Sunday Caps Clips: Beasts of the East
by J.P. on Dec 27, 2009 10:26 AM EST
in Caps Clips
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PrintYour savory brunch links:
- Recaps and other assorted musings on last night's win from Corey (blog, gamer), Tarik (blog, gamer), Vogs, DCEx (blog, gamer), Hockey Mom, Ed Frankovic, Storming the Crease, Caps Nut, Fight For Old DC and In Lou We Trust.
- Coverage of Alexander Semin's contract extension from TWT, WaPo, DCEx and CBC.
- In case you missed it, Nicklas Backstrom has been named to Sweden's Olympic team.
- Wait, so Russia's final Olympic roster may not be their final Olympic roster? [ESPN]
- Hockey Night's team of pundits don't have Mike Green making Team Canada... [CBC]
- ... But their biggest talking head does. [CBC]
- Alex Ovechkin is the seventh-biggest villain to ever visit The Igloo, but he's got two games left to force a revision to the list. [Post-Gazette]
- AO talks Olympics, Ilya Kovalchuk, and influence. [RMNB]
- "Usually we speak of other players on other teams begrudgingly, ‘Yeah, he’s good.’ But Ovechkin? I don’t mind saying he’s REALLY good." - Oilers center Shawn Horcoff [Edmonton Journal]
- Larry Brooks hands out his end-of-the-decade awards. [NYPost]
- Braden Holtby was magnificent in Hershey's win last night. He's a sparkling 6-1-1/1.24/.955 in the AHL this season. [LDN]
- Finally, per the HHoF, on this date back in 2000, "Washington's Peter Bondra scored four goals, including his 15th career hat trick in the second period as the Capitals won 5-1 against the Senators at Ottawa. It was Bondra's fifth career four-goal game."
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Holy crap, Holtby. I guess someone doesn’t want to go back to the Stingrays.
I could have been equipment manager, but nooooo!
by boutros23 on Dec 27, 2009 10:56 AM EST via mobile reply actions
He wasn’t exactly underachieving down there (top 15 in GAA, top 10 in SV %). Across both leagues, he’s 13-4-3/2.25/.926.
"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 27, 2009 11:06 AM EST up reply actions
And a 7-1 win for the Bears tonight improves Holtby’s numbers to 7-1-1/1.22/.956.
"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 27, 2009 10:29 PM EST up reply actions
I’ll be at the Rays’ game vs. the Charlotte Checkers this afternoon. Looking forward to seeing what ECHL hockey is like, and finding out exactly how deep the Caps organization is. Will Fanpost it up later.
"My face is my mask."
by Jake Shapiro on Dec 27, 2009 11:16 AM EST up reply actions
As annoying as it is that the pundits don’t have Green making the Olympic team, at least last night the rationale wasn’t that he can’t play in his own end. Like most here, I have mixed feelings about him making the team, but lately it sure looks like he should.
"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."
Based on everything I’ve read and heard, I’ll be surprised if Green gets selected. Then again, Canada’s loss is the Caps gain. A healthy, rested and angry Mike Green can only be a good thing come playoff time.
Everything I’ve heard from pundits and columnists suggests that Green won’t make it.
Everything I’ve heard from Yzerman and Babcock suggests that they put a high premium on exactly what Green brings.
Yzerman and Babcock pick the team.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 27, 2009 12:01 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Exactly. Nothing would please me more than for the pundits and columnists to be terribly wrong.
"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."
So you don’t think Babcock and Stevie Y are consulting Grapes as they winnow their list?
In all seriousness, though, when is Team Canada making their selections?
by mechanicsville on Dec 27, 2009 1:04 PM EST up reply actions
During the Winter Classic broadcast.
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
by CapitalCentre on Dec 27, 2009 2:04 PM EST up reply actions
I think I heard something somewhere that it’s going to be directly after or something.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Dec 27, 2009 3:32 PM EST up reply actions
Possibly. Somehow connected with the WC on NBC, at any rate.
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
by CapitalCentre on Dec 27, 2009 3:33 PM EST up reply actions
That’s a pretty crappy syllogism, mister.
In an ideal world all ten fingers would be on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching.
Just three disconnected observations, friend. You can infer whatever you want from them.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 27, 2009 4:35 PM EST up reply actions
Not sure having Grapes on your side is ever a good thing. Then again after looking at the HNIC voting maybe its better he chose Green than the other mensas on that crew. Rob Blake got more points than Green?!?! It is 2009, right? Best one though is Jordan Staal getting more points than Stamkos.
A man gotta have a code
I can actually support J. Staal over Stamkos. Stamkos has fallen off the planet, in terms of production (10 goals in October, 7 in November, 4 in December). And Staal may play a role that is more appropriate to the Olympic roster than Stamkos.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 27, 2009 12:07 PM EST up reply actions
Is that role one of propping up an overblown hockey name? I kid, and agree he should go over Stamkos, but J. Staal isn’t in the same group as Crosby, Thornton, Richards, Toews, Getzlaf…not even the same zip code. Heck, brother Eric is a stretch at the 4RW as well.
Support your local bakery!
i agree with what the HNIC crew was saying, that the committees shouldn’t get too cute trying to find role players. staal would be a great fit on the 4th line, but iginla, toews, morrow, Estaal, obv Mrichards should all be able to grind and forecheck if asked. bring the best players, and if someone’s hot move him up a line or two.
by Natty Bumppo on Dec 27, 2009 2:10 PM EST up reply actions
Booooooooooooo Role Players in the Olympics
With guys like Marleau, Richards (both of them), Morrow, Sharp and Nash CAN doesn’t need to take a defense-only guy. You have guys that can PK and are legitimate offensive threats. You don’t need to have the one dimensional guy. They took Chris Draper on that logic and got burned for it.
In an ideal world all ten fingers would be on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching.
Completely agree. Don Cherry justified Jordan Staal because he is good 3 on 5, yet ignores Nash being the biggest 3 on 5 threat in the game as well as actually being a stud in other situations. If you want someone to kill 5 on 3s I’d also take Mike Richards (as much as I don’t like him) over Staal despite his slow first half.
I can’t really put much stock in Cherry picking Green for the team seeing as how his roster was pretty bad in general aside from the goalies. I don’t think Staal, Fisher, Stamkos, Phaneuf or Weber will or should make the team (and Toews is a long shot). I also love how he takes Fisher over Morrow because he says Morrow has been hurt and hasn’t had a great season like last year. Good research, Don.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Dec 28, 2009 3:10 PM EST up reply actions
Heh. I didn’t even bother looking at his roster. Fisher is an absolute joke of a pick. So is Phaneuf. If Green’s defensive lapses are too much for Team Canada to handle then how are they even looking at Phaneuf? I think Weber is on, why are you down on him?
In an ideal world all ten fingers would be on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching.
He wasn’t a total lock before the season and I think his slow start has allowed some other guys like Keith, Doughty and Seabrook to leap over him on the depth chart. that’s still not a bad pick and certainly the most deserving of the guys that I mentioned.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Dec 28, 2009 6:01 PM EST up reply actions
Fantastic day for the organization yesterday. In summary:
- Washington wins, moves into first place in the NHL.
- Hershey wins, moves into first place in the AHL (though they’ve since been passed by Manchester)
- South Carolina wins, remains in first place in the ECHL.
- Alex Semin signs a reasonable one-year extension.
- Nicklas Backstrom scores 200th point (and 201, and 202).
And at the World Juniors:
- John Carlson has a goal, an assist, and is +2 versus Slovakia.
- Marcus Johansson has two assists versus the Czech Republic.
- Dmitri Orlov has two assists versus Austria.
- Stefan Della Rovere has two assists versus Latvia.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Dec 27, 2009 12:10 PM EST reply actions 7 recs
Was there a scoring change to give Mackan 2A? When I looked he only had 1.
In an ideal world all ten fingers would be on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching.
I’m not sure what the story is because I only checked this morning, but it says here he had two.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Dec 27, 2009 3:34 PM EST up reply actions
Let's cut to the chase.
Vogs in his recap hits the absolute most important point from last night.
Washington is now 23-2-4 in games in which it scores three or more goals this season. It also knows it can beat the Devils.
Emphasis mine.
That’s the kicker right now. I would not be surprised to see the Caps and the Devils cross swords (sticks?) at some point in the postseason. This knowledge is the key to a deep postseason run for the Caps.
Unleash the Alex!
It also reinforces the faith that the Penguins are beatable. The Devils have owned the Penguins this year. Caps haven’t had their shot at them yet.
"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."
I’m so looking forward to see what Mike Knuble does when we finally get to face the Penguins. Isn’t he a Penguin-killer?
Unleash the Alex!
Moderately, but I think the reputation gets overplayed. His career numbers aren’t off the charts but I suspect a lot of the numbers came when he was with NYR and PHI and thus seeing lots of PIT.
In an ideal world all ten fingers would be on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching.
nylander one of brooks’ top 5 UFA signings of the decade (rangers) and bottom 5 UFA signings of the decade (caps).
Semin seemed to be in a very good mood at today’s practice. At one point, he leaned on Neuvy’s blocker and they playfully shot some pucks at each other (who else was there?)
"Baseball is drama with an endless run and an ever-changing cast." - Joe Garagiola
Chowdah Chatter - an outlet for my random thoughts and such.
yeah, he was pretty funny. seeing the boys be total goofs just makes me happy.
"No Brooks Laich, no win. Know Brooks Laich, know win."
Me too. It was also nice to see Knuble spend time after practice skating with his kids.
"Baseball is drama with an endless run and an ever-changing cast." - Joe Garagiola
Chowdah Chatter - an outlet for my random thoughts and such.
Didn’t make it today, but I’ll be at Kettler early the next three mornings for a class, so I’m hoping to catch practice afterward at least once. They should practice here tomorrow, for sure. Not positive if they’ll skate here Tuesday before they leave for California — anyone know?
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
by CapitalCentre on Dec 27, 2009 2:28 PM EST up reply actions
sat on Neuvy’s blocker. (when my mom said something about someone kneeling, I thought she meant Semin, but was referring to Neuvirth)
"Baseball is drama with an endless run and an ever-changing cast." - Joe Garagiola
Chowdah Chatter - an outlet for my random thoughts and such.
Oh, wow if BB changes his mind and starts Neuvy on Monday, this could get ugly. I feel bad for Theo mainly because it’s not like he was playing bad or anything. I guess it’s the coach’s job to use the goalie who he feels has the best chance of winning and Neuvy seems to be getting better with each game so we’ll see what happens. I just hope this doesn’t turn into a "not so good situation."
*Boudreau wouldn’t commit to his starter in goal tomorrow, one day after saying veteran Jose Theodore wold be between the pipes against Carolina. That could just be Boudreau being coy, though.
“Now we’ve got three goalies vying for ice time and everyone pushing each other,” Boudreau said. “Sometimes it’s a good situation. Sometimes it’s a not so good situation. We’ll find out what it is. We’ll find out what it is before it’s all said and done.”
By Tarik El-Bashir | December 27, 2009; 1:46 PM ET
Lobbies: Green, Carlson
Hm, I sure hope it’s Theo tomorrow. I generally don’t believe in overplaying a goalie, and I think three consecutive starts is pushing it — and there’s no good reason to give a rookie four consecutive starts in December.
Unless he is trade bait, which will just crush me.
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
by CapitalCentre on Dec 27, 2009 3:32 PM EST up reply actions
I’d say it’s time for Theo to get a start tomorrow. Neuvy (our new kid) has certainly proved his “virth”, so to speak but no point in burning out the kid.
Rocking the Red since 1975
I, too, would like to see Theodore get the start tomorrow night. (And, like Boudreau, I’d be more worried if he just slunk off the ice with his shoulders slumped and his head down. Showing emotion shows he cares, and he wants the job.)
I’d totally cry if we traded Neuvirth. I’m still holding out hope for a Neuvirth-Varlamov goalie tandem in the future – if not next season, then the season after that.
Tandem Lobby. Right over here. :)
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
by CapitalCentre on Dec 27, 2009 5:32 PM EST up reply actions
I’m with those who hope this doesn’t turn into a “not-so-good” situation., and I hope Theo starts tomorrow, and plays very, very well. (Although I am hoping for a Varlomov-Neuvirth tandem down the road)
I hope Bruce is reading this right. When he’s not hurt, Theo has consistently said that he wants to play, he’s ready to play, but he wants to be a good teammate whether he’s playing or not. And I didn’t get the impression that he was questioning the coach’s decision. But it seems odd that someone who took being benched for the playoffs pretty well ends up destroying equipment in a fit of temper. Obviously, there could be any number of things going on, but I wonder if part of the anger was about not knowing what was going on.
Obviously playing Neuvirth against the Devils worked out well, but
Bruce has said on several occasions that he admires Theo’s professional attitude, and as recently as a week ago was saying that he’s mentally strong and shows a lot of resolve. If Theo’s aware of this, he may be totally confused.
I’m not sure how to format the quote, but I think Becca H. may have a point…“I’m a big Boudreau fan, but I absolutely despise the way he handles his goalies. Sometimes I think he’s not even making these decisions for the good of the team so much as he’s trying to foster competition, to create a chip on one goalie’s shoulder or another. Ridiculous.”
Goalies, lefties, rookies, russians—how many kinds of special treatment is a coach supposed to synthesize?
I think BB treats goalies like hockey players: the line juggling and the goalie-go-round both say “Caps ride what’s working. If you’re on the roster, be ready to play, with anyone (or not at all), at a moment’s notice.”
It’s simple, it’s fair, it’s consistent with what was said over the summer, and it has the Team in a pretty good spot. What’s to despise?
by redlineblue on Dec 28, 2009 12:08 PM EST up reply actions
Just tuned in after watching the Ravens lose to the Steelers…again.
by mechanicsville on Dec 27, 2009 4:57 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I’m watching Return of the King!!
So then obviously someone must be watching Two Towers…
"And next year it will be ours."
Are you watching them marathon style? I’ve always wanted to do that, but I always get distracted.
"And next year it will be ours."
Sortof. I can’t sit through all three when I don’t get started until 2:00 in the afternoon, though, not on a work night when I have to be up at ass o’clock Ack Emma…
Watched the third period. Boys looked tired, as to be expected with not even the standard break for back-to-backs. (Yesterday’s game was at 8pm and this one was at 4pm Eastern. Anyone for conspiracy theories on the scheduling?) Second half of the period was good, though. Not sure if the Swiss goalie is really that good, or it’s the tired USA legs.
"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."
They looked really good in the 2nd period. SUI was lucky not to be down 4 goals after two, and, the Swiss goalie looked really good, didn’t he?
by mechanicsville on Dec 27, 2009 7:17 PM EST up reply actions
Is Semin now allowed to sit on Neuvy?...
This is what a $6,000,000 contract lets you do:
More pictures from today’s practice at this link
Nice pics. Must drive up from Richmond for a practice one of these days.
by mechanicsville on Dec 27, 2009 5:37 PM EST up reply actions
i just wish the other alex would stop being so serious all the time.
by Natty Bumppo on Dec 27, 2009 5:43 PM EST up reply actions
that was hysterical – i looked over and was like “what on earth is he sitting on? ohhhh, wow”
"No Brooks Laich, no win. Know Brooks Laich, know win."
Goalie pads must be pillowy soft.
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
by CapitalCentre on Dec 27, 2009 6:01 PM EST up reply actions
Oh wow, my mom and I are in the background of that photo (I’m wearing the white cap, my mom’s standing next to me)
"Baseball is drama with an endless run and an ever-changing cast." - Joe Garagiola
Chowdah Chatter - an outlet for my random thoughts and such.
thanks
"Baseball is drama with an endless run and an ever-changing cast." - Joe Garagiola
Chowdah Chatter - an outlet for my random thoughts and such.
Random story time!
So at the Buffalo game, during warmups Brooksie was gathering the pucks into two piles when Mike Green skated into one of the piles. Bubbles was not happy!
"And next year it will be ours."
Ryan’s listed on hockeydb.com as 5’9" 163#, and Chris is listed as 5’8", 180# – so it depends on which version of “smaller” you’re looking at. Ryan’s taller, but lighter by a good margin.
Yeah, my thought was they’re both shrimps.
by mechanicsville on Dec 27, 2009 7:16 PM EST up reply actions
Well, yes, when compared with current day hockey players, but hey – Rocket Richard was only 5’10", 180#. :-)
Think Ovie might be able to hang with the Rocket?
by mechanicsville on Dec 27, 2009 7:24 PM EST up reply actions
Nevermind, answered my own question: 3-0 USA over Switzerland.
Goals by Jack Kreider, Matt Donovan and A.J. Jenks.
US plays Latvia on Tuesday (yes, the Latvia that got edged by CAN 16-0).
by mechanicsville on Dec 27, 2009 7:23 PM EST up reply actions
The commentary at the end of the game today said something about goal differential potentially being important, and therefore you don’t let up, even in an embarrassment like that. Bah!
"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."
gotta break standings ties somehow
"Baseball is drama with an endless run and an ever-changing cast." - Joe Garagiola
Chowdah Chatter - an outlet for my random thoughts and such.
If everybody plays everybody at least once, then that should be used as the tie-breaker. If Team A and Team B are tied, but Team B beat Team A, then Team B wins the tie-breaker. Goal differential ought to be way down the list.
That’s what I meant- goal differential as a (just throwing numbers out there) 3rd or 4th tiebreak.
"Baseball is drama with an endless run and an ever-changing cast." - Joe Garagiola
Chowdah Chatter - an outlet for my random thoughts and such.
First tiebreaker IS head-to-head. However, tied games (remember those?) are possible.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Dec 27, 2009 9:31 PM EST up reply actions
Goal differential is a bad idea for exactly this reason.
by mechanicsville on Dec 27, 2009 7:33 PM EST up reply actions
Sorta how Ovechkin “edged” by Crosby in the Calder voting.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Dec 28, 2009 3:23 PM EST up reply actions
World Junior Scores (so far)
12/26
Czech Republic 2 – Sweden 10
Canada 16 – Latvia 0
Russia 6 – Austria 2
USA 7 – Slovakia 3
12/27
Austria 3 – Sweden 7
USA 3 – Switzerland 0
-
Czech Republic – Finland
Latvia – Slovakia
12/28
Canada – Switzerland
Finland – Russia
12/29
Austria – Czech Republic
Latvia – USA
Sweden – Russia
Canada – Slovakia
12/30
Finland – Austria
Switzerland – Latvia
12/31
Sweden – Finland
Switzerland – Slovakia
Russia – Czech Republic
USA – Canada
by IRockTheRed on Dec 27, 2009 7:24 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Toronto 2, Pittsburgh 1
At the end of 1
Goals to:
Schenn (Ponikarovski, Grabovski)
Stempniak (Ponkiarovski, Kaberle)
and
Cooke (unassisted)
CRAP
2-2 on a goal from Crosby (Gonchar, Guerin) at 7:48 in the 2nd frame.
Now 10:28 to go… come on, Maple Leafs!
Caps/Ovechkin Mentioned on Sunday Night Football
Anybody else hear this? I was barely paying attention, had the game on as background noise while catching up on much more pleasurable Rink reading.
Al Michaels and Chris Collingsworth, filling time late in the Redskins vs Cowboys game tonight, some mention of the number of Ovechkin jerseys in the stands and how Ovechkin is the most popular sports figure in DC. Several minutes later, when it was becoming apparent the Redskins might not score and thus representing the first time in Redskins vs Cowboys history that the Redskins failed to score a TD against Cowboys in consecutive games, the hockey talk returned with Collingsworth doubting DC’s status as a “hockey town” but then again, the Redskins “just haven’t been able to put the puck in the net” – the third worst scoring team of the past decade at 18.2 points per game.
They began talking about it towards the end because they showed someone holding up a “Let’s Go Caps” sign.
Michaels also brought it up earlier and kept talking about how DC wasn’t a hockey town like Detroit, yet. Something about seeing people in Ovechkin jerseys. Awkward small talk in the face of the Redskins’ ineptitude, and a little shilling for NBC’s hockey coverage, but I’ll take it.
AO: “But we have a captain – Alexey Morozov. Every one of our players is a leader in the locker room. Everyone can scold if something is wrong. In terms of it, the "C" on a jersey it’s only a formality. But it’s not right. You should deserve it. Mora deserve it, like nobody’s business”
Glad to see I’m not the only Morozov fan!
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