Recap: Maple Leafs 5, Caps 4 (SO)
by Becca H on Dec 6, 2010 11:10 PM EST
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Print[GameCenter - Game Summary - Event Summary - Faceoff Summary - Corsi/Fenwick - Shift Charts - Head-to-Head - Zone Starts]
For the first fifty minutes of the game, it looked like the Capitals had really taken the lessons from their last game to heart. For the first fifty minutes they mostly outworked the Maple Leafs, cycling the puck, establishing a net presence, picking up rebounds - basically doing everything they didn't do against Atlanta. And for most of that first fifty minutes, it showed on the scoreboard.
Unfortunately so did the last ten minutes, and the eventual loss via the shootout - their third straight.
Ten more notes on the game:
- It was great to see Alex Ovechkin get on the board for the second straight game after such a long goalless drought. Not so great was the lazy shift that led to the Leafs' second goal early in the third period, or the fact that he was on the ice for the game-tying goal late in the game.
- The Caps opened the scoring with a great display of forechecking by the trio of Alexander Semin, Brooks Laich and Mathieu Perreault. The three skated circles around the Toronto defenders and got on the board after getting not one, not two but three bodies stacked in front of Jonas Gustavsson. Huh...forechecking and establishing a net presence can result in a goal. Who knew?
- Mike Knuble's goal was the result of following up on the initial shot, gathering a rebound and firing it home. So wait...you can also score off of second and third chances? Now you're just talking crazy talk.
- We know by now that Perreault has some nice speed, great stickhandling skills and the ability to provide offense in spurts. We also know that he meshes quite well with Semin and Laich, a fact that was on display tonight with Perreault's two goals. The key for him now is to prove he can do it over long stretches of time - the second-line center spot is there for the taking, and it would seem that his chances at grabbing it are running out.
- Ah, but it wasn't all Caps early on, as a turnover by Karl Alzner on the penalty kill led to Clarke MacArthur's first goal of the night - one in which he had all day to pick his spot, partly because of the room he had to work and partly because Michal Neuvirth went down awfully early.
- Neuvirth had something of an interesting night, victimized at times by deflections and turnovers by the team in front of him and making the occasional Neuvirth-esque saves yet never quite looking comfortable in net.
- Not only did the Caps use traffic in front of the net to score goals and create offensive chances, they also used it to draw penalties. Toronto was whistled for not one but two infractions in their own crease as the hard work of the Washington forecheckers paid off.
- For about half the game, Caps fans got a glimpse of what their top six defensemen could look like when healthy, and it was not half bad. Hope you didn't blink, though, because just as things were getting settled on the blue line the Caps lost yet another defenseman to injury. This time it was Jeff Schultz, who blocked a shot with his hand. The prognosis? Fractured thumb, out four to six weeks. Great.
- What in the name of Nicklas Backstrom was Mikhail Grabovski doing on his shootout attempt? Some may call it flashy and fun, others may call it unnecessary hotdogging...po-tay-to, po-tah-to.
- After yet another stretch of games missed with that nagging groin injury, Tom Poti had yet another strong game in his return. Poti picked up three assists, was a plus-one on the night and blocked three shots. He also seemed to mesh fairly well with the newest addition to the blue line, Scott Hannan, as the two provided a nice complement to the four youngsters ahead of them on the depth chart. About three minutes apiece on the penalty kill, too, with no goals against.
When the Leafs scored early in the third to cut the three-goal lead to two, it instantly brought back flashbacks of the last time these two teams met - when the Caps held a 4-1 lead and then simply stopped skating, allowing a relatively anemic Toronto offense to claw back into the game and force overtime and then a shootout. It's a memory that is still fresh for a lot of us, and you'd think would still be fresh for the Caps.
You know what they say - those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat it.
Game highlights:
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It has appeared at times before (and proceded to disappear over a few games). I’ll be excited about it when he is still hear and scoring a hat trick in the winter classic.
"Ovechkin is as subtle as a shot of vodka."
It’s only one game, and yeah, it’s the Leafs, but he was going to the high-traffic areas and working hard for pucks. I may not watch every Caps game, but I never got the impression that Fleischmann was willing to do that a lot.
“Twas a bit of snark. Lots of guys would look better at 2C than Flash.
"It's always good to have vikings."
I may not watch every Caps game, but I never got the impression that Fleischmann was willing to do that a lot.
He wasn’t, but the question with MP is, will he stick with it? Or will he decide to slack off and show up late to practice?
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
Was that ever a problem?
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Pleasure and pain, though directly opposite are contrived to be constant companions.
Yes.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
I meant being late to practice, I never heard he was late.
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Pleasure and pain, though directly opposite are contrived to be constant companions.
He was late to a PP meeting in training camp, coach sent him away.
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Oh snap.
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Pleasure and pain, though directly opposite are contrived to be constant companions.
I think BB sees a lot of himself in MP. A small, offensively gifted center who needs to buckle down, do the work, and not get distracted.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
So he’ll end up chubby and coaching?
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Pleasure and pain, though directly opposite are contrived to be constant companions.
Well, they both are Capricorns, as well.
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
That’s relevant.
"And then they’ll look at guys in my situation, that could play three good games in a row and have one bad shift, and they’ll say, ‘Well, that’s why he’s been in the minor leagues his whole career.'" --Matt Hendricks
by bigeugene on Dec 7, 2010 11:42 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Eh. We’ve seen this show before with Perreault, he needs to prove that he can do it for more than one or two games. And I’d still prefer to bring someone else in at the deadline if possible.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
Agreed. I still think Arnott could be the guy. Saw him tonight, and he looked decent against the Pens. Not great, mind you, but effective and pretty solid on faceoffs and D-zone coverage.
Capitals need a 2C that has chemistry with Semin, someone who can feed him the puck. Arnott doesn’t fit that mode. I really him though.
by Charlie Foxtrot on Dec 6, 2010 11:21 PM EST up reply actions
Brad Richards will be in a Blueshirt by Christmas, so cross him off the list. I don’t know that Connolly is the man either, so what’s the other option?
How do you know Richards will be joining the Rags?
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
Because everyone says so.
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Everyone assumed that the Capitals would win after the 2nd period, too.
I'd hate to be Stanley
by Steck It Out on Dec 6, 2010 11:41 PM EST up reply actions
Everyone said that Fleishmann was headed out west for a defender as well. Guess that was totally baseless.
There was good reason behind that trade. Not so much with Brad Richards, unless the Stars fall apart. If they have a good shot at making the playoffs, I doubt they trade him.
There is no problem a hammer cannot either fix or make irrelevant.
I also don’t doubt Sather might overpay, in which case the Stars would be crazy not to accept.
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by red army line on Dec 7, 2010 8:45 AM EST up reply actions
I’m not sold on Richards going to the Rangers, mostly because I don’t think he’d waive that NTC to go to a team that’s not a contender. They won’t be able to re-sign him, so why spend half a season somewhere that won’t give you a shot at a Cup?
And who knows. There are guys w/ expiring contracts and there are guys who might be available that we haven’t thought of…dear god not Connolly, we have enough injury-prone guys on this team.
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Not if he can’t sustain it. For goodness sake, we say this every time Perrault gets called up.
He was great tonight, but he always looks great in his first several games.
by Charlie Foxtrot on Dec 6, 2010 11:19 PM EST up reply actions
Send him down every Weds, call him up every Friday. Problem solved.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
Haha I was joking with my friend that we should just call him up for every other game.
I like Laich, but I <3 Green
by RockinRed4Life on Dec 7, 2010 6:35 PM EST up reply actions
The snark is a little overboard. Didn’t Grandpa score, like, 95% of his goals last year on second and third chances?
It wasn’t snark directed at Knuble, it was at the team – one of the things they weren’t doing last game (or often enough this season in general) was following up initial shots by pouncing on rebounds. It’s why Raycroft and Pavelec looked otherworldly against us, they only had to stop that first shot.
Actually I thought Knubs looked quite good tonight. Thought he had a fair bit of jump in his step, it was nice to see.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
unfortunately, his pivot had one of the worst games I’ve seen in a looooong time. Backs was awful tonight.
"I don't care about winning the division or winning the President's Trophy. I just care about getting to the playoffs." --GMGM
No, I get that. I’m sorry if I came off harsh there. I just get a little miffed when everybody thinks the Capitals can’t play the “tough” “forechecking” “rebound-goal” type of hockey, ever… including us. The bounces aren’t going to work out every night; that’s part of the game.
•What in the name of Nicklas Backstrom was Mikhail Grabovski doing on his shootout attempt? Some may call it flashy and fun, others may call it unnecessary hotdogging…po-tay-to, po-tah-to.
Awesome. It’s spelled a-w-e-s-o-m-e.
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by PPP on Dec 6, 2010 11:24 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Really? Because I spell it a-s-s-h-o-…ahem.
I may have let my Grabby hate seep in there a little, but whatever. Go eat a pineapple, you weird little Belarussian.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
You’re going to get upset about a spinorama move when your star does the Lambeau leap after scoring the 8th goal in an 8-1 win?
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First of all, I’m not REALLY upset – I just hate Grabby and I’m pissed at my team, so I’ll snark about that stupid move all I want. And honestly I really hate when players do that kind of thing, it makes the gimmick of the shootout even more of a gimmick and even less related to the game itself.
And secondly, Ovi doesn’t do big celebrations when the score gets lopsided. Never has, unless the goal that’s scored is some sort of milestone.
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hehehe
I agree with hating things your players do when opponents do it by the way. It’s what makes being a fan fun!
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…have any of the Caps ever done something like that? Don’t remember seeing it.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
The Hot Stick. Milestone or not, that was textbook hot-dogging. Thought it was great though.
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You are so totally talking about eighteen million different things. Let’s break it down:
- I hate when players do showboat-y shit in the shootout. I hate it when St. Louis does it, I hated Marek Malik for doing it, and I hated this. I’ve never seen a Cap do it – fancy moves in the shootout are one thing, moves you’d pull out in a game to get the goalie to budge, but that’s not what this was.
- The Hot Stick was hot-dogging, I’d agree. I wasn’t a huge fan of it in general – made me laugh in the moment but I was shocked he did it. It also wasn’t done when the game was out of reach, he did it to celebrate a 50th goal and it made the game 2-1.
- Ovi celebrates goals, or did a year or two ago, by leaping into the glass. He does not, however, do it when scoring the 8th goal of an 8-1 game.
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I’m a moving target :)
The only good thing about shootouts are the showboat-y moves to be honest. I hate it to begin with so if it’s not cool they might as well axe it.
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Honestly, I kind of agree with you. It’s a skills competition, and fancy moves are skills. And if they work, well, that’s the point, isn’t it?
Still hate that it was against my team, but what are you going to do? That game should have never gotten to a shootout. They deserved to lose. Maybe they’ll get a message from it.
"It's always good to have vikings."
I wasn’t even mad when it happened, it was awesome.
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Pleasure and pain, though directly opposite are contrived to be constant companions.
I thought it was awesome. I was like “god damn!” and thought he deserved the goal. Still SUCKS it was against the Caps though.
I like Laich, but I <3 Green
by RockinRed4Life on Dec 7, 2010 6:38 PM EST up reply actions
I was at the game and did not know (did not notice (really, Emily?)) that Schultz was gone halfway thru the second. That explains the slow leak of the third period a little better.
Hoping that with more notice, the Caps’ D can reconfigure, maybe with Hannan-Green as top pair.
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I noticed that also and thought “oh oh”. Initially, I noticed Poti and Carlson together, talked about it with my husband and he thought Boudreau was upset with Alzner for the turnover at the end of the unsuccessful PK in third period. But then Alzner came out with Green and we saw every other combination and permutation of defenseman. And finally figured that Schultz was out.
I feel so bad about Schultz’s injury.
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
I didn’t notice that he was missing, which would be normal for me, but I did notice that Green wasn’t skating with him at some point during the third period.
How timely does that trade look now?
Heal quickly, Schultzie.
"It's always good to have vikings."
Between Poti’s reinjury and now Schultz, thank God for Hannan!
So now he got to play with several of our guys and got a lot of minutes, too.
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
He does a great job of knowing when to pinch in the O zone as well.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 12:50 AM EST up reply actions
Really, thank god for hannan = no Brian Fahey!
I like Laich, but I <3 Green
by RockinRed4Life on Dec 7, 2010 6:39 PM EST up reply actions
How timely does that trade look now?
Exactly what I was thinking. The silver lining to that is it takes two injuries to get Tyler Sloan a regular sweater – on this team it seems one injured blueliner is the norm, and I’m much more comfortable with Erskine getting a regular shift than I am with Sloan. And definitely more comfortable than w/ Fahey.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
:: prayer circle for Poti’s groin ::
/what?
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
While the first and second periods were great, I consider the third period to be garbage. (I’d say worse things, but this is a “family” blog.)
If I were Bruce, I’d seriously considering benching one of our stars to send a message to the guys. Okay, that may not be feasible but what I’m ready to do next game, assuming the Caps even have a third period lead, is benching the first line for the last 10 minutes. Just cycle the second, third, and 4th lines during that time frame to protect the lead. Maybe we can have Knuble join the 2nd line for this lead protection.
Score card in the lead blowing. First line was on the ice for 2 of the goals against, including the game tying goal. Second line on for one of them.
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
Ovie was benched for the final portion of regulation. Hendricks/Backstrom/Knuble skated for a shift.
AO should not have had a PS either. I think he should have been helping Poti there with the other D being in the corner with the puck. Still can’t believe MacArthur was left alone there as long as he was.
Tell your girlfriend to stop texting me.
on the bright side
Ovie’s goal looked so very…Ovie. Gloriously so. That was him in form right there.
I hope it continues.
Yes, and Sasha had a beautiful Sasha goal – that he golfed right over top of the net.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
[Franceschetti] Colby Armstrong. [Franceschetti] that guy. [Franceschetti] his Semin-Bongos-Impression and the giant nose on his face. God I hate that guy.
by Wheeler on Dec 6, 2010 11:34 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
One of the highlights of the game for me, btw, was seeing Poti take Kessell’s lid off and then watching Kessell take a retaliatory whack at him. Phil KESSSELLLLL.
Poti <3 That was pretty awesome. Anytime you can make Kessel look like an ass, it’s a good thing.
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Leave it to Toronto to trade their lottery picks elsewhere.
On that Kessel trade, what was Toronto thinking? Yes, Kessel is a good player. And, yes, Toronto needed offense, but how many players are worth 2 first rounders in consecutive years? Especially for a bad team who’s close to a lottery pick.
The Kessel trade would have been a reasonably sensible trade for a contender who needed offense but for the Leafs—- I think not.
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
15 years of 30+ goals will be worth it.
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by PPP on Dec 6, 2010 11:42 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I can’t even remember the player’s name who they drafted with that pick.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 6, 2010 11:44 PM EST up reply actions
Tyler Seguin. This was the draft where the top picks were Tyler and Taylor.
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
Sorry, I was being sarcastic.
They literally rub that name in our faces every single day in Toronto.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 6, 2010 11:45 PM EST up reply actions
I wasn’t sure. (That’s what happens when I’m not familiar with the cast of characters on PPP.)
Also the problem when it’s all done through writing. Can’t hear the tones of voice.
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
If we’re Leafs fans we’re characters.
Also the problem when it’s all done through writing. Can’t hear the tones of voice.
I tell these guys to use the sarcasm font but they don’t listen.
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They literally rub thatnamedisaster in our faces every single day in Toronto.
There’s just no other way to describe it. The fact that Burke still has a job continues to confound me.
Really? You’d can a GM you brought to rebuild after 2 seasons? Where’s the sense in that?
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Happened to me.
Signed,
Mel Bridgeman
I'd hate to be Stanley
by Steck It Out on Dec 6, 2010 11:51 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Is he really rebuilding, though? I didn’t think Toronto had the patience to really rebuild – that usually involves stockpiling draft picks instead of trading them away for people who can make an impact now.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
Exactly. Is Colby Armstrong a “rebuild” signing? How about J.S. Giguere? Neither fits that mold.
Sorry for continuing Leafs GM blog here, Becca, but I’m curious.
You can’t just toss kids out on the ice. Veterans needs to be signed in order to play the tough minutes while the kids learn, to be a guiding presence in the locker room, and to help players develop.
By all accounts, JS Giguere (a trade, not a signing and for Blake and Toskala not exactly futures) has been huge in developing Jonas Gustavsson.
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Right, but when you’re lucky (heh) enough to get a high draft pick you shouldn’t trade them away – look at how the Caps, the Pens, the Hawks rebuilt. Veterans, yes, but don’t go for the big money names who ultimately disappoint. Giguere was good because you need a veteran goalie on a team like this, but Kessel? Komisarek? Beauchemin? Phaneuf?
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Beauch would look pretty damn good in our red, just sayin…
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by bigonetimer on Dec 7, 2010 12:01 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
He’s available I bet.
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Now that Hannan is a Cap, the marginal improvement of adding Beauchemin is a lot less than it was when he would have taken one of Sloskine’s sweaters. They really need to focus their resources on a 2C and one more possession forward to play on the 3rd line.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Dec 7, 2010 1:19 PM EST up reply actions
I’m no longer skeptical Marjo can be that possession forward on the third line, honestly. Wel, unless Fehr keeps sucking in that regard.
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by red army line on Dec 7, 2010 10:59 PM EST up reply actions
Well, you could easily have looked at the team the summer Burke made the trade and said that worst case was 6th last. If Burke had not put so much faith in Toskala they would never have finished bottom 2.
Kessel is 22! Komisarek and Beauchemin, again, fill the veteran role while the kids learn and they aren’t even that old. Phaneuf is 25!!
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by PPP on Dec 7, 2010 12:02 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Oh, I wasn’t naming veterans. I was naming “big names” that were acquired in lieu of just saying hey, we’re going to REALLY suck for a few years while these kids develop because we think they can be something. You know, own up to it instead of just sucking without telling the fans you’re going to suck :P
…and I hate Phil Kessel with a passion. Hated him as a Bruin, hate him now (although oddly I hate him slightly less, not sure what that’s about). He’s one I want to punch in the face for no logical reason other than I have a fist and he has a face.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
Burke believes that part of rebuilding was overhauling the loser atmosphere in Toronto. Also, he’s big on letting kids develop at their own level rather than at the NHL level. Hence the huge number of prospects on the Marlies.
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PPP just loves Kessel because if it weren’t for him Canada wouldn’t have won gold in Vancouver.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Dec 7, 2010 12:07 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
It helps.
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And we thank him for his sacrifice.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 7, 2010 12:17 AM EST up reply actions
Kessel just love Leafs fans THAT much.
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It’s how we got Gustavsson to lose games for the Swedes too.
You sign a contract with Toronto, you sign a contract with Canada, bitches.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 7, 2010 12:19 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
WoooooooooooooOoooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaah this is Canada’s team.
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Pleasure and pain, though directly opposite are contrived to be constant companions.
J.S. Giguere wasn’t a signing. They dumped Jason Blake’s ridiculous contract and Vesa “Dog Shit” Toskala on Anaheim and got Giggy in return. I don’t see how trading two overpaid players for one is a sign that the Leafs aren’t rebuilding….
by Brad Ackerson on Dec 6, 2010 11:58 PM EST up reply actions
Local parallel to the Redskins? Impatient rebuild? I mean, that’s not a bad postulate. I wonder if Toronto needs to do that, though, and it’s immediately a dangerous leap to imply any team is that discombobulated.
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Toronto doesn’t have to. Fans aren’t going anywhere. Other than the two first for Kessel (hardly an over the hill vet or fully developed player) Burke has moved out every vet that had no future with the squad for either picks or vets that could help.
He’s taken the Marlies from a non-playoff team of career AHLers to a team made up almost entirely of prospects that is near the top of their division.
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Winterion is right in his comparison of the Leafs to the Redskins. Both teams have sold out for years and years, despite crappy teams. Along with not being patient enough to rebuild properly.
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
‘Properly’ is subjective. For all of your tanking, you got Ovechkin in a year when you were trying to win and you haven’t won squat.
Neither has Columbus, Florida, NYI, Atlanta…
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you haven’t won squat.
Whoa. I’m a Pens fan and at least I can admit that the Caps do have a President’s Trophy and are now a perennial playoff team. That’s more than “squat.”
Better than what the leafs have!
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Pleasure and pain, though directly opposite are contrived to be constant companions.
Funny, when the Leafs were perennial playoff teams and made four visits to the conference finals all we were told was that Cups counted and nothing else.
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Considering the Caps are in the 4th year of a 5-year rebuilding plan, a President’s Trophy is great.
There is no problem a hammer cannot either fix or make irrelevant.
Well, one year wasn’t even meant to be part of the plan.
But Semin is gone after this year. Sad that the cap is going to make this team lose important pieces.
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Is he gone for sure?
Team success could motivate him staying, no?
I guess I don’t know enough about the situation.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 7, 2010 12:22 AM EST up reply actions
I think he likes playing with Ovi and might stay for a bit less, plus the salary cap will probably go up.
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Pleasure and pain, though directly opposite are contrived to be constant companions.
Unless he takes a huge paycut. But he might want to. Not that athletes are known for that.
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Semin might, but will his agent let him? Who will guide the negotiations, Semin or his agent? Those are the main questions.
(Yes, I know about the avatar hounding - just pretend mine is invisible.)
Will the PA let him?
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After the Summer of Kovy
I hope we don’t have a v2 of that.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 7, 2010 12:37 AM EST up reply actions
Jesus
I hope not. I don’t want to hate Semin.
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Salary cap is likely to increase by quite a bit, so he’s probably staying.
There is no problem a hammer cannot either fix or make irrelevant.
It’s going up $3M apparently.
$36M is already committed with Alzner and Varlamov RFAs this summer and Green and Carlson RFAs next summer. They need to put money aside from them. Plus, Semin will be THE UFA this summer. Lots of teams will throw lots of dough at him.
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Not to mention the KHL
Live every week like its Matt Bradley week.
by CarltonBanks on Dec 7, 2010 10:51 AM EST up reply actions
Losing Semin may hurt the Caps (I’ll get back to you in June), but in the salary cap world they won’t be losing him for nothing. They’ll be getting a whole lot of cap space back to replace his contributions.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Dec 7, 2010 12:35 AM EST up reply actions
Agree
That’s the pressure on GMGM then.
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I just pray GMGM doesn’t extend him before the playoffs.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Dec 7, 2010 12:39 AM EST up reply actions
Obviously, I’m hoping McPhee throws Kovalchuk money at him. I don’t think McPhee’s that much of a sucker though.
No fucking way he gets Kovalchuk money, if for no other reason than what Kovy is doing after getting his money. Fortunately there are many more reasons not to do that.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 12:42 AM EST up reply actions
He’ll get a cap hit above $6M
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But who else is good enough to get to replace him?
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
I hear this John Mitchell kid is amazing.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 7, 2010 12:41 AM EST up reply actions
Gross.
I tweet far too much. Follow me!
Pleasure and pain, though directly opposite are contrived to be constant companions.
I felt dirty just typing it.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 7, 2010 12:42 AM EST up reply actions
I bet the Leafs might even be willing to part with him.
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D:
I tweet far too much. Follow me!
Pleasure and pain, though directly opposite are contrived to be constant companions.
You could replace him with two players.
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A) Who says you have to replace him with one guy?
B) Who says you have to replace him exactly? A “lesser” player at a different position (2C anyone) may do more to help the Caps than another stud winger.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Dec 7, 2010 12:45 AM EST up reply actions
I’m not saying that Cups aren’t the aim, don’t get me wrong. (I am, after all, a Pens fan in Caps land =)
But everyone can’t win the Cup each year, and to at least have a significant shot at it is something. The Caps sucked, drafted Ovechkin, Semin, Backstrom, and Alzner high, stockpiled picks for Green, Schultz and both goaltenders, and now they’ve got a nucleus.
I’d much rather do it that way than the way the Leafs seem to be doing it.
You don’t know that the Leafs way won’t work out. It’s been 2 seasons.
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I’d much rather do it that way than the way the Leafs seem to be doing it.
I just think people might need to be open to the possibility that it’s not the only way.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 7, 2010 12:26 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah, how did ANA win? Draft building! Wait… Free Agency! Wait…
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Lots of ways.
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Yeah, how did ANA win? Draft building! Wait… Free Agency! Wait…
I seem to remember Joffrey Lupul being turned into Chris Pronger, so you could argue that a #7 overall pick became their best defenseman who had a proven track record. It’s not like like the reverse, which is what’s happened in the Kessel deal.
Yeah, not at all like getting a proven 30 goal scorer.
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Nothing at all like getting a 1st-ballot-HoF D with a #7 pick, instead of a 30g scorer for 2 1sts.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Dec 7, 2010 1:27 PM EST up reply actions
Just for the record, Semin was drafted #13 in a year the Caps were only mediocre, not in the lottery (2002). Not part of the rebuild.
"It's always good to have vikings."
He was an extra draft pick we had acquired. Boyd Gordon was our first pick that year and we picked Semin right after Gordon.
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
The point is the rebuild started with the 2004 draft. Semin is part of the core of the current team, but he was here earlier, along with Gordon. And I looked up the position before I posted. Caps had three first round picks that year. #12 (Eminger) was the Caps’. #13 was acquired from Dallas and #17 (Gordon) was acquired from Vancouver. Because I didn’t pay attention back then, I have no idea if they were draft day trades or deadline trades.
"It's always good to have vikings."
For all of your tanking, you got Ovechkin in a year when you were trying to win and you haven’t won squat.
Not so. They started the year trying to win, got to a point in the middle of the season where they were foundering, then traded everything that could bring back any kind of asset for a rebuild.
It’s not like they were going great guns for the whole year, trying to avoid the lottery (Zing!) and just failed. By the end of the year, they’d fully committed to being awful for a few years so they’d be better after that.
That said, it was still risky. There was a real good chance they ended up with Cam Barker instead of Alex Oveckin. That’d be a real kick in the junk.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Dec 7, 2010 1:24 PM EST up reply actions
The longest serving Leaf is Tomas Kaberle. After that, it’s Nikolai Kulemin. He’s re-building.
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I’ll give you this—the roster is still fairly young. Phaneuf is only 25. Kessel’s 23. Kulemin’s 24 and Kadri’s 20.
Luke Schenn’s only…okay, I’m not going there.
It’s a young core, and maybe they’ll be a lot better in the coming years. I’m just not sold on the Kessel deal, that’s all.
Schenn’s 22. It’s the youngest team in the league.
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Pretty sure they don’t “literaly” rub that name in your faces.
If you are driving in the left hand lane and you are not passing, you are a #$@&$
How would you know?
Some guy wrote it on a piece of paper and rubbed it in my face.
Then I cut his hand off.
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Haha Cut it off with adorableness, I’m sure.
I tweet far too much. Follow me!
Pleasure and pain, though directly opposite are contrived to be constant companions.
You’d be surprised how sharp these cheeks can be.
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Plus you’re Columbian, right? I definitely don’t want to cross you :P
I tweet far too much. Follow me!
Pleasure and pain, though directly opposite are contrived to be constant companions.
Bingo
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Oh, you’re one of those.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 7, 2010 12:06 AM EST up reply actions
Yes
And will always be for improper use of “literally”. It doesn’t mean “very” or “really” and it can’t be used to intensify a figurative expression. It just can’t and I will probably always point its incorrect usage out.
My favorite recently was the other day when that dumbass Levar said that when Michael Vick got arrested it “literally” broke his heart.
If you are driving in the left hand lane and you are not passing, you are a #$@&$
“Literally” is hyperbole. It’s acceptable.
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Disagree. Hyperbole is exaggeration which is not to be taken literally, hence, don’t use the word literally. Plus, you’re from Canada, you don’t even speak English ;) (look up Ali G and Steve Nash on youtube).
If you are driving in the left hand lane and you are not passing, you are a #$@&$
It’s accepted use now is hyperbolic just like the way that 80’s is accepted even though it’s stupid too.
You’re fighting the good fight but losing because no one cares about speaking proper English (ie the Queen’s English)
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by PPP on Dec 7, 2010 12:33 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
But not if they lose out on two superstars with that type of productivity, such as Tyler Seguin and whoever else the Bruins pick next year.
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
2011 is supposed to be a pretty deep draft, too; a number of commentators are saying “hold on to your second-rounders!”
Good thing the Rangers have ours.
Meh
They always say that the draft is weak and then super deep. We’ll see how things pan out.
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by PPP on Dec 6, 2010 11:47 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I thought it was the Wild and Carolina who got our 2nd rounders. Or did one of those picks get traded to the Rangers? Guess I’ve lost track of the trades.
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
Ewwww
What a waste
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Tyler Seguin is, by no means, a superstar yet.
That trade cannot be given a clear winner until Seguin and the 2nd draft pick have become established in their careers.
And Kessel is a darn good player.
I'd hate to be Stanley
by Steck It Out on Dec 6, 2010 11:45 PM EST up reply actions
Thanks
There are a lot of points where you can evaluate the deal but so far the Leafs know what the minimum that they have is while the Bruins don’t.
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No prob.
It’s still too early to judge that deal. Maybe 10 years or so from now.
I'd hate to be Stanley
by Steck It Out on Dec 6, 2010 11:50 PM EST up reply actions
Granted. There’s still time, but…
the Leafs know what the minimum that they have is while the Bruins don’t.
A $5.4M, 55-point man who’s currently on a 45-point pace.
I know it’s early, but it’s also even earlier on Seguin and whoever the Bruins take next year.
Kessel’s the only top-end offensive threat on his team. As the team improves his points will improve.
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I recall a few teams that had #1 overall draft picks after not having any top-end offensive threats for about 2 or three years of rebuilding.
That hasn’t worked out too bad, given who HBO’s focusing on for the 24/7 series.
Yes, agree that Kessel is a very good player but if I were running a bad team, I’d want to stock pile as many picks as possible.
But then there is the risk of picks not panning out. But the odds are greater that the very early picks in the 1st round pan out.
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
I’d want to stock pile as many picks as possible.
Good thing Burke’s been doing that.
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When did Washington win the Stanley Cup?
Most teams aren’t lucky enough to draft Sidney Crosby 1st overall.
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Not to mention Malkin the previous year and Marc-Andre Fleury the year before that.
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
Meh
Fleury’s not that good but Malkin was a huge pick-up too but Crosby is the straw that stirs the drink.
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Fleury has a cup, and I’m not sure whether you only watched Pens games during the first week of the season, but he’s 12-6 with an over 91% sv right now.
Agreed though, Crosby’s the catalyst for everything.
Mc79hockey.com and copperandblue.com and behindthenethockey.com have great info on goalies and how replaceable they are.
.910 is league average sv% btw. Fleury had a good hot streak one year in the playoffs for sure but otherwise he’s average.
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.933 = great
.908 = below average
One good year.
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Oddly enough, that one great year wasn’t even the Cup year, was it? Wasn’t his great year the one they lost to the Wings?
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Yup
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Don’t forget Staal. Thanks for reminding me how bad the Pens sucked from 2001-2004. =)
But that’s how you rebuild. Get rid of the huge salaries, get a few good drafts with some top-5 picks, and build around those players over the next 4 or 5 years.
Right
And there are cup banners in Atlanta, Long Island, Columbus and Sunrise to attest to that.
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Can't believe
you’re debating the Kessel deal on a Caps blog.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 7, 2010 12:13 AM EST up reply actions
Sometimes a preacher has to go to the heathens to bring them the light.
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Troll ;)
I tweet far too much. Follow me!
Pleasure and pain, though directly opposite are contrived to be constant companions.
I’m trapped!
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Long Island has more Cup banners than Toronto does in my lifetime. Yours too.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Wrong
I’m 87 btw. Just really spry.
They didn’t win any of them by tanking…or in the last 25 years.
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No, but you keep raising Cups as the be all of franchise credibility, so I’d just remind you that NYI has had much more recent success than TOR, and their dynasty probably goes toe to toe with any TML team you want to pick.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
No
I’m simply debating on the terms I’ve been given by 99.9% of fans and media.
Personally, I agree with you that it’s much more than that because Cups are extremely hard to win.
30 years isn’t recent.
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I guess I’m just old, but 30 years is a hell of a lot more recent than anything Toronto has done.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
In Cups? Yeah. In what you and I would term success? Not even close.
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They are still trying to come back from Mike Milbury. You had it bad with JFJ, but Milbury was much worse. Pretty crazy to think about like that.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
Yeah, Milbury is the gold standard. JFJ made Rask for Raycroft but Milbury would consider that a highlight.
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We’ll see what the 10th overall pick gets.
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Please tell me we’re not discussing the Kessel trade here. Really? It’s been done to death by blogs of teams actually involved in it…it has nothing to do with this game.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
KESSEL TRADE
So basically, let’s get going on this….
Just kidding. I’ll e-stab my eyes out.
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I feel ya, but he didn’t exactly rip it up tonight.
"I don't care about winning the division or winning the President's Trophy. I just care about getting to the playoffs." --GMGM
He didn’t, but he played for the Penguins, he tried to take Perreault’s head off last season, and he’s generally an obnoxious SOB. Doesn’t take much more for me to hate him.
Perreault crushed him into the boards pretty good tonight. I cheered.
Regardless of anything he’s done against the Caps, Colby Armstrong is a stain.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Dec 7, 2010 12:00 AM EST up reply actions
You know what they say – those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat it.
Fourth verse, same as the first.
What in the name of Nicklas Backstrom was Mikhail Grabovski doing on his shootout attempt?
Scoring. Earning his team a well-deserved second point.
With Schultz out, get ready for Greannan, Carlszner and Posloskine
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
Scoring. Earning his team a well-deserved second point.
…did you miss the snark in that bulletpoint or something?
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
Reading here and above it looks like snark covering anger, frustration, etc, doesn’t work on a crowd already feeling anger, frustration, etc
:)
Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships. - Michael Jordan
by Icebat on Dec 6, 2010 11:46 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Frustration?
Please. Cheer for the Leafs and you’ll learn frustration ;)
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The Leafs seem to be hockey’s equivalent of the Chicago Cubs.
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
Easy
They have 60 years on us.
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You got a point there. The Leafs have had a Cup during my lifetime.
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
YOU ARE OLD
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by PPP on Dec 6, 2010 11:55 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
you’re forgetting that many caps fans are also redskins fans, along with nats fan and maybe a few poor souls who like the Wizards. Washington sports=failure
Good point
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we depend on the Caps to keep us sane as the Redskins spin further out of control, the nats refuse to resign Dunn, and the wizards don’t win too much. Lately depending on the Caps hasn’t been working out so well.
Wiz are one more bad year from being good though. East is terrible and John Wall + Top pick + Arenas will be good enough to make the playoffs no?
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There’s been a lot of talk about getting rid of Gilbert’s contract – trade rumor last week had him going to Orlando for Vince Carter.
I'd hate to be Stanley
by Steck It Out on Dec 7, 2010 12:01 AM EST up reply actions
hahahaha
Oh God. I would never wish Wince on anyone.
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Yeah – literally prayed that it wouldn’t go through.
"Sure, mom, I settle down with a nice girl every night, then I'm free the next morning."
by Steck It Out on Dec 7, 2010 12:09 AM EST up reply actions
you’re forgetting that many caps fans are also redskins fans, along with nats fan and maybe a few poor souls who like the Wizards. Washington sports=failure
On behalf of all Seattle sports fans, allow me to say the following:
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
On behalf of all North American soccer fans not in Seattle, allow me to say:
Right back at you buddy.
"If you don't shut the [hell] up, I'm going to kick you in the balls so hard your dentist is going to have to work around them at your next cleaning."
Why? Because the city’s other sports franchises are so unbelievably crappy that the fans come out in droves to support the Sounders?
I’m a DC United fan, too, but even I respect what that organization has done. Nevertheless, they haven’t won an MLS Cup yet.
Seahawks – No championships (2005 was the best we’ll ever get)
Mariners – No championships
SuperSonics – the one team that actually won a championship. . . LEFT.
Hockey – lost our junior team to a BS suburb, and that junior team has never won the WHL, let alone the Memorial Cup
University of Washington – two years removed from an 0-12 season
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
A lot of us remember the Skins winning 3 Super Bowls, even if it seems sooooo long ago. The Nats are still a baby franchise in my mind no one expects them to win yet. The Wiz have been underachievers for awhile since their last real taste of success.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 12:34 AM EST up reply actions
The Nationals are only a baby franchise in Washington. They have a long history.
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And a not so great one. But teams can overcome long years of no success to win when they move cities (look at the Ravens)
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 12:40 AM EST up reply actions
After tonight’s game, add the Jets to that list.
/loads shotgun
I'd hate to be Stanley
by Steck It Out on Dec 6, 2010 11:51 PM EST up reply actions
There’ve been a few snark misses tonight. I think you went over a few heads with the bullet points.
It’s understandable, though, given the result.
You’re right…I should know better than to try sarcasm in the recap after a game like this ;)
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
Rage blinds old hands just as much as newbies
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Great quotes here, D’ohboy. If anything, this game has increased my doubts about the Caps ability to advance past Round 1.
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
And people wonder why some of us “overreacted” when the Capitals lost to New Jersey. That was part of a pattern as is this – the team has become complacent. They don’t give a shit about the regular season? Fine. We’ll see how happy they are when they find themselves in fifth place in the conference.
The Kolzilla PR department has advised me to post a link to my work at Inside Hockey, so here it is.
www.Insidehockey.com
Not to mention us “overreacting” when we lost to Atlanta. The Penguins can lose and their fans can shrug if off and say “so what”. When the Caps lose, we all feel it’s the reason we’ll be “one and done” in the playoffs.
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
Well, they have a Cup. Easy to be blase about things after that.
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That’s true. As a fan of both Washington and St. Louis teams, I can be more blase about the Cardinals having a bad game or bad year. I’ve experienced World Championships with them. But, in hockey, I have never rooted for the World Champion. I root for the two teams with the most exquisite playoff torture.
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
The Penguins can lose and their fans can shrug if off and say "so what".
The Pens have a captain who keeps getting better, while we have a captain who seems to be in the early phases of a goal-scoring decline.
The Pens have holes in their lineup (wingers) that are easily filled and which they’ve filled in the past (Kunitz, Guerin, Hossa, Ponikarovsky), whereas we’ve got a massive hole down the middle, and potentially at D (if Poti and Green remain as fragile as they’ve been all year) – two holes that have proven tough to fill the last few years.
Finally, the Pens have played crappy midseason hockey three years in a row, and three years in a row, they’ve advanced past the first round, an 2/3 they’ve gone to the Stanley Cup Finals.
The Caps have played the same fucking style of hockey for the last three years and every year they’ve flamed out in the playoffs against a team they could have beaten when they had home-ice advantage. They have yet to finish a series in under 7 games. They’re headed for the same fate this year.
That light at the end of the tunnel? It’s the sunshine of May out on the golf course.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
while we have a captain who seems to be in the early phases of a goal-scoring decline.
I wouldn’t get too hasty on that. Snipers go through dry spells. He’s creating chances and picking up assists.
The Pens have holes in their lineup (wingers) that are easily filled and which they’ve filled in the past (Kunitz, Guerin, Hossa, Ponikarovsky),
Poni was terrible.
That light at the end of the tunnel? It’s the sunshine of May out on the golf course.
That’s a great line. But I wouldn’t be too hard on this team. It’s easy, in the 82 game grind, to look past a team like Toronto…twice. Last year’s loss against Montreal would be a four game sweep 9 times out of 10. This team will pick it up in the playoffs like it did last year.
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I don’t know what is wrong with Ovie this year, but he’s not the Ovie we are used to. It’s frustrating to see him try the same move over and over and always get the puck poked away. I don’t know if this means anything, but Ovie changed his off-season trainer and routine and trained with Kovy, another guy who is in major slump. Could be a coincidence or maybe they need to fire that trainer.
Interesting
I didn’t know the trainer thing. Honestly, that could have an impact.
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Yes they stayed in Moscow during all those fires and worked out indoors. In the past he had done a lot of running outside. It would of been a nice time for Ovie to go visit Semin again in Siberia. Semin wouldn’t admit to doing anything special in the summer, but obviously he came ready to play, while Ovie looked out of shape in training camp.
They also could have lost that series in six if John Carlson didn’t pull some heroics out of his ass in game 2 and tie it with 70 seconds left.
I think there’s a serious cultural problem that exists in Washington that doesn’t seem to plague teams like Detroit, Pittsburgh or Chicago. There’s a sense of accountability in all situations that Washington lacks.
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Could be argued that Theo put us in that hole in Game 2 as well. Not saying he wasn’t pretty good in Game 1, but Varly has only lost 4 games in a series once…to Pittsburgh, who went on to win the Cup that year. I still think you can throw out almost anything (save for serious injuries) that will go on in the first 3 months of the season and last year’s playoffs come April. Until then it’s the grind.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 12:36 AM EST up reply actions
Snipers go through dry spells. He’s creating chances and picking up assists.
Actually, he’s at the lowest SOG/game of his career. Montreal showed how to check him (step up at the blue line, force him to move laterally and have backcheck pressure). He hasn’t really adjusted, some additional assists aside. The contrast with Crosby’s improvement is palpable (though I don’t think Crosby will maintain this pace).
Poni was terrible.
So were Corvo and Belanger. That’s a post-facto assessment of a trade that many felt at the time was a good idea. The point is that it’s easier to find a 1/2 wing than it is to find a good #2C.
This team will pick it up in the playoffs like it did last year.
Which is exactly what I’m afraid of.
Look, if it were JUST last year against the Habs, it’d be one thing. But it’s not. It’s 3.5 years of playing the game way too lose with an assumption that the switch can be flipped when necessary. It doesn’t work.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
For the record, when the Corvo trade was made I came here and told everyone that he sucked and not everyone listened.
Hmmm, low SOG is a concern for sure.
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It’s not just the low SOG either – it’s the fact that MTL defended him a certain way, and EVERY team has mimicked that to some extent, and he hasn’t adjusted much at all, except for some token passing and a brief stint at right wing.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
Red Line Station would disagree with you. His analysis indicates that Crosby’s performance is actually sustainable for the long haul, depressing as it looks.
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I think it’s sustainable. He is just that good.
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I’ll be you a sixer that he slows down when his shooting percentage drops.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
But how far is it going to drop? He’s a career 15% shooter.
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Dunno. I’m guessing he finishes the season somewhere between his career average and his number from last year.
He’s already “banked” a pretty good % by scoring so goddamn much, but eventually his luck ought to turn.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
Sorry, but Crosby’s not going to keep shooting 20.3%. He probably won’t even repeat his 17.1 from last year.
The current pace is unsustainable, barring a miraculously good season and a metric ton of luck.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
Kovalchuk until this year was able to sustain an above average shooting percentage.
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Regression is a bitch when it all comes back at once.
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by nhlcheapshot on Dec 7, 2010 12:28 AM EST up reply actions
A) No, he didn’t. Career Avg = 14.5%, the last few: 18.4, 15.6 and 14.
B) Kovy’s a freak.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
Here’s some reading on Kovalchuk that I’d recommend.
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Yeah. I’ve read it. Not to be flippant, but it pretty much proves my point – the dude is a freak and even HE couldn’t put up the kind of numbers Crosby is putting up right now over the course of a whole season. It’s unsustainable.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
No, it doesn’t prove your point at all.
We’re saying different things. You’re talking about above his career average (which I agree with you on) and I’m talking about above league average (which I bet you agree with me).
We’re both right! Isn’t that swell?
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Unless we’re totally talking past each other, I’d say it precisely proves my point.
Your argument – Crosby’s current performance is sustainable.
My counter – Crosby’s current performance is not sustainable because his shooting percentage will decline.
Your rebuttal – look at Kovalchuk, he put up similar stats consistently over the last 3 years.
My counter – No, he didn’t. He’s the best shooter in the NHL and he couldn’t even come close to what Crosby is doing now.
The evidence:
The first article says that Kovalchuk is by far the best shooter in the NHL.
Looking at his stats, we can see that, despite that, he never once put up a shooting % over 19. Crosby is at 20%+. That’s going to come down.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
Assuming Crosby fires around 298 shots again this year what impact will the regression have if he goes back to his career average?
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The difference between 60 and 45 goals.
If he drops back down to just last year’s scoring pace (17.1%), it’d be 51.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
If his year ends at 15.3% he’ll shoot 12.3% for his final 187 shots (to get to last year’s 298).
That would still be above the league average and sustainable for him because he’s awesome. Oh, and an above average shooter.
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It’s late, but I think this is why I said (above) that his average would likely be closer to his % from last year. He’s been too hot in the early going to drop down that far unless he goes on an epic cold streak.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
Good Question
14.6% He shoots A LOT
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Red Line Station would disagree with you. His analysis indicates that Crosby’s performance is actually sustainable for the long haul, depressing as it looks.
Not exactly. He was quite a bit high, but still a league leading pace, in my rough math.
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by red army line on Dec 7, 2010 8:48 AM EST up reply actions
As a Leafs fan I endorse this comment. I thoroughly enjoyed the win last night but let’s make no mistake—you have an unbelievable team and only got knocked out of the playoffs last year because of Halak’s Hasek impersonation in 4 of 7 games.
I mean you guys have three forwards who are leaps and bounds better than anyone on our roster. You just picked up exactly what you needed for your blue line. And you have cap space to add the elusive 2C at the deadline if one doesn’t emerge internally.
Enjoy the rest of the year (except when you play us)—as one of the few contenders that has never beaten us in the playoffs (which is how I pick playoff affiliations), I’ll be cheering for you.l
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Dec 7, 2010 8:45 AM EST up reply actions
That’s what I’m feeling as well. I don’t really have much hope in the Caps advancing past Round 1 and seriously wondering if I should take my vacation when Round 1 is going on.
How many years will the Caps go on before they decide to give up on the current cast of characters?
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
If anything, you should feel more confident about Round 1 this year.
The Caps have come out in the first fourth of the season and have made hugeee advances as far as team defense (ok, maybe not tonight), the PK, and gotten back to a decent PP.
There are 50+ more games for the Caps to find their way. If they still look lost come play-off time. . .then we should worry
Soon the Championship with be ours, all ours!
Where are you seeing the huge advances in team defense?
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Corvo’s gone.
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Sure, and the blue line itself is improved. Team defense? Not buying it.
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Sounds like it needs more overpaid D-men. We have like 3 if you need one.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 7, 2010 12:21 AM EST up reply actions
Hmm. How’s your head coach?
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About 2 losses away from a full-on fan lynching.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 7, 2010 12:25 AM EST up reply actions
Same as every day.
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Thank fuck. He’s both a douche and he’s bad at defense.
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The Caps have come out in the first fourth of the season and have made hugeee advances as far as team defense (ok, maybe not tonight), the PK
You realize that if you remove October, when Neuvy was playing out of his mind and the PK was getting balls-ass lucky, that the team is the same mediocre sack of defensive crap it was last year and the year before?
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
That light at the end of the tunnel? It’s the sunshine of May out on the golf course.
Holy shit that was hilarious in a “kill me now” kind of way.
I firmly believe that this team needs to really drop in the standings badly. They’ve been perched atop the East for two long and things are getting stale as fuck. Philly and Mtl are on their heels with a couple games in hand while Pittsburgh is already ahead of them.
Sometimes I really wish we didn’t play in the Southeast. Nobody is there to light a fire under this team’s ass until game seven of the first round.
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Here’s a modest proposal. Why don’t the Caps petition for a transfer to the Western Conference. Nashville can take our place in the Southeast while the Caps can transfer to the Central.
In that way, they’ll have better intradivision competition and have to work hard to win their division. And they can experience the joys of more West Coast swings. And this experience can toughen them up.
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
That’s a worse idea than eating babies.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
by Rob Parker on Dec 7, 2010 12:24 AM EST up reply actions 8 recs
I don’t know. Veal is pretty tasty
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Hahahahahahahahahaha
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Pleasure and pain, though directly opposite are contrived to be constant companions.
Caps lose, and Jets get destroyed.
Not a fun night for me.
Gotta give credit where it’s due, though – Leafs never said die.
I'd hate to be Stanley
At some point when it was 4-1 I had flashbacks to the last leafs game when the caps were up 3-1 then lost the lead.
Urg. Glad to see my boy Matty P doing good though, hope he can keep it up.
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I was happy to see Matt P do well today, also. He’s what the second line needs. (The second line has hardly done squat since he was sent down. And that was no matter who the Caps put on the second line.)
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
I feel like I need to wear my Acadie Bathurst jersey every game of his, he has great ones after I wear it.
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Pleasure and pain, though directly opposite are contrived to be constant companions.
Is it time for Bruce to start benching some of our stars? Or at least if they have a third period lead?
Bet we’ll see a bag skate for the Caps tomorrow. Or at least work on defense. Or work on the 6 on 5 situations when the other team has the empty net.
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
THEY CANCELLED PRACTICE.
Don’t you want to scream?
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did they actually cancel practice or was it never scheduled? I hope they do practice after all, like they added a practice for Sunday.
Cancelled.
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Why the bleep did they cancel practice? They need more practice not less.
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
The bag skate trick only works so many times. It bought them a three game win streak last time.
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Don’t bag skate them, just have them actually practice!
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They practiced Sunday too though, right? That’s three straight days of skating.
Maybe Bruce can hold a “don’t show up too hungover if that’s agreeable” video session at 10 AM sharp. Zing!
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I just think that days off won’t help the team.
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Pleasure and pain, though directly opposite are contrived to be constant companions.
People are just going to start asking even more and more what it will take for the team to play a disciplined game for 60 minutes. It’s getting a bit old methinx. Is an exciting style of play compatible with a cup, and if not, which is more important?
This is likely to be the final score of the Winter Classic, the score is not unusual for this team however it is arrived at.
The league will be quite happy to have the Caps back if this is the final score and the Caps lose.
Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships. - Michael Jordan
(I’ve just decided to officially hang my hat on shift length. Who was out there for the goals at the end?)
Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships. - Michael Jordan
Ovechkin’s line was out there for the tying goal.
Semin’s line for Goal 3
Ovi’s line for Goal 2
That’s why I proposed benching our stars for the last 10 minutes of the game if we ever again have a third period lead.
IAlzner and Carlson were on Goal 2 and maybe Goal 4 but
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
I am not looking forward to missing Schultzie.
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I was not happy to see him missing either. Even if there are so many fans out there who complain about him.
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
I hope Hannan gets paired with Green, and that they can work well together. Schultz goes unnoticed for a lot of what he does.
There is no problem a hammer cannot either fix or make irrelevant.
He just gets /philarmy’d for the few mistakes he makes. Or better yet mistakes from 2 years ago.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 12:55 AM EST up reply actions
True. He tends to make 5 or 6 solid, less noticeable plays for each though. I loved what Green said about him in the yearbook this season – “It’s a pleasure playing with Schultzie because he’s so steady and so strong back there. I always know I can rely on him.” That pretty much sums up what Schultz has become in the last 2 seasons.
There is no problem a hammer cannot either fix or make irrelevant.
Thanks
Thanks to Becca for recapping a shit sandwich of a game.
Thanks to the PPP folks for being nice guests.
Thanks to everyone else for listening to me rant.
My hallergy to this fucking team has returned. I think I need a break.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
by D'ohboy on Dec 7, 2010 12:34 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Poor Becca. Or should we pay Becca for take a hiatus from game recaps for a while?
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
Look at it this way: You’re a point out of first in the East behind only a team who just ran off 10 wins in a row to get there. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. The Caps were destined to have a speed bump at some point. Hannan hasn’t even had a handful of games yet, and Ovechkin’s working out kinks.
Hannan has been a bright spot. I hope the kids are watching.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 12:39 AM EST up reply actions
Good to hear from you again docc btw. Ovechkin seems to be working out more than kinks. I’m still convinced he’s playing with something…it is blatantly obvious that Green and Semin are playing through stuff (especially Green). While the overall team health might be an issue when you’re up 4-1 after 2, you can definitely have it in you to hold the damn lead.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 12:42 AM EST up reply actions
They’ve been talking alot about Semin playing through stuff. The trainer had him take at least one practice off because of it.
And he’s also been sick (and played through it.)
Could that be why he hasn’t shot straight as of late?
And, as for Green, is he still having problems with the shoulder that was pronged two years ago? He’s had a lot of problems since them
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
I don’t know what it is specifically but I would bet on Green’s right shoulder. He passes up so many obvious shooting situations and when you see him hit, he will go for hits when he’s leading with his left shoulder no problem, but he’s always trying to protect that right one it seems like.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 12:48 AM EST up reply actions
You are welcome
Don’t get too worked up over a good team. There are still changes to come I think.
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Like a coach getting fired. Or stars getting benched?
Of course, we can’t help but get worked up about a good but seriously underachieving team.
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
To be honest, I don’t know if you can Boudreau. I’m a big proponent of line matching and I know he’s not. But he has gotten an awful lot out of Washington since he was hired.
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That’s the problem with considering firing Boudreau. Before they had hired Boudreau, Hanlon was the coach and they were a losing team, nearly dead last. They hired Boudreau and have been a consistent contender since.
So we really have only two data points on coaches of the Caps, Boudreau and Hanlon.
Would the next coach be an improvement over Boudreau anyhow?
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
It’s all a philosophical thing. BB got a team full of young, talented kids and let them believe in themselves to maximize that creativity and show the skill they possessed. Now they either need to play their style better than they have recently in the playoffs and prove that they can win with it (something that everyone will claim isn’t possible)…or they have to modify their game and do the things to adapt when teams adjust how they play our team defensively in the playoffs.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 12:52 AM EST up reply actions
Firing Therrien helped the Penguins.
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As firing Stevens did for the Flyers, except that firing the coach midseason is not my idea of a sustainable strategy of success.
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The Flyers revival was a case of the percentages evening out in their favour.
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AND Halak beating the Pens and us.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 12:55 AM EST up reply actions
Firing Therrien happened after such a crappy run of about two straight months of underachieving. Boudreau hasn’t come close to that sort of underachieving yet.
There were issues with the players as well—he literally pissed off Gonchar and Malkin personally, two guys who didn’t deserve the treatment he gave them.
Unless Boudreau’s totally lost his team’s respect like Therrien did, you don’t shitcan him.
I wasn’t advocating canning Boudreau at all, just playing devil’s advocate pointing out that many times certain coaches can take teams very far but not all the way.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 12:56 AM EST up reply actions
No, I gotcha. And I would agree that if there’s an extended run of bad play—say, the Caps lose 10 of 15 games—then you start to consider it seriously. Until the losses hit double digits and the slump continues for more than a month, I think you look at players rather the coach.
I think Ovechkin has more to answer for as Captain than Boudreau does as coach.
Ovechkin has been off all year. I don’t know what the problem is, injury/motivation whatever…but I think a big part of this team is missing until he fixes it.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 1:02 AM EST up reply actions
He seems like he is a few pounds heavier than previous years. I think he has lost a step due to that.
There is no problem a hammer cannot either fix or make irrelevant.
The speed hasn’t really been an issue. The amount of pucks he isn’t catching cleanly on shots or holding on to while stick-handling are what is catching my eye. I still think it’s a wrist thing from the preseason slash.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 1:05 AM EST up reply actions
You’re still a division leader.
I think the problem for Ovechkin is that there’s a bit of a “book” on him now. Teams (and defensemen) know his tendency to rush up the left side, cut to the high slot and unleash a shot. He’s a bit too predictable from what I’m seeing. Doesn’t look like he’s trying to rush through anyone right now.
Maybe I’m not watching as much of the Caps as I have in the past, but it seems this way to my slightly-trained eyes. There are a lot of sticks deflecting shots and causing him to fire wide
Perhaps he is trying to adjust his shot to avoid getting so many blocked, but far too many he’s just losing off of his stick or not catching cleanly. I’m fine with him not shooting as much when he is setting up guys like he has been for most of this season. Knuble being snakebit didn’t help, he should have a few more helpers right now to be honest.
Him and Backstrom haven’t seemed quite in the same flow yet this year either. I think they’re figuring out who needs to be carrying the puck more entering the zone and how much each guy should be looking to shoot versus setting the other up.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 1:09 AM EST up reply actions
I think the problem for Ovechkin is that there’s a bit of a "book" on him now.
The real problem for Ovechkin is that everyone else has read, understood and implemented the book, and he’s too dumb/arrogant to adjust to that.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
I’m fine with throwing around the idea of firing a coach as long as there is a suitable replacement out there. Of the 30 coaches working in the AHL, 29 are currently signed with NHL clubs. So who do you hire?
I am a hockey fan first, and a Caps fan second.
Frenchie!
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Pleasure and pain, though directly opposite are contrived to be constant companions.
But it’s so much fun to panic and be cynical!
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Preaching to the choir.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 7, 2010 12:39 AM EST up reply actions
If given a choice between watching the Bad News Bears and watching Oedipus Rex, I think I’ll take the Bears.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
The Bad News Bears are never going to win a cup, while Oedipus Rex may realize what the fuck is going on at some point, maybe not kill his father, or wed his mother, and tune out the kinks over 50 more games
Soon the Championship with be ours, all ours!
Oedipus Rex may realize what the fuck is going on at some point, maybe not kill his father, or wed his mother, and tune out the kinks over 50 more games
You failed literature class pretty badly I take it. :)
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
No , but i havent read Oedipus Rex in 5 years. Maybe i just missed your analogy. . .i thought Oedipus is told by the oracle he’ll committ incest and kill his father. then he kills Laies not knowing that he’s is actual father. Oedipus solves the riddle, gains the kingship of Thebes, and marries his mother, fulfilling what the oracle said.
Soon the Championship with be ours, all ours!
The point of the story, so much as I’ve ever understood it and the oeuvre of Greek tragedy, is that Oedipus ignores the fates out of overweening pride. The origin of that pride lies in his natural talents and ambitions. Ultimately, the downfall of Oedipus (or any other tragic figure) is the very thing that made him great.
The Caps’ talent has given them the false impression that they can ignore the hockey oracles (Don Cherry, RJ Umberger and Justin Bourne) and play “their way” because it seems to work. But we all know that it won’t in the playoffs.
The team doesn’t play great defense. They don’t possess the puck all that well. What they do better than anyone is trade chances. And that works pretty well in the regular season. Not so much when they run into a good goaltender, or a great defensive team, both of which will abound in the playoffs.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
I was hoping the defense was making strides this year…it would be really nice to actually see our “new” Top 6 D play for more than less than 2 periods together and see what happens, but a lot of the deficiencies fall on the forwards as well as the backline.
What they do better than anyone is trade chances.
If this is true we were trading them at a very high rate against the Habs. For all the lack of creating traffic and getting those dirty goals, we also simply didn’t finish well at all in Games 5-7.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 1:14 AM EST up reply actions
Trading chances works at a championship level if you’re the 80s Oilers.
The Caps ain’t that. Best case scenario, they have 4 Hall of Fame skaters. The Oilers had 5, one of whom was the best center to every play. Great as AO’s been so far, he’s never going to sniff Wayne Gretzky. The other teams have gotten better and the defensive systems have gotten better. Maybe this team could have won in the early 90s, but it’s not going to work now, barring some great luck with percentages in the playoffs.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Dec 7, 2010 1:47 PM EST up reply actions
Only been posting for a couple of weeks, but I have the same concerns about this team – I don’t really think we got “Halaked” last year against Montreal, and I don’t think it happened the other night against Thrash. It is a clear case of this team launching from all over the rink except near the net. and no one being there for any rebounds.
What I’m trying not to do is get too worked up over any loss, or put much stock into any wins because clearly this team will be judged by how it does in the playoffs. And if they don’t get to at LEAST the conference finals, then they are clearly not built for playoff hockey (which I’m afraid is the case based on losing the last three years in 7 games, while leading 1-0, 2-0 and 3-1, all while having home ice advantage).
I’m not sure really what has changed to expect that things will be any different. Because we got a top six defender?
If you are driving in the left hand lane and you are not passing, you are a #$@&$
You guys did get Halaked. Behind The Net provided reams of evidence for it.
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As did the mirror image series against the Pens after us. So many of those games Pitt was absolutely dominating and he stopped them time and time again. Along with the sacrifice their D men made (which left them far too banged up to go any further), the opportunistic scoring was just too much. Cammaleri was ridiculous in those first 2 series.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 12:44 AM EST up reply actions
Something like 1 for 34 on the PP. That goes way beyond any goaltending. Everyone kept saying, “we don’t know why out PP isn’t working.”
I bet Jacques Martin did.
If you are driving in the left hand lane and you are not passing, you are a #$@&$
Jacques Martin: “Hey, this Halak kid is good. Hope they don’t trade him for Lars Eller”
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
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It hurts that Price is playing lights out now, making the Halak trade less hilarious.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 7, 2010 12:47 AM EST up reply actions
Did we likewise get Henriked? And Bironed? And Flurried?
I get that we ran into a hot goalie. It happens to even great teams. The Caps have shown a disturbing ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory regardless.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
You’re being fatalistic. I can only speak to Halak who beat you guys single-handedly.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
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It’s a Caps’ fan thing i think. . .this team is so good at times, the black spots just look that much darker
Soon the Championship with be ours, all ours!
Being a Caps fan is being a believer in Murphy’s Law. Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. And, of course, Murphy became a superstar when he left the team.
We’ve had tons and tons of heartbreaking playoff losses, as in a generation full of them. The triple overtime affair against the Isles. All the losses to the Pens.
It’s as if our team plays under a black cloud. (Is it me or what? The St. Louis Blues, my other favorite team, seems snakebit as well.)
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
Man
No wonder our fanbases get along.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
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by PPP on Dec 7, 2010 12:55 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
We have some pretty high highs, and some really, really low lows
Soon the Championship with be ours, all ours!
Hard to say Flurried as they won the Cup that year. We beat Henrik and if Theo didn’t vomit all over the ice in Game 1 we win that series in 5 or 6 and no one thinks about that series twice.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 12:49 AM EST up reply actions
The Caps may have ended up winning the NYR series after Henrik finally wore down, but the point remains that in 3 of the 4 playoff series they have played they have made the opposing goalie look unbeatable.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Dec 7, 2010 12:51 AM EST up reply actions
I disagree with this statement entirely. Biron and Fleury both looked plenty beatable, we just weren’t the better team consistently enough against Philly and dug ourselves too big a hole, and the Penguins were just a better team that won the Cup. That leaves Lundy and Halak…and we beat Lundy.
Honestly the only real playoff failure in my book was the 1st round exit last year. If you expect to beat that Philly team in our first taste of the playoffs you’re deluding yourself to expect that to happen. Same with playing against Pitt.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 12:54 AM EST up reply actions
The series against the Pens was a series either team could have taken, based on lots of little things. The Pens ended up doing more of them right, but it certainly wasn’t due to Fleury.
There is no problem a hammer cannot either fix or make irrelevant.
That’s the rub here, we lost Game 7 in OT to Philly when Federov could have avoided all that by looking up for a pass…and we lose in 7 to Pitt (who admittedly I think was the better team for most of that series if not all) dropping 2 of those games in OT to deflections off our own defenders. You’re that close to a much better feeling playoff run either time. Last year was the only big underachievement in my mind.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 12:59 AM EST up reply actions
If you expect to beat that Philly team in our first taste of the playoffs you’re deluding yourself to expect that to happen. Same with playing against Pitt.
The Caps took both to 7 and had home-ice advantage both times. The Caps had a 2-0 advantage against Pittsburgh. How on earth is it delusional to expect victory in that case?
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
I said it was delusional to expect to beat Philly considering over half our team was postseason rookies. While we were up 2-0 on Pitt, you could not say we clearly deserved to be up 2-0 at that point. We also lost 2 of the 3 OT games in that series. I’d be curious to know what % of teams that lose 2+ games in a series in OT actually go on to win the series.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 1:01 AM EST up reply actions
It doesn’t matter why or how we were up 2-0. We were. And then Varly gives us a great game 3 and we played pretty terrible. Again, a chance to step on the throat and we have no killer instinct.
We have owned PIT in the regular season the last few years, but they took 4 of 5 from us in that series. If we even go .500 we win.
Lockout talk makes me want to go out and choke an old lady - Elliotte Friedman
The Caps made Biron look waaaaay better than he is. He still looked beatable because he sucks to begin with, but the Caps had over 40 shots in each of the two OT games and lost them both. The Caps O still struggled way more than they should have against a mediocre goalie.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Dec 7, 2010 1:22 AM EST up reply actions
He only gave up less than 3 goals in 2 of the 7 games against us. We didn’t make him look that good. We lost Game 7 in OT on the PK.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 1:25 AM EST up reply actions
but the point remains that in 3 of the 4 playoff series as long as I’ve been following the Caps, they have played they have made the opposing goalie look unbeatable (’cept that cup year – damn open net Esa!)
If you are driving in the left hand lane and you are not passing, you are a #$@&$
Don’t mention his fucking name. DAMN YOU TIKKANEN.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 12:57 AM EST up reply actions
Docc, I’m still convinced in my head somehow that if he doesn’t choke that we come back home a house of fire after splitting in Detroit and go on to win the Cup in 6.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 1:15 AM EST up reply actions
To further the point, if Varly doesn’t come in and play out of his mind, that series is over in 5 or 6 the other direction.
This team has a tough time winning the nasty, ugly 2-1 games where both goals bounce off of someone’s cup. Knuble was supposed to bring that, but the dude is only on the ice for 17mins/game. It’s got to come from somewhere else.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
Which series? The Pens series I agree with you. The Rags had no offense to speak of that year, he didn’t need to play out of his mind he just didn’t need to completely melt down like Theo did in Game 1.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 12:57 AM EST up reply actions
Do you all figure Boudreau will be fired if we don’t make it to Round 3? And then who would be the best replacement for him?
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
I didn’t think his job security was going to be in question this year but there are certain types of losing that I think if they continue to happen throw up red flags.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 12:45 AM EST up reply actions
I believe Carlyle won during his first full year with the team but the Ducks haven’t excelled too much since. But give them credit for at least one thing — when they make the playoffs, they go farther than expected.
You’re right, maybe that’s who we should hire!
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
God
It’s late. Thanks for having me. You’re good people.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
This is also the first they’ve had to deal with my shit. Of course, they can take it out on me in person in two weekends. =)
Docc I need to get tickets to that somehow if family obligations don’t conflict and we need to have a few beers.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 1:15 AM EST up reply actions
The thing that sucks most about tonight is that I feel like the caps are preparing themselves to be knocked out by the thrashers in the first round. Hopefully the winter classic curse is enough to keep that from happening.
good recap Becca, as always
That’s my thought as well. And seriously wondering if I should just boycott the Round 1 playoff games and either give away or sell my playoff tickets.
Rocking the Red for the Caps since 1975. Rocking the Red on additional fronts as well.
Give them to me. Goals won’t get waved off, pucks will go in, and everyone will be wondering what the fuss was about over one bad playoff exit.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 1:35 AM EST up reply actions
Honest curiosity – what about this team’s performance over the last 3.5 years causes you to be so optimistic?
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
Because which playoff result was actually unexpected other than last year’s exit? It takes a lot going right for you to make a deep run in the NHL playoffs. Plenty of good teams have had Round 1 exits, and plenty of President Trophy winners have done it as well.
Sometimes the luck and bounces go your way, and sometimes they don’t. If you play the way you need to well enough hopefully you don’t put yourself in a position where those little breaks can determine the outcome of a series, but it’s not always avoidable. Last year it was, and it cost us. If we’re still playing this way come March and April, I will be very worried. But nothing we do during the regular season is going to change what happened against the Habs. We won’t know what will happen this year come April until we get there.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 1:45 AM EST up reply actions
If you play the way you need to well enough hopefully you don’t put yourself in a position where those little breaks can determine the outcome of a series, but it’s not always avoidable.
In my opinion, you’re overly fixated on the Montreal series. The Caps have gone to seven games in all four series with this group of players and this coaching staff over the course of three years. That sounds exactly like a team that sets itself up to be crushed by bad breaks. Last night was just the most recent manifestation of how this team allows its opponents to stay in games long after they ought to have given up.
If we’re still playing this way come March and April, I will be very worried.
Not to be rude, but we’ve been playing this way for 3.5 years. This is the product of Boudreau’s system and the players GMGM has assembled. WYSIWYG. There’s nothing new in these criticisms; I even wrote a fanpost about it on the eve of the ‘09 playoffs. I just don’t see how you can look at the body of work of this team over the last 3.5 years and see anything other than playoff flameout waiting to happen.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
I’m not sure I agree. The 07-08 team was really, really good, and so was the following year’s team.
“What if Green hadn’t tried to take on Pronger? History will be made”
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.
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"Numbers don't lie, they just don't agree with you"--George E. Ays
by red army line on Dec 7, 2010 11:07 PM EST up reply actions
Actually, their performance over the 3.5 weeks has made me more optimistic. I feel like teams need to face some adversity during a season to build some character and learn how to win. The games this team won in October might have looked like “winning the right way” in the box score, but really we saw a hot goalie covering up for other mistakes.
When you watch film, and see yourself making mistakes, they don’t sink in after a win like they do after a loss. Lots of coaching points to be made from tonight’s film. Now BB needs to prove he can coach.
I am a hockey fan first, and a Caps fan second.
I feel like teams need to face some adversity during a season to build some character and learn how to win.
Three years ago the team started out under Boudreau DFL in the Eastern Conference and had to play exceptional hockey just to make the playoffs. I’d say they faced some adversity. Two years ago, they had the crazy western road trip where 1/2 the team’s defense got injured and they got pounded by SJS and Minnesota. I’d say they faced some adversity. Last year, despite the gaudy point total, the team faced all sorts of adversity: Ovie’s suspensions, Green’s Olympic snub, Russia’s Olympic flameout, etc. The results are always the same.
Lots of coaching points to be made from tonight’s film. Now BB needs to prove he can coach.
Agree completely on the first point, but I think that 3.5 years have shown us that the team is unwilling to consistently learn from its mistakes, even if Boudreau is capable of identifying and addressing them.
And I hear you talk the talk, but I don't see you walk the walk and I still don't believe a thing you say.
Two seasons is hardly a long enough time to be confident you’ll make it deep in the playoffs. As for last season, the Olympics and 2nd suspension were right around the 14 game winning streak. The Caps could come back at will and didn’t face many injuries. Hardly adversity there.
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 7, 2010 11:08 PM EST up reply actions
give them to me!
seeing as we’ll be playing a seven game series, there’s a better than even chance I’ll get to see us win a playoff game in person
the first two lines seemed sorted out decently now
…at least I’m confident that they’ll be kept together for Thursday and maybe even the weekend.
But lines #3 and #4? Uh… why was Mackan centering DJ King and Matt Hendricks? Bizarre.
Time for BB to sort out the remaining forwards, because whatever mixing and matching he was doing was not working.
I didn’t know if that was BB thinking Mackan wasn’t playing well and wanted to give Gordon more ice time or what. He got knocked off the puck along the boards too easily a few times tonight, but didn’t think he played horribly.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 1:57 AM EST up reply actions
I thought he played really well, Mackan
Both at even strength and the penalty kill… he got pickpocketed a couple of times in the neutral zone, as seems to happen a couple times of a game (overindulgence on the puck), but other than that, I thought he was very solid. I also have to think there has to be some extra motivation to perform with Matty P’s arrival. Not that Mackan’s spot is in jeopardy, but it’s gotta light a little bit more of a fire…
He also pickpocketed others a few times on the backcheck…does a good job of finding those seam passes to the open D men on the point when the play seems a little hemmed in on one side. Still feel like he’s not sure what he wants to do all the time in the O zone though.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Dec 7, 2010 2:07 AM EST up reply actions
yeah, at least once a game he tries to stickhandle through the whole team
but i guess my original point is, it’s tough to know what to do in the O zone when you’re staring at DJ King waddling down next to you.
Saved by the Time Zone
Fortunately I was spared seeing my blood pressure climb by about 20 over 20 because where I live the games start in the morning. I knew we needed to go to the fish market while the catch was still fresh, but my wife asked me if I wanted to wait until the game was over. I said “No problem the Caps are up 4-1 and it’s already headed into the third period.” So of course first thing I did when we back was to check the score. Well, I’ll never again doubt Mark Twain when he said, “No one has ever gotten rich by underestimating the Capital’s ability to blow a big lead in the last period” (or something like that).
I’m still waiting for my next few cold cerbesas to start working their magic before I get the nerve to read the recap. Neuvy meltdown? Total team collapse? Watching too many Redskins games? Did the Leafs all of a sudden morph into the 1970’s Red Army Team?
Don’t spoil it for me. It’s a good mental exercise for this old man’s brain to try to puzzle this one out for a while.
But I did skim down to the last paragraph and appreciate your citation of Santayana, Becca.
"Don’t put your beer in the microwave, eh. It’ll boil."-Bob McKenzie
Grabby's goal was amazing
Hotdogging? it’s called winning, and winning awesomely to boot. No need for sour grapes. I think we can let them have their moment of glory without calling them showboaters or hotdoggers or whatever. Let’s not be those entitled fans.
by Bushwood Bushwhacker on Dec 7, 2010 9:33 AM EST reply actions
Penalty shot rules specifically call out this as a legal move even though it flys in the face of the “puck must be moving towards the goal-line” rule. Agree with you. Not show-boating. Goalie has to stay with the puck, not the player.
even though it flys in the face of the "puck must be moving towards the goal-line" rule.
Huh. My seatmate last night pointed out the same thing but I didn’t notice – shouldn’t it not have been a goal, then? Good to see they’re implementing the “rules” of the gimmick.
And…it was showboating. Whether or not you think it has a place in the shootout is another issue, but it was showboating. Let’s see him try that move in a regular game scenario.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
Theres actually an exception in the shootout rules that allow spin-o-ramas because they consist on continuous movement.
Being a Leafs fan makes me bipolar.
Hi, it was meant to be sarcasm, but thanks for playing. It’s no secret that I hate the Leafs.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
Also, calling one shootout goal “a moment of glory” is overreaching just a smidge, don’t you think? Especially considered it would have merely become a footnote had any of our guys been able to score in response.
If anyone needs me, I'll be at Kettler.
Hi, it was meant to be sarcasm, but thanks for playing.
And…it was showboating. Whether or not you think it has a place in the shootout is another issue, but it was showboating. Let’s see him try that move in a regular game scenario.
It was 100% legal, and 100% amazing. It’s clear you are a little worked up about it. It’s come to the point were our team (and our fans) should act like winners. Getting upset over getting beat on a highlight reel spinorama in a SO ain’t “actin’ like ya been there”.
Let’s just hope the guys in the locker room weren’t saying “man that Grabby is a showboater” because that’s what a bunch of losers would do after a loss.
by Bushwood Bushwhacker on Dec 7, 2010 2:00 PM EST up reply actions
Belated Observations from the Sofa
Didn’t get back in town in time from the family’s Hannukah fest up in Conn. to make it downtown for last night, but I got home in time to watch.
1) For the first 2 1/2 periods as Becca said, the Caps looked like the team they want to be. They were on the ball, working hard, finishing checks, winning battles in front of the net (Knuble), taking good shots….then the roof caved in
2) Alzner made a mistake. Turns out the kid is human after all…. the reason it stands out so much is because he doesn’t usually make mistakes like that (he rarely makes any of them…)
3) Whatever Grabby did on the shootout goal worked. It’s not showboating if the puck goes in. Whatever works.
4) Neuvy didn’t let in any bad goals, but most nights he saves one or two of the ones he let in…
5) The 6-on-5 goal by the Leafs was no one’s fault on the Caps. If a team that’s a man up makes a perfect play, they score… and they did. It happens.
6) Nice to see Ovie give some props to King in the box after he scored. Orr was pretty much nothing after that point anyway…
Ok, three game losing streak… no more. It ends Thursday!
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
Going to disagree on a few points here.
2) Alzner got unlucky with his attempt to spring Hendricks. Just happened to rail it off of Chimmy (who in turn didn’t seem to realize he just caused a turnover). All-around odd shift. But to say Alzner doesn’t make mistakes is ignoring the first part of this season when I had him just above Sloan on our “yea but what’s he actually doing…” list. He’s had a good few weeks lately since being a full-time partner of Carlson, but had been very shaky in the mental part of the game (not the execution or physical) early on. His pinching and coverage decisions have gotten better but he was grossly out of position or caught up ice too often to count. Seems Woody is doing a great job sorting him out.
5) The 6 on 5 goal was absolutely the fault of the following: 1. Gabby, 2. 8 and 3. You’ve just been scored on to bring the game close. Your team just took a very poorly timed icing to keep our best center off the ice. (Gordo dominated last night at 80%)… Where’s the Time-Out? Where’s the calming influence and discussion about coverages and game-plan? Maybe he could have reminded 3 and 8 that you can cover passing lanes all day long, but when there’s no guy on the other side of the lane, it’s not really a passing lane, is it? Both standing around, covering nobody. No surprise the puck ended up in the back of the net. If they’re going to make a perfect play in that situation, it’s got to come from the outside.
I have been toying with creating a fanpost about this… but once again, on the faceoff before the 6 on 5 goal I was screaming my head off at the linesman for not tossing Grabby off the dot. There are right angles around the dot for a reason. They are to help the linesman know who’s square to the other teams’ goalline and who is not. If you’re not square, and don’t get back to being square, you should get tossed. It’s turned into traveling/double dribble in the NBA. Ref’s ignore the rule and give those willing to break it a distinct advantage. Backstrom wins so many faceoffs by skating into his opponent and kicking the puck back. Can’t do that when a guy’s not in the legal position. Backstrom loses the draw, Caps lose the game.
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