Game Day - Capitals @ Lightning
by J.P. on Mar 19, 2009 7:00 AM EDT
58 comments
[AP Preview - WashingtonCaps.com Preview]
In each of the first three games between the Caps and Bolts this season, Washington has out-scored Tampa three-nothing in the first period, and each time it has come against a different goaltender. Be it Olie Kolzig, Mike Smith or Mike McKenna, none has been able to keep his team from finding itself in a 3-0 hole after twenty minutes of play.
Next up - Karri Ramo?
What's particularly interesting about the Caps' early onslaughts against Tampa is the guys doing the scoring. Sure Alex Ovechkin has one. Alex Semin, too. But five of the nine goals have been scored by defensemen - two for Mike Green and one apiece for Tom Poti, Shaone Morrisonn and Sean Collins. In other words, three of the 13 goals scored by Caps' defensemen other than Green this season have been scored in the first period of a trio of games against Tampa. That says a lot, and none of it's good (for either team, really).
Speaking of defensemen, when Matt Lashoff suited up the other night, he became the 20th blueliner that Tampa has used this season and the 48th player overall (NHL record: 55). To put that in some perspective, that's a whole six-man blueline more than the injury-ravaged Caps have used this season (counting Sergei Fedorov), and three players shy of the 51 players that got a sweater for at least one game for Washington during the 2003-04 season (where have you gone, Roman Tvrdon?).
I could go into greater depth about how terrible a team the Bolts are or mention that they're 2-0-2 in their last four or that they've lost five of their last seven games, but that's all largely irrelevant, because it doesn't matter who's on the schedule - if the Caps show up and play hard, they'll win, and if they don't they'll lose. Simple as that.
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Is there a specific reason why the game needs to start at 730?
I hate 730 games
Ron and Fez Noon to Three
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2009 7:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think that’s when the beaches close.
by b.orr4 on Mar 19, 2009 8:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
BTW….Are the Tampa Bay Lightning the most mismanaged franchise in sports (outside of the Detroit Lions)?
I say yes, considering they didn’t really need all that much this past offseason to be competitive again, and where they are now. They took at least a 4-5 year step back, which is mind boggling.
Ron and Fez Noon to Three
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2009 7:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
ummmm… have you heard of the washington redskins?
by vt caps fan on Mar 19, 2009 8:07 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Clippers?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Mar 19, 2009 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nats??
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Mar 19, 2009 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sp*rs……I kid :)
never let the truth get in the way of a good story
by toymechanic on Mar 19, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The redskins just throw money at the problem and hope it goes away.
by Ovechwin on Mar 19, 2009 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And this is different from the Lightning how?
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Mar 19, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Biggest Factor
Is the absence of Bill Davidson Palace Sports & Entertainment ownership.
Pick SPG for your chance to win probably nothing.
by xiix on Mar 19, 2009 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hey, the Devils finally lost!
Here’s hoping Philly and Pitt continue to win.
As for the Lightning…meh. And I suspect the Caps feel the same way, which bodes ill for this evening’s results.
I’ll throw the reverse whammy on this one and predict the Caps sleepwalk their way thru a loss. They really didn’t play that well at Florida, after getting handled by the Thrash, but they got an acceptable result, so I’m looking for some backsliding.
by fat_daddyo on Mar 19, 2009 7:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, gotta go with this one.
The only way they don’t sleepwalk through it is if they put the Iron Curtain in that net, and maybe not even then.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Mar 19, 2009 8:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You’ll notice that Marty didn’t play :)
by Sct112 on Mar 19, 2009 9:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Here's hoping the Devils comtinue to win
Best way to avoid a second round match-up. I’d rather the Caps play the B’s than NJ.
If it ain't broke, don't break it.
by ChrisAm on Mar 19, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Won't be fooled again
Crappy team, backup goalie…yep,put this one in the loss column. Does Varly get the start?
by b.orr4 on Mar 19, 2009 8:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i hope so. we need to figure out the backup situation asap.
by ns on Mar 19, 2009 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
To what end? I’m not sure that it matters.
by Sct112 on Mar 19, 2009 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Only in the sense that (a) it contains information for next year and off-season, (b) I’d like to see him get a few more starts. We already know that he handles being thrown into the fire very, very well (see: Montreal).
I think the key for me here is “let’s find out if we need to keep BJ1 for another year”.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Mar 19, 2009 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’d like to see the Iron Curtain start, myself. The guys usually play better with one of the kids behind them, and he could be exactly the kick in the rear they need.
Besides, doesn’t Tampa have the right to see all four of our goalies like we got to see all four of theirs? XD
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Mar 19, 2009 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
LOL. And we’re running out of time for them to see all our ECHL D too. ;-)
by TylerG on Mar 19, 2009 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
damn.. quiet day today from everyone… guess thats what happens when we play the lightning?
by sexypills03 on Mar 19, 2009 10:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Don’t worry, we’ll turn it on when the games really matter.
by b.orr4 on Mar 19, 2009 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Per TEB Quintin Laing is at St. Pete times forum, and we will probably be seeing Simeon “Iron Curtain” Varlamov in net tonight.
by Ovechwin on Mar 19, 2009 11:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Oh, now that’s interesting. A guy with a work ethic. Very smart move, BB.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Mar 19, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
They already had a guy with work ethic here (Aucoin) who busted his ass on Monday night and was promptly rewarded with a healthy scratch on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Tomas Fleischmann floats on without even seeing his PP time reduced…
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by J.P. on Mar 19, 2009 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Aucoin was scratched Tuesday? I thought he played.
So if he’s a scratch, then why are they recalling Laing? Who’s out?
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Mar 19, 2009 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gordon, apparently.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Mar 19, 2009 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gah. Latest victim of the flu bug, I guess.
Guess last line is Laing-Steckel-Bradley, then.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Mar 19, 2009 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
NM, I read Corey’s post. Eeeenteresting. I won’t lie, I’m a little nervous – okay, a lot – but I hope the guys can get up for this one.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Mar 19, 2009 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good for Q….love the guy.
Ron and Fez Noon to Three
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And where is C-BO!?!?! The lifeblood of the Caps is “young and hungry” and the kid easily qualifies. Laing is hard working, yes, but not the spunky youngster with something to prove that we need to get back in touch with our roots.
The keyboard is mightier.
by breed16 on Mar 19, 2009 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Rec’d on that one. I want to see more C-Bo. I don’t think he’s been given anywhere near enough of a shot up here.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Mar 19, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
agreed…but Laing for Gordon makes perfect sense on the PK, not exaclty Bourque’s long suit.
by bigonetimer on Mar 19, 2009 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That was appalling to me, Bruce even said he had a great game. He worked his a** off in a 5-1 loss, nearly got the only goal of the game and was basically the only Cap that showed up. If there was ever a time to teach someone a lesson it was on Tuesday, and Bruce missed(ignored?) the chance.
You can’t say you want hard work/toughness/grit and then when its provided punish it or, just as bad, reward the lack of those attributes.
by Sct112 on Mar 19, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
But we did beat FLA, right? With a shut out? And a solid defensive effort? Maybe the message got across without having to bench an NHL regular. The only person that could have sat for Aucoin without using one of the 4 call ups was Feds, and clearly you play Feds if he is healthy enough to play.
by Fehr and Balanced on Mar 19, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I know that I’m making a mountain out of a mole hill, but to me, if you are going to preach it, then you need to reward it. I agree that Feds needed to be out there more than Aucoin did, but there are 10 games left, maybe they just make Aucoin one of the 4 and have Flash take a seat. (What are they saving those callups for?)
If Flash can ride pine, everyone (except a few) can right? If the only guys that feel they are fighting for a spot are Steckel,Nyls,Bradley there isn’t much incentive for anyone else to change their ways. Maybe that is ok with Bruce. I don’t know.
by Sct112 on Mar 19, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I actually had an Aucoin post ready to go this afternoon. It is now on hold.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Mar 19, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I look forward to reading it at some point… I’ll start the drumbeat for Aucoin the way DMG has for Schultz :)
by Sct112 on Mar 19, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Does your “defensive awareness” begin to tingle when people type “Schultz” in one of their comments?
by Sct112 on Mar 19, 2009 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don’t sell him short, he’s got Hart potential!
by Fehr and Balanced on Mar 19, 2009 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
TEB’s blog is reporting that Aucoin has been reassigned to Hershey.
by capfan on Mar 19, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i think i heard JPs heart just break..
by sexypills03 on Mar 19, 2009 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Heh. Not so much. I thought the guy deserved another shot, though, especially after getting praised for his effort.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Mar 19, 2009 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe it was my heart you heard breaking.
by Sct112 on Mar 19, 2009 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well boys and girls...
I’m off for some spring training delight in Viera, and then…..
driving across the state to watch our Washington Capitals @ the Forum. Keep an eye out, we’ll be rocking the red from the glass near the faceoff circle where the Caps shoot twice!!!
by wittcap79 on Mar 19, 2009 11:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Per TEB
Laing has been called up and will likely play due to a lower-body injury to Boyd Gordon (he got stung a couple of times in the Florida game on the PK). Plus it looks like Pothier is going to play and Erskine is going to sit….
by MikeL-Caps on Mar 19, 2009 1:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Actually, Gordon’s out 2-3 weeks; broken finger. Not cool.
Hope Green is OK!!!
by IRockTheRed on Mar 19, 2009 10:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
71 | 47 | 14 | 10 | 104 |
|
Atlanta
|
70 | 30 | 29 | 11 | 71 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
70 | 28 | 30 | 12 | 68 |
|
Florida
|
69 | 28 | 30 | 11 | 67 |
|
Carolina
|
70 | 29 | 33 | 8 | 66 |
(updated 3.20.2010 at 8:14 AM EDT)
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