Wednesday Caps Clips: Caps @ Sabres Game Day
by J.P. on Dec 9, 2009 6:43 AM EST
in Caps Clips
373 comments
Your savory breakfast links:
- Previews of tonight's rematch of a 2-0 Caps win a couple of weeks back (let's see if AO can hang around for all of this one) from Vogs, NHL.com and Rock The Red.net, and be sure to check out our SB Nation partner Die By The Blade for coverage from the other side of tonight's match up.
- With Braden Holtby recalled to Hershey (where there were two healthy goalies practicing yesterday), speculation is that not all is right between the pipes for the parent club. [Patriot-News]
- The Caps are... wait for it... the real deal. [Globe and Mail]
- Even The Boss took a moment to appreciate what they've been able to do so far this season. [Ted's Take]
- Inside the NHL's "war room." Slow news day? [Washington Post]
- Pierre LeBrun answers a couple of Caps-related questions and debunks the "players today no longer have any respect for one another" silliness. [ESPN]
- The latest opinions on the bubble that is Mike Green's dream of being an Olympian: Corey says yes, PPP says no, CTV says his stock is on the rise.
- Speaking of Green, random stat: @GreenLife52 has six points and a plus-six rating since his last tweet.
- Oh, and he's fine. [Capitals Insider]
- Semyon Varlamov is behind Jamie Benn in the Calder race. Riiiight. [Hockey's Future]
- Sidney Crosby more clutch than Alex Ovechkin? That's unpossible. [The Hockey News]
- Speaking of Sid and Alex, last year's Caps/Pens series placed ninth in the top ten sports moments of the year (pretty long moment, btw). [Time]
- Hello, Moscow! [Alex Ovetjkin]
- 10 Things You Should Know About... Tomas Fleischmann. [Capitals]
- Um, Paul... the Caps have given up more than two goals once in their last six games (and that was in a 4-3 shootout win) and have two shutouts during that span. Impressed yet? [NHL.com]
- Steven Pinizzotto and Andrew Joudrey are killing it - literally - in Hershey. [Patriot-News]
- Finally, saying goodbye to a member of the Bears family. [John Walton Hockey]
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With Braden Holtby recalled to Hershey (where there were two healthy goalies practicing yesterday), speculation is that not all is right between the pipes for the parent club
Didn’t Varlamov stay out of practice yesterday? If that’s true, I suppose the goalie movement is insurance in the event he tweaked something.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Dec 9, 2009 6:51 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
He did, but a bunch of guys took the day off. Still, it’s as good a guess as any.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Longer money on Theodore’s back flaring up?
"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)."
Or personnel issues flaring up (hopefully not)?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
In Sunrise, before everyone got on a 3+ hour plane to Buffalo.
"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)."
Tampa
"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."
One has a few more DUIs than another, but past that…
"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)."
Speaking of DUI’s and otherwise totally non-hockey related:
Amish buggy driver charged with DUI
Unleash the Alex!
Varly took a pretty solid hit right into his net near the end of the game…I don’t remember which player but I do remember JoeB saying “That’s a lot of poundage…”
ALEX, FЯEE
Also remember him or Locker saying something like “I don’t like the way he got up after that.”
A few bruises in December aren’t necessarily a bad thing. The way the refs call goaltender interference in the playoffs he’s likely to get a lot of bruises in May. Might as well get used to it.
by HateOffSeason on Dec 9, 2009 8:08 AM EST up reply actions
Gotta get that neck ready for Pittsburgh…
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Dec 9, 2009 8:17 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
But our team toughness will take care of any d-bag moves like that this year….er…or not…
We will call up Sugden and he will beat anyone down who will dare to take any liberties with our stars….oh…Russia you say?
Well, we will punish them with our top of the league power play then!
(actually, that first point may or may not be valid. Really liked how Erskin stepped up and defended Pothier the other night. Hell, Fehr even helped out by getting jacked up against the wall.)
by HateOffSeason on Dec 9, 2009 8:21 AM EST up reply actions
I got the e-mail two minutes ago.
Neuvirth recalled. Semyon “The Saviour” Varlamov Day-to-day with lower body injury.
Ted Leonsis Used to Recommend: http://capsnut.blogspot.com/
Everybody Wang Chung......
Please load brain before shooting off mouth.™
Man, looks like there was some pretty epic interblog action over at PPP yesterday. I missed out.
"So much on my mind I just can't recline. Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 9, 2009 8:22 AM EST reply actions
Kaleta Ready to Take On Ovechkin
Is the headline, but in the story, a little less so:
So given the history, will the Sabres be paying any closer attention to Ovechkin than they’re already planning?
“My main focus is on the game and for us to show a better effort, play better for myself and the team,” a smiling Kaleta said after practice Tuesday. “That’s the goal in here. If he has the puck and he’s coming up, you’re going to hit him but you’re not going out of your way to take any liberties.”
ALEX, FЯEE
War room article is great… Up until I got to:
NHL vice presidents Colin Campbell and Mike Murphy and their team make the final rulings on goals…
Quick someone make up a goal-review flow chart.
I honestly haven’t seen too many horrible replay calls. Personally thought Clark’s vs. Ott was going the other way, but I can see their reasoning.
Goat judging...
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 9, 2009 9:10 AM EST up reply actions
Colin Campbell “and his team” got to see Colin’s kid get decked by his own teammate two nights ago:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIDMcLjAE-0
Miami Herald reports he’s ok, but gee the Panthers are having the weirdest season.
ALEX, FЯEE
There have been a couple atrocious goal reviews, IMO. The one that went against TOR v. CHI was terrible. DET got burned by one. Then there was a third that I can’t quite recall who was involved. On the whole it’s low on the list of things to improve but it’s not close to perfect.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 9, 2009 2:26 PM EST up reply actions
One more comment on Campbellnomics from The Hockey News…
Very good exercise and I’ve always enjoyed those stats. But one thing I don’t understand is the differentiation between GWG and “Goal that puts the team ahead to stay…”
Is he saying that, if a team leads throughout the whole game, that goal 1 is the GWG, no matter what the final score?
I would also adjust the point values for some of those. SO goals should be worth less than all others, but weighted also for what the situation in the shootout is. Did you score with the game on the line, or are you the first shooter with less preassure?
Should also be weighted for number of goals the player has, total.
Still fun.
If it’s 0-0 then 1-0 and later 4-3, the 1st is the go-ahead goal, the 4th the GWG
by red army line on Dec 9, 2009 11:11 AM EST up reply actions
That’s not what I read into:
The NHL defines a game-winner as the goal that provided the margin of victory, but we define a game-winner as the goal that put the team ahead in the game to stay.
Your definition depends on the order the goals were scored, but agrees with NHL’s GWG. What Campbellnomics says, I BELIEVE based on the above quote, is that if the score goes:
1-0
2-0
2-1
that the first goal is a go-ahead goal AND GWG as the team never tied/trailed after that goal, where GWG from the NHL would be the 2nd goal.
I think you’re right. Kind of like the losing pitcher in baseball – once he gives up the run that puts the other team in the lead to stay, he’s on the hook for the loss. Stupidest stat in sports, by the way.
"You're gonna eat that g**d**n Koho, three!"
Agreed and agreed.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 9, 2009 6:16 PM EST up reply actions
This conception of the GWG is definitely problematic, but it also is much better in situations where a team wins, say 8-2, and the guy who scored the 3rd goal gets the GWG just because the other team scored a garbage time goal. In that situation that 3rd goal isn’t really all that clutch.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Dec 10, 2009 12:16 PM EST up reply actions
From Ted, and hearkening back some discussions here a few days ago about Ted’s “edginess”;
I have heard you loud and clear and will try not to overreact to some of our harshest critics who tend to be the loudest and most voluminous email buddies to me. I get it. Rise above the noise. Focus on the signal.
He listens, it seems. For this and all the more bottom-line reasons, we are fortunate to have a great owner here.
This is a tough crowd. Look around at other sports, and other cities. We are in pretty good shape here with the Caps.
It is a lot of disbelief on Ted’s part. When he was getting emails in 2005, the team was dreadful, and he expected to get them. Now, when he is icing the best team in the NHL and still getting the emails demanding a crease clearing D and a better goalie, he’s frustrated. He’s certainly a guy that wears his heart on his sleeve so it doesn’t surpise me that he fires back. He has to be having a “what do you want from me?!” moment. He’ll learn (seems to have already) to take this feedback with a grain of salt just like he earned how to build a winning team.
"I think the relentless negative coverage in The Washington Post is a real difference from previous years," Redskins general counsel David Donovan said. "But in terms of the way our actual fans are behaving, we don't see any difference."
Read between the lines. Ted is literally “taking one for the team”, acting as the safety valve where disgruntled folks can vent safely and not necessarily take it out on the coaches/players. If he didn’t like this role, he wouldn’t do it, and he certainly wouldn’t stir the pot by posting about it.
Ted Leonsis != J. Edgar Hoover, but they share something in common:
Back in the day, JEH maintained an impressive looking office on the first floor of the FBI HQ. It had a huge important-looking desk, a big FBI seal, and an impeccably dressed agent stationed there each day.
From time to time some loon would arrive at HQ demanding to see Mr. Hoover. “I have important information for his ears only!”. They would be ushered in to this elegant office and encouraged to tell the agent everything and Mr. Hoover would be notified at once.
This served two purposes – it gave that distressed person relief – “The FBI listened to me!”, and also allowed J to assess any actual threats/plots/etc.
Ol’ J was a pretty smart cop, until he got drunk with power and went off the rails.
ALEX, FЯEE
Ted Leonsis != J. Edgar Hoover, but they share something in common:
Great legs…
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 9, 2009 10:53 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I think he means that they make a movie about Leonsis’ life, he will be portrayed by Billy Crudup.
"So much on my mind I just can't recline. Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 9, 2009 10:58 AM EST up reply actions
Bingo. I was at the Chalk Talk he did back in November and he mentioned that he had the e-mails saved from the people who ripped him for the firesale and the such. He even mentioned a column written by Boswell where Boswell suggested that the fans go to Ted’s house and burn their season tickets on his front lawn, apparently even providing Ted’s address. (I don’t remember that one but I don’t read Boswell very often.)
Ted has also mentioned in the past “responding” to e-mails well after the fact in a “ha, showed you!” type of manner such as when they signed A.O. to the extension.
He seems to me to be very petty and thin-skinned. It is one thing to take satisifcation in proving your detractors wrong, it is an entirely different thing to rub it in their faces as he seems to relish doing.
Ted Leonsis Used to Recommend: http://capsnut.blogspot.com/
Everybody Wang Chung......
Please load brain before shooting off mouth.™
Bob Bourne's Kid is Blogging
For TSN, doing “inside perspective” type pieces.
Interesting look at what gives rise to the “entitlement syndrome” in pro hockey.
"You're gonna eat that g**d**n Koho, three!"
Interesting read. It’s a little surprising given that most of our guys seem pretty humble; outwardly, at least.
"So much on my mind I just can't recline. Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 9, 2009 9:34 AM EST up reply actions
That’s one of the unsaid but implicit things – what you see outside the dressing room is far different from what you see inside it – that I thought was most interesting. I’m sure all the systems have guys saying the same things outwardly.
"You're gonna eat that g**d**n Koho, three!"
Other sports have their problems and prima donnas, too. People aren’t perfect and for that, they are to be forgiven. What’s unforgivable in hockey is the sense of entitlement kids pick up from being good while they’re young.
I don’t see how that is unique to hockey. Every sport has kids who dominate at a young age, be it hockey, football, baseball, etc. It’s human nature for children to get cocky like that.
"So much on my mind I just can't recline. Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 9, 2009 9:48 AM EST up reply actions
Part of it is that the pipeline to pro hockey removes players from “normal” society, if high school can be considered normal, and sticks them in a hockey cauldron. Junior players live with a host family in the city their team is located, and for all intents and purposes, start living on a pro athlete’s schedule.
The bubble effect probably intensifies it.
But I agree with you that all sports produce prima donnas – everybody’s met the middle aged guy at work that can’t stop talking about his athletic feats in high school, for instance.
"You're gonna eat that g**d**n Koho, three!"
Do you think the fact that hockey is a sport kinder to the more financially well-off has anything to do with it?
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
Well…first I think the whole “only rich kids play hockey” meme is incorrect. Between the skate swaps, gear giveaways, and fundraisers, plenty of kids that are poor as church mice play organized hockey.
But in general I think the sense of entitlement is generated in all sports.
"You're gonna eat that g**d**n Koho, three!"
Right, but they don’t get the power skating classes, goalie clinics, defenseman’s camps, etc that catapults kids to the next level.
Kinder to the well-off, not exclusive.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
Come-on, Locker’s got a very reasonable hockey school that will teach you how to take you game to the next level. Power skating, on-ice/off-ice training, diet and nutrition. It is the whole package.
"I think the relentless negative coverage in The Washington Post is a real difference from previous years," Redskins general counsel David Donovan said. "But in terms of the way our actual fans are behaving, we don't see any difference."
But in Canada the poorer kids do play. It’s cheaper to play and more ubiquitous. You see all these farm kids, by no means wealthy, making it to high levels of hockey.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 9, 2009 2:44 PM EST up reply actions
This is true for parts of New England too.
by BradleyFightingVehicle on Dec 9, 2009 2:48 PM EST up reply actions
Minnesota’s Iron Range and Wisconsin’s north woods are by no means “well off” and they consistently beat up on every one else.
I grew up in this area and never played ice hockey because it was so expensive and I was better at Baseball. Then I went to college in Maine and all the little kids from the town the school was in played ice hockey. I feel like I missed out.
by BradleyFightingVehicle on Dec 9, 2009 2:51 PM EST up reply actions
yeah, growing up in DC and going to college in Wisconsin, I felt like everyone at least knew how to skate (except me, and the random Texans). We had an NCAA D3 team, and then a club team that played in the local co-ed beer league. Not knowing how to skate, I quickly made myself useful keeping stats. And that’s as close to playing as I’ve ever come.
Its never too late to learn. Skating is easy and makes playing hockey much simpler.
"I think the relentless negative coverage in The Washington Post is a real difference from previous years," Redskins general counsel David Donovan said. "But in terms of the way our actual fans are behaving, we don't see any difference."
Having done it myself, I agree with this. Skating is not that difficult to learn – take a figure skating basics class. Yes, I mean that. The basic skills are the same. Just watch the toe pic :P
Unleash the Alex!
Just about everything through ISIA Delta is relevant to hockey as well. And learning proper crossovers in the beta/gamma class is usually cheaper than the power skating class or beginners adult hockey clinic.
And watch the toe pick. (worth repeating).
Caps fan in Minnesota
That’s how I learned when I was little. I went up to gamma and then started hockey development classes. Unfortunately I can’t skate for crap anymore in comparison to my younger self.
"So much on my mind I just can't recline. Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 9, 2009 3:25 PM EST up reply actions
I agree. Never too late to start.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 9, 2009 3:15 PM EST up reply actions
I’ve been thinking about it myself, maybe next Rink Rat game some of us rabbits can warm the benches.
"And next year it will be ours."
If that means less ice time for me, NO DEAL!
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
Are you implying a bunch of girls who only recently learned how to skate could take away from your ice time?
"And next year it will be ours."
Yeah, it’ll take them forever to get on and off the bench.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
I was going more the route of, "Do you suck that bad?"
Only joking :)
"And next year it will be ours."
Oh I know how to skate, I actually played roller hockey down here for a while until the time commitment to baseball became to great. And while the transfer to ice isn’t seamless it made it easier for me. The good thing about going to school in Maine was intramural hockey. Once I blew out my shoulder and was done with baseball I took that up, it was a blast!
by BradleyFightingVehicle on Dec 9, 2009 4:30 PM EST up reply actions
Where in Maine?
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 9, 2009 4:59 PM EST up reply actions
Lewiston, went to Bates College
by BradleyFightingVehicle on Dec 9, 2009 5:03 PM EST up reply actions
REPPIN’ BATES COLLEGE HELL YEAH!
Now drink with me deeply of the bourbon, scotch, and rye until such time as we are fighting drunk.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Dec 9, 2009 5:06 PM EST up reply actions
Haha fellow Bates grad I presume?
by BradleyFightingVehicle on Dec 9, 2009 5:07 PM EST up reply actions
Not a graduate. In my junior year.
What year did you graduate?
Now drink with me deeply of the bourbon, scotch, and rye until such time as we are fighting drunk.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Dec 9, 2009 5:08 PM EST up reply actions
If you ever saw a tall guy walking around campus in an Ovie jersey the last two years odds are that was me.
by BradleyFightingVehicle on Dec 9, 2009 5:11 PM EST up reply actions
I always wore a Caps hat.
There are a few people that like to wear Caps gear around Bates.
Now drink with me deeply of the bourbon, scotch, and rye until such time as we are fighting drunk.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Dec 9, 2009 5:14 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, there was practically none when I first got up there, but by my junior year I began to notice some red popping up here and there. We gotta play the name game sometime. You know how Bates is, if we don’t know each other I’m sure we have mutual friends.
by BradleyFightingVehicle on Dec 9, 2009 5:16 PM EST up reply actions
Definitely. Feel free to shoot me an email.
Now drink with me deeply of the bourbon, scotch, and rye until such time as we are fighting drunk.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Dec 9, 2009 5:21 PM EST up reply actions
Seemed like there was a Caps’ game every Tuesday. I swore there was some conspiracy.
But I always had my brothers texting me updates to the game during class.
Now drink with me deeply of the bourbon, scotch, and rye until such time as we are fighting drunk.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Dec 9, 2009 5:44 PM EST up reply actions
I know man, we also missed at least two games that were on versus that I wouldn’t have had to stream online in the library. I watched most games in the library because the internet in JB wasn’t fast enough to stream them lol.
by BradleyFightingVehicle on Dec 9, 2009 5:45 PM EST up reply actions
Doesn’t seem like the internet is fast enough anywhere at Bates. But I’ve been able to make due so far. A choppy feed is better than no feed.
Now drink with me deeply of the bourbon, scotch, and rye until such time as we are fighting drunk.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Dec 9, 2009 5:48 PM EST up reply actions
If you have an ethernet cable, disable your wireless and plug that in. That almost always did the trick for me. There are a lot of good spots in the library for that. My favorite was the booths in the basement along the wall in the stacks. Probably pretty busy this time of year though with finals approaching.
by BradleyFightingVehicle on Dec 9, 2009 5:52 PM EST up reply actions
It’s definitely a crap shoot whether or not I’m able to find a spot in the library. Final papers. Final exams. Final projects. Everyone and their mother is there right now.
And considering the blizzard we’ve had all day I think I’m gonna just deal with the slow internet in my dorm instead of trudging through the snow with everything.
Now drink with me deeply of the bourbon, scotch, and rye until such time as we are fighting drunk.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Dec 9, 2009 5:55 PM EST up reply actions
I remember those days. Spring semester last year as my thesis deadline approached I would just claim a booth or table first thing in the morning, and just bounce from the library to commons to class, taking breaks only for meals and Caps games.
I miss Bates, I do not miss those blizzards.
by BradleyFightingVehicle on Dec 9, 2009 6:00 PM EST up reply actions
I like the snow part of the blizzard, but I hate when it turns to freezing rain so everything is just an ice sheet for the next week, which is what it’s doing right now.
Now drink with me deeply of the bourbon, scotch, and rye until such time as we are fighting drunk.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Dec 9, 2009 7:10 PM EST up reply actions
I quickly made myself useful keeping stats
So how biased were you about scoring hits and takeaways?
"So much on my mind I just can't recline. Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 9, 2009 3:10 PM EST up reply actions
oh, we didn’t track those! this is small town beer league, we did goals, who was the goalie, and PIMs. I once didn’t catch what the ref called a penalty, so I asked him to repeat it and got “He was being a dumbass!” with I dutifully recorded.
You should have wrote “Giving him the business.”
"So much on my mind I just can't recline. Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 9, 2009 3:26 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Yup. Upper Midwest > New England in hockey development. And watch out for CA, they are on the rise.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 9, 2009 3:14 PM EST up reply actions
Bunch of the guys I played with when I lived in Seattle had kids in the PACNW youth programs. They had a rough go of it. All of the tourneys they did were up into Canada, or down to LA. They didn’t win very many games.
"I think the relentless negative coverage in The Washington Post is a real difference from previous years," Redskins general counsel David Donovan said. "But in terms of the way our actual fans are behaving, we don't see any difference."
Having (free) ice time is big help, also. Anyone can go out on a frozen pond with skates, a stick, and a puck and have fun. In DC you just can’t get that.
Caps fan in Minnesota
Right. That’s part of why it’s cheaper to play. Ice time in arenas is also cheaper because the energy costs are lower.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 9, 2009 3:15 PM EST up reply actions
Money, and ice availability (could be tied to money) were 100% the reason I never played ICE hockey until I was in college.
Organized youth hockey in the DC area is a major commitment of money and time that would ordinarily be used for sleeping. 5 a.m. practices, that sort of thing.
But you can flood a backyard and it will mostly stay frozen all winter. That’s a lot of fun.
"You're gonna eat that g**d**n Koho, three!"
It was even worse in the 80s when Reston Ice Plex was a bowling alley, and Ashburn was still a cow pasture. 1 rink in the area, waiting list for leagues = I played roller hockey through high school in Springfield. Thank god for RIT’s pick-up hockey games.
I’m glad so many on here were able to have a rink close and get to learn to skate. The closest rink to me was Tucker Rd. in Ft. Washington and that was so far away that it might as well have been on another planet. I never got the chance so i’ll just live vicariously through you all.
If you don't wanna get hit, KEEP YOUR HEAD UP!
Is Wheaton Hockey Club still around? I played with them for a few years in the late 70’s.
by mechanicsville on Dec 10, 2009 3:23 PM EST up reply actions
That’s a good point about the hockey minor league pipeline. However, baseball has a similar pipeline to hockey. Kids can either take the college route or jump right into rookie ball. They work their way up through the minors just the same.
"So much on my mind I just can't recline. Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 9, 2009 10:04 AM EST up reply actions
Hockey starts the process at 16, baseball at 18, fwiw.
What the hell, they’re all artifically constructted universes. It’s most likely all the same.
"You're gonna eat that g**d**n Koho, three!"
Not to mention this was an off-the-cuff rant, not a well-researched article.
"So much on my mind I just can't recline. Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 9, 2009 10:20 AM EST up reply actions
any child athlete who has their life re-arranged for their sport doesn’t have the same sense of “normal” as most people. I don’t want to say entitled, because I know lots who are just the nicest people you’ll meet (and some that you want to smack around a few times…), but they live in an entirely different world. It can be terribly difficult for them to adjust to either not being the best, or if they do leave that world, they can be very lost trying to navigate their way through normal life. There’s no “how-to” manual for transitioning from “hot shot” to role player or normal person, unfortunately.
Is hockey worse than basketball? In hoops, the talented kids get hanger-ons and slimeballs out to exploit the kid really quickly.
"No TV and no beer make Homer go something something."
My son played youth hockey in the Balt-DC area from age 6-18. He was an OK player, as were most, but most importantly he had fun and made good friends. It always amazed me how many parents thought their kid was going to be the next big thing, and how they constantly pushed them—camps, training, get on an all-star team, etc. One or two ended up playing in college, but most of it was a waste of money and a lot of pressure.
Just shoot me.
Not me
When my mother asked what I wanted to do in life while I was in elementary school and I said play hockey, she said, “Ya know, good hockey players are a dime a dozen”. The takeaway for a young me was, other people will excel at what you’d like to do most, don’t bother trying.
While it was true, and she wanted me to focus on school instead of hockey, it was quite a blow. I’m sure Jeff Halpern’s (who was playing for Wheaton at the same time) mother said that to him
Your favorite meme is dead
My parents were very supportive, and then they moved me to West Virginia with no rinks.
:(
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
In hindsight
Driving to practices and games for 10 years was pretty supportive and Halpern did go to Princeton, so I think she just wanted me to work harder in school also.
Your favorite meme is dead
Funny/sad story -guy I used to work with who coached, reffed and had 2 sons playing-he knew a kid who was a top player in the PA-MD area whose dream was to play at a major (unnamed) big-time college program. Applied to school, was accepted, and walked on. First day of tryouts, after about 15 mins the coach said “thanks, but we don’t need you.” Ouch.
Just shoot me.
DI schools almost never allow walk-ons. It’s not realistic. To get the recruits they want they need to promise ice time. A guy on my club team tried to walk on and the coach said he could probably play as a 4th liner but even that wasn’t a guarantee so he just decided to be a stud on the club team.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 9, 2009 6:24 PM EST up reply actions
I actually think the prima donna stuff is bigger in other sports. But I don’t really know. It does exist in hockey but there are plenty of examples of football and basketball stars getting away with horrendous behavior because they are good at sports. This is in no way unique to hockey.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 9, 2009 2:43 PM EST up reply actions
Or that only the humble guys make it because the entitlement guys never learn the work ethic to get there.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 9, 2009 2:41 PM EST up reply actions
Exhibit A
Marcus Vick
"I think the relentless negative coverage in The Washington Post is a real difference from previous years," Redskins general counsel David Donovan said. "But in terms of the way our actual fans are behaving, we don't see any difference."
Sorry that is wishful thinking on your part. Plenty of both both make it. There are some guys who are so talented that it makes up for a lot, especially when folks enable them.
A man gotta have a code
Right, but those are the stars. AO and Crosby could have whatever personality they wanted. You think Brooks Laich made it to the NHL with an entitlement attitude? Go through any NHL roster and see if you can find one team that has more than 5 guys that could have made it on skill alone. And even 5 is high, I bet there are only a couple teams in the league that could reach that. And even the guys that could make it on skill wouldn’t be the stars they are without the work ethic.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 9, 2009 3:17 PM EST up reply actions
Actually, I’d argue that Ovechkin is a hard work guy. He’s obviously excellent and extremely talented, but he wouldn’t be the player he is without that element. Semin’s the pure-talent guy.
by DrinkingPartner on Dec 9, 2009 3:18 PM EST up reply actions
I think I highlighted that point when I said:
And even the guys that could make it on skill wouldn’t be the stars they are without the work ethic.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 9, 2009 3:32 PM EST up reply actions
You can see that nearly your WHOLE comment registered.
Nearly.
by DrinkingPartner on Dec 9, 2009 4:12 PM EST up reply actions
And even the guys that could make it on skill wouldn’t be the stars they are without the work ethic.
Without the work ethic they are Yashin or Zherdev.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Dec 9, 2009 3:19 PM EST up reply actions
Or Jagr.
Now drink with me deeply of the bourbon, scotch, and rye until such time as we are fighting drunk.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Dec 9, 2009 4:20 PM EST up reply actions
No, not in all cases. I think we are talking about different topics in some ways. Bourne was talking about guys at differrent levels of pro hockey not just NHL As was I. However, even at NHL level in any pro sport there are guys who make it with one and not the other. Also, some guys have great work ethic when it comes to his/her sport and also feel entitled. They can be mutually exclusive.
A man gotta have a code
I guess we have different definitions of “make it.” Being the best through 18 and crapping out in the ECHL isn’t “making it” to me. The guys that have solid NHL careers by and large have tremendous work ethic. When was the last time you heard an NHL player rant about how meaningless practice is?
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 9, 2009 3:58 PM EST up reply actions
By and large they do. However there are some exceptions. Bourne’s piece was talking about at all levels and how the entitlement starts. I think we may be talking apples and oranges here.
A man gotta have a code
I dunno, I read that piece as sort of explaining how the entitlement attitude leads to failure in the long term. Being coddled and told you are the best leads to making excuses as to why another guy beat you out (“he was lucky”) and the guys with those attitudes crap out. It’s the guys that are taught to always work harder to excel that keep advancing. Maybe neither of us is right, who knows? It’s just two guys interpreting the same piece a little differently. I see your point though. Maybe when I get a chance I’ll re-read it.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 9, 2009 5:01 PM EST up reply actions
I like the part where he forgets everything he knows about hockey and runs around for three movies trying to find out who’s responsible.
"Oh, the usual. I bowl. Drive around. The occasional acid flashback."
by The Ghost of Bebop on Dec 9, 2009 12:08 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Love that guy’s work. He’s always a must read.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 9, 2009 2:38 PM EST up reply actions
On varly's calder chances
In the last 10 years:
Only 4 rookie goalies have eclipsed 25 wins. 3 won calder trophies, 1 lost to a 106 point ovechkin. (Henrik)
Considering tavares is leading the pack on pace for only 60 points, I think varly at his current pace is an absolute lock.
The only defenseman that won in those years did so when there wasn’t a goalie that broke 10 wins and there wasn’t a forward that broke 70 points.
by psuscott1 on Dec 9, 2009 9:13 AM EST via mobile reply actions 9 recs
Isn’t the pattern already obvious? Varlamov will convincingly, but quietly, be the best rookie in hockey. But someone else is going to win the Calder because, in the voters’ minds, he’s not a “real” rookie.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 9, 2009 9:15 AM EST up reply actions
I’ve been wondering how many of the pundits are foolishly forgetting that Varly is indeed still a rookie. His hype in the playoffs makes it seem like he’s been around for a while.
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
What drives me crazy is that he’s always a throw-in. Guys, either leave him off the list entirely because you don’t think he should be eligible, or put him where he belongs based on his performance. But don’t knock him down a few slots. That makes no sense at all.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 9, 2009 9:23 AM EST up reply actions
I think his start to the season dropped him off a lot of people’s radar. If he continues to play well his name will make more people’s lists. I think the “is he a rookie” thing certainly is an issue for some people, but I think that is a fairly small amount of folks.
Tavares has been the front runner for the 09-10 Calder for 2+ years now, that is how hyped the kid was. It will take time and outstanding numbers for someone else to challenge his candidacy.
A man gotta have a code
It’s why PPP calls the media “mittenstringers”.
They have a limited number of stories that they serve up, just changing the names around. They select the names by common consensus, and just roll with it. It does not have to actually reflect objective reality.
But never fear! One of the stories is “A guy we never saw coming has thrust his way into the [insert trophy] race”.
Varly will be getting his props after a while
"You're gonna eat that g**d**n Koho, three!"
While the number of wins may win him the award at the end of the season, the stats that are going to move him up the preliminary calder lists like on Hockey Future will be save percentage and shutouts, IMO. Easy to over look his record for now when he’s playing on the 1st place team. A couple more shutouts and cementing a place in the top 5 in save percentage will probably vault him up those charts.
It could be argued that we wouldn’t be a #1 team without solid goaltending.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
weThe Caps wouldn’t be a #1 team without solid goaltending
One could also argue that this simply isn’t the case. The Caps have more goals than anyone this year and they were pretty successful last year when their starter put up a 2.87 GAA and .900 SV%.
Oh get off my balls about the we stuff. Your point is valid, though.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
haha, I’m not going to disagree with a valid point just because you call me out for being gung-ho.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
I don’t know if I could blame folks for labelling Varly a non-rookie. he was thrown into a cauldron few first year players, let alone goalies, get thrown into.
But these are also the same folks who say Ovechkin wasn’t a real rookie because of the lockout and Sid deserved the Calder because he was a real rookie.
So f’ em.
Maybe his playoff performance should be considered, then, as it’s still part of his rookie resume.
And, by God, I THINK WE HAVE A WINNER!
by DrinkingPartner on Dec 9, 2009 2:43 PM EST up reply actions
Good stuff, but what happens when there are two goalies with ROY numbers (Varly and Rask)? Do they split the vote?
Good question. Last year Rinne put up 29-15-4/1.97/.917 and Mason was still able to pull out the Calder. Rinne’s numbers should have been good enough to win in Mason’s absence, but he wasn’t even a finalist.
Miller also put up rookie of the year numbers in 05-06 along with Henrik, but obviously Ovi and Sid destroyed their chances.
So based on last year I think he’s fine so long as he “out-wins” Rask and no forward comes out of nowhere with crazy numbers.
I think he’s probably fine, if for nothing else because Boston has the defending Vezina winner as their other goalie, and I’d think Julien may be hesitant to split games 50/50 among those two since they’ll likely be in a tighter division race, especially if Thomas’ hand is OK.
Varlamov’s going to have more chances to show/sway/impress voters.
"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 9, 2009 10:21 AM EST up reply actions
But that’s the thing – Thomas has been really subpar this year (he’s ruining one of my fantasy teams). If they’re in a tight race – Julien might pull a Bruce and just play Rask – Rask right now is holding up under the pressure… his GAA and SV% are a great deal better than Thomas’.
The frustrating part is I’m not sure how much of Thomas’ woes can be tied into the team’s, they’re not doing anything in front of him most nights. And I’d mulligan the Montreal game, nobody who came in there was going to win that one. But yeah, if Timmy doesn’t prove he’s back, then Rask becomes an easier choice.
"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 9, 2009 10:31 AM EST up reply actions
There was a stretch where Thomas was letting in only 2 or 1 goals, but the team wouldn’t score for him. Really sucks in my fantasy league where the only goalie statistic is Wins.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
That sounds like a ridiculous fantasy scoring setup.
"So much on my mind I just can't recline. Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 9, 2009 10:46 AM EST up reply actions
It's interesting, for sure
but I really like the league. It’s a points setup.. Goals and assists are 3 points, 1point for a PP point, +/- gives you +/- 1, .6 for 2 PIM, 10 for a goalie win, -4 for a goalie loss, 5 for a shutout, break even for a shootout loss.
My other goalie is Khabibulin.. You have to pick your starts. I’ll be a lot better prepared for next year’s draft.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
That sounds closer to a football setup than a baseball setup.
"So much on my mind I just can't recline. Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 9, 2009 10:52 AM EST up reply actions
I wouldn’t know, but it’s been fun. It’s a 10-keeper league and I took over a team (last place) with not the greatest keepers ever. Flipped a few big-name underperformers for sneaky good players (and drafted Gaborik), and I was in first place until both Thomas and Khabibulin and Semin and Lucic all got injured at the same time.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
Fantasy football usually awards a set amount of points for a given event, be it a touchdown, completed pass, fumble, etc. The winner of a matchup has the most points. Baseball tallies your team’s totals in different categories. The winner of a matchup has the most categories won.
The fantasy hockey leagues I’ve been in were closer to a latter, but yours sounds like the former.
"So much on my mind I just can't recline. Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 9, 2009 11:01 AM EST up reply actions
Considering his GAA/SV/SOs against his W-L, he’s almost the textbook definition of a hard luck loser right now.
"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 9, 2009 10:48 AM EST up reply actions
Wow. I applaud whoever had the luck to pick up Kipper. and Brodeur.
Yeah. He was playing well enough for a stretch. But Rask has been playing unbelievable. I got back into Toronto to see the Boston game, and he was very, very good. His individual stats are sliding in under Ryan Miller (who’s just as ridiculous.)
Actually, I think that’s five (Nabokov, Raycroft, Lundqvist, Miller, and Mason, according to the NHL.com stats going back over the past ten years), and none of them played in fewer than 48 games (Miller in 2005-2006). Is Varlamov going to get enough of the load to get serious Calder attention? He’s on a pace to get 44 appearances.
If you've read this far...seek help.
You’re right on the 5. I didn’t include Miller since Lundqvist had him beat that year.
While Varly is on pace for about 40 games, he’s also on pace for about 32 wins. I’m guessing the wins would matter more than the GP. The question is can he stick with this pace.
Would that defenseman have been Barrett Jackman?
by DrinkingPartner on Dec 9, 2009 2:40 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 9, 2009 3:01 PM EST up reply actions
Good to see Flash really open up and let his personality shine in the “10 things you should know about” interview….
Ha. Par for the course with that relatively worthless feature.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
They should do one with Brooks. Or have they?
"So much on my mind I just can't recline. Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 9, 2009 9:36 AM EST up reply actions
they did a few weeks ago, but i could never find a link to it that worked!
"No Brooks Laich, no win. Know Brooks Laich, know win."
I did a couple google searches but got nothing. It seems the Caps website is not very search friendly.
"So much on my mind I just can't recline. Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 9, 2009 9:42 AM EST up reply actions
“Campbellnomics” has way too much emphasis on shootout goals. Kind of hard to take seriously.
by turnituptoeleven on Dec 9, 2009 9:29 AM EST reply actions
I believe more in trickle-down Campbellnomics.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
So, I'm wondering
Do bag skates really work?
Perhaps we should hash out this very-important issue…
"You're gonna eat that g**d**n Koho, three!"
Heh, trying to get the comments rolling?
"So much on my mind I just can't recline. Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 9, 2009 9:38 AM EST up reply actions
Bag skates are not supportive enough.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
I was thinking about purchasing a pair. I’ll look elsewhere based on your recommendation.
"I think the relentless negative coverage in The Washington Post is a real difference from previous years," Redskins general counsel David Donovan said. "But in terms of the way our actual fans are behaving, we don't see any difference."
Burlap works the best. Pretty breathable, but a little itchy.
"So much on my mind I just can't recline. Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 9, 2009 9:59 AM EST up reply actions
I saw him play in person a couple of weeks ago in a 3-2 loss to the Coyotes. He still looks good to me. His save % is .916.The team in front of him didn’t play well that night I saw him, especially in their own end. He still handles the puck better than almost goalie in the league as well. He certainly looks better than he did last season. I think last season was an aberration for a lot of people involved with the Stars last year.
A man gotta have a code
Effective NHL goaltender, washed-up superstar.
Hockey players aren't like other people. Witt after being hit by a car:
I’m okay. No big deal...I’ve got to go play some hockey. I’m a hockey player.
Good way of putting it. I still think he’s a solid above average goalie, but he isn’t in the conversation of the elite goalies anymore.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Dec 9, 2009 2:05 PM EST up reply actions
Either way
Not a good question to be asking in a contract year. And here Cam Ward did him a huge favor if he could have regained his form.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 9, 2009 3:03 PM EST up reply actions
Duhatschek's Piece
Is it really anyting more than fluff? Just one more cookie cutter, from-the-template article.
Don’t get me wrong, if the Caps have arrived, that’s great.
But MSM media types aren’t likely to be the ones that announce it.
"You're gonna eat that g**d**n Koho, three!"
Duhatschek is terrible. As a rule.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 9, 2009 3:03 PM EST up reply actions
What Team Canada said about Green at camp...
Team Canada executive director Steve Yzerman is looking for speed and puck sense — two things Green has in abundance — but he’s also stressing the ability to play without the puck. That’s an area Green’s critics suggest the young man hasn’t yet reached Niedermayer’s class.
“(Green)’s a gifted, gifted player,” said head coach Mike Babcock. "I think it’s important that he continues to play the game and have fun and play at a high level offensively — but he’s got to be real good defensively as well. "
Has he passed muster? I say Green is the equivalent of Paul Coffey, if not Nik Lidstrom.
Would you leave Paul Coffey off your Olympic team?
“What he’ll learn as his career goes on is he’ll have the puck way more as he gets better defensively.”
I’m a big Olympics guy. I love them. From the Opening Ceremony to the Closing Ceremony and all the events between, I’m sold.
But…uh…ah…based on that Sochi celebration video Ovechkin appears in I don’t know if I can handle 4 hours of Russian pop singers and interpretive dancing opening night. Not that I don’t want to, but, yeah…
China set a pretty impressive standard, Russia. I’m not expecting you(or anyone, really) to match it, but you still got to bring it.
And by “it” I don’t mean techno.
MOTIVATE SEMIN
Yes. Please no Russian techno.
"So much on my mind I just can't recline. Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 9, 2009 10:10 AM EST up reply actions
I’m feeling the same way. My DVR works OT durning the Winter Olympics (summer… not so much). But I am excited both for Vancouver and then to see the Russians’ pride in playing in their home country.
I’d hate to have the NHL’ers miss out on that because I feel like the the Russians would have the same thing as 1980 and before… an “amateur team” made up of the best in the country under the guise of being the “army team”
Olympic hockey schedule
Does anyone know if there is going to be any sort of Olympic hockey schedule or will we be at the mercy of the media?
by _Skullduggery_ on Dec 9, 2009 11:17 AM EST up reply actions
Not sure what you mean. If you mean is the schedule for games set, the answer is yes. It’s up on the Vancouver 2010 website.
A man gotta have a code
Sorry. I mean is there a set schedule for when they will be televising games (will they be televising them live?) or will they be recorded and then televised whenever the networks feel like it?
by _Skullduggery_ on Dec 9, 2009 11:54 AM EST up reply actions
NBC hasn’t released their schedule yet. However, I believed they already announced that all of the hockey games will be shown live online on their Olympics website. My guess is since there isn’t a huge time zone issue that we’ll at least get the US games live on NBC. However, its NBC and given how they ruin OLY coverage who knows.
A man gotta have a code
That’s what I was afraid of. Oh well, hopefully they will have lots of alternate channels like they did for the summer olympics.
by _Skullduggery_ on Dec 9, 2009 12:21 PM EST up reply actions
they will. NBC will be taking full advantage of it’s “family” of channels and will broadcast on Bravo, MSNBC, CNBC, and the like.
Don’t forget UHD (I’m guessing they still have the rights on that one.) That channel was amazing for the last winter olympics. I watched curling non-stop.
Universal Sports? Yeah, they’ll be all over that one, too.
Have to say, I’m a huge fan of Universal Sports because it broadcasts “Olympic” sports live that rarely get coverage on ESPN and the like. Yay live downhill skiing!
and since Comcast and NBC Universal merged, there could be even more cable channels in play now
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
Universal Sports
I watch it daily – mostly for bobsledding and skiing, but any winter sport is fine enough. Commercials are horrid, though. Still, they do a lovely job on the bobs.
oh, you better believe that NBC is salivating over hockey this year. With the increasing likely hood of no American woman with a shot at an olympic medal in figure skating, NBC is looking more and more to the two dominate personalities in hockey to latch on to.
The US also has the lovely and talented bobsledders Shauna Rohbock and Erin Pak – great inspiration to stay in shape, especially when those suits are so unforgiving! – and of course the incomparable Ms. Lindsey Vonn, the best skier in the world, bar none. And gorgeous, too. Not to mention a wonderful role model. It will be a great Olympics — oh yes, and hockey too. I’m still hoping Fedorov adds a gold to his collection.
I took a sports in society class in college and one of the things we studied was NBC’s contrived and sensationalized coverage of the Olympics. The degree of control NBC has over every aspect of Olympic coverage is amazing.
"So much on my mind I just can't recline. Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 9, 2009 12:27 PM EST up reply actions
NBC has so much control over the Olympics that they managed to get the IOC to bend to their wishes and reschedule when events would be held so “prime” sports like gymnastics and swimming would be held first thing int he morning, to be broadcast live in prime time in the Eastern US. They also completely altered the event finals schedule for gymnastics, to spread it out over more days so they could jack up their ratings.
Well when you consider how much $$$$$ NBC is paying the IOC for the rights to broadcast the games, it makes sense.
However, NBC clearly didn’t set the hockey schedule.
All three of Canada’s round robin games start at 7:30 Eastern (7:45 when they wrap up group play against the US). Russia however has their first two games at Midnight eastern and their last group play game (against the Czech Republic) is at 3 Eastern.
The only US group game in prime time is the aforementioned game against Canada. The other two are both 3 pm Eastern Faceoffs.
If the U.S. and/or Canada can’t make the Top 4 rankings for a bye into the quarterfinals, then the U.S. game will be at 3 Eastern and Canada will be at 7:30 Eastern.
With consistent 7:30 starts and the extra 15 minutes before the U.S.-Canada game, the Canadian Rights Holder is clearly driving the hockey television bus.
Ted Leonsis Used to Recommend: http://capsnut.blogspot.com/
Everybody Wang Chung......
Please load brain before shooting off mouth.™
NBC really doesn’t care what time pool play or prelim sessions are. It’s medal rounds that are the real viewer haul, that’s what they care about. And while some with NBC are thrilled at the possibility of another Ovie-Crosby showdown, that’s apparently not shared by everyone. They’d much rather have some Americans to focus on.
From the Caps -
Michal Neuvirth is on the bus to morning skate which means he has been recalled to Wash. Varlamov is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
A man gotta have a code
Yikes. Not good. Hope Neuvirth’s solidified some since his last trip to Washington. Am thinking he’ll start at home vs. Carolina and Theodore gets Toronto?
Unleash the Alex!
Update
Bruce hopes to have Varlamov skating on Friday and playing in Toronto on Saturday according to the tweety twins.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
He's looking pretty cute today :P
I just hope that the NHL lets the players play in Sochi, I can’t see AO missing this.
"And next year it will be ours."
Random fact thingy of the day:
You can connect Tiger woods and Nicklas Backstrom pretty quickly. Nick is from Gävle, whose governor is Barbro Holmberg, who is the mother of Elin Nordegren, who is married to Tiger Woods.
Yea, I was pretty bored today…
"And next year it will be ours."
I think I can do it in two degrees: Backstrom is a hockey player, Tiger hates hockey.
"So much on my mind I just can't recline. Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 9, 2009 12:11 PM EST up reply actions
Wait, Kevin Bacon is an actor?
Winterion Game Studios
Visit us online at : http://winterion.com
by winterion on Dec 9, 2009 12:59 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Frankly, seeing the words “connect,” “Tiger Woods,” and “Nicklas Backstrom” conjures a mental image that is rather uncomfortable to contemplate.
If you've read this far...seek help.
Did you see George Lopez’ riff on Tiger last night? Pretty funny…wondered whether Gatorade might have to re-think their “Is It In You” ad campaign.
by mechanicsville on Dec 9, 2009 1:13 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah! Lopez mentioned that one, too. Schadenfreude is alive and well with this story.
by mechanicsville on Dec 9, 2009 1:19 PM EST up reply actions
Let’s just hope Gillette doesn’t come out with a pube version, or this will ascend to new heights of Amazingness.
by DrinkingPartner on Dec 9, 2009 1:24 PM EST up reply actions
Actually they just dropped his “Tiger” drink. They said it wasn’t selling and had plans to drop it before all this crap. I think he’s still technically a Gatorade spokesperson, though.
Well, when you take the same drink, put someone’s name on it and put it in a smaller bottle for more money, what did you expect? I never bought it, but it was at Costco next to the regular stuff, so I saw the price.
"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."
Do those “extra electrolytes” protect you from golf clubs to the face? Or your Escalade from trees?
by BradleyFightingVehicle on Dec 9, 2009 2:33 PM EST up reply actions
No, but they’ve got what plants want.
by DrinkingPartner on Dec 9, 2009 2:38 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Haha, golf clubs are no problem for those. They are only vulnerable to cheap shots from Daniel Carcillo! And even then they help the team win.
by BradleyFightingVehicle on Dec 9, 2009 2:41 PM EST up reply actions
If he were driving a BradleyFightingVehicle, the metal would have punctured and Tiger’d have been thrown out of the car and been impaled on the tree.
Paper thin skin does not a good vehicle make.
by DrinkingPartner on Dec 9, 2009 2:45 PM EST up reply actions
Regarding the Kukla Article
He says that he wants to see a stretch of “5-8 games of lockdown defense” before he’s “convinced” that the Caps are a legit defensive team. I have a couple of, um, issues with that.
1. As J.P. alludes, the Caps have finished a 10 game stretch where they have averaged 1.9 GA. They also are on the tail end of a 6-game stretch where they have averaged 1.5 GA. So I would say that Mr Kukla’s criteria are more than satisfied.
2. But are the criteria worth anything? I’ll cut out the suspense, and give you the answer: no, the criteria are as useless as a bucket of warm spit in a rainstorm. Five to eight games is simply not a long enough sample size to give you any indication of the true performance level of a team. You know this intuitively: in any eight game stretch, you can get a couple of tired teams, a couple of teams that just don’t show up, a couple of teams that have horrible luck and a couple of games where your goalie stands on his head. Having a low GAA for eight, or even 10, games is no kind of measuring stick.
3. And should Paul even be asking the question? With a GAA for the season of 2.67, the Caps are 10th in the league in that stat. Granted only 37% of the season has been played, so corrections are still well within the realm of possibility. Even so, I think you have to say that, on balance, the Caps have been a reasonable defensive club, particularly given the style they employ.
/sorry for numbering the sentences, force of habit.
"You're gonna eat that g**d**n Koho, three!"
by fat_daddyo on Dec 9, 2009 12:10 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
As much bunk as it is, I’m okay with him posting it.
#. It’s incentive for the guys to do it and serve up his crow with a side of humble pie.
#. A longer stretch of same benefits the team (and us).
#. Get the guys used to doing it, thinking that that’s the way the game ought to be played.
Unleash the Alex!
Question
bucket of warm spit in a rainstorm
Is this same bucket and its contents worth more when it’s sunny?
by mechanicsville on Dec 9, 2009 1:15 PM EST up reply actions
Waiting for Kukla
I was waiting for someone to tap this subject. Then I was away at lunch…
The who premise of the article means he’s gotta say something lacking about every team, what else should he have complained about?
But FYI the Caps are in the top 3rd in raw GA, and more than half of the league has played less games than the Caps.
- teams with less GA include the Flyers and Blues
- teams with more GA include the Penguins, Detroit and San Jose.
Really I thought the article was a bit lacking for Caps interests really
………………..
And is identifying that a bucket is half-full of warm spit being optimistic or pessemistic?
This opens a whole new angle on that old argument:
“What is the liquid in the glass?”
I have a call in to Voltaire to chime in on the optimism/pessimism question.
But I can say unequivocally that whoever’s bucket this is, has quite the active salivary glands.
by mechanicsville on Dec 9, 2009 2:39 PM EST up reply actions
Half Full/Half empty argument
It depends on if you are in the act of filling the glass or drinking the glass. What it’s filled with not withstanding
Your favorite meme is dead
But a glass of...
Motivation/perspective can determine if the statement is optimistic or pessimistic:
“At least I still have have a glass of my favorite beverage left to enjoy, thus…”
“Aw, I’ve already gone through half of my favorite beverage, thus…”
“Whew, I have managed to get through half this warm piss I have to drink, thus…”
“I still have half a glass of warm piss to down, thus…”
Oh, here it goes, here it goes, here it goes again: Per @TSNBobMcKenzie
Caps puts Nylander on waivers again…cue the “he’s going to Russia” stories…again. Not even going there on this one!
"And next year it will be ours."
haha, JUST saw that. oh dear… when will it end?
"No Brooks Laich, no win. Know Brooks Laich, know win."
The vultures have been circling for a while, let’s hope this thing is finally dead. Why else do you send him through waivers? Nobody bit last time, so I’d like to think it’s because some move is imminent.
"And next year it will be ours."
More like “We don’t want to wait 24 hours after he agrees to leave in case he changes his mind”.
"No TV and no beer make Homer go something something."
Yep: Per cmasisak22
Nylander is on waivers again b/c his 30 days of being clear is up. He went on Nov. 8.
"And next year it will be ours."
Random stat for the day.
NJD are 5-1 in the Gimmick
That is a Win Pct of .833. they’re getting lucky…
"You're gonna eat that g**d**n Koho, three!"
luck(y) = Mart(y)?
"I think the relentless negative coverage in The Washington Post is a real difference from previous years," Redskins general counsel David Donovan said. "But in terms of the way our actual fans are behaving, we don't see any difference."
Not really. Brodeur’s record in six shootouts is 5-1. He’s faced 19 shots in those six instances (meaning he’s gone to an extra round at a minimum one time). In any case, he’s averaged right around the standard (3.17 shots per shootout). And he’s allowed a goal in two thirds of them. The key is that Jersey is one of only two teams (STL being the other) with two players in the top ten in SO goals (Parise, Langenbrunner).
Marty’s getting help in the trick shot competiton. Vokoun has a better SV, and his record is 3-5.
If you've read this far...seek help.
Brads apparently did not make the trip to Buffalo. My first thought? Good for him.
Unleash the Alex!
Tank Bradley needs his Daddy for a little while.
by DrinkingPartner on Dec 9, 2009 2:22 PM EST up reply actions
He deserves the time off, that he gets to spend it with the new addition to his family is a plus. Additionally it gives his face a little more time to heal, BradleyFightingVehicle needs repairs.
In the meantime we’ve got plenty of other people who are more than capable of losing fights. I’m looking at you Clarkie!
by BradleyFightingVehicle on Dec 9, 2009 2:27 PM EST up reply actions
Or Sasha Bradley needs a husband for a little while.
"I think the relentless negative coverage in The Washington Post is a real difference from previous years," Redskins general counsel David Donovan said. "But in terms of the way our actual fans are behaving, we don't see any difference."
I wonder if it’s weird for Bradley that his wife’s name is the same as his teammate’s nickname? It’s gotta cross his mind when he says, “I love you, Sasha.”
"So much on my mind I just can't recline. Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 9, 2009 3:17 PM EST up reply actions
He knows about whom he’s thinking.
“…and he shoots and scores! I LOVE YOU, SASHA!”
by DrinkingPartner on Dec 9, 2009 4:14 PM EST up reply actions
Sasha Bradley would be an amazing hybrid hockey player.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
Iginla strikes me as a Semin-Bradley hybrid…highly skilled with plenty of grit. Ovie too for that matter, though he doesn’t drop the gloves.
by BradleyFightingVehicle on Dec 9, 2009 4:36 PM EST up reply actions
Sasha Bradley would be an amazing hybrid hockey player.
All the grit and discipline of Alex Semin, with the magic hands and creativity of of Matt Bradley?
The strength of Semin’s bones and joints combined with the toughness of Bradley’s skin?
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 9, 2009 6:03 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
The brains of Marilyn Monroe and the body of Albert Einstein
by Icebat on Dec 9, 2009 6:06 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
FYI:
Beginning this Friday, December 11th, CSN+ will be moving to channel 5 in Washington, DC. Viewers can go to csnwashington.com and enter keyword PLUS to locate CSN+ in their area.
Regular CSN tonight. Saturday’s game looks like it’s on CSN+ though. Bleh.
by mch on Dec 9, 2009 3:43 PM EST up reply actions
any talk of CSN+ in HD? Or at least SD? Because right now it’s just beyond terrible.
by _Skullduggery_ on Dec 9, 2009 2:46 PM EST up reply actions
Knowing players by their skating stride comes in handy at that point. You’re not going to be able to read any names or numbers..
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
That’s really the only benefit of CSN+, in that it forced me to recognize players by stride.
by _Skullduggery_ on Dec 9, 2009 2:56 PM EST up reply actions
Screencap from last CSN+ telecast
"So much on my mind I just can't recline. Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 9, 2009 4:38 PM EST up reply actions 6 recs
I actually preferred Nintendo Ice Hockey, mainly because where you shot wasn’t based on that strafing arrow. =)
Awesome 3d NIH link:
http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs43/f/2009/090/3/d/Nintendo_Ice_Hockey_by_NES__still_the_best.png
Music to go with:
http://www.nesplayer.com/icehockey/ice.mid
Winterion Game Studios
Visit us online at : http://winterion.com
I was always partial to Blades of Steel. Mostly because of the awesome sound effects.
"So much on my mind I just can't recline. Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 9, 2009 7:48 PM EST up reply actions
CSN needs to step it up. MASN announced that every ball game for both teams will be in HD next year.
It made me really happy when they announced that. i resent the Nats a lot less now that they won’t be kicking the O’s off the HD feed.
"So much on my mind I just can't recline. Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 9, 2009 3:18 PM EST up reply actions
“I don’t understand why we’re listening to customers.”
"No TV and no beer make Homer go something something."
by apk3000 on Dec 9, 2009 2:51 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
And if the picture weren’t bad enough, the highly-compressed audio that always has a screeching noise in the background is sure to drive you nuts in minutes.
by _Skullduggery_ on Dec 9, 2009 2:57 PM EST up reply actions
that mean, nasty self-centered Alex Ovechkin is at it again! (bolded by me)
Ovechkin on getting booed in visiting arenas: “Fans love me … and I love them. Some fans like my style of game, some fans no. Everybody have a different mind and everybody can think whatever they want. It doesn’t matter what happen, whether they boo me or not, I still love them because they are fans who come to watch hockey game and they support their team and not us.”
Recent photo of Ovie
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
by jordanDC on Dec 9, 2009 3:07 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
When was he last in New Jersey? It must not be that recent.
by DrinkingPartner on Dec 9, 2009 3:08 PM EST up reply actions
When did JC start plugging Mentos?
I think I saw this commercial. Isn’t it the one where he and the disciples get locked out of the car and he has to walk across water to go get the keys on the other side of the lake?
It was pretty good except for having the Benedictine monks singing the Mentos song.
Caps recalled Aucoin
according to @washcaps tweet.
Don’t know what to think about that.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
Wondering how nobody picked up on this until right now. Nobody in Hershey missed him? Nobody around the Caps noticed him?
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
I don’t really get the alternative. It obviously didn’t happen yesterday.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Dec 9, 2009 5:03 PM EST up reply actions
The alternative is that they’re sneaky and have body doubles.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
In that case, here’s hoping we get ten games with one Aucoin and ten games with the other before they’re eligible for waivers!
by sixsevenfiftysix on Dec 9, 2009 6:02 PM EST up reply actions
MP’s sick and Erskine’s still sitting? Alright, i suppose.
by DrinkingPartner on Dec 9, 2009 4:53 PM EST up reply actions
The big news is that, per @cmasisak22:
If Keith Aucoin plays two more games for the Caps, he has to pass through waivers to go back to Hershey.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Dec 9, 2009 5:05 PM EST up reply actions
Damn, beat me to it.
"So much on my mind I just can't recline. Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 9, 2009 5:06 PM EST up reply actions
That is actually old news. That was reported when he got sent down weeks ago.
A man gotta have a code
Well, of course. A more accurate statement would have been “to remind all of us, the big aspect of this news is…”
by sixsevenfiftysix on Dec 9, 2009 5:09 PM EST up reply actions
And it doesn’t have to be reported at all, because it’s merely NHL regulation. Look at all this extra typing you made me do, Omar.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Dec 9, 2009 5:12 PM EST up reply actions
If Keith Aucoin plays two more games for the Caps, he has to pass through waivers to go back to Hershey.
If Aucoin plays one more game for the Caps, Kyle Wilson jumps ahead of him on the depth chart…
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Dec 9, 2009 6:05 PM EST up reply actions
…and the Caps are that much closer to being one of the 3 smartest teams in the league.
You're the reason that I hate Nova Scotia.
by Fehr and Balanced on Dec 9, 2009 6:27 PM EST up reply actions
Interesting. I believe he only has a couple more games of waiver exemption. He may have to clear waivers when he is sent back down depending how long he’s up here.
"So much on my mind I just can't recline. Blastin' holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Dec 9, 2009 5:05 PM EST up reply actions
First two lines gonna have to do the heavy lifting tonight. Checking/grinding/energy lines a little thin tonight.
ALEX, FЯEE
That was a common state for the Caps at the beginning of this year. First two lines were great. While the third line was a disaster. (Actually, Aucoin and Laich are not that bad for the third line. I’m assuming that Brooksie is on the third line and Flash/Fehr on the second and Semin on the first.) Still, we have one “Top 6” caliber winger on the third line, no matter what.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Corey:
Lines for tonight: Ovechkin-Backstrom-Semin, Flash-Morrisonn-Fehr, Giroux-Aucoin-Laich, Sloan-Steckel-Clark
Pretty surprised that they would go to ShaMo at center. I mean, I know we’re trying to showcase him for other teams, but I doubt anyone will be that impressed.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Dec 9, 2009 6:43 PM EST reply actions
Game Thread?
Not doing one today?
Impromptu game thread in Fanposts?
Bueller? Bueller?
"You're gonna eat that g**d**n Koho, three!"
Ask and ye shall receive.
Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!
by Knee high to a duck on Dec 9, 2009 6:49 PM EST up reply actions
According to Hockeysverige.se there is some Nylander news.
Brothers Michael and Peter Nylander have a common problem at the moment, none of them play hockey right now. A common solution may be on horizon. According to Finnish mtv3.fi are the brothers offered as a package to clubs, among them teams in the Finnish SM-liiga.
Michael Nylander have been out in the cold for quit some time. Nylanders club the Washington Capitals.The season is already halfway into December and he still hasn’t played a single NHL game, only five for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL. Last month the 37-year-old were close to being loaned to the KHL, but nothing concrete came from that.
Peter Nylander 33, got fired last month by his KHL club Amur Khabarovsk and has yet to sign with another club. Now it remains to be seen if any club is interested in delivering a Christmas package with the two Nylander brothers in it.
by Ice Warrior on Dec 10, 2009 8:57 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
82 | 54 | 15 | 13 | 121 |
|
Atlanta
|
82 | 35 | 34 | 13 | 83 |
|
Carolina
|
82 | 35 | 37 | 10 | 80 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
82 | 34 | 36 | 12 | 80 |
|
Florida
|
82 | 32 | 37 | 13 | 77 |
(updated 4.12.2010 at 9:21 AM EDT)
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