Every once in a while, we here at Japers’ Rink briefly turn our gaze away from the Caps and towards those who cover the Caps. Usually, it’s when some talking head says or writes something with which we, as sentient human beings disagree. Sometimes it’s to praise the professionals for a job well done, and that’s the case today, as we take a moment to give a hearty “atta boy” to The Washington Post‘s Alex Prewitt, who has been a revelation on the Caps beat since taking over during the summer.
Prolific and poignant, Prewitt provides quality coverage that blends in-depth reporting and analysis with vivid storytelling. Really vivid storytelling. Like, the dudes who wrote the copy for EPIX’ “Road to the Winter Classic” would probably blush at some of it.
But that’s cool. We dig it. In fact, it’s inspired us to try our hand at it every now and again. Which brings us to today, and Japers’ Rink’s newest quiz show: Prew or False.
Below are several passages covering events from the first half of the Caps season. Some are Prewitt’s. Others are ours. See if you can spot the genuine article, or whether our imitation is more than just a sincere form of flattery.
First off, nothing brings out the drama like a losing streak… even if it’s only the first week in November:
[Source]They steeled themselves through the gloom of four straight defeats, a crossroads reached far sooner than anyone predicted. They spent their day off resting, or thinking, or cleansing their minds with family trips to the park. They believed, deep down, everything would be fine, but they also believed in the power of urgency. “We need to have a sense of danger,” Coach Barry Trotz said, though most of all his Washington Capitals needed relief. [Source]The Washington Capitals boarded another plane Thursday afternoon, hoping what awaited upon arrival here might, finally, snap the unbroken circle. Twelve days have passed since they last won, five straight losses building to Friday’s Winter Classic appetizer against the Chicago Blackhawks. [Source]Of course, they don’t call ’em “dramatic wins” for nothing:
Already in this still young season, he had bounced around and out of the lineup, from the fourth line to the top line to the press box and back again on a trajectory that in many ways has mirrored that of his team. But late in overtime on Tuesday night, Eric Fehr found himself face-to-face with an opponent other than a coach’s decision and then, for a moment that felt like much more than that, atop the hockey world. [Source]
Then there’s goaltending… and the fact that there are only so many ways to say “Braden Holtby was really great in this one”…:
… or, on occasion, not so great:
Braden Holtby swung his stick back and slammed it into the open net, an uppercut that shook the top shelf, his frustration unleashed after his own brutal error. The Washington Capitals knew one gaffe would tilt a scoreless game. They understood the cruelty Friday night promised, to either them or the visiting New Jersey Devils. They could not, however, predict their goaltender blundering behind his post, the puck on his stick, in such wrenching fashion. [Source]But anyone can take a pivotal moment and turn it into a movie trailer; it takes a skilled wordsmith to take the somewhat mundane and make it interesting:
What does a hockey player do when he’s not playing hockey? He grounds himself in routine. It’s the drive to the rink, the camaraderie with the boys, the stretching after practice that make him feel like a hockey player, even when that hockey player finds himself watching the game from the press box for a month straight now. For Jack Hillen, those routines and rituals are crucial. [Source]They steamrolled toward the puck Tuesday night at Verizon Center, on a collision course along the boards, and before their bodies struck, Brooks Orpik recalled locking eyes with Alexander Wennberg. Both jumped and braced for impact, “50-50 into each other” as Orpik recalled later. Except Orpik positioned himself better, and his shoulder drove into Wennberg, so the official’s hand raised, Orpik stayed silent and skated toward the penalty box, an 11th minor penalty recorded this season. [Source]For years they’ve frequently appeared next to each other on rosters and alphabetically-ordered stat sheets, separated primarily by an ‘a’ here and an ‘e’ there. But on Tuesday night, Nicklas Backstrom and Jay Beagle will stand next to each other on at Verizon Center, with just a few feet of ice – and little if any chemistry – between the two. [Source]Finally, with millions upon millions of pixels spilled writing about the glorious spectacle that was the Winter Classic, would we reach Peak Prewitt? Here are two possibilities… you be the judge:
So how’d you do?
0-3 right – Give us a job at The Post, Mr. Bezos
4-7 right – Ain’t nothin’ to it but to Prewitt
8-10 right – Prew Believer