Sunday Caps Clips: Ringing in the New Year Right
by EmilyB on Jan 1, 2012 9:00 AM EST
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PrintYour savory breakfast links:
- Recaps and other assorted musings on last night's win from
us, Vogs, Capitals Voice (audio), NHL.com, WaPo (gamer), CSNW (blog, Sorensen, Beninati), Frankovic, Peerless, RMNB, hockey yelling, RtR, and from the Jackets' perspective, the Columbus Dispatch. - Say, the new Alex Ovechkin looks a bit like the old Alex Ovechkin. [PHT]
- Dmitri Orlov doesn't seem to be Hershey-bound anytime soon. [WashTimes]
- "About last night...", Jason Chimera edition. [DCEx]
- Cody Eakin is on recall with the Caps this weekend, one year after his silver medal with Team Canada. Here's a look at his uncle Bruce Eakin and his 1982 teammates, thirty years after winning WJC gold. [Calgary Herald]
- Derik Johnson is a freshman defenseman for the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs and also the son of the Caps' new assistant coach Jim Johnson. Here's how Derik spent his winter break. [Fox 21 Online, Duluth News Tribune]
- The Hershey Bears will also roll into 2012 with a victory, but without their special New Year's Eve sweaters. Which is probably for the best. [SHoE, Caps Outsider]
- Evgeny Kuznetsov and Team Russia begin the new year with a quarterfinals date with the Czech Republic after giving up a third period three-goal lead and losing in overtime to Tre Kronor... [Breakaway Goal]
- ... and folks are still talking about that great game against Latvia. [THW]
- Crystal ballin' the new-look Patrick Division. Will the Caps be rugged enough? [OFB]
- 'Cos Daters gotta date. [Denver Post]
- Resolved. [Sick Unbelievable]
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Watching last night’s game this morning on Comcast On Demand. Super tempted to just fast forward to the third.
You tried your best and failed miserably. The lesson is "Never Try."
Instead of hitting a wall Orlov has seemed to continue to get better. Don’t see him going back to Hershey or sitting once Green comes back.
When Green gets back and if Orlov stays up, they’d have eight d-men. Would the Caps really keep two defensemen sitting in the press box every game? It would make sense for Dima to head back to Hershey and maybe work on his shooting some more, knowing the phone will ring for him before long.
Unless they are planning to make a trade.
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I just can’t see them sending Orlov down now to play Erskine instead. Having 8 D-men could come in handy during the playoffs.
Then they’ll recall him at that time.
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I believe in next year.
by red army line on Jan 1, 2012 11:53 AM EST via Android app up reply actions
Agreed…Dima is certainly one of the top 6 dmen. A team that needs to win and win now…that is all that matters. If that fact forces other actions (i.e. a trade) so be it. But you have to put your best players on the ice. #81 is one of the best D players.
This has been more evident every game he plays. One of the best D, and one of the best players for the Caps on the ice right now.
I’d say he’s been playing at mojo’s level this year which is suffice to say “pretty good for a rookie without THAT much hype behind him” for a rookie d that’s is a bit bigger of of praise in that he really hasn’t been a liability on ice and is using his offensive abilities with wisdom beyond the normal scope. He should definitely be a top 6 here but I wouldn’t go so far as to say one of the best caps recently – but I’ll take consistently good without many rookie mistakes playing wit weak linemates over sheltered time of occasional brilliance and also horrid play. I mean he’s been trending more rookie JC than rookie MG
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.
by breaklance on Jan 1, 2012 7:45 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
The odds of another D man going down (assuming Green in fact stays healthy, which as we know isn’t a lock) are also pretty good. But if they have 8 healthy, the reasonable thing would be to send him down. I bet they waive Schultz instead, though.
I’ll comment more on Schultz below, if someone hasn’t brought it up before me.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
I don’t see them waiving Schultz, they don’t want to lose him for nothing plus he has shown in the past he works best with Green so if when Green come back he has issues with other partners that could be when Schultz gets his chance.
___
Dater:
Remember all those chortling Washington Capitals fans, and the pundits who enabled them? Remember how they laughed at the Avs giving up a first- and second-round pick for Semyon Varlamov, and lauded Caps general manager George McPhee for scooping the hockey world in signing goalie Tomas Vokoun for a bargain price?
Those sounds you hear from Washington right now are crickets. Entering the weekend, the Avs had more victories and points than Washington, along with a victory in their only head-to-head matchup this season. It might turn out that Washington picks higher in this year’s draft with its own pick than Colorado’s.
And if not? Well, it doesn’t appear the Caps will be getting any No. 1 pick out of the deal.
I don’t get it. The Caps got a 1st and a 2nd for a guy who currently has a losing record, a 3.05 GAA and a SV% of .897 and is backing up J.S. flippin’ Giguere. How is that not a fleecing?
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by J.P. on Jan 1, 2012 9:46 AM EST reply actions 6 recs
Agree. Caps current draft position is irrelevant. The value they will likely get from the COL first rounder alone (even if it is outside the top10) is enough to offset any value Varlamov brings to the Avs. The second rounder is just gravy.
I can work out the numbers, but trust me, this deal was a coup for WSH any way you slice it.
"Shots aren't the important thing. Scoring chances are way more important than shots." - Bruce Boudreau
See my work in the Washington Post and on ESPN Insider.
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by NGreenberg on Jan 1, 2012 10:05 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
More than that, it’s largely irrelevant how it turns out for COL – Varly wasn’t going to sign here, so GMGM parlayed an essentially dead asset into a 1st and a 2nd. No matter what Varly does for the Avs, it was a great trade for the Caps in terms of asset management.
That said, moving those picks for a goalie is probably going to be overpayment regardless, given the market for goaltenders. Decent G’s can be found without giving up anything more than money, as both Vokoun and Giguere have clearly demonstrated.
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While you can buy a decent goalie for just cash, it’s harder to buy a goalie of the future if you are just looking at unrestricted free agents. The Avs have said stuff indicating that they were taking the long term view, wanting a young guy to grow with their young team. Big difference between a 35 year old guy vs a 23 year old RFA. Now, whether their decision to take a young guy was the best strategy for them is another issue, especially since they didn’t want to get a full time goalie coach for the young guy. But the Avs organization has been absolutely awful at developing goalie talent (notice how all their goalies play better after leaving their team) so maybe they thought they had to buy some already developed talent.
I do think they overpaid for him, but it works out just fine for the Caps. Not sure they got quite what they expected with Varly, but I think it’s their own fault for not getting him a full time coach. They had to know the big risk they were taking trading for a young goalie. Probably they thought it was more injury risk vs performance risk. I’m actually amazed that Varly has been so healthy so far.
There are always a guy or two who have plenty of years left that are available each year. This year it was Mike Smith (29) who has done of good job of replacing Bryz in Phoenix and Michael Leighton (30) who wouldn’t have cost much and Philly is just leaving him in the AHL right now.
Two years ago it was Craig Anderson (28) and after he couldn’t agree to a deal with the Hawks Neimi (25) was a UFA and had just won the Cup.
You could also go with the cheap trade route and get someone like a Al Montoya who cost NY just a 6th round choice. And while he has played less games his GAA and SV% are better then Varly’s over his career.
There are also trades that don’t cost a whole lot.
It seems like the Avs decided they wanted a young talented guy like Varly and paid whatever they had to in order to get him. McPhee said four other teams were interested as well, so the Avs must have had to outbid them to get the trade (unless they were stupid enough to just offer way more than all the other teams but I find that unlikely). I guess they decided he was more talented than someone like Leighton, but you are right, there were other options, such as signing Brian Elliott instead of letting him go. Obviously you can argue the strategy and value and all but it’s hard to know how it all plays out now as far as his performance, he’s got a three year contract with them and will still be RFA at the end of it.
He’s ignoring all context. Caps would have never kept Varly so Dater can’t say Caps shouldn’t have traded him. Dater is also ignoring that it’s January 1 and there is a lot of hockey to play. Points standings is a very fluid way of measuring eventual successes or potential.
by jopierce on Jan 1, 2012 10:20 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
The Avalanche could finish last and Dater still wouldn’t consider it a fleecing. Just about anyone with their head on straight would consider it a fleecing even if Colorado made the playoffs.
Notice that Dater always seems to be the one that brings this up. I’m guessing that’s a result of his absurdly vocal opinion when the trade went down. He’ll take any opportunity to spin the story a bit as long as it makes Colorado (and himself) look better.
Yawn
I’ve never seen a journo covering any sport so overly concerned about what an opposing fan base 2000 miles away thinks about a trade. Looking forward to his spin of the #5-ish overall pick being a bust before he puts on Caps colors.
Cross check and all call.
From following the Avs this season, Dater is a troll, he isn’t worth engaging.
But upon what do you base Varly being the backup? He has started 26 games so far. Sure, he hasn’t played much recently but he had that minor back injury on 12/15. Since then, he started two games and played well. He played very well in the third period against the Coyotes in his last game, with some incredible saves and he was 2nd star (.926 sv% in the win, 2 goals against). I think he would have started the next game, which was last night, but it was against Anaheim and Giggy said he had been talking to the coach all season about getting to play in Anaheim. It was Giggy’s first time back there since being traded. Giggy also said very recently that he is able to play very well this season because as a backup he has enough time to take care of his body. Giggy has played very well this season but I am not convinced he can physically handle being the starter, especially in CO with his water absorption issues.
Looking at Varly’s overall stats is not the best way to understand how he’s played this season. He has been very inconsistent, I think possibly due to not having a goalie coach. He has had some absolute stinker games but has also played very well in many games. Of his 26 starts, he’s had 15 games with a sv % above or equal to .900, 12 games greater than or equal to .926 sv %. His home/road splits are also quite different. At home he has played 15 games, .926 sv %, 2.26 GAA. He played 11 games on the road, with .868 sv % and 4.16 GAA. He does have a losing record but 12-13-1 is barely losing.
I think the Avs organization is stupid for not getting him a full time coach, especially considering how much they paid for him and how he’s proven to be inconsistent. But I don’t think you can say he’s a bust yet, too small of a sample size. Giggy’s not going to be the Avs starter for years to come, Varly still has time to learn to settle down. Goalie Guild recently said earlier in December about Varly: “When he gets older and calms everything down and lets pucks hit him, he will be capable of being insanely good.”
upon what do you base Varly being the backup?
Mostly snark related to the fact that Jiggy’s been much better and has gotten the bulk of the starts of late.
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Bulk of the starts of late I think is due to the minor injury, and the whole visiting the old team thing, as well as Jiggy playing very well. Plus when Varly is very inconsistent (playing badly) they sit him out until he regains his composure. Sometimes the news gets out that he is working with the goalie coach during those periods but I don’t know how much McLean is around. But I still think Varly is their starter as long as he can continue to string together some good games and not totally suck. Overall, Giggy has been better, but Varly has outplayed him in many games, but Giggy hasn’t had the awful games that Varly has sometimes. Giggy has also been a really good leader for the team, he has a very good attitude and is speaking up and being a veteran leader. I actually have thought about that in relation to Vokoun recently. Haven’t been impressed with Vokoun being a veteran leader at all this season.
I can understand responding to Dater with snark, he acts like a real jackass. I feel bad for Avs fans that he is the one beat reporter most of the time. Mike Chambers at the D.P. has been covering the Avs more recently and it’s been a breath of fresh air to not deal with Dater as much.
Someone should ask Dater how much worse the Caps would be if they had Varlamov instead of Vokoun, who for all his warts this season has been way better than Varlamov.
It’s funny that Dater is now essentially claiming this trade to be a victory for the Avs just because the Caps aren’t getting the #1 overall pick. He’s conveniently ignoring anything dealing with the actual return the Avs have gotten from the trade.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Jan 1, 2012 5:42 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t think the comparison you are making is entirely accurate. Varly has been worse for a variety of reasons, part of it was the adjustment to a new team and new conference and then no full time goalie coach has a big effect in my opinion. So I think it’s reasonable to assume he would have played better than he has, had he remained with the Caps. I don’t think you can say he’d have the exact same results or stats with the Caps. Goalies are strange creatures though, who really knows how they are going to play. I never would have expected Vokoun to play worse this season and Neuvy to lose his confidence which he seemed to have in abundance and play really worse. If I had to pick for Varly, I would have expected him to play better but have more injuries, which he hasn’t.
Dater is an idiot, it’s best to ignore him in my opinion because he is not going to engage logically with people on this topic.
I don’t really care why Varlamov is putting up the numbers he’s putting up. And Dater is clearly not looking for in depth analysis of the trade. But the fact of the matter is that if the Caps were getting Varlamov’s numbers instead of Vokoun’s numbers they’d be even worse off. The point is that Dater should look in his own backyard before chuckling about the Caps underperforming in the first half.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Jan 1, 2012 6:11 PM EST up reply actions
Theo got hurt last night. His knee. They were saying he might lose a few weeks.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Caps are only five points back with two games in hand. Same number of wins (20). Time to make a move…
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Caps… but I meant time to make a move in the standings.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Gotcha…agreed.
Will be curious to see if they can have a successful West coast gig (can’t remember them winning in SJ for a long while). Will be sporting the #22 at Staples Center for LA game…wooohooo!
Good luck, ral. They haven’t won in LA for a long time either (or even beaten the Kings in VC, for that matter). Can that sorry trend reverse?
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
I have memories of seeing a Bondra overtime winner at Staples quite a few years ago….as well as one of the last games Bruce Cassidy coached before getting canned.
I’ll try to put out a call for LA based Rink-readers for a get together before the game on Monday—there’s a few of us out here.
We're Hüsker Dü and we're on MTV. Who are you, and what are you on?
by bilspacecadet on Jan 1, 2012 1:36 PM EST up reply actions
I'll be there.
Don’t have a ticket yet though…
It's not that I don't like people, I'm just happier when they're not around - Hank Chinaski
Me neither—still trying to count some heads—assume I’ll go thru Stubhub
We're Hüsker Dü and we're on MTV. Who are you, and what are you on?
by bilspacecadet on Jan 1, 2012 2:07 PM EST up reply actions
I work downtown in the arts district and know of some good bars and whatnot we could meetup at but they’re probably too far from Staples unless we cab or bus over – I walk from my video store at 4th and Main but it’s a bit of a hike – 25 minutes or so. Everything nearby Staples is sterile and expensive but alas, probably the most convenient.
It's not that I don't like people, I'm just happier when they're not around - Hank Chinaski
Yeah, no I figured the meet-up would be downtown. Can’t make everybody schlep to some location that would be inconvenient for half the group.
We're Hüsker Dü and we're on MTV. Who are you, and what are you on?
by bilspacecadet on Jan 1, 2012 5:46 PM EST up reply actions
major, major blow for the kitties. Theo was in one of those grooves. Clemmenson isn’t going to be able to keep that up, imo.
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Markstrom was pretty good, though.
"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."
I’m curious about Markstrom. not quite prepared to anoint him this season’s Varly :)
Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION! Season Pledge total--$718.07!
I think he’s pretty young (ELC) and they wanted him in the AHL. I remember him getting the start against the Caps in October for I think his first start; only gave up two goals (lost anyway, it was during the 7-0 run).
"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."
Curious if anyone knows why Wideman isn’t credited with an assist on Ovi’s first goal. Only thing I can think of after watching the replay is that maybe it touched the defender’s stick on the way? I don’t think it did, but it was close.
"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."
I think it did, but I thought you had to have possession, and that wasn’t. Anyway, I think I read that arenas, like with hits and giveaways, are inconsistent in crediting assists (from one of the usual suspects) . Maybe Columbus is stingy.
Red Line Station and @RedArmyLine, featuring coverage of the most frustrating team in the NHL
I believe in next year.
by red army line on Jan 1, 2012 10:19 AM EST via Android app up reply actions
Eight victories in December, after all.
Mmmmmm, gravy.
I don't always drink beer...
by Acer Jonesy's Laughker on Jan 1, 2012 10:18 AM EST reply actions
How did Schultz look in general?
Knuble: "I am what I am. I play well with good players."
On his milestone: "It's going to be like unwrapping a birthday present. Then the day after you're kind of like [sighs]....Now you just have to keep going."
Agreed, very strong performance from 44 last night
Over a nagging injury, perhaps? That would answer the question of where all that youthful exuberance on the rush was in the first 30 games. He looks like a new man out there.
Would have had another assist had Knuble converted his golden scoring chance, too.
Cross check and all call.
Agreed, looked like a different player and had more speed than I have seen from him in since he’s been here.
Ditto. He looked like he did in the preseason, i.e. more speed, good puck distribution, etc. Assuming he stays (which his contract would necessitate even if his improved play didn’t) will present player management issues for Dale. He clearly needs to be preserved for the playoffs so his time will need to be ratcheted back during the season. By doing that, however, he wouldn’t want to tire out 27, 74, 81, 6, 52 (!) so it should be interesting to watch. I vote for playing 7 D (Schultz, Ersk?), giving all some periodic rests.
I was at the game and I noticed Hamr jumping up on the play more than I had before. Also he seemed to have a bit of snarl and was giving it to some of the forewards after the play had gone up the ice
by Beakers Lab on Jan 1, 2012 1:17 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
He made one bad giveaway in the first that didn’t lead to a goal but led to several chances and then sat for a long time in the second before finally getting a few shifts the rest of the game. Other then the one bad play he looked fine. Even knocked a guy down once. But it seems with him he steps into the game with 2 strikes against him already with this coaching staff.
Thanks everyone. It’s a bit of a head scratcher with Schultz—if he really doesn’t fit the system they still need to play him in order to trade him.
Knuble: "I am what I am. I play well with good players."
On his milestone: "It's going to be like unwrapping a birthday present. Then the day after you're kind of like [sighs]....Now you just have to keep going."
by capsyoungguns on Jan 1, 2012 11:20 AM EST up reply actions
Schultz coughed up a dreadful giveaway on I think his second shift, and it led to a very high quality scoring chance for the Jackets. He also failed to win a couple of puck battles that I noticed.
That probably sealed his fate. I expect he’ll head back to Nacho Duty until the next B2B.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
___
Last night’s Fenwick timeline:
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I don’t understand why you guys say stuff like this. Against a good opponent, they likely would’ve played the game entirely differently. But it was their second game in as many nights and their third game in four against a team they don’t really play very often. And FWIW, against a good opponent, they won 4-1 earlier this week.
by Release The Mackan! on Jan 1, 2012 1:58 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, they did beat NYR while getting outshot and outchanced. They were lucky.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good, but I hesitate to believe for a second that the Capitals are not earning their wins. Dale’s system is still a work in progress, and the team is in transition. But they’re still 6-3-1 in their last ten games, stringing three in a row, and allowing only four goals in the past three games.
What matters is that they’ve managed to stymie offense of other teams. They blocked 22 shots last night. Twenty-two. What does that tell you? That CBus took a ton of perimeter shots all game. Yes, they took a few into the slot and converted on two of them. But the Capitals played pretty consistent defense for most of the game I thought, especially for a team that is playing their third game in four days. And I cannot stress that fact enough.
If they were playing a team other than Columbus, they might have lost. But I’m not one to speculate what might or might not have happened against Columbus if they were not “lucky.” They grinded out the third period, got a few good bounces, and scored on the power play. They won the game, and have match FLA’s win total with two games in hand.
How much longer are you guys going to continue to make excuses for this team’s victories?
by Release The Mackan! on Jan 1, 2012 2:26 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Blocked shots correlate negatively with wins. Sooner or later, if you give up enough attempts at net, a couple are going to pinball in, some will fall right on another attacker’s tape for a tap-in, etc.
I saw in one of the clips that Johnson wants the team to block 22-25 shots a game. I shuddered.
It’s truly turning the game into a coin flip while effectively adding some weight to the opponent’s side of the coin.
Patron saint of quality footwear.
Blocked shots correlate negatively with wins.
Truth. One of the first ESPN posts I did looked into this, specifically, Tampa Bay and the playoffs
Here were some of the key findings:
Wrist shots were the type most frequently blocked during even strength but they represent an “average” shot in the NHL, a shot any goalie should be able to stop. The next most frequent were slap shots which are well below average in quality, originating from beyond the top of the circles and carrying a below-average success rate.
Blocking shots on the penalty kill doesn’t appear to take away better-quality chances from the opposition, either. In fact, a larger portion of shots blocked are slappers from beyond the top of the faceoff circles which have a small likelihood of becoming goals, even with the goalie screened.
The reality is the majority of shots being blocked are of low quality, and teams that block a lot of shots do so by necessity because they are spending a majority of their ice time in their own end without possession of the puck.
"Shots aren't the important thing. Scoring chances are way more important than shots." - Bruce Boudreau
See my work in the Washington Post and on ESPN Insider.
Follow me on Twitter @ngreenberg
Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good
Just submitted a WaPo article on this that should run tomorrow. Spoiler: not for the playoffs it isn’t.
"Shots aren't the important thing. Scoring chances are way more important than shots." - Bruce Boudreau
See my work in the Washington Post and on ESPN Insider.
Follow me on Twitter @ngreenberg
Really? I have a hard time believing that, but we’ll see.
Red Line Station and @RedArmyLine, featuring coverage of the most frustrating team in the NHL
I believe in next year.
by red army line on Jan 2, 2012 12:39 AM EST via Android app up reply actions
Caps haven’t allowed a single third period goal in their last five games, just one in the last seven, two in the last nine. Granted, there are some games in there in which the opponent wasn’t exactly in need of any more offense in the last twenty minutes, but still.
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And 14 regulation goals allowed in the last eight games.
Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
Follow me on Twitter.
Killer for 24/7 – Bryz says he isn’t starting in the Winter Classic.
"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."
Killed by 24/7 is more like it.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
I Was Very Confused for a Moment
Read the recap on ESPN and was confused by the three-stars. Wardo as 2nd star seemed like the last joke of 2011.
I looked at NHL.com and realized someone at ESPN was asleep at the keyboard last night. Wides was the 2nd star.
If I was Ward, I might keep this as a memento of a less than stellar December.
Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
Follow me on Twitter.
It wasn’t just ESPN, the official Game Summary said Ward got the 2nd star for about 10 minutes before it was corrected. ESPN’s database just didn’t download the correction.
by discuit on Jan 1, 2012 11:10 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
The scoreboard app I use had Mattias Sjogren with the secondary assist on Ovechkin’s second goal Friday night.
Say no to Prince Fielder in 2012.
by Knubles and Bits on Jan 1, 2012 2:32 PM EST up reply actions
Question: how do I figure out the PDO for a player? Saw Neil’s tweets—#Caps Ovechkin’s PDO (5v5 on-ice sh% + Sv%) was 976 under Boudreau, is 1036 under Hunter. Means Ovi seeing more “puck luck.” Will it last?—and am curious about how some of the other scorers are fairing with puck luck. Glad to see Ovi is at least getting some puck luck for a change.
Knuble: "I am what I am. I play well with good players."
On his milestone: "It's going to be like unwrapping a birthday present. Then the day after you're kind of like [sighs]....Now you just have to keep going."
Behindthenet.ca/stats_2012.html
Under the 5v5 scoring stats link, hit Washington. Change the top left drop down menu to Corsi. PDO is to the left of goal and shot rates, to the right of shooting and save percentage.
Red Line Station and @RedArmyLine, featuring coverage of the most frustrating team in the NHL
I believe in next year.
by red army line on Jan 1, 2012 11:58 AM EST via Android app up reply actions
Much obliged. I’m usually lazy and rely on posters such as you for this kind of information. Time for me to start doing my own research.
Knuble: "I am what I am. I play well with good players."
On his milestone: "It's going to be like unwrapping a birthday present. Then the day after you're kind of like [sighs]....Now you just have to keep going."
by capsyoungguns on Jan 1, 2012 1:02 PM EST up reply actions
For anyone interested
Here is a link to some pictures I took last night including a short video of the post game fireworks that looked like they messed up the ice pretty good. http://s365.photobucket.com/albums/oo98/icehammer97/Caps%20V%20Jackets/.
BTW I didn’t edit or clear up any of these so some are blurry. My favorite is actually a blurry one of Semin laughing, it is blurry because I was turning because at that point a puck Hendricks but over the glass hit my girlfriend at that point. She is ok, but kids got the puck before I could so she didn’t even get the puck.
three straight wins since we began the year 7-0
I don’t expect us to win all the rest of our games, but if we have more 5 wins out of 6 stretches, or at least 7 wins out of 10 game stretches, that should be enough, more than enough to get us home ice for at least one round, worst case scenario that is
FWIW, the Caps have the same number of wins as the Panthers with two games in hand. The Panthers’ position in the standings is inflated considerably due to taking games to OT … and losing.
Perhaps not as bad as New Jersey with the shootout, however…
by Release The Mackan! on Jan 1, 2012 2:00 PM EST up reply actions
and I think our points don't really show how good we are.
if we lost more in OT, we could be a couple spots or more ahead too. OT loss points can inflate a team that knows how to maximize its chances to win yet can’t close them out, and it can deflate a team that can dominate, but when it loses, it just loses.
Further to that point, here are the Clear Victory standings:
Boston Bruins (16-2, .889)
Pittsburgh Penguins (13-5, .722)
New York Rangers (13-5, .722)
Philadelphia Flyers (11-8, .579)
Washington Capitals (10-8, .556)
Winnipeg Jets (8-7, .533)
Florida Panthers (7-8, .467)
New Jersey Devils (6-8, .429)
Buffalo Sabres (7-10, .412)
Toronto Maple Leafs (7-10, .412)
Ottawa Senators (6-9, .400)
Montreal Canadiens (5-8, .385)
Tampa Bay Lightning (7-14, .333)
Carolina Hurricanes (6-12, .333)
New York Islanders (3-10, .231)
The bad news, of course, is that the Caps are nowhere near the elite teams in the conference. But they’ve been better than, say, the Cats.
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And Theodore just got hurt.
Say what you will about him, he’s been really good this year for them. Maybe Clemmy and Markstrom will maintain the pace but, I doubt it.
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I just cannt develop a rivalry against the Cats with Theo and Flashy In their team. I wish I could tho
What doesnt kill you makes you stronger.
by BetterOffWith28 on Jan 1, 2012 3:17 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Points wise, we are exactly one point behind the Devils, Ottawa, and Winnipeg. A winning streak would vault us ahead of them. I’ll admit to not being a “believer” in the long term success of Winnipeg who, in their last two years in Atlanta would get off to a good start and then fold during the last part of the season. Meanwhile, Ottawa is in a rebuilding year.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
But that’s the thing. We haven’t lost in OT. Both of our “OT” losses came from losing in the shootout gimmick. The Capitals are actually perfect in the OT period still. Should we try to take more games to OT? Absolutely. But I’d much rather they just win in regulation and be done with it. It’s more healthy for their mindset.
And just for the sake of your mentioning, I wouldn’t be surprised if OT losses are significantly more deflating, especially when giving up a lead. A loss is a loss. All that matters is that they reach the playoffs. First seed obviously changes nothing for this team.
by Release The Mackan! on Jan 1, 2012 2:37 PM EST up reply actions
But I don’t want this team to be below the fourth spot. The top teams in this conference are playing much better—don’t think meeting one of them in the first round is a recipe for success. They need to win the division.
Knuble: "I am what I am. I play well with good players."
On his milestone: "It's going to be like unwrapping a birthday present. Then the day after you're kind of like [sighs]....Now you just have to keep going."
by capsyoungguns on Jan 1, 2012 2:49 PM EST up reply actions
Emily, I enjoyed those two articles about Derik Johnson and what he got to do with the team while he was here. Thanks for posting the links to those. It must have been very exciting for him.
he sounds pretty over-the-moon to get to have Matt Hendricks forecheck him! not mentioned in either article, but Derik also made sure to give the little Knublets some attention the day I was there. Feeding them pucks for one-timers and stickhandling and stuff. passing on the favor to the younger ones, if you will.
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That video of Carlson playing with the Knublets after practice was so cute, but I don’t think they included Derik in the video at all. Thanks for sharing that story. Jimmy Johnson is from Minnesota, did his family grow up there, at least in the off-seasons? A Minnesota boy like Hendricks who played at SCSU would probably be a big hero to Derik. It was cute how excited he was by getting to skate with Green and Orlov as well.
Derik lists Blommington, MN (former home of the North Stars, current home of the Mall of America) as his hometown, so I assume they were back there every year. Derik, unusually for a UMD guy, played in the BCJHL. Most UMDers play USHL at some point before going to Duluth. Regardless, if I’m a freshman d-man, I’d be absolutely star-struck to have Mike Green pass to me.
Jim is a UMD product, too. and the school record holder for penalty minutes.
I’m guessing the Knublets were at the rink every day this week. Those boys are on the ice every day that they’re not is school. Such rink rats! Thursday, when I was there, Mike Knuble was out with them for a bit, then went off the ice. He eventually came back and was standing at the bench all but begging them to come off. “We’re leaving. NOW. Off the ice! NOW! What aren’t you getting about now? No, not five more minutes. NOW!”
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I know Bloomington, I grew up in Minnesota and some relatives still live there (I also recall your rant against Bloomington one day, it really isn’t that bad, it’s typical suburbia). Some of my relatives went to SCSU, I was up there in St. Cloud one day last summer and made my mom drive me past the hockey arena on campus. It’s surprisingly nondescript on the outside. Thanks for all the info. What is the BCJHL? Cute story about Knuble and his kids.
didn’t know you were from Minnesota :) BCJHL: British Columbia Junior Hockey League. A step down from the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL. Obviously, BCJHL preserves your NCAA eligibility, whereas the major junior leagues do not.
I think my distaste come from always getting lost there! Always ending up in some strip mall parking lot wondering how the heck I ended up there. Although Bloomington is home to by favorite street in the whole world: Killebrew Drive.
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Thanks for the explanation of BCJHL. I do not pay all that much attention to junior hockey other than the Caps prospects and I guess none of them played in BCJHL so I didn’t know about it.
Bloomington actually has a lot of stuff there, besides the mall, there is a lot of other shopping and then I think corporate headquarters for companies such as Best Buy. The airport is close by as well. I always liked that area when I still lived there in high school, but I did live in podunk area in high school, so maybe I was easily impressed. But I still like that area now, one of my siblings lives near there so I have been back there some in recent years.
Minnesota is a good place to grow up in regards to hockey. I never played ice hockey being female, but they made all kids play floor hockey in gym (elementary up to high school). They did have us ice-skating in gym class in elementary school so everyone did learn how to skate at a basic level. They used to flood the field next to the school and make a rink for the kids to skate on during recess and after school or during gym class (this was in St. Cloud). I do have fond memories of my podunk high school hockey team going to state hockey tourny down in the cities as well, they let us out of school to go down and watch them play.
MN state tourney always overlapped with the college baseball invite at the metrodome! Mr. B played college ball and between games, we’d veg out and watch HS hockey on TV.
I lived near-ish Duluth (On the WI side of things) for 6 years and the local schools did the same thing with flooding fields. We had an indoor rink in town, too. I think everyone put their kids on skates at 3 or 4.
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Well, RB, if you ever want to move to Annandale, VA, there’s a street named Killebrew Drive there — the longest street in that development. (Also for Harmon, as his team was the original Senators before moving to Minnesota and becoming the Twins.)
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Winter Classic’s all about the myth
This all would be some harmless fun if the Winter Classic were harmless.
Last January, as you might recall every time you check a Penguins game roster, it wasn’t.
Now, maybe David Steckel, then of the Capitals, would have nailed Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby with a purportedly accidental drive-by shoulder and nudged him down the foggy path to concussion in any given NHL rink. It probably could have happened anywhere on any night of the week. The fact is, it didn’t. It happened in the Winter Classic. Steckel nailed Crosby at Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field in conditions so wretched that you would not let a Bantam team practice in them.
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by J.P. on Jan 1, 2012 4:56 PM EST up reply actions 5 recs
It probably could have happened anywhere on any night of the week. The fact is, it didn’t. It happened in the Winter Classic. Steckel nailed Crosby at Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field in conditions so wretched that you would not let a Bantam team practice in them.because Crosby didn’t look at where the fuck he was going—something they teach you in mites—and turned right into Stekel’s path. Oh, and then the Pens staff decided to let him play the third period! And then the next game in Tampa! Geniuses.
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by RedBirdie on Jan 1, 2012 5:05 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
I was surprised when crosby played after the hit. Did any of the Pittsburg coaches look at the replay? It was a heck of a collition and Crosby was obviously dazzed as later shown i n 24/7
What doesnt kill you makes you stronger.
by BetterOffWith28 on Jan 1, 2012 5:15 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
the thing that has always struck me is how utterly unconcerned everyone—coaches, teammates, trainers—appeared immediately afterward. Crosby laying on the ice? no one cares. Crosby skating over to the bench doubled over? No one cares. someone cried wolf one too many times, apparently.
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Maybe he told them he was okay… and he certainly wanted to finish the game on such a big stage. Concussion rules weren’t as fixed then…
I think it is something with the team and their training staff. Letang this year is just another example. They now have the concussion rules in and they still had him go back out without following any of them and it cost them again. Seems they didn’t learn and still want everyone to feel sorry for them.
I dunno what they were thinking. He missed his 6-skater shift. He is perhaps the best player in the game and knows he is the go-to guy for the extra skater and he missed it. If that wasn’t a clue that he was not all there, I have no idea what would tip them off.
↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → b a (select) start
And then they let him keep playing more games so he got the second hit. It’s possible that he would have had way less damage if he only had the Steckel collision and not the Hedman hit on top of it. Also, they put Letang back in a game concussed this season. They also let Malkin play in that one game against the Caps when he was having knee issues and played in no other games around that time. I really wonder why their medical staff doesn’t get more questions about all this.
let me go put my tinfoil hat on…….
Because they are the Penguins are they are not to be criticized. EVER.
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I was at that game and the sight conditions weren’t that bad and have played in Chevy Chase in much worse. Between this guy and Adrian Dater it seems SI is on a mission to try and take down the Winter Classic. That or it is just the fact that the two of them know that there is not much of a chance that either of their teams, Habs or Avs, will get one any time soon. The problem with the West is not just that it is smaller markets but also other then a few teams that are close, such as LA and the Ducks, there are no close teams and this event thrives on fans from both teams coming and I just don’t see many fans from Detroit (Av’s most likely opponent) would go all the way to Colorado to see the game. Also even in his own recent article the biggest thing that Dater had going for playing in Colorado is Tim Tebow would be there. ‘Nuff said there. As for the Habs, this event is an NBC event and NBC won’t profit as much with a Canadian team in the game let alone the game being in Canada. Two people with sour grapes.
nah, there’s about a bazillion Detroit expatriates in Denver. the ones in Detroit don’t have to travel because there’s enough Detroit fans in almost every other non-rustbelt city to give that team a sizable contingent of fans.
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Yes, Detroit fans really take over Avs-Wings games in Denver. I guess it’s like DC being overtaken with expat Pittsburgh/Buffalo residents that live here now. The Avs fans were quite upset about the first game of the season against the Wings being sold out and many couldn’t get tickets to see the Forsberg jersey retirement ceremony, plus the way their fans act at those games.
Can’t speak to how Detroit fans are in Denver, but I’m always a little surprised at how well-behaved and generally pleasant they are in DC. Maybe it’s the lack of blood feud. Maybe it’s because Detroit hasn’t won here in a while. (Maybe it’s because Mr. B knows he should accept his beatdown without too much fuss. because Conklin sucks)
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I think it’s the lack of a blood feud. I read MHH and I was surprised by the teams they hate, well it’s logical they dislike them, but I feel only apathy for the Wild and the Wings. I can get behind the Canucks hate a little easier. I haven’t heard really awful stories on there about Wings fans in Denver, but it does sound like they can be quite obnoxious. Like Steelers fans in DC.
Avs fans hate Minnesota? Interesting. I mean, I dislike Minnesota this year because of the trapping and the Heatley and they more trapping. But they’re not exactly a threatening time, ya know? Plus, I love when Wild fans come to DC! They’re always up for a post-game drink. lots of fun.
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I read this crazy suggestion about having an outdoor Panthers-Lightning game in the new Miami Marlins stadium. Basically they would make the ice with the retractable roof closed, A/C on max w/ dehumidifiers, then open it a few hours before gametime. It would never happen as the Winter Classic, because the markets are way to small, but it seems like they could play an outdoor game there, if they figured out the financing.
Then again, they’ve had months in the ballpark in Philly to get the ice right and they apparently haven’t. It was one thing last year when the Steelers last game was only a couple weeks before…
I was at the game too — the VC ice has been worse in terms of player safety. The puck was playing a little funny but it wasn’t like guys were wiping out left and right and for sure it didn’t somehow cause both Steckel and Crosby to be watching the play rather than seeing where they were going.
I mean, hell, Knuble and Shanahan collided just about as violently on the MSG (I think?) ice and I didn’t see Farber raining tears over that.
Comrades, leave me here a little, while as yet 't is early morn:
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yeah, MSG. I think that one is still scarier, what with Shanny being out cold on the ice.
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Poor ilia ‘the universe’ bryzgalov, he’s not playing tomorrow
What doesnt kill you makes you stronger.
by BetterOffWith28 on Jan 1, 2012 5:09 PM EST via mobile reply actions
His first comment about it:
"I have great news and even better news," Bryzgalov said. "Great news: I’m not playing tomorrow night. Good news: We have a chance to win the game."
Here’s the rest of the interview, once they turned the camera on.
Puck Daddy also has video. Hilarious and well worth viewing.
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He posted a pic of his thermos on twitter. What an entertaining guy. Bryz seems like he has a good attitude about it at least. Goalie Guild has been saying Bryz was distracted by 24/7 and his fame which caused him to not play as well.
He seems likes genuine nice guy. I find him hilirious in 24/7 but i wonder what flyers fans think of him especially after that press conference.
What doesnt kill you makes you stronger.
by BetterOffWith28 on Jan 1, 2012 11:43 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
From @ovi8:
ovi8 Alex Ovechkin Чтобы быть №1 для всех , нужно быть №1 для себя. Это мой план на 2012. #ядаюслово А ты? #makeitcount gonike.me/MakeItCount
My translation – “In order to be #1 for everyone/in everything/overall, you have to be #1 for yourself. That’s my plan for 2012. #This is my word. And you?”
Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
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Ovi had also tweeted the same sentiment in English as well a little earlier.
To be #1 for all you have to work hard to be #1 for yourself first. This is my 2012 plan. What’s yours? #makeitcount
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
I was close. Didn’t use Google Translate or anything.
Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
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Nike campaign, as an FYI.
"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg
Keep United in DC. A Fair Deal at RFK, and a Pathway to a Stadium for a team loyal to the city.
You mean it’s a contrived tweet? Bummer.
Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
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Besides Ovi, several of the other Caps have tweeted. Carlson reported that he was on I66 when the ball dropped for 2012. Alzner reports getting a new dog; i.e. Duncan, and he and Oisk suggest getting the dogs together. Eakin was asking the question on what MP has in common with a jellyfish.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
They flew back last night? They should’ve stayed in Columbus and had a little (optional) team celebration at the hotel, and let the guys who wanted to go out go out.
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Capitals goal scored by #22, Mike...
by KNUUUUUUUUUUBLE on Jan 2, 2012 1:02 AM EST up reply actions
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