Varlamov: Fatigue Slowly Setting In?
by tuvanhillbilly on May 8, 2009 12:00 PM EDT
in Translations
26 comments
[Following Washington's second win against Pittsburgh earlier this week, Capitals' goalkeeper Simeon Varlamov answered a few questions from Sport Express correspondent Slava Malamud.]
Your team can't seem to play well for a full sixty minutes, but they're 2-0 in the series. What's up with that?
"You just have to score at the right times, and that's just what Sanya Ovechkin did today."
Everyone was waiting for Ovechkin to make his mark. Were you amazed at what he did today?
"It wasn't only me that was amazed, but everybody else. I think Sanya is the best player on earth. And I think that a lot of people would agree with me on that."
Just like in the first game, you followed up your first allowed goals with some unbelievable saves. Is this an indicator of your coolness under pressure?
"Of course you can't just give up. You want to stop everything, but sometimes that doesn't happen. Today the main thing was to cope with Pittsburgh's attack and wait for one of our leaders to step up."
How important was that episode in the first period when you held off the five-on-three?
"Yeah, I'll agree with you that that was one of the key moments. If we had allowed one in, it would have been very tough to overcome a 0:2 deficit. Pittsburgh could have gone on the defense and played like that until the end of the game."
There was a moment when Crosby shot first, and then it seemed like you fished the puck out of the twine, and then there was Gonchar's shot which you gloved away. Did you really make the first save, or did it hit the pipe?
"I think I got my stick on it, but I'd have to watch the replay. That'll show everything."
Once again you pulled out a win in a game in which Washington didn't seem to have it all together.
"I wouldn't say that I ‘pulled it out', but we really did retreat quite a bit, which you can't do against a team like Pittsburgh. After all, they have Malkin, Crosby and a whole bunch of other guys who can play really well in the PP. That was something we absolutely had to control, and overall we played pretty good."
All three goals for Crosby were made from the crease. I understand that two of these were made on the PP, but doesn't it seem to you that he is being allowed to stand in front of your nose way too much?
"Crosby always plays well in the crease, and it's very difficult to knock him out of there. He's good on playing rebounds and sometimes we aren't able to respond to that. Well, that just means that we can't have rebounds. Maybe towards the end, when we were leading by two goals, we got tired, lost our concentration, and couldn't tie up all six of their players. Although that is what the defensemen are supposed to do. I can't yell at them during their shot that I need to catch the puck."
Ovechkin said that it might help that you don't speak English, since you don't fully understand what they are saying and don't get nervous. Is that so?
"I wouldn't say that I don't know any English. I understand everything; it's just hard for me to carry on a conversation. That's why I act like I don't know anything."
Did your glove let you down again? Just before the first goal it looked like the puck once again bounced from your hand into the crease.
"No, what actually happened is that I didn't react and the puck didn't fall into my glove, but rather hit Steckel who was standing right there."
You were using a new glove in practice.
"And new leg pads and a new blocker. So does that mean I've got a problem with all of those?" (laughing) "The thing is that the glove is already worn out and that's why I'm trying to break in a new one as soon as possible."
You're heading to Pittsburgh, leading 2-0 in the series. Do you have a lot of confidence in yourself?
"The confidence is there, but we know that it is going to be a lot more difficult there."
Is fatigue slowly setting in?
"Of course. Even though I haven't played a lot of games this season, the playoffs are really exhausting." [For related thoughts, be sure to check out Dmitry Chesnokov's appearance on WPL. - Ed.]
By the way, you've played more minutes in the Cup playoffs than you did in the regular season.
"That's how the year turned out. I was dogged by injuries all the time. I was injured at the beginning of the season and then again in the middle of the season. I was out almost two-and-a-half months. If not for that, I would have played in around 50 games." [In the NHL and AHL - Ed.]
At the beginning of the season you said that you would return to Russia "only if they totally despise me here" . Now is there a feeling that your place on the team for next year is already reserved? And if not, that it would be a terrible injustice?
"To be honest, I'm not thinking about next season right now. But I do know that when I come back for the pre-season, I'll have to fight and once again earn a spot on the team. They aren't just going to automatically give it to somebody."
Are you following the world championships?
"Not very closely. I've got enough worries right now. Besides, my internet connection at home is broken."
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Tuvan, were you on vacation? Nothing new in this interview. And work on your Russian. Some of the sentences lose their original meaning in your translations.
by ZenitPiter on May 8, 2009 12:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
We didn’t have any of this up on this site, so much of this is new to our readers and well worth discussing.
And if you have comments on the validity of the translation, I’m sure TH would be happy to discuss them with you, especially if you’re a little more polite about it.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on May 8, 2009 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
To those of us who don’t speak Russian (the vast majority of Capitals fans, at least ones who visit this site), this is new because it’s an interview that we haven’t had the chance to read.
by David M. Getz on May 8, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I know there were some other very good interviews elsewhere this week, but I hadn’t seen this one anywhere else in translation and thought it worthwhile. I know I’m not going to satisfy everyone, especially those who have personal preferences for one reporter over another, (and having communicated with several of them I find that they actually get along just fine with each other), but I really do take seriously the quality of the translations, so I’d be happy to welcome any corrections or critiques from the native speakers.
"I tried to capture the spirit of the thing"
by tuvanhillbilly on May 8, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It does beg the question though, especially after game 3 went to OT: Does Jose get a start tomorrow?
by Murshawursha on May 8, 2009 12:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Absolutely impossible to make a call on that until after tonight.
by PaintDrinkingPete on May 8, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Let me begin by saying there’s no way you sit the guy who’s been your best player right now. But…
Soon after Game 3 ended, I thought about the possibility of Theo getting Game 4.
We know that there are concerns about Varly’s conditioning, and that there are back-to-backs coming up tonight and tomorrow. They also represent both the first and last of 3 games in four nights, a total of four in six from Game 3 to Game 6.
Can Varly play all of them?
A problem I see is that if Varly is less than great tonight and you sit him tomorrow, it sends him the message that he’s gonna get yanked after a bad game… and then you put him back in for a potential must-win down 3-2 (b/c if JT wins to go up 3-2, how do you bench him?)? Alternatively, you play him in Game 5 after a less-than-stellar outing and risk consecutive bad games b/c he’s either been solved or he’s burnt out (and then does Game 6 become a decision between Varly and JT?).
But what about starting Jose in Game 4? Win, great – Varly then gets three chances to close it out. Lose? Not disastrous, as we’re where we should be – tied at 2 after four games. No chance Varly thinks his benching is merit-based – he was great in Game 3. And if it’s 2-2 heading into Saturday, the team gets an emotional boost by getting the guy they know can win a game on his own back between the pipes.
Jose was good against Pitt this year, and maybe a right-catching G throws Pitt off ever-so-slightly.
I realize that the reality is Varly’s going to start Game 4 (almost assuredly at this point) and likely Game 5 – he’ll have all summer to rest. But then Game six is his fourth in six nights, and will be an elimination game for someone. For a G with durability questions, I’m not sure this is ideal.
Just throwing the hypotheticals out there.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on May 8, 2009 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Obviously, the plan is to not let it get to 6 games. But I agree with your concerns.
That said, I’m starting Varly until the Pens fly (ha!) home. He’s brought us this far, and he doesn’t seem to be slowing down, though this will be a tough weekend for him.
It’s everyone else on the roster who needs to realize this. Varlamov is leaving all of himself on the ice every night, and they’re not. Ovechkin was disgusted with it after Gm. 3, so he at least recognizes the problem, and I think he’ll fix it. The question remains with everyone else.
Will Sasha step it up? Will Nicky have a Game 5, again? Will Feds bail us out, again? Will Green wake the hell up?
It’s up to them to determine whether Varlamov gets overworked or not. Let’s hope they’ve made the right choice.
by DrinkingPartner on May 8, 2009 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Fatigue is slowly setting in for the entire team. This is the Stanley Cup playoffs, the most grueling test of stamina around.
I’m more open to hypotheticals after Games 5 and/or 6…too many ways to play it right now. If Varly is out of his mind again tonight, he doesn’t sit tomorrow, that much I’d commit to.
Russian Machine Never Breaks
by macvechkin on May 8, 2009 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I meant after games 4 and 5. Post fail.
Russian Machine Never Breaks
by macvechkin on May 8, 2009 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I too wrestled with the idea of starting Theo in Game 4. If we lose, we’ll have a fresh hot goalie to STOP the tired Pens the next day. If we win, we’ll have a fresh hot goalie to CLOSE OUT the Pens the next day.
And let’s not forget – while Theo certainly didn’t inspire confidence in Game 1 against the Rags, he has shown the capability to step up in tough situations on several occasions this season.
by ninefttall on May 8, 2009 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
In a perfect world I’d like to see Varly in both games. But, if Theo is going to start one of the games I’d like it to be tonight…pretty much for the reasons you listed above, but also because I think it’s better for Theo to get a rebound start on the road in lieu of being at home.
by Yoshietree on May 8, 2009 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
To preempt the “pulled for bad play” thing, Bruce just needs to tell him in advance that, win, lose or draw, you aren’t playing game 5. Then, if he wants to, he can always go back on that and play him, but Varly just need to not expect to play.
by renstar on May 8, 2009 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
A problem I see is that if Varly is less than great tonight and you sit him tomorrow, it sends him the message that he’s gonna get yanked after a bad game
I disagree with you on that point. Not if he knows beforehand that he would rest Game 5 regardless of the outcome of Game 4. Then he would know it wouldn’t be performance-based.
by RedskinFan4Life on May 8, 2009 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No, begging the question would be saying: “Will Jose play tomorrow? Only if Jose plays tomorrow”
by snowburnt on May 8, 2009 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t see how you don’t start Varlamov tonight. Better to play your best hand to try go up 3-1 and then worry about tomorrow. If it’s 2-2 after tonight, then you deal with the situation.
by DCPensFan on May 8, 2009 1:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
As The Flight of the Conchords wouls say...
Too many mutha-uckas uckin’ with mah shi.
by S h a g g y on May 8, 2009 1:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Giving Varly a night off strikes me as a really bad idea. Win tonight and tomorrow and then he can have a few days to rest.
by mechanicsville on May 8, 2009 2:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
ride him till he drops.
Sorry it’s the playoffs, and gotta ride the hot hand.
by Chimaera on May 8, 2009 2:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The concern is that excessive hot hand-riding will likely cool said hand and that it may be too late to make a meaningful move at that point, whereas a pre-emptive rest can re-energize and keep that hot hand hot. Again, purely theoretical.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on May 8, 2009 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
After his performance in the RSL last year I am willing to give Varlamov the benefit of the doubt. But, we all did just watch King Hank slow down mid-series right in front of our eyes. Yeah, he played more minutes but he’s older and more used to the rigors of the NHL than Varlamov is as well.
by Fehr and Balanced on May 8, 2009 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
When he closes out the series with wins tonight and tomorrow, he’ll have lots of rest before the conference finals.
Use him like NY did Lundy: as long as he’s playing well, he’s our best shot. He’s in the Pens heads, no doubt. If he has a bad couple periods, he can sit and Theo can spell him until game 5.
Capiche?
by S h a g g y on May 8, 2009 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I haven’t been told anything yet. The line up will be announced tomorrow before the morning skate. And after the game on Friday we will be told who will be in goal on Saturday. Actually, it is very difficult to play two games in a row. It is actually difficult to play every other day, because you want more time to recover to be able to play to full strength, just a little bit more time. Sometimes, one day is not enough to fully recover. But when you have games one day and then the very next day, I think not everyone will be able to recover in less than a day. But this is playoff, and the calendar puts two teams in the same boat. It’s OK. – Varly to Dmitry Chesnokov
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on May 8, 2009 3:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I can’t wait until Varly learns English. He seems like a really thoughtful, good guy.
by Scott in Shaw on May 8, 2009 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
21 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 30 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
19 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 23 |
|
Atlanta
|
18 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 22 |
|
Florida
|
19 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 18 |
|
Carolina
|
21 | 4 | 12 | 5 | 13 |
(updated 11.20.2009 at 9:16 AM EST)
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