Recap - Capitals 3, Panthers 0
by David M. Getz on Mar 18, 2009 7:00 AM EDT
144 comments
[AP Recap - Game Summary - Event Summary - WashingtonCaps.com Postgame]
It's said the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior but, even with that and Jose Theodore's recent history in mind, we're willing to bet more than a few Caps fans were a little anxious about the netminder playing his third game in four days, after having put up an .843 save percentage and 4.90 goals against average in his last two and being pulled Monday night. But Theo, as he's done so many times this season, rebounded well and stopped everything the Panthers threw at him, notching his second shutout of the season in the process.
Of course, Theodore also benefited from a resurgent Capitals blue line led by Tom Poti, who had a bounce-back game of his own. After bearing the brunt of the responsibility for three of Atlanta's five Monday night goals, Poti played a very defensively sound game against Florida's top line and blocked an impressive seven shots, 64% as many as the entire Panthers team. But in reality, Poti was just the impressive on an entire blueline corps deserving of accolades after helping to hold the Panther to nineteen shots.
Some additional thoughts on last night's game:
- Call them "F Street", "The F Bombers", "Triple F", or whatever else you like, that Eric Fehr, Tomas Fleischmann, Sergei Fedorov line is good, in part because it's a rare true instance of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts.
- Alexander Ovechkin has the streak-down-the-wing-cut-to-the-middle-and-shoot-through-the-defender move, Alexander Semin has the curl-and-drag, Mark Messier has shooting off the wrong foot, and Brooks Laich is one goal away from making "lose the puck with no one around you to draw the goalie out of position" his signature move. Kidding aside, I'll put the over/under on how many times the average Caps fan can watch the goal without getting tired of it at fourteen.
- Pick 'Em of the day: what's more embarrassing, getting beaten by Arron Asham (a la Jeff Schultz) or getting beaten by Nick Tarnasky (a la John Erskine)?
- Panthers Head Coach Pete DeBoer apparently said his team didn't have a single good faceoff man, and it showed - every Capital who took more than one draw was better than fifty percent on the night. Except Michael Nylander, who was two-for-eight.
- Alexander Semin's second period hit on Gregory Campbell was a lot of things. But interference wasn't one of them.
- "Have you met the triplets?" is the new "Saved by Zero".
- The hit of the night has to go to Jeff Schultz on a David Booth drive to the net that ended with Booth looking like he'd hit a brick wall. Still doesn't make up for Sarge's turnover at the Panthers blue line later in the second, though.
- Steve Eminger could still be a valuable player for the Capitals.
- True or false? Tom Poti is to John Erskine as Karl Alzner
iswas to Milan Jurcina. - Nicklas Backstrom needs a haircut. For serious.
Twenty-four hours ago we Caps fans were frustrated, confused, even angry at the team for their performance Monday night. Funny how much just one game, played with energy, sound fundamentals, and teamwork, softens the blow of a bad loss. Even if it means the boys still lost a team wearing this abomination of a uniform.
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the Asham goal was shameful and much worse. At least Tarnasky was 1on1 and made a pretty slick move.
Steve Eminger could still be a valuable player for the Capitals.
ouch.
Semin played great in this and seems less apt to get frustrated by heavy coverage than Ovi, as Semin has much more creativity with the puck. He has really turned it up.
Having Feds back really showed. Great patience and hustle in the offensive zone
by ns on Mar 18, 2009 7:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Who’d you rather have next yer: Emmy at $1.25M or Ersky at $1.25 (ahem)…
by TylerG on Mar 18, 2009 7:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’d take Erskine, and wouldn’t blink. While acknowledging that he probably makes a couple hundred thousand more than he should, his brings a level of physicality and toughness that the D-corps sorely needs. As many of you smarter posters have commented before, as long as his minutes are managed, his mistakes are minimized.
Emmy’s a been-here, done-that, didn’t-work-out.
by Cluster on Mar 18, 2009 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Easy, I take Erskine at 1.25 + Carlson at 800K, laughing all the way thank you very much.
by brs03 on Mar 18, 2009 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Long term, sure, but for next year?
by David M. Getz on Mar 18, 2009 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would take John over Ems because we have (with Pots) 3 guys who can do what Ems does best. Sans the Donald next year, Erskine steps up a rung.
by bigonetimer on Mar 18, 2009 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m sorry, but I fail to see this love affair with Eminger. Hanlon, a defensive guy, wouldn’t play him. Boudreau, a pretty good judge of talent and a guy who gives everybody a chance, wouldn’t play him. Tampa Bay, which was in desperate need of bodies on defense, signed him and then let him go. Philly traded for him and then let him go. How long before Florida (where’s he’s a minus player) gives him the boot? Mind you, that makes four clubs he’s been on in less than a year. Can they all be wrong? So, in answer to the question of would you take Erskine over Eminger? In a heartbeat.
by b.orr4 on Mar 18, 2009 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He has bounced around but I wouldn’t say that’s too much of a strike against him because:
- Washington traded him to move up and get Carlson
- Philly traded him to get Carle
- I wouldn’t put too much stock in any of Tampa’s personnel decisions.
by David M. Getz on Mar 18, 2009 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The fact still remains he’s been on four clubs in less than a year and three of them decided they were better off without him than they were with him. That to me is the ultimate definition of journeyman. Maybe he’ll surprise everyone and find a home in Florida, although I doubt it. The point I’m trying to make is that at best he’s a 6/7/8 defenseman, so why are so many people always bringing his name up as someone who’s gotten a raw deal? We can rationalize all we want about why he was moved but the simple truth is if he really had the ability so many attribute to him, wouldn’t he still be at one of his former clubs?
by b.orr4 on Mar 18, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Two of them decided they were better off without him. One decided they were too cheap to care how bad they were regardless. It’s a shame, as it was looking like he’d found a niche in Tampa.
by brs03 on Mar 18, 2009 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I doubt money had much to do with trading Eminger. He’s a RFA next year so they have no obligation after this season and since they traded him on March 4th, the most they had to pay him for the rest of this season was around $275,000. Whoever they brought in to take his spot would cost close to that. Letting him go was a hockey decision. You can make the argument that their hockey knowledge at TB is poor, but still moving him was based on what they could get for him and not money.
by b.orr4 on Mar 18, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He’s a RFA next year so they have no obligation after this season and since they traded him on March 4th, the most they had to pay him for the rest of this season was around $275,000. Whoever they brought in to take his spot would cost close to that.
But they also had to throw in Kolzig as a deal with Toronto to save cash.
by David M. Getz on Mar 18, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, it is the reason. They admitted that they couldn’t afford to pay him what it would have taken to keep him, there’s no question about it. Should they have waited for the draft? Maybe. They probably wanted to shed money for this season, though, for revenue sharing (same as the Heward/Kolzig trade).
by brs03 on Mar 18, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’ll say it’s a bit unfair to throw in Tampa trading him away as a point there. That was strictly a money issue, nothing more. They couldn’t afford to sign him for what it was going to take, so they cut their losses. The return they got sucks, but I guess it’s better than losing him for nothing in the offseason.
by brs03 on Mar 18, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Brad Boyes has moved around quite a bit in his young career. I wouldn’t hold that against him.
by Fehr and Balanced on Mar 18, 2009 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Boyes and Eminger don’t compare. Brad Boyes has been with two teams in the last five seasons and he’s been on the Blues for the last three. Eminger is now on his fourth club in less than 12 months. The Bruins reluctantly let Boyes go because they had a real need on defense and they got a stud in return in Dennis Wideman.
by b.orr4 on Mar 18, 2009 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Boyes went from SJS to BOS to STL in a heart beat. Boyes doesn’t compare because he’s just been in the league longer than Eminger and now you acknowledge him as a top line player. In a few years maybe Eminger has a home and you look back at this and it was just a rough start to his career. It is just too early to tell. I don’t think he’s been moved because of a talent issue, if anything I think it’s an attitude thing but I have no way of knowing that. Either way, it’s hard to say the skill isn’t there when he was a first round pick and teams are consistently willing to take a chance with him.
by Fehr and Balanced on Mar 18, 2009 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
“Boyes went from SJS to BOS to STL in a heart beat. Boyes doesn’t compare because he’s just been in the league longer than Eminger and now you acknowledge him as a top line player.”
I’m not sure what you mean by a heartbeat. Boyes played one game for San Jose in ‘03-’04 then was traded to Boston in March, ‘04. He stayed with Boston until Feb. ’07. That’s three years. Then he was traded to St. Louis. You’re making it sound like he moved from SJ to Bos to STL in a matter of months. As to Boyes being in the league longer than Eminger, it’s actually the reverse. Boyes played one game for SJ in ‘03-’04 and din’t play his next game in the NHL until ‘05-’06. Eminger played 17 games for the Caps in ‘02-’03 and 41 games in ‘03-’04. At the end of the ‘06-’07 season Eminger had played 192 total NHL games and Boyes 145. The bottom line here is that over 4 full seasons, Boyes has established himself as top NHL player and over five seasons (not counting his rookie year) Eminger is still struggling. I don’t know how many more seasons Eminger has to play before it’s accepted that he’s never going to be the player he was in junior. Can he have a ten year career in the NHL? Sure, but I’m betting he’s going to play for a few more teams before he’s done.
by b.orr4 on Mar 18, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
by the way, the Blues
have a LOAD of young talent, and they are as much fun to watch as anyone else out there. David Backes is nasty, and another half dozen other guys (including their own Mason in G) are really good young players.
They may sneak in this year yet, but they will blow through next year for sure.
by bigonetimer on Mar 18, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Damn your numbers. I could have sworn those trades happened in quicker succession. I guess losing a year to the lockout made it seem like he had spent a lot less hockey with BOS. I agree Boyes is a top flight player. I’m just not burying Eminger yet. Eminger also plays defense so you can expect a much slower development path.
by Fehr and Balanced on Mar 18, 2009 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, easily. Have you forgotten that Eminger was basically 8th on our depth chart? He was all but worthless here, his future was nothing even if we’d kept him. If it were the Eminger we’d drafted, the one not yet ruined by multiple different coaching styles and one that hadn’t developed a sour attitude towards his role on the team then yeah, it would have been nice to still have him. But this Eminger? He didn’t want to be here, the front office clearly didn’t want him here, he wasn’t a good option at all.
He has yet to really prove that we made the wrong decision, while every day Carlson is proving we made the right one. Yeah, Emmy did ok in Tampa, but he was their only option. Even Matt Pettinger did well here when we had nobody else to score, but you wouldn’t keep him around over, for example, Flash, would you? I think it’s probably the same situation.
Eminger isn’t some great missing piece that would save us. His impact going forward, on this team, probably wouldn’t have been any greater than Carlson’s could be as soon as next season (if he can make the team). You can’t just gloss over his situation here, at this point in his development he wasn’t going to get another chance here to do anything serious. Eminger was done in DC, the fact that we got Carlson for him still is a coup of epic proportions.
by brs03 on Mar 18, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It doesn’t really matter to me that he was eighth on the team’s depth chart, I still think he could be a solid player for the Capitals, especially next season when Morrisonn’s gone. I’m not saying the team shouldn’t have made the deal, I’m saying that if the NHL were disbanding after next season, it’d be better to have Eminger (ergo the “for the long term, sure, but for next year?”) than Carlson. Maybe Carlson makes huge leaps and bounds, but I don’t think he plays in DC next year.
And no one said Eminger was a great missing piece that would save the team. That’s a pretty far leap from “he could be a useful player”.
by David M. Getz on Mar 18, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Emmy played pretty well in the playoffs last year (which is perhaps why the Flyers were interested), but I’d still take Big John, for the grit that we’re lacking anywhere else on the blueline.
by Scott in Shaw on Mar 18, 2009 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
oh, and I have to mention Semin’s little jig where he tap hopped around/tap danced to regain his balance in the beginning of the game. That little goofiness serously made my night.
by ns on Mar 18, 2009 7:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It was similar to his goal against the Pens two Sundays ago.
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by J.P. on Mar 18, 2009 7:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Poti was much better than the previous night (hard not to be), but Booth, I believe it was, did undress him once in rather embarrassing fashion..
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by J.P. on Mar 18, 2009 7:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
you think Poti-Pothier would be a good combo and calm him down a bit? or should Pots by paired with a younger, less experienced player?
by ns on Mar 18, 2009 7:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think we need to pair Potsy with someone solid in his own right until he can get his feet under him. He had way way way too much asked of him on Monday night, but for all that he still wasn’t the worst D-man on the ice by a long shot.
Once Pothier’s got his legs again, sure, pair him with a younger player.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Mar 18, 2009 8:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think, as was mentioned last night during the broadcast, this lat month is all about finding chemistry on the blueline.
52 and 26 have it right now.
3 and 4 have it right now (and 3/26 was a friggin’ nightmare in Atlanta)
55 and 2 had it before 2’s injury, so I’d look to try to regain it.
Strangely, I think 23 is in many ways actually the most versatile of the bunch (save 52) in terms of filling in, so having him as the 7th is fine.
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by J.P. on Mar 18, 2009 8:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My only thing with that is, can Schultz hold the line while Pothier’s getting his legs under him?
Otherwise, I’m good with that. Pothier can skate, which helps out Schultz who can’t. Same goes for Poti and Erskine.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Mar 18, 2009 8:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like it only so I can call them the Po-Po. For all hockey reasons I hate it.
by Fehr and Balanced on Mar 18, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Booth made him look terrible on that particular instance. And didn’t Tarnasky go around Poti at the blue line before he made Erskine look foolish?
Those are really the only two complaints I can think of regarding the defense last night.
by Sct112 on Mar 18, 2009 9:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Theodore didn’t give up any goals? That’s completely unacceptable. There were still many shots he should have stopped. He’s too inconsistent to win in the playoffs. The Capitals need help at goaltender.
Ron and Fez Noon to Three
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 18, 2009 7:31 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Maybe Poti got some tips from Zach Bogosian? ;)
Ron and Fez Noon to Three
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 18, 2009 7:31 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Btw, raise your hand if you miss The Donald.
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by J.P. on Mar 18, 2009 7:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
To be honest, I haven’t even really noticed he hasn’t been in the line up.
I don’t think that’s a good thing
Ron and Fez Noon to Three
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 18, 2009 7:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
at least it is making it that much clearer what needs to be done in the offseason…
by ns on Mar 18, 2009 7:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I do for one reason. While he’s been out, Steckel’s been on the wing. Between him being on the wing and Fedorov being out, we were getting slaughtered in the dot. I’d rather Brash come back so that we can move Steckel back to center and get some faceoff help.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Mar 18, 2009 8:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Then who sits? Nylander? I could live with that, though I think Steckel is a bit out of his element as a 3rd scoring-line pivot.
But if you want Steckel to take draws, have Steckel take draws. But to push a lesser player into the lineup because you don’t want to tweak the line combos on faceoffs seems a bit odd to me.
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by J.P. on Mar 18, 2009 8:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Have you seen Nylander’s FO percentage lately? :P
I’ll grant you that Nylander’s done a whole lot better in the last few games – not great, but certainly a whole lot better. Has he done well enough to supplant Brash and have us with two draw guys on one line? No.
So how do you handle such a line scramble on faceoffs?
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Mar 18, 2009 8:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Laich took a good number of Nylander’s draws last night. If you’re going to keep the Care Bears and F Street lines together, that leaves Laich, Nyls and Kozlov together, and there’s no reason Brooks can’t take most of those faceoffs.
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by J.P. on Mar 18, 2009 8:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m not wild about Brooks’ faceoffs either, but true that they’re better than Nylander’s.
Still, it seems like Steckel’s skill on draws is going to waste, and that’s not cool.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Mar 18, 2009 8:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What about 51.1% are you not wild about? And isn’t it more of a waste to put two scoring wingers out with a grinder who can’t get them the puck?
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by J.P. on Mar 18, 2009 8:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Didn’t realize they were that good. I thought he was somewhere in the forties. Fair enough.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Mar 18, 2009 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
if Nyls was 2 for 8 at the dot, he was tossed from probably 6 faceoffs. It seemed like every time I noticed him taking a draw it was because he was leaving the circle and Brooks was skating in.
by Sct112 on Mar 18, 2009 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Perhaps not an awful strategy – let Nyls go in and try to cheat; if he gets away with it, sweet; if not, a better FO guy comes in and takes the draw.
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by J.P. on Mar 18, 2009 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Except with him cheating and not getting caught he still only managed a 25% win rate.
by Sct112 on Mar 18, 2009 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And therein lies the rub.
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by J.P. on Mar 18, 2009 9:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Except it means Brooks can’t cheat, and probably hinders his effectiveness considerably.
by brs03 on Mar 18, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gotta give Nyls credit where credit is due. His cross ice drop pass along the blue line that resulted in Kozlov’s goal was a thing of beauty.
by b.orr4 on Mar 18, 2009 9:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed.
Related – Kozlov’s soft pass to handcuff Schutlz at the blueline leading to a Panther breakaway was not.
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by J.P. on Mar 18, 2009 9:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I do…and I was a guy iffy on whether he needs to be re-signed next year.
Perhaps they could always bring someone else in via free agency but The Donald has been a very consistent forechecker this season and without him the fourth line’s forecheck has been really underwhelming for the most part.
by Langway on Mar 18, 2009 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
On the other hand, I bet Chris Bourque and Andrew Gordon would be more than willing to forecheck for an NHL sweater.
Make no mistake about it, Brashear’s on the team and getting 1.2 million because he can fight.
by David M. Getz on Mar 18, 2009 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sure but he’s also a big contributor on the forecheck banging bodies and helping on the cycle. A.Gordon or Osala seems more inclined for that type of role. I don’t know if Bourque’s size would make for an ideal fit there, though he definitely seems willing. He may be more of a cheap Fleischmann replacement when Flash’s contract is up.
by Langway on Mar 18, 2009 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Btw, why all the love for a line (F Street) that didn’t have a shot on goal from either winger last night?
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by J.P. on Mar 18, 2009 8:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Didn’t mean they didn’t have hustle – they did. More Fehr than Flash, but I think Fehr has a couple of them blocked or missed too. It’s not like they sat idle.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Mar 18, 2009 8:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Flash had one missed shot. Fehr had one attempted/blocked shot.
Feds had a strong game, to be sure (though I’d have liked that backhander with Vokoun on the ice to have been about 18 inches higher), and there was one nice passing play among the trio, but I still think the offense sets up better as:
8-19-25
14-91-28
21-?-16
39-15-10
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by J.P. on Mar 18, 2009 8:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Further to that, I’d like to see a few games of 21-20 (Aucoin)-16 as a third line. I think it could be a strong forechecking line, and you don’t average more than an assist a game (as Aucoin did in the A this year) without knowing a little bit about how to dish the biscuit.
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by J.P. on Mar 18, 2009 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’d support an Aucoin/Fehr pairing, if for nothing else so Fehr can get his groove back.
"Japers is ok, the general level of hockey knowledge is probably better there than here... but they never miss a chance to be arrogant about it, for example insulting THIS blog, which I find distasteful and hurts the site credibility. Also, they rely way too much on numbers to judge players."
by Bald Pollack on Mar 18, 2009 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Isn’t there someone else somewhere talking trash about this blog? That sig is getting stale.
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by J.P. on Mar 18, 2009 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I changed it after posting. Too lazy to think of anything else right now.
"Taking all common sense FAIL nominations here."
by Bald Pollack on Mar 18, 2009 9:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Enh. I could go with that. Lord knows we could use a more active forecheck. I’m tired of seeing the forecheck peel off before they’ve actually harassed anyone at all. It’s sort of like sneezing at them.
I think I’d switch Laich and Flash on that one – Flash and Fehr together have mad chemistry so good they made Nylander look good. Also, Laich has really impressed me the last few games; it’s almost like he’s stepped up his game a level and is taking on a lot of that leadership role. He can handle second-line minutes.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Mar 18, 2009 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And I counter with:
8-19-25
28-91-16
21-39-14
20-15-10
At least for a few games. You see how I’ve done Dangler – Playmaker – Grinder. Watch and learn Bruce, watch and learn.
by Sct112 on Mar 18, 2009 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Now this is a mad interesting line combo. I’d like to see how this one goes down. Is 20 the finisher on that fourth line?
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Mar 18, 2009 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
8-19-25
14-91-28
21-O-16
39-15-10
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Mar 18, 2009 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Slapshot centering Laich and Fehr? That would be a laugh riot, if nothing else :D
I like Aucoin, myself.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Mar 18, 2009 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Haha, that cracked me up man. Too funny.
by zephyr on Mar 18, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why have Steckel on the wing instead of taking faceoffs?
by zephyr on Mar 18, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
err…didn’t know it would reply down this far. That’s for JP on his:
8-19-25
14-91-28
21-?-16
39-15-10
by zephyr on Mar 18, 2009 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m still not liking 14 playing on the 2nd line…. A) he doesn’t deserve it and B) he doesn’t bring anything to the table to help 91/28. Give me a grinder or net crasher. Give me Laich, or Fehr, or even an Osala, Borque or A. Gordon… It seems to me that the one job of that LW is to get to forecheck/get the dump-in’s then get to the front and make take a beating … that’s pretty much it. Flash doesn’t do any of those things…much less score.
by Scofield on Mar 18, 2009 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Seriously. If BB doesn’t want cute play then why is he going to put Flash on that line?
by Fehr and Balanced on Mar 18, 2009 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think Flash has plenty of talent… and even works hard, but he’s not a top 6 guy on more than 10 teams in the league IMO… not yet… and especially not on this offensively talented squad
by Scofield on Mar 18, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He or Gordon can take the draw. I don’t care.
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by J.P. on Mar 18, 2009 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Haha, ok. I like those lines. My ideals ones are exactly the same but with 39 at center. I like your idea of having Aucoin back up. I think he fits in very well as a third line center. Way better than Nylander at least.
by zephyr on Mar 18, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That was my initial thought. It’s not that I don’t like the “F-street” line, but for me, I feel most comfortable with:
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Kozlov
Laich-Fedorov-Semin
as the first two lines.
Anyone else notice that (at least) twice last night Nylander’s line got called offsides due to either Laich or Kozzy rushing into the zone while Nylander decided to circle the puck one more time in the neutral zone? This is why I don’t like the mixing up of the lines—even if they played well, none of these guys were that accustomed to each other’s style as they should have been, at least not in my opinion.
by PaintDrinkingPete on Mar 18, 2009 8:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I definitely noticed it. Playing with Nylander must be maddening.
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by J.P. on Mar 18, 2009 8:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Btw, why all the love for a line (F Street) that didn’t have a shot on goal from either winger last night?
I thought the line (probably because Fedorov played so well) let each of the players play within their comfort zone and ergo play pretty well.
by David M. Getz on Mar 18, 2009 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That Fehr’s comfort zone is floating on the perimeter and Flash’s involves excessive failed one-on-one moves should not be encouraged. :)
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by J.P. on Mar 18, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I thought they played a very solid game. Had a number of shots blocked from my recollection. They were the energy line last night. Flash looked much more active, especially backchecking. I’ve heard people question paying Feds 4 mil a year. Last night was another example of why he is worth every penny.
by CP2Devil on Mar 18, 2009 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t mind being in the minority with you on this one. Feds brings so much more to the table than just a #2 C (when healthy). I like to think of him as a 2M #2C and a 2M top 4 Dman in a pinch. Sure, the points aren’t there the way everyone hoped and certainly what 4M can typically fetch, but he’s one of three or four players on our team who makes everyone else around him more effective…except, perhaps, Michael Nylander.
by bigonetimer on Mar 18, 2009 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Had a number of shots blocked from my recollection.
That number would be one.
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by J.P. on Mar 18, 2009 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The loneliest number, as the old song tells us.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Mar 18, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Steve Eminger should never have been traded.
Semin had a few surprisingly good hits (not the board) last night – one along the half-boards was particularly surprising.
If at first you don't succeed, don't try parachuting.
by hotdog88gt on Mar 18, 2009 8:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’m holding judgement on that until I see John Carlson in action.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Mar 18, 2009 8:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
if Carlson continues to show to mature into a very good (and large) two way defender, than it was a steal to trade Emmie at the draft to pick him up
by ns on Mar 18, 2009 8:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes. No question.
Of course, I had hoped they’d take Carlson with the pick they used on Gustafsson, but still…
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by J.P. on Mar 18, 2009 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Trading Eminger to take AnGus would have made almost as much sense, as long as the team wasn’t concerned with his health (and I’m guessing they weren’t/aren’t).
by brs03 on Mar 18, 2009 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Here, here. But selling away a spare part to get the guy we should have taken anyway salvages that draft. I would have also preferred Deschamps over AnGus but oh well, it’s done. Either way the draft last year has me pretty excited, led by JC.
by Fehr and Balanced on Mar 18, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Really?
Do we believe that Philly feels the same? How about TB? It’s not like we’ve dumped him and he’s become a star. Dude’s been a heavy minus player his whole career. I don’t miss him one bit.
by FFSEnough on Mar 18, 2009 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He’s also been on terrible teams, for the most part. I don’t think you can fault him for being a minus player in Tampa or in most of his seasons in Washington.
by David M. Getz on Mar 18, 2009 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He couldn’t make a pretty good Flyers team, and he couldn’t make a pretty good Caps team… maybe that is what is really telling.
by Sct112 on Mar 18, 2009 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He was playing regularly in PHI and TBL. He was also producing in TBL. It’s not that he didn’t “make the team” in PHI, the Flyers just wanted more offense from the blue line and traded him for Carle. Personally, Carle may have more offensive skill than Eminger but I think the Flyers at best made a lateral move in their own end in that trade, and I could make an argument that they went backwards. (My argument would, of course, not include those pesky arrogant numbers).
by Fehr and Balanced on Mar 18, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s not that he didn’t “make the team” in PHI, the Flyers just wanted more offense from the blue line and traded him for Carle.
I’d agree. When he was traded, the Flyers had played 14 games and Eminger had played in 12 of them.
by David M. Getz on Mar 18, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm sticking with the assertion that Ems plays himself out of the locker room
before he plays himself off the ice. Evidence, you ask? Not much beyond the vagabondian zipping around the league the last year, but the guy is a decent talent and should be sticking somewhere.
by bigonetimer on Mar 18, 2009 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Lightning suck, take that for what it is worth. The Flyers although they are good did start on the rocks (0-3-3 then 4-7-3). I don’t have any data (heaven forbid! Sorry DMG) other than my eyes to back this up, but I thought Emmy was pretty good during the stretch run last year. Didn’t he suit up for all 3 playoff wins, and none of the losses? Maybe he was not great, but better than some others and he still didn’t get a sweater very frequently.
Does that mean he is doomed to be in the KHL before long? No, but I don’t think that Emmy brings very much to the Cap’s backline as it currently stands, at least not enough to give up what they got in return.
by Sct112 on Mar 18, 2009 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Lightning suck, take that for what it is worth. The Flyers although they are good did start on the rocks (0-3-3 then 4-7-3). I don’t have any data (heaven forbid! Sorry DMG) other than my eyes to back this up
Evidence is evidence, it doesn’t have to be numbers. I would agree that Eminger was pretty good last year and I also think it’s a case where the stats don’t tell too much given how few games he played and that he was out of the lineup so much.
The team wasn’t as good in the playoffs as you recalled – they were 3-2 when he played – but they didn’t lose a game in regular and Eminger was a +2.
by David M. Getz on Mar 18, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Feeling Better?
We were a miserable lot after the Atlanta game, but imagine waking up this morning and being a Florida fan. In a huge game your team: a) loses it fourth straight, b) gets shutout, c) doesn’t get a shot on goal in the third period and d) draws about 12,000 to a crucial March game against the divsion leader. And did I mention that you’re going to lose your best defenseman at the end of the season and get nothing in return? Ah, but hockey is a live and well in south Florida.
by b.orr4 on Mar 18, 2009 9:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Sadly, a lot of positive statements about this season could end with “except Michael Nylander.”
by Stephen Pepper on Mar 18, 2009 9:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Maybe that’s the new “with a goat” or “in bed” as the phrase to add to any fortune cookie fortune:
“You will experience great happiness… except Michael Nylander.”
“Try new things… except Michael Nylander.”
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Mar 18, 2009 9:14 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
i see a new JapersRink feature in your future
by ns on Mar 18, 2009 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
funniest thing i’ll read all day. Thanks JP.
by Pi on Mar 18, 2009 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Of course, Nylander could open up his fortune cookie and it would read:
“He who laughs last, laughs best. I’m making $8.5 million dollars over the next two years and you’re not.”
by b.orr4 on Mar 18, 2009 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I use “without pants”.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Mar 18, 2009 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Asham beating Schultz was more embarassing than Tarnasky beating Erskine. Schultz is a better player than Erskine and Tarnasky is better than Asham.
They are both embarassing.
As for Nylander. If Laich is on his line, have him take the face-offs, then as the play flows, they can switch positions and responsibliites on the line so that Laich is a wing and Nyls is the center. I think Nyl’s shoulder isn’t fully healed, and that really will affect face-offs, where you use your shoudlers and thighs more than anything else. When I played in high school, I was about 40 pounds heavier than the center on my line, and I took all the face-offs. Then after the play would flow, we’d get back to our usual roles.
F-Street looked pretty good last night, hopefully Bruce will leave them together for the rest of the year to get acclimated. In fact, none of the 4 lines played poorly, Kozzie’s brain-fart notwithstanding.
I don’t know if Poti makes Erskine that much better…Alzner makes Jurcina look a whole lot better…he’s lost out there without his little buddy.
by MikeL-Caps on Mar 18, 2009 9:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Holy crap, was that a game with secondary scoring and crashing the net at the same time?! Not to mention better than average D? I must still be asleep and it is all one fantastical dream.
by SethB on Mar 18, 2009 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think Peerless noted that it’s the first time the Caps won a game without one of the Big Four scoring a goal (on a goalie) since December 6.
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by J.P. on Mar 18, 2009 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, they are the big four for a reason.
I’m guessing that stat would hold true for most teams, not many win without their best players being their best players
never let the truth get in the way of a good story
by toymechanic on Mar 18, 2009 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And, teams that rely a little too much on that top-heavy talent, thinking they can “get by” in the rest of the roster become the Tampa Bay Lightning
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Mar 18, 2009 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Two-and-a-half months, though? My guess is that the overwhelming majority of NHL teams have won a game since Dec. 6 in which their top four scorers did not score a goal.
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by J.P. on Mar 18, 2009 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
(And it’s times like this I wish The Rink had a research assistant/intern/lingerie model)
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Mar 18, 2009 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I could certainly live w/out the stats if you found a lingerie model for the site… :-)
by Scofield on Mar 18, 2009 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Now accepting applications…
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Mar 18, 2009 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Do I have to be in the top 10% of my class?
by Fehr and Balanced on Mar 18, 2009 8:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That’s because most team’s big 4 equivalents probably don’t score nearly as many goals as ours do. First, we as a team score so many more goals than a lot of teams (the odds are better they’ll get one of them if we’re scoring 4 vs. a team’s top 4 scoring one out of 3, for example). Second, our top forward and Dman have healthy leads on the competition, shifting us pretty far ahead in that department.
I’m curious, do any other teams have two 40 goal scorers (our 50 + 30, obviously nobody’s got 50)? Maybe 4 30 goal scorers? Because that’s what it would take to match the production of our big 4, give or take.
Yeah, it’s a little surprising we haven’t won in that long without one of them getting a goal (sans EN). Still, they’ve scored 122(?) goals this season, so they’re going to score most games, it’s just the way the team is built.
by brs03 on Mar 18, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well I don’t know if I saw a lot of crashing the net (at least that was effective, Feds did it on a couple of occassions). They did get some secondary scoring though, which is a nice addition.
by Sct112 on Mar 18, 2009 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Laich crashed the net on Kozzie’s goal, disrupting Vokoun’s view.
by Scott in Shaw on Mar 18, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Laich contributed, and was definitely going to the net, but I would bet the D-man did more to screen Vokoun than Laich did. I’m not complaining, last night was a start, but they didn’t go to the net last night like they’ll need too (or maybe I want them too).
by Sct112 on Mar 18, 2009 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Asham beating Schultz was more embarassing than Tarnasky beating Erskine. Schultz is a better player than Erskine and Tarnasky is better than Asham.
Asham has better goal scoring numbers through his career and I think he’s a more skilled player. But I also think his move was better and Asham’s was stoppable.
by David M. Getz on Mar 18, 2009 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Feds looked good, and I think if he is still around next season he would be the best candidate for the C on his jersey
by SethB on Mar 18, 2009 9:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I dunno. I’m leaning towards Laich in that role. He’s really impressed me lately – he’s stepped up his game a level and has become a force to be reckoned with out there.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Mar 18, 2009 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also true. He actually did get in front of the crease on Kozzies goal last nite, and with the shortie he had one hell of a game. I just think that Feds would be more of a force in the locker room.
by SethB on Mar 18, 2009 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t know, Laich is a pretty outspoken kid, but he’s also very polite. Putting a C on his chest might give him the confidence to call veterans out in a way that he might not be doing right now. I could see Laich as a pretty serious force in the locker room.
by Gould Old Days on Mar 18, 2009 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like Laich to get the C next. Everything about him says captain, and it would be fitting for a former Hershey guy to get it, as this team as built and presently constituted smells quite chocolatey.
To me, Fedorov will always feel somewhat like a rental, no matter how long he’s here, and his influence on the Russian players on the team doesn’t require additional jersey lettering.
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by J.P. on Mar 18, 2009 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Of course, if Clark can come back fully healthy and start grinding again, all bets could be off.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Mar 18, 2009 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
that would be one hell of a comeback. hope he still has it in him, and his groin.
by ns on Mar 18, 2009 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No, all bets are not off. I said “next,” not “now.”
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Mar 18, 2009 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Clark is done… he had his great 30 goal season, now he’s back to normal. Prior to 05/06 he had only ever had 10 goals in a season, and he benefited here from OV’s arrival on the scene (i.e. no one knowing how to even attempt to defend him.) Plus he’s gonna be 34 next year… finding a guy that can grind on ovechkin’s line (for much cheaper…AND knowing that he won’t find his way back onto that line if/when he returns) is like shooting fish in a barrel.
by Scofield on Mar 18, 2009 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Right. But he has what we legal professionals refer to as a “contract.”
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by J.P. on Mar 18, 2009 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Plus, taking someone’s ‘C’ based on performance doesn’t usually sit well.
by David M. Getz on Mar 18, 2009 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i was wondering about examples. any others? it seems that taking an active player’s C for any reason wouldn’t go over well.
by Natty Bumppo on Mar 18, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i was wondering about examples. any others?
Adam Oates?
by David M. Getz on Mar 18, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
but weren’t all of these guys PLAYING??? Clark has like 15 games in 2 years…
by Scofield on Mar 18, 2009 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, yes, but the original comment seemed more focused on his performance rather than his health.
I don’t recall anyone losing a ‘C’ because of health either, though.
by David M. Getz on Mar 18, 2009 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
As I recall Modano had a minor injury and the Stars took the opportunity to give the C to Morrow when he was out. Then they didn’t give it back to Modano when he was healthy. He didn’t lose it because of the injury, he lost it because of play, the injury was just the catalyst for the change.
by Fehr and Balanced on Mar 18, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah, those are good points…
BUT with those two forces (deficiencies) combined… it seems like, for the teams sake, maybe somoene else that’s in the room everyday, outspoken and a hard worker (i agree w/ the Laich vote) should get a nod and tell Clark that when he comes back, he’ll get an A.
by Scofield on Mar 18, 2009 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i’d assumed the C was taken from vinny more for leadership reasons than performance reasons (in other words, it’s not like lecavalier was “over the hill” and losing his edge).
by Natty Bumppo on Mar 18, 2009 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Team defense was outstanding last night
Tom Poti, thanks for playing within your game. John Erskine, thanks for showing there’s more to yours.
by bigonetimer on Mar 18, 2009 10:53 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
If NB keeps playing like a young Ron Francis, he can have whatever kind of hair he wants.
by urhockey22 on Mar 18, 2009 7:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
16 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 22 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 15 |
|
Atlanta
|
12 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 13 |
|
Florida
|
14 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 11 |
|
Carolina
|
15 | 2 | 10 | 3 | 7 |
(updated 11.7.2009 at 9:10 AM EST)
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