Capital Ups and Downs: Week 6
by J.P. on Nov 14, 2011 11:00 AM EST
in Capitals Ups and Downs
Email
Print
Our weekly look at individual Washington Capitals' ups and downs:
| Goalies | Trend | Notes |
| Michal Neuvirth |  |
The numbers were ugly - 0-1-1/3.37/.873, but take away the third period against Dallas (in which he certainly wasn't the only culpable Cap) and Neuvy had a 1.92 goals against average and a .911 save percentage for the week to follow-up his strong effort in Carolina. For the most part, he seems to be back on track, healthy and stopping pucks. |
| Tomas Vokoun |  |
Had a big bounce-back game in Jersey in which he surrendered just one goal on 33 shots against and turned in the type of slump-busting performance the Caps needed. Next up? Presumably a start against his former team in Music City. |
| Defensemen | ||
| Karl Alzner | |
Picked up an assist in Newark to give him exactly half the offensive output through 14 games that he had in 82 games a season ago and provided 11 minutes of perfect penalty killing as he continues to be the Caps' steadiest blueliner. |
| John Carlson |  |
Two points in two losses don't quite compensate for the fact that Carlson was on the ice for five of the seven five-on-five goals the Caps allowed last week, including all four against Dallas. Still, five points in his last seven games and six in his last nine is nice production at the other end of the ice. |
| John Erskine |  |
Played his 400th career game on Tuesday and followed it up with an assist and a plus-one rating on Friday before sitting out Saturday night's tilt with soreness, presumably in "his surgically repaired shoulder." That can't be good. |
| Mike Green | |
Returned to game action for the first time in three weeks on Friday... and lasted eight shifts before leaving with an unrelated lower body injury that forced him out of Saturday night's game. Given that the team's 8-0-0 in games in which he dresses and 2-4-1 when he doesn't, the Caps might just start wheeling him out for a shift as a good luck charm. |
| Roman Hamrlik | |
Bad against the Stars (and he knows it), Hamrlik managed a minus-one rating in the 3-1 win on Friday night but was actually playing well on Saturday before leaving the game after taking a crosscheck. Amazingly, Hamrlik - who once had 49 assists in a season - is still looking for his first helper of the campaign, as another scoring change robbed him of one on Saturday. |
| Tom Poti | |
Welcome to the Tom Poti LTIR Comedy Moment... Take my groin. Please. |
| Jeff Schultz | |
Scratched - scratched! - for Green's return on Friday, Sarge sandwiched that night in the press box with a pair of minus-one efforts and has been on the ice for at least one goal against in each of his last four games (not something you want out of a third-pairing blueliner). |
| Dennis Wideman | |
Picked up his first two minors of the season last week and was even on the week thanks to a one-assist/plus-two game Friday, but major kudos go Wideman's way for playing monster minutes (33:52) on Saturday night, just 24 hours after a 27-plus minute effort. |
| Swingman | ||
| Brooks Laich | |
Picked up a helper against the Stars, but had a quiet week otherwise... unless you consider a shift from center to defense for the second Devils game to be other than quiet. Which we do. Laich acquitted himself decently on the blueline, blocking four shots, not embarrassing himself... and earning that big ol' paycheck with versatility. |
| Forwards | ||
| Nicklas Backstrom | |
Had his six-game point-scoring streak snapped on Saturday and turned in a minus-3 week (and game Tuesday), but continued to shoot the puck (he has just one game all season in which he failed to register multiple shots on goal) and won 59% of his 56 draws. Being on the ice for four of the eight goals against (the most of any forward) stings, with Adam Burish's game-winner for Dallas sticking out among the rest. |
| Jay Beagle | |
Still not skating with the team, though presumably getting closer. |
| Troy Brouwer | |
A primary assist on the shorthanded Chimera game-winner in Jersey and the game's first goal against the Devs back home have Brouwer on a 24-goal/65-point pace over his last ten games. |
| Jason Chimera | |
Used his speed on Friday night and his big body on Saturday to score a pair of important goals and wasn't on the ice for a single opposition tally all week. Dude's just playing good hockey right now, and has been from the start of the season. |
| Cody Eakin | |
Picked up a helper against the Stars, but skated just 17 shifts and 12:18 in the weekend's home-and-home, failing to register a shot on goal or anything of much impact. One would think he's heading back to Hershey sooner rather than later. |
| Jeff Halpern | |
No points, one shot and a minus-one rating for the week and 41% in the dot over the weekend. Not particularly inspiring numbers. |
| Matt Hendricks | |
No points, no shots, a minus-one rating and a fight in three games doesn't earn up arrows around here... but having twins does. Godspeed, Hendy. |
| Marcus Johansson | |
With points in each of the week's three games (a grape and two apples), Johansson will have a chance to tie his career-best four-game point streak tomorrow night. He also won 51% of his face-offs over the three-game span, but did take a bad penalty on Saturday and was on the ice for as many goals-against as goals-for last week (three). |
| Mike Knuble | |
Knuble is off to a rough start in November - goalless with a minus-three rating in a half-dozen games spent mostly on the fourth line - and this past week saw him take twice as many penalties (two) as shots on goal. Saving him from a down arrow? His leadership. |
| Alex Ovechkin | |
Scored from the edge of the crease after a Wideman shot hit him and fell to his feet on Friday, but that was it for the week. Seven shots on goal, a minus-two rating and nary a power-play point in four games. Ovechkin did get credited with 11 hits on Saturday (roughly one-third of his year-to-date total), but when it's mid-November and Alex Ovechkin has just one more goal than Jason Chimera and Marcus Johansson, something ain't right. |
| Mathieu Perreault | |
A couple of scratches and a seven-shift Saturday night during which his most notable contribution was a lost defensive-zone draw that ended up in the back of the Caps' net isn't a good week for Perreault, who doesn't have a point since back when the Caps were still undefeated. |
| Alexander Semin | |
Not really benched, then really benched for a lack of effort as represented by a trio of bad penalties, Semin responded... with a bad penalty. Semin is currently on a 16-goal pace and doesn't seem all that eager to do anything about it - he fired just three shots on goal last week. But hey, at least he's been healthy. So far. |
| Joel Ward | |
A quiet week for Ward doesn't mean it was a bad one for him, as he wasn't on the ice for a single goal against (sharing that distinction with only Chimera among Caps who played all three games). Hopefully the boys can get him a win tomorrow night in his big homecoming. |
40 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Semin is currently on a 16-goal pace and doesn’t seem all that eager to do anything about it – he fired just three shots on goal last week.
Hey, but to go with those 3 shots? 4 penalties. W00t?
"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."
I’m trying to unload him in fantasy and nobody’ll take him. Seriously considering just dropping him to FA.
by Murshawursha on Nov 14, 2011 11:57 AM EST up reply actions
To get who? My fantasy team has been killing me. Like hardcore. I have Kesler, MSL, and Semin. You know who outscored them (from week to week, not overall)… sophomores Skinner and Jojo…. I’m still trying to figure out why, how, or why Jojo has more goals than anyone on my fantasy team.
Bruce Boudreau when asked about Brooks Laich's return to the lineup, he said: "He just adds another dimension to our team. If it was puzzle, he just fits that thing. He completes us."
Brooks Laich completing everything from teams to tires and everything in between.
I’ve got Kesler and Semin as well… Thankfully, I also have hockey Bieber, who along with Patrick Elias, is carrying my fantasy team. But Edler and Campbell on D are outscoring all of my forwards except Skinner, which means I usually end up dominating in assists and losing horribly in goals.
If I drop Semin, I’d probably pick up Craig Smith.
by Murshawursha on Nov 14, 2011 12:17 PM EST up reply actions
This week that was the only category I won. I had 22 assists, and 5 goals.
Bruce Boudreau when asked about Brooks Laich's return to the lineup, he said: "He just adds another dimension to our team. If it was puzzle, he just fits that thing. He completes us."
Brooks Laich completing everything from teams to tires and everything in between.
all those band aids next to the D men are depressing.
In happier thoughts, Jason Chimera. Unexpected good surprise of the young season.
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION! Season Pledge total--$403.25!
He’s not lounging on that new contract at all
RAMPAGE
by JediChewbacca on Nov 14, 2011 11:33 AM EST up reply actions
Brooks Laich does better in the “swingman” role than Tyler Sloan did — maybe as well as Sergei Fedorov did. But I hope he never has to prove it again.
Campaign Promises fantasy team: Hamrlik To Fall
I thought he did very well, better than I could have hoped. But, yeah, never again.
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION! Season Pledge total--$403.25!
pp
Do you think taking Ovi from in front of the net would be a good idea to increase goal production? Or is his rear-end the best obstruction?
I’m hoping for a green arrow soon.
"One of the most difficult things everyone has to learn is that for your entire life you must keep fighting and adjusting if you hope to survive." -George Allen
If Brouwer was put back in front of the net then Ovi could move out…but for the love of god don’t throw him on the point again.
He should be in the slot, and Brouwer should be in the crease. I have no idea why Brouwer was removed from the PP, sure he wasn’t getting points, but he was responsible for at least 3 PPGs in a week by providing perfect screens.
Bruce Boudreau when asked about Brooks Laich's return to the lineup, he said: "He just adds another dimension to our team. If it was puzzle, he just fits that thing. He completes us."
Brooks Laich completing everything from teams to tires and everything in between.
that was the ongoing dialectic as I knew it.
Maybe it’ll come back around with Brouwer creating havok in front.
"One of the most difficult things everyone has to learn is that for your entire life you must keep fighting and adjusting if you hope to survive." -George Allen
My 2 Cents. mighty scents.
Brouwer in front, Ovi on LW.
Sounds good to me.
"One of the most difficult things everyone has to learn is that for your entire life you must keep fighting and adjusting if you hope to survive." -George Allen
Who did you have in mind? Nicky is doing fine and, in my opinion, MarJo is progressing nicely. Others?
by Wilderthing on Nov 14, 2011 11:56 AM EST up reply actions
In particular, I thought Halps could have drawn one. He had a rough week.
Cross check and all call.
by bigonetimer on Nov 14, 2011 12:00 PM EST up reply actions
Time for new D pairings:
Alzner-Green
Alzner-Carlson
Alzner-Wideman
Winterion Game Studios
Visit us online at : http://winterion.com
by winterion on Nov 14, 2011 11:43 AM EST reply actions 3 recs
what—no Alzner-Alzner?
I’m just in it for the Schadenfreude. -D'ohboy
by Alz in the family on Nov 14, 2011 11:59 AM EST up reply actions
Course not: they’re both lefties.
....when the truth is if they knew anything about the game, they'd be in it.
--GMGM
by redlineblue on Nov 14, 2011 4:27 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Based on the TOI more like
Wideman-Alzner
Wideman-Carlson
Wideman-Green.
Bruce Boudreau when asked about Brooks Laich's return to the lineup, he said: "He just adds another dimension to our team. If it was puzzle, he just fits that thing. He completes us."
Brooks Laich completing everything from teams to tires and everything in between.
Welcome to the Tom Poti LTIR Comedy Moment…Take my groin. Please.
..remember to tip your health care specialist!
If you've read this far...seek help.
Kind of difficulty for Knuble to produce with 4th line minutes, and for Perreault to produce when he’s scratched every other game.
by David C. Rothman on Nov 14, 2011 3:53 PM EST reply actions
Also disagree with the down arrow for Ovi. He’s on just about a 40-goal pace, and has looked a lot more lively (i.e. himself)lately. I’d give him a neutral mark. The fact that he’s only 1 goal ahead of Chimera and MarJo just shows how well those 2 are playing.
by David C. Rothman on Nov 14, 2011 3:56 PM EST reply actions
One point in three games meets your expectations for Alex Ovechkin? Who are you, Damien Cox?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Nov 14, 2011 8:03 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Offensively no, but…11 hits…which I think merits a neutral. And yes, it is his job to hit too.
by David C. Rothman on Nov 14, 2011 8:42 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, I respectfully disagree and am more than comfortable with the down arrow. But that’s what these silly things are all about – generating discussion.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
The Caps won the one game this week in which Ovechkin scored, lost the other two, including the one in which he had 11 hits. He’s not paid to hit; he’s paid to score (that is, if he isn’t doing both).
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Nov 14, 2011 11:42 PM EST up reply actions
If we’re splitting hairs, one could argue he’s paid to score in the shootout which he did in one of the losing games. Made the other attempts Caps skaters took look pedestrian by comparison too.
All that just for arguments’ sake. No issues with the down arrow for the week. We need more. He is frustrated too.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Nov 15, 2011 2:14 AM EST up reply actions
28 comments at 5:42pm, at least 4 of which are cats bemoaning their fantasy hockey rosters? Rink Readers (including myself) get a down arrow this Monday. Perhaps JP should consider shortening the bench…
Whoa. Fantasy teams are serious business. There are whole fantasy towns filled with fantasy people living fantasy lives and they live and die each week based on how their fantasy team does.
Little Timmy’s isn’t going to get anything for Christmas this because the local factory owner fired Timmy’s dad in a fit of rage over Semin’s performance and Ryan Miller’s concussion.
?
"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 Nov 15, 2011 7:15 AM EST up reply actions
All Star Ballot
Just finished voting for Nick, Green and Vokoun. Just can’t vote for OVi this year even though I know he’ll get in over Nick anyway.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Japers' Rink
Related FanShots on Japers' Rink
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recent FanShots
The Vault
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Who are the Non-Smythe candidates for the Devils, Kings?
- End is near for Rick Nash, Blue Jackets as trade discussions set to resume
- Why the Devils and the Kings are evidence the Capitals shouldn’t trade Alex Ovechkin
- Eulogy: Remembering the 2011-12 New York Rangers
- Stanley Cup Final: 5 keys for New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings
