The Noon Number

by J.P. on Dec 16, 2011 12:00 PM EST in The Noon Number

Michal Neuvirth and Semyon Varlamov, via CapsSnaps... and only because we don't have the rights to use this pic.

24 - Number of times two goalies drafted by the Washington Capitals have appeared in an NHL game for opposing teams. Michal Neuvirth and Semyon Varlamov could make that 25 tomorrow night in Colorado.

A bit more on the history:

Like Neuvirth and Varlamov, who were separated by just ten picks in the 2006 Entry Draft, the last two Caps-drafted goalies to face one another in an NHL game, Olie Kolzig and Byron Dafoe, were members of the same draft class (in their case, 1989; Kolzig was chosen 19th overall, Dafoe 35th). They last went at it on February 12, 2003.
Kolzig and Dafoe faced each other 20 times, with Dafoe winning eight, Kolzig seven, the two tying four times and each having one no-decision. Of course, Kolzig was 4-2 against Dafoe when it mattered most - in the 1998 playoffs.
Since 1987, goalies drafted by the same team in the same year have faced each other 85 times, with the 20 meetings between Kolzig and Dafoe leading the way. Martin Brodeur and Mike Dunham, drafted in 1990 by New Jersey, have clashed 15 times, while Tomas Vokoun and Jose Theodore (Montreal, 1994) come in third with 11 meetings... and counting.
It's well known that Kolzig and Dafoe were each the other's best man in their respective weddings, share a strong commitment to a common cause... and fought (or "fought") one another on November 21, 1998.
Moving on, Dafoe faced Jim Carey twice, beating him both times, though Carey got no decision in one of the two. In that no-decision (October 20, 1995 versus Dafoe's Kings), Carey was replaced by Kolzig, meaning that three Caps-drafted goalies appeared in the same game.
The other two match-ups to make the list pitted Jim Hrivnak against Peter Sidorkiewicz, with Hrivnak's Caps winning both.
In Kolzig's one start against the Caps (I know, we've all tried to block it out), he faced Brent Johnson.

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Kolzig-Dafoe Fight Link

Totally worth it to see Hunter go at it several times, plus Olie rip Byron’s mask right off as the fighting between the teams escalates.

Everything sounds smarter in Tikkanesse....

by Bonzai!!! on Dec 16, 2011 12:07 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

__

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Dec 16, 2011 12:09 PM EST up reply actions

awesome shot

no G tie-downs back then….

Cross check and all call.

by bigonetimer on Dec 16, 2011 12:33 PM EST up reply actions

And as indicated above, there was a no-decision. Both guys were ejected from the game, and the game went to OT…

Occasionally reporting from Section 421 of the Verizon Center...

by MikeL-Pivonka on Dec 16, 2011 1:49 PM EST up reply actions

once they were on each other it became less of a fight and more a wrestling match. It looked as if at one point they realized how ridiculous it was and were laughing.

by kingbonehead on Dec 16, 2011 1:52 PM EST up reply actions

Pretty sure coach Hunter was very involved in the start of that scrap. T’was a good one.

Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...

by dcsportsfan1 on Dec 16, 2011 2:12 PM EST up reply actions

He was.

Berube started it – not sure why – with a series of cross-checks and slashes. One of Boston’s guys was trying to get to Berube while he was engaged, and Hunter was doing his damndest to prevent it. He was right at the bottom of the first pile.

Patron saint of quality footwear.

by fat_daddyo on Dec 16, 2011 5:51 PM EST up reply actions

Pat Burns, RIP.

That was a wild one. Olie was a tough bastard.

Patron saint of quality footwear.

by fat_daddyo on Dec 16, 2011 1:10 PM EST up reply actions

Hrivnak vs Sidorkiewicz

That matchup sounds more like the “Bendover in Landover” than the “Thrilla in Manilla” as far as goalie battles go.

by Rather Bengt on Dec 16, 2011 12:17 PM EST reply actions

Zing!

Actually, Sidorkiewicz had a few pretty good years, didn’t he? I always assumed the Whalers picked him up from us because we were sharing an AHL team at the time (Binghampton), right?

We're Hüsker Dü and we're on MTV. Who are you, and what are you on?

by bilspacecadet on Dec 16, 2011 12:23 PM EST up reply actions

I actually saw Sidorkiewicz play in junior with the Oshawa Generals in the early-mid 80s. If memory serves, he worked in tandem with ex-Wings netminder Greg Stefan.

by Rather Bengt on Dec 16, 2011 12:28 PM EST up reply actions

Jesus, you might be older than I am—no wonder we like the same music.

I always got Greg Stefan and Glen Hanlon confused. Until one of them became our head coach.

The bigger question is—how would one go about researching today’s Noon Number?

We're Hüsker Dü and we're on MTV. Who are you, and what are you on?

by bilspacecadet on Dec 16, 2011 12:32 PM EST up reply actions

Sounds like an Eastern European monster flick…with subtitles.

If you've read this far...seek help.

by ThePeerless on Dec 16, 2011 12:32 PM EST up reply actions

This is one of my favorite noon numbers of all time

"Fais gros comme moi!" - Alex Ovechkin

by Gould Old Days on Dec 16, 2011 1:07 PM EST reply actions 4 recs

Mine too. It’s a fun one (not unlike the one about how many current NHL coaches’ asses Dale Hunter has kicked).

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Dec 16, 2011 1:20 PM EST up reply actions

Including the two on his own staff?

If you've read this far...seek help.

by ThePeerless on Dec 16, 2011 2:34 PM EST up reply actions

Indeed.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Dec 16, 2011 2:36 PM EST up reply actions

Well, he doesn’t hold a grudge.

If you've read this far...seek help.

by ThePeerless on Dec 16, 2011 2:38 PM EST up reply actions

Story about ex-Caps goalie Pete Peeters and Christmas

From The Strangest One of All- Absurd Goalie Monday

It didn’t take long for Peeters to make a big jump from Juniors to the Pros, as the 1977-78 season marked his first pro season, splitting time between the IHL’s Milwaukee Admirals and AHL’s Maine Mariners. In Milwaukee, Peeters played in 33 games going 12-10-7, while in Maine he went 8-2-2 in 17 games there. When he got to Maine, Peeters put up a 2.80 GAA in those 17 games and made the Flyers look like geniuses for their late-round pick. During the 1978-79 season, Peeters continued to shine in Maine, going 25-6-3 in 35 games with a 2.90 GAA for the season.

Yet, in the middle of the 1978-79 season, the Flyers called up Peeters to see what he was really made of. However, Peeters at first refused to go up. It was Christmas time and Peeters had plans to be with his wife and parents in Maine. After much debate and some heated conversations— Peeters went to Philly to play in five games there.

by Rather Bengt on Dec 16, 2011 1:27 PM EST reply actions

Very interesting and never a bad time to revisit Kolzig vs Dafoe and a lot of smiles.

However, not sure this will happen tomorrow …. as you say “could”

Storyline about former team or not, after last night, I assumed we would see Giguere start for the Avs. Well hopefully, if he doesn’t start the Caps score so many goals on Giguere that we get to see Varlamov play anyway….

I took a quick look and Philly is at Colorado Monday night and St. Louis at Colorado on Wed. night so it’s an every other night game schedule for Colorado.

by sk84fun_dc on Dec 16, 2011 2:11 PM EST reply actions