Capital Ups and Downs: Week 5
by J.P. on Nov 7, 2011 11:00 AM EST
in Capitals Ups and Downs
Email
PrintOur weekly look at individual Washington Capitals' ups and downs:
| Goalies | Trend | Notes |
| Michal Neuvirth |  |
Got his season back on track with a 24-save, 5-1 victory over the 'Canes in his first start since Opening Night. Neuvirth is now 3-1-0/2.23/.922 in his young career against Carolina. More importantly, he's now healthy and presumably ready to take a good portion of the workload in net. |
| Tomas Vokoun |  |
Allowed a goal or two in five of the six 20-minutes periods he played (including seven at even strength) en route to an ugly 1-1-0/3.96/.837 week and a 4.67/.833 line over his last three starts. Of particular concern, some of the goals against the Isles were, well... let's just hope he's getting them out of his system now. |
| Defensemen | ||
| Karl Alzner | |
Had a plus-three rating against the Ducks while matched against the Ducks' top line (and paired with Jeff Schultz, not John Carlson), added a helper against the 'Canes and ended the week having only been on the ice for two goals against - the lone opposition strike in Raleigh and the empty netter in Uniondale. |
| John Carlson |  |
Scored his first goal of the season in the same building in which he scored the first of his NHL career on Friday night and assisted on the Caps' first goal a night later. No Caps blueliner was on for more goals-for than Carlson this week (5), and only Alzner (+3) had a better goal differential for the week than his +2. |
| John Erskine | |
Got his first game action of the season against the Ducks and notched a helper and a plus-one, which he followed up with a noticeable physical (post-whistle) presence against the 'Canes, reminding everyone that he is, indeed, an upgrade over Sean Collins. |
| Mike Green |  |
With Green in the lineup, the Caps are scoring 4.1 goals per game, allowing just two against, the power play is firing at 29.6%, and the penalty kill has done it's job 81.8% of the time. When Green hasn't dressed, the team is scoring 3.6 goals per game, allowing 3.8, 18.8% effective on the power play and 75% on the penalty kill. To be sure, those are small samples laden with correlation/causation concerns, but the numbers might actually understate his importance to the team's success (something their 7-0-0 record when he's played and 2-3-0 mark when he hasn't does not). |
| Roman Hamrlik | |
Just when he'd seemed to have turned the corner, Hamrlik was on the ice for all four Ducks goals, posting a minus-three (and it wasn't one of those "another victim of the plus-minus stat" nights). He was better in Raleigh, but back on for another two on Long Island, all the while contributing nothing offensively as he had his first assist of the season taken away and awarded to Cody Eakin on Friday night. He has been on the ice for a team-high 15-goals against, 11 of which have come at even strength (also a team high), and against middling competition. Let's chalk it up to him still getting acclimated and/or the Green injury for at least another week, shall we? |
| Tom Poti | |
Welcome to the Tom Poti LTIR Comedy Moment... Tom Poti walks into a bar... and injures himself, ending up on LTIR. |
| Jeff Schultz | |
A pair of assists (the first of which set-up the overtime game-winner on Tuesday) book-ended a week in which Sarge was on for the ice for four Caps goals and just two against, helped shut down the Ducks' and Hurricanes' top lines, and flashed some serious style for good measure. |
| Dennis Wideman | |
On the ice for five Caps tallies on the week (three of which he pointed on), but was also on for a half-dozen opposition goals, including the last four in the Isles game. His goal and assist were big in the comeback against the Ducks, but being on the ice for six of the nine even-strength goals the team allowed isn't getting the job done (though it's certainly worth noting that the Anaheim game broke a string of five games in a row for Wideman without being on the ice for a single goal against of any kind). |
| Forwards | ||
| Nicklas Backstrom | |
Another fantastic week for the super Swede, highlighted by the game-tying and -winning goals against the Ducks. Backstrom now has four multi-point games in a row, six multi-pointers in his last seven, and leads the League with eight such games. He's also leading the League in assists (tied) and points-per-game (tied). Not Breaking News: Nicklas Backstrom is a stud. |
| Jay Beagle | |
Sounds just about ready to start skating again after being sidelined with a concussion, but he might have a hard time breaking back into the lineup. |
| Troy Brouwer | |
Found a bit of instant chemistry with Eakin and Mathieu Perreault during the furious comeback against Anaheim, scoring the Caps' third goal, then had a grape and an apple down in Carolina. Four points in his last four games and six in his last seven to go along with nearly twice as many hits as any of his teammates say Brouwer's a freight train that's on track. |
| Jason Chimera | |
Had a pair of helpers against the Ducks as his line dominated the game at both ends of the rink. The rest of the week was quiet, but the third line can't carry the team every night. |
| Cody Eakin |  |
Nearly scored in his first NHL shift, but ended up having to wait an entire game and change before doing so, adding an assist, and getting the ol' shaving cream pie in the face. And yes, that's a red up arrow for a dude who rocks the red even on off days. |
| Jeff Halpern | |
Responded to a healthy scratch with his first goal of the season and an assist over the next two games. |
| Matt Hendricks | |
Had a fight and a minus-one week, but has gone five games without a point and the entire season so far without a goal, which no doubt bothers him more than it does anyone else. |
| Marcus Johansson | |
Picked up only his second assist of the season on Friday night, and was held off the scoresheet otherwise, though he did win 52% of his 33 draws, including 62% of the 13 in the offensive zone. At some point, his wings are going to need to start converting more of his gorgeous passes (as Brouwer did Friday) if the second line is going to carry its weight. |
| D.J. King |  |
Asked to be waived, was waived, went unclaimed, stayed with the team then accepted an assignment to Hershey. Dude just wants to play hockey, which is certainly respectable. |
| Mike Knuble | |
It's tough to get comfortable with the idea of Knuble as an effective, productive fourth-liner, but give him an "A" for effort - assisting on Halpern's goal and firing five shots in limited minutes is something, even if he had a minus-two rating on the week. |
| Brooks Laich | |
Three assists against Anaheim, a power-play goal against the Isles and a 55% efficiency in the dot, including 64% in the defensive zone... what more could you ask of your third-line center? |
| Alex Ovechkin | |
Perhaps you heard that Ovechkin wasn't on the ice with the Caps trailing by one in the final minute of the game against the Ducks. No? Anyway, following that shift off, Ovechkin assisted on the game-winner, had a pair of helpers in Carolina, and scored on the Island. He now has three goals and three assists in his last four games, five and five in his last seven (a span over which, interestingly, he's been credited with just two hits). |
| Mathieu Perreault | |
Didn't do much against Anaheim and found himself scratched against Carolina. Unlike seemingly every Cap this season, however, he didn't respond well to being sat, racking up a minus-three against New York. Pointless with just one shot on goal in his last four games, Perreault has to be feeling a bit of heat from Eakin. |
| Alexander Semin | |
Don't look now, but we're in the midst of another patented Alexander Semin dry spell, with Sasha registering just two helpers and nary a goal over his last seven games. He's looked a bit better than those numbers might suggest... but not by much. |
| Joel Ward | |
Had a goal and an assist against the Ducks and started off the scoring against the Isles. He didn't score his fourth goal of the season last year until New Year's Eve, so he's certainly way ahead of schedule here. |
39 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
(don’t disagree with the rating on 28, mind you…just tired of his schtick)
Cross check and all call.
If 28 tries 8 billion curl-n-drags in the next game, my head might explode. It’s…not…working….
Tu ne cede malis
by _Skullduggery_ on Nov 7, 2011 11:34 AM EST up reply actions
I don’t know – Sasha hasn’t been able to pull the trigger this year much, but he’s looked good otherwise. He gets a down arrow because we expect him to score, granted, and it looks like he’s just a little off – taking half a second too long to decide what to do with the puck – but he’s played well defensively and continues to be responsible on the ice. He’ll come back. I’m sure of it.
In the end, he’s paid to produce, not to look good almost producing. There isn’t much of a market for a winger on a pace for about 15 goals making $6.7 million.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Nov 7, 2011 3:01 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
If he looks good—not saying he has, by the way—then chances are he’ll start producing, though. Production when it’s needed matters most, and our best guess of whether that’ll happen is whether the guy is playing well (“looks good”).
I’d give Sasha the even: not because he’s been better, but I thought he was pretty unimpressive the previous weeks.
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 Nov 7, 2011 3:15 PM EST up reply actions
So he’s re-established expectations at “non-existent”?
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Well, kind of. I expect him to be better, but he was already kind of down to begin with.
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 Nov 7, 2011 3:43 PM EST up reply actions
He’s been a consistent hole so far this season while every other line has been dominant for at least one game
RAMPAGE
by JediChewbacca on Nov 7, 2011 11:10 AM EST up reply actions
The PIMs are just getting redundant at this point, but accountability has its own boundaries, apparently.
Cross check and all call.
I’m quickly falling into a “trade Semin” mindset
RAMPAGE
by JediChewbacca on Nov 7, 2011 11:16 AM EST up reply actions
What I find really interesting about this is that Semin will be an unrestricted free agent after this season, so it would behoove him to play well if he wants to ink a big deal. It’s a small sample size so far, but it seems like he’s having more of the season you would expect of a player after signing a big contract.
Which is why we should trade him now and get a somewhat decent return, or resign him for less while the stats are down
RAMPAGE
by JediChewbacca on Nov 7, 2011 11:31 AM EST up reply actions
His shooting pct so far this year is .063. That’s gonna come up.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
by fat_daddyo on Nov 7, 2011 11:48 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Didn’t we say that in Game 5 of the Montreal series a couple of years ago?
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Nov 7, 2011 3:01 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
And if his tip in chance that rang the iron early in Game 7 against them had gone in, the narrative would have been along the lines of “Semin shows up just in time”. Sometimes you’re unlukcy, sometimes you’re bad. Sometimes you’re both. I think his play has been different this year than the Hab series for what it’s worth.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Nov 7, 2011 3:18 PM EST up reply actions
As bad as Semin’s been, statistically speaking, he still was on the ice during the latter portion of the game when the rest of the 2nd line for the game (Johansson, Perreault), and Hendricks were benched and he was on the ice with the rest of the 4th line (Halpern, Knuble).
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Erskine was a breath of fresh air against Carolina. Surprised that none of the ’Canes took aim at him after he shoved Beiber.
"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
He’s big John Erskine. He can win a fight with a glare. He’s the most interesting hockey playing lumberjack in the world.
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’m sure every player in the league saw the Erskine-Boulton fight from last year… It will take a lot for someone to decide to go after Erskine after that… (or Boulton for that matter…)
Winnipeg? Winnipeg??? Oy! (And now it's official...)
by MikeL-Pivonka on Nov 7, 2011 1:00 PM EST up reply actions
Mike Rupp decided to take on Big John after the Boulton fight. Big John punched his contact inside out.
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION! Season Pledge total--$306.70
Rupp hasn’t been the same since, has he… of course he’s injured these days.
Winnipeg? Winnipeg??? Oy! (And now it's official...)
by MikeL-Pivonka on Nov 7, 2011 1:04 PM EST up reply actions
Roman Hamrlik
At first I was like
(particularly in the preseason, when it looked like he invigorated the powerplay and had some good veteran savvy about how to overcome his lack of footspeed).
But I’m quickly trending towards
especially since that veteran savvy has been so absent over the last few games.
Reporter: "What’s your Mom’s birthday?"
Tortorella: "I have no idea."
by Wheeler on Nov 7, 2011 11:25 AM EST reply actions 3 recs
Hamrlik does not look good. Not much to be done about him, though, unless and until Green comes back.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
Heck of a tantrum. Does swinging your hockey stick like that get you a penalty?
What doesnt kill you makes you stronger.
by BetterOffWith28 on Nov 7, 2011 12:23 PM EST up reply actions
Sounds like a question for Olie Kolzig.
by Murshawursha on Nov 7, 2011 12:26 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Was it Ballard that hit Fla’s goalie (Vokoun?) in the head when he was trying to break his stick on the post?
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro"
Yes and yes.
Winnipeg? Winnipeg??? Oy! (And now it's official...)
by MikeL-Pivonka on Nov 7, 2011 1:01 PM EST up reply actions
Holy cr@p, that was Voukun , i remember the event but not that it was Voukun. That was bizzare
What doesnt kill you makes you stronger.
by BetterOffWith28 on Nov 7, 2011 5:05 PM EST up reply actions
Three assists against Anaheim, a power-play goal against the Isles and a 55% efficiency in the dot, including 64% in the defensive zone… what more could you ask of your third-line center?
He could change tires on the way home from the game and provide the media with honest, good quality quotes. Oh yeah, he could also sell windows too…
Oh wait he does all that too, doesn’t he? Maybe he can play jazz on the kazoo with Zimmerman?
Winnipeg? Winnipeg??? Oy! (And now it's official...)
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
Latest stories and headlines from NHL.com
- Driven DeBoer delivers Devils back to NHL's elite
- Driven DeBoer, fired by Panthers, delivers Devils back to the land of elite in just one year
- Bruins acquire son of Hall of Famer Ray Bourque
- Bruins add a Bourque: Chris Bourque, son of Hall of Famer Ray Bourque, acquired from Capitals
- Shinnimin named CHL's Player of the Year
