Recap: Caps 6, Lightning 3

Good stuff.

There were multiple times tonight when Backstrom would literally go out of his way to make the pass when it seemed much clearer to anyone watching that he should have pulled the trigger. Now I’m not gonna complain about a 4 assist night, but man I really want him to start shooting more.

Nicely done, JP.

Hattie aside, IMO this was Semin’s best game of the season. Focused throughout, some slick takeaways.

Nick’s best game of the season, too. Terrific on both ends.

Looks like I missed a great third period. Thank goodness for Twitter.

Early October, I would’ve taken 12-4 and run to game 17. Onward and upward.

Now if only my son’s high school team could learn to deck someone in the crease.

Tampa is going to be fun to play against this year. Taking timeouts and pulling your goalie with 2 minutes left in November was surprising from them.

And I was proud to have Dan Ellis give me the finger. /TWSS

JP – missed in your recap – Vinny out 3-4 weeks.

I have returned from Verizon Center triumphant. Thumbs up from Bruce, a high five from Lars. What a rad night.

So BB said Gordo’s out for a week? Then it’s a month at best.

And I think Flash was 3-12 on the dot. Though Hendrick’s went 0-for-5, so Flash was only second worse. http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20102011/FC020219.HTM

On Hall jumping Bradley, couldn’t agree more. I think Hall’s more of an AHL-er than NHL-er so maybe he was trying to impress.

And Ovie is clearly just trying to boost his shooting percentage. Quality, not quantity.

The VC ushers need a bit more training, and need those “puck in play” signs again. Too many people wandering in during the middle of plays. I almost blew a gasket.

Oh yikers. Fractured finger for Vinny LeCavalier. Out 3-4 weeks.;

Too bad.

happily found a place to watch the game (and they had Wings-Oilers on, too!). We were not the most popular people in the bar, to say the least.

Sure would be nice is the Caps remembered hockey is a 60 minute game.

I just watched the end of Preds-Blues. Stevie Sullivan is growing a nice Dennis Maruk.

I haven’t looked at the GDTs, but does anyone else giggle every time they see Alzner’s pornstache?

Before going tomorrow on a long trip overseas, decided to go to the game tonight. Wow. From his first shift, Semin was practically flawless. From the between-the-legs pass in the first period till the EN goal, he was skating and puck handling with such energy and comfort level that everybody around in our section was just waiting for a puck to come to him expecting something. If he can stay at that level for another month, GMGM will have to open Ted’s wallet real wide…

My own personal recap: Booooooo Shirlington Cap City taking a period and a half to put the game on despite my asking four times.

Couldn’t spare one freaking echo of "Breaking News: Jenn Sterger meets with investigators . . . "?

Choose a better picture. Put Semin up, hater

Headline on WashingtonPost.com way completely lacks creativity:

“Caps Jolt Lightning”

I can’t imagine there would be many objections from CapsNation if he were to find himself in the press box in favor of Marcus Johansson on Saturday night.

No surprises…but count me as one. Picked up an A and was one of only 5 Caps (3 forwards) in the Corsi plus. He certainly is not a center but he also, IMO, deserves to be on the ice.

The goal and two points we allowed Stamkos were costly.

So was the minus that Laich took on that first Tampa goal.

Hai there Michal Neuvirth, first goalie in the NHL to ten wins this year.

Aaaaaaaand Ovechkin/Backstrom are no longer tied for the league lead in assists. H.Sedin potted 2 tonight.

Btw, if you didn’t watch it’s worth checking out tonight’s Two Man Advantage – the last third of it is some of the players talking about Kolbe’s 1000th game and it’s pretty damn funny.

BTW, Stretch’s warmup deejaying was awesome tonight.

Me no likey t

I need to stop watching the Caps. Both times Semin has a hat trick. I hope that trend doesn’t carry over to watching them live on 12/23 and 1/1.

Damn you guys look scary!

Lost in all the hubbub tonight, oddly enough, was the fact that Backstrom’s first assist of the evening was also his 200th career assist. Congrats, Nicky!!

Well that was fun tonight. Anyone notice how chippy and physical Nicky was getting tonight, especially on shifts against Moore. Nice to see a fierce Swede – run them through the glass with the Volvo!

Alex Semin looked at the jumbo at some point in the game and kinda smiled. He seems really happy lately, gotta be loving his time with Ovi and Baxter.

Interesting game. Felt like their shot totals were inflated a little, although I noticed a couple flurries where they got 3 or 4 shots for a couple different guys getting whacks in tight. Also a lot of long range stuff that Neuvy smothered/caught with ease.

Semin was fantastic tonight, the whole SOB line (when it was together) was. A combined +10 from those guys (Ovie with the +4 I believe). Great finishes on his first two goals, and I really liked him staying with the play to find Ovie for his goal. Ovie still doesn’t look like himself but looked more engaged tonight on the whole. He seems to be trying to create more ice for other people by drawing attention to himself sometimes…also a couple of Semin’s goals were the result of him getting it deep to Nicky. Liked it overall.

Knubs is back. Such a warm feeling in my heart to see him collecting those garbage goals. Hopefully he goes on a tear here.

Neuvy looked not so great again tonight. Felt like both of the first 2 goals his rebound control should have been much better although Malone had no one within 5 yards of him for his tap in.

Carlznerson looked better tonight, Alzner obviously rebounded from his game the other night, saw RAH be strong on a boards in our zone a couple of times as well.

Seats were nice but whole Row A in front of us were military guys that were drunk and were leaning so bad they were resting their arms over the glass. Didn’t feel like dealing with it but it was amazingly bad.

Really feel bad for Gordon although Mackan will probably get back in the lineup now. Surprised that Fehr and Chimmer were only minus players on the night Chimmer was flying out there quite a bit.

I’ll take 6 in a row, could have played better tonight but when you capitalize on your chances it can look real easy. Was the reffing an issue for anyone else tonight I felt like we were going to get ours in the 3rd but after we buried the one PP opportunity it felt like refs put the whistles away, especially when Laich got taken down just before the Stamkos goal.

Green with a very modest 22 minutes tonite. Nice.

Alex Semin. #danellisproblems

At the moment, Tampa Bay is the new Pittsburgh… exciting to watch and actually, well… good.

Oh, and if the Caps didn’t need inspiration for Saturday there is the matter of Buffalo still not having won a game at home yet this season (0-6-1). Hate to be the first.

Victory! Victory! Victory!

Some notes:

1) This game showed why Tampa is much improved and why Tampa won’t be all that competitive in the playoffs. They are exciting, fast, get great shots, have lots of guys who can put pucks in the net, and their goaltending pretty well stinks. I think the top of the #DanEllisProblems is Dan Ellis. He’s not very good… and Mike Smith has been the goalie of the future for several teams for so long he’s in his 30s… The Bolts could very well make the playoffs, and then be a quick out for the team they draw in round 1.

2) There was quite a bit of linesman intimidation going on out there by the Caps as they won the face-off battle 40-31. Hey, maybe the Lightning aren’t so good on the dot either…

3) Semin had an amazing game, 3G, 2A… where was that last April? Ok… no more [Carcillo]-ing about last year’s playoffs….

4) Backstrom had 4 helpers… sweet. Great goal by Poti, Ovechkin…ho hum, a goal and two assists. Gads are we spoiled or what?

5) Memo to Brooksie… when you get an shot at the empty net, please hit it. Otherwise you will be subjected to unnecessary ridicule from your teammates.

6) Brads actually won a fight and didn’t bleed all over the ice… good job. I know some folks wanted to see an instigator given to the Bolts player on that, but it looked like they dropped the gloves at the same time and went at it. The reason Bradley was called out wasn’t just because of the clean hit he made, but for the half-dozen other attempts to lay out Bolts players where he missed. I think with Vinny getting hurt, the Bolts wanted to send a message that they didn’t want to lose anyone else….

7) Gordo hurt again… me no like. Glad his replacement is easily available (MJ90) and looks like he is ready to get back into the game.

8) Nice effort for Neuvy, but with the back to back coming up, I’m thinking maybe Holtby gets the start against the Sabres so-so offense?

9) And yes it is early in the season, but it sure is nice to be at the top of the standings… the view from here is very nice.

So on to Buffalo then home for Atlanta on Sunday. Instead of teams near the top of the standings, the Caps play these two teams twice in the next four games. These are points they should get and wins they should earn…..By next Friday, it is possible the Caps will be 16-4-0 and it takes the team to the quarter pole….

As THN said…“The beast is awake…”