Saturday Caps Clips: Caps @ Blue Jackets Game Day
by J.P. on Apr 3, 2010 4:30 AM EDT
in Caps Clips
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PrintYour savory breakfast links:
- Don't forget: Japers' Rink Radio comes at you live at 9:30 this morning with special guest Brett Leonhardt. Not to be missed.
- Previews of tonight's game against the Blue Jackets from Vogs, Peerless and NHL.com, and be sure to check out our SB Nation partner The Cannon for coverage from the other side of tonight's match up.
- To refresh your memory, this is the second of two meetings on the season between the Caps and Jackets, with C'Bus taking the first game 5-4 in OT and injuring Alex Ovechkin in the process.
- Notes from Friday's practice. [CI, DCEx]
- Jason Chimera talks about facing his former team... [WaPo, CI, Columbus Dispatch]
- ... while Chris Clark no doubt wishes he had the chance to do the same. [CI]
- On Matt Bradley's Thursday night game-winner. [D.C. Sports Bog]
- It sounds an awful lot like Ted Leonsis is guaranteeing a Cup within the next three seasons. [D.C. Sports Bog]
- I can't remember the last time I read a column that demonstrated a shallower understanding of its subject matter than this. [WaPo]
- Someone in Detroit has a major Caps crush (inspired Selke pick, by the way). [The Detroit News]
- "Chances are the Washington Capitals would still be where they are even if Alex Ovechkin didn't do what he did." Orly? [CBSSports.com]
- Mike Green is hungry (but in a good way). [NHL.com]
- Is Green the Norris front-runner? (Bonus: Jeff Schultz love!) [The Hockey News]
- Viktor Kozlov calls Bruce Boudreau "a genius at attacking and defending the neutral zone." I wonder what Bruce calls Kozzy. [CBC]
- I'd have expected Nicklas Backstrom to be on the ice more often following opponents' icings. Huh. [BtN]
- The AP thinks Semyon Varlamov has a leg up in the competition to back-up Jose Theodore. Ahh, typos. [RtR]
- What if
GodIlya Bryzgalov was one of us? [Corey Masisak] - Fantastically awful fan art (or is it actually brilliant and I'm just a rube with no eye for the finer things in life?). [RMNB]
- Reactions to the Colby Armstrong suspension, in the event that it's still of interest to you at this point. [Puck Daddy, PHT]
- Finally, per the HHoF, on this date back in 1996 "Peter Bondra scored 4 goals (including a natural hat trick in the second period), to give him 50 for the year, in the Capitals' 5-1 win, at Buffalo. Bondra became the 4th player in team history to reach the 50 goal mark." Four years to the day later, "Olaf Kolzig became the first goaltender in Washington Capitals history to get 40 wins in one season, when he picked up his 40th of the year in a 4-1 win over the visiting New York Rangers."
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haha, little early you arent joking? Just a little late here on the west coast! :)
Thanks for these, JP!
Ovechking...
resident master jinxer
yeah, really—my two year old isn’t even up at that hour here.
by bilspacecadet on Apr 3, 2010 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Jesus, they’ve been up for almost 2 hours, and it’s not yet the time that I’d check for the clips on a weekday.
I have to go. But if I find one single dog hair when I get back, I'll rub... sand... in your dead little eyes. I also need you to buy sand. I don't know if they grade it, but... coarse.
27. Minnesota (19): Is there a more boring team in hockey?
Clearly he has never heard of the New Jersey Devils.
I have to go. But if I find one single dog hair when I get back, I'll rub... sand... in your dead little eyes. I also need you to buy sand. I don't know if they grade it, but... coarse.
Last year, Minnesota was coached by the once and future Devils’ coach, Jacques Lemaire.
So, of course, they would have a Devils’ flavoring.
Rocking the Red since 1975
I know Minnesota was boring as hell last year. But they no longer have Lemaire. Any team Lemaire coaches is automatically the most boring team in the league.
I have to go. But if I find one single dog hair when I get back, I'll rub... sand... in your dead little eyes. I also need you to buy sand. I don't know if they grade it, but... coarse.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Apr 3, 2010 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Ditto this. The Wild front office did a very poor job developing and drafting for many years. It’s going to take them a while to get the ship righted. Don’t confuse boredom with talent level, which has further been depleted by the injury to Bouchard.
Russian Machine very rarely breaks. Oh and f**k Brooks Orpik.
To be fair to Tracee Hamilton, this is a byproduct of WaPo’s gradual shifting of putting some more resources to the other DC teams after Redskins seasons. Now if WaPo put more than a bare minimum of Caps coverage from October-December, I’d be surprised.
"I know I was the best CIA agent the CIA ever had, but I thought I told you honkies from the CIA that Black Dynamite was out of the game!"
The article is pretty rough. I do follow CI pretty closely and have only recently learned to appreciate Tarik, thanks to the stray articles by Lindsey Applebaum and Gene Wang.
Ovechking...
resident master jinxer
I’ve never had a problem with Tarik, and not just because he was the only person to cover the Caps when they sucked. The rest of the people at the Post only embarrass themselves when it comes to Hockey.
Tic Tac Toe Hockey -- Original Caps Photography For The Fan With Compromised Standards
"Here's the thing about potential: There's potential, and then there's reality. I mean, nobody had more potential than Ted Kaczynski." --Adam Carolla
by turnituptoeleven on Apr 3, 2010 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions
Also, the way Tracee Hamilton writes is incredibly irritating.
Tic Tac Toe Hockey -- Original Caps Photography For The Fan With Compromised Standards
"Here's the thing about potential: There's potential, and then there's reality. I mean, nobody had more potential than Ted Kaczynski." --Adam Carolla
by turnituptoeleven on Apr 3, 2010 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions
I’ve seen worse. At the very least, it’s better than Kornheiser and Wilbon’s ridiculous forays into covering hockey.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
if Tracee Hamilton writing about hockey means Kornheiser and Wilbon will no longer grace us with their thoughts about our favorite sport, I’m all for it.
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
Meh. She’s still pretty bad. I’m just happy I haven’t had to rely on the Post since Peerless and JP started writing.
Tic Tac Toe Hockey -- Original Caps Photography For The Fan With Compromised Standards
"Here's the thing about potential: There's potential, and then there's reality. I mean, nobody had more potential than Ted Kaczynski." --Adam Carolla
by turnituptoeleven on Apr 3, 2010 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions
“Varlamov is 6-2, 209, and he’ll turn 22 during the playoffs, if things go the Caps’ way.”
So if things don’t go the Caps way, he won’t turn 22 during the playoffs?
Will he turn some other age?
I’m not buying Varly at 209, either.
Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!
by Knee high to a duck on Apr 3, 2010 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Well you know. He’ll turn 22 during the Caps’ playoffs, if things go the Caps’ way.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Apr 3, 2010 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Those drawings look like the awkward one that Napoleon Dynamite makes for that girl when he asks her to go to prom.
Fight For Old D.C. Admin
Love my Hokies, Caps, Redskins, Wizards and Nats.
Hot Pockets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Liger!
It’s pretty much my favorite animal. It’s like a lion and a tiger mixed… bred for its skills in magic.
The eagle never lost so much time as when he submitted to learn from the crow.
Caps winger Tomas Fleischmann confirmed that he simply lost an edge during Thursday’s 2-1 win over the Thrashers. Kind of a scary moment because Fleischmann said he fell into the boards and that he’s seen players in the past break their collar bone on just that kind of play. But he jumped up, realized he was okay and then missed some time for equipment repairs. Skates sharpened he was back on the ice later in the second period.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans no more intelligent than myself
Paging Mr. Campbell
Great comment Flash. Now let’s hope he doesn’t get suspended for that comment.
I'm the first to admit when I'm wrong.... except when someone else beats me to it.
by Backhanded Complement on Apr 3, 2010 8:29 AM EDT up reply actions
It looked to me like he banged his kneecap into the boards. He sure was pissed for just having dulled his skates if that’s all he did, because he chucked his stick down the runway.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
“I just spent SEVEN FUCKING DOLLARS on that sharpening!”
by DrinkingPartner on Apr 3, 2010 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
You wouldn’t get it from the WaPo article, but Chimera is still steamed about being traded based on this quote from the Columbus paper. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a goal or two from him tonight.
“I see that they had to make a move. But I don’t see how moving me was the best thing. It hurt.” Howson has made lots of “you’ve been traded” phone calls through the years, but he said none were more difficult than the call to Chimera. Neither Howson nor Chimera would go into much detail, but the conversation turned ugly.
Columbus Dispatch
Thanks for the link. Interesting quotes but I bet that they date to at the time of the trade, because Chimmer’s quotes and interviews during that same period about coming to the Caps were overwhelmingly positive. He was excited at the idea of being on this team, that it was an unexpected boost to his career, and he couldn’t keep the grin off his face. I get the impression that Chimmer is an emotional guy who is relatively unfiltered in his comments: gosh just like others on the Caps, from Leonsis down to Gabby and Ovi. He fits right in. As much as I appreciated the intangibles that Clark brought, this was IMO a great trade for the Caps.
by capsyoungguns on Apr 3, 2010 8:42 AM EDT up reply actions
I wouldn’t be too upset if I was Chimmer, he went from out of the playoffs to the league leading team. I know there are other reasons for him to be upset but as far as professionally this has been nothing but good for him (and the Caps really)
After reading the Columbus Dispatch article, I like Jason Chimera even more and I’m very glad he plays for the Capitals. I think he’d be a great asset to any organization.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
I loved Chimera as soon as I saw him play here in DC. In fact, I nearly pulled the trigger on a #25 jersey earlier today, I’ve been between 19 and 25 for weeks, but was leaning towards 25, Nicky is bit too mainstream. After reading this, #25 will certainly be the next addition to my closet. He just seems like a great guy, with great passion, and a perfect fit for DC.
I am a hockey fan first, and a Caps fan second.
Watching that Hockey News video is torture — those guys are awful on screen. And I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Campbell was the voice of reason in that, the guy on the right was an ass.
"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."
did you love this part?
other guy: “How do you get over the fact that Mike Green didn’t make team Canada?!”
Ken Campbell (are we sure that’s really him and not a pod person?): "Easy, because it has nothing to do with the Norris trophy.’
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
I'm sure this will come up later, but for those early risers
I wouldn’t say the Flyers are worried; it’s too late for that. They used to be worried that they’d be stuck with Brian Boucher, and now they are. The most worrisome goaltending situation has to belong to a team with higher expectations than Philly’s, so let’s go right to the top and say Washington. If the Caps weren’t worried about their goaltending, they’d be willing to talk about it – they’d be willing to name a playoff starter. Of course, they’re worried. They’re a team whose own goalie will always be tested as much as the guy they’re shooting at. On trade deadline day, Washington was my number one contender – I’m worried.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans no more intelligent than myself
The irony is that the Hawks coach refuses to commit to a starting goalie as well. Really if any team has goalies 1a and 1b, why on earth would any coach commit to a name at this point of the season. Serves no purpose other than giving the media something to report.
by capsyoungguns on Apr 3, 2010 8:51 AM EDT up reply actions
And also on TSN
A comment on how Flyers GM Paul Holmgren approached the Capitals on acquiring Neuvy, however the asking price was Jeff Carter. Maybe I just missed it, but had not heard that one.
by Bucky Katt-Luvs Caps on Apr 3, 2010 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions
Wow. That would be. . . interesting to say the least. As much as I would like Carter on this team, I’m not sure you want to help out one of your bigger rivals…
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
It helps both teams, really. Backstrom/Carter as 1C/2C is a formidable group (and having a guy like Jeff Carter can’t hurt our PK). It also gives the Caps three bonafide, scary goal scorers, so if they wanted to, they could roll three lines, each with a guy that can top 40 in a season.
Yes, Neuvirth helps the Flyers long-term and addresses one of their largest weaknesses, but given all their albatross contracts I think their window to win it all is closing soon. Neuvy probably isn’t ready for extended NHL duty until next season at the very earliest, anyway. I’d love that trade to go down.
Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!
by Knee high to a duck on Apr 3, 2010 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions
I still agree with ‘75 – you’d need to thow in a little extra to get Carter. Now if it were Briere or Gagne. . . that’s another story.
Going onto CapGeek and looking at Pronger’s ridiculous contract makes me giggle with glee.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Oh, I’m not thinking that the Caps could actually get Carter for just Neuvy. That’s what I was responding to, if that straight-up swap is on the table, I’m jumping on it with both feet.
Anytime I need a pick-me-up, the Flyers’ Capgeek is one of my go-tos. Add up Briere with his NMC, Pronger with his over-35 contract, Hartnell with his NMC, the number of games Gagne’s been paid for versus actually played over the last three years, it’s all madly entertaining. I’d shake Paul Holmgren’s hand if I ever met him.
Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!
by Knee high to a duck on Apr 3, 2010 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions
That Timmonen contract’s not looking all that great, either with him being 35 and the contract having three more years on it.
When Holmgren first took over, I thought he was a genius for pulling them back from last in the league. The Richards contract will likely be a long-term bargain, but man. . . Briere and Pronger. . . What was he thinking???
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
It also gives the Caps three bonafide, scary goal scorers, so if they wanted to, they could roll three lines, each with a guy that can top 40 in a season.
I’m not sure I’d call Backstrom a bonafide, scary goal scorer. I think he could hit 40 but it’s not something I’d count on.
/yeah, you weren’t talking about Baxter, I was just assuming we all knew that 100% getting Carter means losing Semin.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
I was just talking this season, but yeah, getting Carter means that Semin is gone.
Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!
by Knee high to a duck on Apr 3, 2010 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Getting Carter helps us way more than getting Neuvirth helps them, IMO. I’d take that trade in a heartbeat. I’d throw in another mid-level prospect or a 2nd round pick to make it happen as well.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
The Philadelphia Daily News surveys the wreckage that is the Flyers organization from top to bottom. The comments are illuminating.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
by EmilyB on Apr 3, 2010 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Upcoming playoff officiating
After reading the article about Ted and winning the Cup in the next 3 years, and his take on officiating, I can’t help but be overly concerned that the refs are not going to call the games in a fair manner. I am STILL bitter about the game 7 vs PHI 2 years ago where the Flyers got what turned out to be the tying goal on a blatant goalie interference call, and the refs pocketed the whistle from the mid 2nd period on until a penalty (which WAS a penalty) was called in OT resulting in the series clincher. Why can’t refs understand that if you just call everything by the book (and isnt that the purpose of the book?) that you are NOT deciding the game, but actually giving the team that benefits from the ensuing PP something they are entitled to as a result of hard work, or for an egregious act against? Does the NBA stop calling all fouls in the 3rd quarter?? NFL not calling offsides in a tight game?? please….
Fast forward a year to last year and there was a huge disparity in calls that went PIT way early in the series especially. I will say that PIT did outwork us for much of the series and did to us what we did to the NYR, but a disturbing pattern is developing. Factor in the recent officiating and it is cause for great concern. Having the number 1 PP is a huge reason the Caps are/were winning games. When AO boarded BC, they hawks got a 5 min PP. When AO boarded Kaleta, BUF got a 5 min pp.. When Adams of PIT boarded AO on super bowl sunday, I believe Knuble got 17 min and PIT actually got a PP out of the deal. And Adams was not penalized—well he was for fighting .
The other night, again, Armstrong commits the infraction which he was suspended for, and ATL gets off with 4-4. And the Caps are in a no win situation. If they walk away, no penalty was going to be called. In both situations. If they stick up for a teammate, they get the shaft.
Look, if the Caps get beat by a better goalie or a team who is hot and outworks the Caps, that is fine, but I am already concerned that I have seen this movie before and I already know the ending. I am still scratching my head at how Koci did not get suspended for his hit on Green. Earlier in the season, they were calling all this stuff. I think even when Bradley was hit by Jannsen, even with his major penalty we got 1 min of PP time. How is that right.?? And i honestly don’t think that ANY penalty was going to be called on that play at all until Steckel got involved.
Somehow we need to get the word up to the league. Just call a fair game. I know we commit penalties too and get away with some things, but I don’t want these refs deciding playoff games, with bad calls or NON calls.
As a side note, did anyone else find it a bit disconcerting , or at worst, NOT reassuring that Ted is talking about winning a Cup in the next 3 years?? Or that he said we would be better NEXT year?? Is that his way of saying that we needed more D help at the trade deadline but we were handcuffed by the need to sign RFA’s in the offseason?? I feel like I can already see the season ending “Ted’s Take” and the obligatory “we are still a year behind PIT” story. IF you can win the Presidents trophy, you can win now. I am aware he said this year or next year or the following year, but it still makes me nervous when he starts saying we will be better next year. How much better do they need to be ?? 116-120 pt seasons dont come along often.. The team has not had the same chemistry since the trade deadline. I get adding depth, and hopefully it will pay off, but he should have added depth on the back end, on defensive minded players. The PK is a mess right now. That does not bode well..
by lifetime caps fan on Apr 3, 2010 8:40 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
There were 9 seconds left in the Flyers’ man advantage after defenseman Tom Poti was sent off for tripping—the first penalty since the second period in a rough-and-tumble game that suited Philadelphia’s style.
"To have the referee decide the series like that, with two teams battling like that, is tough to swallow. I definitely didn’t think it was a penalty," Poti said.
He then made reference to Philadelphia’s second goal, when a Capitals defenseman was knocked into Huet by an opponent, and said: "It’s tough to beat the officials as well as the Flyers
by lifetime caps fan on Apr 3, 2010 8:49 AM EDT up reply actions
That was a penalty. Poti is so stupid. You can argue that the refs swallowed the whistle for the second half of the game so should have kept them swallowed, but to say that Poti didn’t trip that guy is ludicrous. Erskine’s trip right before that was a penalty as well, but they let it go. The refs were an abomination that game, but Poti’s call was not a phantom call. When I read crap like that it reminds me of the first PHI game this year when Poti/Erskine were horrible and after the game BB talked to them and one of the guys denied being horrible and one accepted it; I’m pretty sure Poti was the guy that denied being horrible.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
Caps penchant for taking dumb penalties worries me much more than the refs, well unless their name is Chris Rooney. That guy needs to be taking his summer vacation starting April 12th for every team’s sake. Honestly, the refs do the best they can most nights. No one is out to screw the Caps. Every fanbase believes the refs hose them including the Wings who have 4 Cups in the last 15 years.
Guaranteeing a championship looks cool, but is a pretty dumb thing to do. What Ted said was perfect in my mind. Shows that he expects the Caps to contend for Cups from here on out. However, hedges his bets because he realizes matchups, luck, and most importantly player’s health play a role.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
by Carl Putnam on Apr 3, 2010 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
“Alex and the Caps are gonna win Stanley Cups,” Leonsis said. “We’re either gonna win it this year or next year or the year after. We’re gonna get better, too. That’s the thing. I promise the team will be better next year than it is this year.”
IMHO, that was a little too much. I would’ve gone along the lines of “They’ll be contending for the next few years, and at some point I think they’ll win a Cup.”
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans no more intelligent than myself
by red army line on Apr 3, 2010 9:02 AM EDT up reply actions
agreed. or say nothing. i think its fair that everyone is starting to worry a bit , WHATEVER the reason is….sloppy goals allowed, slow starts, disinterest.. Bottom line is the games are all going to OT or are not the emphatic beatdowns we were used to 2 months ago..
by lifetime caps fan on Apr 3, 2010 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions
The teams we are playing are also playing tougher and harder cause their fighting for their lives. We cant expect beatdowns every game especially down the stretch and in the playoffs.
no i agree, just concerned….last year pit and carolina went on a tear the last 2 months of the season…they played playoff teams and were fighting for their lives and they both rode that right into the EC finals…you have to stay consistent..its not like a faucet…typically the teams that play well in march and april go the farthest..
by lifetime caps fan on Apr 3, 2010 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions
agree on 2nd part about Ted, see below regarding your first part…dont agree with you about the refs doing the best they can. Even blind luck and BB telling his players for a 7 game series to NOT take penalties would have resulted in one of 7 games with the PP advantage…thats not even close to normal…
by lifetime caps fan on Apr 3, 2010 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions
Well said, the NHL refs just don’t do a great job. It’s not willful, it’s not a conspiracy, it’s just league-wide incompetence. The one thing I will say in support of the tin foil hat crowd, the numbers haven’t evened out yet. You’d expect us to benefit from incompetence as much as be hurt by it, but that hasn’t played out. At some point it should regress to the mean, but we aren’t even close to that and especially the “big calls” that come on either goals or huge momentum points seem to always go against us.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
I think some of the disparity in the numbers comes from being really good.
I am, obviously, not an NHL caliber official, but I’ve worked plenty of games where I didn’t make a call in the 3rd period that I might have made in the first period, because I didn’t want to risk changing the outcome of a game by putting a team that’s down by a goal on the PK with 4 minutes left. As a player and fan, that’s a mentality that referees need to eliminate from their game. Officials need to fully understand that its no them changing the outcome, its the players. In the Pitt vs. ATL game today, one of the officials made a pretty solid holding call late in the game that pretty much setup Pitt’s OT win, but it was the right call.
I think as a good team, we end up on the short end of this more often than we should.
The solution is to cry and cry like Crosby does (and did today). Though, I don’t think we help ourselves much when Ovechkin says things like “the suspension won’t change the way I play.” Refs read NHL.com too, and while they’d never admit it, a player with a history of questionable plays who seems not to be learning his lesson is going to be viewed through a more critical lens.
I am a hockey fan first, and a Caps fan second.
Great stuff man, this pretty much consolidates most of the things I have worried aboiut with the Refs.
Like F&B said, I have been waiting for it to even out because of the league-wide incompetence of refs, but it still hasn’t happended.
And it is more than just the unfair advantages the other team recieves on the PP and 5 on 3, but also the health of our players. Refs are supposed to, to some extent, protect the health of a player by curbing dangerous play. Against the Caps, no ref has really made that effort
Bah-Ram-Ewe, Ovechkin will wreck you. Fear the Furious Fleece!
Case-in-point: Armstrong on Perreault
Every time the Swedish Swashbuckler scores a goal, an angel gets its wings.
by SeattleCapsFan on Apr 3, 2010 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions
b/c Matty (!) somehow blocked the ref’s view of Colby elbowing him in the head.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
I just checked the box score on that Game 7 PHI game. 8 minor penalties, 4 aside, in the first 33 minutes. 1 penalty in the last 33 minutes, resulting in the game winner.
by lifetime caps fan on Apr 3, 2010 8:53 AM EDT reply actions
The only issue I have is that the refs will be calling the game one way and then suddenly switch. Last year PIT-PHI Game 6, for example, the refs mid game suddenly started calling things that definitely went uncalled in the 1st period. Yes, the Caps may fail to get the benefit of the doubt given their “reputation” nowadays, but just like with the goaltending, if it comes down to marginal penalty calls, then there are bigger problems at hand. Let’s say 7 penalties a game—>14 mins in PPs, meaning 46 mins at ES. The Caps should have no trouble there.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans no more intelligent than myself
by red army line on Apr 3, 2010 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions
im confused, are you saying the caps should have no problem if they have 46 min at even strength ? and are killing 7 penalties thats a quarter of the game AO would not even be on the ice, and time spent in your own end with virtually no shot of scoring. Thats a big problem. And having the 25th ranked PK is going to end up in certain doom when you play the same team every night.
by lifetime caps fan on Apr 3, 2010 9:13 AM EDT up reply actions
No, 7 PPs combined—> so the Caps get 6 mins PP time, let’s say, and 8 mins PK time, the rest ES.
In the same way PPs can adapt to PKs, PKs can adapt to PPs. So I don’t think one can be so hasty to call doomsday on the Caps’ PK just because they’re playing a playoff series. The guy behind the bench won the Adams because he’s a good coach.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans no more intelligent than myself
by red army line on Apr 3, 2010 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions
The only issue I have is that the refs will be calling the game one way and then suddenly switch. Last year PIT-PHI Game 6, for example, the refs mid game suddenly started calling things that definitely went uncalled in the 1st period.
I almost completely agree with you. I just want to clarify that there is one situation where it’s ok to have a sliding scale as the game progresses, and I think that exception may apply to PHI/PIT G6 (but I’m not sure because I don’t recall the penalties you are talking about). Sometimes you can let some rough stuff and some after the whistle extra-curricular stuff go without a penalty. But if the game goes on and the rough stuff continues to increase and players are getting chippy you have to start calling the game tighter and so stuff that wasn’t a PIM in the first is a penalty later in the game. That absolutely does not apply to hooks and holds and interference though.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
I’m not so sure myself. I distinctly remember thinking on, I think tripping/holding, that “the exact same thing happened in the 1st and they didn’t call it” (of course, the Pens got the call while the Flyers didn’t). I believe the Carle tripping is what I was talking about. Game boxscore here.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans no more intelligent than myself
by red army line on Apr 3, 2010 7:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Last year, vs PIT, the Caps had a 2-0 series lead DESPITE, the PIT pp advantage in games 1 and 2 (5-2, and 7-6). Then the Caps go up to PIT for game 3 and the penalties are 7-2 in favor of PIT and it still takes OT for them to win. That series is all but over that night if we don’t spend all the time shorthanded. They again had the PP advantage 6-4 in game 4.
And in case you forgot, in Game 7 ZERO penalties against. Nary a PP. Would it have mattered?? Maybe not, but our 2 penalties got PIT off to an early 2-0 lead. Only game 6 was called evenly in penalties. PIT had a PP advantage in every other game and had 3, 4, and 5 more PP’S respectively in 3 of the 7 games. So, call me jaded, but I dont care how good you are but if that trend continues, don’t expect much this postseason
I am going to get my pre post-season whining in now….any chance we could launch a pre-emptive strike??
by lifetime caps fan on Apr 3, 2010 9:07 AM EDT reply actions
I heard a stat in the Caps Report that backs all this up, in our last 14 games vs Pittsburgh, we have had the same or less pp chances than Pittsburgh, and only in 4 of those 14 games have we had the same amount, the other 10 they’ve had more.
Yeah, that’s the one that pisses me off. We didn’t deserve more PPs, or even as many, in the playoffs. But you can’t tell me that for two straight years they have been so much better that we can’t draw PPs. Especially considering we’ve dominated the regular season meetings the last two years. Smells fishy.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
We lost that series because Pittsburgh aggressively forechecked and we didn’t respond by having our guys adjust. They moved their feet and therefore got more calls. Also, didn’t help that our best defenseman was MIA. The refs didn’t cause the Caps to lose that series. The Caps did.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
in the final 3 games of the series…yes…early on, no…especially not game 3 when it was 7-2, and i dont care who you are , if you are down 4 or 5 goals in a game 7, you get 1 pp at least…we see it every night when a team gets down a couple goals and they have been shorthanded…
i already stated the pens were better last year, and deserved to win the series based on play the last few games, but had game 3 not been 7-2 when we were already up 3-0 , that would be a moot point…
by lifetime caps fan on Apr 3, 2010 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions
We were lucky enough (or unlucky enough) to be at game 3 against the Pens. And although I can state without a doubt that it was incredibly exciting and that the guys played their hearts out, the Pens controlled that game for long stretches and peppered Varly with good shots. Varly was the main reason that game went into OT. The consensus of our friends (Pens fans of course) was that it took the Pens too long to win that game given how much they had controlled much of the momentum. They also agreed that the Caps were scary good too, but they used the word “plucky” like the underdog never giving up. (Yes, they are still friends and my husband and his buddy love to texted each other during Caps Pens games with friendly snarky banter).
The Caps this season are an entirely different team. And I still don’t want to them to meet the Pens (if they must) until the Conference finals.
by capsyoungguns on Apr 3, 2010 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions
The only two teams that scare me in the playoffs are the Devils and Red Wings. Of course anything can happen, but I think we have a pretty good chance of beating everyone else. The Pens are just not that scary this year. They’ve been too inconsistent, not just their goaltending, but both offensively and defensively. Some nights they look very good and some nights they look just awful and they’ve won a lot of their games in the SO. The Devils have not looked good recently but all the top teams are struggling a bit right now and I just have a bad feeling about it. I don’t want to face Brodeur in the playoffs and I hope and pray that the Red Wings don’t make it to the SCF.
Lobbies: Green, Carlson, Orlov
I don’t remember the exact placement, but the Caps rank fairly high within the league, around tenth I think, in the taking of penalties. So I don’t get the impression that the Caps are a heavily penalized team in most regards.
I personally don’t believe in conspiracies, only in biases and tendencies on the part of individual refs, as well as overall team reputation and player reputation. Unfair or not Ovi will not be granted on ice fairness if he has a boarderline hit nor will Semin draw too many tripping calls. However, other players on other teams have their own reputations, good or bad
For the Caps what has changed this year for the better is the team reputation, which is of offensive skill and good puck possession and willingness to stand up for each other in situations when one of guys gets in a fracas. In the last two seasons our reputation was one of the underdog doing unexpectedly well and playing catch up, then with overall inconsistent play. This season the Caps are top dog. That streak highlighted strong, consistent play in all three periods and an ability to come on strong in the third. I do think the refs value the skill level of Caps differently, that they have a different reputation with the refs.
I believe if the guys can keep their feet moving, be careful with their sticks, and maintain possession of the puck, the Caps should be fine overall with the calls. Perhaps also some theatrical lessons for staying down on the ice would help too—snark.
Now within the microcosm of individual games we will always be able to point to bad calls. But I give more weight to the overall average. As for the comparison with the Pens, we will never be able to view the calls objectively. Nor would a Pens fan. I recall this season’s second game against the Pens in which during the opening minutes of OT Semin drew a highsticking from Orpick (I think it was him) that led to the game-winning goal (by Ovi I think). The point I’m making is that I’m sure Pens fans are still mad about that call and believe Orpick who said afterwards that he had no respect for Semin because he’s a baby and sold that call to the refs.
Total fandom and objectivity do not comfortably go hand-in-hand, and I’m a huge offender too. I’m still mad that the refs called Backstrom for tripping near the end of OT that led to our loss against the Sens. The call was legit but the refs had pretty much put away the whistle for the third period and let other tripping calls go. But in the calm after the game I just don’t think the refs made that call so that the Sens would win. I think it was more that the Caps were getting a bit frantic because the puck had been in the offensive zone too long and Backstrom was overly aggressive in trying to retrieve the puck.
by capsyoungguns on Apr 3, 2010 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Yes, it was Orpik that high sticked Semin in the Pens game. So, he was in the box when Knuble scored the game winning goal in OT.
Yes, the officiating lately has been poor. And I have the same trouble with objectivity at times with it. Rationally, I know that many of the “bad calls” happen because the game goes go fast.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Ahh yes it was Knuble. Still a highly satisfying moment and one that I think the refs got right. No homerism—right—just good ref calls, from the Caps perspective that is.
Another poster Iwearstripes had a good observation on the recent lack of on ice call against MP. He said that MP’s body was blocking Armstrong so he couldn’t see the fist/elbow contact. I agree that the speed of the game makes it hard to ref, but I don’t want video reviews because that would slow the game down. I love the speed and rapid changing of the momentum.
by capsyoungguns on Apr 3, 2010 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions
That game gave me great satisfaction. I loved nothing more than to see the Caps score the winning goal while Orpik was in the penalty box. This is the guy who caused multiple injuries to Semin in last year’s playoff series and dared to call Ovi a dirty player. (And Semin is not the only guy he was known to injure.)
Rocking the Red since 1975
so you think the Caps were standing around in game 7 last year?? and you watch hockey or listen to hockey when they say “So and so better watch what they are doing because the other team is GOING to get a PP” Craig Laughlin says this constantly and he is right. He predicted the OTT pp in the 3rd period the other day, and if you are telling me refs don’t do even up calls, im telling you you dont watch hockey. And im not talking marginal penalties either. The coaches go through this with the players, especially after a game where they may have taken some stupid penalties, IT does not go 14 games vs one team without a PP advantage.. So was it a penalty when Kunitz hit Varly over the head with his stick in game 2?? Was it a penalty when he did it again to Theo on SB sunday?? Was it a penalty when Adams boarded OVie?? Please… And Tim Donaghy never ever fixed a game… So Thoreson did not run Huet in 08 and get a free goal?? But when Ovie ran through a D-man in MON and the puck went in the net, that was washed out?? You are wasting your time convincing me of anything else…i have seen too much..
by lifetime caps fan on Apr 3, 2010 9:36 AM EDT reply actions
Sorry to waste your time.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
by Carl Putnam on Apr 3, 2010 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
You’re making it sound like a conspiracy. I highly highly doubt that. The Caps did themselves no good by building a reputation of taking lots of penalties, and the Pens did themselves loads of good by building a “we-play-hard-but-legally” reputation, meaning that they don’t have to worry about committing borderline penalties since they’ll get the no-call, whereas the Caps are more likely to get that penalty called, against. It doesn’t help that last season the Caps were, believe it or not and if I recall correctly, top-5 in PPs against, and quite simply got outworked and outhustled by Pittsburgh. You can point to particular games, but maybe those are just anomalies (and I asked about this a long time ago—I believe the response I got was without objective calls like delay of game—puck over glass, the ratio is much more believable, like 5-2 for PIT in Game 3)
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans no more intelligent than myself
by red army line on Apr 3, 2010 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions
we can agree to disagree. considering we are not a highly penalized team this year, i hope i end up being wrong and it is not another point of contention in late April or May..And if Ted is bringing it up at all, i am probably not wrong..
by lifetime caps fan on Apr 3, 2010 9:38 AM EDT reply actions
fwiw, there is a reply button on the post you are responding to, no need to muck up the thread with a dozen top level posts
↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → b a (select) start
by renstar on Apr 3, 2010 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
your daily playoff fun. Boy, wonder if Pittsburgh is wishing that had won just one of those 6 games against New Jersey….In other news, Vancouver clinched their playoff spot.
EAST
Washington vs. Philadelphia (2 pts ahead of NYR, who has a game in hand. Watch out!)
Buffalo vs. Boston
New Jersey vs. Montreal
Pittsburgh vs. Ottawa
WEST
San Jose vs. Colorado (Calgary is tied for 8th, COL has game in hand and one more win)
Chicago vs. Los Angeles
Vancouver vs. Detroit
Phoenix vs. Nashville
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
Is it wrong to want PIT to win the division? I’d prefer that the circus not come to town until the conference finals, and you know that the media feels the same. Actually, I’d prefer that the circus not come to town at all, but I’m not counting on that.
"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."
No I don’t think it’s wrong. I want the Pens to win the division too, because I don’t want the guys to have any emotional hangover if they have to meet them in the second round. I want the Pens to have to earn their spot at the CF without having to go through us. Besides the games are usually great. Much more exciting in the Finals.
by capsyoungguns on Apr 3, 2010 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions
Eh, saying Caps make it to the SC finals, I’d rather have them play Pitt in the 2nd round again.
They can win round 1 in 4 or 5 games against any team.
Round 2 vs. the Pens would take maybe 6 or 7.
Then they’d have an easier 3rd round. IMO Pitt is easily the toughest opponent in the East. I’d rather they be tired to start the 3rd round than the Finals. (Buff or NJ would take 5 -6 games IMO, and then they’d have time to rest for the Finals.)
Well I am taking the positive approach—of course we should make it to the SC finals.
But I do take your point. Have the tough game in the second round then coast through the third, much as the Pens did with us followed by the Canes last season. You make an excellent point. That would help the Caps not be as beaten up and exhausted for the SC Finals.
by capsyoungguns on Apr 3, 2010 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m not so sure. I think I’d rather play Ottawa than Montreal right now. However, in the interest of full disclosure, that is probably because I watched some of the Flyers vs Habs game last night. Halak doing his Roy/Dryden impression.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
That was a freaking phenomenal game – full-on playoff intensity. Montreal scares me, but their complete inability to generate anything 5v5 would probably do them in over the course of a 7-game series. Still, they’re the kind of team that I’m afraid would take us to 6 or 7 games unnecessarily.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Oh, and if I ever bitch about having to watch Erksine again, remind me of Hal Gill. Good LORD that guy is glacially slow.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
They don’t have enough forward depth to scare anyone. Halak, like Ryan Miller is going to have to come up huge if they are to do any damage. As a Caps fan, they only scare me because of their PP and Halak. Caps depth would win out in the end.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
Caps depth would win out in the end.
I feel that Montreal could do the same thing that NYR did to us last year – goalie steals a couple games, special teams steals another, and suddenly the Caps are right back at game 7.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Certainly possible. However, I don’t think the Habs forwards would be as physical as the Rags were. I also think this Caps team with the addition of Knuble is a different animal. My gut says Caps in 6 if they got MON.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
The Habs forwards are plenty physical, but only up to your navel – they can’t reach any higher.
Seriously, though, Montreal has two phenomenal defensemen in Markov and Hamrlik, and they can certainly score on the PP.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
You just freight train your way through them.
Both those dmen are very good.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
I was watching them last night and marveling at how smooth and unflappable they both are. If they were Canadian, they’d be spoken of in the same breath as guys like Niedermayer – but they’re not, so they aren’t.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Markov I buy. Hamrlik is old and lost at least a step. He may be better than O’Byrne but I’m not buying him as phenomenal or anywhere near Markov’s level.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
Point taken. I may have a bit of a two to three-year old afterglow remembrance of the guy. Statistically, he doesn’t look outstanding, but he still skates and moves the puck with great fluidity.
He’s also a better PK defenseman than almost anyone we’ve got. (Not saying much.)
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Now, how amazing is that blueline with Streit still on it?
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by Knee high to a duck on Apr 3, 2010 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Why’d they lose him again? Thats looking pretty stupid.
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by Chris Burton on Apr 3, 2010 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions
I guess they though he was simply an offensive guy who in MTL would always play under Markov (like Goligoski under a younger Gonchar). Evidently Streit was a hell of a lot better than they thought.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans no more intelligent than myself
by red army line on Apr 3, 2010 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Streitwasis a hell of a lot better than they thought.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
Hamrlik? Did you really just say that? Step out of the time machine, D’ohboy, this isn’t 2001 anymore.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
Yeah, yeah. Sue me, the last time I had NHL Center Ice (until this year) was 2004. He still skates and moves the puck well and I’d love to have him on our PK.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Heh. I was thinking “I’d take him over Poti but that’s not much of a bar to clear.”
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
But Hal Gil has mystical powers to not get called for penalties. Erskine does not. And Gil has a Cup.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
Nice job by Russell & Stephen on today’s JRR. I liked the PK discussion and how Russell stopped it to make it clear that it wasn’t all the new guys fault its been dreadful. Stretch was good as well. If he’d have chosen Honeymoon Suite instead of Rush I’d have a different opinion. Just kidding.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
Ugh…big day today. Thanks for nothing, Colorado.
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Let’s Go Preds! Time to bring the Wings back to earth.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
They do seem ripe for a loss…
If we clinched against Detroit, holy SHIT how awesome would that be. It’d be the biggest regular season moment in team history.
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by Chris Burton on Apr 3, 2010 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m rooting for the Preds. Good for your team and great to stop the roll the Wings are on.
by capsyoungguns on Apr 3, 2010 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions
Please don’t remind me. Colorado should have shown up sometime prior to five minutes into the third. Kiprusoff was amazing down the stretch in that game.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
You think they’re gonna fall out?
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by Chris Burton on Apr 3, 2010 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions
Kipper is carrying that team right now. If I’m San Jose right now I want to keep my lead in the West bad because getting Avs or Flames would be much easier road than Kings, Wings, or Preds.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
Ooooh. I don’t think so. I’d rather play the Kings or Preds than Calgary. Calgary can’t score, but they could sure grind out plenty of 1-0 and 2-1 wins with Kipper in net. San Jose has seen that movie before.
Colorado is an enigma. I think they’ve ridden Anderson hard and put him away wet too many times this year. He looks worn down. Last night certainly wasn’t his fault, though. I also think that Colorado’s heavy reliance on rookies and very young players is starting to show strains, although the worst player on the ice for Colorado last night was Hejduk. He made all sorts of dumb plays on the PP – drop passes to nobody and such. Bad form for a veteran guy who ought to know better.
Still, Colorado has a game that translates well into the playoffs. They’ve got a good, quick breakout that doesn’t muck about, and when they get the puck over the red line, they get it in deep. Once the puck is in the zone, they get the puck to the net with traffic.
Like I said earlier, they’ve been relying on their young scorers and Anderson all year and both of those things have suddenly gone cold at the wrong time. However, they’ve all bought into Sacco’s system (which is pretty damn simple), they can skate and they’ve got nothing to lose.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
I watched the Yotes vs Flames game the other night and it looked like the same old Flames to me. They rely far too much on their D and Kipper. They play a team with finishers like the Sharks have and the Sharks win in 5, maybe 6 if Kipper steals one. Trust me as an Iggy fan I’d love to see them make the playoffs and upset the Sharks, but I don’t see it happening this year.
As for the Avs I think your analysis is on target. Too young and like Calgary, overly reliant on their goalie.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
I dunno. I look at the Sharks and Hawks and see two teams that clearly have better skaters than everyone else in the conference, save perhaps Detroit. Jonathan Quick is pretty good, but he’s not on Kipper’s level. In fact, he’s not even close.
If you accept the fact that SJS and Chi have better skaters, then it really comes down to goaltending. I simply don’t see Quick being good enough to steal a series against either team, whereas I definitely think that Kipper and the Flames’ defense could do that. I also think the King’s utter lack of playoff experience (outside of Smyth and Halpern) is going to hurt them.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
I see guys like Symonds and Brown being just watch a hockey team needs in the playoffs. They will forecheck like hell and have enough skill to get dirty goals. Doughty played well in Vancouver, so I wouldn’t expect him to be any different in the playoffs. I’m not saying they’ll win a series, but I do believe they will be a tougher out than the Flames. Besides Kipper and Iginla who is going to step up for the Flames? That team is full of 3rd and 4th liners many of whom play on the top 2 lines.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
I agree that the Flames will be on the wrong end of a talent disparity against any team they play, but what they showed last night, and the night they beat us, is that Kipper is still a pretty sure bet to outplay his opposite, and Bourque and Iggy are good enough to get the odd goal.
I’m not saying it would be pretty, but I could see the Flames upending someone by winning 1-0 or 2-1. From what little I’ve seen of the Kings this year, I don’t think they can do that against a playoff team.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
You may be right, but I just can’t see it. They are a poor man’s Buffalo. Also, they are expending a ton of energy right now. I suspect Kipper is going to be gassed come the playoffs and Bourque will cool off by then.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
They are a poor man’s Buffalo.
Buffalo is a team that scares me, because I fear the combo of hot Miller and hot Vanek/Roy/Pominville.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
We were able to beat them 3 times this year. (Our first match-up was a loss due to a hot Miller.) Our second time, Miller was good but Varly was better that day.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Last year we took 3/4 against the Rags and 3/4 against the Pens.
We barely beat the Rags and lost to the Pens.
In the playoffs it’s about specific matchups and strengths versus weaknesses, not regular season records.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Colorado says Andersons not tired but I have a hard time believing them considering his previous high in games played in his career was 31 and now he has 68 and counting. He is the reason they’re where they are, but hes burned out. I’ve watched alot of Avs games this year, and they would’ve been well served to play Budaj in a little more of the 2nd games of back to backs this year, now they have to ride Anderson cause he’s their best shot.
Yeah, they’ve definitely painted themselves into a bit of a corner. Early on, they didn’t want to play Budaj because they were winning and Anderson was on such a roll. Then you had the Olympic break to give him a rest, but now they’re scrapping for points and they can’t afford to put Boods in there because they need every point they can get.
To keep this “Caps Clips”-related, it’s sort of the opposite of the situation the Caps find themselves in. Colorado’s been riding a keeper all season long and he really needs a rest, but they can’t give him one. The Caps, meanwhile, have two goaltenders that they can roll – even if one of them isn’t getting as much ice time as you’d like, it’s not as though we’re going to go into the playoffs with one guy exhausted and the other one rusty. Nice luxury.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
I’m pretty sure you don’t have to worry about keeping this conversation “related.” It’s definitely about hockey and worthwhile to read from that perspective. I think Caps Clips are open to any hockey talk, not just the Caps or the links above, but I’ll defer to a ruling by an admin or mod.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
Yeah, I pretty clearly abandoned that below with the running commentary on CGY vs. NSH. I tried for a bit by relating it back to Caps players but. . . that’s a bit of a stretch.
Not as big of a stretch as calling Hamrlik phenomenal, though. What can I say? I like puck-moving defensemen.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
I don’t think so. I’d rather play the Kings or Preds than Calgary
Before I ask, I fully acknowledge my blue/yellow tinted glasses.
What’s your thesis behind Calgary being less desirable to play than Nashville? I’ll let you defend yourself first ;).
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by Chris Burton on Apr 3, 2010 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Much, much, much better goaltending. Both teams struggle to score, although Calgary definitely struggles more than Nashville. Their defenses match up pretty well – as good as Nashville’s defense is, any team that can roll out Bouwmeester, Giordano, Regehr, White, Sarich and Staios/Pardy is doing pretty well.
Ultimately, I don’t think either team has a group of forwards that would scare the Cowardly Lion. If either of them is going to win, their goalie is going to have to steal the series. All the evidence points to Kipper being more likely to steal a series than Rinne.
The only other way one of these two teams wins is if one player gets on a ridiculous offensive tear. There’s only one guy on either team that’s capable of that sort of performance, and it’s Jarome Iginla.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Nashville is 16th in g/g, Calgary 27th. Not an insane difference, but significant.
Pekka Rinne’s March: 1.83 GAA, .934 s%, 4 SO
He’s put up those numbers over 20 games now, so I don’t think its a matter of being “hot” anymore. He’s been consistently good for a long while. Kiprusoff is probably better, but I disagree with your “much, much, much better goaltending” statement.
Obviously, I’d argue Nashville’s forwards are better as is the ability to score with all four lines. Put it this way: Calgary ices Jamal Mayers on their THIRD line. We ice JP Dumont on our fourth.
Nashville
Wilson/Arnott/Erat: 107 points
Hornqvist/Goc/Sullivan: 131 points
Smithson/Legwand/Ward: 82 points
Dumont/Boyd/Tootoo: 82 points
Calgary:
Kotalik/Backlund/Iginla: 104p
Hagman/Stajan/Bourque: 152 pts
Sutter/Nystrom/Mayers: 33p
Dawes/Conroy/Moss: 62p
Note the huge dropoff after the 1st two lines. IMO, thats pretty important in the playoffs.
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by Chris Burton on Apr 3, 2010 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Against any other playoff team, both of these teams are pretty much guaranteed to have a weaker group of forwards. Nashville’s forwards are marginally better top-to-bottom, but I think that the presence of Iginla makes up for that – Nashville has no one forward that’s nearly as good as Iggy.
You can take Pekka Rinne’s March 2010; I’ll take the entire rest of Kiprusoff’s career. The guy has put up a save percentage over .920 three times in the playoffs, and I’m not even counting the playoff games he played with the Sharks (then it would be five times). Rinne has never played in the playoffs. It’s hard to quantify statistically, but playoff experience matters, and Calgary’s got it all over Nashville.
As for “scoring drop-off,” the Pens last year had Crosby and Malkin at over 100 points and then nobody over 50. They did OK.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t arguing Rinne > Kiprusoff. I was saying that the goaltending is not that far apart heading into the playoffs.
Not sure how you can compare the drop off with the Pens. Neither team has anyone anywhere close to the same stratosphere as Sid and Geno. Iginla has 69 points.
I can’t find playoff GP, but it seems unrealistic to say that Calgary has it “all over” the Preds. Arnott, Sullivan, Dumont, Erat, Boullion, have played a significant amount of games. Hagman and Bourque? Not so much.
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Calgary for contrast
Conroy: 81
Langkow: 59
Sarich: 57
Kiprusoff: 56
Iginla: 54
Mayers: 48
Regehr: 41
Kotalik: 34
Staios: 33
Hagman: 30
Higgins: 22
Nystrom: 13
Dawes: 11
Nobody with as much experience as Arnott (going to two Cup finals back-to-back will do that for you), but fewer players with little-to-no playoff experience.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
I’m with Chris on this. The Preds have better depth at forward. Trotz can roll all 4 lines. Sutter does that and his bottom two lines get exposed for the crap they are.
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The Preds have better depth at forward. Trotz can roll all 4 lines.
In a head-to-head series against the Flames? Yes. But that’s not what I’m talking about. Against anyone else in the playoffs, the Preds have weaker forwards. They’ve got great defensemen 1-6, but their goalie is good, but not great.
The Preds can roll four lines against the Sharks, Hawks, Wings, or even ’Yotes to their hearts content. Those teams will roll four better lines right back at ’em.
The Preds or Flames would need to have their goalie steal a series if they’re going to advance, and I think Kiprusoff is clearly more likely than Rinne to pull off such a feat.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
The original point was who would you rather face. I’d much rather face the flames due to their lack of depth.
No goalie is clearly going to pull off anything come playoff time. I’ve seen young and old guys go hot or cold. Certainly I’d give Kipper the edge, but its no lock.
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Check the Sharks and Hawks fourth lines and get back with me.
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The only other way one of these two teams wins is if one player gets on a ridiculous offensive tear. There’s only one guy on either team that’s capable of that sort of performance, and it’s Jarome Iginla.
Missed this somehow. I think good balance (providing they come to play) is just as effective as a one player binge. I don’t know what you’re defining as a ridiculous offensive tear, but there are several Predators capable of 15-18 points in a 7 game series. Arnott, Sullivan, Erat, and Hornqvist can and have exploded at different times. Sure, Iggy’s better, but its not inconceivable one or two people blow up for Nashville.
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by Chris Burton on Apr 3, 2010 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions
but there are several Predators capable of 15-18 points in a 7 game series.
You need to take your homer glasses off and come back to reality. There isn’t a single player on the Preds capable of putting up a point per game in the playoffs, let alone more than two points per game. (For what it’s worth, I would even hesitate to suggest that Ovie could put up more than 2 points per game in a playoff series.)
Arnott’s best year, in his prime with NJ, he put up 20 points in 23 games.
Sullivan’s best year, 6 points in 13 games.
Erat’s best year, 4 points in 6 games.
Hornqvists’ best year 8 points in 11 games . . . in the AHL.
What’s more, none of these guys has ever been a consistent point/game player even during the regular season. (Arnott did it once, way back when in 00-01, and Sullivan came close one time in 05-06.)
Iginla has been a point/game player 5 times in the NHL and has twice scored 50 goals. He’s been a point per game player twice in the playoffs, too. He’s also scored 5 goals and 4 goals in a single series. (For reference, Arnott has twice scored 4 goals in a single series, but both of them were around 10 years ago.)
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Hornqvist is improving, as is Erat. This year Hornqvist has had 2 different runs of 9 pts in 7 games (no overlap), and that’s just from a very quick glance at his game log. Erat has had runs of 7, 8, and 10 pts in 7 games. It’s not so unreasonable to think they can do it for a series or more in the playoffs. Yes the regular season and the playoffs are different, but it’s still hockey. It’s been said that to succeed in the playoffs you need to have depth and score by committee. While the Predators lack a game breaker on O, they do those two (depth, committee) extremely well.
Everyone else mentioned in that post is on the downswing of their career as far as numbers and offensive production goes. Iginla is still the best forward between the teams, easily. But he is no longer the force that can carry a team that he once was. And as has been said, it helps to not necessarily have to rely on one player (especially since the Preds don’t have that player).
Unrelated, I wouldn’t hesitate to say Ovechkin can pull of a series at >2 pts/g. He pulled off 2 flat last year against the Penguins when he was getting no help whatsoever. If the collective rest of the team pulls their heads out of their asses for that series, it could be very different. Against a different team, or a few different bounces, or with some support prevent a team from keying on just him, he definitely can pull off 2+ pts/g.
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by Steckel Me Elmo on Apr 3, 2010 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions
If Nicky doesn’t swipe a couple of those points for himself. ;-)
Srsly, Knuble setting up in his office is gonna make a world of difference for AO this playoff run.
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by EmilyB on Apr 3, 2010 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Knuble setting up in his office is gonna make a world of difference for AO this playoff run.
This.
YNC, you are in playoff form yourself today.
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Any news when Knuble decides to open his bakery?
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by red army line on Apr 3, 2010 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions
While the Predators lack a game breaker on O, they do those two (depth, committee) extremely well.
I think you and CP2 are missing the point of what I’m saying – I’m saying that Nashville and Calgary’s depth (hell, throw Colorado in there, too) is no better than San Jose or Chicago or Detroit’s depth. It’s neat that Nashville can roll four lines, but are you telling me that you’d take:
Smithson/Legwand/Ward or Dumont/Boyd/Tootoo over say,
Detroit’s Helm/Eaves/Miller or Cleary/Draper/Williams?
Or how about Chicago’s Kopecky/Bolland/Burish/Byfuglien/Ladd/Madden/Fraser group?
Or San Jose’s Malhotra/Nichol/Ortmeyer/Mitchell/Couture/Whomever group?
Even if you think NSH’s bottom lines are marginally better, what does it matter in the grand scheme? You’re talking 12-14 minutes a night where you might, MIGHT put out a better line, and 46-48 where you wouldn’t.
In that sort of situation, the only thing that’s gonna save you is goaltending, and I think Calgary’s (and Colorado’s for that matter) is better.
Think of this as the Caps’ situation in reverse – what’s the most scary situation for the Caps? Getting a series stolen by amazing goaltending or a team with a red-hot power play (or, more likely, some combination of the two). Nashville, Calgary or Colorado – none of them win if their goalie doesn’t stand on his head, because their roster just isn’t good enough. From what I’ve seen of these three teams this year, I’d say Kipper is the most likely to steal a series, followed by Anderson, followed by Rinne. I’d likely give Nashville a little bump up, because I think they’re defense is good/deep enough to cover for that somewhat.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
In that sort of situation, the only thing that’s gonna save you is goaltending, and I think Calgary’s (and Colorado’s for that matter) is better.
That statement was all you needed to say earlier. I understand your viewpoint. I respectfully disagree, but its a valid viewpoint and one I’m sure others share.
As I stated before its who I’d rather play (this was based on your comment), not who I think will beat any of the top teams.
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After watching Kipper last night against the Avs and when he was here in DC, I can see that team at least taking someone to six or seven. He’s not the player he once was, but he’s still very, very good and with that defense keeping the game 1-0 or 1-1, I think they could pull a few out.
It’s the same story every year. Last year, it was Anaheim (Hiller) and nearly the Rangers (Lundqvist). The year before it was Dallas (Turco) and nearly the Bruins (Thomas). The year before that. . .
For all the extra love that grinders and role players get in the playoffs, how often can you say, “wow, that fourth-line player won them that series.” They make make outsized contributions relative to their talent level or playing time, but they almost never “steal” or even win a series.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Hornqvist is improving, as is Erat.
Hornqvist is a relative unknown, given his dearth of experience. Somehow, I don’t think he keeps scoring at this rate over his career, but it’s not as though he’s getting ridiculously lucky – he goes to the high-scoring areas and gets tons of shots.
Erat isn’t improving. He’s the same decent, steady player that he’s been his whole career. Every year, between ~15-25 goals and every year between ~50-60 points. This year’s more of the same.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Dude, I’m not saying their going to, I’m saying its not out of reality. Arnott put up 16 (IIRC) points in nine games last year. He more than anyone could asplode. Erat can, Sullivan can, maybe Hornqvist but I doubt it.
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It’s completely and totally out of the realm of probability (perhaps not possibility, since I suppose anything is possible) to suggest that there is anyone on Nashville’s roster that is going to put up more than a point/game in the playoffs.
Ovechkin was absolutely UNCONSCIOUS against the Pens and still only managed 14 in 7 games. Even in his prime, Arnott wasn’t half the player Ovechkin is.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
We could argue this all day. Nashville has at least three players capable of putting up a ppg. Will they? I doubt it. But its not as apocalyptic as you say.
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a ppg
That’s a hell of a lot different than 15-18 points in 7 games, which is what you originally claimed. I’d still say that a point/game is doubtful, but not as improbable as 2 points/game. It’s do-able in the regular season because teams and players inevitably get a stretch of games against weak/tired/crappy/injured opponents and a mixture of backup goalies. In the playoffs against talented teams with good goalies, it just doesn’t happen with any regularity.
Just so we’re clear, I’m not rooting against your team (your associate coach will always have a special place in my heart as a Portland WinterHawks fan), but you’ve got to understand, if you come to the blog of a team that’s got no emotional investment in your team, the viewpoints you’re going to get are going to reflect that. The Preds have a great young defensive corps, a good young goaltender and a lot of middling forwards. They look to me like first-round fodder for one of the many strong teams out west. Given the constraints your ownership forces you to compete under, that’s no small feat.
I hope you take this as a constructive comment, but your comments/arguments would carry more weight if you’d just do a little research beforehand. NHL.com, behindthenet.ca and hockeyanalytics.com are all amazing resources and spending 30 seconds there before you turn finger taps into electrons will prevent you from saying things like Martin Erat is capable of scoring 15-18 points in a seven-game playoff series. Again, I only say this because I enjoy chatting with you on here and think you’ve got interesting things to say – otherwise I wouldn’t bother.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Thanks for the advice; but I don’t think that looking up advanced statistics are going to be able to tell me exactly how our players will play in the postseason. We have players capable of playing at a very high level. So does Edmonton. Sure, patterns tell us they won’t play that way. I never said nor am I trying to say any of our players will do that. I’m merely saying that the possibility is there.
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If by win, you mean Willful IgNorance, then yes.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
I think he meant Predators 4, Red Wings 3.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Apr 3, 2010 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions
She, if you’re referring to Your Nation’s Capital.
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by CapitalCentre on Apr 3, 2010 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Ugh! I always forget!
Many apologies, YNC.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Apr 3, 2010 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Ha! :)
It was a sweet goal by Suter. If the Preds can get a couple goals each out of him and Weber, they could upset someone, because their forwards are an unimpressive bunch. The flow of that game played right into Nashville’s hands, but the Wings still managed to tie it up. . .
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Ignorance? Or just disagreement?
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If you think that evidence and statistics can’t inform you about what is likely (or in this case, very, very unlikely) to happen, then that’s ignorance.
If you think that my evidence is unconvincing (and then present an alternative), then that’s disagreement.
The latter is most welcome, the former is just kind of sad.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
I should really apologize for that comment, I came inside and read the Willful Ignorance BEFORE I read the good comment below it, which I just replied to.
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I didn’t take offense. And I’m probably being more aggro than is called for.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Oops. I meant to write sorry at the end of the previous comment.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
no worries
Good chat. I should probably do a Bill Simmons this summer and get into advanced metrics and whatnot instead of always relying on me eyes.
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Eyes are good, but a quick google search does wonders. You have no idea how many times I’ve started to say something on here, then googled it/checked it on NHL.com and rescinded it before posting because I realized that what I was about to say was way off-base.
The reason you have no idea is because I don’t post those comments. ;)
Even earlier in this thread, I said that Roman Hamrlik was “phenomenal.” Given another opportunity, I’d like that one back, because F&B beat me over the head with it.
(FWIW, I think Hamrlik WAS good and has been slightly unlucky and/or declining this year.)
I’m also probably a bit more reliant on stats than some of the other folks on here. I’ve got very little time to watch hockey, so I focus most of my viewing on the Caps and Avs. I can’t always rely on my eyes as much as I’d like because I rarely see most teams, especially Western Conference teams.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Poti and Corvo: Eyes vs Stats
It’s funny you mention the “eyes-stats” thing. It’s a debate that we have pretty often on here, and Poti and Corvo are pretty much poster-children for this in my opinion. (Although some people could substitute Flash and Fehr, I’m sure.)
My eyes say Tom Poti is not very good. He makes tons of mistakes that I wouldn’t even expect from a rookie – and he’s a “veteran.” On the other hand, the stats say that Poti is monstrously good defensively 5v5.
Corvo, on the other hand, usually looks good to me. He skates well; moves the puck well, etc. But his stats are. . . well, calling them mediocre would be generous.
I think having both is the ideal. In small samples, I’d favor the eyes, but over the course of many games, I think stats tell you things that your predispositions might keep you from seeing.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Nice Strawman...
I don’t think that looking up advanced statistics are going to be able to tell me exactly how our players will play in the postseason.
I never said that any statistic will tell you “exactly how your players will play in the postseason.” What I AM telling you is that a moment’s perusal of NHL.com will show you that scoring more than two points/game in an NHL playoff series is unheard of after the mid-90s scoring cool-down, and that scoring anything upward of a point/game is the province of elite talents and ridiculous flukes.
Without looking up a single “advanced statistic,” it took me about a minute to go to nhl.com, click on “stats – individual,” sort for “all teams” sort for “playoffs” sort by “points” and then sort by “points/game.”
You know what I found? The highest points/game since 1997/1998 (beyond which NHL.com doesn’t have stats) was by . . .
Richard Zednik, who put up 8 points in 4 games for exactly 2 points/game. You know why his average was so high? Because Kyle McLaren tried to take his head off with a clothesline to the face in game 4 of that series. Over a full series, he likely would have cooled off. . . because he’s Richard Zednik.
Brendan Shanahan also managed 2 points/game in 00-01, but he only played in two games.
The next highest? Dougie Weight in 02-03 with 13 points in 7 games for 1.86ppg. Patrik Elias was next in 2005-2006 with 1.78ppg, (16 points in 9 games).
After that? Brad Richards, also in 05-06 at 1.6ppg (05-06 was a ridiculous year for scoring because the refs and players were still figuring out the post-lockout rules.)
Then Peter Forsberg at 1.57ppg in 1997-98.
After that? Jagr in 2007-2008, Ovie and Malkin in 2009-2010, all at 1.5 points/game.
What do almost all these players have in common? Almost every last one of them is a perennial All-Star, and almost every one of them (except Zednik, obviously) is going into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. (Weight’s probably a stretch… Richards and Elias – the jury’s still out.)
there are several Predators capable of 15-18 points in a 7 game series. . . I’m merely saying that the possibility is there.
And I’m merely telling you that it isn’t. If Jagr, Forsberg, Sakic, Ovechkin, Malkin, Crosby. . . etc. can’t do it, Jason Arnott, Martin Erat, Stevie Sullivan or Patric Horqvist won’t.
Nashville currently doesn’t have a single forward who’s on his way to Toronto, as much as you or I may love Stevie Sullivan – it ain’t happening.
You can either back up an argument with evidence, or you can back it up with hope, rainbows, sunshine and puppy-dogs.
You know what else is cool about evidence? Not only can I use it as proof that I actually know what the hell I’m talking about, but someone else can actually look up what I wrote, go back to my source, and check to see that I actually know what the hell I’m talking about and refute my evidence as they see fit. Then we both actually learn something and everyone wins.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Thanks for all the hard work on the discussion, I actually do appreciate it. My opinion has been swayed- though I would maintain its a slight more possibility than you’d argue, its definitely all kinds of slim.
You know what I’ve learned the most from this debate? That I’m sure as hell glad we don’t rely on one player to explode to have a chance at winning. Its a team game, and we do it well.
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I sort of agree with you in that it’s possible, but D’ohboy is right, it’s highly highly highly unlikely.
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by red army line on Apr 3, 2010 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions
hey btw
Not to start anything else, but I’d mention that that “first round fodder” team also has more points than your Sid and Geno led Cup Champs ;). Not that it means a whole lot, just sayin’. I don’t think we’re a better team, but I hope we can put up more of a fight than fodder. I’ll be sorely pissed if not.
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Yeah, but the west is just so much scarier than the east. The Pens’ current matchup is against a toothless Boston squad (although that changes hourly).
If you guys can play the Yotes, I think you can advance past the first round. Against the other three, or Detroit if they can squeak into 4th. . . I’d be concerned.
I just think the Yotes are somewhat of a desert mirage consisting of unsustainable luck.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Which is kind of my point; we’ve gotten those 98 against some tougher comp. than the Pens’ 97.
Yeah, I agree with ya. The franchise needs a series win worse than anything and PHX gives us the best shot. On the other hand, PHX thinks they want us (when I think they really need to play LAK for a good chance). Should be fun, either way, like I’ve mentioned, if only to tell Canada to screw off ;).
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I think PHX is in trouble regardless of who they play. Their points total depends a lot on:
A) wining one-goal games,
B) winning in overtime, and
C) winning in the shootout.
A generous person would call them “clutch.” I call them ridiculously lucky.
I think it would be sad if you and PHX end up playing each other, since both franchises need a series win in the worst way. Outside of Colorado, I’m rooting for you guys and the ’Yotes.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Its interesting, we now have an outside shot at 4th if we win out and PHX drops 3 of 4. Not likely (lulz) but boy would that be huge.
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Watching you guys play today, I’m all the more surprised you didn’t unload Hamhuis. You guys are desperate for scoring and your D is just so ridiculously deep.
Also, I finally understand why Horny has so many goals – if that dude gets the puck on his stick in the offensive zone, he shoots. Every time. I don’t think I saw that guy make an o-zone pass all game.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Don’t get me started. Though Dustin Boyd was a coup.
We have players who pass too much- but he ain’t one of em (Hornqvist). A lot of his goals don’t come from true shots, though. He’s a genius at redirecting stuff.
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Out of curiosity,
Do you think Trotz’s system is designed, in part, to intentionally limit the stats, and therefore the salary demands, of the players that play in it?
I can think of no other team that rolls four lines to such a degree. . .
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Its part of it, I’d say (though some would call me a conspiracy theorist for it). Here’s an example.
Every-single-damn-time the media asks Trotz about Horny (RFA) and how good he is, how well he’s playing, breaking team records, etc; Trotz either a) deflects or b) point out where he needs improving. I have never, ever heard him praise Patric. I think a lot of it could be to keep him from wanting more money. Never praised Tootoo, either, and we signed him inexpensively.
On the other hand, we pay Legwand 4.5 million. Dammit.
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Yeah. Poor Legwand looks as though he’s lost all confidence. He had a 2-1 in the the first (?) and Rafalski took the pass away and he still refused to shoot.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Saw that. He’s scored once in 36 games. Best paid checking center in NHL history, probably. Erat also gets 4.5, though at least he’s more consistent. I think those were GMDP’s biggest screw ups. He thought they were going to be much better than they turned out.
Weber and Suter, on the other hand, I wouldn’t mind overpaying for.
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Haha, forgot about him. Though I still refuse to rag him after the OLY.
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Bobby Holik would also like a word.
Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!
by Knee high to a duck on Apr 3, 2010 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions
V-Cleaners updates!
Keep them coming guys!
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This is quickly becoming my second-favorite blog! :)
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Thanks! As long as people keep sending them in I’ll keep updating!
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Bonus Peerless.
One of those not sure whether to smile or cry type of posts.
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Backstrom - Icing
I’d have expected Nicklas Backstrom to be on the ice more often following opponents’ icings. Huh.
I think this makes sense. In many cases, the icing was probably a result of Backstrom’s line having a long period of possession in the offensive zone, so he would be coming off the ice. I think the better question here has to do with our 2nd-4th lines’ offensive zone possession time. I’m not sure if there are statistics kept line-by-line, but my gut feel is that none are near the top in offensive zone possession time. Note that Crosby is at the top, which probably says more about the ability of the Malkin & Stall lines to keep pressure in the offensive zone.
It has as much to do with Malkin’s total inability to win faceoffs as anything else, not sure what the deal with Staal is.
What we do know is this: Crosby takes more faceoffs than anyone else in the league and he’s very good at them. He’s also their biggest goal-scoring threat, which is a great combination against a team that just iced the puck and can’t dictate the matchup. I just don’t see a reason to put Malkin or Staal out there when you have 87 available.
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by Knee high to a duck on Apr 3, 2010 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Have the Pens ever tried Malkin on Sid’s wing?
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by Chris Burton on Apr 3, 2010 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions
They do it occasionally, but so much of their offense comes out of those two guys that they really only have one scoring line when they put them together. It’s like 8-19-28 for the Caps – they’ll provide a hell of a spark when they’re out there, but it’s only something the coach does when he needs to generate instant offense.
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by Knee high to a duck on Apr 3, 2010 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions
okay
It just seems like between Sid’s need for a good wing and Malkin sucking at faceoffs that would be a regular thing.
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by Chris Burton on Apr 3, 2010 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Correct. Bylsma plays the “Mega Powers Line” in critica and/or high-leverage situations. Say, down a goal with 5 minutes remaining, or last minute in the period of a tied game. I’ve also seen him do it when the offense just isn’t clicking – throw out the big line just to give ’em a spark.
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Wonder Twin Powers. . . ACTIVATE!!!
Form of . . . a douche nozzle!
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Whoa…did I really offend you that badly?
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
Not at all. It just reminded me of that, then I thought. . . what form would Crosby and Malkin take if they joined powers. . .?
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Oooooooooh…ahem. Never mind.
I thought you were calling ME a douche nozzle.
It’s much funnier your way.
I’m blaming the pollen. Allergies are killing me.
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
High-leverage situations is the best way to describe it, yeah. A lot like pulling the goalie at the end of the game, it’s a losing strategy over sixty minutes, but the rewards outweigh the risks over short time when you’re already losing.
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by Knee high to a duck on Apr 3, 2010 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah. Personally, I’d reserve that sort of tactic until the end of the game, or the last shift or so before a TV timeout/intermission. Let’s say you double them up at 2:30 left in the game, they skate for a minute but don’t get a whistle. . . then what? They’re exhausted and the next-best option is Staal et al.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
How is that different from BB sending out the Care Bears?
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
’tain’t a bit of difference, you are correct.
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
the Caps actually have guys on other lines that can score?
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Could it happen this year?
Never has the same team had players win the Hart, Norris, and Selke in the same year. Maybe they won’t win, but the fact that they are definite candidates and frontrunners to some says a lot about the historic ability of this team.
On the officiating – good for Ted on speaking out. The officiating has been a joke this year. Not just with the Caps but all through the league. I don’t buy the “ref didn’t see it” argument. That’s why there are two of them. They just need to communicate better with each other so they can see more of the plays.
I have a hard time believing Backstrom has a serious shot at winning the Selke, though a nomination is probably deserved (since it’ll raise his asking price even more, I won’t be too upset if he doesn’t get one). At this point I actually like Green’s chances at the Norris better than Ovie’s for Hart. I think if Ovie misses both the Ross and Richard, it’ll be tough for him, but if he wins either he’ll probably get it.
I have no problem with Ted talking about officiating. As best I can tell, when it comes to suspensions or trying to get calls, the squeaky wheels get the grease. The non-call on that Armstrong elbow was absolutely ridiculous. One of the bigger “pick a penalty, any penalty” plays I can recall.
I’d be interested to see if there’s any correlation between these sorts of comments about the officiating and actual results. The only comparison I can think of would be Mark Cuban in basketball, and I have no idea whether his protestations change the on-court results.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
I think if Ovie misses both the Ross and Richard, it’ll be tough for him, but if he wins either he’ll probably get it.
I’m thinking Ovechkin wins easily no matter what. I don’t think Sedin will draw legitimate support, so it essentially comes down to a referendum on “who’s better, Alex Ovechkin or Sidney Crosby?”. Nothing that happens in the last month of the season is going to sway a meaningful number of voters on that question.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Apr 3, 2010 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions
This strikes me as a Hart vote that will be split many different ways. I think all five guys will get some support. I think Crosby needs to win the Richard by a pretty decent margin to have any chance – I’d guess that Ovie, Sedin, and Miller would all finish ahead of him right now. Not sure that’s the right call, but I think that’s how the voting would go. I certainly hope Ovie wins – I’m not all that big on individual awards but winning 3 Harts in a row is a very special historical achievement, shared only by the consensus two best players in NHL history (Orr and Gretzky).
I think Ovie gets it, simply because:
A) Lots of voters think that goalies shouldn’t get the Hart since they’ve got the Vezina, and
B) Sedin will get screwed by the East Coast Bias – nobody in the Eastern Time Zone gets to see him play regularly.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
I’m starting to see some articles finally noticing that Crosby struggles when Malkin is out and excels when he’s in, and therefore suggesting Crosby isn’t the engine that powers the Pens. I’m not sure exactly what that means for them and how they’d be doing if it was Crosby who was out. Doesn’t change the fact that the Caps cruised along without Ovechkin this year.
"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."
As much as I am a Backstrom fan, I don’t see him as a Selke winner, or even a finalist. When is the talk ever centered around Nicky shutting someone down? Ever?
He’s an amazing offensive player who is pretty responsible and plays good D, but if he were a 50 point guy I doubt he’d be in the discussion. Of course at some point the Selke went from defensive forward to best offensive guy who plays good D.
Russian Machine very rarely breaks. Oh and f**k Brooks Orpik.
by macvechkin on Apr 3, 2010 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Ouch.
Of course at some point the Selke went from defensive forward to best offensive guy who plays good D.
Guilty. I will rec’alibrate accordingly.
Jag antar parader är cool.
I’m thinking Green is unlikely for the Norris while Backstrom is very unlikely to win the Selke.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Apr 3, 2010 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions
If Green can push past 20 goals, get closer to 80 points (thereby gaining some statistical separation with Keith) and up his +/- to +40, I think he’d be at least 50/50 to win it. I think the rest of the hockey media is starting to come around to the fact that he’s not a hack defensively.
Maybe I’m being overly optimistic.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Green seems to have momentum with the voters right now as Keith is struggling, and I think that’s important. Same reason I’m not as bullish on Ovie. If Green can keep his points-per-game over 1, I think this thing is his. The statistics are pretty overwhelming for him. JP tweeted some insane stats the other day about how many fewer goals have been allowed by the Caps with Green on the ice vs. the Hawks with Keith on the ice (and the Hawks have allowed 34 fewer goals than the Caps). A lot of that is probably quality of competition, but it was eye-opening.
Green has also been playing the best defensive hockey of his career lately, IMO. If he hadn’t been snubbed for Team Canada, he’d win it easily.
If he hadn’t been snubbed for Team Canada, he’d win it easily.
This comment makes me sad, but it’s probably true to some degree. It’s voted on by the writers, which means they’ll do the right thing . . . oh wait, nevermind.
Give it to Pronger.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
I hate to say it, but if you look at the Flyers’ team +/- numbers, it’s hard not to be impressed by Pronger. Leading the team at +22. Apart from his linemate, Carle, the second-highest guy on the team with more than 60 GP is Carcillo (!) at +4. Not saying he’s Norris-worthy, but those numbers don’t lie.
It wasn’t a dig at Pronger so much as it was a dig at the lack of creativity/lack of research done by the writers who vote on these things.
Their criteria seems to be,
“Who’s having a good year statistically?”
“Whose name do I recognize the most? / Who plays for the biggest market team?”
“Has he won it before?”
Ta-Da . . . Year after year of Nick Lidstrom. (Not that he’s not deserving of most of them.)
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
To Wit
Since 1982-3 (Langway), there have been 11 different winners (including Langway).
Lots of Langway, Bourque, Coffey, Chelios, Leetch and Lidstrom mixed with a little Pronger, MacInnis, Niedermayer, Blake and Chara.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Wow. I just realized that all the repeat winners except Langway 2/3 of Coffey (2 in EDM, 1 in DET), were from Original Six teams. There is one from a WHA franchise, two from the Blues (1967 expansion), Langway (1974) one from LAK (1967) and one from the Devils (1974).
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
The JP tweets you referenced — astounding:
Mike Green has been on the ice for 18% more Goals For than Duncan Keith at 5-on-5 this year (90 to 76) in 18% less 5-on-5 ice time.
That stat may not surprise you. But this next one might…
Duncan Keith has been on the ice for 44% more goals against than Mike Green at 5-on-5 this year (72 to 50).
So yeah, Mike Green’s on-ice goal differential at 5-on-5 is ten times Duncan Keith’s (40 to 4).
by cuqui on Apr 3, 2010 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
We need to start a grassroots campaign to get this info to the voters. Somebody motivated should get on that.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Paging Tarik and Corey to write some articles!
And it sucks that the Post won’t let Tarik vote. Saying that their reporters can’t vote on an award that potentially affects a player’s compensation is a stupid rule, because if all the media abided by it, no one would be allowed to vote.
"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."
Why we no have Bryz? He’s a good guy!
Только игра! Почему надо быть гневаться?
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Boudreau’s long national nightmare is over. Flash back at 2C.
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I’m sorry, Perreault > Flash at 2C.
"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."
Get well soon and hurry back, Brendan!
The Caps training staff does a pretty good job of getting their guys thoroughly healed up and BMo will be in pretty good shape when he gets back.
Although actually I don’t mind a rested and rehabbed Morrison returning for the start of the playoffs.
As long as Flash doesn’t lose any games for us, that is.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
Oh, FFS. If Bruce could suspend the laws of physics, he’d remove fatigue from the equation for Flash and play him 60 minutes a night, a la NHL ’94…
"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP
by fat_daddyo on Apr 3, 2010 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
The line of Laich/Flash/Semin was effective during the winning streak but, at the time it was broken up, it needed to be broken up. There is probably a time limit to how long it can be effective since the “centering” skills are lacking.
Laich and Flash are certainly both players who are more effective on the 2nd line than the 3rd even though their skill sets are different.
Let’s hope it can work again.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Bryz
I think things worked out okay, but that doesn’t mean CM should be trying to explain why we didn’t pick up Bryz when he was to be had for practically nothing. We were at or near the bottom of the standings and to pass up on him cannot be justified, even 3 years later. He had potential and is fulfilling it. We would love to have that right now.
Russian Machine very rarely breaks. Oh and f**k Brooks Orpik.
Yes. Seems like was playing GMGM’s mouthpiece. Not like Corey normally.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
I thought cm’s recap was pretty fair. It’s easy to look at bryz now and say “wouldn’t we be better if we had picked him up”? However, its clearly not as easy as just defaulting to yes cause he’s tearing it up now. Lots of variables to consider and I think cm did a good job of exploring the angles.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Apr 3, 2010 4:59 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I think everyone knows what the real answer is though, and Corey didn’t get into it there.
The real answer is that they had two goalies under contract, one of which was a franchise icon, and they were hoping against hope that he’d turn his game around eventually. He didn’t, we traded for Huet, and the rest is history. To make it sound as though it were some kind of shrewd management of the salary cap is disingenuous in my opinion.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
The more talent you acquire the more options you have. Bryz is better than Theo for roughly the same amount of money. He was better than BJ or Olie at the time as well and would have been an excellent move for the present and future at the time. Having more talent in your org is never a bad thing, especially when it doesn’t hurt your cap long term. GMGM made a mistake, plain and simple.
"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich
OT
The old-ish Caps segway video is on CSN right now until 3 I think
Check out FFODC.COM and DCSportsPlus.blogspot.com!
by what Juneau about that? on Apr 3, 2010 2:54 PM EDT reply actions
That Detroit New writer loves the Caps a lot. I though that he was going to choose Theo for the Vezina at the end
Don't vorry. Zat's just ze power of ze arts!
One thing about the Wings. They share common enemies with the Caps.
1) Penguins are common enemy. To like the Caps is to hate the Pens. (And the SC playoffs of the last two years has certainly inspired anti-Pen feeling in Motown.)
2) Wings fans hate Black Hawks. (And Black Hawks fans now hate the Caps due to Campbell’s injury.) While I don’t personally hate the Black Hawks, I am pretty annoyed with them at the moment.
Rocking the Red since 1975
Something in Detroit’s water, I think. Brad May ended up speaking out on behalf of Caps players a couple times prior to him being waived by the team, and then Babcock threw his support behind Ovie after the Campbell incident.
And it’s not just the Wings fan who lives with me, lots of Detroit expatriates speak highly of the Capitals. One told me, “Imagine if we had the late 90s Wings dynasty with Bruce’s offense!!!!!” (I agree; shame all the offensive talent was bottled up by Bowman’s quasi-trap system.)
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Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
I think it’s because the Caps play a similar style and the Wings appreciate that. Not everyone can play mind-numbing, spirit-crushing neutral zone traps like Minnesota, NJ and Columbus.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
And, oddly enough, watching your boys play with the puck is actually fun and highlights the skills of your team.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
Eh, the left wing lock isn’t as bad as a trap and isn’t nearly as conservative as people characterize it. Yeah, you always have a forward high, but a) that’s normal even if it isn’t always the LW and b) it completely frees the other two forwards up to forecheck very hard and aggressively. It’s completely different than sending one guy in to direct a breakout and having 4 lying in wait in the neutral zone.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
Any chance Juice plays in the postseason? If so…how does that effect the D pairings?
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Apr 3, 2010 3:54 PM EDT reply actions
I’m thinking that the lack of any news on Juice (someone please correct me if I’m wrong about that) means he won’t be ready for round one, at least. If he is healthy after that I really wonder if they would bother using him unless the defense is performing very poorly.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Apr 3, 2010 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions
On CI this afternoon, Tarik reports:
*Boudreau also clarified the timetable on Milan Jurcina, who is recovering from double sports hernia surgery. The big defenseman is expected to start skating with the team by the end of the first round.
“So hopefully we’re still playing in the second round,” Boudreau said. “Because of his size and the hunger he’ll have when he comes back will probably be a good fit for us.”
wow, thanks for the source. This makes me lick my chops. if we can get by the first round with the current defense and then get a Jurcina back who’s ready to explode on the ice…we could have a very good chance at a run here.
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Apr 3, 2010 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions
I think BB is being a bit too optimistic (at least publicly) about how effective Juice can be right out of the chute though. Combine that with the fact that even at best he probably can’t be considered a huge upgrade over what we have now and I bet there’s a good chance he doesn’t play at all, no matter how far we go.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Apr 3, 2010 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions
If last year is any barometer, he’ll get some playing time. By the time last year’s series against the Pens was over, Green was nursing a bum shoulder and a funky virus, Erskine had a broken foot, Schultz was out with broken ribs, and ShaMo was also nursing some injury if I recall correctly.
If he’s anywhere near ready, I’d much prefer him to T-Slo or Erskine.
There's a fine line between arrogance and ignorance and only I manage to erase that line.
Ah, yeah, good point—I wasn’t considering future injuries.
by sixsevenfiftysix on Apr 3, 2010 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Our defenseman injury percentage was pretty awful during playoff time last year. 66% playing with injury, not to mention Schultz who was out of commission for the vast majority of the playoff games.
(This year, I recall a game where Schultz had done well against Pittsburgh.)
Rocking the Red since 1975
55 bottles Malkin up and sells him to little girls.
Jag antar parader är cool.
by redlineblue on Apr 3, 2010 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Brooks already sounding laich a head coach.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
I would not be surprised to see him become a head coach some day. (I would also not be surprised to see Eric Fehr and Alex Ovechkin become announcers.)
Rocking the Red since 1975
Columbus media reporting Steve Mason in goal tonight.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
what in tarnation happened to him this year?
Driving under the influence of hockey since godknow's when.
But largely in line with what he posted after a scorching first 30 games last season.
Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!
by Knee high to a duck on Apr 3, 2010 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Here’s a link to a story on NHL.com talking about the less than stellar play of the so-called “elite” teams in the NHL.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=523703
Rocking the Red since 1975
I know every fan base probably gets accused of whining from time to time, but the press? Lots of garbage in this post, but the tears at the bottom are amazing:
http://www.csnphilly.com/04/03/10/NHL-Notebook-Pronger-Deservedly-a-Norris/landing.html?blockID=209389&feedID=704
"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."
Kozzy...
Viktor Kozlov calls Bruce Boudreau “a genius at attacking and defending the neutral zone.” I wonder what Bruce calls Kozzy.
Most of the time, I bet he called him snakebit…
Let's go Caps!
I wish that Freidman will expand on that. I’d be curious to know what Kozlov thought makes Bruce a genius (because I honestly don’t know)
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
Donate to the Rink Pledge Drive for SAVES FOR KIDS! Ain’t nothing [wrong] about giving $5 so a stranger’s premature baby can have the time on a respirator they need.~Gould Old Days
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida
|
55 | 27 | 17 | 11 | 65 |
|
Washington
|
55 | 28 | 22 | 5 | 61 |
|
Winnipeg
|
57 | 26 | 25 | 6 | 58 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
55 | 24 | 25 | 6 | 54 |
|
Carolina
|
56 | 20 | 25 | 11 | 51 |
(updated 2.12.2012 at 10:06 PM EST)
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