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The Noon Number

Washington Capitals left wing Alexander Semin (28) tries to keep the puck away from Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien (33) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Washington, on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012. The Jets won 3-2 in a shootout. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

.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...

45 comments  |  1 recs | 

Friday Caps Clips: Shot Down

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 09:  Evander Kane #9 of the Winnipeg Jets celebrates after scoring in the third period against the Washington Capitals at the Verizon Center on February 9, 2012 in Washington, DC.  Winnipeg won the game 3-2 in a shootout.  (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Your savory breakfast links:

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198 comments  | 

Recap: Jets 3, Caps 2 (SO)

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 09:  Andrew Ladd #16 of the Winnipeg Jets collides with Matt Hendricks #26 of the Washington Capitals at the Verizon Center on February 9, 2012 in Washington, DC.  (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

[GameCenter - Ice Tracker - Game Summary - Event Summary - Faceoff Summary - Play-by-Play - Home TOI - Visitor TOI - Shift Charts - Head-to-Head - Fenwick/Corsi - Zone Starts - Fenwick Timeline]

With a difficult road ahead and every point gained or left on the table along the way likely to be important, it's critically important that the Capitals win the games they "should win." Reasonable minds might differ, of course, as to what constitutes a "should win" game, but one played at Verizon Center - where the Caps were 19-7-1 - against a Winnipeg team that came into the game 9-16-4 on the road would seem to fit the bill.

If that set-up sounds familiar, it's because it's pretty similar to what we wrote a few weeks back when the Islanders came to town... and promptly shut-out their red-clad hosts.

The Caps seemed determined not to fall victim to the same fate Thursday night, but a failure to capitalize on early chances and an almost literally unbelievable last few minutes of regulation ultimately proved too much to overcome, as they dropped the decision in the shootout by a 3-2 count.

Ten more notes on the game:

  • Given that Tomas Vokoun has posted a 1.91 goals against average and .939 save percentage in 14 home games since Dale Hunter took over behind the bench and Ondrej Pavelec came into the game with a 1.99 GAA and .938 SV% against the Caps on the season, a goalie duel was probably to be expected a goalie duel... and that's certainly what was delivered.
  • One of the big stories headed into this one was the healthy-scratch for the struggling Mike Knuble. Hunter explained that he wanted to get Jay Beagle in the lineup for "more speed." Well, half-way through the second, Beagle took a pass on a good breakout and found himself streaking down the left side in a 2-on-1 with Dennis Wideman. Beagle saucered a gorgeous backhand pass to Wideman, but the blueliner couldn't beat Pavelec. Which is a shame. Because Jay Beagle will never make a prettier pass.
  • By the end of the second period, the Caps had 24 shots on goal, which is more than they'd had in 16 of Hunter's 31 entire games coming into the night. So there's that. Of course, they couldn't beat Pavelec with a single one of those 24... so there's that, too.
  • Alex Ovechkin's 10th power-play goal of the season broke the 0-0 tie in the third when he cashed in on an Alexander Semin shot that rebounded off the end boards. Less than two minutes later, Ovechkin would return the favor with a beauty of a feed to Semin on a backdoor cut, who made no mistake and gave the Caps a 2-0 lead with both tallies coming with the extra man (and Wideman assisting on both).
  • Considering his reputation coming into this season as a high-risk/high-reward offensive defenseman, Caps fans might be surprised at all they've seen from Dmitry Orlov so far in his rookie season. But they got a glimpse of some of that skill early in the third when the young Russian blueliner had a partial breakaway and flashed some sweet stickhandling before having his shot denied by Pavelec. And perhaps some of that high-risk was at play, too, as the Caps were forced to commit a penalty to break up a scoring chance moments later at the other end (though that was clearly more on Orlov's teammates for failing to adequately cover for him on a chance he had to take).
  • Karl Alzner and John Carlson get high marks for their work against Winnipeg's top line. Reunited and it feels so good? Well, it did until the last few minutes, at least.
  • 2-man advantages are rare in the NHL. But a three-man advantage? The Jets had that late after a couple of Caps penalties and the decision to pull Pavelec. The Caps killed a bit of the disadvantage, but Evander Kane finally beat Vokoun from atop the crease with 2:15 left in the third... 12 seconds before Dustin Byfuglien beat him from center ice on a shot that deflected off of Alzner to tie the game. Stunning turn of events.
  • After a five-minute overtime period didn't yield a winner, it was on to the shootout which, like it or not, is how such games are decided these days. Ovechin: goal. Blake Wheeler: goal. Semin: save. Bryan Little: goal. Mathieu Perreault: save. Shootout: garbage.
  • There were positives to take away from the loss, including an effective power-play, good shot- and scoring-chance generation, and excellent success in the faceoff dot. But it is getting a bit late in the day for moral victories.
  • Last thought: does anyone miss Eric Fehr? Me neither.

And so the Caps have a few days off to think about a brutally hard loss - a game they had to have and a game they did have. Until they didn't.

Continue reading this post »

108 comments  |  2 recs | 

Third Period Open Thread

It's been a while since the Caps dominated a game but had nothing to show for it thanks to a hot goalie at the other end. They're back, baby! Third period ahead...

1 day ago Jp_avatar_2_tiny J.P. 367 comments

Second Period Open Thread

A strong first for the Caps doesn't result in anything on the scoreboard, and we're scoreless after one. Second period ahead...

1 day ago Jp_avatar_2_tiny J.P. 137 comments

Game Day Open Thread - Jets @ Caps



Tonight's probable netminders:


GPMINWLOGAGAASASVSV%SO
Tomas Vokoun 39 2161 22 13 1 89 2.47 1114 1025 .920 4
Ondrej Pavelec 45 2575 19 18 6 116 2.70 1315 1199 .912 3

Have at it, people.

124 comments  | 

Capitals Lunchbox, Season 2, Episode 14

In which Alan May, Kellie Cowan and I talk about what the Caps are doing right lately, the notion that having to fight for a playoff spot is actually a good thing, and the upcoming trade deadline. Dig it.

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Evgeny Kuznetsov hams it up as he joins the Russia men's national team for the "Sweden Games" leg of the Euro Hockey Tour in Helsinki, Finland.

There's a bit of controversy as their game against the Finns is scheduled to be played in Helsinki's outdoor Olympic Stadium.   Where the daytime temps are currently approximately minus-15 degrees Celsius, with periodic heavy snow.

This interview with head coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov is fascinating, as he frets about the weather and especially when the reporters press him on the leaked reports that Kuznetsov will be centering the top line for Team Russia, just weeks after his 20th birthday. 

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Southeast Standings

GP W L OTL PT
Florida 53 25 17 11 61
Washington 54 28 21 5 61
Winnipeg 56 26 24 6 58
Tampa Bay 53 23 24 6 52
Carolina 55 20 25 10 50

(updated 2.10.2012 at 9:27 AM EST)


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