Recap: Hurricanes 6, Caps 3
by Becca H on Dec 28, 2009 10:16 PM EST
in Game Recaps
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Print[AP Recap - GameCenter - Game Summary - Event Summary]
Without a degree in psychology, it's hard to know what the problem was for the Capitals tonight.
Was it the sudden shock of a trade that sent two teammates (including the captain) to Columbus just hours before the game? Was it a hangover from defeating two elite teams in a row, or a case of playing down to the opponent? Was it just their way of proving that their status atop the Southeast is not just because they beat up on Southeast teams?
Maybe it was a combination of all three - or maybe it was just an off night for the boys. Whatever it was, the Caps looked flat from the opening faceoff. And despite some brief flashes of energy and three goals of their own, just didn't have enough in the tank to keep up with a Hurricanes team that came to play.
Ten more notes on the game:
- As bad as this game was, the worst part was actually right at the beginning - so you just knew it was going to be a keeper. Penalties, bad passing, poor coverage, just four measly shots on goal, all of which added up to a disheartening three-goal hole after twenty minutes. Not the start the Caps were looking for after a more than eventful day, that's for sure, and certainly not the start we're accustomed to seeing.
- Not to be lost in the carnage of the first, however, was a pretty strong penalty killing effort that did away with most of the prolonged 5-on-3. Brooks Laich, Karl Alzner, Quintin Laing and Boyd Gordon led a fairly incredible group of PKers that sacrificed their bodies time and time again. They fell just short of killing it off entirely, undone by being out just a bit too long, but a workmanlike effort nonetheless.
- What in the name of all that is good and holy was John Erskine doing out there tonight? Certainly not playing defense - or at least not doing it well. Yikes.
- Not exactly a goaltending duel for the ages tonight, as both Cam Ward and Jose Theodore were victimized for goals of the soft, fluky and dribbling kind. The team in front of him wasn't exactly helpful, but Theo deserves the blame on a couple of those - his rebound control was awful. Neuvirth's the other night was described as velcro; Theo's was...well, whatever the opposite of velcro is.
- We're not getting into the whole "how can it be both diving AND holding" argument tonight - no one has the energy. The real question about the matching minors that came against Brett Carson and Brooks Laich is how was Laich's tumble actually seen as a dive?
- On the same token, it's hard to see how Mike Green's "hooking" penalty in the first was actually a hook and not a tap. Make no mistake - the officiating is not why the Caps lost tonight. But that call was a little weak.
- One of the main problems with the Caps, besides a general sense of gloom and lethargy that hung over them from the start, was a lack of cohesion. They didn't play as a team but as several individuals who happened to show up wearing the same outfit (how embarrassing) - too much individual play, especially when trailing, will never lead to a good outcome.
- It was certainly nice to see Boyd Gordon back tonight, and he had a typically Gordon-esque night, with some gritty shifts and excellent penalty killing in what was his third game in three nights.
- Nicklas Backstrom and Brendan Morrison were a combined 10-for-35 on faceoffs, which is a cringeworthy 28.5%. Can't even blame that all on Brind'amour because he only took 4 draws, although he did win 3 of those...and still managed to finish a -1 on the night.
- Mike Green skated just over 30 minutes tonight - too much. Also too much? That shift he took lasting over five minutes in the second period. Even with a penalty called in the middle of it, that's a long freakin' shift.
Game highlights:
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This has been a pretty depressing day for me all-around, but the last two sentences of your recap made my day not so bleak. Thank you, Becca.
"My face is my mask."
Glad I could help – it’s been a long day for all of us, I think. Helpful to remember it’s just one day, one game, one loss, and move on.
And I guess it’s better that the loss come against a team you sort of pity like Carolina than against New Jersey or Pittsburgh. We’re near the top of the standings, we’re coming off a few huge wins—we’re allowed one stinker to keep us humble. Now let’s kick some California ass!
"My face is my mask."
by Jake Shapiro on Dec 28, 2009 10:32 PM EST up reply actions
.
That last line made me think of the great BoC “State Rape” graphics. Luckily DC’s not a state, or we might be in line for an abbreviated one of these:
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Dec 28, 2009 10:38 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
You know, JP, as much as you make sure the Rink lives up to a much higher journalistic standard than most sports blogs, I do have a love for sophomoric humor. And the folks at BoC excel at just that.
"My face is my mask."
by Jake Shapiro on Dec 28, 2009 10:59 PM EST up reply actions
Everything in moderation, says I.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Anyone that ignores Sleek and Rudy Kelly is seriously missing out.
In an ideal world all ten fingers would be on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching.
Everything in moderation, says I.
Including moderation.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 29, 2009 12:40 AM EST up reply actions
Maybe this was during FrenchFry52’s ubershift , but he came around the Canes net and got rid of the puck, and admired it a little too long before Gleason (I think) caught him. He tried to slash in retaliation, but for whatever reason, that sequence sums thing up for mr when it comes to gameplay.
"I may hug people too hard and get lost at malls, but I'm not an idiot."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 28, 2009 10:23 PM EST via mobile reply actions
by Becca H on Dec 28, 2009 10:16 PM EST in Game Recaps
Yep, should’ve known it. Excellent perspective, though.
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
I wondered if you were going to get stuck tonight.
My section says it’s my fault because it was my first game back after missing the last two. A woman called into the post-game show and said she took the blame because she didn’t wear her lucky hat. My son says it’s the astronaut’s fault because he wasn’t there tonight. Whatever, we’re just all being silly because you want to blame someone other than the team.
"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 hated the second line, as a unit, tonight. I didn’t love the first line either, but 14-9-22 was just not working at all.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I thought all four lines were equally crappy – although it’s funny, for all the problems with cohesion and too much individual play, I thought individually some of the second line guys had good moments.
Good being a relative term, of course.
Flash drew a penalty, I’ll give him that.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
True dat, too. Which is why I was sure to say “as a unit” in my initial comment.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Totally agree with the comment – each had moments. . . except for B-Mo, who looked AWFUL.
Grand Rapids A-Go-Go
Yep, and a bad penalty too boot.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Agreed. Fehr should’ve been moved up given his pretty good performance and Knuble looked like he had an especially tough night.
by DrinkingPartner on Dec 28, 2009 10:27 PM EST up reply actions
I thought Knuble really stank tonight, even among two dozen guys with that less than fresh feeling.
by redlineblue on Dec 28, 2009 10:49 PM EST up reply actions
I think Morrison is still snakebit, while I think Knuble had his worst game this season. He was atrocious. He couldn’t handle the puck when it was near him, he didn’t get any shots off, he couldn’t pass… It was just awful for those two. I’d much rather have seen that be Flash and Fehr, or even a full change-up with Flash, Fehr, and Laich. Perhaps we should scratch Laing and Sloan and call MP back to 3C and give him Flash and Fehr or Laich and Fehr
by DrinkingPartner on Dec 28, 2009 10:53 PM EST up reply actions
Thoughts on the 3rd line? Seemed to have some giddyup to them, aside from the goal.
"I may hug people too hard and get lost at malls, but I'm not an idiot."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 28, 2009 10:29 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Yeah, they were probably the best line of the night (and the Corsi bears that out).
It takes some getting used to, though, seeing Laich at C and Stecks on the wing.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Thought that TOI link was still carrying last year’s work, thanks.
To the second part, Stecks still takes the faceoffs though, so it’s all good.
"I may hug people too hard and get lost at malls, but I'm not an idiot."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 28, 2009 11:00 PM EST up reply actions
Stecks failed on the Staal goal, along with Erskine. Of the three “defensive” players, only Alzner was covering his man – Erskine was skating way too far from the net and way to far to Alzner’s side, while Steckel was lollygagging behind the net.
I thought Fehr looked good, though. Good things happen when you get the puck on net.
Grand Rapids A-Go-Go
How many more “one losses” like that can JT have, one wonders.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
My initial thought after the first was that he should be pulled. Then I decided that he was really to blame for only the third goal, so let it go. And even at that, how is it that Staal was sitting there parked in the crease with no one near him? Ugh. Lousy rebounds, lousy clearing (lack thereof).
Boo.
"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."
how is it that Staal was sitting there parked in the crease with no one near him?
Funny you should ask. Erskine decided to skate 25 feet from his goal and 10 feet to his partner’s side chasing. . . well, only John knows what he was doing. Meanwhile Steckel took his sweet-ass time coming out from behind the net.
The result was that Staal was all by himself to tap in his goal.
But hey, those two guys skated more than Alzner – the only defensive player on the ice who actually did his job.
>:-(
Grand Rapids A-Go-Go
yeah – terrible. i feel bad for theo, to be honest – not for the entire performance, but at least for a decent amount of it.
"No Brooks Laich, no win. Know Brooks Laich, know win."
by kellobellow on Dec 28, 2009 11:54 PM EST up reply actions
Not only did Steckel take his time, but he was staring at the puck and came out on the wrong side of the net from Staal.
Tough break for Alzner. He was on the ice for all three goals in the first period but was the only doing his job on all three of them. The third goal in particular, he was covering his man in front but there were two other wide open Canes (and Erskine nowhere near the play). I knew right away that Alzner’s lack of blame wouldn’t stop BB from punishing him though.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Dec 29, 2009 1:31 AM EST up reply actions
Alzner was gassed as he took extra work this morning since he was the planned scratch.
Rocking the Red since 1975
I’m not sure I buy that, he looked fine out there to me (aside from when he got stuck out there for 2 minutes on a 5 on 3 PK). How much extra work did Alzner really get? He’s a young guy and that shouldn’t kill his legs. I think BB just saw that Alzner’s pairing out there for 3 goals and punished both Dmen instead of just the guy who was far more glaringly at fault.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Dec 29, 2009 2:18 AM EST up reply actions
They said they’ll wait until after the western conference road trip.
I am easily satisfied with the very best
What’s the rush? I wouldn’t be surprised if they wait a while longer than that…
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Ha. “After” could be next October.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
No. They’ll go with three A’s for a bit.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
No. Ovi and Laich are the most commonly mentioned, with Knuble getting some support (Elliotte Friedman’s, at least), and my wife throwing her vote to Brads.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
How do they pick, anyway? Some teams vote, but I guess the Caps are not one of those teams?
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
by CapitalCentre on Dec 28, 2009 10:50 PM EST up reply actions
your wife isn’t the only brads vote, haha – my friend who usually takes my 2nd seat is with her
"No Brooks Laich, no win. Know Brooks Laich, know win."
by kellobellow on Dec 28, 2009 11:55 PM EST up reply actions
We had no C out there for large chunks of the last 3 years, no big deal.
"I may hug people too hard and get lost at malls, but I'm not an idiot."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 28, 2009 11:01 PM EST up reply actions
He was an RW IIRC. :)
Grand Rapids A-Go-Go
by D'ohboy on Dec 28, 2009 11:05 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Now you’re just showing off.
"I may hug people too hard and get lost at malls, but I'm not an idiot."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 28, 2009 11:06 PM EST up reply actions
Hey, regardless, your wit is sharper than the knife Charlie Sheen was carrying Friday night.
"I may hug people too hard and get lost at malls, but I'm not an idiot."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 28, 2009 11:11 PM EST up reply actions
Clearly, the Caps can’t afford to take anyone lightly.
Clearly, Erskine and Sloan shouldn’t get sweaters, barring injury. (Please GMGM, take Boudreau’s toy away. Please.)
Clearly, JT60 doesn’t just work here – he just sucks here.
Clearly, this team was a little disturbed by the first real change to the “core group” since Boudreau’s arrival. This is a close-knit group by all accounts, and losing players as popular as Clark and Juice must have shaken the team up.
Grand Rapids A-Go-Go
by D'ohboy on Dec 28, 2009 10:35 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
55 and 27 need partners who they don’t have to cover for, or who, at the very least, can play the game. Now there’s room to make it happen… so make it happen, George.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
It’s true. And for all the crap Juice took, he and Alzner were actually pretty good together on occasion – sad to see him go for that reason among others.
My fear? Poti and Pothier return and. . .
Bruce keeps playing Erskine and scratches Alzner.
Grand Rapids A-Go-Go
I cannot believe BB wanted to scratch Alzner for Sloan. Sloan has been terrible on defense this season, and was terrible again tonight. Erskine was running around getting out of position, while Sloan just looked like he was lost staring at the play.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Dec 29, 2009 1:36 AM EST up reply actions
BB figured it was time for Sloan to get a start since he had hardly played as of late.
Rocking the Red since 1975
This subject was beaten to death, and then from death into singularity, and then from singularity into oblivion, by myself and others in this morning’s Caps Clips.
Suffice it to say: I was not in favor of Alzner getting scratched for Sloan.
Grand Rapids A-Go-Go
so since the scratch didn’t actually happen, what comes of the debate??
ladies and gentlemen of this supposed jury, i have one final thing i want you to consider. ladies and gentlemen, this is chewbacca. chewbacca is a wookiee from the planet kashyyyk. but chewbacca lives on the planet endor. now think about it; that does not make sense!
by Natty Bumppo on Dec 29, 2009 4:26 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Not sure about anyone else but I was lobbying for Neuvy to come in after the 1 period
by washfan29 on Dec 28, 2009 10:42 PM EST via mobile reply actions
I was not. Can’t have the quick hook on Jose after sitting him for three straight games.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Agree…especially in a game about as meaningless as they can be. If anything this just means Jose sits another 3 since he understands “everyone” has to play well for their spot.
With most men, unbelief in one thing springs from blind belief in another.
Theo was like directing the rebound to whoever had the best chance of scoring
by washfan29 on Dec 28, 2009 10:48 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Yeah the rebounds were bad and if you are going to let them out they need to be directed properly.
With most men, unbelief in one thing springs from blind belief in another.
I think the team plays differently in front of Theo – as though they don’t trust him. They’re always trying to block shots rather than tie up sticks.
Grand Rapids A-Go-Go
They play a lot differently when he is in net. Some of it might even be subconscious.
With most men, unbelief in one thing springs from blind belief in another.
I actually think they play differently in front of the rookies, maybe thinking they need to work harder as a defensive unit to protect the youngsters. Meaning that they’re not playing differently in front of Theo so much as letting themselves get lazy because there’s a veteran in net.
Obviously that’s baseless conjecture from imprecise observation.
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
by CapitalCentre on Dec 28, 2009 10:58 PM EST up reply actions
To refer back to our debate about the Flyers, I’d say the Caps are more sensitive to their goalie than the Flyers are, but I obviously watch much more Caps hockey so who knows.
In an ideal world all ten fingers would be on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching.
Or it could just be that the marginal drop-off from our #1/1B to #2 is just bigger than the dropoff from their #1-#2.
Grand Rapids A-Go-Go
Could be. Or the Caps are more used to Theo blowing games so it’s more acute. PHI has new goalies so it’s not like the same guy has been killing them for over a year now. I dunno really, just pointing out that Theo really looks like one of those cases where the team loses it in front of him because they don’t look as confident.
In an ideal world all ten fingers would be on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching.
Eh still
Jose needs to play better then he did though
by washfan29 on Dec 28, 2009 10:47 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
No doubt at all about that. He got away with a couple of awful rebounds, too.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
One and only game I’ll get to this season, and it was a total stinker.
After the Laich penalty this random girl right in front of me turns around and asks “How can it be both a penalty AND a dive?”
Good question, random girl.
by SeattleCapsFan on Dec 28, 2009 10:46 PM EST reply actions
It’s a bad question. You should point her here.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
NHL on the Fly saying that no team that has traded its Captain in the middle of the season has even won the Cup. Is this true? I just don’t trust the people on that program.
Too bad for Theo. I mean I don’t blame him for all the goals and the team played like crap, but here was a chance for him to shine tonight and he was just average when he needed be really good.. ok fantastic.
So who stars in net on Wednesday? Neuvy or is Varly ready for Wednesday? I wouldn’t mind seeing the two Russian goalies go at it.
Lobbies: Green, Carlson
I’d like to know how many teams have traded their Captains in the middle of the season that weren’t horrible to begin with.
With most men, unbelief in one thing springs from blind belief in another.
by zephyr on Dec 28, 2009 10:49 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
NHL on the Fly saying that no team that has traded its Captain in the middle of the season has even won the Cup.
Yeah, I’m calling bullshit on that stat, or at the very least “meaningless.”
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Meaningless indeed. And hadn’t no European captain won it until Lidstrom did two years ago? What about teams with really young captains? It’s only an issue if the team doesn’t have enough leadership to recover – and that’s not the case with this team.
by Becca H on Dec 28, 2009 10:58 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
When is the ugly groin gonna be 100% certain to be back anyway
by washfan29 on Dec 28, 2009 10:55 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
My rule of (groin): at least two weeks from the last time experiencing pain doing normal activities (such as going up and down stairs, or operating a clutch pedal).
Every twinge is a potential setback. The Caps should be cautious.
Grand Rapids A-Go-Go
I don’t think that would go over well with varly
by washfan29 on Dec 28, 2009 11:02 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Man… so many chances to take that somewhere else and you played it straight. Kudos, sir.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
More like Boodos.
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 was on an epic discussion today re: Alzner’s scratch, pre-trade.
In all seriousness, I recall reading that Varlamov’s going to make a rehab start tomorrow or Wednesday?
"I may hug people too hard and get lost at malls, but I'm not an idiot."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 28, 2009 11:05 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, I think OFB tweeted it. So no roadie for Varly, sounds like.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
He can meet up with them for the LA game perhaps?
"I may hug people too hard and get lost at malls, but I'm not an idiot."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 28, 2009 11:07 PM EST up reply actions
I’m usually super-cautious with groin injuries, having once spent the best part of a year nursing one back to health every week, only to go out and play on it that weekend and have it go out on me, then repeating the process for 5 months.
Grand Rapids A-Go-Go
How old where you when that happened because when your younger don’t injuries heal faster
by washfan29 on Dec 28, 2009 11:12 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
In my early 20s. I had similar issues in high school. I also have muscle imbalance issues, but that’s neither here nor there.
Grand Rapids A-Go-Go
Groin/adductor issues are just touchy, particularly for hockey players, because the muscles that pull on them tend to be overdeveloped relative to the groin, and the skating stride places a great deal of strain on the groin/adductor.
Caution is good. Don’t want this lingering all year.
Grand Rapids A-Go-Go
muscle imbalance issues
Doesn’t have anything to do with that bite that someone took out of your head, does it?
by mechanicsville on Dec 29, 2009 2:14 PM EST up reply actions
Btw, Jose’s right arm in that pic looks unnatural. Maybe he couldn’t control any rebounds b/c his catching arm is actually broken.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
There we go. The Jose lobby fully accepts that reasoning and shall build a platform around it.
…all two of us.
I’ve got one foot in the boat, the other changes depending on the situation.
I am easily satisfied with the very best
Is that like every third day?
Sorry, Theo is so infuriating. Just when you think he’s on his game, he has a game like this one. Of course, if the team had actually played some defense, I suppose it’s possible that he’d have only let in two or three.
"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."
It’s like every ten minutes.
I want to like Theo, and for the most part I do. He’s frustrating.
I am easily satisfied with the very best
Even when he’s frustrating I do quite like Theo still. I still have a (albeit shaky) membership in the Theo Lobby (does that make three of us?)
Four. My biggest problem with last night is that you really can’t throw a hissyfit, break your stick, over not getting a start, and then give up two critical goals when your team is trying to make a comeback… I like him, I really do, but damn… that hurt.
by IRockTheRed on Dec 29, 2009 9:50 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs
I support Theo especially after all the personal issues he’s gone through. What steams me is that more often than not the team does play differently in front of him. I don’t think they are fully aware of it either.
This game was less of a Theo loss and more of a team loss.
(Yes, I know about the avatar hounding - just pretend mine is invisible.)
I said to a friend that tonights performance would be a sort of silent protest at the Captain being traded and that the Caps would lose 6-1. I don’t know if that’s what they were doing and they’ll get back on the ball later but that’s what the first period looked like to me.
With most men, unbelief in one thing springs from blind belief in another.
I doubt it. I think they were just a bit in shock during that first period. I mean some of us are feeling pretty sad right now and we’ve never even met the two guys. Imagine how the players must feel after playing and getting to know those guys for years. I don’t know if it was Laughlin or the other one who said that most of the players did not find out about the trade until 4:00pm. I think they were just stunned and couldn’t focus on the game tonight.
By the way I just watched GMGM’s press conference and he looked so uncomfortable at the end when someone asked the question if he thought Ovi and Chimera should sit down and talk things over after what happened. He was fidgeting a lot. It was kind of funny.
I also liked his response to this after explaining what he liked about Chimera’s game.
Reporter: And the fact that he plays with a bit of an edge, can be nasty?
GMGM : we don’t mind that.
Is Chimera playing on Wednesday? If he is, he better bring some positive energy with him because tonight the Caps looked half dead out there.
Lobbies: Green, Carlson
by CapsFan2020 on Dec 28, 2009 11:53 PM EST up reply actions
Jason Chimera passed his physical here at Verizon Center and headed straight to the airport.
"I may hug people too hard and get lost at malls, but I'm not an idiot."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 28, 2009 11:57 PM EST up reply actions
Ok, good plus a Sharks fan commented earlier that he is a Sharks killer.
Lobbies: Green, Carlson
by CapsFan2020 on Dec 29, 2009 12:09 AM EST up reply actions
Know who else is good?
"I didn't mind a diminished role because we were winning so much and we're such a great team and had a chance to do something in the playoffs...I would have taken any role on this team to do that.
by Bald Pollack on Dec 29, 2009 12:15 AM EST up reply actions
Big let down game. Oh well, that’s what drinking’s for!
Russian Machine Never Breaks - A Hockey Blog Focusing on The Washington Capitals and Their Awesome Russian Superstars: Alex Ovechkin, Alex Semin & Semyon Varlamov.
Drinking: also for big wins, ties, and rain outs.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
hahaha
Russian Machine Never Breaks - A Hockey Blog Focusing on The Washington Capitals and Their Awesome Russian Superstars: Alex Ovechkin, Alex Semin & Semyon Varlamov.
Don't forget the entire off-season.
Key for the off-season.
In an ideal world all ten fingers would be on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching.
DrinkingPartner: Me, a name, I call myself.
by DrinkingPartner on Dec 28, 2009 11:10 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Fehr: A long, long way to run?
/You started it
"I may hug people too hard and get lost at malls, but I'm not an idiot."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 28, 2009 11:11 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
D’oh, a deer, a female deer…
Grand Rapids A-Go-Go
by D'ohboy on Dec 28, 2009 11:14 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Ray, a drop of falling sun. (Okay, that has nothing to do with hockey but oh well)
Rocking the Red since 1975
by CapsFan75 on Dec 29, 2009 12:27 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Ray,ahe droppedofa failing son.
/hockey related
In an ideal world all ten fingers would be on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching.
by Rob Parker on Dec 29, 2009 12:39 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
drinking is for every game, last time i checked… haha.
"No Brooks Laich, no win. Know Brooks Laich, know win."
by kellobellow on Dec 29, 2009 12:26 AM EST up reply actions
By the way, was Sarge bad tonight or was I just imagining his pansy shoves in front of the net during the second period?
Russian Machine Never Breaks - A Hockey Blog Focusing on The Washington Capitals and Their Awesome Russian Superstars: Alex Ovechkin, Alex Semin & Semyon Varlamov.
You’ve come to the wrong place for Schultz-bashing, friend.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Except Schultz was pretty bad tonight. Sorry, JP. If it makes you feel any better, he certainly wasn’t alone and DEFINITELY wasn’t the worst defenseman on the ice.
No doubt he had trouble tonight.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
He’s one of those perception is reality kinda players. You know? He looks sleepy all the time, is huge but hesitates to play physical almost all the time… Can’t hit the broad side of a barn with a shot from the point… And the things he actually does do right – which are a lot of things – are so boring you just don’t appreciate it.
Russian Machine Never Breaks - A Hockey Blog Focusing on The Washington Capitals and Their Awesome Russian Superstars: Alex Ovechkin, Alex Semin & Semyon Varlamov.
Also, that was poorly articulated – please don’t bring DMG out on me.
Russian Machine Never Breaks - A Hockey Blog Focusing on The Washington Capitals and Their Awesome Russian Superstars: Alex Ovechkin, Alex Semin & Semyon Varlamov.
That seems like
the opposite of “perception is reality.”
In an ideal world all ten fingers would be on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching.
by Rob Parker on Dec 28, 2009 11:07 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I disagree wholeheartedly, but that’s neither here nor there right now. Suffice it to say that I believe that with Jeff Schultz perception is the opposite of reality.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Dec 28, 2009 11:08 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Plus he gets three shots on goal for every one that misses the net, which ain’t bad for a defenseman.
Does a blocked shot count as a shot missing the net? (Honest question)
by mechanicsville on Dec 29, 2009 2:18 PM EST up reply actions
The NHL tracks three types of shots – shots on goal, attempted/blocked shots, and missed shots (ones that don’t go on net). So no, blocked and missed are different.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
No 55 basher here, but he got punk’d a couple ways tonight.
by redlineblue on Dec 28, 2009 11:08 PM EST up reply actions
I knew that goal couldn’t be steckel’s. He only scores in blow outs
I am easily satisfied with the very best
Okay, well, Caps blowing the other team out.
^I realized before posting how awkward that kinda sounds, I’m going to leave it though.
I am easily satisfied with the very best
Updated Sv. % Rankings
40 Ray Emery .901
41 Martin Biron .900
42 Manny Legace .898
43 Pascal Leclaire .897
44 Jose Theodore .896
45 Cam Ward .896
Oh, and the Caps are T-12th in GA/G, so I’m not buying the “his defense doesn’t help out” argument.
And isn’t being paid 6+ million!
In an ideal world all ten fingers would be on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching.
Yeah, that’s a bad neighborhood.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Theo lost to a goalie worse than he is! Agghhhh
With most men, unbelief in one thing springs from blind belief in another.
No. Theo lost to a goalie with worse stats on the year than he has.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Actually, it looks like the stats are the same. Theo won by alphabetical tie-breaker.
In an ideal world all ten fingers would be on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching.
Not much goalies in that category either ^
by washfan29 on Dec 28, 2009 11:08 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I know everyone debated it earlier, but I would give up Theo for free if someone would take his contract. Give me Neuvirth every third game and Varly every two games.
And when Varly’s on the shelf and Neuvy’s turning in a Toronto/Montreal performance? The team needs a veteran G who can give them minutes. If someone would take Theo, maybe you go get Marty Biron or someone. But you need a vet option, IMO.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Was Neuvy that bad against MON? That was one of the games I missed but I seemed to be under the impression that he had some hard luck goals, wasn’t great, but wasn’t terrible. TOR was the only bad game and considering how he bounced back I’m cutting him some slack because he hadn’t been seeing NHL shooters in a while.
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 didn’t think he was horrible in the MON game, but I didn’t see the TOR one.
"I may hug people too hard and get lost at malls, but I'm not an idiot."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 28, 2009 11:21 PM EST up reply actions
TOR he was flat bad. He played like he was against AHL shooters and got burned. Probably half the goals at least were a result of him going down too soon. But since he got NHL practice time I thought he’s looked much much better.
In an ideal world all ten fingers would be on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching.
That’s what I’ve been hearing; if memory serves*, he was a late callup and didn’t get much time to work with the big team before getting thrown into Toronto, and they didn’t have a morning skate either. Seemed like a mulligan of sorts.
"I may hug people too hard and get lost at malls, but I'm not an idiot."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 28, 2009 11:33 PM EST up reply actions
Here’s the way I’m looking at it: once Varly returns, he’s clearly starting at least 2 of every 3 games if not 3 of 4, right? To me, the question is whether Neuvirth is a better backup than Theodore.
What does it matter whether the goalie starting one in every three or four games is a veteran or a rookie? I think performance is more important there.
Varlamov’s groin issues are probably going to have a say in how often he starts, and Neuvirth clearly has a window that will hopefully continue to impress that upon the brass.
"I may hug people too hard and get lost at malls, but I'm not an idiot."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 28, 2009 11:20 PM EST up reply actions
Dear god NO. I’m sorry, I can’t handle having a goaltending tandem whose combined age is barely legal – Jose has had some stinkers this year but he’s also had some great games. And we need a veteran backup for Varly (for now) until Neuvy proves he can hold his own consistently. Three games does not a career make, and he gave up some softies.
Unless you trade him straight up for another veteran G of equal or lesser value…no.
until Neuvy proves he can hold his own consistently.
To be honest, we have zero goalies that have proven that. And we have one goalie that has proven the opposite of that. I’m not big on having Varlavirth protect the net just yet, but I don’t honestly think Neuvirth is all that big a step down from Theo at this point.
In an ideal world all ten fingers would be on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching.
Well, I think Theo is a better goalie than people give him credit for. But part of my reasoning behind wanting to keep him – or any veteran G, for that matter – is really for Neuvy’s benefit. If there isn’t a big step down between Theo and Neuvy, as you say, keeping one over the other shouldn’t impact the team. In the meantime, you protect Neuvy from being thrown into the fire too soon.
So many goalies have had setbacks in their development because they’ve taken on too much, too soon. I’d rather Neuvy get the odd call-up, get his starts in and return to a league where he’s comfortable than have him step in now and get shellacked every other night because he’s not ready. It’s the same reason I don’t think Varly’s quite ready to take over as a full #1 – in other words, taking more than 55-60% of the starts.
I don’t know how anyone can really say what kind of goalie Theo is. He’s bimodal. He can be very very good. But those days seem rarer and rarer. But he’s ridiculously inconsistent and can kill you at any time. That’s the absolute last trait I want in a goalie. I can understand wanting to protect Neuvirth but considering how he’s bounced back from his bad start, and how he handled the shuffling last year, I think he could do the Halak thing for Varlamov. And honestly, if Varlamov goes down with an injury at the end of the season or the playoffs, I’m probably slightly more comfortable with Neuvirth than Theo in net.
In an ideal world all ten fingers would be on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching.
Also, people seem to think that the 29 other teams have a goalie who can hold his own consistently and we’re the only team w/ potential questions – I’d beg to differ.
Who are the steady goalies? Brodeur, and even he had a bad night the other night against us. Luongo, who crumbled in the playoffs. Miller, who is the only hope for Team USA to medal. Even last year’s Vezina winner is showing signs that it was a fluke (please oh please). And after them?
Are you asking how many goalies I’d take over Theo? CGY, SJS, NYR, PIT, MIN, PHX, STL, MON… I could probably go all day. Suffice it to say, the list of teams that have goalies I wouldn’t want is shorter than the list of goalies I would want.
In an ideal world all ten fingers would be on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching.
Let’s imagine that Theo’s career just had a blank space from 2002-2004. What would you think of him then?
I think Theo gets too much of a pass, and I thought the same thing when he was in Colorado. If this guy isn’t a Hart/Vezina trophy-winner, he’d be a journeyman backup.
Instead, he put up a couple ridiculous of ridiculous years, and he’s considered a viable starter.
Pop Quiz (all career totals):
Goalie A: .908 Sv % and 2.68 GAA
Goalie B: .905 Sv % and 2.57 GAA
Goalie C: .911 Sv % and 2.61 GAA
Goalie D; .911 Sv % and 2.41 GAA
Three of these goalies are backups or in the minors, and combined make less than Theodore.
The other goalie is Theodore – with his Montreal stats included.
Feel free to guess which one is Theo, and who the other guys are. I think you’ll be (un)pleasantly surprised.
Grand Rapids A-Go-Go
I immediately assumed it was B since that was the lowest career sv. % available, but year, your point is well taken.
I went with A because it was the one closest to 3.
With most men, unbelief in one thing springs from blind belief in another.
And Theo has been on some solid teams. It’s not like he’s had an anchor on his neck his whole career.
In an ideal world all ten fingers would be on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching.
What solid teams are these? A Habs team that had to scrape its way into the playoffs several years in a row, including a few that he personally dragged there? An Avalanche team that was a shadow of its former self and also had to be dragged into (and through the first round of) the playoffs?
Teams that make the playoffs, even if he was an important part, are not terrible, by definition. How many times was he the shining star on a lotto team? He also put up worse numbers than his career average last season, on what could possibly be considered the best team he’s ever played on. Then again, apologists can say that he suffered from the run and gun style. But then you have to consider how protected he was in COL and MON…
My point was only that he isn’t unfairly burdened in that analysis because he’s been on bad teams and the other guys were on good teams. He’s been on bad and good teams, and aside from 2-3 years he’s been a mediocre goalie.
In an ideal world all ten fingers would be on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching.
They certainly weren’t solid, though – take it from someone who was a fan of all those Habs teams. He was the reason they came back from 3-1 against the first place Bruins in ‘04, and was the reason they were in the playoffs period the whole four years I was in Montreal. (And he wasn’t well protected up there…yowch, that D was not pretty.) As for the Avs team, they didn’t get to the Wings that year unless he was unreal, and he was.
I guess MY point is he’s a better-than-mediocre goalie who has, in the course of this comment thread, become the reason they lost tonight. And with that I respectfully disagree. Plus I think he bailed this team out enough early on this season when they were playing like (relative) shit to have earned a bit of respect, that’s all.
I don’t know if he’s being scapegoated as the sole reason they lost. I see plenty of comments about the general crap performance, John Erskine, and some other guys. But he’s not reliable, and he had a chance to stand up and bail his team out and failed.
In an ideal world all ten fingers would be on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching.
Oh, he’s most definitely not why they lost tonight.
As for better-than-mediocre, I’d say he’s a guy who had a few great years and has been poor-to-middling since then, with occasional flashes of good play. Still, take away his Hart/Vezina year and there’s no way he’s making $4.5m, and no way he’s even in the running for the #1 goalie on a Stanley Cup contender. His intermittent past glories are all that are standing between him and a $2m contract as a backup.
I mean, look at Dwayne Roloson. No, really LOOK AT HIM. :) The guy helped carry a crap Oilers team to the SCF, has put up remarkable career stats (aided in part by playing for Lemaire), but he makes about half of what Theo does. Part of that is age, but part of it is Theo’s laurels.
Grand Rapids A-Go-Go
Part of it is also the fact that when Jose was on the market, he was the second-best goalie available at the time. We got him relatively cheap, and short-term, if you consider what Huet got from the Hawks.
I agree he’s probably not worth what he’s making – and if he stays on for another year, he’ll be getting closer to Roloson money than current Jose money.
Yeah, hindsight’s always 20/20. The other guys available, such as Auld and Lalime, weren’t exactly world-beaters. And we had no idea what we had in Varlyvirth.
Grand Rapids A-Go-Go
Exactly. The fact is, whether you agree with me that he’s better than mediocre or you think he’s horrible, he was the only goalie they could have taken at the time – and his salary shows that. Olie was gone, Huet was gone, and neither Varly nor Neuvy were ready at the time.
Yeah. The options would have been:
Lalime, Auld, Conk-block, or CuJo, with Johnny as the internal solution.
Still, knowing what I know now, I would have taken Auld or Conk-block on a 1 or two-year deal.
Grand Rapids A-Go-Go
You may have that chance in the offseason.
"I didn't mind a diminished role because we were winning so much and we're such a great team and had a chance to do something in the playoffs...I would have taken any role on this team to do that.
by Bald Pollack on Dec 29, 2009 12:14 AM EST up reply actions
I would have taken Conk over Theo back when we got Theo.
With most men, unbelief in one thing springs from blind belief in another.
I wouldn’t have. He hasn’t been bad this year, but if Theo’s a backup, Conklin is even more so – and who knew that Varly would be as good as fast as he was? No way in hell you take that chance, not w/ a 21 year old goalie.
I thought he was better than Theo then and I think he is better than Theo now. I think he is cheaper too.
With most men, unbelief in one thing springs from blind belief in another.
His stats in 07-08 were certainly better, but until last year he had never played in more than 38 games. Given Johnny’s health issues and Varly’s un-know-able-ness, that’s quite a gamble.
Grand Rapids A-Go-Go
I think you’re underestimating how much I didn’t want Theo here when the Caps signed him.
With most men, unbelief in one thing springs from blind belief in another.
by zephyr on Dec 29, 2009 12:22 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Sure, Roloson played for Lemaire, but didn’t Theo play for Martin and some other very defensive coaches? Those Wild teams and Oiler teams Roloson played on were no better, or more protective than the teams Theo has played for, on balance.
In an ideal world all ten fingers would be on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching.
Nope. He played for Vigneault (but not really, he was up and down from the A), Therrien and Julien – the Habs weren’t “blessed” with ol’ Snoozy the Elf until this year. And in Colorado he played for Quenneville.
None of them are defensive guys like Lemaire or Martin.
Theo is A.
Lalime is one, Gerber is one, Biron is one.
In an ideal world all ten fingers would be on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching.
Close. Very Close, in fact. But no cigar.
A=Theo ($4.5m)
B=Lalime ($1m)
C=Biron ($1.4m)
D=Legace ($.5m)
Grand Rapids A-Go-Go
That’s HoF close. I’m taking 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.
Maybe the old-timers’ committee will consider your HoF induction.
by mechanicsville on Dec 29, 2009 2:41 PM EST up reply actions
Y’all are keeping me up for too many rounds on this one. I’m not going to convince you that he’s not the worst thing to happen to this team since Bruce Cassidy was coaching, and it’s too late in the evening to try.
And I’m not trying to prove he’s the second coming of Brodeur, believe me. But I think he gets a raw deal, more so than other goalies when they have the same number of bad games, and it’s tiring. As someone who has followed his career pretty much from the beginning I just know what I’ve seen, and I know that numbers aren’t the whole story.
No, numbers aren't the whole story
The timing of the bad goals is equally important. And I don’t know that I’ve seen many other goalies that let in the softies at a worse time than Theo.
Nobody is saying he’s the worst thing that’s happened to this franchise; we’re just saying he can’t be trusted. And a goalie that can’t be trusted is essentially worthless to me.
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 don’t know. I love the man to death, but I seem to recall Olie letting in quite a few ill-timed softies in the last few years of his time here. And Huet, god bless him, had about a million in the playoffs – for us and Chicago.
I like Theo, but if you’re equating his bad goals to a past his prime Olie, that says some things about the former, no?
"I may hug people too hard and get lost at malls, but I'm not an idiot."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 28, 2009 11:48 PM EST up reply actions
Too-shay.
"I may hug people too hard and get lost at malls, but I'm not an idiot."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 28, 2009 11:50 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, and we’ve skewered them for that too. Nobody was saying Olie should be handed the starting job because of seniority. When he stunk we acknowledged it and were thankful Huet showed up.
In an ideal world all ten fingers would be on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching.
Yeah, and his stick didn’t cover his five hole on a simple breakaway move. I also revel in Huet choking in CHI. I’m not sure how this relates to Theo being an unreliable goalie though.
In an ideal world all ten fingers would be on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching.
As an Avs fan, and someone who used to get HNIC back in Seattle during his heyday, I’ve seen a TON of Theo. I still remember him stealing two series from the Bruins for the Habs, and one from the Stars for the Avs. Honestly, he hasn’t been the same player since the lockout, and the stats just back this up. Who knows why that is… My personal guess is that he loses focus, and I think that because he was great at the shootout for the first two years despite putting up mediocre stats otherwise, implying that he still had the agility to move with shooters.
Now, I think his agility is leaving him. He’s not a big guy, so he can’t rely on covering a large part of the net. Lack of focus + lack of size + faltering agility = mediocre goalie.
Grand Rapids A-Go-Go
I don’t honestly think Neuvirth is all that big a step down from Theo at this point.
Good 30 will make stops Good 60 might. Bad 30’s rebounds 7% less juicy than Bad 60’s, which count as secondary assists in some international tournaments. something something small sample size.
by redlineblue on Dec 28, 2009 11:25 PM EST up reply actions
Actually, I think when Theo is on his game he is easily better than what Neuvirth has shown the past few games. Neuvirth’s three game streak was solid, but he let in a few weak goals and wasn’t making sensational saves (although some of that was because of his rebound control and positioning). When Theo is on his game he doesn’t give up any soft goals and routinely makes big time stops. Unfortunately the other times he doesn’t do either of those things.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Dec 29, 2009 2:04 AM EST up reply actions
I’m unconvinced. The “other times” are a solid 40% of his starts, and the spread between his ordinary and his “on” should not be so daunting at Theo’s price point. I pull for the guy, but he’s starting to look to me like a hypercompensated Brent Johnson.
I’m not saying Theo’s contract is a good value, or even that “good Theo” shows up often enough to make up for “bad Theo”. I am merely disagreeing with this line:
Good 30 will make stops Good 60 might.
To me, Good Theo is quite clearly better than anything Neuvirth has shown in the NHL. This likely (hopefully) won’t last for long, but right now I think that is the case.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Dec 29, 2009 1:36 PM EST up reply actions
Koizilla I tried this argument earlier in the morning. I will priority mail you my Caps jersey to wipe the tears you are about to shed.
Russian Machine Never Breaks - A Hockey Blog Focusing on The Washington Capitals and Their Awesome Russian Superstars: Alex Ovechkin, Alex Semin & Semyon Varlamov.
I guess I don’t understand what we’re losing with the whole “veteran” thing. Is it that we’re looking for a calming influence? Isn’t that what Arturs Irbe is supposed to do?
Or is it that we think Theo will perform better than Neuvirth? The stats don’t seem to support such an assertion.
Veterans have a proven line of consistency. You know what to expect from them. Rookies are somewhat unknowns and can go on long cold streaks as quickly as they were on their hot streaks.
With most men, unbelief in one thing springs from blind belief in another.
The thing is, that exactly describes our veteran goalie.
In an ideal world all ten fingers would be on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching.
Theo falls under the rookie status then
by washfan29 on Dec 28, 2009 11:19 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Yes, and atleast with Theodore, you know you’re going to get rebounds galore and sliding all over the crease out of position when he’s bad. And when he’s good, he’s pretty decent. But it’s a guessing game which one you’re gonna get. But that’s way better than an inconsistent rookie goalie that costs 4 million less and Bruce “seems” to have more confidence in!
Russian Machine Never Breaks - A Hockey Blog Focusing on The Washington Capitals and Their Awesome Russian Superstars: Alex Ovechkin, Alex Semin & Semyon Varlamov.
It’s hardly even a guessing game anymore as to when Theo is going to show up – it’s a praying game. He has only held a team to under 3 goals in 4 of his last 13 starts. In five of those games he allowed at least four goals.
That is simply not NHL-caliber goaltending. Arturs Irbe could probably do a better job.
You mean Stretch!
Russian Machine Never Breaks - A Hockey Blog Focusing on The Washington Capitals and Their Awesome Russian Superstars: Alex Ovechkin, Alex Semin & Semyon Varlamov.
Actually that’s worth debating. Who would be better? A fat out of shape Arturs Irbe or a talentless Stretch? JP? Becca?
Russian Machine Never Breaks - A Hockey Blog Focusing on The Washington Capitals and Their Awesome Russian Superstars: Alex Ovechkin, Alex Semin & Semyon Varlamov.
Stretch tweeted today that he is ready if the Caps ask him.
/Who wouldn’t be?
With most men, unbelief in one thing springs from blind belief in another.
I would pay over $500 to see Stretch start one NHL game.
Russian Machine Never Breaks - A Hockey Blog Focusing on The Washington Capitals and Their Awesome Russian Superstars: Alex Ovechkin, Alex Semin & Semyon Varlamov.
If there was a big hullabaloo before the game that he was going to start – i would be satisfied with him lasting one period.
Russian Machine Never Breaks - A Hockey Blog Focusing on The Washington Capitals and Their Awesome Russian Superstars: Alex Ovechkin, Alex Semin & Semyon Varlamov.
all teams have bad games
i saw one with the devils in it on saturday,didnt think 1st place was comming back so fast not that i really care all i want is cup #4 i think i speak for the team and its fans on this one.
by Imperator_Celtic on Dec 28, 2009 11:20 PM EST reply actions
Ah, Devils fans. Love you guys. Sure, tell yourself it was just a bad Devils game. Losing to another powerhouse clearly requires the same kind of team fail on the part of the Devils as the Caps losing to CAR. You guys are that superior to the league. How about the Devils only beat the Caps because they got 3 bad performances.
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 joined ILWT recently, and almost immediately regretted it. Is there a way to unjoin?
I am easily satisfied with the very best
I don’t think there is. I saw their TOS and immediately ran. Seems like it is intended to stifle fun. No thanks.
In an ideal world all ten fingers would be on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching.
Observations from Section 421
1) Good call in the post on Erskine. At least two of the ’Canes goals were his fault, esp. the second one. Alzner was covering his man, and Erskine left the front of the net from his left defensive spot to be in the right circle. Too bad his man in that situation was Eric Staal, who also got the puck.
2) The mock cheers for Theo were pretty crass, not one of the goals was particularly soft that he let in. His defense let him down for 4 of the 5 he gave up (the 5-on-3 was a play they made.)
3) If there was any doubt Staal would be on the Canadian Olympic team, that’s been answered. He had a helluva game tonight. Sure the Caps gave him all sorts of chances to make plays, and he made them. He’s a great player and he showed it tonight.
4) I like it when Brooks Laich gets points, but how can they give him an assist when Alberts threw the puck into his own net? I know Fehr to the shot that Alberts blocked so he should get a goal, but still…
5) John, the chap who has the two seats next to mine asked if I thought the reason the Caps came out flat was the trade earlier today or the fact that the ’Canes record was pretty bad. My answer: “Yes”.
6) While I’m not happy with a 6-3 loss, or falling behind 3-0 after one, the fact that the Caps got it to 4-3 early in the 3rd and had an outside chance to win was encouraging.
7) Ovie’s goal… great shot.
So off to California… here’s hoping they can come home with some points…
Let's go Caps!
6) While I’m not happy with a 6-3 loss, or falling behind 3-0 after one, the fact that the Caps got it to 4-3 early in the 3rd and had an outside chance to win was encouraging.
It’s nice to root for a team that’s virtually never out of a game.
I don’t like falling behind 3-0, but that they fought back to 4-3 was impressive, even if they had a little help from the Canes. It speaks well going forward this season…
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Dec 29, 2009 9:45 AM EST up reply actions
Staal is not on the Canadian Olympic team. That’s a frigging joke. Hockey’s Canada’s first family will not be represented in Vancouver.
The fourth and fifth goals were both to a large degree on Theo. Other people failed as well but he needs to make those plays. He didn’t give the team a single big save to pick them up. Thanks guy.
In an ideal world all ten fingers would be on my left hand so my right hand could just be a fist for punching.
That’s always been a problem with theo is the big saves when needed
by washfan29 on Dec 28, 2009 11:31 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
2) The mock cheers for Theo were pretty crass, not one of the goals was particularly soft that he let in. His defense let him down for 4 of the 5 he gave up (the 5-on-3 was a play they made.)
Not one? Wow.
The 4th goal was more on the defense. The Canes were able to skate down the slot and right into the crease with the puck… definitely not Theo’s fault.
The 5th goal was a great shot. Some nights a goalie has those, some nights he doesn’t.
Even then, if the 4th and 5th were Theo’s fault, then the Caps had enough to win 3-2, if not for the 5-3 and the poor defense in the first period…
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Dec 29, 2009 9:39 AM EST up reply actions
Plus, Theo was waaaaaaaaay out of position on the 6th goal.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Dec 29, 2009 2:08 AM EST up reply actions
I definitely disagree on the 4th goal. If the Caps defense does it’s job, the ‘Canes aren’t plowing into the crease with the puck on the 4th goal. The 5th one wasn’t all that soft, yeah he can make that save, but it was a great shot as well, sometimes those go in.
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Dec 29, 2009 9:38 AM EST up reply actions
Sure, the Caps D didn’t do their job on the 4th goal, but it was an absolutely horrific rebound off a simple shot. The goalie absolutely cannot put that rebound right back in front like that, especially when he sees that the defense isn’t covering the front and the only guy there is an opposing player.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Dec 29, 2009 1:38 PM EST up reply actions
If there was any doubt Staal would be on the Canadian Olympic team, that’s been answered. He had a helluva game tonight.
I thought there was no doubt that Staal wouldn’t be on the Olympic team. He has had a horrid season, and a single 5 point night won’t change that. His 5 points tonight now gives him as many points as Ovechkin has goals. Staal’s really earning that $8.25 million a year.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Dec 29, 2009 2:12 AM EST up reply actions
It was a toss-up...
…probably until last night. He had the kind of game a star player is supposed to have. If an opponent gives a player with that kind of talent that many chances, he should take advantage. He did, and the Caps paid for it.
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Dec 29, 2009 9:40 AM EST up reply actions
I still don’t see Staal having any chance of making the team. Before last night Jordan had a much better chance of making the team than Eric. I don’t think it was even a toss up, I hadn’t heard anyone seriously consider Eric since the beginning of the season. Last night was nice, but I think most people recognize it more as a total let down by the Caps than Staal just imposing his will on another team. It’s not enough to overcome the fact that he has been terrible this season. If Lecavalier (who has more goals and points than Staal) is getting written off of Canada because of his poor start, there is no way that Staal should make it.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Dec 29, 2009 1:42 PM EST up reply actions
All in all, I feel bad for the team on this one. Bad enough the captain gets traded, but it was, what, two hours before pre-game report time? So they’re already dealing with a big psychological blow. Add in that they added in a forward who hadn’t even taken the morning skate; sure it’s not like he’s new to the team, but he’s rusty. And the defenseman you were scratching this morning is now back in the lineup. Ack. I suppose it could have been even worse. Shudder.
They’ve got a day to let everything sink in now.
"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."
OT
I know this is OT, but I just had to post it where someone might actually see:
no way that Ovie gets the C for the caps, captains are normally two way players that can be trusted in both zones, Ovie has almost no D game, the day he kills penalties on a regular basis (like Crosby does now) is the day he can wear the C, until then it should be Poti or Knuble
This was the first comment on the trade on TSN.ca, from a commenter called leafs=life. Good to know that Canada’s got “real hockey fans.”
Sorry for any threadjack. :)
Grand Rapids A-Go-Go
Did they mention anything about Green being the Olympic team’s 13th F? Wait, wrong forum…
"I may hug people too hard and get lost at malls, but I'm not an idiot."
by Bald Pollack on Dec 29, 2009 12:09 AM EST up reply actions
The Ovie kills penalties...
…is the day I strangle myself. He has no business on the PK when the Caps have Backstrom, Semin, Steckel, Laich, Bradley, Knuble, Gordon, and Laing up front. There is no need for him to waste his energy killing penalties when there are better players at doing it available.
So Ovie isn’t the best defensive forward on his team…big deal. Gretzky was never the best defensive forward on his teams, ditto for Messier, Lemieux, Yzerman, etc.
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Dec 29, 2009 9:43 AM EST up reply actions
Maybe Neuvirth. Or is the role of Neuvirth’s roommate already taken? BTW, who is Varly’s roommate? (Okay, he won’t be on this trip but I’ve been dying to know the answer to that question.)
I’ve already eliminated most of the logical candidates (i.e. either Russian or young players or recently with Hershey)
Not Semin (cause he rooms with Ovi)
Not Ovi (see above)
Not Backstrom (cause he rooms with Green)
Not Sloan (cause he rooms with Laing)
Not Laing (see above)
Rocking the Red since 1975
Goalies don’t have roommates; they have too much crap.
by IRockTheRed on Dec 29, 2009 10:01 AM EST up reply actions
Maybe he gets Chimera….
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Dec 29, 2009 9:44 AM EST up reply actions
I think we should all go to bed and wait until Wednesday.
If we get blown out by SJ then we have a problem.
If we win, we’re good to go. (except that Theo is streaky)
Who knows, maybe Theo took a big hit from losing CC and Juice? This was his worst game of the year IMO. He’s had a pretty rough time off the ice, you know, in real life. This could’ve been the last straw.
Still waiting for someone to draft Paul Newman. . .
I think we should all go to bed and wait until Wednesday.
If we get blown out by SJ then we have a problem.
If we win, we’re good to go. (except that Theo is streaky)
Regular season means Greyson.
Four or five losses in a row, then maybe I’ll start getting concerned. Playoffs are months away.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 29, 2009 8:55 AM EST up reply actions
Frustrating game to watch. It looked like a different team altogether from the teams that played Buffalo and New Jersey. Those teams looked like they were in sync — I know Bruce mixes his lines in practice, and the players said the trades were no excuse, but I wonder if the trades affected their timing.
From Bruce’s comments in the presser, I thought he wasn’t giving Theo a long leash, he was giving him enough rope to hang himself.
Finally got back to a game in 414 and that’s what I get to see?? Might have to sell the rest of our games to our ex-pat Sabres fan who I’m slowly turning into a Caps fan. Just about every game she’s been to over the past 3 years has been a free-food style game (5) and she has yet to see a regular season loss.
We all saw this one coming though. The odd buzz in the rink that night. The fact that Cap’n was suited up for warmups, but the team couldn’t let him come out and take a bow for the crowd was just another in a line of strange and bewildering moves by this organization. In a world of “yea, but what have you done for me lately…” we traded a promising young physical d-man and our captain, a gritty 3rd/4th liner who said personally he was willing to take whatever role he could to be on this team, a guy who was finally getting healthy and showing it on the score-sheet. We do it on the afternoon of a game, right before a long road trip.
Couple that with our head coach pissing off our primary goal tender and you start to get a picture that there was no way this team wasn’t going to come out flat, dead, and lifeless.
-Agreed with the above sentiment. 2nd line as a unit was atrocious, led by the worst game I’ve seen Knuble play. While he’s new to the team, some of his comments seemed to me like he was confused by the trade as was the rest of the team.
-Early in the game, when the team needed some spark, there were a few guys running around with their hair on fire. Too bad BB didn’t double shift Laich and Laing’s line, cause those guys were moving their feet and creating space for the rest of their line.
-I can’t say anything that hasn’t already been said about the officiating. Except to say that if a guy is skating forward with the puck, has open ice in front of him and gets spun around, it is ALWAYS a penalty. It’s the easiest of infractions to catch and to miss it adds to the Fan’s desire for a minute long Ref-You-Suck (props to Horn guy, though we were hoping for a full penalty-kill long Ref-You-Suck).
-Bad night for a lot of guys. Too many missed-clears that led directly to goals or high quality scoring chances (alzner had a few of these, Schultz, Erskine…) Passes wouldn’t connect to tape (I swear Flash put over a half-dozen passes right at Bmo’s feet instead of his stick).
While we knew this team was going to come out flat, they made a game of it thanks to a really bad Canes squad. They showed some life which to me is a sign of a quick turn around. Unfortunately we have to do it on the road against the West’s best record. The bigger question though, is how long will the team sit on almost 4M in cap space before they make another move?
The fact that Cap’n was suited up for warmups, but the team couldn’t let him come out and take a bow for the crowd was just another in a line of strange and bewildering moves by this organization.
Was that the team, or some stupid NHL rule?
by IRockTheRed on Dec 29, 2009 10:03 AM EST up reply actions
That’s what I thought… I doubt he was even in the building…
by IRockTheRed on Dec 29, 2009 10:22 AM EST up reply actions
Somebody was skating around the ice in a #17 sweater during warm-ups. Thought I heard a report that the league was going to let him skate around with the team but maybe it was someone else. (and no, my eyes aren’t that bad, it wasn’t Gordo’s 15 or something. There was a 17 out there.)
Unless it was a tribute by someone else, he wasn’t out there.
"I didn't mind a diminished role because we were winning so much and we're such a great team and had a chance to do something in the playoffs...I would have taken any role on this team to do that.
by Bald Pollack on Dec 29, 2009 10:42 AM EST up reply actions
That was my reaction when a fan sitting next to me said, “wth, 17’s out there…” I replied, “no way, he was traded…” looked harder and saw a 17 skating around. Was it Stretch in protest?
The fact that Cap’n was suited up for warmups, but the team couldn’t let him come out and take a bow for the crowd was just another in a line of strange and bewildering moves by this organization.
Aside from the fact that he was gone before the doors even opened, this second part bewilders me. What if he blows a knee taking a bow (or lap)? Do you honestly expect him to waste time “taking a bow” when he’s got to find a place to live, or (if he has any) schools for kids? It’s almost 2010 in American sports. You wear the black armband for a minute and move on.
"I didn't mind a diminished role because we were winning so much and we're such a great team and had a chance to do something in the playoffs...I would have taken any role on this team to do that.
by Bald Pollack on Dec 29, 2009 10:32 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
So rec’d. This is probably one of the oddest comments I’ve ever read.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Unless someone can find out who it was in the #17 jersey, I’m going to assume (against all better personal judgement) that it was him, and that he was in the building at the time. The strangeness I speak of is not the trade (though, I still feel weird about it and will until Chimera’s impact on the ice is known) but if he was present, he’s got to come out and give a wave. Maybe it’s a guy in a tribute/protest sweater, I don’t know.
Dude… I want to make this as clear as possible: Chris Clark was not suited up for warm-ups. No Capital skated in warm-ups wearing #17. It didn’t happen.
~ Fin ~
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I don’t see anything strange or bewildering. The Capitals had an opportunity to replace a depth player with someone who was younger, cheaper, and better, and to move a surplus defenseman who’s a UFA after this year. Emotionally it hurts – hell, I bet it hurt McPhee too – but from a hockey standpoint, there’s no way you don’t make that deal. The timing could have been better, but this deal had been in the works since before the season even started. If it’s there, you take it.
By the way...
…did anyone notice that Fehr was +1 in this game? He did seem to be playing well last night.
Let's go Caps!
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida
|
53 | 25 | 17 | 11 | 61 |
|
Washington
|
54 | 28 | 21 | 5 | 61 |
|
Winnipeg
|
56 | 26 | 24 | 6 | 58 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
53 | 23 | 24 | 6 | 52 |
|
Carolina
|
55 | 20 | 25 | 10 | 50 |
(updated 2.10.2012 at 9:27 AM EST)
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