Capital Ups and Downs: Week 2
by J.P. on Oct 18, 2010 11:00 AM EDT
in Capitals Ups and Downs
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Our weekly look at individual Washington Capitals' ups and downs:
| Goalies | Trend | Notes |
| Michal Neuvirth |  |
His ten consecutive home wins ties Olie Kolzig's franchise mark, which is nice. Nicer? His 3-0-0/1.62/.947 week (which sure sounds like "Star of the Week" material). Neuvirth has given up more than two goals in just one of his last nine NHL starts, a span over which he's 7-1-0/2.00/.940. |
| Semyon Varlamov |  |
Off the IR and ready to make his season debut after spotting Neuvirth a five-game head start in their battle for number one netminder. |
| Defensemen | ||
| Karl Alzner | |
In three games, Alzner played 55:43, 7:02 of which came shorthanded (including a team-high 4:29 in Nashville) without being on the ice for a goal against or committing a penalty. That's pretty close to a perfect week for King Karl. |
| John Carlson | |
A four-game point streak covers up some of his defensive hiccups (and being on the ice for each of the goals the Caps allowed against the Sens and Isles, leading the team in giveaways, etc.), prompting Bruce Boudreau to remind everyone that Carlson's not Ray Bourque yet. I guess we have to settle for Brian Leetch for now. |
| John Erskine |  |
The Caps allowed five goals this week, and Erskine was on the ice for four of them. He's blocking shots and killing penalties well, but has been the Caps' worst regular defenseman at five-on-five. |
| Brian Fahey | |
Played 492 minor league games before making his NHL debut on Saturday night... and that's where the fairy tale ended, as Fahey was on the ice (and at least partially responsible) for both Nashville goals in very limited game time. |
| Mike Green |  |
Left Wednesday night's game and missed Saturday night's with a shoulder stinger and a 13-game goal-less streak, dating back to last season and including the playoffs. |
| Tom Poti | |
Missed all three games with an undisclosed lower-body injury. That's a lot of minutes to replace, as Poti is one of two Caps blueliners to be averaging more than 14 minutes at even strength, 2.5 shorthanded and two on the power play (Green is the other). |
| Jeff Schultz | |
Schultz leads the Caps in total ice time and shorthanded ice time and hasn't yet been on the ice for a goal against of any kind. |
| Tyler Sloan | |
Got a sweater three times this week and played pretty much as expected... which isn't particularly good. |
| Forwards | ||
| Nicklas Backstrom | |
Came alive on the scoresheet with back-to-back multi-point efforts highlighted by the game-winning goal against the Isles and won 61.5% of his 52 draws for the week (including 69.2% in the defensive zone). That we can say with a straight face that the top line still isn't clicking is a testament to how high expectations are for this guy and his linemates. |
| Matt Bradley | |
Skated just three shifts against Ottawa before being sidelined for the rest of the week with a lower-body injury. |
| Jason Chimera | |
A point-less week is fine for Chimmer, but the minus-2 without much agitatin' or particular attention to defensive responsibilities isn't. |
| Eric Fehr | |
After a goal and an assist in the week's first 31:18 of game time, Fehr failed to point in the remaining two-and-a-half games, registering just four shots on goal over that stretch. |
| Tomas Fleischmann | |
Picked a good time for his first point of the week - the game-tying goal in Nashville - and registered his first two hits of the season in the same game, and wasn't on the ice for a goal against all week. But his 8-for-34 (23.5%) in the dot is abysmal and costing his team on a nightly basis. |
| Boyd Gordon | |
Got a well-deserved helper as a reward for his hard work on Fehr's goal against Ottawa and led all Caps forwards with 9:47 of ice time on the perfect penalty kill. And how about this little nugget - Gordon's eight shots on goal this week mark only the second time he's had as many over a three-game span since December of 2008. |
| Matt Hendricks | |
Had a beauty of a helper on Fehr's goal, but he's not a third-line center. |
| Marcus Johansson | |
Missed most of the Sens game and all of all of the Isles tilt after blocking a shot at the end of a penalty kill... a cautionary tale indeed (thankfully, week-to-week became day-to-day became one game real quick). His 3-for-16 week in the dot isn't pretty either, and it's beginning to look a bit as if he's pressing for that first NHL point. |
| D.J. King | |
Scratched, played/fought/sat, scratched. Ho hum. |
| Mike Knuble | |
Hasn't scored since opening night and didn't have a point all week. But once that top line finds its rhythm, the points will come. |
| Brooks Laich | |
Kept up his point-per-game pace with the overtime game-winner in Nashville and a couple of helpers for the week, and wasn't on the ice for a goal against (while bumping his plus-minus up by two). |
| Alex Ovechkin | |
Has at least one point in each game so far this season, including a couple of goals and a couple of assists this week (including a hand in all three game-winners), but still not quite "there" yet, as only nine shots on goal, six hits and three minor penalties over the past three games would seem to evidence. |
| Alexander Semin | |
Twice this week, Semin scored the Caps' first goal of the game, and after firing just four shots on net through his first three games of the season, he's had back-to-back three SOG games. He seems to be on the verge of a big game. Or two. Or three. |
| David Steckel | |
Scratched against Ottawa, comes back with, well, not much against New York and Nashville, though six-plus minutes of scoreless penalty killing is always welcome. |
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Comments
Regarding AO, one or two of those minors might have been bench calls he was serving, but that’s microbe-splitting and doesn’t deter from the grade.
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.
Nope – crosscheck, interference and slashing.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Damn, forgot that serving the bench minor you don’t get the PIMs. I feel shame.
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 18, 2010 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions
Don’t feel shame, because now I have knowledge. I did not know that before, and now I do.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
You have to earn your PIMs in this (and every other) league…
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Neuvy’s numbers are a lot more indicative of his play this week (as opposed to last week, when they were awful despite his pretty solid play). His break out (so far) has been the silver lining on what IMO has been a pretty bad team start.
"Do you see my fist? It was fists like these that built quaint Canadian cities out of the harsh Canadian wilderness, etc. etc."
Not in Seattle anymore.
by SeattleCapsFan on Oct 18, 2010 11:09 AM EDT reply actions
Well, if we’re talking about silver linings I would put the perfect penalty kill right up there too.
Agree on the PK being a silver lining.
Overall, a general silver lining is the fact that the Caps have been winning the low scoring games this week. Of course, great PK and great goal tending helps in that regard.
Last year, the Caps were winning the high scoring games and having trouble holding onto leads, along with a fair number of great 3rd period comebacks.
Rocking the Red since 1975
The Caps aren’t holding on to leads this year either. They’ve been coming from behind. (Not counting the 7-2 game.)
(Yes, I know about the avatar hounding - just pretend mine is invisible.)
They certainly did come from behind in the last 2 games. The Nashville game reminded me of a game they played against the Isles early last year where the Caps were down 2-0 after 2 period, came back to tie in the 3rd and then won.
They started off with a deficit in this year’s Isles game but when they finally got the lead, they were able to hold on and win.
The Ottawa game was a see saw affair where the Caps would get a one goal lead but not hold on and finally won in OT.
Rocking the Red since 1975
on what IMO has been a pretty bad team start.
Yup, they did lose that one game…
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 19, 2010 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions
From the goalie stats in the sidebar fan poll, it was a good week for several goalies. Neuvy deserves a star, but he didn’t have any shutouts (because of his team, not his play); I won’t be surprised if he doesn’t get a star.
"It's always good to have vikings."
Shutting out Calgary isn’t that big a deal, but holding the Canucks to 2 on 35 shots, and shutting out the Bolts… that’s pretty damn impressive. Neuvy had a great week, but Vokoun had a better one.
It sure looks like the Czechs are ready in net for Sochi….
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Oct 18, 2010 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions
"Schultz...
…leads the Caps in total ice time and shorthanded ice time and hasn’t yet been on the ice for a goal against of any kind. "
Other than that, he’s sucked out loud.
We're Hüsker Dü and we're on MTV. Who are you, and what are you on?
by bilspacecadet on Oct 18, 2010 11:27 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
To be fair he’s been riding Mike Green’s coat tails on D. Wait, he hasn’t? Oh.
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 18, 2010 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions
Very clever,
eliding the HITTTING stats the way you do. What freaks me out is that 55 has several shots on (okay, ‘toward’) goal, and a similar number of pinch-ins that I just know would have been relatively hasty retreats last season.
Is my LCD on LSD, or is anyone else seeing a more offensive Nasty?
There's no 'i' in "team". But there's a 'nap' in "champion".
by redlineblue on Oct 18, 2010 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions
Schultz is obviously working on his offensive game some, he is finding ways to get the puck towards the net. He’s not going to get lots of power play time, but if he can figure out a way to get 40 more shots on goal this season, it’ll make life even more difficult for the Caps’ opponents….
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Oct 18, 2010 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions
I noticed during the NASH game, after one of 55’s shot from the point towards the goal, Ovi came up to him and gave him a “good job” tap on his leg (or else was telling him to stop stealing his shots, like Brooksie :-).
"HISTORY DOESN’T MATTER!!! .... Who cares if it’s never been done? We aren’t those teams who failed before. We are in control of our own destiny, and we will make it happen our own way.." - A Gordon, June 2010
Harsh on Flash
I’m by no means an apologist of his, but that goal was pretty huge, and something we don’t see Flash do very often (go to the net). If he gets a minus arrow, how is someone like Carlson even?
FWIW, David disagreed with the down arrow here as well, but I held firm. These ratings are expectations-based, and I thought that given where Flash had set expectations after Week 1, this week was a significant decline – in Week 1 he had three points in two games (vs. one point in three games this week) and was 55% on 20 draws (vs. 24% on 34 draws this week). Maybe it’s a tough down arrow, but I thought he had a pretty poor week, especially in light of a decent Week 1.
As for Carlson, he could have gotten a down arrow, but I don’t feel that his play has set expectations at a point where this week was drastically below them.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
As someone who has driven the Flash bandwagon in the past, I can’t complain too much about the down arrow, almost entirely because of the ghastly faceoff stats. I can’t remember a single faceoff win in the Nashville game—not one.
The irony is, it was yet another clean loss that led to Franson’s awful pass behind the net that Laich intercepted, which led to his bakery-bank stuff attempt, the rebound, and suddenly Flash, by simply trailing the play, goes from goat to hero.
I do think he’ll improve in the dot (I can’t see how he’ll get much worse), but this was pretty brutal over the last few games.
We're Hüsker Dü and we're on MTV. Who are you, and what are you on?
by bilspacecadet on Oct 18, 2010 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions
I had the Nashville feed. And a two-year-old distracting me—wait, I can’t use that excuse on you, I guess….
We're Hüsker Dü and we're on MTV. Who are you, and what are you on?
by bilspacecadet on Oct 18, 2010 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Flash went 0-5 against wings!?! I presume Smithson and Ward are not normal face off guys and may have only been there since their normal C got excused. If I were Semin or Laich, I might purposely cruise into the circle to get Flash tossed.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Oct 18, 2010 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Smithson has long been the best faceoff guy on Nashville. He’s a bit of a Swiss Army Knife player, but he’s consistently in the mid 50s on the dot. He won 11/14 against WSH.
by Chris Burton on Oct 18, 2010 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks. Does he play C sometimes? That seems like a lot of FO’s for a winger.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Oct 18, 2010 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Like I said, Swiss Army Knife. Plays wherever he has to.
by Chris Burton on Oct 18, 2010 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Hard to disagree with any of these rankings, JP. Nicely done. I might have given Steckel a bit of an up arrow (if there was a way to do a trending slightly up…) as he did help out on the PK when he got back in the line up. Maybe a slight up for Hendricks too. He isn’t a 3rd line center, but at the same time, he wasn’t too bad in the role…
Hopefully Poti, Green and Bradley will get well soon… this team can use them.
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
Pretty much agree with all of it, and it’s scary to think with the uneven play of Ovie, Carlson, and Backstrom they are all still putting up points. I’d really like to see that first line start clicking and being dominant all over the ice like they can be.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
This is an interesting feature. Never thought to do something like this.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
You should go ahead and do it for the Leafs, and just say you came up with the idea but looked at J.P.’s to verify.
"Inglewood Jack! Inglewood Jack!" - Coach Jules
by Alz Well That Ends Well on Oct 18, 2010 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
And you can do even more with it, totaling up the ups and downs to see which players are exceeding expectations and which ones are falling behind. Check out these two:
http://www.japersrink.com/2010/3/22/1383735/capital-ups-and-downs-week-23#33027109
http://www.japersrink.com/2010/3/22/1385806/capitals-ups-and-downs-graphics
LET'S GO CAPS!!!
Haha, excellent.
Definitional question: are the arrows based on a comparison to each player’s prior week’s performance, or to overall expectations? In other words, if someone has an atrocious week followed by a mediocre one, are they getting an up-arrow?
both (as evidenced by JP’s response above http://www.japersrink.com/2010/10/18/1755691/capital-ups-and-downs-week-2#49657868 ).
Most likely a mediocre week following an atrocious one is gonna get an even more than an up though.
LET'S GO CAPS!!!
I thought that Alzner was finding his stride this week, but I hadn’t realized the numbers were as good as they are. Very impressive. He does his job very quietly so he’ll never wow people, and his mistakes will seem to be glaring, but I really like what he does in his own end. His mobility is such a huge upgrade from what we’ve had and his decision making has generally been pretty good. Carlson will keep getting the attention because of the points, but Alzner is playing better.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Alzner reminds me of a better skating Schultz, although he is a bit ahead of Schultz at the same age. Alzner will probably play in the NHL for 15+ years (barring injury) and go through it anonymously for most/all of his career. Then when he retires, those of us who watched his career will remember how good he was for a long time. Every team has a few guys like that in their history (for the Caps, someone like Calle Johansson, or Sylvain Cote).
And both Alzner and Carlson are going to get better for a few years…. it’s good to be a Caps fan.
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Oct 18, 2010 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t know if I see Calle as an appropriate comparable to Alzner. Calle could be pretty efficient offensively, including: breaking 40 points 5 times including two seasons over 50 pts, 10 goals or more four times including 15 goals once. I don’t know if Alzner will ever reach those numbers. But that’s OK, that’s not his game. I agree with you on the rest of what you said though.
I did get a bit nostalgic looking up Calle-Jo’s stats though. I miss having him on the blue line.
by BradleyFightingVehicle on Oct 18, 2010 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Not minding in the slightest if the Calle comparison is off a little. If we need some production from the D that’s what Green and Carlson are for…I would absolutely love to see Alzner’s numbers start to match Schultz’s from last year and this year. The ceiling for that top 4 could be pretty damn high. If only we had some more depth behind them that doesn’t get eroded with injuries…
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Oct 18, 2010 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Alzner makes smart passes with the puck. I think he may develop some offensive skill after he gets comfortable on D. He’s always just focused on keeping the puck out, when he tries to be more aggressive with it I bet he’ll find out he’s better than he thought he was.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
He doesn’t have anywhere to go but up in the offense department, but considering he never showed much offense in juniors my guess is that he’ll stay in the range of a few goals and 20-30 assists (mostly from making smart clearing passes). I don’t think it’s in his nature to be any more aggressive.
I think Karl Alzner is a very smart player and if a coach sits down and asks him to be more aggressive with the puck, he’ll figure out a way to adjust and make it happen.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Oct 18, 2010 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions
He’s already working on it. In the WHL I’m sure the coach was just happy to have a guy that could easily play 30 minutes a night and shut down anyone the league had to offer. He won’t play 30 in the NHL, especially not if he’s one dimensional, so the coach will tell him he can exert a little more energy trying to make offense happen. I think his whole focus has to change a little.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
I’d be happy to be wrong, and I agree he’s a very smart player. He’ll get a little more aggressive, but he’s always going to have a defense first mentality. He’s talented, which is why he’ll provide some offense, but he’s going to remain the defensive conscience of his defense pairing, not going to get any powerplay time on this team, and will always have a defense first mentality. Like I said, I think he maxes out at 10 goals and 30 assists.
Need to get healthy fast…I want to see the Green/Schultz, Carlson/Alzner top 4 run for a good stretch of games. Put some solid goaltending behind that top 4, and we might have something.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Oct 18, 2010 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Every time I spotlight Alzner this season, he looks crappy to me. More reason not to trust my eyes…
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Oct 19, 2010 1:01 AM EDT up reply actions
Totally off-topic but what the hell is up with the SB Nation sign in. Everytime I open the Rink, I have to go through the whole sign-in procedure even though I’ve never actually gone off-line. Anybody else having this problem?
As nice as Ovie’s goals and assists were, his play elsewhere was so putrid that I would have given him a down arrow.
Can we all agree that Saturday night was Neuvy staking his claim to the number 1 slot? Varly’s got a lot of prove.
And can we just call quietly playing perfect defense “Schultzing” from now on?
What is best in life? To crush your enemies, see them driven back to Pittsburgh, and hear the lamentations of Sidney Crosby.
It’s Neuvirth’s job to lose. Varlamov’s injury prone nature will make it very difficult for him to become the clear starter.
Human existence being an hallucination containing in itself the secondary hallucinations of day and night (the latter an insanitary condition of the atmosphere due to accretions of black air) it ill becomes any man of sense to be concerned at the illusory approach of the supreme hallucination known as death.
While I was expecting Varlamov to get the start tomorrow, I get the impression from Corey’s tweets that Bruce might be sticking with the hot hand, at least for now.
"It's always good to have vikings."
I’m willing to bet (but not much) that Varly gets the start Thursday just to give Neuvy a break. Three games in five nights is a lot to ask a guy who has already played every minute this year.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Oct 18, 2010 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d agree with that, and he’s already played four in six. Just that I orginally thought Varly would get his first start at home.
"It's always good to have vikings."
Given Neuvy’s numbers at home, I’d think BB would want Neuvy starting at home tomorrow and Saturday. But it’s BB so who the heck knows.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Oct 18, 2010 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Bruce might be sticking with the hot hand
Seems to be BB’s (oddly maligned, imho) goalie-management system: win and you’re in, rout and you’re out. Why would he stop playing Neuvirth before Neuvirth stops playing well?
Now, if only he managed skaters’ minutes along those lines…
There's no 'i' in "team". But there's a 'nap' in "champion".
I don’t see any reason to go away from Nuevy right now. Its the beginning of the season, now is the time to rack up standings points.
Disagree totally, this isn’t the season in which finish outside the top-8 in your conference matters. Make sure your goalies are fresh and ready to play in the playoffs without overworking either one and let the number-one emerge over the course of the season.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Oct 18, 2010 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions
But its game #6, gotta with your hot hand. Especially given the fact that he is the main reason that you are winning these games. You don’t want to put him directly into a goalie controversy with a guy coming off injury.
I think it most likely that Varly mutes this issue by breaking himself again, but fwiw I’d like to see the starts split evenly. No use riding Neuvy into the ground now.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
Is this about what Neuvirth has earned, or what’s best for the team’s success in the post-season?
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Oct 18, 2010 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions
I have to agree with this, and as my post below points out, I’m think BB does as well. It is only game 6, and up to now we haven’t really had to many back-to-backs, save for opening night, and Neuvy has proven he can handle playing a stretch of games (i.e. Calder Cup playoffs) when called upon.
Varly does need the work, which is why he’ll obviously start getting put into games, but it’s a bit too early, I think, to start calling Neuvy “overworked”
The games have been close, and solid goaltending has been needed to win them. I also don’t care what part of the season we’re in, points are points, and they’re just as valuable now as they are in April, even if you do have more time to make up ground if you lose earlier in the year.
"I am ready for his provocations"
twitter
by PaintDrinkingPete on Oct 18, 2010 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Points are points, but unless something changes dramatically, this team isn’t going to struggle to make the playoffs. The goal is larger than that and if giving up a few regular season points is the price to pay for a fresh goalie, then that’s what the Caps should do.
It doesn’t really matter if they’re playing as the 1st seed in the East, or 3rd or even 4th, as long as they’re ready for the playoffs and in peak condition. Four in six is tough for any goalie, 5 in 8 ain’t that easy, either. If he’s tired, there’s an increased chance of injuries. Varly’s gonna be hurt enough and there’s no reason to ride Neuvirth into the ground this early in the year.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Oct 18, 2010 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions
The fact that they’re winning those games because Neuvy is playing out of his mind means that bad play is being rewarded with standings points. Regardless of what they say in the media, I don’t want that kind of reinforcement for poor play.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Oct 18, 2010 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t see why a controversy would develop so eary in the season.
Something else to consider is what would be best for Varly. More rest? The support of the home crowd on his first start? Get him in a game to shake off the rust and get a feel for the game again?
(Yes, I know about the avatar hounding - just pretend mine is invisible.)
Disagree. It’s not a Brodour and whats-his-name goalie combo here. You’ve got two good young goalies who would benefit from playing time. Probably more important to see if Varly can stay healthly long term before you have to make a contract decision on him.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Oct 18, 2010 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m guessing BB would like to see the offense pick up a bit (and therefore the reliance on above-par goaltending) before taking Neuvy out of the net unless he has too. He’s played a lot of games in a row, but had a full 3 days of rest before Nashville, and 3 days again going into Tuesday night’s game, so rest can’t of too much a concern right now.
It’s long season, and while, in my opinion, BB can at times be a bit too quick to make reactionary changes when things aren’t working (or not…whatever), he’s also definitely proved he’s an “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” kind of guy as well.
With Tuesday starting a stretch of 3 games in 6 days, yeah, I’m pretty sure Varly will get a chance to get out there (assuming he doesn’t hurt himself in practice between now and then), not necessarily because Neuvy needs the rest, but because Varly will need the work… I’d guess Thursday or Saturday? Tough call though…if the games stay as close as they have been, and Neuvy continues to bail out the team as he has been, then I also wouldn’t be surprised if he keeps getting the nod.
"I am ready for his provocations"
twitter
by PaintDrinkingPete on Oct 18, 2010 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t think either has #1 pinned down. Until Varly plays, I would not say Neuvy is #1. Varly may play just as well or better than Neuvy has. Time (and games played) will tell.
by Ray of Sunshine on Oct 18, 2010 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Varly may play just as well or better than Neuvy has.
Until his groin or knee explodes.
The guy is Peter Schumpmaker. Lord knows what a schump is, but you can bet your bippy his ancestors made them. What he's doing is far worse than crafting fine schumps.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Oct 18, 2010 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Neuvi has had injuries as well and I still believe at their primes Varly > Neuvi.
However that doesn’t rescind the fact Neuvi has been a dominant player since season start and has earned every minute he will get ahead of Varly at this point(now that they both can play)
Bruce Boudreau when asked about Brooks Laich's return to the lineup, he said: "He just adds another dimension to our team. If it was puzzle, he just fits that thing. He completes us."
Brooks Laich completing everything from teams to tires and everything in between.
I’m a Varly fan all the way, but at this time the best he can do is make Bruce’s job hard. Neuvy didn’t just hold down the job while Varly got better. He earned it!
What is best in life? To crush your enemies, see them driven back to Pittsburgh, and hear the lamentations of Sidney Crosby.
Agreed. Neuvi is on fire right now and the only thing Varly can do is that when he gets the chance to play, which will probably be once this week, he needs to play lights out. Anything short of that will have a cozy spot at the end of the bench for him which will still happen because BB likes to play streaks but Varly can control how much it happens( ie one game every other 2 vs one game every 5 games).
Bruce Boudreau when asked about Brooks Laich's return to the lineup, he said: "He just adds another dimension to our team. If it was puzzle, he just fits that thing. He completes us."
Brooks Laich completing everything from teams to tires and everything in between.
By the by, I’m just staying the (obvious) goalie situation. It’s clearly a game of King of the Mountain and Neuvirth was first to the top. Varly’s going to have to play exception hockey to knock his teammate off the top.
What is best in life? To crush your enemies, see them driven back to Pittsburgh, and hear the lamentations of Sidney Crosby.
by Holt Worth on Oct 18, 2010 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
My criticism here is that Flash was given a down arrow and almost no reason to explain why. I mean being 8 for 34 in the FO is supposed to be so negative it out weighs a game tieing goal in the 3rd, never being on ice for a goal against(with defense being his biggest flaw), and being a part of both goals to tie the game in Nash…
However he was negative in a lot of other ways. Like how he has been steadily decreasing in FO% registering a truly abysmal 8% in the music city, which more clearly illustrates his dot woes. For most of the week the 2nd line was invisible and for it being “his” line he needs to be the catalyst for Semin and do more things to get Laich time in the paint.
I agree with the down arrow but not for how it was presented :P
Bruce Boudreau when asked about Brooks Laich's return to the lineup, he said: "He just adds another dimension to our team. If it was puzzle, he just fits that thing. He completes us."
Brooks Laich completing everything from teams to tires and everything in between.
For being “invisible” this week, the second line actually produced offense. Semin scored in the Senators game on Monday. All 3 members of the second line scored on Saturday against the Preds. Granted, the second line did not contribute to the scoring “on paper” against the Isles but Semin had passed the puck as part of the sequence to set up the winning goal in OT. (Ahh, tertiary assists do not count in the stats but….)
This isn’t to say that the second line couldn’t stand to improve its productivity but they weren’t exactly invisible.
Rocking the Red since 1975
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