Tuesday Roundup - Gamenight: Caps @ Devils
by J.P. on Feb 3, 2009 6:43 AM EST
18 comments
[AP Preview - WashingtonCaps.com Preview]
Since the dawn of creation, man has self-selected himself into one of two camps: those who believe that the phenomenal numbers Martin Brodeur has put up over his career are the due to his superior skill and those who attribute these jaw-dropping statistical achievements to a "system," rather than a man. The truth, as our buddy Puck Daddy would tell you, lies somewhere in between - Brodeur is the right goalie for the Devils system.
That said, the "system" faction got a huge boost to its argument this season when Brodeur went down and in came Scott Clemmensen, who has gone 22-9-1/2.29/.920 in Marty's absence after entering the season with 8-7-0/2.94/.888 career marks. Must be a late bloomer.
But by now you know that this isn't the same Devils team you're used to seeing piling up the 2-1 wins - these guys can score, to the tune of 3.06 goals per game thanks to fantastic play at five-aside. They have five different 40+ point men already (as many as they had all last season), and as many double-digit goal scorers as the Caps have.
And, of course, they're not giving many goals or leads (if you're trailing after two to these guys, good luck - they're 23-0-1 on the season in such situations).
The Devils are the League's hottest team, having won eight in a row, and they have the League's reigning Player of the Week and Month, Jamie Langenbrunner, who has scored two goals in each of his last three games.
But they don't have Alex Ovechkin.
Ovi enters the game just one goal shy of joining Mike Bossy, Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux as the only players in NHL history to score 200 goals in their first four seasons, and could also unofficially join that trio and a couple others in the 50-in-50 club, but that would take a 14-goal effort tonight... he might need overtime.
And as hot as the Devils are, don't expect the Caps to be intimidated - in three games against Los Diablos thus far in 2008-09, they've scored 11 goals (but have only managed a 1-0-2 record), and on the season against the NHL's other five current division leaders, the Caps have posted a 4-2-3 record.
If a picture's worth a thousand words, this one's easily worth the 380 or so above:
Tonight's a statement game. What will be said remains to be seen.
Elsewhere 'Round the Rinks:
The Caps are "still believed to be in the market for a physical defenseman." Yawn.... Being at the game, I missed Lisa Hillary's report on Saturday that Karl Alzner "was very upset at being sent down and that [Bruce] Boudreau wasn’t thrilled either." Luckily, Ed Frankovic didn't.... Uh oh. A "bad ice" post (albeit the lamest one yet). Duck!... Get yer fresh power rankings he-ya, with the Caps down one to sixth at Sportsnet.ca, up two to fourth at TSN.ca, holding at sixth at The Hockey News, and up one to third at SportingNews.com and CBSSports.com.... It's never too early for a mock draft.... Alex Giroux is your AHL Player of the Month for January.... Today's Cap of the Day is a former Cap and current Devil.... Happy 41st Birthday to the man for whom the Caps traded Kris Beech, Ross Lupaschuk and Michal Sivek, Frantisek Kucera.... On this date ten years ago, the Caps set a record by scoring eight goals in 9:34 and nine in 11:32 - all in the second period - in a 10-1 win over the Bolts.... Finally, I'm happy to announce that SB Nation has added Flyers blog Broad Street Hockey (formerly Broad and Pattison) to the roster. Stop in and buzz Travis with a metaphoric head-high slapper, won't you?
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Unusually good stuff in TEB this morning on BB and players calling out 28 on his lunkheadedness of late.
by TylerG on Feb 3, 2009 9:09 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
"We've all said things to him," Viktor Kozlov said. "But he is so hungry on the ice, trying to get the puck as quick as possible and he tried to cheat to get the puck back and maybe that's what happens. On the ice, it's hard to think."
Kozzie on Semin and his lazy penalty problems. (From the Times today.)
Hmmmm. Tom-tom and umm . . . thinking? What’s wrong that that picture?
by Uncle C on Feb 3, 2009 9:12 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Another point on the Caps taking too many penalties: It’s the forwards, not the defensemen. The Caps have entirely reasonable PIMs from their D: No one is on a PIM-per-game pace.
by TylerG on Feb 3, 2009 9:32 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Juice
The Post credit’s him as being the second most penalized Cap. Is that incorrect?
In my mind, penalities in our own end are more forgivable than the ones that occur in the neutral zone or offensive zone.
by Sct112 on Feb 3, 2009 9:37 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed – it’s hard for me to imagine an offensive or neutral zone penalty that I’d consider a “good” penalty, other than those that thwart certain odd-man rushes.
And here’s the list, by number of minors. Juice is, indeed, second.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Feb 3, 2009 9:41 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Situationally, I can think of a few times this year I’d have been A-OK with the Caps running a goaltender or two. But otherwise, yeah.
by TylerG on Feb 3, 2009 9:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
When I'm wrong, I'm really wrong
When Brodeur went down, I boldly stated that we’ll get to see how big a genius Lou Lamarillo is without the best goalie in the game. Well, with the way the Devils have performed with a perennial backup goalie, I have to admit that Lou really does know a thing or two about putting a hockey team together. That the Devils have the third best record in the East without Brodeur is amazing. Even more surprising is that they’re doing it with a pretty dynamic offense (they’re 7th in the entire league in goals scored). So maybe it was Lou propping up Brodeur all these years and not the other way around.
by b.orr4 on Feb 3, 2009 9:39 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Lamarillo is a pretty great GM, but I am interested to see what happens when Brodeur comes back. I mean, it’s kind of hard to expect him to put up significantly better numbers than what Clemenssen has done, but he is Marty Brodeur. It’s amazing how they haven’t missed a beat, and adding Shanahan gives them some more punch.
That said, I think the Caps take this one tonight.
by grapejoos on Feb 3, 2009 9:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Look at what’s happened since Luongo returned….
by TylerG on Feb 3, 2009 9:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Happy birthday, Frank
The Litter Box: Your SBNation Florida Panthers Blogging Colossus
by Donny Rivette on Feb 3, 2009 9:46 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
My biggest pet peeve, in poster form! Nice work, Allstate.
by grapejoos on Feb 3, 2009 9:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry, should have explained (or said nothing): incorrect use of “your” = my biggest pet peeve.
by grapejoos on Feb 3, 2009 10:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Showing Dirk Graham who’s boss there…
I have as many wins in a Capitals uniform as Michael Belhumeur does.
by marky narc on Feb 3, 2009 10:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’ll be at the game tonight- I’m expecting a tighter game than the 6-5 free-for-all last time the Caps were in NJ, but should still be a great one.
by sonia on Feb 3, 2009 12:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Don’t be afraid to snap some pics (fans, players, whatever) and send ’em along. Enjoy!
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Feb 3, 2009 12:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Tarik says no Brads tonight…healthy scratch
Ron and Fez Noon to Three
by YvonLabresMoustache on Feb 3, 2009 1:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
59 | 41 | 12 | 6 | 88 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
57 | 25 | 21 | 11 | 61 |
|
Atlanta
|
57 | 25 | 24 | 8 | 58 |
|
Florida
|
58 | 24 | 25 | 9 | 57 |
|
Carolina
|
58 | 21 | 30 | 7 | 49 |
(updated 2.9.2010 at 4:15 AM EST)
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
