Game Day - Flyers @ Capitals
by J.P. on Feb 24, 2009 6:42 AM EST
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When the Caps last faced the Flyers, Viktor Kozlov's shootout goal gave Washington a much-needed win over their biggest rival in a game that Bruce Boudreau did his best Don King impression in promoting (visualize that for a moment).
Since then, the Flyers have gone 10-7-0 and seem to be headed for a fourth-place finish in the Eastern Conference, meaning they won't be on the Caps' plate in the first round of the playoffs. But that's getting way ahead of ourselves, of course, and the task at hand is tonight's Flyers team.
Interestingly, both the Caps and Philly are coming off home games against the Pens, but with different results (a 5-2 Caps win and a 5-4 Flyers loss), thanks in large part to Flyer netminder Martin Biron's bizarre blunder (the Caps, unfortunately, will draw back-up Antero Niittymaki tonight). Philly's Mike "Louganis" Richards was named the NHL's First Star of the Week on Monday, and has shorthanded goals in three straight games (the entire Flyer penalty kill warrants significant attention), and Scott Hartnell has horrible hair.
Look, at this point I don't need to tell you that it's a big game - you know that if the Caps are playing a team from the Keystone State with a yapping diver wearing the "C," it means a little more. Let's hope this one goes as well as Sunday's.
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There is nothing so savagely indulgent
as anticipating a Flyers game, especially when its a home game.
There are few things in sports I HATE more then the Philadelphia Unspeakables.
I will officially be useless at work today as I sit in my office and brood over the blood and mayhem I hope to see tonight.
Crosby to Richards
From one whiny western Pennsylvania center to an equally whiny eastern Pennsylvania center. And who says schedule makers don’t have a sense of humor. Let’s hope the Caps don’t say anything to offend Pierre Maguire’s sensibilities. At least Jeff Carter won’t have to buy any tickets tonight.
Seriously…We wouldn’t have needed 28 shots on goal in the first period of that first game if someone had tapped a rebound in.
But that hair…Never has anyone’s head made me so angry
this is what got lost in semin’s crosby rant.
“anyone can stand in front of the net and get 50 goals” (paraphrased).
REALLY? GIVE ME A FEW OF THOSE GUYS!
by Natty Bumppo on Feb 24, 2009 11:43 AM EST up reply actions
Flyboys look pretty good on paper
Top 5 PP, top 10 PK, same number of regulation losses as the Caps, bunch of scoring on the team…on the whole, a much stiffer test than the Pens, I think.
Still think the Caps come out on top, but they’re gonna have to stay out of the frickin’ box a little more tonite. And be a bit wary when the puck is at the top of the zone on the PP.
Would it be too much to hope for a simple game plan? Get it deep, forecheck hard and put some rubber on Nitty…
Playing the Flyers is much different than playing the Pens. I think you can out-skill the Pens and win (not every time, though), but to beat the Flyers, you almost always have to out-work them.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
At least when their goalies decide to show up.
Seriously, how is it that they both seem to give us so much trouble when they’re usually otherwise so mediocre? Maybe Nitty won’t be in Vezina-form tonight.
Its sick, but part of me hopes that the Flyers don’t take too many penalities. This Caps team has a lot of fire power on the PP, but they also have the potential to give up a lot of odd man rushes.
This is a scary Flyers PK.
The Caps’ PP is scary, too – 13-for-36 (36.1%) in the last 11 games.
I’ll take my chances.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
scary pk
Depends on what PP shows up – if lazy-points PP, we’re doomed.
@snow
yes Carter scored short-handed when they won 7-1.
I hate to say it, but
Richards, for my money, is the best young two-way center in the East—every bit Backstrom’s equal, and more. No sale on the diver tag, either, despite the +1 funny from Errey. Richards draws a lot of fouls because they guy hustles all the time—the video is just exhibit A of bad refereeing, and Staal is justified to bitch (who knew?). 99 times out of 100, the guy who is moving his feet is going to get the call.
Richards is a better player right now, but let’s not forget he’s been in the league two more years than Nik. Richards’ first two seasons (34 & 32 points respectively) don’t even come close to Backstrom’s. Give Nik two more years and I don’t anyone will be comparing the two. Richards is a heart and soul type player, but Backstrom has the talent to become one of the truly elite players in the league, a perennial 100 point per season performer. I don’t see Richards with that kind of upside.
Poti
Has anyone else notice Tom Poti carrying the puck deep into the offensive zone and skating (sometimes) below the goal line? I don’t think the Caps have gotten burned on this yet, but its definitely something I’ll be watching for tonight.
by Simply Sensational on Feb 24, 2009 12:20 PM EST reply actions
yup, same with 52. PHI loves that stretch play too, if only to keep people honest.
by bigonetimer on Feb 24, 2009 12:41 PM EST up reply actions
Don’t even get me started on that Pittsburgh commentator. He was the biggest load of crap I’ve ever had to listen to, praising Crosby just after for far more Louganisian tactics.
http://flyerfrequent.blogspot.com/2009/02/most-worstest-goal-ever-for-all.html
I’ll be there tonight, should be good times.
Swing by The Flyer Frequent if you have nothing better to do.
I think we, collectively, have a lot of admiration and the good kind of hate for Richards around here. But that, my friend, was a big-time dive.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I presume this is the play you mean:
http://vodpod.com/watch/1380197-mike-richards-is-a-diver
Frankly, I don’t even think Richards was trying to dive there to draw a penalty (if so, worst dive ever). I thought he was diving to try to knock the puck out of the zone but misjudged how far it was from him.
The ref that called that a trip should be fired on the spot. Seriously.
No, this is the worst dive ever.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I agree. I don’t think Richards was trying to draw a call — he was clearly swatting at the puck.
by Gould Old Days on Feb 24, 2009 3:20 PM EST up reply actions
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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 3:26 AM EST)
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