Recap: Rangers 6, Caps 3
by J.P. on Nov 25, 2011 6:35 PM EST
in Game Recaps
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When the Caps were playing poorly and losing over the past couple of weeks, some of the problems were painfully obvious and seemingly correctable - poor special teams, defensive breakdowns, disappointing goaltending, questionable work ethic, etc. Then along came two far-from-flawless (but much-needed) wins and the ship appeared to have been righted.
Not so fast.
Bad habits die hard, and they were back in force tonight. Couple that with one of the League's best in the opposition's net and it's a sure recipe for a loss... and that's exactly what the Caps got. And they've got no one to blame but themselves.
Ten more notes on the game:
- Eventually, the Caps' team defense and goaltending will come together and be better than it has been. But "eventually" wasn't going to start today, apparently, as the team struggled with defensive coverage and got legitimately below average goaltending from Michal Neuvirth, who simply hasn't gotten on track yet this season. Since his opening night win, Neuvirth is now 1-4-1/3.98/.862, and his inability to control what appeared to be a rather routine puck with his glove led to the Rangers' fourth goal, pretty much sealing the deal on this one.
- Alexander Semin had ten points entering this afternoon's action, and nine of those had come without him having first visited the penalty box in the games in which they were scored. An early penalty (hooking in the neutral zone - shocking, I know) gave Semin a chance to break that trend and put a miscue behind him. That wasn't to be, however, as Semin had one shot on goal and was a minus-2 thereafter.
- The Rangers jumped out to a 3-0 lead thanks in large part to a fumbled puck at the offensive blueline by John Carlson that led to a two-on-one the other way, a partial screen/block by Jeff Schultz on the penalty kill and an awful turnover by Marcus Johansson in front of his own net. All three could probably fairly be considered mental errors, in varying degrees. All three could definitely fairly be considered the types of play that can be killers.
- If the power play has been a crippling weakness of late (and it has - more on that later), the other special teams unit, the penalty kill, has been a strength - in seven of the ten games prior to Friday's matinee, the Caps didn't allow a single power-play goal against (and lost all three games in which they did). This afternoon, the Caps' lack of discipline hurt them, as they did a decent job shorthanded, but did allow a tally in New York's five power-play opportunities.
- Troy Brouwer tapped in a Carlson shot that leaked through Henrik Lundqvist to cut the Rangers' lead to 3-1. Nicklas Backstrom picked up the second assist on the goal, but Alex Ovechkin made the play happen by absolutely crushing Marian Gaborik along the boards (and distracting Dan Girardi for some reason as a result). That was some vintage Ovi.
- The Caps' power play entered the game on an 0-for-29 streak on its 5-on-4 advantages, totaling 54:34 of game time over seven-plus games. That streak stretched to 0-for-31 (and 57:46) before a Carlson bomb drew the Caps to within 3-2.
- Of note on that Carlson goal, it was assisted by Johansson and Dmitri Orlov. At not-quite 22-years-old, Carlson is the old man of that trio. The "Young Guns" may no longer be so young, but the Next Ones sure are.
- Roman Hamrlik and Dennis Wideman had plenty of trouble as a pair, combining for a minus-six rating, nary a shot on goal, Hamrlik's holding penalty and Wideman's five (yes, five) giveaways.
- Though they entered the third period down two goals, the Caps mustered all of four shots on goal in the third period and were out-shot 25-13 over the final two frames.
- Silver lining? Alex Ovechkin finally scored a goal at Verizon Center this season. Huzzah.
On the plus side, the Caps won't have to wait long for a chance to at least partially erase this effort as they're right back at it tomorrow night in Buffalo. On the other hand... they're right back at it tomorrow night in Buffalo, and if things don't turn around in a hurry, the Caps could be at the front-end of another slide.
Game highlights:
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New record?
"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.
You had to know he wasn’t going to take it lightly. I bet this was finished before the clock had run out.
Please, call me F&B.
There’s probably a joke about the on-ice product in there somewhere, but yeah.
"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 25, 2011 6:44 PM EST up reply actions
Isn’t the bar pretty much now set at, “Who’s got the cajones to post a Recap before the game is over?”
I’m just finishing up tomorrow night’s recap. Spoiler alert: they look like shit and lose.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Nov 25, 2011 7:11 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions 5 recs
Gee, I’ll probably missing most of the first period tomorrow since I’m taking a day trip out of town (2+ hours away) and returning starting at 5:00. So, let’s hope the game won’t be out of hand by the time I get back home (around 7:30)
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
I’m sorry, you were watching the Skins game. Caps win 5-2 tomorrow.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Nov 26, 2011 12:52 AM EST up reply actions
We’re calling them Precaps now.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
by EmilyB on Nov 25, 2011 9:01 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Orlov with a PP assist and on-ice for no goals against in a 6-goals-against game. TOI 17:33.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
D-Wides? Not so much. On-ice for 3 ES, 1 PP Rangers goals. His ice time ramped way down: 18:05.
Orlov actually had more ES and more PP time than Wideman.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
plus two more eye-opening bodychecks. The kid can hit. Love that.
by DonnieKnutts on Nov 25, 2011 8:44 PM EST up reply actions
Forgot it was the day after Thanksgiving back there and they had these matinee games. At least I got a couple of extra hours extra sleep, just like Neuvy and the defense!
Don't put your beer in the microwave, eh. It'll boil.- Bob McKenzie
by ExPatCapFan on Nov 25, 2011 6:47 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
TWO Rangers got their second (!) goal of the season in this game (Fedotenko and Boyle), and the two callups each got their first points on goal #6. Ugh.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Brooks was playing D with Alzner on that last goal, BTW.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Yep, noticed Wides spending quality time next to Vokes after goal number 5. He’s the latest to spin the wheel o’ accountability.
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Nov 25, 2011 7:06 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
This team is a mess, but it's...
regular season—and so who knows how significant this stretch of wretched play really is. We were badly outplayed—but that that 4th (and key) goal that Nuevy gave up was fairly ridiculous. Semin messed up on goal five. So what else is new…
So… still this?
"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 25, 2011 7:20 PM EST up reply actions
Silver lining? Alex Ovechkin finally scored a goal at Verizon Center this season. Huzzah.
I’ll buy stock in that, and abandon the rest.
"A picture is worth a thousand words. For moving pictures we manage to shorten it to one or two."
On Ovi scoring — too little too late! (But better than nothing.)
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Timing wasn’t entirely his fault…team letting down first. Laying out Gabs to start the sequence that ended in the Brouwer goal (who also dished a nice hit right before the Ovie hit) was a great way for the top line to come out and try to start the comeback.
When Brouwer and Ovie are hitting like that, they can really cause some havoc.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Nov 26, 2011 12:54 AM EST up reply actions
Observations from Section 421
Zzzz.z…wha? Ok, I’m awake…. Joel Ward set my alarm clock… (and let that be the last Joel Ward joke..at least until Xmas day…)
1) The First period…. was either team there? Both teams sort of went through the motions. The Caps did play pretty solid D in that period, but there wasn’t much pressure coming from the other end.
2) The second… well the Caps fell behind 3-0 on a brain cramp leading to a 2-on-1, a really sweet shot from Anisimov (I won’t fault Schultz on it… it was on the PK, and Anisimov hit a damn near perfect shot… credit where credit is due.) and a dreadful turnover from MJ90. Then they started hitting Rangers all over the ice, which led to the first goal, and to the second. Then they stopped hitting….
3) Someone needs to tell MJ90 and Carlson that if they each cost the team the goal, that they each need to deliver a goal. Combining on one is nice (and it was a nice goal and GREAT shot by Carlson) but the net is -1…
4) Semin penalty, several shots miss the net, gets robbed by Lundqvist… trending Sasha.
5) And what a sweet shot by Ovechkin too… I don’t think Lundqvist saw it until it was on the way out of the net.
Ah well, enough dwelling on what Tortorella should eat…. Oh, and look the Sabres are playing today too and are getting the piss kicked out of them by the Columbus Blue Jackets (no really, as I write this, the BJ’s are up 5-1 late in the second). Maybe the game tomorrow night is a game where the winning coach gets to keep his job?
Occasionally reporting from Section 421 of the Verizon Center...
Riding home on the Metro, I was trying to formulate what tonight’s acrostic might be. Anything I could come up with only had nine letters. Take that any way you like.
Silver lining? Bulffalo is playing like crap in Columbus right now. Enroth was pulled.
"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."
Bruce Boudreau’s version of accountability is a joke. Why is Perreault constantly in the doghouse? If Perreault takes that holding penalty like Eakin did, or makes that horrendous turnover like Mojo did, he’d be benched the rest of the game…and then scratched the next game to boot. Having Eakin on the 2nd line, and getting PP time is a slap in the face to Perreault, who beat him fair and square out of training camp, and is very effective in the limited minutes he plays.
And hand-in-hand with Perreault being scratched is Knuble playing in his spot on the 4th line, wtf? Knuble was all over the ice against Phoenix and the ‘Peg, and he’s demoted…again?! So much for rewarding hard work. What kind of message does this send to the team?
I hate to say it, but Bradley was right. Brucie definitely plays favorites.
by David C. Rothman on Nov 25, 2011 8:41 PM EST reply actions
So who gets healthy scratched to make room for Perreault tomorrow? Or did everyone do so badly today that singling out anyone for a “message sent” healthy scratch would not “work”?
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Eakin. He’s barely treading water in the NHL at this point.
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
Exactly, though Eakin shouldn’t just be scratched, he should be sent back down to Hershey to incubate for another year. He’s going to be great, but he’s not ready yet. His presence in the lineup disrupts the chemistry and f’s up the lines. Pushing Knuble down to the 4th line is a waste of that man’s scoring talent. Scratching Perreault almost every game sends the message that “it doesn’t matter how hard you work” if you’re certain guys on the team.
by David C. Rothman on Nov 25, 2011 9:10 PM EST up reply actions
Agreed. Now how did Knuble get himself in Bruce’s doghouse anyway?
I think I know where Knuble will be after this year — Detroit Red Wings.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Knubs has been giving the effort most nights…he could really use a goal to get going though. He’s had lots of chances.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Nov 26, 2011 12:55 AM EST up reply actions
I figured out the Rebus — Eat It Torts.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
by CapsFan75 on Nov 25, 2011 8:47 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Wideman’s futile attempt at going behind his back on the play that directly led to the Richards’ goal was…awful. That plus the needless Eakin penalty and the MoJo giveaway were three instances where Capital mistakes led to Ranger goals. Alarming… Also, the game after Schultz showed textbook defending on a two-on-one, he got burned on one by going down a little too early. Great saucer pass there, though.
Shaka, when the walls fell.
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 Nov 25, 2011 8:55 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Nothing, like driving home that point.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Haha sorry. I am like…totally right though. About that.
by David C. Rothman on Nov 25, 2011 9:42 PM EST up reply actions
_______
"Fais gros comme moi!" - Alex Ovechkin
by Gould Old Days on Nov 25, 2011 9:51 PM EST up reply actions
Before the season, it looked like we had depth in defense, with 6 pretty good defensemen and a 7th defenseman who’s not bad for a 7th defenseman (i.e. Oisk) but, with Green out, we look like we’ve lost our way.
Before the season, we looked like we essentially had 2 #1 caliber goalies. Now we wonder if we even have legitimately average goaltending. And no help from the farm system since our #1 goalie prospect (Holtby) is having a horrible year as well.
I am also now wondering which player jersey I should next get to replace my current editions. I wish to get a player who’s likely to be an active Cap next year. (I was debating between Squeaks and Orlov. Holtby’s having a crappy year. Orlov will probably not stick with #81)
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
That’s what I here. Do you know what I wish? That either Eakin or Orlov would have taken #91 and continue a proud tradition.
I should probably defer the decision of who’s jersey to get until after my birthday — in July.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
I mean “hear”. Guess I need to join Sasha in the penalty box. Guess we’re two of a kind since I was a “trending Sasha” student in grade school.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Please try to keep your posts to any discussion surround the game, team and/or recap.
"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 25, 2011 9:26 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
With all due respect BP, I think jersey numbers may be more interesting than rehashing the game today. I suggest going retro with #32 so you can hold your head up high no matter how things are going these days.
Don't put your beer in the microwave, eh. It'll boil.- Bob McKenzie
It may be personally interesting, but hardly the type of discussion suited for this thread. If you want to rehash the game, this is the place to do it, not what kind of student you were in school, or what types of cheers were done for the swim team (which apprarently have also been touched on here).
So yeah, let’s keep the discussion on the events, and move the extracurriculars elsewhere.
"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 26, 2011 8:56 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Ovechkin’s goal tonight tied him in points with Kyle Wellwood. Just let that sink it.
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Nov 25, 2011 9:10 PM EST reply actions
Don’t you mean “Sink in”?
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
“it’ refers to “our postseason dream”.
Warning: I started watching hockey in 2007. So, yeah.
by Laich Button on Nov 26, 2011 12:25 AM EST up reply actions
Like Kyle Wellwood does in a couch?
"Don't mind WM...he's an all-around jerk."
by Whiter Mage on Nov 26, 2011 12:45 AM EST up reply actions
I think Kyle will have more points than Ovie at the end of the season.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Nov 26, 2011 12:57 AM EST up reply actions
I’ll take that bet – whatcha got on Wellwood?
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
I have $50 to Olie's autism charity or So Kids Can and a beer on the under for 50/57/107 as AO's final stat line for 2011-'12
And on Pekka Rinne's PK SV% dropping under .920 by the end of the '12 season
by Knee high to a duck on Nov 26, 2011 12:14 PM EST up reply actions
We are now in 7th place, tied for points with the 6th place Rangers, the 8th place Sabers, and the 9th place Diablos. And Pittsburgh is destroying Ottawa.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
We still have a long way to go this season. I wouldn’t look at the standings until February. Win as much as you can, and the standings will take care of themselves. We were also in this position last year and we finished at the top although with little playoff success.
by HobbesLionheart on Nov 25, 2011 11:27 PM EST up reply actions
In any case, the standings are very bunched together. A winning streak would right the ship to some degree. As for how confident I am in their playoff success — that’s another story entirely.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Team really frustrating…
Sorry…this will be more a rant…but how can a team this talented play so shitty? Look, I know the Rangers are a good team but…6!
Will we be sellers at the trading deadline this year?
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
I’m not gonna lie, but when his name came up on The Fly the other night, I started thinking…. IGGY. What would it take to get Iggy?
by DonnieKnutts on Nov 25, 2011 9:18 PM EST up reply actions
If we’re in contention, Iggy might be a good acquisition. If we’re not in contention, Iggy’s seen better days.
If we trade Sasha, I hope we can get more for him than a 4th Round Draft pick and an ECHL level enforcer.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
More on Iggy, I think whatever package Calgary would accept would involve draft picks and prospects, as in a 1st rounder and a very good prospect. Possibly on the order of what we got for Peter Bondra.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Ducks may be sellers at some point soon…
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-ducks-blackhawks-20111126,0,3345799.story
Getzlaf? Ryan?
by DonnieKnutts on Nov 26, 2011 12:26 AM EST up reply actions
You can bet your bottom dollar that Getzlaf, Perry, Ryan, Hiller, and Fowler are going exactly nowhere. If Getzlaf were available on the trade market, he’d fetch a king’s ransom – top-5 centers don’t become available basically ever.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
I have $50 to Olie's autism charity or So Kids Can and a beer on the under for 50/57/107 as AO's final stat line for 2011-'12
And on Pekka Rinne's PK SV% dropping under .920 by the end of the '12 season
by Knee high to a duck on Nov 26, 2011 12:16 PM EST up reply actions
What would it take to get Iggy?
Far too fucking much.
I think the pieces for a cup-worthy team are here, and not worth sacrificing the farm for an aging vet like him yet. I think it’s the animator with the issue.
I don’t get what’s wrong with this team this year. When I’m able to watch and I’m not at work, they play great.
"Don't mind WM...he's an all-around jerk."
by Whiter Mage on Nov 26, 2011 12:47 AM EST up reply actions
Bruce said, “You’ll live to fight another day” in the post-game wrap-up. Sure hope they do.
ugh.
"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
Hopefully he won’t.
"Don't mind WM...he's an all-around jerk."
by Whiter Mage on Nov 26, 2011 12:47 AM EST up reply actions
Anyone watching hockey right now? Anyone want an OT hockey thread?
"Fais gros comme moi!" - Alex Ovechkin
by Gould Old Days on Nov 25, 2011 10:16 PM EST reply actions
By the way, I did watch some other hockey after this game ended. It’s a wonderful palate cleanser. Reminds me that I actually like hockey. I recommend it after any bad game.
"Fais gros comme moi!" - Alex Ovechkin
by Gould Old Days on Nov 26, 2011 9:59 AM EST up reply actions
Whoopin’ on Semin on Lundqvist?
"Don't mind WM...he's an all-around jerk."
by Whiter Mage on Nov 26, 2011 12:47 AM EST up reply actions
Silver linings?
Ovechkin had some jump today. The goal, creating some other chances, and the hit that caused the turnover that led to Brouwer’s goal. Still finding his way but showing flashes.
Orlov. There will be some rookie moments on the way, I’m sure of it. That said, the raw skill set seems to have no tremendous difficulties translating to the NHL game. As long as he continues to develop, he will be an NHL player at some point. I have no doubt of this. Picking up points, timely physical play. Good signs.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Nov 26, 2011 12:59 AM EST reply actions
Silver lining? Alex Ovechkin finally scored a goal at Verizon Center this season. Huzzah.
A note on this in the game-within-the-game category.
On his previous shift, Ovechkin had carried the puck up the ice in the exact same way that he did when he scored the goal, sprinting through neutral and trying to back off the D. The Ranger F backchecked into the usual position to apply pressure for when AO cuts to the middle and shoots from the top of the circle. Except AO didn’t do that this time; this time, AO pulled up just inside the blueline and made a cross-ice saucer pass to Alex Semin, who was entering the zone at the far end, more or less uncovered. The puck skipped over Semin’s stick, but the Rangers saw what could have been Alex Semin walking into the zone with the puck on his stick, uncovered, ready to pick a corner.
On the rush when AO scored the goal, Stepan didn’t apply the same back-pressure to AO that he normally gets, either because he was expecting a pullup-pass and wanted to stop that, or because he lost his focus. Whichever it was, AO was able to back off his defender and shoot through his legs – the result was that Lundqvist had no chance at all. More variation like that please, Alex.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
I have $50 to Olie's autism charity or So Kids Can and a beer on the under for 50/57/107 as AO's final stat line for 2011-'12
And on Pekka Rinne's PK SV% dropping under .920 by the end of the '12 season
by Knee high to a duck on Nov 26, 2011 12:36 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
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