The Noon Number

by J.P. on Feb 10, 2012 12:01 PM EST in The Noon Number

.79 - Alexander Semin's points-per-game in 29 games under Dale Hunter, up from .48 under Bruce Boudreau this season (his penalty minutes are way down as well, from over 1.5 per game to under .5). Over the last 23 games, Semin's had 22 points (9 goals, 13 assists), which, pro-rated over a full season, would be the third-best per-game total of his career.

Of course, with Alexander Semin, you should never pro-rate over a full season...

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I’m more impressed that DH has been able to get Semin’s PIMs down. :)

by OvechkinGR8 on Feb 10, 2012 12:10 PM EST reply actions

For real.

Last night before lightning (errr jets) struck twice, I was thinking, “I wonder if the next time Alex Semin is on the bench Dale would tap him on the shoulder and say ‘Alex, we have a 2 goal lead with only a few minutes left, DO NOT TAKE ANY STUPID STICK PENALTIES’?”

"By far the worst performers on the (R*dskins) are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins

by smutsboy1 on Feb 10, 2012 12:49 PM EST up reply actions

Of course, Alex Semin’s shots/game have decreased somewhat under Hunter (which isn’t surprising, given that the Caps haven’t had the puck as much under Hunter).

Under Boudreau: 49 shots, 2.33 shots/game.
Under Hunter: 55 shots, 1.90 shots/game.

The decrease in PIMs is significant, but I hesitate to say that Hunter’s helping Semin perform.

Reporter: "What’s your Mom’s birthday?"
Tortorella: "I have no idea."

by Wheeler on Feb 10, 2012 12:14 PM EST reply actions

Hunter said to Sasha on day 1: “Any more stupid o-zone penalties and I will shove this skate so far up you ass it’ll be coming out of your mouth. And don’t give me this ‘I don’t speak English’ bullshit, either.”

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by RedBirdie on Feb 10, 2012 1:12 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

Semin: “But but the refs, they no like me. They out to get me. If I fall they give me diving. All time. What can I do?”

Hunter: “Don’t fall. Got it?”

Ovechkin on how he can help the team: "Score MOAR goals."

by capsyoungguns on Feb 10, 2012 1:21 PM EST up reply actions

Dear GMGM

Please, please, please ink both Sashas for at least one more year. Play over the last month has been terrific, and play last night is going to be very difficult to replace.

Let the crucifixions of this post begin…

by capcup12 on Feb 10, 2012 12:18 PM EST reply actions

Please, please, please ink both Sashas for at least one more year.

So both Good Sasha and Bad Sasha each get separate deals? Shit, if that’s the case why didn’t we just trade away Bad Sasha years ago?

by HockeyGoalie29 on Feb 10, 2012 12:41 PM EST up reply actions 5 recs

That sounds like a perfect plan…

by capcup12 on Feb 10, 2012 5:41 PM EST up reply actions

If my memory serves, I think Ovechkin’s contract goes at least through next year

by aaw6848 on Feb 10, 2012 12:44 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

"By far the worst performers on the (R*dskins) are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins

by smutsboy1 on Feb 10, 2012 12:49 PM EST up reply actions

It’s a little late in the day to be playing as if this is a contract year.

If you've read this far...seek help.

by ThePeerless on Feb 10, 2012 12:51 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs

Fin.

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

Winning trophies on your home field? DC United's done that. Twice. 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 Feb 10, 2012 12:54 PM EST up reply actions

Impact

Aside from the statistical improvements, I am more pleased with how often Semin is making an impact (a GOOD one) on the ice. I’d like to think that is the DH effect, but might have more to do with his less experienced linemates in MoJo and Perreault. I feel like he is stepping up.

No doubt he continues to have his boneheaded moments, but a snowflake shall be snowflake after all.

If you want to survive out here, you've got to know where your towel is.

by ns on Feb 10, 2012 12:20 PM EST reply actions

Semin’s also been more consistent so far. How many consecutive 0 point games Semin has since Dec 15th? None. Zero. He started going first three games under Hunter pointless and has had one 2 game pointless streak since then. 23 games for Semin with no consecutive pointless games is quite impressive imo.

https://twitter.com/Valtard

by Valtard on Feb 10, 2012 2:37 PM EST up reply actions

So the real question is how much is the coach, and how much is just Trending Sasha.

I hesitate to think any external forces effect Semin. Besides injuries making high-risk high-reward plays into high-risk no-reward plays, I can’t see anything really effecting Semin.

Proud member of the Popsicle Division of the Cupcake Conference.

by Bman21212 on Feb 10, 2012 12:37 PM EST reply actions

Agreed. This is trending Sasha. Still interesting timing and just maybe there is something to the fact that Hunter seems to be more interested in communicating with Semin than BB was. Who knows, though?

Please, call me F&B.

by Rob Parker on Feb 10, 2012 12:48 PM EST up reply actions

I’m with you here – most of it is just Sasha being Sasha, but I wouldn’t wholly discount the impact of being coached by a guy who actually takes some interest in working on the relationship. I bet if you asked around, Semin seems happier now than he did through the final months of Boudreau’s tenure. Whether or not that has an on-ice impact… I’ve long since given up trying to guess with this guy.

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by J.P. on Feb 10, 2012 1:04 PM EST up reply actions

Seems to love (like? tolerate pleasantly?) playing with MoJo and MP85—definitely have been shots of Dale and him smiling on bench…given Coach Hunter’s limited use of the English language, maybe Sasha believes he has a kindred comrade….

by capcup12 on Feb 10, 2012 5:44 PM EST up reply actions

___

Seriously, though:

Related: Be careful Googling “Semin Hunter.”

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Feb 10, 2012 1:14 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

Is that like Googling “Santorum?”

Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
Follow me on Twitter.

by STLSpidey on Feb 10, 2012 1:26 PM EST up reply actions

No, only 50% of the hits for “Semin Hunter” are disgusting.

Please, call me F&B.

by Rob Parker on Feb 10, 2012 1:34 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

and I’m done with this blog

by CCRubeus on Feb 10, 2012 2:06 PM EST up reply actions

On your 37th comment here? Smartly played.

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

by Bald Pollack on Feb 10, 2012 2:09 PM EST up reply actions

Favorite player: Tim Thomas

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Feb 10, 2012 2:46 PM EST up reply actions

Try not to comment on any threads in the parking lot!

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

by Bald Pollack on Feb 10, 2012 2:51 PM EST up reply actions 6 recs

Ha. I did notice that his 37 comments were not in a row.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Feb 10, 2012 2:54 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Once again, I don’t get it, and I googled “Santorum 37 in a row” and still am not enlightened…

So, um, why did this go green?

Patron saint of quality footwear.

by fat_daddyo on Feb 10, 2012 5:47 PM EST up reply actions

This’ll explain it.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Feb 10, 2012 7:08 PM EST up reply actions

Thanks.

I feel some trepidation.

Patron saint of quality footwear.

by fat_daddyo on Feb 10, 2012 7:21 PM EST up reply actions

Holy shit, that’s awful.

Patron saint of quality footwear.

by fat_daddyo on Feb 10, 2012 7:25 PM EST up reply actions

Of all the things I’ve said… didn’t think that would be the one that ran someone off.

Please, call me F&B.

by Rob Parker on Feb 10, 2012 2:56 PM EST up reply actions

Hey – I started it. I’ll share some of the guilt. We’re actually nice people, aren’t we?

Nice guys finish first, but sometimes the season is awfully long.
Follow me on Twitter.

by STLSpidey on Feb 10, 2012 3:02 PM EST up reply actions

I’m pretty sure you are.

Please, call me F&B.

by Rob Parker on Feb 10, 2012 3:04 PM EST up reply actions

>_>

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by winterion on Feb 10, 2012 4:18 PM EST up reply actions

Hillarious!! “Semin Shoots” equally pernicious.

by capcup12 on Feb 10, 2012 5:45 PM EST up reply actions

He seems to be making a real effort at defense, but we all think he could play defense well anyway, so… this may be Nylander logic?

"Money talks. I listen."

by apk3000 on Feb 10, 2012 12:58 PM EST up reply actions

I was really curious during the game about what Hunter thought about 28’s play as my – non NHL-coach opinion – was that I was seeing a lot of greatly useless ineffective brain-dead wanderings for most of the game from him. I said I’d be giving him less ice time (last night) from what I was seeing in favor of someone who would actually be doing something useful. I’m quite sure opinions vary on that.

But who isn’t glad he came up with that beautiful PP goal late in the game? Certainly ups his stats.

(AS was 7th in even strength ice time, and 7th in total TOI)

I used to be a hockey player, but then I took an arrow in the knee

by Icebat on Feb 10, 2012 12:41 PM EST reply actions

(7th among fwds)

I used to be a hockey player, but then I took an arrow in the knee

by Icebat on Feb 10, 2012 12:44 PM EST up reply actions

Rec’d the thread for the punchline

Of course, with Alexander Semin, you should never pro-rate over a full season…

"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 Feb 10, 2012 1:00 PM EST reply actions

___

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by J.P. on Feb 10, 2012 1:02 PM EST up reply actions 9 recs

I still don’t trust Sasha.

"I'd have to say Russian girls over American girls. They have much better fashion sense, I think." -Semyon Varlamov

by KillerTestudo on Feb 10, 2012 2:25 PM EST reply actions

I thought it was priceless when the Comcast cameras caught Ovie disgusted with Semin on the bench during the home Panthers loss. It was like big brother scolding, younger brother grumbling to himself… even though Semin is older

by DonnieKnutts on Feb 10, 2012 2:41 PM EST reply actions

I am worried

The caps have 0 players in the top 40 in points. That is rough.

by Discodc on Feb 10, 2012 4:13 PM EST reply actions

eh. In 2009-2010, Caps held 4 of the top 40 spots, including the only pair of teammates to crack 100 points, the only pair of teammates to crack the 40 goal mark, and one of only two defensemen to make the list. All 4 averaged at least a point per game. And it got them a big fat nothing in the playoffs

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by RedBirdie on Feb 10, 2012 4:55 PM EST up reply actions