Recap: Capitals 4, Rangers 3
by Stephen Pepper on Sep 27, 2009 3:19 PM EDT
41 comments
[AP Recap - Game Summary - Event Summary]
A languid afternoon for some hockey, and it began as a rout but ended all too dramatically. Recalling some in-game energy and determination issues from last season's Capitals squad. A classic tale of, essentially, two halves of a game, one played by each team.
But now we all can breathe a sigh of relief, because everyone appears healthy, and the real thing is just days away.
Ten notes on the game:
- The rink was good n' cold today. And pretty boisterous crowd for a pre-season Sunday. Opposite the 'Skins.
- Slogging through a day-long fan convention yesterday didn't appear to dampen the energy level of this Capitals bunch, for a noon start. Until midway through the second. Semyon Varlamov included. A lot of photo posing yesterday wears on the body, I guess.
- Brooks Laich's pick-pocketing of Michal Rozsival, recovering the puck, and deking Henrik Lundqvist in tight, is something we've heretofore seen only from the best of 'em. Wow.
- With Quintin Laing (potentially) on this squad, the PK contingent looks quite deep. With the ability to rotate Laing, Boyd Gordon and Brooks Laich up front (David Steckel was in the box), a five-on-three kill didn't seem so daunting. Or maybe that's just my relaxed, pre-season disposition.
- Mike Knuble went straight to the net as Alex Ovechkin cranked it from the circle's edge in the first, and got two rebound whacks at the top of the crease. He was also in prime position to bang in lots more rebounds throughout the game. Like today, a healthy number of those pucks are going in this season.
- On the second line front, Brendan Morrison deflected down a slapper in front of Henrik Lundqvist, then authoring a dangerous wrap-around attempt that rang iron. Perhaps softening King Henrik up a bit for allowing a long range Alexander Semin goal that he'd like to have back. Good chemistry there today too, and give Semin some time to home in on those passes from Mo behind the net.
- Brendan on playing with Semin on line two: "I think it has the makings of a line that can compliment the top line, and add some secondary scoring. My job is to get pucks to him, and make sure that he has chances for shots."
- And comparing today's teammates to those back in Vancouver: "It's been a long time since I've played with a group of guys with this much skill." (And by the way, his neck feels better and "good enough to play.")
- Hell of a shot by Brian Pothier. Perfect screen and deflection by C-Bo. Textbook.
- Mike Green flat-out skated today.
Now, we await the final cuts down to 23 in the coming days, and settle in to watch it all begin to unfold.
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So I’m reading the wire recap — did we just trade Giroux to the Rangers? Oy, AP.
Laich opened the scoring with a goal that included a spin move to get clear of New York’s Alexandre Giroux, giving him a clear shot past Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist
by gfcaps fan on Sep 27, 2009 3:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The AP has been kind of downhill the last few years. The photography remains high class, though!
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by winterion on Sep 27, 2009 3:50 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
It finally dawned on me — they wear the same number. Still….
by gfcaps fan on Sep 27, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
A few observations:
- “Eye of the Tiger” was a pretty good choice for the last couple of minutes.
- CBo was all over the ice and saw some good PP time (and got some good chances).
- A healthy Pothier is going to be a serious asset. Sloan being willing and able to shoot from the point doesn’t hurt his cause, or the team’s, either.
- Anyone else think that Varlamov would like to have that second Rangers goal back?
- Gordon got asked for more offense? He’s starting to deliver on that.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Sep 27, 2009 4:13 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs
Hey, at least the Caps can win games, unlike the Skins. Against winless teams. WTF.
I need 100% of you guys to give 110% 100% of the time.
by capsfan4life on Sep 27, 2009 4:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Thank goodness my dollars go to Ted and the Caps and not Napoleon and the Skins. Today was a great first two periods, and a lousy third. I hope that somewhere along the way the Caps realize that games are 60 minutes long.
I think that King Karl simply got outplayed for a spot this fall. Sloan has been really good, despite the two penalties he took today.
by Sct112 on Sep 27, 2009 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That’s not fair to Napoleon. Yeah Napoleon was an arrogant D-bag but at least his squad had a pretty impressive degree of success.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
by Fehr and Balanced on Sep 27, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I subscribe to the “Great Men” theory of history:
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 27, 2009 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have to agree, and I thought one of the Sloan penalties was kind of a weak call, but that’s me.
By the way, Corey said that Boudreau commented that Sloan is making his decisions really difficult.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Sep 27, 2009 6:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
lol. Football.
I'm so sick and tired of the refs explaining the calls like this is the NFL.
by Whiter Mage on Sep 27, 2009 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
deja vu all over again?
“The [insert name of opposing team] had just 11 shots in the first two periods, but 20 in the third.”
It’s okay. They’re resting.
by Uncle C on Sep 27, 2009 5:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Maybe they’re just “pacing” themselves?
"I am... *grins* ... 'Nobody' "
- Odysseus
by war_capitals on Sep 28, 2009 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thank you
To Mr. Snyder and all of his employees for helping turn D.C. into a hockey town. Keep it up!
by Feeshbate on Sep 27, 2009 5:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Amen!
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by winterion on Sep 27, 2009 10:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mike Green flat-out skated today
JP, can you parse that statement? Ima thinking that’s not the most complimentary phrase, but I didn’t see any of the game.
IS PAЯTY NOW
by Your Nation's Capital on Sep 27, 2009 5:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Er, Pepper. Read third, right?
IS PAЯTY NOW
by Your Nation's Capital on Sep 27, 2009 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I meant that I thought he skated strong and with a lot of jump today. Not that he was outskated.
by Stephen Pepper on Sep 27, 2009 11:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks, I was hoping that’s what you meant. Skate on, gangsta.
IS PAЯTY NOW
by Your Nation's Capital on Sep 27, 2009 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Otherwise I think it’d read
Mike Green-flat-out skated today.
by red army line on Sep 28, 2009 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good game. Too close there at the end, but exciting (I was there).
"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 27, 2009 5:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I just watched the highlights on the web. Man, Brooksie’s goal was pretty.
by Scott in Shaw on Sep 27, 2009 5:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Helped by Henrik’s miscue, no doubt. He kicked too early, trying to take it off his stick, and basically handed him the open net.
Still, heck of a thing, great way for Brooksie to get off the schneid, as it were, for the preseason.
by brs03 on Sep 27, 2009 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That’s captain-material scoring right there!
Just kidding, Clarkie’s looked (and felt?) full of awesome all preseason, let’s all hope his regular season performance puts that whole thread to bed!
Go Clark! Go OV! GO EVERYBODY! GO CAPS!
"I am... *grins* ... 'Nobody' "
- Odysseus
by war_capitals on Sep 28, 2009 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
When this Caps team figures out that a hockey game is 60 minutes long, look out NHL.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Sep 27, 2009 6:28 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
"When the Caps learn how to win games"
Anyone watch the game from the MSG feeds? I subscribe to Dish and added the extra sports channels. Aside from the mostly Ranger sided commentary (to be expected) when they were talking about the Caps they were very complementary, but the thing that stuck out to me was the comment that was made at least 3 times throughout the game: “When the Caps learn how to win games”.
This comment was used throughout the entire game not just during the 3rd period breakdowns.
This might actually be the best statement question posed, have we learned what it takes to win? 50 wins is nothing to sneeze at and it says that we can win games, but when all the chips are down and there is nothing else left but win or go home, did we learn how to win those games? Can we take the life out of a team instead of giving them life back this year? This is what I am looking for during the season and will keep in the back of my head.
Count me as one that just wants to skip through this season and Olympics and get to the playoffs right now and lets find out, because the games against last seasons playoff teams mostly serve as the barometer of how much this team has improved, IMO. Ohh yeah, and if they don’t let a “lower” team win a series cough, cough, Columbus, cough cough or get shut out by any team in a series.
Now, do I love the addition of Knuble, absolutely. And B-Mo with Semin and Laich, you better believe I do. I will go on record that they should be the most productive second line at least in the Eastern Conference this year (pls Semin stay healthy).
Come on Thursday, Let get this thing under way already and let’s see what the 09-10 Caps are made of…
Let’s Go Caps!
Promote the game, it's the NHL, not SCHL
by kurlNdrag on Sep 27, 2009 6:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
There was a FanPost on this, check out the post and comments. The jist is the 07-08 Caps had that killer instinct, the 08-09 Caps lost it.
by red army line on Sep 28, 2009 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i knew i should have taken my laptop with me during vacation….thanks for the link.
Promote the game, it's the NHL, not SCHL
by kurlNdrag on Sep 28, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think Bourque, Laing and Sloan are staying up with the big club, so here’s an early stab at the opening night lineup.
8-19-22
21-9-28
53-39-17
56-15-10
92……..oy
26-52
3-55
2-4
23-89
40
60
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on Sep 27, 2009 7:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Suspect you’ve got Bourque and Laing crossed up there. Bourque’s 56; Laing’s 52 — did you mean to put Bourque on the 3rd line?
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 27, 2009 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Laing’s 53…
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Sep 27, 2009 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah, prolly so. I had it swapped a couple times before going with the shutdown checking*** model, last minute of the previous Rags game notwithstanding.
Not that Bruce matches lines or nothin’.
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on Sep 27, 2009 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m with you. Laing is more of a 4th line/PK guy.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
by Fehr and Balanced on Sep 27, 2009 8:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I think so too. I like Bourque and Steckel together, and Laing (53, BTW) is more of a PK guy.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Sep 27, 2009 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Had to watch the Redskins game today (sigh, not even a fan). Did Bourque look like he earned a spot today?
"Only by great risks can great results be achieved." - Khashayar
by Steck It Out on Sep 27, 2009 9:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Played inspired hockey… lots of won 50-50 pucks, a great deflection goal, and he seemed like a good line match with Steckel. They had immediate chemistry.
Surely, I wear rock-the-red-colored-glasses, but the Bourque lobby is very, very happy with his bounceback performance.
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by winterion on Sep 27, 2009 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Bourque lobby was happy to read all the post-game coverage. It’s looked largely positive – from the coaches, the playing staff, and the media. The dream lives on!
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by winterion on Sep 28, 2009 1:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Anyone have video of the Laich goal?
Fight, you time-wasting figure skaters!
by boutros23 on Sep 28, 2009 9:58 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Caps’ site has a clip of highlights of the game.
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
by Fehr and Balanced on Sep 28, 2009 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, that was a killer right there. When he scored I was thinking “that looked like something Ovi would do”.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Sep 28, 2009 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was thinking “the only time Laich can score on a breakaway is when he mishandles the puck.”
If you're after gettin' the honey, then you don't go killin' all them bees.
by Fehr and Balanced on Sep 28, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You know what they say – “professionals I can deal with. It’s the amateurs that are dangerous.”
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Sep 29, 2009 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
22 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 30 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
19 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 23 |
|
Atlanta
|
18 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 22 |
|
Florida
|
20 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 20 |
|
Carolina
|
21 | 4 | 12 | 5 | 13 |
(updated 11.21.2009 at 12:53 AM EST)
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
