Caps recall Beagle, Re-assign Alzner
"Forward Jay Beagle has been recalled from Hershey, Coach Bruce Boudreau said moments ago. When asked why Beagle was recalled, Boudreau said, 'I have my reasons'." - Capitals Insider
about 3 years ago
J.P.
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I was fully expecting this. Beagle is the fourth line center the doctor ordered.
The keyboard is mightier.
i’ve been tentative of this, but this series is really showing Flash’s lack of strength which is rendering him useless.
by ns on May 8, 2009 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions
If Beagle acquits himself reasonably well, and Fehr gets healthy, BB’s hand may be forced (that’s 2 big “ifs”). One thing at a time though…I’m thrilled they pulled the trigger on a call up.
by mechanicsville on May 8, 2009 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions
not really. especially since if you watched the Pens Caps regular season highlights, Flash was all over those. Anytime he thinks about sitting him, I’m sure that video montage reappears in his mind.
Flash was decent in the games against them this year pre-playoffs. And Bruce loves him. So we’re stuck.
Yeah, it seems to me that Bruce sees something none of us see. So we’re stuck with him until further notice.
If you want to know what Bruce sees in Flash (and why he’s still in the lineup), I’ll direct you to his statistics with the Hershey Bears from the 2006 Calder Cup playoffs:
20 Games Played, 11G, 21A, 32P, +14.
Again, in 2007:
19GP, 5G, 16A, 21P, +2
Bruce plays Flash because Flash has come through for him before.
Centering the fourth line?
I assume that’s why they didn’t grab an Osala. But I wish they had grabbed Auction. I know he’s smaller, but he was always such a spark on every call up. And the limited “Calder stats” I found show he’s playing well.
That reason being he wants someone who doesn’t skate around like he has a dozen eggs in his drawers that he’s afraid to break.
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by J.P. on May 8, 2009 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
It's Size
Beagle’s a good 6’3" 215 lbs. That’s what they need on that 4th line to make it effective once again, Nylander was not going to be it.
Vance
BanginPanger.com
Alzner sent down, apparently. Does that mean Erskine is ready to go? They wouldn’t go with just six healthy D right now, I wouldn’t think.
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i would hope that “helping hershey out” is not part of the decision-making process.
by mechanicsville on May 8, 2009 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t think it was a factor, per se, but I think that they are happy with how Sloan has played and see no reason to keep one of Hershey’s top D in our pressbox. Maybe he gets called up after the game tonight but seeing as everyone is moving from PA to DC tonight it would be possible for Alzner to ship back and forth.
I think it’s more than just helping Hershey out, it’s also a matter of getting Alzner playing time in a playoff atmosphere. Whether that’s with the Caps or with the Bears in their twilight-zone parallel matchup.
But in any event, Alzner would stay if he had a good shot at playing. I’d guess improvement from Big John and Sloan’s play made it clear that he wasn’t going in.
Not that I don’t want Erskine back, but I did like how Juice kinda stepped up into the “throw your weight around” defensive role.
Two of those are better than one.
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they could be sending him back with the hope of aiding Hershey who probably could have used him in the last game.
I know NHL first, but if he isn’t playing tonight, there’s no harm in him playing there.
But there is harm in having only six able-bodied defensemen here when one of them turns his ankle pre-game. Too risky.
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Feds would take a gagillion stick infractions if he was on D, me thinks.
by ns on May 8, 2009 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions
if Erskine’s almost ready to go, then it would explain the situation.
How long of a drive is it from Hershey or to WBS if the game is there?
Pitt to WBS is a ways. Probably 3+ hours.
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Hooks drives like a grandmother. JP drives like AO.
:)
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by J.P. on May 8, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Lot’s of troopers on the Turnpike and Route 80 between W-B and Pitts, + it’s like 200+ miles…
by markbona-capsfan99 on May 8, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Morning skate decision, apparently.
"Pennsylvania idot no match for Russian Machine"
CI genius rains supream.
by Bald Pollack on May 8, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Beagle is much bigger than KA20. I think he’s looking to increase the physical play against the Pens….they have some physical players in back (Orpik and Gill) but their D aren’t all that large or physical. Bruce has his reasons… ;-)
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on May 8, 2009 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions
Plus why not keep him down there to be a point-getter for the Baby Pens series?
"Pennsylvania idot no match for Russian Machine"
CI genius rains supream.
by Bald Pollack on May 8, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions
they have some physical players in back (Orpik and Gill) but their D aren’t all that large or physical. Bruce has his reasons… ;-)
It’s not a bad idea to be a little more physical, but the average of the Penguins defensemen is 6’2" and 217 pounds. Gill’s an outlier and they do slightly fib calling Kris Letang 6 feet tall, but the Penguins defense really isn’t small by any stretch.
Yeah, Letang is 6ft only in his skates/dreams. Otherwise, your D is pretty big, although I will say we’re probably biased with the giants we typically throw out there. Pothier is an honest 6ft (I’ve run into him a couple of times at Kettler in street clothes), and he looks like a munchkin out there next to Juice, Schultz, Poti, Erskine, etc.
A Beagle is a hunting dog and Penguins can’t fly. They are toast.
by Rob Parker on May 8, 2009 11:34 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Here’s the entire blurb (just beat me to posting):
Semin missing from skate
It could be nothing, but Alexander Semin is not on the ice for the morning skate. Normally, this wouldn’t be a big deal but the team did not practice yesterday and every other healthy player (and John Erskine) are out there right now.
Bruce Boudreau has already addressed the media and is not talking at 5 p.m. today, so this might be something that doesn’t play out until game time. It is possible that Jay Beagle is here to replace Semin in the lineup and not Nylander.
it’s possible, but not likely. If the call to Hershey was to replace 28, I’m thinking Osala, Gordon, Bourque—a 15-16m toi scorer. Beags strikes a different profile: 12 shifts, 6-7m masher.
from the house that Red Jesus built
Agree, unless they are going to try to put Nylander on the wing to replace 28, which was full of fail last time they did it.
Ovechkin has now stated that Semin will play. So there you have it.
by PaintDrinkingPete on May 8, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions
More from Corey:
Here is how the forwards looked during the skate/could look tonight:
Ovechkin-Fedorov-Kozlov
Laich-Backstrom-Semin/Nylander
Clark-Steckel-Bradley (Bradley and Clark could be flipped as well)
Fleischmann-Gordon-Beagle
John Erskine said he is questionable for tonight.
Wow, 21-19-28.
I think the new third line could click, too. Unrepentant Clark fan, here.
I am glad to see that second line, again. We all know BB, but, given performance, does anyone think that Flash sits if Fehr’s healthy?
That’s quite a demotion.
by DrinkingPartner on May 8, 2009 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions
only due to the limited minutes.
If we really need a lift maybe he should just go out and make a red cross donation.
You’re right, that’s a big part of my hope for Fehr getting healthy very soon! With Flash playing so poorly, BB would be hard pressed to keep # 16 in the press box.
by mechanicsville on May 8, 2009 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Call me crazy, but I think it could work with limited minutes. Flash is no grinder but if that line is able to generate any scoring chances, he has the skill to finish them (in theory). He looked gassed the last game so a lighter load in ice time could result in some more productive play.
I hate hearing “in theory”… My gut reaction was that this will come of no good, but you make a good point, joo, and you’ve spread a little optimism my way.
by Love and Osechkin on May 8, 2009 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Reminds of last year’s postseason. Boudreau did everything he could at first to get Flash ice time and chances and then when it became painfully obvious it wasn’t working, sat him down.
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