Semyon Varlamov: Trying to Shake Off the Rust
by J.P. on Mar 9, 2010 12:00 PM EST
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Print"The first two periods he was good. He was stopping the puck and he was smooth." - Bruce Boudreau on Semyon Varalmov's performance against Dallas, 3/8/10
Since returning just prior to the Olympic break from a two-month absence due to a groin injury, Semyon Varlamov hasn't looked much like the goalie that was on a four-game win streak (highlighted by a pair of shutouts) during which he sported a sparkling 1.23 goals against average and a .951 save percentage at the time he was sidelined. In fact, his 1-1-1/4.24/.843 post-injury line is downright ugly.
Even uglier, perhaps, is the way in which those numbers have been compiled - take away his first period back in the NHL (a rough three-goal frame in Ottawa) and he's sported an outstanding 1.80 GAA and .930 SV% over five first and second periods, but has a woeful 6.46 GAA and .750 SV% in three third stanzas (allowing at least two goals in each). Semyon Varlamov, it would seem, is not presently conditioned to be able to give the Caps sixty minutes of quality goaltending. (Might his February have been better spent in Hershey than in Vancouver?)
And yet, it's this very same split that provides reason for optimism - as Varly returns to game shape, presumably so to will his game.
Due to his play and that of the guy in front of him, Varly is clearly the number two goalie in town right now. Whether he regains the top spot - or slips to third - remains to be seen.
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maybe Gabby can start a new trend in goaltending and have a starter, then a closer – like pitchers in baseball.
Maybe it was me but he looked very jumpy in net. He had positioning down as the puck was coming into the zone, but as soon as anything was crossing the ice he was lunging pretty hard to keep up with it, forcing him to be out of position as he ended up pushing himself too far or had so much momentum he couldn’t re-adjust. The Stars were shooting very poorly and had they not gotten a little over-eager they would have been up a goal or two in the first.
I have to suspect whether or not Varlamov is truly 100% or playing through an injury. He just looks so busch league right now.
President and sole member of the Erskine lobby.
Jumpy might not be the right word, but “thinking too much”
President and sole member of the Erskine lobby.
I wonder if some of that is a result of sitting out the olympics talking things out with tretiak (sp?)
I actually think “jumpy” is a great word for it – he had happy feet all night last night, often not getting properly set.
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I agree, he just never looked comfortable, like he didn’t trust himself. I think he needs as much time in net as we can afford to give him at this point.
Every time Nicky scores a goal, an angel gets its wings.
by SeattleCapsFan on Mar 9, 2010 12:14 PM EST up reply actions
The Stars were shooting very poorly and had they not gotten a little over-eager they would have been up a goal or two in the first.
He did look shaky last night, but he was hung out to dry a couple times in the first period and responded with some good lateral movement to make the save. He just has to reign it in a little and I think that will come as he gets more comfortable playing at his level again.
"We are such fans of your music and all of your records. I'm not speaking of yours personally, but the whole genre of the rock and roll."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Mar 9, 2010 12:21 PM EST up reply actions
Even then, what’s happened to his glove side? Seems heading back towards last season, even though it looked a lot better earlier this season.
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by red army line on Mar 9, 2010 12:42 PM EST up reply actions
Agreed – his glove has regressed, but likely only due to the lingering rust.
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Richards’ goal was almost identical to Guerin’s goal in Game 7- over commitment to his left post leaving the top right corner wide open. As he gets tired he gets sloppy. He doesn’t make that mistake when he’s fit.
by ChrisAm on Mar 9, 2010 1:35 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
This is the biggest problem I have seen throughout Varlamov’s career thus far with the Caps. Without Irbe’s coaching on a regular basis (and he lost out on that during the Olympic Break and for a good part of his time injured), he falls back on his athleticism to save him, and at the moment, that isn’t enough. He’s wearing out after about 40 minutes.
He needs to get his conditioning back, and he needs coaching from Irbe to get the technique he was starting to show back under his belt… I just don’t know if it can be done fast enough for this season.
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Gee, why are you using the German spelling for “bush” in “busch league” or are you hinting he looks like a beer league goalie.
BTW, “busch” is the German word for “bush”.
Rocking the Red since 1975
I am in favor of alternating the rest of the season, starting with Theo in the playoffs, and then assessing whether to go Varly or Neuvy if we need a Plan B.
Russian Machine very rarely breaks. Oh and f**k Brooks Orpik.
Btw, I tried and failed to make “Rust Never Sleeps” reference in the title.
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I was at the game, so I saw “Live Rust.”
by patred48 on Mar 9, 2010 12:51 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Jose did well against the Rangers and Brandon Prust.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 9, 2010 12:56 PM EST up reply actions
Excellent point on the conditioning factor as it relates to sucking in the 3rd period. Here’s hoping that your theory is correct, counselor.
That third goal looked like a guy whose legs were tired and the musles just weren’t reacting as quickly as his mind was telling them to. Frankly, as bad as that goal was, it bothered me the least. When he’s in shape and on his game, that’s a shot he stops 100 times out of 100. I agree with others who said he looked jumpy. He just seemed to be thinking too much. I think we’ll see marked improvement for Varly with each progressing game and two weeks from now we’ll all wonder why we were worrying so much.
My concern is, what if he doesn’t regain his game before the playoffs, and meanwhile Neuvirth won’t have played an NHL game in two months? I would think they would want to get Neuvirth into some games before the playoffs, and there aren’t many starts left, especially if you’re rotating three goalies.
That is my fear as well. Even worse, what if Theo goes cold? Then we would be relying on a cold Theo and Neuvy who hasn’t played much recently at the NHL level. This was why I was concerned that we didn’t make a move for a goalie at the deadline. Here’s to hoping the rust isn’t very thick!
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by Green_with_Envy on Mar 9, 2010 12:50 PM EST up reply actions
It’s the risk they’ve assumed. There simply aren’t enough hours in the day and games in the season to balance three goalies. Bruce has gone on out on the limb assuming that his two best options will be Theo and a Varlamov that has worn off the rust.
He had to make that decision now, not later, because he acknowledged that it takes time to wear off that rust. We can be grateful then, as fans, that he didn’t spin his wheels between Varly and Neuvy and instead made a decision, even if it turns out to be the wrong one. Better than being complacent and ending up with two half-chances (neither of which would work) in my opinion.
The third goal was a bad goal, but the first two and two from his last start we’re more on the feet of the penalty killers than his own I think. Someone needs to tell these guys that ceding the crease to the opposition while they’re on the power play isn’t a good idea.
First one was I believe a problem with the PK system — Steckel made a pretty huge mistake but it shouldn’t have been a dagger. Someone should have been tight out there to help out. Second, some KHL defensin’ out front of the net. Third was pretty inexcusable for sure.
He just needs probably another 5 games or so to get things sorted out mentally and physically. I was kind of hoping for the Bettman Shootout, aka BS so Varlamov would have a chance to just be out there alone and concentrate. It would have been better if we had won, but it is what it is.
Kid has some ways to go, probably 5 games or so before he’s back up to 915-920ish. Honestly if it wasn’t for the fact that Carolina is playing like madmen it would be great to put Varlamov back in net to see what he can do. I’m sure Theo understands what Varlamov is going through so I can’t imagine it hurting at all.
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I assume it will be Theo in goal tomorrow. And Varly on Friday. (Or will it be Theo on Friday?)
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I’m not even sure if it’s conditioning. From what I saw last night, it might just be mental focus. Neither of the first two goals impressed me as the result of conditioning issues. He just wasn’t ready for the shots. This is a guy who played almost no competitive hockey for almost three months. As much as a goalie’s game is mental, keeping 60 minute focus isn’t something one can turn on like a light switch. And getting a two goal lead after 40 might have made the mind wander a little further off the reservation.
If you've read this far...seek help.
I think that mental conditioning (i.e. losing focus in the 3rd) is a part of overall conditioning.
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by J.P. on Mar 9, 2010 12:39 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Definitely agree. As your body gets tired it is much, much more difficult to remain mentally focused and sharp.
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.
Well said, Peerless. He and Jose, I submit, are playing for the same reasons, but the circumstances are vastly different for each. Varly is in developmental stage and the lost minutes due to injury are killing him. Sure, he was able to talk to his oracle Tretiak and soak up the pearls of wisdom, but at some point even Tiger Woods has to stop talking to the swing coach and hit the ball. I’m not worried about Varly in the least. He has proven SOMETHING.
Jose, on the other hand, has the twin burdens of a contract year AND massive emotional waves affecting his play. It appears that the last couple months have been cathartic for JT, and in a good way. I’ll be rooting for him, if he is the number one come playoff time.
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They laughed at Columbus, they laughed at Fulton, they laughed at the Wright brothers. But they also laughed at Bozo the Clown.
For those looking for a sign that “as Varly returns to game shape, presumably so to will his game,” just look back at his first two games this season. He gave up one goal through two periods at home against Toronto, then 3 in the third, then he was pulled after four goals in 25 shots at Philly.
But that was early in the season – when presumably he, like the rest of his team, was not quite on his game yet. He sorted things out as the year went on until he got injured. Same thing happened with Theo and any number of the skaters in front of them.
I think when we all say Varly will return to “game shape” we’re referring to the stretch of the season between early November and early December when he was injured. 2 shutouts, a GAA of around 1.70, save % of .941…that’s Varly’s “game shape”.
i think the whole team looks out of sorts and confused as to what to do now. You win 14 in a row, dont lose at home virtually ever, run up a 30 pt div lead, a huge conference lead, trade for 4 more players and have 3 playable goalies, i think that figuring out where everyones place is and WHAT to play FOR right now is very difficult. Lets be realistic, the only thing left in place to decide is the presidents trophy. Frankly i could give a shit if we win it. The team playing best by the Finals is going to win on any ice they play on. This team is just bored, lets face it. Maybe a slight chemistry question, but i dont see that as much as maybe some guys being bummed out for lack of playing time. Hopefully they all see the value in having to acquire these players now because someone WILL likely get hurt at some point. Much rather the Caps have their mind on the playoffs right now and not so much into these games than the other way around, but , as we saw last year with PIT and CAR, it is imperative to start cleaning up some of these defensive lapses and start preparing hard for playoff mode soon, as the way you play in march/april often goes a long way to your success in the playoffs.
by lifetime caps fan on Mar 9, 2010 12:42 PM EST reply actions
Maybe rein in the ice time for the Young Guns to under, say, 20 mins for Ovie even, and increase playing time for guys like Schultz and Carlson, to make the games tougher, but also to get everyone in the habit of contributing?
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by red army line on Mar 9, 2010 12:45 PM EST up reply actions
Completely agree with this. There’s no need to ride the Young Guns heavily at this point and getting other guys in the habit of contributing can only be a good thing.
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.
Boudreau just doesn’t want to make a fool of the Geico Caveman and not have Mike Green on the ice the entire time (30 minutes this last game)
Stop hatin’
President and sole member of the Erskine lobby.
Only reason I can see for not limiting their ice time is wanting Ovie to ice the Richard and Ross before pulling him in.
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by red army line on Mar 10, 2010 10:40 AM EST up reply actions
I’m worried a lot about chemistry too. Think about it from the players’ position. You’ve just had a historic month, everything was clicking, team is running away with the league title, and then you add four more guys. So now there’s a logjam in the bottom half of the lineup, and anyone with a jersey is thinking every shift is his only chance to show coach he belongs there full time. And even if you succeed, you’re probably going to sit next game. Line chemistry breaks down since they’re changing every night, and no one knows quite what their place on their line or on the team is.
There’s something to be said for putting on the pressure to play your best every night, and the extra guys on the roster do that to some extent. But I am really hoping the constant lineup changes don’t totally screw with the team that was gelling over the last few months.
About Varly, I’m also not worried. He needs some time to get his game back, but it’ll get there. He started off the season wobbly before gaining his footing, I think the same thing will happen here as long as he gets some playing time.
Regarding team chemistry: I am ok with the line mismatching and pressure on the bottom half of the line up for now…as everyone has pointed out, this is the time to do it, with the points cushion we have. But I’d say by the end of the month BB needs to sit back and start sending his team out with some consistency. I think team chemistry can very easily be found again, we just have to give it enough time to develop.
Every time Nicky scores a goal, an angel gets its wings.
by SeattleCapsFan on Mar 9, 2010 1:06 PM EST up reply actions
i think BB is just letting these next 2-3 weeks be an evaluation. He would NEVER sit Fleishmann. He is going to lock into a lineup soon. Remember how quickly he yanked theo and schultz after game 1 last year..When the time is right, he will have all the info he needs to make the right calls, and right now he has a bigger pool of players to choose from. This will all get sorted out. Even as fans, we are restless. The playoffs are taking forever to get here and we are all still angry about game 7 last year and just want redemption and waiting 12 full months to get it is tough..
by lifetime caps fan on Mar 9, 2010 1:12 PM EST up reply actions
I think LCF is saying that now is an evaluation period and that if it was “for real,” Bruce would never sit Flash.
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thank you JP…you can come with me overseas and be my translator.. if ever needed..
by lifetime caps fan on Mar 9, 2010 1:18 PM EST up reply actions
u r making my point. i think you misunderstood the tone..he would not ORDINARILY ever sit Fleishmann. NEVER….but with all these guys, he is in a different mindset—-player evaluation , mostly the new guys and line combos.. so its just a weird time for now for these last 16 games
by lifetime caps fan on Mar 9, 2010 1:17 PM EST up reply actions
He figured that Flash needed a rest, with the Olympics and everything else going on.
This is not a normal time for playing time. People are more likely to be scratched in general. A slightly dinged up player would probably get scratched these days when normally that would not be the case.
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Not an ordinary moment
I rarely post but feel the need to add that IMHO when BB sat Flash in the last game he did exactly what he said he would in his comments about the trade—that is he would rotate the players with the new guys for the next 6 to 9 games to find the best line combos and player chemistry. He then said he would set the lines and settle on a goalie for the final push toward playoffs. IMHO when BB sat Flash in the Dallas game, he made it clear that he was serious about his short-term line experimentation.
by capsyoungguns on Mar 9, 2010 6:59 PM EST up reply actions
bonus reply
Remember how quickly he yanked theo and schultz after game 1 last year
Schultz was hurt, not benched.
im going to assume that was tongue in cheek :) right????
by lifetime caps fan on Mar 9, 2010 1:21 PM EST up reply actions
What do you mean? Dude broke a rib.
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maybe at Applebees after the game, he broke a rib….
by lifetime caps fan on Mar 9, 2010 1:24 PM EST up reply actions
And Schultzie has too much class to eat at Applebees anyway
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 9, 2010 1:26 PM EST up reply actions
unless you meant hurt from embarassment by having his jock strap sitting on the ice after "insert ranger here (dubinsky or callahan?) " left him swiveled into the ice on that GWG in game 1
by lifetime caps fan on Mar 9, 2010 1:22 PM EST up reply actions
No he was physically injured.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 9, 2010 1:24 PM EST up reply actions
http://www.japersrink.com/2009/5/15/876781/one-more-injury-revealed-jeff
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 9, 2010 1:25 PM EST up reply actions
not hating on Schultz…sorry. He has really played much much better this year. He has been a pleasant and unexpected surprise so far . Im sure most of us thought he would be in minors for alot of the year or traded. didnt he sign a 2 way contract?
by lifetime caps fan on Mar 9, 2010 1:26 PM EST up reply actions
Two way contracts only refer to a player’s salary, not if he has to clear waivers to go back to the minors.
Pleasant and unexpected surprise? He was pretty good last year.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 9, 2010 1:27 PM EST up reply actions
i gotta disagree with you there. I counted probably 30 games last year where the puck was at his feet in the crease or around the net and he just stood there and did not hit anyone. This year i think i have screamed at home maybe once. He has picked up his toughness a bit, he has started shooting the puck. He has done a great job of keeping pucks in the offensive zone and standing up for teammates…night and day to last year…all kidding aside i had no idea he was hurt..in fairness to me however, after game 7, i shut out all things hockey and went into mourning..
by lifetime caps fan on Mar 9, 2010 1:29 PM EST up reply actions
After which Game 7? He didn’t play the entire Pens series.
And please, if you’re gonna say a guy is good or not, come up with actual evidence, not “I counted probably 30 games last year where the puck was at his feet in the crease or around the net and he just stood there and did not hit anyone”
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 9, 2010 1:31 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
The article stating he was hurt was may 15th …follow along. and not so nasty either. from game 1 of first round till the season was over—-BEFORE may 15th, i was under the assumption he was pulled. so JP just posting that article that i did not read last year was AFTER the season. And if i see a guy 1 out of every 2 games kicking the puck with his skates and standing there in the crease and not clearing people out, i dont really need actual EVIDENCE to state so. Go watch the games from last year. Have you not heard all the talk of a crease clearing d-man we needed??? if we HAD one , there would not be that talk … you dont need to be so rude, im entitled to my opinion, this is not court…
by lifetime caps fan on Mar 9, 2010 1:36 PM EST up reply actions
It’s not “rude” when you ask for an opinion to be “backed up” with evidence instead of just random occurrences that you may or may not have seen.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 9, 2010 1:38 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
because im 40 years old and i cant remember the dates and incidents of every game from last year…im lucky i remember most things from this year.. if my kids bus was late 30 times last year, i could not tell you the days it was, but i would sure as hell notice a pattern and remember it was a problem.
by lifetime caps fan on Mar 9, 2010 1:44 PM EST up reply actions
It took me roughly 30 seconds to look up that stuff about Schultz’s QUALTEAM. Not to mention I could have Googled the Defending Schultz article that DMG posted.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 9, 2010 1:46 PM EST up reply actions
Schultz is Good.
Just accept it. He was Good last year, he’s Better this year, and ‘trading him or sending him down’ probably occurred to exactly no-one in the Caps organization.
Kurtis meet Lars.
Nonetheless, if Schultz was ineffective at times around the net – which I don’t buy because I don’t believe in the “crease clearer” idea and I want the defensemen to get the puck away from the crease – it would only be part of his game, and a flaw in your game does not mean you’re not a productive player.
No excuse.
I’m 44, and I can use the Interwebs to look things up, if I can’t remember them.
Hell, if I had the time (I don’t at the moment), I could pull Schultz’s numbers on a game-by-game basis last season.
Also note that the big guy put on 15 pounds or so over the summer of muscle. Last season, he was a scarecrow – all legs and arms, and very little mass. He’s still a bit underweight, IMO, for that frame of his. Defensemen do develop a bit more slowly than forwards, and I like everything I’m seeing of Schultz thus far this season.
Did he make mistakes last year? Sure. But I wouldn’t throw him under the bus for them.
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Have you not heard all the talk of a crease clearing d-man we needed???
Yeah, but that doesn’t mean it’s right. The crease-clearing defenseman is a combination of meme and hockey tactics from more than a decade ago.
Even if you want that style of player, I don’t understand why you’d prefer a guy start smacking players around rather than play the puck when it’s in the blue paint. The latter’s a lot more likely to prevent a goal from being scored.
Playing the man rather than the puck is one of the biggest mistakes you can make when you’re in a defensive role, and I’m glad Schultz doesn’t do it.
by David Getz on Mar 9, 2010 1:40 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Playing the man rather than the puck is one of the biggest mistakes you can make when you’re in a defensive role, and I’m glad Schultz doesn’t do it.
All you need is to see what happened to Stephane Robidas last night on Ovechkin’s second goal.
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 9, 2010 1:41 PM EST up reply actions
Or watching a lot of those big-hitting defensemen. Guys like Excelby, Phaneuf, and ever Erskine will put themselves in a bad position to try and a hit.
Positioning, angles, eliminating passing lanes, all that stuff isn’t nearly as sexy but it’s more important and good defensive players know that. Heck, for a lot of his later career Scott Stevens didn’t really hit that often.
Nick Lidstrom has never been a big hitter and Nick Kronwall does nothing but try to kill people. Guess which one i’d rather have?
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by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 9, 2010 1:44 PM EST up reply actions
Positioning, angles, eliminating passing lanes, all that stuff isn’t nearly as sexy
These are the reasons you often only notice a d-man when he’s doing something wrong.
Every time Nicky scores a goal, an angel gets its wings.
by SeattleCapsFan on Mar 9, 2010 1:48 PM EST up reply actions
I know my boy Hooks disagrees, but I personally think Brooks Orpik takes himself out of position pretty regularly because he’s trying to throw a big hit. He gets a lot of sexy press for it, but I don’t think that makes him per se more valuable as a D.
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.
Exactly a so called “crease clearing d-man” would only mean there would be an other guy you’d all complain about taking stupid penalties and taxing what is currently a less than stellar PK unit…
by markbona-capsfan99 on Mar 9, 2010 6:11 PM EST up reply actions
Could you be so kind as to provide a list of D men that qualify (in your mind) as “crease clearing defensemen”?
And did you watch Schultz play against Malkin or the other tall/lanky players in the league last year? He absolutely neutralizes their reach advantage.
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 never thought I'd say this but
Right now the oinly youg “defensive” D-man I’d want over Jeff Schultz is Tyler Myers. Schultz at 24 has matured into a smart, smooth skating defenseman who knows how to play in the Modern NHL. Prior to this season I was one of those folks who didn’t see the goodness of Jef Schultz and lamented he didn’t bulk up and hit people more. Now I just pay attention to who is on the ice in what situations and enjoy the fact the Caps have a young, defensive minded d-man who is now pretty much able to neutralize anybody in the NHL when that’s what he’s told to do and who can penalty kill and play in tight situations without taking penalties.
I’m officially on record, he’s not only good, right now he is the best player on the Capitals on a $$$ paid basis except for maybe Ovechkin since I think Ovie’s value is probably “infinity”…
by markbona-capsfan99 on Mar 9, 2010 6:23 PM EST up reply actions
Schultz isn’t a hitter. He doesn’t have the skating ability to hit and then get back to his defensive abilities. His strengths lie in the fact that he has a brilliant mind for defensive hockey, has awesome responsibility and an extremely long reach.
He blocks passing lanes, shooting lanes and has enough strength to push people off the goal. At times I do want to see him knocking heads out there but that should be his counterparts responsibility.
President and sole member of the Erskine lobby.
Another point we can disagree on is...
his sklating ability. Sarge can skate “just fine” and clearly at an NHL level with no problem. You just don’t get to see that a lot of the time because of his even better hockey sense and his ability to more often than not be in the absolue right place to be positionally.
Don’t get me wrong I’m not comparing his skating to Green, Ovechkin, Semin Backstrom or Chimera but I’d say his skating abilities are on par with prety much any of his other teammates when I see him play.
by markbona-capsfan99 on Mar 9, 2010 6:28 PM EST up reply actions
and did not hit anyone
has picked up his toughness a bit
is the game about toughness, though, or is it about scoring more than your opponent? is defense about hitting, or is it about keeping the puck out your team’s net?
by Natty Bumppo on Mar 9, 2010 1:42 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Im sure most of us thought he would be in minors for alot of the year or traded.
He was their #3 defenseman last year, and pretty good any way you slice it, and he doesn’t make money. I don’t think anyone expect him to be in minors or dealt away.
At least not anyone here.
by David Getz on Mar 9, 2010 1:28 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
in my section last year…409, it was relentless abuse everytime he did anything even remotely wrong. we can just agree to disagree on this point. Very happy to see him having such a good year..
by lifetime caps fan on Mar 9, 2010 1:32 PM EST up reply actions
On which point? That he was expected to be traded or demoted or that he didn’t have a good year? Because, honestly, I don’t think there’s evidence for either.
So because your section didn’t like the guy and heaped (unwarranted) abuse on him, that means he didn’t have a good year?
He also had the worst QUALTEAM of any Caps defenseman last year. Perhaps that could explain a few things?
Driver and head Muckety-Muck of The Pavel Kubina Bandwagon
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LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 9, 2010 1:36 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
I should have said “worst QUALTEAM of any Caps defenseman except Tom Poti”
Driver and head Muckety-Muck of The Pavel Kubina Bandwagon
XBox Live: Oinkvechkin
LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 9, 2010 1:37 PM EST up reply actions
Poti-pote gettin it done with no help!
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
He’s gotta keep up that high clearing percentage.
Driver and head Muckety-Muck of The Pavel Kubina Bandwagon
XBox Live: Oinkvechkin
LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 9, 2010 2:07 PM EST up reply actions
I was unaware that the residents of Section 409 were the final arbitrators of who was and was not good enough for the Caps. Now I know.
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
The Blood Cult of Matt Bradley. Tune in Wednesday when Japers Rink offers their first burnt offering to Matt Bradley to give him an endless supply of the blood for his strident ways.
Caps haven’t even been a team for 40 years! How can he be a life long fan if he’s 40?! Fraud!
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
by jordanDC on Mar 9, 2010 2:03 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Schultz is so big and plays such a critical role that every mistake he makes is magnified, and moreover, he doesn’t make those flashy offensive plays to atone for those mistakes, so it seems like he’s not all that great. At least, that’s my theory. But notice how many times 55 is invisible during games, and check out his TOI, and it’s plain to see that he’s pretty good. Just tough to tell how good he really was, even last season, and how good he is this season.
(all this aimed at LTC and at the fan in general who relies a lot on the eyes)
CИДHИЙ KPOCБИЙ: АЛEKCAHДP OBEЧKИH, OH CEЙЧAC TBOЙ ПAПA
by red army line on Mar 9, 2010 2:03 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Thank you – perfect explanation, done without attacking someone. Very well put, r.a.l.
Guys, I know we’re all pretty defensive about Schultzie around here but if everyone could refrain from full-on attacking people for disagreeing, that’d be great. Some element of fandom is opinion, and not everyone is going to have the same one.
…and now I’m done being the bitch. :)
I didn’t mean to come off as “attacking” the guy, its just when someone posts something like that, it’s pretty much asking to be “attacked”, especially when it’s someone saying the same bullet points that they say at CI or Caps Postgame Call In shows.
Driver and head Muckety-Muck of The Pavel Kubina Bandwagon
XBox Live: Oinkvechkin
LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 9, 2010 2:09 PM EST up reply actions
No, I understand – and I’m more reacting to the overall mob mentality. I think it’s easier for people just to present facts of their own to show why they disagree, which you did when you brought up the QUALTEAM stat.
Just asking people to be a little nicer to one another, that’s all :) I’m sure it’s a losing battle, sports fans are mean-spirited people at heart. Glad I’m not one…ahem.
Anybody who has an issue with Shultz should be forced to spend 20 minutes alone with Pierre McGuire.
Russian Machine very rarely breaks. Oh and f**k Brooks Orpik.
To be fair though, I’m sure I’m not alone in saying I didn’t pay too much attention to stats as basic as TOI and +/- until I started reading this blog.
CИДHИЙ KPOCБИЙ: АЛEKCAHДP OBEЧKИH, OH CEЙЧAC TBOЙ ПAПA
by red army line on Mar 9, 2010 2:34 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Even before reading The Rink daily I never had any complaints about Schultzie, no ShaMo….. that is a different story
"Why don't you smegging well smeg off, you annoying little smeggy smegging smegger!"
I didn’t all that much either, but I saw him as a 3rd pairing guy with 2nd pairing upside, not 2nd pairing with 1st pairing upside.
CИДHИЙ KPOCБИЙ: АЛEKCAHДP OBEЧKИH, OH CEЙЧAC TBOЙ ПAПA
by red army line on Mar 9, 2010 2:44 PM EST up reply actions
And of course, now that you know, knowing is half the battle.
Driver and head Muckety-Muck of The Pavel Kubina Bandwagon
XBox Live: Oinkvechkin
LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 9, 2010 2:07 PM EST up reply actions
Who thought he was going to be in the minors this season? He’s improved every season since he entered the league.
"Now wait a minute. This is just purely a social call. You know, just two adults getting a stew on, man."
by The Ghost of Bebop on Mar 9, 2010 4:07 PM EST up reply actions
most of us thought
If by “most of us”, you mean you, and you alone, then, yeah, most of us thought that he’d be “in the minors”.
by mechanicsville on Mar 9, 2010 5:31 PM EST up reply actions
No, he wasn’t alone. Just alone around these parts. OFB had Schultz being traded for a 5th round pick.
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.
He was hurt… have you ever had a broken rib? It hurts with every breath, and there is literally nothing they can do for it except let it heal on its own. I broke a rib playing softball back 20 some years ago, and each breath brought pain. Sleeping is no fun either since if you roll the wrong way in your sleep you get a stabbing pain in your side.
Playing hockey at an NHL level with a broken rib is something that no one can do. (He had a broken rib, not a cracked rib… there’s a difference.)
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Mar 9, 2010 1:53 PM EST up reply actions
O.M.G. This again?
Game-Over Green? Canada-Over Carlson!
by Scott in Shaw on Mar 9, 2010 4:20 PM EST up reply actions
you know you’ve riled some feathers when an entire conversation can take place without a single person mentioning the lack of an avatar…
Every time Nicky scores a goal, an angel gets its wings.
by SeattleCapsFan on Mar 9, 2010 4:22 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Man, I missed a seriously way off topic smakedown.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Nobody puts Schultzie in a corner!
Driver and head Muckety-Muck of The Pavel Kubina Bandwagon
XBox Live: Oinkvechkin
LORD PALMERSTON!!
Ron and Fez 11 to 3
by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 9, 2010 2:37 PM EST up reply actions
An encouraging note: After they fell down a goal, it seemed all the chemistry issues were immediately resolved and the whole team turned it ON. The top three lines were all creating chances, skating with speed, and shooting the puck.
I think it’s more difficult to establish chemistry when you don’t have much to play for than when you do. A pressure makes diamonds kind of thing.
anyone with a jersey is thinking every shift is his only chance to show coach he belongs there full time
no one knows quite what their place on their line or on the team is.
I think those are risks you run, but they’re not definite. If Boudreau does a good job of explaining to guys what their role is and how they’re going to be used, it eliminates that uncertainty.
I’ll take my chances with uncertainty over complacency any day of the week.
Especially when complacency is accompanied by players not of NHL quality while uncertainty is paired with “problematic depth”.
I’ll take my chances with uncertainty over complacency any day of the week.
Right, but it doesn’t need to be one or the other. Part of communicating to players what you expect of them and what you want to see is telling them that they need to do it to get in the lineup.
I mean yeah, ideally, but no matter how much communicating about roles and team concept and winning, eventually it still boils down to ice time and how concrete your place is on the team, I think.
Whether you properly explain to a player that he’s getting benched in order to figure out what the best combo for the team is or just benching him without saying much, the end result is that he’s not playing one day and playing the next. Uncertainty either way. Just sugar coated or not.
This depth “problem” could also dissipate should someone get hurt. I would say injuries was one of the primary factors in our playoff losses last year, so having a few extra NHL/playoff caliber guys is a problem I’m more than happy to have going into the post-season.
Every time Nicky scores a goal, an angel gets its wings.
by SeattleCapsFan on Mar 9, 2010 1:21 PM EST up reply actions
I’d agree with that, completely. (This list is from here, with the addition of Schultz’s rib.)
* Alexander Semin (thumb)
* Alex Ovechkin (groin pull)
* Mike Green (shoulder)
* Tom Poti (broken foot)
* John Erskine (broken foot)
* Shaone Morrisonn (groin, ankle)
* Jeff Schultz (rib)
Can you find something in common among the last five individuals in this list? I sure can!
I need a snappy signature...
and Mono for Greenie
"the other day on sportscenter they said something along the lines of "the capitals score so much tiger woods is jealous" haha had me laughing hard while i was eating my cereal"
And I guess tens of thousands of cases of heartbreak… :(
CИДHИЙ KPOCБИЙ: АЛEKCAHДP OBEЧKИH, OH CEЙЧAC TBOЙ ПAПA
by red army line on Mar 9, 2010 4:15 PM EST up reply actions
I thought it was a type of iron deficiency blood disorder, which I interpreted as anemia. He sure looked sluggish to me—very unGreenie-like.
by capsyoungguns on Mar 9, 2010 7:13 PM EST up reply actions
On the defensemen injuries, if we calculated the percentage of healthy defensemen, it was pretty dang low. Our only healthy D-man who were playing were Pothier and Jurcina. We’re not even counting Sloan who was up but only played once or Alzner who was up briefly but didn’t play.
And, on the injuries, Eric Fehr was also out due his shoulder injury. We were down to Jay Beagle who played very few minutes. (Our track record has not been very good with Beagle in the lineup.)
Rocking the Red since 1975
I think the chemistry stuff is probably over-stated. First, we only added 3 guys really. Juice is hurt so he’s not going to play and he was already part of this team so GMGM knew he wouldn’t be a chemistry problem. Then we added a top 4 D and a great checking line player. There’s no chance we finish the season completely healthy, and the competition can’t hurt so I don’t think the additions are really going to be a problem at all.
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 want us to win the President’s Trophy, for the home ice advantage. I think it’s important to the guys.
I need a snappy signature...
Or at least finish first in the Eastern Conference. I’d rather have four games at VC and 3 in the New Igloo (or should be call it the NewGloo) than the reverse.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Consol Center debuts next season, I think.
CИДHИЙ KPOCБИЙ: АЛEKCAHДP OBEЧKИH, OH CEЙЧAC TBOЙ ПAПA
by red army line on Mar 10, 2010 10:43 AM EST up reply actions
Varly looks to me like a goalie who hasn’t played in awhile. A goalie who while he was out, started thinking about all the little ways he was going to tweak his game when he got back to be even better than before. He’s just not playing “naturally” right now and looks like his brain is on overdrive.
I say another week of practice and two starts then he’s back to playing consistent hockey.
I look to the future because that's where I'm going to spend the rest of my life.
I agree completely with your first point, and really hope you’re right on your second.
Every time Nicky scores a goal, an angel gets its wings.
by SeattleCapsFan on Mar 9, 2010 1:07 PM EST up reply actions
I agree. Didn’t he look the same early in the season – good for a couple of periods and then losing focus in the 3rd? I think he just needs some more games to get back in his groove.
by Gin and Tonic on Mar 9, 2010 1:41 PM EST up reply actions
It seems like they need a week off to practice and work out the kinks in some things. The PP seems to be struggling a bit lately, over the last 10 games we’re 9 for 44, only 20.5% and if you remove the 10th game where we went 3 for 9 against the Rangers, that number drops to a measly 17.1%. Some of that has been a result of the Olympians struggling after the Olympics, and some of it seems to be b/c the PP unit has been getting shuffled around. It’d probably be worth it to give some extra practice time to the PP unit and sorting out who works best together on the two units.
There also seems to be more bad plays on the defensive end, whether it’s a missed clear, or a bad pass. The guys on D could probably use a few practices working with their new partners, getting used to each other.
This is truer to what we’re seeing: sustained excellence is tough. I have the feeling that Nick, Ovie and Knubs are on the verge of busting out. They seem to be off just a bit in timing.
Same with Semin, for that matter. A little less curl and drag, and more teeing it up and ripping it would be nice.
Sustained excellence is tough – and remember that even before the Olympics, things were starting to unravel a bit. Packed schedule, little to no practice time, the mental strain of having to keep up a streak like that…all I know is that as much as they’ve looked off the last few days, there are promising signs.
I think once the new guys get set in the systems and the lines shake out to have some semblance of consistency, we’ll start to see things gel again.
varly was out for over two months. he needed the equivalent of a preaseason schedule to get back to nhl game shape. but for the olympics, he would have gotten plenty of work in hershey. not sure the caps could have held him out of the olympics, but from a selfish team standpoint, that might have been the best idea presuming he could have had a longer rehab stint in hershey.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
I dunno, how was the practice deal at the Olympics? Anyone know if he was able to see some shots?
CИДHИЙ KPOCБИЙ: АЛEKCAHДP OBEЧKИH, OH CEЙЧAC TBOЙ ПAПA
by red army line on Mar 9, 2010 2:04 PM EST up reply actions
They were practicing every other day at most due to the game schedule, so he lost practice days there. He also lost 2 full days to travel where he could have been rehabbing or taking some practice shots. Not to mention the 3 or 5 games he could have played in Hershey.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
yup, me thinks the Olympics did not help him get back into game shape
Every time Nicky scores a goal, an angel gets its wings.
by SeattleCapsFan on Mar 9, 2010 2:09 PM EST up reply actions
I’d be surprised if he put on his pads more than once in Vancouver.
Russian Machine very rarely breaks. Oh and f**k Brooks Orpik.
.
We have one picture of him at a practice, and he dressed for one game, but Nabby and Bryz handled just about all of the practice shots. Very little goalie work for Semyon in the VAN.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
I think this is one my all time favorite photos
Every time Nicky scores a goal, an angel gets its wings.
by SeattleCapsFan on Mar 9, 2010 4:24 PM EST up reply actions
The Russians practiced during the Olympics?
"First Lady, I'm sorry I pimp slapped you into that china cabinet."
by Bald Pollack on Mar 9, 2010 2:10 PM EST up reply actions 8 recs
zing!
Every time Nicky scores a goal, an angel gets its wings.
by SeattleCapsFan on Mar 9, 2010 2:11 PM EST up reply actions
it takes practice to turn a team with ov, semin, dastyuk, kovi, nabby into whatever that was in vancouver.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Mar 9, 2010 2:20 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Any good treatment ideas for windburn?!
by mechanicsville on Mar 9, 2010 11:27 PM EST up reply actions
Well,
They did eat McDonalds a lot…I say russia bombs the hamburglar and we start WW3
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Mar 10, 2010 6:16 PM EST up reply actions
Maybe it’s just me, but I think people are allowing that sloppy third goal to overshadow a generally solid game by Varlamov. A lot has been made about conditioning, and I agree that was a huge culprit in the Ottawa and Tampa games. In this game, however, I felt like Varlamov started to turn the corner. While the conditioning was still not completely there, it looked much improved. I thought he played well in the first couple periods, and his save on Eriksson in the first was impressive. Yes, the flood gates opened in the third, but other than the final goal it is dificult in my mind to fault Varlamov for that. The first was a PP one-time snipe from Richards. The puck movement was solid, and Richards placed the puck perfectly with a little bit of traffic in front. While he may have come off his angle with a slightly aggressive slide into the one timer, its a shot most goalies don’t stop. The second goal was again on the PP, and the result of an excellent screen by Schultz. It was obvious he never saw the puck, and through no fault of his own. The final goal was clearly of the soft variety, and the one that has earned him a lot of criticism. While there remains no excuse to let in such a weak goal, my guess is resulted from a combination of things. First, he was still rattled from giving up the two quick powerplay goals. Second, as most people have correctly noticed, his mental conditioning just isn’t completely up to par and ready for the grind of a full 60 minutes of hockey. Despite this, I feel Varlamov will quickly regain his old form and is taking a little too much undue heat for his performance in the game.
by stl522 on Mar 9, 2010 2:34 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
I thought Varly was showing improvement throughout the game, up until the third. He still looked a bit jumpy to me though. And Dallas missed a ton of good opportunities. And he does need to work on the mental aspect of his game. Anytime he allows a goal, whether it’s a bad one or not, he seems to have a tough time shaking it off. Overall, it wasn’t as bad as it could have been, but the third goal needs to be stopped. Hopefully he can completely shake off the rust in the next couple of starts and get back to his old self. I would agree that he didn’t have as bad a game as people are making it out to be.
Even without the weak 3rd goal I thought Varlamov looked shaky. He was all over the place and his rebound control was not good. He was better than his last two starts, but that isn’t saying a whole lot.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Mar 9, 2010 8:09 PM EST up reply actions
While Varly wasn’t at the top of his game in Period 3, I would blame the Caps’ terrible, horrible, no-good Penalty Killing more for yesterday’s loss.
Rocking the Red since 1975
That PK unit wasn’t responsible for closing his pads in time on the third goal.
"First Lady, I'm sorry I pimp slapped you into that china cabinet."
What’s also so maddening is that they took only two penalties. The Caps are supposed to be the ones scoring two PPGs on two PPs, not allowing.
CИДHИЙ KPOCБИЙ: АЛEKCAHДP OBEЧKИH, OH CEЙЧAC TBOЙ ПAПA
by red army line on Mar 10, 2010 10:44 AM EST up reply actions
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida
|
51 | 24 | 16 | 11 | 59 |
|
Washington
|
52 | 27 | 21 | 4 | 58 |
|
Winnipeg
|
54 | 24 | 24 | 6 | 54 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
51 | 23 | 23 | 5 | 51 |
|
Carolina
|
54 | 20 | 25 | 9 | 49 |
(updated 2.7.2012 at 3:17 AM EST)
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