Game (4) Day - Capitals @ Rangers
by J.P. on Apr 22, 2009 7:00 AM EDT
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Yesterday, Simeon Varlamov became a household name in NHL circles as the fifth member of The Russian Five v.2009 (contra v.1980s and v.1997 and, of course, v.1862) became the youngest visiting netminder to ever whitewash the Rangers at Madison Square Garden, and he did so with his team in a near-dire situation.
Varlamov certainly didn't win Game 3 on his own on Monday night, however (Nicklas Backstrom, Alexander Semin and John Erskine deserve significant praise as well), but if the Caps are going to level the series at two games apiece on Wednesday night, they're almost assuredly going to need to be even better as a team - because you can bet the Rangers will be - and that starts at the top.
As cliche as it sounds, the Caps need their best players to be their best players, and on Monday night, a couple of them were and a couple of them weren't. To be sure, there's something pleasing about winning a game when Alex Ovechkin isn't great and Mike Green isn't special. But often those games aren't won. In fact, Puck Daddy pointed out the numbers on AO the other day, but they bear stealing repeating (and adding in Green):
What really stands out is the disparity in game-winning goals in wins and losses. Ahem. But to take it one step further, the Caps were 8-9-1 during the regular season when AO was held off the scoresheet and 11-12-3 when Green was blanked (as a point of minimal contrast, the team was 12-10-4 when Backstrom was pointless). Finally, the Caps were 18-17-4 when Ovechkin failed to score a goal, but 31-5-4 when he lit the lamp and 19-4-3 when Green dented the twine.
The point is, when the Caps' two biggest guns are playing well, they're carrying the team and when they're not, sometimes the team stumbles - as Ovie and Green go, so go the Caps, more often than not. On Monday night, Ovechkin had two helpers, Green had nothing. If one of them can score on Wednesday, the team will likely be in good shape. If both do, they should be heading home tied in the series.
But, as mentioned earlier, it's going to take another team effort tonight to win a second consecutive game in a building in which the hosts dropped just 11 games in regulation all season, and part of that - as it has been all season - is discipline. On Monday night, the Caps gave the Rangers six power play opportunities via a couple of holds, a couple of slashes (and not the awesome kind), a hi-stick and a hook. Yes, the Caps have killed off eleven consecutive Ranger advantages, but in a series that has already produced a pair of one-goal games, it's critical to stay out of the box as much as possible. Through three games, the Caps have committed seven restraining fouls (five hooks and two holds) and five stick fouls (the slashes, a pair of hi-sticks and a cross-check), or four restraining/stick penalties per game.
There are other relatively small (and some relatively large) things the Caps can be doing better right now, but if the Caps play as well as they're capable of playing, it won't matter how the Rangers play - the teams will be starting a best-of-three on Friday night at the VC. If they take anything for granted, from the goal on out, Friday night could be nothing more than dead team skating. It's in their hands and on their sticks - let's see what they do with it.
Oh, and one last thing for the old man of the bunch - you owe it to yourself and your legacy to be Sergei Fedorov at least one more time. Tonight would be a great night for it.
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What stands out to me is that in losses, Ovechkin averages almost 1 shot more per game than in wins, but as evidenced by the shooting percentage, makes many fewer of those shots. This jibes with what I sometimes see from him, where he gets a little frustrated when either his shots aren’t going in or the team is losing, and begins to shoot more lower quality shots from the perimeter, perhaps to the detriment of the offensive attack.
Actually, the exact same thing can be said of Green, based on the stats. Those two must take an awfully high percentage of the teams shots in our losses.
by Pivonka, Michael Ridley on Apr 22, 2009 7:32 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
You have to love when Ovechkin uses a D-man as a screen to take a shot. It’s a great 1v1 move, especially when you have the guy scared of your phsicallity and your speed. It’s a tough change of pace for the goalie to pick up.
The problem is this shot has become the go to shot, not a change of pace. Once a goalie is ready for it, it may still be hard to pick up, but once you expect it a screened wrist shot from outside the circles isn’t that hard to stop for an NHL level goalie. Not to mention that with his speed, and his position as the guy to get the head man passes, when Ovechkin takes this shot he is usually the only guy in the zone, with no other traffic in front and nobody to stuff a rebound.
If he goes back to using it as a change of pace, it’s a great move, with good scoring potential. Used every time he enters the zone with the puck, it’s just a turnover.
by HateOffSeason on Apr 22, 2009 8:16 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Speaking of, I posted it as a FanShot yesterday, but if this doesn’t get you (the generic “you,” of course) going, you’re either dead or not a hockey fan.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Do you think that anyone at NBC has ever watched a Canadian hockey broadcast. On Sunday I was watching the Flyers/Pens game and they had an entire Flyer PP shown from the camera behind the goal. It drove me nuts. Do you think that they would ever broadcast a football game that way?
I like that NBC has the rights for these games etc, but come on, one of the reasons that nobody watches is because Mibury/McGuire and the guy producing the thing are clowns.
Btw, 4/20 wasn’t as good a night for Green as I had hoped (heh)… maybe the Caps will go Green on Earth Day?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I hope Green has some energy tonight. And I’m confused about your post: were you saying that Ovie didn’t have a good night, and the Caps won anyway? I didn’t think that’s what you were saying, but I couldn’t be sure. That was confusing.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 22, 2009 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions
I was saying that if trying to win without AO or Green scoring goals is playing with fire – they need to get on track.
I thought AO had a decent-to-good game on Monday.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Really? Not better than that? For all his hits and using his teammates?
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 22, 2009 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions
I didn’t think he dominated and I think he can – and has to – be better. His two assists came when he was out with other-than-his-linemates, and though he set up each of Kozzie and Feds for good scoring opportunities, he only really had one great chance himself.
AO is the MVP of the League and probably will be again. I didn’t think Monday was an MVP performance by anyone other than Nick and Varly.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Apr 22, 2009 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I agree that he didn’t “dominate,” but he he had the best game of anyone not named Nick and Simeon (Semyon, whatever). I don’t include Semin in that because he benefited directly from Nick and AO’s hard work. Alex back-checked, didn’t shoot at every single opportunity, read plays well so that he could feed Kozlov and Feds (and Semin). He did exactly what the team needed him to do as the player everyone keyed in on: absorb that attention and look to open teammates. He didn’t score, but if that isn’t the definition of an MVP game, then I don’t know what is (though, as I already said, I absolutely agree that Nick and Simeon were Stars 1 and 2).
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 22, 2009 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions
So AO had a Most Valuable Player performance but was the third-most valuable player? :)
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Apr 22, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
He did what the team needed him to do for the team to succeed. Granted, he’s not the only one who did, but to knock his performance down to “ok-to-good” I thought was a little harsh. He had better than a good game, but Varlamov was awesome, and Nick was ungodly. He wasn’t that, but if he hadn’t played the way he did (settling down when in the offensive zone and keeping his head up), it’s possible that neither of his assists happen, and that the Caps suffer for it.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 22, 2009 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions
Wound a little tight today, DP? I said in the post that he “wasn’t great” – I didn’t think he was. I said in the comments that he was “decent-to-good” – that’s how I felt about his performance. I apologize if “good” isn’t an acceptable assessment in your view.
If you think the Caps can continue to win without him scoring goals – that Backstrom and Varly can be that good and the Rangers that bad every night – you might be right. You might not be. I’d just rather not find out, personally.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I guess so :-). I don’t think I realized how whiny and defensive I came off until a few minutes ago.
Still, I think, for Monday night’s game, Ovechkin served his purpose. i guess that’s my main point. And i thought he deserved praise for that.
Done whining, now.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 22, 2009 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions
Ha. No worries, and AO definitely served his purpose – his team won, and he made a couple of great plays to help it happen.
Scary thing is, he can be better – we’ve all seen it and we all expect it.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
2 plays stick out to me about Ovie’s game Monday night.
1) He got a point for it, but he did a lot more then that simply by getting in front of the net and crowding Lundquest. He planted himself right in front of the net and it worked. He didn’t score, he didn’t redirect the puck, but he did the thing we’ve all been preaching – GET IN FRONT OF THE NET.
2) The stopping of the breakaway when he knocked the net off. This play’s been dissected a number of times.
Those 2 plays, for me, are what Leaders do. The ugly things that don’t show up in the score sheet. AO did that in Game 3. Yeah he didn’t score, but he will. He’ll figure it out. But we can all agree, we’ll take AO getting nothing and a Caps win over AO getting a hat trick every night and the Caps lose.
by vt caps fan on Apr 22, 2009 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions
Of course. Great plays, both.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
He actually broke up two breakaways in sterling fashion in the last game, no?
I thought Ovechkin had a game that would be considered great if turned in by any other player. What can one say, the standards are high for him. If Lundqvist isn’t playing remarkably well for a guy that gave up 4 goals, Ovie would have had a goal or two.
That was a great recovery. Don’t forget, though, it was his turnover from the point on the PP that led to the breakaway…
From the replay, it looked like a bad pass into his skates that deflected out to Korpikoski, wasn’t it?
(still in defense of Ovie, I know. I’ll get over it.)
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 22, 2009 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, I can’t pin that turnover on Alex. It’s funny how that play to stop the breakaway has earned him more praise than some of his most spectacular goals. We’ve seen it a lot, but a lot of the outside observers never think of him as having a defensive ability so they were stunned to see him make that play.
You could make the argument that the Caps had MVP-level play from four of their stars Monday night (Backstrom, AO, Semin and Varlamov) Sometimes we get a little too close to the forest to see the trees. Analysts from numerous major outlets (ESPN, Home Ice, TSN, VS, Sporting News, etc) all went out of their way to praise Ovechkin for what they termed an outstanding game. Because we’ve seen him perform at super human levels, anything less we just categorize as good.
Fair point.
Engblom did a good job breaking AO’s game down last night between games on Versus, noting two times where he cut to the middle and took the focus of the Rags’ D allowing Kozzie and Feds to have great scoring chances off a couple of nice AO passes.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I thought this analysis from Newsday was spot on. Ovechkin can be great in a lot of ways and Monday night he showed that. All that said, I want him to get back to being the Alex the Great that we all know and love and pop a couple in tonight.
Agreed, because when he’s not scoring and the game is close, he can have a tendency to press. The early lead (and as it grew) on Monday allowed him to do his thing without having to think that he needed to score, imo, and it made him a better player.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
The last game sets the stage for Ovie tonight. He was reminded that he doesn’t need to do it all himself. It also reminded the Rags that he isn’t the only guy on the team that can score. There are other threats that need to be dealt with and that should open it up for Alex.
I agree that it was a stage-setting performance.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I never thought I’d see someone link to Modest Mussorgsky and Rimsky-Korsakov on this blog. I am surprised every day. I hope that tonight the Caps score more goals than there are Pictures at an Exhibition.
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
I’m, like, sophisticated.
Well, no sh!t.
PS – I think Mikey is nicked up. (Maybe Gramps too.) His best snap and crispness isn’t there. I am wondering.
D-Men continue Strong Play
I think a big key tonight will be to repeat their first period from Monday night. Obviously withstand the cliche first 10 mins, but sustained pressure in the Ranger’s zone is key. For the past two months, my faith in Erskine has grown and he hasn’t disappointed yet, so I hope he keeps playing the role of the monkey on Avery’s back.
If Green is playing smart hockey as far as defense and quarterbacking the PP and breakouts, then I won’t mind him not being on the scoreing sheet, but it would be great to see a score or couple of assists from him. Ovie will eventually crack Henry, he just needs to tweek his targets/timing of his shots a little bit.
LET’S GO CAPS!
p.s. I also enjoyed the mention of the 19th Cent. Russian 5
Wether you think you can or you can't, you're right! - Stewie Griffin
Thank You Washington Post
It looks like the Post thinks the Caps are dead already. Biggest game of the year and they have one story in the sports section (two if you count Steinberg) and four on baseball, including a story about Yankee Stadium at the top of D1. The Washington Times, by comparison, has four full stories on the Caps and almost three full pages on hockey.
Honestly, what do you expect? Honestly?
If they did write an article people would bitch about how ignorant it was (because they are a day late and a buck short with all the hockey stories, unless they’re candy coated player interviews).
I’ll just leave it to the experts like JP and DMG
So does OV continue his efforts to annoy the Rangers during practice today?
Perhaps this time sit on the bench in a trenchcoat and glasses?
I’d hope he’d stand over Tort’s shoulder on the other side of the glass with a smile on his face.
by vt caps fan on Apr 22, 2009 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions
I think he’d probably face disciplinary action if he did it again, especially if it is actually against the rules, like someone, i can’t remember whom, said.
But in the stands, absolutely :-)
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 22, 2009 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions
What bugs the Hell out of me is that if you read hockey history books, you see quirky shit like this all the time, like Plante(I think) visiting the Russians locker room before a canada cup game, and just weird stuff that old school guys would do to gain psychological advantages. There’s nothing against this in writing in the rules, and I’m sick and tired of Canadians giving Ovechkin shit for it just because he’s Russian. I promise you, Crosby sits on the visiting bench in Wachovia while Flyers are warming up, and they tell you it’s vintage, because Richard probably did it once waaaay back when. Good lord.
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
by Whiter Mage on Apr 22, 2009 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions
I thought of this too. As much as I would worry about distractions, I would LMAO if Ovie showed up (on the bench or in the stands) in that.
…and I think #8’s just goofy enough to consider trying it!
by mechanicsville on Apr 22, 2009 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Tonight the Caps should look to continue to do what they did in Game 3 and that is go to the net. By moving Feds to play with Ovie, that might get Feds out of the slump. Put Fehr on that line in place of Kozlov and they’ll have someone who will go to the net. Keep Semin, Backstrom and Laich together, and put Steckel, Brads and Kozlov on the 3rd line. Flash goes to #4, but stays on the #2 power play unit.
I’d also have the starting power play be Feds, Ovie, Backstrom, Semin and Green, (or if you like swich Laich into Feds’ spot) and have the second unit have Ovie, Flash and Kozlov up front with Green and Poti in the back.
And, if the game gets out of hand in the Caps favor (which I think it will tonight…), it’s time to send an ambassador to the Court of King Henrik…. Ambassador Bradley perhaps?
Let's go Caps!
Call me conservative or reactionary, but I wouldn’t change a thing about the lines or lineup from game 3. Well, except putting Laich on the top PP with Flash.
I actually really like the way the 1/2 lines are set up, since it gives the small windows for SOB magic when someone takes a short/long shift.
Today's Hopeful Statistic
Each of the last 3 Cup winners have changed their goalies in the first round.
by Rob Parker on Apr 22, 2009 11:04 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Well, I’ll be damned – we did the same thing!
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 22, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Wow! Of all the stats thrown out recently, that’s the most compelling. I’m not going to christen Varlamov as the next great goalie yet (call it Jim Carrey-itis), but if he pulls a win out tonight we could be looking at a long playoff run.
He’s not official until a Club Scarlet photo is done. Remember that.
Ben Olsen > Wells Thompson
by Bald Pollack on Apr 22, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
O_o…Really?
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
by Whiter Mage on Apr 22, 2009 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions
Message to Torts: Valiquette tonight if you want to win the Cup. Just sayin’.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Does anyone else find it ironic that Rangers fans are yelling about benching and scratching Zherdev for his lackadaisical play (Some say “Russian approach to playoff play”) and the same fellows are advocating the call up of Artem Anisimov, also a Russian? I hope to hell they don’t, Anisimov played with Varlamov, if I am reading correctly, and the last thing they need with Czarlamov is any form of familiarity.
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
I think that, in this case, it’s less his “Russian-ness” and more just Zherdev being himself. The guy has Semin-level talent and a Jakub Klepis-level work ethic.
I know – a portion of my family is CBJ fans…they were in constant complaining over Zherdev.
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
by Whiter Mage on Apr 22, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions
I saw Anisimov play against Hershey and he is dangerous. It doesn’t look like he’s skating hard, but the Wolf Pack offense went through Artem every time down. He’s a good player – still a little raw – but I think we’ll see him on the Rangers sometime next year.
by Simply Sensational on Apr 22, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Anisimov is more like Borat than Z. He played a game up here and was so uptight, so wooden that he looked like Frankenstein lumbering around the ice. Anisimov should have a decent NHL future but bringing him up would be a mistake. Now trying someone like Mark Bell on the other hand might not be a bad idea …
I have a blog too! www.scottyhockey.com
Let's Go Rangers!
by Scotty Hockey on Apr 22, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions
No denials from here.
I have a blog too! www.scottyhockey.com
Let's Go Rangers!
by Scotty Hockey on Apr 22, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Further to the AO discussion, it is time for him to put his stamp on the series. He’s the big gun, and the team needs him to go off right freekin now.
The Rags have done an awfully nice job containing him. But it’s just a matter of time with that guy, and the time needs to be now.
The results in Games 1 and 2 are more the norm when AO doesn’t score. No more of that, please. I’ll take a helping of jaw-dropping with a side of otherworldly good, thankyouverymuch.
I’m told they’ll only throw popcorn on you if you’re in a wheelchair.
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
by Whiter Mage on Apr 22, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Bruce on Green:
“I just don’t think he’s playing as well as he can,” Boudreau said. “There’s been a lot of positive press for Mike this year, and sometimes he feels the weight of the world on his shoulders. Instead of just playing like Mike Green, he tries to impress people with hits and skating and staying out on the power play. When you try to do all of those things, you usually don’t do any of the things as well as you can, so we’ve talked to him about it.”
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I remember some talk that this might be an issue after his new contract. I forget who it was but someone (maybe Mike Green himself) talked about him needing to just continue playing his game and not trying to do too much because of the new contract. All things considered I’ll take a guy who wants to take too much responsibility on his own shoulders over a guy that doesn’t want the pressure.
Old polish proverb
It’s easier to reign in a thoroughbred, than it is to kick mule.
(not sure about the polish part)
Your favorite meme is dead
Old Southern Proverb:
You can’t out-puke a buzzard.
That has nothing to do with anything, but I just like the line.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I should note (and give props to the coaching staff) that the length of the PP shifts has come down dramatically from Game 1. Green and AO are generally off the ice with about 45 seconds to go. That’s still a tad too long out there, imo, but it’s way better than them being out there the whole 2 minutes.
I hope that positive trend continues.
I hope none of our PPs last 1:15. :)
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I meant none go longer than 1:15, and you’re right that it needs clarifying – I hope none of our power plays go longer than 1:15 and are cut short by red lights, jubilation and Ranger anguish.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Yeah, I hear you. What I meant was the length of shift that AO and Mike Green take – Game 1 they were out there the whole 2 minutes, which led directly to the 4th goal.
They’ve cut their shift lengths, is all I was getting at.
OK-emergency situation. As I posted on the “Free Beer!” thread, my friend (a Caps fan, no less, who goes to Syracuse) needs me to pick him up from the airport at 9:55. I’m going to have to leave at like 8:45, well before the game is over. Does anyone know what radio stations I might try? I’ll be on I-81 from Blacksburg to Roanoke, so I should be able to pick up some far-away AM stations.
At night on 81, I might be able to catch 1500 AM. Too bad I don’t have a manual twisty radio, it’s gonna be a pain to find other stations.
by thehoagster07 on Apr 22, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions
You could always wait until the game’s over to leave. Just sayin’.
by Kerry Fraser's Hairspray on Apr 22, 2009 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
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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
|
55 | 20 | 25 | 10 | 50 |
(updated 2.10.2012 at 9:27 AM EST)
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