Recap: Caps 4, Jets 3 (OT)
by Becca H on Nov 23, 2011 11:20 PM EST
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Alexander Semin back in. Joel Ward sitting out. A banged-up blueline. So many storylines swirling around the Caps these days (and those are just the ones directly related to this team), right? The bigger story, however, and certainly the one that commands most of our attention, is what's happening on the ice - and in the last two games the Caps have put together some gritty, hard-working wins when they most needed them.
Tonight's hero was Jason Chimera, who continues to roll through the first quarter of the season with an increasingly impressive level of production. But backing him up was a solid cast of characters who, for the first time in awhile, are looking like a cohesive unit...dare we say it, even like a team.
Ten more notes on the game:
- So when Chimera started the season by scoring four goals in his first five games, the general sentiment among Caps fans was most likely that it was nice but wouldn't last. It couldn't. Well, don't look now, but thanks to his two goals tonight, Chimera's heading into the Thanksgiving weekend with the team scoring lead firmly in hand. Anyone who called that is...okay, no one called that. But it's nice to see, and between his speed and chemistry with his linemates we might be seeing it for awhile longer. And hopefully he celebrates all future goals the way he did tonight...
- Alexander Semin's benching Monday night made headlines, not just in Washington but around the NHL as well - and many eyes were on #28 tonight to see how he would respond. The verdict? Pretty darn well. Semin kicked off the scoring with a laser in the first, was plus-two on the night, and, wait for it...didn't take a penalty. Whether it lasts or not is another question, the answer to which will remain to be seen, but for tonight at least we got a healthy dose of good Sasha. And it's a good thing.
- Since their 5-2 loss to Dallas back on November 8, the Caps have scored just one power play goal, and it was with a two-man advantage Monday night. That's a big 0-for-28 at five-on-four, which is slightly...horrible. It's even worse when you add in the fact that they've also given up three shorthanded goals during that span (including two on Monday to negate that one power play bright spot). It seems like we say this almost daily now, but seriously, get well soon Mike Green.
- Heading into tonight's action, the Caps hadn't lost a game when leading after two; the Jets, on the other hand, hadn't won when trailing after two. Didn't make this one any less nerve-wracking when Winnipeg tied it up late in the third period (on a shot that Vokoun really needed to have), did it?
- Always-dangerous Evander Kane was held pretty well in check tonight, with no goals, no assists and a minus-one for the game. He also got cleaned out along the boards quite nicely by Dmitri Orlov, a hit so awesomely brutal it sent Kane's stick flying into the seats as a (temporary) souvenir for one lucky fan. So you're saying the players were aware of the threat he posed and actually did something to neutralize him? Amazing.
- Chimera's game-winner was a nice capper on a good evening for him, but it was also the result of some excellent play on both ends of the ice. First it was Jeff Schultz doing a great job to break up a two-on-one in the defensive zone; then it was some nice hustle by Chimera and Marcus Johansson, excellent pressure by Johansson to force the turnover, a beauty of a move and a pass by Dennis Wideman to Chimera finishing with a tap-in into the wide open net.
- After giving up two power plays on five power play chances the last time these two teams met, the Caps came right back with a more disciplined game overall and a perfect penalty kill that included a lengthy two-man advantage for the Jets. Of course the highlight of that penalty kill was Brooks Laich, who was missing his stick and decided to relieve Nik Antropov of his stick, as well. Y'know, by mauling him. Might be one of the best penalty-killing performances in a long while, and vintage Brooks through and through.
- Rest assured that Alex Ovechkin is capable of having better games than he had tonight - especially early on, when he seemed to be doing a lot of standing around for no apparent reason. But he definitely turned up the intensity and the energy as the game went on, hitting everything in sight (and yet paling in comparison to Troy Brouwer, who was credited with ten - TEN - hits) and firing five shots on Ondrej Pavelec. And that pass to set up Semin's goal was quite nice indeed, a reminder that among his many skills is the ability to be a pretty decent playmaker in his own right.
- Eric Fehr made his triumphant return to Washington tonight as a member of his hometown Jets, and did...nothing. Good boy.
- Some might look at Dmitri Orlov and see a young, undersized defenseman. Watch him play and you realize that he's much more, and that the kid could be a star in the making; he's very poised, is not afraid to take on guys who are bigger than he is and possesses good offensive instincts. And they certainly paid off in this one - congratulations to Orlov on his first NHL point, well-deserved (and hopefully just the first of many).
So after a bunch of ugly losses, the Caps have now strung together two ugly - but beautiful - wins, on home ice, with and without various players in the lineup. With a tough back-to-back slate coming up against the Buffalo Sabres and the New York Rangers, they'd be wise to keep a little of that ugly handy for the weekend.
Enjoy the two points - and from the Rink family to yours, here's wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!
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Indeed he does, Becca. Indeed he does.
I'm on the twitters! Currently Watching: Catching up on Walking Dead
"Common sense is not so common."
Truly.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
I kind of love that we’ve trained you guys to read down before you read across now. It’s pretty special :D
The definition of being a Caps fan is watching the same team over and over and expecting different results.
Orlov doesn’t seem that undersized to me. Seemed to have the structure of Carlson without seeing the 2 side by side. And they way he throws his weight around gives him that Gr8 kind of explosiveness.
He’s young but I can really see him becoming like a protypical Russian Defenseman you imagine from the 80s Olympics of being big men who seemed to play stronger than their size and still have the skill of european players.
He had a great showing tonight, and am I mistaken he actually got OT time? Or at the least he was played pretty late into the 3rd.
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.
Well, by undersized I just mean he’s tiny but sturdy – if you see him skating around the ice next to most of the team, they tower over him. But I certainly don’t mean to imply that he’s scrawny, because he’s not (although I think he’s a bit stockier than Carlson).
The definition of being a Caps fan is watching the same team over and over and expecting different results.
he’s a little fireplug. whatever he lack in height, he appears to make up in solid muscle.
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION! Season Pledge total--$403.25!
His player card claims 6’0" JC is 3 inches taller so yeah he’s kinda small but not in the realm of Briere/MP85/Eakin
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.
Hey D’ohboy — you were right. Chimera is a valuable NHL hockey player.
"Fais gros comme moi!" - Alex Ovechkin
by Gould Old Days on Nov 23, 2011 11:29 PM EST reply actions 3 recs
I don’t think even Chimmer’s mom could’ve envisioned this.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Two years ago, if anyone had told me that Jason Chimera would be the leading goal scorer on the Caps, I would have looked at them as if they had two heads.
I would have had a hard time believing he would have more goals than Ovi, Semin, and Backstrom.
And, at this time, two years ago, Chimmer was not a Cap but a Blue Jacket and on my shit list, along with several of his teammates and Coach, having gotten there on Nov 1.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
When Ovie’s slumping and Chimmer had a couple good games goal scoring wise it’s easy to point it out. Obviously I hope Ovechkin reclaims his form and comfortably leads in that category by the end of the year, although I don’t mind assists like he had tonight at all. That being said, keep it up Chimera, hit that 20 goal mark and beyond if possible.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Nov 24, 2011 2:52 AM EST up reply actions
So, if you were wondering, they mixed in footage of #rallyballoon into the Unleash the Fury video. And yes, played 99 Luftballons with the Scrubs clip after the GWG.
You tried your best and failed miserably. The lesson is "Never Try."
somebody launched another one over section 120, too
by HockeyDragon on Nov 23, 2011 11:39 PM EST up reply actions
Heres the shot from 120
"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity"
by caps_shutterbug on Nov 24, 2011 12:32 AM EST up reply actions
Great photo. I wonder whether they’ll eventually tell fans to stop bringing them (funny someone got a helium-filled balloon into VC). It’s fine to hold the string and let it float (unless it messes with someone’s view) but to let it go means a potential delay during play or it drifts up and a poor facility worker has to get it down or it slowly loses helium like the first rally balloons and then it delays the game.
I just wouldn’t want the fans having a fun thing spoiled because it became a nuisance to the team or staff.
by jopierce on Nov 24, 2011 12:53 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
...
It came down from the rafters over Section 119 about three times, but never made it onto the ice.
"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
Some dude was releasing them from about 10 rows up in section 117.
He's a better skater than Nick, but he's big in the back[side]...BB
by Backeez Got Back on Nov 23, 2011 11:43 PM EST up reply actions
I knew it when I first saw it. Slump breaker. Someone float one over Ovie for about 10 games straight. It has to be coming soon.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Nov 24, 2011 2:53 AM EST up reply actions
Becca got a win!!!!
Was a big fan of Brooks apparently deciding he had quite enough and going all RAWR on Antropov.
I miss Mike Green.
Jason Chimera is just all sorts of awesome and I hope that Dimagus captured that celebration.
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Becca got a win!!!!
I think it may have been because we faked out the hockey gods with me doing the 2nd and 3rd period FanShots.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
will this fake out work in May and June as well?
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION! Season Pledge total--$403.25!
So many great moments of the game, but Schultz breaking up the 2-on-1 was by far my favorite. When the breakout started, the usual suspects who sit behind me in Sec 432 were totally “oh shit, here we go” and then….silence. Except for me and my daughter (wearing her 55 Tshirt) screaming “Yeah Schultzie”
"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
oh, there are some real winners in 432. I’m in the same row as Monica Guy, if you’re heard him. We’ve got some hardcore Schultz haters, too. I take great delight in applauding Schultzie for his outstanding play. Makes then twitch uncontrollably.
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION! Season Pledge total--$403.25!
It’s a shame there are so many hard core Schultz haters. As flawed as the Plus/Minus statistic is, I figure he must be doing something right if he’s usually one of our better Plus/Minus guys. (I have not looked at this year’s stats.)
Seems that Schultz may be hated since he’s not physical for his size. Many fans of old fashioned hockey would prefer a big physical guy. Or is there something about those big ears he has?
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
He skates pretty awkwardly and plays a very fundamental style of hockey. He doesn’t do anything flashy so the casual observer, looking for the jaw-dropping play just doesn’t see it from Schultz.
However, when he does screw up, which happens sometimes to the best players, he tends to fail spectacularly. He doesn’t do anything offensively to offset it like Wideman or Green, so it’s just criticism for him.
Observations from Section 421
Oh yeah, I figured Chimera would lead the team in goals at Thanksgiving… I also thought the Colts would go to the Superbowl this season…
Anyway, some numbered items (and no acrostic, sorry…)
1) The Caps really put out tonight, there was a lot of hitting going on, a lot of feistyness, and some good work done by everyone. Even Hamrlik didn’t suck as much as he had been. Kudos to everyone
2) Despite the win, the team missed Joel Ward tonight. There were times when the hitting was going on and MJ90 or MP85 was trying to make an impact…
3) Ovie’s best moments were awesome. Super pass to Semin for the goal and a nice pre-emptive strike on Stuart (Stuart had Ovie lined up and before he could hit Ovie, Ovie knocked Stuart on his keister).
4) Brooks Laich in the 5-on-3 with a broken stick. Effort and hustle win games, and that was all of that.
5) Good scoring depth tonight too. There are 12 possible points when a team scores four goals and the Caps had 11 skaters with points. The only multi-point guy was Chimera with his two goals.
6) Nice hand for Fehr when he was announced in the starting line up.
7) The Jets away jerseys… eh.
8) Nice to see Weird Al and the Rally Balloon in the “Unleash the Fury” video clip.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Will be there Friday. Wonder if Eminger will get a hand if he’s in the starting line up….
Oh, and remember, unlike most teams, the best Ranger Blog for info is not on SBNation, it’s Scotty Hockey… excellent reading, and even though it’s biased to the Rangers, Scotty knows his stuff.
Occasionally reporting from Section 421 of the Verizon Center...
Thanks NHL video center for not having a highlight of Orlov’s hipcheck(s)
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
Observations, but not on the game but related. Is it my imagination or do our guys act pretty flaky when they’ve just been sick? (I know that’s not just true in Caps hockey but in general). Here are the for instances:
1) Recall when Johansson was healthy scratched for the opener. Well the previous week, he had a cold, that caused him to leave a game early due to dizziness. And then he missed Caps Con. That week, he didn’t play with enough “energy”. I would not be surprised if Johansson had less stamina that week and was healthy enough to play but not be 100%
2) Recent incident with Joel Ward. Note: Ward had left practice early on Sunday, due to illness. He didn’t make the morning skate but played. But forgot to set the alarm. So something tells me he was probably not 100% as evidenced by acting flakier than usual.
3) Last year’s major penalty that Semin got. Note: he had missed the previous day’s practice due to illness. (I can’t recall if he made the morning skate.) But I think it was probably easier to anger a slightly ailing Semin to the point where he’d commit a major foul than otherwise.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
I don’t know about the others but with MoJo missing Caps Con, it’s possible he was just too sick to be around thousands of people and all that noise for a day. It wouldn’t have helped. Or it might not have even been his decision. Him getting well to play a good game was certainly more important than fulfilling PR duties.
by jopierce on Nov 24, 2011 12:30 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
I don’t think it would have been good for MoJo to be at Caps Con the way it sounded. Getting dizzy and leaving the game early. And having a cold. (When I had heard the news, I had this vision of him sitting at an autograph table with a tissue box in hand and a red nose). Best that he stayed home. Or many kids (and adults) would have picked up his cold.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
On Ward missing the meeting yesterday. I wonder how often have Caps players accidentally miss team meetings. I would guess it happens at least a few times a year. But that’s the first time I recall Boudreau making anyone a healthy scratch due to missing a team meeting. I do recall when John MacLean, the Devils’ coach last year, scratching Ilya Kovalchuk for missing a meeting. While the team certainly could use more discipline, I wonder if John MacLean is really the right model to follow, given how the Devils performed under his regime.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Supposedly, this is new. Boudreau said he would normally fine a player for missing a meeting, but this year, the team was going to stress accountability, so he made a written rule that anyone missing a meeting would get healthy scratches, no exceptions.
And, on the line combinations, interesting that Semin became part of the CLAW (normal checking line) in place of Ward. But, then again, we know the rules of determining Caps lines.
1) Any line with Ovi is the top line
2) Any line with Semin is the 2nd line, with the following exceptions. If Semin is on line with Ovi, it’s the top line. If Semin is in the doghouse, determine line based on the other people.
So, if the doghouse condition applied, he and the rest of the CLAW line without the W are the third line and MoJo, Eakin, and Knuble are the 2nd line. But then again, the CLAW line with Semin in place of Ward has been a 2nd line at least once this year.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
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You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Lets discuss the tying goal
How does nobody hold that line.Could have easily kept them Jets offside there.The Caps have been conceding that blue line too easily lately.
Overall though a good game.Ovechkin played well at times and was very lazy for stretches.One play that comes to mind with about 1:25 left in the 3rd Backstrom send it around behind the net for OV it was slightly out of his reach and he lazily coasted around while the puck came out of the corner up the half wall I’m not sure who the Cap was that challenged but briefly played the puck and had OV been moving he could have a had a shot,or made something happen there. Definatly could have layed a nice clean hit. Instead turnover.
Ice Breakers>Goal Shakers....THE CAPS !!
I thought Ovie looked good tonight
Funny that he moves to side wall on the PP but most of the time shots are coming from the point. I wish he could have taken a few more rips on the PP but he had 3 high quality scoring chances and a nifty assist on Semin’s goal. Fun game to watch.
Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos! Follow me on Twitter @TJCAPS.
by TJCAPS on Nov 24, 2011 3:24 AM EST via iPhone app reply actions
Regulation Heroes
"A picture is worth a thousand words. For moving pictures we manage to shorten it to one or two."
by Dimagus on Nov 24, 2011 8:31 AM EST reply actions 2 recs
The OT Hero: Gift of Green
"A picture is worth a thousand words. For moving pictures we manage to shorten it to one or two."
by Dimagus on Nov 24, 2011 8:31 AM EST reply actions 5 recs
Orlov’s played two games and he’s already the best hitter on the Caps D. I sure hope Schultz is paying attentiion
As long as he continues to make plays like the one he did in OT, I could give two shits whether Schultz hits or not.
"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg
Keep United in DC. A Fair Deal at RFK, and a Pathway to a Stadium for a team loyal to the city.
by Bald Pollack on Nov 24, 2011 9:18 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs
Bogosian to meet with Shanny on hit on Eakin.
In related news…Flash got disgusting elbow to head by NYR who also will meet and be disciplined.
Shanahan is busy today. Hopefully Eakin is okay (yeah, he played, but we all know that might not mean much) and will get justice for that hit since the officials didn’t call it during the game.
by jopierce on Nov 24, 2011 9:50 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
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