Season Opener - Take 2

I have decided to ignore Thursday's fiasco and focus instead on tonight, the season opener that really counts - the one at home. I'll be there with what I hope is a raucous crowd of Capitals faithful.

Opening night is always exciting, between the pomp and circumstance of whatever ceremony they decide to put on and the high expectations of the home team crowd. I'm hoping that the enthusiasm of the fans, along with some minor tweaks by Hanlon and the gang, will help to lift the good guys to victory.

Who: Your Nation's Capitals vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Where: Verizon Center
601 F Street NW
Washington, DC 20004
When: Saturday, October 7, 2006, 7:00 pm

Media Notes:
WashingtonCaps.com
Washington Post
Washington Times
Raleigh News & Observer


Broadcast Information: Comcast Sportsnet, Fox Sports Net South (NC), WTEM-980, WWMY-102.9 (NC), NHL Radio

Things to Watch For:
- The Caps maintained their discipline in their season opener Thursday night, getting whistled for only 3 penalties and killing all of them off. A lone highlight from that game, it would be nice to see that same discipline here tonight. There's may be a little heat between the Caps and the Canes since the end of last season, but the guys need to keep their emotions in check. As I've mentioned, the Hurricanes have had excellent penalty-killing, so they can't expect many opportunities of their own.
- Of course having said that the Canes' best penalty killer, Mr. Conn Smythe himself Cam Ward will likely be riding the bench in this second game of back to back games. As a result, John Grahame is probably making his regular season Carolina Hurricanes debut...let's give him a real nice welcome.
- Carolina is playing their third game in four nights, including last night's shutout loss to the Devils. The Caps have had a day off in between games and will have the home crowd behind them tonight. Energy will be a factor - let's hope the Caps can funnel the adrenaline on to the ice and keep the crowd in it all night.
- Lines are completely up in the air, with the exception being the reunion of Ovie, Zubie and Clark. Look for Clark to open up the ice a little more for the other two, and maybe we'll see Ovie get his first goal of the season. No word yet on whether the Caps will dress 7 defensemen or not, although it looks like Carolina will be continuing that practice.


My Prediction: Caps win, 3-2. Ovie will have a goal and an assist, Clymer will have a goal, and Beech will have an assist.

Fun Fact (per Mike Vogel): Friday night’s game against New Jersey marked the 300th career game for Carolina’s Peter Laviolette as a head coach...too bad they got shutout. :)

Here are your probable lineups for tonight's game:

Washington Capitals
Forwards
8-Ovechkin, 9-Zubrus, 17-Clark
28-Semin, 24-Beech, 22-Fata
87-Brashear, 16-Sutherby, 20-Zednik
38-Klepis + 2 to be named at gametime
lines are likely not final depending on who gets called up from Hershey

Defensemen
2-Pothier, 26-Morrisonn
27-Clymer, 44-Eminger
6-Heward, 52-Green

Goaltenders
1-Johnson, 37-Kolzig


Carolina Hurricanes
Forwards
26-Cole, 12-Staal, 13-Whitney
16-Ladd, 17-Brind’Amour, 11-Williams
19-Letowski, 25-Belanger, 24-Walker
14-K.Adams, 27-C. Adams

Defense
6-Hedican, 22-Commodore
7-Wallin, 8-Gleason
2-Wesley, 48-Babchuk
45-Tanabe

Goaltenders
30-Ward, 47-Grahame

I'm kind of phoning this one in because I'm heading over to have dinner and check out fanfest, but if you want to see a real gameday preview I refer you once again to the message boards...

LET'S GO CAPS!

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U R 2 Kewl, LOL

- As is my usual Friday activity, I was unwinding from a long work week and perusing the internet when I decided to wander over to a place I haven't been in a while - the Caps message boards.

Hoo, boy.

If you've never looked at the boards before, I highly recommend it if only for the true comedy it inspires. It is Caps fandom at its best - bitter, pessimistic, often contradictory, and laugh out loud, er, LOL funny. There's a hierarchy, a language, a code of law, an unseen leader who rules with an iron fist...it's like an independent digital dictatorship right here in the district, what's not to love?

The population of this tiny community varies all over the map. You have your "true" fans; these are the diehards who bite someone's head off for daring to suggest that Bondra be brought back and who appear to hate everything about the team. Then there's the NARCFs (or the Not a Real Caps Fans for non-boardies); those people that dare to live in a different city or *gasp* do not attend all 41 home games. You have the optimists and the pessimists, the whiners, the confused ones, and the people who stick to two topics - trade player X or bring back player Y.

With such a colorful group, I knew what to expect the day after our first game and first loss of the season. So I wasn't surprised when I looked at the first thread, succinctly entitled "Beech Sucks". Nice. Now, I watched the game from start to finish last night, and of all the things that sucked, Beech was not really one of them. Okay, I remember him turning the puck over at one point, but who didn't? Anyways, the thread goes back and forth in a highly erudite and grown-up manner - Beech sucks, no he doesn't, yuh-huh, nuh-uh, etc. Then it branches out into who else sucked...Zednik, Clymer, Pothier, the list goes on. Highly entertaining if you have the time and/or the stomach to read through it.

For extra giggles look at the "Sign Bondra!" thread - at one point all Bondra posts were consolidated into one ginormous thread, which has since disappeared, but this brave soul dared to make a joke and look what happened...(by the way, ph34r apparently means fear. I had to look it up a few months ago, being a non-boardie myself.)

This doesn't really have a point...much like many of the threads on the message boards I just like to entertain myself. To be honest, I love these guys (and let's face it, they're mostly guys). The posts are always good for a smile if nothing else, and my own gameday previews are a weak attempt to replicate the great ones produced by one poster in particular. Speaking of which, check out the drinking game - you'll be wasted by the first intermission.

And so I dedicate this pointless post to you, my fellow nut jobs on the message boards - may you continue to squabble in good health and forever keep me entertained.

- Here's a little more doom and gloom to start the weekend off right for all of us here in Caps-town - apparently we've got some more injuries. Anyone else think it's a little early for the boys to dropping like flies? The Calder Cup champs haven't even started their season and it looks like we'll already be picking away at them, with Brooks Laich and Boyd Gordon likely in the press box for tomorrow's home opener.

Vogel discusses the latest injuries on WashingtonCaps.com, as does Tarik El-Bashir on his new Capitals blog (nice of the Post to give it to him then bury it...)

- I realized that I kind of crapped out on everyone on the eve of the season opener, going all soft and squishy instead of doing a real season preview. I'm still not going to do one, but I thought I would provide a service by at least linking to some of the good blogs out there who weren't as lazy.

My friend over at Random Reality Thoughts put together a nice preview and has the bases covered (pun intended, sorry) when it comes to the O's.

Japer's Rink is a good source for Caps craziness, and Bleatings from a Caps Nut does a very thorough preview of both the Caps and the entire league, division by division. Puckhead is always good for a dose of reality or as I like to call it, pessimism. There's more out there, but this post is bordering on Michener-esque so I'll let you surf for the rest on your own.

Gameday preview for the home opener coming up tomorrow...

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How Many 'R's in ARRRRGGGGHHH?

I've had a little time to unwind and reflect on the events of the Capitals season opener, and I am now ready to approach it in a calm and mature manner...the Rangers are all buttheads.

Okay, starting now.

To put it simply, tonight's game seemed like preseason - a mere dress rehearsal, like no one told the Caps that as of tonight, all games count. There were once again some individual performances that stood out but the team game was seriously lacking. There were multiple turnovers, the power play continued to be nonexistent, and the top line was on the ice for 4 of the 5 goals. Worst of all - Jagr scored. Blech.

I'll skip the long, detailed play-by-play - let's face it, if you're reading this you probably watched the game or at least caught the highlights (such as they were) on some sports wrap-up show. I'll go instead to the bad news/good news portion of our evening:

Bad News:
The Caps failed to convert on any of the 8 power-play chances tonight. Only two man-advantages featured decent passing and consistent scoring chances.
Good News:
The Caps were 100% on the penalty kill.
Better News:
The Caps took only three penalties all night, one per period. Of course, there goes my theory that taking fewer penalties will lead to a win, but it's something to build on...

Bad News:
The top line of Ovie, Zubie and Zednik combined for a total of exactly no points and each one was a -4 on the night. Ruh-roh.
Good News:
Semin got his first goal of the year - Alex 2.0 seems to be continuing his strong play from the preseason.

Bad News:
Defense was horrible. Need I say more?
Good News:
Ummm...I pass.

With that out of my system, I choose now to focus on the positive. Trust me, I too was doom and gloom as the game wound down, head in hands, let down once again by my beloved Capitals. But yes, nay-sayers and knee-jerkers, that silver lining I'm always looking for is still there. It may have taken me four hours to find it, but it's there.

First of all, the power play did seem to be coming together towards the end, which makes me think that it's really just a matter of time before it starts to click. They're learning to play together, and I still believe that this power play is going to be lethal at some point. Despite giving up four goals, Olie looked sharp - it was the defense that hung him out to dry. There were even moments of team brilliance throughout the night, flashes of what could be when they finally get their acts together and play like we know they can.

Beech and Semin had very strong games yet again, and of all people Rico Fata was very impressive tonight. (A side note - according to Off-Wing Opinion, I am crushing on Fata...but come on, who doesn't love Rrrrrico?)

So what needs to be fixed before Saturday's home opener and what needs to stay the same?
- Penalty killing was great - very aggressive and kind of fun to watch. It helps when you only have to kill off three, so that should continue.
- I think we need Clark back on the top line, at least for now. He opens up room for Ovie and Zubie to play a little bit, which Zednik just can't do. Ovie was practically invisible for most of the night because the Rangers were simply able to close him off.
- For the love of god, can I get them to stop making those crazy diagonal cross-ice passes? They got picked off about 99% of the time. Passes like that barely work on good teams...
- Traffic in front of the net would be nice to see. Scratch that, traffic in front of the opposition's net. A goalie can only stop what he can see, and Lundqvist saw almost every shot.
- I liked the hitting throughout the night, especially the tag team effort by Ovie and Zubie on some poor Ranger. It was the only stat that was consistently better than the Rangers - keep it up.
- The Caps need to carry the momentum of what amounted to a fairly strong third period into Saturday's matchup with the 'Canes, who I'm sure are still smarting from being beaten at home after unveiling their championship banner (excuse me, I have to go laugh my ass off...)

Now here's how the big boys wrap up tonight's game:
WashingtonCaps.com
Washington Post
Washington Times

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For a Change...

I know everyone is gearing up for the game - that's in 53 minutes and counting, kids.

I stumbled upon a rarity that I wanted to share to get everyone in the mood...

Are you ready?

Seriously, this has never been seen before. Wait for it...

It's...

...an article on Ovechkin! Seriously, I kid you not! I know, it's like the media just hates him, but finally the Washington Times has featured our boy Ovie in a tell-all interview.

Okay, kidding aside, do I need to keep going into why I love him so much? He's just so Ovie-like. Just read the first paragraph where they describe where he's standing and what he's wearing - I dare you not to laugh, or at least crack a smile. Anyways, it put me in a good mood for the game tonight and I hope it does the same for you.

Here's hoping Ovechkin runs over Jagr in the first shift. I promise you I would never stop laughing. Go Caps!

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Smell the Ice

This is the time of year that my fellow bloggers and the distinguished members of the press are doing their season previews - picking the final conference standings, reviewing offseason moves, grading the team based on preseason performance, etc. I'm going to skip this ritual fortune-telling, partly because I can hardly try to make a prediction based on the two preseason games and one day at training camp that I have attended and partly because everything that could be said has already been said, either here or by someone more qualified than me. Take for example the Post's Keys to the Season...it's a much more thorough and well-written recap than anything I could spew out at this point.

So instead, if I may, I'd like to get a little poetic and talk about why I love hockey...

Hockey is my relaxation, my happy place. Some people do yoga - I yell at hockey players. I love to just sit and watch the players skate; I love the sound of sharpened blades slicing through a fresh sheet of ice, the smack of the puck when it hits a stick, the muffled thud when a goalie makes a pad save. I love hearing the players bark at each other on the ice. I love watching the celebration on the bench after a goal is scored, and my heart breaks with each one of them when they lose the big game.

I take great pleasure in booing players I hate, cheering for players I love, and watching the next rookie phenom take the ice for the first time. I hold my breath during overtime, while my team is shorthanded, and when they have the lead with one minute left in a game. I mutter about how shootouts aren't really hockey and shouldn't determine the outcome of a game, yet stand in hushed anticipation as each shooter takes his turn.

My love for the game takes me to the cusp of another year, another 82 games of surprises and heartaches. We once again have a group of gritty, hard-working guys with a few flashes of brilliance thrown in - exactly the type of team we always love here in DC. I'm still not sure where they'll end up in April. They could be right in the thick of a playoff fight or they could once again be lined up for a top five draft pick. Either way, it'll be good to get back to the Phone Booth and watch it unfold, whatever "it" is. Not knowing is half the fun of being a sports fan in the first place - what excitement would be found if you knew before a single game was played that the Caps would win the Cup?

Okay, a little excitement maybe, but I'm telling you it's better this way...

We have a lot to look forward to this year. We have players looking to top career seasons, players looking to make their mark, and players trying to score "The Goal - Part 2". We have a team that, after winning 29 games last season, fully expects to contend for the postseason.

There are so many highlights to come - opening night is tomorrow night (see my gameday preview below) then we have the home opener against the Cup champs this Saturday. Jeff Halpern makes his hometown return in November when Dallas comes to town, and the Penguins will again make two appearances, bringing their new boy wonder Malkin along with our good buddy Sid the Kid for a next generation throwdown. All-Star festivities return in January, and I'm hoping they bring back the East-West format...can you imagine seeing Ovie and Crosby on a line together?

And let's not forget the handful of games on national TV. Oh, wait. That's not a highlight, that sucks. Three games? Really? The NHL schedulers can kiss my...

Ahem. Moving on.

So there you have it - the 2006-2007 preview, DCCapsChick style. It's a long season and there will be lots to talk about down the road. There's plenty of time to be pissed at players, coaches, the media; plenty of time for predictions, analysis, frustration, joy, tears.

For now, though, I encourage everyone to stop, breathe deep, and smell the ice...here we go.

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Caps Open in Big Apple

Who: Your Nation's Capitals vs. New York Rangers
Where: Madison Square Garden
7th Ave & 32nd Street
New York, NY 10001
When: Thursday, October 5, 2006, 7:00 pm

Media Notes:
WashingtonCaps.com
...once again there seems to be a lack of media coverage specific to individual games, as people are still doing their season preview articles. This should change as the season actually gets underway. I hope.

Broadcast Information: Comcast Sportsnet; WTEM 980; MSG

2005-2006 Season Series: Washington 2-1-0-1, New York 2-2-0-0

Last Game: 3/16 in New York, Caps lost 5-4
- Jagr scored the game-winning goal in the third period to snap a six-game losing streak, a season worst for the Rags. Fellow former Cap Michael Nylander had three assists on the night. Earlier in the game Jagr had yelled at his teammates to step it up after they allowed two goals to blow the lead. Ah, the irony...
- The Caps outshot the Rangers 40-27 and had a goal disallowed with less than 9 minutes remaining in the game.
- 3 of the 5 goals scored by the blueshirts came on the power play.

Things to Watch For:
- I'm running out of ways to say it - the Caps absolutely must stay out of the penalty box. Sure, penalty killing is improving (as it should, with all the practice) but the best penalty killers in the league will have a hard time when down 2 men every night.
- Hanlon is apparently tinkering with the idea of dressing 11 forwards and 7 defenseman to free up more ice time for Ovie, Semin, Ovie, Zednik, Ovie, Zubrus...you get the idea.
- Eminger scored his very first NHL goal against the Rangers, and two of his four goals total have come against the blueshirts. The other two came against the Isles and the Sabres - someone's in a NY state of mind...

Possible Lineups:

Washington Capitals

Forwards:
8-Alex "the Gr8" Ovechkin, 9-Dainius "Phone Buddy" Zubrus, 20-Richard "Boomerang" Zednik
28-Alex "the Missing Link" Semin, 24-Kris "Life's a" Beech, 17-Chris "Big C" Clark
21-Brooks "What's Not to" Laich, 16-Brian "K.O." Sutherby, 22-Rico "Suave" Fata
87-Donald "Lamborghini Man" Brashear, 15-Boyd "Flash" Gordon, 38-Jakub "Surprise! I'm Still Here!" Klepis

Defense:
2-Brian "DC>Ottawa" Pothier, 26-Shaone "Rising Star" Morrisonn
27-Ben "DC Diva" Clymer, 44-Steve "I Heart NY" Eminger
6-Jamie "the Journeyman" Heward, 52-Mike "Babyface" Green

In Net:
37-Olie "the Captain" Kolzig

New York Rangers
Forwards:
14-Brendan Shanahan, 92-Michael Nylander, 68-Jaromir "the Cheerleader" Jagr
25-Peter Prucha, 82-Martin "Jagr's Lapdog" Straka, 18-Adam Hall
10-Nigel Dawes, 5-Matt Cullen, 16-Jason Ward
44-Ryan Hollweg, 19-Blair Betts, 28-Colton Orr

Defense:
3-Michal Roszival, 8-Marek "the Showoff" Malik
4-Aaron "What the Hell Was I Doing in NC??" Ward, 51-Fedor "Rootin" Tyutin
6-Darius "A Nasty Case of" Kasparaitis, 23-Karel "No, Not Carol" Rachunek

In Net:
30-Henrik "Pretty Boy" Lundqvist

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Opening Night Roster Set

- Postgame from Sunday's loss to Carolina will not be available due to the fact that I am still pissed about it and choose to ignore this game altogether. Please see WashingtonCaps.com for more details...

...and please ignore Dave Fay's implication that Eminger is on his way out. I refuse to speculate on whether our 2002 first-round draft pick will be gone because he's had a subpar preseason and was benched for most of the 'Canes game. They know what he's capable of and I doubt they would get rid of someone with so much potential based on a meaningless two-week period. Moving on...

- The opening night roster has officially been set, with Alexandre Giroux being sent down to the AHL and Matt Pettinger being placed on the IR. Hopefully whatever is ailing Pettinger is minor and will not keep him out of the lineup for too long. As for Giroux, I did really like the little I saw from him, and I'm sure he will be back later in the season as injuries and/or performance require.

It's important to note that guys like Beech, Klepis, etc. are still not guaranteed a full-time place on the roster once Pettinger gets back, so those guys will have to continue to scrap it out. As impressed as I was with Klepis up to now, I personally would like to see Beech stick around if only because this is likely his last chance (as I and many others have mentioned ad nauseum), and I think he's earned this roster spot. Klepis is a few years younger and will probably make the team in the next year or two, but another year in Hershey won't hurt. Having said that, I don't think you could really go wrong with either one at this point - that's my wishy-washy answer and I'm sticking to it.

And so, I proudly present your 2006-2007 Washington Capitals! (For now...)

Forwards
Kris Beech, Matt Bradley, Donald Brashear, Chris Clark, Rico Fata, Boyd Gordon, Jakub Klepis, Brooks Laich, Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Brian Sutherby, Richard Zednik, Dainius Zubrus (+ Matt Pettinger)

Defensemen
Ben Clymer, Steve Eminger, John Erskine, Mike Green, Jamie Heward, Shaone Morrisonn, Bryan Muir, Brian Pothier

Goaltenders
Olie Kolzig, Brent Johnson

- Ovechkin continues his success in all sports - I don't think he's going to pull a Michael Jordan anytime soon, but I thought this was pretty funny...especially if anyone saw that clip of him swinging a golf club at the auto show.

- Speaking of Ovechkin, this article just increased my love for him...how cute is it that he used to call Zubrus four or five times a day?? (I'm sure Zubie is glad that number has decreased, but still...)

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Gameday Preview (Final Preseason Edition)

This will have to be a quick one, because the puck is set to drop in a little over an hour. I unfortunately will not be there to witness the final preseason tilt, but as usual the Hurricanes will be blowing through here yet again next Saturday and I'll be there for my first look at the Champs.

So here it is - the FINAL preseason gameday preview!! Can you feel the excitement? The drama? The laughter and the tears? :)

Who: Your Nation's Capitals vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Where: Verizon Center
601 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20004
When: Sunday, October 1, 2006, 1:00 pm

Media Notes:
WashingtonCaps.com
...and that's about it - sorry, folks, apparently not that much media coverage of the final preseason game from either camp.
However, check out this article or this article about the 'Canes - both are kind of doom and gloom about the obstacles our pals to the South will face in repeating their championship season (and try not to laugh out loud while you read them)

Broadcast Information: Live365 radio feed available on Caps website

2005-2006 Season Series: Washington 3-3-1-1, Carolina 5-3-0-0

Last Game: 4/7 in Washington, Caps lost 4-3
- Every single tally by the Hurricanes was a special-teams goal, including 3 shorthanded goals (a Carolina franchise record). 2 of the shorties came in a span of 19 seconds in the second period.
- This game marked the final meeting in what had been a marathon stretch - the teams played each other five times in 14 days, culminating with three straight matchups.
- The Caps trailed the 'Canes 4-1 until the last three minutes, when Shaone Morrisonn scored his first goal of the season followed by Brian Willsie's 17th, but Carolina was able to hang on for the win.
- Ovechkin scored his 99th point, an assist on Jeff Halpern's power play goal in the first period.

Things to Watch For:
- I feel like a broken record, but the bubble boys really do have just one more chance to prove they deserve a Caps jersey this season. The Caps must have their roster down to 23 by Wednesday...of course, if any of the injured players (Pettinger, Zubrus and Bradley) should go on the 7-day injured reserve, that deadline is extended. So basically the saga continues...
- The Hurricanes have yet to record a win in this preseason, getting knocked off twice by the Predators and twice by the Blue Jackets. The defending champs allowed 20 goals in the two home-and-home series. Carolina may be looking to break out of the slump as we head down the home stretch into the regular season, so I'd expect them to come out swinging today. Or maybe they just stink this year...I'd be okay with that...
- Penalties, penalties, penalties - every single preseason game has been highly influenced by special teams. Hanlon needs to keep his troops out of the box if they have a fighting chance; they can't count on getting PP goals of their own should they give one up shorthanded. Carolina's penalty killing has been one of their few bright spots this preseason - the 'Canes have allowed only 2 power play goals so far for a PK rate of 92%.
- Both the Skins and the Nats play at home today, so the crowd will likely be anemic at best. Anyone who's going today - cheer really loud!

And there you have it - we are in the home stretch, the finish line is in plain sight, we're rounding third base...okay, I'm out of sports metaphors. Basically preseason is almost over and it's time to get pumped for the opening of the 2006-2007 Capitals season! Can I get a 'Hell Yeah'? An 'Amen'? A long, drawn-out sigh of general dread and nervousness?

4 days and counting...here we go!

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Crunch Time

Sorry for the delay on what is I'm sure a highly anticipated breakdown of last night's game - it won't happen again!

I'll start by saying that while I was pleased with the overall outcome last night, there were many elements that will need improving before I can safely predict a playoff run for the home team. For some reason the Caps came out buzzing early but tapered off by the end of the first period and seemed unsure who their teammates were at times. (Is it really that hard? Black jersey...white and ugly orange jersey...black...white/orange...yeah, they look the same to me too.)

Individually, there were some good performances to speak of - Kris Beech was all over the place, hitting people and getting some good shots on goal, capping it off with the game-winner late in the third period. Ovechkin and Semin, although held pointless on the night, both had some moves out there that made the crowd gasp in unison. The penalty killing was, surprisingly, sharp and effective, at one point killing off a 2 minute 5-on-3 at the end of the second period. Brent Johnson stood on his head to get a well-deserved shutout.

I have to admit I was hoping to see Olie in net, so when I heard Johnny was starting I was a little unsure, especially given his 4-goal performance against the Pens just last weekend. That was a different game of course - earlier in the preseason, weaker penalty-killing and defense overall, and basically a sloppy game for both teams. Still, I wasn't sure which Johnson would show up - the one who went winless in his first string of starts last year, or the one who finished out the year turning aside shot totals numbering in the 40s. Turns out it was the latter, and he even threw in some dazzling saves to wow the spectators. My only criticism - he really needs to not wander around the net to get the puck because it scares the bejeezus out of me.

And so kids, it's good news/bad news time:

Good News
As mentioned above, there were many individually good performances last night. I'll give an honorable mention to Alexandre Giroux, who put together a strong performance in his own right. I'm officially completely clueless as to who should make the team at this point.
Bad News
The team game went AWOL after the first period. Also, with Pettinger, Bradley and Zubrus all sitting out Saturday's matinee with "minor injuries", we all get to remain in suspense for a little bit longer. I'm just glad I don't have to make the decisions...

Good News
Penalty killing over the last two games has been operating at a highly efficient rate, allowing only 1 goal on 19 chances. Of course, it's hard to tell whether this is due to effective work by the PKers or just a crappy Flyers power play. I guess we'll know one way or the other on Saturday.
Bad News
Why is it when one set of special teams is clicking, the other one pretty much bites it? The Caps had 3 power play goals against the Pens last Friday but also allowed 2...last night they killed off all 9 but were scoreless in 8 chances of their own with the extra man and seemed unable to even get into the offensive zone. A little consistency, that's all I ask - if you're going to suck, be committed to your suckiness across the board!

Good News
The defense along with Johnson held the Flyers to 26 shots and kept them scoreless.
Bad News
The Caps had 33 shots and registered only one goal in the waning minutes of the third period.

Good News
Ovechkin did not get into a fight.
Bad News
No one got into a fight.

Good News
The organization's goal to spread out scoring throughout the team has been achieved so far in the preseason, with 18 players registering at least a point through 5 games and four players with 3 or more points in that same time period.
Bad News
My boy Zednik continues to be virtually invisible both on the scoresheet and the ice, and Ovechkin has yet to register a single point (he does have a 5-minute sit in the sin bin, though).

Good News
Attendance at preseason games continues to be higher than usual, with close to 11,000 hockey fans watching the Caps on a Friday night.
Bad News
As usual, too many of those 11,000 fans were Flyers fans - there were several in my section, including this group of bratty kids sitting a few rows behind us. I know what you're thinking...obnoxious Flyers fans?? Inconceivable! But I kid you not. By the end of the first period we had a new mantra courtesy of my roommate - "It's wrong to beat up small children. It's wrong to beat up small children."

And with that, I leave you with an assortment of Caps' goodies, news and notes:

Our first good review!
Defensive Profile-O-Rama #1
Defensive Profile-O-Rama #2
Capitals Buying Time

A sad, semi-Caps related note - former Capitals' captain Steve Konowalchuk has announced his retirement from the NHL due to a heart condition. Kono was always one of my favorite players during his tenure in DC and I rooted for him as he continued on to Colorado. He is a classy guy and an all-around great hockey player - I wish him good luck in all his future endeavors, whether in the NHL or in the real world. We miss you, Kono!!

A nice farewell to Kono care of Mike Vogel and WashingtonCaps.com (check out Vogel's blog for another nice tribute). The fact that he retired as a member of another team yet is featured on the home page shows just how much he meant to the Capitals organization.

I wonder what the response will be when Bondra finally hangs up his skates... :)

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Gameday Preview Cop-Out

I will not be presenting my award-winning and crowd-pleasing gameday preview today. It's not because I'm too busy or too lazy (although both are somewhat true) - it's because we just played the Flyers on Tuesday and as a casual observer I have nothing more to add about tonight's game.

Okay, the venue has changed. And two fewer players will be on the roster. And tonight marks what is likely the last test for Giroux, Klepis, Beech and Fata. And Zubrus is making his preseason debut. All things that have been mentioned before (except the change in venue - that's a DCCheapSeats exclusive!! Woo hoo!)

So instead I will send you to people that have much more expertise on the subject - I give you the great Mike Vogel, the always cheery Dave Fay, and the requisite Philly article:

WashingtonCaps.com
Giroux/Clymer Profiles
Washington Times
C'mon, Esche Isn't That Bad!

I'll be at the game tonight and I hope to return tomorrow with a thorough review of the game, words of praise and high hopes after a blowout Caps' win...it's time to make the entire city of Philadelphia hate DC even more (HAHAHA - GO NATS!)

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And Then There Were 25

- The Washington Post reports that the second-to-last cuts have been made, and it should come as no surprise that Fleischmann and Schultz are on the train back to Hershey. Both are talented and young, so I expect we'll see them back at camp next year. Congrats to Beech, Klepis, Giroux and Fata for sticking it out this far. Of those four, I'd like to see Beech and Klepis on the opening night roster - mostly based on my one preseason game, the day at training camp, and the various articles, so take it with a grain of salt.

Not that I don't love Rrrrrico, because I do - he can fly, and he has a fun name - but that's about it. He reminds me of that kid in the Mighty Ducks 2 (a classic!) that could skate really fast but couldn't stop and would go crashing into the boards...everyone remember the stacks of soda cans on the ice? Anyone? No? Never mind...

As for Giroux, I really don't know much about him - it seems he's impressing people, especially in the last few games, but I'll need to see more before I make up my mind. Apparently Hanlon is putting him out there with Ovie and Zubie tomorrow, and if that's not the ultimate test I don't know what is. Let's just say if he can keep up with those two, he deserves another look.

- Some wonderful soul has posted video of the Ovie-Richards fight on Google - yay! I've watched it a few times in a row, and to be honest Alex didn't look half bad. He (mostly) stays on his feet and gets some pretty good punches in before taking a bit of a beating towards the end. The commentator annoys me because he is clearly from Philly and he makes it sound much worse than it looks, but I was very proud of Ovie.

Now I never want to see that again.

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Ovie on the Mound, Jamie at Bat, and Ben on the Radio

- Ovechkin's foray into major league baseball went smoothly earlier this evening as he threw out the ceremonial first pitch - some of his teammates were even there to support (or mock) him. If you haven't seen it yet, check out the video on the Caps' website. There's some good footage of Jamie Heward hitting a home run in batting practice and running the bases, too. All in all it was just gosh-darn adorable - I wanted to scoop them all up and squeeze their little faces, they're just so cute.

Sorry, couldn't resist getting all girly-girl - now where's my damn pink jersey...

Anyways, it's nice to see Ted and the Lerner family working together to promote both teams, and equally nice to see the local media actually covering it. Next up, Brian Schneider in goal...

- I just finished listening to the Caps Report (just convincing everyone once and for all that no, I have no life after hockey season starts). Mike and Corey spoke with assistant coach and defensive guru Jay Leach about the progress of the blue line corps and touched on penalty-killing issues. No great epiphanies, but it sounds like the coaching staff is very confident and pleased with the progress of all the young'uns, and they discussed how efficient and effective the PK was against Philly last night. Leach thinks if we can keep the penalties below 6 a game we'll be fine...hey, stranger things have happened.

- Speaking of the d-men, Ben Clymer was on for the second half of the report - they covered a lot and I can't really go into all of it here, but I highly recommend listening to it on your own. Once the technical difficulties were sorted out, it was a really interesting interview. The part where they discuss Ovie's fight was particularly entertaining, especially when they get to what Hatcher said to Clymer...I can't do it justice, you'll just have to listen.

Among other things, Ben seems to be getting more comfortable on the back line, although he did mention that he still has to fight the urge to jump into the offensive rush. He also mentioned he was glad he didn't have to stop Ovie in a real-life game because it was hard enough in practice. Please note that I looooove Clymer and I know he'll be great on D, but I think I can speak for all Caps fans when I say - Ben, we're glad too. :)

It's amazing, though, every time I hear Clymer talk I can totally picture him as a coach someday. Just the way he describes team strategies and his own play as it relates to others on the ice - it goes so far beyond your textbook answer from an athlete, the "we have to stick together and play as a team" or "just go out there and give it 110%" type responses. He gets it. I would love to see him behind the bench once his playing days are over...after a long and successful career in DC...with several Stanley Cup rings to keep his first one company...

*Sigh*...a girl can dream, right?

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When in Rome...

So I was reflecting on the game last night and I was struck by how much I wished I had seen the Ovie-Richards fight. Not because it was a great battle for the ages, because I'm 99.9% sure it wasn't. No, this was nothing more than good old-fashioned bloodlust. We all have it - you can claim you hate fighting, that it's ruining hockey, that it's barbaric...you know you're standing up along with the rest of us when two warriors go at it, cheering on your home-team competitor.

The ancient Roman in me led me to that old standby, YouTube. At first I thought that some enterprising person would have gotten the Ovie scrap uploaded, but alas it was not to be. (Although if you want a laugh, check out Japers' Rink - there's an old video of Ovie and Tverdovsky duking it out back in Russia, courtesy of YouTube...) What I did find was one of the craziest fight sequences in recent years - the March 2004 brawl between the Ottawa Senators and the Philadelphia Flyers. I'm sure everyone remembers it well, but it's definitely worth revisiting, especially since it's not likely to happen again anytime soon.

I'm not as technologically advanced as others, so I am posting the links for you to watch at your leisure:
Round One
Still Going...
Yup, Still More

Some things to look for:
- a future Capital attacking another future Capital
- play "Where's Brashear?" - the guy pops up everywhere! (Don't read his lips if you're under 18)
- goalie fight...just always funny
- in the second clip, listen carefully to the PA announcer as he's reading the penalties - made me laugh
- watch Sean Burke's reaction once he's in net and fights break out again

Of course, any discussion of fighting on my blog would have to end on a Caps-related note, so here it is: November 21, 1998

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Caps Ground Flyers, 6-1

Last night made me happy. Not because it was the best game ever played by a Caps team - I'm sure it was far from it. And had I seen any of it (thanks, B2 networks!) I doubt I would have thought otherwise. What I like about the results of tonight's game can be boiled down to a few simple things:

- The Caps won in Philadelphia in front of 17,993 pissed off Philly fans. In case you're curious, the last time the Caps won in the city of brotherly love was January 31, 1998. Now, technically the Flyers are still undefeated at home against the Caps because this was a preseason win. I choose to ignore that technicality.

- The power play converted on 3 of 10 opportunities, and 10 of 11 penalties were killed with a bonus shorthanded goal - so I was a little off on my 100%, but not by much. Yet another game basically decided by special teams, and for once the Caps came out on top.

- The Caps' blue line had 7 points in the lopsided contest, and Ovechkin's lone appearance on the score sheet was a 5-minute fighting major. Cue 'Twilight Zone' music here. (By the way, Ovie apparently got his butt kicked...and was grinning about it afterwards. I love this kid!)


All in all, good stuff from the boys in white tonight. I'd like to see them carry it into Friday's rematch back at the Phone Booth, especially since I'll be there. :)

- Meanwhile, Profile-o-Rama continues with our latest standout performer, Jakub Klepis. Jakie is apparently now competing with Beech and Giroux for the final center spot. I really love this competition - I had my doubts about our depth at center, as did many others, but I've been really impressed with what I've seen and heard so far. There may not be a Forsberg in that bunch, but there are definitely capable centers in the system.

- Anyone in the DC-area should be sure to check out the Nats-Phillies game tomorrow night, where as I'm sure you all know Ovie will be throwing the first pitch. Let's just hope his fastball is better than his right hook...or his golf swing...

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Gameday Preview (Preseason Edition - Take 3)

Who: Your Nation’s Capitals vs. Philadelphia Flyers
Where: Wachovia Center
3601 S. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19148
When: Tuesday, September 26, 7:00 PM

Media Notes:
Not game-related (and a little old) but check out this Ovechkin Profile from the Sporting News
WashingtonCaps.com
WashingtonPost.com
WashingtonTimes.com
PhiladelphiaFlyers.com (Watch out for that orange - it'll burn your retinas right off...)
Philadelphia Inquirer
Philadelphia Daily News

Broadcast Information: Radio feeds on both sites as well as, drum roll please............streaming video, baby!

2005-2006 Season Series: Washington 1-3-0-0, Philadelphia 3-0-0-1

Last Game: 2/10 at Philadelphia, Caps lost 5-4
- This game featured two injury-depleted lineups, combining for a total of 10 regulars out with various bumps and bruises
- In the second period, the Caps allowed 3 power play goals in a span of just under 8 minutes (so nothing new there) and fell behind 5-2, only to claw back within one on 2 power play goals of their own
- Then-Flyer Donald Brashear got into a fight with Doug Doull early in the first period; he would later score an unassisted goal, only his second of the year, against backup Brent Johnson.
- Classic quote from Big Donnie about the goal: "It's a move I practice a lot," Brashear said of the fake. "I see good players do it. I just shot it."

Great Moments in Caps History:
In the 1988 Patrick Division Semifinals against the Flyers, the Capitals came from being down 3-1 in the series to force game 7 on home ice. The Caps would then force overtime, tying the score at 4-4 after trailing 3-0. In the extra frame, Dale Hunter got the puck on a breakaway and shot it five-hole past Ron Hextall to win the game and the series. The Caps would go on to lose the division finals in 7 games to the New Jersey Devils, but the defeat of the hated Flyers would become legend among Caps fans and remains one of the favorite video clips shown at home games almost 20 years later.

Things to watch for:
- Hanlon will continue to tinker with the lines up until opening night, so we'll consider this the ongoing "What to Watch" over the next week
- Bubble boys - Klepis, Fleischmann, Gordon, Beech, Green...Hanlon has made it clear that the last four cuts will likely be made following tonight's game, so I hope to see a lot of desperation and a good game from all of the above to make the decision that much harder
- The return of Ovie (?) and Heward tonight hopefully means more offensive production and better defense than the last few games...
- Every preseason game so far has essentially been decided by special teams, which is the main reason why the Caps are 1-1-1 instead of 3-0. I can feel it, though - we're going to be 100% on the penalty kill tonight! (Denial - not just a river in Egypt...)

Possible Lineups:
Okay, until they start publishing media notes for preseason games, you're going to have to mix and match your own lines for tonight's game.

Here's who is left:

Capitals
Center - Zubrus, Sutherby, Laich, Beech, Klepis, Fata, Gordon...and the pivot rollercoaster continues...
Wingers - Ovechkin, Semin, Pettinger, Brashear, Fleischmann, Clark, Zednik, Bradley
Defense - Pothier, Morrisonn, Eminger, Clymer, Heward, Green, Muir, Erskine
Goalies - Kolzig, Johnson

Flyers
No earthly idea. Unfortunately I don't have time to search for their training camp roster and research who has been cut so far. My prediction...yes, there will be some Flyers on the ice tonight.
That's why you read my gameday previews - it's the up to date information and attention to detail, right? :)

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The Atlantic Division, By Any Other Name...

I was starting to prepare my gameday preview for tomorrow night's Caps-Flyers matchup and I found myself looking forward to this game that I wasn't going to get to watch and that wasn't going to matter. In fact, the last two preseason games were also highly-anticipated, and I know why - it was pure nostalgia, a reminder of my childhood when the Caps were part of one of the toughest and most entertaining divisions in hockey: the Patrick Division.

Ah, the Patrick Division - Caps, Devils, Islanders, Rangers, Flyers and Penguins...the 11-year span with that lineup set the foundation for some of our strongest rivalries, all of which last to this day. I will still glare at anyone wearing a Rangers jersey and get more pumped up for a showdown with the Penguins than with any other team in the NHL. All of this wonderful hatred and joyous loathing grew out of legendary battles between these teams (and their fans), in both regular season and playoff meetings. Remember the good old days when the first two rounds of the playoffs were between divisional rivals? Now that's how you build a rivalry.

Today those enemies of yesteryear are happily ensconced in the Atlantic Division. For them, nothing has changed, only now they see each other 8 times a year and see us only 4. Meanwhile, the Caps are forced to play against upstart expansion teams and a transplanted club from Hartford. Yay.

I mean no disrespect to our current division; after somewhat dubious beginnings, the Southeast Division has gone on to produce 2 Stanley Cup champs in the last 2 years, and all but one team has played in the finals in the last decade. It's not that I love these teams, either - I nurture a keen dislike of all things related to the Carolina Hurricanes just on principle (um, cheerleaders? Seriously?) and there's no love lost when it comes to Florida, Atlanta, and Tampa.

Yet there's something missing in these rivalries. I feel it every time I go to a game against a division rival - sure we hate Atlanta, but do we hate Atlanta? Do fist fights break out in the stands between Caps fans and Panthers fans? Of course not. It's because these rivalries are manufactured, pure outgrowths of geographic location and little else. It's because there hasn't been a playoff series between these teams yet. And yes, it's because these teams are in traditionally non-hockey areas - the hockey craziness just doesn't run that deep in the south, at least not yet. When a Thrashers fan sits in my section, 9 times out of 10 they sit there quietly and only cheer when their team scores. Now give me a drunken Rangers fan (because there is always a drunken Rangers fan somewhere, isn't there?) and it's like theater.

Sure, we may in time develop that same deep animosity towards our own division - it may already be starting with those lovable misfits down in Atlanta. And the first time that two Southeast Division teams meet in the playoffs, there will definitely be fireworks. Just look at last year's end of year marathon with the Hurricanes and you could tell something was starting to brew before it was cut off by, you know, the season ending and stuff.

Nothing stays the same and we must adapt and evolve with the world around us...but you'll excuse me if I reserve a little piece of my hatred for our old friends, the Patrick Division. With that, bring on the orange and black!

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No News is Good News?

There is so little information about the Caps-Devils game last night, even for a preseason game...even WashingtonCaps.com links to the AP report from the home page. I guess that blowout crowd of just over 3,000 fans didn't contain any reporters. Special thanks to Dave Fay for providing us die-hards with the best recap so far:

- It's a good sign that Clark is back to his old feisty self after undergoing abdominal surgery in the offseason. His game is one that is so dependent on being physically 100%, and I was nervous about his recovery period after learning of his surgery. Good to know that Captain Clark is back in action.

- Best way to incite a riot in chocolateville - announce over the loudspeaker that your star player and franchise cornerstone is not playing due to injury. A reminder to all you crazy Caps fans, we continue to be told that it is a minor injury - please remain calm and keep things in perspective. It's just preseason (although you probably can't tell that from the frequency of my posts...)

- One thing I should point out - the 'bubble' players Fay mentions probably aren't really that much on the cusp, they just haven't been cut yet. I'd say this last look will be to determine who gets a shot later in the year as injuries start to occur, not to decide if they warrant a permanent roster spot. Giroux, Wiseman, even Schultz - these are not guys anybody expected to crack the lineup barring a major breakout performance in the preseason, at least not this year. The exception would probably be Klepis and Fleischmann, who really are making their presence felt and could be a factor as final cuts are made this week.

It's getting interesting, kids - stay tuned as we stagger through the final week of preseason! 11 days and counting...

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Caps Fall to Devils, 3-1

I try not to let the preseason get me too depressed - after all, on opening day everyone starts with the same record, right?

I'm therefore going to keep the rose-colored glasses on and not think about the fact that for the second time in two nights, the Caps allowed two power play goals and one shorthanded goal. I'm going to ignore the fact that the good guys were kept off the board until late in the third period. I'll turn the other cheek when I see that the Caps had 8 power play chances and converted on exactly none of them.

I do this because I am a Capitals fan, and denial is my way of life. I choose instead to focus on the positives - first of all, the Caps took only 5 penalties, a major improvement over the parade to the sin bin that was Friday night's game in Pittsburgh. Secondly, the Caps outshot the Devils 34-18, marking a clear improvement in the defense when playing 5-on-5...

...and that's all I have, really. Unfortunately because tonight's game was at a non-NHL arena, more detailed information like shift times, penalties, and +/- are for some reason not available. I am instead forced to piece together this wrap-up from the AP wire story on the game and what little information I was able to gather while listening to the 3rd period. (I could go back and listen to the whole game, but it is preseason and even I have standards...plus Steve Kolbe's play-by-play gives me a nervous twitch.)

So let's look forward - the Caps obviously still have some special teams issues that need to be worked out, some of which will likely improve with the return of Ovie, Zubrus and the rest of the gang. Baby steps, guys - let's start with keeping the puck out of our net when we have the power play...just a thought...

Things to watch for in the coming weeks - Klepis has put together some good performances of late, making the battle of the centers a little more interesting down the stretch. Pothier and Clymer seem to be settling in to their roles on the blue line pretty well and the defense just doesn't look as scary as it did last year...Clymer scored the lone Caps goal tonight (albeit late in the third period) and Brian even got a nice little write up in the Post today.

By the way, I love that the Post and the Times have started a profile war - who will get that coveted interview with JF Fortin first?? Stay tuned to find out!

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She's Baaaack...

After a brief little hiatus from my obsessive posting streak, I'm back to report all the news that's fit to print (and some that's not). I'm currently listening to the Caps-Devils game and will have more to report once it's over. Anyone just tuning in, it's 2-0 Devils with a little over 7 minutes remaining in the 3rd period...and we just got a penalty. Great.

And another one. Even better - Devils 5-on-3 with Clark and Giroux in the box.

Devils scored.

*SIGH*.

Not that everyone doesn't love play-by-play via blog, as I'm sure it's very thrilling, but I'll stop now....by the way, Kolbe should come with a warning label: "People with heart conditions should not listen to this man"

So I'll have more on what will most likely be a thrilling Caps loss later, plus I'll be back to preseason form with a preview of the next tilt against the Broad Street Bullies on Tuesday. In the meantime, indulge in a little Caps' love from the local media:

George Solomon loves Big Don

Heeeeere's Johnny!

Alex Version 2.0

Alex Version 2.0 (Take 2)

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Caps Beat Pens in OT, 5-4

This weekend is going to be full of religious activities for me and posts may be fewer and farther in between, so I would like to apologize in advance for all 2 people that read this thing occasionally. Holidays or no holidays, though, I couldn't resist checking in quickly to bask in the joy of a Caps' win over the Penguins!

Sure, it was preseason...and the majority of the regular NHLers were sitting out...and the Caps were shorthanded 13 times, including 2 2-man advantages and a penalty in overtime (yeah, Brashear - not making a great impression so far, buddy)...and allowed a shorthanded goal and 2 power play goals (both by Gonchar). Actually, from all accounts and the "highlights" provided by the enemy's website, this thing was pretty ugly.

Still, you can't rain on my parade. Even a win by what was essentially the Hershey Bears over the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins will give me some joy (which shows just how small my world really is). And it was ugly for the Pens, too - the Caps had 3 power play goals in their own right, going 2-7 in the second period alone. They tied it with 1:13 left in the 3rd and won the game in overtime, in PIttsburgh, in front of 11,000 fans already pissed that Crosby and Malkin were sitting out the home debut. Say it softly, it sounds like singing. As Martha Stewart would say, "It's a good thing".

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