Recap: Penguins 4, Capitals 3 (OT)
by Rob Parker on Jan 22, 2012 3:38 PM EST
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Coming off of two ugly shutout losses in the last three games, the Washington Capitals traveled to western Pennsylvania for a matinee game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Unlike the last game, today the Pens entered the afternoon with a 5 game winning streak, their last loss coming against the Caps in Verizon Center. The Caps dug themselves out of an early hole and put themselves in position to snap the Pens' streak, but in the end James Neal and Evgeni Malkin were too much and the Pens went home happy. At least the Caps got the charity point, right?
Ten more notes on the game:
- Last time these two teams played fans got 10 minutes of good, entertaining hockey. After a slow start this game turned out to be much more like the Caps v. Pens games fans have been used to since the lockout. Seven goals were scored, all of them involved Alex Ovechkin or Malkin (although Malkin didn't point on the first goal, he helped set up the Pens' PP and then picked Brooks Laich to buy Kris Letang some time to get his shot off).
- The Caps scored two goals off the rush tonight. One of them came off of a terrible Pittsburgh turnover (Steve Sullivan has to take a shot) and the other came after some lax forechecking/neutral zone play allowed the Caps to break up ice with speed. Dale Hunter has been trying to transition the Caps away from scoring on the rush, believing that those goals won't be around in the playoffs. But with the other Caps goal coming 4 on 4 after a power play expired, it has to be asked: What is the even strength strategy for creating offense, if it's not supposed to be on the rush?
- With Nicklas Backstrom and Marcus Johansson out of the game, this was a huge chance for Mathieu Perreault. Perreault responded with a solid game, including two assists. On the first assist he made a nice play to receive the puck and then get the shot off quickly, low, and hard. That created the perfect rebound for Alex Semin to tap home. On the other assist Perreault drew Brooks Orpik out of position looking for a big hit and then slid the puck to Semin for a two on one that Ovechkin finished. It's always good to see goals scored while Orpik is out of position.
- The first Caps goal came on a four on four and was the result of textbook play by Dennis Wideman. The Pens defender on the point broke his stick, so Wideman carried the puck down that wing and challenged the stickless defender. Ultimately he found a passing lane to Laich out front, and Laich managed to bury it past Marc-Andre Fleury and get the Caps back in the game.
- Tonight was Ovechkin's first 3-point game of the season. It turns out the rumors of his demise have been moderately exaggerated.
- All season we've noted that Semin has tended to disappear after taking a penalty. Tonight he took a penalty early in the game but rebounded to end the game with a goal and an assist.
- At the end of the day the game comes down to puck battles. The Pens dominated the first period largely because they were winning the puck battles. On the Pens' third goal Malkin dominated Hamrlik in the corner and then fed Neal for an open shot below the faceoff dot. When you aren't winning puck battles the possession game is going to suffer and the other team will have scoring chances, it's as simple as that.
- Just like the last time these teams met, Malkin and Neal dominated the Caps. In particular, Malkin was taking Hamrlik's lunch money all night. It would be so nice if the Caps had a defenseman with a history of controlling Malkin with a long reach and solid positional game.
- After a listless first period the Caps needed some energy. Alex Ovechkin came out throwing the body, and the team responded with a 2 goal period. The final 40+ minutes were much more evenly contested than that opening 20 minutes, and that was almost exclusively due to the work of the top line.
- "Oh he pushed me a little... Lean forward... and... fall down... but gently so I don't hurt myself." You could actually see the thought process in Paul Martin's mind as he drew a penalty against Troy Brouwer, ending the Caps' 5 on 3. Not a smart play by Brouwer to give the refs a chance to blow a call, but that's awfully questionable. I'm sure the ref 100 feet away must have had a pretty good look at it, though.
Life without Nick continues, and it's bound to be ugly. The Caps were lucky to get a point out of tonight, but they were also opportunistic in converting their chances (or lucky, whatever). The season is going to be a grind from here on out, coin flip games take their toll on everybody. At some point you expect the Caps to get hot and take a (relatively) firm grip on the division, but there's no denying this is a seriously flawed team. Not even Nick is going to change that. Hey, at least they got 20 shots again tonight.
Game highlights:
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Flawed?
Yes…“seriously” flawed? Not so sure…take away MJ90 and Nicky B (not to mention a certain number 52) and any zone exit is going to be tough. If/when both Swedes are back on the ice, we should be able to spend considerably more time in OUR zone. That and limiting Carlson’s puck possessions to pre-game warmups.
Yeah, seriously flawed. Their shots on goal and possession numbers were bad before Nick went out, as well.
Please, call me F&B.
Agree, the only thing we don’t know if how they would play with everyone (save Poti) healthy but at this point that is a lot to ask.
Yeah, you can’t count on Green being back for any real period of time this season, which would change the picture. Every team gets injured so they’ll never be totally healthy, but I’d say Nick and Green are the two biggest pieces of their puck possession game so that really hurts.
Please, call me F&B.
Sticking with the positives, I thought Perry had a fine game with AO. His D is still questionable and he can’t be relied upon for a key faceoff win, but I thought he acquitted himself well today.
Cross check and all call.
Had a great play on Letang in OT to knock puck off stick and out of the zone. Not great all the time but can have his moments.
Yeah, he’s good out in space, he can make it tough on any D. But his close quarters play still needs work. I’m not sure if he can get over that hump.
Please, call me F&B.
He had a good game, but he still got pushed off the puck pretty easily. That’s my biggest issue with him.
I have hoped for a while that George has had his fill of drafting smallish pivots.
Cross check and all call.
Honestly, I couldn’t care less as long as the guy can contribute. MP is a pretty good use of a 6th rounder.
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by red army line on Jan 22, 2012 4:40 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Single digits! Baby steps.
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Jan 22, 2012 3:54 PM EST up reply actions
Hamrlik was brutal today. It was some peewee hockey, leaving Malkin alone in front of the net on the GWG. You’d like to think that a vet like him would know better than to leave the man in front to chase the puck behind the net.
I’d rather not look over Laich’s part in the third goal. He got worked by Malkin in the Neutral zone, and then floated around the d-zone to leave Neal open for the shot. Both he and RomHam could have played that one a lot better.
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Jan 22, 2012 3:53 PM EST reply actions
Looked like 21 was going over to help 44 on the wall didn’t get there in time and was then scrambling to get back to Neal which he couldn’t.
By the time he got close enough, Malkin was already wrecking RomHam, but RomHam was still in position to at least keep Malkin to the outside, which is fine. And Neal was at the bottom of the circle waiting for the shot and Laich floated right past him on that one. I would have liked to see Laich stay on his man (Neal) and RomHam try to either work Malkin up the boards (to get help from the wing) or down below the net.
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Jan 22, 2012 3:58 PM EST up reply actions
Watching it again I like what Brooks did considering how dangerous Malkin is and the fact the he had a lane to the net. Hammer was down behind the goal line and Malkin was above it he could have gone out of the corner easily without the second pressure. The issue was Hendricks who just slowly skated backward toward Neal instead of going right toward him.
I missed the game, but had a dull feeling I’d see something like
It would be so nice if the Caps had a defenseman with a history of controlling Malkin with a long reach and solid positional gamein the recap.
On the replay 44 + 21 < 55.
....when the truth is if they knew anything about the game, they'd be in it.
--GMGM
In this case, yes. Schultz gives Malkin fits; RomHam and Boy Scout both got worked hard by him.
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Jan 22, 2012 4:04 PM EST up reply actions
Malkin is the enraged Inspector to Schultz’ Clouseau defensive stylings, I liked that matchup. No surprise if Malkin got a little boost to see Hamrlik there instead.
....when the truth is if they knew anything about the game, they'd be in it.
--GMGM
Except that Hunter is determined not to play Schultz no matter what. Or that’s how it seems. I would have thought that, given Schultz’ history against the Pens, he would have been a logical guy to play today. But no….
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
…trade Schultz for Schultz!
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 23, 2012 5:59 PM EST up reply actions
Seriously Flawed...
…is having to watch Eakin/Ward/Hendy attempt to enter the zone—then again, they shouldn’t have to. Poor Knoobs. Ugh.
It would be so nice if the Caps had a defenseman with a history of controlling Malkin with a long reach and solid positional game.
Not playing Schultz is very frustrating. Why Hunter, why?
Proud member of the Popsicle Division of the Cupcake Conference.
You know 55 knows he can take 71, which pisses me off even more. I said it in the third period thread, I’m resigned to his days being done in Washington. McPhee better get something of value back for him.
Cross check and all call.
.....................................
Yea, if there’s any game Schultz is great for, it’s the Pens. Malkin dominator.
The fact that he hasn’t played does make me think he’s done in DC. Theo gone, soon Schultz. So long rock band.
Proud member of the Popsicle Division of the Cupcake Conference.
Time for “Free Schultz” signs at games?
(Yes, I know about the avatar hounding - just pretend mine is invisible.)
by oldemystix on Jan 22, 2012 5:28 PM EST up reply actions 6 recs
I’d say so. Usually, in the past, Schultz had played well in Caps vs Pens games.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Is Hunter aware of Schultz’ performance history against Malkin? How did Schultz play against the Pens the first two times this season? Was his great defense against Malkin overshadowed by some slow play or poor decision making at other times?
Sophomore slump-itis has infected JC74.
I was trained to mix concrete and sign complicated insurance forms.
by The Moose on Jan 22, 2012 4:02 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Alex's hit
Is Ovie going to get suspended? Let’s hear it.
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by hankthetank5503 on Jan 22, 2012 4:12 PM EST reply actions
Maybe a game? Add a game to anything Michalek earns.
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by Bald Pollack on Jan 22, 2012 4:17 PM EST up reply actions
*add a game to anything AO earns for Michalek.
"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 4:18 PM EST up reply actions
Is there any video of the Michalek hit?
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Jan 22, 2012 4:19 PM EST up reply actions
Not that I know of currently. Was the one on Hendricks.
"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 4:25 PM EST up reply actions
NBC showed a nice angle of it
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Jan 22, 2012 4:30 PM EST up reply actions
Definitely worse than AO’s hit.
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Jan 22, 2012 4:34 PM EST up reply actions
But if he wasn’t noticeably hurt on the play, nothing’s going to happen. They didn’t even call it boarding, called it cross checking, didn’t they?
"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."
Called it an elbowing.
And by the fact that PD has a post up about discipline for Ovechkin (without mentioning Michalek) is not something I’d call encouraging.
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Jan 22, 2012 4:37 PM EST up reply actions
Fine him. NBC was bsing the “aiming for the head” crap. Shoulder to shoulder was initial point of contact but because he left his feet the contact was going up through the shoulder.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Jan 22, 2012 4:18 PM EST up reply actions
But again, on the bright side for a minute, 2-0 down and subsiding to a hot team in their own building? With the Caps road record and coming of the latest debacle? I’ll take the show of some spirit and a point any day of the week. And a clang of a post (and anything like decent officiating) away from winning it. We may look back and cherish that point come the end of the first season (assuming we get to the second season at all!!!)
Brooksy made a nice shot to get the Caps on the board, but the man was on the ice for 4 goals against today. He’s not gonna be a happy camper tonight I’ll wager. Same for Hendy.
Cross check and all call.
seems like it
Katie Carrera@kcarrera
Brooks Laich took this loss hard, head in his hands staring at the floor. Laich was scrambling to cover Malkin as he scored game-winner
Hopefully RomHam took it harder; Laich was not the most culpable on the GWG. I though, overall, he had a pretty good game.
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Jan 22, 2012 4:38 PM EST up reply actions
It seemed almost like, due to our lack of centers, that Laich is asked to do too much.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
In fact, Laich had more time on ice than ANY other Cap, including our defensemen, which is a sad commentary on the state of our centers.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
I don’t agree. Your 1C and your 2C didn’t play. You expect someone like 21 to step up.
Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
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True. there was no choice but for him to step up. And step up he did, in minutes. Still, the fact that he has to play more minutes than any of our defensemen is a sad commentary on our depth in centers.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
My impression (which I can’t substantiate with hard facts) was that the Caps played with more of a “not to lose” attitude over the last 5-7 minutes. Perhaps it was fatigue and I’m not sure a coach can influence a team to do that, but the “coin flip” theory was well served-until they called heads and it came up tails.
by Acer Jonesy's Laughker on Jan 22, 2012 4:41 PM EST reply actions
I think the Pens just responded that much better. That said, if Broewer’s slapper just dipped an inch lower…uggghhh.
by David C. Rothman on Jan 22, 2012 5:18 PM EST up reply actions
And had the bounce off the boards come to anyone but Malkin . . . . Just a ridiculous shot.
Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
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Agree. The Caps were actually pressuring the Pens a bit to start the third but went into the full on turtle after AO’s goal. Not a fan of that strategy.
I don't want to work, I want to hang on the blog all day.
by cainoo7x on Jan 22, 2012 5:27 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
Hard to tell 100% from this angle but you can clearly see contact has been made and yet feet appear to be still on the ice and first contact clearly isn’t to the head.
I watched it several times. Ovechkin left his feet at one point or another, but initial contact was on the shoulder. That was clear. Penalize him for leaving his feet, if you must, but not a suspension, IMO.
Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
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Agreed on what should happen. Not so confident that the NHL will.
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Jan 22, 2012 5:03 PM EST up reply actions
The real crime would be Ovechkin getting time/fine and Michalek getting nothing.
Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
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I think you should send this screencap to Wysh via Twitter. Maybe he’ll add it to his post. He should if he wants to be know for fair reporting.
(Yes, I know about the avatar hounding - just pretend mine is invisible.)
Sent it to him and the RMNB who also had the video posted and also posted the link to the photo in the comments section of the Puck Daddy article.
I didn’t see the link to the photo in the comments, so I wrote a comment saying that at the :15 mark, the contact looked like it was arm and shoulder.
There's no bigger burden than a great potential - Linus Van Pelt
Looks to me like that shot is immediately prior to contact. AO’s skate blades may be touching the ice, but he has no weight on them. Whether or not they left the ice just before or after contact is a technicality: either way he clearly launched up at Michalek.
I don’t think it deserves a suspension, but it did deserve a penalty.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Jan 22, 2012 6:07 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
When seeing the bigger picture which for some reason I can’t get to post here but the link is in the fanshot I posted you can see the arms are each are in contact at this point. As for the skates as long as they are on the ice at the point of contact it is not a penalty because you are actually taught to drive and extend your legs on a hit so everyone in some way launches themselves. If you couldn’t Nick Kronwall would be in the box his entire life.
Driving into a player is not the same as launching up into them. AO was clearly doing the latter. And while the blades touching the ice may mean it’s not a penalty for leaving your feet, it won’t matter if Shanahan determines that AO was launching up to target Michalek’s head.
I saw the bigger picture too, and I’m still not sure that is where contact is made. Just as with the technicality with the blades touching the ice, the jerseys may be touching. But Shanahan has previously reviewed hits where the hitter’s shoulder glanced off the opponent’s shoulder and into his head and still considered the head to be the principle point of contact. Principle point of contact is not the same as the first point of contact.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Jan 22, 2012 6:27 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
I feel that both players should be suspended for 1 game. Maybe 2. Both targeted the head, and if the NHL wants to get serious about headshots, they need to punish all of them.
But the NHL isn’t serious about anything, because it’s a garage league. They’ll get fined $2,500. Which is pretty much the equivalent of fining me $15.
Solid? I think Perreault had one of the best games in his career. He did NOT look out of place centering two of the best wingers in the game. Now the question is, with the confidence shown in him by Hunter, will he continue to perform at a high level?
I would’ve rather seen Erskine on Malkin instead of Hamrlik… Erskine don’t take no crap from Malkin.
by David C. Rothman on Jan 22, 2012 5:07 PM EST reply actions
That James Neal trade was an incredibly great trade for the Pens. Grr! How did Dallas manage to get snookered so badly. Now Neal has outscored both Semin and Ovechkin this year.
Thanks for nothing, Dallas!
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
They got a good puck moving Dman and don’t think for a second that Neal would have anywhere near that many points in Dallas because he wouldn’t have Malkin to give him such great opportunities. Dallas had no good puck moving Dmen at the time and the Pens already had Letang so Golo was expendable and Neal wasn’t going to be this good without a star to play with.
It was Goligoski for Neal and Niskanen.
I wouldn’t judge this trade just yet. I was at Stars-Blues last week and Goligoski was clearly the Stars best defenseman. He’s only 5-11, but he’s a great puck mover, has a nice shot, and appeared to be in position every time.
Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
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The best part of that deal is that Niskanen could end up being close to Goligoski in skill. The trade made sense at the time for the Stars, that’s for sure. They would have had a lot of money eventually going to Benn, Louie, and Neal, leaving little for a couple good d-men.
I’ll be shocked if Niskanen ends up being the same kind of player as Goligoski offensively. But even if Niskanen is nothing but a throw in, it’s a good deal for the Pens.
Please, call me F&B.
by Rob Parker on Jan 22, 2012 6:55 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
No, he won’t be offensively. Goligoski has much better o-zone instincts, and could morph into a good PPQB. But I think Niskanen could end up being better defensively. Either way, if he is a consistent 5 or 6 Dman from here on out, I’ll be more than happy.
Just Neal would be more than enough to make it an even trade or a win for Pitt (as of this year)…getting a warm body in addition to that? Who can play 3 pairing minutes? It’s a win.
Everything ends badly...otherwise it wouldn't end.
by Davethecapsfan on Jan 22, 2012 10:13 PM EST up reply actions
So will Evgeni Malkin now be the new face of the NHL?
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Why?
"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 5:34 PM EST up reply actions
Given he’s leading the NHL in points and Crosby is gone.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
By that logic, he’s overthrowing current face of the League Daniel Sedin?
"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 5:40 PM EST up reply actions
Maybe Malkin wouldn’t overthrow all “faces” of the game, including the Sedins, but would certainly be considered as one of them, along with Stamkos and the Sedins.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
The fact that he’s won the Calder, Conn Smythe and has been a runner-up for the Hart twice hardly makes him a “new face,” but whatever floats your boat.
"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 5:51 PM EST up reply actions
He’ll never rise to the status of “Face of the League” (especially not if his English doesn’t get a whole lot better). But the “Malkin for Hart” talk that many people here laughed at during the preseason is certainly looking realistic.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Jan 22, 2012 5:58 PM EST up reply actions
The announcers seemed pretty effusive in their praise of Malkin today. They remarked how Malkin was more reserved but now that his English has gotten better, he is taking much more of a leadership role with the Pens. So that has made me consider the “face of the league” possibility as more realistic. In the past, when his English wasn’t as good, he was in the shadow of Crosby, as well as in the shadow of Ovechkin since Ovi is much more charismatic.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
There are a lot of great players with major leadership roles on their teams. But being the face of the league implies a certain amount of marketing power that Malkin doesn’t have.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Jan 22, 2012 6:36 PM EST up reply actions
The first shift of OT with 8/85 was horrible…the Caps won possession but didn’t get the puck deep enough. They just easily conceded the puck around the blue line. At that moment, I had a bad feeling. The puck didn’t reach the other side of the rink again. Malkin’s goal seemed inevitable.
Larger point here is that the Caps seem have too many throwaway shifts. Those obviously hurt most in OT, but throughout the game, there are very tepid shifts that result in absolutely nothing: no chances, no puck possession, no offensive-zone time. Of course one can’t expect for dominant zone time on every shift, but it sure does seem like the Pens’ lines maximize their ice time more than the Caps do.
Caps defensemen continue to make horrible decisions with the puck. The last 4 minutes of the third period were particularly brutal: gain possession, give it right back, gain possession, give it right back, gain possession, give it right back…that happened about 8 times in that last 4 minute span.
So frustrating.
The keyboard is mightier.
Great. Now Bob McKenzie tweeting:
I would be shocked if Ovechkin hit on Michalek doesn’t lead to supplementary discipline. Left his feet. Hit the head. Repeat offender.
Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
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Done deal, then.
"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."
Love how the media piles on. If I were Ovi, I’d say “fuck it, suspend me. I’ll skip the all-star game then.”
"You can want to get to April but when you get to April you may not like the answers you get, so you might as well enjoy the ride while it's going on." - Brian McNally on JRR, 8/29/2011
And they’d lose revenue, because Ovi’s antics are what gets the casual fan to tune into the ASG.
Like I said, Fuck ’em.
"You can want to get to April but when you get to April you may not like the answers you get, so you might as well enjoy the ride while it's going on." - Brian McNally on JRR, 8/29/2011
He can always say he’s injured and show up but just walk around and not do anything skating wise.
Proud member of the Popsicle Division of the Cupcake Conference.
So if Ovi missed the All Star game for being “injured”, would James Neal finally get his “rightful” spot in the lineup, as the Penguin Poop blog thought?
Now for a more serious question, if a player is suspended, would he be suspended from any All Star games during that period? I am presuming that the number of games suspended applies to regular season games and does not include the All Star game. But would a player be suspended them.
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
Unfortunately, the Michalek hit is going to be overlooked too. Way to have you shit together and not be a complete joke, NHL.
Once you take the fisting element out, it's not romantic anymore.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Jan 22, 2012 8:10 PM EST up reply actions
For whatever it’s worth, I tweeted McKenzie about it. Let’s see if he says anything.
"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."
And lots of other people, too. Looks like TSN Bob came in to convict Ovi and then disappear for the night.
"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."
Yes it does, doesn’t it.
Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
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So Ovi’s hit was borderline at best. Michalek’s was clearly an elbow into the back of the head and into the boards.
And Ovi is the one that the media is focused on?
Such BS.
by Gin and Tonic on Jan 22, 2012 8:30 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Agreed. And now we have to wait and see about whether Ovi gets suspended for the game against the Bruins Tuesday. Nothing like going into a game with the high flying Bruins sans 3 out of the 4 players formerly known as the “Young Guns”. And will Johansson be healthy when Tuesday rolls around?
Rocking the Red for teams on the banks of the Potomac and at the Gateway Arch and Singing the Blues about Hockey.
I’m still curious as to why in the game highlights I watched Letang’s blue line shot 4 times, which was the most tame, but every Caps goal was one and done. I don’t mean to attack NHL.com for putting up more replays of the winning team but after watching the play in real time I understood exactly what happened. He shot, it went it. The other 6 goals scored tonight were much more interesting to watch or harder to follow in real time because of the slick passing, or puck handling. Ovi’s goal was pretty straight forward but the pass that made the play was replay worthy.
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.
For someone who did not watch the game: what happened on the Michalchuk goal and why is it being overlooked if it is so bad?
2011-2012...here we go again.
by alisterio on Jan 22, 2012 10:03 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Not goal but Michalek elbowed Hendricks in the back of the head into the boards got 2 minutes for it but should get a few games and yet media ignores it to talk about Ovechkin.
by icehammer97 on Jan 22, 2012 10:21 PM EST up reply actions
It wasn’t a goal, it was a hit on Hendricks that the commentariat thinks is worse than Ovi’s hit on Michalek
SME posted a video of Michalek’s hit
There's no bigger burden than a great potential - Linus Van Pelt
Game Photos
granted with a bit of a black and vegas gold slant. Enjoy!
http://pensthroughmylens.blogspot.com/2012/01/game-photos-pens-vs-caps-1222012.html
by PensAreYourDaddy on Jan 22, 2012 11:18 PM EST reply actions
...
reverse angle of the photo F&B used for the recap.
No idea what the world is coming to when Knuble doesn’t get that goal to go in against the Pens.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Jan 22, 2012 11:22 PM EST up reply actions
Overall, great offense-filled game, but I think that the Caps had a bit of a disadvantage on the luck side (Knuble near-goal, Brouwer-off the post drive, etc.). Pens edged the Caps, but the Caps lost just because of an unlucky bounce off the boards that went straight to Geno.
Dale, the...
by Penguin Hunter on Jan 23, 2012 12:05 AM EST reply actions
Caps did have some bounces go against them, but you might want to listen to what Dale Hunter had to say about the game winner. It took a little more than a lucky bounce to get that one in the net.
http://video.capitals.nhl.com/videocenter/console?hcatid=521&id=151759
by PensAreYourDaddy on Jan 23, 2012 12:57 AM EST up reply actions
Bob McKenzie notwithstanding, both Michalek and OV will have hearings tomorrow.
Hockey Blogger at Pensburgh.com
Gracias para the update (and to PaTD as always for the pics).
"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 23, 2012 7:11 AM EST up reply actions
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