Recap: Caps 3, 'Hawks 2 (OT)
by J.P. on Sep 19, 2009 11:49 PM EDT
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Print[AP Recap - Game Summary - Event Summary]
With the five forwards whose top-six status is set in stone, the putative #1a and #1b goalies, and the Norris finalist all back in D.C., the Washington Capitals didn't stand much of a chance, it would seem, against what closely resembled last year's Western Conference runner-up Chicago Blackhawks team.
And yet, with firepower that's headed to Hershey and the Caps' third and fourth lines (more or less), the visitors beat their old buddy Cristobal Huet in front of a huge crowd of 19,374 in the Windy City.
Ten notes on the game:
- Mathieu Perreault scored the game-winner (pictured) by going hard to the net, something the Caps were doing a lot of in overtime. Novel idea. Perreault also had a great forechecking shift at four-on-four earlier.
- Kyle Wilson was probably the Caps' best forward on the night, putting six shots on goal, assiting on the Caps' first tally and scoring the game-tying marker late in the third. And he did it all in just 12:33 of ice time (which also included both 'Hawks goals). Of Perreault and Wilson, Bruce Boudreau said they "showed tonight that they can skate and play at this level if we need them."
- Chris Clark also looked very good, notching a goal and a helper. His wheels are back and his hands are getting there.
- If Semyon Varlamov had Michal Neuvirth's glove... man. Neuvirth was a little shaky early, but settled down and was stellar when he needed to be. His style - efficient, quiet, etc. - is such a contrast from Varly's.
- Brooks Laich rang iron twice. Get 'em out of your system now, Brooksie.
- Milan Jurcina had a plus-two rating, three blocks, three hits, and seven total shots (on goal, missed and blocked). The Bob Woods effect?
- Brian Pothier has had better nights.
- So has the team, discipline-wise, with three high-sticking penalties (including an Alexandre Giroux double-minor), a hook and a hold. On the plus-side, the penalty kill was very good, going six-for-six.
- Besides that double-minor (in the offensive zone, no less), Giroux registered just one shot on goal in just under 15 minutes of ice time. Notably, he only saw 0:46 on the power play, 12th on the team.
- Tom Poti played 26:07 and was plus-two. Solid. Ready to go.
The Caps will return home for Monday night's Verizon Center kickoff against the Sabres with two wins under their collective belt - one for Varly, one for Neuvy. Your turn, Jose.
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Hmm
Better glove Neuvirth or Varly? That might be debatable.
Rec’d for “putative” – always loved that word.
From the AP recap:
Washington right wings Eric Fehr and Tomas Fleischmann have undisclosed injuries
Way to do your research, eh?
Looks like the Caps caught ’em napping.
Musta asked McPhee.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Sep 20, 2009 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, that jumped out at me as well.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
beat me to it
"Baseball is drama with an endless run and an ever-changing cast." - Joe Garagiola
Chowdah Chatter - an outlet for my random thoughts and such.
by crabchowdah on Sep 20, 2009 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions
Someone (with AP) certainly missed out on the news about Fehr’s shoulder surgery and Fleischmann’s deep vein thrombosis. I’m surprised they missed that news. But then again, AP probably cut their budget that they don’t have enough people to get all the stories that are going on.
Or they didn’t have the information to hand, did have a Caps-provided scorecard that listed those two guys as injured, and had a deadline to beat.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 20, 2009 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions
Brian Pothier has had better nights.
Tarik said: *On the Blackhawks’ second goal, scored by Jack Skille, if it looked like Brian Pothier was slow to close the gap on the ‘Hawks forward, there’s a good reason for that: His skate broke, according to Boudreau.
Comment first, think second, read third.
So I guess if your equipment breaks, that’s an excuse, but if your toe breaks, it isnt…
{grin}
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 20, 2009 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Also not an excuse? Broken rib.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Sep 20, 2009 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Right on time, YNC.
I opened this game thread in th specific hopes I would find just such a link. Thanks for posting.
That goal by Perreault was a goal-scorer’s goal. Great balance, great hands, nose for the puck, got that thing up and over the bodies into clear space…nice.
So what was ShaMo doing playing forward on the OT goal? I guess I mean to say, how did that play develop? You can’t see it from the replay. It just starts with ShaMo in deep in the corner fighting for the puck, coming out with it, and putting it on net (and Perrault puts in the rebound).
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 20, 2009 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions
IIRC the play started with Perreault leading a rush through the neutral zone. I don’t remember why Shamo was in down low but I think BB may have told them to just go for the W. There were also only 11 seconds left so maybe Shamo was just taking it on himself to be more aggressive. Earlier in the OT (also after a Perreault-led rush) Erskine was right on top of the crease looking for a rebound and the Caps almost ended the game then. I think BB may have given the D the green light for the OT period, at least last night.
A man must have a code.
Great Bruce quotes from Tarik’s blog recap:
“When you have championship blood in you, you never quit.”
And, even better, on Q:
“He did what he does, which is making coaches happy.”
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“…national anthem soloist Jim Cornelison was in mid-season form”
Jonathan Toews No. 19 sweaters looked to be the outerwear of choice among Hawks fans
Highlights from Chicago Tribune’s writeup
IS PAЯTY NOW
As good as Neuvy played, the only way he stays in DC Is if Theo doesn’t. For psych reasons alone, the Caps can’t send Varly back after last year, even if it is determined that he is 3rd best at this point.
by ChrisAm on Sep 20, 2009 9:33 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
You know, it actually woudn’t surprise me at this point if Boudreau keeps Theo and Neuvirth on the roster, and lets Varlamov go to Hershey and play every day…
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 20, 2009 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions
Preserving Varly’s mental health at this stage is more important than him playing everyday. Varly thinks he should be number 1 and playing for Russia in the olympics not battling Neuvy for No. 2. If BB sends him down, Olie was right- BB has no idea how to deal with goalies.
by ChrisAm on Sep 20, 2009 10:21 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I’m not certain about your emphasis on Varlamov’s mental state, and as far as Olie’s sour grapes….I think Bruce has played the goaltending well since he has arrived—he’s taken some chances and they’ve worked out for the better. I for one appreciate Bruce’s evenhanded approach to these three in particular—he’s been loyal to Theo, naming him the starter coming into camp, yet he’s giving both the kids every shot to make the roster and progress.
These are good problems.
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on Sep 20, 2009 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions
BB took a chance when he yanked Theo but there is a big difference between yanking a vet with Theo’s years, experience and professional accomplishment and a 20 year old kid. BB rightly knew that Theo could handle such a demotion. But suppose you’re Varly, you are superman in the playoffs and play a large role in salvaging the Caps season, every Caps related article on the planet suggests- at worst- you are 1b and are probably the key to the Caps Stanley Cup hopes, and the Caps release one goalie coach only to bring in another that speaks Russian- and you are sent back to Hershey because you were arguably outplayed in a meaningless preseason game. What would you think?
And to whom is it easier to explain the demotion to Hershey?
I think there’s not a chance in the world Varly goes to Hershey.
by ChrisAm on Sep 20, 2009 10:46 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Let’s give these kids more credit.
Bear in mind, I don’t think any minds were made up last night (or in BUF) as to which kid sticks and which one goes to Hershey. And I am of the mind that Varlamov will make our opening night roster, as you clearly are. I do believe however that the bloom is off the rose with these young guys—they and Theo all know where things stand. It’s about production when the chance is there…it’s as wide open a competition as it should be.
from the house that Red Jesus built
I appreciate your concern about Varlamov’s mental state, but I don’t think he’s as fragile as you make him out to be. He let in some atrocious goals in the playoffs last year and with the exception of game 7 was able to bounce back and give strong performances in net.
A man must have a code.
Agreed. He is a Russian — the same mental states do not apply to him.
Comment first, think second, read third.
by zephyr on Sep 20, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
For the sake of argument, why is Varlamov’s mental state more important (or more fragile) than Neuvirth’s?
Varly saved one playoff series but arguably lost another. Should he necessarily be rewarded? If he doesn’t make the Caps is it a signal that his efforts weren’t good enough, or just that he needs some more work first?
Neuvirth won a cup and playoff MVP title. If he doesn’t make the Caps, is that a signal that minor league success is meaningless and therefore not worth the attempt?
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
by CapitalCentre on Sep 20, 2009 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Varlamov did not arguably lose the Pens series. That series doesn’t go 7 if Varlamov doesn’t stand on his head early in the series.
Sending a guy down is a harsher message than maintaining the status quo, and Varlamov is more likely to be disturbed by being sent down than Neuvirth would be by staying where he was. Call it a psychological quirk but that’s how people respond to things.
A man must have a code.
I think it’s sad you think he lost the Pens series for the the Caps.
Unless you mean he just lost the series…and that would be true since the entire team did.
Comment first, think second, read third.
I really don’t. He was one of the few guys who showed up; I know that. I’m just not entirely certain of the logic about rewards and messages sent.
I’m not convinced that sending Varlamov down would be a demotion. There’s an argument to be made that he wasn’t really entirely up, when you consider his regular season games.
And on the other hand, Neuvirth’s accomplishments in Hershey were more decisive than Varlamov’s in Washington.
Because I’m moderately quiet, and you might have forgotten, I love them both — I’m a tandem-goalie proponent. And I wish there was a way we could pull it off this year. It sucks that someone’s going to have to sit through another season before he’s officially in Washington.
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
by CapitalCentre on Sep 20, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Great post on the roster battlesby Corey here. Here’s one of Corey’s conclusions:
It is a bit surprising to see Trevor Bruess hasn’t been in the lineup. It seems like he has had a pretty good camp.
I see it this way: Bruess isn’t going to make the Caps (duh) but the coaching staff has said they’d like to get him into a preseason game, essentially as a reward for a great camp. That’s nice, but the coaches also realize that assessing the players who do have a shot is more important. So they’re taking the early games to watch the Girouxs and Perreaults of the world. By the end of the preseason, if enough decisions are made that they have an available sweater, it’ll go to Bruess with a pat on the back. So it doesn’t surprise me that he hasn’t played yet.
Of course, with Hershey’s camp opening very soon there should be a big round of cuts coming up. Corey may be thinking that Bruess naturally belongs in that round of cuts, so if he was going to get a preseason game it should have been one of the first two. It’ll be interesting to see if Bruess gets cut now or if they keep him around long enough to get into his game.
I really do like the idea that the best/most surprising emerging young player from rookie/training camps (Hauswirth last year, Beagle the year before) gets into a preseason game every year.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 20, 2009 10:08 AM EDT reply actions
I think your take is pretty much right on. I’m a little surprise Bouchard hasn’t played yet but I’m sure he’ll get his chance.
A man must have a code.
My two cents? Get rid of Bouchard. He’s a discipline problem, he doesn’t have a great attitude, and he gives up when things don’t go his way. That’s why he sat through the playoffs in Hershey last year. In my humble opinion, we don’t need that – and he’s not good enough to contemplate putting up with it.
by OverTheBoards on Sep 21, 2009 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions
So much for that idea… (Bruess has been sent down. Of course, guys have gotten into preseason games after being sent down before)
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 20, 2009 8:27 PM EDT up reply actions
The guy hasn’t played a full paced game without an injury in two years. Give him a month and he’ll be in fighting form. This has all been really great news — especially that he has his legs back.
Comment first, think second, read third.
I agree with zephyr, I thought Clark looked real good last night and it’s great that he’s at least skating up to speed again.
A man must have a code.
And last year’s main injury was to his wrist.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 20, 2009 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions
That was a terrible rebound Huet let up on Wilson’s tying goal.
I understand it’s pre-season but I would have thought the ’Hawks would have been a little more upset about dropping that game considering the rosters.
A man must have a code.
That was a great game...
It really shows how good the Caps are if they can beat the Hawks without their top guns. Plus, I’m not a very big Chicago fan, and the Caps are my number-two team, so it was a nice win.
by Brad_Richards_Rocks on Sep 20, 2009 12:18 PM EDT reply actions
Definitely nice to see a half-AHL lineup going toe to toe with the WC runners up. I scrolled through the CHI GTD and they were talking about running up the score, then all of a sudden they lose and it’s just a meaningless pre-season game. I thought it was funny. It may be an ultimately meaningless game but if the Caps dressed almost a full NHL roster, complete with all their high-end talent, and lost to an AHL squad I’d be pissed.
A man must have a code.
Snip snip snip… cuts have been made.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I imagine by Wens they’ll be close to playing with the opening night roster anyway, don’t you think?
Comment first, think second, read third.
Probably.
I have to agree that the Hawks fans should be pretty upset. They iced a nearly-full NHL roster and still got beat by a half-AHL squad missing all but one of its top five scorers from last season and all of its big names.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Sep 20, 2009 1:18 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Ha. I actually said the same thing over at Second City Hockey and they called me a troll, sad, and downright pathetic. If we played the Young Guns and lost to a grinders/AHL line up I’d be pretty upset.
A man must have a code.
Post a link to the Webster’s dictionary definition of “projection”. I know I’d be furious if I iced a big-name squad and got beat by a contender’s grinder line.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Sep 20, 2009 1:42 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Sure hope not, but it can always happen. Hopefully our big boys don’t get cocky.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Sep 20, 2009 2:21 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I’m fully aware of that, but if it does play out like that I won’t be saying “oh well, it’s only pre-season.” If our guns get beat by grinders I’ll be bitching about our continued inability to show up against weaker opponents. Pre-season is pre-season but it still means something.
A man must have a code.
Haha, I saw that. (By the way, you are also now a “douchenozzle,” whatever the hell that means in Chicago speak.) I just went over to skim through and thought it was pretty funny. Especially when they said the Hawks dressed “some” of their regulars. Ok; if by “some,” you mean 17 out of 20 regulars including Two-Dime and Toews.
Enh. Let ‘em think / say what they want. The proof is, as always, on the ice, and it was laid out last night. If they choose to ignore it, that’s on them.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Sep 20, 2009 4:27 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yeah I just saw the douchenozzle comment. I don’t even know how to respond to this stuff. (They were talking about how good their PK was and I reminded them that 0 of our top PP players were there, ergo I am a douchenozzle.)
A man must have a code.
I guess being observant equates to being a douchnozzle. Don’t really understand how it’s hard for established NHLers to play against kids trying to make names for themselves. Maybe that was their way of saying, “It was a preseason game that didn’t matter, so the Hawks didn’t try their hardest.”
Anyway, I’m definitely with you when you say you’d be upset if we lost to a team full of grinders and prospects. We should be able to play at the highest level even against weaker opponenets.
strangely, a lot of people think pointing out the obvious is trolling, let the haters hate.
"And next year it will be ours."
I haven’t read the posts over there or anything, but I highly doubt that F & B went over there to taunt anyone. If they can’t accept the notes from a fellow NHL fan regarding a game that our team played against theirs, then they can set their expectations to whatever lofty level they want and be disappointed later rather than now. At least you warned them, F & B…
"I am... *grins* ... 'Nobody' "
- Odysseus
by war_capitals on Sep 21, 2009 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions
I was just trying to clarify some cognitive dissonance and temper some fanboy excitement. Apparently they thought that it wasn’t a big deal to lose to an AHL lineup, but their PK looked freaking awesome(!). To me that’s cherry picking. The ‘Hawks should have won that game handily and didn’t give their fans much to be excited about, that was all I was trying to say; you’re right, I definitely did not go over there to taunt.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
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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 |
(updated 2.12.2012 at 10:06 PM EST)
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