Recap: Senators 5, Caps 4 (OT)
by Stephen Pepper on Mar 30, 2010 10:34 PM EDT
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"We have to get back to playing high-energy hockey. We've been sort of sitting back and letting the other team dictate the play and then saying, 'Hey, I guess we have to turn it on right now.'" - Coach Bruce Boudreau, this afternoon
The Caps have now been outscored 9-1 in the first frames of the last three contests and so, again, it was not a high-energy effort to start. But with the "dangly skill" that Justin Bourne discussed today, the Caps' four horsemen of every other team's apocalypse willed the team that clearly did not put forth the "extra effort" to a temporary comeback, and brought along a struggling defense with it. Until the overtime saw the Sens with possession for nearly the entire extra session, rightfully earning two points.
Ten more notes on the game:
- Seven of the last eleven games have required extra time, and our heroes have just two regulation wins in the last eleven.
- More ugly stats: just 20 shots in regulation equals the lowest total by the Caps this season. After the first period each team had 16 SOG. But, of course, it's a 60 minute game.
- For those scratching their heads over the lack of a goaltender interference call on the Jason Spezza goal, please familiarize yourself with Rule 69, particularly the last paragraph of Rule 69.1. You're going to need it come playoff time.
- A defense with some mixed up pairs -- Shaone Morrisonn with Joe Corvo and Tom Poti with John Carlson -- yielded mixed up results. And on the first Ottawa goal, it looked as if Nicklas Backstrom was on ice with four friendly red pylons.
- Mike Green, however, was dominant, skating 31:44 and becoming the first Cap since Sergei Gonchar to score at least 18 goals in three consecutive seasons.
- Jason Chimera's line with Eric Fehr and centered by sparkplug Mathieu Perreault shone tonight, all three a +1 and bringing a nice mix of crash and bash and slippery moves in front of the net. Matty needs to work on his draws though, winning just three of his eight, and being chased for the one right before his goal that Chimera won for him. But we'll forgive Matty his overzealous interference call against, as he drew two calls.
- Jeff Schultz looked kind of ridiculous trying to defend the play that led to Spezza's second PP goal. Not a typical Sarge play this season.
- By the numbers, Jose Theodore has surrendered three goals in each of the last two first periods. But, tonight, he was hardly to blame on any of the three. More to the point, Theo rebounded to stop a breakaway and a point blank chance from an unmolested Daniel Alfredsson. I'm not concerned.
- By my count, the Caps won 13 of 18 draws in the third period. But David Steckel did not win his last draw. And his team lost the game.
- Carlson, who did not skate a shift since late in the second period, has an "upper body bang," which might be less severe than an actual injury. His departure left the Caps with five D, including a wisdom-toothless Shaone Morrisonn who -- perhaps understandably -- seemed to be a step behind tonight.
Another let down game in a growing longer string of them. April 12th can't come soon enough.
Game highlights:
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Great recap peps!
I really hope we see more of MP!
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Reaching for the stars, Matty Perreault
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
MP not Semin? Weird
I agree totally about the stupidity of the average person. Horrifyingly, nearly 50% of people are even stupider!
Perhaps star in relationship to expectations and results. Semin had the two goals but also took another of his bonehead penalties. Pereault drew two penalties, had a sweet goal that earned the team a point, and vastly exceeded expectations by scoring in two days what BMo has scored in like a month.
erskine has scored...now i can die in peace
by souldrummer on Mar 30, 2010 11:55 PM EDT up reply actions
To just complete the record, Matty P, who I like a great deal, also took a penalty during which the Sens scored. Semin also drew a penalty. The Sens did not score when he was in the box. Not trying to be argumentative, but MP’s one goal earned the team a point (even though he was in the box for a goal against) and Semin’s 2 goals did not? Funny logic there.
Bleh.
That is all.
"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
tough loss tonight guys
it’s all good wins and losses don’t matter for you guys right now…getting healthy is all that matters…mine as well get the bad games out of the way now
TULO = 2010 MVP!
Troy Tulowitzki: "When people think of the Rockies, I want them to think of a winning organization."
LETS GO WINGS!
it’s all good wins and losses don’t matter for you guys right now
Tell that to a team that floats into the playoffs against an 8-seed in full fight mode. See 2006 Detroit Red Wings.
by docciavelli on Mar 30, 2010 10:43 PM EDT up reply actions
ehh i think you guys will be fine
that 2006 was such a fluke…shit happens once in a blue moon
TULO = 2010 MVP!
Troy Tulowitzki: "When people think of the Rockies, I want them to think of a winning organization."
LETS GO WINGS!
by TuLoRocks2008 on Mar 30, 2010 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions
If it had been a 7-game series, I could understand the characterization as a “fluke.” But the Oil won in 6 games against a Detroit team that just couldn’t contain Fernando Pisani, try as they might. Detroit only scored more than 3 goals in that series once.
Jose Theodore remembers the 2004 playoffs when his 7-seed Habs came in to beat a lagging Bruins team in the first round.
by docciavelli on Mar 30, 2010 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions
i still remember that game 6 that we had well in hand
and they made a furious come back to wing Game 6 or else it would have been a 7 game series
TULO = 2010 MVP!
Troy Tulowitzki: "When people think of the Rockies, I want them to think of a winning organization."
LETS GO WINGS!
by TuLoRocks2008 on Mar 30, 2010 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions
and yes that edmonton team was a fluke
what have they done since then?…if they weren’t a fluke they would of backed that finals appearance up with some playoff appearances at least…but nope not even have they done that since
TULO = 2010 MVP!
Troy Tulowitzki: "When people think of the Rockies, I want them to think of a winning organization."
LETS GO WINGS!
by TuLoRocks2008 on Mar 30, 2010 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions
If you’re implying that the eighth seed in the East is going to be coming in strong compared to the Caps… well, it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Mar 30, 2010 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Flyers are getting Carter back for the first round. Bruins shutout NJ for 60+ mins. tonight. I’m not saying to expect an upset from the 7th or 8th seeds in the playoffs this year, but don’t be shocked. From Pensland, I’m hoping Pittsburgh gets Philly just because Crosby plays well against them. Other than that, Boston seems like it has upset potential, as does Montreal if Halak gets hot.
by docciavelli on Mar 30, 2010 10:55 PM EDT up reply actions
The only teams in playoff contention with better records than the Caps in their last ten games are Buffalo and Montreal. Obviously if we lose every game between now and playoff time there’s a clear concern there, but everyone is slumping right now that we’d play against. And we have two games against Boston to establish how much better we are than then them.
I’m far from being worried about the first round right now.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Mar 30, 2010 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s not just that we’re losing – it’s HOW we’re losing.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
As I see it, I’d rather lose this way than any other. We’re clearly capable of beating these teams, and unless the trend continues (i.e., we get worse between now and the end of April 11) I’m not worried at all. Again, this is all just in relation to the first round of the playoffs.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Mar 30, 2010 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree with Docciavelli to a degree though – this isn’t how you want to go into the playoffs. We’ve got 6 games to turn this thing around.
On a side note, I’m upset that it’s game 75(?) and Boudreau still hasn’t figured out:
- That Poti isn’t a good penalty-killer, especially when it’s 5 on 3 or 4 on 3;
- and that Laing isn’t a good penalty-killer at all.
BB’s biggest weakness is his belief that certain players fill certain roles, regardless of their actual abilities or demonstrated performance. We’ve sucked all year on the PK, yet Poti and Steckel still get tons of ice time. It boggles my mind, and it’ll put us out of the playoffs.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Yeah, there was no reason with 18 seconds left to put out Poti, Steckel, and Laing. Were those really the 3 best guys on the bench for that situation? No way in hell.
I look to the future because that's where I'm going to spend the rest of my life.
Steckel I think was alright. He wins the draw, in all likelihood then the Caps clear and it goes to a shootout.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans no more intelligent than myself
by red army line on Mar 31, 2010 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Also, wow. I’ve seen people stupidly mix up “than” and “then” before but this idiot takes the cake. Wait, what?
by sixsevenfiftysix on Mar 30, 2010 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Boston cant score.
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Atlanta and Montreal can.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 30, 2010 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t want Montreal
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no kidding
between the Bell Centre, that power play, and Halak, that could be trouble
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by Chris Burton on Mar 30, 2010 11:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Yea Jose and Montreal, awesome!
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Didn’t realize it was only 20 SOG, but thinking back I can’t come up with many Caps shots late in the game.
I could almost hear the complaints in the stands when 55’s butt deflected one in. Can’t blame the kid on that—just a weird deflect. Man, do people give Schultz the business in the Verizon Center.
Sens had 28 blocked shots
Sutton alone had 7. That was a big reason for lack of SOG for the Caps tonight.
Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.
Any reason why the Caps don’t block a lot of shots? I realize the guys could be “saving” themselves for the playoffs, but I don’t remember us blocking a lot of shots during last year’s POs either. I do remember the Pens blocking a ton of shots against us though.
The Caps block shots pretty well. Ottawa may be the best team in the NHL at shot blocking…
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Mar 31, 2010 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions
Not that Theo should get the blame, but I don’t see how you can just let him off the hook for goals #1 or #3.
On #1 he’s got to make an effort to push off and get across, rather than just lean and try to block it like he did. Obviously the D made it way to easy for the Sens to move around, but Theo needs to do more than he did there.
On #3 it was a funny bounce, but it seems like one he should have been able to get. Schultz was keeping it from becoming a cross-ice pass, I guess, so Theo probably should have been able to focus on the shot a bit more (and yeah, obviously it bounced, but Theo looked like he was in a bad position for it).
Oh well, obviously he made his share of the big saves. If only this team had a PK…
can we trade Corvo for Sutton?
wish GMGM had a mulligan for that one. I was skeptical when I heard his name bandied about pre-deadline, but Sutton’s exactly what we need.
Cause Andy Sutton is the difference in winning the Stanley Cup? I hope that is the first and last time that sentence is ever written.
by freakinandpeakin on Mar 30, 2010 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions
not the difference per se
but a better fit for this team than Corvo.
by DonnieKnutts on Mar 30, 2010 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions
We’ll just have to disagree on that.
by freakinandpeakin on Mar 30, 2010 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Why, because BB has a hard-on for defensemen that suck?
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
by D'ohboy on Mar 30, 2010 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
you thought Sutton "suck"ed tonight?
really?
by DonnieKnutts on Mar 30, 2010 10:55 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ll bite. He didn’t impress me. Not to the point of actually thinking that he would have been a better fit for this team as compared to Corvo.
I can already see the complaining of how slow Sutton is if GMGM had acquired him.
by freakinandpeakin on Mar 30, 2010 10:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Sutton is Erskine with marginally more skill. He did nothing whatsoever impressive tonight.
Corvo is a one-man breakout with more skill in his skate laces than Sutton could ever dream of.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Exactly! And that is why Corvo was a better fit for this team. At this point Erskine can’t break the line-up on a regular basis, why do we want another Erskine like player on the team, who (without looking it up) is older and no faster that what Erskine provides.
by freakinandpeakin on Mar 30, 2010 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm sorry but Sutton is much better than Erskine
More solid, better skater, better shot blocker, and faster.
by DonnieKnutts on Mar 30, 2010 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions
No argument that he’s better than Erskine – we’ve already got 6-7 defensemen (8 if you count Alzner) in the system who are already better than Erskine. That’s not much of a bar to clear.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
And if you think about it, a big reason why PIT beat WSH last season in the playoffs was the play of Rob Scuderi, a terrific shot-blocker…
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans no more intelligent than myself
by red army line on Mar 31, 2010 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, but the Pens also had the puck a lot more than the Caps. Also, Scuderi didn’t just block shots, he did a great job on his assignments and denying scorers the puck in high percentage areas.
Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!
by Knee high to a duck on Mar 31, 2010 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions
I dunno, but his team won and yet he somehow managed to be -2, which is -1 more than anyone else on his team.
Other than that, how was the play Mrs. Lincoln?
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
he was awful on the Perrault goal
the Semin breakaway… well. It happens.
Look, he’s not a Norris candidate. He’s a good defensive defenseman. Getting trounced for consecutive first periods and giving up 5 goals in each game just makes me question the acquisition of Corvo, who to me has proven inferior to Pothier. Neither Corvo or Sutton are a pivotal piece maybe, I would just prefer the latter at this point.
by DonnieKnutts on Mar 30, 2010 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Hate on Corvo as much as you like, but next game . . . watch him when he gets the puck in his own end, and watch the results. 9.5 times out of 10, he gets the puck out under possession. During the same game, watch the other Caps “D” and compare. The only guy on the team who comes close is Green.
When (if) we play NJ/Pitt, that transition ability will be crucial.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Agreed; call me crazy, but I liked his game tonight.
"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 30, 2010 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions
How does getting trounced in consecutive first periods play into the Corvo analysis? It’s not like he’s the guy killing us. The team is coming out flat, from top to bottom. I don’t see how this is a fair critique on any individual.
And people that miss Potsy can keep saying Corvo is lateral or inferior to Potsy. It’s not even close to true. Potsy was a pretty skater, very fluid and graceful. Corvo is an explosive skater. He has a gear that Potsy doesn’t. He’s also capable of playing more minutes, has higher offensive upside, and is more consistent. If Potsy hadn’t been injured for a year and a half we wouldn’t be so nostalgic about him.
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.
No but there is now a real concern that the Corvo trade isn’t paying off. He’s been disappointing.
by Kolzilla on Mar 30, 2010 10:50 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I haven’t found him to be disappointing. The only way I can see that you can describe him as disappointing is that you expected or wanted him to be something he isn’t. He is a puck moving defensemen who is prone to the occasional boneheaded give away. He is as advertised.
by freakinandpeakin on Mar 30, 2010 10:56 PM EDT up reply actions
for me it's not that Corvo isn't "as advertised"
it’s the “as advertised” isn’t really helping this team right now.
by DonnieKnutts on Mar 30, 2010 10:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Well your first response indicates that you didn’t like the acquisition of Corvo from day one. I’m gathering you never were behind Corvo at all.
by freakinandpeakin on Mar 30, 2010 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions
I expect better hockey IQ than this. OK, he’s good at starting the breakout. Why is he out of position so often lately? What was he doing on Ottawa’s second goal? And why doesn’t Bruce trust him?
by Kolzilla on Mar 30, 2010 11:02 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
What exactly would you like him to do on OTT’s 2nd goal? Magically prevent Theo from getting knocked over by teleporting himself in-between ShaMo and Fisher?
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Sorry, believe it was the first goal. Whichever was scored on the odd man rush. He was way too aggressive in taking his man and things fell apart from there.
by Kolzilla on Mar 30, 2010 11:08 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Guy can't win
Against CGY Corvo was too passive on the odd man rush and JBo scored. He should have forced the play! Against OTT now he was too aggressive and left a man open. He should have sat back!
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.
i wasn't upset with getting Corvo at the time
and I was skeptical of Sutton because of his age. But hindsight is 20/20. After watching him closely the last month-plus, I think I know what Corvo is. Not a bad player, but not a significant positive to the team as it’s currently constructed. Sutton is not fleet of skate but he is not as slow as some make him out to be. He blocks a ton of shots, and he plays excellent positional defense. He could help more than Corvo. That’s my opinion more than a month after the deadline. Also… Sutton went for a 2nd round pick only. If I could go back in time, jump in GMGM’s head, and swap Corvo for Sutton, I would.
by DonnieKnutts on Mar 30, 2010 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Okay. Go back and make the switch. Corvo for Sutton. What are your defensive pairs?
by freakinandpeakin on Mar 30, 2010 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions
i'd let BB settle that
but Sutton on the PK. Definitely.
by DonnieKnutts on Mar 30, 2010 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s a cop out. You’ve sat here and said Sutton is a better fit for this team. You obviously have some notion where he would fit better on the team beyond having him on the PK, which accounts for maybe 3 or 4 minutes out of a 20+ minute game for him. Who would you pair him with if it were up to you?
by freakinandpeakin on Mar 30, 2010 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Without getting into the appropriateness of that pairing…who are you sitting to make sure Pothier and Sutton are in the line-up? If both are in the line-up that means three of the other defensemen have to be sitting.
Provided you would leave Erskine and Sloan out that leaves Green, Poti, Schultz, Sha-Mo, Carlson. Which, one sits? Can’t bring someone (or two) in without sitting someone else.
by freakinandpeakin on Mar 30, 2010 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions
So you’d take us from a team with 1 John Erskine and 3 D who know how to play with the puck to 2 John Erskines and 1 guy who knows how to play with the puck. I’m glad you’re nowhere near GMGM’s Blackberry.
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.
Hey hey…gets Poti off the PK!!!
I think the way to make Sutton work would be to put him with Schultz, a la Gill-Scuderi.
Green-ShaMo?
Sutton-Schultz
Carlson-Poti
I don’t like that.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans no more intelligent than myself
by red army line on Mar 31, 2010 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions
More ugly stats: just 20 shots in regulation equals the lowest total by the Caps this season. After the first period each team had 16 SOG. But, of course, it’s a 60 minute game.
Incorrect.
1st period shots on goal for the Caps – 4
For the Senators – 13
2nd period shots on goal for the Caps – 10
For the Senators – 12
3rd period shots on goal for the Caps – 6
For the Senators – 4
I don’t believe that first period shots on goal total for the Caps is correct, but I am also watching the first frame from around 200’ away, so. YMMV,
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It was poor language in the main thread. I think he meant to say that ignoring the first period, each team had 16 SOG.
Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.
Booo!!!!!
Good game by you guys tonight. That puts you in now?
"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 31, 2010 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions
One point away from clinching a playoff spot
If the Thrash and Rangers lost tonight, the Sens would’ve clinched that spot.
Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.
Hope we give you said help on Thursday with the Thrash, assuming you don’t play before then.
"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 31, 2010 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions
Worst game I’ve seen Backstrom play all year. Hands down.
Corvo, the MP-Fehr-Chimmer line, and Knuble all looked pretty good.
Sasha was Sasha.
Ovie still looks about 6 inches off.
Poti still sucks.
Good God how Poti sucks.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Hey, look at that picture up there, Poti sucks in that photo too.
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Sorry, no leaner photos for you, there were none in my section!!! :)
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Darn it! Well kinda…
To be or not to be. That's not really a question.
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Worst game I’ve seen Backstrom play all year. Hands down.
Let him walk!
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
Go Flyerz.
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by IRockTheRed on Mar 30, 2010 11:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Better yet, get him to sign tomorrow morning.
Russian Machine very rarely breaks. Oh and f**k Brooks Orpik.
I don’t want to think of who our first line center would be if they let Backstrom walk. But what team would be willing to cough up 4 1st rounders (or is it 2 first rounders and 2 second rounders) for him?
Rocking the Red since 1975
He’s signing here. Just thought now might be a good chance to seal something rather than when he’s having a monster stretch. Of course, he may realize that also. :-)
Russian Machine very rarely breaks. Oh and f**k Brooks Orpik.
Kevin Weekes was dead-on on “NHL On The Fly” tonight talking about the poor defensive posturing of the Capitals in games of late. In this game and others of late, notice that a lot of the opposing goal scorers are behind our D or in uncovered areas. And sometimes our D notice and scramble back to catch up with someone rushing to the net, plucking in a shot.
We need to better stake out our rink real estate b/c defense is all about location, location, location and right now we’re in the projects.
I’d actually disagree with what Weekes said tonight – our coverage issues this evening were mostly the fault of the forwards. The D had their men tied up.
1st goal? Backis.
3rd goal? Perrault/Chimmer
4th and 5th goals? Balls-ass lucky/Kovalev.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
a truer statement has never been made.
by freakinandpeakin on Mar 30, 2010 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Shift Chart
Just Interesting to note that ~mid-way through the 3rd, BB reverted to the 8-19-22 line,which is the opposite of what he did in the 13 Jan FLA game, when he switched from the 8-19-22 line back to the 8-19-28 line midway through the 2nd, although after that switch the caps came back from a 1-4 deficit for a 5-4 SO win.
Also, after Carlson left, the D pairings were mostly 52-55 & (3-77 or 3-26)
Started off:
8-19-28
14-18-22
25-85-16
53-39-10
52-55
26-77
3-74
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2680/4478123700_a04a8e9a3a_b.jpg
I can’t read, is that solid Red Line Theodore or Green? ;-)
Russian Machine very rarely breaks. Oh and f**k Brooks Orpik.
And Fehr got sat for almost the entire third. Flash got his normal shift to fuck around and be useless. BB’s inability to separate his personal man crushes from his personnel decision fucking blows.
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.
Importing my pictures from tonight’s game now. Theo was crap. As a Varlamovist I am vindicated.
Только игра! Почему надо быть гневаться?
"The power of Moscow pride should never be underestimated."
Caps Snaps - Washington Capitals Photography
Oh and Corvo wasn’t total crap tonight. It seems like if he tries than he’s actually pretty good.
Только игра! Почему надо быть гневаться?
"The power of Moscow pride should never be underestimated."
Caps Snaps - Washington Capitals Photography
He wasn’t hot, but he was far from crap.
"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 30, 2010 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Am I concerned? That depends. The Caps can take any of the better defensive teams but are going to really struggle against the better offensive teams. I think Peerless said/wrote it best: the Caps don’t have to outplay the other team’s defense; they have to outplay their own.
So, am I concerned? Against the Flyers, Rangers, or Bruins- No. Against the Habs or the Thrash- more and more.
It's the Caps . . . First team to 4, wins.
So I see that tonight sucked for everyone…ah well. Keep your chin up!
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Leafs were formally eliminated :(
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Momentofsilenceokaydone
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by Chris Burton on Mar 30, 2010 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Yea, totally unexpected!
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Right, almost like when we found out Ricky M was gay. It was similarly shocking.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 30, 2010 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions
This is the second time Ricky Martin’s sexual preference has come up today. What is going on here?
Every time the Swedish Swashbuckler scores a goal, an angel gets its wings.
by SeattleCapsFan on Mar 31, 2010 3:04 AM EDT up reply actions
in other shocking news, the sun rises in the east!
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It’s a secondary (tertiary?) goal for the Capitals of course, but it’s really not looking good on the Ovechkin-for-Art-Ross front.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Mar 30, 2010 11:13 PM EDT reply actions
Sedin is redonkulous
Points just keep coming from him. He’s like a robot.
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by Chris Burton on Mar 30, 2010 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions
He is pretty much the centerpiece of their offense
Bah-Ram-Ewe, Ovechkin will wreck you. Fear the Furious Fleece!
by kingzman264 on Mar 30, 2010 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions
if Burrows ever leaves VAN or that line he’s so hosed
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by Chris Burton on Mar 30, 2010 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Pretty Much
Bah-Ram-Ewe, Ovechkin will wreck you. Fear the Furious Fleece!
by kingzman264 on Mar 30, 2010 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Correction
A CRAZY robot.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Crazy like a fox.
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Backstrom had a better Olympics!
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by Chris Burton on Mar 30, 2010 11:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Eh. I think voters have made up their minds on that. To me—assuming that Ovechkin is “leading” right now—the only thing that could (not should) flip it would be a positively torrid finish by Crosby or a major upstaging of Ovechkin by Crosby when the two teams meet again.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Mar 30, 2010 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t know, if the Caps slump into the playoffs and Ovi doesn’t win the Art Ross or the Rocket, the voters might give it to one of the others.
Again, I’m not saying that Ovechkin WILL win the Hart Trophy. It’s possible the voters will give it to Crosby. But I highly doubt that anything that happens in the next few days is honestly going to swing a significant number of sportswriters on what essentially amounts to the “Sid vs. Alex” debate.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Mar 30, 2010 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions
The MVP award is only based on regular season performance. Playoff performance doesn’t count for that. (I assume they cast the votes before the playoffs start.)
Rocking the Red since 1975
What is the makeup between Canadian and American writers? If it’s mostly American, it will be between Crosby and Ovie and I think the last Pens Caps matchup could make a difference, especially if the Pens have something meaningful to play for and are denied. Sedin has to get a strong look, though, especially if the Canadian contingent argues for an alternative to the Sid vs. Ovie debate. Just my two cents.
erskine has scored...now i can die in peace
by souldrummer on Mar 30, 2010 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions
I really want him to win. . .he is still definitely in the running, but he has to break out of his slump next game.
Sedin has 2 points in his game already tonight so Ovie has some ground to cover
Bah-Ram-Ewe, Ovechkin will wreck you. Fear the Furious Fleece!
by kingzman264 on Mar 30, 2010 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Yep, I saw that, and it’s only the beginning of the 2nd. I thought Ovi looked better tonight than he has in awhile—hopefully the slump ends Thursday.
Srsly. . .like i said, the majority of their offense rotates around that first line.
It’s a shame PHX can’t lock their 1st line up
Bah-Ram-Ewe, Ovechkin will wreck you. Fear the Furious Fleece!
by kingzman264 on Mar 30, 2010 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Everyone else other than Ovie seems to be catching Cold goalies. . .
Bah-Ram-Ewe, Ovechkin will wreck you. Fear the Furious Fleece!
by kingzman264 on Mar 30, 2010 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Seen enough of Theo
Surprised you let him off the hook after at least 2 softies.
Last 7 starts (3 playoff teams & 4 nonplayoff teams): .894 Sv %. That’s 4 or 5 goals more over 7 games than he should be letting in.
He is not the answer, and this is the one area where GMGM and Bruce have really mismanaged the end of the season. Varly should have been getting many more rehab starts in Hershey and then when/if he reestablished himself, then he should have been brought back to DC as the #1.
Now the team is stuck w/ the same lousy goaltending situation they had going into the playoffs last year: Theo will be the #1 goalie by default, but not because anyone could possibly have much faith in him.
Yep, I’m kinda of surprised that I might be one of the fews who thought Theo had a bad game. I know he stopped the breakway, but those pucks that keep trickling in or bouncing off his body and in—that drives me crazy.
That great? 0.839 is bad.
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to be clear, in my last 7 games #‘s, I was including tonight. And in fairness, that wasn’t an abitrary endpoint — I chose 7 games b/c that’s when he turned back into a pumpkin.
The March games are— tonight, OTT 5 goals, .839,
CGY 3/27, 3 goals (pulled) .700,
PIT 3/24, 3 goals, .929, .
TBL 3/20, 1 goal, .971, .
FLA, 3/16, 3 goals, .917,
CHI 3/14,, 3 goals, 870
CAR 3/10.3 goals, 903,
NYR 3/6 shut out , and
BUF 3/3 1 goal, .958.
If anything, those are better numbers than Feb., where he had two games with 4 goals, 1 with 5, and save percentages below .880 in those three games.
Those are Toskala bad.
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Captain obvious strikes again!
Calgary seems to like him alright.
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by Ovechwin on Mar 30, 2010 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
…yea? They still have him don’t they?
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Mar 27 @ BOS L 0-5 0 14 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 6 6 1.000 0
Mar 21 @ MIN L 3-4 1 23 0 0 0 0 3 7.80 12 9 .750 0
Mar 17 @ COL W 3-2 1 60 1 0 0 0 2 2.00 34 32 .941 0
Mar 14 @ VAN L 1-3 0 39 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 8 8 1.000 0
Mar 7 @ MIN W 5-2 1 60 1 0 0 0 2 2.00 29 27 .931 0
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Well duh, but in general why would any one even want that mess to be their backup? If you’re looking to make the playoffs you don’t want Toskala.
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Yet he’s still not lost in 60 minutes since January.
"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 30, 2010 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions
So what? The comeback ties aren’t a credit to him. Wins-Losses are a terrible way to measure goalie performance.
You think Varlamov’s been shooting the lights out his last half dozen starts?
"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 31, 2010 12:00 AM EDT up reply actions
I did read your post, which implied you wanted to pull the plug. But both the short and long-term depth in the position doesn’t make a move prudent until after the end of the year. You didn’t need to get curt.
"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 31, 2010 12:04 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m on record here and have been since Varly regained health that the team had mismanaged his return. The highest leverage thing the team could have done in March is get Varly back in peak form. The way to do that is to play him regularly. My guess is that it’s better to do that at first at Hershey where the pressure and qual comp are lower, but they had him play literally one game, where he had a terrible and then two decent periods. Then they brought him up to DC and had hit sit and sit and sit. For what? The W-L in March didn’t matter at all.
And now they are exactly where I predicted they would be (look it up): stuck w/o a goalie they can rely on.
It’s management’s job to maximize the odds of post-season success, and here our mgt failed completely. To leave Varly sitting on the bench backing Theo up is inexcusable.
Then they brought him up to DC and had hit sit and sit and sit. For what? The W-L in March didn’t matter at all.
If memory serves (and in no particular order), he was hurt, then got hurt in Hershey, then went to Vancouver, and since coming back, has played in 6 of 14 games in March, and has gotten a .900 SV% once.
How exactly has he been rotting on the bench?
"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 31, 2010 12:18 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Since he got his first rehab start 2/7 and then got recalled, he has started 6 of 17 games. Yeah, again I’d say that’s terrible mismanagement. Hershey has probably had a similar # of games, so there are another 10 starts he could have had. Then we’d know FOR A FACT, based on ACTUAL PERFORMANCE, whether Varly was healthy and playing better than Theo is capable of on a regular basis (which was certainly the case earlier this year). Instead we’re stuck.
You can keep trying to change the critique (“rotting on the bench”) but that’s not moving anything forward.
If Varly had played in Hershey in February, we might have the data to assess whether he was healthy., etc. However, IIRC, Varly was adamant that he wanted to go to Vancouver, I seem to remember him saying he’d hang himself if he was so injured he was taken off the Russian team.
I think the “management” of Olympians was and will be a complicated issue for NHL teams, at least through Sochi.
How is having 3 goalies up here when your team is in the middle of a club-record winning streak terrible mismanagement? He got recalled, there were 3 games pre-break, and they all played. Varlamov went to Vancouver, ate nachos and hung out with Tretiak. He’s come back and played almost half the post-break games. What’s the problem?
I’m not trying to change the critique, but come on, two weeks with Tretiak is a class onto itself. He got playing time before the break, and is getting almost half the games since. It’s not mismanagement.
"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 31, 2010 12:51 AM EDT up reply actions
Ideally, I would have rather seen Varly get another start in Hershey before the pre-Olympic callup. But things didn’t work out.
Neuvy getting injured himself didn’t help matters any. Hence, Varly was thrown in the game against Ottawa when not ready.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Hence, Varly was thrown in the game against Ottawa when not ready.
Got a source for that? Because if he was apparently telling his coach otherwise.
"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 31, 2010 1:19 AM EDT up reply actions
To be fair, you know a guy will tell his coach he’s ready to play if that’s all it takes.
I’m with Carlos re: Varly. I do think that if he had been given greater opportunity to play, he could have returned to his pre-injury form.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Mar 31, 2010 1:21 AM EDT up reply actions
6 appearances (5 starts) in 14 games, broken .900 SV% once.
"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 31, 2010 1:27 AM EDT up reply actions
Remember the start of the year, when we were dealing with such a small sample size? Everyone was like OMGZ VARLY GIVES UP GOALS IN BUNCHES!!!. It took a while for him to get into his groove.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Mar 31, 2010 1:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Agreed, and I look forward to seeing him get a groove, but saying he’s been neglected by the coach or the team just isn’t the case.
"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 31, 2010 7:23 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, I remember him wanting to go back to HER. I also remember Tretiak praising the team’s handling of his tweaks as recently as 3 weeks before Vancouver.
"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 31, 2010 1:30 AM EDT up reply actions
if you think 6/17 is “almost half” I know why we’re talking past each other.
and “almost half” is the wrong thresshold. by the oly break we were well past the point where anything about the reg season mattered beyond setting ourselves up for the post season. To me that means figuring out who your #1 goalie is by getting Varly as many starts as possible (not “almost half”), and trying as many experiments as you can to fix the PK.
No, I think 6/14 is almost half. And again, there were 3 goalies up here, pre-break, and they all played.
Again, he’s had 6 appearances (5 starts) since the break, and has broken a .900 SV% once.
"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 31, 2010 1:25 AM EDT up reply actions
Sounds like you didn’t want to figure out who the starter was going to be, you wanted the Caps to hand the reigns to Varlamov regardless of performance. Theodore (with the exception of just the last two games, not the last 7) has been ridiculously hot in 2010, and Varlamov was mediocre in most of his starts. That’s why he wasn’t getting more starts.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Mar 31, 2010 6:15 AM EDT up reply actions
Is that what it sounds like? I said he should have been down in Hershey getting more starts.
And so far the counterarguments are: “they didn’t neglect him” and “they shouldn’t annoint him #1.” Gosh those are great points… in some other debate.
He wanted to be part of Vancouver. And again, sitting in that press box for 2 weeks with arguably the greatest goalie ever has probably helped in ways we don’t know about.
"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 31, 2010 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions
And so is simple Sv% given how the team has played. Go back and look at those games, the ones where his numbers look bad are the games when the Caps gave away at least one period. He battled all game and played well enough for the team to catch up. It’s not all on him.
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.
The only thing I’m putting on anybody is Criticism on BB and GMGM for not playing Varly more at Hershey (or in DC, but Hershey seems more sensible) both pre Oly break and post — he’s 10-12 starts down from where he could be on his “rehab/return” from injury. If he had 17-19 starts since returning in early Feb and fitted around going to the olympics vs. the 7 he has, he’d have either reestablished himself as our clear #1 / back in form / coulda been a rookie of the year, or he’d be continuing to struggle (as he has in his 7 games) and we’d know that for whatever reason he’s not likely to regain his form anytime soon.
I don’t put any blame on Theo. He is who he is. I did argue during his hot streak that we shouldn’t be fooled that he’s found another sustainable level b/c that struck me as highly improbable.
Honestly, I’m surprised by the pushback here. Seems unimpeachable, but I guess not since BB and GMGM themselves clearly preferred their strategy (tho my guess is that it wasn’t really a well thought-out and articulated strategy but instead they’ve been muddling along).
Finally, if you’re going to defend Theo b/c the team isn’t playing 60 min of hockey, well that was true in spades the first 2 months of the season when Varly was #1 so I guess you’d have to adjust his numbers accordingly, too.
BP already showed you that Varly has had 6/14 starts since the break. Before the break he wasn’t ready to play that much because of the injuries; he almost couldn’t even go to the Olympics. Plus, right before the break we went on a franchise best win streak and Theo and Neuvirth were both playing extremely well. How do you sit a hot goalie during a win streak? Not realistic. Varly has gotten chances since the break, and he’ll get a few more games. To be honest, I’m not even positive that a bunch more AHL starts would do much good for Varlamov, and who would be our back up if Varly went down? Remember, Neuvirth has been hurt lately.
I’m obviously not a Theo apologist and don’t have a ton of confidence in staying hot. What I am a proponent of is riding the hot hand, and since January that was Theo, not Varly.
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.
I’d much rather have Varly facing NHL shots in practice and in games. Plus, he’d had a long lay off. I like the slow and steady approach they’ve used. Plus, Theo had been on a tear, so no way do you sit him more just to get Varly more starts. Got no issue with how the Caps have handled this particular situation.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
Further to your point about the slow and steady approach, what about Varlamov’s body/injury history makes anyone think he’s ready to be thrown right back into the fire? BB could have played him 2 out of every 3 games and then when he gets hurt fans would complain that BB mismanaged Varlamov.
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.
This is from Dump and Chase — Mike Vogel posted this yesterday, so it doesn’t cover last night. What I take away from it is that Varly is still a long way from his pre-injury form. We can speculate on what Varly might have looked like if he’d played in Hershey rather than going to Vancouver, but I think it’s awfully hard to argue that his playing time since the Olympic break has been mismanaged.
Varlamov suffered a lower body injury in the midst of pitching a 3-0 road shutout over the Lightning on Dec. 7. He incurred another lower body ailment during a minor league rehab stint and did not make another NHL start until Feb. 11 in Ottawa. The Sens dented the Russian rookie for half a dozen goals that night, saddling the Caps with their first regulation loss in nearly a month.
Selected to start five of Washington’s first 13 games after the Olympic break, Varlamov allowed three or more goals in four of those contests. Since starting the season with a 12-1-2- mark, a 2.21 GAA and a .924 save pct. in his first 16 appearances, Varlamov is 1-3-3 with a 3.44 GAA and an .868 save pct. in his last seven appearances (six starts).
Playing for a team with a 4G/G average helps
I agree totally about the stupidity of the average person. Horrifyingly, nearly 50% of people are even stupider!
Which would explain Varlamov’s ability to win games in 60 minutes since the break. Oh wait…
"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 31, 2010 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions
Thing about Theo
He was overdue for a slump. Happens to all of them. You just don’t want it happening in April and beyond.
Russian Machine very rarely breaks. Oh and f**k Brooks Orpik.
Stecks seemed pretty willing to call out Backstrom for that OT penalty in the post-game video. Makes me wonder about the locker room right now. Not panicking, just curious—a little concerned, I guess, about chemistry given the last couple of games.
If wishes were horses, we'd all be eating steak.
by Hang a Laingtern on Your Problems on Mar 30, 2010 11:26 PM EDT reply actions
hopefully they’re a little pissed. . .would like to see a bit more umph in their game going down the stretch
Bah-Ram-Ewe, Ovechkin will wreck you. Fear the Furious Fleece!
by kingzman264 on Mar 30, 2010 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Definitely. But a certain point holding teammates accountable to the media just devolves into sniping, and that’s no good.
I don’t know. It might be a little early to start worrying about that, but I think it’s worth keeping an eye on if they keep playing like this.
If wishes were horses, we'd all be eating steak.
by Hang a Laingtern on Your Problems on Mar 30, 2010 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions
it was a dumb penalty though
no way around that
by DonnieKnutts on Mar 30, 2010 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m not disputing the validity of the statement, I’m just questioning the tone. I want them fired up, but I don’t want them pissed at each other. I think it’s a fine line, that’s all I’m saying.
If wishes were horses, we'd all be eating steak.
by Hang a Laingtern on Your Problems on Mar 30, 2010 11:59 PM EDT up reply actions
But did anyone really think we’d win in the shootout? If anything, it hopefully showed the coach how horrible our PK is.
it was a 4 on 3
Bah-Ram-Ewe, Ovechkin will wreck you. Fear the Furious Fleece!
by kingzman264 on Mar 30, 2010 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions
This is true, but what did u expect? The whole team was flat, did u expect eh PK to come out and somehow play that much better?
Bah-Ram-Ewe, Ovechkin will wreck you. Fear the Furious Fleece!
by kingzman264 on Mar 30, 2010 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Sorry if my last response came off a bit mean, didnt mean it too.
I mean that would have worked. . .but BB did put like Laing, Steckel, and Poti on the ice. . .ironic that the only good PKer of the 3 made the most egregious mistake
Bah-Ram-Ewe, Ovechkin will wreck you. Fear the Furious Fleece!
by kingzman264 on Mar 31, 2010 12:01 AM EDT up reply actions
hah ok good,
Well, Stecks lost the Face-Off in a very crucial moment.
Bah-Ram-Ewe, Ovechkin will wreck you. Fear the Furious Fleece!
by kingzman264 on Mar 31, 2010 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions
That’s who I thought you meant. But a lot of other “boards” seem to feel that Steckel is good for nothing other than winning draws, saying that he’s too slow to be playing the PK.
not at all, he is a good face off man, and pretty much perfect for a 4th liner and a PK forward
Bah-Ram-Ewe, Ovechkin will wreck you. Fear the Furious Fleece!
by kingzman264 on Mar 31, 2010 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions
I am one who has questioned Steckel being on the PK. Tonight certainly didn’t make me think any different.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
by Carl Putnam on Mar 31, 2010 12:27 AM EDT up reply actions
3 power plays. Our PK is so bad, you might as well add 1 to the number of goals the other team has. Okay, that’s an exaggeration but not much of one.
I know our PK percentage is below 80%. Today, it was 25%. Ottawa’s PK percentage was 75%.
Yes, we need to acquire some players who are good at PK.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Since we changed the PK scheme, and other than this game, the PK was a little above 85%. . .like i said above, it was a bad game for everyone almost.
Did you really expect either the PK to be much better? Would have liked to see the PP step it up, but alas. . .
Bah-Ram-Ewe, Ovechkin will wreck you. Fear the Furious Fleece!
by kingzman264 on Mar 30, 2010 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Our PK was average — for us. 1 for 4, a rate that is leading the league. Unfortunately, that’s not good enough for us to win.
3 goals out of 4 penalty kills is NOT acceptable.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Oh not at all. . .BB needs to fucking realize Poti should not be on the PK
Bah-Ram-Ewe, Ovechkin will wreck you. Fear the Furious Fleece!
by kingzman264 on Mar 31, 2010 12:01 AM EDT up reply actions
Semin, Steckel, Gordon, Fehr, or Laich as forwards
Green, Corvo, ShaMo, Carlson, or Schultz as D-Men
BB needs to allocate the TOI for the defense (and the Offense for that matter) better, so he can have the best guys on the ice in those imporant positions.
Bah-Ram-Ewe, Ovechkin will wreck you. Fear the Furious Fleece!
by kingzman264 on Mar 31, 2010 12:16 AM EDT up reply actions
Boudreau NEVER uses Fehr for PK. Laich and Gordon are not available. Semin was not used on PK tonight.
Knuble was used on PK for the first time in forever. (Essentially, it seems whoever is 1st line right wing does NOT do PK. Semin was 1st line right win for most of the 1st two periods and did no PK.)
I would like to try Fehr on PK. He can’t do any worse than the other guys we’ve tried.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Green on PK?
He’s also on PP and EV.
When does he get to take a break?
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Sorry, but that PK was against below average PP’s except for TB. Color me unimpressed.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
by Carl Putnam on Mar 31, 2010 12:28 AM EDT up reply actions
What stellar PP’s are we going to face in the POs, past the first round?
Buffalo? NJ? Pittsburgh?
We may see one in the WC final though. . .but we shall see
Bah-Ram-Ewe, Ovechkin will wreck you. Fear the Furious Fleece!
Past the first round. . .
Philly and Montreal tote some high powered PKs. #3 and #2 respectively, but I think we could handle them with an 85% PK
Bah-Ram-Ewe, Ovechkin will wreck you. Fear the Furious Fleece!
It’s all good.
However. . .there are still like 3 teams at 82, 1 at 80, and another at 78. . .we could meet any of the 5 come play off time
Bah-Ram-Ewe, Ovechkin will wreck you. Fear the Furious Fleece!
What’s our percentage — besides sucky? And obviously worse after tonight’s game.
Rocking the Red since 1975
I really hope he realized how horrible it is long before tonight’s OT.
Every time the Swedish Swashbuckler scores a goal, an angel gets its wings.
by SeattleCapsFan on Mar 31, 2010 3:07 AM EDT up reply actions
It was horrible all game. Has our PP percentage now sunk below our PK percentage?
Rocking the Red since 1975
You’re joking, right?
The Caps’ #1 PP is at 25.7%. The #2 PP (Mon) is at 22.3%.
The team has had the same # of PP as the Pens (296), yet they’ve scored 76 goals vs the Pen’s 50 goals.
Sorry, but worrying about our PP is as stupid as the idiots in my section that kept screaming “SHOOT” every time a Cap had the puck.
"It hit me on the pants. I had protection. It felt good. Why? I wanted to win."
Unfortunately, I am NOT joking. I know that we’re usually at 25% or so in the PP department which is at or near the top of the league.
Our PK, on the other hand is awful. At one point, our PK had dipped below 80% Did last night’s statistics actually dip it below 75% yet?
Rocking the Red since 1975
Then what did you mean by the following?
Has our PP percentage now sunk below our PK percentage
"It hit me on the pants. I had protection. It felt good. Why? I wanted to win."
I’ll admit I expressed it poorly. I meant to say has the other team’s percentage of scoring on the PP against us topped our PP percentage yet? Is the other team’s PP percentage now ahead of our PP percentage? Has our PK dropped below 75%, making the opposition PP percent better than our 25%?
Rocking the Red since 1975
The only worry I have is that the PP is very streaky. If it’s cold in the playoffs, we could be in trouble.
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.
As is our PK. When our PK is bad, it’s horrid. And we can ill afford a horrid PK streak in the playoffs.
Rocking the Red since 1975
To say that our PK is streaky is to imply that there are times when our PK is hot.
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.
Not a happy camper about today’s game — at all. If they don’t turn it around soon, the 8th seed will have a great chance of advancing past Round 1.
Rocking the Red since 1975
pfft
Come on. You do realize how good your team is, right? Take it from a fan who’s been through a lot of shit- this is nooooooooothing. So you lost. You’re still the best team in the league by wide margins with the best player in the world and the odds-on Cup favorite in many circles.
Yeah, Boston can totally take you guys…..
when hell freezes.
On the Forecheck: a blog that's more productive than a Predator power play!
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Now Cycling like the Sedins
by Chris Burton on Mar 30, 2010 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions 12 recs
I do realize how good the team WAS earlier this year — back in the Stone Age, in the days when Brooks Laich was healthy.
And, by the way, I’ve been a fan of this team for 35 years. So it’s not like I haven’t been through a lot of crap. The Triple OT loss on Easter Sunday. The heartbreaking defeats in 1985 and 1986.
Rocking the Red since 1975
back in the Stone Age
Oh, come on. Really.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Mar 30, 2010 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Someone is a little over dramatic tonight…
To be or not to be. That's not really a question.
Follow me on Twitter! I even say some relevant stuff sometimes!
Founding member of the Tyler Sloan Fan Club
Yes, I’ll admit to being a bit over dramatic. It seems like it’s been awhile since we’ve won. If the Caps recent performance indicates anything, it’s indicating that their real MVP is Brooks Laich. They haven’t been the same team without him. They could lose Ovi or Semin or Knuble or Fleischmann and still win but without Brooks Laich…..
Rocking the Red since 1975
What if Baxter goes down?
To be or not to be. That's not really a question.
Follow me on Twitter! I even say some relevant stuff sometimes!
Founding member of the Tyler Sloan Fan Club
Gimme a break. My team sucked eggs tonight too. But its not over. Just refer yourself back to my above post.
On the Forecheck: a blog that's more productive than a Predator power play!
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Now Cycling like the Sedins
by Chris Burton on Mar 30, 2010 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions
At least not losing this year. But losing at the moment can be worrisome so close to the playoffs. Granted, the games are “meaningless” for us at the moment but we don’t want to limp into the playoffs.
Rocking the Red since 1975
I share your concern. Let’s not step towards the ledge quite yet though. we’ll wait until they lose four in a row to start panicking ;)
Yes, your team’s offense had one of those days. LA is a team the Caps have major trouble with — as well.
I will admit, I’ve lived through an awful lot of heartbreaking Caps’ playoff losses and I’m worried about them at the present time.
I would like to think that they could make it past Boston or Atlanta this year but there’s still this paranoid voice in the back of my mind.
Rocking the Red since 1975
I think we should only be worrying about Boston or Atlanta taking us to a game 6. . .
This team, on a bad day, could beat Boston or Atlanta 4 times
Bah-Ram-Ewe, Ovechkin will wreck you. Fear the Furious Fleece!
by kingzman264 on Mar 31, 2010 12:19 AM EDT up reply actions
This year, we beat Boston twice. Last year, we beat Boston 3 times and lost once in OT and Boston was good.
We’ve had better luck beating Atlanta this year than last.
(Okay guys, time to beat Boston and Atlanta. If any motivation is needed, think “possible first round playoff opponent”. And, guys, you don’t want to look like a fool against your first round playoff opponent.)
Rocking the Red since 1975
I think Semin feels he needs to step up his game after being immortalized in bobblehead form.
Только игра! Почему надо быть гневаться?
"The power of Moscow pride should never be underestimated."
Caps Snaps - Washington Capitals Photography
By step up, do you mean be even more frustrating?
To be or not to be. That's not really a question.
Follow me on Twitter! I even say some relevant stuff sometimes!
Founding member of the Tyler Sloan Fan Club
I mean score goals. He’ll still always be the Sasha we love and hate.
Только игра! Почему надо быть гневаться?
"The power of Moscow pride should never be underestimated."
Caps Snaps - Washington Capitals Photography
Our PK, as usual, is a total disaster. We scored one PP goal. They scored 3 PP goals, including in over time. Should our first priority this off season be to acquire guys who are good at PK? Maybe study the teams who are great at PK and if any of the good PK’ers are free agents, sign them up.
Rocking the Red since 1975
I’m pretty sure it’s about coaching, not the guys. By way of analogy, somehow, Bylsma — who otherwise seems like a decent coach — has destroyed the PIT PP. That’s some trick.
Not in the mood for reading- i'm assuming someone else picked up on this
Maybe the worst game I’ve ever seen Backstrom play, usually he is a bright light amongst the dark..but tonight even he wasn’t doing much
It was a very subpar game for him. He’s off right now for whatever reason.
DC Landing Strip - Waxed and Ready to Go
I have faith he and Ovie will rediscover the magic in time for the playoffs. I mean they have to, right?
DC Landing Strip - Waxed and Ready to Go
Well, if you talk to some fans from Sweden, they’ll tell you that it’s Ovi bringing Nicky down, and then they’ll point to how many more points Nicky scores when Ovi is out.
I read the Caps fan boards the other day and someone was posting that exact sentiment. The person was clearly a Backstrom fan and thinks Ovi is bringing him down.
Rocking the Red since 1975
I hope any haters who don’t believe Mike Green deserves the Norris because he’s not a “two-way player” were watching the game tonight. He was a force, and made a few great defensive plays to eliminate scoring chances for the Sens. For the first half of the game he seemed like the only Cap who had any energy.
DC Landing Strip - Waxed and Ready to Go
Green was great in both ends of the rink tonight, for sure.
Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.
I was watching the Ottawa feed after the first intermission and one of three guys in the studio said that Green was not going to win the Norris because he was a defensive liability most of the time, that he was +33 because the Caps score a lot of goals. What a fruit cake! He said that the Norris was going to be won by one of the defensemen selected in the Olympics. I did like the other guys’ response to that though. He mentioned some player’s name, I forgot who, and said that just because said player was selected to the Olympics doesn’t mean he should win the Hart.
Lobbies: Green, Carlson, Orlov
by CapsFan2020 on Mar 31, 2010 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions
The last few games Green has looked been a rock on defense
Playing great.
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
Interesting to compare two Washington teams with motivational issues
Wizards – Playing out the string. Just about everybody is getting paid big time with guaranteed contracts and playing out the string means watching the other team dance around you.
Caps – Playing out the first periods. Get hit, embarassed booed, and struggle with mental issues. Inevitably the pain or the embarassment motivates to some kind of effort.
Even when this team is struggling with mental issues and motivational issues, it still seems to me that this sport brings out heart in its fans and its players. Matty P’s effort tonight, drawing the penalties as much as his goals is one big reason why hockey has supplanted basketball for me in terms of interest. Green was a warrior as well.
For me, the panic button happens if we lay an egg against Pittsburgh at the Igloo. Until then, the Caps can draw upon the goodwill they’ve made on this hockey convert. Disappointed, but not panicking or frustrated with a team capable of playing better but struggling with real motivational and injury challenges in a demanding and exhausting game.
erskine has scored...now i can die in peace
I’d like to see them get it turned around before they meet the Pens at the Igloo next week.
Rocking the Red since 1975
As would I. But I think then the injury issues may be in better shape first of all. Got to believe Brooksie will answer the bell for that game at least and Shamo’s teeth won’t interfere with his brain and BMo might be back and somebody will be able to take Laing’s jersey.
BTW – When Brooksie comes back does it make any sense to play Perraulx instead of Laing?
erskine has scored...now i can die in peace
by souldrummer on Mar 30, 2010 11:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Brooks isn’t the one Perreault needs to worry about—it’s Brendan Morrison. I’m a big MP fan, but I don’t see BB having him here when everyone is healthy.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Mar 30, 2010 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I understand that. I’m just saying that Brooks will come back soon and I’m wondering who will lose a sweater as a result. Seems like it ought to be Laing.
erskine has scored...now i can die in peace
by souldrummer on Mar 30, 2010 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions
It was nice of the team to start Matty’s line first so he could get a nice welcome from 18,000 MP fans. And Wes made sure to introduce him last.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
Eric Belanger might be the worst shooter on the team. Guy just can’t seem to get the puck on net from any angle/distance.
DC Landing Strip - Waxed and Ready to Go
You don’t understand? He’s a Beast therefore he has claws not hands but flying powers. He exchanged his hands for flying powers when he became the Beast.
erskine has scored...now i can die in peace
by souldrummer on Mar 30, 2010 11:45 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
If he makes a beeline for guys who board MP like he did tonight, I don’t care if he doesn’t do any better than the 12-15 goals a year he gets now.
"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 30, 2010 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Chimera is a warrior and despite the aesthetic ugliness of his shot at times I’d rather have 12-15 goals of Mean Beast Machine than 8-10 goals of Unassailable Clubhouse Karma.
erskine has scored...now i can die in peace
by souldrummer on Mar 30, 2010 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Trade Deadline Drama
Is it just me, or foes anyone else think the draft day deals have shook up the team? I just haven’t seem them as cohesive as before the Olympic break. Sure, the break might have cooled them off, and maybe having a huge lead on the east and bead on the prez trophy has sapped their motivation; but I’m not seeing the same team I saw before mid-February, and part of the reason may be that 20% of the lineup has changed.
by The Jade Donkey on Mar 31, 2010 12:17 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
It might be because we have never played the same lines from before the deadline. Since the deadline, it has been pretty much different lines every few games
Bah-Ram-Ewe, Ovechkin will wreck you. Fear the Furious Fleece!
by kingzman264 on Mar 31, 2010 12:18 AM EDT up reply actions
Now there’s no choice. We have to play different lines due to all the injuries. No Gordon and no Laich.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Counter-Point
The Caps won 11 of 12 to end the ‘08 regular season, and it didn’t translate into early playoff success – down 3-1 to the Flyers pretty quickly.
Distinguish away.
The keyboard is mightier.
I wondered if the Caps had run out of gas that year after the regular season when there was no margin for error at the end of the season.
Rocking the Red since 1975
That is exactly what I believed happened, along with inexperience with playoff hockey. They were up against the wall from Thanksgiving on
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
by Carl Putnam on Mar 31, 2010 12:36 AM EDT up reply actions
Further Counter-Points
In ‘08-’09, the Wings went 3-6-1 heading into the playoffs, then made it to the Cup Finals.
In ‘07-’08, the #1 seed Canadians were red hot, 8-1-1 heading into the playoffs, then were dispatched by the #8 Bruins.
In ‘06-’07, Anaheim was 5-3-2 heading into the playoffs, then won it all.
The keyboard is mightier.
by breed16 on Mar 31, 2010 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Thanks for the counter points, breed16. It’s needed here.
Must admit I’ve been worried, after the Caps’ so-so play in March and April of last year especially when a blogger last year, I think it was Peerless, who had compiled stats that essentially said that teams who limped into the playoffs had a poor chance of winning the Stanley Cup.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Wow. You just made me put down my panic button. . .ty. . .
Still worried about the overall look of the team. . .but not as much i guess
Bah-Ram-Ewe, Ovechkin will wreck you. Fear the Furious Fleece!
If they can close out the season with some wins.
I’ll feel better if they win Thursday — for starters.
Rocking the Red since 1975
I would like to see us when the last 6. If the team actually plays well, i think they could do it
ATL x 2
BOS x 2
Pitt x 1
CBJ x 1
Bah-Ram-Ewe, Ovechkin will wreck you. Fear the Furious Fleece!
We know they CAN do it, but will they all show up for these last 6 games. I still can’t help but think that they’re mentally afraid to put it all on the line because they don’t want to get injured for the POs. And as BB said in his postgame, they’re waiting to see how the other team comes out first instead of attacking.
He certainly is an improvement over our other centers — at least our centers not named Nick.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Hopefully that’s only on the ice.
So sad what happened with Gaets…. he was so young.
As for Perreault reminding me of Gaets… he’s got some of the skills, but I think MP is better offensively. I don’t know if he’ll be on the PK with the Caps as the team is now, once Laich comes back, mostly because the Caps have several better PK forwards than MP. I’m very impressed with the progress he’s made since this fall…
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Mar 31, 2010 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Small-ish, Q’cois energy forward with middle-plus skills, nice hands and good ice sense, who can score 12-18 goals in the League but more valued because he can create on a third or fourth-line (above which he cannot go because of size).
Yeah, that was Gaetan. Look like Matty.
(BTW, it WAS sad what happened to him. I got to know him pretty well before he was traded and he was a genuine, sweet, happy guy. My oldest son (now 30!) loved him as a toddler and called him “Eggcan,” which Gaets, with his then-limited English, really loved.
I have some possible good news to report, gang.
On CI, they said that Brooksie may be coming back for Thursday’s game.
That will be great. We can’t live without Brookie!
(I had a crazy suggestion after the first period. I suggested that what ever left winger is assigned to play on a line with Semin should wear a Laich #21 jersey and pretend to be Laich. In that way, trick the guys into believing that Laich is there and play better as a result.)
Rocking the Red since 1975
If they trick themselves into acting like Laich — the pretenders may make it to the bakery.
by miseenjeu on Mar 31, 2010 1:01 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
The pretenders would go to the bank and ask for bread…
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Mar 31, 2010 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions
I love the caps, y?
They are so done with the regular season, the boys want the playoffs To begin NOW
by Mikko Leinonen's opposite on Mar 31, 2010 1:39 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
As much as the team seems to be ‘slumping’ right now, I have a good feeling that we will be able to use what ever team that ends up in the 8th spot as ‘warm-ups’ for the rest of the play-offs. I don’t see any of the teams really challenging a Capitals team that really wants to win. After 4 or 5 games of playing in that atmosphere, getting a feel for play-off hockey with this high-powered team, they will be ready for the next rounds
Bah-Ram-Ewe, Ovechkin will wreck you. Fear the Furious Fleece!
I hope you’re right, Kingzman. If anything, the Caps have two game apiece against both the Thrashers and the Bruins so they get a preview of their Round 1 opponent in any case. If that preview doesn’t get them motivated, I don’t know what will.
And we’ll see a different goalie on Thursday. Okay kid, it’s your pitch.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Posted photos from last night's game on my website:
http://capssnaps.blogspot.com/2010/03/capitals-vs-senators-33010.html
Please take a look, I’ve got some nice shots.
Here’s the FanShot
Только игра! Почему надо быть гневаться?
"The power of Moscow pride should never be underestimated."
Caps Snaps - Washington Capitals Photography
Not that this hasn’t been said, but Semin’s first goal is so pretty.
Even atheists believe in Matt Wieters
Both of his goals were highlight reel…. and they’re tarnished by the stupid penalty in the third. :)
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Mar 31, 2010 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Knuble miss on the 2-on-1
If Knuble one-times the pass from Ovechkin, we’d have won…it ultimately decided the game…
Nah. It was a big play and would have helped, but considering the first period it didn’t decide the game. The refs didn’t decide the game. The Caps and Sens decided the game.
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.
I’d say the Caps’ inability to show up for a first period decided the game. The Sens, like the Flames before them, just took advantage of what was given them.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Parenthetically, how on earth did Spezza get four points? That has to be the weakest 4 point effort I’ve seen in a long time.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
And he was still a disaster in his own end. I agree that the Caps not showing up for the first was the deciding factor, but I’m giving OTT some credit for taking advantage of it and executing on the PP.
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.
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