Wednesday Caps Clips: Go West Young Men (And Knuble)
by J.P. on Oct 26, 2011 6:38 AM EDT
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PrintYour savory breakfast links:
- Notes and assorted whatnot from yesterday's practice:
- In general. [Caps365 video (Kettler Report, Boudreau, Ovechkin, Collins), 106.7 The Fan (audio)]
- Bruce Boudreau is doing his best to keep the team grounded by kicking their collective ass at practice. [CSNW (Gormley)]
- Gabby also explained why they're heading out to Edmonton so early - it's because they're sick of their wives and kids. Kidding. I think. [CW (Whyno), with more on the trip at Dump 'N Chase]
- Michal Neuvirth is ready to return to the lineup (and likely will Thursday against the Oil). [WashTimes (Whyno), CI (Carrera), DCEx (McNally)]
- With Mike Green ailing a bit and the team traveling far from home... [CI (Carrera), DCEx (McNally), CW (Whyno), WTOP (Raby), CSNW (Gormley), SB Nation DC (Vingan)]
- ... Sean Collins has been recalled. So what can the Caps expect from him this time around? [CW (Whyno), DCEx (McNally), CI (Carrera), KOL]
- Catching up with Joel Ward. [Capitals Voice]
- As we noted yesterday, commitment to a less-top-heavy distribution of ice time can only pay dividends in the long run. [WaPo (Carrera, with a nifty chart here)]
- Two really good reads on the Caps' power-play success so far (and look for a third in this space later this morning). [Peerless, Insider2]
- Brooks Laich did his weekly hit with The Sports Junkies, and, like the rest of us, is a little bit in awe of his new goaltender. [106.7 The Fan, SB Nation DC (Prada)]
- The Caps are making winning look easy, but guess what - it isn't. [AP (White)]
- Further to that last point, there isn't much money to be made betting on the Caps to lose their next game, but if they can come home unbeaten, there's real value on the board. Just sayin'. [Backhand Shelf]
- But Grapes is on board. Ugh. [OFB]
- Maybe the Habs (or at least members of the media covering them) are regretting letting Roman Hamrlik walk. [Gazette (Cowan)]
- Speaking of Hamr, check out the Caps' tribute to their still-new blueliner on his recent record. [Caps365 video]
- The Caps raised nearly $30k for pediatric cancer on Saturday night, which is
slightly more than Nicklas Backstrom's per-period salarynice. [CSNW] - If you prefer your artistic renderings of Alex Ovechkin in two dimensions rather than three, this one's for you. [Capitals Outsider]
- On local fanhood. [OFB]
- Dmitry Orlov knows that the organization hopes he's next in the recent line of young stud blueliners. [Patriot-News (Leone), with notes from yesterday's Bears practice here]
- And don't forget about Patrick McNeill. [LDN (Fidler)]
- Finally, some love for one of the unlikeliest of Caps blogs. [Backhand Shelf]
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Some great stuff Peerless: Dynamic Presence and “Using the Rink”
"Shots aren't the important thing. Scoring chances are way more important than shots." - Bruce Boudreau
See my work in the Washington Post and on ESPN Insider.
Follow me on Twitter @ngreenberg
by NGreenberg on Oct 26, 2011 7:20 AM EDT reply actions 3 recs
Yeah, I haven’t seen those templates for a blank rink, but it made it real helpful to follow the puck movement, and without the hassle of screen caps. Definitely a good look, and that movement is the kind of thing that had been lacking with the Caps. Tie it with your piece and that’s a lot of what’s been missing from the PP. It isn’t just about the fact that Brouwer is crashing the net, it was how he got there and the ability of him to be involved in the play leading up to it.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
I’m trying to revive him in the sig line, but SBN isn’t cooperating.
Please, call me F&B.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
Does Eric Fehr know about you abandoning him? As if his rehab wasn’t painful enough…
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
Something tells me Eric Fehr is familiar with bad breaks.
"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg
"I worry that we're reaching that point where college-age kids don't know what goatse is anymore."
by Bald Pollack on Oct 26, 2011 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions
How did you get it changed? I’ve been trying to get my name changed for weeks and there’s been no success at all!
Winnipeg? Winnipeg??? Oy! (And now it's official...)
by MikeL-Pivonka on Oct 26, 2011 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks. Will try that. (I’ll check if I’ve done that…)
Winnipeg? Winnipeg??? Oy! (And now it's official...)
by MikeL-Pivonka on Oct 26, 2011 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions
And now it should be changed! Whee!
Winnipeg? Winnipeg??? Oy! (And now it's official...)
by MikeL-Pivonka on Oct 26, 2011 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions
we killed him last night and hid the body in a chest freezer. We’re hiring Joe Tacopina to represent us. We’re hoping we get a better deal than he got Eric Belanger.
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION!
I guess it depends on whether anyone I work with does the math and figures out I’m posting here during work hours all day…
Obviously, this is all speculation.
I should have made my pseudonym “Frank Beans” so you could keep calling me F&B.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
We should keep calling you “F&B” until it’s an effective shibboleth for new members.
Campaign Promises fantasy team: Hamrlik To Fall
by CapitalCentre on Oct 26, 2011 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Welcome to the Dark Side.
The Artist Formerly Known as CP2Devil.
Associate Editor at Five For Howling.
by Carl Putnam on Oct 26, 2011 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, it’s bitter sweet without the sweet. We’ll see if it actually leads to me getting taken more seriously. No doubt a call from an NHL FO is in the works now that I’ve gotten a serious name.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
Dammit.
/changing sobriquet to “Regina Monologues”.
Rooting for the Caps from the OBX.
by Acer Jonesy's Laughker on Oct 26, 2011 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, I’m definitely sad about losing F&B. I don’t think Laichitor will ever forgive me. He actually introduces me to people as F&B.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
by Rob Parker on Oct 26, 2011 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
To say nothing of “Mrs. F&B”.
(The heartbreak of identity theft).
Rooting for the Caps from the OBX.
by Acer Jonesy's Laughker on Oct 26, 2011 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Truth. You are also in my phone as F&B.
"How can you trust a man who wears both a belt and suspenders? The man can't even trust his own pants."
by Laich It Or Lump It on Oct 26, 2011 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Once you’re officially affiliated with the NHL you can go by Parkie, or Parksie, depending on which of the two nicknames you’re allowed to have in hockey.
Comrades, leave me here a little, while as yet 't is early morn:
Leave me here, and when you want me, sound upon the bugle-horn
This makes me sad.
"Neuvy was eating pucks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner."
by SeattleCapsFan on Oct 26, 2011 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions
I remember how disappointed everyone was to meet you when you didn’t have facial hair.
Aim for the head baby Jesus
Have to say reading your CI piece in tandem with Peerless’s made for some fine analysis this morning. Whatever else Brouwer’s timing for when to get in front of the net has been impeccable.
by capsyoungguns on Oct 26, 2011 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Thanks…after you and Whyno put your pieces up I wondered if I should. But I couldn’t deprive folks of hand-drawn visual aids.
If you've read this far...seek help.
Yours was great, I don’t think they were redundant at all. Best look at the movement on the PP I’ve seen.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
You should have seen the first version…all of it on one panel. Looked the Mixing Bowl at Springfield.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Oct 26, 2011 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions
Re: Green Collins
The consensus of opinion I’ve seen in the clips indicates that if Green doesn’t go, Wideman would be paired with Hamrlik and Collins with Schultz. Wouldn’t it be less disruptive to just match up Collins and Hamrlik? The older guy could maybe cover up some of his mistakes. I’m not that familiar with Collins, but he and Schultz together feels a little sketchy-maybe pairing them means more ice time for the other pairings. I’m guessing PP plays into this somewhere, as well.
Just wonderin’….
Rooting for the Caps from the OBX.
by Acer Jonesy's Laughker on Oct 26, 2011 7:26 AM EDT reply actions
Two reasons:
1) You don’t put a callup on the line with the most TOI
2) Wideman and Hamrlik are the other D-men for the Power Play unit. Collins and Schultz would end up mixed lining it post-PP anyways
3) Hamrlik is L, Wideman is R. Schultz is L, Collins is R. Parity is maintained.
"A picture is worth a thousand words. For moving pictures we manage to shorten it to one or two."
OK
I figured Carlson would join Wideman on the PP.
Your rationale for Number 3. (of Two) would be supported by Hamrlik/Collins, Schultz/Wideman.
Rooting for the Caps from the OBX.
by Acer Jonesy's Laughker on Oct 26, 2011 8:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Which is why I said two.
And if Carlson does eat up the extra minutes on the PP then doing it the other way means you are splitting and mixing across all 3 D lines.
"A picture is worth a thousand words. For moving pictures we manage to shorten it to one or two."
Thanks.
The irony/humor of the 2/3 thing was lost on me.
/still working on blogspeak pearl recognition
Rooting for the Caps from the OBX.
by Acer Jonesy's Laughker on Oct 26, 2011 9:01 AM EDT up reply actions
You sir, give new meaning to Dry Island.
"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg
"This [job] would be so much easier if it wasn't for the fucking [customers]."
by Bald Pollack on Oct 26, 2011 8:06 AM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
Neat chart. Most exciting news? AO’s shift length is down to 55 seconds on average. If he could shave another 5-10 seconds off that then we’d really be talking.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
Hypothesis: AO’s shift length (and, to a lesser extent, TOI) is down because they’ve had relatively few PPs (and thus fewer monster shifts) and have scored more frequently on those they’ve had (and thus fewer teo-minute PPs and fewer über-monster shifts).
I’m obviously not looking forward to losses, but it will be interesting to see how these things hold up under a bit of adversity.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Oct 26, 2011 8:04 AM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions
That’s a really good point. Sigh.
I’ll lump this in with the line-rolling and balanced scoring then.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
I thought it was also due to BB’s greater use of line matching, therefore giving greater minutes to the the third line.
by capsyoungguns on Oct 26, 2011 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m not complaining if they’re reducing AO’s shift time by converting power plays. :)
Winnipeg? Winnipeg??? Oy! (And now it's official...)
by MikeL-Pivonka on Oct 26, 2011 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions
I haven’t had nearly enough caffeine yet, but it’d be interesting to see how his ESTOI so far this season compares to parts of previous seasons where there hasn’t been much adversity. I can’t think of a time where his total ESTOI and shift length have been so managed.
/coffee mug is still over half full
AO’s shift length (and, to a lesser extent, TOI) is down because they’ve had relatively few PPs
I brought this up yesterday as well. Jury still out, IMO.
"Shots aren't the important thing. Scoring chances are way more important than shots." - Bruce Boudreau
See my work in the Washington Post and on ESPN Insider.
Follow me on Twitter @ngreenberg
Hypothesis: ..have scored more frequently on those [power plays] they’ve had (and thus fewer two-minute PPs and fewer über-monster shifts).
To the extent you can say “BINGO” after seven games…BINGO!
Fun facts…
2010-2011: 439:09 PP time, 46 goals on 445 shots (1 goal/9:33; 10.3% shooting)
2011-2012: 37:48 PP time, 8 goals on 31 shots (1 goal/4:44; 25.8% shooting)
If you've read this far...seek help.
wow those are some impressive numbers so far this year
by Beakers Lab on Oct 26, 2011 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions
It gets better (or, if you’re pessimistic, more unsustainable). In 2009-2010, when the Caps led the league in power play conversions at 25.2%, they scored a PP goal every 6:05 and were 79-for-478 shooting (16.5 percent), which might lead one to believe that what they’ve done so far is: a) freakish, and b) why teams don’t go 82-0-0.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Oct 26, 2011 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions
I will look at it as they are building good habits now that will just continue to become more ingrained as the season goes on leading to crying at seasons end, just not for regular reason of an early flameout that we are all used to.
/eternal optimism
by Beakers Lab on Oct 26, 2011 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions
No matter how many times I tell myself how much more the post-season matters than the regular season, I’m still always excited to sit down and watch a Caps game.
That being said, the regular season is beginning to feel a bit like the preseason in terms of game importance in the long run. In the end, I think we’ll look back on this regular season as the experimental phase that led to a primed and ready Caps team in the play-offs.
Soon the Championship with be ours, all ours!
Related, I think – feels to me like they’ve scored relatively quickly on the PP when they have scored. That is, when they do score a PP goal, it’s been :25 into the PP, not 1:45 into it. Don’t have data to back that up, just going by my (admittedly faulty) memory.
Anyone know of a source for how long into a PP a goal was scored, short of looking at game summaries and doing the math?
You pretty much have to look at the game summaries or rtss play-by-plays if you want to know on a per PP goal basis.
↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → b a (select) start
Thanks. I ended up going through the game summaries on NHL.com and this is what I found. Of the 8 PP goals the Caps have scored so far this season, OV8’s been on the ice for 7. FWIW, time to score breaks down like this:
1:07, :55, :44, :57, :56, :21, :50 Average = :50
That’s below his overall avg shift length, so has to be bringing down the avg some, but I can’t imagine 7 shifts are enough to bring it down too much.
The one PP goal scored with OV8 on the bench was scored at 1:47.
Chimera, from the DnC Article
"It’s a good thing to get on the road. Ultimately, you become closer as a team on the road because you hang out together – sometimes a little more than you want to with some guys – but it’s fun to get out on the road and spend some time with the guys, that’s for sure."
[Emphasis mine]
Funny, honest and I thought a compelling peek behind the curtain into the human side of the equation.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
I’m sure he cares deeply for all his teammates.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Oct 26, 2011 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions
That [Brouwer’s net presence is] why Brouwer’s power-play unit has converted on three of its four scoring chances, while the unit of Backstrom-Laich-Ovechkin-Semin-Green is only one for seven.
Neil, I’m wondering if space limitations or an editor forced you to come to this conclusion so baldly?
Surely the sample size is way too small to be drawing such firm conclusions about the causal relationship between a particular player and rates of effectiveness?
(And I’m done carpet bombing the comments section – apologies.)
Patron saint of quality footwear.
Neil, I’m wondering if space limitations or an editor forced you to come to this conclusion so baldly?
I don’t have any space limitations and an editor has never “forced” me to say or write anything.
"Shots aren't the important thing. Scoring chances are way more important than shots." - Bruce Boudreau
See my work in the Washington Post and on ESPN Insider.
Follow me on Twitter @ngreenberg
Brouwer’s ability to screen the goalie has been beneficial, but better—much better—puck movement has been the key to a resurgent PP.
Cross check and all call.
If Brouwer is not in front of the net, does the PP have those three goals? If not, then the PP is ~19%, and are we still talking about its “resurgence?”
"Shots aren't the important thing. Scoring chances are way more important than shots." - Bruce Boudreau
See my work in the Washington Post and on ESPN Insider.
Follow me on Twitter @ngreenberg
This is about positioning, not so much about which player it is. If Mike Knuble is in front of the net when those goals are scored, or Ovechkin, it doesn’t really matter: the screen is getting set and isn’t getting budged out of the way. Brouw is a tough kid, and that helps, but the entire PP strategy has changed for the better—better puck movement, better player movement, better positioning, correct personnel in the correct spots (and yes, Brouw is a part of that).
Cross check and all call.
That seems unfair, it’s not like Brouwer’s positioning alone scored those goals. And even the premise were granted that those particular shots only go in b/c of Brouwer, it’s not like that guarantees no future shot on the same PP could ever have become goals. The PP is moving the puck better. The defenses are spread by the puck movement. Those are things that lead to goals too.
I don’t have any problem saying that the PP is noticeably improved by Brouwer’s very intelligent positioning and skating on the PP, but to my mind if you don’t have the puck movement and 5 continually skating Caps, it wouldn’t matter who was parked in front, or how strategically he got there. It seems to me that it’s the PP team, not one skater, that is the reason behind the “resurgence.”
Country Gentlemen's Pig Fertilizer Gazette
Dunny-on-the-World
Probably a bad choice of words when it came to “forced” – I was wondering if you had a less decisive conclusion written that an editor changed to the verbiage that appeared in the post.
I think the net presence is wonderful, admirable and devoutly to be hoped it continues…but three out of four (to paraphrase Meatloaf), while it ain’t bad, isn’t enough of a sample to point the finger directly at Brouwer and conclude he is the reason for the success.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
One thing that I noted yesterday was that the team’s PP BAON/60 (that is, the shots it’s having blocked) is lowest with Brouwer on the ice, highest with Laich and Knuble. Is Brouwer drawing down defenders and clearing shooting better shooting lanes? I tend to doubt it, but its worth watching.
To me, his screens have been great, but he’s been lucky in that shots have gotten through with him out there.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Oct 26, 2011 8:44 AM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions
FWIW, and I can’t remember if it was Vic or Tyler, but one of them showed that blocking shots is a skill and having a shot blocked was random chance.
"Shots aren't the important thing. Scoring chances are way more important than shots." - Bruce Boudreau
See my work in the Washington Post and on ESPN Insider.
Follow me on Twitter @ngreenberg
Right, so 20’s been more lucky that shots have gotten through, 21 and 22 less lucky.
And this would seem to be one of those situations where a guy’s putting himself in a position to best take advantage of that luck, which is helping the PP’s resurgence.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Oct 26, 2011 9:03 AM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions
Red Line Station and @RedArmyLine, featuring coverage of the most frustrating team in the NHL
I believe in next year.
by red army line on Oct 26, 2011 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions
To me, his screens have been great, but he’s been lucky in that shots have gotten through with him out there.
Further to this, I am logging when a chance is a screen to see just how much it improves conversion. I think others in the Chance Brigade are as well.
"Shots aren't the important thing. Scoring chances are way more important than shots." - Bruce Boudreau
See my work in the Washington Post and on ESPN Insider.
Follow me on Twitter @ngreenberg
Lastly, this is nothing new for Brouwer.
"Shots aren't the important thing. Scoring chances are way more important than shots." - Bruce Boudreau
See my work in the Washington Post and on ESPN Insider.
Follow me on Twitter @ngreenberg
Erskine has his Mo-space up. Can’t wait to see the awesome stache back.
That'll make your weagle wink!
The pants that bind us should be left behind us.
Damn, beat me to the question. The wheels really look like they’ve fallen off the bus, don’t they? I can’t imagine it lasts, but maybe they’re looking for a new backup goalie?
Don’t try to figure Sasha out. Just ride the wave.
I think Jimmy is back for the next game, but obviously Jimmy can’t play every game for the rest of the season, and if the team collapses every time Conklin is in net,t here’s a huge problem.
I laugh a little every time I think about their back-up situation. Coulda had The VokesWagon.
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION!
I don’t know what’s going on, some of my posts are still showing “Fehr and Balanced” for me, and the old sig is still there.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
Your “No, it coulda been Jimmy Howard” post showed up as F&B, but I left clips and came back and now it’s showing as Rob Parker. I see your sig on all your posts.
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION!
I see. I was having problems changing my sig the other night. Some sort of system issue, I think.
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION!
The wheels really look like they’ve fallen off the C-bus
Fixed for the pun of it.
Winnipeg? Winnipeg??? Oy! (And now it's official...)
by MikeL-Pivonka on Oct 26, 2011 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Today’s "Fly By’ at BSH (their version of Clips) contained this bullet point, which I present verbatim and without further commentary:
While talking about the Flyers’ top-6 defensemen while Pronger is out, Ilya Bryzgalov said, “I would not trade these guys to anyone for anyone.” This is why we don’t care what players say, since they clearly lie. Matt Walker for Karl Alzner? Andreas Lilja for John Carlson? Please, Ilya: [delcotimes.com]
Patron saint of quality footwear.
hey, hey, hands off our boys, you dirty rotten flyerz!
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION!
Never, ever, ever play poker with George McPhee
Signed,
The other 29 Current NHL GMs and a few dozen other former GMs.
Winnipeg? Winnipeg??? Oy! (And now it's official...)
by MikeL-Pivonka on Oct 26, 2011 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions
F&B — After I left the OT thread, you asked my thoughts on VAN’s Cody Hodgson.
Smart, young player. Has good hockey sense. Fit in capably at 2C when Kesler was down to start the year,
He could improve his skating, and I have heard reports that he is working on it and made gains there. Unfortunately he is stuck on a team that is strong up the middle with Kesler, Burrows and Manny M. I think he could be in the NHL for years to come as a 3C and depending on the team, possibly a 2C.
Yeah, the guy has sounded promising for a while, just hampered. I wondered if that was because he’s a Canadian on a Canadian team, or what. He’s on a deep team, but that can help him in other ways as well. He won’t get a ton of prime ice like the EDM kids, but he also won’t have pressure or face top D. If he can stay healthy, I think he’s in a decent spot to continue to develop.
Obviously, this is all speculation.
You’re right about the “if” regarding health when it comes to Hodgson. He had a bulging disc in his back that was definitely hampering him.
by Rather Bengt on Oct 26, 2011 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions
http://oilers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=594522
Be awhile until we see this from the Caps. The Flyers used to have an injury report with updates from the trainer but it is not being updated this season. They do have a running blog, which includes some updates, but not the same.
Always interesting to see the unique features on the different team sites. Does anyone know if any other teams currently have this injury update?
“In keeping with club policy, players on the Washington Capitals may or may not be injured.”
Winnipeg? Winnipeg??? Oy! (And now it's official...)
by MikeL-Pivonka on Oct 26, 2011 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Not to open up “He doesn’t care”-Gate again, but GMGM was on Hockey Central (Fan 590) yesterday and was asked about it. His answer was interesting to me. He skillfully took subtle shots at both 28 and our former 10.
Question was: Can you use those comments as a positive?
“I hope so. If your peers are saying that about you, then you’ve got to take a look at yourself and see what you can do better. Actually, it’s really had a good effect on the locker room and some of our guys, and they’re trying to be better team guys. I know Matt wishes he could take that back, but it was a little too late, and it was unfortunate. But it’s one thing to have a coach tell you; when your teammates are telling you…you drill down a little bit more and realize, maybe I do need to change a few things.
Question: So, did you have some of those same concerns?
“Not necessarily in the way it was expressed because it was all about people not caring, and that part is not true. And that happens with almost every team at the end of the year, if they don’t have a good year—only one team wins the Cup and everyone is disappointed. You see guys go for a few beers after, and the finger-pointing starts: This guy doesn’t care, and this guy cares, and this guy doesn’t care… You know what, it’s always the guys that are the big scorers that usually take the blame because they’re supposed to deliver. It’s rarely the 4th-line guy that doesn’t get any points in the series that gets criticized because he’s not a real good player, anyway. We’ve heard it all before. I’ve heard it when I was a player. So that particular part of it I didn’t think was true.”
GMGM also gave major props to Joel Ward: “He plays a real good game. He makes smart decisions all the time, positionally, with the puck. He’s a big, strong guy. He’s sort of a stabilizer in the lineup, you can always count on him to do the right things.”
Couldn’t agree more.
by DonnieKnutts on Oct 26, 2011 10:24 AM EDT reply actions 6 recs
Do we get a power ranking roundup today too or is that later in the week? I thought it was on Wednesdays but the last one tagged seems to be from Oct 12. Just looking forward to us being #8 in TSN Fantasy Rankings because Semin doesn’t have enough PPG or something.
J.P.: You might be the king of all geeks here…
by Alz Well That Ends Well on Oct 26, 2011 12:16 PM EDT reply actions
Yup, at 2.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Oct 26, 2011 12:37 PM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions
damn. I’ll be in the inner circle of hell at 2 pm. I really wanted to see who refuses to rank the Caps #1 (Adam Portzline, I’m looking at you….)
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION!
Well, both the Caps and the Blue Jackets beat the Wings….
Don’t try to figure Sasha out. Just ride the wave.
Watched the highlights from last night’s CBJ win this morning (btw, NHL vault is the greatest deal on the interwebs) and noticed that compared to the Caps win in Ott after their own 8-game losing streak, the Blue Jacket’s celebration seemed rather subdued.
"You can want to get to April but when you get to April you may not like the answers you get, so you might as well enjoy the ride while it's going on." - Brian McNally on JRR, 8/29/2011
NHL Vault is amazing. You get it as part of GCL but it’s pretty cheap on its own.
Please, call me F&B.
I knew that locally broadcasted games would be held for 48 hours, but the condensed versions of all the games are available the next morning (early – I get up at 5am), and those show a good 10-15 minutes from the game, not just the quick highlights on OntheFly. Plus, it was a nice distraction over the summer to watch some of the classic games as well as recent (within 4 years) games. Definitely worth the $5.00/mo.
"You can want to get to April but when you get to April you may not like the answers you get, so you might as well enjoy the ride while it's going on." - Brian McNally on JRR, 8/29/2011
hard too get too excited when you suck that badly.
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION!
Columbus Post Dispatch — Providing weekly power rankings for all 29 NHL teams. Wait, what? They count? Ok, sorry, our mistake, 30 NHL teams.
J.P.: You might be the king of all geeks here…
by Alz Well That Ends Well on Oct 26, 2011 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions
29 teams? Don’t tell me they’re making Ottawa jokes too… oh wait, Ottawa beat the BJ’s in regulation after trailing with about a minute to go…
Winnipeg? Winnipeg??? Oy! (And now it's official...)
by MikeL-Pivonka on Oct 26, 2011 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Spoiler Alert – TSN has them ranked #1 this week
by Rather Bengt on Oct 26, 2011 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Caps are away this week for the Washington Horse Show, as is usual in October. That ends on Sunday and Caps play Tuesday. I remember this involves a completely new sheet of ice. Is two days the ideal? Somehow, I thought I remember from earlier years that a third day before the next game would be better. (Well, I’m sure a week would be better, but that’s not happening.)
Experts?
Don’t try to figure Sasha out. Just ride the wave.
A brand new ice sheet atop the concrete usually takes 48-72 hours to cure. If they get done with the horse show Sunday afternoon, then there will be a little less than 48 hours before Anaheim’s morning skate.
The horse show, being what it is, might not require a new ice sheet. Last year, I don’t think they made new ice for it.
Winnipeg? Winnipeg??? Oy! (And now it's official...)
by MikeL-Pivonka on Oct 26, 2011 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Jonas Hiller's Movember Mask (from Puck Daddy)
Sorry for size but this is awesome
by Rather Bengt on Oct 26, 2011 1:41 PM EDT reply actions 8 recs
Does Perry have a hitler-stache? LOL…
Tu ne cede malis
by _Skullduggery_ on Oct 26, 2011 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions
It would be very fitting.
/Godwin’s Law
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Oct 26, 2011 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
That is the greatest mask ever.
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Oct 26, 2011 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions
So, the NHL is having a press conference in PIT tomorrow at 3:
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=597541
Any ideas as to what this could be about?
Probably about the Winter Classic — it’s just easier for Bettman to travel to Pittsburgh where every reporter is camped out waiting for news of Crosby than to get them to drive to Philly.
J.P.: You might be the king of all geeks here…
by Alz Well That Ends Well on Oct 26, 2011 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Next year’s winter classic: Philly and Pittsburgh
Year after: Pittsburgh. Just Pittsburgh.
Comrades, leave me here a little, while as yet 't is early morn:
Leave me here, and when you want me, sound upon the bugle-horn
by sydtron on Oct 26, 2011 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Good news – Pittsburgh loses. Bad news – Pittsburgh wins.
Campaign Promises fantasy team: Hamrlik To Fall
by CapitalCentre on Oct 26, 2011 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Wow – PHL with the Winter Classic and PIT with the draft? Does the PA legislature have some compromising photos of Bettman or what?
Now that Ted owns the Verizon Center, it would be neat to have the Caps host a future draft.
Both Ted and GMGM have said that hosting the draft or the All-Star games are major undertakings. I think they’ll go after one or both as soon as next season, but I wouldn’t get hopes up about snagging them. And the All-Star game is such a corporate hoo-haw that there are no guarantees that even STH’s can get tickets. Although I imagine I’d rather have admission to the other stuff than the actual game.
Don’t try to figure Sasha out. Just ride the wave.
I typed up some comments on here after the recent GMGM Chalk Talk.
McPhee made it clear they had serious discussions internally and spoke to the League about the draft this summer. Ended up they had already committed the building for at least one date in conflict (McPhee said he was a bit surprised at how many days were needed for set-up, League stuff, etc.) so they didn’t pursue it any further. Sure sounded like they will pursue the draft in a future year.
He also commented about how he wanted the fans to see the draft and how much goes on.
This one is not surprising to me; there is seemingly no way for the Senators to be competitive this season, so why burn an ELC year?
Eat, drink, and be merry! And then drink some more.
I always thought it was a bad idea for teams to keep players up when they’re going to be terrible anyway. Let the player mature and develop so you get better production on his cheap years when the team is more likely to be competitive.
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Oct 26, 2011 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Except with Hall last year it may have broken some bad habits sooner and gotten him used to NHL hockey. Maybe the same for Tavares and some other guys on non-contenders. But if the guy isn’t ready to play in the NHL, no need to keep him up regardless of how well the team will play.
Please, call me F&B.
There are exceptions, of course. They guys that can play a significant role at the NHL level should be kept up. But that is more rare than a player needing more time to mature.
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Oct 26, 2011 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions
What if the Caps had kept Ovi out for a year or two?
Proud member of the Popsicle Division of the Cupcake Conference.
I’d say putting up over 90 pts in each of your first two seasons constitutes playing a significant role.
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Oct 26, 2011 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions
They did. They also convinced the rest of the NHL to go along so they didn’t burn an ELC year!
You tried your best and failed miserably. The lesson is "Never Try."
by apk3000 on Oct 26, 2011 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
Yeah, it’s sometimes tough to tell early in the year, but I think OTT is making the right call. Zibs didn’t seem to be close to an impact player.
Please, call me F&B.
SME — You were saying last night how incredulous it is that EDM’s top line are all 21 y/o and younger. Someone on a TSN question of the day thingy proposed they be nicknamed “Kids & the Hall”.
by Rather Bengt on Oct 26, 2011 2:27 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
That is a fantastic nickname.
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Oct 26, 2011 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Ruh Roh AGord, from George Parros on Twitter
Thanks @AndrewGordon10 nothing like getting a puck in the face on a travel day practice….I’ll forgive you this time yfrog.com/nxiizrzj
That'll make your weagle wink!
The pants that bind us should be left behind us.
From Bob McK
MTL fires assistant coach Perry Pearn.
Sucks for Pearn, but I am sure it won’t be quelling the Habitant hordes.
From Dreger on the firing
Martin and Pearn have been close for years. Can’t imagine firing Pearn was his idea. We’ll hear from Habs GM Pierre Gauthier very soon.
by Rather Bengt on Oct 26, 2011 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions
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