Capital Ups and Downs: Week 9
by J.P. on Dec 6, 2010 11:00 AM EST
in Capitals Ups and Downs
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Our weekly look at individual Washington Capitals' ups and downs:
| Goalies | Trend | Notes |
| Michal Neuvirth |  |
Started (for the first time in nearly two weeks) in Dallas, and was good (two goals allowed on 21 shots against), but would no doubt want back the one that got away - a long-range knuckling wrister from Brandon Segal that beat Neuvy clean just 20 seconds after the Caps had tied the game at one in the third period. |
| Semyon Varlamov |  |
Phenomenal against St. Louis (stopping 37 of 38 shots in the win), human against Atlanta (30 of 33 in the loss), but still lights-out overall since returning from injury, to the tune of 4-1-0/1.58. |
| Defensemen | ||
| Karl Alzner | |
Minus-one with no points for the week (and that makes nine-straight games without an appearance on the score sheet), but played a perfect 6:39 shorthanded and had his first three-SOG game of the season (fifth in his career) on Thursday, and followed it up with another on Saturday. |
| John Carlson | |
A couple of secondary (even-strength) helpers and 7:22 of scoreless penalty-killing this week for the rookie time-on-ice leader, who also got 2:34 of power-play time on Saturday. Of course, perhaps he should have had a goal this week as well... |
| John Erskine |  |
His week was off to a great start with an assist, five hits and a plus-2 rating in St. Louis, but he got hurt against Dallas and was unable to play against Atlanta. Erskine has had an outstanding (for him) start to the season, but with the acquisition of Scott Hannan now finds himself as the odd man out when everyone on the blueline is healthy (if and when that ever happens). |
| Mike Green |  |
Green had just one point for the week (a beautiful power-play set-up of Mike Knuble on the Caps' only tally in Dallas) and was on the ice for both power-play goals the team allowed. Perhaps most disappointingly, the Caps scored just once in 56:48 at even-strength with Green on the ice this week. |
| Scott Hannan | |
It's a little early to be passing judgment on The New Guy, but here are his numbers through two games: 0 points, 0 SOG, minus-1, 2 PIMs, 4 hits, 5 blocked shots, 28:08 TOI, and the big one - 5:27 of scoreless shorthanded time. |
| Tom Poti | |
Injured? Get. Out. But hey, he's hopeful that he can play tonight, so there's that. |
| Jeff Schultz | |
His defensive numbers were pretty much the same as Green's this week - on the ice for both power-play goals against and one at even-strength - but since no offense is expected from him, Sarge gets no down arrow. Though if I have to see Saturday night's Andrew Ladd goal again, I might not be so kind... |
| Tyler Sloan | |
Got a sweater on Saturday night, but those nights will likely be few and far between going forward (especially if he makes a habit out of being beaten out of the corner like he was on Alexander Burmistrov's goal). |
| Forwards | ||
| Nicklas Backstrom | |
Splendid in St. Loo (two goals, one assist, plus-2), but scoreless the rest of the week and just 43.9% successful in the dot over the three games. |
| Matt Bradley | |
Not much to report, but to put Brads' ice time in perspective (no Cap who has played in eight or more games is averaging less), he played just 1:24 less than in three games this week than Alex Ovechkin played on Saturday night. |
| Jason Chimera | |
With no points and a minus-one in each game this week (and one goal in his last 16 games), Chimera is now at his worst goals- and points-per game rate since before the lockout and is on pace for 11 goals and 17 assists. Pretty disappointing numbers, but the effort and sacrifice are still there. |
| Eric Fehr | |
Goal-less in seven games (and with just one in his last 14, two in his last 24), Fehr is lucky to be playing every night right now. Put another way, if he fails to score in his next game, his two-goals-in-25-games will match his totals from his first two NHL seasons (and at least then, he was a plus-three, as opposed to his current team-worst minus-5). That's, um, not good. |
| Boyd Gordon | |
Scored that elusive first goal of the season (and a game-winner at that) in St. Louis and won 63.6% of his draws for the week, but was on the ice for the Burmistrov and Ladd goals against Atlanta, the latter coming just seconds after Gordon lost a defensive-zone faceoff to Nik Antropov. |
| Matt Hendricks | |
Had a fight in Dallas, but hasn't scored a goal in ten games. However (and more importantly), Hendricks hasn't been on the ice for a goal against in his last six games (which included 3:40 of shorthanded ice time this past week). |
| Marcus Johansson | |
Was on the ice for both goals in Dallas and failed to register a point in three games (with just two shots on goal on the week and none during the 46-shot barrage Saturday night). Yep, the Caps are still looking for a second-line center. |
| D.J. King | |
King got into a game this week and got on the scoreboard, assisting on the game-winning Gordon tally on Wednesday night. That point - his first as a Cap - put him ahead of Gordon, Fehr, Knuble and Steckel in points-per-sixty-minutes at 5-on-5. Good enough for an up arrow in my book. |
| Mike Knuble | |
An apple in St. Louis, a grape in Dallas... keep Knubs on the top line and more fruit will follow. |
| Brooks Laich | |
Scored on Wednesday, but - not breaking news - isn't the answer at second-line center, as he demonstrated on Thursday. |
| Alex Ovechkin | |
Got the monkey off his back with a goal on Saturday night to break a nine-game goal-less streak (which was actually 11, if you don't want to count a shot that were going wide that the opposing goalie redirected into his own net), but is still scoring goals at by far the worst per-game rate of his career. And as for all the "now he's a playmaker" talk, while it's true that his assist totals are impressive, his assists/60 at 5-on-5 are actually down significantly this year as compared to last season, and twice as many of his power-play helpers have come on secondary assists this season (whereas last year he had more primaries). Does that really sounds like a vastly improved playmaker to you? |
| Alexander Semin | |
A goal-less week (gasp!) that ended with him watching from the bench with the goalie pulled on Saturday. Wonder if that sends the desired message to the League's third-leading goal-scorer. |
| David Steckel | |
Scratched against St. Louis, Steckel responded with... well, not a whole lot. In fact, he didn't even get a second of penalty-killing time against the Thrashers... but that's only because he was in the box for the only two Atlanta power-plays on the night. |
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You know the O is in trouble when DJ King is the only forward with an Up arrow this week.
Lobbies: Green, Carlson, Orlov
by CapsFan2020 on Dec 6, 2010 11:10 AM EST reply actions 2 recs
Rec’d for
And as for all the “now he’s a playmaker” talk, while it’s true that his assist totals are impressive, his assists/60 at 5-on-5 are actually down significantly this year as compared to last season, and twice as many of his power-play helpers have come on secondary assists this season (whereas last year he had more primaries). Does that really sounds like a vastly improved playmaker to you?
AO is scuffling.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
I guess I’ve given up on Ovie winning any awards this year, but I really hope he gets into form sooner rather than later. Despite his amazing pace last year there weren’t a whole lot of highlight reel goals (save for his one-hander on Lundqvist, which wasn’t that amazing) and certainly little to speak of this year. I needs me some off-the-wall-on-his-ass-from-outter-space goals! The last 4 years have been like crack and I need a hit!
Hey mate, hold out some hope for OV for Conn Smythe OK?
I poured spot remover on my dog. Now he's gone.
by Rather Bengt on Dec 6, 2010 11:47 AM EST up reply actions
Yea, I meant regular season or his “usual” awards. I’m pretty certain we have the ability to win the Cup, just a matter of actually doing it and in that case, I’d be happy to trade all his regular season awards for a Smythe and Cup. It’ll just be a bitter taste if we don’t and Crosby walks away with the regular season (or worse, regular and post-season awards… shudder).
At the very least Fehr was doing something against Atlanta. Maybe that’s something to look out for in the next week. My memory is a bit hazy on what Fehr was doing before, but maybe it just deserves a neutral? I can’t recall Fehr doing much of anything beforehand, and I guess from that point the only place one can go is up.
My blog and Twitter, featuring coverage of the most unpredictable team in the NHL and where we defend Mike Green, Alex Ovechkin, and Alexander Semin until the bitter end. That is to say, when someone tries to call BS on the Corsi numbers.
If you don't know how to use Timeonice, read this.
"Numbers don't lie, they just don't agree with you"--George E. Ays
My expectations for him are still “~25-goal-scorer.” At some point soon I may need to reconsider that, but that’s where they are at present.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
The bigger question for me is what’s different this year that’s causing a regression? Is it just QoC? Higher expectations making him grip the stick a little too tight?
Regardless I think 15-20 goals is a more reasonable expectation for him.
I think 15-20 goals is a more reasonable expectation for him.
At this point or entering the season?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Ummmm…for both I guess. Coming into the season my expectations for Fehr were tempered because there was no chance he was going to be going up against the same QoC. Combine that with the fact that he’d be getting next to no special teams time (even with Flash gone). That being said my expectation hasn’t changed at all…I still see 15-20 goals for him on the season as like many other players he’s streaky.
Fehr since 2007-2008. So when he’s put in the most difficult position, he does the best? He’s a head-scratcher.
My blog and Twitter, featuring coverage of the most unpredictable team in the NHL and where we defend Mike Green, Alex Ovechkin, and Alexander Semin until the bitter end. That is to say, when someone tries to call BS on the Corsi numbers.
If you don't know how to use Timeonice, read this.
"Numbers don't lie, they just don't agree with you"--George E. Ays
by red army line on Dec 6, 2010 12:34 PM EST up reply actions
Goal-less in seven games (and with just one in his last 14, two in his last 24)
More to the point Fehr went 7 or more games without a goal three times last season and still managed to break the 20 plateau.
by Yoshietree on Dec 6, 2010 12:34 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
He’s not converting when he does get chances. He had several golden opportunities against Atlanta.
The Kolzilla PR department has advised me to post a link to my work at Inside Hockey, so here it is.
www.Insidehockey.com
He’s a bit snake bit, He had 14 shots on goal last week and anther 14 missed the net or were blocked. I think he is a bit like Semin at this point, both seem about two inches off their shots right now. Fehr was streaky last season as well, with 6 goals in 9 games twice and another stretch of 6 goals in 12 games.
If poor Erskine didn’t go into the boards awkwardly he’d have deserved an up arrow. He helped fill the void in defense at the bottom of the pairings quite well over the past month. Noble effort, even if it means now his reward is not a guaranteed sweater every night. Get well soon, Oisk.
Many a night from yonder ivied casement, ere I went to rest,
Did I look on great Orion sloping slowly to the West.
With the way the Caps are playing individually, it is really surprising that they’re doing so well as a team.
Why do you think teams board Green every chance they get? As Green goes, so do the Caps. I used to think Backstrom was the real MVP of the team but right now wins or losses are determined by how well Green is doing.
Many a night from yonder ivied casement, ere I went to rest,
Did I look on great Orion sloping slowly to the West.
a long-range knuckling writer
Anyone? I can’t think of anything snarky for this, but I couldn’t let it slide. ;)
"If you want money go to the bank, if you want bread go to the bakery if you want goals go to the net." - #21
Ha. Nice catch. Lemme change that…
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
A thought on Ovechkin’s secondary assists: KHtAD noted, in the Clips thread, that “teams are shifting two guys into [Ovechkin’s] lane and daring the Capitals to pass around them.” Were that the case, wouldn’t you expect to see Ovechkin get a number more secondary assists by skipping a man on the rotation, passing down low, and allowing his teammates to set up a cross-ice one timer (such as he did on one of Semin’s goals against Tampa Bay, and like he did against Carolina).
It may not be the mark of a playmaker, but it shows that he knows how to use his teammates to set up scoring chances, and that’s something he’s going to need to do if teams continue to take space away from him. That, plus there’s definitely a reason they give out secondary assists in hockey.
He’s getting many more secondaries at 5-on-4, but at 5-on-5 he can’t buy one, it looks like.
My blog and Twitter, featuring coverage of the most unpredictable team in the NHL and where we defend Mike Green, Alex Ovechkin, and Alexander Semin until the bitter end. That is to say, when someone tries to call BS on the Corsi numbers.
If you don't know how to use Timeonice, read this.
"Numbers don't lie, they just don't agree with you"--George E. Ays
by red army line on Dec 6, 2010 4:18 PM EST up reply actions
JP may not have given MJ90 a +, but Marty St. Louis sure did.
Was talking to Martin St. Louis as that Fleischmann/Hannan deal was announced. His initial reaction: “That’s because of Marcus Johansson. He’s a really good player.”
Elliotte Friedman’s 30 Thoughts
JP may not have given MJ90 a +, but Marty St. Louis sure did.
Was talking to Martin St. Louis as that Fleischmann/Hannan deal was announced. His initial reaction: “That’s because of Marcus Johansson. He’s a really good player.”
Elliotte Friedman’s 30 Thoughts
Ovie simply does not look like he's....
skating or hitting enough to be a dominant player. He’s always doing the same thing on (mostly) the same side of the ice. I don’t see every game or every ovie shift, but he certainly doesn’t seem to be around the net much either. Other than Semin and Backstrom, nobody is doing anything much offensively. Chimera has absolute stone hands, so don’t expect anything from him except the puck hitting the back boards, but Fehr and Knuble and Ovie very disappointing.
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