Game (5) Day - Rangers @ Capitals
by J.P. on Apr 24, 2009 7:00 AM EDT
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What a difference a year makes.
While there are certainly some similarities between the 3-1 holes in which the Caps have found themselves heading into a first round, home Game 5 against a former Patrick Division rival in each of the past two Aprils, the feeling this time around is decidedly different.
A year ago, the Caps were coming off a hard-fought double-overtime loss which prompted the owner to proclaim, "Our team is bigger and tougher than the Flyers. They know it now and we know it now. We now know how to play playoff hockey, NHL style."
This year? Stunned and somber, despite the fact that they're still saying all the right things.
Last year, we believed that they believed. This year? It's a tougher sell after watching the team seemingly abandon in Game 4 much of what made them so successful in Game 3.
But if faith is truly all we have right now, faith it shall be.
Faith that Henrik Lundqvist will revert to something a little closer to the 3.57 goals against average and .882 save percentage he posted against the Caps in the regular season. Then again, we don't need to rely on faith here - the Caps have potted at least three goals in half of the games in the series so far.
Faith that the power play can ramp up towards the mark that was good enough for second-best in the NHL over the 82-game regular season. Then again, we don't need to rely on faith here, either - the Caps have scored a pair of power-play goals in two of the four games in the series so far.
Faith that the young goalie can show the composure of a veteran and every bit of the potential and ability that the organization and its fans see in him, faith that the best player on the planet can again be the best skater on the ice (with a couple of his running mates not far behind), faith that a much-maligned group of rearguards can keep Ranger chances to a minimum, faith that a team that had discipline issues all season long can continue to turn the other cheek, and faith that the team's pivots can win the big draws when they need to and minimize the chance that lucky bounces will go the wrong way. Then again, we don't need to rely on faith for any of these things - we've seen them all at one point or another throughout the first four games of the series so far.
The key, of course, is putting all or most of these components together in the same game and for the duration of that game (and that's where the faith comes into play). If the Caps can do that, they can and will win tonight. And Sunday. And Tuesday.
Faith is nice and imminently necessary - but we've got a hell of a lot more than that to go on. We've got the 2008-09 Washington Capitals.
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do you know why i love this blog?
because Japer is the only blogger or writer out there that to me is optimistic. and it shows in his writing. you are the man, keep it up, LETS GO CAPS
by amkcaps on Apr 24, 2009 7:30 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Oh, and h/t to Sombrero Guy for his contribution to this post.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Where do you guys find the belief? Point me in that direction… I want some… cause I’m sorely lacking in that department right now…
How about this, if Philly can go into Pittsburgh and beat a much tougher Penguins team then The Caps should be able to take care of the Rangers at home. Stats are nice but the games are played by real people with pride and emotion. I’m pulling a Messier and guaranteeing a win tonight and I don’t think it’s going to be close. One game at a time, baby. One game at a time.
To Yogi Berra something bo4 says more eloquently, you never know until you know.
Most creative rue-ing gets a puppy?
by Bald Pollack on Apr 24, 2009 9:02 AM EDT up reply actions
We can’t point you to it. You need to find it yourself:
Believe nothing just because a so-called wise person said it. Believe nothing just because a belief is generally held. Believe nothing just because it is said in ancient books. Believe nothing just because it is said to be of divine origin. Believe nothing just because someone else believes it. Believe only what you yourself test and judge to be true. – Buddha
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
That there Buddy-ha was one smart feller.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 24, 2009 9:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Ready for Battle
Now that read is a nice pick-me-up for the whole day! I’m ready to Rock the Red and Unleash the Fury!!!
Wether you think you can or you can't, you're right! - Stewie Griffin
The stats say that the Caps should be able to beat the holy hell out of the Rags, and they’ve managed to do just that once this series. The Rags, on the other hand, have been lucky as hell. Admittedly, they’ve played good D and dropped to block a ton of shots, but nearly all of their goals were pure luck/bad luck.
Sort of prediction: If the Caps win tonight, the series will go 7 games. Depending on how Game 6 goes (struggle win/easy win), will determine the next game. But we have to win tonight, first.
To clarify a tad, I’d take the stuggle win to the easy win, as we’ve all seen what happens after the easy win.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 24, 2009 8:59 AM EDT reply actions
Actually, they have beat holy hell, as you put it, out of the Rangers. All of them except the last one – Lundqvist. The Caps have outplayed the Rangers in all four games, right down to the last few inches just outside of Lundqvist’s glove, pads, and blocker.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Apr 24, 2009 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions
And that’s what makes this series so frustrating. Oh why couldn’t those damn Canadiens have won that last game against Pittsburgh? We’d all be sitting back with our feet up waiting for round two.
Maybe you all can tell from my glut of inane comments, but that familiar vomit-like nervousness is starting set in again…
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 24, 2009 9:18 AM EDT reply actions
I say hurl. If you blow chunks and she comes back, she’s yours. But if you spew and she and she bolts, it was never meant to be.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Apr 24, 2009 9:26 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Do you still think she’d come back if she found out that my drinking partner from the night before happened to be her best friend? I NEED TO KNOW!
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 24, 2009 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions
excellent… [nod nod nod]
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Apr 24, 2009 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions
"If You're gonna Spew...
Spew into this…"
Insert Dixie Cup here (i’d have posted a picture, but work doesn’t allow me to access photo hosting sites)
I wonder why...
…we do not hear about a player-only meeting. This is something I’d have expected from Fedorov and maybe Ovi to initiate. After all those reports of how stunned the Caps are, this might have been not a bad idea. Where are the leaders?….
Tarik posted that they had a “team meeting” yesterday… maybe that’s all they needed.
on a side note, I’ve always heard before that those “players only meetings” happen all the time, and are only pointed out by the media when they feel it’s necessary. I believe it was football related when I heard it…
The Caps have veterans and the Caps have leaders… and never the twain shall meet, it would seem.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Caps should fly in John Druce for a ceremonial puck drop tonight.
And Tom Green, to do “Unleash the Fury” live.
And two right wingers with grit who will crash the net.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
WAS IT OVER WHEN THE GERMANS BOMBED PEARL HARBOR? HELL NO!!!
Varlomov’s stats are actually better than Lundquist’s-
And he’s won one game. Listen, we can quote Buddha, Patton, Belushi , Shaggy…all we want but it just boils down to the Caps simply not accepting defeat. I’ve been watching the series on pins and needles and I decided that this is ridiculous. The Caps cannot go down to this team.
And every time I hear the Maven, I want to kill someone.
Wow, it’s so quiet, unless I’ve completely missed a new thread!
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 24, 2009 10:48 AM EDT reply actions
Here's a novel idea
How about someone running Lundqvist? Get in his kitchen. Shoot at his head. Do anything to make him uncomfortable in the crease. I’m not worried about taking a penalty given the feeble Rangers PP, but the Caps have got to do something to get him out of his comfort zone.
Yep. I’d take my chances killing a penalty (and given the likely response, you wouldn’t even have to kill one).
My gameplan:
1) Come out like a house afire for 10 minutes.
2) If it’s still tied after 10, get in Lundqvist’s kitchen.
3) ?
4) Head to New York down 3-2.
Admittedly, this game plan is loosely based on a well-known business plan:
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Apr 24, 2009 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I agree completely. Was pondering this exact point last night.
by mechanicsville on Apr 24, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions
HERE IS HOW WE BEAT LUNDQVIST
I would like to say first that I have been a faithful "Rink" reader for three years and finally signed up to put in my two cents – for what it is worth. I would also like to say that this blog has some of the smartest hockey bloggers I have ever seen. I always jump on to get a real-time perspective from you people. Honestly, some of you guys need to be behind a bench!
Now that I am done kissing up, I would like to offer these considerations. I am no Scotty Bowman but what I offer is not rocket science here. After game 4 I went back and watched every Caps goal on my Verizon Tivo. Ovie’s goal in game 4 was the farthest shot that hit the twine. The first closest thing to a goal in game 4 was Semin’s wrap around attempt. Every other goal in the series has been within 5 steps from the crease and I believe this is where you have to beat Henry. Here are some thoughts on how to do that:
Quit the unnecessary bombs from the point. It is just not working with this guy in the net. He is just too big. I know we hit multiple posts in the series but they didn’t count on the scoreboard. BB we have to adjust somehow!
Someone please drop your shoulder and drive to the net with people following.
The power play needs more player movement. They just stay in the same place. No rotation. Rotate damn it. Ovie pass the puck from the point then go down to the side of the net. Everybody needs move to a different location. We need players to cut thru crease and cause confusion. (Don’t get caught pinching).
Work the puck behind the net. The whole key here is to get Henry moving laterally, from post to post. He can be beat this way. We have proved it.
Start doing more cycling the puck in the corners. I would believe that this would open up some space in front of the net
Well that is my inaugural post JP. I am a little nervous that I am going to be torn to shreds by you guys but this is my story and I am sticking to it. By the way – great work here JP.
The difference between ORDINARY and extraORDINARY is that little extra
Thanks, M – glad to have you aboard, and I’m sure DMG and Pepper appreciate the kind words as much as I do.
As for your points – all good ones, and I think they get at one common theme: the Caps have to make Hank uncomfortable. Very.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I would also like to say that this blog has some of the smartest hockey bloggers I have ever seen
except scofield… he’s and idiot :-)
Here’s your over-under for tonight…
5
If there are fewer than five after-the-whistle shoving match scrums in front of Lundqvist tonight, the Caps aren’t going to be on the long end of the result.
If you've read this far...seek help.
Agreed. The Caps are taking this model citizen stuff too far. There’s little fear factor out there among the Rangers. I’m not saying goon it up, but there are lots of things you can do with an open-faced glove and the butt end of a stick to rattle the opposition. Nasty words are nice too. Get in their grills and say something about their girlfriends or their mothers. And you’re right about the scrums. The first save by lundqvist should result in ten guys pushing and shoving and King Henrik sitting on his ass and not his throne.
Gentlemen (and women), I have decided to take drastic action!
Given the records of various jerseys I’ve worn to games over this season, I’ve decided that tonight I’ll be wearing the only one that’s undefeated: my blue Bondra jersey. Yes, I know I’m not rocking the red, but desperate times call for desperate measures here.
I wish I could drag up what I wore to game 5 of the 1990 Patrick Division finals (when Langway scored in OT to put the Caps up over the Rags 3-1), but I was 5 years old at the time and it probably wouldn’t fit me.
by Kerry Fraser's Hairspray on Apr 24, 2009 11:20 AM EDT reply actions
this calls for the old Billy Baroo Bondra jersey…This is a BIG one Billy…Eighty..Thousand..Dollars…Billy..Billy..Billy…
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Apr 24, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions
smells possible threadjack…
If I had the wings of an eagle,
If I had the arse of a crow,
I'd fly over New York tomorrow,
And shite on those bastards below.
by Bald Pollack on Apr 24, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions
ok, so i just ran up and down the hallway of my school that I teach at saying that I’m going to drink the Caps to victory.
Soda mind you, but I’m doing my part tonight.
If it was possible o drink the Caps to victory, I’d have made the 82-0 and they would have already swept the rags!
by Kerry Fraser's Hairspray on Apr 24, 2009 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Everytime I get optimistic shit goes horribly wrong. Still, I do have faith – this team is not going to lie down and die like dogs. We’re not going out in 5, including 0-3 on our home ice. 6 games? maybe. 7 games? maybe? This is not over tonight.
Russian Machine Never Breaks
I had the same thought going into game 4. Then I watched an exact repeat of Game 2, replete with the feeling of impending doom. I’m not ready to believe anything until it happens.
The keyboard is mightier.
True, but the Caps did not play completely awful in Game 4. Room for improvement, yes, but anything other than A+++ by Lundqvist and they were likely winning that game. The Varly thing hurt, although wasn’t that the consensus a few months ago that if it came down to anyone playing besides Theo we were totally up the creek anyway? Varly doing well is bonus in my book.
Russian Machine Never Breaks
I won’t be able to watch the game tonight, alas (first game of our season tickes to a local minor-league baseball team) but I’ll have it on my TiVO when I get home.
All I’ll say is that if the Caps want this series, they will win it. They have to want it badly enough to do grind it out in front of the net, check like maniacs in the corners, and win a ton of faceoffs.
If they do not, they will not.
I think the PP was the best in the NHL in the reg season because they were scoring with skill. Detroit always has Holmstrom or Franzen or others in front. Us, besides Laich, no one. This is why I think we should switch to a shooting or umbrella type power play with Ovechkin in front with Laich if we start 0-3 or worse tonight.
That reminds me: in the playoffs it seems to me like snipers fail. Snipers have to become power forwards. This I think is why 8 + 91 > 8 + 19 in the playoffs. With 19 8 feels like he will get set up and is more sniper. With 91 8 feels like he has to set up as well as score and battle in the corners so he is more power forward. Bench or move 14 down lines, move 16/21 up, and go with speed and grit in the low lines.
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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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