I've had my hockey spirit revived a bit in the last day or two, despite the fact that the Caps continue to hang on tight to that last place spot. I'm starting to feel weirdly optimistic that they can snap out of this and I have no idea why, but I'm also just remembering why I love hockey. It's amazing what a night of good, intense, Canadian hockey will do for your outlook on life, isn't it?
For starters, I got to watch an absolutely hysterical Habs-Bruins game last night, one that started out as a well-played, evenly matched game and dissolved into a march to the penalty box. I know, I know, fighting isn't hockey and it's the downfall of the NHL and blah blah blah...but it was funny, and anyone who watched it can back me up.
At one point the Montreal coaching staff was alerting the refs to their "unhappiness", and Carbonneau actually physically pulled Kirk Muller back so he wouldn't say enough to get a penalty...or so he wouldn't sock the ref in the mouth, it was hard to tell. Muller and Claude Julien then began yapping at each other a la Hartley and Hanlon last season, which made me laugh for a number of reasons. Montreal finished the game on a seemingly endless power play (thanks to Chara being...Chara) and won 7-4. Good stuff.
After the Habs came my other secondary team, Calgary, taking on the mighty Oilers in round three of the Battle of Alberta. These games are always fun despite the standings, with the energy and excitement you would expect out of a division matchup (not the kind you see when the Caps and Panthers face off).
The first period alone was played at a breathless pace, and the whole game was great - made even greater by the fact that my Flames pulled out a win and looked confident and tight doing so. This is a team that was recently mired in a 5 game losing streak, folks. Things can turn around just that quickly, don't lose hope.
And then comes the news out of practice today that Alexander Semin is reportedly 100% and will be in the lineup tomorrow night barring any unforeseen circumstances. Is he the magic tonic that will heal this team and propel them back to the top of the pack where they belong?
...probably not. But his return should hopefully spark a little offense, which, let's face it, could use more than a spark - it could use a bonfire.
I'm not going to lie, I absolutely adore Alexander Semin and can't wait to see him back out there. I know that there are many around here who don't get that and who question my sanity, but I can't help it. I love the way he plays. I love his slapshot, his wrister, his backhand...his ability to dance through defenders like they were standing still and his inability to complete a pass...his feistiness and his laziness...the way he follows Ovechkin around like a puppy dog...all part of the Alex 2.0 that I love, and I don't think I should have to apologize for that. Glad to see him healthy and ready to go.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
A Return to Optimism
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Clymer Confusion Continued
Ben Clymer apparently cleared re-entry waivers...and is still in Hershey.
I'm inclined to believe that this move had more to do with Semin being on the IR and less to do with a pending trade for someone like Sutherby, although I'm not ruling out the fact that such a trade could be in the works. For now, at least, Clymer remains a Bear and Sutherby remains a Cap and Semin looks poised to make his regular season debut in three hours.
Enjoy the game, everyone, and remember - if you're heading out to Verizon Center tonight WEAR RED.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Training Camp Recap
Training camp is now in its fourth official day and things continue to click along for the Caps out at Kettler. I had the unique opportunity this weekend to share the full training camp experience with some of the ladies from HLOG, who traveled far and wide to see our very own Capitals in action.
Poor things.
They may have smirked at Semin falling to the ice or joked that Olie was too slow to stop a sleeping turtle, but I think the general consensus was that the Caps looked okay and a good time was had by all - so good that I forgot to update the Cheap Seats with the weekend's training camp activities! Oops.Seen and heard this weekend:
- Bradley, Sutherby and Laich have been playing on a line together throughout camp and seem to have found some nice chemistry, providing gritty, hard-nosed play combined with some pretty passing sequences that are very promising.
- Michael Nylander is absolutely one of the best puck handlers I've ever seen. After drills yesterday Nylander stayed out on the ice with camp invitee Grant McNeill to work on puck handling. (Video is available by clicking on the picture at the bottom of this post, by the way...it's pretty impressive to watch, and I've even set it to dorky music just because I can.)
- Speaking of Nylander, he and Semin have provided a flashy one-two punch together and have really seemed to click, which throws even more line combination possibilities into the mix. I've said it before, though - it's nice to have options, and having a glut of players that can fill numerous positions with numerous partners is a great problem to have.
- Kolzig really doesn't like to get scored on. Especially by Matt Bradley.
- Classic moment of the weekend: Ovechkin vs. Kolzig in one on one drills yesterday. An increasingly frustrated Ovie is routinely stymied by the big goalie, who of course mocks him and even throws in a little celebratory dance for good measure (and if you've never seen Olie doing the cabbage patch in full goalie equipment, you haven't lived). Alex makes him pay on his next try, though, and responds with a victory dance of his own along the boards, much to the delight of the Sunday morning crowd.
- Jurcina and Klepis were messing around after Group A's practice yesterday and at one point Klepis came tearing around the net followed closely by Jurcina, who chased Jakub over the boards before skating away with a grin.
- I haven't really gotten a good look at Kozlov, although he and Ovie seem to have some nice chemistry in the few moments I saw them together during a scrimmage. Both Viktor and Semin have taken pucks to the mouth since training camp started, but both have been back out there the next day good as new.
- Poti is...huge. Between him, Morrisonn, Jurcina, Schultz and Pokulok, that is one big blue line for years to come.
Here are some pics courtesy of Teka, one of the HLOGgers whose camera frankly kicked my camera's butt:
Unknown baby goalie (who was pretty impressive) and Werner
Next stop for Matt Bradley: Riverdance
We don't think Semin was as big a fan of us as we were of him yesterday...
...but that didn't stop him from posing half-naked for us later
You can check out a slideshow and a few little videos I've created from the last two days by clicking on the picture below:
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| Training Camp Videos |
Update: Per Tarik, Hanlon is planning to start the season with Nylander and Kozlov as his #1 and #2 centers, leaving Backstrom on the wing for at least the first few games. Interesting. That explains the Backstrom-Nylander-Semin line Tarik reported on earlier today - there is some serious dangling power on that line, that's for sure...
Update: Bouchard, Alzner and Godfrey have been returned to their junior teams, which shouldn't be too much of a surprise despite their strong showing in training camp. I know a lot of people were itching to see at least Alzner attempt to crack the lineup, but he's 18 - I'd love to see him get a little more experience, a little more polish and a little more time to be a kid before forcing him into the NHL. He'd get minimal time in the regular roster if he were to stay, and he'll have prime minutes working with the Hitmen. Best of luck to all three and I'm sure we'll see them soon!
Friday, August 10, 2007
Yeah, They're Pretty Good
So it's Friday and I'm heading out for a weekend away from the computer. Naturally in my absence I could leave you with some deep analysis, some number-crunching, some thought-provoking commentary...but why start now?
Instead here's a little look at our two Russian superstars in all their glory. Enjoy!
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Semin Situation Getting Bizarre
So this whole Semin situation just gets weirder and weirder, rendering my earlier tongue-in-cheek attempt at being witty and urbane completely lacking, a little mean, and if you read the comments, pretty much inaccurate. Except for the flight info, which I stand by.
But I leave it up here for public scrutiny - here in the Cheap Seats I accept when I have been wrong and choose to dedicate myself to spreading the correct information.
Anyways, according to this report and this one, things are not as the Russian Federation would have us all believe. What was first seen by many as just another example of Semin's need to mature and learn his place is now appearing more and more like he just got royally screwed. It's a bizarre thing for the Russian team to do and you have to wonder not only what their real motivation was but also what the impact will be on the morale of the Russian team. It seems that Ovechkin, at least, is taking it pretty hard. They're professionals and I'm sure they'll play hard, but they may find it difficult to go all out for a man who cut their teammate so suddenly.
Semin for his part seems to be responding in a mature and professional manner (so take that!), and in an interview with a reporter from Russia's Sport Express he said the following:
I wanted to play at the World Championships very much! I came to Moscow on the day I was told, but I couldn't make it to Novogorsk in time for the start of the camp because of the problems with tickets. I'll repeat again: Coach has the right to decide who to take and who not to take.This story is far from over...we'll see what happens in the next few days.
