Recap - Penguins 5, Capitals 3
by J.P. on May 9, 2009 7:00 AM EDT
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[AP Recap - Game Summary - Event Summary - WashingtonCaps.com Postgame]
Question of the day: what's the point in complaining about the power-play imbalance in a series if your team is only going to get one shot on goal in just over seven minutes of game time playing a man up?
On a night when their rookie goalie was shaky and the team had numerous chances to pick him up and bail him out - the way he has for them so many times already this spring, including in Game 3 of this series - the Caps couldn't get it done, and so they head back to D.C. for the first game of a best-of-three series that gets underway tonight.
A few thoughts on the game:
- There's no sugarcoating it - Simeon Varlamov was not good. He made a few outstanding saves as he likely will every night he plays simply because of his fantastic athleticism, but he allowed arguably three soft goals (Sergei Gonchar's, Ruslan Fedotenko's and Max Talbot's) and looked both mentally and physically fatigued (perhaps unsurprisingly). Varly got little help from his defensemen on the Bill Guerin and Sidney Crosby tallies, but he was not good enough between the pipes and did not give his team a chance to win on this night. On the plus side, the only other time in his NHL career that he has given up more than four goals in a game, he rebounded by allowing just five goals in his next five outings, but none of those came without a day off between starts.
- We'll get this out of the way early - the way NHL referees call games, Alex Ovechkin was lucky to get away with a two-minute minor for tripping Gonchar. One of the things that makes AO such a devastating hitter (and a clean hitter at that) is that he hits with his entire body, and when someone ducks part (but not all) of one of his railroadings, you get what happened to Gonchar - an unfortunate hockey play. If it happened to a Cap, I'd likely be less forgiving, but that's the nature of partisan fanhood and it's unlikely anyone's mind is going to be changed by discussing it much further. Let's just hope Gonch is ok.
- Whether related or not, a remorseful Ovechkin wasn't himself the rest of the night. Two shots on goal? That's it?
- For the briefest of moments (right before Chris Clark atoned for his first period penalty, which may not have been the best call, but a player can't give the refs the chance to make that call behind the play when his team just took a 1-0 lead, especially if he's wearing the "C"), we saw the Mike Green we all know and love - the dazzling stickhandler and skater. Unfortunately, we also saw the Green we've become more familiar with of late, as he failed to clear Sidney Crosby and/or the puck from the side of the crease just before Guerin scored.
- Nice to see Evgeni Malkinvisible return for Game 4. Hopefully he'll make the trip to Washington.
- Considering that Milan Jurcina's shorthanded goal came after Matt Bradley interfered with Kris Letang and as Brads interfered with Brooks Orpik and that AO only got those two minutes for his hit on Gonchar and that the Caps got away with slashing the stick out of Pens' hands (flippers?) at least twice (not that the calls were all going the Caps' way, of course), I'd like to think that we've heard the last griping about the officiating. But I doubt it.
- Having John Erskine back was nice. Having him horribly misplay a 2-on-1 that ended up behind Varly was not.
- Also not good? Alex Semin's performance. Float like a butterfly, sting like... eh, just float. And turn the puck over. And be minus-three on the night. But he and Nick Backstrom did ramp up their passing percentages with a nice game of pattycake on a power-play to end the second period.
We could go on and on breaking down last night's game, but won't. Last night is history and we're back to square one: tied in the series with home ice advantage; back at the Verizon Center where the Caps have won four straight games and will face a goalie who has an .885 save percentage in this series (and a 3-5-0/3.75/.872 line on the season against the caps) - which makes the single power-play shot on goal last night all the more maddening, but which gives plenty of reason for hope.
Seriously. Two words: butt goal.
Win one game. Do it four three two times.
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The “knee thing” shouldn’t have been penalty at all. Ovechkin was going for the puck and went for a shoulder check.
Not at all – just someone with an opinion with which you (and I, for what it’s worth) happen to disagree.
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You want troll?
According to Mike Wise, Orpick is “a spearing troll from Pittsburgh.” Nice.
by Scott in Shaw on May 9, 2009 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, that’s riotously funny.
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I don’t think it was an intentional “knee thing”, but intent doesn’t matter….unintentional penalties are still penalties.
What I can’t understand is why it was called a trip and not a kneeing.
Stick out a body part or stick and trip someone = tripping. I guess things are sort of interchangeable—hooking, tripping, holding, etc; what matters is the 2 PIMs.
by red army line on May 10, 2009 11:45 PM EDT up reply actions
AO and SG both had their knees out as far as I saw…Gonch got the worst of it.
As much as I like fellow alumni Chris Clark, I’m not sure what he’s bringing to the party aside from some stupid penalties.
Best of three, with home ice, I’ll take it. Best of three, with home ice, with a team that seems completely out of sorts, I’ll take it because I don’t have any other choice.
Let’s hope these guys work together and get themselves open for passes. This sloppy play has to end – tonight.
uhh...uhh...uhh...
Agreed. I keep watching it and I don’t care who you root for, it’s not a penalty. If he stuck his leg out at all, I would agree with the call but he is definitely going for the shoulder check. The only movement of his leg is from pushing off it to make the hit. Either way they need to get it together. I see no emotion on the bench and it shows on the ice.
last night was awful.
I can’t see how Clark can look guys in the face. The team is up, looks like they have jump and then they give all the momentum up and start playing scared.
Varly was bad. I wouldn’t be shocked to see the model back in today.
Beagle. Blah. that’s the best we’re coming to?
I can’t see how Semin isn’t playing with something significant at this point. I think Orpik knows (speaking of who, he has some balls complaining about a hit when his go to move seems to be the crosscheck in the back or throat all game).
on the hit, I know the Pens fans are going to cry foul, and I do think it wasn’t perfectly clean, but Gonchar did his best to help out what he took on it by moving a little bit out of the way. I also don’t think Ovechkin has any desire to hurt his fellow Russians, irregardless of some accusations.
Orpik (i.e. Orprick) is such a hypocrite. This is the same guy who’s done all kinds of stuff to Semin this series. In Game 1, he took a stick to Semin’s face and Semin needed a lot of stitches.
I’m sure Semin is hurting and that’s why he missed the morning skate and why he seems to have no stamina. Will look fine for a while and then seem to fade.
For starters, I need to get this off my chest. Orpik’s a punk. If Ovechkin is always targeting fellow Russians then why do they continually vote him the best Russian in the game and to a man always praise him? As to the series, here are the basic facts. The Caps have been outplayed and, more importantly, outhustled. That’s the bad news. Here’s the good news. They’ve been outplayed and outhustled and they’re tied 2-2 with two out of the remaining three games at home where they are 4-2 for the playoffs. They’ve played two tough games in a row. What are the odds they’re going to lose three in a row? (hint: not very high) Ovechkin had a bad game. What are the odds he’s going to have two in a row? (hint: again, not very high) Varly had a bad game. ( you know where I’m going) Here’s the bottom line: the Caps won their two home games and the Pens held serve. Now it’s a 3 game series. And the schedule actually helps the Caps because after a tough loss, the best thing is to get right out there and play again while the wound is still fresh. And did I mention, the Pens best defenseman is probably out for tonight’s game and maybe the series? Who’s going to win this series? I have no idea. I said it would go seven games at the start and nothing I’ve seen has changed my mind. So smile. It could be a lot worse. You could be a Bruins fan.
by b.orr4 on May 9, 2009 8:54 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Not sure the schedule really helps….as physically tired as the Caps are they could have used a day off. We are a different team at home, but if we have no legs than it’s all for naught. And Pitt certainly didn’t expend as much energy as we did the past two games.
I hate to say this, but if goaltending is even tonight then Pitt wins. They have momentum, are more rested, have created more offensively and have dominated the play in this series. So let’s hope Varly (or JT60) pulls a few rabbits out of his ass tonight.
JT60 or no?
JT60 or no?
I’m surprised there hasn’t been more discussion about playing Theo (last night or tonight). Are you all totally committed to Varly in game 5? He was (understandably) bad last night (and so was the rest of the team). Why should anyone expect him to be better tonight? He has to be exhausted, he’s never gone through anything like this before. When was the last time he played back-to-backs? Ever? Given what happened last night, the Pengs are going to bombard him with shots from everywhere and anywhere and let the rubber fall where it may.
We’re going back to Pittsburgh one way or the other. Play Theo tonight and the two most likely outcomes are:
1) Theo (and the team) rises to the occasion and we can argue about which goalie gets to play game #6; or
2) Theo (and the team) loses and we have a rested Varly ready to go in the must win game.
I would go with Theo. He should be chomping at the bit to get back in there and win the job back. I think he is still capable of stealing a game. Or at least, keeping the Caps in position to win one.
But if rest of team doesn’t pick up theirgame, might not make much difference.
It’s not out of the realm of possibility. Varly definitely looked a little off (don’t know if it was fatigue or just the law of averages) and early in his AHL career there was talk that he was having problems with back-to-back games. So going to Theo is a possibility at least in theory. It would be a huge risk, but so was going to Varly in game two of the Rangers series. Boudreau has shown that he has a lot of riverboat gaambler in him, so I won’t be shocked if JT60 shows up as the starter tonight.
Yeah, we all know how it turned out the last time Bruce implied who was the starter after a bad game. Playing Theo tonight isn’t punishing Varly. He could obviously use the physical and mental break. I’m sure he subscribes to the same line of reasoning as Theo, to want a chance to rebound from a bad game, but at this point it would seem the risk is the same no matter who is in goal tonight.
It was painful watching last night that every time it looked like we’d regain momentum, we’d do something stupid and blow it. Can’t happen two games in a row, right? And, given the dynamics of the first four games, do you spot Pittsburgh the first goal of the game?
The game to play JT60 was yesterday. But alas if he starts tonight I’d be okay with it, I just wonder if there were to lose if he is run out of town on a rail, starting early in the game by his own “fans”.
If BB does rest the Czar I would be briming with confidance for his return game 6 (and possibly 7). After a three day rest.
Based on his post-game remarks, I’m sure Ovie truly feels bad about the collision with Gonchar. He wears his heart on his sleeve. We know Ovie’s not a dirty player—reckless at times, yes, but not a dirty player. Hopefully, he’ll learn something from this as far as his checking/hitting goes, kind of like how Green adjusted his play after Pronger took him out during the regular season.
I’d love to see Green and Kozlov wake up, or have another night of Caps D scoring. But these Caps playoffs against NYR and PIT have left me exhausted. Just trying to take it one game at a time. No use in complaining about happened in previous games.
If a picture speaks a thousand words, how many is a video good for?
FWIW, I don’t necessarily disagree with your assessment that he should have been given (at least) 5 for that hit (though I don’t think it “evens out the penalty complaints of the Caps”), just wanted to point out the irony in Brooks’ comment after the game about crossing a line.
Brooks Orpik’s history has nothing to do with what happened last night. A guy has a bad hit and therefore is disqualified from ever sticking up for a teammate? C’mon…
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No, you can stick up for a teammate regardless. But when you have speared a man in the stones and wield a stick like Orpik does nobody has to give any credence to his interpretation of “crossing the line.” There is one universal line that all men recognize, and Orpik undoubtedly crossed that one. I’m not interested in his take on this.
Fair enough, and I agree. But my point was that Orpik’s check on Cole is irrelevant here. Orpik’s treatment of Semin, however, is more pertinent.
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I’ve long since forgotten the check on Cole. I’m talking specifically about his activities in this series.
Yep.
I read/hear Orpik running his yap and all I can think of is, “Play him off, keyboard cat.”
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It has nothing to do with Ovechkin’s hit, true, but I don’t think I said that (at least, I didn’t intend it that way). He certainly has every right to stick up for a teammate, despite past transgressions. I just think that he has no business talking about ovechkin crossing the line given his own history (and, as you pointed out below – his treatment of Semin this series).
by TJA on May 9, 2009 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions
I am with you. Sure its a penalty but to say that it was a cheapshot by Ovechkin is ridiculous. He was in stride to hit Gonchar, Gonchar tried to avoid it and Gonchar got the worst. Gonchar would have been better off just taking the hit. Not really a big deal but because it is Ovechkin it becomes one.
I love how Orpik thinks he has the right to run his mouth. IMO, Orpik is a pretty damn dirty player. I concede that he is a hard hitter but he is a punk as well. He def. plays with a bit of a mean streak which is fine but he is also the king of the crosscheck and questionable hits along the boards.
I knew Penguins fans would be pissed about Ovechkin, well mainly because it is Ovechkin but I think the hit looked a lot worst then it actually was especially with the way that Gonchar kinda spun in the air.
by Mitchell Green on May 9, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Hockey’s a game played in real-time, not freeze-framed. All this shows is what we already knew – that Ovechkin’s and Gonchar’s knees collided.
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by J.P. on May 9, 2009 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Hockey’s a game played in real-time, not freeze-framed. All this shows is what we already knew – that Ovechkin’s and Gonchar’s knees collided.
For sure it’s not a freezed frame sport by any means. Perhaps I should have replied to an earlier comment that the play shouldn’t have been a penalty at all (which I realize is not the view of all Capital fans).
Funny how to different sets of eyes can see something totally different. When I look at the video and then that photo what I see is Ovechkin leading with his shoulder and Gonch shifting his legs to get out of the way. And frankly, I still don’t see it as a penalty and certainly not the tripping call that was made.
You're on the right track however......
J.P I think you bring excellent points and like you said you could go on but:
These guys need their asses chewed BIG time.
Your first bullet point refers to Varly. Now people are talking putting in Theodore. Gimmee a break. I have seen all star games with better defense then the Caps showed last night. In particular Mike Green. If I were behind the bench Mike Green’s butt would in plain clothes for a night. Yes he had one good offensive play that led to a tally however he should be bringing that every night. He has not been delivering.
Do we have offense here? Someone before me mentioned hustle. Honestly my 5 foot 10 inch, 230 lb. ass could have outskated all of them last night, and I don’t even know how to skate. There was clearly no effort. How did they enter the zone last night? I watched multiple players skate right into four Penguins multiple times. Passing, from the drop of the puck was awful, no crispness at all. The Penguins beat us to the puck when we dump and chase every time.
I blame BB. It starts at the top. Honestly I am going to talk to Ted and GMGM and get D’oghboy and Drinking Partner behind the bench tonight.
About the knee on knee contact. that should be the least of our worries right now. It was a close call and it happened in a blink of an eye. He does feel bad fellow countryman Gonch is hurt but it is time to move on.
We let a GOLDEN oppurtunity slip by. The Caps could have won this game, come back to Verizon with a home crowd who has been second to none and with an “Unleash the Andrenaline Rush” could have sent the Penguins packing for the year.
I am sorry about the venting. I will go up against anybody Rockin the Red for these guys, but I think I speak for everyone when I say they have come this far, don’t peter out now. Dig deep. Get it back together. We are just as good as the Penguins if not better. The Caps proved that in games one and two. I know they are tired. So are the Penguins. They look like they want it more.
I am through. Get some rest. Keep the faith. Come out swinging tonight.
The difference between ORDINARY and extraORDINARY is that little "extra"
What does Keith Aucoin, who damned-near embodies the word “hustle” every time he’s hit the ice as a Cap, have to do to get a call-up? Beagle? Seriously, Beagle??
Don’t call up a dog to do a man’s job. Get Aucoin up. Get him up now.
A good buddy pointed me towards this blog this morning, which has nothing to do with this series, per se, but the blog’s logo is positutely brilliant and more than a little applicable (and yes, they sell apparel):
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Gonchar out, Goligoski in for Game 5
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Tough call. I think if Gooch does dress it’s to be a PP specialist. I guess I’d rather have Goligoski out there because he’s more likely to make a mistake but I’m not confident that’s the right call.
I know which one is better for Hershey.
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If Goligoski is already here, then it doesn’t matter as far as Hershey is concerned. He’s out of that game.
Right, that was more or less my point – that whether he plays or not, Hershey wins. Whatevs.
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Golf clap.
Fleury = hope.
Just shoot the damn puck!
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“He’s trying to hurt (his knee), obviously,” Fedontenko said. “We can play that game, too. I think the league should step up before it gets ugly.” Link
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Fedotenko may have just unseated Danielle ’Spiere as the NHL player I most want to fight. Like that daisy is going to do anything about it? At least when Orpik speaks you know it is a guy that is willing to step up to the plate.
Fedotenko may have just unseated Danielle ’Spiere as the NHL player I most want to fight. Like that daisy is going to do anything about it? At least when Orpik speaks you know it is a guy that is willing to step up to the plate
Ahh maybe that quote was last night immediately after the game when everyone was emotional and coming off of an intense game.
I don’t see the Penguins trying to hunt for knees or heads this game….But keep in mind, this team just beat the Philadelphia Flyers. You don’t get through that series without a lot of physicality.
Yeah that would make more sense. I’m not saying PIT doesn’t have team toughness. I’m saying that Fedotenko isn’t the guy that is going to go out there and make anyone answer so talking tough is just lame.
Is saying you’re able to run around and cheapshot guys really tough-talkin’, though?
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I guess I’m just sick of all this “we’re gonna get AO” crap, not just from the Pens. The dude plays 25 minutes a night, doesn’t shy away from contact, hits anything that moves, and is near the puck all the time. If you want a piece of him go and get it, he’s there. People have hit him all year and it does nothing. The Rags laid some good hits on him and he got right back up and played hockey. He’s not some 4th line guy that uses his 5 minutes a game to cheap shot a guy then hides on the bench the rest of the game. Stop talking, you had over 40 minutes to do something about it and then you show your stones at the presser?
He did break his hand on Colby Armstrong’s nose face, though. Then again, it was Colby Armstrong…
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FWIW, Fedotenko had as many hits this year as Brooks Laich – in 17 fewer games – and knocked Eric Fehr out of the lineup with a clean hit, so I’m not sure there’s anything soft about him other than the shot he beat Varly with last night.
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He also has a pretty quick right hand
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So does Semin show up and play tonight since we go back to the “good ice” for this game. How pathetic is it that both series we have played the ice has been worse on the road than at home?
Less than stellar performances: MIA or injured?
I’m not ready to throw any of our players under the bus. I’ve been watching Mike Green for several years, including lots of practices, games at Hershey and the last 2 years with the Caps. Something isn’t physically right with him, I’m going to bet on it. Fans who are intent to toss Green aside need to remember his play when uninjured.
We’ve got lots of guys dinged up, some worse than others. Injuries are kept out of the press for a good reason. Once the Caps season is finally over, we’ll learn the real story.
Those of you who chose to rant on Green (and others) for lack of effort, lack of hustle, or thought they didn’t care, will feel sheepish when the true extent of the injuries are revealed. Mark my words on this.
Some guys yes, some guys no. I don’t think our whole team is riddled with injuries and it’s not just one or two guys that aren’t playing well. Green is hurt. I think most people around here feel pretty confident that is the case. Shamo? Is he hurt in the brain? What’s his excuse. As bad as Green was on that second goal Shamo wasn’t even in the freaking picture. He was the one that left Crosby alone in the slot, but Green is taking the heat. I’m not going to go through the team player by player but I think it’s safe to say that some guys are hurt, and some are just underperforming.
ShaMo has had a bad year and I predict he does NOT return next year. We need to clean up our D-Corps before the start of next season. I’ve said this before, but I’m almost certain that we’ll have a substantial roster overhaul in the offseason. We have the basic pieces of a very good team, but there are needs which must be addressed. Still, I’m optimistic for our future. My belief has always been that we could be a serious cup contender in 2 years. We are fairly well positioned in the salary cap with 2 exceptions: Clark and Nylander both have contracts far in excess of their on-ice values.
I really can’t imagine there being too significant a roster overhaul this offseason for two reasons. One is that the team’s cap situation would make it very difficult because although the team has space for 09-10, things are going to start getting tight in 10-11. The other is that the team doesn’t really need it.
Assuming Mo leaves (which I think is pretty likely), the team only needs to find one more defenseman and given that Alzner and Carlson are said to be basically NHL ready, I think they’ll be able to fill that slot. There are guys who might be upgrades in free agency but with Green, Schultz, Alzner, Carlson, and Jurcina still developing pretty significantly, I’d be surprised if signing any of them worked out to be a smart long term move.
Up front the guys who might not be back (because of expiring contracts) are Kozlov, Fedorov, and Brashear. Even if none of those guys come back, the team’s top six are Ovechkin, Backstrom, Semin, Laich, and probably Fleischmann and Nylander; that still leaves Clark, Steckel, Gordon, Fehr, and Bradley as depth guys (though I think Clark and Fehr have the skill to potentially work their way in to the top six). There will be a couple spots to fill, most likely, and those may go to guys from Hershey (Beagle, Gordon, Bourque) or they may go to lower price UFAs (my bet is mostly on guys coming up from Hershey). Either way, the forwards look pretty solid too.
Of course there are areas that could be improved – I wouldn’t mind seeing another top four defenseman on the roster (though Juice or Alzner may grow into that role by the end of calender year 2009) and the team could use another top six forward, especially a gritty one and especially a center, but the needs aren’t so drastic that it’d be worth making a ton of moves to make the personnel changes possible, which is what it would take.
Of course, all of this changes some if the team is willing and able to move Nylander and/or Theodore in the offseason.
Who are you and what have you done with DMG?
Juice top 4 guy? Carlson in DC next season? I realize we have to be wary about resigning the young guns but we have about 10 million coming off the books after this season. Potsy comes off after next season. Poti and Nyls come off the next season. If GMGM wants to make a splash I think he can, but it would have to be for a real impact player (Komisarek, Beauchemin, top 6 center).
Honestly, I don’t know what to think of Jurcina. Obviously the talent is there, and he has played really well in the playoffs so maybe next year is the year he puts it all together. But then we’ve been saying “maybe next year is the year he puts it all together” ever since he got to DC. As for Carlson, it seems to go against the organization’s general development path to bring him to DC next season and I have no doubt he’ll start in Hershey, but I think we could see him some time in the second half.
In regards the the bigger picture, the team has eight guys from their current roster under contract for 2010-11 at a cost of about thirty million. Semin, Backstrom, Fleischmann, Fehr, Schultz, Gordon and Jurcina are all up for new contracts by the end of next season, and Varlamov will be due at the end of 2011. I figure most of the quality players in free agency will want 4-5 year contracts and I don’t know that it’d be a good idea for the Capitals to commit any significant amount of money to players for that length of time.
I agree completely on Juice. He’s got the potential and has played really well in stretches, but I’m not talking about him being top 4 until he shows consistency. I think Carlson does the same thing Alzner did last year. He’ll start in Hershey, be the first injury call up, and probably end the season in Hershey for the playoffs. I don’t think he sees 40 games in DC unless we are really battling injuries or he is just off the charts.
I would normally agree with you that the top FAs will want 4-5 year deals but in this economy I think some guys will take shorter deals because they won’t get long deals at the salary they want. They can take a short deal (which clubs may be willing to sweeten with higher salary) and then hope they put up good numbers and the economy turns around in time for their next contract. I’m not sure which FAs that would apply to, and if any of them would be attractive for the Caps to sign, but I expect it to happen. The 3 most likely candidates for this kind of deal, IMO, are Cammalleri, Hossa, and Gaborik. Cammalleri is the only one I’d pursue, but for the right price Gaborik sure would be fun to watch opposite AO (for 40 games).
That thought had crossed my mind too, and I certainly think it’s possible teams back off some with their revenue streams shrinking (for the time being at least) and the cap expected to basically stagnate, and I’m all but certain we won’t see any Briere/Gomez/Drury type contracts this offseason. Couple that with Hossa’s desire to win a Cup and Gaborik’s desire to prove himself and get the big bucks and either one of those guys could be a possibility. Cammalleri I think less so because he has less of a track record and is coming off career highs in points and goals. Plus he’ll only be 27 at the start of next season so he could take a 4-5 year deal and still be young enough to cash in again at the end of it.
If I’m McPhee, I don’t touch Gaborik – too many questions. I could see the team going after Hossa with a one year, $7.5 million contract or something like that, but I also think the team has enough depth on the wings as is. Ultimately I think the only position it makes sense for the Caps to try and make a big splash at is center, and I don’t know there are any targets that are all that desirable.
I agree there is no point in going for a wing. We need help at C and D. Cammalleri would probably be willing to take a long term deal because he is young enough to get two paydays, but how many teams want to give him a 5 yr 30 million dollar deal given the facts you just laid out? If he’s only looking at low money/long term deals or high money/short term deals I wonder what he chooses. Another thing to keep in mind about Cammalleri is that BB loves him, and from everything I’ve seen most offensive players love playing for BB. Will that be a draw? I don’t know, but I’m keeping my eyes open.
I hate to suggest it because I’ve admitted a mancrush on the guy, but Scuderi’s an UFA after the season…
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Enough said. Let’s do it boys!
http://watch.tsn.ca/nhl/clip170333#clip170333
This has nothing to do with the hit last night, but thinking about Gonch got me curious about his relationship with the fans in DC. I understand the whooping thing is meant to be derisive. Did he demand his trade or something? Even so, it’s not like you got bupkis in return.
Pittsburgh Black And Gold -- So new, it still smells like paint!
It goes back to Larry Murphy
The “whoop whoop” treatment is generally given to former Caps defensemen, starting with Larry Murphy. It’s a play on “whoops” (as in: “Whoops, I made a mistake”) Though, I have heard people say it has something to do with thinking Murphy was a turkey or he had a turkey neck…
Some fans extend it to all former Caps, but there are those of us who reserve it for only former blueliners.
I think the ‘whoop’ was supposed to be an allusion to the three stooges (his name being Larry and all).
I’d always heard turkey call.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Whatever the origins, it’s a) stupid and b) counter-productive. How many times have we seen some former Cap the crowd is getting on come back to score a killer goal?
I agree that it’s stupid, though I’m not sure about counter-productive – more ineffectual if you ask me, but that’s neither here nor there.
I don’t get why fans would rather focus their attention and energy on heckling an opponent rather than supporting their own squad, but there’s a lot I don’t understand.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on May 9, 2009 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Agreed, rec’d.
Same goes for the folks who used to boo Jagr in Pittsburgh, although the circumstances were a bit different there what with the “dying alive” nonsense.
Pittsburgh Black And Gold -- So new, it still smells like paint!
Yeah, but at the same time, I’d take him back if he didn’t mind coming for under $3M a year for one or two seasons.
Pittsburgh Black And Gold -- So new, it still smells like paint!
He never outright said he quit on your team. He also said he’d play for the minimum for Lemieux. Any chance you want his favorite center Nylander with him?
He said he’d play for the minimum, but he says a lot of things when he’s disgruntled, and I don’t really think I can take him at his word. I guarantee you, though, that if I were Ray Shero, I’d be on my phone to his agent about 5 seconds after the start of free agency on July 1.
You can keep Nylander, though. I don’t see the NHL allowing 23 active players during a game, so no 5th line for us. :p
Pittsburgh Black And Gold -- So new, it still smells like paint!
Oh, and I thought he said something about Jeff Halpern being his favorite center?
Pittsburgh Black And Gold -- So new, it still smells like paint!
Makes sense. He creates enough offense on his own, may as well play him with a guy that knows how to play in his own end. Any player that admits to quiting on a team is just a total D bag, end of story. I hope he has many more years battling Yashin for the Hart-less trophy in the KHL.
Looks like one of his biggest competitors over there was Alexei Morozov…another guy I wouldn’t mind having back so long as he came at a reasonable price. He kind of got shafted when he was here.
Pittsburgh Black And Gold -- So new, it still smells like paint!
Ah ha, Murph. Yeah, I’d be bitter too about a guy who left town after not doing a whole lot only to become a hall of famer.
Oh, wait, I’ve got Naslund for that!
Pittsburgh Black And Gold -- So new, it still smells like paint!
You are right about it being meant in a derisive way, and I hate that we do it to Gonch, who was a great Cap. I thought it always was directed to Caps defensemen who left on somewhat bad terms (a la Kevin Hatcher) or who underperformed as a Cap (Eminger, Murphy?).
Gonch is a class act and I wish he didn’t have “Whoop-worthy” status.
by Cluster on May 9, 2009 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I have no good memories of Hatcher’s time in Pittsburgh. I also don’t have bad ones. He’s one of those guys that I hear about from time to time and think, “Oh, him. I forgot about him.”
Pittsburgh Black And Gold -- So new, it still smells like paint!
It seems to me that an intentional knee-on-knee hit would be a risky proposition. Is it not possible that you could injure your own knee with such a tactic?
Gonchar did his best to get out of the way of what was to be an absolute freight-train hit and it’s unfortunate that his knee got the brunt of it.
No intent to injure, no additional penalty necessary. Not even Hook’s “grassy knowl” screen grab change that.
It seems to me that an intentional knee-on-knee hit would be a risky proposition. Is it not possible that you could injure your own knee with such a tactic?
It’s like a head-butt. If you know it’s coming and can dictate the angle of impact, it will hurt you a lot less than the other person.
Memo to self: don’t fight DMG.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
That said, it’s still high risk and you can hurt yourself badly doing it. If you really just want to hurt a guy you use your stick or elbow, or hit him from behind.
Or throw a lot of hats on the ice. But that’s more the emotional kind of hurt.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on May 9, 2009 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Good news! Bill McCreary tonight!
Ugh.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Does anyone like him? At all, anywhere? I’m not sure his own mom would want him around. :)
Pittsburgh Black And Gold -- So new, it still smells like paint!
Then again, it could be Plastic-hair Fraser.
Pittsburgh Black And Gold -- So new, it still smells like paint!
For the love of god, please put Ovechkin back together with Backs. I think Feds needs to kick 28 in the ass, sit next to him the whole game, if need be, to get him going/inspire/whatever.
from the house that Red Jesus built
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida
|
55 | 27 | 17 | 11 | 65 |
|
Washington
|
55 | 28 | 22 | 5 | 61 |
|
Winnipeg
|
57 | 26 | 25 | 6 | 58 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
55 | 24 | 25 | 6 | 54 |
|
Carolina
|
56 | 20 | 25 | 11 | 51 |
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