The Noon Number

by J.P. on Feb 8, 2012 12:00 PM EST in The Noon Number

2 - Number of 40-plus save shutouts by Capitals goaltenders since Clint Malarchuk shutout the Flyers with 42 stops on January 26, 1989; Brent Johnson's 46-save whitewashing of Ottawa (April 1, 2006) and Tomas Vokoun's 42-save goose-egg last night. Also...

2 - Number of days in between Vokoun's last two shutouts, the shortest span by a Caps goalie since Olaf Kolzig blanked Florida and Boston (by identical 1-0 scores) on January 12 and 14, 2002.

And, since you're wondering, Caps netminders have posted shutouts on back-to-back days three times in franchise history: Jim Carey topped the Bruins (2-0) and Flyers (3-0) on March 2 and 3, 1996, nearly a year after holding the Whalers (5-0) and Senators (1-0) scoreless on March 20 and 21, 1995, and Al Jensen blanked the Penguins (1-0) and Devils (2-0) on October 25 and 26, 1983.

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Ah, pre-mental breakdown Jim Carey, we hardly knew thee…

I need 100% of you guys to give 110% 100% of the time.

by capsfan4life on Feb 8, 2012 12:06 PM EST reply actions

It was the Pens in a playoff series that did him in, wasn’t it?

by David C. Rothman on Feb 8, 2012 1:49 PM EST up reply actions

4 – number of shutouts by Tomas Vokoun already this season. When’s the last time a Caps goalie had that many or more? Gotta think it was Kolzig at some point.

by JSeagull1 on Feb 8, 2012 12:10 PM EST reply actions

Last season.

Michal Neuvirth had four.

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

by ThePeerless on Feb 8, 2012 12:17 PM EST up reply actions

Man… has it been that long? Wow.

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by J.P. on Feb 8, 2012 12:28 PM EST up reply actions

Ok, I’ll try this question again after he gets the next one and make slightly less of a fool of myself. Or just look it up myself, either way.

by JSeagull1 on Feb 8, 2012 3:55 PM EST up reply actions

Sorry, that should probably be an “if/when” and not an “after”. I know shutout are a sensitive subject among the superstitious folk.

by JSeagull1 on Feb 8, 2012 3:57 PM EST up reply actions

Wow, I would not have thought that.

"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 8, 2012 4:49 PM EST up reply actions

Tomas Vokoun was next-level last night.

Almost win-a-series-like-dwaynerolosonorjarohalak-esque

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

by smutsboy1 on Feb 8, 2012 12:15 PM EST reply actions

Corey made a comment on Twitter last night about how Vokoun would’ve been the perfect G for the 2009-11 Caps. As I recall, I was in love with the idea of getting him in 2009 and willing to give up significant pieces for him (for two shots at the playoffs with him).

Obviously, that’s neither here nor there at this point. But I did go back to one of the 2009 Trade Deadline Clips posts and saw that Denis Potvin (sucks!) was pushing the idea of Laich, Alzner, Theodore for Vokoun at the time. Wonder what would have happened if…

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by J.P. on Feb 8, 2012 12:50 PM EST reply actions

Hmmm.

> Alzner

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

by smutsboy1 on Feb 8, 2012 12:58 PM EST up reply actions

Laich and Alzner and Theodore? seems a wee bit steep.

Pledge Drive 2011-2012: CARSON KOLZIG FOUNDATION! Season Pledge total--$1210.35!

by RedBirdie on Feb 8, 2012 1:16 PM EST up reply actions

agree

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

by smutsboy1 on Feb 8, 2012 1:29 PM EST up reply actions

Yep, and did at the time.

But I guess it goes to how you view “the window” two years later. Were their best chances to win in the past two years, or are they ahead? Were those chances have been better with Vokoun and no Laich/Alzner (2009-10 almost certainly, even though it wasn’t necessarily goaltending that cost them; 2010-11 is less clear). What would the Caps be doing with that money now? So many variables. But if that deal was on the table then and you had a time machine (that only goes backwards)… I think you still pass on it.

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by J.P. on Feb 8, 2012 1:33 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, I think Varly ran out of steam in the Montreal series…some of the goals he gave up weren’t “must-haves” but were “could-haves”. He bailed us out the year only to crap out against the Pens in round 2. I think we’re winning the cup with Vokoun in net in 2009-2010…somebody cue up the flux capacitor.

by David C. Rothman on Feb 8, 2012 1:55 PM EST up reply actions

Jeez, I’ll say.

I think the scenario becomes more interesting if you say it’s just Alzner for Vokes. That I’d probably do in Feb 2010.

Patron saint of quality footwear.

by fat_daddyo on Feb 8, 2012 2:43 PM EST up reply actions

IIRC, I favored Alzner, Theo and a 1st.

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by J.P. on Feb 8, 2012 2:52 PM EST up reply actions

Theo is a nullity here, so throwing him in is a no-brainer.

The first….I’d probably still do it. If Vokes stands on his head, the Caps might get past MON.

Patron saint of quality footwear.

by fat_daddyo on Feb 8, 2012 3:36 PM EST up reply actions

Nah, Caps wouldn’t have pitched Laich, would have been a revolt. I remember discussion of Flash in a package for Vokoun, and I think all of us would have done that in a second. Wow, funny how things ended up…

by katzistan on Feb 8, 2012 9:20 PM EST up reply actions

Laich, Theo, and a 1st is better.

Please, call me F&B.

by Rob Parker on Feb 9, 2012 9:19 AM EST up reply actions

Flash and a 3rd is even better.

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by J.P. on Feb 9, 2012 5:55 PM EST up reply actions

Jim Carey…such a wicked tantalization for Harry Sinden. One of David Poile’s best sleights of hand.

Cross check and all call.

by bigonetimer on Feb 8, 2012 12:52 PM EST reply actions

Really great game last night from him.
The jury is def still out on Playoff Vokoun though, which is why we got him for cheap.

When the acquisition was made and discussion was on here about who was #1 or #2 or whatever, I said what was interesting to me wasn’t which goalie plays Game 1 of the playoffs, but rather which one is in net for the Caps when the final buzzer ends their 2012 playoff run

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

by Icebat on Feb 8, 2012 1:22 PM EST reply actions

The jury is def still out on Playoff Vokoun though, which is why we got him for cheap.

Disagree. The Caps got him for cheap because the market dried up and he wanted to play for a contender (hold your jokes, please). I don’t think his lack of playoff success or experience played much of a role at all.

And there was never a question who the #1 would be here – Bruce killed that early.

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by J.P. on Feb 8, 2012 1:35 PM EST up reply actions

his lack of playoff success

So are you are disagreeing with the central statement that the jury is still out on Playoff Vokoun, or it being the reason the Caps got him cheap?

Either way, there were unquestionably reams of discussions here and elsewhere on #1, #2, playoffs, playing time, etc, long before Bruce even had a chance to mull a roster for the first game of 2011-12.

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

by Icebat on Feb 8, 2012 1:55 PM EST up reply actions

I think it’s hard to argue that the jury isn’t still out on Playoff Vokoun (i.e. I don’t think he’s proven himself in the playoffs, whatever that means), I just don’t think it impacted his free agency. Did Bryzgalov’s playoff record impact his?

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by J.P. on Feb 8, 2012 2:06 PM EST up reply actions

If his playoffs are anything like his transition to the Caps, he’ll need some solid run support early on.
If Bruce were still here I’d easily put my money on Neuvy as having more playoff games at the end. Because -regardless of the regular season – when Bruce pulls the plug on a goalie in the playoffs, he tends not to step foot on the ice again if the other guy doesn’t do a faceplant.

With Hunter I’m not sure we’d have that.

Philly definitely needed one decent go-to goalie.

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

by Icebat on Feb 8, 2012 2:32 PM EST up reply actions

JP, I’m confused. 2 days in between Vokoun’s last two shutouts? College did things to my memory, but I’m fairly certain he gave up 4 goals two days ago.

by Sick, Unbelievable on Feb 8, 2012 1:43 PM EST reply actions

Saturday: Shutout in Montreal
Sunday: Lost to Boston
Monday: Day off
Tuesday: Shutout vs. Florida

Sunday and Monday – two days, February 5 and 6 – in between shutouts.

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by J.P. on Feb 8, 2012 1:46 PM EST up reply actions

Speaking of college, maybe I should go back.

by Sick, Unbelievable on Feb 8, 2012 1:48 PM EST up reply actions

Everybody experiments in college. Goes to show how well Vokoun has been playing lately…I don’t think you could fault him for any of those GA’s he gave up in Boston.

by David C. Rothman on Feb 8, 2012 1:52 PM EST up reply actions