Recap: Caps 3, Senators 2 (OT)
by David Getz on Oct 11, 2010 11:04 PM EDT
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[NHL.com Recap - GameCenter - Game Summary - Event Summary]
The Capitals started the season with a stinker in Atlanta on Friday night, and just about completely redeemed themselves by blowing out New Jersey at home on Saturday. The odds were pretty strong tonight's game was going to fall somewhere in the middle, and it did -- though probably closer to the season opener than fans would have liked.
That's not to say the games were all that comparable, because they weren't. On Friday, the Capitals looked flat, uninspired, even uninterested. Tonight the team just looked, well, off. Passes were missed, pucks were mishandled, and players looked like they had a hard time getting on the same page as one another. Fortunately, the Ottawa Senators were just as sloppy, and the Caps were able to come away with the victory.
For Washington, the biggest plus was probably Michal Neuvirth. The Czech netminder stopped 29 of the 31 shots he faced, as the Capitals relied on him to make big stops and keep them in the game, something they've done in each of their three games in 2010-11. Of course, therein lies the rub: while it's great that the Capitals have been buoyed by their rookie 22-year-old (ostensible) number two goalkeeper, it's not so great that they've needed him to be so good so often.
Ten additional thoughts on tonight's game:
- Matt Hendricks may very well be the new Matt Bradley, and the fact that he was an unrestricted free agent until about two weeks ago means there are a lot of teams around the NHL whose pro scouting staffs should be kicking themselves right now or that good fourth liners aren't that hard to find in the offseason. Or both.
- Through three games, Mike Green and Jeff Schultz have played a combined 149 minutes and have been on the ice for a combined total of one goal (Green was out for Andrew Ladd's goal in Atlanta; opponents have yet to score with Schultz on the ice). They also have a combined plus-seven rating, 11 hits, and 12 blocked shots. Not bad for a soft player who can't skate and a misplaced winger, huh?
- In the first period, the Senators had a run of extended pressure that helped them establish momentum, and had nearly weathered a shorthanded situation that ran the risk of turning the tide. Then Matt Carkner took an unnecessary roughing penalty, laying out Caps winger Brooks Laich in front of the Ottawa net after the whistle. The Caps were able to score on the extension of the power play, and went in to the first intermission ahead 1-0, depite having been outshot and, generally speaking, outplayed in the first period. That's what crease-clearing generally does for you in the post-lockout NHL.
- John Erskine's played three games for the Capitals this season; in two of them he's taken bad penalties around the net and lucked out that the referees decided to even things up, and in two of them he's taken himself out of position to make a big hit in the neutral zone, resulting in the creation or exacerbation of a scoring chance against the Caps. As J.P. tweeted on Friday, there's physical, and then there's smart and physical. Erskine needs more of the latter.
- In today's Ups and Down post, J.P. expressed hope that Eric Fehr's garbage-time goal against the Devils would kickstart the winger's offense after a couple of games where he'd been largely invisible. That looks to have been the case, as Fehr picked up a second-period marker and was making noise in the offensive zone from that point on. The best part? Both the goal and the subsequent pressure were the result of Fehr getting to the front of the net.
- Speaking of going to the net, the Capitals had two goals in regulation, and both came from players working hard along the boards while a teammate drove the net. Imagine that.
- Two night after having a great game against the New Jersey Devils, John Carlson struggled a bit, ending up with a giveaway, a minus-one rating, four times as many shots blocked or off target as on net, and getting beat by Ryan Shannon by being over-aggressive and playing the puck over the body. That said, something tells me he'll be just fine.
- Man, how bummed is Jarkko Ruutu going to be when he finds out Oscars aren't handed out at the NHL Awards show?
- It's hard to say how much of it is the result of his ongoing competition with David Steckel (and, to a certain extent, Matt Hendricks) and how much is the result of being fully healthy, but Boyd Gordon has played the first two games of his season with a level of energy and reckless abandon we didn't get enough of in 2009-10.
- If I were a coach and had to dress both Tyler Sloan and John Erskine, and had the home-ice, last change advantage, I'd strongly consider putting the two defensemen together and doing my best to protect them, rather than creating two weak pairings.
Moving forward, look for the Capitals to try and address the issue of puck possession; namely, to get more of it. Which bring us to one last thought: with the team garnering so little, and performing inconsistently in the faceoff dot, is Bruce Boudreau going to have to find a way to get both David Steckel and Boyd Gordon in the lineup Wednesday night?
Game highlights:
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Ahhhh…like water to a man in a desert.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Oct 11, 2010 11:06 PM EDT reply actions
Congrats F16!
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Not that I’m arguing but Neuvy should have been in there.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Oct 11, 2010 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions
He'll have to settle for the steak. Or will it be lobster?
Nice work, Neuvirth!
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
A worthy prize
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Oct 11, 2010 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions
From Corey’s gamer:
“They really came hard – I think they had 12 or 13 shots in the first period,” Neuvirth said. “They really wanted to win tonight and they took us to overtime, but we got the huge goal for us. … I was kind of getting ready for a shootout, but when he scored I was maybe the happiest guy in the building. That was a huge goal for us and a huge win.”
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Damn that Captain for only showing up when he’s needed most…
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Oct 12, 2010 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions
Damn straight he was the happiest guy in the building. Only time I ever worry about Neuvy in goal is for a penalty shot/shootout. He’ll get there. I hope.
"It's always good to have vikings."
Goaltenders who play positionally and with angles in mind aren’t engineered for the uncertainty that is the penalty shot/Gimmick phase of the game. Varlamov is much better at this than Neuvirth.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Oct 12, 2010 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions
I think once Neuvy gets more experienced at it he’ll be fine. He just has to learn the angles and the movements he has to make to stay square. Varly has the explosive movement that can help him recover on a deke, but once Neuvy learns how to stay square to the shooter he’ll be difficult to beat.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
probably wanting the spread the wealth a little. Neuvy’s been a star on both game.
Which is not to take away from his excellent play tonight. Once again, he had to bail the team out a number of times.
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
If I were a coach and hard to dress both Tyler Sloan and John Erskine, and had the home-ice, last change advantage, I’d strongly consider putting to the two defensemen together and doing my best to protect them, rather than creating two weak pairings.
so much depends upon
a Tom Poti
wearing a red
sweater
skating the white
ice
(w/ apologies to William Carlos Williams)
"Because the game is not just about fighting no more. " D.J. King
by bigeugene on Oct 11, 2010 11:08 PM EDT reply actions 4 recs
Probably too much…although that says more about Sloskine than it does Poti filling a hole.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Oct 11, 2010 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions
so much depends upon a red wheelbarrow. ..
what a clutch literature reference
Soon the Championship with be ours, all ours!
by kingzman264 on Oct 11, 2010 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Stecks played better with the messed up finger. Just being good at the dot isn’t enough when you have all that Gordo brings.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Oct 11, 2010 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Fehr, of course, played only 13:26, to pick up his 1-1-2. That’s nearly 10 minutes less than Backstrom’s 22:53, 0-0-0.
Nicky sure is having a tough start to the year. A little too much celebrating the new contract this Summer?
You had me at no problem.
An interesting comparison…but given that it’s Backstrom we’re talking about, I think he deserves a little slack ;)
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Oct 11, 2010 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Backstrom is getting some amazing forechecks going all by himself – I thought Gonchar and Phillips were the only guys he didn’t rob on the regular last night. To my eyes, he’s been playing well and generating chances, but AO and Knuble haven’t been finishing as well as they normally do. Couple more of those shots go in and we’re talking about Baxter’s hot start. The points will come.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Oct 12, 2010 7:34 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yeah, I think Baxter has looked better than his stat line as well, but he can still pick it up a little. I thought he was the best guy against the Thrashers but now that the team has kind of picked it up he isn’t as impressive.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
maybe his leg hasn’t healed completely yet, didn’t he get 14 stitches or so?
by vtcapsfan99 on Oct 12, 2010 12:48 AM EDT up reply actions
Well if Brads is hurt (for those that didn’t see the game, Bradley was not on the bench after the 1st), guess it won’t be too difficult to get Gordo and Steckel on the ice Wednesday.
"Because the game is not just about fighting no more. " D.J. King
Unless they want to play King instead. But methinks it will probably both Stecks and Gordon.
Rocking the Red since 1975
With Konopka playing for the Islanders, King is a good bet to get some ice time….
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Oct 12, 2010 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions
Gotta wonder if Hendricks was just after an NHL minimum contract in Phoenix? Or if they let him go because he wanted more.
You had me at no problem.
It was Colorado and they just weren’t interested. Lot of the folks at mile High Hockey were upset that he wasn’t re-signed.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Their loss is our gain
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Oct 11, 2010 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions
And maybe his game is just more naturally fitting with Bruce’s system. Not everyone can play Caps hockey, you know.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Colorado had some younger guys they wanted to break in.
Really, that’s the reason that guys like Hendricks are floating around toward the end of the summer – teams see the bottom-six as a way to break younger kids into the NHL. It’s making it tough for players like Hendricks and Brendan Morrison to get on rosters.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
I’d also say BMo’s play makes it harder for him to get on rosters. He’s not a great 4th line guy (and really, is he even a good 3rd line guy?). Hendricks is much more versatile so after watching him play I am legitimately surprised that he took so long to find a home.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
To think DJ King was acquired to fill a role on the fourth line, but Hendricks as a camp invitee has left DJ sitting in the pressbox for the first three games of the season.
I believe in JC.
bit of a roller coaster of a game.
So, Saturday, I sorta mocked Mr. B for thinking Chimmer would score. “You think Stone Hands is gonna score?!” I had to (happily) retract that statement about 10 minutes later. So when Chimera got a decent shot and was stopped, I tried again. “STONE HANDS!” No such luck tonight.
Who is this guy in the 52 sweater and what did he do with Mike Green? He was so solid, so collected, so not engaging in “OMG I wanna lead the rush! weeeeeeeeeeeeeee!” every shift. Damn, it was awesome. (it is not, however, raising money for the playground! Score, Mike!)
Eric Fehr: I love his hands.
Ovie and his flair for the dramatic….
Speaking of Ovie, I hope the Caps get this video up soon: various Caps interviewed each other about their summer, and somehow Ovie derails the entire thing and ends up ripping on Justin Bieber’s hair and doing a Bieber-trying-to-keep-his-hair-out-of-his-eyes impression. John Erskine looked like he didn’t know if he should laugh or find the nearest mental health professional.
Gordo played like he’s healthy, which is always fabulous to see.
It’s been said a million time, but I love this new PK.
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
Okay, Imma pledging two dollars for second star of the game tonight. Because he’s awesome, and because it’s his birthday (10/12), and because it’s for the kids.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
I’ll add you! Thanks!
and happy birthday, my favorite wannabe gangsta!
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
Green’s been ridiculously solid in his own end – and the offense will come. He’s getting chances but like his team is just off a bit, and the best part is that more often than not he’s getting those chances smartly. He’s looked just fantastically calm and composed, I love it.
Related, I went to the game w/ a bunch of co-workers tonight – my company just bought a suite, very shwanky – and when they announced the 3 stars my co-worker’s fiance turned to me and said “Green got the 2nd star? Did he get an assist or something?” Man, we’ve gotten spoiled. I think Neuvy deserved a star, too, but Greenie was equally as deserving for that number 2 spot.
Gordo <3
And they played that video tonight, RB ;) It was quite awesome, lots of laughing at Ovie doing the Justin Bieber impression…fantastic.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
I was at the game ;) I meant I hope they get it online.
which level is the suite on? I heard those 3rd level suites are luxe.
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
Ohhhh…I thought it was up on Caps365, is it not? It might be the whole preview show, I don’t think they broke it down yet. Or I’m going insane, which is also a possibility :D
It was the 3rd level – and yeah, it was pretty sweet. Not sure there’s a difference between those and the lower-level ones but I enjoyed it :)
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
I didn’t watch the preview show, so if it was shown there, my apologies.
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
I was in a suite tonight too; invited by a friend who was with a group that had extra visitor passes. Suite was at center ice, which was very cool. But it was weird to be in the suite because the noise from the arena is muffled. I actually missed being in my nosebleed seat.
"It's always good to have vikings."
Brads hurt his …knee, apparently.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Ovechkin kneed him! probably left his feet, too. Dirty russian.
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
Nearly 32:00 of ice time for Green. I know we were without Poti and part of the blame certainly traces back to the front office for putting Boudreau in this position. However, there’s no reason Green should play that many minutes in a game this meaningless. None.
Without OT it would have been below 30 right? Not an excuse at all but I would have bet money on him getting close to 30 when I heard Poti was out.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Oct 11, 2010 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, it was the combination of an OT game plus Greenie taking Poti’s PK time along with his own plus all the power plays. I doubt it was intentional…and having said that, Greenie handled it pretty well. If anything, I’d prefer he did these 30+ minute nights early in the season rather than later.
And no game is meaningless. We may not need 2 points to get into the playoffs but you never know – they don’t need to go full force 82 games but 2 points is 2 points, especially when you consider the margin of error for teams 6-9 last year was one point.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
I guess. We’re going to run away with the Southeast again this year though so we’ll finish with a top three seed. There’s just no single game at this juncture that’s so important where we need to be skating a guy that much.
Granted losing Poti necessitates some more ice time for Green, though I’m still not buying that the OT makes this OK. Poti has missed significant time each of the last two seasons and isn’t getting any younger. Are we going to go through this every time he’s out?
Hopefully not…just offering some mitigating circumstances. And the obvious thought that while we might not like to see it most of us knew it was coming.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Oct 11, 2010 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions
It looks like BB is actually committed to re-working the PK, so I won’t get greedy and expect him to manage Green’s ice time better too. Sigh.
Don’t worry. If he’s still running up Green’s ice time well into February/March, feel free to bitch about it – in fact, I’ll join you. A few long nights early in the season, though, I’m not too worried.
And the PK looks fantastic so far, very impressed with how effective it’s been. Hope it continues.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
We can’t forget it’s 3 games into an 82 game haul before the REAL season even begins for this team. Certain things not being up to “par” right now I can live with because it’s clear a little time and more precisely timing will come back into focus for our skill guys. Major problems from last year like the PK looking a hell of a lot better are big time steps in the right direction for where I would like the team to be in April.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Oct 11, 2010 11:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Would it be accurate to say Carlson > Alzner or are their styles too different to compare directly? I think they’d make a fabulous pairing…
Don't celebration when you score goal
I think it’s apples and oranges to some degree. Maybe Carlson’s complete game is further along at this point, but Alzner was pretty solid in our end tonight positionally. Couple of big shot blocks.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Oct 11, 2010 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions
oh, Greenie, the hair. Flock of Seagulls is not a good look. He’s going to make a hairdresser cry again.
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
Why the Green Hate?
I am at a loss on why there ‘seems’ (maybe just my perception) so much angst against one Mike Green.
I constantly hear Caps fans lament his play and even have some knuckleheads down in Sec. 101 whopping him (no Harvard grads) like an opposing player (personally no fan of that either but not the point).
Look, I realize he is a ‘high risk high reward’ player but I do not think people realize (which is pointed out in the post or goes under the radar in previous seasons) what he does on the D end….His offense is top notch and his defense is well under-rated.
I can see him leaving the Caps and helping other teams to Cups like two other HOFs who were ridiculed here: Larry Murphy and Sergei Gonchar.
Maybe DC isn’t a hockey town in terms of knowledge if we have that many who disparage their own.
Am I off base in the anti-Green perception…hopefully…
by ralCapsFan on Oct 12, 2010 12:09 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Truthfully most of the “hate” is directed as his play in the playoffs…which anyone watching can tell you has been nowhere near his regular season level of play in the past 2 seasons. The offense hasn’t been there in the postseason, and while his defense was much better during the regular season next year, he made plenty of mistakes against Montreal and Pittsburgh the past 2 postseasons. Both goals in Game 7 alone could be directly attributed to an atrocious penalty in the offensive zone and a poor decision to play the body without attempting to stop the puck.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Oct 12, 2010 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions
No disagreement
I agree on the playoff performance.
He agrees on the playoff performance.
But I from what hear from folks is much more than ‘the playoffs’…just listen in the stands if the puck bounces over his stick…you would think he was a pariah.
I hear you on the playoff performances but think the diatrabes outweigh the player
At this point some of that sentiment will extend to the entire team. Nothing any of them do in the regular season is going to matter as much to some extent. The aspirations of the organization are beyond that now. Green just gets it worse than others because while we have flamed out in 3 straight years playing Game 7’s at home, other guys have still put up numbers and not been as big a negative factor as Green has been at times.
Mostly it’s unfair, and there was a lot of people giving him credit on this site tonight for his play. The offense will always be there in my mind waiting to come out, watching him be so solid in our zone is what makes me heartened a little bit.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Oct 12, 2010 12:19 AM EDT up reply actions
eh. Green takes a ton of flak year round from every hockey “fan” and “expert” in North America for the perception that he’s nothing more then a 4th winger. It’s more than just the playoffs. It’s been going on since, oh, mid-way through his breakout 08-09 season.
He’s been saddled with a bad rap and until he stops scoring and turns into a shut down d-man, he’s going to be stuck with it. Entirely unfair, of course, because his defense is far better than he’s typically given credit for, what he does offensively is historical, and he’s never, ever going to be a crease-clearing shut down guy.
Sit back, and laugh at the ignorance of the hecklers, boo-bird, and the otherwise uniformed members of the “he’s an overrated winger!” club.
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
Thank you
I hear you…hopefully I can comply when I hear some of the ignorant comments….thanks for the common sense.
just keep telling yourself, one day, people will be jealous you saw Mike Green, the greatest offensive defenseman since Paul Coffey, play in his prime. There’s no one like him in the game right now. We’re spoiled. If some people can’t appreciate that, screw ’em!
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
by RedBirdie on Oct 12, 2010 12:24 AM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
Opinions on Green are pretty polarized in Caps fandom to say the least. He is either loved or hated. Agree that he is high risk high reward. But, to keep perspective, there’s a reason he’s one of the Caps best Plus/Minus players. And it’s more than coincidence, even if there are flaws in that statistic.
Other players disparaged a lot in Caps fan land are Schultz and Semin. Schultz’s contributions are not noticed when he’s doing his job as he is a stay-at -home defenseman. People complain that he doesn’t hit enough and doesn’t make good use of his size. Same comment on Plus/Minus applies to Schultz as applies to Green.
Semin — similar comments as for Green. High risk! High reward. And the tendency to take too many penalties.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Question
Would some of the comments on the above players be characterized as being uninformed possibly (by the way…I am NOT suggesting I know Anything…just seeing a trend)? Just curious? What I am getting at is that those player garner the most attention (or anti)…could it be that many new to the game latch on to these theories and hence it grows…?
Followup
I mean:
Schultz, Green, Semin:
Three of the most talked about…..the latter has tendencies on his PIMS which are inexplicable…but the former one…just because he is a big guy but is not a ’shut down defensive guy" seems to have plagued him to purgatory (until he leads the league in +/-). Same with Mr. Green, I get the sense that because he is an offensive talented D-man that people hold that against him.
Off base?
I would not be surprised if some of the “hate” for Green and Schultz comes from the fact that when they screw up they screw up big time. But I think the “hate” is more than it should be.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Mike Green has skated a total of 85 minutes so far this year and has been on the ice for one goal against. If you can hate that, go to the head of the haters’ line.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Oct 12, 2010 7:05 AM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
Brads Injury
I was at the game and watched Brads take a wicked slapper off his boot and limp to the bench mid-way through the first. I’m hoping he didn’t break his foot.
Best Caps on the ice tonight and in order:
Neuvy
Green
Hendricks
Gordo
Fehr
Are you sure that wasn’t Johansson? There was a tweet that described that exact circumstance, but the tweet said it was MJ90.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
The guy who sits in front of me at the game noticed Bradley limping to the bench. I hadn’t noticed that but noticed that Semin lined up with Brad’s normal linemates and later Fehr lined up with them (and that’s when he scored.)
But, it’s bad news if Johansson too a slapper off his foot. I would not be surprised. His ice time was really low today.
Rocking the Red since 1975
I don’t know if I’m more annoyed by Green getting 32 minutes of ice time or Green getting 8:37 of PP time (out of a total of 9:58). I know the Caps aren’t chock full of offensive Dmen, but it’s not as though the PP is lighting the world on fire. Still, this is what happens when Sloskine plays and Poti is out.
The real question is, why the hell did Schultz only get 20 minutes? If Poti is out and you are trying to cut down the minutes for Sloskine/protect them, then you’d think Schultz would be the first in line to eat up some of Poti’s minutes.
Neuvirth was great, Erskine blows, and Ovechkin has 2 GWG in 3 games and still hasn’t looked like himself. Nice.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Oct 12, 2010 12:19 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Schutlz isn’t going to get Poti’s (admittedly few) PP minutes. And there was also a whole lot of classic BB throwing his big guns out on the PP for way too long tonight.
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
I’m beginning to think it’s time for BB to revamp the power play. It’s not like they’ve been effective. Maybe we should have one unit have our biggest guns that are not named Ovi. And the second group should have Ovi and the next group of guys.
Also, they should stop having Ovi and Green take uber long shifts on the PP. After a point, diminishing returns sets in. An occasional long ship if okay but not shift after shift.
Rocking the Red since 1975
There was one PP shift where Ovie was off the ice for an extended period of time (I think it was RAHJC and Green manning the points. I can’t for the life of me remember who the forwards were, but I want to say it was Semin, Laich and Fehr), and I thought that was the team’s best PP shift of the entire game. I feel like the PP way too often gets locked into the mindset of “cycle the puck to Ovechkin and wait for him to be awesome.”
I think that was the second half of the 4 minute PP.
I don’t like Poti on the PP point at all, but I want Carlson to get much more PPTOI. I also think that Semin needs to be stapled to PP1 unit instead of languishing on the PP2.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Well I don’t expect Schultz to play the PP (can he do any worse?), but I find it odd that his 3 game low in minutes came on the night that Poti was out and both of Sloskine played.
And yes, BB’s time on ice allotment is not helping to convince me he’s learned enough from last season.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Oct 12, 2010 12:36 AM EDT up reply actions
Could have been MJ90, as it happened very fast. But I’m pretty sure I saw 10 hobbling off after taking one on the right foot just inside the blue line. I saw 90 block one a bit later, but that one seemed to hit his toe, not the side of the boot.
Anyone notice the Sens kept running the same play to enter the zone on the power play? Gonchar would carry to the blue line, turn and drop it for Spezza with a full head of steam? I’m wondering if that is their normal power play or if they saw something and were trying to exploit it. Only got off one decent chance that I saw, but it was definitely interesting.
Can everyone raise their hand that is surprised Sloan didn’t become an NHL-caliber defenseman in the offseason? Nobody? Bueller?
MJ90 seems like he’s getting pushed off the puck a lot easier than a similarly sized MP85 was during his stint. I didn’t get to watch games 1 and 2 so this was my first MJ90 impression and it was disappointing. Hopefully he can figure it out quickly, because Bruce may have a short leash with Hendricks and Gordo playing well. Seemed like he was giving them some of his shifts later in the game, but that may have had to do with Brads injury.
I noticed what you’re talking about on the Senators powerplay. That Spezza play seemed to be something new. The Sens often have Spezz carry it into the zone, but not with that drop pass move they kept pulling tonight.
Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.
Rec’d for two really good points in the top 10.
A very misguided piece on Huffington Post recently called 30 Rock the most racist show on television thanks to Tracy Morgan’s wild, manic, madcap performance. Tonight illustrated why whoever wrote that piece is full of shit and should be punched in the face until he has a more nuanced grasp on comedy.
1 & 2.
A very misguided piece on Huffington Post recently called 30 Rock the most racist show on television thanks to Tracy Morgan’s wild, manic, madcap performance. Tonight illustrated why whoever wrote that piece is full of shit and should be punched in the face until he has a more nuanced grasp on comedy.
by Bald Pollack on Oct 12, 2010 7:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Maybe/apparently I’m the only one who thinks it, but I thought Neuvirth’s rebound control last night was pretty bad, and the worst of the three games he’s played so far. I don’t want to take away too much from an otherwise outstanding performance, but he was somewhat fortunate at times, given the size and placement of some of his leftovers.
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It’s not just you. And it’s mildly worrying to me if whomever’s in net still sees 30+ SOG in March.
A very misguided piece on Huffington Post recently called 30 Rock the most racist show on television thanks to Tracy Morgan’s wild, manic, madcap performance. Tonight illustrated why whoever wrote that piece is full of shit and should be punched in the face until he has a more nuanced grasp on comedy.
by Bald Pollack on Oct 12, 2010 7:42 AM EDT up reply actions
His rebound control was pretty poor, but Ottawa was rarely there to capitalize. And when they got the rebound, they couldn’t shoot straight.
It’s not even last night. The team’s been giving up more shots per game every year under the Boudreau system, and that’s even with their defensive “rug” in back. There might be some noticeable valleys over the course of the year (as D’oh alludes to below) before we’re done.
A very misguided piece on Huffington Post recently called 30 Rock the most racist show on television thanks to Tracy Morgan’s wild, manic, madcap performance. Tonight illustrated why whoever wrote that piece is full of shit and should be punched in the face until he has a more nuanced grasp on comedy.
by Bald Pollack on Oct 12, 2010 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Huge concern. Teams have figured out that if you get in on the forecheck and double up on the defender that isn’t Sloskine, force the d-to-d and then pressure 4/89, they throw it up the boards. Opposition collects in the neutral zone and breaks into the zone again. The Caps are very fortunate that sequence didn’t result in more points last night; Spezza had three or four chances from that all by himself last night.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Oct 12, 2010 9:28 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I thought there was one glaringly bad rebound that Joe B./Locker called out but other than that I didn’t think it was too terrible. You could say that he could have controlled the first shot of the double kick save sequence a little better, but I have a hard time criticizing him too much for last night because I think we easily could have lost that game without him. Maybe it’s time for him to get a little rest? I don’t really want Sabourin to start an NHL game.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
I don’t really want Sabourin to start an NHL game.
What about a game against the Islanders?
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Oct 12, 2010 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Great Recap, D
The Caps have now been outplayed for the better part of three games, and yet they’re still sitting at 2-1. I’d chalk that up to the Caps’ skill overmatch against the teams they’ve played (they’re capitalizing on their smaller number of chances), great work on the penalty kill and solid goaltending.
After only three games, it’s painfully clear that this roster has some gaping holes in it. With the caveat that the Caps are bringing along a ton of young players, the bottom defensive pairing and the center situation are, in large part, responsible for the Caps’ lack of puck possession. It’s still early, so it’s not time to freak out just yet, but Fleischmann had better improve, and GMGM had better be scanning the market for some defensive depth.
Last night was just another example of how this organization’s inexplicable obsession with Sloskine is hurting the team. I remember chatting with someone in the organization back in 2007-8 about the defensive situation. At the time, Boudreau had banished Eminger to the bench in favor of Erskine, and neither of us could understand it. We both thought that Eminger would eventually take over, but it never happened (unless you count the playoff appearance due to injuries). The end result was that the Caps played with a worse lineup than they could have, dented Eminger’s trade value and left him unprepared to fill-in during the playoffs (he did a good job anyhow). I realize that Steve Eminger’s not a great defenseman, but he’s a damn sight better than Erskine, and he’s currently making less money as well.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
by D'ohboy on Oct 12, 2010 9:43 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
It’s almost looking like they spent so much time working on the PK during the offseason and training camp they forgot that other teams might have digested reams of Montreal film and come up with some new answers for the Caps PP. Seemed to me that we struggled with entry on the PP quite a bit and weren’t getting but so many quality shots.
The wait for 10/7 begins. This man is focused. Are you?
Eminger’s trade value turned out to be just fine.
But I generally agree with you.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Oct 12, 2010 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I’m glad we got Carlson out of it, but a former lottery pick packaged together with a late 2nd-rounder only netted the Caps a 27th overall.
One can only imagine what the Caps might have received had they, you know, actually let Eminger on the ice at some point.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
Eminger wasn’t a lottery pick. He was 12th overall in a relatively weak draft. Carlson was in one of the deepest drafts we’ve ever seen. Just comparing the numbers isn’t the end of the story.
We also only gave up a late 3rd (which is practically a 4th!) on top of Eminger.
I agree that it would have been nice to not completely botch Eminger’s development, but I think some of it is on Eminger as well. And at the end of the day K_C is right, Eminger’s trade value ended up being fine if he was the center piece for a first round pick. You’re better argument would have been to point out that the only reason Eminger had any trade value was because we were forced to actually play him and he played pretty damn well.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Observations from Section 421
A serviceable victory… the Caps played well enough to win and beat a team that’s not particularly good or bad. Still, any victory is something to be pleased with and at the end they ask “How many?” not “How pretty?”. No style points…this isn’t the BCS after all.
Some notes:
1) Anyone who thinks Mike Green can’t play defense better start watching him play. He was out there with Sarge most of the night against Spezza and Alfredsson and they were held to a combined 3 shots on goal, and I think at least two of those came in a 4-on-4 situation. Against the Devils, he spent a lot of time out there against Kovy, Parise and Zajac and held them off the scoresheet.
2) For most of the night, the Caps defense played well. When Shannon and Regin lead the Senators in shots on goal, you’re holding them up pretty good.
3) That said, at least one of the goals was directly attributable to Erskine. In the third period of a 2-1 game, it’s not the time to make a big hit at center ice. Yeah, Erskine wiped the guy out, but not after he made a pass to a Shannon to set up a one-on-one with Carlson. If Erskine doesn’t go way out of position, the pass may get made, but Shannon doesn’t get that shot away as instead of one on one, he’s in one on two…
4) Great play from Hendricks, calling for the puck from Gordon, and then making a nice soft pass to Fehr to set up the second goal. Happened right in front of me, and I could see exactly what was happening. The only person who didn’t see it was LeClaire, the Sens goalie. Even their defense saw it coming but they were out of position.
5) Great goal by Semin in the first…. find open space near the net, and if the puck gets there, bury it. He did….
6) Amazing that they called Ovechkin on that interference call late in the second. Not that it wasn’t interference, it was, but Jarko Ruutu was running that all night. The only difference is that he wasn’t knocking down anyone. (Zubrus was doing that all night for New Jersey against the Caps too… wonder who taught him that…)
7) Glad to see F-16 getting back into the scoring… he looked really sharp last night.
8) Yes, Ovechkin with a game winner… clutch to be sure… but that was a bit of a soft goal. Still a goal though, soft or otherwise…
Next up, the Islanders who rallied from a third period deficit yesterday to win 6-4. They’re better than they used to be…but so are the Caps….
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Oct 12, 2010 9:47 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
When AO “interfered” with Ruutu at live speed I said “that’s interference, but it’s also a dive.” After I saw the replay I said “that’s just a fucking dive. I hate that cocksucker.” Erskine was a complete moron for destroying Ruutu after the whistle by the net, but it’s never bad to see Ruutu take a stick in the mouth. Erskine was definitely lucky that call was evened up though. Awful game by Erskine no matter what Cluster wants to say.
Leclaire’s stick was swimming in the rafters on AO’s GWG. You learn in pee-wees that you keep the stick in front of the five hole. Brutal goal against but AO has a great shot and did a brilliant job setting up Phillips to get the shot off. I had flashbacks to Huet in the 08 playoffs with that goal.
I think Regin is a real good player and I was shocked he was on the 4th line.
Ridiculously impressive finish by Semin.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
I think Regin is a real good player and I was shocked he was on the 4th line.
I agree, but he made a couple of really bad mistakes last night and took a couple of bad PIMs, if I recall correctly.
Ridiculously impressive finish by Semin.
When the puck squirted free to Semin I was all “Ooooooooo, chance!” Then he scored and I was excited for that. Then I saw the replay and he one-touched it into the roof of the goal without collecting it at all. What the hell.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Oct 12, 2010 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Then I saw the replay and he one-touched it into the roof of the goal without collecting it at all. What the hell.
All this with his body so contorted that he looked like a pretzel. He got that puck on what should have been his backhand, but he twisted himself hard to get it on the forehand.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
Ridiculously impressive finish by Semin.
The non-hockey folks I was with said “That was easy! He got so lucky.” Well, he does make it look easy.
You had me at no problem.
Making it look easy takes a lot of hard work. Semin knew where to be and how to get open. The puck should have gone there, and he buried it. It was a great sequence from the second line.
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Oct 12, 2010 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions
I didn’t see the arena replay, I was more interested in watching Ovechkin and the referee. I’m sure Ruutu might have dove, but at the same time as we all know, Alex on hits one way (hard) and people tend to go flying when he hits them.
I’m ok with Erskine’s hit on Ruutu behind the net, it was the hit at center ice that led to Shannon’s getting a one-on-one with Carlson. Carlson played it ok, but got beat (it happens). If Erskine stays in position (as he should in a 2-1 game in the third period) Shannon is facing a one-on-two and likely doesn’t get as good a shot…
And you are so right about Leclaire…that was a pee-wee mistake…
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Oct 12, 2010 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions
AO barely touched Ruutu and the contact was more initiated by Ruutu jumping on AO’s back and then falling like he was hit by a sniper. AO didn’t hit him, though there was a little contact. 100% dive.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
It’s 100% lock that Ovi intended to interfere with him. He knew where he was going and why and the Caps were advantage by that “pick play”. Yes, Ruutu embellished but Ovi skated into his path. Interference doesn’t have to result from a big hit. From the rule book:
Moving laterally and without establishing body position, then making contact with the non-puck carrier is not permitted and will be penalized as interference
I think that’s a pretty good description of what Ovi did.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Oct 12, 2010 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Meh. That stuff happens all the time. Skating into the path of another guy isn’t enough on it’s own, usually. Think about the PIM that Semin got against NJD. Same exact play (Parise cuts in front of Semin’s path) but instead of diving Semin tried to hop around Parise and took him down. If Ruutu plays that with any sense of pride it’s a no call and both guys go on their separate ways.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Oh no doubt Ruutu could have avoided him, but he smartly did not and drew the penalty.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Oct 12, 2010 6:40 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
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