The Noon Number
by Becca H on Apr 14, 2011 12:04 PM EDT
in The Noon Number
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Print32 - blocked shots for the Caps in Game 1 of their Conference Quarterfinal series against the New York Rangers, the most they've had in any playoff game under Bruce Boudreau. During the 2010-11 season, the Caps had the seventh-highest shot block total in the League with 1257; the Rangers were fourth with 1301.
AP's Joseph White said shot blocking might not be the sexiest stat. Karl Alzner's instant response: "It is to me." - Katie Carrera, on Twitter
After the jump, a breakdown of shots blocked by the Caps in each of their previous four series during Boudreau's tenure.
| WSH Blocked Shots | ||
| 2009-10 Montreal | Game 1 | 30 |
| Game 2 | 11 | |
| Game 3 | 16 | |
| Game 4 | 14 | |
| Game 5 | 15 | |
| Game 6 | 12 | |
| Game 7 | 11 | |
| 2008-09 New York | Game 1 | 10 |
| Game 2 | 13 | |
| Game 3 | 13 | |
| Game 4 | 7 | |
| Game 5 | 21 | |
| Game 6 | 12 | |
| Game 7 | 11 | |
| 2008-09 Pittsburgh | Game 1 | 17 |
| Game 2 | 23 | |
| Game 3 | 15 | |
| Game 4 | 9 | |
| Game 5 | 17 | |
| Game 6 | 7 | |
| Game 7 | 13 | |
| 2007-08 Philadelphia | Game 1 | 14 |
| Game 2 | 12 | |
| Game 3 | 11 | |
| Game 4 | 21 | |
| Game 5 | 16 | |
| Game 6 | 9 | |
| Game 7 | 19 |
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I love you, Karl Alzner.
That'll make your weagle wink!
The pants that bind us should be left behind us.
by boutros23 on Apr 14, 2011 12:05 PM EDT reply actions 17 recs
+27
"You're not going to remember Albert Haynesworth as a bust" - Haynesworth 2/28/2009
Hogs Haven. On Twitter..
by Kevin Ewoldt on Apr 14, 2011 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
Glad you caught that tweet, Becca. After the night Alzner had, I’d say he deserves some sexy recognition.
"I remembered when he said that and I kind of looked at him during the warm up and told myself that I got to shut these guys out tonight." - Michal Neuvirth, 02.06.11.
I couldn’t agree more. What a badass this kid is.
Beards are the zenith of manliness. First, they are scratchy and unpleasant to womenfolk. Second, they look awesome. Third, if you have something tasty for lunch, you can enjoy the smell all the way until dinnertime. - RMNB
With that attitude soon Mr Alzner will be able to block AND forecheck with his beard ….
"Can you smell what the Arnott is Cooking?"
by TheFuryUnleashed on Apr 14, 2011 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ve been a Caps fan since the late 70s and season ticket holder on and off since the mid 90s. Bought my first jersey last night — a number 27. His jersey is criminally underrepresented at the VC.
by Dirk Dangler on Apr 14, 2011 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Alzner took some nasty shots on that last PK yesterday, too. Looked like a little bit of face or neck.
Enter the zone, outside, inside, pull-up on half wall, pass to the middle... TURN OVER!!!!
by Dekey-Dekey Dangle on Apr 14, 2011 12:10 PM EDT reply actions
And kudos to the d-corps: 27, 74, 52 , 4, 55 all reported to optional practice today. 23 the only one not posting, but he had the highest ice time yesterday.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
1 & 30 as well. Let’s not leave out the goalies.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Nice to hear. I had a hard time reporting to my couch today. How about Ovechkin? I’m sure it’s nice to report to practice after a good playoff win.
If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.
Jojo I thought had a pretty solid outing. I only got to watch the OT so he looked a bit tired but he was really giving it. Not sure if it was tiredness or the rags taking advantage of his rookie undersized frame cause it looked like he got roughed up a bit. But, I think specifically to when he was washed out in the corner, lost his stick and as a Rag came by chasing the puck he still got up quick enough to throw a shoulder.
He plays with that much drive, he’ll light the lamp in one way or another for sure.
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 guess this has been talked about ad nauseum but I’d really like for the leader of the team to show up to practices, when healthy.
If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.
I’d really like for the leader of the team to show upto practicesin games, when healthy.
FTFY. If him skipping practices allows him to be 100% for playoff games, that’s all I care about. I’ve never seen anything to the contrary.
Sunrise, sunset, swiftly fly the years. One season following another, laden with happiness and tears.
by Becca H on Apr 14, 2011 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
And just cause he’s not skating doesn’t mean he isn’t completely absent from Kettler. As others have pointed out when guys don’t take the option they sometimes come in and just work out.
As long as he keeps playing the way he did last night, practice isn’t a problem imo.
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.
Yep. He was actually at Kettler, according to Sky Kerstein. He spoke to the media.
by redpezrocket on Apr 14, 2011 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions
If I recall correctly during last year’s playoffs some were saying similiar about Ovi not showing up to optionals and then WaPo’s Hammilton broke that often plays who don’t take the option are doing other things to work out off ice.
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.
That’s not quite how it went. Tracee Hamilton criticized Ovie for not practicing during the playoffs after the Caps crashed and burned. Then Matt Bradley in a radio interview said he never saw her at practice so how would she know. He said that players not on the ice are often working out and attending meetings, they aren’t at home sleeping.
It had something to do with her! Memory doesn’t always serve the best hehe.
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.
Totally agree. I think a common misconception when guys miss an optional practice is that they are still in bed watching "Price is Right" while the rest of the team is busting their ass on the ice. The truth is all the guys are at the rink, and those not participating in the practice are getting treatment or doing some light cardio. Whatever they feel they need to be ready to roll for game 2.
by 7-Hole Glove Side on Apr 14, 2011 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Exactly. In a related story, the official NY Rangers twitter account reports that Mark Staal is riding a stationary bike while his team practices. I wonder if that’s the same stationary bike his D partner Girardi was riding on during the game winning goal?
Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...
by dcsportsfan1 on Apr 14, 2011 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d definitely like the team leader to hold a little something back in a playoff overtime game so he has enough energy to make it to the optional practice the next day
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Apr 14, 2011 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
Let’s hope they didn’t jump out to a hot start with 30+ blocks, only to crash back to earth the in game 2 with 11 blocks, like last year…
by Berube Doobie Doo on Apr 14, 2011 12:12 PM EDT reply actions
Was thinking the same thing.
And yet…feels different than that first-round series last year, no?
Sunrise, sunset, swiftly fly the years. One season following another, laden with happiness and tears.
Yes. Semin scored.
If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.
by zephyr on Apr 14, 2011 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions 15 recs
Come from behind victory in a 1 goal game, where they didn’t panic or kick themselves for every missed chance or that 1 goal against.
Seems different to me.
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.
Well, this time we WON in OT off a shot from the slot, instead of losing in OT off a shot from the slot.
by Berube Doobie Doo on Apr 14, 2011 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Didn’t the shot blocks slow down last year because they spent 58minutes of each game in MTL’s zone? =D
If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.
by zephyr on Apr 14, 2011 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions 6 recs
True story.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Apr 14, 2011 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
32 in a night is a great number (even if you consider it’s an OT game) – especially because they ended up with more than the Rangers. They out-Rangered New York, really.
What’s stunning to me is how low some of those totals were over the past 4 years and how the average is closer to 15 than the new high. Shows both a tendency to steer away from that in the past and a vastly improved willingness to take the body this year, which is so important and often overlooked in the whole broader theme of “they’re playing better D”. Everyone’s buying in.
Hopefully it continues.
Sunrise, sunset, swiftly fly the years. One season following another, laden with happiness and tears.
I think its also important to note the shot differentials the blocked shots caused. IF all those blocked shots were actually SOG the caps go from a +8 advantage (25vs33) to a +4 (57vs61). And if the caps went with their previous average of about 15, the rags could of gotten 17 more shots and out shot the caps 42 to 33.
Just further musings on why blocked shots are indeed, a sexy stat.
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.
Is there any correlation between block shots and wins? I’m at work so I can’t exactly run the numbers…
@addc
Hard to say. It’s a tough stat to pull in mass quantities unless you have some kind of database (we got these off the individual event summaries from each game). My guess is they’re not really directly related but higher numbers are an indicator that the whole team is sacrificing the body and you’re at least making it harder for the other team to score/win.
Sunrise, sunset, swiftly fly the years. One season following another, laden with happiness and tears.
A good point that Vogs made on Wednesday’s Caps Report is that it’s a misleading stat because blocks only come up when a team doesn’t have possession. Teams that have to play defense all the time end up with higher block totals.
I’ve got to believe that there’s a better way of measuring shut down defense, but don’t know enough advanced stats to say what. Some kind of function relating blocks and corsi maybe?
Moneypuck. The new book is coming out soon. This time, sabremetrics actually refers to Buffalo.
@addc
by addc on Apr 14, 2011 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Slight negative correlation, I’ve read, for the reasons you say Vogs states.
My blog and Twitter, featuring coverage of the most frustrating team in the NHL
If you don't know how to use Timeonice, read this.
Behindthenet quick link to QoC/QoT/Corsi/PDO/Zonestarts
"Numbers don't lie, they just don't agree with you"--George E. Ays
If I reference a lot of stats, just assume I haven't seen anything to contradict or invalidate them.
by red army line on Apr 14, 2011 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions
While this is true at a team level, there are some players (Volchenkov, Michalek, to name a couple) who generate more blocks than their peers per Corsi event against. That’s a very valuable skill, because you’ve essentially lowered the other team’s real shooting percentage.
One of the neat things about the scoring chance counting as it’s presently constructed is that it doesn’t count blocked shots as chances, so a player who’s better at blocking should come out further ahead than they would in Corsi analysis.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Apr 14, 2011 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Although that one player then morphs the data set for every player on the ice, particularly if you have a 5 man unit that always plays together, like NYR did for most of the year.
First Round Exit! (Clap Clap ClapClapClap) First Round Exit!
Yeah, but we can pretty clearly disambiguate who’s doing the blocking in this case, no?
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Apr 14, 2011 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Outstanding article from Sunny Mehta on the subject
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Apr 14, 2011 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't think so
Regular season team blocked shots:
1 NYI 1387
2 TOR 1323
3 PHI 1317
4 NYR 1301
5 ATL 1292
6 MTL 1272
7 WSH 1257
8 TBL 1249
9 ANA 1248
10 EDM 1219
11 CGY 1209
12 DAL 1204
13 CAR 1203
14 COL 1176
Man, I’m sure the NYI and TOR shot blocks correlate with them just being shelled all year.
If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.
IIRC, blocked shot totals are negatively correlated with winning – i.e., high blocked shot totals tend to lead to losing.
And it’s as you speculate: teams that have the opportunity to block high numbers of shots are spending too much time in their own zone.
On an individual-game basis, though, I think it’s better to have blocked shots than SOG, so I dunno…
Patron saint of quality footwear.
IIRC, blocked shot totals are negatively correlated with winning – i.e., high blocked shot totals tend to lead to losing.
See below – you are correct.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Nice pull.
Sort of tangentially on-topic here, blocked shots count as a Corsi Event of course, and the Caps won the Corsi battle pretty solidly.
Corsi IS predictive of victories. I wonder if high blocked shot totals enhance or detract the predictivity. In other words, while you’re winning the Corsi war, do you win more often when you block a bunch of shots, or less often.
I have zero idea how to begin looking at that, so it’s a useless question, but I still wonder.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
In the short run, Corsi seems better because of increased sample size, but longer run, Fenwick is better because blocked shots are in part a skill for the blocking team. At least, that’s what I gather. (JLikens)
My blog and Twitter, featuring coverage of the most frustrating team in the NHL
If you don't know how to use Timeonice, read this.
Behindthenet quick link to QoC/QoT/Corsi/PDO/Zonestarts
"Numbers don't lie, they just don't agree with you"--George E. Ays
If I reference a lot of stats, just assume I haven't seen anything to contradict or invalidate them.
by red army line on Apr 14, 2011 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Money quote:
Having a lot of shot blocks has zero relationship with goals against and penalty killing percentage, and has a very, very slightly positive relationship with save percentage.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
___
From that same post, here’s how things correlate with winning:
Blocked shots is SB/G here, btw.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Apr 14, 2011 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
From that same post, here’s how things correlate with winning:
Since it talks about winning, exactly where on the chart is the correlation between winning and the amount of tiger blood involved?
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Apr 14, 2011 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Its on a 3 axis graph because its also directly correlated to how much Wizard is involved.
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.
What bout percentage of attempted shots blocked? If a team fires 100 shots on goal in a game, its because you’re getting dominated and blocking 30 isn’t a big deal. If a team attempts 35 and you block 15, that says a lot more, no?
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
by Sombrero Guy on Apr 14, 2011 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions
No question. These are just aggregate numbers – obviously there are individual cases to which they wouldn’t necessarily apply very well.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Right. How long has shots attempted been kept as a stat, and where could the numbers be found?
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
by Sombrero Guy on Apr 14, 2011 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions
WSH Blocked Shots
2009-10 Montreal
Game 1 30 – L
Game 2 11 – W
Game 3 16 – W
Game 4 14 – W
Game 5 15 – L
Game 6 12 – L
Game 7 11 – L
2008-09 New York
Game 1 10 – L
Game 2 13 – L
Game 3 13 – W
Game 4 7 – L
Game 5 21 – W
Game 6 12 – W
Game 7 11 – W
2008-09 Pittsburgh
Game 1 17 – W
Game 2 23 – W
Game 3 15 -L
Game 4 9 – L
Game 5 17 – L
Game 6 7 – W
Game 7 13 – L
2007-08 Philadelphia
Game 1 14 – W
Game 2 12 – L
Game 3 11 – L
Game 4 21 – L
Game 5 16 – W
Game 6 9 – W
Game 7 19 – L
@addc
i dig this stat!
i just hope (1) that no one gets seriously hurt because of the blocking (see e.g. Callahan) and (2) that we keep it up. in that order of priority.
would also echo the +27! can’t wait to see THE BEARD. I was in spain last year during the playoffs, so i’m siked to see it progress. . .
What I wonder is why there isn’t more protection around the ankle area. Is there enough already and things just happen, or do players not want to put more there because of added weight, or that it hinders skating?
by redpezrocket on Apr 14, 2011 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Some guys in the NHL wear skate fenders, which help protect your feet and lower ankles when blocking shots. I know there are guys on MTL and PHL that wear them.
One of the options you can get with custom skates is added padding to protect your ankles from shots. I tend to believe the skate fenders are more effective in that regard, and I’d prefer to see a guy like Alzner wear them.
I am a hockey fan first, and a Caps fan second.
by iwearstripes on Apr 14, 2011 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions
I think I recall reading at the beginning of the season that Alzner had extra protection in/on his skates for shot blocking. Don’t recall the details though.
At retail, if you’re willing to shell out the money, you can order custom skates with an insane number of options, obviously for pro players, that list gets even longer. I’d venture to say it’d be irresponsible as a shot blocking d-man not to order extra padding in the skate boot.
The fenders cover much of the same area where the boot of the skate offers protection, so I dunno how big an increase in protection they provide.
They’re kinda neat though. Pics on their site: http://www.skatefenders.com/
I am a hockey fan first, and a Caps fan second.
by iwearstripes on Apr 14, 2011 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions
A blocked shot is one more save a goalie doesn’t have to make
A blocked shot is one more shot that can’t be a goal.
Its not the flashiest stat, but its importance cannot be underestimated.
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.
It could also lead to NYR fans saying…“We got Neuvy’d!!!!”
"The longer I delay myself getting to the real world, the better." - Mike Knuble
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Apr 14, 2011 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
If it ends up being a huge team effort, it should be “we got Cap’d!”
by redpezrocket on Apr 14, 2011 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions
types of blocked shots?
I realize that there isn’t a stat on this, but I feel like there is a big difference between the shin pad blocks and the diving variety.
So now we’re going to get into “shot block quality”? Paging Neil…
Boss: "How's that task coming?" Alz: "Eh, it's trending Sasha." Boss: "What?" Alz: "..."
by Alz Well That Ends Well on Apr 14, 2011 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Our shot blockers are legitimately below average.
I can resist anything, except temptation.
by alisterio on Apr 14, 2011 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I didn’t like the starting line up as far as forwards are concerned yesterday. I think we got better as a team when Laich was on the same line with sasha and arnott, and the 3 speedsters are on the same line, sturm, chimera, mojo.
by Richard Arthur-Gyamfi on Apr 14, 2011 2:31 PM EDT reply actions
Sturm almost single-handedly set up a goal for Semin with a sweet center ice play. I like that trio, with two of our most playoff-savvy guys working with Jizz.
I’d like to see the third line changed, myself. Gimme:
16-90-21
Chimera was plenty physical last night but I don’t think this system can afford the drop-off in scoring ability. Gimme Fehr and Brooksy flanking Jojo
"You do that you go to the box, you know. Two minutes by yourself and you feel shame, you know. And then you get free."
by LucyImHome on Apr 14, 2011 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Fehr is in the dog house, no way he sees any icetime unless there is an injury.
by Richard Arthur-Gyamfi on Apr 14, 2011 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Hope you’re wrong. The Caps offensive margin for error is smaller than it was last year and I don’t think Chimera is a good compliment to 90 in terms of his ability to finish scoring chances
"You do that you go to the box, you know. Two minutes by yourself and you feel shame, you know. And then you get free."
90 and 25 seem to have chemistry. Both have speed and chimer brings the physical edge to that line. Mojo needs someone with physicality to compliment him. Plus he can chip in a goal here and there. Fehr I’m afraid is too soft. His production has been down after the classic, might be because of injury.
by Richard Arthur-Gyamfi on Apr 14, 2011 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions
i think LucyImHome and Richard (lucy and ricky?!) make good points — it’s painful to see Marjo manhandled and hopefully Chimmer can help with that, but at the same time, it’s just as painful to see the two of them fail to connect on the rush.
I think getting manhandled is just going to have to be part of MarJo’s evolution as a player. He has three options (not necessarily immediate but off-season and beyond):
1) Figure out how to fight through or avoid contact, i.e. become a more slippery player the way other small guys have adapted
2) Build up muscle and learn how to give back – and he could look to his countryman for help on the latter, Nick’s not the biggest guy but can put big guys on their ass
3) Let it beat him, in which case he’ll never really make it in the NHL
…oddly enough I don’t see him taking that third option. This series, against such a physical team, will be a great learning experience for him regardless.
Sunrise, sunset, swiftly fly the years. One season following another, laden with happiness and tears.
Strongly disagree. I bet we see him next game, and either Chimera, Brads, or Hendricks sits.
Matt Bradley: He has sensitive skin, no?
The 2nd has been more effective with Sturm instead of Laich. He is a great set-up man for Semin.
Matt Bradley: He has sensitive skin, no?
And I like Laich being able to take faceoffs for Johannson
Aim for the head baby Jesus
by Doncosmic on Apr 14, 2011 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Agree, Laich is an elite player in a 3rd line role in general. I thought he was great last night (though note the OT goal came on a play where he was out there with 44 and 28, and Laich’s forechecking pressure created the blown clear that 44 used to set up the goal.
Not sure about playoffs, but only seven reg season games (post lockout) had a team blocking more shots than the Caps’ 32 last night. Four are from this year.
Blogger for Russian Machine Never Breaks (RMNB) and WaPo's Capitals Insider
I also log the Caps scoring chances for 2010-11. The summary spreadsheet is posted on Google Docs.
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