Tuesday Caps Clips: Stars @ Caps Game Day
by J.P. on Nov 8, 2011 6:38 AM EST
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PrintYour savory breakfast links:
- Previews of tonight's dance with Dallas from Vogs, NHL.com (Rosen), Peerless, SB Nation DC, RtR and CRtC, and be sure to check out our SB Nation partner, the excellent Defending Big D, for more coverage from the other side of tonight's match-up.
- Notes and assorted whatnot from yesterday's practice:
- In general. [Caps365 video (Kettler Report, Boudreau, Green), RtR]
- Mike Green took part in practice, but is questionable for tonight (spoiler alert: he's not going to play). [DCEx (McNally), CW (Whyno), CI (Carrera), CSNW (Gormley)]
- Cody Eakin is champin' at the bit to get back in the lineup. [CI (Carrera)]
- So is Jay Beagle, who should skate today. [CI (Carrera), CW (Whyno)]
- John Carlson on getting rid of the bagel in the goal column and tonight's game. [Capitals Voice]
- Bruce Boudreau on why the Caps sent D.J. King to Hershey. [CW (Whyno), CI (Carrera)]
- Everyone gets up to face the Caps - it's up to the Caps to match that on a nightly basis. [Ted's Take]
- Nicklas Backstrom was named the NHL's third star of the week yesterday... [Caps365 (video), CI (Carrera), CW (Whyno)]
- ... leading to an always-welcomed round of "Nick Backstrom is awesome" articles and posts. [Dump 'n Chase, WashTimes (Whyno), DCEx (McNally), FanPost]
- Tomas Vokoun and a half-dozen other Caps were also recognized for their respective performances last week. [PHT, KOL]
- Regardless of where he's penciled into the lineup, Mike Knuble is a first-line human being. [WaPo (El-Bashir)]
- Will tonight be a milestone night for John Erskine? [KOL]
- With King now gone (and Matt Bradley not brought back last summer), the Caps are noticeably less pugilistic, but not necessarily any less tough. [CSNW (Gormley)]
- Finally, happy 43rd birthday to Keith Jones.
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I don’t know if I’ll be more shocked by the fact Boudreau talked to the media and openly stated Eakin should be back in the lineup tonight or by who is going to sit to make room for him.
Will we see Perreault sit again? Or will BB surprise us with a forward rotation, mysterious “maintenance day” / injury, or another message sending benching?
"A picture is worth a thousand words. For moving pictures we manage to shorten it to one or two."
Odds are, it will probably be Perreault. I think if it were going to be a “message sending” benching, the designated scratch would have been sent to the 4th line for yesterday’s practice. That has typically been the case during the Boudreau regime — unless that person is in the first line in place of one of the “normal” first liners who happens to be absent that day but is expected to be present for the next game.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
If not for the fact that they probably wouldn’t win a single draw, I’d be intrigued to see a Perrault, Eakin, Hendricks line. A lot of energy there.
If you've read this far...seek help.
If my recollection is good, Hendricks is decent on the dot; he could take ’em.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Nov 8, 2011 8:09 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
I thought Perrault was doing at least reasonably well so far too, unless that’s changed in the past couple of games.
44.9% (which beats MoJo, mind you).
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How much smaller of a sample size is it? Because I thought earlier in the year MP was doing better than that.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Nov 8, 2011 11:14 AM EST up reply actions
Perreault, game-by-game:
FACEOFFS W/L
1/3
3/3
5/7
3/3
3/1
4/3
2/0
0/3
1/4
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The bigger question is where on the ice you’d actually willingly choose that line to start a shift. Certainly not the D-zone… or the O-zone…
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But they could be on the highway to the danger zone.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
You can recreate it if so compelled.
"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."
Tarik’s piece on Knuble as just another hockey dad is wonderful, although their weekend schedule sounds exhausting. He is such a grounded individual.
Thinking about those lines I wonder If we will see Knuble, Halpern, and Hendricks back together tonight. I did not expect them to be so effective in the Hurrricanes game, but they were a pleasure to watch. That line can teach the young whippersnappers a lot about responsible cycling and grinding.
Can’t remember who coined it, but love the “Grumpy Old Men” line.
"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
Hendy is like 30, no?
"Hockey is my life, wine is my passion." -- Igor Larionov
by Scott in Shaw on Nov 8, 2011 10:02 AM EST up reply actions
Seems grumpy though, so I’m going with it.
"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
Works for me. Or how about “Grumpy and/or Old Men.” I was just thinking that none of the three were young whippersnappers. And Hendy is a veteran of how hard it is to just make it to the NHL whereas the other two are veterans of just how hard it is to stay and still be competitive.
by capsyoungguns on Nov 8, 2011 12:15 PM EST up reply actions
For a running back, or a pop star, maybe. Not for a fourth-line winger, IMO.
"Hockey is my life, wine is my passion." -- Igor Larionov
by Scott in Shaw on Nov 8, 2011 11:32 AM EST up reply actions
Wideman
Random thought on Wideman:
Any chance his particularly high-risk, high-reward play so far this year has anything to do with his impending free agency and the fact that there’s a good chance the team re-signs Green and lets him walk in favor of going with Orlov?
Defensemen with nice offensive numbers get paid disproportionally better than steady defensive dmen and I wonder if this is influencing his decision-making (subconsciously).
Then again, I haven’t paid attention to Wideman long enough to know if he’s just always been like this.
I mean given the contracts handed out this past offseason, Wideman could get paid handsomely if he keeps cranking this numbers.
Any chance his particularly high-risk, high-reward play so far this year has anything to do with his impending free agency and the fact that there’s a good chance the team re-signs Green and lets him walk in favor of going with Orlov?
I doubt it – he is what he is, which is a defenseman with offensive upside (though we’ve seen more at ES than he’s typically shown in the past, which could just be a product of the Caps’ offensive potency as opposed to his previous squads) and holes in his defensive game.
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Jonesy!
An admirer noted: "I think it's safe to say that your mustache has experienced more than an ordinary man's entire body".
by Acer Jonesy's Laughker on Nov 8, 2011 8:30 AM EST reply actions
43. Man I feel old…
I’m just in it for the Schadenfreude. -D'ohboy
by Alz in the family on Nov 8, 2011 8:42 AM EST up reply actions
has anyone ever determined why he, seemingly, holds so much animosity towards the organization?
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Is it real or perceived by over-sensitive Caps fans? I’ve never really found it to be the former, but I could be wrong.
Also, note that he is currently paid to pump the tires of a rival franchise in Philly.
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he gets his digs in on VS and NBC, imo. Not that he’s alone in that, of course.
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Eh, the Caps are top dogs with a recent history of playoff failure – commentators are always going to take their shots.
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Not unique to Jonesy, but I have a problem with the NBC announcers/color commentators having dual employment like that (although the pbp guys are dedicated NBC now, right?). You can’t help but believe it colors their commentary, and not just as it relates to the Caps. Although, the play-by-play guys always seemed fine. I know Joe B was accused of wearing Caps colored glasses, but his work on national broadcasts was pretty even handed.
Don’t try to figure Sasha out. Just ride the wave.
I know Doc only does VS and NBC these days. I believe Pierre is also VS/NBC only, and Milbury has a side gig with one of the Canadian networks, yes? But everyone else seems to have another, team-based position. Although I imagine that for most of them, VS/NBC doesn’t carry enough hockey hours to make that being their only job worth while.
It is a little odd, though. Can you imagine having Jim Palmer call nationally televised Yankees games?
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Can you imagine having Jim Palmer call nationally televised Yankees games?
Why not? They’re supposedly professionals. Most of these guys do have separate team-specific gigs, as you noted (Milbury with the Bruins too, btw). I don’t think too much of it bleeds through, though, but then again, I don’t put much weight in what these guys say to begin with.
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didn’t realize Milbury was still with the Bruins.
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He isn’t with NESN any more. Billy Jaffe (who I’m a big fan of) has picked up some of his work there.
Bad move by NYI to let Billy Jaffe go. He’s great, and their (alleged) reasoning for letting him go was even dumber.
Please, call me F&B.
Totally with you on Jaffe, but not Howie. Never been a fan of the guy, and I saw way too much of him growing up on Long Island.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Nov 8, 2011 1:01 PM EST up reply actions
My bad – I thought he was still doing intermissions with the blonde.
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She’s gone, too, to NHL Network. (Kathryn Tappen — she’s very good, and married to the nephew of former Caps assistant coach Jay Leach. Coach Leach would get some approving nods from the boys when she would say hello pregame.)
I have fallen completely out of touch with NESN’s broadcast team. Please tell me Jack Edwards and Brick are still there (the former so I can avoid him and the latter so I can feel sorry for him).
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yep. I submit me ears to endless torture every February and watch Beanpot on NESN with my dad
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I still think Jeanerette is worse. His goal calls sound like an animal dying.
by Murshawursha on Nov 8, 2011 11:15 AM EST up reply actions
“Harry Caray on helium” is the best description I’ve ever heard of Jeanerette’s voice.
Reporter: "What’s your Mom’s birthday?"
Tortorella: "I have no idea."
by Wheeler on Nov 8, 2011 11:24 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I personally enjoy listening to NHL Home Ice in the mornings after Detroit games, just to hear Ken Kal have his Peter Brady moment every time the Wings score.
"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
That man’s shriek has woken me up on more than one occasion when I’ve fallen asleep watching a west coast game.
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Seems like lots of their games have been on Versus, so us locals have seen a lot more of the NESN crew this year.
Back when Joe B. was still with Versus, I always enjoyed the broadcasts where he teamed up with Andy Brickley.
I was always inordinately happy when that was the pairing.
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Mmmmm. . . Kathryn Tappen.
Unleash the Apathy.
by D'ohboy on Nov 8, 2011 12:13 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
If only her last name lent itself to a related quip…
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___
I was thinking something along these lines:
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by J.P. on Nov 8, 2011 12:38 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
As I recall, when he left the team he told a Denver newspaper that getting out of Washington was like getting out of prison. I don’t remember the exact quote but that is the exact analogy.
Every year without a Cup adds wonder and awe to its eventual arrival.
Is it a goalie controversy if Neuvirth starts tonight? ’Cos I sorta want him to.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
It’s a goalie controversy if Neuvirth starts Game 1 of the playoffs. I really don’t want to hear the term until then.
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by J.P. on Nov 8, 2011 9:09 AM EST up reply actions 7 recs
Vokoun will get about 55 appearances, Neuvirth might get around 35. The injury to Neuvirth might tilt that a bit toward Vokoun, since Neuvrith missed a stretch of games, but that ought to be about the shares they get. I suspect it will be 29-30-29 this week.
If you've read this far...seek help.
I’d prefer 36-24-36, but I guess I’ll take what I can get
ahahaha!!!
by discuit on Nov 8, 2011 9:34 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Baby got rec’d.
"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 8, 2011 10:50 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs
I was kind of thinking it would the reverse. Give 29 a game off. Of course, I don’t know how you say it’s not a punishment for a bad game if you do that. Wait, I guess it would be.
Don’t try to figure Sasha out. Just ride the wave.
Well, there is this…
6-18-1, 2.64, .902.
That’s Vokoun’s career line against Dallas. He’s 6-7-0, 2.42, .922 against Jersey (the home-and-home this weekend)
If you've read this far...seek help.
Thanks, Bruce.
How much relevance do you think that numbers accumulated years ago with and against different teams should matter today?
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I would have thought none, but he still hasn’t won on the Island. Go figure.
It shouldn’t matter. I don’t know if it should even matter with the same team after enough years. The makeup of your team and the team you’re playing against changes from year to year. Past record shouldn’t get into anyone’s head. So next time the Caps play the Pens in the playoffs…. grrrr.
Don’t try to figure Sasha out. Just ride the wave.
Looks like you get your wish – Neuvy off first (per everyone on Twitter).
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guess I’ll wear that brand spankin’ new Neuvy shersey.
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Given Neuvy’s 5-1 win and Vokoun and the softies he let in against the Isles…I don’t see this as much of a surprise
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Nov 8, 2011 11:16 AM EST up reply actions
:D
#TeamNeuvy, at least for tonight.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
How about #TeamCaps?
"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 8, 2011 11:45 AM EST up reply actions
Doesn’t seem like the two have to be mutually exclusive.
by Murshawursha on Nov 8, 2011 11:56 AM EST up reply actions
Sure, but frankly (and ultimately) who gives a fuck who plays in net on a particular night so long as they leave some room in their pregame meal for two points?
"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."
It seems to me based on that there’s no reason to be a fan of any particular player at all. Sure, I’m a Caps fan first, but as I’m a shameless Matty P fan, I root for him to score and get even more excited when he does. Doesn’t mean I’m not happy when somebody else pots one, or that I want the Caps to win any less. It’s the same with Neuvirth. Just because Emily happens to be rooting for Neuvy to play a good game in no way implies lack of loyalty to the team as a whole.
by Murshawursha on Nov 8, 2011 1:58 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I’m sorry, but the minute someone says #Team(Fill in the Blank with Player’s Name) not only is it an oxymoron on a basic level, it stakes out a level of selfishness that to me is silly, all the more so when “controversy” is thrown out there. Root for the crest first and anyone/everyone who wears it second, end of story.
"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 take some exception here. Personally, that’s how my fandom exists – team first. But why is it inherently wrong to be a fan of a player over the team? Is there any basic reason people should be more loyal to an organization than to an individual?
More to the point, I’m not so on board with telling people how to be fans (though I’m sure I’ve done it myself) or making blanket statements based on inferences. Maybe someone wants to see how Neuvy’s foot responds to back-to-back starts. Maybe someone wants to see how motivated Vokoun is by getting skipped. Who knows. I guess I just don’t have a problem with advocating one guy over another for tonight or any night.
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by J.P. on Nov 8, 2011 2:18 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
I guess I just don’t have a problem with advocating one guy over another for tonight or any night.
Ultimately my position in all of this as well, and aside from 4 words at the top of all this, I don’t see how I’m telling someone to do anything, just stating the verbage is selfish IMHO.
"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 just not sure why. It’s the Seinfeld “cheering for laundry” versus favoring a specific individual… why is one inherently better or worse? Why, theoretically, would someone who’s a die-hard Alex Ovechkin fan, say, be any worse than someone who’s a Caps devotee?
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So hoping for a particular player to do well because I like their playstyle or their personality makes me less of a fan of the team? Not buying it.
Nobody’s rooting for Vokoun to fail so Neuvy gets more starts. I’m not rooting for Eakin to hurt himself so he stops competing for Perrault’s ice time. If Vokoun pitches a shutout, or Eakin scores a hatty, I’m going to cheer and celebrate the win just as much as the next guy. But if Matty scores that hat trick, I’m cheering just a little bit louder.
I’d be willing to bet a drink that rooting for a particular player to do well and ultimately see him get shipped out elsewhere make some folks harbor some bad faith towards the team that dealt him and their reconciliation with it takes varying degrees so yeah, I think it’s a selfish prospect.
"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."
So people shouldn’t have favorite players? Are kids selfish for idolizing certain athletes over others (putting aside whether athletes should be role models or not)? And what about disliking certain players – if they’re all part of the team, should anyone be disfavored over anyone else?
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Kids? Sure, go for it, America what a country. But to pull in the Varlavirth discussion mentioned, I’ve had conversations with grown-arse folk who think/thought Varlamov traded was/is bad for this group and seem to almost willingly hope Neuvirth (and I’m guessing eventually Holtby) fall on their faces and Varlamov puts in a performance strictly out of spite. I can’t wrap my head around it. Maybe it’s me being a grouchy old man, but I’ve never understood the #TeamPlayerName concept and at this point I don’t care to.
*As to the dislike, everybody has those guys too, but I think you distinguish the difference between analyzing underachievers and gritting your teeth and bearing it if an undesirable guy gets a sweater.
*Apologies for the spare carriage return
"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 hear you, and I personally think that anyone rooting for Neuvy and Holtby to fail to prove a point isn’t a Caps fan, but a Varly fan (or maybe they’ve got some theory by which it’ll get someone fired who they think should be fired and thus the team will be better or some shit).
But at the same time, I was ardently advocating the idea of Varlamov getting the Game 1 start. I’m sure I used #TeamVarly at some point to express that. At no point was I rooting for anything other than a Caps curb-stomping of their opponent, regardless of who was in goal.
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Well, your example is ridiculous (not picking on you but the folks you refer to). On the other hand, we have examples of folks here rooting for individual former Caps or Caps property to do well in their new locations, so long as their new teams don’t.
Don’t try to figure Sasha out. Just ride the wave.
Haha, I was a big Varly supporter and was a little disappointed when he was traded. But now I hope he fails out in Colorado, and I had a hearty laugh during that 7-6 loss. So I don’t see your logic.
#Caps
by RossingtonCollins on Nov 8, 2011 5:03 PM EST up reply actions
On the contrary. For a long time I wasactually hoping to see Matty traded, because as much as I liked him, he’s simply not as good as Johansson and I didn’t see him fitting into the organization’s long-term plans. I’m not so delusional as to think he should have taken Mojo’s spot, because that wasn’t what was best for the team. I’d rather have seen him get a shot with another team that needed him, where he could play consistent minutes on a nightly basis rather than sit around here as a spare part. And if that hypothetical trade had come to pass, every time the Caps played whatever team he ended up with, I’d root for a Matty P hat trick in a 4-3 Caps win.
Of course, not that he’s shown flashes of being a solid 4th liner, I’d like to see them keep him around to see if he can contribute consistently in that role. But if it turns out he can’t, or Eakin steps in and skates circles around him, then I’m totally okay with Eakin taking his spot, and I may in fact hope to see him traded again.
Even now, there are various players around the league that I’ve come to like watching for various reasons. Kesler, Nash, and Selanne are the three that come to mind immediately. Doesn’t mean I root against the Caps when they come to town. As a matter of fact, the Caps/Ducks game was a lot of fun for me to watch because I got to watch my favorite team win a nail-biter in overtime, and one of my favorite players score four points. But if I had to choose between 1) Selanne scoring four points and the Caps losing, or 2) Selanne going 0-fer and the Caps winning, I’m going to pick the Caps win every time. My loyalties are team-first. Doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the success of other classy and/or exciting players, and it certainly doesn’t mean I have to automatically hate anyone who doesn’t play for the Caps.
My loyalties are team-first also (as is my admiration for watching world-class guys play at the best possible level they can in a losing effort against my guys too), and while you’re capable enough to reconcile your own balance, others aren’t fortunate enough to do so, and those folks I don’t get.
"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 agree with you there. I think JP says it best above that people like that are fans of players before teams. I certainly don’t agree with that notion, but to each their own I suppose. Gonna bet there aren’t too many of those types ’round these parts though.
God I hope so. In between that and Glasgow there are hordes of them.
I should note this isn’t a future crusade of mine or anything. To quote a famous comedian, “America, what a country!”
"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."
Lots of folks care. “Which goalie should start?” is often one of the great questions and debates that a fan base can focus on. Last year’s Neuvy vs. Varly in April was some of the most interesting chatter we’ve had around here. And #TeamWhomever is just shorthand for which guy you prefer in the given instance – the tacit assumption is that we’re all #TeamCaps.
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by J.P. on Nov 8, 2011 2:22 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I am never not #TeamCaps.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
by EmilyB on Nov 8, 2011 12:04 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
I just think anything referencing Twilight is #TeamMoronic.
(This is a Twilight reference, correct? I’m not exactly on speaking terms with the pop-culture references of teenaged girls.)
Unleash the Apathy.
Well, that was certainly the most widespread use of the term, but I’m almost positive it isn’t the first (though I’m admittedly too lazy to actually check up on the that).
While I probably despise Twilight more than the next guy, I’m not gonna stop using a phrase just because tween girls have terrible taste in literature.
Besides, if it’s good for Conan, it’s good for me.
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by J.P. on Nov 8, 2011 3:08 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Well, yeah, there’s that.
#TeamFehr&Balanced
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by J.P. on Nov 8, 2011 3:08 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
___
Fact-checking…
Boudreau on Backstrom (via Dump ’N Chase, linked above): “I haven’t really noticed anything different except maybe he’s shooting a little more. But I haven’t even checked the statistics to see if he is or if he’s not.”
Well, he is – averaging a career-high 2.83 shots on goal per game, up from last year’s 2.62 and 2009-10’s 2.71.
But what has that meant so far? Compared to his 2009-10 rate it’s 1.5 SOGs over the 12 games so far, and compared to his 2010-11 rate it’s around 2.5 SOGs. So he’s getting more shots on net, but only by between roughly 10 and 17 per 82 games (one every five-to-eight games) over the past two seasons.
Of course, that doesn’t include shots that are getting blocked and misses, but I’d be surprised if the numbers reflected a huge increase there.
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Of course, the modest increase has coincided with a decrease in ice time. If Backstrom got his 2009-10 minutes coupled with 2010-11 SOG/min rate, he’d best his career-high in SOGs by 19%. That’s not insignificant.
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In this case, is it possible that the meme is more important than the actual activity?
If an opposing goalie has it in his head that he has to respect Backstrom’s shot, doesn’t that open up lanes for teammates?
In reality? No, I don’t think so. Dude scored 30 goals two seasons ago – I think he’s respected plenty with the puck, whether he’s considered pass- or shoot-first.
I do think that prior to 2009-10, he needed to assert himself as a shooter more so that he wasn’t so predictible, but I think we’re beyond that and have been for some time. But I could be wrong.
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Delighted to see Nicky shooting more. As you imply, with his talents, the more he gets the puck to and/or around the net the better it is. That made me think, however, of whether ‘firing on net’ and, then, totally missing is always a good thing with most players. It seems to me on a non-empirical basis that a lot of players under the mantra of ‘getting it on net’ are shooting wildly and totally missing the net with the puck wrapping around the boards and ending back at the point or, worse, going back in the d-zone. Are there any statistics that this ‘missing’ scenario is preferable to a more harmless and unsuccessful shot ‘on net’or just passing it around a bit more until a better ‘on net’ shot can be taken?
It seems to me on a non-empirical basis that a lot of players under the mantra of ‘getting it on net’ are shooting wildly and totally missing the net with the puck wrapping around the boards and ending back at the point or, worse, going back in the d-zone.
coughSemincough
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Nov 8, 2011 12:49 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Several Pairs of Tickets for Tonight's Game
Available in the Rink Rat Ticket Exchange for face or less (lowers, clubs and uppers).
Full disclosure: one of the pairs is mine, but I’m alerting you to the others as well…
"Hockey is my life, wine is my passion." -- Igor Larionov
Keith Jones gets a lot of stick around here, and maybe rightfully so sometimes, but I will say that he coached me in a couple of scrimmages at the old Washington Caps hockey summer camps and he was really, really cool and nice. So there’s that. Happy birthday Jonesy
I think Jonesy is a good ol’ Canadian boy, and they tend to be decent guys, so I’m not surprised to hear that.
And I will say his work on TV – both PxP and in the studio – has gotten much better. He used to be cringe worthy, but he’s OK now.
I’ve felt like he was a bit harder on the Caps than perhaps strictly necessary, but I don’t despise him.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
If you only judge Jonesy on what you see on TV and how he reacted as a player, you’re missing a lot about the guy. The guy did incredible things off the ice for the benefit of the community both in Baltimore (when he was with the Skipjacks) and in the DC area. He’d go to the hospitals to visit kids on his own time.
And also don’t forget, Eric Lindros is probably alive today because of Jonesy getting him medical attention when he had a punctured lung in Nashville back years ago.
Sure he’s grating on camera, but he’s a good one… Happy Birthday, Keith.
Winnipeg? Winnipeg??? Oy! (And now it's official...)
by MikeL-Pivonka on Nov 8, 2011 12:46 PM EST up reply actions
Did anyone expect the Stars to be as good as they have been this season? I picked them way out of the playoffs.
Nope.
Btw, today’s Nooner focuses on that, so feel free to hold discussion for there, or go for it here.
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___
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Nov 8, 2011 10:59 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Please eliminate three.
P.S. I am not a crackpot.
Capitals goal scored by #22, Mike...
by KNUUUUUUUUUUBLE on Nov 8, 2011 11:01 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
’Twas a Simpsons reference.
Capitals goal scored by #22, Mike...
by KNUUUUUUUUUUBLE on Nov 8, 2011 11:04 AM EST up reply actions
Amazing that the NHL actually was able to function from 1993-95 with the Pens and Flyers in different divisions. Listen to ‘em now and it’s like the world would end if they’re separated.
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by J.P. on Nov 8, 2011 11:01 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Maybe that’s why it only lasted three years.
Capitals goal scored by #22, Mike...
by KNUUUUUUUUUUBLE on Nov 8, 2011 11:02 AM EST up reply actions
Mario Lemiuex would remind you that from 1993 to 1998, hockey was pretty unwatchable and it’s 100% because Pittsburgh and Philadelphia were separated.
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION! Season Pledge total--$403.25!
And look at the Leafs… they weren’t even in the Eastern Conference! The injustice (actually they asked to be there as a slap in the face to the Habs…)
Winnipeg? Winnipeg??? Oy! (And now it's official...)
by MikeL-Pivonka on Nov 8, 2011 12:48 PM EST up reply actions
Detroit, Hartford, LA, Pittsburgh, Montreal and Washington was a division. Wow
by DonnieKnutts on Nov 8, 2011 11:02 AM EST up reply actions
Well, if I’m not mistaken, the schedule was balanced back then (everyone played everyone the same number of times), so it wasn’t any extra travel burden to be in a division with teams that weren’t geographically close (until playoff time, something those Caps didn’t have to worry about).
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Seeing as that was a good 16 years before I was born, I’ll go ahead and cede this one :P
by Murshawursha on Nov 8, 2011 11:33 AM EST up reply actions
They had 21 teams, and there was an 80 game schedule with a double home-and-home. The top 16 teams made the playoffs, and were seeded 1-16…
Winnipeg? Winnipeg??? Oy! (And now it's official...)
by MikeL-Pivonka on Nov 8, 2011 12:51 PM EST up reply actions
Am I seeing things or were the Capitals in two different divisions at once in 1978-1981?
Capitals goal scored by #22, Mike...
by KNUUUUUUUUUUBLE on Nov 8, 2011 11:03 AM EST up reply actions
They were in the Norris from 1974-1979 and the Patrick from 1979-80 on, so the “1980” over the Caps there is meant to indicate that, I should think.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Ah. Now I see it.
Capitals goal scored by #22, Mike...
by KNUUUUUUUUUUBLE on Nov 8, 2011 11:11 AM EST up reply actions
Is that “1980” over the Caps, or is it under the Flames? Looks like the year notes are generally placed under the team icons.
Yeah, it’s confusing, but the Flames didn’t change divisions until 1981-82 (they played 1980-81 in the Patrick from Calgary).
Here are your Patrick Division lineups, people: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Division#Division_lineups
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
I think the 1980 (and the other dates there) signify when franchises moved/started, not when they moved divisions. So the flames moved from Atlanta to Calgary in 1980.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Nov 8, 2011 1:20 PM EST up reply actions
oh, I took the 1980 to indicate when Atlanta moved to Calgary. all the dates seem to be below a team logo to indicate a move, merger, or when they entered the league.
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION! Season Pledge total--$403.25!
Great Logos of the 1970s...
Atlanta Flames:
Colorado Rockies:
Cleveland Barons:
Winnipeg? Winnipeg??? Oy! (And now it's official...)
by MikeL-Pivonka on Nov 8, 2011 12:57 PM EST up reply actions
Never liked the Rockies logo or the Barons. I did like the politically incorrect KC Scouts logo though.
you posted sans-title.
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Truth is, the name of the team was the Scouts, as the statue that is depicted in the logo there is called “The Scout”. They were hoping to initially name the team the Mohawks, with “Mo” representing Missouri and “Hawks” representing Kansas (Jayhawks).
Winnipeg? Winnipeg??? Oy! (And now it's official...)
by MikeL-Pivonka on Nov 8, 2011 2:07 PM EST up reply actions
Always weirded me out that Atlanta named their team after their city getting burned. It’d be like calling a club “the Pompeii Ash” or “the Carolina Hurricanes.”
Reporter: "What’s your Mom’s birthday?"
Tortorella: "I have no idea."
by Wheeler on Nov 8, 2011 1:08 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Colorado Avalanche. San Jose Earthquakes. Is this unique to hockey and soccer?
Campaign Promises fantasy team: Hamrlik To Fall
by CapitalCentre on Nov 8, 2011 3:09 PM EST up reply actions
Still can’t believe the best idea was to put all the Original Six in one conference and all of the expansion teams in the other.
Eat, drink, and be merry! And then drink some more.
That was done for NBC, so that there would definitely be a US based team in the Finals.
Winnipeg? Winnipeg??? Oy! (And now it's official...)
by MikeL-Pivonka on Nov 8, 2011 12:59 PM EST up reply actions
12 games and neither Alex has a
GWG. Weird. Marjo has 3 GWG – and only 2 assists (!)
Even Dave Schultz has 4 apples.
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