Thursday Caps Clips: Shark Sandwiched

Sunday, March14?

If I didn’t already have other plans I’d be at that game tonight. Should be a great one if its anything like Monday’s tilt between the two teams.

Yes, the elipses (that’s the three periods, ….) denote sarcasm because even if Green should find his way onto the Olympic team, I seriously doubt that the coaches would skate Green against A.O.

I knew when I saw him whiff on his very first attempt of the game last night that it was going to be a bad night.

Hey, maybe we’ll get to hear from CarlosLA from the Kings game with some unique on-the-scene observations on Semin’s performance.

I don’t think this season is normal Semin terrain, I am betting he will be an improved hockey player when he’s ready to snap out of this visible melancholia.

But he doesn’t have to. He wrote a blog with a very specific goal in mind, and achieved that goal. The comments are where you take issue and dispute it. He doesn’t have to do it for you.

I agree if you have an alternate view, stats, even referencing specific plays other than stats, that’s what makes for good discussion.

I like shorter names, can I just call you ‘balls’ for short? :)

seminrocks.blogspot.com is probably available.

It only takes a few minutes to set up.

Both sides have been presented on this blog ad nauseum. Check the archives and you’ll find plenty of discussions about Semin, including one round table discussion that most certainly was represented by Semin-supporters.

More like selection bias. Buuuuuuuuuurned.

Yes, his blog. He blogged at blogspot for years, then was invited to migrate onto the SBNation portal.

Dude, unless you, yourself, are Sasha Semin and are upset at what’s being said about you, your comment to JP was just as “rude and disparaging” as anything GoD said. If you’re going to start the game, don’t get upset when it’s thrown back.

And I’m pretty sure you’re not Sasha Semin.

(If you are, can I have an autograph?)

Seminrocks, you bore me. Predictable, reflexive defensiveness is no way way to go through life, son.

JP said Semin is inconsistent. He put up stats to support it.

You tore him a new one for pointing out said inconsistency. But now you admit that he’s right. So what’s the problem dude? If Semin is inconsistent, what’s wrong with saying he’s inconsistent? Are you against folks pointing out the truth? I don’t get it. What was wrong with pointing out something about a player that you acknowledge is true?

You’re a nice one, aren’t you?

He did coin “go eat a fucking porcupine.”

Nom nom nom … porcupine’s good eatin’!

Did you even read the posts? I was ready to stick up for you above…until reading JPs comment…now, not so much.

A guy making $6 million shouldn’t have much margin of error. That’s the point.

And stop the martyr routine. It’s as old as the generalizations, double-standards and lack of evidence to back up nearly every single assertion you’ve made.

Jschon?

instead there’s trashing someone and the people who have positive things to say about them

OK, now you are going a bit to the biased end of the spectrum yourself. No one is “trashing” Semin. Plenty of us here like Sasha. We just don’t like his inconsistency. Heck I’m less concerned about his goal scoring than his tendency to overpass and take penalties in the offensive zone.

I don’t know of anyone in the Rink, bloggers or commenters, who don’t think highly of Semin’s talent. I’d argue he has the 2nd most dangerous shot in the league when he uses it. If he wasn’t so talented the frustration level would be slightly reduced, however it would still be there. Given his pay and cap hit you better believe I’ve got high expectations for him.

I might also add J.P. , along with myself, have been banging the drum to play Semin more on the PK for awhile now. It’s a big compliment if you want someone being on the ice a man down. If I was “trashing” a guy I don’t think I’d be requesting for him to be on the ice more in critical situations.

As someone who has always supported John Erskine and Alex Semin, there’s ways to defend your argument that you seem to be neglecting to do.

Yes, I have been somewhat surprised in some past articles that you seemed almost positive

I don’t think that’s fair. Consider:

But as to the question of whether Alex Semin is capable of playing great, even stellar defense, there really isn’t much of a question at all – he is… and he does.

following the acquisition of Sergei Fedorov and was arguably the Caps best forward in the playoffs with three goals, five assists, and a plus-two rating while playing probably the most inspired hockey of his career.

That’s not really “almost positive”. That’s just plain positive.

There does seem to be an intolerance here for people who support someone, specifically Semin

Nope, the intolerance is for accusations without a ton of evidence. If you want to write a Fan Post on why we’re being unfair to Semin and have evidence to back it up, it’d be well received. But to claim bias or unfairness without examples.

Criticism is fine when warranted and backed up by some facts.

Like what started this whole discussion, that Semin is inconsistent? Honestly, are there examples of J.P. hating on Semin without providing evidence?

Some folks who post here would not give him an unqualified compliment even IF he scored 6 unassisted goals in a game and we won 6-0.

But where was he in the 3-2 Loss!

In my book and experience on the Hill and in lobbying

Well, that explains that.

So you say you want both sides of the story told, but then get mad when JP writes an overwhelmingly positive post on Semin but includes a negative or two in there. Clearly it looks like you don’t want both sides told, you just want the positives sung from up on high, with no negatives at all included (Psst, take your own advice and be willing to accept criticisms of Semin. It will help your credibility).

Know what else helps credibility? Providing facts or evidence for your argument (funny, you say criticism is fine when backed up with facts, and that is exactly what JP did) and providing counterarguments to criticisms instead of lobbing baseless accusations of JP and his readers being big old meanies towards Semin.

People don’t get on you because you defend Semin. People get on you because you bring no facts or analysis to the table, you disparage the credibility and parents of others, and you constantly make assertions that posters are being crude and overly personal about Semin without ever backing that up with examples when challenged. If you really did read everything here you would see that you can defend any position you want and have a good conversation about it if you make a coherent argument and support it with some evidence. So get off your freedom of speech high horse.

But you didn’t see the patented late-game Caps rally that you might have seen had Thornton not been granted his penalty shot attempt.

The penalty shots definetily had an impact. Without those two is a 3-2 game and I like the Caps chances in those situations even when they are not playing well.

Per the AP story: It hadn’t happened since Feb. 11, 1982, when Thomas Gradin and Ivan Hlinka converted for Vancouver in Detroit.

Throwing a stick or pushing a stick on the ice to impede another player = Penalty Shot.

Rule 53 covers throwning of equipment, and section 53.6 describes the circumstances for awarding a Penalty Shot:

53.6 Penalty Shot – When any member of the defending team, including the Coach or any non-playing person, throws or shoots any part of a stick or any other object or piece of equipment at the puck or puck carrier in his defending zone, preventing a reasonable shot or pass,the Referee shall allow the play to be completed and if a goal is not scored, a penalty shot shall be awarded to the non-offending team. This shot shall be taken by the player designated by the Referee as the player fouled.

The call against Erskine for throwing the stick was correct. The Green call was borderline…

Basically everyone I’ve ever heard wants him to shoot more. It’s a lot like Backstrom, both are such accurate passers they always look to do that first but they can shoot damn near as accurately as they can pass.

I sort of like my “state seal” license plate. So I asked Santa for a Caps license plate frame. Looks pretty sporty!

I have Maryland plates and I’m 494 and I’ve never seen anything higher. I’ve seen 493. I was at my local Best Buy a week before Christmas and saw 39 and wanted to switch plates. I’d love a Steckel plate. I have double Hot Pockets. :’(

The superlative play of #28 makes up for the enormous flaws in the games of his linemates.

Always, without exception.

They should extend their shifts, stop being so selfless about getting off the ice.