Recap - Penguins 3, Capitals 2
by David Getz on May 7, 2009 7:00 AM EDT
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Print[AP Recap - Game Summary - Event Summary - WashingtonCaps.com Postgame]
Technically speaking, Simeon Varlamov didn't steal last night's game for the Capitals - but it would have been hard for him to have been closer.
Make no mistake about it: the Capitals did not deserve to win last night's game after spending the vast majority of it - overtime included - chasing the Penguins around their own zone, a fact that shows up in the game's lopsided statistics. The Capitals were outshot 42-23, out-hit 44-31, and had two powerplays to the Penguins seven, a statistic that is in and of itself indicative of just how lopsided the flow of play was and how much of the game was spent in the Capitals' end.
To certain extent tonight's result is not only unsurprising, but perhaps even expected. After all, everyone knew this was going to be a tight, hard-fought series and everyone knew there was a very small chance of a sweep for either team. Add that to the desperate situation the Penguins were in and the home ice advantage, and it would have been awfully difficult for the Capitals to come out on top.
Some additional thoughts on last night's game:
- First things first: Mo, when you're in the slot you either need to commit to blocking a shot or get out of the way.
- In the basic box score Milan Jurcina's night wasn't great - a penalty and a minus-one rating - but the big man was the Capitals most steady defender in their own end and finished the night with eight hits and three blocked shots.
- Speaking of Jurcina, he played the two-on-one that became the Penguins first goal perfectly and was victimized by a horribly unlucky bounce. Of course, if Tom Poti hadn't been hanging around the Penguins zone as the result of an ill-timed pinch, that play doesn't happen in the first place.
- Tyler Sloan has looked like a legitimate NHL defenseman this series, including last night's play to keep pace with Evgeni Malkin and harass him just enough to prevent him from making the move he wanted on that breakaway at the end of the first.
- That fourth line just ain't quite the same with Michael Nylander in for Eric Fehr, is it?
- On the night the Capitals were credited with three giveaways. I know Mellon Arena has the reputation as being a place that doesn't assign that many of them, but that's ridiculous.
- Call them soft calls if you want, but the slashing penalties on Mike Green and Simeon Varlamov were unnecessary and, particularly in Green's case, downright stupid.
- At one point during a discussion of Varlamov and Michal Neuvirth, Daryl Reaugh referred to the Capitals as being "deep at the position [of goaltender]". I'm not sure that's true yet - but it was sure nice to hear.
- Simeon Varlamov should not handle the puck other than when he's preventing it from going into the net. Ever.
The Capitals had to have headed into Pittsburgh with the goal of taking at least one of the two games and coming home in a position to end the series. That goal is still within reach. There's just a little less of a margin for error now.
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If there’s any silver lining to last night, its that the Caps were completely dominated most of the game, and STILL came thisclose to stealing it. That actually makes me feel fairly confident.
I think we’ve taken their best punch.
Ron and Fez Noon to Three
by YvonLabresMoustache on May 7, 2009 7:18 AM EDT reply actions
Another spot on summary
Agree with your summary, but think you’re quite generous. Their first goal resulted from a crazy series of misshaps, and average goaltending night would have seen them lose 4-1 in regulation, maybe 4-0 since they wouldn’t have had the motivation on the last PP.
Green continues his terrible post season.
The whole team struggles to get the puck out of the zone. At times it looked like the Pens were on a perpetual PP.
How bad a sign is it when Victor Kozlov plays an a typical game for him and is the Caps best fwd in their top two lines?
As good as the third line has been, it’s time to get Laich moved up and Flash moved… to the AHL? He is absolutely awful, and his inability to win a single battle on the boards led to the Pens 2d goal, as well as being a key contributor to the Caps inability to maintain any possession.
On the plus side, it’s a pretty short list led by Varly, Juice, Sloan (grading on the AHL curve, he’s looked good for a depth guy).
I really hope the Caps can figure out how to hang on to the puck and this series, b/c I cannot help but look at the Crosby and Geno-led Pens and shudder at good they’re bound to be for the next decade-plus. Yikes!
I used to think that JP and others were too hard on Flash. I don’t anymore. He has no business being on the top PP unit.
Anybody know why there wasn’t a forward recalled from Hershey to play instead of Nylander?
"Where there is beer, there is hope." - me
He has no business on the ice. He’s schooled every time he touches the puck. When he tries to play like Semin they dump him on his ass, when he tries to hit like…a hockey player, he dumps himself on his ass. When he’s not on his ass he’s, behind the play.
we have 3 call ups…F-ing use them and get rid of this liability.
Maybe use Green at forward to get him going and use Alzner on D?
by red army line on May 8, 2009 12:41 AM EDT up reply actions
yeah, i didn’t like flash on the 2nd line to begin with, but it’ll be hard to mess with the 3rd line now that it has proven to be so cohesive… there’s no question on the PP, though. ask anyone who watches games with me, every single time i let out a “why the ^#$%# is flash on the first PP unit?!”
i didn’t find the third line to be all that effective this game. Though some of that comes from having them constantly kill penalties.
I don’t want to complain about the officiating, but man. If they’re going to call ticky tack calls all night, at least keep it consistent. The Green and Varly slashes were flat out cheap.
Though some of that comes from having them constantly kill penalties.
Which reminds me, the forward who took the most shifts last night? Dave Steckel.
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.
Flash didn’t start that PP that tied the game late. Shocker. We scored on a scrum near the net. Flash was on the final PK in regulation. Shocker. Malkin scores.
Yes. This Flash you talk about. He is very very bad.
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And his positioning up-ice on that turned into the Fedotenko 2-on-1 goal was awful, leading to said 2-on-1.
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Mike Green is non-existent and we got what we deserved. But I ask myself whose position I’d rather be in. Not hard to answer that question.
gotta say, the playoff demise of mike green has me very worried, and i’m not usually a worrier. this is MIKE GREEN, probably our second most important player (and maybe our first?) during the regular season this year. without green playing up to his own standards, we are no longer the same team. the saving grace so far has been varlamov stepping in to pick up some of the slack.
by Natty Bumppo on May 7, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Don’t forget that Green saved a goal when the score was tied (I forget if it was in the second or third) with good positioning and stickwork in our crease. Varly was out of position and if not for Green the Pens’ forward (Kunitz or Guerin) would have had an easy tap in.
But yea, Green is not Green right now.
“I couldn’t even see it,” Morrisonn said. “It was going through two guys and I think maybe if that doesn’t hit someone Varly would be in position, but it happened so quick and it’s just an unfortunate break.”
“Someone”?
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who knows. i can’t blame Morrisonn, but I’m tired of all of the goals going in off players. Blocking shots is fine, but sometimes it does more harm than good. The catch 22 of it all.
No. Blame Mo. He wasn’t tied up with anyone. He was all alone. DMG is right. As a dman you NEED to block it completely or move the fuck out of the way and let the goalie see it. With as hot as Varlamov is I would let him see every clean shot like that and just look for the guys going for the rebound and take them out. Varlamov isn’t letting first shots beat him clean if he can see them. Dumb play. He couldn’t have tipped that more perfectly if he had wanted to.
Yes. Kris Letang isn’t beating Varly unscreened from the top of the zone.
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Mo was horrible last night, the lazy block into a goal just cemented it. He got worked in the first, and that led to his weak clears/passes/blocked shot.
He hasn’t been bad this post season, but to me he seemed to be our worst player last night. That’s bad considering how bad Green has been, and Nylander was playing.
by Love and Osechkin on May 7, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions
i can’t believe they will have the same effort twice.
No one but a fool would expect them to rattle off 15 straight to end the playoffs. I figured a loss would come at some point.
They hung in the game, had a chance to win late, and Varly played great again.
I’m not happy with the result, but the question is whether or not they let the Pens wake up too much. There were a few guys sitting on the bench in this game for the Pens shaking their heads after every ridiculous save, I just hope that continues.
“Simeon Varlamov should not handle the puck other than when he’s preventing it from going into the net. Ever.”
Hasek wasn’t exactly smooth with stick play when he came over from the Czech Republic, but he turned out okay. All of the Euro keeps seem to have trouble with using their stick more during their first few years in the league.
tictactoehockey.blogspot.com
by turnituptoeleven on May 7, 2009 7:58 AM EDT reply actions
give him at least a few seasons and when he can speak english a bit more than play it or leave it, and then we can revisit this issue. But for now, don’t play it.
Problem is when he doesn’t play it they get to establish their forecheck and we have been TERRIBLE clearing our own zone. ES and PK.
Yep. Someone needs to play the puck and get it out. It sure as hell doesn’t look like our D-Men want to be that someone.
by Scott in Shaw on May 7, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions
"Simeon Varlamov should not handle the puck other than when he’s preventing it from going into the net. Ever."
You could say the same thing about MAF after last night, too. :)
Deserved and expected
The silver lining last night is that the Caps played, almost to a man, execrable hockey (huge exception for 40, and smaller ones for 23, 39, 89, and a few others) and were almost able to steal a game. However, they didn’t, and so we’ll just have to take that for what it’s worth as a moral victory (nothing at all) and move on.
This feels almost like the exact reverse of the last series, where if you recall, one team was carrying the majority of the play and dominating for large stretches and yet was still down 2-1 thanks to the tremendous play of the other side’s goaltender. The boys are going to have to really pull it together on Friday; another effort like that and you’re (as others have said) begging for a 4-0 loss and a Game 5 less than 24 hours later with the Penguins having all of the momentum in the world.
- Mike Green’s postseason in a nutshell — joining the rush for what would have been a 3-on-2 and having his stick break receiving a pass at the offensive blue line.
- Emrick and Reaugh were amazed that the referees actually called a penalty on Pittsburgh late in the 3rd. Reaugh assumed it was on the Caps for at least 5 seconds after the Pens player was actually seated in the box.
- The Caps were one ridiculous misplay and one bounce-off-the-goaltender’s-backside away from being shut out in this game. That’s nowhere near good enough.
- That 31 hit total seems awfully generous. Of particular concern is Ovechkin not finishing checks in the offensive zone — we all know the team feeds off of his physical play. When you start seeing him coast by guys behind the opposition’s net, you can stick a fork in the Caps. Do they all have Mike Green’s “flu”?
by antifun on May 7, 2009 8:27 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Comment on Reaugh. I was also surprised the call was on the Pens. Not because I didn’t see the interference and screamed my head off about it, but because Malkin HAD the puck when it happened, and the whistle didn’t blow until he had just about gotten a shot off. The whistle on that play was either washed out by the crowd noise (not that loud at that point) or VERY, almost DANGEROUSLY late.
Again, the Interference was blatant, but what’s more concerning is the quality of booth-dudes Vs. chose to put in this game.
I think everyone assumed it was against the caps. I wouldn’t be surprised if Semin wasn’t knocking at the door surprised that it wasn’t opening. Was Semin even on the ice?
he had some slick plays (2 or 3) that got lost. He’s getting pick pocketed a lot more than I’m used to seeing and he doesn’t have the same stealing abilities he had in the regular season, But there were a few opportunities he created that got shut down by fleury.
Doesn’t he look lost on the ice though? Something tells me he’s tiring, and that those long shift times J.P. pointed out are biting him in the ass. Same goes for Green, and Ovechkin to a lesser extent.
Yeah, maybe. Or Orpik stung him with one of the several slashes he has laid on him this series. All unpenalized. The one late in Game 2 where Semin left the ice shaking his hand is the one that I think did it. Semin had nothing on the few shot attempts he took last night.
Semin’s a stick penalty magnet. He’ll get called on them by reputation. I think the side effect of it is that they’ll call it on him less.
Ref: 28 on the caps, 2 minutes for the Semin Special.
Time Keeper: You want the Hook, Slash, Trip or Interference.
Ref: Surprise me, they’re all taste the same in the end
I saw the Pens playing desperate, and believe the Caps’ turnovers and penalties were the killer last night. It’s a beautiful thing that the Pens needed OT to win with all the chances they had. Perhaps that was Pittsburgh’s best punch.
Anyone think AO changed sticks last night? He sure had problems shooting a few pucks.
uhh...uhh...uhh...
But how many times can we expect Varly to play as good as he did last night? Sure, he’s solid enough to save what he has to – but last night wasn’t “save what he has to” type of performance.
And (knock wood)… Malkin better not be waking up.
how many?
I don’t know. I didn’t think he would play this great for 2 or 3 games in a row and he has.
I think it is reasonable to expect him to at least keep them in the game and not squander them.
This team still comes down to offense. They’re built for offense, they’re built to score, not so much to defend, and if Varlamov is having to steal games night in and night out (and he has tried hard to do so in Game 2 and 3), the team shouldn’t win consistently.
Caps linchpin...Fehr???
No, not really, I won’t make that arguement, though it would have helped on the 4th line last night. I found myself yelling at the TV louder at Nylander last night than other points in the game. Needless to say the Caps could get a consistent fast breakout at any point last night, but Nylander’s inability to catch a pass on the boards at time or get the puck deep seemed to be just a waste of a shift or allow the Pens have constant pressure in our zone. Fehr can’t come back soon enough.
Wether you think you can or you can't, you're right! - Stewie Griffin
Btw, did you see Nylander test his stick (to see if it was broken) and then just fall over infront of the Penguins bench?
I did see that, actually. Pretty funny.
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It broke. He put all his weight on it testing it.
by DrinkingPartner on May 7, 2009 8:44 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m not sure I’d expect Fehr back too soon. It may be time for someone to make that cross-state drive for tomorrow night.
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I agree, was gonna put that in the post but just held out hope for Fehr. Who do you think would be the first one up to take that call?
Wether you think you can or you can't, you're right! - Stewie Griffin
it’s aucoin and it isn’t even close.
He brings major jump this team really needs at a time like this. He isn’t the best player, but he brings energy the team desperately needs.
by Chimaera on May 7, 2009 8:50 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Maybe Green goes in at forward and Alzner at D??? Probably not.
by red army line on May 8, 2009 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions
BB's comments
kinda support my thoughts on Fehr. He said the injury he’s battling right now is one he’s had during this season.
I’ve said for a while that I think the disparity in ice time could be due to certain player’s ability to play for extended periods of time, either due to conditioning or injury. With what Fehr had to battle through the last few years, I wouldn’t be surprised if he might never be the type of forward who can play 20 min a night.
I would agree, Aucoin or Osala would be fantastic additions to the 4th line right now. 92 does not belong as a checking line winger.
Agree completely on Jurcina, that was a text book 1-2 play and I guess that bounce was karma for the bounce that led to the Ovechkin tally.
I was really surprised by the Varlamov penalty, normally he’s much more collected than that. I think either he was finally rattled by the mosh pit of Penguins in his grease/on his back (note to defense-men: when a Penguin enters your crease during the playoffs, he better be on his ass), or that he was trying to goad the Penguins player (don’t remember who it was) into a retaliation penalty a-la Sean Avery. Other than that, he played amazing.
The slash was weak, much much weaker than the goalie interference on Malkin would have been. You really can’t blame him for that when it looked like the refs were going to let everyone play in the crease.
I agree that the Caps have some silver lining about the game.
But isn’t that what the Pens had in games 1 and 2. They felt, according to quotes in the papers and on tv, that they were close and just had to fix a few things. A couple of lucky breaks and they could have been 1-1, or up 2-0. This is a tight series and until a team loses at home it will continue to be that way.
I also take my hat off to Varlamov, he was great last night. He almost stole that thing.
Success without honor is like an unseasoned dish, it will fill you up but it won't taste good. - Joe V. Paterno
Good point on Pothier, and yes, I think he could use a rest.
But for Alzner right now? Not sure about that.
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Ain’t no party like a Mark Ferner party ‘cause a Mark Ferner party don’t stop.
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 May 7, 2009 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions
They had to lose eventually
I still can’t believe they lost like that, though. They played passively all night, they just stood around and watched while Pittsburgh beat them to every loose puck. They looked tentative and fearful. The defensemen and centers couldn’t break the puck out, and on the occasions where they did, the forwards couldn’t gain the zone. With the exception of Varly, this was a full-on, three-zone suckfest.
Here are some adjustments that I’d like to see Bruce make:
Reduce Green’s minutes: I’d rather have Mike skating 20-22 and be fresh for his PP ice time than tiring himself out chasing Crosby around. Also, while you’re at it, tell Green to stop turning into the boards with the puck when he’s about to get hit in his own end. He has started doing this since his injury late in the season, and it totally negates his skating and puckhandling skills.
Replace those minutes by giving them to Juice: Juice has been our strongest and most consistent defender, even dating back to the Rangers series. His size and willingness to hit stood out in the positive column last night. He has been playing a simple game, and it has been paying off for him. I’ve always maintained that Juice, unlike Green, gets better with more ice time – now is the time to capitalize on that.
Demote Flash and replace his ice time both at even strength and on special teams with Laich, Clark and Steckel: This has two benefits, 1) it gets Flash and his total lack of intensity off the ice, 2) it puts some grit out on the ice to allow us to play dump and chase if the Pens clog the neutral zone.
Break Nyls’ legs so we can call someone (anyone) up from Hershey: Yesterday, I thought that professional pride might motivate Nyls to actually play up to his skill level. Man, was I wrong. I don’t know what happened to him, but he’s absolutely toast. I can’t tell if his skills have just eroded that much, or if he just doesn’t give a shit after having been benched for this long. Hey Michael – welcome to Buyoutville, Population: you.
Bring the forwards down a little lower on the breakout, or start using more stretch passes: Usually, when defensemen look lost in their own end, it’s not actually their fault, it’s because the forwards aren’t giving them a target to pass to, but you can’t see that on TV because of the framing of the shot. If the Pens are going to use an aggressive forecheck like they have, we either need to do a better job of supporting the D-men by giving them someone to pass to, or make them pay for their aggression by getting some odd-man rushes. A little of both wouldn’t hurt.
Play more dump and chase: As we have seen, the Pens goalie and defensemen will cough up the puck if pressured – so let’s put some pressure on them. Moreover, I’d like to see how Letang’s shoulder holds up to some repeated thrashing. Let’s use Clark to put some pressure on them.
Perform some Mr. Miyagi-like laying-on of hands on Feds’ arm: He wasn’t the same after going down last night. Without him, we’re screwed, because that means more ice time for Nylander.
Finally, play “Caps Hockey”: I don’t know what they were doing last night, but after they got the first goal, they sat back and tried to hold on for 58 minutes. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Caps play like that this year, and it made me scream with rage. That style is simply not going to work, because this team isn’t built to play that way successfully. If we play aggressively and turn this into a run-and-gun goaltending battle, we’ll clearly win. If we withdraw into a shell, the results will look much like last night.
by D'ohboy on May 7, 2009 8:57 AM EDT reply actions 11 recs
What about giving Greenie a break and playing Alzner? He’s obviously ailing or something, and could use the rest, esp. with back to back games coming up.
I still want Green out there on the PP. His willingness to pinch from the backside keeps teams’ PK honest.
SH we’ve been fine, despite the Pens PP looking good now. And in every pressure PK I’ve seen, it’s been Green and Poti out there.
by red army line on May 8, 2009 12:50 AM EDT up reply actions
So do Semin, Backstrom, and the other weak side forward.
by red army line on May 8, 2009 12:49 AM EDT up reply actions
I could see Alzner in for Pothier on Saturday (see above). But not for Green and not in Pittsburgh.
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Pothier has probably been the most comfortable on the puck among the defensemen this series, he doesn’t look tired to me. I wouldn’t want to take him out.
As for breaking Nyls legs I agree, but I don’t understand why they would feel the need to save the call-ups. I mean, they seem to have an unlimited number of emergency call-ups, so using free call-ups are not that big a deal. Just use one and bring up a fourth liner.
You only get a limited number of non-emergency call-ups, and we have already used at least one. If Nylander is healthy, you can’t call up a forward from Hershey on an emergency basis, because you’ve got a replacement right there.
I think the point meat was making is that you can’t take ’em with you (the call-ups, that is), and the odds of needing a non-emergency call-up after this are relatively slim – I mean, who would you sit on a non-injury basis?
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Good Point. If that’s the case, who do you call up?
Personally, I’d take Bourque and Aucoin. Yeah, they’re small, but they skate their asses off, and Bourque in particular has shown a willingness to hit.
The problem is, that’s a massive hole in the Hershey lineup.
Would Flash still have to clear waivers to be sent down?
Yes on Flash and waivers, and I think we’re only looking at one move right now. I’d go with Aucoin.
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Borque. He is more physical and is more likely to win puck battles on the boards. I love Aucoin but Borque fits the bill more for what we need. Taking Borque also hurts less than taking Aucoin, but I’m not sure anyone here cares what we do to Hershey’s lineup (we do have their best D in our pressbox).
Yeah, but you need a center, particularly with Nyls’ utter lack of . . . anything, and Fedorov’s injury.
Anyone get the feeling that Flash is playing his way out of a roster spot next year? Bargain or no, I’d rather see just about anyone else in there. I could see him getting flipped with one of our RFA defensemen (probably Mo) for an RFA center.
I could see that too, but at his price and potential I think GMGM sends him home with a work out regimine and holds him for next year.
See, I think his low price-tag would make him a wanted asset, despite his spotty play. Basically, anyone can fit him into their salary structure, and if we throw in a decent warm body (Mo), we might actually be able to get something good back in return.
Either that or ship him to Edmonton for Robbie Schremp. I’ve always wanted to see what that guy could do in a system like Bruce’s, instead of living forever in MacTavish’s doghouse.
Trade dogs. That could work. If GMGM is sure that Flash won’t pan out (or takes DMG’s theory that the only way to keep him off the PK is to ship him out of town) then he should trade him. As long as he thinks he may put it together you need to let him develop another year at 750K because you won’t find that value anywhere else.
Essentially, you’re trading two AHL/Junior-stars for each other. One (Schremp) is younger and a center (which we need more than wings), while the other (Flash) has actually produced in the NHL. The Oil get a player with some skill (which they desperately need), and the Caps get a player at a position of organizational weakness who has shown an ability to score. Win-win.
Schremp has serious work ethic issues though. I don’t ever expect to pan out, much less be a solution for our 2C. Flash doesn’t battle well but I don’t know that I’d say he has work ethic issues. If anything, I’d like to see Flash packaged to move up in the draft like we did with Emmy to get JC. I don’t think Flash (probably not even Flash and ‘Mo) bring us a valuable piece to our team in return. The pieces we need are going to be on the UFA market, it’s just a matter of GMGM making it happen.
If your boss was as clueless as MacT, you might have work ethic issues, too. :)
Regardless of the outcome of this series, this playoff season has exposed some areas in need of re-tooling. We’ve got 3 stud forwards, a handful of good defensemen, a great 3rd line and (currently) an outstanding goaltender. We desperately need a #2 center, and some wings that can score/muck/drive the net. Flash/Kozlov just isn’t going to cut it.
Cue Fehr meme in 3. . .2. . .1. . . :)
We desperately need a #2 center, and some wings that can score/muck/drive the net.
Nuh uh, ‘cuz as soon at Fehr gets good ice time he’s going to be the new Cam Neely, only way better, because he’s gonna be big and score like 55 goals a season and kill everyone on the forecheck!!!!11one
Cue Fehr meme in 3. . .2. . .1. . . :)
Done and done.
In seriousness, I’d like the Capitals to get one more season out of Fleischmann. The price can’t be beat, and I’m willing to give him a chance to at least show what he can do and take the benefit of the doubt that the pneumonia robbed him of his conditioning – he has, after all, scored at a much lower rate since then.
The more I watch him, the more I’m inclined to believe that he was just getting ridiculously lucky early in the season. Until he got pneumonia, his shooting % was somewhere around 20%, this for a guy whose career % is around 10. He settled back down to 15% (which means he played like the “real” Flash at 10% in the 2nd half), but I think that even that is unsustainable for him.
I think now is the time to “sell high” on Flash (as ludicrous as that may sound to fellow Rink Rats). Some GM is going to see “25-goal potential” for cheap and he’s going to bite. I say let him.
To put it simply, Bourque doesn’t cost much more than Flash (or he won’t after he signs a new contract); which guy would you rather see on the roster next year? To me, that’s an absolute no-brainer.
On the topic of Schremp:
SBN’s Oilers blog recently did a piece on him. Some excepts:
We get the impression of player with speed and strength issues, who has improved defensively and still has unique offensive talents. After a big dip between 06 and 07, Schremp´s ranking seems stable, which is probably a fair indication that he’s regarded as having some upside yet.
Conveniently, there are three distinct sets of players in my chosen comparables. Four of them (Jason Allison, Andrew Cassels, Marc Savard and Cory Stillman) were good-elite offensive players at their peak production levels. Four others (Jason Dawe, Jody Hull, Tim Taylor and Todd Warriner) had at least one full NHL season, and the final four (Jason Bonsignore, Brandon Convery, Jarrod Skalde and Chris Taylor) were definitively busts.
Given the log-jam of mid-sized (or smaller) young, offensively-talented forwards currently on the Oilers, it seems likely that Schremp is dealt to a bottom-feeder, probably at the draft this summer. If he fails to stick next season, his value will plummet to a point where he’s barely worth trading, and there simply isn’t a spot for him.
The high-water mark for Schremp at this point is likely as a 50-60 point guy who is one-dimensional and runs the PP. The low water mark is a few more NHL games and lots and lots of packing. If he goes for a 2nd-3rd rounder at the draft, it would probably be fair value.
Cool. Thanks. I see a guy with even more up-side than Flash, but with a higher risk-reward profile. However, because he’s younger by 2 years, I think he’s still got AHL-NHL movement flexibility, which Flash doesn’t. He’s a center, and we’re shallow at that position. He could be a total bust, but at this point, I’m done with Flash. His occasional “flashes” don’t make up for his utter lack of intensity the rest of the time.
Basically, I see this akin to the Bruins-Blackhawks Versteeg-for-Bochenski trade from a couple of years ago. One team trades a younger/smaller guy stuck in the minors for a guy who put up great AHL totals and had some NHL experience.
In Nyls defense he hasn’t really had any consistent NHL game-level playing time on a line that he would fit with in weeks. Doesn’t excuse it completely but makes it a bit more understandable.
You can’t fit with a line if you turn the puck over every time you touch the puck.
by red army line on May 8, 2009 12:55 AM EDT up reply actions
they sat back and tried to hold on for 58 minutes.
Precisely. We were way too content with the lead after the first, we stopped forechecking and creating havoc on their backline, and their breakouts were nearly unimpeded from the start of period 2 through the end of the game. We gave them the neutral zone, preferring to line them up at the blue line and make them dump, which often put us in a position of having to chase their forwards in our D zone.
from the house that Red Jesus built
And while I tip my cap to Scuderi and Gill for each playing a solid game last night, I have to think that 8-91-25 has to exploit that matchup as the series progresses if we are going to pull through this. Kozlov looks to be retreating back into his traditional postseason shell.
from the house that Red Jesus built
I don't like fighting in hockey, but...
Last night would have been a good time to have Brads make a donation to the red cross.
We were lost, and it would have brought us together.
Hes been relatively invisible lately.
55 and 4 are out with injuries. I think it’s reasonably clear that 3 and 52 are slowed by something injury-esque. That all got exposed last night.
When the Caps forwards have possession of the puck and are keeping it in the PIT zone a little more, it’s easier to hide those defensive boo-boos. But when they’re not and when PIT is controlling the puck, it exposes the banged-up corps a bit.
Further to this excellent point, as told to Agent Steinz:
“It was tough to control the puck with the way the ice was here tonight, but I thought about halfway through the game you could really, really see, especially their defensemen, were getting really, really tired,” Brooks Orpik told me. “We kept chipping it behind them, and I don’t know what the hits stat was, but we really, really did a number on their defensemen going back for the puck. And you could tell, especially in the third period, they were really, really tired.”
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by J.P. on May 7, 2009 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
By the way, by breaking Nyls legs I am not advocating Gillooly’s or anything. I mean GM walking by and saying “Mike, your legs are broken. Tough luck.”
by meatball20 on May 7, 2009 9:18 AM EDT reply actions 4 recs
Dear Mr. Bettman,
Michael cannot play today, as he is feeling under the weather with the Piggy Flu.
Signed,
Michael’s Mom
by D'ohboy on May 7, 2009 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Dear Mr. Bettman,
Michael cannot playtoday, as he is feeling under the weather with the Piggy Flu.
Signed,
Michael’s Mom
Fixed that for you.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
For some reason, I want to watch Welcome Back Kotter reruns now.
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 May 7, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions
I woke up this morning surprised at how unbothered I was with last night’s loss. The Caps played an absolutely desparate team that was one loss away from their season being all but over. Yeah, the Caps were outplayed, badly at times, and still they were one crazy bounce away from putting this series to bed. The Penguins are a highly talented team that played their hearts out and got what they deserved. Good for them. Now do it three more times. My money and history says they probably won’t. I think we’ve seen the best the Pens can offer and not even close to the Caps best. Pittsburgh badly outshot Washington, had a huge PP advantage, spent most of the time in the Caps zone and still had to go to OT to win on a tipped shot by a Caps defenseman. Most importantly, going into this series, everyone said the Penguins had a big advantage in goal. Who on the planet thinks that now?
I’m with you on feeling relatively unbothered, b, but for perhaps different reasons. I find that when the Caps don’t play as if they’re fully invested in the game, that I’m not either.
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by J.P. on May 7, 2009 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I hear you but sometimes when really good teams play to their upmost potential they can make another good team look really bad. This isn’t the Superbowl where the Giants play the game of their lives and make the Patriots look ordinary and walk away with the title. This is a seven game series and I just don’t believe the Penguins can do that three more times without the Caps “A” game coming to the surface. Yeah, the Caps looked out of it, but until it happens again, I’m going to believe it was a confluence ( to use a Pittsburgh term) of events; home crowd, desperate situation and a talented team coming together at one time. The regular season means something and, in this case, it means home ice.
I am going to play the Penguins Advocate here
Is it possible that we have seen the best that Varlamov has to offer? He has played outstanding, if he plays any better than what he has so far, the NHL might as well rename the Vezina Trophy now.
Success without honor is like an unseasoned dish, it will fill you up but it won't taste good. - Joe V. Paterno
It’s hard to imagine him being any better than he has been.
It’s not hard to imagine him being as good as he has been.
Contrary to Emerick/Reaugh’s assessment, I thought last night had fewer miraculous saves than earlier in the series and more sound positioning (and, to be sure, luck – if Dupuis could lift a puck, we probably don’t head to OT).
Put another way, I think the Caps’ skaters played further from what I’d expect to be their average game than Varly did or has.
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The Caps are the most Schizophrenic team in the playoffs right now.
Just saying. You never know who’s going to show up and for how long.
Go Get ’em, Washington Cybils!
The main thing that bothers me about this game is that if ever there was a game for Varlamov to steal that was it. Like BB said, that doesn’t happen a lot and you need to capitalize. Early in the game I called it talking to my brother. We were going to need to win that game like PIT beat PHI when MAF stole that game. Baxter didn’t sink his wrap around, we didn’t get the 2 goal lead. Then you knew it was a matter of time for that tying goal to happen. The biggest thing I take heart from (aside from Varlamov) is that when our PP NEEDED to finish, it did. Timely scoring is going to be huge in this series and so far ours still looks better than theirs.
I wish I shared the optimism
Maybe it’s nearly 30 years of basic playoff futility, but I am scared. Yes, the Caps almost stole the game, but the utter domination by the Penguins frightens me. I don’t recall if the Penguins were playing with 2 deep forecheckers in games 1 and 2, but the strategy was very effective last night. If the Caps can make the necessary adjustments, great. If not, watch out. I hope to see Semin and Ovie receiving a couple of spread passes for breakaways on Friday night.
by Moonage Daydream on May 7, 2009 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions
A call-out that’s not in the post:
Dear Brooks – please don’t let Geno skate to the middle of the ice like that again, ever (see Pothier/Crosby in Game 1, though this was perhaps even worse, as Varly was heavily screened).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I think it’s time to reunite Ovechkin and Backstrom and put Feds with Semin, who absolutely needs a kick in the pants. There is not enough chutzpah on that second line in general, and in particular, 28’s PM’s, curl-n-drag’s, butter-soft play in the offensive zone, all this needs to be corrected, chop chop.
from the house that Red Jesus built
Agreed, and AO could use some new mates, as his “enter the zone, cut to the middle, hope something happens” move is getting stale.
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Yes. But he needs a little more patience too. He’s such a fast skater and he enters the zone with so much speed that he’s gotta hold it a tick longer….
All the more reason not to skate him with a pair of Russians who remember when St. Petersburg was still Leningrad.
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by J.P. on May 7, 2009 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Amen.
In a way, it’s a small shame that his GWG in #2 came on this kind of play b/c it seems to have reinforced this behavior, which has gotten a little ridiculous at this point: get the puck either out wide or skate out wide and then move diagnonally to the middle and fire from long range. Hey, Ovie, remember back in the old days when you used to drive all the way to the net, my friend? I miss those days.
The problem is, that move is unlikely to work against Hal Gill. Gill may skate like his feet are encased in cement, but he’s HUGE. The “play it between your legs and skate around the defenseman” move won’t work on him.
Ovie’s got to keep them honest by firing through their screens. At some point, another one will go in, and Bylsma will get on his defensemen to close their gaps – THEN Ovie can drive around them.
Exactly – keep using him as a giant screen until he tries to stop you – then skate around his molasses-in-January ass.
I thought OV could have been a little more active in the O zone without the puck last night. He seemed to be less…engaged? than he usually is about finding the soft spot and putting himself in position to score. I prefer his lurking above the goal line, and last night he was below it too much.
from the house that Red Jesus built
I think it’s time to reunite Ovechkin and Backstrom and put Feds with Semin, who absolutely needs a kick in the pants. There is not enough chutzpah on that second line in general, and in particular, 28’s PM’s, curl-n-drag’s, butter-soft play in the offensive zone, all this needs to be corrected, chop chop.
completely agree
On a somewhat unrelated Caps commercial moment...
Its Johannes Brahms’ birthday
WWWWWAISIN BWAHMS!!!!
Ron and Fez Noon to Three
by YvonLabresMoustache on May 7, 2009 9:45 AM EDT reply actions
I still laugh when I see this ad…
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on May 7, 2009 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Deadly accurate...
…on the analysis JP. Well done.
From what I saw, this was the worst game they’ve played so far in the playoffs so far. Despite that, they were in a position to win this game the entire time. The Pens still haven’t beaten the Caps in regulation this season (regular or post season). I fully expect the Caps to bounce back big time tomorrow and come out and take the play to the Pens. So far the Caps have responded well to losses in this post season (esp. games 3 and 5 in round 1) and I have a feeling this will be no different.
Someone told me once that a playoff series of 7 games is really two series that are 2-out-of-three. If you win both of those 2-of-3’s you win the series. If you split (like in round 1) then you have a 1 game series. The Caps have won the first 2-of-3. Here’s to winning the second one.
Let's go Caps!
Deadly accurate…
…on the analysis JP. Well done.
Wish I could take credit, but it’s DMG’s handiwork this morning.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Do I hear a promotional tie in"
“In the basic box score Milan Jurcina’s night wasn’t great – a penalty and a minus-one rating – but the big man was the Capitals most steady defender in their own end and finished the night with eight hits and three blocked shots. "
and Milan stayed out of the “Juice-Box” in the 3rd period for a change!
"Every person is a damn fool for at least five minutes every day. Wisdom consists in not exceeding the limit." Elbert Hubbard.
I have seen the Caps play the consummate road game in the Igloo...
and last night wasn’t that time. ;)
However: they took 2 games from the Pens in this building during the regular season with Theo in net. The Caps have to start matching the hitting and urgency of the Pens, as they know they can.
Fleury can be had – we all know it. My prognosto of a 3-0 SO yesterday was macho chest-thumping, but when I saw Ovie cutting to the slot after a turnover about 8 minutes into the OT, I thought he would just rear back and end it then, but the f—-ing ice was so bad in the Pens end he couldn’t get the puck on his stick. Remember that?
Don't they have to hook up extra air conditioners to the outside
of the Igloo to cool that stadium? Or am I thinking of the wrong/old stadium?
Stupid question time: After laying a egg last night, what in hell are they doing taking the day off?
If you’re in Bruce’s shoes, what would you do? They failed at every aspect of the game last night, and more than anything, just looked tired.
How can you coach to that? I guess that I’d work on the breakout a little, but my guess is that they know what they were doing wrong.
And if there’s a callup? Which there should be, in my opinion. New guy misses out on some catch up time. I know these guys already know the drill, but it couldn’t hurt. Doesn’t have to be a full practice.
Not that I’m disagreeing with your basic premise, and I assume that’s the reason. Question is as much rhetorical as anything.
They looked tired out there in the third. Granted, much of that was due to chasing the Pens around for the previous 2 periods, but with a game every other night and a back-to-back coming up tomorrow, I’d have to assume rest is more important that a practice. Watch some tape, get your heads in gear, get some rest and come out tomorrow night and play your game.
Not to mention, clearly many of the guys are banged up at this point. Poti was skating on one leg, Fedorov sure as hell isn’t feeling too good, all the spec on Green etc. With the back to back looming, that’s gotta play into Bruce’s decision.
Remember the Caps have now played 10 Playoff Games
And the Pens 9. It’s only one game difference, but it means the Pens have like 2-3 days of extra rest.
I think it’s catching up w/ the Caps. I’m glad they have the day off, they looked like shit and I’m hoping it was b/c they were exhausted, not b/c they have they forgot how to play hockey all of a sudden.
W/ back to back games coming up, they need the rest.
And this is after the NHL screwed up the scheduling to get the Caps off from Tuesday to Saturday.
by red army line on May 8, 2009 1:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Decision Time
Games 4 and 5 will be back-to-back on Friday and Saturday. After yesterday’s game, it’s clear that much of the Caps lineup is either worn down, or injured. Schultz and Erskine have missed significant time, while it’s clear to most of us that Green, Poti, and now Feds are not 100%.
Here’s the dilemma: given that you know there will be a quick turnaround from Game 4 to Game 5, do you try to force matters in Game 4 by bringing back Erskine or Schultz, even if they’re not 100%? Do you force Feds to play with a bum wing instead of throwing Aucoin, or God forbid, Nylander out there?
Or, do you take the risk of losing Game 4, while resting certain players and thereby solidifying your lineup for Game 5 so that you can “hold serve” on home ice, knowing that if you win every game at home, you win the series? This would entail giving Erskine, Schultz and Feds the game off, and maybe one of either Poti or Green as well. Do you insert Alzner/Sloan instead of the defensemen and Aucoin/Bourque instead of Feds?
Ordinarily, I’d say that I’d never want to concede even an inch in the playoffs, but with the back-to-back games, and the way that Varly has played thus far, I might be willing to accept more risk in Game 4, knowing that we can still keep it close and eke one out, even if we don’t play that well. Then, we’d be more ready and rested for Game 5.
I think the biggest issue with who plays/doesn’t play is what their injuries are an how serious the are. If Schultz’s right wrist is hurting, for example, he’d probably still be okay, but if he (or Erskine) are having ankle/knee/groin issues, keep them out, since neither is a great skater and the Penguins have a lot of guys who are quick and agile.
You play the lineup that gives you the best chance to win. No matter what. Giving up game 4 with game 5 the next day gives PIT all the momentum and can turn this series from a 2-0 lead to a 3-2 deficit in a heartbeat. We need to gun for the win in game 4. If Erskine is healthy enough to play he needs to play. Same with Feds. The way Schultz played Malkin all year I’m starting to think he may need to find his way into the lineup as well.
Like I said, I’d usually agree with you, but I think that the back-to-back games and nature of the Caps’ play thus far changes my sentiments.
Thus far, the Caps have been: Varly, Varly, Varly, Ovie, Ovie, Ovie, and Steckel. And yet they’ve still won 2/3 and had a decent chance of winning last night. We don’t need our whole team to show up to beat this Penguins team.
The scenario I fear is this: the Caps come out and shoot their wad in Game 4, but come up empty (pretty much how Pitts would have felt if they lost last night). Then, with everyone exhausted/injured, we come home and get schwacked in Game 5. Suddenly, we’re down 3-2 going back to Pittsburgh.
Seriously, I know being a Caps fan has bred a certain amount of fatalism into our DNA but that’s not even a glass is half-empty approach. That’s a glass has shattered on the floor, losing all it’s water and then we step on it and slice open our foot approach. This is what I know: The Caps are up 2-1, have home ice advantage, the best player in the game and the best goalie in the playoffs. And they just took the Pens best shot and lost in OT on a deflection. Even if the lose on Friday, I still like their position.
by b.orr4 on May 7, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
And as lousy as I feel with losing, going into last night, we’d won five in a row. Had we won six in a row all year? We were ripe for a loss. Now let’s follow it up with a few more consecutive wins.
I’m not being fatalistic, I’m being realistic. You need to win 4 games, we’ve already won 2. I think we can “steal” a game without all of our players – so that’s actually an optimistic outlook. I’m willing to take a risk that we won’t “steal” a game in order to hold serve at home.
Anyhow, I’m not wedded to the idea, just putting it out there.
Word
And witha nod to what F&B mentioned: I think they leave all on the ice Friday. And someone needs to step up besides Ovie.
The breakouts last night were sick, and not sick like Ovie means sick. They sucked: tentative, afraid to get hit, etc. With puckhandlers like Green, Poti, Potsy, Backis, Feds, Kozzie there should be no excuse to get decent breakouts.
We don’t need our whole team to show up to beat this Penguins team.
gotta disagree with you here, D’oh. We need the full complement to show up tomorrow. I think our greatest advantage to date has been our depth has shown up to play from game 1.
from the house that Red Jesus built
I’d respectfully disagree. We have beat them twice with goals from only 3 players, and taken them to OT on a night where nobody aside from our goalie showed up for 60 minutes. What more evidence do you need?
Until the Pens can A) “Solve” Varly, or B) fix their special teams, the Caps have the advantage.
Really? The Caps were outshot in all three games. The worst thing that happened last night wasn’t the loss itself—it was Malkin waking up.
Fehr not being in the lineup is the Caps’ biggest hole. He’s the only threat on that line, and Nylander is as much a liability as a scoring threat, maybe more so a liability.
JP pointed it out a few days ago with a post that the Caps’ shift times are ridiculously long. No way in hell you should be running minute-long shifts for Green, et al. in the second round of the playoffs. Boudreau’s a good coach, and he made a good call on Varlamov. But he’s screwing his team’s chances of going deep in the postseason with his ice time decisions.
Yes. Your point that the Caps don’t need their whole team to show up—and that the Caps have the advantage right now—is a mistake.
Coming from my side of the fence (the Pens side), both teams need everyone to contribute. The Pens lost games 1 and 2 because nobody contributed besides Crosby. That was nearly enough, but nearly isn’t good enough against a team of the Caps’ caliber.
Last night, Varlamov seemed like the only guy showing up for the Caps. That’s not enough against Pittsburgh. The team who’s secondary players (see: Steckel in Games 1 & 2) step up is the team that wins. That, and the team whose goaltender stays in the crease longer. =]
Yeah, Varlamov was the only Cap that showed up last night, and the Caps still won. AO almost ends that game in OT by himself. I’d say that kinda supports D’ohboy’s position. Would I prefer it if all the Caps would show up? Yeah. But as is we haven’t had a full team effort for any of the games and the Caps are up 2-1.
“AO almost ends that game in OT by himself.” Right. And Crosby almost ties it in Game 1, but doesn’t bury the open net. And ditto for Dupuis last night to get the insurance goal in regulation.
You can’t say the Pens have had a full team effort either. Neither of Crosby’s new wingers, Kunitz or Guerin, have done a damn thing in this series. That’s 2/3 of the top line. Sykora, a 20+-goal guy on Malkin’s wing, is a healthy (?) scratch because he he’s scored 1 goal in the past 22 games (see: Flash).
You can’t say that either team is running on all cylinders right now. So I think confidence on either side is badly misplaced.
Let's make this simpler
Caps’ special teams>Pens’ special teams.
Caps’ goaltending>Pens’ goaltending.
Caps>Pens.
I don’t know how you can come to any other conclusion based on the series thus far.
Last point on this topic...
Your original point was “We don’t need our whole team to show up to beat this Penguins team.”
You may be right, but the Caps certainly need more of their team to show up than the Pens in order to win. That’s what got them Games 1 & 2, and it’s what lost them Game 3.
Special teams and goaltending aren’t everything, and as DMG correctly pointed out, if your 5-on-5 play is lopsided that directly translates into more man advantage for the opposition, negating those two advantages.
I guess I’m just pointing out that if the Pens were up 2-1 in this series (which wasn’t too far off from happening), I wouldn’t feel confident to the point that I’d believe the Pens could beat the Caps without a full-team effort. That’s just me. But if you’re volunteering to call up the Caps locker room and tell them to take tomorrow night off, I won’t stop you.
OT is different than regulation because one bounce ends it. Regulation bounces are trickier because there is always a chance to come back. How confident were you feeling when Malkin scored that PPG? Guess what, we tied it. How confident were you feeling when AO had that puck in the slot? Lucky for you it bounced of his stick. That game was one bounce from being a Caps win and we played terrible. We haven’t had a full team effort yet but we are up 2-1 and almost 3-0.
I said I’d prefer a full team effort, I’m just reiterating that we can win without one. If AO continues to match Crosby and Malkin then which team needs more guys to step up? I think the Pens do. Further, beyond those 3 I think the Caps undoubtedly have more guys capable of big plays than the Pens do. The Pens got a full team effort last night and still almost lost.
The Pens have out-shot the Caps in 3 straight games and have won 1 game. The Pens utterly dominated last night, and still almost lost the game.
Right now, our special teams and goalie are out-playing your equivalents, and we’re coming out on the better end of the series thus far.
Your point makes no sense.
I doubt Schultz comes back anytime soon.
by Scott in Shaw on May 7, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions
The Caps need to play game 4 like it’s game 7. If the Pens tie this series I don’t like our chances.
This is crazy talk, with all due respect
The Caps are taking the best the Pens have, and haven’t fully put up what we would consider a classic Caps effort: stifling neutral zone, taking the body, going to the net, and puck possession. Other than Ovechkin, once Semin and Green come back to the party, its going to be lights out.
Why?
I’d rather the Caps blow their load on Friday and be up 3-1 then try to save some steam for Saturday if that is what everyone is alluding to.
I’d rather go into Saturday being 3-1 and come out 3-2 then go in to Saturday 2-2 and come out 3-2.
Nope, for some reason I’m a lot more relaxed for this series than I was the first one. I actually slept like a baby. The pressure of the first loss is lifted. Time to get back to business. No excuses
Is it just me or does Ovi always have a little smirk on his face whenever the media brings up the fact that the Caps didn’t play their best hockey but managed to bring it to OT and lose 2-3 anyway. And for some reason, that makes me smile.
(First time Poster here – 1.5 yrs old to the sport of hockey and as a Caps fan, but eager to learn.)
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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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