Game (7) Day - Rangers @ Capitals
by J.P. on Apr 28, 2009 7:00 AM EDT
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After the first twenty minutes of their final game before the Christmas break back in late December, the Caps found themselves in the visitors' locker room at Madison Square Garden in what seemed like an insurmountable hole, down big in a building in which they hadn't won in nearly five years and facing one of the League's very best netminders.
Things would get worse before they got better, but when they did, boy did they ever. More than halfway through the game, Alexander Ovechkin gave the Caps life, and twenty hockey minutes later the game was tied. Not a minute into overtime, birthday boy Shaone Morrisonn completed the comeback win with his first goal of the season, and the Caps would go on to win their next half-dozen games.
When asked about his team's near-miraculous in-game resurgence, Ovechkin said:
"[The Rangers] stopped playing hockey. They probably believed 4-0 they'd win the game. They tried to play conservative, but we play a different way. We play a hard, physical game and take lots of shots. You see the results."
Those results added up to a win that in many ways has thus far foreshadowed the first round series between the Caps and Rangers - the Rangers jumped out to a big lead early, leaving the Caps in what (statistically, at least) seemed like an insurmountable hole and facing a white-hot Henrik Lundqvist.
And while maybe the Rangers did take for granted that the series was theirs - there's no way their golden backstop could have four bad games in five starts, is there? - the simple truth is that when the Caps are on, they do "play a different way... a hard, physical game and take lots of shots." And you've seen the results. As AO put it after Game 6, "when we play our game, we play simple, we play hard, nobody can stop us."
Nobody, that is, except perhaps Henrik Lundqvist.
Yanked in two straight games, his glove hand exposed, his positioning off, and his confidence no doubt waning, Lundqvist is under more pressure than anyone on either bench heading into Game 7, because should the Rangers lose and choke away 2-0 and 3-1 series leads, many eyes will be on the the goaltender who got beaten - and badly - en route. King Henrik's record in elimination games is a modest 1-3/2.97/.906. Will a performance like that be good enough tonight?
Which brings us back to that game on December 23. On that night, then-Ranger bench boss Tom Renney said of Lundqvist (who made 31 stops in the loss), "Henrik played well. He was not a concern at all," which hammers home the point that when these Caps play their game, they're not going to be stopped - not even by Henrik Lundqvist, and certainly not by this Rangers team.
So can the Caps play their game one more time in this series and erase a slow start and begin to make right more than a decade of spring time frustration? If they do, the question won't be "Who's going to be this year's John Druce?" but rather "Who's going to be tonight's Shaone Morrisonn?" - the guy who caps the unlikely comeback win.
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Good one as always J.P.
So 12 hours and 15(ish) minutes?
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.
…and 9.5 from the russian judges…
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on Apr 28, 2009 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Today will, without question, be my longest day at work ever. Cannnnnn’t waaaaiiiittttt….
by Kerry Fraser's Hairspray on Apr 28, 2009 8:10 AM EDT reply actions
I’ll go on a limb and pick the “C” for Shaone Morrisonn in this one. He’s had enough time sitting on the bench trying to get healthy to completely understand the need to get to the front of the goal. And he’s one of the few Caps that can do that on a consistant basis. So, while he is fresh of the bench, I pick Chris Clark to get an ugly goal in front of the net tonight.
Has it been confirmed that Clarkie will be playing tonight?
by Moonage Daydream on Apr 28, 2009 8:54 AM EDT up reply actions
That would be epic. Legendary, even.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I’ve been a DC-area Sports Fan long enough to expect complete disappointment tonight.
Tonight’s result will go a long way to me either:
Never attending another game 7
or
Feeling like DC sports fans are finally behind a real winner.
God, I’d be there if I could. And don’t worry, we’re already behind a real winner. These guys are the real deal.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 28, 2009 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Game seven...
I’ve got a bed booked at St. E’s just in case. In the imperishable words of the Method Man, “Turn it up now hear me get buckwu-wu-wild.”
Word.
tictactoehockey.blogspot.com
by turnituptoeleven on Apr 28, 2009 9:17 AM EDT reply actions
Oh Man....
I am so ready for it to be 4 PM so I can get out of the office and head down town….come on clock, move!!!
Let's go Caps!
Queasy already
gaaaaak. It’s just a game. It’s just a game. It’s just a game. It’s just a game. It’s just a game. It’s just a game. It’s just a game. It’s just a game.
Right?
by Uncle C on Apr 28, 2009 9:29 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Come on, hockey isn’t life or death…
It’s far more important than that…
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Apr 28, 2009 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I haven’t even had my breakfast wine, but lord am I nauseous.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 28, 2009 9:39 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
I haven’t even had my breakfast wine, but lord am I nauseous.
Ernest & Julio Gallo rec this.
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 28, 2009 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m glad that I got such a classy rec :-).
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 28, 2009 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions
What are you guys doing for luck/superstition/etc?
I’m going to wear the exact same things I wore to game 5, including underwear (and yes, I washed it!) I also plan on going to the same place to eat pre-game and ordering the same things.
by Kerry Fraser's Hairspray on Apr 28, 2009 9:43 AM EDT reply actions
I have a different routine for home and away games, but so far this year I’ve found that my actions have little effect on game outcomes (good for all of us), so while I will be sticking to the same script as Saturday (just in case), there’s nothing that could ease my pre-game nerves right now.
by PaintDrinkingPete on Apr 28, 2009 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions
I wear a T-shirt/Jersey combo – Ovechkin shirt/Semin Jersey or Semin shirt/ Ovechkin Jersey, I’ve found that both combos work – so I’ll be rocking that at home tonight.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 28, 2009 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions
Best thing about the game 5 win was that it meant my jersey isn’t cursed (I had also worn it to games 1 and 2).
by Scott in Shaw on Apr 28, 2009 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions
It never matters what I wear, but I don’t allow my fiance to wear his Clark jersey or any of his father’s Caps gear. Those all bring losing games. The last three wins we had, he didn’t wear anything Caps related. I think I’ll “suggest” that he continues that practice.
"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
True, but I’d like to avoid having the VC evacuated for a biohazard!
by Kerry Fraser's Hairspray on Apr 28, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions
The power of Febreze is the answer, or so it is for me.
by HowBoutThat on Apr 28, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Because of the afternoon game, Varlamov had only a day and a half rest before game 6.
Courtesy of that same afternoon game, he’s had 2 1/2 days to recuperate before game 7.
He should be good to go for this one.
The difference between a 2 o’clock start and a 7 o’clock start is not half a day.
by PaintDrinkingPete on Apr 28, 2009 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Lundqvist
To my untrained eye, it just looks like Lundqvist is physically wearing down. He played 70 regular season games and was forced to make more saves than at any point in his career, averaging close to 29 saves a game. Over the last 10 days ( and six games), he has faced an average of 35 shots a game ( and maybe just as many missed shots). I haven’t checked into it, but I’m guessing he probably hasn’t seen that many shots over a ten-day period at any point this season. I know the Caps have exploited his glove hand lately, but I can’t believe they just found this glaring weakness in his game. I’m betting fatigue has slowed his reflexes just a tad and that extra tenth of a second is why those shots that weren’t going in in games 1 & 2 are getting past him now. The added advantage of the Caps scoring high is that it opens up the bottom part of the net a little more which we saw when AO scored on that tip shot on Sunday. Of course, Lundqvist could play a game for the ages tonight, but I’m betting against it. As Vince Lombardi said " Fatigue makes cowards of us all."
I agree he may be getting tired but the Caps were targeting his glove from the start. They just weren’t able to get quality shots that could beat him earlier in the series. Beating Hank up high is nothing new, that’s the book on him. Hopefully you are right but I expect a very strong effort from him and the rest of the Rags.
We all expected the same thing on Sunday though right? To me, its all about the Caps, if they play to their abilities, there is no way the Rags can win. If they get frustrated after 20 minutes and start trying to do it all by themself, well, then I’m worried.
Agreed. The Caps have to keep playing like they have the past 4 games and avoid squeezing their sticks into dust. They looked calm out there in game 6 and it resulted in several very nice scoring plays. As in Game 5, scoring first would provide a huge lift and take some of that pressure off.
But yeah, the Rags are not going to go down easy. None of us should expect anything but a nailbiter.
I think you are right and I think that psychological pressure is wearing him down just as much as the physical. I mean he knew that the Caps will shoot and sooner or later will get out of their slump. He just can’t rely on his team to bail him out (except for game one, and I think Jose helped Lundqvist more than the Rangers).
In the 3 losses, his team was utterly inept and came out empty (late goals in game 6 discounted). He knows he has to be superman or the team loses and is just too much. His psyche is playing games on him now and he looks to be rattled. I hope the Caps take full advantage of it tonight.
One thing I hope the Caps do is get the lead first and hold on to it for more than 2 minutes. It scares me when they give it up that easy and that quick.
Should probably be studying for my econ exam…
But how many exams will I have in my lifetime?
It’s not every day I get to watch Red Jesus and the boys make history.
You'll have plenty of exams to study for...
…especially if you fail this one :)
But take it from a working stiff like me, cherish these options while you can. Work’s gotten busy at the worst possible time for me, and I have about a 3% chance of being able to watch the game tonight. I am borderline murderous.
So take advantage while you can!
The keyboard is mightier.
Same here. I’ll have it on in a window on my work computer but probably won’t be able to follow it regularly. Thankfully this is a luck-neutral proposition – the Caps have won and lost when I’ve had to watch under these circumstances (most recently won in game 5). And my fellow crazy people all know how important that is.
"Nevermore" quoth the Maven
We need a win if only to keep the Maven from, er, quothing.
We need a new Maven – me. The Shagman predicted Chris Clark’s game 7 return, which was broken here on Japers.
I am the new Maven. Caps cruise tonight – and meet the f’ing Pens in round 2.
*"Nevermore" quoth the Maven*
We need a win if only to keep the Maven from, er, quothing.
We need a new Maven – me. The Shagman predicted Chris Clark’s game 7 return, which was broken here on Japers.
I am the new Maven. Caps cruise tonight – and meet the f’ing Pens in round 2.
you’re going to have to show some maven before D gives up that title, fella, but I like your positive jib so far.
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on Apr 28, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions
88 degrees today!
Hope they’ve got the Booth locked up and sealed up tight, like a meat locker, or we’ve got our signature slush tonight. Gadzooks! More gray hairs by the hour . . . . .
good to hear. someone slip Abe a mickey and lock his ass in the broom closet?
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on Apr 28, 2009 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions
Tonight's officials:
Referees:
13- Dan O’Halloran
23- Brad Watson
Linesmen:
75- Derek Amell
65- Pierre Racicot
Any thoughts?
by Kerry Fraser's Hairspray on Apr 28, 2009 10:43 AM EDT reply actions
In other news...
…meanwhile, Sidney Crosby had this to say about Mrs. Lemieux making broccoli for dinner last night: “Like it or lump it, that’s what she does; some people like it, some people don’t. Personally, I don’t like it.”
This
It’d work better with cauliflower, though.
tictactoehockey.blogspot.com
by turnituptoeleven on Apr 28, 2009 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions
In other news...
Love the "Like it or lump it" updates. Great stuff. Some welcomed humor to calm the nerves!
by Tony_Fletcher on Apr 28, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions
I am so excited and can’t wait for tonight’s game. There is one thing I would love one of the players to do, or say, to the “king”. Right at the end or when the Caps have a commanding lead, I would love for wone of the players to go to Henrik and say " King huh? B!tch you ain’t even a jester"
I just hated it when all the analysts and commentators made a god out of him when the Caps were just not doing what theya re doing now, playing simple hockey and shooting the puck up.
I can careless about him now and all I want is a win, GO CAPS!
The only way I'm getting through the day is with a steady diet
of the Clash. with some Portishead when my ears start to bleed.
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on Apr 28, 2009 11:55 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Don't want to jinx but...
Saw this bit on TSN: The Rangers have never won a Game 7 on the road in franchise history.
Well, the Caps are only 1-4 in home G7s.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
ohhh JP, you are such a homer. Stop feeding us those Caps-biased stats.
The way I look at it, the Caps won one game 7 at home where as the Rangers haven’t won on the road, we are ahead.
The way I look at it is that these Caps have lost a game 7 at home and these Rags have never played a game 7.
Boy, you are not kiddig when you say you are “Fehr and balanced”. Alright, you do have a point but I think, at least hope, this team is different from last year’s and the opponent is different as well. Last year, the Flyers, not even for a minute,looked scared like the Rangers are now. The Caps, and us fans too, were never as confident as we are now.
I am in no way saying this is a walk in the park, but I do feel better about this game 7 than last year’s game against Philly. YMMV.
Haha. I try to be objective. I think the experience from last year can only help us. I just don’t buy into the whole “historically team X has done this against team Y, or in Z situation.” Tell me what the guys on the team have done. When people tell me the Caps are notorious playoff chokers I can acknowledge the history but none of the guys on this team did that. And last season these Caps refused to pack it in when things were tough, came back and damn near won the series. That is what is relevant. Not historical nonsense. The Habs have won almost 1/4 of the Stanley Cups. How has that helped them for the last 15+ years?
You know that term " a good loss"? Well, I think last year’s game seven loss to Philly falls into that category. Aside from the experience of playing in a game seven, Bruce should be able to remind these guys how bad it felt to lose to Philly and why they can’t let it happen again. Hell, he can even pull out that Herb Brooks speech to the USA Olympic team before their Gold Medal game against Finland. You know, the one that goes “If you lose this game, you’ll remember it for the rest of your lives. The rest of your F***in lives.” Works for me.
Wise’s article in the post this morning discuessed exactly that. By far the best stuff he’s written about the Caps in my memory.
When the Caps face off tonight against the Rangers, they should remember that feeling [losing Game 7 to the Flyers] more than the euphoria of Game 6 at Madison Square Garden, more than anything they’ve felt the past year. They should think back to that hollow, wrenching pierce in the heart, of that puck knocked in and themselves knocked out.
Not that would make them nervous or anything
If this team comes out tight, I’ll be really worried. Also, playing in front of the home crowd might exasperate that. See games 1 &2.
Your favorite meme is dead
inspiring, E. working from home today doesn’t suck. you ARE at home aren’t you? ; )
Black Butte Porter—if it looks, smells and tastes like coffee…
from the house that Red Jesus built
# 2 Open
I’m am at home. I do have to work tonight though at 8:00 pm PST. I should probably either stop with the count or stop drinking. I’ll probably stop the online count.
Your favorite meme is dead
I’ll live up to my name as soon as i get off work.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 28, 2009 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions
My experience will serve me well in making up that ground.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 28, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions
I waited until 3:30 PM, but cheers.
I only worked a half day today (that always happens on Tuesdays.) I work at an animal shelter and not a single cat tried to bite me today. THIS IS A GOOD SIGN.
(also, the next stray cat that tries to bite me that hasn’t been named yet I’m going to insist it gets named Shaone.)
I have as many wins in a Capitals uniform as Michael Belhumeur does.
Has Joe B. been on NHL live yet?
I turned away for a few moments to catch the Arlen Spector switching to the D’s coverage.
Your favorite meme is dead
Class from 6:30-9:30pm tonight
Very frustrated
GO CAPS
by alright alright alright on Apr 28, 2009 1:18 PM EDT reply actions
…but it’s never the same as watching it live. Hard for a TV timeout to build suspense when you know you can just hit FF.
by PaintDrinkingPete on Apr 28, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions
I love having a little buffer on the tivo
And who doesn’t like a little buffer on the ole tivo. Sitting through commercials is tedious.
Your favorite meme is dead
I almost never watch sports live.
Once I got past the hang up of it “not being live”, I loved it. No more commercials. Ever.
Skip. I can’t tell you how many times I got in trouble because of night classes being < Caps games. Seriously, is this even a question?
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 28, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions
But you can’t yell or show any emotion that way (if you care about being caught, which you must, otherwise you’d have skipped, anyway)!
No, skipping is the right decision, here.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 28, 2009 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions
on the plus side
i can skip all the bruce boudreau ‘need a really big cupholder’ commercials
by alright alright alright on Apr 28, 2009 1:35 PM EDT reply actions
So who plays who in the next round?
Not counting chickens or anything just wondering what the matchups are no matter who wins these two games tonight.
Your favorite meme is dead
If the Caps win, they play NJD (if NJD wins) or PIT (if CAR wins).
If the Caps lose… who the eff cares?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
If the Caps lose the matchup is...
Me and Bourbon.
Your favorite meme is dead
by Edanger6 on Apr 28, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
A worthy adversary. Gentleman Jim has taken me in a best-of-seven many times.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Guys, guys, guys. You just need a DrinkingPartner! That bourbon’ll never beat you again!
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 28, 2009 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions
hoping for NJ as well
Pens seem hot
by alright alright alright on Apr 28, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions
I dunno, I think I’d rather have the chance to smash Crosby’s face in than Brodeur or Parise or, whomever. They’re just not that exciting to me.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 28, 2009 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions
I thought our games against Jersey this year were really exciting. Nothing beats the Caps Pens matchups though. I hate their fans so much.
No more talk of next round. Zip it!
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
You’re right, JP. It’s the nerves talking, is all.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 28, 2009 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Hoping for a standout Greenie performance tonight
love those for some reason
by alright alright alright on Apr 28, 2009 3:00 PM EDT reply actions
Over/Under on Playing Time of 4 Arbitrarily Selected Caps
Clark: 6 minutes (if he suits up)
Fehr: 6 minutes
Flash: 14 minutes
Bradley: 8 minutes
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida
|
55 | 27 | 17 | 11 | 65 |
|
Washington
|
55 | 28 | 22 | 5 | 61 |
|
Winnipeg
|
57 | 26 | 25 | 6 | 58 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
55 | 24 | 25 | 6 | 54 |
|
Carolina
|
56 | 20 | 25 | 11 | 51 |
(updated 2.12.2012 at 10:06 PM EST)
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