Thursday Caps Clips: Jacked in C'Bus

Amen, sistah.

two goals and six points in nine postseason contests

Six points, not assists.

So based on Masisak’s rationale, Joel Ward is going to contend for the Art Ross this year.

I think Johansson’s second half is more indicative of what we’ll be seeing this year than his playof numbers.

On Vokoun, my husband is a devotee of Strat-o-Matic sports game. Every year the Panthers would do far & away better than expected due to Vokoun’s stats. In his version of the 2007-2008 season, the Panthers actually won his Southeast Division. And

Given his previous handful of seasons (and Florida’s shititude), there’s no reason to think last year was anything more than a blip. Declining skills? Sure. That sharp a decline? Not bloody likely.

Vokoun’s 5v5 score tied Sv%
2011 0.921
2010 0.943
2009 0.941
2008 0.914

Neuvirth was 0.911 last year. Vokoun will be fine.

I agree with both you and the quote.

I think the article’s exactly right when it points out that there’s just not much room for improvement in goals allowed because the Caps’ team save percentage in the regular season last year was about the same as Vokoun’s. That probably means that Neuvirth/Varlamov/Holtby got lucky because Vokoun’s true talent is better than theirs. But for whatever reason, the Caps already got Vokoun-like goaltending last year. He’s not likely to make a huge difference versus last year in the regular season. (He could definitely make a difference in the playoffs.)

Florida posted a 2.75 GAA on 31.8 shots against per game; the Caps were at 2.33 on 29 shots against per game. There’s plenty of room for Vokoun to keep his sterling save percentage and post a great GAA, but for the Caps to give up both more shots and more goals this year than last year.

The Caps allowed 191 goals last year. If their shots allowed rises only moderately, from 29 to 30, and Vokoun gets 60 games at a .925 save percentage while Neuvirth gets 22 games at a .910 save percentage, then the Caps would give up 194 goals — more than last year.

I could definitely see shots against rising — I’m not convinced that what the team pulled off defensively last year is sustainable, particularly if Boudreau goes back to a more open system. And the margins between NHL goalies are small. If the difference between Vokoun and Neuvirth is the difference between .925 and .910, that actually translates to one extra goal allowed by Neuvirth every 66 shots. That’s more than two games.

So yeah, Vokoun could be in the Vezina conversation due to great personal numbers, and we could still see the Caps give up more goals than they did last year. And as for the article’s main prediction, “Washington will probably not see much of a reduction in goals against this coming season,” I agree with that. Giving up only 191 goals — 4th in the league last year — is really hard. I wouldn’t bet on it being much lower this year.

Yeah, that was awesome.

Nice little grin with that one, too.

Good on CSN.
Of course it would have been even better on CSN if they hadn’t shown Grubauer’s great save on Nash but credited it to Holtby on their 11pm broadcast (and STILL didn’t fix it when they did the overnight show), even though their own “Capitals Insider” had it right in the story he filed ON THEIR OWN WEBSITE at 10:04pm. Sheesh.

He’s attending the Congressional Black Caucus’ 41st annual meeting. He’s doing it to promote the NHL’s “Hockey is for Everyone” campaign.

Puck Buddys and NHL.com have a write up.

Today’s Noon Number actually is somewhat related to this… so please do feel free to continue the conversation there (if not here).

And yeah, it’s imperfect, obviously. Taken literally, a team that’s going to PK at 75% (0 points), have a 13% PP rate (0 points), .905 team save percentage (0 points) and a shot differential of +2.8 (4 points) is likely to do better than one that PKs at 80.9% (0 points), has a 23% PP (1 point), a .915 team save percentage (2 points), and a shot differential of +2.7 (0 points).

Pretty sure I know who I’d bet on in that series.

I think the reason shot differential seems a bit out of whack here is that we all know that there’s a score effect that goes along with Corsi/SOG rates – teams that trail outshoot teams that lead. And since teams that trail more often are likely to lose more often (how’s that for deep analysis), placing a premium on shot differential here cause some heartburn. One look at the team shot leaders for and against from last year suppresses the heartburn some, and the weight here is no doubt based on the correlation between that metric and winning… but it still feels a bit weird.

In Tuesday’s pre-season home-opener, Pinizzotto had two assists and five hits, including a slobber-knocker on Calgary Flames veteran Curtis Glencross.

Always liked Pinner. The article refers to him as a “policeman” but I’d call him more of an agitator: He was a big-time chirper out on the ice. Good for him on getting nine(!) offers and hopefully it will work out for him in Vancouver.

I can understand where he’s coming from. It always kind of bummed me out that he never managed to crack the lineup here.

Frankly, that’s yet another tragedy of last April’s second round exit. He was probably first in line to be a fourth line black ace if something had happened later on.

LIMITED free beer. As in, get there early if you want it.

Zero. At best, a callup – although I think even that is unlikely. Caps are too deep at forward right now.

And to answer your question, unless he starts spelling his name “Eakin,” “Sjogren,” or “Ovechkin,” he ain’t makin’ the team.

Wonder if he’s gonna be embarrassed to wear this abomination:

(Link)

And based on Nate Ewell’s tweet, it sounds like it was produced by our former backup-backup-backup-backup goalie.

I thought they had to deal with one less contract all season if they did that. At least, that was my understanding as to why it was not in the cards to sign Olie to a one day deal so he could retire as a Cap.

Shouldn’t they be on the hook for the cap hit for him retiring on a contract he was 35+ when he signed?

My guess is they’re not actually filing the contract – he’ll sign it and they’ll throw it in the shredder or whatever. If they file it and the League waives its magic wand, that’s crap.

The hole thing is hokey PR schtick…

Of all the stupid sports-related traditions, this “retire as” stuff has to be among the dumbest. Smacks of an outsized ego that a player would want/demand such pomp and circumstance. Also smacks of despiration for a team to have to celebrate yesterday’s heros to get some PR.

How about the Stars simply put out a nice press release or newspaper add congratulating Modano on a wonderful career and looking forward to when the number 9 will hang from the rafters at [Highest Naming Rights Bidder] Arena. Oh, and Mike it would be great if you could bring your wife to said ceremony.

Pre-season is a lot of fun because it encourages different line combinations like this. This is two straight games (plus practices) with Marjo-Ovi together. It looks like Bruce is going to give this a serious test. Hendy is also getting a lot of ice time; would like to see him pot 9 or 10 goals and, say, 20-25 points. That would be terrific production if he could do that. He and Halpern should do some pretty cool things this year.

Bruce told reporters that Vokoun will play in Chicago tomorrow.

CI confirmed that lineup. They also mentioned that the “other” practice group; i.e. the one not going to Chicago, a group that included Semin, Backstrom, Brouwer, Neuvirth, Holtby, Hamrlik, and Wideman, did a modified bag skate during today’s practice.

throwing weagle shaped confetti! good for him, no matter the level.

I wonder if Frazee is any relation to the former owner of the Red Sox that had that last name, i.e. the one who had traded Babe Ruth.

(Well, we’re the team who traded Ted Ruth.)

does the NHL plan to permanently relocate to Pennsylvania soon, too?

I could see Chimmer seeing 4th line time this year depending on certain injuries and call ups. What if a 4th liner is injured and we want to take a look at MP? He’s not going to fill a 4th line roll and Chimmer might be the likely candidate to get bumped down.

I love the format, the explanation, all of it. It’s exactly where the NHL needs to be headed. Bravo, Brendan.

Thank goodness for justice.

barf. we were blissfully spared them during last night’s Pens-Wings game.