Recap - Maple Leafs 3, Capitals 2 (SO)
by J.P. on Mar 25, 2009 7:00 AM EDT
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[AP Recap - Game Summary - Event Summary - WashingtonCaps.com Postgame]
Here's a tip for whomever draws the Caps in the first round: force 'em to dump the puck in and win the series when they refuse to do so.
Yesterday, we noted that "[m]ore important than the final score on this night might be the power play opportunities for and against, because ... those tend to be leading indicators of motivation and discipline, respectively, which have been the Caps' two primary trouble areas for weeks." So how'd the Caps do? They only committed (or at least were called for) three minor penalties. Discipline? Check. But they also drew only one penalty through regulation. Effort? Not there. Take a look at ESPN.com's Gamecast at the number of shots the Caps took on the night from between and below the offensive zone faceoff dots. And this against a team that has given up the most goals in the NHL on a night when the Caps had a chance to pass New Jersey for second place in the Conference.
Some more thoughts on the game:
- If you want to take a closer look at the Abuse of Officials rules, check out Rule 40 - Abuse of Officials (for which a minor penalty is an option) and Rule 41 - Physical Abuse of Officials (for which there is no minor penalty option). Obviously, the Caps would have preferred a minor on Martin Gerber in that last minute of play rather than an ejection and subsequent entry into the game of Curtis Joseph circa 1999.
- Jose Theodore was very solid in net, but perhaps could have been better on the goals he allowed. Of the 19 players on the ice last night, though, he might be the closest to what you'd want to see as "playoff form."
- Mike Green also had a good night, bombing 10 shots on goal, blocking four shots and throwing three hits.
- Alex Semin? Not so much. Gotta be the flu, right?
- Brooks Laich went to the net and scored a goal. Crazy.
- Another worthless night out of Tomas Fleischmann, with just one shot attempt on the evening and a minus-one rating.
- Seven hits out of Big John Erskine certainly helps his cause in the battle for that sixth sweater on the blueline.
- Nicklas Backstrom won ten of 17 draws (59%), had a nice wrap around attempt and several nice touch passes, including the set-up on Alex Ovechkin's 51st goal of the season, and I suppose that's why he was rewarded with a shootout attempt. But more importantly, back to that faceoff number - he now has won 53.6% of the 168 faceoffs he's taken in the last 11 games. That's a huge positive for the team amid a few bad weeks.
- Chris Bourque got seven shifts and 5:35 of total ice time. He did have one terrible turnover, but is that enough to have sat him? Maybe so.
Before we all "don't stop believin'," we're going to have to start believin' again.
Seven games left to figure it out.
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Same ole (effort)
1) What is Boudreau’s fascination/love for Fleischmann? Why is he out there(trying to) killing penalties? Yes, he got less ice time than in recent games, but the way he’s playing he should be in the press box for a game or two.
2) All in all the game was a carbon copy of recent Capital efforts(or lack there of). Do they think they can just turn on the intensity come April 15th? Geez, winning even one playoff series has to now be in doubt.
3) Speaking of abuse of officials anyone see Bruins prospect goalie Rask go off in Providence? Thought they said he wasn’t going to receive a suspension for that? Incredible if true.
Flash is out there for one reason
He can clear the puck. It seems like he’s one of the only guys on the entire frigging team that knows how to clear the puck.
And that’s a good thing. At least he isn’t totally completely useless right now, as he actually has some PK value lately. Maybe if Steckel would learn to lift the puck that would be less true, but until then Flash will likely have a spot there.
Right. Sure. Whatevs...
Sorry to apparently confuse you Tyler. Here is the link to where its said he (Rask) won’t be suspended.
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=531189
Do they think they can just turn on the intensity come April 15th?
This is The Big Question that will be answered. They look horrible. I thought the flu was the reason when they got throttled by the Thrashers. Now they’re trotting it out again? I have gone from bemused to antsy to concerned to (now) full-on worried.
Geez, winning even one playoff series has to now be in doubt.
Agree. History is littered with the carcasses of talented teams that limped into the playoffs and were promptly dispatched. It starts and ends with AO. If he has stopped caring – and with his paycheck, he’s going to be tough to get through to if he’s decided to be disinterested – then Uncle Ted is going to have to try something drastic to get through to his ass. I’d be perfectly find with a healthy scratch to try and shake the “Iverson” out of him.
History is littered with the carcasses of talented teams that limped into the playoffs and were promptly dispatched.
It’s also full of teams that pulled their sh- stuff together when it mattered. Into which pile the Caps will fall, of course, is the $56.7M question.
And really? Throwing AO under the bus already?
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Wait and see. Judging from the post-game quotes it almost seems like they’re gearing up for next month by forgetting about this one.
"Thank God there is a sport for middle-sized white boys.."
by Bald Pollack on Mar 25, 2009 8:02 AM EDT up reply actions
I would have agreed with you if you were talking about the last few games, but he put forth a good effort last night. He was throwing his weight around and making good plays even before he scored. It makes me think that he was probably under the weather for a few games, too.
by DrinkingPartner on Mar 25, 2009 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions
(Psst… Tyler was being sarcastic. Very).
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by J.P. on Mar 25, 2009 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
ooooooOOOOOOOOooooooohhhhhhhhhh. (My bad.)
by DrinkingPartner on Mar 25, 2009 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Before we all "don't stop believin'," we're going to have to start believin' again.
Well, for me to do that they need to give me something to work with. Haven’t seen but the briefest of flashes in oh, I’d say about 2 months. I am past panic and am into the stoic and familiar well there’s always next year mental realm. So much promise! Dazzle me with “potential”. Make me comatose (break me heart yet again) with the reality. I am Cap Fan. See me mourn. (Sorry—> cranky this morn. . . )
I wouldn’t throw AO under the bus quite yet either. But it’s real close. It’s so close I can smell the homeless lady in the front seat.
Chin up, buckaroo – AO has done almost everything there is to do in a regular season and is driven by what lies ahead.
He shall lead.
We shall follow.
All shall rejoice.
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FYI – the team is holding a “meeting” this morning at 11. Oh, to be a fly on the wall…
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i wonder if GMGM will be there. it would be more effective if he were.
by ns on Mar 25, 2009 8:19 AM EDT up reply actions
Who do you think will be doing the talking? You think the group leadership (we’re grown men, everyone knows what needs to be done) attitude will grab the team by the ear and get them motivated again? bah!
Someone on this team needs to step up and take the wheel. It seems that nobody has been steering the ship for a while.
i wonder if GMGM will be there. it would be more effective if he were.
Only of he is prepared to beat the livin’ crap out of everyone. As you KNOW he is itching to do. GMGM is no Shrinking Violet.
Semin wasn’t that ill – his shots had their usual accuracy for a 5 × 7 net. Did Kozlov dress? I didn’t see him. He been scratched for the last several games?
If at first you don't succeed, don't try parachuting.
Really? I thought Kozlov had a pretty good game….one of the only noticeable players in the offensive zone during the first 2 frames.
Kozy’s a player who is 50-50 with fans. Some fans hate him because he’s not flashy and rarely makes huge plays.
I love him because I rarely see him give up the puck in the O zone and he’s what gives Backy and OV space. He does have a tendancy to disappear but you definitely notice him when he’s out of the game.
Don’t hate him VK25, just think he isn’t making the impact he should be making.
If at first you don't succeed, don't try parachuting.
by hotdog88gt on Mar 25, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Kozlov was one of the only players that had any offensive chances. He was one of our better guys out there last night. Suprisingly, Nylander was pretty good as well.
Whats weird is that with all this talk about being disinterested. I think this team is young and skilled enough where they can just turn it on and off.
I could see an “oh crap” playoffs game 1 but I don’t see them bombing a first round series. I think being the first season theyve had expectations has worn on them differently than before and this is a mental break.
I still remain the optimist I guess.
I disagree. We’re not the Red Wings, yet. I’m a fellow optimist, but I know that they need to turn their switch to “On” in the next game or two, or they’re going to be stuck in a funk going into the playoffs. As I said above, AO had a really good game last night, which he hasn’t had in a few, so I am encouraged by that.
by DrinkingPartner on Mar 25, 2009 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m not in doom and gloom mode quite yet. I don’t even think that game was so horrible to warrant doom and gloom. It was a great effort that got us into OT, and the caps lost on a gimmick. I just don’t think you can say that this game is a litmus test for what the caps will do in the playoffs.
Oh Good Grief....
Ron and Fez Noon to Three
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 25, 2009 9:01 AM EDT reply actions
The Caps are 5-2-1 in their last 8. If the team can take 11 points out of 16 when they’re playing poorly…
One could argue that the results of those games are less important than the effort and skill demonstrated therein, and I think we’d agree that the team hasn’t measured up nearly as well in those areas as in points percentage.
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Great point, but still…if the results in first round are similar to the 5-2-1 record (4-2 or 4-3), I’ll excuse the lack of effort :)
It’s all a broken record at this point.
This is where I say, “Yeah, but look at those teams – there are no Thrashers/Marlies in the playoffs.”
And you say, “But the team has risen to the occasion against playoff-calibre teams.”
And I say, “Yeah, but if they’re hoping to just turn it on when it matters, it may be too late when they do.”
And you say, “We’ll see.”
And I say, “Yes we will.”
And you say, “JP, you have the best blog on the internet.”
And I agree.
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by J.P. on Mar 25, 2009 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
there are no Thrashers/Marlies in the playoffs.
True and hilarious.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
"JP, you have the best blog on the internet."
The only COSMIC TRUTH we can all (even Tyler) agree on.
But they sorta have turned it on when they wish. How else do you explain to huge about-face between the Edmonton game and the Pens game earlier in the season, for example? Or Colorado to the Pens? LA to FLA? Or that huge change between the 4 game slump and then NASH and PHI? ATL and FLA?
It’s annoying, disappointing, scary, you name it. This team’s inconsistent effort is it’s hugest weakness. But they have shown the ability to put stinkers, even long slumps, behind them immediately and dramatically change their play and “turn it on” if you will. It’s not a good thing that they have to do it, but it’s a good thing that they have before. The only question now is whether they can be good enough when it counts, and that’ll likely come down to coaching and which side can adjust more quickly.
I think in those NSH and PHI games, their goalie bailed them out more than anything, and in those two Pens games, I think the prior effort was precisely because the Pens were next and the team was looking past their opponent, but your point is well taken.
I think the issue becomes, when they’re not playing “the system,” can they suddenly start playing it and expect everything to click immediately? If it doesn’t, a two-game hole in the playoffs is usually lights out.
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That’s what I meant by adjustments, sort of. Even if they’re motivated and “on” there will be a good bit of strategizing as the series goes on.
As for NSH and PHI, I disagree partly about the goalie bailing us out. There were some moments, no doubt, but the team completely changed it’s style between the Pens game and the NSH game. Suddenly they cared about D (although it was to the exclusion of the O apparently).
Just like you can’t legislate morality, I don’t think you can manufacture intensity. Clearly, the Caps have their minds on April and while we’d all like to see them playing with a little more urgency, I’m not convinced it’s essential to post-season success. (I’ve got a fanpost coming up that may make some feel a little better) The one thing we can draw from last night is that Flash doesn’t deserve a sweater. His confidence looks shot and his positioning on that last Leafs PP was awful. I think Bruce is about to give up on him too since he dropped him to the fourth line at the end of the game. Think Bill Guerin might have looked good in his spot?
by b.orr4 on Mar 25, 2009 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I’d have liked it more if you opened with “Just like you can tune a piano but you can’t tuna fish, I don’t think…”
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Lame pun or lame that I invoked the title of REO Speedwagon’s seventh studio album?
Um, yes and yes.
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Surprised the hell out of me.
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Gerber
He actually got tossed for shooting the puck at Mike “It’s Always Dark” Leggo so apparently he’s getting 3 games.
Erskine actually played a pretty good game and that’s saying a lot because I actually hate him.
Anyway, it’s tough to get up for a midweek game against this year’s Leafs and once the crowd got into it in overtime the Caps weren’t able to match Cujo’s intensity. I doubt that’ll be a problem in the playoffs at home with the entire arena decked out in red.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
You think you can call us HOMERS and get away with it???? Back to PPP with you PPP.
You are right though, I don’t know who here would argue that Laich’s goal was a legit one.
hahahaha
Not all of you just the ones saying it was a legit goal!
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
He bumped a zebra pretty good too. Almost ran him over.
Just call him “Tuukka.” Bet they are in the ACC locker room.
He wasn’t getting tossed until he shot the puck. They showed a different angle and the other ref (the one with vision) tossed him.
I like to think that no one in the dressing room mentions Tuukka :(
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
That replay of Rask was actually the best part of the whole evening. Reminded me of a minor league baseball manager, going out and stealing 3rd base from an umpire or something.
They did the Top 10 of freak outs after showing that video on TSN and # 1 was the minor league manager that did the grenade routine. Now that is creative.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
That was great.
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by J.P. on Mar 25, 2009 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Plus he walked off with second and third base.
How come no one says that they should get rid of the managerial freak-out from baseball because it’s not part of the game and it sets a horrible example for kids? Because crowds love it.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on Mar 25, 2009 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Made all the funnier by the fact that they’re old, fat men in baseball uniforms.
Could you imagine Boudreau behind the Caps’ bench in a jersey and helmet?
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by J.P. on Mar 25, 2009 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Yeah, it’s pretty ridiculous.
Or imagine the benches clearing after a clean hit just to have everyone push each other and scream in each other’s faces with players running down from the press box before heading back to their benches?
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
That would be quite the spectacle. If only it were Boudreau circa ’75…
by DrinkingPartner on Mar 25, 2009 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions
Speaking of the crowd, why were the first 10 rows in the sections behind the benches completely empty at the beginning of the 2nd and 3rd periods? Are there some rockin’ bars at the ACC that fans go to during intermission?
Or maybe AO cleared them out, he’s been known to drop some serious ass.
The boxes all have private rooms underneath with free beer and food and there are not enough bathrooms and the ACC ushers are ridiculous sticklers about not going back to your seat during play. I got stuck in the greens once for 8 minutes because it took that long to hit the head and there were no whistles.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
I think it starts and ends with Feds
Feds was brought in to provide veteran leadership and he has made it clear that he is bored, pacing himself, and waiting for April. That’s his leadership and I think the others are following his lead. The first TO goal was indicative of where his head is at: it’s the end of the season, it’s Tuesday and they’re playing a team and a style that are dreadfully boring. Instead of making the easy play out of the zone, which he will do in the playoffs, he tried some fancy pants pass that went nowhere and ended up in the back of the net. For the rest of the game he looked equally disinterested until the end of the game when he turned it on a little more. But not much more.
Ovi, Semin, etc are all listening to him and looking at him to show them how to go deep into the playoffs, as opposed to just making the playoffs, and his message is clear: pace yourself until the show starts because energy in April and May is more important than energy in March.
Whether this is the correct approach will be revealed in order. I think it is because great teams can consistently rise to the occasion and good teams cannot. And great teams tend to win championships while good teams do nor. So if the Caps are going to win in April and May, they will need the ability to turn it on when it counts. If they can’t do that, it will be a short post season regardless of how “hot” they enter the playoffs Just look at Ottawa, SJ, etc.
But if this not the right approach, it’s not on BB- he is clearly going insane. It’s in the other coach in the locker room, the one they brought in to lead.
If it ain't broke, don't break it.
by ChrisAm on Mar 25, 2009 10:09 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Not worried
I still think these guys are hungry for success.
When they playoffs come around, and the crowd is going nuts, and the other team is playing desperate…when have the Caps ever bonked in that situation (at least this year)? If they don’t get their playoff-style ready by the end of the regular season, it’s not the end of the world if it takes them a game or two to find it. Look at the Wings last year, losing twice to the Preds in round 1.
Yes I know “we shall see” but my gut feeling about these guys has been right for over a year now and I’m not ready to abandon it.
The keyboard is mightier.
The issue is that it took them more than 1 or 2 games to find it last year, and this is largely the same team, playoff experience or no. They need to start playing well, again, sooner rather than later, IMO.
by DrinkingPartner on Mar 25, 2009 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Way different from last year. Having never been, versus now having played a physical seven game series makes a huge difference. It took them a few games just to learn what playoff-style hockey is like, and once they did the light bulb went off and you could see the change. It carried over into most of the first half, and for the big games this year.
Basically, I’m in the “I think they can turn it on camp.” The lines are being drawn at this point.
The keyboard is mightier.
when have the Caps ever bonked in that situation (at least this year)?
Not that I know of … but be careful. “Bonked” is the British form of “boink”, and I ended up with a mental image of a locker room and … never mind.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Ah the “bonk.” Never used the british version in conversation. Nobody who’s ever spun a bicycle pedal in anger likes to hear that word, but those of who have remember each time we’ve bonked very clearly. And blimey, come to think of it, i can also recall vividly each…oh…never mind.
Bold (and completely baseless) prediction:
Chris Clark dresses for Game 1 of the playoffs.
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That would make my day if it comes to fruition.
I’m in the minority I know, but IMO the Caps are a better team with him in the lineup (when healthy ofcourse)
I could go along with that.
"Thank God there is a sport for middle-sized white boys.."
by Bald Pollack on Mar 25, 2009 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions
It’d be a nice emotional lift, too.
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For sure…I love emotional lifts as much as the next guy, but if nothing else Clark should demonstrate the importance of going to the net. Which is something that as cliche and played out as it is, the team desperately needs a lesson in right now.
Face offs are only one minor responsibility the C has. Yes, they are important, but Laich can just as easily take the face off and play wing if he has to. Laich is not suited to play C on an NHL line, especially not a scoring line. NHL Cs have to distribute the puck and get back defensively. Laich needs to be a W to utilize his crash and bang potential. Sure, him and Kozlov can stop gap as a C but if we had to go more than a game with them there I would not be comfortable.
NHL Cs have to distribute the puck and get back defensively
I hate to continue disagreeing, but I’d argue Laich is more suited to be a top 3 center on the Caps than Nyls is.
Laich is destined for a C. But it won’t be in the Position column. Nyls isn’t suited to play any position on this team, not a very high bar you are setting. At best Laich is the 5th C on the depth chart for this team. Keep in mind, I’m not arguing to take Laich out of the lineup, I’m just saying he has to play wing. This is about you wanting to keep Meat Man in the lineup.
You’re right. This team is doing A-O-K in leadership, grit and toughness. Nevermind. What was I thinking?
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by J.P. on Mar 25, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Not to be a homer
But I just watched the TSN clip of Laich’s goal and I think the refs got it correct. The puck is between Gerber’s pads, he doesn’t have it completely covered, Laich jams at it and Laich’s stick carries Gerber into the net.
If it ain't broke, don't break it.
You mean the ref standing five feet away may have had a better view than everyone watching on TV? Shocking.
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(not meant as a dig at you, Chris, btw)
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No
One meant at me you big jerk ;)
Yeah, I am sure one view from behind the net and the body of Gerber is more conclusive than about 30 replays that show Laich’s stick in Gerber’s groin driving him over the line.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
All Gerber had to do was take a lesson from Carey Price and take his helmet off. The whistle blows and the play is dead, no goal. Shooting the puck at the refs, while funnier, is considerably less effective.
by Sct112 on Mar 25, 2009 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
When you’re not an ‘all-star’ you don’t get quite the same protection ;)
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
to be fair
Gerber was retreating under the crossbar under his own power well before Laich got to him…but I digress.
So, Cujo gets the next start, no?
by bigonetimer on Mar 25, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Has to. Gerber’s suspended for 3 games, yes?
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Oh yeah
For sure. If he was better with the puck he would have probably got more.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Probably
The next one although I assume that Pogge will get at least one of the starts as well. I guess that’s a silver lining.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Sorry but it was a goal. Gerber never had control of the puck underneath him. I’m not being a homer. My Penguins loving wife was watching with me and even she said that it was a goal.
If anything we should all be happy. Without that goal and Gerber’s ridiculous meltdown we wouldn’t have seen CUJO last night. His performance made sitting through that horrific 1st period earlier in the night worthwhile.
Effort
What I see is that the effort plain and fancy IS NOT THERE. For whatever reason. It looks like October/November, and it drives me NUTS.
But I see more than you mention. I see it in failing to drive to the net, in failing to forecheck. When the other team’s Dman has grabbed the puck in their own zone and is trying to settle it to take it up ice, why do we sit back or even skate backwards to give them room? That breaks my brain. Go after it, knock him off of it, don’t give him the chance to get organized.
I wanted to throw things at Semin’s head last night. A lot.
Other comments -
- Laich’s goal call goes in Toronto’s favor if Gerber had not made such an ass of himself, I think. Kubina kept mouthing off to the refs, and that earned him a sit in the box in OT.
- I was pleased to see Backstrom get a shot at the shootout. Ovechkin as the pinch hitter? Not so much.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
I think you’re mixing up your baseball analogies – don’t you mean AO as the clean-up hitter (which would be 4th, technically, but whatevs)?
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Me three.
All I can assume is that it was punishment/reward and that Bruce didn’t like what he saw out of Viktor during the previous 65 minutes of game time.
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My thinking was he has two slots etched in stone and the third was performance based.
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So basically we ended up with the Great Carebear Shootout. :P
here’s hoping we see Pinner on Friday. I thought for the most part Chris Bourque did good with the limited minutes he got. One mistake? Everybody on that ice made one mistake.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Hope you weren’t wed to the idea of seeing Pinner Friday.
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Break the tablet and start from scratch.
“I give you these 15 [crash] 10 commandments!”
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by J.P. on Mar 25, 2009 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
So lemme get this straight… 2 seasons ago we were so terrible in the shootout that GMGM goes and get’s a “shootout specialist” in VK25. Now… he’s behind AO (who is average at-best) in the shootout and backstrom who has only 4 career attempts and Semin who plays in a 5’x7’ world.???
It’s telling me that the extra point isn’t worth it for BB??? I don’t know if that’s the case… but that’s the message I’m seeing.
Maybe I’m just hating too cause I’m a VK25 fan. ???
No, I agree. Kozlov is probably the best shootout guy on the team (I know he is statistically, but I have a hard time not considering Semin) and should be shooting before Ovechkin or Backstrom.
On JT
I am not seeing him at fault for either goal. The first one appeared to be off Erskine, or at the very least Erskine did a great job screening our goalie. The second appeared to change direction as well. And nevermind that one sequence where he was out of his mind and made about 5 clutch saves in 10 seconds.
Russian Machine Never Breaks
JT actually said he should have stopped the second one. The first one was wide until it ticked off of Erskine and in. I thought that JT was dinged by Grabovski as he skated through the crease on the first goal but they might have deemed that to be incidental. Either way, JT was certainly a strong point in last nights game rather than a problem.
Yeah, he had no chance on the first one, regardless of BB saying he needed to be better on it…
The second one, though, I’d hold against him. That’s a save you’ve got to make. And the Shoot-out goal, too. Pretty much the same thing where if his stick is on the ice, he saves it.
He had a good game, but the 2nd goal and the shoot-out goals were pretty bad.
by DrinkingPartner on Mar 25, 2009 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions
That struck me as well. Grabovski clips his shoulder (JT wasn’t out of the crease at all) and pushes JT to the side, and what do you know but the puck goes in right where JT would have been had he not been hit. I guess it wasn’t big enough to be reviewable, but Grabo may have made that goal happen.
Toronto got a couple of breaks, I think, but then so did we, so it all evens out (mostly). If CuJo had not been an absolute monster out there, we’d’ve had it in that four-shot sequence on the OT PP. Toronto should be kissing CuJo’s feet about now.
And he said he wanted to prove that he could still play. I think he just did.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Heh. Sometimes, that’s all you need. Gerber’s little stunt very nearly cost Toronto the game. I don’t think a rookie goaltender comes out stone cold in the final minute of regulation and pulls that one off.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
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