Sunday Roundup - Caps 3, Cats 1
by J.P. on Feb 8, 2009 12:00 AM EST
14 comments
[AP Recap - Game Summary - Event Summary]
When Shaone Morrisonn got whistled for a boarding major half-way through a penalty kill with a one-goal lead and a tick over five minutes left on the clock, one or two things ran through the minds of fans across Caps Nation: first and foremost, "Doom is imminent;" second, and slightly more nuanced, "At least Shaone Morrisonn isn't going to be around to not kill these penalties."
Luckily, the Caps did have David Steckel, and David Steckel was a god for the better part of five minutes, including blocking a shot on the 5-on-3 (Florida didn't get a single shot on goal during the 1:05 they were up two men) and another on the 5-on-4, and pressuring the puck at the point like we haven't seen a Caps forward do in quite some time. Steckel's effort late - along with those of Boyd Gordon, Tom Poti, Karl Alzner and, of course, Jose Theodore - sealed the deal for the Caps.
Some thoughts on the game:
- Finally, a game without a power-play goal against, and there wasn't even the slightest trace of the even strength defensive lapses that plagued the team on Thursday night.
- Steckel was having a great game even before his shorthanded heroics, assisting on the Eric Fehr goal just 33 seconds into the game (update: that assist has been taken away and credited to Mike Green). On the night, Stecks had a plus-two rating, won seven of his eleven draws (64%) and led the team with 6:15 of shorthanded ice time. His line (with Fehr and Tomas Fleischmann) had the only even strength goal the Caps scored on the night, and generally had good puck possession.
- If I was to tell you that one of the Caps was scoreless but had two blocked shots and won 53% of his faceoffs on the night, how many guys would you guess that stat line belonged to before you named Nicklas Backstrom?
- Back to Morrisonn, the fact that he took a penalty while killing one shouldn't be a huge surprise - he's third in the League among all defensemen who have played 30 or more games and actually play the PK in penalties taken per sixty minutes of four-on-five ice time. By the way, Bill McCreary? Not on Mo's Christmas card list.
- Karl Alzner is so steady and calming, I think I want to watch tapes of him playing next time I have to get some work done at the dentist.
- I hear it was "t-shirt warm" at the VC last night. Poti had some thoughts on what that (and/or other factors) meant for the ice.
- Oh yeah... Mike Green. I noted it in the Open Thread, but I think 95% of Green’s goals have been on shots taken from within about a Jeff Schultz wingspan of each other (and that may or may not include his insurance shorty... Sarge got reach). He now has the Caps record for most consecutive games with a goal by a defenseman.
- Staffan Kronwall gets Mo's sweater on Wednesday night in Manhattan, no?
- The Caps only committed one minor penalty in each of the first two periods (one of which was while on a four-minute penalty and didn't result in a short-handed situation), and only four minors on the game. That raw total is good, but at least three of the penalties - Fehr's interference and Sergei Fedorov's hold, both in the offensive zone, and the trip Green was forced to take while on the PP - are the kind that drive a coach (and fans) insane.
- Nathan Horton would be one of the most over-rated players in hockey if he played in a town where their guys are actually "rated."
- Jose Theodore was the game's first star (personally, I'd have given it to Steckel, if you couldn't have guessed), and had the kind of game you'd like to see from him every night - economical, quiet and confident.
- Gotta love Brooks Laich gutting it out last night, but he was clearly notat 100% - a minus-one rating, no shot attempts (much less any on goal) and 0-for-2 in the dot. He did have three hits, though.
- Alex Ovechkin had a dozen shots on goal, but couldn't get one past Tomas Vokoun. Interestingly, he's only lit the lamp in two of the five games in which he's had twelve or more shots on goal this season.
- The Caps have now beaten every team in the Eastern Conference at least once this season.
The Caps will now embark on a three-game road trip that will take them to New York City and both stops in Florida (expect Michal Neuvirth's first NHL start to come in one of those games) with a big lead in the Division, the League's leading goal scoring forward and defenseman, and a team that, for the most part, seems to be back on track after Thursday night's derailment. Of note, they'll likely leave D.C. with eight defensemen on the roster... will they return with as many? Stay tuned.
0 recs |
14 comments
| Add comment
|
Email
Print
Comments
Last night on HNIC Mike Milbury speculated out loud about Tom Renney’s job security. It’s Milbury and he was clearly talking out of his ass (and pretty much admitted as such, making his speculation extra-irresponsible), but…
by TylerG on Feb 8, 2009 9:02 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
A season sweep of the Rangers?
When was the last time we did that, stat moguls? Wednesday marks the last time we face them this year, and we’ve won our previous three meetings with them. Granted, two of them were one-goal games, and one was in overtime, but still.
I expect Neuvirth to start in Tampa Bay.
Any thoughts on whether Mo gets a sweater Wednesday?
by gotsparkly on Feb 8, 2009 9:37 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Wait, you said that. Yeah, I think Kronwall gets Mo’s sweater Wednesday. As for who else gets scratched – do we rotate or leave one Dman out?
by gotsparkly on Feb 8, 2009 9:37 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I wouldn’t make any changes other than Kronwall for Mo (i.e. I’d let Erskine rest a little longer).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Feb 8, 2009 9:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed. Other than Mo, the defensemen played extremely well last night. (Notable: How much crappy ice takes 52’s skating and speed away.)
by TylerG on Feb 8, 2009 11:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
As far as Mo’s concerned, his play of late has me not caring if we were to waive him.
Football's boring. Get over it.
by Whiter Mage on Feb 9, 2009 1:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’d shake up the pairings a bit as well. I hate having Mo with Poti because it’s too many minutes for Mo. He seems so much more effective when his minutes are managed, but that hasn’t been happening lately. I have to wonder if Kronwall will be the same way.
IMO, Have a top 4 of Poti Alzner Green Schultz. Pair them whatever seems best (Alzner – Green would be great to try at least once, but maybe it doesn’t work and you go back to Schultz – Green). Then use a bottom pair consisting of two of Erskine Mo Kronwall Jurcina. Those are the 4 that seem likely to need stricter minutes-management and keeping them together might make that easier.
Obviously too much special-teams play can put a wrench into everything, but it’s something to start with.
by brs03 on Feb 8, 2009 12:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
We saw Alzner/Green briefly in some of the earlier games; I was kind of meh about it because of what he does for Jurcina’s play. Let’s see what happens with Kronwall – Poti’s a good choice for a newcomer because of his steadiness and veteran status (scary to say it but it’s true, here).
by gotsparkly on Feb 8, 2009 9:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Wes Johnson?
Anyone else know why Wes Johnson wasn’t working the P.A. last night / who it was that replaced him?
by Kerry Fraser's Hairspray on Feb 8, 2009 12:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
The Nats’ guy. They need to both talk less. I hate being yelled and and being told to Rock the Red. Shut up and let me watch the game and cheer when I want to.
by TylerG on Feb 8, 2009 1:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Wes Johnson can tell me whatever he wants, and with his voice, he’ll probably get it.
Football's boring. Get over it.
by Whiter Mage on Feb 8, 2009 1:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Defense
I’m not so sure about the high praise for the D, there. If Florida could collect a pass and shoot, you might be singin’ a different tune.
I’m talking about passes right across the goal that Florida guys bungled. A couple of times! I didn’t see stuff like that on the other end, man.
Poti nearly assisted on a Florida goal with that wretched pass in the third. (I think it was the third) From behind the cage? Remember?
I’d say Theo and luck were better than the D. But then again, I watched half the game through binoculars.
by Stonewarden on Feb 9, 2009 8:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Watching Steckel play this game was like watching him when he was in Hershey. He was a total PK monster there – agressive, physical, relentless and never wanted to come off the ice if it was an important time in the game. I almost used to look forward to Hershey taking penalties so I could watch the fun on the PK. Nice to see him gaining the confidence to bring more of that to his play with the Caps.
by NBBear on Feb 9, 2009 10:37 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
This was a great effort and they beat a goaltender who was in the zone. Hell, both Ovie and Semin had point blank set ups, and Vokoun stopped them both. He should have been the first star of the game. If he’s not on, the Caps win 7-1.
Backstrom played a great game as did almost all of the forwards. The one who had a bit of an off night was Fedorov, although when his penalty expired during Mo’s penalty, he did a great job on the PK. Laich had a great night on the PK too.
And, a final note. I wasn’t happy with how the Caps did against a “not-so-good” LA team…well that same team went up to New Jersey and beat them, too… maybe LA isn’t that bad after all…
by MikeL-Caps on Feb 9, 2009 11:14 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Join the community and dive in!
Secondary Sidebar
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recent FanShots
Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
22 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 30 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
19 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 23 |
|
Atlanta
|
18 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 22 |
|
Florida
|
20 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 20 |
|
Carolina
|
21 | 4 | 12 | 5 | 13 |
(updated 11.21.2009 at 8:36 AM EST)
Certain photos copyright © 2009 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.
