Capital Ups and Downs: Week 21

by Becca H on Mar 1, 2011 11:00 AM EST in Capitals Ups and Downs

Our weekly look at individual Washington Capitals' ups and downs:

Goalies	Trend	Notes
Todd Ford		Signed an NHL contract just in time to backup Neuvirth in Long Island Saturday night, and did an excellent job manning the runway. Hopefully he's as good at opening the bench door at Verizon...
Michal Neuvirth		Went from a 39-save shutout over Pittsburgh to a six-goal shellacking against the Rangers (the first time he's allowed more than five goals in a game this year), then wrapped up the week by making a last-minute start and salvaging two points on the Island.
Semyon Varlamov		Was scheduled to make his first start of the week against the Islanders...then came up lame in the morning skate and is day-to-day with a lower body injury. Again.

Defensemen
Karl Alzner		Was solid in victory against the Pens but was on the ice for - and looked bad on - three of the Rangers' six goals Friday night. Saturday's performance was slightly better in that he was only on the ice for two goals, but they were the only two goals scored by the Islanders.
John Carlson		Picked up his first point in four games, an assist against the Islanders, but that's hardly enough to cancel out the fact that he's been invisible at times and bad at others - and has been on for six of the last seven goals the team has allowed. With Green and Poti on the shelf indefinitely, the pressure is on Carlson to play better and for now, at least, it appears he's hit a wall. Perhaps the Dennis Wideman acquisition will help take the heat off...
John Erskine		Racked up eight hits in three games this week and was one of just a few Caps to even show up against the Rangers. Steady as she goes for Big John (although one might have liked to see someone go after Stepan for that little shot to Green's head).
Mike Green		Missed the Penguins game with lingering side effects from the last time the two teams tangled, then played just two shifts against the Rangers before being knocked out of the lineup again after a Derek Stepan elbow to the head. Always best to err on the side of caution when it comes to head injuries, and the team's doing just that, announcing yesterday that Green would be out a couple of weeks. Get well soon, Mike.
Scott Hannan		With ongoing injuries to the blue line, Hannan logged over twenty-three minutes of ice time in each of his last three games and continues to settle in nicely. His six blocked shots in the win over the Isles Saturday led everyone in the game and included a few in the crucial final minutes - but it's the unexpected 4 shots on goal and an overall good performance against the Rangers that earns him an up arrow this week.
Tom Poti		Hard to imagine the Caps going out and getting Wideman if the timetable for Poti's return looked at all promising. He's starting to skate with the team, though (if not taking contact yet) so...that's something.
Jeff Schultz		Sandwiched a mediocre performance on Friday between much better outings against the Penguins and Islanders, and finished the week with nine blocked shots and gasp a hit to his credit. Seems to be benefiting from the strong play of his D partner, Hannan, but has been solid if unspectacular in his own right.
Tyler Sloan		Saw limited time in his two games this week, and with some defensive depth added at the deadline will likely be pushed back into the press box for the foreseeable future.

Forwards
Nicklas Backstrom		Fractured his thumb on a Kris Letang slash last week, and while he didn't miss a game, his effectiveness has been limited. The injury rendered him unable to take draws against the Rangers and pushed him (temporarily, at least) to the wing against the Islanders. A little time off to heal might be the best option...but we all know that's not happening.
Jay Beagle		Was a surprise call-up just in time for the Islanders game and did what he was supposed to do - add some energy to a lineup that desperately needed it. The results may not always be there but the effort usually is.
Matt Bradley		An otherwise quiet week for #10 was highlighted by his efforts against the Penguins, when he lined up former teammate Matt Cooke for a crushing hit, sat in the box for a questionable two minutes and then answered the bell against Pittsburgh's Ryan Craig. The result? Cooke lands on his butt and Brads fires up his team. Up. Arrow. Baby.
Jason Chimera		Attempted to inject some energy into a lifeless game on Friday with a fight but was otherwise invisible...except when he was sitting in the penalty box.
Eric Fehr		Skated with the team. Still out indefinitely. Aaaand...repeat.
Boyd Gordon		It's not Boyd Gordon's job to score pretty goals or make great passes, but the team does count on him as one of their more dependable defensive forwards. So it's troubling when the guy who quietly does all the right things is noticeable for all the wrong reasons, and that was the case against the Rangers. An unusually brutal outing for Gordo.
Matt Hendricks		The newly-extended Hendricks was one of the few guys to escape Friday's fiasco with an even plus-minus rating and stepped out of his weight class to tangle with Zenon Konopka on Saturday, but was relatively quiet otherwise.
Marcus Johansson		Picked up a beauty of an assist on Ovechkin's power play goal against Pittsburgh but won just seven of his last sixteen faceoffs and saw his time between Ovechkin and Backstrom cut short after the trio was lit up for two Islanders' goals.
D.J. King		4:25 of ice time against the Pens, press box, press box, waivers. All in a week's work for King.
Mike Knuble		Had his goal-scoring streak against the Penguins snapped last week but still managed to pick up an assist on the power play tally and now has ten points (seven goals, three assists) in eight games against Pittsburgh since joining the Caps.
Brooks Laich		Followed up one of his worst games of the season against the Rangers with one of his best in a long time against the Islanders, an outing which featured some power moves to the net and resulted in two hard-earned points. Keep it up, Brooksie.
Alex Ovechkin		Scored a laser of a power play goal against the Pens, was one of the team's more effective players against the Rangers and picked up an assist against the Islanders. That's eight points in the last eight games for the Great Eight...which for him is merely good.
Mathieu Perreault		Stuck around for quite awhile this time and got a nice long look, but with just two points in his last eight games (both of which were in the same game) and a minus-seven rating over that span, it appears Perreault's latest stint with the big club is over.
Alexander Semin		As enigmatic as ever, Semin's week ranged from some bad penalties to some surprisingly physical play to a typically wicked wrister that gave him his 22nd goal of the year - in just 48 games.
David Steckel		Had himself quite a nice game against the Islanders...his final one in a Caps' jersey. Best of luck in New Jersey, Stecks.

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Aww, little green suitcase.

John Carlson - Glory follows him.
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by boutros23 on Mar 1, 2011 11:04 AM EST reply actions 2 recs

The luggage for Stecks is a nice touch.

Fair ratings for all, especially given the stinker of a game they put up against the Rangers.

"Now wait a minute. This is just purely a social call. You know, just two adults getting a stew on, man."

by The Ghost of Bebop on Mar 1, 2011 11:04 AM EST reply actions

Pittsburgh was so long ago that I didn’t think anyone was getting an up arrow this week. And, yes, love the suitcase.

"It's always good to have vikings."

"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."

by gfcaps fan on Mar 1, 2011 11:06 AM EST up reply actions

It was bizarro week for sure – decent wins against two teams that were essentially AHL clubs and a stinker of a loss against the Rangers. Hard to really judge anyone by this week.

…and thanks, I liked it too :)

I require spiritual super glue and duct tape.

by Becca H on Mar 1, 2011 11:35 AM EST up reply actions

I like the tiny bag for Steckel

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by YvonLabresMoustache on Mar 1, 2011 11:04 AM EST reply actions

Funny. I never thought of Steckel as a Murse-carrying type of guy…too European for his taste…Backs and MJ: those are Murse-men….

Everything sounds smarter in Tikkanesse....

by Bonzai!!! on Mar 1, 2011 11:11 AM EST up reply actions

I wasn’t really sad about him leaving until I saw that little luggage icon.

If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.

by zephyr on Mar 1, 2011 2:34 PM EST up reply actions

same

by jeff550 on Mar 1, 2011 2:58 PM EST up reply actions

Re-sign Hannon.

You had me at no problem.

by Ninjak on Mar 1, 2011 11:05 AM EST reply actions

He looks like what Colorado signed him to be

Am I mad, that I should cherish that which bears but bitter fruit?
I will pluck it from my bosom, tho' my heart be at the root.

by sydtron on Mar 1, 2011 11:07 AM EST up reply actions

Sorry, can’t – got too much Poti!

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by J.P. on Mar 1, 2011 1:02 PM EST up reply actions

Would have to jettison one of Poti, Wideman or Semin in order to fit him in, if my math is correct.

I’m interested to see if Hannan can keep up this level of play.

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by fat_daddyo on Mar 1, 2011 3:04 PM EST up reply actions

Here would be my lines for tonight

Ovie – Nicky – Knuble
Laich – Arnott – Semin
Strurm – MJ – Chimmer
Hendricks – Gordon – Bradley

That 3rd line could be really quick and catch the 5,6, D-Pair that wont be able to catch up.

by SA-Town on Mar 1, 2011 11:06 AM EST reply actions

Have our new guys gotten here yet and had time to do a morning skate, at least, with the team?

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by IRockTheRed on Mar 1, 2011 11:30 AM EST up reply actions

Yup, all three were out there this morning.

I require spiritual super glue and duct tape.

by Becca H on Mar 1, 2011 11:34 AM EST up reply actions

Sweet!

What doesnt kill you makes you stronger.

by BetterOffWith28 on Mar 1, 2011 11:45 AM EST up reply actions

I didn’t get as good as look as I had hoped, and the guys weren’t out very long, but they didn’t stand out as bumbling fools or anything. as everyone was drifting off, Nicky was chatting with Arnott and Sturm at center for a quite a bit.

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by RedBirdie on Mar 1, 2011 1:09 PM EST up reply actions

I kind of want to see Sturm and Arnott on the same line. Preferably the second line with Semin to see what a “non-Caps” line plays like. Might be interesting.

by feeya7 on Mar 1, 2011 11:48 AM EST up reply actions

How about an Up/Down on GMGM for this week? I’d endorse and Up.

Semper Fidelis!

by o8di on Mar 1, 2011 11:50 AM EST reply actions

Semper Fidelis!

by o8di on Mar 1, 2011 11:50 AM EST up reply actions

27 / 74

Agree with the down arrows for both this week, but as both guys are now playing in their first full NHL seasons and that they’ve been called upon to play a lot more minutes and in higher pressure situations than was expected at the outset of the season, do you think this is just a blip in the radar or have they hit the dreaded rookie wall?

by cainoo7x on Mar 1, 2011 1:00 PM EST reply actions

They’re both used to playing long seasons. They’re just doing what rookies do, having ups and downs.

You had me at no problem.

by Ninjak on Mar 1, 2011 1:04 PM EST up reply actions

We have expected a lot of them for their rookie season (tho I guess Alzner is not TECHNICALLY a rookie, it is still his first full NHL season). I don’t think they have really hit a wall, just that they are getting a bit stressed (not exactly the word I am looking for). We have asked a lot, and they have stepped up quite nicely, over all.

I like Laich, but I <3 Green
Keep the faith!!!!!!

by RockinRed4Life on Mar 1, 2011 2:33 PM EST up reply actions

It seems like our goalies get injured a lot more in practices and warm-ups than the league norm, is there a possibility the drills we do overexert the goalies or are the root cause of these injuries, besides the goalies’ extreme fragility?

Ah, beer. The cause of and the solution to all of life’s problems. - Homer Simpson

by jaytown99 on Mar 1, 2011 2:47 PM EST reply actions

It is very clear that SV needs someone else to treat him – by all accounts he is an extremely athletic person and should not be getting injured this much. It’s a shame that the Caps don’t let anyone else look at his injuries (I’ve been told by a DC/PT that has treated several Caps that this is the case).

I can resist anything, except temptation.

by alisterio on Mar 1, 2011 5:12 PM EST up reply actions

What’s the harm in just having an independent doctor examine the injuries? Occasionally you’ll hear about players seeking out 2nd opinions from other doctors, can he not do that?

Ah, beer. The cause of and the solution to all of life’s problems. - Homer Simpson

by jaytown99 on Mar 1, 2011 6:30 PM EST up reply actions

Not sure what’s going on, but have been told the Caps head guy (seen on 24/7) is very territorial and that professional teams’ trainers’ are like that.

I can resist anything, except temptation.

by alisterio on Mar 1, 2011 6:33 PM EST up reply actions

Hmmm….

Ah, beer. The cause of and the solution to all of life’s problems. - Homer Simpson

by jaytown99 on Mar 1, 2011 6:43 PM EST up reply actions

A picture’s worth a thousand words. Hannan is the “crease-clearing defenseman” that the Capitals have always been lacking and will lead us to the Cup!!!!!

Ah, beer. The cause of and the solution to all of life’s problems. - Homer Simpson

by jaytown99 on Mar 1, 2011 3:55 PM EST reply actions