Recap: Wild 2, Caps 1
by J.P. on Oct 28, 2010 10:53 PM EDT
in Game Recaps
Email
Print[NHL.com Recap - GameCenter - Game Summary - Event Summary - Faceoff Summary - Corsi/Fenwick - Shift Charts - Head-to-Head - Zone Starts]
Less than 24 hours after finishing what most consider to have been their best game of the season, the Caps turned in one from the other end of the spectrum in a 2-1 loss to the Wild in Minnesota.
To be sure, playing the second of back-to-back games in separate time zones is rarely easy, as the logistics of doing so take a toll that's often as much mental as it is physical. But from the opening whistle - and the fourth line going offside just nine seconds in - to the final buzzer, the Caps were out of sync and seemingly out of energy, save a late adrenaline- and desperation-filled burst. And if one number could tell the story of the game for the boys from D.C., this is it: the game was 43:32 old before a Caps forward from one of the bottom three lines registered a shot on goal (and that was a weak 44-foot wrister from Mathieu Perreault). It's not impossible to win NHL games with an effort like that... but it's most definitely not a recipe for repeated success.
Ten more notes on the game:
- For the second time in as many nights (and in so many October games already), Michal Neuvirth was the Caps' best player, stopping 15 of 17 shots against, but playing better than those numbers would indicate. And you can bet that all game long, he was reminding his teammates that they were still in the game and would continue to be if he had anything to say about it. (Don't be surprised to see him get the start Saturday night, either.)
- The Wild came into the game having outscored opponents 11-6 in eight first periods, while the Caps had been outscored 9-4 in nine. So you could've skipped the first period and predictably tuned in at 1-0 Minny to start the second.
- As cliche as it is, hockey's a game of inches... and if Mike Knuble and Nicklas Backstrom lifted their best chances of the night just a few inches higher, the Caps might have headed to the third period tied at two (but full credit to Niklas Backstrom for a couple of super stops).
- Tough night for John Carlson, whose failure to tie up Chuck Kobasew's stick was instrumental in the Wild's first goal (pictured), followed up by a puck in the face and being on the ice for Minnesota's second tally as well.
- Alex Semin had an early third period shorthanded breakaway on which he managed to miss the net entirely. Yeah, that would've been a good time to have lit the lamp.
- The last time Alex Ovechkin went a half-dozen games without a goal (which is where he was headed until striking a 18:24 of the third) was late last season, with a pair of three game droughts bracketing the Olympics. The time before that? The beginning of the 2008-09 season, when he had two goals through 11 games... and ended up with 56.
- Matt Bradley was credited with a game-high (tied) five hits in just 8:46 of ice time, but it was his late second period penalty that put the League's best power play back to work, leading to the eventual game-winning goal. One of the most impressive things about Brads' 2009-10 campaign was his discipline, given the role he plays, but that wasn't on display in this instance.
- Jose Theodore? Still handsome, especially in that beauty of a Wild home sweater.
- It was an awful night for the Caps' second- and third-line centers, as Perreault and Tomas Fleischmann combined for no points, two shots on goal, and a 6-for-19 (31.6%) night in the dot. Unlike many a wine, the issue of the Caps' depth down the middle is not getting better with age.
- And speaking of not getting better, Tyler Sloan skated just 11 shifts and 7:40 on the night, and didn't play after right around the midpoint of the game. Hopefully he's healthy, of course, but one could hardly blame Bruce Boudreau if he stapled his sixth defenseman to the end of the bench after a brutal turnover/penalty combination earlier in the game. Then again, if benching Sloan was the reason Mike Green played more than 30 minutes (with more than 23 of them coming at even strength)... Sloan must have been hurt.
And so it's off to Calgary to end the roadie with a Hockey Night in Canada late game on Saturday against a Flames team that has been superb defensively so far. If the Caps want to come home with two more points on this trip, they're going to have to look a lot more like they did in Carolina than they did in Minnesota.
Game highlights:
131 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
And if one number could tell the story of the game for the boys from D.C., this is it: the game was 43:32 old before a Caps forward from one of the bottom three lines registered a shot on goal (and that was a weak 44-foot wrister from Mathieu Perreault).
That is brutal. MP wasn’t even good tonight. He’s going back to the AHL as soon as Mackan can play. Late in the first MP gets demoted to the third line and Flash goes to 2C. In the third period I saw Hendricks taking shifts at 2C. I’d like to believe this will finally wake up BB, but it’s just not true. We’re talking about the same guy who went from game 7 scratch to 2C-on-a-platter when hockey returned.
The Wild played a perfect road game. God I feel for their fans. They can say all they want about Richards bringing a new style, but I still haven’t seen it in just over a year of hockey. Their forecheck was pretty heavy, and giving us problems, but they also showed no hesitation backing into a trap.
Sloan is brutal. That turnover/PIM is one of the worst plays I have ever seen. Worst part? I think MP would have rescued that play even without the penalty. Idiot.
I like John Carlson everywhere on the ice except in front of his own net.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
by Rob Parker on Oct 28, 2010 11:08 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
That sort of heavy forecheck is the book on the Caps this year though. If I were a Wild fan I’d be pissed if they didn’t do it.
Agreed on the rest of the counts, though Carlson’s mistake was another rookie one. I’d rather he do it now and learn than do it in April.
↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → b a (select) start
Definitely agree on the forecheck. That’s been the book since the Pens beat us. We don’t have enough D comfortable with the puck.
Carlson has been bad in front all season so far. He’s got time, though, as you note.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
The puck comfort thing may be the cause of my biggest pet peeve this year. The guys just do not want to get it out of the zone. All they have to do is move it a few inches over the blue line and they can get set. They are too willingly dicking around at the blue line (or even well before).
↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → b a (select) start
Hopefully that changes when Poti gets healthy. That at least gives us one player on each pair that doesn’t treat the puck like an active grenade.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
You can dump him and get a viable replacement for his bum ass.
by Charlie Foxtrot on Oct 28, 2010 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions
The problem with this team is that the people who are supposed to be finishers, aren’t finishing. Backstrom, Ovechkin (his late goal aside), Knuble, Laich, Fehr – guys you count on for strong primary and secondary scoring – aren’t getting it done.
The first line still has not clicked. Passes are off, shots in the crease are a tad late and not being lifted.
The team is not a disaster, but this does appear to be a team in transition. I think forwards are trying to backcheck more, and it looks awkward. There seems to be a lot of killer instincts lost, scoring wise, in this transition. Will they return? I think there’s too much talent for it not to.
Not happy, but not predicting disaster either.
by Charlie Foxtrot on Oct 28, 2010 11:09 PM EDT reply actions
Summary of this year. The first line has not clicked. The third line has not clicked either. The second line, as unsettled as they are, has been our best line this year.
Getting goals is like pulling teeth. It seems that the second goal scored against us is generally fatal if we’re playing a defensive oriented trap team.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Y’know, seeing the lead image above reminded me of a post I wrote last year around this time. So did seeing the way the Caps played tonight. If you’ve got a minute, check it out.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
The thing is, what message does it send? The main problems so far is that guys like Ovechkin, Backstrom, Knuble, etc. haven’t been themselves. They aren’t scoring, they aren’t dynamic when they are in the offensive zone (although they have had near chances).
Who would you trade? Flash? Trade a guy who is playing somewhat poorly, but because the coach is putting him in an asinine position? Hell, besides some questionable defensive plays and bad FO numbers, he hasn’t even been that bad.
You can’t trade blue-liners because their already is an unhealthy deficit. Dumping a marginal guy like Sloan doesn’t send any type of message, either.
I see a shakeup being necessary, but not of the trade variety.
by Charlie Foxtrot on Oct 28, 2010 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t think such a move for work, there is no one I can think of to move that would actually shake things up
↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → b a (select) start
When Kubasew was traded, he was basically putting up Fehr-numbers for the Bruins for about two seasons as I recall (about 20-20).
Not saying he’s the guy, because I don’t think that at all.
by Charlie Foxtrot on Oct 28, 2010 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions
How to shake the team up? That is the question.
Do we put one of our formerly good scorers on waivers with the “intent” of sending him down to Hershey? If someone puts in a claim, we cancel the waivers, unless the intent is to let him go anyhow, Even if we decide to cancel the waivers and keep the guy, it does shake everyone emotionally.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Sloan didn’t play any worse than any other Cap on the ice tonight. Raggin’ on him for woofing on a pass is pretty lame. Carlson (3rd), Knuble, Schultz were guilty of the exact thing. In fact the whole team put up a very shoddy effort tonight, whether they were tired or just not focused … who knows. In case you didn’t notice, Bradley, Alzner, Green & Chimera took penalties in the 2nd & 3rd and as you noted … Carlson was on for both goals against. If you think BB should have benched Sloan — he should have benched the whole team. The king of turnovers is Ovie …. however when I checked a couple of days ago Carlson has had 13 and Erskine 7. Regardless of how a Caps player performed, when he’s off the bench for 1/2 the game, your first concern should be an injury … not some ridiculous comment about a turnover / penalty.
Where were the good plays? And it’s not just the pass, it was the PIM after. There were several occasions when Richards caught Sloan and Erskine in the D zone and threw the Koivu line out there and Sloan was just floundering. The team wasn’t that good, but he was atrocious.
You’re really comparing AO’s turnovers to Sloan?
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
It was more than the turnover and it was more than the penalty. It was the combination of the turnover and the penalty in an awful spot on the ice at a terrible time. And the fact that, unlike every single other player you mentioned, Sloan does nothing to offset his mistakes.
It’s not a ridiculous comment at all, but if you don’t feel you’re getting your money’s worth out of the site, feel free to go elsewhere.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Doesn’t justify the lack of concern for a player who may be injured. Sloan had a great game lastnight and might have done well again tonight … but he shouldn’t be judged on 7 minutes. Very thin skinned I’d say — you can dish the criticism but can’t take any … even as mild as mine was. You don’t seem to have a problem with the F bombs, the crude remarks and negativity on this site ….. I’m actually quite surprised you’d be so snarky about mine.
Where’s my lack of concern when I preface the possible benching with “hopefully he’s healthy, of course”?
Seriously, get out of here if you’re just throwing idiocy around trying to pick a fight.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
“Carlson has been bad in front all season so far. He’s got time, though, as you note.”
Carlson may have time ……….. but does the team have time? Seems to me he’s had more goals scored against than any other player. Maybe BB should bench him once & he might get the message & work a little harder. The effort is just not there in the D Zone.
Does the team have time? What are you talking about? There’s basically no chance the team misses the playoffs, and if they do it’s not because of Carlson’s rookie mistakes. The team has to let him work them out now before the playoffs come around. It’s not effort with Carlson, it’s attention to detail. He has let his check get a little too far away and hasn’t been able to recover. As he learns to read the play and shadow his check near the net he’ll be fine, he just needs experience. I’m not sure how you lay down that impassioned defense of Sloan and then suggest that Carlson needs to be benched. What does Sloan bring to the table? Carlson brings a whole lot, is still young, learning, and packing a ton of upside.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
I wouldn’t be surprised if something is bugging him. Not trying to make excuses, but he had an almost effortless stride last year. That stride has really been missing.
by Charlie Foxtrot on Oct 28, 2010 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Speculation is that he’s been playing through a nagging injury for a while. I hope it can heal despite playing or he gets a chance to get some rest and let it heal.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Speculation is that he’s beenplayingpushed to play through a nagging injury for a while.
Clarified that for you.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Unfortunately, that seems to be a reality. This team can simply not afford to lose another d-man. Maybe when Poti returns.
by Charlie Foxtrot on Oct 28, 2010 11:26 PM EDT up reply actions
We’re so thin in D-men that we’re an injury away from needing to play Fahey — or am I being mean to Fahey.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Maybe I feel too strongly about it…but I would totally be okay with never seeing Fahey in a caps jersey again…
I like Laich, but I <3 Green
by RockinRed4Life on Oct 29, 2010 1:54 AM EDT up reply actions
Pretty much. Makes me think it’s the kind of thing that won’t get worse. Wasn’t there talk of a blocked shot being the root of it? Hopefully he’s just real sore but not playing on a broken foot or anything stupid like that.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
I’m 99% sure they’re smart enough not to risk one of the franchise’s top assets in October.
99%.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Yeah, it’s not like they’d rush a keystone player back from injury to play him 5 minutes. Or play their studs in a meaningless game to pad stats when they have injured hands/wrists right before the playoffs. They’re pretty good about giving their studs plenty of healing time.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
I should hope so, ‘cause I’m laying it on pretty thick.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
by Rob Parker on Oct 28, 2010 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Injury when?
His injury may have happened during the NYI game (someone correct me if OTT) as I recall him coming off the ice and slamming the door violently with his head down long after. I believe he took a shot off the leg but can’t be sure. I do remember watching that and saying….Damn. Hope he heals up soon.
The team doesn’t have much choice now, but I agree that challenging Carlson would be a good thing. Didn’t Coach Blaise reportedly get in his face before the WJCs pushing him to ramp up his game?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I think you could probably say the same thing re: challenging about a lot of players. At least in Carlson’s case I give him a fair bit of leash due to the apparent nagging injuries.
Probably. But Carlson’s also so young, so hyped and so much has come relatively easy to him. And, as mentioned above, it’s a tactic that has worked in the past.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I think the “he’s not Ray Bourque” talk was trying to correct some of that stuff. Who knows how direct the challenge has been in the locker room.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
I do think it’ll be interesting to see the first meaningful obstacle in Carlson’s mediocre rise. Pretty much since he went to the USHL he’s learned to basically dominate every league within a half a season. It’s not fair to expect that in the NHL, but I do expect him to get over it.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
I’d rather the hardships come early, if they actually learn from this stuff it should make a better team come April.
I have a twitter.
Not another Capitals blog!
"Victory is sweetest when you've known defeat"
Agreed. I’m a little saddened by the game but I’m not that mad.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Plus injuries etc. I’d worry if this was the game before the playoffs or perhaps may.
I have a twitter.
Not another Capitals blog!
"Victory is sweetest when you've known defeat"
I agree, but that is a real big ‘if’ right now. I hope they learn, but I’m not very confident of it
↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → b a (select) start
Carlson and Alzner need games to learn, and they will, they’re smart kids.
I have a twitter.
Not another Capitals blog!
"Victory is sweetest when you've known defeat"
Those two, I agree, i was more talking about the team as a whole. It remains to be seen what they take from games like this. We will see if they can unlearn what they learned during the streak, that they can play half assed and still pull it out at the end. So far they’ve failed at least twice at that this season, and succeeded online once that I can recall (@Nash).
↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → b a (select) start
They’re learning it right now, or at least seeing it demonstrated. Play 60 mins and games like Carolina happen, play 12 and they’ll lose.
I have a twitter.
Not another Capitals blog!
"Victory is sweetest when you've known defeat"
As far as I was concerned, the shot of Theo on the bench was the highlight of the game.
Don’t make fun of my obsession over ketchup dispensers ever again! ;) Ted Leonsis
by miseenjeu on Oct 28, 2010 11:22 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
It made me sad :(
I have a twitter.
Not another Capitals blog!
"Victory is sweetest when you've known defeat"
better a nice place like Minnesota than wearing Flyer Orange.
Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground
MIN D-man Greg Zanon reminds me of ex-Cap Bob Rouse. Physical and smart and knows his role. Man I’d like him in a cap sweater $1.9 per year til the end of 2011-2012.
I poured spot remover on my dog. Now he's gone.
For sure, but I don’t think MIN has any interest in moving him. I hope they fall out of contention, though, and we can try to pry him away with something sweet.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
They most likely will. They’re still falling into that trap even under Richards. It’s not the most effective hockey with the make-up of that team.
by Charlie Foxtrot on Oct 28, 2010 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions
How else would you play it? They have, tops, 3 forwards that scare you on offense. They don’t want to stack the top line, so instead they have a decent but not great top line, and a very mediocre second line that, coincidentally, wastes their best offensive player. It’s good for them their PP is clicking because once it regresses they are going to struggle for goals. They have almost as much firepower on the blueline as the front lines!
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Well, their forecheck I thought was pretty damn good tonight, and not just the fourth line. Sometimes I thought they should have kept attacking rather than fall-back into the neutral.
It’s not that I think the trap is bad, it’s that I thought they could have been more aggressive, and probably would have scored more. They didn’t look bad tonight.
by Charlie Foxtrot on Oct 28, 2010 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions
They didn’t trap early, though. Maybe some in the second but it wasn’t until they had the 2-0 lead in the third that they started using it. At the end they didn’t think about doing anything but trapping.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
That second goal of Minnesota was the fatal mistake for us, given that our offense has not exactly been clicking this year.
Rocking the Red since 1975
by CapsFan75 on Oct 28, 2010 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Those goals at the ends of periods are backbreakers.
I poured spot remover on my dog. Now he's gone.
by Rather Bengt on Oct 28, 2010 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Especially in a game like that. We had several fatal mistakes. Carlson in front, Backstrom not roofing it. I actually think that PPG by MIN was something that was less of a mistake. They made a good play, we had to take another PIM, a scramble ensues and the puck takes a nice bounce for them right to Koivu. If anything I’d criticize them because it looked like they stopped skating for a second when the delayed PIM was called.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
This.
If we’re scoring, these two goals do not matter. I don’t care how or why they were scored.
Tell your girlfriend to stop texting me.
Except we saw in last year’s playoffs that this attitude is a very risky one, and one that doesn’t necessarily translate to post-season success.
"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 29, 2010 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Caption for this photo.
“Washington Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth, of Russia, deflects a shot in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Thursday, Oct. 28, 2010, in St. Paul, Minnesota. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)”
Not only has he taken the starting job but he’s stolen Varly’s country too!
What can I say, Neuvy’s on a roll!
Get ready for the great Czech takeover of Eastern Europe. Rolling over Slovakia and Russia
Rocking the Red since 1975
We don’t play the Blues til late November for the “Rolling over Slovakia” to take place. ;) Of course that would have been much sweeter last April.
I poured spot remover on my dog. Now he's gone.
by Rather Bengt on Oct 28, 2010 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Speak of the devil, via Walsh on Twitter:
Jaroslav Halak has not allowed a goal in 151:15 minutes…2 coonsecutive shutouts and closing in on a team record.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
At the rate he’s going, I may finally get my old wish to come through — a Stanley Cup by the St. Louis Blues.
Only problem — the Caps are now my favorite team instead of the Blues.
Rocking the Red since 1975
If the Caps don’t win it, I wouldn’t mind seeing the Blues win it finally after 50 years. Hell, it’s been 48 years since they’ve been to the final.
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Oct 29, 2010 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions
So people say he’s lucky…?
He’s a darn good goalie. A very good one.
R.I.P. Sean Taylor 4/1/83 -11/27/07 ♥
Why did Montreal let him go? But wait they’re still leading the conference…..
Rocking the Red since 1975
I was talking to my brother tonight. He’s a big Habs fan. He actually says Price has settled down after a few shaky starts and isn’t looking too bad.
Of course, he preferred they would have kept Halak…but says they likely wouldn’t be able to afford him after his performance last spring.
I poured spot remover on my dog. Now he's gone.
by Rather Bengt on Oct 29, 2010 12:04 AM EDT up reply actions
Yea, if Price works out it will be a good move. I’m not sure Price will though, lots of talent but Montreal media is rough, and it seems like he wilts sometimes because of that.
Price has more size and youth than Halak, and is cheaper. But if Halak can keep up his game, all that size and youth won’t matter.
Proud member of the Popsicle Division of the Cupcake Conference.
While I think it’s too early to abandon ship, it’s definitely frustrating to see this team continue its trend of inconsistent play.
You should never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
by Steck It Out on Oct 28, 2010 11:52 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
This game literally put me to sleep in the second period. I was watching and then woke up with about 30 seconds left.
Oh well, good recap.
Think twice before you speak, and then you may be able to say something more insulting than if you spoke right out at once.
So you’re saying the Wild are exciting. Or did those dead lifts just take a lot out of you?
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Haha, both. Also, I should have clarified, 30 seconds left in the 2nd. I was awake to get my hopes up in the third.
Think twice before you speak, and then you may be able to say something more insulting than if you spoke right out at once.
Did you see Backstrom rob, uh, Backstrom? Great save or crappy shot?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Once upon a time, in a galaxy far away, Karl Alzner was a disciplined player who rarely took penalties.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Yeah, he’s got 4 PIMs in 10 games. He’s out of control.
"Because the game is not just about fighting no more. " D.J. King
by bigeugene on Oct 29, 2010 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Bruce, as quoted on Ed’s blog:
"It’s determination on their part. But I know if teams were blocking shots when I played, I’d shoot at their head, they won’t block too many then. We’re allowing them to block shots. Shoot it where they are not. It’s one thing sliding and making a great block save but they are just standing there and we are hitting them in the shin pads."
Old time hockey!
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
That’s great. I have always wanted to hear an established NHL player admit that but it’s not PC. I made a joke along those lines when Nick broke AV’s face. I’m sure it happens in the playoffs, maybe not right for the face, but when a guy goes down you pump one into his soft spots. Or take out a nut. Whatever works.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
See Alex Ovechkin on Jack Hillen
See Mike Green on Josh Gorges.
I poured spot remover on my dog. Now he's gone.
by Rather Bengt on Oct 29, 2010 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions
“And so it’s off to Calgary to end the roadie with a Hockey Night in Canada late game on Saturday against a Flames team that has been superb defensively so far.”
Nice timing, JP – they’ve given up 6 goals tonight (granted, it hasn’t been Kipper in net). I promise it was 2-1 when I wrote that bullet.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
OT – I loves me some Ryan O’Reilly.
I poured spot remover on my dog. Now he's gone.
by Rather Bengt on Oct 29, 2010 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions
By-in-large, the same tired theme played out where the Caps simply had no idea how to beat the trap. If this team doesn’t score in PP situations against a trap team then that’s that.
Nothing is going to change about this team until McPhee makes that happen himself.
Tomorrow GMGM wakes up and has a brainstorm: By jeeves, I must fight fire with fire!
BB fired. Jacques Lemaire hired as Caps coach. Boyd Gordon returns from living under the Witness Protection Act and is made 1st line center to OV and a promoted Eric Fehr. Rod Langway is lured out of retirement to partner Jeff Schultz for 1D and 2D.
Cap Trap Hockey – Learn to love it and cure your insomnia!
I poured spot remover on my dog. Now he's gone.
by Rather Bengt on Oct 29, 2010 12:24 AM EDT up reply actions
Ha! Ha! Except for the fact that Langway’s too old to double shift at defense.
But I know what you mean — fight fire with fire.
Or better yet, analyze what teams do well against the trap. Answer: Philadelphia Flyers. Or at least they do well against the NJ Devils and Montreal Canadiens. So the way to beat teams like that is to play Flyers’ hockey.
BTW, is Jeff Carter still available? Maybe it’s time to pull the trigger on that deal.
Rocking the Red since 1975
I would gladly take Carter in a Caps uniform, but I have my doubts that PHI is willing to do us any favours.
I poured spot remover on my dog. Now he's gone.
by Rather Bengt on Oct 29, 2010 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions
After the whole John Carlson thing you are probably right. But we’ll see how the season unfolds. I’m more curious about what we could offer them.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Carlson is not available to trade to the Flyers. Young defensemen are the last thing we should trade at the present time. If anything, they should throw in a D prospect and we’d throw in a goalie prospect.
Rocking the Red since 1975
I know we don’t have the rights to him in Hershey, but I think there were some far fetched rumours floating around in the last few years about a 1 for 1 involving Jeff Carter and Sheldon Souray.
I poured spot remover on my dog. Now he's gone.
by Rather Bengt on Oct 29, 2010 12:48 AM EDT up reply actions
Well they did have a deal sending Carter to TOR for Kaberle all set to go but Tomas wouldn’t drop his no-trade clause.
I poured spot remover on my dog. Now he's gone.
by Rather Bengt on Oct 29, 2010 12:54 AM EDT up reply actions
I hope he wouldn’t either. He’s a one trick pony. And that trick we have in spades with Green, Poti, Carlson. We need a smart, defensive stay at home D-man who comes affordably. Like Greg Zanon on MIN tonight.
I poured spot remover on my dog. Now he's gone.
by Rather Bengt on Oct 29, 2010 12:58 AM EDT up reply actions
Just getting home. Bad misplay by Carlson on their first goal, was a sloppy game all around. Sloan was brutal. As has been gone over, that flubbed pass/interference penalty combo was brutal. PP really needs to start to connect. 1st line I felt was going to cash in all night, didn’t think it would take that long. Backstrom will be upset with himself tonight.
Neuvy was still very good…hope he starts Saturday would like to see a better effort that night. I know everyone loves MP85 but get better soon Mackan.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
I don’t know, maybe it’s the beer wearing off/breakfast grease kicking in, but coming off of a 4 point game vs. Carolina the previous night, maybe the turd last night was to be expected. It’s not like you can expect the whole team to automatically have the same epiphany that Green did in the quote Pepper said and play solidly. I’d give them a pass on this one and see how Calgary goes.
"I’m happy to have contributed to this league, to have done something important in my career, I’m proud, but you always will think you still could’ve done more, but tonight tells I’ve done things well."
And if one number could tell the story of the game for the boys from D.C., this is it: the game was 43:32 old before a Caps forward from one of the bottom three lines registered a shot on goal (and that was a weak 44-foot wrister from Mathieu Perreault).
It was an awful night for the Caps’ second- and third-line centers, as Perreault and Tomas Fleischmann combined for no points, two shots on goal, and a 6-for-19 (31.6%) night in the dot. Unlike many a wine, the issue of the Caps’ depth down the middle is not getting better with age.
Can the miserable experiment with Flash playing center end already? For what it’s worth, I don’t think MP is an NHL center at this point, either.
We’ve all harped on this for a while now, but clearly the biggest weaknesses of this team are the lack of defensive depth and a second line center. I don’t think we need to watch another few months of lackluster games to prove this out.
I don’t think we need to watch another few months of lackluster games to prove this out.
Pretty much. We can hope to hit the lottery and one of the guys becomes a young phenom 2C. But more likely nothing will change until GMGM makes a change.
Until then…
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
#needsmoreperraultswag
When my friend Robbie and I played hockey in the driveway on our rollerblades....I was always Peter Bondra
by OviWankenobi on Oct 29, 2010 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions
So we’re ten games in and I have no idea what the next 10 games will bring. If I were forced to place a bet I’d have to say the Caps are going to go 5-5 but who knows? Of course, the goaltending facing the Caps has been stellar.
The Caps are a team that is close to needing a wake-up call from GMGM. Apparently BB isn’t capable of doing so. We have some players (Flash, Fehr?) that need a change of scenery. A trade with a team also carrying some under-performing players that could benefit from a change?
Perhaps y’all are correct in that we’re sorely lacking a #2 center. That could be the missing link.
Tell your girlfriend to stop texting me.
Observations from the Sofa
No gloom and doom from here. The Caps didn’t play a great game, but at the same time, they played as well as could be expected following a time-zone shift in back to back games. Raleigh, NC to St. Paul, MN is a 3 hour flight, and going through all the logistics of playing a game before the flight, and having to get everything packed, onto the plane to Minnesota, unpacked… Locker said the players got to the hotel at about 2 AM local time, which is 3 AM body time for them…. not good.
Anyway some notes:
1) Despite the reviews, the Caps defensively were very strong in this game and played an outstanding road game defensively. Holding a team to 17 shots in their own building is impressive, no matter who the opposition is. Sure Minnesota isn’t going to be at the top of the heap in offensive numbers, but to hold the opponent to 6-6-5 in shots by period…I’ll take that any night.
2) That said, there were some mistakes. The break away after the PK by Koivu is a cardinal sin. The guys on the point should have been heard Neuvy pounding on the ice (I could hear him on the TV) and been aware of the situation. If the puck is heading back to the blue line when the penalty is nearly over, the man on the point away from the puck retreats to center ice towards the center face off circle. That way the player is heading towards the opponent’s penalty box and is in position to make a play. Carlson missed that.
3) Not the best game over all for Carlson. He is definitely hurting, that’s obvious. Playing back to back with all the travel while hurting… I don’t know if that was a good idea. It is October, it’s not like this game was make-or-break.
4) A great performance by both goaltenders. Both were very sharp despite not seeing a lot of chances. None of the 3 goals could be blamed on the goaltenders at all. Unlike Wed. night, last night, Backstrom had the better game, but both were terrific.
5) Not a good night on the dot for the Caps, but not bad considering the travel again. 31-34 on the road isn’t bad since you start at a disadvantage on the road in face offs. That, and Minnesota has some good guys on the face off dot: Koivu, Madden and Cullen are all usually well above average on the dot. The Caps really had only 2 guys in the line up who are good at faceoffs: Backstrom (who has improved so much in this area, it’s scary) and Steckel. Fleischmann… I really think they should have Laich take that line’s draws.
6) Has anyone noticed that there have been quite a few times when the Caps have had someone fall when trying to retreat…. I didn’t notice it much last year, but in the first 10 games this year it’s been kind of regular that it happens a few times a game…maybe I’m seeing things.
It’s not time to panic. The Wild were sitting at home with 2 days off, waiting for the Caps who came in the night before the game having just played a division game. That the Caps can be close with them and put up a quality defensive effort speaks volumes for the team. After Saturday, the Caps will be the team waiting as Toronto, Boston and Philly come to town. Here’s hoping Tim Thomas will not be as amazingly hot as he has been. (A GAA of 0.75 in his first 4 games, 2 against the Caps…egads!) In looking at the schedule, I can see a whole bushel of points ready for the taking… the Caps can hopefully grab them.
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Oct 29, 2010 10:54 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Japers' Rink
Related FanShots on Japers' Rink
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recent FanShots
The Vault
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Why the Devils and the Kings are evidence the Capitals shouldn’t trade Alex Ovechkin
- Eulogy: Remembering the 2011-12 New York Rangers
- Stanley Cup Final: 5 keys for New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings
- Friday’s Three Stars: Devils head to Final; Brodeur, Kovalchuk the difference in Game 6
- Devils eliminate Rangers in Game 6, ending fear of the past, setting course for the future
