Recap: Thrashers 5, Caps 0
by Becca H on Nov 19, 2010 10:24 PM EST
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After stringing together a couple of strong efforts in a row and scoring ten goals in their last two games, the Caps were probably due for a stinker. Doesn't make it easier to take, however, as the Caps started flat and ended empty-handed en route to their first really lopsided loss of the season. They didn't skate hard enough, they weren't physical enough and they couldn't generate anything offensively - that'll get you a loss any day, and an ugly one at that.
Not much else to say about this one...but let's give it a shot anyway.
Ten more notes on the game:
- One of the things we're learning about Braden Holtby is that he's aggressive and likes to play the puck. That's all well and good until that aggression turns into a goal for the opponent. It was an overzealous attempt to cover a puck well outside the crease that led to it ending up right on Nik Antropov's stick - and then the back of the net.
- Tyler Sloan's 4:37 of ice time in the first period was spread across six shifts. Atlanta scored on three of them. Yeah, there's just no real way to make that sound pretty.
- As has become a trend when these two teams meet - at least if you define "trend" as something happening across at least two games - the bounces were a-bouncin' tonight, of the funny, bad and costly kind. A couple of them ended up in the net while many more ended up off the post or off the tape or off the rink.
- Jeff Schultz ended the evening with a team- and game-high five hits. Wait...is that a typo?
- Lost in the muck is the fact that Mike Green actually had quite a nice night for himself. It wasn't a perfect night but he at least seemed remotely capable of making an impact, and ended the night with about as impressive a stat line as one could hope in a game like this: three shots on goal, another four blocked or missed, two hits, a takeaway, two blocked shots, and some of the better scoring chances in the dying minutes of the third - despite being the victim of a nasty crash into the boards earlier in the period.
- Slightly better effort for Marcus Johansson tonight, as he slipped into a slightly less high-profile role alongside Alexander Semin and Brooks Laich...er, emphasis on the "slightly" part. He seemed to be flexing his offensive guns a bit more and creating some nice chances for himself and his linemates, racking up three shots on goal and having three more blocked. Now about that 1-for-8 in the faceoff circle...
- A great goal was scored by a Russian guy named Alex wearing a red #8 sweater. Sadly, he plays for Atlanta. Beautiful moves by Alexander Burmistrov to cash in for the Thrashers' 5th of the night.
- Now, about OUR #8. It doesn't really seem to be a lack of effort in general. And it's definitely not a lack of talent. So what exactly is the issue with Alex Ovechkin? It seems like every game we can devote a bullet point entirely to the captain's lack of...well, Ovi-ness...and that's not good, not for a team that's built around him and for a team that relies on him to lead in so many ways. He's showing flashes of brilliance that are all too brief, and they're sandwiched in between long stretches of mediocre-to-bad play. Something's up, and it needs to be fixed ASAP. In the meantime, reasonable minds might wonder why he's getting almost 23 minutes of ice time when he clearly isn't earning it...
- The last time the Caps were shut out was almost a year ago: December 9, 2009. That's a nice long run. Shall we make it two years next time?
- What do Nicklas Backstrom, John Carlson, Karl Alzner and Mike Knuble have in common? They were the only four Caps not on the ice for a single Atlanta goal (and Knuble's night was shortened after taking a puck to the face). That about sums it up, doesn't it?
These games happen sometimes, and they're the kind of games you have to just forget and move on from. The bad news is that they blow a chance at extending their lead in the division and the conference. The good news is that so much went wrong that you can chalk most of it up to just a bad night by the entire team.
More good news? They get to hop right back on the horse tomorrow night and take their anger out on the Philadelphia Flyers.
Game highlights:
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Should have known this was a Becca recap night.
The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Links guy at Five For Howling.
by Carl Putnam on Nov 19, 2010 10:27 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
I know, that was my first thought.
I have a twitter.
Not another Capitals blog!
"Victory is sweetest when you've known defeat"
Gotta be much worse for you. You are the one always stuck writing them.
The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Links guy at Five For Howling.
by Carl Putnam on Nov 19, 2010 10:34 PM EST up reply actions
Becca, I admire your discipline to avoid curse words. I couldn’t avoid it while watching this utterly forgettable game. Maybe it’s a good thing the Caps are playing back-to-back games, so there won’t be much time to dwell over this loss. It’s tough physically, but it might be what the Caps need to put this one behind them and move on ASAP. The Flyers should be a good test, especially after the way they lost to the LIghtning the other night.
by Ovietracker on Nov 19, 2010 11:12 PM EST up reply actions
I am pissed about losing Knubes. I hope his injury isn’t really bad.
Alright, confess-how many goals are you going to make this year?
"I'm not going to tell!"
Well can you at least guarantee fifty?
"No way. I have a different objective. To win."
I’m gonna call Ovechkin out for lack of effort. And it comes down to something simple.
Ovechkin isn’t finishing his checks in the same way he used to. He always used to be the guy who would pound guys into the boards after they handled the puck. He’s not doing that nearly as much any more. Whether it’s because of his suspensions, or due to a minor injury, it’s something absent from his game.
by Wheeler on Nov 19, 2010 10:37 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Also, fuck me. I picked up Holtby in my fantasy league thinking he’d get the start tonight. MISTAKE.
Well, he did get the start tonight, so you weren’t all wrong.
/Let this be a warning to all Waiver Queens!
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
by Rob Parker on Nov 19, 2010 10:42 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I’m not giving Ovie a free pass, so I’ll call him out for his LACK OF EFFORT too. He’s changed his game this season for whatever reason, who knows why. Whether it’s a response to the backlash from his suspensions last season, whether it’s his way of “conserving” energy for the postseason (what a joke if true), he’s mostly going through the motions, indifferent and uncaring IMO. He does find time and has the energy to go to night club openings and media events for his new DVD, so what’s his excuse for his mediocre play?
by Ovietracker on Nov 19, 2010 10:56 PM EST up reply actions
He does find time and has the energy to go to night club openings and media events for his new DVD, so what’s his excuse for his mediocre play?
You’re right, he sucks! He’s Metallica’s Black Album!
"DON'T SAY THAT! Please! That is the worst, most stupid thing anyone could say! Cause it quite clearly isn't "only a game." I mean if it was do you honestly think I'd care this much?"
by Bald Pollack on Nov 20, 2010 8:27 AM EST up reply actions
This Tweet made me smile, at least:
@BrentSopel
A win with my family here. Life is great !
After he got traded from Chicago to Atlants, Brent and his wife decided no more moves for the family. So they stayed in ChiTown, and he’s batching it in Hotlanta.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
That’s about as good a recap as you could do for this game, Becca. Definitely a stinker, definitely not going to ruin the season, definitely not easy to watch.
I’d love to heap on the Ty Sloan hate. He sure does suck. But nobody that got minuses on the second and third ATL goals deserved them. Both were squarely on Holtby. That said, Sloan’s inability to cover noted goalscorer Ben Eager on the first goal was pretty pathetic. It doesn’t matter how fast he skates if he can’t think the game at the same speed.
The last two days we’ve talked about Mackan getting lucky by not being on the ice for more goals against. Tonight the luck went the other way. He took 2 minuses, but neither of them were his fault. He was marking Kane on the third goal, but most teams will give that shot every time and expect the goalie to make a save. I thought it was one of Mackan’s best games this year, if not the best. He was definitely more assertive on the puck and I watched him take Kane and Bogosian to the boards and steal the puck from them tonight. Not bad for a guy that can’t withstand a stiff breeze, eh D’oh?
Man, Schultz got fucking walked.
It’ll be interesting to see who steps up with Knuble out, but ultimately it’s not a big concern of mine. (And seriously, WTF was Fehr shooting that puck at?) Until AO gets his act together this team is not going to look right. I’m starting to get to the point where I’m a little concerned about AO. I don’t know if he’s feeling pressure, doesn’t care about the regular season, or is nursing an injury. I sure hope it’s not an injury; I’d hope BB would just sit him until he’s 100% so that he can be the player we all know he should be. I guess BtN would tell you it’s just “luck” but I don’t think he’s playing the same way he’s played the last 5 years.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
by Rob Parker on Nov 19, 2010 10:41 PM EST reply actions 4 recs
No Russian fatalism here. Per Corey:
Holtby: “If I was playing them right, they would have just looked like normal plays. I think I was to blame on all three actually.”
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
I can see why he’d take blame on the first one, but at least it was deflected late. I’m sure he’d say that he should have challenged harder and taken the tip away, but it’s tough when a guy is skating free and unmarked to the net as the puck is getting there.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
I think it’s easy if you feel responsible for a few bad goals to sort of take lump blame for almost all of them.
Think twice before you speak, and then you may be able to say something more insulting than if you spoke right out at once.
I’m definitely concerned about OV. It’s glaringly obvious that something isn’t right.
by Kolzilla on Nov 19, 2010 10:48 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Not that I want AO to be injured, but might that be the easiest thing to resolve out of your list? If AO really is injured, I hope BB sits him for a bit.
by vtcapsfan99 on Nov 19, 2010 10:49 PM EST up reply actions
I had the same thought but didn’t want to tempt fate. I’d hope BB would sit him, but history doesn’t suggest that.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
True, history doesn’t suggest AO being sat, but he’s never played this badly for this amount of time. I have no clue what’s wrong with Ovie, but something mental after everything that happened last season would be understandable. Maybe Greenie could share the phone number of his sports psychologist and some yoga videos. I’m just grateful to have Semin playing so well while Ovie is slumping.
by vtcapsfan99 on Nov 19, 2010 10:59 PM EST up reply actions
I meant history doesn’t suggest BB will rest a nicked up star.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Yes, I’m remembering Mike Green playing at the end of last season in meaningless games, trying to get his 20th goal while he had some wrist injury. Great way for him to start the playoffs.
by vtcapsfan99 on Nov 19, 2010 11:03 PM EST up reply actions
Heaven forbid Ovie is hurt, but I almost rather it’s something physically wrong with him to explain his lousy play because that can heal, it can be fixed. If it’s attitude that’s Ovie’s problem, then Boudreau has his work cout out for him. He’s going to have to have the balls to either sit his star player or give him the mother of all chewing outs to get his attention. Something is wrong with Ovie, and maybe only he knows what’s wrong.
by Ovietracker on Nov 19, 2010 11:00 PM EST up reply actions
The thing is, if Ovi’s injured and still playing, then we have a different problem. Is BB not willing to scratch him, and if so, why?
by wickedwitch on Nov 19, 2010 11:40 PM EST up reply actions
Maybe he’s not letting on how much he’s injured…honestly if he’s hurt I really hope that’s the case, that he’s trying to play through it and BB doesn’t know. Because if Boudreau’s knowingly throwing an injured Ovi out there for 23 minutes in a losing effort like this, one in which the team was out of it early, he should be fired.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
Why was BB using the top guns near the end of the game, for that matter. Doesn’t make the loss any better to lose by 4 instead of 5.
by red army line on Nov 20, 2010 1:04 AM EST up reply actions
Agree on Sloan – that first goal was Eager was all him, just don’t know how you let anyone get behind you right in front of the net, and then not even try to tie up the stick or take the body or anything. Just awful.
Mackan really did look good, glad I’m not the only one who saw it. And Schultz gets off easy in the recap but…agree, he was pretty bad. In fact a lot of the good stuff I was seeing from Green was him covering Sarge’s ass, which was an interesting little Freaky Friday moment.
I held waaaaay back on my Ovi paragraph. I’m pissed as hell at him right now, and at Bruce for having him out there almost 3 minutes more than Semin and Backstrom, two guys who looked a hell of a lot more engaged (relatively speaking) than 8 was tonight. What the hell is going on with him? I can’t tell if he’s injured or just needs a smack across the head or a hug or a break or what…and I’m getting tired of waiting for it to fix itself.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
by Becca H on Nov 19, 2010 10:51 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Even TJ at Alex Ovetjkin can’t take it. He just announced he’s on hiatus. :(
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Is TJ truly too distressed at Ovi’s play, as of late to bother keeping up the blog or what?
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
No idea. TJ keeps his own counsel.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Ovi needs some yoga and a sports psychologist.
/just ask Greenie
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
I just wrote the exact same thing above :)
by vtcapsfan99 on Nov 19, 2010 11:01 PM EST up reply actions
I still believe its his wrist or something else that is hurt.
The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Links guy at Five For Howling.
by Carl Putnam on Nov 19, 2010 11:16 PM EST up reply actions
I think it’s mental and stems from last year. Yeah, a hangover of sorts. His game might be evolving due to the suspensions, etc. If it is, it could be a painful time here as he finds a new equilibrium in his play.
I’m sure the suspensions have changed his game to where he doesn’t play with the same abandonment. Because of his size, his hits are more likely to cause injuries to other guys than otherwise.
It almost seemed like they were out to get Ovi last year. I thought the original 5 minute major penalties (to Kaleta and Gleason) that set the whole thing into motion were trumped up charges — or should have been minor penalties.
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
WORD Fehr and Balanced about your Ovie comments.
by Ovietracker on Nov 19, 2010 11:06 PM EST up reply actions
The caps played the perimeter game all night, weren’t moving their feet, and were hardly driving the net. That pretty much sums up the big fat ZERO for the offense.
Sasha seemed to…be sasha. Like most of the caps invisible all night except for playing a nice game of shiny for all of 10 seconds.
Otherwise of the forwards it seemed like only the Swedes and Chimera were at least trying to play hockey. Flash….ugh. Great response for being benched by playing as bad as Tyler Sloan.
Also memo to Gabby: Never bench a healthy Gordo.
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 thought Semin was pretty good tonight. He was taking away the puck, digging the puck out of corners, and generally playing well defensively. There were moments he was pressing too hard to score, and it would have been smarter for him to just ship the puck out, but otherwise it wasn’t a “bad Sasha” game.
by Wheeler on Nov 19, 2010 11:00 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I guess I missed a good part of Semin then. Once the score swelled to 4-0 I started working on my resume and cover letter and half watching the game. :S
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 betting the “benching” of Gordo was them not wanting to push him in back-to-back games – I think I read somewhere that he’s still a little gimpy, and they don’t want to force it.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
Oh, Joe B phrased it like he was a healthy scratch.
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.
Well, I think he was in the sense that if he had to, he could play – but I’d bet it was a healthy scratch designed to rest a guy who’s not 100% yet when the team has back-to-back games. The whole approach to injuries so far this year has seemed to err on the side of caution (unless Ovi is actually hurt, in which case I know nothing).
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
Since Gordon hasn’t really been playing badly, as of late.
On Ovi, I wonder if a visit to the doctor may be in order after the Flyers game. I can understand not wanting to miss that game since they’re one of our big arch-rivals but after that, if he’s got an injury, time to fix it.
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
I have TSN’s coverage of the CGY-CHI on TV right now.Flames are CGY is winning 3-1 in the 2nd period and taking the game to the Hawks. Colour man Ray Ferraro is between the benches and he said that during the most recent TV timeout Jonathan Toews skated to the middle of the CHI bench , slammed his stick into bench boards and screamed at the players on the bench to “WAKE UP!!!”.
I know every captain is different in how they deal with their teammates, but I really think we need Ovi or someone to show some emotion on this team as motivation.
I poured spot remover on my dog. Now he's gone.
Knuble may just want to take the month of November off going forward. Ed Frankovic’s recap sez MK22 might have a fractured jaw.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Caveats: We’ll know more tomorrow. Probably.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Not another broken face! And it appears to be the other side from the replay. Isn’t a player only supposed to have his face broken once?
Sigh. Win one for the slippers.
I poured spot remover on my dog. Now he's gone.
by Rather Bengt on Nov 19, 2010 11:25 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Oh, dear. I hope he doesn’t have to eat Thanksgiving dinner through a straw.
Six Beers Too Many fantasy team: It's Neu-virth Than Usual
"I wake up in the middle night frustrated because we lost out in the first round and I want to see our players hoist the Stanley Cup." -Brooks Laich
by CapitalCentre on Nov 19, 2010 11:19 PM EST up reply actions
Ovechkin looks like garbage, period. He needs to break things off with Memo or get his problems worked out or fix whatever is holding him back. Vinny and his contract look more appealing so far this season, even with Vinny’s crippled ass hand.
Many a night from yonder ivied casement, ere I went to rest,
Did I look on great Orion sloping slowly to the West.
I wouldn’t go that far.
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
Have you seen him do much else this month beside skate into too many defenders or skate up and have the puck roll off his stick impotently into the corner?
Many a night from yonder ivied casement, ere I went to rest,
Did I look on great Orion sloping slowly to the West.
Other than his 3 goals and 9 assists in 9 games, you mean?
There is no problem a hammer cannot either fix or make irrelevant.
Thanks for the stats, Timmy. While we haven’t seen Ovi’s A game yet, he was tied for 3rd in overall points, last time I checked. Goals are down but a hat trick would get him close to the leaders.
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
Great even-handed recap of a really sucky game. Except I have issue with:
After stringing together a couple of strong efforts in a row
I’ll admit that I didn’t watch the Wednesday night game (but I’ve heard enough to feel comfortable lumping that effort into this grouping), but I would not call any of the past few games “strong efforts” by any stretch of the imagination. Sure, stellar performances from a few select individuals, but right now as a team they’re playing sloppy, unorganized, and undisciplined hockey and getting by on the immense amount of talent (sounds a bit like last season, no?). It was only a matter of time before it all fell apart like last night.
"If a guy can throw down, it's way hot. And scars? If a guy's got a scar he's got me. And if he's missing some teeth, I'm missing my pants!"
by SeattleCapsFan on Nov 20, 2010 12:14 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
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