Sunday Caps Clips: Caps @ Pens Game Day

by EmilyB on Jan 22, 2012 9:55 AM EST in Caps Clips

Your savory Sunday brunch links:

Previews of today's final regular-season promenade with the Pens from Vogs, NHL.com (and again), SB Nation DC, Peerless, DSP, RMNB, CRtC, Hockey Hourly, and hockey yelling, and be sure to check out our SB Nation partner PensBurgh for more coverage from the other side of today's match-up.
Notes and assorted whatnot from yesterday's practice at Consol Energy Center. [Caps365 video (Hunter), Capitals Voice audio (Prior), WashTimes, WaPo, CRtC]
- Game notes. [@WashCaps]
- Will it be Tomas Vokoun or Michal Neuvirth in goal today? [WashTimes]
- Coach Hunter has confidence, or at least a lack of fear, in calling on his rookie blueliners. [WashTimes]
- The "living out of a suitcase" lifestyle suits Tomas Kundratek just fine. [CSNW]
A special pull-out section for today's Clips: The End of Ovi.
- Tale of the Tape. (These stories used to feature Sid Crosby, but now of course it's Geno Malkin) [PHT]
- In the shadows. [Pittsburgh Tribune]
- "Malkin right now, I think, dominates." [WashTimes]
- The lack of shots on goal starts at the top. [WaPo (and again), WashTimes, Crash the Net]
- He even stole James Neal's All-Star slot! [Penguin Poop]
- And now he has bought an awesome new house. But in looking out for his privacy, does that insulate/isolate him even further? [Alex Ovetjkin, Curbed DC, WBJ]
Just in case you thought this was all on the captain, the team gets called out as well:
- Weak road starts. [Dump 'n Chase]
- Unsustainable ... [Sick Unbelievable]
- ... or not? [SB Nation DC]
- A troubling lack of offense. [i Sports Web]
At least the Hershey Bears are winning their games, right? [Caps Outsider, SHoE]
Finally, that KHL All-Star Game with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Sergei Fedorov was pretty much full of win. [RMNB (and again), CSNW]

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Sick, Unbelievable article

“The Caps’ collars have been stained from white to blue and the struggles which plagued the team to the point of a coaching change are now long behind. The powerplay seems to have been repaired. Alexander Ovechkin is once more playing like a superstar.”

Ovechkin has three points in his last eight games. He is under a point per game average since the middle of December.

Superstar? Sounds like P.A. Parenteau to me.

I blog the Caps at Caps 'Round the Clock.
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by hankthetank5503 on Jan 22, 2012 10:01 AM EST reply actions

He’s also on a 48-goal pace over his last 17 games.

Ovi needs to be better, this we know. Semantics mean nothing.

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by J.P. on Jan 22, 2012 10:21 AM EST up reply actions

PA Parenteau is 3-2-5, +4 against the Caps this season, and owns the GWG from the November game. . We’ve talked about him as possible good addition to this team, and I think some other teams are keeping an eye on him as well. He’s no Ovechkin, but 33 assists (and compare with Backstrom’s injury-truncated 29) this year are nothing to sneeze at.

You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!

by EmilyB on Jan 22, 2012 10:36 AM EST up reply actions

Really? Even here I can’t get away from the Islanders on a day Caps play the Pens?

"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

by NGreenberg on Jan 22, 2012 11:52 AM EST up reply actions

You have my sympathies.

"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 Jan 22, 2012 11:55 AM EST up reply actions

Eh, any time anyone can annoy Butch Goring is part of La Cosa Nostra.

"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg

Which DC sports team has the Most Valuable Players? That would be DC United, a team being pushed out by the city. Help Keep United in DC so they can receive a fair deal on a lease and help develop a path to build a stadium with local investment and incentives.

by Bald Pollack on Jan 22, 2012 11:59 AM EST up reply actions

People really rang Ovechkin’s doorbell at night just so he could sign their jersey? Thats a bit ridiculous.

by RossingtonCollins on Jan 22, 2012 10:11 AM EST reply actions

Membership to Ovi’s club has it’s privileges….

Be Utterly Facinating @ http://www.thirstdc.com

by TheFuryUnleashed on Jan 22, 2012 10:32 AM EST up reply actions

I got the impression it was during the nap period between morning skate and the game. Still rude. Really non-thinking. You’re a big fan and you don’t know the game-day ritual?

"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 Jan 22, 2012 10:43 AM EST up reply actions

I’m a big fan, and I have no clue about the game day ritual.

Of course, I also wouldn’t bother an athlete at his home either.

by HateOffSeason on Jan 22, 2012 11:41 AM EST up reply actions

I feel bad enough about the few times Ive approached them for autographs on the way to their cars after practices….

#NeedsMoreHendricks

by Addison H. on Jan 22, 2012 11:43 AM EST up reply actions

That’s the more important thing. I’m curious, though. I’m familiar with the location of the new house, and I don’t remember it being a gated community. A friend lived in that neighborhood many years ago, and not in a house anything like that one, of course.

"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 Jan 22, 2012 11:57 AM EST up reply actions

It’s also quite a hike from Kettler and Verizon. Welcome to morning rush hour Ovi. Remember, you can’t get on I-66, either.

"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 Jan 22, 2012 11:58 AM EST up reply actions

I can’t believe that this is already the final Caps-Pens game of the regular season. And that we haven’t faced Boston even once yet.

You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!

by EmilyB on Jan 22, 2012 10:28 AM EST reply actions

take 6 of 8 points vs the Pens this year, and all is good in head-2-head world…..

by SA-Town on Jan 22, 2012 10:40 AM EST up reply actions

If there was ever any doubt

@kcarrera

Bylsma says Marc-Andre Fleury will face the #caps

You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!

by EmilyB on Jan 22, 2012 10:40 AM EST reply actions

And Hunter still won’t say who’s starting. Didn’t know he took lessons from Boudrean.

"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 Jan 22, 2012 10:44 AM EST up reply actions

*Boudreau.

Damn typo.

"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 Jan 22, 2012 10:44 AM EST up reply actions

Judging from hunter and brouwer’s quotes in carrera’s, dh seems to think the shot generation problems are caused by poor decisions inside the offensive zone. I’ve been thinking they’re more the result of poor defensive coverage and breakouts coupled with bad zone entries. The team seems to get hemmed in their own end and just dumps the puck once it finally gets out.

by Ginga on Jan 22, 2012 11:01 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Remember Tampa vs us last year in the playoffs? It was like Guy Boucher told them the ugly goal would get you more playing time…everyone was throwing everything at the net…pinball hockey…and it worked..

by SA-Town on Jan 22, 2012 11:05 AM EST up reply actions

Should be a good game… at least we know the Caps always manage to get it up (TWSS) for the “big” spotlight games.

I’ll be at Front Page Arlington for brunch and the game with a bunch of other people if anyone else feels like braving the cold

#NeedsMoreHendricks

by Addison H. on Jan 22, 2012 11:42 AM EST reply actions

Good Morning, go Caps!!

What doesnt kill you makes you stronger.

by BetterOffWith28 on Jan 22, 2012 11:53 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Neuvy!

"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 Jan 22, 2012 12:00 PM EST reply actions

Is he starting??

by Caps Fan since 84 on Jan 22, 2012 12:02 PM EST up reply actions

“Hunter brought up Ovechkin’s signature curl, drag and shoot move as something the star needs to keep doing to get more shots.”

Really? Never thought I would agree with Letang who has the opposite opinion.

by ralCapsFan on Jan 22, 2012 12:29 PM EST reply actions

ScottStuccio Scott Stuccio

BEARS scratches tonight: Mink (veteran), Greentree (healthy), Wellar (ankle). D.J. King goes in & will play vs. brother Dwight. #hbh #NoRest

by sk84fun_dc on Jan 22, 2012 3:25 PM EST reply actions

I didn’t realize the King brothers were Dwayne and Dwight.

That'll make your weagle wink!
"You're the boss, apple sauce" - @GreenLife52

by boutros23 on Jan 22, 2012 3:26 PM EST up reply actions

Yup, all the kids have D names.

link

King had tweeted that his parents and at least one sister were visiting Hershey for the 2 games.

by sk84fun_dc on Jan 22, 2012 3:38 PM EST up reply actions

After missing 2 games with what was described in one article as an upper body injury, Caps prospect Sam Carrier back playing for Baie-Comeau today.

by sk84fun_dc on Jan 22, 2012 4:03 PM EST reply actions

Ference gets 3 games.

Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.

by Steckel Me Elmo on Jan 22, 2012 4:29 PM EST reply actions

Bears lost. As Tim Leone has noted, it ends a streak that dates from the beginning of the affiliation in 05-06 during which Hershey had never lost all of a 3 in 3. Aucoin continued his point streak. King got to play.

Stingrays won, again, makes it 9 wins in a row. Machesney with a shutout. SC goalies, 4th and 6th in the ECHL.

by sk84fun_dc on Jan 22, 2012 7:30 PM EST reply actions