Ouch.
Ouch.
...ouch.
That was painful.
All photos courtesy of AP/Canadian Press
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Predictions Revealed
Here we go, my predictions, put together with absolutely no help from my devoted readers...thanks guys.
Total # of goals scored by the Habs over the 2 games: 5
(if I say 4 of them will be on the power play, do I get extra points?)
Total # of goals scored by the Caps over the 2 games: 8
Total # of goals scored by Ovie over the 2 games: 2
Total # of goals scored by Kovy over the 2 games: 1
Winner of Tuesday night game: Habs
Winner of Thursday night game: Caps
Pick one person from the Habs who will get into a fight: Steve Begin
Pick one person from the Caps who will get into a fight: John Erskine
Check out the picks of my worthy competitors and my partner in crime - mocking is not only allowed but highly encouraged. And of course if anyone is up for a little trash-talking session tonight, the comments are open and at your disposal.
Gameday Preview: Blogger Showdown
As I'm sure everyone knows by now, Caps-Habs games are particularly painful for us here in the Cheap Seats. The wind feels a little colder. Food doesn't taste as good. The Penguins logo looks twice as ugly.
So naturally the league has stepped in to make a little bit of pain even worse by scheduling a home and home series between these two teams over the course of a three day stretch. Because you know they make up the schedule thinking how to make CapsChick cry the hardest, right?
It's scientific fact, ask anyone.
Anyways, as usual I implore you to not worry - when it comes right down to it, the Caps will always hold the number one spot in my heart and that won't change just because Gary Bettman has it out for me. To prove it, I've belatedly agreed to (read: invited myself into) a friendly little wager, along with fellow Caps Goddess Shmee of Capital Addiction fame, against the lovable scamps over at Four Habs Fans.
That's right, we will be taking part in a threeway...prediction contest. Nothing illegal or dirty to see here, folks, move along.
Here is what we will be attempting to predict:
total # of goals scored by the Habs over the 2 games
total # of goals scored by the Caps over the 2 games
total # of goals scored by Ovie over the 2 games
total # of goals scored by Kovy over the 2 games
Winner of Tuesday night game
Winner of Thursday night game
pick one person from the Habs who will get into a fight
pick one person from the Caps who will get into a fight
One point for each winner, blogger with the most point wins. We all will be posting our predictions simultaneously at 2:30 pm EST and the winner gets...something. I'm not entirely sure, but the losers will probably have to write something nice about the other team.
Or, you know, paint themselves red white and blue and streak down either St. Catherine's Street or Pennsylvania Avenue during rush hour. (To which I say, careful boys...it's cold in Montreal this time of year.)
Helpful suggestions are welcome in the comments right up until the deadline - and yes, I will be taking credit for all of your ideas and sharing none of the glory. It's how I roll.
Time to take down the Bleu, Blanc et Rouge. Les Habitants. The Habs. The Canadiens.
Patrick Roy's castoffs.
...too soon?
Sunday, January 27, 2008
All-Star Game Liveblog
Yup, we're going to give this a try, see how it goes - after all we have to make this "meaningless charade of a game" a little more interesting, right? Special thanks to roomie for her input ;)
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All-Star Photos
Special Cheap Seats correspondent Geneen is at the All-Star Festivities this weekend and sent back some great shots from last night's red carpet event:
Kimmo Timonen, Philadelphia Flyers
Rick DiPietro, New York Islanders
Tomas Vokoun, Florida Panthers
Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning
Ilya Kovalchuk, Atlanta Thrashers
Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay Lightning
More to come!
All photos courtesy of Geneen Boyd
Skills Out the Wazoo
Frozen Moment courtesy of NHL.com
I know I'm supposed to be all serious and say that I hate the All-Star Game and I snooze through the Superskills...but that would be a lie. A big one.
I adore it. Every single overhyped, overdone moment of it. Can't get enough.
I love seeing if anyone can hit four targets in four shots. I love watching the YoungStars. I love the hardest shot. I love seeing which player will step up to get the MVP, expected or unexpected, of the game itself. I love hearing players mic'd up, a la Marty Turco last year.
It seems like we've gotten too cynical as hockey fans - we snark at anything bordering on frivolous entertainment, saying that it's "ruining the game" or that it's "not real hockey". But I'm not sure exactly what is wrong with taking a weekend away from the game before the real serious business of playoffs starts. I'm not sure why we decided that a showcase of skill and talent and personality is anti-hockey, something to be avoided at all costs. It is central to what hockey is and to me, there's nothing wrong with that.
Anyways.
Tonight we kicked off the festivities with the new, improved Superskills competition, and yes, there were some misses. The camera work for one was enough to give a fan vertigo and made it hard to follow sometimes. The obstacle course had entertainment potential but fizzled a bit. And technical difficulties abounded to kick it all off, which always puts a damper on things.
But if people were willing to just sit back and enjoy, they saw a lot to like. The three on three YoungStars game was more exciting than I thought it would be, with Backstrom getting two goals (yay Nicky!). The accuracy competition was actually a good one, with Kaberle joining the four for four club and winning the head to head with Arnott on one single shot. Lecavalier stunned everyone by shooting 101.9 in the hardest shot competition...and then Chara demolished that mark by breaking 103.
And Ovechkin? He was having more fun than anyone out there, just loving the crowd and the atmosphere and breaking out the most creative shot of any of the participants in the breakaway challenge. Twice.
It's all just...fun. The players are clearly having fun, the fans there are having fun, and the game tomorrow, while it won't be anywhere near an actual hockey game, has the potential to be fun as well. Forget the rest, leave the attitude at home, and give in to the fact that every once in a while a little frivolity is fun.
Friday, January 25, 2008
The Caps Play Dirty
A little love for the Caps today as we head into the All-Star break...and a little something less than love from Canada.
First up, AP has news for everyone that Caps fans already know - the playoff race is now on in DC.
Playoff race? Capitals?So true. Brooks Laich had this to say:
Well, take a long, hard look at those standings as the NHL heads into the All-Star break. Washington (23-22-5) is one point behind first-place Carolina in the Southeast Division. Granted, it's a weak division, but even this is more than anyone could have expected considering where the Capitals were two months ago.
"It's been a lot of hard work. It's come from the change. It's come directly from Bruce. He's a confident guy, and he preaches that to his players, and his players are playing with confidence. He makes the game real easy to play. It's a lot different around here now than it was before."Then the spotlight comes to rest on little Nicklas Backstrom as he heads off to his first - and probably not last - All-Star Game. He was rookie of the month in December, 12 points in 9 games in January, and poised to do even more down the stretch:
“Everything is different,” said Backstrom. “Now I know where I should go and where I should be on the ice. If you know that, that’s pretty good. I think it’s going better and better. But I think it can get even better.”And finally if you hadn't heard, the Caps are the second coming of this year's Philadelphia Flyers. Well, according to the Star, that is:
Hockey should be a no-contact sport. Got it. Don Cherry will be so pleased.Cliff Fletcher was brought into Toronto as interim general manager to prepare the Maple Leafs for the future and a new head hockey honcho.
Really, all the team needs is a few more games against the hard-hitting, some might say dirty, Washington Capitals. [Subtle...]
The way bodies have been dropping over the last two games, a little bit more of this Capital punishment and the entire Marlies squad would soon be wearing Maple Leaf jerseys. The future would be now.
Soaring Into the Break
It's been awhile since the Caps have had to play a real grind-it-out type of game - in recent weeks it's been more like the last person to touch the puck wins, with several high-scoring affairs under their belts.
The Leafs inspired a different type of game, though, the type of game the Caps used to play in a pre-Boudreau era of trapping and defense-first mentality. It wasn't always pretty and it certainly wasn't always successful. The difference? Now you get the feeling that this team can snatch two points out of any situation, including but not limited to these types of games - when it used to feel like the opposite.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Them's the Breaks
After such a steep and consistent uphill climb it's to be expected that the Caps will occasionally slip up and revert back to their old ways. Tonight was one of those times - they outplayed the Leafs and outworked the Leafs, but every mistake ended up in the back of the net. The Leafs were patient, bided their time and waited for the Caps to mess up...and they did.
Not much to say after a game like this.
Toronto did an excellent job of making it as boring as possible which, while maybe taking the hometown crowd out of it also prevented the Caps from having any flow to their game. It was the kind of game the Leafs needed to play to win and the kind of game that was not conducive to the Caps being the Caps.
Ovechkin's goal does continue his streak and extends his lead over Kovalchuk, but he just wasn't as visible as usual and that whole line was shut down fairly well. At times it seemed like they were backing off a bit too much and not being as physical as they could have been despite the high hit count.
Whether this is a hangover effect from the intensity of Monday's game or not, the whole team looked a little flat albeit with occasional bursts of energy from the usual suspects. Semin in particular was very active, as was Eminger. And Olie actually came up big for the Caps on more than a few occasions - hard to fault him on any of the goals, particularly the one where Morrisonn basically took him out.
That's now the second time one of his defensemen has fallen over him leading to a goal by the way. I'd like it to be the last.
Just kind of a blah game all around - here's hoping they come out with more energy tomorrow night as both teams travel back to the District for the rematch. The Caps won't go into the break with first place in the division, but with a win tomorrow night they can at least pull closer to the idle Canes and more importantly carry some momentum into the break.
So the preview for tomorrow - keep the good stuff, take away the mistakes, the lackluster play and the defensive miscommunication.
...oh, and win! Winning would be good. Yes.
Scrapping for Points
As we head into the stretch run obviously thoughts turn to the playoffs - what could happen, what will definitely happen, and what no one knows will happen. Today's poll on NHL.com poses an interesting question: Which East team currently out of a playoff spot has the best chance to earn a postseason berth?
It's a good question but it's one that is hard to answer because of just how quickly things can chance. Around here we're well aware of the turnaround that has taken place since Thanksgiving, a Caps team that was dead last in the East now right back in the mix and challenging for not only a playoff spot but a division title. But what about the rest of the league? There have been some stunning turnarounds in that period, some bigger than others, some for better, some for worse. And it all feeds into the fact that no one really knows anything until the final horn sounds.
Division leaders Ottawa, Carolina and the Rangers were all holding court atop the standings, and for once their point totals justified them being there. At the bottom sat the Caps, down and out, while the rest of the Southeast Division sat either in the top 8 or within spitting distance (which for our purposes will be a point).
Now less than a month later things are looking very different. Carolina and Ottawa maintain their grips on their respective division titles but the Canes' hold is a bit more tenuous - and if the Senators continue to slide they could find themselves unseated by a Habs team that continues to put up points. The Atlantic Division race has gotten much tighter but now it's not the Rangers holding the crown; a threeway race between the Devils, Flyers and Penguins has developed and the lead seems to change daily. Given the Devils dominance of the Flyers in recent days and the Penguins' inability to beat their own division, things are looking to be in New Jersey's favor. For the moment.
As for the Southeast...well, there's a reason we're referred to jokingly as the SouthLeast. It's a close battle for the division lead, with the Caps, Thrashers, Panthers and Canes all within a handful of points of each other (and Tampa deciding to play hockey again). But since the division leader would currently be in 8th were it not for the way standings are configured, it's hard not to agree with the pundits who say only one team from the SE will be in the postseason this year.
Turnarounds? Quite a few. The Devils and Penguins both suffered through mediocre to horrible starts to their respective seasons but have rebounded quite nicely, helped by a couple of lengthy, well-timed winning streaks and an equally well-timed nosedive by the Rangers. Florida and Tampa have both taken major drops, while the Capitals have been reinvigorated and are now in 10th, four points out of 8th and only three points out of the division lead.
Onto the West - here's how things looked through a post-Thanksgiving turkey haze:
Detroit once again got off to a blazing start, establishing themselves as The team to beat early on, as they always seem to do. Edmonton, LA, Phoenix, Calgary, Anaheim - all struggling teams to kick off the season, with the biggest surprise (or maybe not) being the Ducks in their Cup hangover phase. Then there was the surprise story of the Blackhawks. Revitalized by a couple of teenage phenoms and key free agent pickups, the Hawks sat on the verge of greatness. St. Louis also appeared to have rebounded quite nicely from a disappointing few years.
The picture hasn't changed all that much, but a few notable shifts have shaken up the West just enough to make life interesting. The Wings continue to be the unbeatable force of the league with only ten regulation losses to their credit. Dallas hangs on to the Pacific title for now, but Anaheim has woken up from their stupor (aided no doubt by the return of Scott Niedermayer) and the two teams are battling it out nightly. And Calgary has reemerged at the top of the incrediby competitive Northwest Division, a division that has four of its five teams sitting in playoff contention.
And then there are the teams in freefall. The Hawks fell all the way to 13th after starting off so strong, with crippling injuries playing a big role but also the burnout of a team that was maybe overachieving to start the year. St. Louis and Nashville have also fallen out of the top eight, while Edmonton and LA have yet to crack 13th place and continue to struggle.
With all of the freefalls and meteoric rises in such a short time, it's interesting to note how close everything still is. There are one, maybe two teams out of the playoff picture - everyone else is very much alive, in both conferences. In the West a mere 6 points separates 14th from the coveted 8th spot; in the East 8 points are between 15th and 8th. Three division leaders are separated from the second place team by one point.
In fact the only team whose division title is not in doubt is Detroit, with a twenty point lead on the next Central Division team (Nashville, in 9th place). Everyone else is up for grabs. And because of that this year, more than ever, every single point is huge and will continue to be huge until the very last game. We're in for an interesting ride...
Gameday Preview: Caps vs Leafs (Round 1)
Who: Washington Capitals vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
Where: Air Canada Centre
When: Wednesday, January 23, 7:00 pm
2 Minutes with...Mats Sundin
CC: So, Mats. Rumors abound that you're thinking of waiving your no trade clause. Any truth to that?MS: No. I'm staying with Toronto.
CC: Never thought about lea-
MS: [interrupting] I'm staying with Toronto.
CC: Okay, fair enough. The Leafs fired their GM yesterday - what does that do to your team now? Do you go out and try and prove everyone wrong?
MS: For sure. We let John down and now we make up for it.
CC: So about these trade rumors...
MS: I'm staying...with Toronto.
CC: Got it. Moving on. What do you think about the fans who seem to be turning on the Leafs?
MS: We'll get them back. We haven't played well enough for them and we know it, but we'll play better and get them back. We love our fans.
CC: Have you given any thought to letting them trade you?
MS: [through gritted teeth] I'm staying with TORONTO.
CC: Okay, okay, you don't have to bark. So no chance you'd leave then? Any desire to play somewhere else?
MS: I'm #$%@*(@ STAYING with Toronto!!
CC: You sure you wouldn't want to play for -
MS: Lady, this interview is over unless you - [his cell phone rings] - hang on. Hello? Yes? Wait, Ottawa wants me? Absolutely! Tell them I'll do it. Now. Waive it now! [hangs up]
CC:...so Mats, any chance you'd let Toronto trade you?
MS: [casually] I'd...consider it.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Tuesday Thoughts
Last night's game was incredibly intense and exciting - it's hard to get all your thoughts together at once. Here's a few more:
- With Crosby out, Versus was really hyping up this battle of Ovechkin vs. Malkin because...I don't know why. Maybe they feel like every hockey game needs an angle to be interesting. Not only were they right on the money with that one (for once) but every minute that passed and every goal that was scored made you wonder why this wasn't the rivalry the NHL targeted in the first place.
Crosby and Ovechkin? Completely different creatures. They score goals differently, they approach the game differently, they collect points and lead their teams and interact with their teammates differently. Both incredibly, stunningly talented players but different and really beyond comparison
Ovechkin and Malkin on the other hand are incredibly similar. Watching them battle it out on both ends of the ice last night was a show for the ages, a treat for any true hockey fan. In the coming years that is going to be be a rivalry to watch - and to me it's much more interesting than any battle Ovechkin and Crosby have had since coming into the league.
- Had Ovechkin connected with that hit on Malkin it would have been one for the highlight reels. With the miss it was one that made the collective hearts of all Caps fans leap into our throats. Alex, we love you, but please do not kill yourself trying to behead a Penguin. It's just not worth it.
- Give the Versus guys a lot of credit. They did do a fair amount of Sid-spotting (and if I never hear the words "high ankle sprain" again it'll be too soon) but they also did a good job of trying to include all the players on both teams. One word of advice though - when the Penguins score a goal, maybe focus on the guys who actually did the work instead of cutting to a shot of Crosby in the press box. He had nothing to do with it...he's good, but even he's not that good.
- Speaking of the Versus guys, why did they sound so surprised everytime Ovechkin or Malkin did something amazing? This just in, they're both very talented players. Is this seriously a newsflash?
- Brian Engblom's hair gets poofier and thinner with every broadcast.
- Mario Lemieux's hair gets greasier with every game...and now he's passed on his hair gel issues to Sid.
- How many people laughed when Semin scored the shootout winner and accidentally opened Johnny's door in his celebration, releasing the backup goalie onto the ice?
Monday, January 21, 2008
Gameday Preview: Caps VS Pens
Who: Washington Capitals vs Pittsburgh Penguins
Where: Mellon Arena
When: Monday, January 21, 7:30 pm
Broadcast Info: Versus, TSN
Media Notes:
Caps' Site
Pens' Site
NHL.com
Washington Post
Washington Times
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Going into tonight's game the Caps face a tough challenge - they are attempting to win four straight for the first time this season. Not a small task against a Penguins team that, despite being rattled by injuries, scrapped out a shutout win in Montreal two days ago. The Caps are playing their best hockey of the season, though, and will provide a tough challenge in their own right to the Crosby-less Pens.
Speaking of which...
Crosby is out with an ankle sprain. You may not have heard - it's not like it has gotten any press or coverage or anything lately, but yes, Captain Crosby is out for an unknown length of time with a high ankle sprain. It's a horrible blow for any team to have a player out with such an injury; it's even worse when that player is not only your leader and your best player but one of the best players in the league.
Fortunately there is a silver lining, albeit a small one. With Crosby out, the media focus now shifts to the rest of the team - the band of warriors who pull on the mighty Penguin crest night after night and toil in the shadow of Sidney Crosby.
The Merry Men to Crosby's Robin Hood, if you will.
And of course we here in the Cheap Seats would like nothing more than to introduce you to some of these hidden talents, diamonds in the rough - the unknown Penguins.
Tom Cruise - Every team needs a cheerleader. Every team needs a nut. When the Penguins acquired the rights to Tom earlier this year, though, little did they know they would be getting both. Known as much for his riveting locker room speeches as he is for sliding down the ice in his tighty whities, Cruise has brought a little spark to the franchise. And when he gets really excited, you can even see him jump up and down on the bench with unadulterated glee - truly a team player, that Tom.
Pam Anderson - After starting goaltender Fleury was taken out with an ankle sprain, the Pens needed someone to fill the void. They got their man, er, woman, in Pammy. Her strength lies in her buxom features, providing ample targets that players shoot at instead of the net behind her. Rumors that management fears an impending explosion one day have been consistently denied.
Fabio - Fabio was brought in to shore up the lackluster Pens' defense last year, giving them the size needed to keep the puck out of the net while helping them to fulfill their mullet quota. It's rumored that rushing forwards occasionally lose themselves in his eyes and simply fall down at his feet. The one problem? His tendency to become so mesmerized by his own visage on the Jumbotron, allowing opponents to merely skate around him and continue unharmed.
Verne Troyer - Someone with Troyer's size would seem an odd fit for a hockey team. Still, when the Flyers signed Briere, Pittsburgh faced the conundrum that any of their fully grown players attempting to check the tiny center would likely be whistled for elbowing. The solution? Sign someone tiny yet still bigger than Briere to keep him in check. So far Troyer has delivered - the occasional drunken bathroom incidents were just an extra unforeseen bonus.
Bubbles the Chimp - Signed as an unrestricted free agent this past July, Bubbles has proven to be an effective defenseman for the Penguins so far. With 20 goals on the year already there have been murmurs that he could unseat the former offensively minded defenseman, Gonchar, from his top defensive slot. The only thing holding Bubbles back now is a tendency to climb the netting around the rink and an inability to climb back down on his own. Still, the Pens have high hopes for their simian star...as long as no one mentions his previous employer, that is.
Mario Lemieux - Oh, you thought he was retired? No, no, Mario is still kicking right along, albeit in a slightly more subdued role. His primary responsibilities these days include tying Sid's skates and making sure Sid's teeth are brushed properly, among other things. Still, with Crosby out of the spotlight the sky is the limit for Mario and some have said he's next in line for the role of Max Talbot's dogwalker. Good luck to Mario!
Special thanks to Elly, Steph and Teka for their assistance in this completely nonsensical post.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Gameday Preview: Caps vs Panthers
Who: Washington Capitals vs Florida Panthers
Where: Verizon Center
When: Saturday, January 19, 7:00 pm
Broadcast Info: CSN, 3WT Radio; FSN Florida, 790 the Ticket; HDNet
Media Notes:
Caps' Site
NHL.com
Washington Post
Washington Times
We know the story...the Panthers own the Caps, have for years, blah blah blah. We also know that the Panthers are mired in an injury bug that makes the Caps' recent troubles look like mosquito bites and paper cuts. And we know the game Florida plays - think the Devils in their heyday or the Wild or Lightning now. Then add some sedatives, a shot of Nyquil and a fluffy pillow for the full effect.
Fourteen of the twenty games between Washington and Florida since the lockout have been one-goal games, including all four games this year. Three of them this year have been 2-1 finals. And last night the Panthers snapped a three game losing streak with, yup, you guessed it, a 2-1 win over the Devils.
Aw...it's like they've passed the torch.
None of that, however, should surpass the fact that this is bizarrely enough one of the most important games of the season for the Caps - and don't think the Caps themselves don't know it. With a win they'll take away 8 of 10 points on this crucial homestand and head into a demoralized Pittsburgh with their heads held high. They'll also take away an equally important two points from their division rivals and jump back up into eleventh place in the conference, third in the division. Yeah, it's important.
Of course, it's that time of year...they're all big games, right? Here's to a Caps win as they start to get the monkey off their backs known as the Florida Panthers.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Happy Friday Indeed
While a Saturday evening date with the Panthers looms on the horizon, there's still a little time to bask in the glow of a rare shootout win and to take in the loveliest sight we've seen since back in October:
Feels good, doesn't it?
Be sure to cast your vote in our new Cheap Seats poll and let us know what you think of the Capitals' postseason aspirations. Remember, this isn't like voting Democrat in Alabama or Republican in DC (or Kucinich anywhere) - your vote does count here, so let your voice be heard!
Matt Bradley: The "It" Man
Quotes of the night, courtesy of the eternally quotable Matt Bradley:
And one from the Coach for good measure:"I told him, 'I'll score, let me go. I don't think either of us actually believed what I was saying."
"I was hoping I got to go before (backup goalie) Brent Johnson went. I figured if I can go before him, I'll be doing OK."
"He just said, 'I'm going to score, put me out there,' and he jumped over the board and he went in. He told me, he didn't ask."
Thursday, January 17, 2008
A Picture Says It All
...but which one?
This one?
Or this one?
You decide. Good game, great win, fantastic smiles all around.
Photos courtesy of AP
This one?
Or this one?
You decide. Good game, great win, fantastic smiles all around.Photos courtesy of AP
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Say It Ain't So Indeed
Photo courtesy of WashingtonCaps.com
A lot of the talk about the Caps this season has revolved around the goaltending. Kolzig has had an up and down season and Brent Johnson has played well but had battled injuries and the life of a backup to get into the game.
And it's goaltending that tempers our giddiness over a sweep of the first place Sens this morning, with a piece by Post columnist Mike Wise about Kolzig - and the possibility that he may hang up the pads for good.
There's a lot of frustration woven throughout the story, with Kolzig sounding...tired. Uncertain. Annoyed. Vocal about the coach's decision to yank him on Sunday and to bench him last night, although as a veteran Olie should know that the former was more likely to jolt the team and the latter was because he's 37 and had played eleven straight games. Nevertheless there's a hint of resentment in Olie's candor, a little concern that maybe he's not being treated as well as he should be by this organization that he has at times held together all by himself.
You know, as someone who has watched Olie go from gawky draft pick to minor league callup to backup to Vezina trophy winner and beyond, the thought of Olie not being in net even in a reduced role is painful. We were supposed to have two more years. He said he would play until he was forty; we were supposed to have two more years.
We all can admit that Olie has not been himself this year, although we still see flashes of it from time to time. His lateral movement isn't as fast as it used to be; his fivehole is left open a split second too long. He doesn't have the rebound control that he once had. Even the most notorious Olie-apologist can see that he's not where he once was.
Still, while his numbers haven't been that pretty this season it's hard to say that he's not someone we still trust night in and night out to make the big saves. Give him more nights off. Split the load between him and Johnson. Do what it takes to show we still have faith in him. Maybe it's pure nostalgia that doesn't want to let him go, but it's just not time for Zilla to not be there for us - not now, when the team is finally starting to gel in front of him.
In Wise's piece Olie laments about the loss of Hanlon, who as he says "finally had a team he deserved". The same can be said for Kolzig - what Caps fan wouldn't want to see this team get to the show, just one more time, for Olie? This is a guy who, in his prime, dismissed talk that he would leave the Caps for a "contender", vowing to stay in the nation's capital through the tough times. Nothing is a sure bet, he said, and if he was going to win a Cup he wanted it to be with the Caps; if not, c'est la vie.
That's a guy you want to keep. That's a player you need on your team, even in a reduced role. That's someone you don't let go. Someone who has been the face, the heart, the soul, the voice and the backbone of this organization. That's a guy you hang on to as long as possible.
Say it ain't so, Olie...say it ain't so.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Monday, January 14, 2008
Gameday Preview: Caps vs Senators
Who: Washington Capitals vs. Ottawa Senators
Where: Verizon Center
When: Tuesday, January 15, 7:00 pm
"The Ottawa Senators are the best team in the Eastern Conference, but they've hardly looked like it against the lowly Washington Capitals."
The Caps are not "lowly". They're near the bottom of the league, yes, but they are only a handful of points out of eighth place and within reach of almost every team in the conference. Plus...lowly has been done. Find a new word. Rant complete.
So this is one of those games that is really a crapshoot, a game of "what ifs" and "if onlys" and "who knows".
To start, the Caps have played three games against the Senators so far this season. In none of them were they expected to win. In all of them they came away with two points. So you have the fact that the Caps know they can beat this Sens team combined with the fact that Ottawa is not about to let the "lowly" Caps sweep them without a fight. Interesting dynamic right off the bat.
Then you have the injuries on both sides and potential returning injured players on both sides. For the Sens, they recently suffered a major blow with the loss of Dany Heatley to a separated shoulder. However they'll get Patrick Eaves back after the right winger missed 24 games with, oddly enough, a separated shoulder. On the Washington side, the Caps are still missing Brian Pothier, out with a concussion, and it looks like they will continue to be without Clark after he reinjured his groin in Sunday's loss to the Flyers.
After that there are any number of factors. Ray Emery in net for the Sens is always a bit of a wild card, and Brent Johnson, who will probably give Olie the night off, keeps things interesting in his own right. The Sens are playing their third game in four nights, the Caps have more rest under their belts with just one game in the last five days. Ottawa hasn't lost four straight in DC nor have they been swept in a season series since the mid-90s. Both teams are coming off of disappointing losses on Sunday.
The one thing that seems to be certain is that games between these two teams never seem to be boring. All three have had at least 5 goals in them, with the two teams combining for 23 goals in the last two games alone. Each game one team has had a strong period and then the other team responds with a strong period of their own.
Whatever it is about the Sens that brings out the best in the Caps, let's see more of it.
Hell, let's bottle it and douse them with it before every game.
Word is Spreading
In one of his daily dialogues recently Coach Bruce Boudreau joked that he almost wished Mike Green wasn't getting so much attention - it's easier to burn teams with his talent when they're not keeping a close eye on him.
Well, if other teams are noticing either they don't care or they're simply not able to shut him down. Safe money is on the latter, as Green has rocketed to the top of the goal-scoring defensemen despite continuing to be the subject of national discussion.
...someone explain to me how he wasn't picked as an All-Star again?
The spotlight continues today for Green as he's featured in the New York Times (swanky), where he put into words what it seems a lot of fans and players alike are starting to feel:
“I see a bright future for this organization,” Green said. “We have the right foundation as far as players and direction. It feels like we’re really starting to put things together.”Then there's the massively long piece on NHL.com, Green's "In the Spotlight" moment. Of course we've read a lot about him in recent weeks, but there's some good stuff in there from the coaching staff and Green himself that's new to any fan. In the piece he talks about everything from good eating habits to modelling his game after some of the greats to working on his game in his own end:
"Offense comes a lot more naturally than the defensive game for me," Green said. When there is offense to be created as the fourth guy jumping up into the play, that's what I want to do, and continue working the power play. It has taken some time for me to come into my own and I finally feel ready to fill that role. But I really try to work on my defensive game. I don't want to be known as just an offensive guy, though I think over the course of my junior career and AHL experience I have developed that (reputation), but I want to be a guy that can play solid minutes and play against top lines."Sounds good to me.
So now that the Ovechkin deal is done there's talk that negotiations will begin with Green shortly if they haven't already. The way Green has been talking about the team, the coaching staff and the organization lately, it's likely that the Caps can lock up Green long-term and keep this team in very good hands for a very long time.
Just nobody give that kid keys to a segway ever again, okay?
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Flyers Fly Away with Win
Early in the game it looked like things were well under control. The crowd was raucous, the Caps seemed to have some jump and Semin had scored with just over three minutes in to give the team an early 1-0 lead. They even drew a penalty - things were going right.
And then Backstrom took an ill-timed penalty 8 seconds into the man-advantage, negating the power play and shifting the momentum in a very strange way. From then on it seemed like the Caps were back on their heels, letting Philly dictate the play for most of the afternoon. Even a second Flyers penalty soon after Backstrom's minor did little to get the Caps.
There were good moments. There were periods of sustained attack and pressure, nice plays, and the usual 110% from Ovechkin, who had a goal and an assist to cap off a strong game. The Caps came back from a 4-1 deficit to make it close and kept pulling within one before ultimately being beaten by an empty-netter. Green and Morrisonn were strong on the blue line, both finishing +2 and Green picking up a goal and an assist in 25+ minutes of ice time.
Plus Briere didn't score - always a plus.
But the Caps were never able to fully recover and found themselves playing catch-up most of the game despite taking an early lead. It didn't help that first Kolzig and then Johnson coming in relief were both incapable of corraling rebounds, but there were other issues for sure. Semin had some dazzling moves but kept trying to pass when he should shoot and vice versa, a continuing problem in his game (especially when getting back after injuries). The power play was powerless and even gave up a shorthanded goal. The defense let the Flyers get in close and at least twice they whacked in a rebound from behind the Caps' goaltender.
Both Clark and Poti made their return to the lineup and it was, as expected, a shaky game for each of them - good things mixed with bad things. For Poti, it was the little things like clearing out the rebounds and getting shots on net that seemed off, and he finished a disappointing -3. Clark's timing appeared to be off and he played under nine minutes, although he did pick up an assist and throw a hit that drew a cheer from the crowd - we missed him, that's for sure.
It just looked like a rusty game all around for the Caps. They got away from their systems, their way of playing, and let the Flyers play however they wanted. They would sustain pressure only to turn over the puck; they would block shots and angle the Flyers to the outside only to allow a scramble in front of the net.
In terms of points, it was a big day for a lot of people; eleven different Flyers and nine Caps registered at least a point.
...and did I mention that Briere was not among them? It's the little things. Literally.
A little rust is not a complete surprise, although a surprise would have been nice. One game in seven days isn't a great schedule but now things will pick up again, and the Caps need to shake it off to get ready for the final game with the Senators on Tuesday. The important thing is to not let one loss become two become three, etc.
It ends here - on to the next game.
Photo courtesy of AP
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Gameday Preview: Caps vs Flyers
Please do not attempt to adjust your computer screens. The following is an honest to goodness gameday preview.
Who: Washington Capitals vs. Philadelphia Flyers
Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC
When: Sunday, January 13, 1:00 pm
Broadcast Info: CSN-DC, 3WT Radio; CSN-PH; NHL Network (Canada)
Team afraid to walk alone while Hatcher remains unleashed
Photo courtesy of AP/The Canadian Press
Philadelphia, PA - Derian Hatcher has never been the quiet, unassuming type. With a skating style some refer to as "lumbering" and others call "embarrassing", Hatcher has long been a slow, slightly dim throwback to the heyday of Broad Street Bullies. His willingness to drop the shoulder or the gloves has earned him a reputation as a tough guy, a list of enemies longer than Nixon's, and the ability to strike fear into even the most stalwart of opponents.Sadly, the list of people who fear him may now include his own team.
Just last week Hatcher decided to bowl over an oncoming Leaf - only to take out fellow Flyer Joffrey Lupul. Lupul left the game and is out with assorted injuries, his date of return indefinite.
"Yeah, it's scary," Flyers' captain Jason Smith said. "I turned a corner too fast in the locker room the other day and he tried to club my kneecaps. I just barely got out of the way in time. The guy needs a choke-chain."
"My kids run and hide behind me when they see him coming," added Daniel Briere. "Of course, they're taller than I am so it doesn't help, but still..."
Small children hiding behind smaller adults is the least of his concerns. Hatcher is hardly able to get medical treatment for the boo-boos that need kissing, so afraid is the medical staff that he will attempt to pummel them. Coaches stand more than an arms-length away in case his temper should flare up or his abnormally large frame should flail out of control by accident.
Many of his teammates have enlisted the help of private bodyguards to protect them against their wayward defenseman, while others use only prayer and the fact that they can outrun Hatcher to avoid bodily harm.
"I had to hide in my equipment bag last week just to avoid him. Worst two hours of my life," said Briere.
"He threw a shoe at my head once. Luckily I'm well-padded up there but still...I had to change my underwear afterwards," admits Phlex, mascot for the AHL affiliate Phantoms and next door neighbor to Hatcher.
When asked if any disciplinary action would be taken against Hatcher for further attacks on his teammates and foam-headed friends, Senior VP Bobby Clarke simply smiled and shook his head. "When he went after Phlex, I loved it," Clarke replied.
Slapshot, the Capitals mascot, was unavailable for comment but is rumored to be hidden in a safe house pending the Flyers' departure from DC.
Friday, January 11, 2008
The 124 Million Dollar Man
Photo courtesy of WashingtonCaps.com
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