Pick 'Em: Game 3 Starter
by J.P. on Apr 18, 2010 11:11 AM EDT
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"There is no short leash. [Jose Theodore is] the guy we’re going to go with and see how it goes." - Bruce Boudreau, prior to Game 1
"I haven’t really thought about who’s playing Monday yet." - Boudreau, immediately after last night's game
After stopping 35 of the first 37 shots he saw in this year's playoffs, Jose Theodore has surrendered goals on the last three Montreal shots he has faced in just under eight minutes of playing time. Still, he has yet to lose a start in regulation in calendar year 2010 (though that stat comes with a giant asterisk for a few big-time bailouts), and has a 2.52 goals against average and .920 save percentage in April. As much as Theo gave the Caps a chance to win Game 1, had he not gotten pulled 7:58 into Game 2, he might have deprived them of a similar chance. And, as if you needed it, here's another sobering stat: Theodore has failed to finish four of his last seven playoff starts.
Semyon Varlamov relieved Theodore on Saturday and stopped 19 of the 22 shots he faced en route to the thrilling overtime victory. His recovery from a lengthy absence due to injury seems largely complete, as he was better in March than in his one February start and better in April than March, posting a 2.52 goals against average and .908 save percentage this month.
So who will start Game 3 in Montreal?
Taken on its face, if Boudreau is to be believed about the length of Theo's leash, the veteran netminder deserves another shot at his former team. But there's much more at play here, of course, given the specific circumstances surrounding this pivotal game. As Mike Vogel noted before the series was even a series, Boudreau's two backstops have had very different experiences playing in La Belle Province:
A former Canadien, Theodore is 2-1-1 with a shutout, a 4.05 GAA and an .877 save pct. in four appearances (three starts) against the Habs. Theodore has only started one game against the Canadiens in Montreal since leaving the Habs’ employ in March, 2006. In that game, Theodore was dented for eight goals on 36 shots in an 8-5 loss to Montreal. He gave up five goals in the third period of that contest.
Earlier this season, Theodore came on in relief of Michal Neuvirth at Bell Centre. In 37 minutes of work, he surrendered four goals on 25 shots and was saddled with an overtime loss.
...During his career against the Canadiens, Varlamov is 2-0 with a 1.94 GAA and a .930 save pct. Varlamov won his NHL debut in Montreal, making 32 saves in front of a Saturday night packed house and Hockey Night in Canada television audience on Dec. 13, 2008.
And then there's what each of the two goalies have done in the playoffs under Boudreau:
The numbers that jump off the screen are the zero wins in three starts for Theo, and the two series-worth of wins in 14 games for Varly. Taken together with the respective histories of the two goalies when playing in Montreal, we can make a pretty good guess as to whom Boudreau will give the nod to start Game 3. But who would you start - the veteran who has carried the team through the second half of the season or the rookie who dug the team out of a huge hole in last year's first round... and helped to do the same last night?
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Varly. Rest of the way too. Sorry Jose.
by Davethecapsfan on Apr 18, 2010 11:14 AM EDT reply actions
I got Varly, not because of anything historical or giving Theodore another shot, but because, and only because, they’re going into Montreal. We know that Varly’s got icewater for blood and can handle the Bell Centre. Theodore, I’m not so sure.
I give Theodore another start at home, but not in the Bell Centre.
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I agree with this. Furthermore, I think first sign of trouble with Varly, Theo goes in, even if that’s for Game 4. The Caps just won with Varly in goal. I think putting Theo right back in there a) puts less pressure on Theo to be solid and b) sends the wrong message to the team.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
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by red army line on Apr 18, 2010 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions
I agree with both of you. Start Varly on Monday. On Theo, it was obviously not his night last night. If they were playing any other team in any other arena (i.e. not Montreal at the Bell Center), BB would start him. But given Theo’s track record in Montreal, I’d say use Varly.
Theo can certainly start Game 5 here.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Alright, I’ll be Theo’s official defender here.
The only reason I see Theo not starting is because the game’s in Montreal. Against any other team, or if it’s another home game, I think it’s Theo. The fact that it’s in Montreal makes me question it a little more.
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If you’re BB, how is last year different than this year, in the playoffs that is? I’m not thinking a hell of a lot. In other words, If Varly comes in and loses last night looks weak, it may be different.
If Luongo, Brodeur, Fleury give up 2 goals on 2 shots, they PROBABLY dont get pulled. 2-0 is not insurmountable, especially for our Caps.
If BB thought Jose could keep them in the game, he would have stayed in, I think. Bruce didnt want it to get to blowout before we could at least get on the board.
by S h a g g y on Apr 18, 2010 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions
If Luongo, Brodeur, Fleury give up 2 goals on 2 shots, they PROBABLY dont get pulled.
That’s because he isn’t those guys.
/Plekanec’d
They're coming.
by Bald Pollack on Apr 18, 2010 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions
LOL.
Also because if you’re Vancouver, NJ or Pitt, you don’t have an option of pulling the goalie. Um. Yann Davis? Brent Johnson? Really?
by Vinn on Apr 18, 2010 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Theo’s confidence has to be shaken and if he let’s in a goal early, whether it’s a bad or not, that “The-O” chant will be deafening. I don’t think it would rattle the Caps as much as it would inspire the Habs. Putting in Varly, aside from the fact that he’s played well in the Bell Centre, eliminates that extra psychological edge.
I don’t think Theo should start the next game. I do think Varly should get the same leash length as Theo, though. Play the hot hand. It got the Oilers to the conference finals in a year when they had a meh rest of their team.
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But what evidence do we have that Varly’s the hot hand? Theo had a rough start last night, but that doesn’t make Varly the hot hand.
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I don’t think Varly “won” per se; in fact, I think neither goalie won the game for the Caps….
It became a shoot-out and the Caps offense won the game.
Theo gave up 2 - Varly gave up 3 -- why does V have the hot hand? I’d like to think that if Theo played the rest of the game, he wouldn’t have given up more…..
One of those “What ifs” we’ll never know the answer to….
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by RedskinFan4Life on Apr 18, 2010 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions
aghh, editing error shoulda previewed first….
Rock the Red! Rock the White! Rock the Blue! Rock the Pens!
by RedskinFan4Life on Apr 18, 2010 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions
According to the NHL’s statisticians and the record books, Varly won.
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Theodore: 2 Goals, 0 Saves. Varlamov: 3 Goals, 19 Saves. I wouldn’t assume Theo would have played well at all.
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How does a rough night for a streaky goaltender not mean the other has the hot hand?
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Because the “hot hand” isn’t something you have just because someone else sucks. A “hot hand” is a lot more like what Varly had going last year in the first round and part of the second, with amazing saves and a couple of shootouts. The “hot hand” is defined by what you’re doing, not by what the other guy is doing. If we have two guys who aren’t playing that well (and we do right now), then no one has the hot hand and you have to consider who actually has a better chance of getting back on his game tomorrow night. I’m leaning towards Varly, but not very hard.
I don’t buy the “specifc to arena” stats. I understand how it’s made easily for Theo but generally the sample sizes are too small to draw real conclusions.
You have to start Theo. He gave up ONE soft goal. He has been lights out and he is motivated. His D hung him out to dry. It’s not like Varly was amazing last night.
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Just seems like the general idea is that the crowd in MTL puts a lot of pressure on all parties involved. Now, someone like Ovie may love that, but with Theo’s confidence maybe a tiny bit off right now, I’d rather have Varly in there for Game 3 and Game 4 too if he plays well, or back to Theodore.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans who can bear reading something less intelligent than a story at Japers' Rink
by red army line on Apr 18, 2010 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions
I agree that the MTL crowd is a disadvantage for Theo, but I still don’t think it’s enough of a reason not to start him.
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yes, that’s true. but if you want to be a champion, champions find a way to overcome the challenges…..
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by RedskinFan4Life on Apr 18, 2010 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Theodore is 2-1-1 with a shutout, a 4.05 GAA and an .877 save pct. in four appearances (three starts) against the Habs. Theodore has only started one game against the Canadiens in Montreal since leaving the Habs’ employ in March, 2006. In that game, Theodore was dented for eight goals on 36 shots in an 8-5 loss to Montreal.
There’s nothing in these stats that JP cited that makes me think he should get the start on Monday. Not after last night.
Seconded. Varlamov for the rest of the series, but back to Theo for the next round (if necessary). There’s no reason to stick with one guy the whole time, especially when there’s no distinct advantage to one over the other. Play the numbers, give the team the best chance to win, and get Theo’s confidence back.
by Martyvburen on Apr 18, 2010 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions
I would give him another start. This wasn’t a short leash situation, this was a must pull. Had the series been 0-2 I would say Varly, but at 1-1 give Theo a chance to bounce back, it’s not like the caps won’t be able to come back from 0-2 in a game, right?
Plus Varly let in 3 goals.
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Agreed that last night’s pull had nothing to do with “the leash.” But tomorrow night’s start does.
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Well if Boudreau’s going by “the leash”, then JT should get the start tomorrow since he was supposed to have a longer leash this time around. Sadly I didn’t even watch most of the game but from what I’ve heard Varly wasn’t super either.
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I honestly can’t fault him on any of the three goals. The first was a bang-bang play with a pass to a totally unguarded Canadian five feet in front of the goal. Varly actually was in position, but the force of the shot trickled through his pads. The second was on a powerplay where the shot from the point hit three bodies before taking a 90 degree turn into the net. The third was a 2 on 1 where the initial shot was actually going wide but Green couldn’t contain his man who tapped it in.
The goals Varly let in, esp the late go-ahead goal by the Habs, looked very unstoppable considering the circumstances. I thought he had a fantastic game.
I look to the future because that's where I'm going to spend the rest of my life.
This…2 blown coverages allowing shots in Knubs’ office and a deflected shot are goals I can live with. He gave up no rebound goals and made big stops when we needed it to keep us in the game.
by Davethecapsfan on Apr 18, 2010 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t know that he showed my anything “fantastic,” but I can’t blame him for any goal he gave up. Well, except maybe Kostitsyn’s second, which went five hole I think.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans who can bear reading something less intelligent than a story at Japers' Rink
by red army line on Apr 18, 2010 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions
He came in cold to a horrible circumstance and let in 1 backdoor goal where he had no defense, a PPG that pingponged off 3 people and the Tomas goal was unreal (very unlucky puck bouncing for the Caps last night I might add)
His rebound control was really good. There are a few saves he made look incredibly easy that would have buried the Caps if they went in.
For me that’s pretty fantastic (it’s not always about the highlight save made by being out of position)
I look to the future because that's where I'm going to spend the rest of my life.
He had some solid saves, but I completely disagree that he was fantastic. The times he was really challenged he gave up goals. Sure, they weren’t his fault (although he overplayed the 5th goal) but he didn’t bail out the team. I agree that he made saves that would have buried the Caps if they went in, but if they went in they would be soft goals that a goalie can’t give up in the playoffs – that’s making the saves you need to make, not being fantastic. Varly held his ground, but it was the Caps O that won the game, not the goaltending. I’d give Theo another chance since he has been the better goalie for months.
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by Killer_Carlson on Apr 18, 2010 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Yea, but I still don’t think he was so good you don’t give Theo a chance.
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by Ovechwin on Apr 18, 2010 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Varly’s 3 goals are ones I’d take. Theo’s were not.
A redirect to the front, a 2 on 1, and a super deflection are goals I don’t expect the goalie to make.
2 shots from the tops of the circles are ones I expect a goalie to stop.
Bruce Boudreau when asked about Brooks Laich's return to the lineup, he said: "He just adds another dimension to our team. If it was puzzle, he just fits that thing. He completes us."
Varlamov
Theo is just not a big game goalie he has never been…not a knock against him but let’s see Varly
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Theo
I feel like he gets the next start. If he blows it, that’s that and Varly is our guy the rest of the way, but I feel like he’s earned the opportunity to win his job back.
Theo will get his chance...
…but let Varly start the next game. Let’s face it Caps fans, if we are going anywhere this year, we are going to need both Varly and Theo. Lets say we get past the Habs (and that is by no means a certainty), does anyone really think Varly can get us through the entire playoffs? Give Varly the next start. See how he does. I’m more worried about the rest of the defense. If Varly gets hot, ride him. Otherwise, I think Theo is ready. Game #1 NEVER would have gotten to OT without Theo.
Theo.
He bounces back, and I want to see him earn his redemption.
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 18, 2010 11:47 AM EDT reply actions
I don’t know how you do not start Varlamov. Theodore might not admit it for public consumption, but even subconsciously he has to be thinking that at the first sign of trouble, he’s going to be pulled. That is no way for a goaltender to be approaching his job. And getting off to a bad start at Bell Centre is not an option here.
If you've read this far...seek help.
And Theo doesn’t exactly inspire confidence that he’s going to rebound in MON. Those fans own him.
I hate listening to people's dreams. It is like flipping through a stack of photographs. If I'm not in any of them and nobody is having sex, I just don't care.
He has 4 appearances (and 3 starts) in Montreal, this talk of the fans owning him is overblown. His game where he relieved Neuvirth earlier this year looks ugly by the numbers, but wasn’t exactly his fault – I remember him getting no help at all. That was his only appearance in Montreal with the Caps.
So you’re gonna say those fans own him because of 3 starts that came playing for a different team and when he sucked against everyone? I’m not buying it.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Apr 18, 2010 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Jesus MFing Christ!
What sample size is big enough for you?
I hate listening to people's dreams. It is like flipping through a stack of photographs. If I'm not in any of them and nobody is having sex, I just don't care.
If Theo played in MTL 100000000 times his true stats wouldn’t be that bad.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Apr 18, 2010 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Dear god let’s not start another sample size argument! (BTW, I think Bushwood Bushwaker still owes us that fanpost on the PP/PK success % discrepancy…)
He does still owe us the FP. And I’m not starting the argument, I’m snarking on some continuity. K_C knows what’s up.
I hate listening to people's dreams. It is like flipping through a stack of photographs. If I'm not in any of them and nobody is having sex, I just don't care.
Peerless said:
I don’t know how you do not start Varlamov.
And you have to remember Boudreau’s logic last year. He went with Varly after only one loss because, he said, it’d be unfair to put the rookie in the net if they were down 0-2 so he couldn’t risk another Theo loss. I think the same situation may apply here, assuming that in Boudreau’s mind, it’s Varlamov (the kid) you really have to protect here, not Theodore. If you do the matrix:
- Varly starts and wins — Varly starts again
- Varly starts and loses — Theo starts game 4 which is basically a must-win
- Theo starts and wins — Theo starts again
- Theo starts and loses — Varly starts game 4 which is basically a must-win
Using last year’s logic, it’s situation 4 that you have to avoid at all costs. So it makes sense that you start Varly now.
Then again, last year’s playoffs may have proven to Boudreau that Varly is mentally resilient enough to play in a must-win game. Kid did fine in PIttsburgh in Game 6. Maybe it’s Theo whose psyche is more in question now. In which case the situation is reversed, and it’s situation 2 you have to avoid at all costs, so you’d better start Theo now.
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Apr 18, 2010 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Last year I think we were a game behind. BB started Varly in Game 2, b/c he didn’t want to start him down 2-0 (we ended up down 2-0 anyways, but that’s beside the point). This year, we’re having this discussion with the series tied at 1. Last year, we were having this discussion when we were down 1-0. If Theo starts and loses this game, we’re down 2-1, whereas last year, we would’ve been down 2-0. So it’s not quite the same situation.
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It’s a damn Catch-22.
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by M-M-M-My Chimera on Apr 19, 2010 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions
It’s not just Theo’s state of mind that BB needs to take into consideration, but also the 18 skaters sitting on the bench. They won with Varly last night, they won with Varly last year in the playoffs. Make no mistake, the team won’t give up on Theo, evidenced by Ovi reassuring/chatting with him soon after being pulled last night), but why on earth would you not stick with Varly (i.e. a winning formula)?
by Cluster on Apr 18, 2010 11:48 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Varly may have won last night, but it’s not like Theo’s been losing us games. (no need for me to throw out the stats). He has a stellar won/loss record.
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Also, I’m not saying that Varly is playing lights out right now, or that the Caps should surgically attach a baseball cap to Theo’s head the rest of the season. But they are coming off an incredible, series-changing (saving?) comeback win with Varly in net. Stick with him until he falters, then go back to Jose.
Varly may have gotten the win, but it’s not like he stole the game for them. If he had pitched a shut-out or done something stellar I could see it. But I think it’s too early to throw Theo under the bus with the way he’s played this year just because of last night.
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He kept us in the game…statements like it was the team in front of Jose that let him down on his 2 goals when comparing how left out to dry Varly was on 2 of the 3 he let in are head scratchers. The other was a crazy deflection goal. Varly made all the stops I could expect of him and controlled his rebounds very well.
by Davethecapsfan on Apr 18, 2010 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t agree that starting Varly equates to “throwing Theo under the bus”. It’s called sticking with what’s working. Whether last night’s win had anything to do with Varly or not, it doesn’t matter. They won with him in net. That has to stick in the minds of the other Caps. I think that means something to BB as he prepares them for Game 3.
Starting Varly sends Theo the message that his coach no longer has confidence in him. I don’t know if that’s the kind of message you want to send after how he’s played. I know his playoff record is concerning but Varly is still not back to how he was before his injury. I have this unexplained loyalty towards Theo so I’m probably a little biased. But to me, giving Varly a crucial start after his not so great 2nd half of the season just because Theo had one bad game after having a great 2nd half of the season doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. But I do see your point about Varly winning in net factoring into the decision.
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Theo. Just a hunch, really. A loss tomorrow won’t sink the Caps in this series. But I’ve given up trying to guess BB’s personnel decisions.
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by Steckel Me Elmo on Apr 18, 2010 11:48 AM EDT reply actions
If we’re predicting who BB will start, I think it’s definately Varly.
If we’re picking who we would start, I’m torn. Last night I felt that Theo was the man down the stretch, played well in game 1, and the 0-2 start to last night’s game wasn’t his fault (at least not entirely). However, given that the game’s in Montreal and what each goalie has done in the playoffs I’m leaning more and more toward Varly.
Varly. He wasn’t spectacular last night, and hasn’t really been all year. But Theo’s not mentally prepared, he’s just not. Sucks, but that’s how it’s been. I think you gotta go with Varly tomorrow.
I said before the series that unless we go to Montreal up 2-0, Varly should start game three. So Varly.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Apr 18, 2010 12:01 PM EDT reply actions
Theo. That first MTL goal was a softy, but there’s nothing any goalie could’ve done about the second one.
I agree pulling him was right for last night’s game, but not for the whole series.
Varly came in and it set a fire under the Caps, but he didn’t exactly shut the Habs down. He still let in 3 more goals, and wasn’t stellar.
I say give Theo one more chance.
"My face is my mask."
So many factors here, from the quantifiable to BB’s gut instincts. Might as well flip a coin.
I think Varly in the next 2 games, just because Theo has got to be severely rattled by what happened last night, and playing in Montreal is a bogeyman for him. But I also think Theo will be in net for game 5 unless Varly is absolutely lights-out.
You had me at no problem.
Varly.
It just doesn’t seem like a good idea to put Theo as the starter in his former building. It could be too much pressure for him after what happened last night.
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by Brad_Richards_Rocks on Apr 18, 2010 12:10 PM EDT reply actions
If it weren’t in Montreal, Theo should get another shot. Not Theo in Montreal.
Someone needs to tell Mike Green how to play a 2 on 1; getting tired of watching him fish the puck out of our net on a goal he “helped” produce :(
by LangwayWasTheKing on Apr 18, 2010 12:19 PM EDT reply actions
Rocking the Red in the 3rd/OT with my shirt inside-out probably had nothing to do with the outcome either, but that’s what I’m doing tomorrow.
by LangwayWasTheKing on Apr 18, 2010 12:21 PM EDT reply actions
Biggest Stat for Me
Theo 19-28 career in playoffs, and has never posted a single post season winning percentage over .500. That is the most troubling to me.
I'm the first to admit when I'm wrong.... except when someone else beats me to it.
by Backhanded Complement on Apr 18, 2010 12:21 PM EDT reply actions
He’s been on some pretty borderline teams though.
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by caps123 on Apr 18, 2010 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
IIRC all four were underdogs before last season, and he won all 4 first-round series I believe, even upsetting #1 Boston with #8 MTL.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans who can bear reading something less intelligent than a story at Japers' Rink
by red army line on Apr 18, 2010 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
You are correct – upset boston twice (as #1 and #2 seed), but in 3 of those 4 years, theo’s team was swept in second round.
I'm the first to admit when I'm wrong.... except when someone else beats me to it.
by Backhanded Complement on Apr 18, 2010 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions
In almost every first round series Theo carried his team to an upset before losing to a way better team. I put more stock in the fact that he has played well enough in the first round to consistently get mediocre teams past big favorites than I do in the fact that he’s gotten killed in the second round.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Apr 18, 2010 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
No doubt, and I was on the fence before looking at that stat. Theo has clearly been the best goalie for the Caps the second half of this year, but he would not be the first to drop his game a bit come playoff time, for whatever reason. I would like to see him redeem himself, but have some trepidation.
I'm the first to admit when I'm wrong.... except when someone else beats me to it.
by Backhanded Complement on Apr 18, 2010 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Varly for me, too. But I’m with the guys above that say Theo should get the start in game 5. Maybe that’s our way to a deep run. We use both goaltenders until one shows signs of being clearly on fire and even then be prepared to use the other at least once a series so that no team can get a book on our goalie. I say Varly for 3 and 4 with Theo for 5. And either one knows that a two goal deficit on anything less than the unstoppable is something that could warrant a change for team momentum.
I do think, though, that this decision is not the most critical thing to determining the Caps fate. We need average goaltending from both rather than stellar goaltending from one or the other to go deep if our stars (Green, Semin) show up and we play responsible defense and win the specials. More than anything else, the PP troubles should be the focus of the staff and that is lost in the sauce with the goaltending debate and the heart attack goals of last night.
erskine has scored...now i can die in peace
yeah. We’re not the Sabres or anything.. with good goaltending we can still go deep, with team D.
Honestly at this point – I predict that BB uses Varly, I’d personally hope that it would be Theo. I understand why MTL could be a confidence-sapping, hostile environment for Theo, but I honestly think he’ll bounce back stronger and be fine. But we’ll see what happens.
Question to me is: What do you do with Mike Green? To me he is a bigger concern than the goaltending. I’m a huge Green fan, but he hasnt shown up to the last 2 playoffs, last year we made all sorts of excuses, he was hurt, sick, out of shape, whatever, this year, its put up or shut up.
As for Varly/Theo, if this were the regular season, go back to Theo, but this is the playoffs, Varly has played well last year in the playoffs and he wasnt bad at all last night. We may be able to keep coming back from 2 or 3 goals down but that wears you down big time and if we want to go anywhere, we cant keep doing this every game.
Make him watch tape of Carlson every off-ice minute until Monday night. But seriously, as bad as he’s been this series (and last year’s playoffs), you can’t scratch him for Erskine or Sloan.
I'm the first to admit when I'm wrong.... except when someone else beats me to it.
by Backhanded Complement on Apr 18, 2010 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions
But can you scratch him for, say, Juice in three weeks, or Alzner? Or can you reduce his minutes significantly?
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans who can bear reading something less intelligent than a story at Japers' Rink
by red army line on Apr 18, 2010 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d say no, no, and yes, actually. If he keeps playing poorly (relatively), then there are two capable right handed puck movers who can play the PP (and Corvo has looked good through two games), Poti has looked good at ES too. More time for 52 on the PK could be the result.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans who can bear reading something less intelligent than a story at Japers' Rink
by red army line on Apr 18, 2010 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions
If BB reduces Green’s ice time in favor of Poti, this team is absolutely screwed.
I love Carlson, and I’ve been a consistent Corvo proponent, but the team needs Green and Schultz to start playing like a top pairing.
The stained horizon
Dark rein and rider
The steed. . . Ovechkin
by D'ohboy on Apr 18, 2010 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
They’ve already shown that they’re able to win without a great night from the top pairing. One round win isn’t out of the question, I don’t think. The Caps won’t be screwed until the second round.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans who can bear reading something less intelligent than a story at Japers' Rink
by red army line on Apr 19, 2010 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Tarik tweets:
Boudreau on goalies: I’m still going to use both goalies, whether Varly plays Monday or Theo plays Monday …both [are] going to play again"
by sixsevenfiftysix on Apr 18, 2010 12:39 PM EDT reply actions
Looks like he’s leaning on Varly in the Bell Center and Theo back at home. I think Theo rises to the occasion in the VC and I hope that the crowd is one hundred ten percent behind the man when he returns.
I also hope we blow out MTL in the Bell Center and we can get Theo some work in mop up duty, but that is a delusional dream.
erskine has scored...now i can die in peace
by souldrummer on Apr 18, 2010 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions
So if/when Juice comes back, who’s the other healthy scratch? Poti, I guess?
I'm the first to admit when I'm wrong.... except when someone else beats me to it.
by Backhanded Complement on Apr 18, 2010 12:46 PM EDT reply actions
Would Juice displace Shamo? I don’t know. Isn’t it amazing how more than any of the other deadline deals it seems like Carlson is our best trade deadline acquisition? Belanger has been fine, Walker will rise if given an opportunity and Corvo has been okay, but Carlson has been epic.
erskine has scored...now i can die in peace
by souldrummer on Apr 18, 2010 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Amazing how close the vote is (204-202 at the moment). Cool.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
212-212 at the moment. What’s the largest number of participants you’ve had in a poll like this? If you leave it up for awhile, it’s got to get real high with an attractive issue and a lot of playoff traffic.
erskine has scored...now i can die in peace
Varly
It doesn’t matter which goalie they use if these are all going to be 11 goal games. Who will the team play better in front of? I think Theo has more ghosts between his ears which effect his play and we have no control of. So I am going with Varlamov and expect him to not let 4 goals in.
by yesisaiditfirst on Apr 18, 2010 1:02 PM EDT reply actions
Varlamov
His track record as a visitor in Montreal is better than Theo’s. Varly gets games 3 and 4, and if the Caps go up 3-1 after 4 games, go back to Theo in Game 5 back at the booth…
Let's go Caps!
Theo’s played 1 1/2 games as a visitor in Montreal. I’m not sure it’s fair to decide who starts based on that.
Rink Rabbit & newest member of TySlo's fan club.
Indeed, the sample size is small for both, but Varly’s numbers are significantly better in Montreal. I am not saying Theo shouldn’t play again in the series, but not in the next 2 unless Varly doesn’t play well (and he wasn’t all that good last night….)
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Apr 18, 2010 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Cannot jerk these guys around
BB said Jose was the guy and he needs to put him right back in there. I was a little surprised BB did not put him back in for the second period.
None of this is going to matter if the Caps defense doesn’t get their shit together. I’ve seen enough in the first two games to lead me to believe that defensive issues have not been addressed this season. Poor passing, poor coverage, maddening indecision by veterans like Poti.
But Brawndo's got what plants crave. It's got electrolytes.
Truer words were never spoken
None of this is going to matter if the Caps defense doesn’t get their shit together
And Montreal isn’t exactly an offensive juggernaut. The Caps have played better defense, as recently as a few weeks ago, and they need to “tighten things up” as Bruce says, and soon.
dead even on votes!
I dared vote before looking at the results and see that I temporally evened the vote…..
We are a divided group!
"Here lies David St. Hubbins... and why not?"
...David St. Hubbins from the movie "This Is Spinal Tap"
Theo's mental fortitude?
I see a lot of posts on here about Theo not being mentally prepared, or he’s too mentally fragile, etc, i’m just wondering what exactly are we basing that off of?
Letting in a soft goal on the first shot last night would be the most recent example. Game 1 of the playoffs last year is another. Going back before his pre-Caps tenure, there are other examples. I’m not throwing him under the bus, but there’s a reason why people bring it up.
I just don’t equate having a poor outing to not being mentally strong enough. Bryzgalov got 7 hung on him friday night and Miller 5 last night.
I agree with what you’re saying here, but while Bryz is historically a superb playoff goalie, he also played behind a completely different type of team in Anaheim (two fine playoff outings, but on a team designed to win 3-2, 2-1, 2-0) compared to Phoenix (A team designed to win more of a shootout type game than a defensive one). If he were here, he would not just be named the auto starter. We’d be in the same boat. Miller would be the auto-starter, but I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see him struggle for us.
Bryz only gave up 6, btw.
"Don't mind WM...he's an all-around jerk."
Which brings me back to my original question, what about Theo leads us to believe he’s mentally weak?
Sorry bout the misquote on goals.
Not mentally weak, but shaken just a little. And the Caps may have the best plan B and plan C (and plan D!) in goal of any team in the playoffs (including Boston).
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans who can bear reading something less intelligent than a story at Japers' Rink
by red army line on Apr 18, 2010 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions
OT, but Phoenix is not at all built to win a shootout game. They are a defensive team all the way, much more so than Anaheim was.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Apr 18, 2010 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Unless by “shootout” you mean the regular season tie breaker – Phoenix is awesome at those.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Apr 18, 2010 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
They’re more offensively equipped. The few games I watched were back and forth, and defense didn’t seem a priority.
"Don't mind WM...he's an all-around jerk."
Phoenix is tied for the lowest scoring playoff team in the West, their leading scorer has 55 pts, and they have one 20 goal scorer (Vrbata with 24). That is nothing compared to an Anaheim team with Selanne, McDonald, Niedermayer, Pronger, Getzlaf, Perry, Kunitz, and Penner (5 20 goal scorers, and 6 players with over 55 pts). Tippett has always coached his teams to be very defensively responsible, so I don’t know if you were just catching the wrong games. Phoenix has absolutely not been winning with their offense this year.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Apr 18, 2010 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions
The games against DET have been run and gun but looking at all season K_C is right.
I hate listening to people's dreams. It is like flipping through a stack of photographs. If I'm not in any of them and nobody is having sex, I just don't care.
I saw 3-4 games from them this winter, thought that was their style.
"Don't mind WM...he's an all-around jerk."
Talk to BWBW.
I hate listening to people's dreams. It is like flipping through a stack of photographs. If I'm not in any of them and nobody is having sex, I just don't care.
by Rob Parker on Apr 18, 2010 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Or some BBWs.
The stained horizon
Dark rein and rider
The steed. . . Ovechkin
by D'ohboy on Apr 18, 2010 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Varly
I love the picture in the headline. Looks like they are actually having a little goalie tug of war to decide who gets the start.
15 wins to gol
Let's go Pens!
by PensAreYourDaddy on Apr 18, 2010 1:47 PM EDT reply actions
Yeah, sweet pic. I dug it too.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I had a lot of faith in theo coming into the playoffs, but our guys let him down, they didn’t have any confidence with him in net, you could tell once Varly got in there they all immediately started to play better at both ends of the ice. Im with BB and the average, IDK who you start, but I would ride Varly the rest of the way, we find a way to win with this guy!
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Apr 18, 2010 1:47 PM EDT reply actions
dont even make me look up Theo’s playoff statistics…
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Apr 18, 2010 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m not saying Theo is the choice, i’m glad it’s a choice i don’t have to make. But to say we find a way to win with Varly in net is ignoring the drubbing we took at home against Pitt last year.
I will agree with that, but would you say the team plays better as a whole with varly in net?
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Apr 18, 2010 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m kind of mixed on this. Lately (as in March-April) it seems as though Theo got the team to play better. Earlier in the year (October-Novemeber), I seem to recall the team always trying harder when Varly was in goal and kind of half-assing it for Theo. If our D stepped up and played like a real D, this wouldn’t matter as much.
Rink Rabbit & newest member of TySlo's fan club.
I think that’s a hard thing to quantify. For example last night, was the catalyst the goalie change? Or was it “holy shit we’re down 2-0 this early in the first, we better get something going or we’re going to canada down 2-0 in the series?” I mean, they did go from down 2-0 to 4-1 with varly in net last night, is that really playing that much better?
I don’t know how much of it is our guys not having confidence in him in net. Because until last night he was great. He was great all throughout the 2nd half of the season and he had a strong first game. I kind of feel like last night had nothing to do with lack of confidence in Theo or confidence in Varly. It was more just the goaltending change itself that sparked the team. I don’t think it had anything to do with having more confidence in Varly.
Rink Rabbit & newest member of TySlo's fan club.
as i said just above, i don’t really think the goaltending change sparked them. They proceeded to go down 4-1 after the goalie change. This team seems to need to be kicked in the teeth before they wake up.
If you want to break it down….they lost the first period 2-1 with theo in net for the 2 goals. Lost the second period by an identical 2-1 with varly in goal. Entering the 3rd period down two goals, they wont it 3-1, conceding a late period goal after tying it up. If it’s not for john carlsons game tying goal with 1:20 left, we may be talking about how they also blew a tie game with Varly in net.
It’s hard to say whether or not the goaltending change sparked the team. All I’m saying is I don’t think the team was sparked by Varly being in net because they had more confidence in him. Like you said, it could just be that they woke up.
Rink Rabbit & newest member of TySlo's fan club.
They were sparked a bit, I think. But a bigger momentum shift came late 2nd/early third.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans who can bear reading something less intelligent than a story at Japers' Rink
by red army line on Apr 18, 2010 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions
I feel like Theo has earned it, But... I'm picking Varly.
Only because if the team is more comfortable with playing in front of him as opposed to Theo and if they’re gonna put forth the effort they did after Varly came in, I have to pick Varly.
How do I sign my name via keyboard?
I will say this however...
Because I feel like Theo has earned it, I wouldn’t be surprised if BB went with Theo. It is Game 3 and it’s now a best of 5 series, so if Theo blows his shot in Montreal, we could go back to Varly in Game 4 and still be in the series…
How do I sign my name via keyboard?
I agree, plus I subscribe to what caps123 said above. I think Theo has earned another shot and also that the best thing Bruce can do for his confidence right now is to give him another shot, in Montreal. Failing to do so could mean he’s toast mentally.
I see where Bruce is saying he plans on using both as the team moves forward and I can get behind this. What that does is send a signal to the TEAM that it has to get its act together defensively and that it shouldn’t even be thinking about riding one guy if he gets hot. Last year Varly just got worn down and the players in front of the goalie have to do a better job.
I think Theo has earned another start. But just one. If he sucks then go to Varlamov. The first goal last night was garbage. The second wasn’t his fault. But given Theo’s history I’m not exactly confident he’ll rebound well. Like SME said, a loss doesn’t sink us; maybe play Varlamov if we were down 2-0 already but at 1-1 we can afford another Theo start. Give Theo a chance to bounce back, then hand Varly the net when Theo doesn’t. But benching Theo like this would really be tough.
I hate listening to people's dreams. It is like flipping through a stack of photographs. If I'm not in any of them and nobody is having sex, I just don't care.
The only thing that worries me there is Theo can’t rebound and we go down 2-1…Then we lose another close one with Varly to make it 3-1. I say we stick with Varly and if we go up 3-1 we put Theo in for game 5….like someone was saying earlier (sorry cant remember who it was)
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Apr 18, 2010 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions
3-1. If only we had some experience overcoming that.
I hate listening to people's dreams. It is like flipping through a stack of photographs. If I'm not in any of them and nobody is having sex, I just don't care.
Its funny you say that, I thought the rangers D last year was better than this one. They had a better goaltender as well. Wouldn’t you rather not have to comeback all the time though?
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Apr 18, 2010 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah I would. I was definitely being snarky about it. At some point you can’t keep playing with 1-3 deficits. I’m just not that scared. Halak isn’t looking dominant, the Habs’ Team D isn’t as good as the Rags’ was, and their scoring is only marginally better. We should be able to handle this series, but it’s obviously going to be a fight. MON won’t give us anything.
Re-reading (and re-thinking) what I posted, it’s like I want Theo to start because he earned it but I’m basically conceding the game. That’s probably not a good sign.
I hate listening to people's dreams. It is like flipping through a stack of photographs. If I'm not in any of them and nobody is having sex, I just don't care.
Would anyone else agree that the win last night was largely attributed to figuring out how to score on Halak? I mean sure, we can’t give up 5 goals in the future, but then again they can’t give up 6…I think BB takes this game and applies it to game 3: Get bodies in front of the net, crash the net, shoot high blocker side
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Apr 18, 2010 2:06 PM EDT reply actions
I wouldn’t say just figuring out how to score on Halak, but Halak and the Montreal D not playing as well as in game 1.
and i know at least two of the goals were glove side (Carlson’s and Nick’s GW)
I think just going high on him in general. Fehr’s breakaway was high blocker. So shoot high and get knuble and laich to screen him, I like it.
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Apr 18, 2010 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Varly Won
Varly starts.
Go USA, Braves, BU Terriers, Irish, Colts, Caps, Hoyas, NU Cats, Wizards, DC United, Washington Freedom
BU Hockey: National Champions 1971, 1972, 1978, 1995, 2009
by SuperNewb on Apr 18, 2010 2:12 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
phew I am glad that the fate of the Washington Capitals does not depend on the decisions and opinions and votes of this blog.
I Laich the Professor.
resident master jinxer
So am I. But it’s fun to discuss. Although I am skeptical about a lot of BB’s decisions regarding the goalies.
Rink Rabbit & newest member of TySlo's fan club.
I’m just saying for Monday… I don’t think you don’t put the goalie who won you the game Saturday back in net.
Go USA, Braves, BU Terriers, Irish, Colts, Caps, Hoyas, NU Cats, Wizards, DC United, Washington Freedom
BU Hockey: National Champions 1971, 1972, 1978, 1995, 2009
But was the loss on Thursday Theo’s fault? You could probably argue he was the reason we got to OT. If we’re going to argue it this way, I think Theo played better in Game 1 than Varly did in Game 2.
Rink Rabbit & newest member of TySlo's fan club.
Theo was the reason we got to OT (with some help from the offense being crappy) but then he comes out… gives up two goals in two shots neither of which were unstoppable (though I think we all agree the defense should never have allowed the second shot)… and varly comes in and wins the game
Go USA, Braves, BU Terriers, Irish, Colts, Caps, Hoyas, NU Cats, Wizards, DC United, Washington Freedom
BU Hockey: National Champions 1971, 1972, 1978, 1995, 2009
Lars doesn’t get a W for it in his stats. Varly won the game. Lars did some sweet shit to get the win, but statistically speaking, Varly gets the W, Theodore is still 0-0-1.
"Don't mind WM...he's an all-around jerk."
What i mean is, it’s not like Varly came in and Cam Ward’d the Habs. Forget Backstrom, if not for Carlsons late minute game tying goal we’re talking about choking, not Varly winning.
But if we’re choosing goalies which forwards / carlson won the game doesn’t matter… which goalie won the game is what matters.
Go USA, Braves, BU Terriers, Irish, Colts, Caps, Hoyas, NU Cats, Wizards, DC United, Washington Freedom
BU Hockey: National Champions 1971, 1972, 1978, 1995, 2009
You’re missing my point. My point is i don’t believe Varly WON that game. He was in the pipes when the offense decided to wake up. Much like in baseball if a pitcher goes out and gives up 9 runs, but the offense scores 13, while technically that pitcher won the game, what really won the game was offense, not pitching.
I’m not missing this point at all. I just think Wins matter more in the playoffs than other stats (GAA, SV%) and if some mystical voodoo helps the team while Varlamov is in the net now, play Varlamov. If the voodoo goes away, we have Theo ready to get back in. I don’t see how having two hungry goaltenders, potentially motivated by the mindset of “Win, and you stay in goal” is a problem.
"Don't mind WM...he's an all-around jerk."
I just feel that how you arrive at Wins is relevant as long as you’re discussing them as a determining factor. I don’t have a problem with Varly starting per se.
Well part of it is that there doesn’t seem to be much else to go by.
Go USA, Braves, BU Terriers, Irish, Colts, Caps, Hoyas, NU Cats, Wizards, DC United, Washington Freedom
BU Hockey: National Champions 1971, 1972, 1978, 1995, 2009
In saves – shots against, we have one goalie at 0-2 and one at 19-22. GAA is pointless since neither played a full 60. One was in goal during the teams massive comeback. The other was in goal during an early strong performance out of the team, but came up short on two shots. Who won the game?
"Don't mind WM...he's an all-around jerk."
I don’t disagree, I’m just saying if the goalie of record gets a W, he should get the next start. It’s an approach to which goalie should start, and it’s valid, as it’s been used in the past with teams who have a 1A and 1B (Which, honestly is the situation we have in DC). Roloson and Conklin in 2006 come to mind (though that was almost forced due to Rolo’s injury) and it’s worked on other teams in the past.
Is it ideal? Hell no. You want one strong streak from a starting goalie. The stats prove that most teams use one goalie throughout the entire playoffs, not a platoon. But we have a platoon. Use what you have. Play the hot hand, and if there isn’t one, play the winning goalie.
"Don't mind WM...he's an all-around jerk."
by Whiter Mage on Apr 18, 2010 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Why isn’t the offense waking up with Varly in the net part of the reason to start him?
Haven’t we discussed before how the team seems to be more motivated with Varly in goal…? Maybe that was an old discussion but I do remember reading something about it.
Go USA, Braves, BU Terriers, Irish, Colts, Caps, Hoyas, NU Cats, Wizards, DC United, Washington Freedom
BU Hockey: National Champions 1971, 1972, 1978, 1995, 2009
BB may certainly elect to go with the winner, and personally i feel that it’s a wash who starts between the two of them, i just don’t feel like in this case there truly was a winning goalie.
That’s fair. But one of them got a W on the score sheet. I’d start that guy. I might have missed it above, but who would you pick, and how would you come to that conclusion?
"Don't mind WM...he's an all-around jerk."
I think it’s a terribly difficult decision that isn’t going to matter if our defense continues to fail miserably. That said, i would start Theo, because I don’t feel like it sends the right message to the team that we’re prepared to abandon what has worked all year in light of a bad game. I think that sends a message of panic.
I think panic messages are sent by how a coach justifies a decision – not by the decision made. You have to remember that the coaches work with the players every day, and a player can feed whether or not a coach is panicking. If any message sent panic, it was putting Varly in in game 2. Sending him out in game 3 isn’t a panic decision.
"Don't mind WM...he's an all-around jerk."
Maybe I was overstating it by saying it sends a message of panic, but i don’t feel like Varly won the job away from Theo last night, and I felt it was Theo’s job heading into the playoffs, so i feel like you go back to him this game.
I think on the other hand, sending out Theo sends a sort of “Game 2 was acceptable” message, when it clearly wasn’t. Sorta like how teams always seem to rebound when their coach gets fired because the coach takes the fall for poor team play. Well, the goalies take heat for poor team performance as well, I guess.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans who can bear reading something less intelligent than a story at Japers' Rink
by red army line on Apr 18, 2010 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions
He means the “Win and your in” mantra, as opposed to the winner of the poll. It’s a variant of “Play the hot hand.”
I am inclined to agree. Theo had a fine game one, there wasn’t a reason to pull him until game two. If you give Theo, a historically mediocre playoff goalie a short leash, how do you not give Varlamov, who has a small sample size (truth, not snark) the same short leash?
I prefer play the hot hand. The only problem is that when it comes to the present moment, we may not have one. So in this situation, play the winning goalie. And give them a short leash.
"Don't mind WM...he's an all-around jerk."
Exactly. We can’t put a guy back in give him a chance to “figure things out.” This is the playoffs, we can’t afford to lose a game. You know, Theo did have a great 2nd half, and with that he earned start to game 1 (which he did deserve). Now you have to earn the start to the next game. And that being said, that all applies to Varly as well. He has to earn the next start too. And considering he kept the guys in the game and they won, he earned the next start.
The problem I see...
Is if you go with Varly now and he doesn’t play so good and maybe we lose… do you just go back to Theo again? At some point you have to gain confidence in someone.
Go USA, Braves, BU Terriers, Irish, Colts, Caps, Hoyas, NU Cats, Wizards, DC United, Washington Freedom
BU Hockey: National Champions 1971, 1972, 1978, 1995, 2009
Oh… as Mage just pointed out, if you thought I meant Varly won the poll so he should start I didn’t I meant he won the game…
Didn’t even occur to me someone would be dumb enough to say Varly should start because we think he should ;D
Go USA, Braves, BU Terriers, Irish, Colts, Caps, Hoyas, NU Cats, Wizards, DC United, Washington Freedom
BU Hockey: National Champions 1971, 1972, 1978, 1995, 2009
Because Varly and Theo would each get half starts and each pick up half a win?
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans who can bear reading something less intelligent than a story at Japers' Rink
by red army line on Apr 18, 2010 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions
RAL, FTHW.
I hate listening to people's dreams. It is like flipping through a stack of photographs. If I'm not in any of them and nobody is having sex, I just don't care.
by Rob Parker on Apr 18, 2010 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Nice.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans who can bear reading something less intelligent than a story at Japers' Rink
by red army line on Apr 18, 2010 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions
I voted for Varly simply because I don’t trust Theo. The only time he was consistant in his two years with the Caps was down the stretch this year. He lost that last night and Varly has been fairly consistant the past two years, excluding when he came back from injury. He was great in last years playoffs before burning out, and maybe he can get that magic back.
I don’t understand why everyone is saying that Theo lost his consistency last night. No goalie is going to have a great game every single day. I see the argument for starting Varly, but I think saying Theo has lost his consistency is going a bit far.
Rink Rabbit & newest member of TySlo's fan club.
True. It’s panicky to start Varly. If you don’t start Theo, you lose him mentally for the rest of the playoffs, I think. Can’t risk that, as Varly has proven to lack durability at this point in his career.
The keyboard is mightier.
On the other hand
If you start Theo and have to pull him, he is done for good. At least with starting Varly, a case can be made to Theo as for why, and Theo lives for another start.
Obstreperously Avatarless
I actually think it messes more with Theo to be pulling him now. You’ve given him a short leash after telling him you wouldn’t. If he starts, screws up, and then sits he can at least understand why he’s sitting and just wait for another chance (if he gets one) and hopefully be better prepared.
Rink Rabbit & newest member of TySlo's fan club.
Everyone said Theo’s hot streak was over after a couple bad starts against CGY and OTT, yet he came back and finished the season very strong. And those starts were far worse than last night’s start.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Apr 18, 2010 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t know.
Different minds....old people.
by Big Boutros on Apr 18, 2010 2:31 PM EDT reply actions 8 recs
That’s why Gabby gets paid big amounts of money and we get to second guess….
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Apr 18, 2010 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions
I was actually hoping that would be an option in this poll. You could find several reasons to second guess either decision, which is why this won’t be an easy one for Gabby.
I have a feeling if this next game was being played anywhere but Montreal, then Theo would get a second chance in game 3. Before the playoffs started (and before Boudreau officially named his starter), he said that the opponent and location could definitely play a role in his decision making process…and if that is true, you probably have to give the edge to Varly to start next game. Is that the “right” choice? Who knows at this point…
"I am ready for his provocations"
by PaintDrinkingPete on Apr 18, 2010 9:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Hear, Hear …
I am in an abusive relationship. I think. After having been through all the years of suffering, pain, agony and heartbreak I wake up each morning pledging anew my (misguided?) allegiance and faithfullness. I keep telling myself it will get better and just when things are seemingly better, my heart happens to get cruelly ripped out once more ... in the playoffs. I am a Caps fan. Need I say more?
Win one. Do it fifteen times.
by Christoph J on Apr 18, 2010 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions
In this article (http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=526010) it states:
“The young Russian goalie also credited Theodore for helping to settle him down. Theodore, it seems, made sure to offer some advice and support during the first intermission.
“It’s a very difficult situation to step in the game in the first period, so he helped me a lot,” Varlamov said."
Just curious how that actually works – Can Varly understand enough such that Theo could just talk to him, or is there a translator required there on the bench for that to happen?
(BTW – if anyone could point me to directions to make a single word be a hotlink (instead of posting the full web address like I did here), it’d be appreciated.)
I don’t think they would need a translator. I’m pretty sure Varly at least understands some English. I remember him saying the same thing last year about Theo giving him words of advice before Game 2 and that was when his English was even worse.
Anyways, good on Theo for being supportive. That’s always nice to see.
Rink Rabbit & newest member of TySlo's fan club.
Say what you will about Theo, but he’s been a terrific teammate and has handled the situation with Varly in an exemplary way.
by cuqui on Apr 18, 2010 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Part of the reason I love Theo so much is he’s classy all the way. He was great with Varly last year and seems to get along really well with the team. For all the difficulties he’s had on and off the ice, he hasn’t let any of them get in the way of being a supportive teammate and he deserves recognition for that.
Rink Rabbit & newest member of TySlo's fan club.
I don’t know If you could tell on TV but in looking though my photos I noticed Theo came up to Varly talked to him and then hugged him after the game.
Caps Snaps - Washington Capitals Photography
Founder of the Eric Fehr Fan Club.
Another good example of being a good teammate. I think Theo and Varly get along pretty well. Your pics are really good, btw.
Rink Rabbit & newest member of TySlo's fan club.
Thanks, glad you liked them.
Caps Snaps - Washington Capitals Photography
Founder of the Eric Fehr Fan Club.
Saw this coming a mile away
I’ve said all along Theo isn’t good enough for the playoffs. Maybe if we had a really strong (chicago strong) defense, we could get away with him and win. He’s just about replacement level.
Varly and Neuvy are already better. Big management mistake not to get Varly many more starts down the stretch (especially at Hershey coming out of the Oly break). Now we’re going to ride a still rusty Varly as far he’ll go.
I believe in Varly.
Big management mistake not to get Varly many more starts down the stretch (especially at Hershey coming out of the Oly break).
That argument didn’t work before and it sure won’t now.
They're coming.
by Bald Pollack on Apr 18, 2010 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Eh. I’d say it worked before, and it’s still a true statement (in my view).
by sixsevenfiftysix on Apr 18, 2010 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions
seriously dude, you never made a decent counterargument. you argued against a strawman that I never said: Varly should have started games during the oly break or varly should have started games over theo in DC.
the reality is varly started half as many games since the break as he could have. He’s both rustier and less tested than he should be.
Not so sure about that. Given his file, it was even more important to get 40 Healthy than to get him starts. Caps had every excuse and reason to bring him back slowly.
Hey let's go, today is going to be our night
by redlineblue on Apr 19, 2010 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions
The issue that CarlosLA and I have (or at least I have, and I presume CarlosLA is the same) isn’t about bringing him back slowly, it’s about not having given him enough starts once they already had brought him back.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Apr 19, 2010 2:43 AM EDT up reply actions
seriously dude, you never made a decent counterargument. you argued against a strawman that I never said: Varly should have started games during the oly break or varly should have started games over theo in DC.
Really? I gave you 3 weeks with Tretiak and almost half the starts since the break, and that wasn’t good enough for you. So until YOU start providing something other than “they should have done more” on this, I’ll trust you’ve got no more light to shed on this than anyone else does.
They're coming.
by Bald Pollack on Apr 19, 2010 7:33 AM EDT up reply actions
How’s this: he started fewer than half the games the Caps played. He could gotten exactly that many NHL starts and another bunch of starts in Hershey (presumably Hershey first) and he’d have proven to us and others whether he’d regained his early season form (where he was performing at a truly elite level, albeit only for a couple of months). As it is, his form started out poorly and then got a little better and a little better but never nearly as good as his early season play, and never even any better than Theo’s late season play (which wasn’t itself nearly as good as Varly’s early play). So, instead of knowing more — i.e., having more experience and data — we know less and are stuck w/ this lousy choice b/t known mediocrity Theo and still unknown, mostly for health reasons, Varly. I’ll always take more empirical data.
I don’t think sitting w/ Tretiak is worth much, but I don’t quibble with it b/c he was called up by his nat’l team so that was that. It’s not like the Caps are going to tell him “No, you have to play in Hershey.”
He appeared in 9 of 20 post-Olympics games, coming back from a knee injury, and he got a chance to spend 3 weeks picking the brain of one of the greatest goaltenders in history.
Want to go before the injury? OK, 16 of a possible 30 played (both rough counts), up until the injury on 12/7.
Again, where’s anything that validates your thoughts the organization made a bad move here relative to form or injury rehab?
They're coming.
by Bald Pollack on Apr 19, 2010 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions
I think the fact that he was injured once, came back and immediately got injured again also justifies taking it slow in terms of getting him back and giving him starts. If he gets a ton of work in Hershey or DC and gets injured again the team is no better off than they are now.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Apr 19, 2010 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Precisely, particularly with a guy who’s developing a disturbing trend for injury.
They're coming.
by Bald Pollack on Apr 19, 2010 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions
time to move on w/ the proverbially agree to disagree. You see 45% of starts as sufficient for reasons I can’t comprehend. I see the norm for #1 goalies being more like 75%+ and a guy in need of working his way back into top form who could have started another 7 or 9 games across 2 organizations and wonder why he didn’t get those starts, which I gather makes no sense to you. oh well.
I still appreciate your letting post the tix thing on Friday, fwiw.
Dude, don’t “move on” and make a passive aggressive swipe like that.
Or better yet, face the fucking reality around it and move on.
They're coming.
by Bald Pollack on Apr 20, 2010 7:23 AM EDT up reply actions
what’s going on w/ the language around here? I gather you’re a mod based on another post. Aren’t you trying to build a business?
what exactly is the passive aggressive swipe? I think you’re reading something into what was sincerely meant as an “oh well, I’m not persuaded by you, you’re not persuaded by me” post.
At the end of the day, this nonsense and another super aggressive poster are a pretty strong disincentive to stick around, which is a shame b/c the content of the articles is the best Caps stuff around.
You know what the tragedy of all this is? If he GOT 75% of the starts when he came back and blew out something, then we wouldn’t be rejoicing over the effort he had last night.
They're coming.
by Bald Pollack on Apr 20, 2010 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions
Varly. Theo was dropped the ball 2 years in a row at home in the first round. I don’t ever want to see what happens why he goes to Centre Bell.
Caps Snaps - Washington Capitals Photography
Founder of the Eric Fehr Fan Club.
I’m leaning toward Varly even though my confidence level with him has gone down. He was so rock solid pre-injury. Last night, the only goal that he could’ve shouldered some blame for was the fifth goal as Plekanec faked him out. Varly’s been fooled a lot lately. That worries me a bit. Of course I want Theo to get a chance to redeem himself and take it to his former team but I just don’t have a good feeling of Theo in Bell Centre with the crowd against him. So Varly it is, but of course it’s not our call.
imagine if we would've got vokoun
then we may not have this conversation and be up 2-0 as the easy cup favorites.
First of all, Vokoun doesn’t help us in game one even if you plug him in without taking away any of our other players. Second, is John Carlson still here if Tomas Vokoun is? What about Eric Fehr? How about Alex Semin?
by sixsevenfiftysix on Apr 18, 2010 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions
I vote for Carlson
There’s nothing he can’t do.
The stained horizon
Dark rein and rider
The steed. . . Ovechkin
by D'ohboy on Apr 18, 2010 5:02 PM EDT reply actions 8 recs
Oh come on… I don’t think he’s going to be building a rocket to go to the moon anytime soon. Joe Juneau could have done that, mind you…
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Apr 18, 2010 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Seriously though
I vote for Varly. I don’t think the team implicitly trusts Theo the same way they do Varly. It’s clearly intangible, and therefore neither provable nor disprovable, but I believe it’s there.
Varly was mediocre after his injury, but he was outstanding before it, and without him, the Caps don’t make it out of the first round last year, let alone take Pittsburgh to seven.
I hate to say this (since I think that Theo deserves better), but right now, Theo’s regular-season wins are about as relevant as Fleischmann’s 23 goals.
The stained horizon
Dark rein and rider
The steed. . . Ovechkin
Just curious, because I agree with your statement about the team trusting Varly over Theo, but why do you think that is? Theo’s the one that’s been carrying them since January, not Varly. He’s the one with the stellar record, not Varly. So why does that change just because we’re in the playoffs?
Rink Rabbit & newest member of TySlo's fan club.
Several reasons:
1) Varly’s playoff performance last year. He saved the Caps against NY, then held them in the series against Pittsburgh despite seeing huge amounts of rubber. By contrast, Theo has never won a playoff game as a Cap.
2) Varly’s a big goaltender. Holding everything else equal, a big goaltender is better than a small one – particularly when they play the butterfly. Even when Theo plays his angles right, he’s more vulnerable up high than Varly.
3) When Varly has been on his game in the past he has shown the ability to win games almost single-handedly. Even when Theo was playing well this year, he maxed out at not losing games.
Put simply, if Varly’s in net, I think the players believe that he’s going to make a few crucial unbelievable saves that Theo just can’t, and I think that’s why he’s the better choice.
The stained horizon
Dark rein and rider
The steed. . . Ovechkin
I think Theo stole some games this year in the regular season when the defense decided to not show up. I do agree that the team plays better infront of Varly than Theo.
Maybe they still think Varly is young and thus they need to work extra hard to help him out. Maybe they get energized for their Russian comrade. Maybe the playoffs last year showed them how good he is so they can play their game without worrying about the net. I have no idea really, but it does seem like the team shows up more often around Varly than Theo.
Proud member of the Popsicle Division of the Cupcake Conference.
I thought this was true at the beginning of the year, but lately it seems like almost the opposite has happened. Theo went a record 23 straight games w/out a regulation loss. There’s no way he does that without the team showing up, no matter how stellar he is. Varly on the otherhand, hasn’t played as well but he’s also been the victim of some bad bounces and crappy D. Maybe it’s reverting back to what it was earlier in the season, who knows.
Rink Rabbit & newest member of TySlo's fan club.
Another point
I’m usually not a fan of using Goals-Against Average, but I think it’s meaningful in this case:
Theo’s playoff GAA as a Cap: 3.71
Varly’s playoff GAA as a Cap: 2.59
I’m pretty damn confident that the Caps can score 3 goals per game on average in the playoffs, but I don’t think we can score 4+ every game.
The stained horizon
Dark rein and rider
The steed. . . Ovechkin
I think the poll is broken. How do I vote for Holtby?
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Apr 18, 2010 6:22 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Yeah, I agree. We need to start Dunn if we have any intention of winning a game in Montreal.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Apr 18, 2010 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Actually, scratch that. I just gave Craig Billington a call (he’s a friend of a friend) and he’s free tomorrow night. So that’s settled.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Apr 18, 2010 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions
No, we need to win the game. Does anyone have Matthew Yeats’s number?
"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 Apr 18, 2010 7:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Ted needs olie the goalie for this one.
John Carlson: Slays Canadians and Canadiens.
by lynxtheone on Apr 18, 2010 7:32 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
If it were me – I’d start Varly in Montreal on Monday but I don’t understand the statement:
“Theodore has failed to finish four of his last seven playoff starts.”
I was there for game one on Thursday night and he most definately started and finished that game and played well. Did I miss an earlier clarifying statement in the comments or am I not understanding what you are saying.
by markbona-capsfan99 on Apr 18, 2010 8:34 PM EDT reply actions
…no, that’s just one of the three that he didn’t fail to finish.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Apr 18, 2010 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions
one of what three, and again in Game one he started and finished it, to me that’s his last “playoff game” before Saturday night, I know I’m dense but J.P. what are you saying/meaning when you say he’s failed to finish four of his last seven playoff starts and how far back do those seven games go?
by markbona-capsfan99 on Apr 18, 2010 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions
It doesn’t mean in a row. He has started 7 and scattered throughtout those last seven he failed to finish X amount.
I look to the future because that's where I'm going to spend the rest of my life.
by zephyr on Apr 18, 2010 8:55 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
What? Let me rephrase it. In the last seven times that Jose Theodore has started a playoff game, he has been replaced in four of them. So in three of those seven he HAS finished the game. Thursday’s game was one of the three that he finished.
It’s like when you say a team has won four of their last seven games. It means in the last seven games they played, they won four and lost three.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Apr 18, 2010 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions
The stat is very skewed and loses a lot of it’s meaning since 3 of those 4 times he got pulled were two years ago when Theo (and the entire Avalanche team) got absolutely worked by the Red Wings. I have a tough time seeing how his performance in that series is at all relevant to the current question.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Apr 19, 2010 1:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Especially when most observers say that Theo was most responsible for the Avs’ first round thumping of the Wild, same year.
That’s been the story of Theo’s pre-Caps playoff career: carry a mediocre team to a first round upset, get stomped in the 2nd round by a much better team.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Apr 19, 2010 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Just out of curiousity, I'm pretty amazed at...
how many commenters on this thread personally know Jose Theodore and so many of the Washington Capitals. I’ve always said one of the reasons I love the NHL in general and the Caps in particular is how accessable they are. I just never fully realized just how right I was.
I mean it’s truly amazing how many folks here know Varlamov, Theodore and the rest of the team well enough that they talked to any of them after last nights loss and know and understand their state of mind. Please invite me over to share a beer with Theo, Varly and you guys the next time you’re talking this stuff over….. I’d love to hear this sort of stuff first hand, I’m even willing to buy you all a few rounds….
by markbona-capsfan99 on Apr 18, 2010 8:48 PM EDT reply actions
If you were on the Caps and you had watched Theo’s and Varly’s recent playoff performances, which goalie would you prefer?
Maybe we’re not in the room, but it’s not difficult to guess how those guys feel. Theo let in 3 soft goals in a row (I’m counting Plekanec’s OT GWG), there aren’t many things more demoralizing than outplaying your opponent in most phases of the game and not having it show up on the scoreboard.
The stained horizon
Dark rein and rider
The steed. . . Ovechkin
Sorry still not buying into it...
These are ALL highly competative, world class athletes. I’m betting they want whoever is “in the zone” on any given night, in the net for them. Further, from what I see when they are on the ice and how they play differently in front of Varly and Theo the preference will vary based on both who they think is more in the zone – on any particular DAY and who the opponent is and how they play.
It seems to me that the Caps all play like they think Theo is a better puck handler AND communicates better with the Defensemen then Varly. Further to me that makes sense given the native toungues of each and their experience levels.
All that said – I wouldn’t ever try to “guess” how they feel. Further I don’t agree that the first goal last night was a soft one – as BB said it was a “knuckle ball” – hard to read. The second one yes – further since it was the second goal on the second shot – Theo was a must pull.
I’ve already weighed in and said i’d start Varly in game 3 – I’m still a big Theo supporter and if the team played better in game 1, they would have won – Theo did a good job overall.
However, varly came in cold and got the job done, to me it’s a case of win and you’re in – till next series, when regardless I’d put Theo back in for game 1, even if Varly wins the next 3 in a row.
However, I still say folks speculating on “how the guys feel in the room” are talking through their sphincters, sorry just how I feel on this point. Not like folks here haven’t felt I occasionally voice my opinion through my hind quarters at times, it’s not persona, it’s just “coffee talk.”
by markbona-capsfan99 on Apr 18, 2010 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions
These are ALL highly competative, world class athletes.
This statement, and really your entire first paragraph, only serves to reinforce my point (furthermore, highly competitive people are even less likely to tolerate failure under pressure, but that’s beside the point). The team and its constituent players want to win. They want the goalie who gives them the best chance of winning. By almost every measurement, Varly gives this team the best chance to win in the playoffs. Right now, the players don’t give two shits about regular season stats; they care about winning the next game, and the game after that, etc.
I’m not getting into any great Freudian analysis of the players or the “room,” I’m just pointing out that Theo has yet to win a playoff game as a Cap, while Varly has won 8, and that fact has to have some impact on the perceptions of the players. If there were a person at your place of work who was a great guy, but consistently failed to deliver at crucial moments, how would you treat him? Would you avoid giving him key assignments? Would you get nervous every time you had to rely on him?
Ordinarily, I’d agree that speculating on the thoughts and emotions of the players is BS, but this is a little different. This isn’t like wondering how the Clark-Jurcina trade affected the players. In that case, we really have no idea what kind of relationship everyone had with those guys. We don’t know what kind of role they played in the locker room dynamic. It’s total speculation, then, to say, “Player A isn’t playing well, perhaps he’s upset because Jurcina was traded away.” There is no evidence one way or the other to suggest some kind of causal relationship between the two events.
In this case, however, I can draw a clear causal relationship in support of my theory. The Caps have played three playoff games in which Theo started and have lost two and almost lost the third. In two of those games, Theo’s poor performance was responsible for the Caps’ loss or near-loss. As you pointed out, “highly-competitive” athletes don’t like to lose. In the playoffs, the Caps tend to lose when Theo starts and tend to win when Varly starts.
So if I know that A) NHL players want to win, and B) historically, Varly gives the Caps the best chance to win in the playoffs, then it’s not all that hard to conclude C) that the Caps would prefer to play in front of Varly.
It seems to me that the Caps all play like they think Theo is a better puck handler AND communicates better with the Defensemen then Varly. Further to me that makes sense given the native toungues of each and their experience levels.
So you’re against speculation, but then you purport to understand how the two goalies communicate with their on the ice? Are you down there listening? :) Regardless, you’ll get no argument from me that Theo is a much better puck-handler, but I’ll counter by saying that, as a bigger goalie, Varly has a better chance of stopping shots he can’t see simply by being in the right place at the right time. Given the amount of traffic in front of the net during the playoffs, that’s not an insignificant factor.
However, varly came in cold and got the job done, to me it’s a case of win and you’re in – till next series, when regardless I’d put Theo back in for game 1, even if Varly wins the next 3 in a row.
This just doesn’t make any sense whatsoever. If Varly wins the next 3 games in a row, then Bruce goes back to Theo, I’d go ballistic. It would be a monumentally arbitrary choice. “Win and you’re in” sounds great in theory, but it also puts undue pressure on guys who are already under enough of it. Bruce needs to find a guy and stick with him until he totally shits the bed. I think Theo shat the bed last night and he doesn’t come back unless Varly shits the bed tomorrow.
The stained horizon
Dark rein and rider
The steed. . . Ovechkin
by D'ohboy on Apr 19, 2010 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I’ll just end my comments on this with a couple of quick hits before i suggest we agree to diagree on this one.
1) I may have rambled in my first paragraph but i don’t think Varly gives the best chance to win this season – in the playoffs or otherwise, i think the guy that does that is Theo. You’ve made your points and clearly no amount of my feelings or any logic will likely change your mind – ditto yours changing mine.
2) I don’t think Theo “shit the bed” last night. I think Theo let in one soft goal but I also think more importantly until Theo was pulled the Caps defense was collapsing to far too fast and would have continued to do so, giving the Canadien forwards far too much time and space. Again, immaterial to last night’s decision but certainly material to me to being very ready to put Theo back in.
3) You personally might go ballistic if Varly won another three games and BB went and put Theo back in for game 1 of the next series, clearly i wouldn’t. It follows with my point and logic that different goalies match up better against different teams and again we clearly approach this from very different views. We really don’t have to agree.
At the end of the day I think the guys with the bigger goaltending perspective is Montreal – if the Caps come out tomarrow night and score a quick goal or two on Halak high glove side, I’d expect him to quickly get the hook.
In actuality I’m thinking it’s 50/50 whether the Caps go back to Theo next game, and I’ll say it again, i don’t think the team really cares which goalie they play in front of. Both the two options AND all the skaters are world class COMPETATIVE athletes. I believe this is the best Capitals team ever.
2)
by markbona-capsfan99 on Apr 19, 2010 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions
You have an awfully liberal definition of “soft goals”.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Apr 19, 2010 1:14 AM EDT up reply actions
In the playoffs, anything scored from more than 30 ft out with no traffic in front is soft. The last three goals against Theo all fit that description. Those are the kind of shots that successful playoff goalies stop.
The stained horizon
Dark rein and rider
The steed. . . Ovechkin
I don’t think you can count the two goals from right in the slot as weak on Theo. It would have been nice to get those saves but our D lets their two best shooters get to a prime shooting area and let them rip.
I hate listening to people's dreams. It is like flipping through a stack of photographs. If I'm not in any of them and nobody is having sex, I just don't care.
Exactly. The OT winner and Kostitsyn’s goal were both goals where it would be nice to get a save but are certainly not easy saves. Both guys sniped hard shots just inside the post from in the slot – those are certainly not routine saves. They fall under not coming up with a big save, which even successful playoff goalies don’t stop all of the time. This is different from a soft goal which is a stop a goalie should make every time.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Apr 19, 2010 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Thrice sig, nice.
Another uninnocent, elegant fall into the unmagnificent lives of adults...
by Smoltz's Beard on Apr 19, 2010 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions
If they were in the slot, they were in the VERY high slot. The NHL.com data shows both the OT winner and the 2nd goal last night as being shot from above the faceoff circles. I’ve always considered the “slot” as the area between the circles from the crease up to approximately a few feet beyond the dots.
I agree that the defense could have done a better job maintaining their gaps, but either way, I still maintain that 40ft shots with no traffic shouldn’t go in.
The stained horizon
Dark rein and rider
The steed. . . Ovechkin
Both shots were released inside the top of the circles. That’s high slot to me. If they were outside the circles (like the second goal VAN scored the other night, and Gaborik’s GWG early in the year) then I’d be pissed.
I hate listening to people's dreams. It is like flipping through a stack of photographs. If I'm not in any of them and nobody is having sex, I just don't care.
NHL.com shot charts are not very accurate, neither shot came from above the circles. There is no way that either shot was from 40 ft out, and I’d have to look at them again but I bet they were within 30 ft.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Apr 19, 2010 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions
I just re-watched them. Tits’ goal was from the top of the circles basically dead-center on the ice. That puts his shot at about 30-34 feet depending on where you count his release. For all intents and purposes, Plekanec’s OT GWG was from the same place. Gionta’s goal was from well above the circles and well wide of the net.
Given that the circles are 30 ft in diameter and the circles themselves are 5 ft from the goalline, there’s really no chance that any of those shots were from less than 30 ft away.
I’m not saying he’s got to stop all three, but if he stops at least one, we’re not having this conversation.
The stained horizon
Dark rein and rider
The steed. . . Ovechkin
I’m not saying he’s got to stop all three
Well if someone says that all three goals are soft then I assume that they think that all three goals should be stopped. But I guess then we are just disagreeing over semantics.
Of all our iniquities ignorance may be the worst
by Killer_Carlson on Apr 19, 2010 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Bill Guerin was talking about how every series needs a game or 2 to actually become a series, when the hate, frustration, elation boil over and each team is locked on. I think Varly is the beneficiary of what was the emotional tipping point of the series, where the series became a series. It began with Lars getting that late 2nd period goal, crescendoed when Killer tied it up, and Lars obviously tipped it the fuck over in OT.
I would like Theo to have rode the wave, twas not meant to be. I think it’s Varly’s series to lose.
I refuse to read it, or link to it, but the Rink’s favorite Postie weighs in with his opinion on the Post’s sports page. Because he really knows what Bruce should decide.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
Hah—I hadn’t noticed the title change. You are right though. Best way to register my complaint is to not read nor respond to his article. No clicks for “Postle.”
by capsyoungguns on Apr 18, 2010 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions
All due respect,
it’s Theo: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/18/AR2010041803261.html?hpid=topnews
Hey let's go, today is going to be our night
Mike Wise makes Chad Dukes look like a hockey genius.
"Don't mind WM...he's an all-around jerk."
by Whiter Mage on Apr 18, 2010 10:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Having little credibility doesn’t make him wrong. I happen to agree with this rather astute assessment of the situation:
If he can banish his Bell Centre ghosts, he can pretty much banish anything from his conscience. It would be a mistake to further toy with the confidence of a player that the Capitals will need to depend upon again if they are truly going to win the Stanley Cup this season.
Give Theo a second chance! If not, he might be ruined the rest of the way.
The keyboard is mightier.
Let me see if I’ve got this straight:
You agree with Wise’s assertion that we’ll need Theo to win the Cup. Yet you also believe that not playing Theo in Game 3 will be so detrimental to his confidence that he’ll be “ruined the rest of the way.”
If his confidence is that shaky, and he’s that mentally weak, I don’t see him being an integral part of a Cup run.
The stained horizon
Dark rein and rider
The steed. . . Ovechkin
There’s a difference of opinion here as to the nature of Theo’s mental toughness. The “play Varly” camp – which I’m lumping you in with rightly or wrongly – thinks he is too mentally weak to play in Montreal. (Or conversely, a worse goalie than Varly at this time. I disagree with that.)
I think that your coach essentially saying “I don’t trust you after one weak goal” is way more detrimental to ANY goalie, not specifically to Theo. Not starting Theo, that’s exactly what BB would be saying. We’d be putting all our eggs in Varly’s basket prematurely. Varly has proven to lack durability, so that’s a pretty risky move.
The upside to playing Theo far outweighs the need to avoid the risk that Theo simply can’t “handle” Montreal (or that he’s suddenly reverted back to ’09 form). Perhaps that he would be “ruined” by not playing was an overstatement of the bigger point: the Caps would be better served getting Theo back on track than letting him get cold.
The keyboard is mightier.
I’m in the play Varly camp for one reason only:
For whatever reason, Varly gives the Caps a better chance to win.
The upside of playing Theo is that we’ll get to keep using a goalie who has yet to win a playoff game as a Capital. The downside is that we lose the series.
The stained horizon
Dark rein and rider
The steed. . . Ovechkin
No, it really is that simple. You’re saying that the upside of playing Theo is that we’re in a “use him or lose him” situation." I’m saying that the downside is losing tonight’s game and possibly the series.
I’m not really willing to gamble on Theo finding his game at this point.
The stained horizon
Dark rein and rider
The steed. . . Ovechkin
So I read all 260 comments now and reconsidered
If I were BB, I’d go with Theo for 3 good reasons:
1) I think Theo will bounce back and I think the team will play better in front of him after finishing out Saturday night’s game.
2) I’m BB and I want to piss off all the guys who post on Japer’s Rink and think they know what the players and I are thinking in the locker room
and 3) ’ Cause I can ….. nah, nah, nah , nah nah….
by markbona-capsfan99 on Apr 19, 2010 1:15 AM EDT reply actions
I think not starting Theo...
…is tantamount to a no-confidence vote. He’s shot for the series and maybe beyond. Then, if the unthinkable happens and Varly loses it, too, you’ve got no one to go to.
As much as the MTL crowd might get into Theo’s head, I would hope Boudreau starting him in Game 3 would be the counter to that. There can’t be many mental boosts as strong as your coach starting you the game after he’s pulled you.
Having said that, the leash will have been shortened. One or two softies and I think the yank is on for the series and perhaps the whole run. But at least, in that case, even Theo would have to admit he’d been given every chance.
I know this is pretty late. ..but i’d go with Theodore.
Although stats wise, Varly looked very good last night, and perhaps astronomically better than Theo (that night), the shots Theo did let up were tough shots to start out on. The second goal could have been stopped by Theo; furthermore, 9.20 times out of 10 he would make that save. The first was a real tough, dipping puck. Stretch could’ve made that save, Bryzgalov could’ve totally let it slide by him. If Theo is put in goal, we still have the emergency option of Varlamov, and give Theo a chance to return to form (which he definitely still has, he played great 48 hours earlier).
Best Case Scenario: Theo looks great. Makes the crucial 1st save of the game and goes on to stop upwards of .920 of the shots he faces. Subsequently, the Caps win in dominant fashion.
Saddest Case Scenario: Theo lets up a goal on the first shot. His play-offs are pretty much over. We weep. Varlamov jumps in between the pipes and helps the Caps come back from the 1-goal deficit for a dominant victory.
Bah-Ram-Ewe, Ovechkin will wreck you. Fear the Furious Fleece!
Theo. We know he bounces back. We know that in Feb., in spite of the “Tay-o” “Tay-o” chant, he kept his focus enough to get the game to OT. We know that he was solid from January to April. We know that between January and April, he gave up something like 9 or 10 goals in the 3rd period, save percentage upwards in the 3rd period upwards of .960. We can probably safely guess that Theo is SUPER MOTIVATED. We can also probably safely guess that Montreal is congratulating themselves on rattling Theo in Washington — so they think he’d be totally intimidated in Montreal.
I think Saturday, pulling Theo woke up the bench. I didn’t think Varly was putting on a goal tending clinic. He didn’t look so spectacular that I was certain he’d have stopped both of those first two shots that got Theo pulled. I think if Varly starts and wins in Montreal, well and good, but if he doesn’t, Montreal is absolutely convinced that they’ve got BOTH goalies’ number.
Notted w/o comment:
Theo’s 2009-10 splits:
Home: 14-2-4/3.10/.901
Road: 16-5-3/2.53/.920
Varly’s 2009-10 splits:
Home: 9-2-2/2.06/.921
Road: 6-2-4/3.05/.899
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Sonofa… I promise I know how to spell “noted.”
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
JP you missed the most important “nott” from your twitter posts:
“On Thoe vs. Varly, if I’m Brue I’d have a hard time getting past Theo being winless for me in 3 playoff starts and Varly having 8 wins”
“Team Varly” and “Team Theo” shirts now available, btw.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
just curious, why is the Team Theo shirt more expensive than the Team Varly shirt? Is it cause of the color differences?
Apparently. Both should be available in all colors shortly.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
One required additional medication to get a thicker shirt.
They're coming.
by Bald Pollack on Apr 19, 2010 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I say Theo, because I’m much more comfortable with Varly coming off the bench if need be than vice versa.
Another uninnocent, elegant fall into the unmagnificent lives of adults...
by Smoltz's Beard on Apr 19, 2010 10:32 AM EDT reply actions
Varly’s stats as a reliever in his career: 3-1-0/1.86/.914.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Sick stats.
Plus, I’ll agree with what EB was saying on The Junkies this morning (not that he’s a hockey guru by any means, he’s an admitted bandwagon fan)…after all that’s happened in the first two games, that as a player seeing Varly come off the bench at this point easily creates more of a spark than seeing Theo.
Another uninnocent, elegant fall into the unmagnificent lives of adults...
by Smoltz's Beard on Apr 19, 2010 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Theo
Gotta dance with the one you brought. Theo’s play since the new year was outstanding, with only a couple of average nights thrown in. Two things to consider: 1) Varly was not stellar in relief – servicable and capable, yes, but far from stellar and not screaming for a permanent change. 2) The D has not given either goalie enough support. Hang anyone out time and time again and you’ll see multiple goals from the league’s lowest scoring team in the playoffs…
I’m not BB, but if I were I would take Theo aside and tell him “you’re the man, I only pulled you to give the team a wake-up call”. Theo in goal, Varly as a solid back-up.
Varly was not stellar in relief – servicable and capable, yes, but far from stellar and not screaming for a permanent change.
I think this is where EOTP’s “goal breakdown” posts come in handy. The last three goals scored on Theo have all been from 30+ feet away and with no traffic. The three goals scored on Varly were all from within 5 ft of the net and one of them was a deflection off at least two players.
The stained horizon
Dark rein and rider
The steed. . . Ovechkin
I don’t know which goalie is the right choice. But which ever one is in net, I hope he plays lights out, the teams plays solid D in front of him, they stay out of the penalty box, and in June I can watch Ovechkin’s toothless grin lifting the Stanley Cup. Go Caps!
2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche: Now with Playoff Goodness!
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