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.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Predictions Revealed
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?
Friday, December 07, 2007
The World's Longest Gameday Preview
Who: Your Nation's Capitals vs. New Jersey Devils Favorite Cap: The player I'd most like to punch is...: Prettiest Devil: Special thanks to the IPB ladies for their insights, witty and intelligent as always (if not occasionally a little misguided). Now, Caps fans - feel free to fire back at some of those little digs hidden throughout...anyone think after eight straight wins the Devils and their fans may be getting a little cocky? Hmm?
Where: Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
When: Friday, December 7, 7:00 pm
Broadcast Info: CSN, 3WT Radio; FSN New York,
Media Notes:
Caps' Website
Devil Website
NHL.com
Washington Post
Washington Times
Newark Star-Ledger
We're trying something new today, kids.
In gameday previews past you've met some of your favorite (and least favorite) players and learned the deepest, darkest secrets of the teams you love to hate - but if you truly want to know your enemy, you need look no further than the fans. To get a better understanding of those strange creatures known as Devils fans, I asked some of my good friends to help me out by answering a few burning questions. By sheer coincidence, their answers make my workload considerably lighter this week...
Meet Schnookie and Pookie, sisters who share a brain, a love of all things Paulie Martin, and the most wonderfully insane sense of humor I've ever seen. Together they make up the dynamic duo between the hilarious Devils-centric blog, Interchangeable Parts. I know what you're thinking - dynamic and Devils are two words never before used in the same sentence. Shocked the hell out of me, too.
This is probably the longest post I'll ever do, but believe me - you won't want to skip over a single word, comma, or apostrophe.
Favorite Devil:
Schnookie - Jay Pandolfo
Pookie - This is a matter of much, much consternation for me, but Zach Parise has stolen my heart in a way no other Devil player has. My problem with this is that he's the classic "Trapper Keeper Cutie" player, in that he's 
totally the guy the teeny-bops would have plastered all over their lockers. The teeny-bops know it, the fans know it, the media knows it, and worst of all, he knows it. But he's also so much more talented than Devils skaters are supposed to be. (Also, whenever I'm feeling too ashamed of the fact that the best-looking best player on the team has -- though I've resisted for over a season -- become my favorite, I can fall back on my second favorite, Paulie Martin.) [Golden Gopher love is the best.]
Least favorite Devil:
Schnookie - Johnny Oduya.
Pookie - Cam Janssen. No question. He might go down in history as my least favorite Devil of all time.
Schnookie - I'm cheap and easy -- Ovechkin.
Pookie - Alex Ovechkin, of course! He has 3 beers before every game!
Least favorite Cap: 
Schnookie - Out of loyalty to Marty, I gotta say Kolzig. (But despite my merciless taunting about him, I don't hate him or anything. Really. Entirely.)
Pookie - Olie. Sorry. I just find it so unseemly how easily he loses it during games. (Oh, and that whole Caps-goalies-winning-Marty's-awards thing is also a problem.) [I personally love how Olie loses it - it's totally part of his charm! Calm, cool, collected goalies are boring *cough*Marty*cough*]
Dainius Zubrus is...:
Schnookie - ...a 6'4" Sergei Brylin, and therefore, a perfect fit for the Devils. He's like the biggest "eff you, Gomez" signing Lou could possibly have found in this past summer's UFA crop. He could never score another goal and I would still love, love, love that we picked him up. [That's probably a good mindset to have...]
Pookie - ...a very good hockey player.
(psst Is anyone buying that? No? Okay then.) HOT! Dainius Zubrus is hot! Seriously though, he's a big-name free agent who signed for less money to play long-term with the Devils. How can I not love that? I had zero expectations for him to do anything but open up some space on the ice, so I'm thrilled with his play so far. Is he maddeningly more likely to miss an open net than score? Sure! But since we've had a player like that for years (Patty Elias, I'm looking at you) it's not a problem to have Zubie doing it too. (At least he doesn't do the epic whole-head eye roll that Patty's perfected.)
More tragic figure - Sid or Zach?
Schnookie - Sid is like the loneliest little wooden robot boy in the world, but at least he's every bit as talented as he thinks he is. So I have to give this one to Zach, but it's very nearly a dead heat.
Pookie - On the surface Sid seems much more tragic. Friendless, alone, nothing but a piece of meat. But if you look a little deeper, you'll find that Zach is actually far worse off. You see, Sid knows there is more to life than hockey; sure that "other than hockey" stuff is all based on being a good little piece of meat and making the most out of endorsement deals and shilling for the League powers that be. 
But Zach has never in his life been given any reason to believe that there is anything in life outside hockey. Rather, that there is anything in life outside of winning in hockey. When you see Sid give an interview after a bad loss he looks like he's sad that he let his teammates, coaches, management and fans down. When you see Zach give an interview after a loss -- any kind of loss -- he looks pissed that the world let him down for allowing his team to lose and a little bit shocked that such a thing could happen in the first place. (Also, in a goofy interview about gaming, the only thing Zach could think to do was brag that his older, barely-good-enough-to-be-a-minor-leaguer loser brother whom he idolizes is capable of getting 5 stars on Level Hard in Guitar Hero. That's just sad. Even Sid wouldn't stoop so low.)
The Devil we don't know but should:
Schnookie - I have to pick only one? Well, there's Rod Pelley, who is going to be the new John Madden when the old John Madden can no longer serve in his role as John Madden, but he's not much of a threat to score or anything (right now he's just a preternaturally calm presence on the PK). The guy Caps fans should look out for is whichever interchangeable D-man has just been reinserted to the lineup. We're carrying 8 defensemen right now, and Sutter's dressing 7 a night; he's rotating healthy-scratching the non-top-two guys, and lately whichever one has been sitting has been awesome as soon as he's given the chance to play again. Rachunek did it first, demonstrating in his return to the lineup an offensive dynamism that we'd never seen from him before, and Brookbank did it most recently, getting his first two career points on key assists in our 4-3 comeback against Boston.
Pookie - David Clarkson. He has the potential to be the new Randy McKay. He's a scrapper, a pest, a fighter and a yapper, but he's also shown he's got good hands and a huge heart.
The Devil we know but shouldn't:
Schnookie - If you'd asked this a few weeks ago I'd have had a long list that would have started in bold-face all-caps with Patty Elias and Brian Gionta. But they've both been scoring lately (since Patty got shifted to center), and in our last game the Patty/Gio/Zach line was an indomitable force. Right now, there isn't anyone on the team who's overrated.
Pookie - Thanks to Lou's strict policy of not promoting players over the team, we've ended up not having many overrated players (nor many players people have heard of at all!), but I guess in this case I'll answer Gionta. This seems to be a bit of an unfair answer, since he's had a few great games recently. Sutter put together a line of Parise-Elias-Gionta, and as of the last game they're officially on fire. However, I'm sticking by this answer solely on the strength of the fact that he's on the All-Star ballot but shouldn't be.
Ovechkin is breaking in one-on-one. The NJ defenseman I would HATE to see between him and Marty is...: 
Schnookie - Johnny Oduya. He's a perfectly adequate fifth defenseman, but if he got stuck between Ovie and the net, he'd probably find a way to drop his stick in the farthest corner, and then opt to skate out to pick it up.
Pookie - Johnny Oduya. He is on a mission to set a new world record for Most Dropped Sticks in an NHL Season. He'd just drop his stick, Ovie would kick it into the corner and then, just as he's done in at least two games this season, Oduya would leave his position to retrieve the stick, leaving Marty all alone to...stop the puck without breaking a sweat. [We'll see about that last part, missy.]
Chico or Doc?
Schnookie - Doc! Doc's the best play-by-play man in sports, and he's the straw that stirs the drink with regards to the experience of watching the Devils on television.
Pookie - DOC! Doc is hands-down the best broadcaster in all of sports (and I've heard a lot of 'em, in a lot of sports). Chico... is Chico. I'll be very sad when he's gone, but I'll be devastated the day I have to watch a full Devils season without Doc.
Chico or Locker?
Schnookie - Dude, there is no question -- Chico.
Pookie - You know I love Locker, but I gotta go Chico. Chico is, after all, the one who said, "Marty looks like a mermaid out there! Except he's a man...wait, I know! He's like a male mermaid out there!"
Butter or margarine?
Schnookie - Butter. And lots of it. (Do people even eat margarine anymore?)
Pookie - Butter. I just recently found myself asking, upon seeing margarine as a Safeway Score and Win prize the other day, "Margarine still exists?"
Schnookie - Cam Janssen. His dirty hit on Kaberle was the turning point of the Devils season last year, and now he's threatening to get healthy enough to want back into the lineup one of these days. I am horrified at the thought of one of the actual competent hockey players we currently have on the roster losing his job to make room for him. (You thought I was going to say Sean Avery, didn't you? Well, I refuse to give him the satisfaction.) [Plus you'd have to wait in a very, very, VERY long line.]
Pookie - Daniel Alfredsson. He's slowly and very quietly turning out to be a gutless puke but no one seems to notice. Plus his face looks soft, so it won't hurt my hand.
If I ran the NHL I would...:
Schnookie - Abolish the shootout and go back to having ties.
Pookie - 1. Make sure every television broadcast on every channel on satellite and cable was broadcast in HD. 2. Ensure suspensions were meted out consistently and fairly. 3. Create a Competition Committee constructed entirely of fans who would veto changes made before they're instituted.
Schnookie - I have to pick just one? This is a staggeringly pretty lineup, and this is a tough call. It comes down to Zach Parise, David Clarkson or Travis Zajac. You can't go wrong with any of them.
Pookie - David Clarkson (with Zach Parise a very, very close second).
Ugliest Devil: 
Schnookie - Pickin's are slim when you're looking for ugly Devils these days. It's really pretty indisputably Colin White.
Pookie - We're actually a pretty darn good looking team for the first time in years. The Hockey Gods clearly are taking pity on us for having Bobby Holik on the team for so many years. But if forced to choose, I'd go with Colin White. Boyfriend's got the second ugliest tattoo I've ever seen. [Which begs the question...what's the ugliest one??]
Worse uniforms - Islanders or Panthers?
Schnookie - Islanders. By a mile. They're just a hodgepodge of all these different uniform-design elements, like the design team had a last-minute brainstorming session before pitching the concept to the team, and just went with every idea they could come up with.
Pookie - Gosh, that's a really, really tough one. While the piping on the Panthers jerseys (I won't call those monstrosities "sweaters") is awful, I'm going to go with the Isles just on the strength of those obnoxious orange color blocks on the sleeves.
The "forbidden trapezoid" rule is...:
Schnookie - Asinine. What kind of sports league decides to limit the creativity and evolution of a dynamic element of the flow of its game? I understand the idea that reducing how much a goalie can handle puck means he can't function as the "third defenseman" in stymieing attacking offenses. But what about the fact that allowing goaltenders to handle the puck as much as they want to also means they function as a "third puck-moving defenseman" who can hasten his team's defense-to-offense turnaround? And how about the way that, as it became essential for goalies to participate in playing the puck beyond just the area surrounding the net, more and more guys who were really bad at puck-handling were creating scoring chances against themselves? It was a stupid, short-sighted rule change, and I still don't see what value it's added to the game. (Furthermore, Devils fans can't help but feel like their team has been persecuted with this rule. Really, if Marty had -- heaven forbid -- ended up playing his career in Toronto or New York, would the NHL have ever considered that goalies handling pucks in the corners could be anything but a good thing?)
Pookie - A travesty. The only reason it was put into place was to stifle Marty Brodeur. What League goes out of its way to hinder the game of one of the most creative players to ever play his position? Marty's ability to control games by stick-handling was revolutionizing goaltending, forcing other goalies to adopt it as part of their game. This trend was only creating more offense, either by providing a competent stick-handling goalie the opportunity to quickly pass the puck up to his skaters, or by providing less competent stick-handling goalies the opportunity to bungle the puck terribly which 99% of the team lead directly to the other team getting a good scoring chance. The only explanation for why the NHL put this rule into place was to put a lid on Brodeur's talent. This is a travesty.
[As you can tell, this is a hot-button topic. I hate it, too, but I'm not going to lie - I wish the rule had been around in Hextall's day.]
Favorite chant/taunt:
Schnookie - I'm a purist, so I'm always happy with the "Rangers suck!" chants. I like it best when inserted (all rhythmically, "The Rangers Suck!") into the Chicken Dance.
Pookie - "Rangers suck", of course! Nothing warms the cockles of my heart more than hearing the whistle that signals the beginning of the "duh duh duh da-duh -- Rangers suck!" group sing-along, but I'm also fond of "If you know the Rangers suck, clap you hands" and inserting "the Rangers suck" into the Chicken Dance. While I personally feel "Rangers suck" is a universal thing, if I happen to be at a Rangers-free event, I'll settle for being the classless goon that I am by adding a hearty "sucks" to the announcement of every name on the opposing team's starting line-up.
Liquid detergent or powder?
Schnookie - HA! Like I do my own laundry! (Pookie does it for me.) (And I cook for her, so it's not like I'm a total freeloader!)
Pookie - Liquid Tide HE, no bleach. With a nice addition of some April Fresh Downy. Safeway Score and Win can send me a lifetime supply of both.
Flyers or Rangers?
Schnookie - What kind of question is this? Whom do I hate more? Rangers. With the passion of a thousand white-hot suns. Don't get me wrong, now -- I definitely hate the Flyers, but just not the same way I hate the Rangers. 
Pookie - Excuse me? Is this some kind of Capitals humor? Well it's not funny! [Actually, Capitals humor is saying "of COURSE we'll make the playoffs this year!" - don't worry, you're new. You'll learn to recognize it.] Seriously though, Flyers. I hate the organization through and through, but I'm capable of looking beyond that to not intrinsically hate every player in the line-up. The Rangers, however? I hate every single, eensy-weensy, itty-bitty thing about them. The fact is, the Devils hate the Rangers so much it goes beyond the fans and the players -- both Marty and Lou admitted to the media that beating the Rangers in 2006 was more satisfying than winning the Cup would have been.
Three things I can't live without:
Schnookie - TiVo, Center Ice and wireless internet access.
Pookie - Center Ice, TiVo, the Interwebs [Seriously, we really can't tell you're sisters.]
Hockey was better before...:
Schnookie - The unbalanced schedule.
Pookie - The shoot-out. I don't know who decided we can't handle ties. The NFL has ties and no one seems to care, and yet we're stuck with hard-fought battles of intensity being settled with a super-skills competition. It's insulting.
Hockey is better now because...:
Schnookie - We have a long stretch of normal scheduling before having to go back to "all division, all the time".
Pookie - There are so many good, young players making the NHL an exciting league to watch. We don't have to sit and listen to the media whine and moan about how things were better when Gretzky and Lemiuex were still playing because we've got Sid, Ovie, Heatley, Nash, Getzlaf, Parise, et al.
When the Devils winning streak finally ends I will:
a) stand and applaud a fine run
b) throw something at the TV
c) drink myself into a stupor
d) call CapsChick and curse out her team
Schnookie - Probably D. I mean, really, can this go on forever? And our next game is against the Rangers, so if we're going to have that inevitable "all the bad habits that haven't been biting you in the ass finally do" let-down game, I'd rather it be against a sad-sack team like Washington than the Rangers. Oh, did I say "sad-sack" out loud? My bad. :P [Yeah, we're in a fight.] (But seriously, I'm the world's most pessimistic fan. I assume my team is losing every game.)
Pookie - e) Declare the team dead to me, announce that the entire line-up can't play hockey to save their lives, wonder aloud why I waste my time on them... and then immediately and eagerly check the schedule to see when they play next. [Cheater.]
CapsChick is...:
Schnookie - The greatest woman to ever breathe. [Check is in the mail, my dear...]
Pookie - Brilliant, witty, and wonderful except that whole Caps thing. But we can work on that. [Yes. I will work on not being so brilliant, witty and wonderful. Good suggestion!!]
All photos courtesy of Getty/AP
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
New Media, Old Media and Everything In Between
The continuing debate over the place of bloggers in the hockey world is one that is filled with conflicting arguments and different perspectives. Newspapers have covered it, bloggers have discussed it, and it was most recently given a spotlight by the crew over at CBC's Hockey Night in Canada.
Adding their voice to the debate, my two favorite Devils fans over at Interchangeable Parts have put together a questionnaire for bloggers to get a better feel for where we are and where we're going.
Now I think...I think...there are a few other Caps blogs around somewhere. Guys, this issue is one that hits us closest to home - I invite you all to take this questionnaire and run with it.
1. What was your motivation for starting blogging? Has that changed at all in the time you’ve been blogging?
The simplest answer is I just wanted a place where I could talk about my team. There is nothing I am more passionate about than my love of the Caps and hockey in general; blogging just seemed like the perfect outlet for me to talk hockey without bugging my family and friends any more than I had to. And frankly when I started I was frustrated by the distinct lack of coverage given to the upcoming season, a season I was actually very excited about (one of those ignorance is bliss moments, I admit). I figured if I couldn't read about the Caps, I could write about them.
In the fifteen months since I started, my blog has become much more than just a place for me to babble on about my team. It is now a way for me to interact with other passionate fans, to become part of a community of people who share a love of hockey. I've developed friendships and broadened the way I look at a season, a game, a single play. It may sound cheesy but I really feel like I've learned something from every single person I've come into contact with, be it a commenter or a fellow blogger.
2. What do you think your blog contributes to the hockey conversation?
I hope that first and foremost I'm able to bring a little bit of humor to the table. There is so much about being a hockey fan and specifically about being a Caps fan that is just downright hilarious. If you take it too seriously you're liable to go crazy - it's a game, it should be fun!
There is also something to be said for providing a female perspective in a male-dominated medium. I didn't start out with that specific goal in mind and I don't like to specifically refer to myself as a "female fan". I'm a fan who happens to be a female and I think putting a label to it just invites further division. However I refuse to allow the "puckbunny" image to be the predominant face of the female fan and I'm happy to be a representative of the true female fans, to show that the majority of us know the game, know our team, and can handle any debate you throw at us.
Plus we're likely to engage in that debate without it dissolving into a "whose is bigger" contest...but that's a different issue.
3. What do you want to get out of the blogs you read?
A different voice. Something that isn't just a rehashing of an article or a press release, something that shows the personality of the author or authors. I read blogs because of the different opinions they provide or the way they make me laugh. I read blogs that generate debate in the comments or voice an opinion that may be unpopular. I want to be entertained, stimulated, provoked or moved.
4. What determines which blogs you read and which you don’t?
I look for blogs that show a sense of humor, blogs that show a knowledge of the subject matter, blogs that are well written and blogs that present combinations of all three. Analyzing stats is one thing; doing it with a well-defined voice and a quick wit is quite another, and those blogs that achieve that go on my reading list as well.
I won't read blogs that show a distinct lack of effort - that can mean anything from having multiple typos and errors (my pet peeve) to using dry and nondescript writing to being completely devoid of enthusiasm. I also won't read blogs that disregard all rules of basic civility. There's trash-talking and then there's being downright mean, and I can't stomach the latter, no matter what team they may represent.
5. How important is the issue of gaining press access to you as a blogger?
I have had press access on several occasions, whether it is in the press box on game night or at an event like the uniform unveiling. Every experience I've had as a credentialed blogger has brought something new and different to my posts - a quote here, a picture there, anything that gives texture and depth to what I'm already writing. It's fact-gathering with a twist, seeing the behind-the-scenes elements of the game without the restrictions of deadlines or a specific story.
It's Milan Jurcina's pink socks at opening day of training camp; it's Ben Clymer's story at the draft day party about his own draft experience; it's talking baseball with Brooks Laich.
I am definitely for press access being extended to bloggers, if they so choose to apply for it, because it does broaden the fan experience. Bloggers bring a different perspective and can pass on the benefit of that perspective to the fans. There of course should be rules and guidelines defining who is eligible and who is not, but the option should be there for those who meet the criteria. The definition of "media" is expanding beyond just a journalism degree and a byline, and nothing is gained by pretending that's not true.
That being said - I don't think that gaining credentials is something required of every blogger in order to be taken seriously. There tends to be a "holier than thou" attitude among some bloggers who do choose to get credentialed, and this drives me crazy. Gaining press access is great, I'm all for it, but it's not the determining factor on what makes a great blog.
Some of the best blogs I've ever read were written by people who have never set foot in and have no desire to be in the press box. They don't put any less work into their blogs just because they don't seek out a press pass; their opinions don't matter any less. It's in their ability to carve out a corner of the blogosphere, a readership, that they become credible - not whether someone deems them worthy of holding a tape recorder in front of a goalie's mouth.
I think that the debate about credentialing bloggers has become far too narrow, lumping all blogs in with the ones who want press access. Humor columnists and food critics are, technically, members of the press; would you want them in the press box for a Caps game? No. Does that make them any less skilled at what they do? Definitely not. And it's the same for bloggers. Each blog has a different role to play, each blogger a different goal for his or her site, and that doesn't always include press access.
I have had a great time covering the Caps for this blog and I hope to continue to do so. But I also have no plans to trade in my experience as a fan to be press full time, at least not in this capacity. I love being a part of the crowd and being allowed to cheer or boo when necessary. I like wearing my jersey; I like jumping around when the Caps score. I even like sitting among the enemy fans. It's part of being a fan, which is why I started a blog in the first place. My time spent as credentialed media enhances my blog, but it's my experiences as a fan that make it what it is - for better or for worse.
6. To what extent do you feel accountable for the content of your blog? How concerned do you think readers should be about the authority and accountability of your blog?
Every word I write on my blog counts towards my credibility as a writer. Stats and numbers need to be checked; quotes need to be confirmed and then credited. If I get something wrong I fully expect to be called on it, because my readers and hockey fans in general are smart. They won't stand for half-assed, nor should they. So when I make a mistake I own up to it and fix it; when my opinion is challenged it is my responsibility to back it up.
I know that my readers are aware when I am being opinionated, when I am being analytical, and when I am being downright silly. Things I say for the purposes of satire or humor in general are clearly identified as such, as are my personal opinions. I don't pretend that my site is a source for breaking news or deep analysis, although each will from time to time trickle into the content (usually by accident...). My blog is not here to inform but to entertain and provoke thought and debate.
7. How concerned are you about the authority and accountability of the blogs you read? Do you find it difficult to judge the authority and accountability of the blogs you read?
Every blogger regardless of the purpose behind their blog should be held accountable for things they say in the public arena. However, how much I'm concerned with it comes down to the type of blog it is. If it's a site claiming to have the inside track on a trade rumor or the latest news on a disciplinary action, I absolutely am concerned about the authority and accountability - and some are harder to judge than others, to be sure. If I'm taking something as fact, I want to know that it's real...hence the reason I avoid certain blogs at all costs.
Other blogs, though, are simply there to entertain and I approach them as just that, entertainment. I'm not concerned with their authority because they're not trying to pass themselves off as a news-gathering site or anything close to that. Accountability comes in to play only if they express opinions but don't back them up, highlight a fact but refuse to confirm it.
8. What value, if any, do you think blogging brings to the NHL?
Blogging provides a tremendous value to the NHL. Hockey fans may often be in the minority but they are also the most passionate, loyal and knowledgeable fans of any sport - and bloggers are among the most insane dedicated fans of all. First and foremost, you need maniacs like me and others to be on board, to sell the sport and pass the love down to our kids.
But more importantly it's what blogging brings to the general hockey conversation. For years the only way to get analysis on a certain issue in the hockey world was one of three ways: open a newspaper, turn on a television, or listen to the radio. You got opinions from a select few, so-called pundits and analysts who gave you one, maybe two viewpoints, and that was it.
Now with a simple click of a mouse you get 10, 50, 100 different opinions from people who can then go read the other opinions and discuss them. What bloggers write and how people react to what we write can tell the league more than any focus group, because it's not prompted or filtered; it's real.
What is great about blogs is that they can appeal to the casual fan as well as the lifelong diehards, because the writing is accessible...that alone will do more than the glowing puck ever could. In the relatively short time I've been doing this I've gotten numerous emails with questions on everything from where the best seats are for a game to what a certain rule means to how I feel about a controversial topic. I've had people write just to tell me they attended their first game and loved it, and I've had others write in to tell me that I'm an idiot and wouldn't know hockey if it bit me in the, er, rear.
That's passion at all ends of the spectrum and all levels of fandom, demonstrated through just one blog - one of thousands. And nurturing that passion, whatever stage it may be in? That's how you grow a sport.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Caps Host Bolts
Yikes - 8th game in and already slacking...gameday preview? No? Oops.
So. The biggest news going into tonight's game is the possible return of Alexander Semin to the lineup. I say possible only because there's no official word as to whether he's been taken off the IR but he did practice yesterday and participate in the morning skate. Plus Hanlon said he would play. Now we're just waiting on the paperwork to be finished. Hey, it wouldn't be Washington if something didn't get mired down in paperwork, right?
Semin's return, as I mentioned a few days ago, will hopefully spark the power play and the offense in general, both of which have been underachieving...to put it lightly. Other changes include Clark's shift to the top line alongside Ovechkin and Kozlov, Brooks Laich sliding into his spot on the checking line, and Dave Steckel centering the fourth line between Brashear and Fleischmann.
So Flash is now on a line with Brash - aside from the unfortunate rhyme, it seems like Flash might be on his way back to Hershey sooner rather than later. This is the third "demotion" he's had after starting the season on the first line, and we're less than ten games in. I say put Bradley back in, send Flash back to Hershey and call up Clymer.
It could happen...
I'll be at the game tonight, as I hope many of you will be as well, to see our first of eight games against the delightful Lightning. I'm even bringing a Thrashers fan with me who has promised to root for the Caps (although I think it's only so she can say her team won for once). Lots of things to watch for tonight, not the least of which is special teams in both directions, but with Bolts goaltending continuing to be, well, Bolts goaltending and the Caps offense sputtering, you have to think something has to give one way or the other.
Finally a quick shout-out to DCSportsChick, who has joined the world of OnFrozenBlog to keep those crazy boys in line and provide the female (read: intelligent) perspective on all things Caps. Good to see you back in the blogging world, DCSC - it was far too empty without you!
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Buh-bye, Joey
Hang in there, Caps fans - one more day until we get to put this losing streak behind us and get back to some real hockey...
- That "paper" transaction has now become a real transaction, as Joe Motzko is headed back to Hershey. Poor Joe. It's not really his fault. Had he been used on a third or fourth line rather than thrown to the wolves alongside Ovechkin and, dear god, on the power play point, he might have made a better impression. As it was I think the majority of people saw what I saw - a fairly balanced combination of decent plays and forehead-slapping blunders. Back to Hershey you go, Joe, and best of luck.
- Motzko's departure means but one thing - Alexander Semin is back. And not a moment too soon, if you ask me. Scary stat of the day: Semin's power play goal total from last season (17) is greater than the total number of goals scored by the entire team to this point (14).
- Hanlon is taking the opportunity (i.e. the horrific losing streak and continued ineffectiveness of the power play) to mix things up a bit, moving Clark back up to the top line alongside Ovechkin and Kozlov and shifting Steckel up to the checking line in his place.
This is one of those "good in the moment" moves, because as much as I like Clarkie and as much as I want to see some sort of production out of him, he's really much better suited to a checking line role. And anyone who doubts the beauty that was the Pettinger-Gordon-Clark line only has to see the number they did on Crosby Saturday night - the Kid had only 2 shots. That's it. Brilliant, brilliant work against a very tough player.
- Tinkering continues on a flailing power play and Mike Green makes his return to the point alongside Poti, which is good news for everyone. I know that ideally you want at least 4 forwards out there, but Greenie's got more points than a lot of our forwards right now and he doesn't seem to have this crippling fear of shooting the puck. And with Semin coming back you have to think that they're bound to get one in eventually...right?
- Good piece in the Times today about bloggers working with the Caps to lead the interweb revolution, filling a void left by shrinking mainstream media budgets and attention spans. Oh, the irony.
- Kind of a big night around the NHL, as the Canadian media is wetting themselves over Ryan Smyth's return to Edmonton - the city he left in tears last season. Meanwhile a true battle of the titans takes place across the border as the Maple Leafs host Atlanta, and Sidney Crosby is revealed tonight before the Pens-Rangers game. Revealed as what, they don't say...I'm guessing some kind of robot.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Hockey Action Captured on Film
The interwebs have been busy today, buzzing with all kinds of good stuff about the Caps. As for me, I got nothing - so check out what other people are saying...
First up, Mike Vogel talks about last night's game, which despite the loss held lots of things that should make any Caps fan optimistic. OnFrozenBlog looks at the amazing chemistry the Caps have developed since the lockout. A couple of defensemen find the spotlight today, with the Post looking at little Greenie all growed up and the Times investigates newcomer Tom Poti's role on the team.
The Hockey News thinks Ovechkin is one to watch this season (going out on a limb, eh?), you can go see the Caps take on the Sens for free this Sunday but only if you're a United fan too, and Vogel investigates the tough decisions lying ahead as roster deadline day fast approaches.And of course, wrap it all up with JP's mother of all previews as he takes a look at the Capitals over at AOL's fanhouse - it's excellent, definitely check it out.So what do I bring you? Pictures - pictures stolen from other people, no less! Enjoy!
Anticipation...anticipay-ay-shun...
Quit giggling, you loons! This is war...
Kozlov makes it 2-0
And Backstrom is about to finish it off
The final score, on the beautiful new scoreboard
Evil has a face, a name...and now a new jersey. Take him down, Laich.
Flash 
I'm sure they're just chatting about the weather...
Steckel causing trouble for Biron...good boy.
JOHNNY!!
The only safe place for a Briere. Quick, someone get the tranquilizer gun!
There were a few scuffles...
Okay, more than a few scuffles...
(I love Jurcina just pushing little Briere out of the way with one hand.)
Okay, maybe there were some fights, too. Here Erskine takes on Jesse Boulerice. 
Any coincidence that the Flyers are selling shirts that say "Back with a Vengeance"? Didn't think so. Welcome back, Broad Street Bullies - can't say I missed you.
Special thanks to Teka for sharing her pictures, of which these are just a tiny fraction - you can view the rest of the action here, and be sure to check out her recap of the game as well. For a non-Caps fan she's got a healthy dose of Briere-hate, which I think we can all sympathize with.
Got pictures? Send them along and see them posted here as we countdown to the regular season. It's tantalizingly close now...
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Germs Stink
Sorry for the lack of updates - I've been stricken with some horrible, crippling disease that...
...okay, it's just a cold. But it's bad, really.
Anyways, I'll be in and out for the next few days depending on what kind of miracle drug I can find and I'll try to put a little something together for tomorrow night's preseason game in Ottawa. Until my full recovery you can, as always, visit any of my esteemed colleagues for breaking news and updates on the Caps.
In the meantime, I'm going to figure out a way to blame this on the Penguins...
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
THN Spotlights Caps' Bloggers
- As I was preparing to swing up to Voorhees for a few delicious hours of hockey I happened to check my e-mail and was delighted to find that the latest digital issue of The Hockey News had been delivered straight to my cyber mailbox. I was going to wait to flip through it, but I'm not a patient person by nature so I dove right in - only to find a wonderful piece by James Mirtle on our very own Ted Leonsis and his approach to hockey blogging:
"[t]he area where Leonsis most challenged the NHL norm was in the Capitals' press box, where he employed his new-media background and reached out to traditionally shunned Internet pundits by offering full credentials to more than a dozen local bloggers.
A year into the experiment, Washington has one of the most well-developed wings of hockey's blogosphere and a whole new branch of coverage in a city where only one print journalist regularly follows the team on the road."
If you don't subscribe to THN, I highly recommend that you rush to your newstand and pick up the September 18th issue to read the rest. The story even includes a moment of fame for the two OFB contributors that made the trek over to Russia with Mike Vogel and Spike Parker for the World Championships. It's a quick read but a great one - check it out!
- This so doesn't require it's own post, so I'll just stick it in this one: Semin. Is. Here.
...anyone else feel a little more relaxed now?
Friday, August 31, 2007
Hockey Players in Cyberspace
I'm sure many of you did what I did upon hearing that Alex Ovechkin had ventured into the blogosphere - you went and looked at it. And then you said a silent prayer of thanks for Babel Fish's existence, because even though the translation provided by this language-swapping phenomenon is a little rough, at least now you can kind of figure out what Alex is saying.
Sort of.
Obviously there's not much on his blog yet, so I started looking around at the various links and I saw a few that looked like names. To my delight I discovered one that sounds familiar - Alex Kovalev. Well, naturally I had to go check out his site as well, right? All in the name of research...a blogger's work is never done.
A little more help from Babel Fish and I've discovered Kovalev is a big soccer fan. He is conducting youth hockey camps in Russia. He's got a book coming out with a terrifying picture on the cover (for details on purchasing this treasure visit his official website). He's a fan of the :=) smileys like Alex.
And my favorite part, very roughly translated from his first post:
It is very glad, that Ilya bryzgalov intends to bring in Togliatti, from where we are both by birth, Stanley's goblet. When I won its s "New York the Rangers", the possibility to transport it into Russia not it was. Give god so that this would come out in Ilya.Ah, yes...Stanley's goblet. The ultimate prize for the medieval hockey team.
I could spend hours mocking Babel Fish translations, but I do have a point here. I just find it really fascinating to see how the explosion of various online communities and user-generated content have suddenly given us access into our favorite player's lives. When the internet first emerged we saw a few scattered player sites, licensed by and produced for players, but even those were rare because they took money and time in order to look somewhat presentable. Rarely was the content entirely written and generated by the player himself, save for a token greeting message and maybe an occasional letter to fans.
Now (as I prove every day) any idiot can have their own little corner of the web. LiveJournal, WordPress, Blogger, Facebook, MySpace, etc. - all provide anyone with a computer and a little spare time an outlet for their opinions, a means of communication with friends and family, a gallery for their photos. It's a new media that frankly isn't that new, just relatively untapped by the public...until now.
Now there are handfuls of younger NHL players all over Facebook and MySpace (although you obviously have to be able to distinguish the real ones from the fake...) Team sites often feature player blogs or diaries where we get to see just how good a writer these jocks really are. Already it seems like it's becoming common practice for Russian athletes to go on LiveJournal and I wouldn't be surprised if in the next year we see more and more NHLers following Ovechkin and Kovalev's example.
And why not? It's easy to do and it gets you a little closer to the fans that make your profession possible in the first place. For a sport like hockey where the players tend to be a little more humble, a little more gracious to fans than other professional athletes, it seems a natural progression that every player will soon have some sort of blog-esque site.
At a time when the league and the teams are looking for ways to reach out to the fans and make the game more accessible, it looks like everyone else is catching on to what our owner has known and preached for years - the technology is out there waiting. You just have to use it.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Friday Around the Interweb
Boy, those calendar pages are flying off reeeeally slowly, aren't they? Here's some more good summer reading for you:
- Show of hands, who here thinks this would ever happen in the States? TSN, Canada's answer to second rate ESPN, discovered that a scheduling conflict with football would prevent them from airing all eight games of the upcoming Super Series. Rather than leave a nation without coverage of this event, which commemorates the 35th anniversary of the Summit Series, TSN did the unthinkable - they turned to a rival network to pick up the slack.
And so it is that TSN will air games 1, 4, 5 and 6 with Rogers Sportsnet carrying 2, 3, 7 and 8. The two will share commentators, analysts, and online streaming (which we here in the States should keep our fingers crossed that we'll be able to access) throughout the series. Sure, they'll do the same for the Olympics in Vancouver, and yes, it's been done before. But that still doesn't detract from what it is - a truly amazing sign of sportsmanship and yet another reason why Canada is truly the first nation of hockey.
- The Caps' website has a Q&A with Karl Alzner with his thoughts on the new practice facility, rookie development camp, and his style of play. Anyone else just loving this kid?
- Kevin Hatcher Fan Club has uncovered a hidden corner of Alex magic on CCM's website with some funny videos of our young superstar and step-by-step instructions on how to score "The Goal"...for those of you practicing at home. Admit it, you know you've wanted to try.
- Check out what's going on with Al "Wild Thing" Iafrate (sans the long flowing locks) over at Japers' Rink.
- Thanks to super junior reporter in the field, Chris, for passing along this article about Willie O'Ree, the first black player in the NHL who is speaking at the Black Hockey and Sports Hall of Fame conference in Nova Scotia today and tomorrow. Interesting fact - the NHL didn't get a second black player in the league until 1974, 16 years after O'Ree made his debut...and he pulled on the red, white and blue - Mike Marson, original member of the Washington Capitals.
- Just a reminder that preseason tickets go on sale today, so get those phones dialing and those buttons clicking. Sure, they're meaningless games with less intensity than a box of Saltines and a roster more closely resembling the AHL...but its hockey!
- And finally, more treasures plumbed from the depths of YouTube for your Friday viewing pleasure. Today we'll go with a compilation that's a little older - check out Jagr with his mullet, Stevie Y. with some sick moves, a little love between Detroit and Colorado goalies, and a Hurricane tripping headfirst into the bench. Ah, memories...
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Satire At Its Finest
Need a laugh?
I have just the thing.
In my random trips through the interwebs I stumbled across the piece below and, intrigued by the title, couldn't resist reading through the whole piece. Don't be deterred by the fact that it revolves around a certain team from Steeltown...it's funny anyways. To be honest I'm not even completely sure if the author is mocking or celebrating Sid and his teammates, but I am pretty sure it doesn't matter either way. Fans and foes of the team will find it funny, I promise.
Just be sure to read it all the way to the end, stage directions included. You won't be sorry - and if you're like me, you'll be eagerly awaiting the next chapter:
You know, unless he launches a fragrance or something.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Blogs and Bloopers
Take a stroll around the blogosphere for some good stuff today, kids:
- Peerless Prognosticator continues his really nice analysis of benchmarks for winning teams (top defensemen, power play, etc.) with a look at penalty killing for this season. Be sure to flip through the archives for the Peerless's always entertaining and usually spot on breakdowns of what it takes to win.
- J.P., another king of hockey analysis, has a post that can only be described as intense as he breaks down every player's stats and production on a per-shift basis to see what they do with the ice time they're given.
I'm actually convinced he and Peerless are not humans but machines who do not sleep...they simply make a whirring noise and go into standby mode for a few minutes.
- Ever wonder what your favorite HLOG ladies are really like? Ever even been to HLOG? If not, now is the perfect time...especially if you want to find out the truth behind the ladies who love hockey. Eye-opening, to be sure.
- Be sure to stop by Capitals' Insider where Tarik has a little chat with the big man himself, Olie Kolzig. You just don't find many guys as classy and well-spoken as Zilla, its well worth a read.
- And lastly, in my desire to continue the high level of analysis that has taken place here in the Cheap Seats these past 11 months few weeks, I give you...old hockey bloopers.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
On the Air
Craving more of my half-baked ideas and crazy opinions? Tune into CapitalFanatic.com's weekly radio show tomorrow at noon when I'll join our host, Allen Popels, and Kevin from Kevin Hatcher Fan Club in discussing the latest Caps' news.
Should be a good show (despite my presence)!
Update: Thanks to Allen for having me on the show, and to Kevin for making me sound a little less insane by comparison (oh, I kid, I kid...). Check out the show here and please, no mocking. I'm very sensitive.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Draft Madness: Detour #2
I'll have more on draft history later tonight (I know - yippee, right??) but first a few tidbits:
- Tomorrow is, of course, the Caps' draft day party and the potentially anti-climactic uniform unveiling. I'll be there with some of my fellow bloggers to bring it to you live...okay, maybe not live, but pretty darn close. Should be a good time and I hope to see a good crowd there.
- After the draft party, feel free to join some of us for an informal get-together at Bailey's, regardless of whether you attended the official party or not! I'll try to think of a way to make our little group stick out among the usual Friday night bar crowd, so check back here sometime tomorrow for more details...
- Speaking of attending the draft party, if anyone has two extra tickets they're not using, please e-mail me ASAP. I know of one person who is looking for tickets to this sold out event and we don't want unused tickets to go to waste, now do we?
- Quick head count - who is going tomorrow night? Drop a comment!
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Dive into the Deep End of the Pool
The 1st Annual Blogger Playoff Pool!
Here's how it works: all the bloggers will be submitting their picks on a round-by-round basis. Points will be awarded for correct responses as well as for correctly answering different bonus questions. After each round a winner will be announced, who will then get to pick any three bloggers in the competition to write a glowing post on the winner's favorite team.
There will also be one ultimate winner at the end of the playoffs, when one team has lifted Lord Stanley's cup. At that point, every blogger in the pool will have to write something nice about the winner's team (Caps fans, can you picture it? If one of our own wins, everyone has to say something nice about the Caps! I don't think that's ever happened in the history of the franchise!)
I was going to reveal everyone's picks here but then thought...nah. Better to keep you all in suspense until the very end. (Plus its too much work and frankly I'm a little lazy.)
Updated standings will appear here after each round so you can cheer on your favorites or create voodoo dolls for supporters of teams you despise. Hey, I'm not judging. Bloggers and readers alike are invited to chatter away in the comments - I want to hear some insults, some smackdowns...but keep it clean, please. No four letter words you wouldn't see on a second grade spelling test, okay?
Your contestants, ladies and gentlemen:
Bethany - Columbus
Bleu Blanc et Rouge - Montreal
CapsChick - Washington
CapsNut - Washington
Chanuck - Washington
Christy Hammond - Detroit
DCSportsChick - Washington
Duncan - Calgary
Ellie - Pittsburgh
Elly - Pittsburgh
Finny - Anaheim
Gustaffson - Washington
Heather B. - Buffalo
hockeygirl - Calgary
J.P. - Washington
Jennifer - Atlanta
Jordi - Montreal/Edmonton
Keily E. - Toronto
Kevin - Buffalo
Kristin - Philadelphia
Margee - NY Islanders
Matthew Macaskill - Montreal
Mike - Washington
Mike Vogel - Washington
Monika - Toronto
MT - Ottawa
Paige - Buffalo
pucksandbooks - Washington
Sherry - Ottawa
Steph - Detroit
The Falconer - Atlanta
The Ghost - Buffalo
Tyler - Pittsburgh
Bloggers, I'll reveal everyone's picks via e-mail in the next day or so. Please let me know if you are listed incorrectly, your blog address is not right...or I had a senile moment and left you off completely.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Once More, Without Feeling
I’m running out of ways to say the same things after each Capitals loss, and frankly I’m tired of trying...hence the delay on discussing last night’s game.
Once again the Caps revealed their inconsistencies in a very uneven performance.
Once again goaltending and defense alternated between being solid and suspect.
Once again the team dug a hole in the first period that could not be overcome.
It wasn’t a particularly bad game by the Caps, but it wasn’t particularly good either. There were exciting moments, but they were far outnumbered by what seemed to be a pretty boring game overall. No one played particularly well, although I thought Sutherby and Gordon had good games, Clark's goal was very nice, and Brashear seemed to have a better game than Semin (but then who didn't?).
So the Caps drop another one on the road, their 6th straight away from DC, and will once again have to regroup and figure out what the heck is going on. Clearly whatever was said in the closed door, players-only meeting the other day didn’t quite do the trick or just hasn’t sunk in yet. They get one last chance to snap the road losing streak when they travel to Carolina tomorrow night before returning home for a Panthers rematch on Saturday...then there’s a nice long break to reflect on what is going right and more importantly, what is going wrong.
Whatever the problem, we can take solace in a few things – first of all, Florida also lost last night, saving us the embarrassment of falling to last place in the division...at least for now. Secondly, despite their lackluster play of late, the Caps remain only 5 points out of the final playoff spot and are still very much alive in the race. And we all know how quickly a 5-point gap can be closed.
Of course, if they don’t make it, they don’t make it. I just hope they put up a fight until the very end.
(Oh, and that the Penguins don’t make it either. Nothing like a little schadenfreude to start your day, right?)
Best part of last night? Caps blogger viewing party, take two - back and better than ever! Good turnout this time around and excellent planning by our host with the most. It's always nice to put faces with blogs, and I think everyone had a good time despite the pitiful hockey game...which only further proves the old saying "misery loves company". It was great to meet all of you!
As for people I'd already met...meh. It was just okay :)
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Caps Nation is Alive and Well
Um, has anyone noticed that the Caps blogger part of my links section is almost as long as the General NHL blogroll? We're starting to create a bit of an army that's growing every day...so frickin' cool.
Okay, maybe cool is too strong a word - after all, we're talking computer stuff here.
What's funny is bloggers from other teams are starting to comment on it to me, saying things like "holy crap you guys have a lot of bloggers!"
(I didn't say the comments were Shakespearean, just that they were made.)
Of course we all know why the number keeps growing - if the local media isn't going to cover our boys, we'll just have to do it for them (and we have the freedom of avoiding that whole pesky "journalistic integrity" thing). Don't believe me? Check out how many blogs there are for Montreal...Toronto...Buffalo...3, maybe 4, good, quality blogs dedicated to these teams. And it's because those teams get regular local print and TV coverage. There's no void to fill.
So with 20+ in the Caps blogger ranks, let's just say the bar has been raised for the next blogger viewing party - I expect to see all of you there!
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Bloggers Unite, Continued...
Due to difficulties finding a normal place that will show the Caps-Thrashers game tomorrow night, I believe we will have to resort to (shudder) ESPNZone for our first Caps blogger outing.
Please do not misconstrue this as an endorsement of ESPN or anything they do, but take it for what it's worth - NewsChannel 8 sucks. Well, it sucks for anyone with Comcast. Or DirecTV. Or Cox (I think...) I actually have no problem getting games on NC8.
But solidarity, Caps fans.
Anyways, this is a tentative plan pending confirmation from the Zone that the game will, in fact be shown there. You can join up by either e-mailing me for more details on where to meet and at what time, or you can just show up. Of course, you do that at your own risk since you probably don't know what any of us look like...
Hope you all can make it - see you tomorrow night!
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Caps Bloggers Unite!
- Just a quick note to let all my fellow Caps' bloggers know about the brainstorm from the author of the Kevin Hatcher Fan Club to get a group together for Friday night's Caps-Thrash game. He's currently in the process of finding a place that will be showing the game (thanks, NC8) but be sure to check his blog for details as they become available. You can also check out Off Wing Opinion, if only to read my e-mail to all of you...
- I hate this damn schedule - I have nothing of interest to write about or rant about, which is unsettling to me in so many ways. I do love to rant.
- Ovie was a Frozen Moment on NHL.com (link is officially defunct, but I saved the picture). By my count that's at least the third or fourth frozen moment featuring the Caps...and I think all of them have been either a goal or scoring chance by our boys!
- The Flames won their tenth straight home game in decisive fashion last night, beating the Minnesota Wild 5-2 to set a franchise record. Jarome Iginla had 2 goals and 2 assists in the victory. Yeah, not bad...
- Peter Bondra (remember him?) made his debut with the Chicago Blackhawks last night and scored his 499th goal as the Blackhawks defeated the Blues in a true clash of the titans. Incidentally, Peter's daughter has decided to attend Georgetown...congrats to the little Bonzai!
- Alex Ovechkin remains in second place among Eastern Conference forwards - that's good, but still not enough as he now trails Crosby by over 230,000 votes...speaking of which, have you all heard about the Penguins offering laptops for voting at games? Apparently the Caps are going to start doing that, but one wonders if it will be enough.
Posting may be a bit sporadic between now and Friday - there's just not that much going on with the Caps and I may actually try to do some work, you know, since I'm getting paid. If you're bored, feel free to swing on by the HLOG for discussions that are always lively; there's a particularly mean post about Penguins fans on there by yours truly.
If that doesn't float your boat check out any of the reputable and disreputable links provided for your clicking pleasure.
I'll be back with a gameday preview very early Friday morning (provided nothing exciting happens between now and then)...
