Closing the Book on Game Seven
by J.P. on May 14, 2009 2:29 PM EDT
66 comments
Question: Why is it that the team's final salute to the fans would up being more moving than even the celebration after David Steckel's Game 6 winner?Answer: Great question. It's something like the reason that dramas earn more Oscars than buddy comedies, that Wagner weighs a few more ounces than the Marriage of Figaro, that as much as you love PTI it's still not Outside the Lines, that you remember Shoeless Joe disappearing into the cornfields more than you do his arrival.
Steckel's goal, in my head, is still just a Twitter feed, 140 dashed-off characters of red shirts and white smiles with sloppy punctuation and ha-ha abbreviations. The salute is a series of stills: the team waiting for Ovechkin to complete the handshake line. Ovechkin slowly heading toward them, helmet off, and then raising his stick. His teammates responding in kind, slowly clapping. - DC Sports Bog
Note: "Real" content will return soon enough, fret not...
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Oh, this is going to be a long summer.
by :hsughrofl: on May 14, 2009 2:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
So.........
..who has the best chance of knocking off Pittsburgh in the ECF? Boston or Carolina? Does anyone see Pittsburgh being stopped at all? Are they destined for the Stanley Cup? I hope not.
by killianskid34 on May 14, 2009 2:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think either the Canes or B’s could give the Pens a hell of a tough fight, probably the B’s moreso.
Don’t underestimate what this series may have taken out of Pittsburgh – it was more physically demanding and played closer than the B’s/Canes has been (then again, if the B’s complete their comeback tonight, they too may be quite drained).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on May 14, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hope to hell the Bruins come out, because I don’t see the Pens beating them. /shrug, who knows.
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
by Whiter Mage on May 14, 2009 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Looking forward to seeing Chara decap' Cindy
uhh...uhh...uhh...
by hotdog88gt on May 14, 2009 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don’t underestimate what this series may have taken out of Pittsburgh – it was more physically demanding and played closer than the B’s/Canes has been (then again, if the B’s complete their comeback tonight, they too may be quite drained).
I agree. Malkin looks a little slow and the bumps and bruises everyone must have accumulated are in my mind. I’ve heard Pittsburgh defensemen are wearing a frightening amount of ice-packs after games. Shoot, I thought Letang was done for after he went hard into the boards and popped his shoulder out, but he barely missed a beat.
From the Pens perspective, it really would have been great to clinch Monday night at home in overtime and not only have to play on Wednesday but get basically a full week of rest, that would have been a huge leg up on whoever wins tonight. But it’s only one night, nothing substantial in a long tournament.
by Hooks Orpik on May 14, 2009 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it’s not like there was a lot of competition last night. they should be well rested still.
by sincitycapsfan on May 14, 2009 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think they both present good challenges. If we’re honestly as hurt as they say we are, I’d say the Pens are lucky to have escaped this in 7 games.
by DrinkingPartner on May 14, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
IF we are as hurt as they say we are. I don’t want these injuries to turn into excuses because that would possibly make the Caps look like a bunch of sore losers, just saying. On the other hand, Pittsburgh did seem to be flying out there, and our guys seemed slow,which is why the Caps were taking so many damn penalties, creating a snowball effect and making things much worse.
by bigmac1124 on May 14, 2009 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don’t be surprised if the “Semin broken foot” has been misreported.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on May 14, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That was reported by the Russians.
by gfcaps fan on May 14, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hit send too fast.
Unless broken means something else in Russian.
by gfcaps fan on May 14, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I heard Poti had a broken foot, but I didn’t hear that Semin had a broken foot. Hmmm. Makes me think of the injury he sustained against the Blues this year. Did anyone else think he looked soft after that?
by bigmac1124 on May 14, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Can we just get a thread to deal with the potential announced injuries we’re going to hear?
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
by Whiter Mage on May 14, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Feel free to use my new fanpost for this, although the topic is slightly different
by Gould Old Days on May 14, 2009 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s on to the Conference Finals for Evgeni Malkin and Sergei Gonchar, away to his country house near Moscow for Alex Ovechkin, into the doctor’s hands for Alex Semin and what he said was a broken foot. As for rookie goalie Simeon Varlamov, he will have to wait until Friday to find out whether it’s the Motherland or Hershey, Pa., that is next on his itinerary.
by gfcaps fan on May 14, 2009 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
crap
somehow that posted before I could put in the reference:
by gfcaps fan on May 14, 2009 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, that’s the report I was referring to.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on May 14, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
“..and what he said was a broken foot.” Ha I like how it states Semin as the source and not the trainer, BB, or anyone in the organizaion.
by bigmac1124 on May 14, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not excuses, but if we’re as hurt as we say we are, and the Pens got taken to 7 games playing a team like that, I’d say they have something to worry about come Bos/Car.
by DrinkingPartner on May 14, 2009 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Bruins can more than match the Penguins’ work ethic, the Hurricanes are at least a match in terms of team speed and are more balanced. I suspect the Bruins would be the tougher test, if only because they will be more physical And, they seem to have weathered their storm. There is also the fact that Crosby lit up the Hurricanes for seven points in four games.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on May 14, 2009 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think the Bs would take care of that Crosby hanging out in front of the net thing that we couldn’t seem to solve.
by boutros23 on May 14, 2009 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Steinberg gets it. For a silly as he can be, and usually is, the above is eloquent and totally moving.
It was a great year. I had a great time as a first year season ticket holder. Yet the loss last night was really hard to take. It’s going take a while to get over it.
by gfcaps fan on May 14, 2009 3:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I wish I could say that you get used to the pain, but you don’t. Having watched hardcore since ‘92, this never feels any less terrible. It’s almost worse this year, because I thought we’d finally break through. Oh well.
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
by Whiter Mage on May 14, 2009 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I didn’t say it was my first year as a fan. Everything was just so much more intense this year. I didn’t go to any of the playoff games last year, so the pain was different, and expectations then were lower.
When I bought my tickets, I figured I’d sell at least a third of them, partially to recoup part of the cost and partially because of the time commitment. I think I ended up selling six games and gave away a couple. The rest were split among the family. The team was so exciting, I just had to be there.
by gfcaps fan on May 14, 2009 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wasn’t insinuating you were. I was more saying that for everyone. I want season tickets so bad, and I’m terrified of how much more intense a fan I’ll be.
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
by Whiter Mage on May 14, 2009 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Note: “Real” content will return soon enough, fret not…
Y’all are entitled to a break — take it.
by Gould Old Days on May 14, 2009 3:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What do you think today is? :)
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on May 14, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My first productive day in a month?
by Gould Old Days on May 14, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don’t get me wrong…I agree it’s important to celebrate a great season with a standing ovation after the game, of which I was a part of. But, I am beginning to wonder when Washington sports teams will escape from such a losing culture in which its fans deem it acceptable to lay an absolute egg during a game 7 at home?
Yes, we improved from last season. But we were the number 2 seed and Pitt was the number 4. We were up 2-0 and were expected to win at that point. In what other city would it be acceptable to blow a lead like that against a lower seed, and then get blown out at home with a gutless effort in game 7? New York? No. Philly? No. Boston? Would Boston cheer for the Red Sox or Celtics if they choked in the same way we did?
While I may be out of line, I feel the need to vent my frustration on the DC Sports Culture and how it breeds losers, myself included. I know good things are in the works (at least I hope), but they cannot manifest themselves fast enough.
by ninefttall on May 14, 2009 3:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
But we were the number 2 seed and Pitt was the number 4.
That, to me, doesn’t mean a damn thing. Look at records from PIT’s coaching change on and the Pens had the best record in hockey. How good a team was in December is far less relevant than how they were in March (and obviously April and May).
As for this “D.C. Sports Culture” stuff – are you blaming the local media? The fans? The teams? I’m not sure I follow, and I’m not sure I know of anyone who’s “ok” with the game the Caps played last night, but if showing respect and appreciation for the overall effort over nearly 100 games of hockey makes me a loser, I suppose I am.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on May 14, 2009 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The “DC Sports Culture” I am referring to is one that has seemingly come to grips with being good, but never good enough. I suppose we are all to blame – teams for underperforming, fans for blindly supporting. I’m a Skins/Caps/Wizards/O’s fan, and was a tad too young to understand the importance of the Skins’ super bowls, so I have never really been a part of a championship team.
I didn’t mean to point blame or anything. I simply needed a venue to vent my frustrations, disappointments, and now depression, and Japers seemed like the only place to turn to today. I am starving for a championship and I truly though this was the year, and I am just sad right now more than anything.
by ninefttall on May 14, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What you call “blindly supporting” others might call “loyalty.”
To me, the collective past couple of decades of suckitude of area teams is so much more coincidental than it is connected by some over-arching culture – Peter Angelos and Dan Snyder are polar opposites of Ted Leonsis (and Abe’s on his own planet).
But I hear you. I’m hungry too.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on May 14, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
See this to further understand the depth of my depression.
by ninefttall on May 14, 2009 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think the context is important too. This is still a very young team. We’re just embarking on year 2 of what will hopefully be a very long playoff run with a common core of players — some of which (Alzner, Carlson) aren’t even here yet.
In three years the expectations will be different. And if the same thing happens then, I think the response may not be as forgiving.
by Gould Old Days on May 14, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hear, hear. I read criticism of defense in their early 20s and it really pisses me off.
uhh...uhh...uhh...
by hotdog88gt on May 14, 2009 8:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think you missed the point of the ovation. It wasn’t for the egg that they obviously laid. It was for the last 7months of effort and enjoyment. We appreciated the ride, eventhough we didnt’ end up where we wanted. No one had to explain to them that we wanted more, everyone knows that. But it was important for us to show we still love our team.
by gnuf on May 14, 2009 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No I think they understand.
I guess D’oh and ninefftall can get together on the Caps should have walked of in silence train while the rest of us can clap to appreciate a solid fun season\playoffs while sending them into the off season.
by zephyr on May 14, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
On that note, has anyone ever gone out to Kettler on breakdown day?
by gfcaps fan on May 14, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not sure if you’d want to, really. Everyone’s depressed.
by DrinkingPartner on May 14, 2009 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Can we attend? I thought it’d be closed to the public and open to the media. Does the entire team show up at the same time and get released at the same time?
by Nicci on May 14, 2009 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was just wondering in terms of maybe seeing anyone on their way out and thanking them for a great year.
by gfcaps fan on May 14, 2009 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’d love to do that. When is the breakdown day and what time does it start and usually last? I wouldn’t mind standing outside for a few hours to see who I can catch on their way out.
by Nicci on May 14, 2009 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My question, and maybe this has been covered elsewhere, is who would you like to see win the whole thing? Obviously I can’t root for Pitt or Car (though of the two, the latter at least helps with the SE gaining a bit of cred). Chicago is probably my “favorite” team left in it — but I kind of feel like the whole ‘crappy team made good by the infusion of talented youth and a couple of good vets’ is our deal, and that I wouldn’t feel right if some other team beat us to the punch with that. That’s true to an extent with Boston, too, plus that town has already had an embarassment of sports success. I guess, then, I’m rooting for the establishment on this one: the winner of the Ducks – Wings series (which I’d prefer to be the Ducks, but meh….).
by #Six on May 14, 2009 6:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I feel like it’s a lose-lose-lose-lose-lose-lose (that’s 6, right?) situation…but if I had to choose it’d be Chicago, partly because they’re the most likeable team left, but mostly because they’ve suffered the longest (haven’t won since ’61) and I can understand their pain.
by ninefttall on May 14, 2009 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pens for the Cup
Well, I want the Pens to win the Cup. It would make our loss to them all the better, being second to the winner (who we made work hard for their truimph in this series), rather than being a mere rung below the Finals and Cup contenders.
by localhead on May 14, 2009 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That’s always the question. Do you want the team that beat you to keep advancing? I don’t have that mentality because I know the Caps CAN beat anyone who is left so there is no great sugary feeling if the Pens win. Hell, I’d love if they got swept next round.
by zephyr on May 14, 2009 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, of course I wanted the Pens to get destroyed by US (I was at the February 22 game) but as the series progressed and we hung in there and won Game 6, I started to gain some perspective and appreciate how well the Pens can play, especially Crosby. Then when I read what Crosby and Ovechkin said to each other at center ice (handshake line), I felt… umm… both really proud of and sad for Ovechkin. So, I guess to sum it up, Ovechkin’s wishing Crosby luck and telling him to “win the Stanley Cup” seemed to be the right attitude to have.
by localhead on May 14, 2009 7:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh, and yeah, I was in 112-E at Game 2, so that’s probably when I started to really think about how good both of them can play. What a fun show that was.
by localhead on May 14, 2009 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That’s the right attitude for a player. For a fan, or just me personally, against a supposed rival team the thought is rather to see them get moved to Hartford then win the cup.
Unless you are one of those weird people that are a fan of both teams. =]
by zephyr on May 14, 2009 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am a new fan of the Capitals. I went to my first NHL game ever on February 7th and was immediately hooked. I have since then watched every game on TV except for 7 games which I attended, four in the regular season, and R1-G1, R2-G1 & R2-G2, which about made my wallet absolutely bulimic (I am a HS English teacher). The Capitals don’t just play great hockey, with both highlight reels and secondary surprises, they also make it feel great for everybody.
And this includes the folks here on Japers’ Rink and the other blogs who also make it even greater with discussions and links and shared stats, all of which have enabled me to absorb and comprehend the rules and subtleties of the game at a pace far greater than I could ever have dreamed was possible. And I’m still learning. Three months ago I couldn’t for the life of me understand icing, offsides, and HHTs, and what “dump and chase” meant… all of that…thankfully, I’m a good reader which enabled me to spare my Caps-lovin’ friends the agony of having to answer the zillion questions I had, or else they might have not liked me going to games with them.
I never was a fan of any major sports franchise before, and the Capitals are it for me. I am actually a native of San Jose, CA, but have lived here in DC for about 15 years and while I would love to go to a Shark game or two next time I visit my folks back in CA over the winter holidays, I don’t expect that I would become a fan of the Sharks or any other team in the foreseeable future. I do imagine, though, that now the Caps have gotten me hooked on hockey as a sport for the epicurean spectator, I will probably come to admire certain teams (the Canes) and despise others (the Ducks), and that also goes for players.
I certainly will keep my eyes on the nets for what Crosby and Malkin and the rest of the Pens are up to, both in the next round, and in the future, especially because I’ve gotten to know their skating and playing style and am now already eagerly looking forward to next season when they meet up with us again. In contrast, I can’t say I care much for keeping up with how the Rangers do next season, except maybe to track just how good Lundqvist really is, and maybe to check up on Avery’s latest antics. That aside, Ovechkin, Semin, Varlamov, and the rest of the team are the RED APOSTLES I expect to follow for a good long time.
Meanwhile: the Pens and the Canes. Awesome, our two biggest rivals (as far as I can tell) are gonna deke it out and we will certainly get to learn more about how these teams really play so we know what to expect next season. Curious how the Pens fare with Cam Ward in goal and how the Canes cope with the Pens’ aggression. I’m gonna watch this show.
by localhead on May 15, 2009 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Yeah I’ll be watching the Pens Canes as well. Probably not too closely but I’ll have it on.
Welcome aboard! Being a true hockey fan is the greatest thing and the hardest thing in life all at once sometimes.
The Sharks games are a lot of fun. I got a lot of attention there wearing a Caps jersey to a Sharks\Stars game too, hehe.
by zephyr on May 15, 2009 12:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Being a true hockey fan is the greatest thing and the hardest thing in life all at once sometimes.
First and most important lesson of my virgin season as a fan. Fa shizzle. I assigned my students independent work all day today, because I was too numb.
I will have a Caps jersey by Opening Night. An authentic stitched jersey. That’s the only friggin’ good thing about the end of the Caps’ season: I’ll be able to order it sooner than I thought, because there won’t be any more games to bleed my wallet red for a while now. And yeah, I would wear it this Christmas at San Jose. From what my friends there tell me, they like us Caps. You concur?
Thanks for the welcome aboard!
by localhead on May 15, 2009 12:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was hoping more for Boston/Pittsburgh only because I thought Chara would decapitate Crosby if he got in front of the net. I was looking forward to that. :D
by killianskid34 on May 15, 2009 6:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I was looking forward to Lucic smashing some Pens, myself.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on May 15, 2009 7:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Scott Walker might take care of that.
by Scott in Shaw on May 15, 2009 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m rooting for the Hawks, I guess. If they lose, the Bruins. If they lose, the Wings. I’m not really in a comfortable situation.
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
by Whiter Mage on May 14, 2009 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Judging by that interview, Gonchar, understandably so, still seemed really upset with Ovechkin. I wonder how that plays for the upcoming Olympics.
Supporter of the Sergei Berezin "Give and Go" - You give me puck, then you go to hell
by bkblades on May 14, 2009 6:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I don’t know but I still don’t get all the controversy over that. Gonchar shouldn’t have tried to slip a check and leave his legs where his body was.
by zephyr on May 14, 2009 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This. Almost every knee on knee contact I see is incidental, and the direct result of a player trying to sleep a check. Gonchar even went further more out of his way to try and slip it, and stretched his leg out. To make a hit like that, legally, Ovechkins leg HAS to be like that to avoid striding into the guy. You’re trained to put one knee between the guy’s legs, and one on the outside of him. Once the guy you’re hitting sees you coming, if he wants to avoid you, he has to move his legs first. Gonch avoided the upper body, but took the brunt of the hit – the leg.
I don’t see at all where anyone could conceivably believe where that hit was dirty.
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
by Whiter Mage on May 14, 2009 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pensburgh Bans Posting Contrary Opinions
This exchange got me banned from Pensburgh:
http://www.pensburgh.com/2009/5/13/874771/game-7-recap-pens-dismantle-the#comments
Start at
Sometimes there is justice
Once in a while in this crazy world where wrong is called right and up is called down there is justice.
The arrogant, whining Capitals-from the front office to their left wing who gets away with charging star players on opposing teams on a regular basis- got their just comeuppance when the Penguins crushed and humiliated the team that was too busy congratulating themselves for "slaying the dragon" to bother showing up for the final game of their series.
by Boo-hoo-hoo-dreau on May 14, 2009 10:12 AM PDT
and go from there
by LangwayWasTheKing on May 15, 2009 10:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Please don’t bring that crap over here. I couldn’t care less, won’t read it, and am sure that if Frank and Hooks banned you, you probably deserved it. So if you came here looking for sympathy or something else, you’re out of luck.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on May 16, 2009 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Obviously I don’t write at Pensburgh, but I can just about guarantee you that you weren’t banned for having an opposing opinion, but for insulting members of their community. The guys over there run a good blog and I’ve commented many times without anyone getting upset.
by David M. Getz on May 16, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Exactly what "crap" and "insults" to which do you refer? Mine or theirs?
So when some Pburgh blogger calls me a “looser” and our coach and organization arrogant and whiny, that’s not insulting, nor a blogger using the blogname “Boo-hoo-hoo-dreau” pointing out that they “crushed and humiliated” the Caps?
So rather than point out that Pens fans ingraciously shoot the wounded when they win & act like fools in other arenas, which might explain other cities’ fans hatred of their team,
I guess should have congratulated them on their win using the blog name “Crospussy87” (see “Boo-hoo-hoo-dreau”), and that would have been okay?
Looks like they can dish it out but not take it (or spell) to me.
by LangwayWasTheKing on May 17, 2009 12:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
You’re on their turf when you post there. Long story short, don’t piss on your hosts, no matter how bad they piss on you. And if you don’t like what they’re doing, you have to take it or let it go, or get removed.
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
by Whiter Mage on May 19, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
22 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 30 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
19 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 23 |
|
Atlanta
|
18 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 22 |
|
Florida
|
20 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 20 |
|
Carolina
|
21 | 4 | 12 | 5 | 13 |
(updated 11.21.2009 at 12:53 AM EST)
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
