Recap - Capitals 4, Thrashers 3
by J.P. on Feb 27, 2009 7:00 AM EST
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[AP Recap - Game Summary - Event Summary - WashingtonCaps.com Postgame]
As the Caps have demonstrated time and again this season, on many nights they don't have to be at their best to bank points in the standings.
Sure, there was a lot to like in last night's 4-3 win over Atlanta - the power play, Alex Semin's effort and Michal Neuvirth's game jump to mind - but certain problems lingered and against a better opponent, could have proven costly (then again, against a better opponent, the Caps might well have put forth a more robust effort). But on the Caps did what they had to do and end the night two points richer.
Some thoughts on the game:
- Alex Semin had his most focused and complete game in weeks, with a beautiful goal, a pair of assists, seven shots on goal, two takeaways, no giveaways and 2:14 of shorthanded ice time. That last stat may be the most important in many ways, as giving Semin PK duties (which he happens to perform quite well) seems to tighten up the rest of his game (in a good way).
- Michal Neuvirth, in only his second NHL start (yes, Tampa and Atlanta still count as NHL teams) was very solid. His rebound control was fantastic and he made all the saves he needed to make. He was beaten twice on wristers, but a little more decisiveness and confidence and he'll probably be stopping those. Did he earn another home start on Sunday? I sure think so.
- The Caps had the Thrashers on the ropes at 2-0, but let Atlanta get back to 2-2. One more goal with the two-goal lead and it would've been game over, early.
- Perhaps someone smarter than I can explain this sequence of events: Rich Peverley gets his stick up under Alex Ovechkin's visor (and somehow, two referees miss it); Ovechkin tussles with Marty Reasoner; Donald Brashear then fights Eric Boulton. How on earth is Brash "doing his job" there?
- The defense in front of Neuvy - with one glaring, horrid "parting of the Red Sea" exception on the Peverley goal felt like a flashback to the last Kings game - was solid, allowing just 13 even strength shots against all night.
- Sergei Fedorov put on a clinic in the faceoff circle, winning 15 of 21 (71%) of his draws. As a team, the Caps won 60%, and even Nicklas Backstrom was on the right side of 50% (4-for-6).
- The Caps' power play - 3-for-7 on the night - was the difference, thanks in no small part to a 13-for-19 (68%) success rate in the dot.
- It's hard to envision Michael Nylander getting back in the lineup any time soon without an injury necessitating it. The team is simply better without him.
- Perhaps related to that last point, David Steckel had another outstanding game and is showing that he can be a third-line center.
- Matt Bradley led the team in hits in just 6:59 of total ice time.
- Speaking of ice time, why is Tomas Fleischmann getting more than five minutes more of it than Eric Fehr? And if your answer is "special teams," I'll re-ask the question.
- One last point on ice time - the Comcast folks (I believe it was Lisa Hillary pre-game) made the point that some of the Caps' penalty woes are the result of players taking extra long shifts. Well, it may not have resulted in penalties on Thursday, but it resulted in at least one goal - the Todd White shorty after Ilya Kovalchuk beat an exhausted Mike Green on a puck along the boards - and Ovechkin's 1:16 average shift time for the game is simply absurd. Keep an eye on that.
- Viktor Kozlov had a good first game back from his groin injury, and actually was probably the best guy on his line - quiet night for AO and Backstrom (with the exception of AO's amazing jump to the inside/shot from his duff move).
- Milan Jurcina and John Erskine were used sparingly and their spots picked carefully. This is what it will look like when the games matter, you'd think.
And so the Caps conclude a winning homestand (3-2-0) and head to Boston (where the B's beat down the Ducks on Thursday night) for a biggie Saturday. Winner gets Pronger?
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The second goal was in no way, shape, or form Neuvirth’s fault, but I thought he probably should have had the third. His stats on the night aren’t that good, though, and while I really like his game and think he’ll be good in a couple of years, I was a little disappointed. (Maybe my expectations were too high.)
Plus, he’s adorable. :)
I was kind of “meh” on the game last night. We don’t play with enough of an edge or killer instinct. Hopefully that will change.
I didn’t say the second one was his fault, but he sorta froze on it, probably expecting a deke rather than the shot. The blame for that one, however, falls on the five guys in front of him, for sure.
I thought he was very solid and poised.
And yes, “meh” was the first word (?) that came to my mind as well.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Agreed.
He did kind of freeze. I think you’re right that a little more decisiveness and confidence will serve him well, and in a couple of years he’ll be a bonafide #1.
Two goalie prospects with the potential to be #1’s, in different styles. Man that’s a good dilemma to have.
Two goalie prospects with the potential to be #1’s, in different styles. Man that’s a good dilemma to have.
Braden Holtby might take offense to the first sentence.
"Good crowd out there tonight, boys, let's really try to win this one."
by Bald Pollack on Feb 27, 2009 9:41 AM EST up reply actions
Did we sign him?
I didn’t count him because I didn’t think we’d signed him yet.
But if we’re talking him as well, then I think that we should move one of Varly and Neuvirth to make room for him, because he sure has looked good this season.
3 year deal in October.
"Good crowd out there tonight, boys, let's really try to win this one."
by Bald Pollack on Feb 27, 2009 10:03 AM EST up reply actions
Doh.
I missed that somehow, or it slipped my mind. Thanks for the reminder.
Are we getting a point where we have too many good goalie prospects?
I don’t think so, for a couple reasons. One is that Holtby’s has a good year, but he’s far from being a blue chip prospect. The other is that there’s a lot of value to having two good goaltending prospects. If the Capitals wind up with a third, it’s just great trade bait.
I’d def wait on grading Holtby until he plays professional hockey. Isn’t he actually the backup on his junior team? I understand that the guy in front of him is supposed to be awesome, but when you’re second string at any level, you clearly aren’t the “best prospect”.
You're thinking of Dunn...
…and that’s college hockey (the guy ahead of him is a year older so it’s less an ability question).
Holtby is the #1, one of the top goalies in the WHL, setting some team goaltending records, etc. He’s definitely having a good year.
Yeah, Holtby’s one of the WHL’s leading minute getters.
I’m not sure I agree that being second string at a lower level means you’re not a good prospect, though, given that what it takes to succeed at a lower level can be different than the tools it takes to make a good prospect at the next level.
A good example, albeit from a different sport, is Brandon Jacobs. Couldn’t get hardly any playing time at Auburn behind Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown, but Jacobs is a very good NFL running back.
but that didn’t make him a “blue-chip prospect”, mainly because he was second string. I’m certainly not doubting anyone’s ability simply because they aren’t the starter, just saying that in the terms of “prospectdom” if you’re not the starter, you’re probably not the A#1 prospect either. Sometimes it has nothing to do with ability per se, as in the case of Brandon Jacobs. (although personally I don’t think he’s worth the franchise tag the Jints put on him)
If the Capitals wind up with a third, it’s justgreat trade baitmore room to have one go to LA.
/Dafoe’d
Based on the chalk talk the other night, sounds like McPhee might have him go to the A, but I’m reading a little into the tea leaves.
"Good crowd out there tonight, boys, let's really try to win this one."
by Bald Pollack on Feb 27, 2009 10:43 AM EST up reply actions
Re Nylander
It’s hard to envision Michael Nylander getting back in the lineup any time soon without an injury necessitating it. The team is simply better without him.
That’s really the simple truth of the matter isn’t it? I’ve tried to hold out on Nylander all season, hoping something would get him to come around but it has gotten to the point where I just don’t see it happening. I think if you’re McPhee you have to seriously consider buying him out this offseason.
Ovechkin needs to “accidentally” ram Nylander into the boards. LTIR here we come!
In all seriousness (I never wish an injury on any player), a Nylander buyout, just to open up a slot on the team doesn’t sound that bad.
by OvechkinLaichsSemin on Feb 27, 2009 8:49 AM EST up reply actions
What we need is Nolan Yonkman back, stat.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Feb 27, 2009 8:50 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
(Flashback, for some of our newer fans)
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Hey now.. that’s only from 2003.
Oh man.. this is 2009 isn’t it? Weird.
by OvechkinLaichsSemin on Feb 27, 2009 9:27 AM EST up reply actions
You know what’s weird? When you’re coaching a kid or something and they bring up that they were born in, like, 2002.
How long until kids have never heard of DVDs?
by OvechkinLaichsSemin on Feb 27, 2009 10:43 AM EST up reply actions
Agreed
I’m loving the Caps front office, and their approach to building a winning franchise. Such a breath of fresh air living in this area and being a lifelong ‘skins fan. But nobody’s perfect, and you know if they could to it over again they wouldn’t have taken Nylander on the deal they gave him. He frustrates the bejesus out of me when he’s on the ice. Slow, suspect low percentage passing attempts, and almost always the same move when he enters the offensive zone. I know the guy is probably trying hard, but he just doesn’t seem to have it anymore. Especially frustrating when put on the Ovechkin line., i just can’t figure out what they are trying to do when they put him there.
by japerscreepers on Feb 27, 2009 9:03 AM EST up reply actions
Nylander is a different animal.
Nylander was acquired for the Glen Hanlon Caps, not the Bruce Boudreau Caps. They’re two night-and-day-different teams, and I think Nylander’s still got upside on a team that doesn’t run and gun with the speed and flash like this season’s team does. He just doesn’t fit.
I’d agree that we need to buy him out or move him if we can – I sure didn’t miss him in the lineup last night. Anyone else think that the lines we saw last night are the lines we take into the playoffs? Defensive pairings are something else again and may be subject to change, but I think we saw our forward lines last night.
totally agree on the statement regarding our forward lines (barring injury ofcourse)… there is a nice little something about all 4 lines it seems..
Yes.
Moreover, the chemistry and character of each line just felt right somehow. All four of the lines seem to click with each other.
Second verse same as the first so I won’t harp on the effort.
1) I have concluded that Brash is essentially worthless to everyone except www.hockeyfights.com. He is too good at what he does to “send a message” to anyone other than the opposing team’s tough guy. There is no way that Rich Peverley, who should have been at least roughed at some point, is going to fight Brash. Brash isn’t a deterent, he’s a side show.
2) Neuvirth was good, but not spectacular. I don’t blame him for any of the goals, but I would have like to see him make a save on one of them.
3) Its a much better team without Nyls, which is both sad and frustrating.
4) Good to have Kozy back. I thought he was strong on the puck and fit right back it without any real problems.
5) Ovi wasn’t much of a factor. I thought for sure that when he got clipped that was lights out for Atlanta, but he was really a non-factor all night. (Saving his energy for the weekend?)
6) I said last night that the last goal was a result of Greenie staying out for the entire PP. I wouldn’t think that Kovalchuk could beat Green with a 2 stride headstart but he certainly did there. Hopefully Green’s ice time can come down a bit because I think he’s playing entirely too much right now.
The radio post game show say that Neuvirth is going to start on Saturday against Boston. Not sure if that was something misunderstood? But they said it came from Bruce.
I wouldn’t be shocked to see Neuvirth on Saturday. He’s been very good in both starts and I don’t really think you can fault him for any of the four goals he has allowed on the season, but I would imagine the team wants to see what he can do against playoff caliber competition before the deadline rolls around.
Florida on Sunday at home is playoff caliber. Boston on Saturday on the road is just throwing him to the wolves.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Agreed. Playing Neuvirth against Boston would be downright unfair to the kid. He was OK last night. Definitely not bad, but hardly great. I can’t fault him on any of the goals, but aside from the first one, the second and third goals could have been stopped by a great play. He’s going to be good, but if Theo gets hurt I seriously doubt he’s going to lead this team deep into the playoffs (and that’s not a knock on him). On another note, if I were a first-time hockey fan who paid good money just to see Ovechkin, I’d have walked away after last night’s game wondering what the big deal was about. AO was about as ordinary as I’ve ever seen him. I guess even the greats have a night off.
I'm okay with that.
If he takes the night off against Atlanta and comes up aces against Boston, I’m a happy girl :)
After seeing him last night, I don’t think he could handle Boston. I would like to see him start against Florida, though. We need to see what the kid can do, and Florida’s a good measuring stick.
The first two goals were not his fault, but I do think that he should have had the third. Like JP says above, a little more decisiveness and it was his. Experience, probably.
Both Tarik and Corey, I believe, had Bruce committing to JT on Saturday, and they’re a lot better than the postgame radio guys, but you never know.
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They only said that because Warner is an idiot...
…and misinterpreted Bruce’s comments. Tarik asked about Theo starting this weekend, saying he assumed he’d get both starts. Bruce said he’d give him (Tarik) Saturday at least, meaning that’s all he’d reveal right now, and that he could quote him on Saturday. Warner (or whoever was listening for FNR, although I think Warner is usually the one at the interview) interpreted that to mean Neuvirth was getting Saturday, even though Tarik clearly asked about Theo and that was what BB was responding about.
It wouldn’t surprise me to see him get Sunday or Tuesday just because a larger sample size is better. Unless GMGM’s already made up his mind, that is…
by brs03 on Feb 27, 2009 10:34 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Brash
JP I really enjoy your comments and analysis so I’d like to ask, perhaps in your view an ignorant question, how did Brash not hold up his end of the bargain? Or more plainly what would you had rather seen him do, or do more of? I was furious at the refs missing the call, and forgive me for being biased but it seems to me the Caps still don’t get the penalty respect for their star players that other teams do, and other teams have in the past. E.g. I cannot imagine that call being missed in the mid 90’s on Lemeiux even back when there was only one referee on the ice.
Thanks!
Thanks for the kind words, and there are no ignorant questions, just ignorant people. Kidding. Sorta.
Anyway, I just don’t see what good it does for Brash to go out and throw with the other team’s designated punching bag. What would I have liked him to do? Been on the ice for Peverley’s next shift, skated up to him, grabbed him by the collar and shaken him a bit. Two minutes? Fine. You could bet that AO would’ve gotten a little more space the rest of the way. But why stop with the stick work if you know the only repercussion is that your goon is going to have to do what he’s paid for?
And I agree 100% that it was an inexcusable missed call on the high stick.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
What would I have liked him to do? Been on the ice for Peverley’s next shift, skated up to him, grabbed him by the collar and shaken him a bit. Two minutes? Fine. You could bet that AO would’ve gotten a little more space the rest of the way. But why stop with the stick work if you know the only repercussion is that your goon is going to have to do what he’s paid for?
Yeah, it was the proximity of it all that was annoying. AO takes a stick to the face with 4 minutes left in the first, and Brashear fights Boulton 3 minutes into the second? It’s almost like the bear had to get woken up to be reminded that he was a bear, if that metaphor makes any sense.
"Good crowd out there tonight, boys, let's really try to win this one."
by Bald Pollack on Feb 27, 2009 9:09 AM EST up reply actions
I really felt like Brash’s fight had nothing to do with AO getting cracked. It had more to do with momentum after that Caps had looked really average after taking a commanding lead. If thats the reason (momentum swings) to keep him on the team, then GMGM should save the cap space.
The fact that OVI had to do his own policing is a travesty. How did nobody on the ice stick up for the boy?
I don’t think fighting really changes much for a team’s momentum…Great, you’ve got 2 guys who are your fighters, not your scorers, not your puck stoppers or stealers fighting and then sitting down for 5 minutes, which they probably would be doing even if they hadn’t fought.
The game stops for the duration of the fight. It really is just a side show or a minigame. Its pointless. It would make more sense for your enforcer to enforce. Board the guy, rough him up, don’t fight his enforcer.
I think we need to consider the actual infraction that occurred. Sure it was a careless high stick, but who honestly thinks that Peverly intentionally did that because it was Ovechkin? I don’t, and I don’t think Brash needed to do anything because of it. Trying to pin anything on Brash is a real stretch. I loved Ovie’s reaction, and wish he did more of that. Of course I don’t want him taking roughing penalties all the time, but this was a rare missed call on a blatant high stick and he was more pissed off because it probably stung like hell. Brash skating around trying to get at Peverly the rest of the period isn’t the answer.
Agreed. But if Brash clearly delivers a message, opponents will be less careless with their stick. A batshit crazy Brashear is much scarier than the aging boxer.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
But if Brash clearly delivers a message, opponents will be less careless with their stick.
Can we get Brash to deliver a message to Semin?
by b.orr4 on Feb 27, 2009 9:58 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I also am thinking about this another way. What if the roles were reversed, and it was someone like Flash who high sticked Kovalchuk. Then we’d have to expect Boulton to be looking to go after him later on. We would also certainly expect Brash to step in and try to prevent that, which is what I think Boulton did last night by fighting Brash.
Isn’t that more Bradley’s job to go after Peverly than Brash’s? Peverly’s a middleweight. I don’t think he’s going to be intimidated by Brash because he knows Donald would never drop the gloves with him. Brads would be a different story. I agree that Brash’s role is very limited because his reputation scares away just about everyone. His fight with Boulton was dumb and it only happened because Boulton kept going after him. Beyond that it was boring. After Boulton dropped the gloves all he wanted to do was hang on for five minutes so he couldn’t get hit. They looked like two bears wrestling.
You might be right about Bradley, but it kind of begs the question as to why Brash is there. I actually like the way he hustles on offense – he can be a force in the corners – but if you are getting paid a relatively large amount for your fighting skills and 90% of your fights fall into the personal long-term grudge match category, I’m not sure you’re impacting the game all that much.
I still like Donald, but there are times when it would perhaps be appropriate for him to take a roughing minor to send a message (just don’t go overboard and end up in the box for 7 minutes).
I actually made a comment to the folks that sit next to me that I thought The Donald should have been the first one on the ice after OV’s penalty was over….even though it means back to back penalty kills. At some point the TEAM needs to send a message that their star won’t be messed with. Yes OV hits and gets into scrums…and I love it…but he shouldn’t have to…that’s what the Donalds, bradley’s, erskines, steckles…well everyone but OV, Semin, Backs and Flash…get paid to do.
I think that anytime OV feels he’s been slighted it shoudl be considered messing. I don’t care if the stick up high was intentional or not….if the fear of reprisal is there, maybe it doesn’t happen…and once it did happen there has to be a reaction from the TEAM…not OV.
If he was slighted by anyone it was the refs more than Peverly. And let’s give Ovie a little more credit for being able to stand up for himself. He’s been a freight train for four years now and should be willing to get in a scrum once and a while. I didn’t see him messed with the rest of the game yesterday, did you?
No, but the fewer scrums he’s involved in and the fewer times opposing players take a run at him = less chance of being injured.
Many a career has ended prematurely due to injury.
I guess that when someone runs in Theo you’re against the dmen assaulting that player also?
Stop calling it a scrum, a scrum is a rugby term for one of the most organized things in sports. If you want to use a rugby term a Ruck or a Maul is more appropriate…or even a melee. I hate it how people use scrum to describe a disorganized shoving match
You're correct, but stop being so sensitive, it's got more than one def.
1 or scrum·mage \ˈskrə-mij\ : a rugby play in which the forwards of each side come together in a tight formation and struggle to gain possession of the ball using their feet when it is tossed in among them ; also : the arrangement of players in a scrum b: a usually brief and disorderly struggle or fight : scrape , scuffle
2 British : madhouse 2 b: a usually tightly packed or disorderly crowd
It’s become a pet peeve of mine :-)
I feel like if you’re using an obvious sports reference you should use sports definition…it would be like saying that Ovie got a hole in one after 5 shots on goal, the 6th going in. Or saying that Semin mishandled the pass from Backstrom because it was a bit of a googly. Or saying that Ovechkin doesn’t add up to LeBron James because he’s never had a triple-double.
Just because a commentator says it, doesn’t make it true.
What is a definition? Websters dictionary defines it as…
What makes the word “scrum” an obvious sports reference? It is used to describe a sports play, sure, but over the last 1000 years it branches out just a bit, don’t ya think? Go poll 100 people on the street and tell me how many of them define the word scrum as, “a rugby term for one of the most organized things in sports”. It’s all about common usage…
Hole-in-one is a term, not a single word. Same with triple-double. And “googly”, well outside of the 10 countries that seriously play cricket, and the eleventy billion people that live there, you’ll be hard pressed to find a Canadian, American, Swede, or Russian who really knows what your talking about anyway.
I think there's a different problem here.
Someone touched on this earlier in the thread, but it’s a conclusion I came to after the Pens game. I think the problem that Brash has is that he is too good at what he does and he has too good of a reputation to be able to do his job effectively. Godard turned him down on Sunday – it’s not that he didn’t offer so much as nobody bit. Nobody wants to go with Brash, and the instigator penalty really ties his hands a lot.
Maybe he needs to take an instigator penalty. After the Ovi high-stick, I’d’ve considered an instigator penalty a good and necessary penalty.
I think the argument there is that when the infraction is severe enough, Brashear ignores whether someone “wants” to go and takes the additional penalty, like he did in the season opener when Bogosian hit Steckel from behind.
I don’t think that response was necessary last night, per se, but that’s what I’d like to see more often; especially when people are crashing the net too hard.
The only comment I have on this is something that I recall reading in The Code (good read if anyone hasn’t read it). I recall a few of the tough guys interviewed saying that of someone (Player A) ran a player on the other team, and the tough guy from team A had to fight the tough guy from team B, then team A’s tough guy would be pissed at Player A and often take it out on him in practice or let him know that “next time I won’t take your lumps for you.”
Not saying this is what happened, also I don’t know if this is true in the post-lockout NHL or how true it ever was to begin with, but just throwing it out there.
That might be true in some cases, but I’m surprised so many people are treating yesterday’s incident as Peverly taking a run at Ovechkin. It was an accidental, yet blatant, high stick that wasn’t called. It just happened to be against Ovechkin. He’s gonna get clipped from time to time, and in my opinion, the Code doesn’t apply here.
I don't think it was deliberate...
But Brash running the ref would have been satisfying :) (Off topic, was it me or was the ref in the way all freakin’ night?) Oh, I know you can’t do that, but the image of Brash trashing the idiot took me to my happy place.
I noticed that too, about the refs being in the way. Specifically I remember Kozlov bringing the puck down the wing and screaming for the ref to get the hell outta the way.
I do believe the entire concept of a ref is to not impact the game – to go unnoticed.
This crew must have missed that day of class.
by OvechkinLaichsSemin on Feb 27, 2009 10:51 AM EST up reply actions
clearly they studied at the Bill McCreary School of Douchebaggery
nothing will beat McCreary tackling Morrison last year:
I should work blue more often. :)
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I respectively disagree. I do not think Peverly was taking a run at OV. But one of the first things I learned when I started playing hockey is that I…ME MYSELF AND I…am responsible for my stick. Call or no call, intentional or accident…Peverly is responsible for his stick. And you’re right there is a double standard…if it had been Gordon that was clipped, you’d hear very little argument from me. But OV isn’t Gordon..he is the best player in the world. If someone takes a run at Peverly later on, it’s not just sending a message to him, it’s sending a message to the entire league…watch what you do around OV, or we’re coming after you.
There are two levels to this I think both have been touched on here:
1) If Ovi gets dinged, intentional or not, the team needs to rally around him. Not doing so is a problem, not because it was a particularly egregious foul by Peverley, but because it opens the door for more (less accidental) stuff.
2) Brash is not all that effective in his current role. He’s too big, too bad, and too limited by the instigator penalty to intimidate anyone. Peverley wasn’t scared of Brash last night, maybe Ovi, but not Brash. If that is the case, what is his role here.
As a hypothetical, what happens if Peverley boards Ovi? It isn’t going to be Brash that makes him pay. It would necessarily fall to Brads or Erskine but there is no way that Peverley would ever get in a tussle with The Donald. In today’s NHL, as I said above, Donald is a side show.
So Boulton’s angry at Peverley. I feel all better now. :)
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Gotcha
I see, so you want Brash to be to Ovechkin as McSorely was to Gretsky.
Do NHL refs get graded after each game like NFL refs? I mean that play had to lower the report card for both, assuming they have one.
by japerscreepers on Feb 27, 2009 10:48 AM EST up reply actions
At the risk of turning this into Japrongers’ Rink, more chatter.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
It’s risky, that’s for sure but Kessel hasn’t been the same player since he developed mono. In a way, he’s been a star-crossed player throughout his career. In high school, he was the concensus #1 choice, then his stock feel like a rock. He started off slow last year, then got cancer. He fought his way back from that and started off blazing this season. Then he got mono and hasn’t been the same. Still, he’s got a lot of talent that I don’t know if I’d give up on yet.
Word. If they ship Kessel out there, playing next to Getzlaf, Perry and Ryan? Yeesh.
"Good crowd out there tonight, boys, let's really try to win this one."
by Bald Pollack on Feb 27, 2009 9:58 AM EST up reply actions
Maybe that’s what the Ducks are hoping they can convince the Bruins of.
Still, if I’m Boston, that defense is very solid and Kessel’s a 21 year old one a 37 goals pace (over the course of 82 games).
And besides, by not paying for Pronger they can re-sign Kessel and Wheeler to 2nd contracts and not break the bank.
"Good crowd out there tonight, boys, let's really try to win this one."
by Bald Pollack on Feb 27, 2009 10:48 AM EST up reply actions
Semin needs eyes on the back of his head
If AS had eyes on the back of his head he’d have 40 goals by now. The Thrash gave him space last night, something other teams haven not been doing.
Disagree on the Red Sea comment. Peverly has speed the Caps could use.
And send Brashear out to kill a guy with an errant high stick, no; for a two-handed slash to AO’s hands, yes.
could the caps be interested in 3-time cup winner Mathieu Dandenault? At only 1.75M it doesnt seem that bad…
I’d pass. With Kronwall they already have a defenseman they can’t get in the lineup and I don’t think Dandenault gets in ahead of any of the Caps current wings.
That said, injuries will occur and it would be nice to have his versatility.
yeah i understand, I just think adding his 79 games of playoff experience would add a lot considering that before last season the only caps d-men with any postseason experience was Poti and hes never gotten out of the first rd…
i guess im just trying to say i would rather have him on the ice come mid April rather then 2 or 3 of our other starting dmen (mo, juice, erskine)…
by sexypills03 on Feb 27, 2009 10:36 AM EST up reply actions
Team Toughness
Man, I’m fired up in my defense of Brash and support of Oveckin sticking up for himself. To me, Ovie’s reaction and subsequent roughing penalty will do a lot more for the perception of the Caps’ toughness than if he slinked away and let Brash try and send a message. The Caps have size, are willing to play physical, but could use an injection of overall team toughness going into the playoffs. Other teams seeing Ovie stick up for himself will go a long way, I think, especially with Brash’s role being further marginalized during the playoffs due to reduced ice time. If I were a player on another team, I would respect Ovie more for what he did last night. They are much more likely to engage him physically vice Brash, and now they are clearly getting the message that he won’t take shit from anybody, whether its Crosby or Peverly/Reasoner/Exelby.
yeah but “sticking up for himself” also takes him out of the game for 2+ minutes and any opposing team will take that.
by sexypills03 on Feb 27, 2009 10:44 AM EST up reply actions
Does this whole episode not seem a little stupid? It was an accidental high stick. How often in games do you see guys wigging out after an accidental high stick? Personally I thought the penalty Ovie took was selfish and dumb. He was frustrated the blatant infraction wasn’t called, but what NHL player hasn’t accidentally high sticked someone? This is not the kind of thing we need to be sticking up for ourselves and/or sending messages. It’s a high stick.
Russian Machine Never Breaks
fwiw, I saw an intentional foul there, and while I hate to see OV go off and get unnecessary PM’s, I think he felt the same. It’s hard to wedge your stick up under the visor without trying. No way he goes after someone without thinking same,
he tried to lift his stick and whiffed, thus getting under the visor. i’m pretty sure nobody in this league, even the flyers, would stick someone in the face, on purpose. maybe in the nutz, but that’s different.
Russian Machine Never Breaks
Ovie’s reaction and subsequent roughing penalty will do a lot more for the perception of the Caps’ toughness than if he slinked away and let Brash try and send a message.
Agreed, and I said at the time that I couldn’t be more fine with AO’s penalty there, even if Atlanta scored (which they did).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I don’t have a problem with AO sticking up for himself. He just went after the wrong guy. Poor Reasoner, he’s just standing there and all of a sudden Ovie jumps him. Perrin was probably laughing his ass off. Not only did he get away with the penalty, he also got away without having to fight.
(Peverley, not Perrin, who saved his stupidity for later)
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I tell you what, I’m a bit disappointed that Exelby jumped in. I think Ovechkin would have gotten the roughing, major and probably instigator. He was fuming.
Kinda wondering where the 3rd man in was, though I guess Ovechkin would of had to get the major.
On another note, please don’t post those links from 2003. I saw the name Bruce Cassidy and vomited in my mouth a bit.
Heh. Every once in a while, I need to remind you all from whence we came.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Blasphemy! Man has only existed for 6,000 years. Duh.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
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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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