Varlamov: Russian for "Ward?"
by David Getz on Apr 29, 2009 7:00 AM EDT
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PrintAll it took was one bad outing from Jose Theodore for blogs and message boards to start using the names "Simeon Varlamov" and "Cam Ward" in the same sentence. It was speculative and even overly optimistic, sure, but not totally unreasonable. After all, like Ward, Varlamov was a former first round draft pick (Ward went 25th overall; Varlamov 23rd overall) with significant international experience at the junior level who had dominated the AHL and shown flashes of brilliance at the NHL level. Still, the comparison was as much based in a desperate hope for a more consistent goaltender as similarities between the pair's respective development curves.
Ten days, two shutouts, four wins, and one improbable come-from-behind series victory later, the Ward/Varlamov comparison looks a lot stronger, and not just because the team is winning with the young Russian in net. Here's how Varlamov's performance stacks up with Ward's from 2005-06 in the regular season:
And in their first six career playoff starts:
It's probably not time to go all crazy and start planning a parade route quite yet. But Varlamov's 2009 postseason seems to be resembling Ward's 2005 postseason more and more every game - and that's something to be excited about.
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I’m cautiously optimistic (of course), but the Pens aren’t the Rangers – they have guys with the creativity and skill to take advantage of Varly’s perhaps overly aggressive nature with backdoor passes, and as quick as he is laterally, it’s going to take an even better team defensive effort to produce similar results.
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it’s going to take an even better team defensive effort to produce similar results.
Yep. I’m not sure when (or if) Ward faced the 1st and 3rd highest point-getters of the regular season in the same series. Should be fun.
We've got a goalie who's playing pretty good right now, while you've got one who can't get onto the ice without falling on his ass.
by Bald Pollack on Apr 29, 2009 8:08 AM EDT up reply actions
Ward faced Montreal, New Jersey, Buffalo and Edmonton.
Those teams finished 20th, 21st, 6th and 14th in the League in scoring that year, respectively, and were led by Alex Kovalev (65 points), Brian Gionta (89), Maxim Afinogenov (73) and Ales Hemsky (77).
The Pens finished 4th in the League in scoring this year and had a couple of 100-point guys.
Yeah. This is a stiff test.
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A test I’m glad he’ll have the chance to take.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 29, 2009 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions
Nah. Bruce should start Theo in Game 1 – Varly’s due to get shellacked one of these days, so why let it happen?
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Where have you gone, Theo60, our blog turns its lonely eyes to you…
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If there’s an argument to play Theo, it’s his numbers this year against the Pens, not because Varlamov might get Shellacked.
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
by Whiter Mage on Apr 29, 2009 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Alright, I guess not everyone’s in on the joke. Which it was.
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I got it – I was just throwing out a “legit” counterargument for no reason. =P
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
by Whiter Mage on Apr 29, 2009 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions
How dare you counter sarcasm with a legitimate argument! :)
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Seriously though, he’s got to rest at some point and game 3 or 4 in Pittsburgh appear to be good candidates.
If it ain't broke, don't break it.
I think we cross those bridges when we get to them. He’s young and he’s got a whole summer to rest up. We have no idea what this series will look like after two or three games, so no point speculatin’ now.
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No, Fleury is mediocre, and only plays well in situations like Lundqvist, when his defense is rock solid. And, let’s be honest, the Pens d has NOTHING on the Rangers D.
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
by Whiter Mage on Apr 29, 2009 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions
The Pens D has scoring and speed, comparatively. It’ll be a different challenge, but still a challenge, nonetheless.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 29, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions
I agree, it’s a completely different challenge – one I feel we’re more suited for because 1) we hate these guys, so we’ll probably show up every game and 2) I don’t think they can stop our offense. Conversely, really, the Pens are a one line team. For all the talk about how poor the Caps would be without Ovechkin, really, Malkin + Crosby really can only effect so much with mediocre wingers – and outside of Billy Guerin, that’s what they have. This series will be about how we can shut them down – if we need any help, let’s look at footage from the Detroit/Pens series last year.
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
by Whiter Mage on Apr 29, 2009 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions
I do seriously hate me some Billy Guerin, though. God, I wish he was on our team.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 29, 2009 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions
I watched some of the Pennsylvania series, The Pens PP looked awful against the Flyers, they couldn’t keep the puck in the zone to save their life…Course once they got off the power play, Crosby literally crashed the net for a controversial goal. Our D has to play physical and try to be one step ahead.
I agree that he’s going to have a hard time putting up similar numbers but with how great his numbers were in this series they leave a little bit of room for error, don’t they?
I feel a lot better about playing the Pens just because they don’t lock down like the Rangers do. Some of these games might turn into a real shoot out.
I feel a lot better about playing the Pens just because they don’t lock down like the Rangers do. Some of these games might turn into a real shoot out.
Exactly how I feel. I think unlike the Rags, where whoever scored first determined the rest of the game for the most part, The Caps and the Pens will always have a chance to comeback in every game.
Hope Round 2 brings consistency
I’m a little more concerned about the team lack of offensive consistency. Last night’s game saw more turnovers and bad passes. This could have been due to the Rangers looking a lot like they did in the other games they won. I will say I was not a happy camper for most of the game – I wanted to throttle that Rabbit for his carelessness with the puck.
uhh...uhh...uhh...
I’d venture to say there were 18,277 not happy campers during most of the game (ok, maybe there were a few Rangers fans there). If Varlamov hadn’t stopped that first breakaway, it would have been game over.
Let’s not do this again, huh? Let’s NOT get to game 7.
by gfcaps fan on Apr 29, 2009 8:32 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I’d venture to say there were 18,277 not happy campers during most of the game
Speaking of which, and at the risk of getting into it with Yoshie (or anyone else), booing during a tie in the middle of Game 7 is idiotic.
We've got a goalie who's playing pretty good right now, while you've got one who can't get onto the ice without falling on his ass.
by Bald Pollack on Apr 29, 2009 8:37 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
the booing at the end of the 2nd made me want to punch some people. freakin’ dolts.
by ns on Apr 29, 2009 8:39 AM EDT up reply actions
But they deserved it. I personally never boo my own team, but they were playing terribly up until the 3rd. I was screaming at the TV for them to play better, and they eventually did, thank God.
And I’m hoping that the Caps are finally able to get into a groove. They’ve gotten past their “we can’t win in the playoffs” thing, now they just have to play. The Pens should give them added motivation as they 1) despise them, and 2) they have a healthy respect for them, already. I don’t think they thought the Rags would do what they did. I think they’ll skate hard from the start against the Pens.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 29, 2009 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions
How bad was the booing?
For those of us who weren’t there, can someone comment? Watching on TV, I did not hear or notice boos. We may have been too loud at my house, but I don’t think Joe or Locher mentioned it. It wasn’t until the post game interviews that it was brought up.
More importantly, how loud was it after Feds scored? Looked like total bedlam. Clearly had an effect on the Rags.
Almost got into it with someone behind me who was doing it.
The last 5 minutes were insane. It was like maxing an iPod volume, without the earbuds.
We've got a goalie who's playing pretty good right now, while you've got one who can't get onto the ice without falling on his ass.
by Bald Pollack on Apr 29, 2009 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions
I’d have been hard pressed not to boo. No reason to get mad at someone for being upset at the product they’d paid $? to get a ticket to.
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
by Whiter Mage on Apr 29, 2009 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions
Then don’t buy the ticket. If you enjoy the peaks, you’ve got to put up with the valleys.
We've got a goalie who's playing pretty good right now, while you've got one who can't get onto the ice without falling on his ass.
by Bald Pollack on Apr 29, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Which I do. I’ve never booed, and usually I look down on it, but different people react different ways, and condemning fans for booing is the same as booing, in my book. You can disagree, but you can’t tell them to not show up.
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
To clarify, I mean the royal you.
/Lebowski’d
Before I get pigeonholed by others as a Puddy-esque homer, allow me to explain. As one who doesn’t do the derivative chants and decades old ones, I don’t do a lot of blind cheering by nature. If I’m going to expend physical energy, and the choice is between yelling and booing, I go for the former. The boys are pros and know when they’re laying a turd or not.
That said, folks should exercise a little perspective when it comes to when to voice frustration. If it’s say, the January game against Edmonton, go boo your guts out. But if it’s on what could potentially be the last game of the season, and they know how important it is, then booing at an intermission of a tie game, or because the team isn’t shooting PP one-timers every single time like they do in 2K9, then you really should sit in the corner.
We've got a goalie who's playing pretty good right now, while you've got one who can't get onto the ice without falling on his ass.
by Bald Pollack on Apr 29, 2009 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Are you suggesting that we shouldn’t show more energy than you do? Seeing as I don’t think that’s your point, here’s the big picture, in my mind.
If a fan buys a ticket, it’s 100% in his or her grounds to chose what to do during the game. If a fan wants to recite over and over again the preamble of the constitution, it might piss you off, but it’s well within his rights. He (or she) can do what they damn well please, and often, that depends on the on-ice product.
If a rangers fan was sitting behind you, and cheering when the rangers scored and booing when the Caps scored, you’d likely be pretty upset, but understand that they came to the game with something else in mind they wanted to see. Why any different than Caps fans? Some want to see a 6-0 rout every game. And since they paid their money to Ted, they have the right to expect it, or boo, or leave. It’s within fan rights, even if it pisses you off. It’s not “wrong.”
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
it was bad. didnt last very long but it was loud. when Feds scored the place blew up. we were already cheering from the Unleash the Fury cheer and then bam, back of the net, mayhem.
no one sat down or stopped cheering for the last 5 min. it was surreal.
by ns on Apr 29, 2009 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions
i wish more people stood up for more of the game.
if everyone gets up out of their seat and cheers, it can’t hurt.
People are probably afraid to stand for the whole game because of the people behind them. But in college hockey games we stand the whole time, it’s a lot more fun.
came through pretty clearly on the MSG feed.
by Natty Bumppo on Apr 29, 2009 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
If they were down two, or even one goal, then maybe I can see it. But a tie score in Game 7? Sorry, that’s a crowd fail.
We've got a goalie who's playing pretty good right now, while you've got one who can't get onto the ice without falling on his ass.
by Bald Pollack on Apr 29, 2009 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Rec’d b/c booing your team while tied in a game 7 is teh suck. I was there, and I was not happy.
The players feed off the crowd’s energy; best to keep it positive.
by Scott in Shaw on Apr 29, 2009 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, considering the Caps went off to booing, and came back to hold the Rags to a single shot, I’m inclined to argue the other side of that story…
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 29, 2009 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Touche
But they also mentioned how the cheering in the last 5 minutes or so really kept them going.
by Scott in Shaw on Apr 30, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions
We’ve observed time and time again that our boys play far, far better when they are the underdogs in a matchup. It’s like they have something to prove. I tend to think that Washington is going to be considered the underdogs in this contest; while it makes me nervous, that’s a good thing, right?
Right?
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Defensive stars...
I wanted to point out how incredible Juice and Erskine played last night. They were the best two defenders out there all game. Juice, specifically, stepped it up in for game 7 to match Erskine’s series performance. Poti was pretty solid too. Way to help your rookie goalie boys! Anyone missing Schultz out there? NOT. I.
Varly looks to be the real deal and I’m eager to see him play a real offensive power house like the Pens. Its going to be a rough series, but a great one.
Onward, bitches.
Schultz was a beast (ok, not a beast, but quite good) against the Pens this year, especially against Malkin.
That said, he’d have a hard time cracking the lineup right now – Juice and Ersky have been outstanding.
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but the Pens we will be seeing is quite different and more aggressive than what we played all season.
Schultz will have to fight hard to keep a spot come training camp. (sorry, still not sold on him)
by ns on Apr 29, 2009 8:48 AM EDT up reply actions
Both his age (or lack thereof) and the fact that he’s making two and a half times less than what Morrissonn does help his case in this regard, to say the least of the space that has been taken here to discuss his merits. And at least on face value, he’s apparently working back from injury.
So please…move on.
We've got a goalie who's playing pretty good right now, while you've got one who can't get onto the ice without falling on his ass.
by Bald Pollack on Apr 29, 2009 8:53 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Game 7 euphoria… Sid and the Pens on the horizon… and yet it turns into a “Schultz is teh suck” thread. Classic.
(And yes, that’s hyperbole, NS… still funny)
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to not analyze our defense would be stupid, but better served else, i agree.
and Rangers is teh suck.
by ns on Apr 29, 2009 8:57 AM EDT up reply actions
fair enough. no need to nit pick today. its a good day.
by ns on Apr 29, 2009 8:56 AM EDT up reply actions
Honestly, though, I agree with ns. He still has yet to fully impress, though he’s had spurts of good play. And you can throw stats in all you want, but I don’t think they truly reflect him. That said, I hope he makes a spot come next training camp, and I hope he earns it. In the same breath, with the D as it is now, there’s no one you can bench for Schultz.
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
by Whiter Mage on Apr 29, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions
After we were sloppy for two periods. Remember who kept us in that game, too.
I wouldn’t schedule tee times for the boys just yet, but then I wouldn’t plan the parade either. As someone said last night, we sure are taking the hard way to the Cup, if that’s how far we go.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Juice and Erskine seem to play better when the whistles are put away. When Erskine can clutch and grab, he isn’t bad.
It wasn’t just clutching and grabbing that made him effective against the Rangers. His positioning was excellent (in 7 games I only remember him being out of position once), stick work was great, and his passes were fairly crisp.
I thought Juice played an outstanding physical series. In the past he hasn’t know when to quit with the physical stuff, in this series he did. He kept his man to the outside all series long.
by Carl Putnam on Apr 29, 2009 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions
Erskine blew his coverage on the Rags goal last night. He and Pothier also looked completely overwhelmed at the start of the game.
Overall I agree, Erskine was very good, but he has had a few slipups.
And I’m pretty sure that was actually Fed’s coverage blown on Antropov, as he was the 3rd high guy coming in.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 29, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions
Let's not forget Pothier
Since he’s come in in Game Two, the D has been rock solid. Averaging about 16-17 minutes a game, a +1 and few, if any glaring mistakes. Plus he adds that puck moving dimension the team needs. Looks like GM was right when he said he didn’t rush to make a move at the trade deadline because he knew Brian was coming back.
In between that and Clark’s spirited effort, no move might have been the right one.
We've got a goalie who's playing pretty good right now, while you've got one who can't get onto the ice without falling on his ass.
by Bald Pollack on Apr 29, 2009 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions
Clark was solid last night. Good passes, great forecheck, and net presence. A few possible garbage goals saved by good Ranger stick checks.
by ns on Apr 29, 2009 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions
What, you weren’t blown away by Derek “where’s my jock?” Morris?
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by J.P. on Apr 29, 2009 9:11 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
The Caps came out flatter than a Chinese gymnast last night. If they pull the same act against Malkin and Crosby, they’ll be down 5-0 before they can blink.
We’ll have plenty of time to break down all the various angles to this matchup, but for now I’ll just say that I think these teams are mostly evenly matched, with the Pens having perhaps a slight edge overall. Probably comes down to breaks and bounces, at the end of the day.
The Caps have got to be better with the puck in their own end. But at least the games should have more flow than against the Rags.
We’ll see how Varly does against a team with a real offensive attack.
Pens also have lasr tear’s experience, which is invaluable.
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Yep. And with Kunitz and Guerin up front, they are geared up to score dirty goals. This is probably the biggest advantage I give to the Pens, actually.
I don’t think it’s possible to be better than Lundqvist was in Games 2, 4 and 7, but Fleury can also be a game-changer.
This thing ought to be a war. Should be fun.
BTW – having won a series, I am now calling this season satsifactory, regardless of what transpires from here on out. But I would dearly love to eliminate the Pens, and will be bitter as hell if they send us packing again.
by fat_daddyo on Apr 29, 2009 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
It’s funny you should mention that last part. Pepper and I were talking last night about how we all talked about what would make this season a success, and that’s fine and good to talk about during the regular season, but then you get to the playoffs and every game is epic – highs and lows – and those “Conference Finals or bust” thoughts get tempered a bit.
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Can my heart take a run to the conference finals? If I stop coming sometime during this series, look for an obit in the Post about a Caps fan who died before his time.
The weight of the world lifted from my shoulders as soon as the game ended last night. I have to admit, I don’t know how much more of this I can take :-).
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 29, 2009 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions
“We’ll see how Varly does against a team with a real offensive attack.”
Or maybe we’ll see how the Pens do when they’re not playing against Marty Biron. Remember, Varly is a virtual unknown to just about everybody in the league. He’s played so little in the NHL and allowed so few goals, that the scouting video is paper thin. How the Pens prepare for him is going to be as much a guess as anything else. You can say he was untested because he played the Rangers, but he faced plenty of quality shots and aside from Drury’s goal, I’d be hard pressed to come up with a bad goal he allowed.
He did face plenty of quality shots, but aside from the 2-on-1goal that he allowed, not all that many nice passing plays that really got him moving side-to-side, and I think that’s gotta be the scouting report on him right now – use his aggressiveness against him and go to the net for rebounds.
And, not for nothing, but this Pens PP is slightly better than the Rags’, so discipline will be uber-important.
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Their penalty kill is also significantly worse, let’s not forget that.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 29, 2009 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions
Truth – discipline on both sides (I’m looking at you, Matt Cooke) will be huge.
And Green has to outplay Gonchar.
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That was a pretty scary wipeout
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There have been a few of those this series. Thank god he and AO are 23 and not 33. Feds probably would’ve died in a similar accident.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 29, 2009 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions
Wipeout? That was an out and out trip. Who was it, Antropov? Just stuck out his leg and tripped Green.
That’s how I saw it too, yet it didn’t seem like anyone was saying so on the news.
Didn’t I see Pothier take a tumble into the boards too? Not at the same seepd, but got me scared.
Their penalty kill is also significantly worse, let’s not forget that.
They did well against the Flyers. That said, I wasn’t paying too close attention to see if it was more that the Flyers PP disappeared (22% in the regular season to 13% in the 1st round) or if the Pens PP stepped up.
We've got a goalie who's playing pretty good right now, while you've got one who can't get onto the ice without falling on his ass.
by Bald Pollack on Apr 29, 2009 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions
Either way, I think we have to prepare for the Pens as if we’re playing the Rags and Lundqvist all over again. We have to drive them harder than they can handle from the start.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 29, 2009 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Let’s not forget that as much as this Capitals team tries to say they don’t get motivated by who they are playing they really do rise to a different level based on factors like that. I believe whole heartily that they will be the Caps team we know and love when they play the Pens.
by zephyr on Apr 29, 2009 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
This fact more than any other explains this whole season. When they are motivated they are a freight train going downhill. When they aren’t they look like an ECHL squad.
Looking at the strengths/weaknesses of both teams, I think the series is a toss up, with the Pens possibly owning a slight edge due to last year’s playoff experience. The key for the Caps is to stay out of the sin bin.
by Carl Putnam on Apr 29, 2009 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes, those first 2 mins of the game were painful
The first period was painful. The second was painful. Third looked good.
Both the Caps and Rags were schizophrenic this entire series. I hope the good Caps show up consistently vs. the Pens.
I have a hard time thinking that it won’t be more on how the Caps play as a team more than how the Pens play against Varly.
If the Caps play like they are supposed to play, play within themselves as a team, they could do well.
I also don’t think they will have trouble at all getting up for these games and wouldn’t be shocked to see them come out firing. The layoff for the Pens also plays a factor.
To Caps Fans:
This (well run) blog has been one of my go to sites for Caps info the last two weeks, so I’m going to give my two cents.
First, congratulations. Washington dominated much of the series, and were it not for iffy goaltending in Game 1 and excellent goaltending in Game 4, this series probably ends in five. Personally, I was happy to see such a great Game 7 for two reasons: 1) People won’t be talking about all the garbage from Games 5 and 6 (Torts vs fans, Brashear vs Betts, Dubinsky’s wrist vs Morrisonn’s jaw) and 2) After the way the Rangers got rolled in the last two games, I was happy to see them go down swinging. While disappointed, I can live with the fact that they gave a good effort and lost to an obviously better team.
As for the Washington organization, I have nothing but respect for the Capitals. Everyone, from Leonsis on down, seems to be having so much fun with this team. My favorite part about Ovechkin (other than his general awesomeness), is that he celebrates the same way when a teammate scores as he does when he scores. The enthusiasm is infectious, and it’s evident in the rest of team. The depth is there, the roll players are there (when do they name Laich captain?), and this team has all the ingredients.
While it wouldn’t completely surprise me, I’m not convinced the Caps can win the Cup this year, but I like their chances in the near future. Best of luck the rest of the way (for the love of God take out Pittsburgh) and enjoy the ride. This year, next year… you have a good thing going.
by NYR24 on Apr 29, 2009 9:01 AM EDT reply actions 11 recs
well played. was a good series.
btw, Dubinsky is your best player not in net. he scared me every time he time he was out there.
by ns on Apr 29, 2009 9:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Torts coached you guys well last night, it was a hard fought one.
We've got a goalie who's playing pretty good right now, while you've got one who can't get onto the ice without falling on his ass.
by Bald Pollack on Apr 29, 2009 9:11 AM EDT up reply actions
Now even fans of other teams are naming laich the new captain! WTF, guys? Ovechkin for C, baby!
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 29, 2009 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions
I think it’s Cally, and I tell you what, there are 29 other teams who probably would love to have him as well.
I think it’s Cally, and I tell you what, there are 29 other teams who probably would love to have him as well.
I second that notion. As I said over on BB, that kid was a beast. I thought he was the best player in the entire series. The kid backchecks as hard as he forechecks and knows how to use his stick in both zones.
by Carl Putnam on Apr 29, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Torts game plan for the first two periods was flawless and, I think, completely caught Boudreau by surprise. If the Rangers had some more creative offensive players to finish their chances the outcome could have been very different. The Caps looked awful the first two periods, but I think a lot of that was due to just how hard the Rangers played. In the third, frankly, I think the Rangers just ran out of gas and the Caps finally stepped up to the challenge. Yeah, the Caps were the more skilled team but the Rangers showed why you never want to go to a seventh game. If I were a Ranger fan, I would be forever pissed at Sather for signing Redden to that ridiculous contract. Feds completely undressed him on that winning goal. Stall and Giradi and keepers.
Feds actually did something in the first period that setup that goal. In period 1, he did a little change of speed that got him around the defender (I don’t remember who) and drove to the net. Got a good chance out of it as well. Then in the 3rd, Redden had to give ground because he knew that Feds had the extra gear. Feds pushed him back to the dot, put on the breaks and roofed it. A very veteran move.
by Sct112 on Apr 29, 2009 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Thanks. The Rags came out swinging, that’s for sure, and there definitely was more drama in this series than I liked. I was glad to see a good, (fairly) clean Game 7 that was just all about the hockey and none of the nonsense (okay, the rain ponchos were a trip).
After the first Rangers game in the regular season, I was sitting on the Metro home with a Rangers fan who told me “see you in the playoffs”. I didn’t expect it to be quite that literal.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Hopefully next round, Chris Clark shows you that as awesome as Laich is, there’s a reason Chris Clark is still captain. Cadaver bone in mouth + 30 goal scorer + Fighter + Finals Experience + Heart = Chris Clark.
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
by Whiter Mage on Apr 29, 2009 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions
I think I finally just crashed back to Earth.
Last 5 minutes of last night’s game at Verizon Center = loudest place I’ve been.
Time to start the madness all over again for round 2.
Thank you Caps for not letting this season end last night—I GET TO WATCH MORE CAPS HOCKEY!!! As the clock wound down in the 3rd, I was getting severe déjà vu of last season.
by PaintDrinkingPete on Apr 29, 2009 10:07 AM EDT reply actions
As the clock wound down in the 3rd, I was getting severe déjà vu of last season.
Believe me, we all were. It was even worse that before the game on CSN, they decided to re-live the Game 7 last year. I was already nervous, i nearly puked when I saw that.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 29, 2009 10:08 AM EDT reply actions
It's been a good last 24 hours.
Suspense? Check.
Good hockey game? Check.
Win? Check.
Round 2 to look forward to? Check.
Exam taken and smoked? Check.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
Maybe a bit early on these calls, but what the heck:
In goal: MAF and Varly are even, with a slight slight edge to the Pens based on experience. Replicate last night’s period three consistently, and we may not need 40 to be a monster
Defense: if 4 and 23 continue to lockdown and 52 plays like 52, a slight edge to the Caps. We must decapitate Gonchar’s effectiveness: Key #2 for this series
Center: edge to Pens, but I like our 3/4 centers more than PIT’s.
RW: slight edge to Pens but 17 will make a difference
LW: big edge to the Caps. I’d like to see game 5 and 6 Ovie, not must-do-everything-myself Ovie.
Special teams: very slight edge to the Caps. This is the #1 key to the series for us.
Coaching: slight edge to Caps. Bruce continues to push the right buttons.
Intangibles: edge to Caps. PIT is rested, but we are getting a break with the Saturday game 1. The back to back scheduling for Games 4 and 5 favors us, as does home ice. Not facing another Lundy will help—MAF is not likely to steal this series.
In sum, I see another dramatic 7 gamer….NBC rejoices either way it goes, but I like our chances.
from the house that Red Jesus built
I’d give coaching and intangibles a toss up, at the very least. Boudreau’s team has come out flat and failed to make necessary adjustments recently and the Pens have been studs under Byalsma, and the Penguins went to the Stanley Cup Finals last year, which has to count for a lot in the intangibles category.
I think the Caps have been able to make adjustsments just fine since Game 4. Obviously, something changed between the 2nd and 3rd periods last night, otherwise, the Rags would have had more than one shot in the 3rd. So, I’m chalking that up to the players getting it in gear, as opposed to anything Bruce could have done. But we can argue about that in plenty of ways.
I hope that we can destroy MAF’s confidence. I think that’s the real key. A couple of quick goals throughout the series will devastate him. We haven’t seen the same happen to Varly (e.g. Game 2, 4, and 7 – early, quick goals that he rebounded from to have fantastic games).
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 29, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions
I think the Caps have been able to make adjustsments just fine since Game 4. Obviously, something changed between the 2nd and 3rd periods last night, otherwise, the Rags would have had more than one shot in the 3rd.
But then question becomes, why did it take three games or two periods for those changes to get made? But you’re right that it’s speculation for those of us on the outside.
I think it was mostly performance based last night. BB knew what to do, and I think they knew what to do, they just had trouble doing it while the Rags were playing outside of themselves in the first 2 periods. Don’t get me wrong, I was yelling at the TV, too, but I didn’t blame BB for it.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 29, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions
good points. I never lay coming out flat on the coach; he’s not skating. But I agree Bruce has to adjust more quickly. Bylsma has done wonders for the Pens, but how much of that is addition by subtraction of Therrien? Gonchar’s return had a lot to do with PIT’s stunning turnaround. And yes, the Pens did go to the finals last year, but don’t have Hossa this time around; he gave them a legit second line threat and that is absent unless Crosby and Malkin are split up (which, in turn, makes 87 in powder blue less effective).
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on Apr 29, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions
“Boudreau’s team has come out flat and failed to make necessary adjustments recently and the Pens have been studs under Byalsma, and the Penguins went to the Stanley Cup Finals last year, which has to count for a lot in the intangibles category”
You don’t think Boudreau made some adjustments after the second period?? And as far as last year’s appearance in the Finals helping Pittsburgh, the numbers don’t support it. In the last 25 years, only twice has the Stanley Cup loser made it back to the Conference Finals the following year. The last team to do it was Detroit in ’96.
You don’t think Boudreau made some adjustments after the second period??
Again, if we’re going to look at Boudreau’s impact, the question is why did it take until the second intermission?
And as far as last year’s appearance in the Finals helping Pittsburgh, the numbers don’t support it. In the last 25 years, only twice has the Stanley Cup loser made it back to the Conference Finals the following year.
That’s a correlation that by itself doesn’t mean all that much. Playoff performance is dependent on a lot of different factors, of which intangibles is only one.
As for Boudreau, how do you know he didn’t make the adjustments after the first but the players didn’t figure it out until the third? I seriously doubt Bruce went into the lockerroom after the first and said " Keep it up guys. We’re doing fine. No need to change anything" Coaches can tell players what to do, but sometimes they have to get punched in the face repeatedly before they’ll listen. And with regards to the record of Stanley Cup Finalists in the following year, isn’t it a little ironic for you to shoot down the relevance of stats when they don’t support your thesis?
doesn’t it still fall on the coach to get through to his players, though? using your logic, it’s possible the coach didn’t make any adjustments after the 2nd period either, and that the players just figured it out on their own. without a seat in the locker room, it’s difficult to assess the performance of a coach. but it’s not impossible (nor is it unfair). the proof is in the pudding.
by Natty Bumppo on Apr 29, 2009 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions
That defies logic, though. There was little difference between the way they played in the 1st and 2nd periods. Why would he all of the sudden distinguish the 2nd period as being the period where changes were needed? No, I think the blame for 1 and 2 yesterday lies with the players.
BTW, how do you insert a pic into the text box? It wouldn’t let me paste and I don’t see any other way….
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 29, 2009 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions
click on the little picture of the tree just above your writing. then copy and paste the URL of the picture.
by Natty Bumppo on Apr 29, 2009 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions
His grip is even better. Ahem.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I figured that was implied, given his face.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 29, 2009 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions
oh, bigonetimer, if only you’d said this to the picture:
bq.Bruce made his most important adjustment
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 29, 2009 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions
damn
Bruce made his most important adjustment
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 29, 2009 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Bruce made his most important adjustment
after Game 1. Seems obvious, now in hindsight, doesn’t it? But raise your hand if you felt the Caps were still coming out of this series after we lost gm 2 with the kid in the net.
from the house that Red Jesus built
haha, is this torts with the “raise your hand” bit. :)
by Natty Bumppo on Apr 29, 2009 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions
…I thought it sounded familiar when I re-read it!
seriously, though: kudos to BB’s big balls for making and sticking with the switch. No offense to the esteemed netminders in red, but Bruce’s handling of the keeprs since he has arrived has been nothing short of a revelation for this franchise.
from the house that Red Jesus built
As for Boudreau, how do you know he didn’t make the adjustments after the first but the players didn’t figure it out until the third?
Of course that’s possible, but it’s pretty speculative, and the team hadn’t just had trouble adapting in Game Seven. Look at Game Two, where the players kept doing the same things over and over. I’m not saying Boudreau doesn’t recognize when changes need to be made, just that it seems like the team takes longer to adjust than it should.
And with regards to the record of Stanley Cup Finalists in the following year, isn’t it a little ironic for you to shoot down the relevance of stats when they don’t support your thesis?
It’s not an issue of whether they support my position, it’s a matter of whether they mean anything. There are dozens of factors that go in to whether or not a team wins in the playoffs: player quality, team chemistry, who is one hot and cold streaks, goaltender performance, special teams performance, fatigue, coaching ability, home ice advantage, strength of opponent, matchup with opponent, injuries, etc. The only way to determine whether or not past experience has an effect, statistically speaking, is to derive a regression model that isolates the effects of all of the factors that impact how successful a team is, control for past playoff success, and see what its impact is and if it’s statistically significant. Correlation does not equal causation.
uh oh..
you made me break out the comic again.
by Natty Bumppo on Apr 29, 2009 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions 7 recs
i’ve gotten more combined “recs” for that comic than for anything i’ve actually written..
by Natty Bumppo on Apr 29, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Just imagine how Rec’d the actual author is? My god…
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 29, 2009 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions
credit is due to XKCD.com.
i make the mistake of assuming everyone already knows XKCD by now.
by Natty Bumppo on Apr 29, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions
My take.
1. Goaltending: Still not quite sure what we’ve got in Varly. He was great against the Rangers, but let’s face it, the Rangers will make a lot of guys look great. MAF is in the pretty good to good category, with flashes above and below that. On balance, I’d have to give the edge to the Pens here. It might turn out that Varly is Dryden v.2…but he might just stink up the joint, too.
2. Defense: Mike “Funny, You Don’t Look Fluish” Green gets a bit of time to heal. Let’s hope he does it fast. The Pens D-Corps is suspect; and, frankly, for most of the season, so were the Caps. Erskine and Juice played nicely against the Rags. We’ll see how they do against the amped up speed of the Pens. If Green is healthy, I’ll give the edge to the Caps here.
3. Offense: I think the Caps have more depth in terms of fancy talent, the Pens have a better capacity to score dirty goals. This one is a tossup, I think.
4. PK/PP: slight edge to the Caps, if Green is healthy.
5. Coaching: Edge to the Pens. BB has not set my world on fire the last few months. Pronounced BYLEZ-mah has had his team rolling.
6. Intangibles: Edge to the Pens based on history, experience and recent white-hotness.
Overall, I think the Pens are the favorites here. Which suits me fine.
Pretty good
Good assesment from a Pens fan…the other post I saw that was similar said centers to the pens but he likes your 3/4 centers…Stall has been a machine lately and although I am not sold on him totally (especially finishing ability) our 3rd line was with out a doubt our best line the last few months and into the playoffs, They play a similar style to Dubs, Avery and Antropov without as much goal scoring touch…although Kennedy and Stall can score in Waves. Good Luck Against the Pens…this may be my last post because as soon as the series starts it is a war.
by black&goldtilldead&cold on Apr 29, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions
5. Coaching: Edge to the Pens. BB has not set my world on fire the last few months. Pronounced BYLEZ-mah has had his team rolling.
Blysma is experiencing a bit of the same effect that Boudreau did last year, no doubt. Still not sure I’m willing to turn on my un-wavering support for Coach Gabby though—and I still believe he’s able to get this team up for anything that may come along in the playoffs. Was it not an extremely gutsy call to put #40 in net to start game 2? Yes. Boudreau essentially put his ass on the line by doing that. As long as we still have a coach willing to think in a “team comes first” mode (and not a “will this cost me my job” mode), I gotta support Boudreau.
At the very least, think you gotta call this category a wash
by PaintDrinkingPete on Apr 29, 2009 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions
BB's comment that he hadn't talked to Varly since Game 1
Had me cracking up. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is knowing when not doing anything is the right thing to do. If the kid’s playing stellar just keep quiet and let him play. Great coaching move, IMO.
Can we here at Japers’ start our own Conn Smythe list because Puck Daddy not including Varly is almost criminal.
It also leaves off Cam Ward, so if it’s criminal, it’s just criminally stupid.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Puckdaddy hasbecome a complete joke since about March.always been a complete joke.
Fixed
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida
|
51 | 24 | 16 | 11 | 59 |
|
Washington
|
52 | 27 | 21 | 4 | 58 |
|
Winnipeg
|
54 | 24 | 24 | 6 | 54 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
51 | 23 | 23 | 5 | 51 |
|
Carolina
|
54 | 20 | 25 | 9 | 49 |
(updated 2.7.2012 at 3:17 AM EST)
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