Friday Caps Clips: A Rare Division Loss
by J.P. on Mar 19, 2010 7:04 AM EDT
in Caps Clips
484 comments
Your savory breakfast links:
- Recaps and other assorted musings on last night's loss - only the fourth in twenty Southeast Division games - from the us, the WaPo (blog, gamer), Vogs, DCEx, Joe B., Ed Frankovic, Peerless, FFODC, StC, MD Pro Sports, A Capital Offense and RMNB.
- The pundits aren't picking the Caps. Good. [TSN]
- Which is more impressive - the maturation of Mike Green or the numbers he's put up? OK, fine, it's the numbers. But the maturation is closing the gap, and quickly. [NHL.com]
- Green as the second-best blueliner in the League this season? I can buy that. [Puck Prospectus]
- "Caps most explosive even without 'O' -- and can play D, too" Could you talk in my good ear? I thought I heard you say the Caps can play D, too. [CBSSports]
- You knew it was coming: Jim Kelley ripping Alex Ovechkin. What you might not have seen coming? Kelley ripping Ted Leonsis. And the Caps' PR staff. [SI]
- Jeff Schultz love? Why yes, I'll link to it. [Corey Masisak]
- Ah, the spring of 2008. I remember it like it was two years ago. [Corey Masisak]
- An interview with Jason Chimera completes the Corey hat trick (a natural hattie at that - three in a row). [Corey Masisak]
- Will the Caps bring back Jose Theodore? Should they? It's a cop out, but I'm going with "depends on the price." [RtR]
- The Caps are good today and set up to be good tomorrow. [The Hockey News]
- A little score sheet tidying up. [Dump n' Chase]
- One of your own - Your Nation's Capital - gets a bit of the star treatment. [Barrie Examiner]
- Finally, per the HHoF, on this date back in 2001, "Calle Johansson scored a goal and an assist playing in his 1,000th career NHL game." To date, only four Swedes have played more games in the NHL than Calle Jo.
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This is a little to the side of the Clips, but I turned on On the Fly to watch with breakfast, and they were talking the Boston/Pitt game aftermath. Asked if it’s “over”, Kevin Weeks says, “Over?” It’s not over until they say it’s over." I’ve liked Weeks as a talking head since the first time I saw him on NHL Live last spring. He’s great in front of the camera.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
Suggestion: would you mind popping these shift charts in the recap for the game it’s for rather than in the next day’s Clips post? Game-specific discussion still goes on in the recap posts the next day, and it’s a better fit, IMO. Thanks.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
How do they actually log the times for players? Does one person sit somewhere in the building and just watch the benches the whole time?
But Brawndo's got what plants crave. It's got electrolytes.
I wondered that too. I’d have to think they go over the game tape to figure it out, but maybe they’re actually that good.
I actually have a friend of a friend who does that sort of statistic for the NHL – let me see if I can find out how they do it.
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by IRockTheRed on Mar 19, 2010 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t know exactly what they do, but it’s logged in real-time and updated in near-real-time on the time on ice sheets on nhl.com (http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20092010/TV021044.HTM).
I think there’s just one official timekeeper keying in when each player comes on or off the ice. So each time might be off by a second or two, and I guess there’s a chance for bigger errors, but they seem pretty spot on from what I can tell.
Bring back Theo? No.
He is still a decent goalie and someone will give him a 2/yr contract @ $2.5+ per year, I think.
We do not need that do we? No. I’m ready for the Varlavirthby + cheap veteran (if we need that) experiment to begin. Its time to find who your real goalie is going to be for the next 10 years.
Bring on the 8 assed monkey.
I think the winter will be a good chance for the kids to get healthy again and battle it out for goalie. (It’s taking them both longer than we like. Varly’s probably ahead of Neuvy on that front at the moment but we’ll see what the weekend brings in Hershey. They’ve been altering Neuvy and Holtby, as of late and the guy they had earlier signed to be backup hasn;t played much lately.
Rocking the Red since 1975
We are an impatient group. Goalies aren’t skilled forwards, they take time. Having said that we have 2 guys that are actually ahead of schedule. Both Varlamov and Neuvy has shown they belong in the league.
Brodeur didn’t come into the league and light it up, he got lit up too.
Goalies aren’t skilled forwards, they take time.
Agreed, but I think it’s a legitimate concern to think that they might not “arrive” while the rest of its team is in peak position to win.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Agreed, thats why there is a caveat in my statement, if we need a veteran. At the deadline get one if neither Varlamov or Neuvy are ready for heat of playoff competition.
This team is good enough to win the SE will Squirts the Wonder Cow in net. I don’t care about the Presidents Trophy. Let the kids duke it out all season long until about March 1st and make your decision then.
Vokoun will still be available then.
Aye. The only problem with that is that it’s a roll of the dice that a guy you’d want is available then, you’re definitely going to have to overpay then, and you might have painted yourself into a corner w/r/t other issues that have sprung up during the season.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
UFA list of goalies 2011
Giguere, Jean-Sebastien " G 32 TOR $6,000,000 2011 (UFA)
Vokoun, Tomas " G 33 FLA $5,700,000 2011 (UFA)
Bryzgalov, Ilya " G 29 PHO $4,250,000 2011 (UFA)
Leclaire, Pascal " G 27 OTT $3,800,000 2011 (UFA)
Roloson, Dwayne " G 40 NYI $2,500,000 2011 (UFA)
Smith, Mike " G 27 TBL $2,200,000 2011 (UFA)
Anderson, Craig " G 28 COL $1,812,500 2011 (UFA)
Osgood, Chris " G 37 DET $1,416,666 2011 (UFA)
Conklin, Ty " G 33 STL $1,300,000 2011 (UFA)
Garon, Mathieu " G 32 CLB $1,200,000 2011 (UFA)
Labarbera, Jason " G 30 PHO $1,000,000 2011 (UFA)
Boucher, Brian " G 33 PHI $925,000 2011 (UFA)
Ersberg, Erik " G 28 LAK $750,000 2011 (UFA)
Howard, Jimmy " G 25 DET $716,666 2011 (UFA)
McElhinney, Curtis " G 26 ANA $535,000 2011 (UFA)
McKenna, Mike " G 26 NJD $500,000 2011 (UFA)
Curry, John " G 26 PIT $500,000 2011 (UFA)
MacIntyre, Drew " G 26 ATL $500,000 2011 (UFA)
Lots o’ crap there. Two names I could stomach (and I’d be surprised if one of them doesn’t take the League’s money and re-sign).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
You gotta think someone’s going to throw a LOT of money at Craig Anderson with the season he’s having. He’s only making 1.8?
I call that a bargain
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 7:52 AM EDT up reply actions
You’d think that, but the Lanche aren’t even close to selling out games and may not want to pony up the loot for him.
Plus he’s unrestricted…I don’t think they’ll be able to keep up in a bargaining war for him, especially entering his prime at 28
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 7:54 AM EDT up reply actions
The best you’ve ever haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
No Dan Ellis? He’s certainly a UFA after year’s end.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 8:29 AM EDT up reply actions
duh
Thanks, my bad. For some reason I thought Jiggy was a UFA this year and yeah. Anyway.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 8:31 AM EDT up reply actions
Talking about Nashville and goalies. Anders Linbäck looked very good in the first SEL play off game last night and he have had a solid season for Timrå maybe you guys have found a diamond in the rough. He’s a seventh rounder picked three spots after Della Rovere in the 2008 draft.
Good news for Nashville. Only three years until he’ll walk away from the organization!
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
ow.
My defense of that is we actually re-signed Rinne, and if the last two weeks is any indication, that was a damn good move.
As much as people talk about us being loaded at D, we kind of have a goalie logjam (much like the Caps). Dekanich, Pickard, Linback, and Rinne are all future starters in the league (well maybe not Dex, but definitely Pickard).
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 8:58 AM EDT up reply actions
Right back atcha ;)
On the Forecheck: a blog that's more productive than a Predator power play!
Follow me on Twitter
Now Cycling like the Sedins
by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 9:01 AM EDT up reply actions
Nashville also has the smartest goalie prospect pool.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Mar 19, 2010 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions
That list makes me sad that GMGM passed on Bryz when he was available on Waivers in 07/08.
"Now wait a minute. This is just purely a social call. You know, just two adults getting a stew on, man."
by The Ghost of Bebop on Mar 19, 2010 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions
Bring back Theo? No.
What if Varly completely tanks (Pulls a Jim Carey) the rest of the season and the playoffs?
We trade him to Boston for great players.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
by jordanDC on Mar 19, 2010 8:42 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Hah yea but where does that leave us with goalies? If Varly loses his shit, I got no problem signing with Jose again
Yep, I’d be ok with Jose and Neuvy. We’ve shown we can win with Jose over the last two years, and he’s as good or better now than when we signed him.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
If Theo has a strong Playoffs, he’ll be too pricey for us. We don’t want to keep paying nearly $5MM for him.
You had me at no problem.
Always a (slight) chance he’ll take a discount. If not, give Dan Ellis a call.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
For the record – Jim Carey, Jason Allison and Anson Carter to Boston for Bill Ranford, Adam Oates and Rick Tocchet.
Is that a clear victory for the Caps? Given Oatsie’s impact here, I would say so.
Watching more games on Slingbox than anyone else!
Varlamov, Flash and Steckel for the corpse of Manny Fernandez, David Krejci and Milan Lucic.
Ok.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
Does Boston still have Manny under contract?
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 9:01 AM EDT up reply actions
Maybe Milbury will get the GM job in Boston, and we can work out a deal… Flash, Varley, and a DSW Gift card for Chara, a first round pick, and 3 second round picks, and 2 cases of legal sized paper.
Milbury gets some shoes (and we know he loves shoes) and Gabby gets to make some quality copies!
I am a hockey fan first, and a Caps fan second.
by iwearstripes on Mar 19, 2010 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes, indeed. Given the salary cap constraints and the lack of exceptions, the old NBA nostrum holds doubly true for today’s NHL: never trade young for old.
Varly might never turn into a regular NHL goalie, and Neuvy might not either. But the value if one of them does is too much to get rid of any of them now.
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
Ranford was also solid up until he got hurt and Olie emerged. Even after that, he was a solid backup.
He was one of my faves before he got traded to us because of some crazy save he made on a hockey highlight VHS tape that I’d watch like once a week. One of our friends that worked at Piney Orchard got a broken goal stick of his for me, I was cised.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
That’s awesome. I thought it was funny too everytime he ended up with the puck in his catcher, he would flip out onto the back of his hand, and then flip it to the ref. I got a kick out of that everytime, and I tried that for a time when I played goalie.
And BTW, I learned to skate at Piney Orchard. When did you frequent there? I skated there from about 91-95, and then my family moved to the eastern shore, where I kept playing there.
The year Olaf Kolzig took over (when Ranford took one in the cup in a game against Toronto and got Wally Pipped out of the lineup), he was 7-12-2, 2.79, .901 compared to Kolzig’s 33-18-10-1, 2.20, .920, and five shutouts.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Mar 19, 2010 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions
Man, do I ever miss in-his-prime Olie.
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remembering in-his-prime Olie never fails to bring a smile to my face.
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Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
Disagree. JT60 is a pretty good goalie and should be resigned, but not as a #1 goalie per se because the Caps don’t actually play with one. BB hasn’t gone with one goalie for any decent stretch of time since he stepped behind the bench. This is not a criticism. Maybe the talking heads out there think the Caps have a goalie problem because they haven’t stuck with a #1 guy since Olie left.
But Brawndo's got what plants crave. It's got electrolytes.
Not for nothing, but Theo could be re-signed for around $3m per to serve as a safety net. For that matter, Corvo and Belanger could be re-signed for modest raises.
"I know I was the best CIA agent the CIA ever had, but I thought I told you honkies from the CIA that Black Dynamite was out of the game!"
I would have said “no” to re-signing him at all before this year, but with the way he’s played, I wouldn’t really have a problem with another two-year deal. Of course, I worry about this being a contract-year type of thing, but again, if its at a reasonable price (like mid 3’s), sure.
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 7:29 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t think it would be beneficial for either party if he only re-upped here for one. Neuvy and Varly both need more time to grow, and Theo will be 34 in September, so i’m pretty sure he wouldn’t want to go right back on the market again at 35.
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 7:44 AM EDT up reply actions
You could get both of them for about $6ish I think, but that’s baseless speculation.
"I know I was the best CIA agent the CIA ever had, but I thought I told you honkies from the CIA that Black Dynamite was out of the game!"
by Bald Pollack on Mar 19, 2010 7:34 AM EDT up reply actions
Yep, and still reup Theo.
"I know I was the best CIA agent the CIA ever had, but I thought I told you honkies from the CIA that Black Dynamite was out of the game!"
by Bald Pollack on Mar 19, 2010 7:40 AM EDT up reply actions
No thanx. Again, I’m with J Schon, why pay money you don’t have to. I’m fine with going with the young guys. In Irbe I Trust.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
Theodore might not be here next year (in fact, I think that likely), but I don’t think the Caps are going to give the keys to the car to a couple of guys who have so few NHL games between them There will be a veteran here, I think.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Mar 19, 2010 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions
Agree. Veteran backup, though? Or veteran starter?
I’m betwixt and between on the answer to this one.
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
Hey, me too! It’s nice to talk hockey with people you’ve got something in common with.
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
I think it largely depends on how Varly plays for the rest of the season.
Even atheists believe in Matt Wieters
by wickedwitch on Mar 19, 2010 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions
W00t.
"I know I was the best CIA agent the CIA ever had, but I thought I told you honkies from the CIA that Black Dynamite was out of the game!"
by Bald Pollack on Mar 19, 2010 7:36 AM EDT up reply actions
We like Belanger? I haven’t seen too much that has impressed me so far.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Same here. I think that position can be upgraded by what’s in Hershey.
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 7:45 AM EDT up reply actions
Disagree, I don’t think there’s anyone ready to go in Hershey at the 2C spot now until Mackan plays a bit in Hershey, and that’s still a learning curve to undertake.
I think it’s less about liking Belanger and more disliking what the alternatives are/could be.
"I know I was the best CIA agent the CIA ever had, but I thought I told you honkies from the CIA that Black Dynamite was out of the game!"
by Bald Pollack on Mar 19, 2010 7:48 AM EDT up reply actions
Agreed on the lack of quality down the middle in HER.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
No love for Perrault? Jordan will be in here throwing down ;)
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 7:52 AM EDT up reply actions
I’ll clarify: I don’t think Mattheiu Perreault is ready to be a top-3 center on a Cup-contending team in 2010-11.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Time to see what the guy can do.
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 8:36 AM EDT up reply actions
Competition from Mackan next year (maybe) will certainly push them both to be their best.
by DrinkingPartner on Mar 19, 2010 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions
Every time I want to say “no” I look at what the Fehr/Chimera/Morrison line and start to waver a little bit. That line’s been really good.
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Not too fangrrly? ‘Cos I’m not.
Okay, maybe I am a little.
Delly’s team hung eleven biscuits on two goalies last night in their first playoff game. Clearly they wanted to impress their “south of the border” fans. Now that they know we’re watching.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
You sound just like a puck bunny. But that is to be expected women don’t know anything about hockey.
Your quotes were money. The writer could have done a better job explaining things, but that’s a minor quibble.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
Dats my sis :)
The Farm report is DA Bomb... read it, rec it, love it ....
by TheFuryUnleashed on Mar 19, 2010 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions
I finally got time to read it — you do us proud, YNC.
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
by CapitalCentre on Mar 19, 2010 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Anyone know who Kelley is referring to when he talks about someone from the Caps PR staff going off on a member of a national broadcast team?
And hi, long time reader, first time poster.
by difer on Mar 19, 2010 7:45 AM EDT reply actions 3 recs
I thought for a second he was talking about Nate and the Dallas guy, but this is clearly something completely different
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 7:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Welcome!
I’m not sure I do know what he’s referring to, actually, but I’m sure someone does.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
or he made it up…though Kelley seems like a fine journalist…
you could tell he was dying to pile on to the olympics thing with his 3rd point and he finally found a way to tie it all together.
Suspend Colin Campbell!
FYI, Kelley is the guy whose shirt Dominik Hasek ripped in the ‘97 playoffs, resulting in a 3-game suspension, a $10,000 fine. The reason? Kelley wrote some piece detailing the feud between Ted Nolan and Hasek, called Hasek’s mental toughness into question, and implied that Hasek was faking an injury.
GUTEN TAAAAAAAAAAAAG!
wait, WHAT?!?!
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
add that to the list of reasons why Hasek is one BAMF. Usually, I don’t approve of athlete-on-writer violence, but I’ve got Dominator’s back on this one.
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
Via Twitter, Nate calls Kelley’s claim about the Caps PR staffer total BS. I smell steel cage death match.
I’d rather stick up for our players’ reputation, but I’ll say this: the PR “tirade” that Jim Kelley accuses us of is a fabrication
"No Brooks Laich, no win. Know Brooks Laich, know win."
by kellobellow on Mar 19, 2010 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions
Welcome in my friend.
"I know I was the best CIA agent the CIA ever had, but I thought I told you honkies from the CIA that Black Dynamite was out of the game!"
by Bald Pollack on Mar 19, 2010 7:48 AM EDT up reply actions
I just read the Kelley article. He has such a holier than thou attitude. He is basically done with his argument and chooses to write an “I told you so” couple of paragraphs about the Caps. It is just so unnecessary to his primary argument. It’s extraneous.
He could have written about the comments from Wisniewski or Randy Carlyle from the other night (Wisniewski was our best player out there), but he continues to come back at the Caps.
Realistically, when you have the best player on the planet, why wouldn’t a coach and an owner encourage him. Would Kelley, if he was the coach, rein Ovechkin in? It’s not a realistic option. You can cut Matt Cooke for being a jerk. Who would pick him up? You can’t cut Ovechkin nor can you expect anyone to try to control him.
(Phew. I feel better now.)
Watching more games on Slingbox than anyone else!
Completely agree with the holier than thou attitude. He reeks of it. And as someone said above, you know he was just waiting to use the Ovi with a camera incident..
And I agree, did anyone on the Ducks come out against Wisniewski? Oh, wait, he’s not a star.
There is a Fanshot on this where one poster gives an answer to your question:
http://www.japersrink.com/2010/3/18/1379946/jim-kelley-on-ovi
(Yes, I know about the avatar hounding - just pretend mine is invisible.)
Not that there was anything about this in the clips today, but I’m not getting all the BMo hate around here lately. Well, not hate exactly, but certainly dissatisfaction.
If I remember correctly, when we brought him in on the cheap, he was coming off of two injury seasons. His numbers hadn’t been good during that time. This year, he has bested his numbers in those two years combined, so that is good. At times, he has looked really good out there, and other times, he hasn’t really looked bad, it just looked like things weren’t clicking.
Since the Olympic break, he has looked very good again. Even ignoring that insane game for him in Florida, the jump has been back in his step and he has been getting and creating good scoring chances.
So why aren’t we happy with him at 2C? Part of his success this year has been that he always looks better with better talent on his wings, so why are we wanting to put him with lesser talent out of the top two lines?
For what it is worth, his numbers for 2C match very comparatively around the league (at least from what I could see from a look the other night at 3am when my son wasn’t sleeping). The only 2C’s I immediately saw that he didn’t match up well with was a guy like Malkin, where C is where the entire offense comes from in Pittsburgh.
From what I remember, we all thought that when we acquired Belanger, it was a depth pickup, to keep Steckel on line 4 and to help the PK. While I like what Belanger has brought since he has been here, what has he done that has earned him the 2C role? Its not like he is putting up all star numbers.
I really wanted to do a fanpost on this, but Student Teaching, son with autism, new son weeks ago, I will probably find time for research in December. Looking forward to hearing thoughts on this.
by HateOffSeason on Mar 19, 2010 7:52 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
No worries, and belated congrats on your son.
I’m a BMo fan and I don’t mind him at 2C, but there are a couple of intangibles that give me pause; first was one of the reasons he came here additionally was to help show everyone that he was injury-free and still a viable asset to an NHL team’s roster. Second is how happy he is here. I’m not sure what the preference is for him at this point, but he mentioned turning out richer offers to come here when he signed. If he’s not happy, I think he’s just as likely to go as ShaMo is, but BMo would at least go on his own accord, versus the team likely not wanting ShaMo back.
Don’t get me wrong, if all things were equal, I think at this point I’d want to keep BMo, despite his age, but I’m not sure how much he’d want to stay, not to mention the money.
"I know I was the best CIA agent the CIA ever had, but I thought I told you honkies from the CIA that Black Dynamite was out of the game!"
by Bald Pollack on Mar 19, 2010 8:22 AM EDT up reply actions
More on this very topic coming soon…
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Coming back to this at the end of the day — this was a nice appetizer for the other discussion. A well-thought out post. And I’m with you — perhaps the expectations on Morrison were (and still are) too high.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Mar 20, 2010 2:31 AM EDT up reply actions
I feel the same way—blech! He has a thing about the entire organization—what’s up!
by capsyoungguns on Mar 19, 2010 8:07 AM EDT up reply actions
He’s a Buffalo guy?
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…..
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 8:09 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m not sure, but there’s no need to read a writer who doesn’t understand that
Of course, this was all going on just hours before the Ducks and the Blackhawks had at each other with the kind of carnage one usually reserves for Aliens vs. Predators. Old time hockey complete with a game-ending brawl
is incompatible with this:
an ever escalating pattern of senseless violence
The NHL is far less violent now then it’s ever been, despite the current flurry of bad hits and media attention.
Old time hockey? That phrase as a certain romanticism about it, wistful nostalgia, even. What, exactly, from the Hawks-Ducks game would anyone want to bring back? Seabrooks dirty hti on perry? Wisnewski’s quad whammy on Seabrook? oh, yeah, that’s some quality old time hockey right there!
RPI, I realize you’re just quoting from elsewhere, so my beef is with that writer, not you.
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
“Eddie Shore?”
“Piss on Eddie Shore!”
“Old Time Hockey?”
“Piss on Old Time Hockey!”
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
Nate responded to my tweet!
@RFOvieMudo Jim and I don’t agree on much, especially when he reports on things that are completely inaccurate
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 8:33 AM EDT reply actions
My original tweet:
@nateewell Apparently the Caps PR staff has a big fan in SI’s Jim Kelley http://tinyurl.com/yhoh5bw Can I be in on your next “tirade”?
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 8:34 AM EDT up reply actions
Chimera, Alexandrian
That little nugget might have cemented my next jersey purchase.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
Is it just me or is there a broad side of a barn that looms beyond the net on Chimera’s breakaways/open nets lately?
by S h a g g y on Mar 19, 2010 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions
It’s real hard to shoot accurately when you’re going 100 MPH, I guess.
Last night, it looked like he was trying to get away from over-dekeing, which has been his problem on breakaways lately. He’ll probably score 10 goals next game.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
Along with Bradley and Steckel, IIRC, and I’m not sure who else. I’m surprised I don’t run into these guys every so often. I eat out in Old Town at least once a week.
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
by CapitalCentre on Mar 19, 2010 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions
When we had that poll a couple of weeks ago about who we should root for the Caps to play in the first round, I picked the Canadiens because I was afraid of the Bruins potential to ramp it up (compared to the other two teams, who I don’t think have a very high ceiling) and that behind solid D and goaltending and Chara stepping up and the Bruins being physical that they would be a tough out and at least pound the Caps for 6 games and soften them up for later opponents.
I’d like to change my vote. The Bruins are the 2008 Senators and the 2009 Canadiens. They would lose a series in 3 games if it was possible. If the Caps get up 2-0 in the series, and 1-0 in game 3, the fans will turn on them and Claude will start passing a phone down the bench so that players can start making tee times.
Anyone else interested in what it would be like to face the Flyers again?
See, the Bruins couldn’t score unless we let them, but I’m worried we might let them. Then the issue becomes who would you rather face in goal, a tandem of Rask/Thomas, or a tandem of [s]Emery/Leighton[/s] Boucher/Backlund(?)…
Personally I’d like Pitt to get that option. The hatred oozes up into slugfests when they play each other. I’d expect Pitt to win the series but not after getting a good wuppin’.
"It hit me on the pants. I had protection. It felt good. Why? I wanted to win."
Robbed!
How can it be that Matt Frattin was left off this list?
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
Blake Geoffrion, whooo!
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 8:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Yup. He’s actually from Brentwood, Tennessee, and is considered the 2nd or 3rd best forward prospect in our system.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 8:58 AM EDT up reply actions
It baffles me that guys are coming out of Tennessee and Texas, but we rarely hear about guys coming from DCMDVA.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
Texas has had two NHLers. Tennesee has had none.
DC/MD/VA have had nine, and maybe ten soon enough – Silver Spring, MD-born Jeremy Duchesne (yes, son of Gator) has been recalled by the Flyers.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I did see that last night. hm.
Well, New Jersey has been pumping out NHLers like crazy, rite?
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
For some reason I thought Carlson was from NJ as well.
"Now wait a minute. This is just purely a social call. You know, just two adults getting a stew on, man."
by The Ghost of Bebop on Mar 19, 2010 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions
Born in Mass. Grew up in Jersey
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions
Love it. It seems like they should somehow acknowledge the difference between place of birth and actual home town, based on where they actually grew up.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
What’s the cutoff? I was born in Baltimore and lived there for 4 years, but then I moved to Anne Arundel for 7 or so. Where am I from!?
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
Baltimore. AAC counts as Bmore area.
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions
Such was my thinking. Though Odenton/Piney Orchard is like in the badlands right in the middle of Annapolis, Baltimore, and DC.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
I kinda go with Bowie and PG in general as the cutoff for the “DC Area”. I grew up in Greenbelt, so I consider myself a DC guy.
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Wherever you’re from, talk about it here.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Jeremy Roenick was born in Fairfax and then his family move to Massachusetts, yet I never hear him say he’s a native Virgnian. I think we should get some credit for him.
Played for the Little Caps, too.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
Now that you mention it, didn’t I read a reference to it during the Olympics?
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
According to SI his family lived in Fairfax for a little while when he was middle-school aged. Everything I’ve seen about him says he was born in Boston.
by David M. Getz on Mar 19, 2010 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions
As one who was in said middle-screwl with him in Fairfax, I can attest.
"I know I was the best CIA agent the CIA ever had, but I thought I told you honkies from the CIA that Black Dynamite was out of the game!"
by Bald Pollack on Mar 19, 2010 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions
If I recall, his dad worked for Mobil and he requested the transfer to the Boston area so Jeremy could move to the next level in hockey.
Yeah, he was doing quite a bit of weekend shuffling before he got to Thayer, if memory serves.
"I know I was the best CIA agent the CIA ever had, but I thought I told you honkies from the CIA that Black Dynamite was out of the game!"
by Bald Pollack on Mar 19, 2010 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Gotcha. I remember when he was drafted they said he was coming out of NJ.
"Now wait a minute. This is just purely a social call. You know, just two adults getting a stew on, man."
by The Ghost of Bebop on Mar 19, 2010 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions
Silver Spring, MD-born Jeremy Duchesne (yes, son of Gator)
How did GMGM let a legacy slip out of our system?
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
by CapitalCentre on Mar 19, 2010 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions
just wanted to note that if you didn’t see the CSN broadcast last night, Locker made sure Jeremy Duchesne got a little love and said that he’s sure his father is looking down on him and is very proud.
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
Let me see if I've got this straight...
According to the TSN.ca experts, they Penguins are a Cup favorite because they won last year and they’ve got guys like Crosby, Malkin, et al.
The Caps, however, are not Cup favorites, presumably because of their defensive deficiencies.
Pens Goals Against/Game: 2.79
Caps Goals Against/Game: 2.79
(FWIW, Nashville, with their stable of stud defensemen, also gives up 2.79 Goals/Game.)
Watching NHLOTF this morning, I got to listen to Kevin Weekes (whose commentary I otherwise enjoy) tell me that the Caps can’t play D because they had three defensive breakdowns in a game. Three. One of those breakdowns resulted in a goal that never should have gone in – the long slapper that just ate Varly up. Otherwise, we gave up a 5-3 goal.
I’m not saying that the Caps are perfect defensively, far from it. They need to tighten up a bit come playoff time. In all my time watching, playing and coaching hockey I’ve learned a few things, and one of them is that you can teach or coach a team to play better defense, but you can’t teach or coach offensive ability. It’s either there or it isn’t.
More to the point, I have confidence that the Caps, in theory, will be able to tighten up defensively, whereas I doubt the ability of teams like NJ or Pitt to suddenly “turn on” the goal-scoring spigot.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
by D'ohboy on Mar 19, 2010 8:55 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Caps give up 2.79. Pittsburgh gives up 2.83.
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 8:56 AM EDT up reply actions
Caps are also top 5 in the league in Faceoffs at 51.7%. Pittsburgh is 22d at 49%.
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 8:57 AM EDT up reply actions
When someone wants to nitpick the Caps, they pick on defense and goaltending. I
t’s becoming a popular refrain:
“Coke adds life.”
“The Washington Capitals don’t have the defense or the goaltending to win the Stanley Cup.”
Watching more games on Slingbox than anyone else!
well until the Caps actually win the Stanley Cup…I guess they don’t. If the Caps lose in the playoffs it will most certainly be because our defense/goal tending wasn’t good enough
Karl Alzner + John Carlson = Carl Carlson!
Yeah, all the “Pens have to be favorites, they won last year” people are forgetting how often teams have won back-to-back championships in this league. Not bloody often.
You had me at no problem.
Nevertheless, I never count out the reigning champion until they’re no-longer there. And quite frankly, I’d rather see just about every other team in the East before the Penguins come April/May.
Strangely enough, I hope we do face the Pens. There’s the old “If you want to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best” axiom and as reigning champs, the Pens still qualify as the best. More to the point, I think Alex and the team have to get past this Pittsburgh hex that seems to always follow the Caps. And if the Caps win the Cup but don’t play the Penguins, you know there will always be those who will say they did it because they didn’t have to play Pittsburgh. This team is good enough to beat anyone. They shouldn’t have to worry who they play.
Understandable, but I feel the opposite way. And if the Caps win the Cup but don’t play the Penguins, I’ll focus on the fact that the Caps won the Cup. It’s a stair-step of goals; removing the Pittsburgh curse can come later.
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
by CapitalCentre on Mar 19, 2010 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions
I’d rather get rid of the “can’t beat Pittsburgh in the playoffs” thing at the same time if possible. 2 for the price of 1. Plus, I always like a team beating the defending champs on their way to a title.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
Isn’t the logic that “The Penguins won it last year, therefore they are favorites this year” a little flawed since, you know, they were a different team last year? All of the numbers suggest that the Caps are a better team. Malkin is worse this year. Gonchar is worse this year. Losing Scuderi has really hurt and even losing Gill has hurt. The Capitals, OTOH, are markedly better.
I can buy the idea that the Caps aren’t favorites, but I need more evidence than “some other team won it last year.”
I think there’s some truth to “they won it, they know how to win in the playoffs” – they’ve been to the Finals twice in a row – whereas these Caps (admittedly that’s a loose “these”) have won on playoff series ever.
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That is a totally different issue. I completely agree with you on the fact that they are a different team. However, they are still the defending champs. It helps from a psyche standpoint in my mind, plus it gets rid of some of the lame arguments that come up if you somehow get through without facing them.
Not re-signing Scuderi was a huge mistake. Their defense is terrible. McKee has been worthless. Caps are certainly the better team. However, the Pens have now been to two Finals in a row. While I don’t fear them, I certainly respect them.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
I’ve said this before, so I apologize for repeating myself, but the things the Pens do well are particularly valuable in a playoff series. Their ability to forecheck, possess the puck, and pile up shots has a cumulative fatiguing effect over the course of several games against the same team.
For that reason, I think they’re more difficult to beat 4 times than they are to beat once. It’s not by coincidence that they were down 0-2 to both the Caps and the Wings, and stormed back to win those series.
The Caps have not shown the ability to put the clamps to a team like that. In fact, to the contrary, their playoff performances have been a bit underwhelming that last two years.
Now, it’s an open question whether the Pens’ strong points are enough to overcome their larger weaknesses this year, of course.
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
Their forecheck is precisely why I respect them. However, their defense is so much worse this season than it was last season after Bylsma took over. Any team they play will get a ton of scoring chances unless they rectify things in the last few weeks of the season.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
Me, too. If Pittsburgh gets eliminated in the playoffs this year (and does not make the SC Finals), I will go watch a game of the team who dumps them at their arena. And root for them.
Yes, I’ve been a Caps fan so long, I’ll root for any other team against the Pens.
Rocking the Red since 1975
One of the funniest things I ever saw was last year after Game 7 against the Rangers fan was that Islanders fan in the Bill Guerin jersey going around on F Street Thanking every single Cap fan he could.
Ted Leonsis Used to Recommend: http://capsnut.blogspot.com/
Everybody Wang Chung......
Please load brain before shooting off mouth.™
not since the 97-98 red Wings, in fact. And that was a juggernaut of a team, the likes of which will probably never be seen again.
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
And you know who was (kinda) apart of both of those teams? Our very own Mike Knuble. I hope Grandpa Slippers can use his time with those Wings teams to help out our boys.
Founding member of the Tyler Sloan Fan Club
YES! you know Knuble would love to cap off his career with another Cup or two.
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
I’d be willing to bet that is 100% true and one of the (many) reasons he chose to sign with Washington. He basically said that at the Q&A he did here in Baltimore. He wants to win a Cup. He said he was apart of those Cup teams, but he didn’t feel like it was his Cup…it was the other guys. He wasn’t a regular in the lineup, so he didn’t feel as connected, I guess. He said he wanted a Cup of his own. One he knew he put in a lot of effort to win, and he felt he could acheive that here in DC.
Founding member of the Tyler Sloan Fan Club
We’ve given up fifty PP goals, whereas the Pens have only given up 38. Not sure how it would effect the numbers, but our 29th ranked PK does not help the D-numbers at all.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 9:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Plus, those 13 (!) goals given up 4 on 4 are insane. 13!!
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 9:04 AM EDT up reply actions
facepalm
It baffles me. Our penalty kill coach absolutely blows, for one thing, but guys this good shouldn’t be like swiss cheese. We have begun to tighten up, though- only 4 GA in last 4 games.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 9:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Best 5-on-5 ratio (1.57 GF/1.00 GA)…one of, if not the worst 4-on-4 ratio (0.38 GF/1.00 GA)
If you've read this far...seek help.
Best 5-on-5 ratio (1.57 GF/1.00 GA)
Thats more like it.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions
You know what? Let the media lemmings jump off the cliff with the Penguins Stanley Cup bandwaggon. The logic that they won it last year, therefore they should win it this year is shitty journalism and lazy analysis. The Penguins were a different team then. Losing Scuderi has hurt. Malkin and Gonchar have regressed. Even losing Hal Gill hurt.
I’m not saying everyone has to pick the Caps, or that you can’t pick the Pens. But give me more than “they won it a year ago” as your only evidence.
Well, it’s not like they’re in 8th place, struggling to get into the playoffs. They’re in first place in their division, has the same core of players that took them to the finals the past two seasons, and has a goalie that has shown the ability to show up when it counts.
I don’t think they’re the favorites in the East, but I also wouldn’t be surprised that they do it again (or if the Caps somehow lose in the first round). Shit happens.
Can someone explain to me what makes the Penguins defense so great? Let’s run down the list: Gonchar, Goligoski, Leopold, Letang, Orpik, McKee/Eaton. In my eyes, Orpik is the only one who plays a true shut down game. McKee maybe 3-4 years ago, but even Orpik doesn’t fall into the category of true shut down defenseman. Fleury is obviously the wild card. He has the knack of showing up in the playoffs like Osgood did in the past.
Also, I know it’s just the regular season and all, and last year the Caps were 3-1 against the Pens in the regular season, but if I were Pitt, I would truly be concerned about losing every game this year to New Jersey. You would think they would find a way to win one of those games. There were several defensive lapses that broke the game open for NJ. If anything, I think the Capitals team D is trending up, whereas Pitt’s is moving down.
by JimCareyFanClub on Mar 19, 2010 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions
What made them a formidable defense in last year’s playoffs was that everyone bought into playing 200 feet of ice. They outworked the Flyers, forechecked the Caps into the ground, ran the Hurricanes silly, and made the Red Wings look old. If the Caps don’t do that, they likely aren’t going to the Finals.
But the Penguins will miss Rob Scuderi this time around. Jordan Leopold is not him.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Mar 19, 2010 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions
And I guess that’s the point I’m trying to make. Even Hal Gill provided a tough, physical presence on the back end. With the loss of those two players, the Penguins aren’t the same team as last year, so these arguments of having great defense and goaltending only seem about half correct to me. Last time I checked, the Caps’ “suspect D” has allowed the same amount of goals this season as the Pens’ “dominant D.” Just saying.
by JimCareyFanClub on Mar 19, 2010 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions
And note: the forechecking was pretty impressive last night. BOS only got 17 SOG all night.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
With all due respect, it’s just Boston.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
Boston averages 31 shots per game (10th), according to nhl.com. But what I don’t know is if that’s total shots, or shots on goal.
conversely, their gpg is the worst in the NHL, so what shots they do get aren’t good quality.
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
At this point, I don’t know if you can use Boston’s averages for anything. They’ve had guys in and out all year with injuries, and the Savard injury is totally devastating at this point of the season.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
I do notice that the Penguins always manage to outshoot their opponents by a pretty good margin, even in defeat. A lot is credited due to their forecheck, which I believe was a big part in defeating the Caps in the playoffs last year. Boston is pretty weak offensively, and lack an elite puck mover like Green from the back end.
by JimCareyFanClub on Mar 19, 2010 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Boston - Pitt Game last night
Was that the gayest thing ever, or what?
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
how so?
Boston sucking?
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes, Boston following up all the tough talk by laying down like a two-dollar whore.
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
who would you keep from this team?
If you want to survive out here, you've got to know where your towel is.
by ns on Mar 19, 2010 9:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Rask, Bergeron, Wheeler, Lucic, and Krejci.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions
Not after his contract us up, but I’m in the minority.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions
No love for Bergeron? He’s been their best offensive player this year, and their second best defensive player after Chara.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions
Rask, Bergeron, Wheeler, Lucic, and Krejci.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
Shit. Its early.
/facepalm
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 9:27 AM EDT up reply actions
thanks JDC
Speaking of shit, the rest of their team after those guys is a pile of it.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions
I lol’d and agree.
Krejci or Bergeron sure would solve our 2C problem..
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
Bergeron would solve everyone but Pittsburgh and Vancouver’s 2C problem. He’s, Olympics notwithstanding, damn good. Laich-Bergeron-Semin??
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions
Or that Plekanec guy that’s a FA this year.
Don’t think we can afford him though.
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions
I assume you saw his negotiations have been “postponed”, aka stalled.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions
Plekanec is also a punk.
"Now wait a minute. This is just purely a social call. You know, just two adults getting a stew on, man."
by The Ghost of Bebop on Mar 19, 2010 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions
huh?
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions
how so?
Driving under the influence of hockey since godknow's when.
by bigonetimer on Mar 19, 2010 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, too pricey. And douchey.
Laich-Bergeron-Semin makes me want to go play NHL 10.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
That’s a fantasy-draft 2nd line. He IS a UFA after 11. Will be…mid 20s?
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions
Aw you just hate his awesome turtleneck!
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions
Aw you just hate hisawesomeweird and unnecessary turtleneck!
FTFY
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions
.
Haters gonna hate
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions
You’re not short and Czech, are you?
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions
he’d be an ideal 2C for us: can play the 1C if needed, or the (traditional) 3C role. He PK’s, he scores. Dangerous, pain in the ass player to defend. Count me in.
Driving under the influence of hockey since godknow's when.
by bigonetimer on Mar 19, 2010 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Count me out.
He’s going to make $5M a year or more. I doubt we can afford that unless the cap goes way up.
GUTEN TAAAAAAAAAAAAG!
Yeah, he’s not going to go cheap.
/looks up 2010 UFA centers
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions
hmm
Not a good crop.
Modano, Marleau, O. Jokinen, Demitra, Madden, S. Koivu, Plekanec, Matt Cullen, Matt Lombardi, Robert Lang.
Thats the list of centers I’d even glance at. I’d only sign three of those guys, so its kinda bare.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions
Modano-old, Marleau-money, Jokinen-sucks/money, Demitra-fragile, Madden-grinder, Koivu-interesting, Pleks-money, Cullen-same as Belanger/O-Mo, Lombardi-I like, Lang-old
I’d look at two of them.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
Marleau-contract year performance. Someone’s gonna overpay for him to regress.
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
He’s also helped by the fact he’s playing with Jumbo Joe and Dany Heatley
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions
When I typed “Money,” I meant he’s too expensive, not that the player is money.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
Ah, right. Sorry. Then we are of one mind on this issue.
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
Yup. I’d look at SK, Lombo, and Plekanec.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions
Weird and unnecessary?
Is it actually a neck-protecting turtleneck, or just a fashion statement?
If the former, I would never call it unnecessary… guys go out there with knife blades on their feet.
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I think its just fashion; ‘cos I don’t think an Under-Armour type thing will protect you much.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions
They have that new kevlar weave stuff that they make socks (for under your skates) and hockey socks (for over your shin pads) out of that’s supposed to be highly resistant to cutting, but feels like cotton. A few of the caps wear the socks.
So I suppose its possible it could be protective.
I am a hockey fan first, and a Caps fan second.
by iwearstripes on Mar 19, 2010 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions
Don’t forget Savard, if he can get healthy again he’s still a very talented center. Lucic has been a huge disappointmnent. I know his numbers are down due to injury, but his play in general has been awful. He signed that big contract and he seems to have lost all of his agressiveness.
They have to keep him because of his deal, so it doesn’t matter if we think they should or not.
Lucic is still a valuable piece, though, and a fan favorite.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions
not a single defender? ouch.
If you want to survive out here, you've got to know where your towel is.
by ns on Mar 19, 2010 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions
You could argue for keeping Hunwick or Boychuk, and maybe Chara, but no way on Wideman, Ference, and Stuart. That team really needs to re-tool.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions
Heh heh….well you know what they say that boys will be Boychuk (Oh Uncle Paul!)..heh heh…
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions
I like how Carolina lost a Babchuk and gained a Boychuk. Nobody can tell the difference!!!
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
The Bruins are a perplexing matter. They went from top seed in the East, with room to grow, to fringe playoff team in need of retooling in one year. I hated the Kessel trade for them at the time and I hate it now. Think you can give up your best goalscorer and just march on like nothing happened? Wrong, dumbass.
and so has everyone else.
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
Yeah, another dumbass move by Chiarelli. A guy has a career year at age 35 and you decide to sign him to a massive extension. That contract is devestating cap-wise, especially considering he’s not even the best goalie on his own team anymore.
I think it’s a case of consecutive career years from key personnel – career best last year, career worst this year. Meaning I don’t think either year’s results are a reflection of true talent level. So I would say not total retooling, but somewhat significant tinkering is in order.
They’re screwed with Thomas’s cap number, though.
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
Rask is good, although he sometimes overplays the angles.
Why the Leafs ever gave him up is beyond me.
Raycroft was coming off winning a Calder, and they thought Pogge was the bee’s knees.
Also, it was the JFJ Era. That explains most of it.
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions
Magic Number Generator...
Eastern Conference
The Caps’ overtime loss gives us +1, and although both the Penguins and the Devils won yesterday, our Magic Number has now dropped to 10 points to claim top seed in the Eastern Conference.
Presidents’ Trophy
With our +1 came a San Jose Sharks loss, so our Magic Number for the Presidents’ Trophy has now dropped to 17 points to claim top seed in the league for the playoffs, and a shiny piece of hardware to go with it.
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Ok – help me with this.
The Penguins and we each have 11 games left. That means the Penguins can get a max of 22 points. They have 89 points left and therefore can get a maximum of (89+22) or 111 points.
The Devils have 12 games remaining – for a max of 24 points, which added to 88 = 112 points.
The Capitals have 104 points. That means if the Caps get 8 points the Pens can’t catch them. If they get 9 points, the Devils can’t catch them.
Help me – because I must be missing something. Why is the magic number 10?
Watching more games on Slingbox than anyone else!
TYPO
I blame my allergies.
I meant to say 9.
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jesus, that’s crazy.
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
Yes, it is. Then again so is a 33 point division lead and a 78 goal differential.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
just keep reminding yourself, “enjoy this, because it’s historic”
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
Exactly.
No matter what happens during the playoffs, the regular season has been incredibly fun to watch.
Even atheists believe in Matt Wieters
by wickedwitch on Mar 19, 2010 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions
I googled Jim Kelly
I couldn’t find any information about his hockey career, did he ever played anywhere? If not – how he can judge anybody?
If you google “Jim Kelly” you’re going to get a QB from Pittsburgh that went to Miami and played for Buffalo.
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Weird...
I was watching Wheel of Fortune last night and this puzzle came up (and totally stumped me):
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by J.P. on Mar 19, 2010 10:12 AM EDT reply actions 30 recs
GREEN
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions
I swear, for a second I thought you had just posted the Wheel of Fortune from South Park
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Rec'd
Nice Photoshop job!
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by IRockTheRed on Mar 19, 2010 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions
Based on the watermark, I think it’s a website that lets you generate your own Wheel of Fortune questions.
"Now wait a minute. This is just purely a social call. You know, just two adults getting a stew on, man."
by The Ghost of Bebop on Mar 19, 2010 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions
Link?
Maybe over in off-topic, so we can play?
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by IRockTheRed on Mar 19, 2010 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions
(URL’s on the watermark in the image, too)
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Yeah, I saw that…
I still blame my allergies for an attack of teh st00pid today.
Blog: I Rock the Red
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by IRockTheRed on Mar 19, 2010 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions
(And don’t forget to pick up a porcupine T so you’re well-prepared for articles like Kelley’s)
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Mine has shipped!
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by IRockTheRed on Mar 19, 2010 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions
My favorite find of the day: 14 drinks named after athletes.
ALEXANDER OVECHKIN. Directions: Add one completely unnecessary shot of vodka to any drink.
Follow the link for the whole list.
Check out FFODC.COM and DCSportsPlus.blogspot.com!
by what Juneau about that? on Mar 19, 2010 10:46 AM EDT reply actions
You’re about three days behind, but yes, those are fun (and somewhat OT!)…
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by IRockTheRed on Mar 19, 2010 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
bummer! i just came across it today.
Check out FFODC.COM and DCSportsPlus.blogspot.com!
by what Juneau about that? on Mar 19, 2010 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions
there’s no such thing as a “completely unnecessary shot of vodka”!
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
by RedBirdie on Mar 19, 2010 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
And an Ovechkin should be at least 7 shots drank, with several more dropped or spilled.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
And perhaps a busted soup can lying against the bar?
by DrinkingPartner on Mar 19, 2010 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions
And actually, wouldn’t it be more like the Airplane drinking joke? You watch AO at the bar, throwing back shots and hitting the people behind him, or hitting himself in the face?
by DrinkingPartner on Mar 19, 2010 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions
The great thing is that AO still manages to get drunker than anyone else!
by DrinkingPartner on Mar 19, 2010 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions
So as of last night, Atlanta is tied with the Rangers for 9th place, and both are three points behind Boston (though Atlanta has one game in hand on the Rangers).
Also, Phoenix has won 7 straight, and is now three points behind San Jose in the Pacific. Go Phoenix! But don’t win too much or you’ll end up facing Detroit in the first round.
GUTEN TAAAAAAAAAAAAG!
Late Morning Playoff Match-ups!
EAST
(p)Washington vs. Boston
Pittsburgh vs. Montreal
Buffalo vs. Ottawa
New Jersey vs. Philadelphia
WEST
Chicago vs. Detroit
San Jose vs. Nashville
Vancouver vs. Los Angeles
Phoenix vs. Colorado.
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
I’m really hoping Boston can hold onto that #8 seed… and Pittsburgh can hold onto #2.
Blog: I Rock the Red
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by IRockTheRed on Mar 19, 2010 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions
Would love to have Ottawa in Round 2.
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions
Ottawa’s not getting out of round 1.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
honestly, 3-6 in the East is such a mess, it’s a crap shot who will advance. I’m assuming 1 and 2 will get past 7 and 8, but I refuse to predict who of 3-6 will make it to round 2.
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
Buffalo’s not so good either.
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions
ugh
dislike
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions
what’s the season series against SJS look like? Given the way the Sharks have completely fallen off, I figured you’d be happy.
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
1-3. Would be 2-2 if not for Dan Ellis.
My new plan is for the Avs to combust (only one point ahead of us) and we draw the Coyotes. Jobing.com Arena is not a great home-ice advantage.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Oh really. Yotes have 25 wins at home while the Preds have only 20.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
Not sure how that has much to do with anything. Did you look at the Preds road wins? My point is its not the intimidating venue that the United Center or GM Place is, you agree? In the playoffs, if I have to win a road game out of all the West venues, I want to go to Phoenix. Sorry, but its an easy choice.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions
How do you mean?
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions
I know that in baseball, statistics show that HFA is more or less irrelevant when controlled for the quality of teams. I wonder if such studies have been done for the NHL.
ok
Yeah, I don’t know. It seems significant to me, but thats not a statistical observation.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions
It does to me too. I’d like to think that anyway, given the Caps’ position right now. I’ll tell you this: I’m sure glad we played game seven against NYR at Verizon Center instead of MSG.
How did game 7 in the 2nd round work out?
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
Sure. We couldn’t win for shit at Verizon in the 1st round. Any given arena.
by DrinkingPartner on Mar 19, 2010 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions
Home ice advantage ain’t all its cracked up to be. I need to find the stats, but everything I have seen in the past showed that over the last 20 years or so home ice meant about squat, especially in later rounds.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
heh
Not for Nashville :(
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions
I think it helps a team like Buffalo, that kills something like 91% of penalties at home and 80% of them on the road. Its always a big advantage as a home team to have the last change.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions
The Caps’ PK is significantly better at home, which is the biggest consideration for me. Who knows if that statistic will continue into the playoffs, though.
"Now wait a minute. This is just purely a social call. You know, just two adults getting a stew on, man."
by The Ghost of Bebop on Mar 19, 2010 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions
I’d say its not on the level on those 2 places, but a Whiteout is pretty good.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
a whiteout?
Anyway, I just don’t think PHX hockey fans give enough of a care to make that place scary. Who knows, the playoffs may change it, but I can’t see it. Even the Staples Center is scarier.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions
They’ll give away free shirts like the Flyers had to.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
Yeah, because the Caps have never given away anything for playoff games before to set a visual.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
Pens had to give away WHITE t-shirts. WHITE! people don’t own white t-shirts? (Philly’s orange, I get. Not a whole lot of orange in most people’s closets)
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
I do think that home ice can give the home team an edge in certain situations. The first 10 minutes of a game and the penalty kill, for instance.
It’s tradition started in Winnipeg. Everyone wears white to the games. It’s a great visual look and it definitely gets the crowd into things. Whiteout games are incredibly loud and fun to be at. However, it doesn’t mean squat on the ice for the most part just like it doesn’t mean squat in other places. If loud arenas won hockey games, some very different teams would have won Cups in the last couple of decades.
Also, sick of people dumping on PHX due to recent circumstances. You have the history the Yotes franchise has had, especially in the last 5 years, plus what happened over the summer and tell me how different things would look in Nashville or DC.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
He’s just saying that it’s plausible that Phoenix might not be the intimidating atmosphere that SJ, CHI or VAN could be. Hard not to buy that logic.
Also, I love white outs, but I love red outs.
I agreed with him that it isn’t as intimidating as those places. However, his dismissive tone and negative comments are what drew my ire. Frankly, I think his not knowing what a Whiteout is says more than anything I said in reply to his statement.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
There’s not-so-good history there. But history is exactly that.
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yeah
While we’re built better than those teams this year; I don’t like the way we matchup with SJS like I do CHI.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions
CAN, absolutely. Would—no.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions
lol, thanks. Beating the Sharks would take a superhuman effort from Rinne and the ability to win a road playoff game, which the team has never done.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Sure could, but I’m a realist. I think we’d get smoked again. I like our chances to do serious damage against other teams, just not San Jose.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions
The only team under Boston right now I’m really uninterested in facing is the NYR.
Two reasons
1) BORING. We already took them last year in the first round. zzz. As much as the NHL would love this matchup and force a “rivalry” to exist, meh.
2) Lundqvist + (Healthy?) Gaborik = harder than last season.
Same here. A much tougher matchup for the Caps.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
I disagree. I think the Caps took them too lightly last year and that’s partially what put them in the hole. The Caps have improved by a larger margin than NYR have.
"Now wait a minute. This is just purely a social call. You know, just two adults getting a stew on, man."
by The Ghost of Bebop on Mar 19, 2010 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions
And now there will be less Caps with playoff jitters, as they gained some experience last year.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
Oh, and hopefully no career AHLers in the playoffs for us this year.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
Caps can beat either, but they match up better against the Bruins. rangers games have been close this season. The two games against the Bruins put me to sleep because the Bruins couldn’t muster a bloody thing.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
Just a reminder, but as we’re starting to come down the home stretch of the season, it’s never too late to make a pledge to the Saves For Kids drive! We’ve raised over $1,200 so far and I would love to reach $3,000. Every donation, no matter how big or small, is greatly appreciated.
and thank you everyone who has already made their pledges!
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
Green vs Keith
I know everyone seems to be giving the Norris to Duncan Keith and I’m struggling to figure out why he seems to be such a runaway favorite. Admittedly, I’m not remotely a stats guy, so when I look at Greener leading in goals, assists, points, +/- and his being on the #1 team in the league, I realize I must be missing something. I know many people put a lot of weight behind the GVT, yet when I look at it I see Keith’s total GVT at 20.1 to Green’s 20.0. So what am I missing? Why so much love for Keith compared to so little for Greener?
Popular perception.
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions
I think someday we’ll look back on these seasons Green is putting up and wonder in amazement how he wasn’t more highly regarded in terms of awards and honors.
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions
The popular perception is that Green is HORRIBLE at defense. The GVT numbers (and I wish they accounted for QualComp and QualTeam) indicate he’s not bad, but not great.
But boners like last night’s, when he and Schultz combine to let a 900 year old Ray Whitney sashay into the high slot, are easy to pick on. Green’s defensive strengths, like getting to a puck cleanly and passing it out of the zone, where a slower defender would end up tied up in the corner and stuck in the cycle, are not easy to point to.
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
Honestly, I think that’s it. Too many glaring blunders by Green make the highlight reel, even if on a whole he’s a good defensive D.
Hell, even Joe B. and Locker wistfully talk about how they wish there was an award for best “offensive defenseman”.
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions
the Caps crack PR people put out a couple of interesting points the past couple of day. First, only 7 d-men have had consecutive 70 point seasons before their 25th birthday, and Mike Green is one of them; they other 6 are already in the Hall of Fame. Two, only 3 active d-men have had consecutive 70-point seasons: Mike Green, Nick Lidstrom, and Chris Chelios.
Enjoy it folks, we’re privileged to watch yet another very special player.
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
Duncan Keith fits the idea of what a d-man should be, while Mike Green is flashing his bling, driving fast, making commercials, and generally driving the hockey establishment crazy.
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
The Capitals will not win the cup because of their defense and goaltending —> Mike Green is the anchor of that defense -—> Keith>Green!
Go Flyes!
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions
Stevie Y can go suck a porcupine.
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
Porcupine suppositories!
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Mar 19, 2010 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Which pretty much put a stake through the heart. Now we deal with the popular argument that Green would have been selected if he was any good.
I think that’s why we vote on trophies, no? Instead of leaving it up to one guy with a Western Conference bias.
I’m glad folks equate structuring a team to Norris picks, I mean, it’s completely logical. That’s why Niedermayer, Boyle, Seabrook, Weber, and Pronger are all popular Norris picks.
Oh wait, they’re not? Stunning.
Boyle, Seabrook, and Niedermayer should be Norris picks? Did I miss something?
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions
Apparently yes.
The thread is referring to Canadian OLY roster selection. Hence why those 3 names were mentioned.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
Ah, I see what he meant now—makes more sense.
That Yzerman did NOT build TC according to popular trophy sentiment?
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions
I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised to see Pierre McGuire (and man I generally consider a dolt) say this about Green:
Mike Green of the Washington Capitals. No defenceman has had more goals or points over the last three years in the NHL. He’s a fun person to be around, he was a great Saskatoon Blade, a kid out of Calgary who made his way as a first-round pick of the Capitals. And, he hasn’t allowed the disappointment of not being on Canada’s Olympic team to affect the way he’s playing. He’s playing fantastically well for the Washington Capitals.
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
I’m surprised to see a national journalist start a sentence with a conjunction though.
Suspend Colin Campbell!
McGuire knows hockey, imo, so I cut him some slack with his breathless commentary.
Oh, and the traditional rules of English grammar are poppycock.
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
@F/B
Proof Colin Wilson can skate. (0:30 mark)
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With all the controversy over bad hits lately, I’d like to take the time to thank Mike Green for avoiding one last night. One of the our (Canes) new kids was coming over the blue line with his head down. Green eased up before the hit. It could have been another Sutter/Weight hit, but Green made sure he didn’t hurt the kid. Other players might not have done that, classy move on Green’s part.
Live & Learn
Nice, and yeah, I remember the moment – Joe B. and Locker even referred to it as Green “respecting” another player at the time.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I thought players don’t respect each other. (I’d reference something, but I’m not sure what at this point. Just /snark.)
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
Saw that. Good stuff.
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
more proof that players are capable of making quick decisions on the ice. if i recall correctly, green probably could have layed a pretty good, and clean, hit on him (i think the guy still had the puck so it would not have been interference). wonder if colin campbell voice went through greenies head at the time.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Mar 19, 2010 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions
Now Green will get heat for not being “tough enough”.
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions
he’s soft! Go flyerz!
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
So tomorrow night Captain A.O. returns to the lineup.
Who comes out?
Forget taking one of the fourth liners out, Boudreau won’t remove Flash from the lineup and Boudreau won’t skate Flash there anyway.
The third line of B-Mo, Fehr, and Chimera was great again last night. They got the game tying goal late in regulation. You have to keep them together until they cool off or somebody gets hurt.
That leaves the second line. Belanger could be taken out but Flash has already underwhelmed at 2C.
What to do, what to do…
Ted Leonsis Used to Recommend: http://capsnut.blogspot.com/
Everybody Wang Chung......
Please load brain before shooting off mouth.™
Yeah. Whoever played 4L last night is out, Flash to 3L, Chimera to 4L. That’s my guess, anyway.
No likey, but BB won’t be deprived of his binkie.
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
Yep. I don’t buy any of the “can’t break up the fourth line” thing, especially when one of the fourth liners aren’t even part of the heralded three (15-39-10).
Unless you’re explicitly resting players, which imo, you shouldn’t be, there’s no reason to put any second liner+ in the press box. Even if they’re producing, third line be damned.
Disagree.
I think rest at this point is a good thing. SJS are cratering, the East is mostly a formality given the weakness of the schedule…get as many guys a night off as possible.
I would also sit Flash in a heartbeat. He can’t play on the 4th line – not physical enough, not defensively adept enough. And I think the 3rd line of 25 – 9 – 16 is better than a 3rd line of 14 – 9 – 16.
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
I think the only un-breakupable line is the third right now. I’d hate to sit Chimera with how upset he was over his playing last night. Dude really needs some more chances so he can get it all together.
I’d sit Flash because he is the odd man out, but we can’t count on BB doing that. I’d imagine something like what fat_daddyo suggested with Chimera coming down to the 4th line. It’s a waste of his offensive talent but he’s easily one of the better guys on the team in a 4th line situation.
President and sole member of the Erskine lobby.
I got a beef
So, I actively cheer for you guys every spring and then you lose to the freaking Hurricanes? The Leafs could be two points out of 28th if not for that dud of a game >:(
Please do better against bad teams (mine notwithstanding) from now on.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
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We don’t really have any bad teams left, except once more against Carolina next thursday and Columbus the first week of April.
Tampa
Pittsburgh
Carolina
Calgary
Ottawa
Atlanta
Columbus
Boston
Pittsburgh
Atlanta
Boston
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, yeah, but relative to teams that are out of it/pretty much out of it, Boston’s still 8th in the East.
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Carolina 6-3-1 last 10, Boston 4-5-1, Columbus 4-4-2.
Boston closer than Carolina to Columbus in terms of shititude lately.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
Why are you always correcting everyone and being so combative by pointing out team records in the last ten?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
(Don’t want you or anyone else to think I was picking on you – it was a reference to last week’s Pick ’Em.)
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
On that list, as penance, the must-wins are:
Tampa
Carolina
Calgary
Ottawa
Atlanta
Atlanta
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.
Please and thank you
No OT either.
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.
Does the Calgary game count double if they start Toskala?
He looked pretty good t’other night ;)
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, he had 2 or 3 good games in a row in Toronto too.
You know what they say about every dog…
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.
if there is a god, Vesa will be starting at the VC on the 28th. And we all know how much he loves the goal horn here.
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
Wait a minute — wasn’t he really good the last time he played the Caps?
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
his record at the VC is HORRIBLE. Facing Washington elsewhere, he’s fine, but in Washington? he’s very good at getting Caps fans free wings.
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
And we seem to have trouble with Columbus.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
Didja see Two-Line Pass’s comment about your game with the Devs? He lol’d; I rofl’d.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
I lmfao’d
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.
Wait, don’t you want the ’Canes to win so your first pick is… oh… nevermind.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Mar 19, 2010 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
hate you
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.
But they can still make up that pick in Round Tw-…….oh……
I want to be your honey but I got a sweet tooth
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 19, 2010 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, wish we had a super leader that we could count on in the clutch like Sidney…oh…
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.
bam
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions 10 recs
TURN IT GREEN!
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
you sure about that?
:)
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
I’m sorry, what?
Would you like to see my citizenship papers?
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions
My apologies, I missed where the thread took the turn from my club > your club to my country > your country. I meant get your own hero as in Nashville. My bad.
btw, I’ve lurked here for a while, but I’ve quite liked what you brought to the discussion. I, like many others here, I’m sure, am now pulling for Nashville out West, solely because of you.
Usually I sign in cursive, but I can't find the button for it.
Ah, no sweat :). I assumed that PPP meant Crosby being clutch for Team Canada.
And don’t worry- all my favorite players reside in Nashville.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Really? I like Hornqvist a lot more than Steckel.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
In clarification, I “like” Jerred Smithson the person a lot, but yeah, I like Nicklas Backstrom the player better, but I wouldn’t count him as a favorite before Smithson, just because I dance with who brought me. Or something.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Typical Jordan.
How does Steckel even have a roster spot?
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Backsrom is now tied with Crosby for points.
Next year it wont even be close.
Obstreperously Avatarless
Might want to rein that in.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions
tie goes to the homeowner.
Midwest caps fan living vicariously through blogs.
by wildcaps on Mar 19, 2010 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
For the most part, I’ve really enjoyed James O’Brien and Brandon Worley’s new blog, ProHockeyTalk, over at NBC Sports.
But this is just absurd. Even for someone who hates the Rangers as much as me. As if Chris Drury could ever live up to that ridiculous contract.
GUTEN TAAAAAAAAAAAAG!
was just reading that
I will never criticize Drury again after the Olympics. Redden/Roszival way more deserving of that ire.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 19, 2010 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions
did you know?
Patric Hornqvist has more game winning goals than…wait for it…anyone!
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Kesler signed an extension with Vancouver, which is unfortunate because in my fantasy world, we get him to be our 2C.
Even atheists believe in Matt Wieters
I hope he’s not setting the market on Laich’s next contract.
"I know I was the best CIA agent the CIA ever had, but I thought I told you honkies from the CIA that Black Dynamite was out of the game!"
by Bald Pollack on Mar 19, 2010 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
82 | 54 | 15 | 13 | 121 |
|
Atlanta
|
82 | 35 | 34 | 13 | 83 |
|
Carolina
|
82 | 35 | 37 | 10 | 80 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
82 | 34 | 36 | 12 | 80 |
|
Florida
|
82 | 32 | 37 | 13 | 77 |
(updated 4.12.2010 at 9:21 AM EDT)
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