Recap: Caps 3, Lightning 1
by J.P. on Mar 20, 2010 11:25 PM EDT
in Game Recaps
175 comments
[AP Recap - GameCenter - Game Summary - Event Summary]
As the Caps play out the regular season against often mediocre opposition and with big leads in the Conference and even the President's Trophy races, motivation can understandably become difficult to muster. And if the latter half of Thursday night's Carolina game and the better part of Saturday night's 3-1 win in Tampa are any indication, it has. Combine the last game of a four-game trip with the fact that the next team on the schedule is you-know-who, and it was perhaps unsurprising to see a relatively uninspired effort from the best team in the East.
Luckily for them, talent alone is often enough to win, and it was in this one - take the two points and head home.
Ten more notes on the game:
- The big pre-game story, of course, was the return of Alex Ovechkin. His line for the night? One pretty goal (the game-winner), seven shots on goal (with another six not reaching the net), one hit and one drawn penalty in 22:52 of ice time.
- The big in-game story was Jose Theodore, who stopped 33 of the 34 shots on goal he faced, including a perfect 12-for-12 on the penalty kill. Theodore is now 16-0-2/2.40/.927 since January 13 and 6-0-0/1.80/.939 since the Olympic break.
- I'm not sure I understand dressing John Erskine against a team whose power play has eaten you alive all season, given that Big John's the team's least-disciplined and worst penalty-killing blueliner. And while Erskine managed not to be on the ice for a goal against in 1:44 of shorthanded ice time, he and Tom Poti were an awful pairing on the night, utterly dominated territorially, with each committing a penalty (Poti's being an incredibly undisciplined roughing that Steve Downie goaded him into).
- Presumably the rationale behind giving Erskine a sweater was in case things got chippy, and they did, "highlighted" by Zenon Konopka - the NHL's leader in fighting majors - dropping the mittens with Scott Walker. Against the Caps this season, Konopka has now fought David Steckel in the latter's first fight in two seasons and Walker in his fourth fight in the past two seasons. We're all very impressed, tough guy.
- On a related note, Walker - who has a history of concussion-related issues - did not return to the game after Konopka connected with an uppercut in the bout. That deep depth the Caps have up front may have gotten drained a bit in Florida this week (considering that Boyd Gordon aggravated his back injury in Sunrise two games earlier).
- Bruce Boudreau gave Brendan Morrison a turn centering the second line tonight (per your request) and B-Mo was one of the Caps' better forwards, with a stat line that included the second-best face-off percentage of any Cap pivot. Of course, that percentage was a woeful 33% - which was also Nicklas Backstrom's win percentage and a full 11 percentage points better than Eric Belanger.
- It's hard to blame Erskine and Eric Fehr for their boarding penalties, as there wasn't a good recent example of a penalty for a hit from behind into the boards of which they'd be aware.
- The Caps' fourth line at the start of the evening had two twenty-goal scorers (Fehr and Tomas Fleischmann) on it. The Boston Bruins have one twenty-goal scorer, total. Sure enough, the unit scored the first goal of the game as Victor Hedman allowed Flash to tap in a cross-ice Fehr feed.
- After watching a game like that, especially in the third period, you have to wonder whether Alex Semin's inability to draw penalty calls is the result of a reputation he's developed as, to put it bluntly, a diver. He was mugged repeatedly, to no avail.
- Mike Knuble and John Carlson must be having a competition to see who can come the closest to scoring without actually scoring. Knuble had a goal waived off (again) after the net was knocked loose a moment before he buried a Backstrom feed and Carlson hit the post (again) in a bid for his first NHL goal. Gotta think these guys are going to find twine sooner rather than later.
The Caps concluded their final road trip of the season of more than one game with a 3-0-1 mark and now have an eye-popping 16-point lead in the Eastern Conference. They also have three days to prepare for their next game. Something tells me they'll be a little more inspired for that one.
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YES!
Только игра! Почему надо быть сумасшедшим?
WARNING: Irrrational defender of Semyon Varlamov
FREE ERIC FEHR
Caps Snaps - Washington Capitals Photography
all is right in the universe 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
by RedBirdie on Mar 20, 2010 11:31 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
LOL. I was about to type and all is right with the world again. But I like universe better.
by capsyoungguns on Mar 20, 2010 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions
I like to think God/the Force/nirvana is greatly concerned with seeing Ovie’s grinning mug splashed all over NHL.com’s leader board :)
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
oh, and funny, I see the same three names popping up in those top-5 lists over and over again. Ovie, Henrik Sedin, and the quietest elite player in hockey…….Nicky.
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
Sly Lars sure is sneaky, quietly slipping his way to the top. How he remains under the radar in the league astonishes me.
by capsyoungguns on Mar 20, 2010 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions
He likes it that way. When he’s ready to make some noise, he will.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
Sly Lars sure is sneaky, quietly slipping his way to the top. How he remains under the radar in the league astonishes me.
Un-astonish yourself, Guns. With in-frigging-credible bounce pass spectacles such as the one he and Ovie collaborated on, he is the co-star in highlight film after highlight film. I will weep with joy the day GMGM announces Nicky is signed as a Cap on into perpetuity.
NHL On The Fly made Captaian AO’s goal the highlight of the night, and the host correctly noted that the true highlight was Nicky’s pass.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
The accuracy of the pass was amazing in itself. What I couldn’t get over was the timing, when you factor in Ovi got possession of the puck right as he reached the blue line, avoiding an off-sides call. As Joe B would say, Simply Sensational.
"It hit me on the pants. I had protection. It felt good. Why? I wanted to win."
I can’t decide which play I appreciate more: the banking of the puck off the boards to a moving Ovi or the Chicago banking off the retrieved puck off the boards to pass to himself then zipping back down the ice only to evade Seabrook and shoot the puck between Keith’s legs for the game winner. Guess I have to go with the Chicago one but last night’s pass was indeed a thing of beauty.
by capsyoungguns on Mar 21, 2010 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Would be interesting to see him play pool, no?
"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 certainly wouldn’t bet against him!
by capsyoungguns on Mar 21, 2010 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions
And – taking nothing away from Nicky – Ovie’s awareness of the play and ability to get possession of the puck while remaining onside was impressive too and probably harder than it looked. When I was watching the highlights last night (missed the game), I yelled “what a f##ing pass!”
And that’s why I’m loving the pairing. Individually awesome but together Ovi and Nicky are the Bobbsie Twins. Or perhaps the Bank Shot Twins.
by capsyoungguns on Mar 21, 2010 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions
3 Stars
Только игра! Почему надо быть сумасшедшим?
WARNING: Irrrational defender of Semyon Varlamov
FREE ERIC FEHR
Caps Snaps - Washington Capitals Photography
THEO!
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
JT60 with a W and 33 saves. I’m not made of nickels, y’know.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
Oh, and he also gets one of these:
Steak or lobster, Jose? What’ll it be?
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
JT60 with a W and 33 saves. I’m not made of nickels, y’know.
he could have made 34 saves and then you’d be bitching about how you’re not made of dollars :)
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
Well then it’s a good thing he didn’t.
j/k – bring the pain, Jose.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
When Brendan Morrison plays like has the past few games (save for faceoffs), this is the scariest second line in hockey.
DC Landing Strip - Waxed and Ready to Go
He looked good out there tonight. Eric Belanger, however, continues to look completely lost. I’m not sure what role he’s filling on this team.
I’m not sure he knows. One night he’s centering enigmatic super-talent (and Semin – zing!) on a scoring line. Next night he’s in the press box. Next night he’s a key penalty-killer and 3rd-line pivot. And so on.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
But he’s not even doing the things that should come naturally, like winning faceoffs.
DC Landing Strip - Waxed and Ready to Go
Yet he hasn’t done any of those things particularly well, and he’s not making use of his chances. Case-in-point, tonight (I think in the 3rd), he led a speedy 3-on-2 into the zone. And instead of dishing off to a winger or throwing the puck on net, he just kept skating forward until he ran out of room and then coughed the puck up.
Gotta do something with it, man, and in a case like that, doesn’t even matter who your wingers are.
and if you put Belanger between either Fehr/Flash or even Chimera/Bradley-or-Walker, that’s 4 real solid lines that all hold offensive threat. On paper at least.
Although, Belanger didn’t look all the comfy in his role tonight, so maybe that needs to be addressed…
All 13 or fourteen of the guys he’s centering for need to take him on some male-bonding thing.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
Caps could clinch east vs. Pitt.
If Pittsburgh loses on Monday vs. Det. and the Caps beat the Pens on Wednesday the Caps would clinch the east.
If Pitt loses Mon and Weds:
90 pts + (2×8) = 106 max pts.
Caps: 108 pts.
Только игра! Почему надо быть сумасшедшим?
WARNING: Irrrational defender of Semyon Varlamov
FREE ERIC FEHR
Caps Snaps - Washington Capitals Photography
Forgot about NJ. NJ plays Tues vs. CLS. If they lose the Caps and every thing I said happens then the Caps would clinch at least a tie of the east vs. Pitt.
Только игра! Почему надо быть сумасшедшим?
WARNING: Irrrational defender of Semyon Varlamov
FREE ERIC FEHR
Caps Snaps - Washington Capitals Photography
the caps
Только игра! Почему надо быть сумасшедшим?
WARNING: Irrrational defender of Semyon Varlamov
FREE ERIC FEHR
Caps Snaps - Washington Capitals Photography
Tweet o' the night
http://twitter.com/russianmachine/status/10800724213
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
by EmilyB on Mar 20, 2010 11:46 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
So glad to get that bonus PHX/CHI game on NHLN after watching the Caps — wow! PHX wins in a shootout after coming back being down 4-2 in the 3rd!
Great hockey night!
So good to see Ovie back on the ice. I thought the game was quite uncharacteristic for the Caps, as they were having real issues getting shots on net, especially early — but I think it says a lot that they still managed to win in the fashion they did against a Bolts team that was determined to play a very physical game and defensive game.
"I am ready for his provocations"
by PaintDrinkingPete on Mar 20, 2010 11:56 PM EDT reply actions
also very undisciplined and chippy.They really let Downie get to them. I hope this isn’t an indication of what will happen when we play a team with a more talented agitator.
to your first note, the caps need 14 points now to clinch the Presidents cup
Suspend Colin Campbell!
Theodore is now 16-0-2/2.40/.927 since January 13 and 6-0-0/1.80/.939 since the Olympic break.
My head just exploded
"My face is my mask."
you want your head to explode? Theo has lost only one game in regulation since Jan. 1.
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
He’s trying to get our money for Saves for Kids. What a jerk!
Только игра! Почему надо быть сумасшедшим?
WARNING: Irrrational defender of Semyon Varlamov
FREE ERIC FEHR
Caps Snaps - Washington Capitals Photography
we’re less than $60 short of $1,500 in pledges! Thanks, Jose!
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
title!
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
by EmilyB on Mar 21, 2010 1:22 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I noticed in game about Semin not being able to draw penalties, specifically on that one sequence in the third period where I thought he had drawn three and yet, none. If it’s frustrating for me, it’s gotta be frustrating for him.
Eat, drink, and be merry! And then drink some more.
At least he had drawn that double minor penalty against Chicago which helped get the Caps started.
Rocking the Red since 1975
I am not sure what the basis is for the statement that Semin has developed a reputation for diving. This season he has no penalties for diving nor embellishment nor unsportsmanlike conduct (a delay of game was for puck over the glass). So where is the reputation coming from?
According to Beind the Net stats, his penalties taken vs penalties drawn are even at 21 (this may not be totally up to date). He is only behind Ovi in terms of penalties drawn (by 1) on the Caps. Considering he, um, takes a few penalties, being even on drawn sounds pretty good to me.
I agree, though, that they sure missed a few in that sequence in the third, as also was mentioned by either Joe B. or Locker. However, I also saw missed penalties on other players on both teams.
A lot of that is the media, just like with Ovie being a dirty player—all media (at least before this season). He’s known to be injury prone —> soft —> diver (not saying that thought process is correct though, but that’s my guess as to the reasoning). Doesn’t help that a few times on national TV (notably against CHI) he drew somewhat soft penalties.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans no more intelligent than myself
by red army line on Mar 21, 2010 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions
So where is the reputation coming from?
From the fact that Semin occasionally embellishes penalties. They might not get called in the game, but the refs review each game and probably take note of how easily/dramatically Semin hits the ice on occasion. Refs don’t like being shown up like that, so they become more reluctant to call penalties for you in the future.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Also comments like Orpik’s (about Semin being a “baby”) probably don’t help. I’ve seen Semin (and Ovie, and Green, for that matter) go down too easy before, and they all seem to have that rep with the officials. One of the very few things I dislike about them, even if it is often a smart play at the time.
It’s also hard to live down a reputation built up over the years. Unfortunately for many perception = truth.
by capsyoungguns on Mar 21, 2010 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions
I might buy that if it was supported even a little by the facts of the penalties called against him. But, there is none this season, at least. In past seasons does he have more than a couple of diving type calls total?
I don’t call it diving when he is high-sticked and has the cut on the lip to prove it. He also was pushed into the boards pretty hard in a recent game, but continued to stick-handle from his knees, not ermbellishing it.
I am wondering if it might be more that the refs let him get away with a penalty, so they don’t call the next one he draws. There were a couple of times last night when I thought he might just get one.
Hopefully, the refs don’t listen to Orpik. If you go by real injuries, which he’s had from some vicious plays, there would be numerous babies in the NHL.
Orpik has got to be one of the biggest hypocrites in the NHL. This man refers to Ovi as a dirty player and he is the person who nearly ended Erik Cole’s career.
This man also injured Semin in the playoffs last year — multiple times. He cut Semin up on the face (and Semin needed stitches). He was discussing Game 1 and the Russian press person asked Semin why he had “a lot of stitches”. And he is also the man who slashed Semin in the thumb after the whistle blew in Game 1.
Rocking the Red since 1975
He has made it clear, in word as well as deed, that he does not like Alexander Semin very much.
You had me at no problem.
And early in his career it was even more blatant so he got the reputation early as a young player. He also has tenuous balance so he tends to go down like a newborn deer sometimes. That looks like embellishment even when it’s not. He’s so good that refs and fans expect him to be able to stay on his feet better, but frequently he can’t.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
by Fehr and Balanced on Mar 21, 2010 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions
I often find myself wondering what kind of hollow and radius he has ground into his skates. A guy with that much skill must be doing something weird with his blades to go down as easy as he does.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
In his defense, I will say that he tries a lot of stuff where he’s on extreme angles on his edges. But lots of players do that. It just looks like if he’s not perfectly square on his feet when he takes contact he’s going down, and he blows edges more frequently than other players. I’d love to talk to the trainers and find out how the different players like their skates. I can’t imagine Semin’s is so different that it would explain his Bambi-esque balance.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
by Fehr and Balanced on Mar 21, 2010 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t think Semin is diving since he has shown in the past the ability of just randomly falling down. Recently, the shootout against Dallas then the breakaway in Chicago. The officials must just think, “Oh, Semin fell down. Again.”
We all know that if it’s diving, the officials will call the penalty and the dive.
We all know that if it’s diving, the officials will call the penalty and the dive.
Really hoping this is snark.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
It’s only a half snark. The only time a Cap gets called for diving is when there’s also a real penalty (on an opposition player) on the play. At least that’s the way it seems.
Semin still sucks at skating.
sadly, this isn’t news and has been the case for at least the last couple of seasons. I recall him getting murdered in the playoff series vs flyers 2 yrs ago, vs pitt last year, with no calls being made…even driving me to email uncle ted about it (his email reply was that refs will eventually even things out). never happened.
Carlson’s clearly waiting for some dramatic moment to score his first goal. That’s the only plausible explanation.
Even atheists believe in Matt Wieters
“Hello, Igloo in mid-May”
Carlson just continues to get better. Somebody no doubt will give him a Calder vote or few.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans no more intelligent than myself
by red army line on Mar 21, 2010 3:47 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Does any one know what the maximum no. of games is that makes a player ineligible for Calder consideration next year? Has Carlson passed it?
To be eligible for the award, a player cannot have played more than 25 games in any single preceding season nor in six or more games in each of any two preceding seasons in any major professional league. The player must not be older than 26 years before September 15 of the season in which he is eligible.
I came across this.
I think he’ll still be eligible next season, since his GP this season will be just below that 25.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans no more intelligent than myself
by red army line on Mar 21, 2010 7:46 AM EDT up reply actions
He’s got 16 games played with 9 Caps games remaining, so if he plays every game (which would be so like BB lately…) he’d be right on the 25 game limit. Presuming playoff games don’t count towards that limit???
I believe playoff games do not count, as Varly was a candidate for the Calder at the beginning of this season
by Big Boutros on Mar 21, 2010 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions
"It’s a good road win for us. That’s 3-0-1 on a four game road trip and it seems like we are never satisfied with how we play but the end result is 3-0-1 in four tough buildings."
Good quote from Coach.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
*PERSON MISSING*
Jose Threeormore was last seen with his close brother Jose Theodore in mid January. Authorities believe Theodore took Threeormore on a road trip where he promptly murdered him, and dumped him in a ditch in an undisclosed location. The police chief said he can not confirm if Threeormore is dead or not, but he said later in an off hand remark, “I hope that son of a bitch is dead.” The police allege that the murder weapon was Semyon Varlamov’s confidence, which coincidently has gone missing as well since late Febuary. There will be no reward for finding Jose Threeormore, and in fact there was jubilent celebrations in the streets of his hometown once everyone found out he had been kidnapped. There will be a $1 million dollar reward for finding Semyon Varlamov’s confidence, but that has been greatly overshadowed by the disappearance of Jose Threeormore. The Associated Press caught up with Jose Theodore on his way to work, asking him how he was feeling about his dear brother’s disappearance. Theodore responded by saying: “Well I don’t think I will miss him. I mean he is my brother and its like he is a part of mean, but the last time I was separated from my brother for an extended period of time was in 2002, and that was a really great time in my life.” Authorities believe Jose Theodore’s brother will be found by early July at the earliest, and everyone should pray for his borther to show up around that time, but in the mean time Theodore and everyone around him will enjoy life like it is 2002 all over again.
Semin = King of Dangle Sauce
by Area 51 Forever on Mar 21, 2010 12:36 AM EDT reply actions 13 recs
Nice. Rec’d
Только игра! Почему надо быть сумасшедшим?
WARNING: Irrrational defender of Semyon Varlamov
FREE ERIC FEHR
Caps Snaps - Washington Capitals Photography
Mobile rec for you.
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
by gotsparkly on Mar 21, 2010 11:45 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
moments before Walker's fight
Chimera got cross-checked from behind into the boards behind the net. No call. A lot of no-calls tonight actually, not just on Semin.
I wonder what Downie was saying to Chimmer from the bench?
Downie…Avery…Carcillo. Who’s the biggest idiot of them all.
at least avery is funny when he is not playing agianst your team
he made fun of maxime talbot’s fighting style, when talbot started slapping him when they got in a scuffle, recently in a pens-rangers game which i found hilarious.
Semin = King of Dangle Sauce
by Area 51 Forever on Mar 21, 2010 12:41 AM EDT up reply actions
Downie is a psycho.
Right before his roughing penalty, it looked like he held Steckel’s arm behind his back so he’d hit the glass face first. Steckel took exception to that and that was when Downie started swinging at him.
I don’t think you’ll find a dirtier player in the eastern conference.
I’m amazed they didn’t suspend him for that slew foot on crosby. My thoughts were: 1) no injury 2) missed call 3) trying to prove they don’t sniff crosby’s jock 24/7 4) they were so focused on headshots that they forgot that there were other ways for players to ruin their careers.
Suspend Colin Campbell!
Avery is a tool but I can’t recall any play where he attempted injury. I mean, he likes to smack goalies in the head with this stick, but usually they are wearing helmets. Area 51 is right — he is funny when he’s doing his schtick against a team not yours.
Downie is dangerous, he’s a psychopath as far as I am concerned.
Unfortunately, Downie is also a really good player otherwise playing with St. Louis and Stamkos. And he’s young too. I expect to see an awful lot of him in the next few years.
Downie vs SDR, anyone?
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans no more intelligent than myself
by red army line on Mar 21, 2010 7:47 AM EDT up reply actions
I can recall several occasions where Avery hit Caps in the face with his stick in the playoffs (and a butt-end, if memory serves), and I can’t give him any benefit of the doubt re: intent. Downie is crazier but they are both dirty and dangerous.
well from what i've seen of avery
if you ignore him and don’t show any reaction to his pestering then he does tone it down some because he is smart enough to know that he will eventually take a penalty if he continues while downie is a punk ass no matter what. Remember late in the third period he took that completely retarded rouging penalty when he just kept punching steckel in the face in the corner? That pretty much sealed the game and left no chance for the lightening to make a last push to tie the game because they were a man down for most of the remaining game.
Semin = King of Dangle Sauce
by Area 51 Forever on Mar 21, 2010 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions
speaking of avery he is the “start” for the iso cam during the nbc game today…
"Hey anyway I can get my name out there 30 years from now is great," Steckel said. "They will be like, ‘Who was that guy?’ Then they’ll look at the stats and say, ‘Well, at least that guy was really good on face-offs.’"
they better have him mic’d up as well
Semin = King of Dangle Sauce
by Area 51 Forever on Mar 21, 2010 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Front page on nhl.com had Avery and Gaborik star cam and nobody for the Bruins? It’s usually one star on each team. Poor Boston.
"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."
they said before the game it was avery and bergeron (don’t know if i spelled that right)
"Hey anyway I can get my name out there 30 years from now is great," Steckel said. "They will be like, ‘Who was that guy?’ Then they’ll look at the stats and say, ‘Well, at least that guy was really good on face-offs.’"
What, Chara’s so big he doesn’t fit in the shot?
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Mar 22, 2010 3:59 AM EDT up reply actions
Heatley.
But, Eastern Conference wise, Hartnell.
I should have saved my old signature. Oh well!
by Whiter Mage on Mar 21, 2010 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Carcillo is very nasty, but he does have skill. Could be a great player
if he would knock off with the nonsense.
Meh. Even if he cut out the nonsense, he’d still be a decent 3rd-liner at best. Downie, Avery and Ott are all much more skilled than Carcillo.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Downie and Avery yes. Ott is about the same. I’d say both top out at about 20 goal scorers.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
by Fehr and Balanced on Mar 21, 2010 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions
The Great 8 is back
So Ovie is relieved that his vacation, a very expensive one, is over. LOL! Nice to see he still has a sense of humor about what happened and that it isn’t still lingering.
Even though he looked a little fatigued at times, getting his game legs back, Ovie still was an intimidating presence. And scoring a goal is an added bonus. He and the entire Caps team will need all the momentum and confidence they’re carrying into the Penguins game.
I hope Ovie lights the lamp multiple times Wednesday night and leaves Crosby shaking his head, totally in shock and awe, with his eyes and mouth wide open at what he had just witnessed but was powerless to stop.
Tarik has video with Ovi postgame – he said the building was very hot, especially in periods 2 & 3.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
This was Carlson’s best game I’ve seen. Aside from missing the hip check he was solid-to-great all night. He had better poise with the puck in his own end and was more effective with the puck on offense. He’ll get his goal soon enough.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
by Fehr and Balanced on Mar 21, 2010 1:23 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
He had a really, really nice lengthy cross-ice pass to Eric Fehr at one point to spring him for a good opportunity, nut Nitty made the save. How many posts for JC74 so far?
DC Landing Strip - Waxed and Ready to Go
Didn’t he hit one his first NHL game (this season)?
Rink Rabbit & newest member of TySlo's fan club.
Yeah, against MON he rang the crossbar. He’s got 2 or 3 at least.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
by Fehr and Balanced on Mar 21, 2010 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions
@VogsCaps: Caps right wing Scott Walker tweaked his knee and is day-to-day.
Knee, not noggin.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
That’s good news. Does that mean he tweaked the knee during the fight? I must say, though, that was one lame fight and we’ll send the Beast after the monsters when it comes to scrappers going forward.
erskine has scored...now i can die in peace
It like he slipped after he got hit during the fight.
Только игра! Почему надо быть сумасшедшим?
WARNING: Irrrational defender of Semyon Varlamov
FREE ERIC FEHR
Caps Snaps - Washington Capitals Photography
It looked like*
Только игра! Почему надо быть сумасшедшим?
WARNING: Irrrational defender of Semyon Varlamov
FREE ERIC FEHR
Caps Snaps - Washington Capitals Photography
Was definitely the worst performane in a fight by a Cap this year that I remember. I don’t think Walker threw a punch. Scotty is too small to fight Konopka.
Worse than the bongo drums? Or was that last year?
Watching more games on Slingbox than anyone else!
Funny thing. Konopka is a cult hero in Tampa for fighting someone bigger.
But Walker is pretty small.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Konopka
Def looks like he wanted to go with Scotty walker red in ice. But his fight with stecks was all stecks doing (for some stupid reason). Stecks challenged konopka in the face off dot late in the ov/ downie game. He actually fared better than Scott whiskey, mostly due to a longer reach.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Mar 21, 2010 8:20 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Yeah. Looks like walker tried to keep him tied up but didn’t quite work out that way.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Mar 21, 2010 8:38 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Just re-watched it on hockeyfights.com. Looks like Konopka harasses Walker from behind to goad him, and as Walker turns around Konopka is the first to drop the gloves. At that point, being the bigger guy, all he had to do was grab the the outside of Walker’s arms to have the serious advantage.
DC Landing Strip - Waxed and Ready to Go
penalties?
anyone know what the deal with the lecavlier penalty was when Poti roughed up Downie? Lecavlier looked like he was scheduled for a hooking/holding/tripping penalty but it looked like they both got sent out with fighting majors since both guys were replaced.
Why wasn’t the original penalty called?
Suspend Colin Campbell!
It was; game summary has Vinny’s hook and Poti’s roughing.
"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 21, 2010 8:28 AM EDT up reply actions
I think when there are coincidental minors when a guy is already in the box (erskine in this case) they play 5-4 not 4-3.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Mar 21, 2010 8:57 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yeah, coincidental minors at ES make each team lose a player but on the PP/PK manpower stays the same.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans no more intelligent than myself
by red army line on Mar 21, 2010 9:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Shift Chart
I heard Locker & JoeB keep talking about how #24 didn’t return after the fight and how BB was having to work with 11 forwards, and I never noticed him return, but the NHL records show differently. Albeit short shifts, they have Walker coming in for four short shifts after the fight.
Download link: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4449914603_68227e1b6d_b.jpg
by vzotsky on Mar 21, 2010 9:16 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
ask mike green he was on the ice the whole time
Semin = King of Dangle Sauce
by Area 51 Forever on Mar 21, 2010 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions
•Presumably the rationale behind giving Erskine a sweater was in case things got chippy, and they did, “highlighted” by Zenon Konopka – the NHL’s leader in fighting majors – dropping the mittens with Scott Walker. Against the Caps this season, Konopka has now fought David Steckel in the latter’s first fight in two seasons and Walker in his fourth fight in the past two seasons. We’re all very impressed, tough guy
Exactly who on the Caps would be acceptable for Konopka to fight?.
This is why we need to call up Mathieu Perreault. Get some big Chara-sized bruisers on the ice.
by Big Boutros on Mar 21, 2010 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions
Konopka’s problem when facing the Caps is that the Caps’ roster is exclusively filled with actual hockey players
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Mar 21, 2010 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Konopka was 6-6 on Face Offs, so he does have another talent.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Erskine’s appearance was as JP said. BB just didn’t realize that Konopka wouldn’t take on a 6-4" 220lb guy, but rather go after the 5’ 10" 196lb 36 year old.
"It hit me on the pants. I had protection. It felt good. Why? I wanted to win."
Konopka is a guy who can take a regular shift on a grind line and not embarrass himself. In my opinion, the NHL is too competitive to dress a goon now – you need all eighteen skaters, so players have to bring something to the table besides a strong grip and a mean left cross. Guys like Konopka, Lucic, Carcillo, those guys can all actually play hockey and throw down with just about anyone.
Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!
by Knee high to a duck on Mar 21, 2010 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Erskine would be the closest thing to a heavyweight that the Caps dressed last night (or ever, for that matter).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Actually, we did dress a heavyweight — Alex Ovechkin. He outweighs Erskine. (I also thought Brash outweighed Oisk as well.)
Rocking the Red since 1975
Um, yeah.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Mar 21, 2010 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Why do you refer to him as “Oisk”?
"It hit me on the pants. I had protection. It felt good. Why? I wanted to win."
by bagace on Mar 21, 2010 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
To me Theodore has really been the story of the season so far. Not the least of which in the tale of his personal tragedy. He appears to have grown tremendously as a human being and as a teammate. I can’t really explain it, because sadly I don’t have the means to watch very many games as a European, so I hardly get to see him in action, but it feels to me like there is just this air of confidence that surrounds him now. Not only in Theo’s own confidence in himself but perhaps just as importantly in the confidence and trust his teammates place in him.
I went through my own some years ago and the courage and grace with which Theodore has seemed to persevere is nothing short of inspiring. I think some of this may be rubbing off in the locker room as well and certainly in how his teammates perceive him. I am certainly glad and thankful to see him as a Cap.
"In the depths of winter, I learned there was in me an invincible summer" ~Albert Camus
by Madelle on Mar 21, 2010 6:09 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
I Believe In Theo
Theo is about to shock the people that dismissed him as washed up.
Caps should top the league, and he is to blame. Better goalies, sure.
Vokoun, Miller, Lundqvist, Luongo, Brodeur. But in this situation,
Jose is riding the fastest horse, and should demolish the field
barring unseen misfortune.
Theo is a tower of strength
@Madelle:
I agree with your assessment of Theo’s play and the role his personal tragedy might have played in his renaissance this season. I can’t imagine the pain he and his wife endured over the death of their infant son. That he sought refuge and solace on the ice while dealing with his grief is impossible to fully comprehend. As spectacular as Ovie has been and continues to be while dealing with his disappointment from the Vancouver Olympics, Theo’s story is just as important to the Caps’ success this season. I really really am rooting for both these men to exorcise their individual demons with a Stanley Cup championship.
ovietracker, the “reply” button underneath madelle’s comment would allow you to respond to her directly without using the @ symbol, FYI.
by Natty Bumppo on Mar 21, 2010 10:29 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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