkingPartner on Dec 11, 2009 11:42 PM EST up reply actions
And I don’t really care. As long as he produces on the ice for the Caps, I’m cool.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 11:44 PM EST up reply actions
I just think many of you do not like him because you cannot know him. He is not an outgoing personality like the other young guns.
Why? What’s given you the impression that (1) anyone cares what Semin’s personality is like, at least in terms of how outgoing he is, (2) people are more likely to forgive Green for his on-ice mistakes because of his personality, or (3) that any of the criticisms of Semin are unwarranted or invalid?
Truthfully, Ovechkin’s really the only real outgoing of the three. Green likes flash but he doesn’t say much and speaks so softly you have to strain to hear him, and Backstrom’s not exactly clamoring to hog the spotlight either.
by David M. Getz on Dec 11, 2009 11:47 PM EST up reply actions
Obviously a lot of people who post here care about his personality — do you not read all of the snarky comments posted here about him? I guarantee you that if Semin spoke English to the press and regularly engaged with a smile, much of the snarkiness would go away.
Sure, people would still complain about play (as if they were all out there on the ice at the same time and saw the play from ice level), but he would get more benefit of doubt. As with most things, people tend to focus on mistakes (that they all make), but forget the more numerous times Semin contributed. Again, his stats bear that out.
I can’t speak for everyone, but I loathed Fedorov last year for exhibiting the same tendencies that Semin has re: penalties, and the former was much more accessible to the local media.
"After the Cold War, the AK-47 became Russia's biggest export. After that came vodka, caviar, and suicidal novelists (and a couple good hockey players)."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 12, 2009 12:03 AM EST up reply actions
Did not loathe Feds. I would hate to be loathed every time I made a mistake. I greatly enjoyed having Feds here last year.
Did I say I hated him “every time” he made a mistake? I said he exhibited the same tendences on penalties that Semin continues to demonstrate. Moreover, considering his experience, wouldn’t it reasonable to set a higher bar of expectation?
"After the Cold War, the AK-47 became Russia's biggest export. After that came vodka, caviar, and suicidal novelists (and a couple good hockey players)."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 12, 2009 12:32 AM EST up reply actions
Obviously a lot of people who post here care about his personality — do you not read all of the snarky comments posted here about him?
For example? I read snarky comments about him (and a lot of other players), but nothing to suggest people don’t like him because he’s quiet. And if someone does, and that clouds their judgment, fine. But that’s not the case for everyone, or even a majority, and the criticisms of Semin are still valid. To say it’s because he doesn’t speak to the media or that it’s his personality that predisposes people to criticize him doesn’t really do much because it’s an effort to dismiss the criticism as invalid rather than refute it. Even if he rubs people the wrong way, the fact is that he has a history of bad turnovers and bad penalties.
Sure, people would still complain about play (as if they were all out there on the ice at the same time and saw the play from ice level), but he would get more benefit of doubt.
I suppose that’s possible, but what would matter would be the content, not the fact that he was doing it. That’s part of the problem, though. When he does speak, Semin doesn’t come across very well. I don’t think ice level vision has anything to do with it, though. A mistake’s a mistake, for whatever vantage point you view it.
As with most things, people tend to focus on mistakes (that they all make), but forget the more numerous times Semin contributed.
I don’t think that’s true. If people were focused solely on his mistakes and not what he does to help the team win, wouldn’t they think the Caps would be a better team without him? But I can’t recall anyone – and certainly not a significant number of people – saying the Caps would be a better team if they were to lose Semin and make no effort to replace him. It’s not an issue of addition by subtraction, it’s an issue of asset management, and whether the Capitals can use their existing resources in a way that’s more likely to win them a Cup (or give them sustained success).
by David M. Getz on Dec 12, 2009 12:13 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I don’t think ice level vision has anything to do with it, though. A mistake’s a mistake, for whatever vantage point you view it.
And saying you have to see it at ice level to criticize basically means that nobody can criticize anybody unless you’re on the team. If that’s the case, what are we doing here?
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 12:16 AM EST up reply actions
I’m talking about hockey, the Caps, the game against CAR. The usual.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 12:18 AM EST up reply actions
Most definitely is not oregano. Tonight it’s a chocolate chip cookie.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 12:26 AM EST up reply actions
No one would ever suggest losing Semin and make no effort to replace him — that’s pretty dumb (and bit of a disingenuous statement). I have read enough posts here and there on the subject to get the distinct impression that he is somewhat of a polarizing player — people either love him or hate him. People who do not like him focus more on the mistakes and devalue his significant contributions. Many seem to think he should be a differnt kind of player from what he is — grittier, for example. That’s not his style or strength. He has strengths others do not have and never will.
I have read enough posts here and there on the subject to get the distinct impression that he is somewhat of a polarizing player
The reason he is polarizing is because the Semin Lobby can’t accept criticism of his flaws. Nobody ignores his contributions. As the founder of the 85 Cent Club I get sick of seeing the position mischaracterized, and I get irritable. Nobody called for his head for one mistake. People got tired of seeing a long established pattern of mistakes, injuries, indifferent play, and crippling mistakes. He can be phenomenal. He can be the best player on the ice. But the 85 Cent Club is concerned that he won’t be that guy for 4 playoff series in a row. If he can’t give you that guy, or even just cut the terrible gaffes, then he can’t justify 6+ million. If we won’t resign him for 6+ million, then we shouldn’t let him run to the KHL for nothing. It becomes a matter of asset management so that we still have something to help the team, even if that player(s) is not quite as good as white hot Jizz.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 12:30 AM EST up reply actions
As the founder of the 85 Cent Club
That new?
"After the Cold War, the AK-47 became Russia's biggest export. After that came vodka, caviar, and suicidal novelists (and a couple good hockey players)."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 12, 2009 12:33 AM EST up reply actions
A Brazilian dollars.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 12:39 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
You’re really stepping up your game, Eddie Eagle, aren’t you?
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Dec 12, 2009 1:47 AM EST up reply actions
That line was so good it needed some continuity.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 1:49 AM EST up reply actions
Not new. It’s probably from my drunk rage after the 10/30 game. It’s probably in the recap and then DMG (I think) named it after the notorious NJD game.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 12:39 AM EST up reply actions
I disagree with you and believe you are overly critical. I certainly accept “fair and balanced” criticism, but I do not find that here much. I can yell, “Semin—no!” at the TV with the best of you. But, watching the success of his considerable gifts on the ice the last few years proves to me that the gifts outweight the gaffes.
Have to pack it in now. Good night.
But, watching the success of his considerable gifts on the ice the last few years proves to me that the gifts outweight the gaffes.
Agreed – but the question isn’t whether Semin’s skill is greater than Semin’s gaffes, it’s whether Semin’s net contribution (skill – gaffes) is greater than what the Capitals could add to their roster in place of Semin by trading him and/or using the salary cap space his absence from the roster
So if Semin creates 40 goals and is responsible for 15 going in (by flaws or by not preventing a preventable goal), he has positive value. But if you bring in a guy who creates 30 and isn’t responsible for any going in, you’re in better shape. Even if you bring in a guy whose net contribution is smaller but who makes less because people pay for offense, you’re in better shape because you’re getting the same production for less money.
by David M. Getz on Dec 12, 2009 12:52 AM EST up reply actions
the goals-gaffes thing is kinda hard to quantify
and also hard to quantify the other things that semin provides, like the way he can create space for others because of his speed and stickhandling. also, if we’re talking about him as an “asset,” then surely we’d have to take in consideration how exciting of a player he is, and how fans enjoy watching him play.
by DonnieKnutts on Dec 12, 2009 1:01 AM EST up reply actions
At the end of the day though it’s about scoring more goals than the other team. I’d take a trapping team that wins 1-0 or 2-1 every night over a team that wins 5-1 half the time and loses 4-2 the rest of the time. Semin is a very high-risk-high-reward venture. Personally, I think the Caps need his offense in later rounds of the postseason to win the series.
by red army line on Dec 12, 2009 4:45 AM EST up reply actions
I agree that it’s hard to quantify, but I was just providing numbers as an example as a way of pointing out that the important thing isn’t whether Semin has a net positive value, but whether or not keeping Semin is the maximum net positive value the Capitals can get given their assets.
if we’re talking about him as an "asset," then surely we’d have to take in consideration how exciting of a player he is, and how fans enjoy watching him play.
I wholeheartedly disagree. I want the Capitals to win the Cup, I think most fans want the Caps to win the Cup, and the Caps players and management to win the Cup. You pay guys or make personnel moves based on how likely they are to win you the Cup, regardless of how they do it. That’s their value, regardless of how flashy they are or whether they’re a fan favorite.
by David M. Getz on Dec 12, 2009 10:24 AM EST up reply actions
but the question isn’t whether Semin’s skill is greater than Semin’s gaffes, it’s whether Semin’s net contribution (skill – gaffes) is greater than what the Capitals could add to their roster in place of Semin by trading him and/or using the salary cap space his absence from the roster
and there’s the unrelated but important fact that he DRIVES US ALL UP THE WALL WITH HIS INCONSISTENCY. He’ll put together a great 10 games, and we think “man, he’s turned the corner,” and then he shows up to a couple of games with no brain.
Which, by the way, Green did tonight.
Which, by the way, we all tore Green a new one for tonight.
Semin is polarizing because no player in hockey exemplifies greater extremes of on-ice talent.
Semin’s like someone who bakes you cookies four times but slaps you in the face twice. And the way some of us are wired, we might remember the face slaps a lot longer than the cookies. Even if the “net positives” outweighed the “net negatives.”
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 12, 2009 10:24 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I don’t think it’s disingenuous in the slightest. You said, “people tend to focus on mistakes, but forget the more numerous times Semin contributed.” My point is that people aren’t forgetting all the points he has scored or the games that wouldn’t have been won without him because the conclusions people reach about the guy don’t seem to support that.
People who do not like him focus more on the mistakes and devalue his significant contributions.
I don’t think that’s true. I think people look at the things he does, good and bad, and form an opinion of him. I don’t think anyone is trying to play up his mistakes or devalue the good he does. I don’t see the incentive for that.
Frankly, I’ve generally seen it more going the other way. People who criticize Semin, or even want him gone, seem more than ready to acknowledge his incredible talent and all the points he’s scored – or if they don’t they get set straight pretty quick – but I feel like people who lobby for him aren’t willing to hear any criticism, even when justified.
Many seem to think he should be a differnt kind of player from what he is — grittier, for example.
I don’t think that’s the case. I think what people want is for him to not turn the puck over and take bad penalties. He can do that without changing who is fundamentally is as a player.
by David M. Getz on Dec 12, 2009 12:35 AM EST up reply actions
The real issue is whether one wants the complete Semin package—high ups and low downs—or someone with a ceiling not nearly as high but who is at least invisible in his downs. (to think of it in terms of waves, Semin’s performance wave as a big amplitude—do you want that or a wave with smaller amplitude?)
by red army line on Dec 12, 2009 4:47 AM EST up reply actions
Maybe I have a selective memory, but I can’t remember Sasha making a mistake since the Devils game.
by mechanicsville on Dec 11, 2009 11:50 PM EST up reply actions
That
is the definition of selective.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 11:54 PM EST up reply actions
Granted, he was out a few games, and I should probably revise that to day I don’t remember any heinous (oh my god, what were you thinking) mistakes.
by mechanicsville on Dec 12, 2009 12:00 AM EST up reply actions
Right, but the Caps went on a 6 game win streak, so of course he didn’t cost us any games. And against BUF it was a team effort to get the loss. They haven’t been as egregious but it’s a real small sample size.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 12:01 AM EST up reply actions
Gotta start somewhere.
"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."
True, but he’s always been like this. He’s had several streaks of much longer than 6 games where he was very good and not hurting the team. When is Evil Semin going to return?
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 1:42 AM EST up reply actions
I would say as soon as he’s able to grow the goatee, but it’ll likely be sooner than that.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Dec 12, 2009 1:50 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah with that baby face we could get most of the prime of his career on your standard.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 1:51 AM EST up reply actions
The fact is, he’s only 25. I think that we often forget how young he is (these guys) really are. There is plenty of room for Sasha J. to grow and be a bit less flaky. I’m not saying that this is the time, but Its not inconceivable that he will eventually mature beyond his lazy stick penalties. I just hope that he does it in a Caps sweater, or barring that, in the KHL.
"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."
He already has improved. He is now a Plus player. And even though he’s taken his share of bad penalties, he takes less of them that he did when younger.
Interesting note on Semin that we learned at Caps Con. He was only 5’11’ and 170 lbs or so at age 17-18. A guy who basically grew late.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Interesting point about the age of our big guns. Right now, they are mostly what? 21 (Backstrom) to 25 (Semin, Ovie)? Strong future.
However, how many strong players do we have in the system? I don’t mean Hershey as a team, because we know they are leading their division again, but in terms of how many guys there will make a significant contribution? I would think that this coming year, and the following year, could be very important drafts for us.
How long does it usually take a good player to reach the NHL in a good teams system? I’m not talking about superstars, we all know they will make it quickly, but more like Flash and Fehr kind of guys who can contribute 15-20 goals a year? If it takes 3-4 years, the next couple of drafts will be making their NHL presence when our stars are 25-29 years old, very much still in their primes. Yes, we want to win a cup this year, and next, etc…But the next couple of drafts could be make or break for us to be serious contenders for the next decade.
by HateOffSeason on Dec 12, 2009 9:51 AM EST up reply actions
I think the important thing is that the core of the team will be draftees- AO, Backstrom, Green, Varlavirthby, Carlznerson, Mackan, etc. The rest can probably be filled with low-priced FAs or by-then recent draftees. And I don’t think the system the Caps play will change significantly while AO is here, which in my mind means the Caps will be akin to the Devils in that regard—some years better than others, but always hangin’ around and dangerous with those couple of star fixtures.
by red army line on Dec 12, 2009 10:11 AM EST up reply actions
Caps will have as many as six prospects playing in World Juniors this month. Stafan Della Rovere and Cody Eakin reported to Team Canada’s selection camp today, Carlson reports to Team USA on 12/22, Mackan is Captain of Team Sweden, and Orlov and Kugryshev will arrive with Team Russia.
That’s a pretty deep prospect bench.
ALEX, FЯEE
Good call. The strength of the Caps forward prospect pool is quantity. Not all of those guys are going to pan out, but I don’t think they’ll all bust either.
by David M. Getz on Dec 12, 2009 11:02 AM EST up reply actions
And considering what we have we don’t need them to be elite, top line talent either. We need guys that are going to score from the second or third line, and I think we have a lot of guys that might do that.
Kugryshev, Eaken, MP, Bouchard, Osala, Mackan. If half of those guys pan out we have a full line in the NHL. That’s not considering guys that may come from nowhere or guys that get drafted in the next couple drafts.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 1:27 PM EST up reply actions
Captain of Team Sweden. I love it. I love the leadership we have in the pipeline. SDR is an OHL Captain. Alzner was a Team Canada Captain. Mackan is a Captain. That really bodes well for the intangibles on this team going forward.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 1:25 PM EST up reply actions
Semin has a longer track record and hasn’t seemed to improve his decisionmaking much in the least 2-3 years.
Part of the issue, too, is that when it comes to Semin, when it rains, it pours. He has a tendency to go on streaks where he’s turning the puck over multiple times a game and taking bad penalties pretty consistently. People are more likely to have strong reactions to games where a guy takes multiple bad penalties or has multiple bad giveaways than they are to a guy who does it constantly but never overwhelmingly.
by David M. Getz on Dec 11, 2009 11:54 PM EST up reply actions
Good point. Throwing one or two bad plays every game when you are still on the whole real good goes over much better than stinkers and white hot.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 11:58 PM EST up reply actions
I think Green gets taken to task for the stupid plays he makes both in write ups and by commentors. Heck, I posted several times today that I think John Buccigross is right to say Green needs to improve his concentration.
by David M. Getz on Dec 11, 2009 11:41 PM EST up reply actions
Obviously
Just for cover for moments like this.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 11:44 PM EST up reply actions
Yep, at least when it comes to public perception. If Green does five good things and one bad thing every game, people are going to be willing to accept it as “you take the bad with the good”. If Semin does ten good things and nothing wrong one night and nothing good and five bad things the next night, the latter can easily cost the team the game, and costing the team the game loses you fans real fast, no matter how much good you do other times.
by David M. Getz on Dec 12, 2009 12:22 AM EST up reply actions
not part of any "lobby"
but the caps have lost 6 games total in regulation this season. how many would you say semin has “cost” them?
by DonnieKnutts on Dec 12, 2009 12:27 AM EST up reply actions
And the NYI game on 10/30. Shoot that fucking puck.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 12:33 AM EST up reply actions
I really don’t know, I hate assigning losses to individual players. I was talking more in terms of public perception than anything else, but those two games against New Jersey are the type that stick in people’s heads when they think about these kinds of things.
by David M. Getz on Dec 12, 2009 12:44 AM EST up reply actions
yeah me too
the NJD game obviously sticks out for everybody, but i can definitely recall Greenie making some major (and usually fatigue-related) mistakes that have directly led to crucial (and sometimes game-losing) goals to the opponents. Way more than Semin, actually, but of course he’s played more and as a D-man his mistakes are going to be more costly. But still… just saying.
by DonnieKnutts on Dec 12, 2009 12:46 AM EST up reply actions
but i can definitely recall Greenie making some major (and usually fatigue-related) mistakes that have directly led to crucial (and sometimes game-losing) goals to the opponents.
I don’t disagree, but people remember the outliers. They remember Semin’s bad games because his bad games tend to be really, really bad. The same number of mistakes concentrated into a few outings are going to stick out more to people than if they’re spread out over time.
What games were you thinking of?
by David M. Getz on Dec 12, 2009 12:54 AM EST up reply actions
i can't think offhand
but suffice to say i’ve watched every minute the caps have played this season (with the exception of the season opener and the one big shootout in philly)…but at least two games stick out in my memory where I was literally yelling at green. from my couch of course.
by DonnieKnutts on Dec 12, 2009 12:57 AM EST up reply actions
there was an OT loss that i'm too lazy to look up
by DonnieKnutts on Dec 12, 2009 12:58 AM EST up reply actions
OTT.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 12:58 AM EST up reply actions
Oh, yes. I recall that, and I recall people being quite upset with Green about it…
by David M. Getz on Dec 12, 2009 10:38 AM EST up reply actions
No, you’re wrong. It was all sunshine and puppy dogs for Green, and I’m pretty sure Semin was blamed for distracting Green from the press box and causing him to have a bad game. No one ever criticizes Green.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Dec 12, 2009 2:52 PM EST up reply actions
I’d say so. Up until the Detroit game, Semin had been having a very good year but both he and Green took 2 penalties apiece that day. (There was much more castigation of Semin that day than of Green although I personally think Green’s were more costly on that particular day.) Since that day, the criticism of Semin kept building and then came the horrible game against NJ and it seemed that most of Caps fandom was ready to trade Semin immediately.
Rocking the Red since 1975
You’re right.. “Everyone turned on Semin” long before that. And, for the life of me, I’ll never understand it.
by mechanicsville on Dec 12, 2009 3:24 PM EST up reply actions
From my seats the first Semin goal looked, how does Ovie say it, sick. Watching the replay at home I have to say it was sick++. Between a screener’s legs at a distance and where the goalie is not covering! Well done and a good result for the home team. Guess playing ‘unleash the fury’ in the middle of the second period was a wise move tonight.
Mean, and sneaky.
Nick Backstrom 2A, +3, 61 on the dot and a blocked shot in OT. The pass to Green was ordinary—for him. I thought I saw him carrying more, but that’s what I’d want to see.
Staal has the big sexy goal in the game but Backstrom was by far the better player.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 11:19 PM EST up reply actions
Nicky’s last shift, from the blocked shot all the way to the beautiful assist to Greenie, was positively sublime.
by mechanicsville on Dec 11, 2009 11:52 PM EST up reply actions
Yup.
/still waiting for him to be able to take games over
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 11:54 PM EST up reply actions
Did you guys go over to CC to give them a little grief?
"After the Cold War, the AK-47 became Russia's biggest export. After that came vodka, caviar, and suicidal novelists (and a couple good hockey players)."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 11, 2009 11:59 PM EST up reply actions
No chance. I need to stay away from there. I’ll revel from here.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 11:59 PM EST up reply actions
Almost like kicking someone when they’ve been down for a bit, no?
"After the Cold War, the AK-47 became Russia's biggest export. After that came vodka, caviar, and suicidal novelists (and a couple good hockey players)."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 12, 2009 12:01 AM EST up reply actions
Not that they don’t deserve it…
"After the Cold War, the AK-47 became Russia's biggest export. After that came vodka, caviar, and suicidal novelists (and a couple good hockey players)."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 12, 2009 12:01 AM EST up reply actions
Not even
Some of them definitely deserve it. But it brings out the worst in me and I don’t like the attitude it brings out.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 12:03 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Green actually said that Backis is one of the only guys in the league that can make that pass. Over Ovie’s stick, flat enough for Green to settle it and get a shot off before Ward can slide across the net.
"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."
Moonman Explanation
Channel 4 just said that we last landed on the moon exactly 37 years ago.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
by jordanDC on Dec 11, 2009 11:26 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
No idea if it’s accurate, that’s just what the sportsdonk said.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
It’s true. The lunar module “Challenger” landed on the moon as part of the Apollo 17 mission on December 11, 1972.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Dec 11, 2009 11:52 PM EST up reply actions
Pipe down about that
I want this to be a hockeytown.
by redlineblue on Dec 11, 2009 11:36 PM EST up reply actions
Knowing what a hat trick is would be a nice start.
"After the Cold War, the AK-47 became Russia's biggest export. After that came vodka, caviar, and suicidal novelists (and a couple good hockey players)."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 11, 2009 11:39 PM EST up reply actions
PIT, not a “hockeytown”, got it. Are there more than Six? Which are they? How often is the status reviewed, and what (besides no astronaut costumes) are the key factors?
by redlineblue on Dec 11, 2009 11:52 PM EST up reply actions
I’m talking about words that team ownership is using, things that they want to measure themselves against. They’re popular, but they ain’t beloved with a good part of that crowd.
"After the Cold War, the AK-47 became Russia's biggest export. After that came vodka, caviar, and suicidal novelists (and a couple good hockey players)."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 11, 2009 11:56 PM EST up reply actions
Not beloved. If we came out and were last in the division that place would not be full and student rush would be back on.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 11:59 PM EST up reply actions
Where are the (NHL) hockeytowns
PIT now has two strikes, having cheered a not-trick and turned their back on a loser. I know they think they’re a hockeytown.
by redlineblue on Dec 12, 2009 12:08 AM EST up reply actions
Clarity!
Boston’s gonna be pissed. But why then the fuss over boundary and aspiration? Why the dress code? I’ve seen plenty of Weird at ~20 games in TOR and MTL: have they an exemption from certain hockeytown standards?
by redlineblue on Dec 12, 2009 12:15 AM EST up reply actions
Wow, do you also turn water into wine?
"After the Cold War, the AK-47 became Russia's biggest export. After that came vodka, caviar, and suicidal novelists (and a couple good hockey players)."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 12, 2009 12:16 AM EST up reply actions
And if you do...
I’ve got this oregano plant…
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 12:17 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Rec’d for a personal reminder.
"After the Cold War, the AK-47 became Russia's biggest export. After that came vodka, caviar, and suicidal novelists (and a couple good hockey players)."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 12, 2009 12:19 AM EST up reply actions
Ok. I’m talking about how far south one can go and find 14999 people to yell their fool heads off for (half) a hockey game. I’m also talking about a random and, finally, meaningless designation. Tonight we fans were “hockeytown” enough to help our team win. Coach said so. ’twill do.
by redlineblue on Dec 12, 2009 12:04 AM EST up reply actions
Again, that designation is something that the owner of this team continues to go back to. And I’d suggest that a significant portion of people go for the sake of going, which would go against what his definition of it would be.
And if it was “hockeytown,” they’d be blowing their voices out far before they needed to see the UFF video.
"After the Cold War, the AK-47 became Russia's biggest export. After that came vodka, caviar, and suicidal novelists (and a couple good hockey players)."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 12, 2009 12:12 AM EST up reply actions
how far south one can go and find 14999 people to yell their fool heads off
I’m pretty sure the phrase “win and they will come” applies here. I don’t have any stats to back it up, but I"d bet that when Tampa and the Panthers (Bure years)were winning the buildings were filled.
Sure.
I guess I’ll never fully understand the “hockeytown” list.
Winners=crowds. Cameras=people doing dumb shit to get seen. 3 goals in a night=a tip of the cap—hundreds if you pull it off in a hockey game, dozens if you need an extension. Visitor goal out of the gate=quiet crowd early.
Yeesh.
by redlineblue on Dec 12, 2009 12:26 AM EST up reply actions
“Hockeytown” is hard to define outside of Canada (not flaming). There aren’t many teams that sell out…or are even mostly filled…when the team isn’t atleast a playoff contender. As young and inexperienced a good number of Caps fans are, DC is still becoming a “hockeytown” we’re just not there yet IMO.
Thanks, I don't think so either.
I can’t imagine DC ever holding a candle to MooseJaw in hockey passion per capita. Lots of people coming to lots of games making lots of noise and helping spark our team = hockeyfun, to me.
I think Washington will always be a football town before anything else. I don’t mind that, it’s a fundamental element of the local culture. As long as there are still choices — I can watch hockey while other people watch other things — it isn’t a problem.
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
by CapitalCentre on Dec 12, 2009 11:52 AM EST up reply actions
THANK YOU!
My seats are right behind that guy and everyone around us was trying to figure out that weirdness.
Now it totally makes sense, not really.
DC, where Hockey is a baffling ordeal.
by Chris meet Alex on Dec 11, 2009 11:46 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Everyone
Go check out renhoak’s fanshot.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 11:27 PM EST reply actions
I counted — that fanshot is 73 individual and distinct kinds of awesome.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 11, 2009 11:38 PM EST up reply actions
Did anyone else find it interesting that the same guy that collides knee-on-knee with Ovechkin in game #1 is the guy that takes an Ovi slapshot straight in the face? Not that i’m advocating anyone getting hurt – I’m not – but I find it a somehow fitting twist of fate.
Unleash the Alex!
At first blush, I guess. But when you also consider that AO sees the same pair of D for 90% of his ice time every game you realize that it was bound to be Gleason or his partner there. Probably Gleason because of which side of the ice he plays. How many more times do the Caps play the Canes before the Olympic rosters are set? Gleason has been good against the Caps. He’s making a case for Team USA in my mind.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 11, 2009 11:56 PM EST up reply actions
Probably, although Carolina being the visiting team may not always get the matchup they want, so it’s entirely possible that another D happens to be on the ice when that happens, or the guy blocking the shot is the backchecking C.
Unleash the Alex!
Good point. I’m not sure how close to a faceoff that play happened.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 12:35 AM EST up reply actions
My first thought when I saw Gleason on the ice was the he must have done something to one of Ovie’s girlfriends. First the knee, now the puck to the face.
"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."
Tonights game was kinda like a rolercoaster ride.
A lot of ups and downs, much screaming and hollaring, and you feel pretty good when it’s over.
If you don't wanna get hit, KEEP YOUR HEAD UP!
Were you ready for the best ride of your life?
by red army line on Dec 12, 2009 4:50 AM EST up reply actions
Is it just me, or is Brooks Laich playing some mildly crappy hockey the last couple, three games? That giveway in our zone right before he took the hooking penaly was hard to watch.
by mechanicsville on Dec 12, 2009 12:03 AM EST reply actions
Not just you
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 12:03 AM EST up reply actions
Brooks needs some stability in his role and assignments. Moreso than Tyler Sloan, he’s been the real “swingman”, playing on every line with a constant carousel of linemates. Especially with Ovie/Semin in and out of games.
He is so versatile he can do this and make it look good, but maybe BB can find him a more fixed position.
ALEX, FЯEE
Is it just me, or is Brooks Laich playing some mildly crappy hockey the last couple, three games?
Yes, both of you are playing crappy hockey.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 12, 2009 12:22 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
hey, I’m just talkin’ about grammar…
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 12, 2009 10:31 AM EST up reply actions
Let’s get together for a good, old-fashoined sentence diagramming smakedown. That’s what real men would do, right?
by mechanicsville on Dec 12, 2009 3:32 PM EST up reply actions
You sir, don’t know the half of it regarding the crappiness of my hockey!
by mechanicsville on Dec 12, 2009 3:30 PM EST up reply actions
Theo was certainly mediocre
…but even though the Canes were outshot by a lot, they had a LOT of odd-man rushes tonight that were foiled by their bad passes and inept play. If they had just a little more offensive skill, they could’ve scored a bunch more. So many passes intended for wide-open players were just slightly off. Nerve-racking stuff.
Medicocre is rounding up. 2G on 4 shots in the first, and he didnt know where the fourth of those was either.
by redlineblue on Dec 12, 2009 12:10 AM EST up reply actions
1st goal: 2 on 1 on bad Erskine play, Erskine cant stop pass, easy tap in.
2nd goal: Horrible backchecking by caps as usual. Stuff attempt by Staal gets second whack and it bounces in off theo’s head or shoulder. Schultz should have never allowed either attempt.
3rd goal: Cannon shot-stick side. Theo and Varly aren’t stopping that. Goal was 100% on Green.
by lolCaps-project on Dec 12, 2009 12:17 AM EST up reply actions
The first goal is the only one I give Theo a pass for. He could have challenged Gleason more there and given him less to shoot at. He has to make that save. It’s what goalies do for teams that win Cups.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 12:19 AM EST up reply actions
in the words of Gabby
“He didn’t look comfortable on a lot of shots, let’s just put it that way,” Boudreau said.
by DonnieKnutts on Dec 12, 2009 12:21 AM EST up reply actions
If Theo doesn’t get square in the first 5 minutes, he always ends up fighting himself. Tonight, the first shot against is a two on one tap in and he was never really able to get into the game. Oh, and he only faced 19 shots, he must have been bored out of his mind.
"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."
yeah, “Bad Theo” was on full display last night.
Although, he busted his ass back to the bench faster than I’ve ever seen those little legs of his go on the delayed penalty (Flash scored). Don’t know what fueled that.
He got a shoulder on it and it still went over in the net. It was too hard a shot to be saved stick side.
by lolCaps-project on Dec 12, 2009 12:22 AM EST up reply actions
I haven’t had a chance to see replays but it looked pretty clean from my seats….and definitely stopable.
Forgot to mention that I’m a Theodore apologist…especially during home games when I’ve been drinking.
Is that the fan equivalent of drunk dialing?
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 12:36 AM EST up reply actions
Cam Ward stopped more than a few of those from the Caps. Bad move by Green but sometimes your goalie has to bail out your D and vice versa (case in point on the latter the one PP almost-goal that the Canes D swept out of the crease before it crossed the line). A Cup-contender goalie makes that stop.
Unleash the Alex!
A Cup-contender goalieVarly makes that stop.
Fixed it ;-)
by BradleyFightingVehicle on Dec 12, 2009 12:24 AM EST up reply actions
That’s Varly’s glove side. Doubt he stops it.
by lolCaps-project on Dec 12, 2009 12:29 AM EST up reply actions
Are you serious? Get over yourself.
by lolCaps-project on Dec 12, 2009 12:32 AM EST up reply actions
He’s gotten a lot better. I don’t know how much last year was due to the glove, but certainly he drops his glove when he moves laterally, sometimes too much. His positioning wasn’t great as well. He’s been better.
by red army line on Dec 12, 2009 4:52 AM EST up reply actions
Yes lol, please stop criticising Varlamov. We only criticize Semin around here.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 12, 2009 10:32 AM EST up reply actions
I blame Green more than Erskine for that first goal.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 12, 2009 12:25 AM EST up reply actions
he was interfered with
pretty dirty hit actually, their D-man hit him with his hands a couple strides after he made a pass. totally blind-sided
by DonnieKnutts on Dec 12, 2009 12:27 AM EST up reply actions
I forget who hit him, but he went down hard (heard the thud from the other end) and was slow getting up and back to the bench.
"After the Cold War, the AK-47 became Russia's biggest export. After that came vodka, caviar, and suicidal novelists (and a couple good hockey players)."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 12, 2009 12:28 AM EST up reply actions
I dunno, Green got rocked hard. He landed close to where I was sitting. He got hit high, borderline illegal hit. I didn’t have the benefit of a replay, but at first I thought it should have been a penalty. Everyone in my section was calling for one. Maybe he could have gotten up faster. It’s hard to know for sure though.
by BradleyFightingVehicle on Dec 12, 2009 12:27 AM EST up reply actions
From Corey (In the Room):
He said he blacked out for a second after Andrew Alberts hit him in the face after he had passed the puck in the high slot.
ALEX, FЯEE
Well, I feel like a heel. I was in and out of the room there, and all I saw was Mike Green inexplicably out of the play. Never saw why.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 12, 2009 10:33 AM EST up reply actions
My seats are up in the 400s, behind the Caps bench. We saw everyone come rushing down the ice, went “where the hell is Green?!” and then saw him down on the ice looking not good. I was pretty worried for a bit.
Good lord, was he ever pissed off after that. I thought he was going to knock some teeth out for a bit.
Nothing borderline about that hit. It was 100% dirty. Forearm to the face delivered well after Green had dished off the puck.
Now that I’ve had a chance to see the replay I am even madder about the non-call then I was at the time. That was a blatant cheap shot.
by BradleyFightingVehicle on Dec 12, 2009 10:52 AM EST up reply actions
No Chance
Green’s decisions were risky on that first goal, but how long was his point wide open while Fehr stood and watched. ANY semblance of covering for greener in that spot avoids a 2 on 1 and probably that first goal.
That goal was entirely on the heads of the forwards, SOMEBODY has got to stop standing around hoping for a penalty and cover! Fehr was the closest so he gets my blame.
DC, where Hockey is a baffling ordeal.
by Chris meet Alex on Dec 12, 2009 8:55 AM EST up reply actions
Flash was covering the point. They two-man indirected around him and Fehr was the closest on the back-check. That’s what happens when you have an uncalled two-hander to the face and are forced to have a FWD cover the point.
Flash covered but then pinched. Idiot. He needed to concede the blueline with those numbers coming at him and fall back to the middle of the ice. Fehr busted tail on the backcheck but didn’t get there. Normally I’d forgive a forward for that, but it’s pretty basic that you don’t pinch when you are covering for a D; and considering how much PK time Flash has I expect more defensive awareness from him.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 1:31 PM EST up reply actions
Agreed, just trying to highlight Fehr’s lack-of-fault on the play.
I also wonder if that pass connects if Erskine didn’t slow it down. Canes were missing on those passes all night when they were clean. Erskine got a piece of it and wound up right on Tlusty’s tape.
without the benefit of review, I’ll take your collective words for who doing what and agree that if Flash did so, that is unacceptable. Definitely forwards Fail.
DC, where Hockey is a baffling ordeal.
by Chris meet Alex on Dec 14, 2009 1:22 PM EST up reply actions
re: Ovechkin and above pic
i love the way he celebrates his teammates’ goals. he was on the ice for all four of them tonight so we got to see that infectious smile a lot. really shows how much of a team guy he is. such a likable character, that ovie. good night all.
I think Chris Pronger is standing behind him.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 1:31 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
The panoramic version clearly shows the forearm on the base of his skull.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Dec 12, 2009 1:57 AM EST up reply actions
First things first: if anyone knows the story behind the guy dressed as an astronaut at tonight’s game, lay it on us. Please./blockquote>
This is what I came on here to find out. Ok, it’s an anniversary of a moon landing, but still, who thinks to come to a hockey game dressed as an astronaut? And he kept that thing on the whole game. Say what you want, hockeytown or no, that guy was hilarious.
maybe he was going commando? didn’t have a change of clothes? not sure how you could pack a change of clothes there……do they allow suitcases into the VC? i doubt it….
Rock the Red! Rock the White! Rock the Blue! Rock the Pens!
by RedskinFan4Life on Dec 12, 2009 12:26 PM EST up reply actions
For those of you who recorded this game:
Check out the Koken / Bradley interview between the 1st and 2nd period.
Brads refers to Semin as “Jizz”.
I’m not making this up.
"barf... BARF!" "always when I'm eating!"
Right here, amigo.
"After the Cold War, the AK-47 became Russia's biggest export. After that came vodka, caviar, and suicidal novelists (and a couple good hockey players)."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 12, 2009 8:03 AM EST up reply actions
It’s a synonym for his (nearly) last name.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Dec 12, 2009 5:07 PM EST up reply actions
Green Bashing
Mike Green is 11th in the league in total ice time, 9th it total ice time per game, and FIRST in the league in total power play ice time (Crosby is 2nd and St. Louis is 3rd). His role is to be an offensive defenseman and his stats suggest he does that better than anyone. He’s also decent at least in the defensive end. Does he, like every player, have the occasional miscue? Of course. But I would suggest that these are largely a function of his extensive ice time in a role where he is doing what he is supposed to be doing and trying to make something happen. Would we like to see these minimized? Of course? Is the team better with than without him? Of course. Would you trade him for any other defenseman? Not in my opinion.
On the other hand though, maybe he’s not as effective if he handles the puck less. We don’t really know whether he can be much better or not.
by red army line on Dec 12, 2009 10:12 AM EST up reply actions
But I would suggest that these are largely a function of his extensive ice time in a role where he is doing what he is supposed to be doing and trying to make something happen.
Green needs less ice time and he needs shorter shifts. 1:19 is way, way too long.
by David M. Getz on Dec 12, 2009 10:42 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Apparently the team plane had troubles last night, and they’re headed to Toronto this morning. So that means the team was up late at the airport, and then had to get up early this morning.
Oy.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
Sounds like a Becca recap.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 12, 2009 1:33 PM EST up reply actions
Notes from my couch:
I don’t know how Alberts hit on Green is not a penalty. It’s late as hell on an unsuspecting player and it’s to his head. Dangerous play all around. What irritates me even more is how quickly they blew the whistle later in the game for injured Gleason (caps had control of the puck, in the zone) yet with Canes in their OWN zone and a cap layed out on the ice, no whistle.
Completely inconsistent refereeing all night long. What caught my eye the most was a Canes player pulling Clark 2 feet off the puck from behind by his jersey INFRONT of Massenhoven. No call.
Is there any precedent for the Caps giving the hard hat to a player on another team. Gleason is a hell of a player, seeing him bloodied and happy after his shorty was mighty impressive.
Oh, and I want to know when the last time a D-man scored a short handed goal on a breakaway. (I’m sure Dmen get them when the team actually sets up, I’ve seen Chara do it a few times). Either way, mightily embarrassing and you know Green was just begging for revenge. Good thing he got it.
On Staal’s goal… This seems to be happening more often lately. In our own zone, Green went behind the net to try to win the puck, and was met with 2 Canes. As a fwd, any time you see your guy outmanned like that, you have to come down and support. Nobody did, Staal wound up with the puck behind the net and one fluky goal later we’re all upset at Theo. I’m more upset at whoever of the 8/85/16 didn’t come support.
Rewind a couple games. Semin winds up with the puck right infront of the net, all alone, one move to make to beat (miller I think…) Falls over. Flash foward to last night. All alone infront of the net, no move to make, goal. On top of that, we’ve now seen Ovie wiff on two prime scoring chances in two games. Wonder how much longer that will last.
Lastly, loved Wilson’s comments about the plane issues. Especially his snipe at Buffalo. But how the hell can the league send a team off on a 2 week road trip with a back-to-back night with travel in the middle of the back to back. Someone dropped the ball there.
The decision not to blow the play dead for Green was boderline. He looked like he was going to get up, but doing it slowly. Still, I was a bit surprised. The call on Gleason was the right one, though. When there’s an injury to the face/head/neck like that, refs would be well advised to call the play dead.
by David M. Getz on Dec 12, 2009 2:21 PM EST up reply actions
The decision to not call a penalty on Alberts for the hit on Green was atrocious. By extention, not blowing the play dead before that was atrocious. The refs get no leeway for this game. They fucked up.
Now drink with me deeply of the bourbon, scotch, and rye until such time as we are fighting drunk.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Dec 12, 2009 3:42 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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