Recap - Penguins 4, Capitals 3 (SO)
by J.P. on Mar 9, 2009 7:00 AM EDT
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[AP Recap - Game Summary - Event Summary - WashingtonCaps.com Postgame]
Kudos to the Pittsburgh Penguins for winning a big road game as they battle for a playoff spot, but from the perspective of those cheering on the red, white and blue, this game was about a Caps team that may very well have turned the corner on their recent doldrums as they head down the season's home stretch.
Entering the third period yesterday, the Penguins had a 3-1 lead and looked to be en route to sending the Caps to a fourth consecutive regulation home loss, which would have been the fifth defeat in six games at the Verizon Center. After all, the Penguins were 18-3-4 on the season when leading after two periods and 54-4-7 in that situation over the past two seasons. The Caps, for their part, had won just four times since the beginning of last season when behind heading into the third period (4-40-2). And the Penguins needed yesterday's two points. Bad.
And yet 1:18 into the third, the game was tied, and it would stay tied until Sidney Crosby beat Jose Theodore in the shootout and the Caps failed to get one past Marc-Andre Fleury. To be sure, the extra point - and perhaps more importantly depriving Pittsburgh of it - would have been nice, but in a game that had all the makings of either "rock bottom" or "the turning point," I think it's safe to say that Sunday's effort (key word) much more closely resembled the latter.
Some thoughts on the game:
- No Capital had more even strength ice time against the League's leading scorer than Jeff Schultz, who held said scorer pointless for the first time in eleven games and for only the fourth time since January 8. Sarge's 20:01 of even strength ice time was second on the team and he even threw in three hits for the haters.
- A week ago, I had a pretty strong feeling that Bill Guerin would be playing this game, but I had envisioned him in red. Too bad it didn't work out - he can still get it done.
- We've been waiting for Brooks Laich to step up when the team needed him, and he did just that on Sunday. Within a span of 49 seconds at the start of the third, he provided sufficient traffic in front of Fleury to give Alex Ovechkin a better shot at scoring the Caps' second goal, and then beat Fleury on a pretty breakaway move to tie the game.
- Alexander Semin is so very special. His goal was scintillating, but perhaps even more impressive were his six takeaways (the same number John Erskine has on the season), many of which were the result of aggressive - but legal - backchecks. He seems to be leading the way in the shift to playoff mode, as he's on a six-game goal streak and has 13 points in his last eight games (and just two minor penalties in his last six).
- The defensive effort overall - limiting the Pens to just 18 even strength shots and 22 overall - was outstanding, especially as compared to the 32+ shots against per game they'd averaged over the past four games.
- That Nicklas Backstrom ever wins a draw is a testament to how great his hand-eye coordination is, because he's still taking most of his faceoffs damn-near standing up. And yet, he won 52% of them on Sunday and is 32-for-54 (59%) over his last three games. Oh, and his forecheck and assist on the Semin goal was fabulous.
- AO was not sharp, flubbing a few one-timers and losing the puck more often than we're used to seeing, but he did score his 22nd third period goal of the season, which is more than all but 56 NHLers have total.
- Milan Jurcina was a beast, registering four hits including putting Tyler Kennedy through the glass in the first period. He and Erskine combined for eight hits in just 27:19 of ice time, and neither was on the ice for a goal against.
- JT had Evgeni Malkin's number on Sunday, robbing Geno a couple of times.
- Shaone Morrisonn's crosscheck to Pascal Dupuis' kidneys as the latter was on top of the crease was a nice touch.
- Tom Poti's ill-timed step-up that led to the Guerin-Crosby two-on-one in the first wasn't the kind of play you'd like to see from a guy with his experience - there was little upside potential and quite obviously significant risk to it.
- David Steckel's outlet pass on the Laich breakaway goal deserves mention, so there it is.
- Good on the Pens fans who celebrated the shootout win that prevented the Caps from taking all eight points against their team this season by dancing and signing on the steps of the National Portrait Gallery - perhaps some culture rubbed off on them.
And so ends the (regular) season series between these two bitter rivals, with the Caps taking three of the four meetings. One can't help but think that these teams might not be done yet this season, though, and besides being the NHL's dream match up, the hockey itself would not doubt be epic.
But for now, the Caps turn their sites towards a desperate Nashville Predators team, who they'll face on Tuesday in their last game against the Western Conference (and outside the Eastern time zone) this season, with about as much confidence as a team can take away from an 0-3-1 homestand, thanks to an unlikely third period and stolen point.
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I like the Pensblog headline
Which would only make sense if the Caps had blown a 3-1 lead in the 3rd and had to get pretty lucky in the final minutes to not lose. But that was the Pens who choked, so alas, it doesn’t.
Yeah….that kinda confused me as well.
Perhaps we should start acting like the Caps won the Stanley Cup yesterday as well?
Ron and Fez Noon to Three
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 9, 2009 8:22 AM EDT up reply actions
I can clear up your confusion…Who didn’t convert on the shootout with the “game on his stick”? There’s the implied choke.
Good, intense game though.
And just for the record
Sitting directly behind the oppositions goal is a hell of a view. And one where you could see that Ovie actually beat MAF five-hole. The puck hit the inside of his calf and went out instead of in. C’est la vie.
Bingo…Ovi’s terrible on shootouts, always has been.
Ron and Fez Noon to Three
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 9, 2009 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions
Exactly.
I was really surprised that Laich didn’t get the third shot after converting that breakaway in the third. He earned that right.
He choked b/c even though he scored a third period goal to draw his team within one, he failed in the skills competition. Gotcha.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
if he had his Canadian hat and sun glasses THEN things would be different…
by CapitalsKremlin on Mar 9, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Shootout averages are like batting averages, good ones are generally 30, 35% over extended samples. Crosby had virtually the same shootout stats as AO.
There is no shame/choke in him not converting, but I’m glad you and all people of your ilk get a big hardon thinking about it.
There will be no shootout to save you in the playoffs
Russian Machine Never Breaks
I don’t think Gonchar likes Mike Green :)
Semin is seriously the oddest and most skilled player i’ve seen play in a long time. Agree on his back checks….awesome. Those stick lifts and take aways are creating so many chances and stunting any momentum the opposing team tries to create.
UNFORTUNATELY
Your super star AO doesn’t even know how to play defense let alone backcheck like Semin or you would have a chance to go deep in the playoffs. All the Sid hating is because he AND Malkin are clearly all around better players than your Boy. I hope to see you in the playoffs because I am sure these weaknesses will be shown…and it will be a great show!
by black&goldtilldead&cold on Mar 9, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Yawn. Troll elsewhere, please.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Morrisonn looked absolutely terrible on Guerin’s goal. He turned to the outside while Guerin was still in a great shooting position in the middle of the ice. It was embarrassing.
(please excuse my first post)
Beninati and Laughlin kept praising Guerin for a supposed “move” that froze Mo and created the easy goal….
I think the proper explanation is posted above. Mo sucked balls on that play. He neither covered the shooter or prevented the pass well. That was ass.
by ns on Mar 9, 2009 8:48 AM EDT up reply actions
oops. i’m talking about the wrong goal (crosby’s which was set up by Guerin). crap. SBN needs to work in an edit or delete post feature soon…
by ns on Mar 9, 2009 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions
I forgot to mention that goal in the post. I think it was so awfully played that I had already repressed the memory of it.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
This is one of those unique games that both teams leave feeling good about themselves.
I agree with your point on Poti misplaying his step up that lead to the 2 on 1. I also would have preferred that Schultz just take away the pass and not step to the middle at all. Oh well.
Morrisson got undressed by Guerin on his goal. Not sure what happened there but he looked awful.
I was really surprised to see Poti out there last night. Given his groin, the fact that it was 75 degrees outside yesterday and they were playing on the embarassment that is the VC ice, I thought for sure he would be held out.
I did think that the ice was a factor, there were several blown tires (Feds for one) and a bunch of bouncing pucks but it works for/against both teams so I’m not sure it can be considered a deciding factor.
Yeah, Schultz got caught in no man’s land on that one – take away the pass, leave the shooter to your goalie. Pretty fundamental, no?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Mo wasn't undressed at all
He was just ass. Mo took the outside (for a reason I have yet to figure out), and Guerin simply went inside and kept skating towards the net, cause he’s a forward, and he’s trying to score. Mo is only a whisker behind Nyls as the worst contract on the team. Clearly, the arbitrator was wrong.
Jose didn’t look too hot on that one either.
For Once
Just Once, could people not rip on Jose? He works his rear off, especially last night. He played beautifully. I don’t think he could have done anything about the ones he missed, especially when he had a mob of guys in front of him, including Caps players who failed to stop the puck. I always have a soft place in my heart for goalies, I know… but really, the guy was great last night. If anyone should get the stink eye, it should be those in the shoot-out who failed to get one past Mc Fleury. They all made the same move. sigh
Honestly, I was just happy that Little Nemo Neuvirth wasn’t playing last night.
"For reason, ruling alone, is a force confining; and passion, unattended, is a flame that burns to its own destruction.
Therefore let your soul exalt your reason to the height of passion; that it may sing; " - The Prophet
Jeez
I didn’t think I was “ripping” on him. The goal was soft, the pass was covered and he wasn’t square to the shooter. Waddya want? The primary blame for Guerin’s goal goes to Mo, plain and simple. But Jose isn’t “blameless”.
The first goal was all but unstoppable and the PP goal was the D’s fault for not clearing the crease.
And just for the record, I’m pretty sure they all work their rear’s off.
I beg to differ. I have seen some guys who clearly aren’t working their rears off to back up their goalies.
"For reason, ruling alone, is a force confining; and passion, unattended, is a flame that burns to its own destruction.
Therefore let your soul exalt your reason to the height of passion; that it may sing; " - The Prophet
I was taking it as more of a general comment than a specific game comment, but okay. Sure, the D certainly has their share of mental lapses, no doubt. And what the majority of us have contended since time immemorial is that with just league average goaltending we’re a top-5 team, and we are.
But lets not confuse Jose of 2008-2009 with the Jose of 2000-2004.
D mental lapses
I’ll be honest – I watch other teams on Center Ice, including some of the elite teams, and their D men have mental lapses too from time to time. Most teams’ D’s look like ours. Could we use an upgrade on D? You bet. Do we have one coming? I think so.
Oh, by the way, I decided it was too hot for the jersey and as I’d been thinking about getting a T-shirt for the playoffs, I settled on Alzner. So it shall be King Karl for the playoffs :)
beg to differ with you
JT was pretty darn good yesterday, but the I think the “rips” are justified. He’s allowed several bad goals recently (mirroring the shoddy play of the rest of the team, to be fair), his rebound control is subpar and he gets out of position easily (owing to a bad hip?). Again, he had a few great saves yesterday. 2 that were spectacular, in fact. But I’m 100% sure I’ll back a goalie who makes all the routine stops that need to be made versus the one who can’t, and right now, JT’s GAA and SV% speak for themselves.
Maybe that’s the trouble… You’ll back a goalie who makes all the routine stops…. I get that. But what about backing the goalie… period.
I know I can be a little bit protective of these guys because I do believe they’re the people that take the most verbal hits (and not necessarily deservedly all the time). It’s a lot of responsibility, for sure, and I’m not saying they shouldn’t be held accountable. I just think a lot of people treat them like step-children because it’s the easy and popular thing to do. (Like ragging on my Schultzie…)
I just feel like each game should be approached as a new game—a new chance for them to improve and show their quality. It just seems like everyone bases their opinions on JT’s past rather than his present. There are plenty of opportunities for the other five guys on the ice to get in there to avoid Jose from even having to make the routine stops. I just wish those guys got a little more ripping on the blogs—that they would be held just as accountable. I think JP does a great job of this. I just get irritated with some of the comments at times.
I know I’m a new Caps fan, so I don’t know all the history and blood, sweat, and tears you’ve experienced with the team, but I do know this: it’s a team sport, and until the shoot-out, it isn’t just about the goalie getting it done. I am proud to join the ranks of the Caps fans, and I am fiercely loyal… even to the not-so-popular Jose.
Mo, on the other hand… ;)
"For reason, ruling alone, is a force confining; and passion, unattended, is a flame that burns to its own destruction.
Therefore let your soul exalt your reason to the height of passion; that it may sing; " - The Prophet
Violetta — love the passion. Last team I felt that way about was 1994. Keep that feeling as long as you can and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
JT’s my guy, just like Donny Beaupre, Ace Carey, Kolzig and Huet were. If I call them out, it’s only because I want them to do better.
by Gould Old Days on Mar 9, 2009 11:00 PM EDT up reply actions
I saw Steckel fall at least 3 different times
Ron and Fez Noon to Three
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 9, 2009 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Joe-Zay?
Other than your comment on him owning Malkin, there is not much here on JT’s performance. Was the SO goal stoppable? Is he ready for the stretch run? How did he look?
thought he played incredibly well. many a save kept us in the game. Crosby’s SO goal was pretty sick. He froze Theo and roofed it quickly
by ns on Mar 9, 2009 9:04 AM EDT up reply actions
He certainly kept the Caps in the game on several occasions. In fact I would venture to say that the reason Malkin was held without a point had less to do with Schultz, than to do with Jose.
The SO goal was simply pretty, Crosby made a great move and roofed it. I can’t blame him on that one at all. As for all three of the Caps shooters trying to go low stick side on Fleury, not sure what was up with that.
Great move by Sid in the SO, and Jose did have a pretty strong game overall – no chance on the Sid goal, screened badly on the Gonchar goal, and might have been better on Guerin’s.
He did have a number of great saves, including a couple on Malkin and at least one on Sid.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Is it me or did it look like the hip still bothers him?
"Good crowd out there tonight, boys, let's really try to win this one."
I thought he looked kinda slow moving laterally. But it’s hard to tell with Jose cause he kinda flops around like a fish from time to time as well.
He also seemed slow to recover after the flop, seems like it’s been that way for about a month now.
"Good crowd out there tonight, boys, let's really try to win this one."
by Bald Pollack on Mar 9, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions
The shootout
This has nothing to do with the Caps losing yesterday (honest), but I absolutely hate that a team celebrates a shootout win like its a playoff game. The Caps do it too and it drives me crazy. If I ran the league, I’d reformat the standings to W-L-T-SC (for Skills Competition) and at the end of OT I’d have the PA announcer tell the crowd that the game has ended in a tie and that we’re now commencing a skills competition to award an extra point. Maybe that would reduce some of these over the top celebrations. BTW, the GMs are now considering removing shootout wins from the tiebreaking process so it looks like they’re getting fed up with the shootout as well.
Now there's an interesting idea.
After what the Rangers did with it – they leaned way too heavily on Lundqvist this year (who is an absolute beast in the shootout).
I have a feeling the Guerin the Penguins got is going to be a lot like the Guerin the Sharks got a couple of years ago…nine points in 16 regular season games (not bad)…two in nine playoff games (not so good). Maybe he’s the winger — finally — for Crosby, but I think Kunitz is the key acquisition there.
If you've read this far...seek help.
Given that Kunitz will be there next October and Guerin will (most likely) not, I tend to agree.
But, given the choice (and appropos of nothing), I’d take Bill Guerin over Tomas Fleischmann for the rest of this season in a second.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
And yet Fehr once again got less ice time than anyone other than the Bra boys (just made that up… not diggin’ it too much…).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Would you say the Bra boys weren’t “holding up” their end of the bargain yesterday?
Ron and Fez Noon to Three
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 9, 2009 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions
If that was the case and I had to grade them, I’d give them a pair of D’s.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
They did seem to be moving like a couple of boulders out there
Ron and Fez Noon to Three
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 9, 2009 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions
I like Brash
Cool dude. But as a hockey player, doesn’t really do it for me. Can pick up any enforcer you want nowadays for $500-750k, don’t need to pay $1.3M
Choke?
Lets remove the Caps from the equation.
Pens blow a 3-1 lead to the Habs, Rangers, Panthers, Sabres, or Hurricanes.
Are you this happy with the win, or sulking that you only picked up one point vs a neck and neck team?
Just because the Caps are so far ahead makes it oh so sweet? Thats your choke folks…
Just because the Caps are so far ahead makes it oh so sweet? Thats your choke folks…
No, the reason I for one am chill with this one is that I think we’ve turned a corner. The slop stopped and they looked GOOD out there. THAT looked like a playoff game, and had it been a playoff game, I think we would have walked away with the W because we controlled the third and overtime, and there are no shootouts in the playoffs.
heh
Don’t go anywhere near Pens Blog today (I have a close friend who’s a fan, so I visit on occasion) – it’s no surprise, but they’re acting like they just won a game 7. Perhaps they forgot they were 3 down in the series?
And of course there’s the “Caps fans are classless/clueless/idiots, Ovechkin chokes” etc. Sore winners.
by OvechkinLaichsSemin on Mar 9, 2009 9:40 AM EDT reply actions
I’m originally from Pittsburgh, and I used to be a Pens fan until my fiance showed me the light.
On behalf of my home town, I’m sorry their being such idiots. Their loyalty to the teams goes so deep that sometimes they lose their sense of propriety. Even though every team has its share of stupid fans, the Pens seem to be some of the loudest. Sorry guys!
"For reason, ruling alone, is a force confining; and passion, unattended, is a flame that burns to its own destruction.
Therefore let your soul exalt your reason to the height of passion; that it may sing; " - The Prophet
Eh….God bless em…itll be nice for them to reminisce about when they’re golfing in May
Ron and Fez Noon to Three
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 9, 2009 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions
Golfing? We are talking Pittsburgh, PA, right? The majority of Pens fans aren’t the golfing guys… you must be thinking of the guys in Shadyside and Squirrel Hill. ;)
"For reason, ruling alone, is a force confining; and passion, unattended, is a flame that burns to its own destruction.
Therefore let your soul exalt your reason to the height of passion; that it may sing; " - The Prophet
Mexico Street FTW
Ron and Fez Noon to Three
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 9, 2009 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions
Aww… ghetto fabulous Mexico Street… too bad the resident Transylvanian there couldn’t care any less about sports. You could always call my dad and talk to him about it. Oh wait, his wife has his huevos in her hands… he’s not allowed to have an opinion of his own. haha
"For reason, ruling alone, is a force confining; and passion, unattended, is a flame that burns to its own destruction.
Therefore let your soul exalt your reason to the height of passion; that it may sing; " - The Prophet
“I think Ovechkin’s good, but Malkin and Crosby are better!”
Ron and Fez Noon to Three
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 9, 2009 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions
Eh—dad doesn’t know a hockey puck from a baseball. He’s a golfer wannabe anyway.
No matter how much we may dislike the Pittsburgh teams, they are keeping that city afloat (well, along with Google). I think he’s in denial about that. Pittsburgh fans inherit their season tickets… passed down through generations. I almost wish our fans were as loyal as that, but I’m thankful we’re not as douchey.
"For reason, ruling alone, is a force confining; and passion, unattended, is a flame that burns to its own destruction.
Therefore let your soul exalt your reason to the height of passion; that it may sing; " - The Prophet
semin with the same number of takeaways as erksine’s season total: stat of the day!
it must be a significant challenge for a coach to draw the best out of semin (yesterday) without promoting the stick infractions that kill the team from time to time. he really has it in him to be a wizard on the backcheck.
in this instance, i don’t think it’s as simple as “improving focus.” maybe he just has it some days and doesn’t have it on others. like a streaky 3-point shooter in basketball?
I think he is streaky, but he’s also a player that has an extra gear (see last year’s playoffs, yesterday’s game) and can elevate his game when he is driven. He’s been showing that the past few games, hopefully gearing up for the playoffs. Nobody on the team is more skilled than him, and when he raises his effort, he can really make things happen.
Semin is tied for third in the league in Points Per Game. Fifth in the league in +/-. And, if he played the full season, he’d be on pace for 107 points and 58 goals. Yet next to Schultz, nobody on the team gets more grief from the fans.
maybe in the past but I think most people have come around on him finally. I’d wager that the majority of our Defense get more grief than Semin.
by Sombrero Guy on Mar 9, 2009 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions
Gotta agree.
And you have GOT to fix that sombrero, dude.
However, I thought most of our D did a stand-up job. Jurcina gets lots of love for knocking Tyler Kennedy through the glass. That was awesome.
No comments on the number of coincidental roughing minors and the number of scrums? That really made this game for me.
The only thing is, can we carry this into Nashville? Can we play with that same intensity? I sure hope so, because we can’t afford to lose the Nashville game. We can still get there – that franchise record for points is still in reach – but we are going to have to kick butt and take names now to make it. That’s the question for me now – was that just playing the Pens or are we really in playoff mode?
Time will tell.
I think – and hope – that hitting the road will help them keep building off of the game yesterday. As strange as it sounds, this game is a big test for a team that hasn’t always played well on the road and almost always struggles against lesser Western teams. I’m pretty confident the Caps will put up a W.
I am 100% with you, b.orr4. Semin is underappreciated by just about everyone, it seems. He has durability and discipline issues at times but man, he is a hell of a player and this team would sorely miss him if he were gone.
I know in DMG’s recent projection on how McPhee will keep the team together, he felt Semin would be traded because he would cost too much to retain. My personal opinion is that Semin is one of those rare players who will give a hometown discount to resign. It won’t be out of loyalty to the Caps, but for purely personal reasons. By all accounts, he’s a quite guy and he’s found a comfort level here with Ovechkin and Backstrom and the other young players. I could be wrong, but I think he’d rather be secure here with the guys he knows than heading off to a new club for a million more a season.
I think DMG raised the possibility of a trade, not the likelihood of it.
And I could see Semin signing for less to stay here, but I could just as easily see him bolting for the KHL (if it exists at the time).
I don’t think any one of us knows him or his intentions this far out.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Yes, possibility rather than distinction. I raised it for two reasons. One is that I think the team would be hard pressed to keep Ovechkin, Semin, Backstrom, and Green and stay under the cap and that if that turns out to be the case Semin would be the most likely to go. The other was to demonstrate that the team could suffer the loss of one of its best players and still be competitive.
It’s a good point b.orr4, and you might be right. None of us know his intentions, and keeping all 4 of those guys as DMG mentions will be extremely tough. It may be that the team ultimately has to trade Semin or let him go on a RFA offer sheet to keep the organization moving forward, but that will invariably yield quite a bounty of players/prospects/picks.
But for the time being, we should appreciate his skill and hope that he continues to play with the drive he’s displayed of late and in the postseason last year.
he’s been one of my favs since he started here. He’s amazing with the puck. Almost always has an opportunity to score. If he cashed in on half of his home made opportunities he’d be averaging a hat trick (I can’t back that up, but it sure looks like it). He’s a beast on the takeaways and recently has kept his stick fouls out of the game (knock on wood) I was rocking my CEMNH shirt at the game. I hope we keep him around.
Whoa, now.
I don’t usually feel the need to post here, but this is just getting out of hand.
I see a ton of jobbing Pens fans here. Look, just because Pens fans travel en masse to support their team, don’t hold it against us. Are there a few douches that show up from Pitt? Sure. But you guys had Chris Cooley in attendance, so we’re even. I saw, and was the target of, a ton of obnoxiousness among Caps fans two weeks ago, as though the Caps had not only won the Cup, but had somehow exorcised the Lemieux demons. The knife cuts both way, friends.
Second, the Caps fans go way overboard with the Crosby hate, echoing Philly fans. It used to be that I wouldn’t even consider anyone as obnoxiously hateful as Philly towards other team’s star players without good reason (i.e., a history of cheap shots). I know you’re just following Semin and Ovechkin’s lead, but seriously, did Crosby sleep with a bunch of Caps’ fans girlfriends or something?
And the “diving” claims—is anyone going to call out Mike Green for his Greg Louganis trifecta yesterday? Crosby didn’t “dive” or even touch the ice with a knee once yesterday. When you’re watching with homer glasses, things just aren’t the same.
RE: “Cup Finals,” the snark in me wants to mention that since most Caps fans have been following their team for only about two seasons now, they haven’t had a Stanley Cup final to remember. I guess when your team gets bounced in the first round of the playoffs, you’ll blog about how getting a single point to finish a 4-game homestand is “turning the corner.”
Whatever. Good luck riding Marty Biron…I mean, Jose Theodore into the playoffs.
Don’t bother to refute any of my points. Just give me some tired re-tread of a cliche. If I’m seeing things with homer glasses, I wouldn’t have admitted that many of the Pens fans that show up here are douches. But seriously, you guys just have way too much hate for Crosby. OV’s hated by a good portion of the Pens fan base for specific actions (see: taking runs at Malkin in the past). But I don’t see Pens fans going out of their way to buy hundreds of trinkets to make fun of the guy.
Fact is, Joe B. himself referenced the game as “Stanley Cup Playoffs” material (see newest post). It was a huge game. Caps fans and Pens fans have a huge rivalry now, due to the relative strength of both teams. Just don’t act like Caps fans are somehow better than Pens fans, or that Pens fans took this win out of proportion. That’s the “homer glasses” I’m talking about.
I don’t see the logic in the Penguins fan base hating Ovechkin for that reason when Malkin himself has gotten over it. And I can’t speak for all Caps fans, but I respect and even like a number of guys on the team: Malkin, Gonchar, Fleury, Kunitz, Staal. Crosby’s a different animal. I don’t like that he thinks he deserves special treatment on the ice. I don’t like that he complains constantly. I don’t like that he says things in the locker room that don’t seem to have any basis in what actually happened on the ice. I don’t like that he screams after scoring goals, punches opponents in the groin, and attacks other players and then lectures other players on respect.
For me, it’s really a case of Crosby making me like dislike the Penguins than it is the fact that he’s a Penguin making me dislike Crosby.
by David Getz on Mar 9, 2009 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
The knife cuts both way, friends.
We’re not friends, buddy.
And when two (or three) of your team’s biggest rivals treat a guy the same way, maybe it’s the guy you should be looking at and why he’s treated that way.
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I’m not your friend, hombre
Ron and Fez Noon to Three
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 9, 2009 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions
We’re not friends, buddy.
Well, that’s your call. Didn’t mean to touch such a nerve. Maybe the Crosby hate spills over a bit, eh?
And when two (or three) of your team’s biggest rivals treat a guy the same way, maybe it’s the guy you should be looking at and why he’s treated that way.
Feel free to reference Flyers and Rangers fans as your basis for claims about Penguins players. It’s the best way to prove you’re right, hands down. How far the class of Caps fans has fallen if that’s the standard…
we’re stuck with jose for one more year, you’ve got MAF until 2015. enjoy.
Russian Machine Never Breaks
That’s the difference. You’re “stuck with” a goaltender, while we have the privilege of MAF of years to come. Your choice of words reflects the true light of the situation.
2.91/.906; that’s what you’re hanging you’re hat on? You can pick up goalies every year that will put up those stats for 1/2 of what MAF makes. Although, you can say the same for Jose.
I’d call that a draw.
I’ve got all of last March, April, May and June to point to.
A “draw?” Really? That’s as insane as the woman who told me yesterday that she wouldn’t want Crosby on her team. I’m not an idiot—I’d love Ovechkin playing for the Pens. But sometimes the hate just won’t let people see clearly.
And sure, every year you can find a number of netminders with those numbers (see, historically, Gerber, Jim Carey, Ilya Bryzgalov, the list goes on and on). It’s a crap-shoot every year in free agency to find that guy. But to find a guy as young as MAF who’ll do that consistently for years to come? Especially with the Pens’ penchant for allowing 45+ shots per game? I mean, really….
There’s really some truth both ways here. Fleury’s a good goalie and if you look at the salaries for netminders around the league he seems to be right where he should be: he makes less than Luango, Vokoun, Lundqvist, etc but he makes more than Theodore, Bryzgalov, and Leclair.
That said, I think Fleury’s game definitely has some question marks and I wonder if the team wouldn’t be better served to have used the money they have tied up in him differently.
Yes, really. How about Cam Ward? He won a cup, and is generally quite mediocre. I don’t see how MAF has proven he’s not another Cam Ward.
I’d take Sid in a heartbeat, and Malkin, Gonchar, Kunitz (that was a steal), I’d even take that old pylon Hal Gill to go out and hit some people for once.
(I wouldn’t take Staal, but I wouldn’t take any of the Staal’s, its a me thing, just don’t like ‘em, no reason for it, just don’t)
Wow
We’re getting out of hand? Really? A little ribbing @ Crosby, a little backhanded @ the Pensblog title; but mostly complaining about how bad OUR D is, how mediocre OUR goalie is, how OUR team needs to come around and get out of the funk? The only vitriol being spewed here is by you my friend.
But okay,
RE: "Cup Finals," the snark in me wants to mention that since most Caps fans have been following their team for only about two seasons now, they haven’t had a Stanley Cup final to remember.
22nd, 25th, 30th. The Pens attendance rankings prior to the drafting of “The Next One”. As Mutumbo said to many NBA forwards during his time, get that shit outta here.
Second, the Caps fans go way overboard with the Crosby hate, echoing Philly fans. It used to be that I wouldn’t even consider anyone as obnoxiously hateful as Philly towards other team’s star players without good reason (i.e., a history of cheap shots). I know you’re just following Semin and Ovechkin’s lead, but seriously, did Crosby sleep with a bunch of Caps’ fans girlfriends or something?
Honestly?, you can’t be serious with that crap.
Whatever. Good luck riding Marty Biron…I mean, Jose Theodore into the playoffs
We will do our best, thanks. And good luck to you too, hopefully Sid, Evgeni and MAF will have the same luck working on their short game in the 3rd week of April.
I guess I’ll stop trying to make sense here. It was probably a bad idea in the first place.
RE: attendance figures, could you please describe to me the market sizes of DC v. Pittsburgh? How about the relative disposable income?
RE: pensblog, sure, those guys (and myself included) have had a lot of fun jobbing OV over there. But everyone of us recognizes that he’s one of the best players in the world, vying for the honor with Malkin and Sid. Does the Mellon Arena constantly show shots of fans’ inane “crybaby” collages on the scoreboard? It’s the sort of thing that happens in Philly. Congrats on joining that club. Seriously, what has Crosby done to cause so much hatred? I mean, I don’t see anyone in DC ragging on Malkin, so it sure seems like something personal.
RE: playoffs, ugh. Why even bother recapping last year?
RE: attendance figures, could you please describe to me the market sizes of DC v. Pittsburgh? How about the relative disposable income?
Along those same lines, DC has a lot more entertainment options and (generally) higher ticket prices.
Granted, but when disposable income here is nearly twice what it is in Pitt, and ticket prices are only 25-30% higher, it’s not exactly relative. I used to go to Caps games all the time back in ‘03-04 and ’05-06. The majority of the folks in the 100 and 200 sections were government relations professionals who would stick around for the first two periods then head out to make it back to Reston or Gaithersburg before 11pm. Those aren’t “fans”—they’re people who need an excuse to get a captive ear.
So if we’re comparing apples to apples, a greater proportion of the low attendance #’s in Pitt during that time were die-hard fans as opposed to DC.
Well thankfully it is twice as much, eh? Otherwise, why would all those people from Pittsburgh live here, right? And they DO live here. How is it a bad thing that people from all over the country come to live here? I’m willing to bet if you took out the “population” of people who moved to this area and have allegiances to other cities and teams you’d find that the number of native Washingtonians is similar to that of Pittsburgh.
The 200s unfortunately have nothing to do with the Caps, they neither control nor sell those seats.
But there’s not a 1:1 relationship between percentage changes in ticket prices and attendance. Think about the Penguins at current: if the Penguins raised their ticket prices 15% would they draw 15% fewer fans? I doubt it.
But then I also think that attendance is an overly simplistic way of measuring fan involvement, to be honest, and I think it’s crap that both Washington and Pittsburgh have taken so much criticism over it because if you look at somewhere like Long Island, Chicago, or Boston, it’s pretty clear that bad team depress attendance.
pittsburgh was a nothing franchise until they got lemieux and were well on their way to being a nothing franchise again until the league handed them crosby to make sure mario got paid. so in a way lemieux has saved your ass twice. point being, you’re not any better than us.
Russian Machine Never Breaks
I don’t think anyone would dispute that Lemieux saved the franchise not once, but twice, but I also think it’s unfair to claim the lottery was rigged in favor of the Pens that year.
Homer glasses? Maybe you should take off your idiot glasses
As a lockout cancelled the 2004–05 NHL season, the draft order was determined by lottery on July 22, 2005. Teams were assigned 1 to 3 balls based on their playoff appearances and first overall draft picks from the past three years. According to the draft order, the selection worked its way up to 30 as usual; then instead of repeating the order as in past years, the draft “snaked” back down to the team with the first pick. Therefore the team with the first pick overall would not pick again until the 60th pick. The team with the 30th pick would also get the 31st pick. The draft was only seven rounds in length, compared to nine rounds in years past. The labor dispute caused the shortened draft.
The worst teams in the league by record from the previous completed season were not awarded the higher percentage chance of “winning” the lottery like they do in normal seasons.
Consequently, a team like the Caps got screwed out of high draft pick. The Caps had arguably the worst roster in the league but ended up with the 14th overall pick. If I recall correctly, they had the farthest drop relative to NHL standings from the last completed season.
The worst teams in the league by record from the previous completed season were not awarded the higher percentage chance of "winning" the lottery like they do in normal seasons.
Well, they were awarded a higher chance, but not as high a chance as usual, which is part of why the Capitals picked 14th.
But even if it had been, the Penguins would have picked first. They had the fewest points in 03-04.
Glad to see there’s someone around here looking at things from a reality-based standpoint.
I’m not going to claim for a second that the Pens weren’t “saved” by the Crosby pick. But I’m also not asinine enough to claim that the Caps threw the ‘03-’04 season to get a better shot at Ovechkin & Malkin. Perspective…
exactly. The Caps lost a chance because they made the playoffs pre fire sale, and lost a chance because the won the Ovechkin lottery. They had as many chances as the best teams in the league.
The reality based standpoint is that the methodology disproportionally screwed the Caps. I don’t believe it was a vendetta against us by the league as some of the crazies on the message board though at the time, but there is no way the Caps would have been drafting anywhere lower than top 5 if not for the lockout.
A top line of Ovechkin – Backstrom – Bobby Ryan would look pretty good right about now.
Sasha Pokulok FTW
TJ Oshie or Marc-Edouard Vlasic sure woulda looked good in a Caps jersey…
Ron and Fez Noon to Three
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 9, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Just from looking at guys picked after 14…I like those two immediately
Ron and Fez Noon to Three
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 9, 2009 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions
First off, nice win for you guys yesterday.
After reading all this drivel, I wonder if you go and visit other blogs as the official Crosby apologist. Really nice player, 87. He’s an excellent second fiddle to Malkin. Next case.
everyone of us recognizes that he’s one of the best players in the world
Please. Don’t even pretend that pensblog engages in civil and rational discussion when it comes to Ovechkin. 90% of the posters there are lucky to tack two syllables together, and it’s only because mom’s proofing.
Again, nice win. We’d love to catch you in the first round, so good luck making it this year.
Again, nice win. We’d love to catch you in the first round, so good luck making it this year.
Same to you. I’d love to see a Caps/Pens series in the first round. I’d much rather it be an EC Finals though. There’s nothing more that would promote hockey around here like that. I coach up in Columbia, and the kids that have gotten turned on to hockey by way of Ovechkin and the Caps resurgence is pretty impressive.
I’ll be honest though, while tPB jobs the hell out of OV, they’ve never said he wasn’t an unreal player. And yes, a number of commentors over there can claim they don’t respect him, but it’s more tongue-in-cheek than anything. The regulars there will attest to OV’s ability.
I would say that the “personal” grudge that Caps fans have with Crosby is less about the Pens, their fans, and Crosby and more about the NHL’s promotion of Crosby over OV (and everyone else). Crosby, fair or not, will be the recipient of attacks (around the league) because the NHL holds him on such a high pedestal.
Cap’s fans (and I’m speaking for everyone without actually being everyone) have a tough time swallowing the “golden boy” status the NHL gave Sid when its arguable whether he is even the best player on his team, let alone across the league.
I, frankly, couldn’t care less what the League does from a promotion standpoint – I honestly don’t respect the way the guy whines or how he gets little shots in after whistles, etc.
Great talent? No doubt. But he doesn’t have the maturity to match it yet, and I find it off-putting.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
There are a lots of players in the league that pull that sort of crap, and “we” don’t single them out. The reason for all the signs, booing and “Crosby Sucks” sweaters is that Crosby is the golden boy, and he acts the way he does…
I disagree. Who whines as much and is as nut-punchin’, faceoff-jumpin’ dirty?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
hmm
In the future please don’t ask me to back up my statements… :) I don’t know if my inability to name a player is because there isn’t anyone like him, or because the players that are like him aren’t the focus of the league/media.
I actually don’t think that our feelings are that different (if at all).
If he was just another good 3rd line player, or a Steve Avery type fans wouldn’t pay him any attention. As I said above, the combination of the league promoting him and the way he plays is what draws our ire. I would feel that way if he were playing for Toronto/Boston/Anaheim or Phoenix.
I lost at least 5 IQ points after reading that “argument”.
Commending Crosby for managing to complete a game without a blatant dive makes about as much sense as celebrating like you just won game 7 of a playoff series because your team managed to hold their opponents to 7 out of a possible 8 points in the season series.
Crosby makes it easy to hate him. The fact that the accusations of diving and whining have become cliches with regards to Crosby just go to show you how earned the reputation is.
I never liked Crosby but still had respect for him as a talented player. I now hate him. Punching Valabik in the back of the head and the sack when Valabik was tangled with a teammate. Jumping an unsuspecting Brett McLean and then lying about it to the press. Starting trouble with Ovechkin a couple weeks ago, then lying to the press saying Ovechkin gave him a shot from behind first, despite video evidence to the contrary.
Crosby acts like a spoiled little brat with a sense of entitlement. He’s easy to hate.
That being said, I have respect for your team’s best player. That Malkin guy is ok in my book.
by Sombrero Guy on Mar 9, 2009 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Steeltown collapse
Pittsburgh doesn’t usually travel…I guess to here or philly or maybe even new york they might, but when the refineries shut down Pittsburgh died, but it’s spirit spread all across the country. It’s a compliment to Pittsburgh that it’s fan base has spread and existed so well, but I wouldn’t want you to think that the town is actually travelling to see most of these games, the fans are already there.
You see it a lot here in DC since it’s a transplant town, but everyone is biting on the caps and it’s good to see, I was born in DC and have been a caps fan for as long as I can remember. But seriously, I don’t think it’s an insult to say that a lot of our fans are new. It’s more of a compliment that the Caps are able to draw such a huge crowd of people who wouldn’t normally care to something new and get them really excited about it. we’ll talk in a few years and see if we’ve gotten more, less, stayed the same, but the fact remains that, at least for now the Caps are a hot ticket item, you say they haven’t been following for more than two years, I say they’re just in experienced, sometimes the best players need a few years to be properly introduced to the league.
concerning the diving: I saw one “dive” by Green and that was after he was high sticked. The key there was that he was actually high sticked, he just sold it a little. I saw about 3 times when a penguin flopped to the ice after a Cap brushed him, no call either way. I don’t think I’ve seen Crosby do it very often, but over half the players in the league say he’s the whiniest player in the league, who am I to argue with numbers like that (in the same poll the other catagory leaders lead with a percentage of 10% +50% is overwhelming)
There is nowhere near the number of “jobbing [of] Pens fans” as it is the other way around up at Pens blog, especially when the pens lose. Rant over.
Wrong
I am Pittsburgh born and raised and i was at the last game (Feb 22nd) I sat in sec. 101 great view and my friends were in 410 (not so great) and it was my third trip to DC for a game. So when you say we don’t travel your wrong. Not all those pens jerseys in the stands are transplants. You can also call me a troll for coming on here as stated earlier but you are officially my second most hated franchise in sports quickly catching up on the Flyers and just a head of a lot of your favorites the ravens. the only difference is i respect the ravens because they play that game the way it is supposed to be played (I know because = 6 superbowl rings) but i hate the Caps because i heard more people yelling at Crosby and bitching about the refs than cheering on their own team!!! It was absolutely pathetic. I think my next trip will be to NY for a Rags game because at least they have a clue unlike a caps fan who yelled after a blatant hook-what are you going to call this time…sticking? haha
by black&goldtilldead&cold on Mar 10, 2009 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions
Yawn. This comment needs more exclamation points and uncapitalized names/pronouns, otherwise I doubt the passion behind it.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Yawn
Nice comback…You should go over to behind the steel curtain and see how a real SB Nation blog is run. I am sure you could find the time at recess to get more post together.
by black&goldtilldead&cold on Mar 10, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Zing?
Actually, BTSC is a great blog. See? We can agree on something. Man-hug?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Ok Fine...
I shouldn’t have taken the dig anyway because a hockey blog and football blog are like night and day (with the way you can break down plays in football and read defenses etc…). Truce until next time?
by black&goldtilldead&cold on Mar 10, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Trying to get back on task
and ignore (I know it’s hard) the deluge of loser Pens trolls….
Tom Poti’s ill-timed step-up that led to the Guerin-Crosby two-on-one in the first wasn’t the kind of play you’d like to see from a guy with his experience – there was little upside potential and quite obviously significant risk to it.
Am I the only one that finds this maddening? That guy needs a serious kick in the ass. He’s supposed to be our leader on D.
Russian Machine Never Breaks
It’s pretty aggravating. He just wants a lil piece of the action, just a piece. But I will say, the PK looks a lot better with Poti on it than it does w/o him.
moving on
…..so, Bill Guerin’s worth a 5th (or perhaps a 3rd), eh? He was the best player on the ice yesterday. Earlier arguments re: Mo and positioning aside (and did he get juked), Guerin would have looked mighty fine next to Backstrom for the next two months.
Yeah, but we still have 50 under contract. Maybe the Isles didn’t want anybody I guess? I’m really surprised GMGM didn’t make that call.
We could have moved Mo to free the needed space given what he makes and what we had available. The team isn’t resigning him anyway, would this not have flown?
Russian Machine Never Breaks
It would have been possible but I don’t see the logic in this team moving a defenseman to get a forward, especially a wing.
Given my opinion of Morrisonn I am not really minding it. Isn’t Brooks Laich supposed to be a center?
Russian Machine Never Breaks
Once upon a time…just like Viktor Nikolaievich…
Course that was WAAAAY back for Viktor, Brooksie comes out and plays C in a pinch, I still think he’d be a decent centerman.
If you Morrisonn you have to pull in Sloan, Collins, or Helmer. And trust me, none of those guys are as good as Morrisonn.
Plus, if you get Guerin you’ve got Ovechkin, Semin, Laich, Kozlov, Flesichmann, Fehr, and Guerin all vying for spots on the top three lines. The Capitals have more than enough depth there already, so why add someone else?
Laich can play center, but I don’t think he’s good enough defensively.
I think I just agreed with this on the other thread. McPhee was smart not to bring in Guerin. I know Guerin looks good on Crosby’s wing right now, but where would he fit in DC? Guerin wouldn’t fit well on a third line with guys who don’t move the puck as well. Maybe if Flash and Fehr weren’t around it would make sense. But right now, why break up a lineup that was pretty much money before the last week or so?
i don’t know if he’d be the best fit, or where he’d fit, but what isn’t worth a 3rd?
Russian Machine Never Breaks
it’s spilt milk…can’t moan about it now, but I think it’s interesting to look at what guys, especially vets like Guerin, can really do when they’re off the skids and on a team that is fighting. Is Guerin’s salary worth his stats to date this year? Prolly not. But that guy knows how to win, and will fortify PIT’s run. For a 5th, it’s a steal
Definitely, and it allows them to put a top line of G-Unit – Sid – Kunitz on the ice. Which is pretty damn sweet. Not to mention they can move Malkin back to 2nd Center, his natural position. That’s one hell of a tandem.
"Misery" loves company
Division leaders since February 1
BOS: 7-7-3
WAS: 9-6-2
NJD: 10-5-0
DET: 12-4-1
SJ: 6-5-5
CAL:: 9-7-2
Pretty pedestrian for 4 of the 6 leaders
Peerless had a great post on this very point. Teams are dying for the playoffs to start.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Desperate teams are making life a headache, too.
PIT: 11-4-1 (6 in a row)
CAR: 10-6-0 (4 out of 5)
NSH: 12-5-1 (6 out of 7)
Carolina is en fuego of late.
Buh-bye, Buffalo.
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida
|
53 | 25 | 17 | 11 | 61 |
|
Washington
|
54 | 28 | 21 | 5 | 61 |
|
Winnipeg
|
56 | 26 | 24 | 6 | 58 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
53 | 23 | 24 | 6 | 52 |
|
Carolina
|
56 | 20 | 25 | 11 | 51 |
(updated 2.11.2012 at 8:02 AM EST)
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