Recap: Caps 3, Sabres 1
by David Getz on Mar 3, 2010 10:04 PM EST
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It was probably just about inevitable that tonight's game would be somewhat anti-climactic. After all, any regular season NHL game was going to pale in comparison the Olympic gold medal game and very little chance of beating the drama and suspense of following the league's trade deadline. Not to mention the fact that deadline ended just four hours before the puck dropped meant that Caps fans weren't even to have a chance to see their team's new players in action.
In short, this game or less played out like expected. The players looked a little rusty at times, the atmosphere wasn't quite what you'd like it to be (Buffalo fans even seemed to generally forget about booing Alex Ovechkin), and the intensity level wasn't terribly high.
Oh, and the Capitals won.
Ten additional thoughts on tonight's game:
- If Ryan Miller's going to have any sort of post-Olympic hangover, he didn't show any signs of it tonight. It can be awfully hard to predict who gets hot during the postseason and winds up carrying their team in their back, but I'll say this: I don't want the Capitals to have to face Ryan Miller in late April. Or May.
- Jose Theodore looked not just sharp and well rested, but very focused. His positioning was solid all night long and he didn't the Sabres much of a chance to put away ugly goals, controlling the puck well and not giving up many juicy rebounds.
- Not to be a hater, but if the Caps' deadline moves make it so that John Erskine's no longer in a position where he's skating 18:03, I think you have to like them.
- Sometimes it's easy to forget just how good a team the Capitals are when it comes to skating ability, in part because just about everyone in Washington's lineup is so solid in the department, and in part because with all the emphasis on more specific skill sets, it's easy to forget how important it is. But the Caps have the advantage over just about anyone in the league in that department, and with Eric Belanger and Joe Corvo coming to town, they should only get better. It's not sexy and it doesn't make you sound like a genius to talk about it, but it is something that could make the difference in a playoff series. Especially a long one. Especially in late spring.
- Given his skill set and style of play, Mike Knuble doesn't get a ton of breakaways and as a result he's probably not all that comfortable on them. Or at least that's sure how it looked.
- A solid two assist night for Jeff Schultz. For those of you scoring at home, that's Double Nickel: 1, Nickel City: 0.
- Coming in to tonight's game Tom Poti had 15 hits in 53 games. And if you saw his failed neutral zone attempt at a big hit, you can probably guess why.
- Sometimes it really feels like a shame that Tomas Fleischmann's not a very good defensive player and hasn't picked up on faceoffs yet (though we note it hasn't been very long), because his offensive talents seem like they'd make him a heck of a center. Not only does he has the hands and shiftiness a playmaker needs to create chances for his linemates - he seems to be getting better and better at finding open teammates and, just as importantly, he always seems to be look for a way to draw the defense out of position and exploit the opening.
- Shots on goal for the Capitals: 40. Shots attempted by the Sabres: 43. Nice.
- Boyd Gordon is probably very good at pool. Call it a hunch.
Well, the first post-Olympic game is done; the first post-trade deadline game is done, and in a way it just feels good to get it out of the way and get the team ready to come home - and get their new guys in the lineup and see what they can do.
Game highlights:
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Great game for the Caps. Great defensive effort. The third line was our best line. And the 4th line iced it.
(It will be interesting to see which of the new guys play tomorrow. WIll Belanger center Flash and Fehr?)
Rocking the Red since 1975
A refreshing change from 35 – 40 per game, wasn’t it?
"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."
Look, if they give up an average of 25 SOG/G for the rest of the year, we ought to be good.
No Alex, no ratings. Know Alex, know ratings.
We would, but we have to remember BUF is a terrible offensive team.
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.
Buffalo’s offense is as good as New Jersey’s…if you take away Parise, Zajac and Elias. In other words, they’re pretty bad.
They should be better, based on the players they have. But part of the effort last night was the Caps playing a very solid defensive game. They did a good job. Part of being a good team is doing what you’re supposed to. Against a team that is not that good offensively, you’re supposed to shut them down, and the Caps did exactly that.
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Mar 4, 2010 10:43 AM EST up reply actions
You linked the WAS – STL highlights instead of the BUF ones.
Everyone wants to kill the king. But the prince, he just sails along telling all the ladies, "One day I'm gonna be king."
Okie dokie.
Everyone wants to kill the king. But the prince, he just sails along telling all the ladies, "One day I'm gonna be king."
by Steck It Out on Mar 3, 2010 10:13 PM EST up reply actions
Try reloading the page. I’ve had it happen that I put in the code for the newest game’s highlights and gotten the previous game’s one. I think that maybe it’s that if there aren’t any up yet for the most recent game, it bounces to the one before.
Yep, refreshed the page, it’s uploaded now. Thanks.
Everyone wants to kill the king. But the prince, he just sails along telling all the ladies, "One day I'm gonna be king."
by Steck It Out on Mar 3, 2010 10:14 PM EST up reply actions
Miller looks…funny.
On the Forecheck: a blog that's more productive than a Predator power play!
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by Chris Burton on Mar 3, 2010 10:10 PM EST up reply actions
Being emaciated will do that to you.
I look to the future because that's where I'm going to spend the rest of my life.
he seems to have aged a bit since this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch#!videos=Fdm-lcSTRd0&v=S7iJEmXvLr4
I guess because they can’t award a star to Gordon-Steckel-Bradley. They were great tonight. Like they were fighting for their jobs.
Steak or lobster, CincoCinco? What'll it be?
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
The Steak...
…and since he’s Mr. Nasty, he’d like to tenderize the meat with some explosives a la Mythbusters…
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Mar 4, 2010 10:44 AM EST up reply actions
I watched the game on Comcast. I take it you don’t live in the DC area?
"Now wait a minute. This is just purely a social call. You know, just two adults getting a stew on, man."
If you're tired and want to take a nap, check out my graduate research blog! https://digitalcommons.georgetown.edu/blogs/jmc333/
by The Ghost of Bebop on Mar 3, 2010 10:18 PM EST up reply actions
out of towner
couldn’t watch either the DC or Buffalo feed. If they don’t figure this out by the postseason, I’m going to be VERY pissed
by DonnieKnutts on Mar 3, 2010 10:21 PM EST up reply actions
Me too. I am local, but if I can’t watch the playoffs on Versus, I will declare a Jihad on both Versus and DirecTV.
Game-Over Green? Canada-Over Carlson!
by Scott in Shaw on Mar 4, 2010 1:46 PM EST up reply actions
I have DirecTV and I was able to watch.
I look to the future because that's where I'm going to spend the rest of my life.
Oh, you’re out of town, sorry…
I look to the future because that's where I'm going to spend the rest of my life.
Juice’s agent @walsha reports:
Client Milan Jurcina still has furnished apartment in Washington. He’s just packing a suitcase in Columbus and moving back home.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
More:
Caps Asst GM called me after trade and said jokingly, “We missed Milan so much, we just had to get him back here.” Kind of like a do over!
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
its like when you breakup with your gf… avoid her for 2 weeks.. get horny and then go back to boning
If the triumphant return of Juice means that Sloan and/or Erskine sit as often as possible, then I’m all for it.
"Now wait a minute. This is just purely a social call. You know, just two adults getting a stew on, man."
If you're tired and want to take a nap, check out my graduate research blog! https://digitalcommons.georgetown.edu/blogs/jmc333/
by The Ghost of Bebop on Mar 3, 2010 10:20 PM EST reply actions
I don’t think you see Sloan again.
I look to the future because that's where I'm going to spend the rest of my life.
Well, you’ll see him at practice and in the PB. Per Boudreau the teams can’t send anybody down now.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
Nonsense. Sloan took part in top-secret military experiments during the Olympic break that have turned him permanently invisible!
"Now wait a minute. This is just purely a social call. You know, just two adults getting a stew on, man."
If you're tired and want to take a nap, check out my graduate research blog! https://digitalcommons.georgetown.edu/blogs/jmc333/
by The Ghost of Bebop on Mar 3, 2010 10:45 PM EST up reply actions
Isn’t the rule 3 call-ups or something?
Ovechkin = Green Backs
by red army line on Mar 4, 2010 9:52 AM EST up reply actions
I still like Erskine, but at the bottom pairing and when the other team can’t skate. He can still play some solid D when he isn’t totally outclassed.
At this point I think he’s fine in spot duty, depending on who they’re playing against in the regular season. Once the playoffs come around the only team I can see him being useful for would be the Rangers or maybe Bruins.
Against any other team in the playoffs, his most usefull position would be in the press box.
Jurcina’s out for like, the rest of the regular season.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Mar 4, 2010 12:10 AM EST up reply actions
It’s not like he doesn’t know the system come playoff time.
If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.
Founding member of the Tyler Sloan Fan Club
Well yeah, but this was in response to a comment about sitting Sloan and/or Erskine “as often as possible”, which I would assume includes the regular season.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Mar 4, 2010 12:26 AM EST up reply actions
Went out to dinner at 1-1 and came back to a W. Nice.
We should have won based on the first two periods, silly Miller just has a nasty habit of keeping his team in games they shouldn’t necessarily be in. Glad to see we figured out how to get it past him.
Whew, what a day. Stoked to see how the newbies fit in tomorrow night.
Every time Nicky scores a goal, an angel gets its wings.
Observations from my Sofa...
A great effort, the Caps played a just about perfect road game, and aside from one major gaffe in front of Theo, they looked really, really good. Now comes a 5 game homestand…also sweet.
Some observations:
1) Great game for Schultz… a coming out party on national TV. I was watching the VS. feed as opposed to the CSN feed for some reason….
2) Great, great passing play by Flash with Green. Flash showed great patience and set Green up perfectly for a one-timer
3) That said, there were a couple of times Flash was set up for a shot and he missed…
4) Semin is passing waaaay too much. Someone remind him that Bykov isn’t coaching the team
5) Miller was also outstanding for the Sabres… hopefully as the top seed in the East, the Caps might not see them until round 2… or later if he gets hot.
6) My cats are having to relearn that Daddy shouts out when the Caps score on TV….got a couple of concerned looks from them. The Olympics don’t get me as passionate.
7) Speaking of which, one of my cats is really putting on the pounds… gotta buy some of that Purina weight maintenance food for her…
8) My wife when Gordo dumped the puck out…“It’s going to be icing…nonononononono…YES!!!!”
And now, for the first time since January I can go to a game in person…tomorrow life from VC the Caps and the Bolts….
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Mar 3, 2010 10:38 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Miller got serious props for that game but I think Jose was better. Almost like third star was another Olympics consolation prize
I’m ok with Miller getting the 3rd star… he was outstanding, turning aside 37 of 39 shots, including a stop on Ovechkin from point blank range….Theo’s 23 of 24 was terrific too.
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Mar 3, 2010 10:53 PM EST up reply actions
Nice game for 74
I missed the 1st, but in the last two periods, I though he looked very calm with the puck, put a couple of good shots on/near goal, had a couple of sweet defensive plays with the twig (a poke check b/t the circles and the deflection on the doorstep) and was in good position. I’d like to see him stay in the top 6 rotation.
Statistical Oddity...
Jeff Schulz had 2 assists, in the game, yet was even in plus minus. He passed the puck to Flash and headed off for a change… 4 seconds after he changed out and ShaMo changed on for him, Green scores.
So how good is Sarge, he can assist on goals while sitting on the bench…fear him!
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Mar 3, 2010 11:00 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Well I guess an advantage of having 5 guys on your bench is that suddenly back-to-back games seem a lot less intimidating.
And two of the three new guys have been busy rehabbing injuries, which means they might be a bit rusty but fresher in body and spirit. Not too many miles on those wheels this season.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
I was glad to see AO look more like himself tonight, although I definitely gasped when he got elbowed in the face by Myers. Can you imagine how badly they would have beaten the Sabres had the Caps actually shot instead of over-passing?
by DrinkingPartner on Mar 3, 2010 11:59 PM EST reply actions
I kind of get it…we had several scoring chances (2 at least from Semin) that seemed a bit overpassed
Driving under the influence of hockey since godknow's when.
Despite 40 SOG, they did overpass a couple of times, and even looked to over pass. When Knuble had the breakaway he was looking to pass…. and he deked out Miller, but didn’t get the puck on net. And the thing with Semin and Laich, I was screaming at the TV for either of them to shoot the puck…
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Mar 4, 2010 10:51 AM EST up reply actions
Darren McCarty needs to find a new job, he is just not a good analyst. He isn’t very articulate, and twice tonight he pointed out that a big weakness of the Caps is faceoffs since they are 27th in the league. Unfortunately for McCarty, they are tied for 4th in the league. I think he’s been punched in the head too many times.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
Yeah, well these things are bound to happen when you’re not sure which side is the top on your notes.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Mar 4, 2010 12:40 PM EST up reply actions
McCarty...
…First he should stop trying to be Ovechkin and get his teeth fixed.
Then before he talks out his [Avery] about statistics, he should check out NHL.com and see what it says about the numbers.
And as for improving on draws, by getting Belanger, the Caps now have two of the top 10 players in face-off winning percentage. It won’t be the late 1990s/Early 2000s (when the Caps had Hunter, Oates, Nikolishin, and then added Linden and Halpern), but it’s still pretty awesome…
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Mar 4, 2010 10:54 AM EST up reply actions
Hey, my address is Lullaby Road
Really it is! And yes it was a snoozefest. And most road teams in a usually look to make their games a snoozefest. Get the crowd out of it… a terrific effort, and yes, a win.
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Mar 4, 2010 10:55 AM EST up reply actions
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| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida
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54 | 26 | 17 | 11 | 63 |
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Washington
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