First and foremost, that "Yippee!" sound you just heard was the collective cry of joy of Matt Bradley fans everywhere - including yours truly. The gritty RW inked a three year, $3 million contract that will keep him in DC and avoid the whole messy becoming a UFA thing July 1.
It's just another one of those great signings - keeping a key piece of the team in place, making sure the team chemistry is stable (Brads is unquestionably one of the leaders and favored goofballs in the locker room), and not breaking the bank to do it. Bradley definitely earned the raise, about $300K more per year, with his play this past season and during the playoffs. He's a fast skater, a hard hitter, a great shutdown guy and someone you love to have on your side.
It's hard to say what this means for a guy like Matt Cooke, the one person who could be impacted the most by this signing. There's money left right now and it's obvious he enjoyed playing here, just as we enjoyed having him on our team. It's possible we hang on to him as well - but whether we need another gritty winger is the question, especially with some young guys in Hershey who could be ready to make the leap. Plus there's the little matter of re-signing Mike Green, Shaone Morrisonn, Brooks Laich, Boyd Gordon...and oh yeah, we still need a goalie.
Now about those pesky playoffs...
Gee, I'm almost fainting with surprise at the fact that the NHL/media hype machine missed the target yet again. I'm sure no one who has followed hockey this year could have called the fact that, for all their talent, the Penguins are still not quite in the same league as the mighty Red Wings.
The series isn't over yet - you have to win four games, last time I checked. But Sid the Kid and his little friends haven't scored a goal in 120 minutes of play. Fleury the Wonder Goalie has been average at best. And the Detroit defense is absolutely smothering the high-flying Penguins O, including rent-a-jackass Hossa and Mr. Invisible, Evgeni Malkin. Do we expect all that much to change just because they go back to the Igloo?
(And don't even get me started on the irony of Crosby complaining about someone else diving. Just don't.)
You know, as Caps fans this was the matchup we were all dreading. The team that just has our number, a team we all love to hate, against the team that broke our hearts ten years ago by lifting the Cup on our home turf.
But you have to admit, it's not that bad rooting for Detroit. Sure, they've won a lot and rooting for a team like that is a little painful - but give them credit. Their scouts are among the best in the league at digging out hidden gems, the system they play works for everyone, and half the team is homegrown. It's self-perpetuating success, a cycle that invokes envy among the 29 other fan bases and that 29 other teams try to emulate. You think Ted and GMGM didn't have this model in mind when they stripped the team down and stockpiled prospects and picks?
If we're lucky, we'll see the Caps hoisting the Cup in the next few years - just once would be incredible. If we're really lucky, if the team knows what it's doing and sticks to the plan, that "just once" could become "just the first".
In other words...Go Wings.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Brads is Sticking Around
Thursday, May 01, 2008
So Much to Say
Whew. And we're back. I'll tell you, there's nothing like a heartbreaking first round loss to the Flyers followed by a soon-to-be heartbreaking second round loss to the same damn team to almost make a girl lose her mojo, scrap it all and take up the NBA.
So...how 'bout those Wizards, huh? Huh?
Okay, no. I have no idea what's going on with the Wiz these days and honestly I couldn't care less, despite my desire to just turn the lights off on this hockey season and hide away until September. It hasn't gotten bad enough for me to turn to basketball, not yet at least; and I'm guessing since Dan Steinberg is still blogging furiously, the Wizards are still alive.
Bully for them.
Don't get me wrong - there is a lot to celebrate right now. Take the fact that the Caps weren't even supposed to make the postseason in the first place and yet ended up winning their division. Take the fact that they clawed their way back from a 3-1 series deficit and made it all the way to overtime in game 7 before succumbing to the Flyers. Take the fact that Ovechkin, Backstrom and Boudreau all find themselves up for major NHL awards - all of which are deserved.
Take the fact that waiting in the wings of an already young, talented club are young, talented prospects with names like Karl Alzner, Sami Lepisto, Andrew Gordon, Mathieu Perreault, and Semen Varlamov.
Yes, there is a lot of good in the world for Caps fans, and I, like all of you, would do well to remember that. Because as we sit on the verge of a potential Flyers-Penguins Conference Final...it's sometimes hard to believe there is any good in the world at all.
Despite the pain, there is still hockey going on - and some pretty exciting hockey for that matter. Sure, all four series are flying by and we could be seeing one of the shortest second rounds in recent memory. But don't let that fool you, none of these series (save for the Wings-Avs series, which admittedly I haven't watched much of) have been easy. There have been a lot of one-goal games, a lot of overtimes, a lot of clanking posts and reviewed goals and nail-biting final seconds. It's been a hard fought second round, as it should be.
Hey, if the Avs and Rangers remember how to play hockey for one night we've got ourselves a foursome of 3-1 series heading down the stretch. And doesn't the time seem ripe for a team to pull off the oh so rare feat of being down by that margin...and coming back to win it all? The way this postseason is going, it's not out of the realm of possibility.
Some thoughts so far:
- Montreal's problem isn't their goaltending or their lack of discipline at inopportune times or their inability to create traffic in front of Biron...it's all three. If that sounds eerily familiar to you, you're not alone.
- Every time Daniel Briere sneaks in from behind the net to score a goal a baby cries. Would someone just put a big bell around his neck already?
- The Rangers with Sean Avery have proved to be a tough if not quite tough enough foe for the Penguins. Without him? Tee time's at 8:30 tomorrow morning, boys.
- Marty Turco has worn the "choker" moniker, rather unfairly, for years now. Guess what - he's mad as hell and he's not going to take it anymore. He's the Cheap Seats favorite among all goalies named Marty, that's for sure.
- Is Colorado still playing?
- Steve Begin blocked a shot with his midsection last night and when he got to his feet and hobbled to the dressing room., he was booed. You stay classy, Philadelphia.
- Two games in a row now Patrick Marleau has picked off a cross-ice pass from Sergei Zubov, taken it down ice and scored a shorthanded goal. The Stars may be an infinitely better team with Zubov in the lineup, but I think everyone would agree he needs to stop trying that pass.
- Say what you want, but no coach does the wry "are you kidding me??" smile better than Guy Carbonneau.
- Where have you gone, Joe...Thornton?
- The Pens have the potential to do something no team has done in almost twenty years, and that is sweep the first two rounds. My question for you is this - since they came against a weak Senators team and an elderly Rangers team, does that make them more or less ready to face whoever survives the Habs-Flyers series?
- Speaking of which - irony comes in many shapes and colors, but right now it's wearing a hideous black and orange jersey. You have to think that after essentially throwing the last game of the year to draw the Sens in the first round over Philly, the last thing the Pens want to do is face the juggernaut Flyers in the Conference Finals. Should that happen...I will laugh.
Through my tears, of course.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Wednesday Quick Hits
- Part two of everyone's favorite hockey satire is up and is just as funny as part one, so check it out...and if you missed it last time, read part one first. Totally worth it, I assure you.
- Conflicting reports out of Russia are saying that Ovie punched Evgeni Malkin's agent, injuring his jaw...or that he didn't really. Or that he did.
So...maybe?
Considering his past fighting experience, you can judge for yourself how true that is:
- And finally, per the Caps' website, there appears to be a training camp logo:
Not sure why I found that newsworthy, but there you go.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Sid Better Work
Okay, I know I promised a Sidney-free zone for a while but I couldn't resist a follow-up to my initial discussion of Sid the Kid launching a clothing line. Check out a video featuring bits of the launch with some of his trend-setting designs modeled by real live people as well as ol' puffy lips himself, at Reebok's Sidney360.com.
By the way, those atrocities being marketed to women should not be viewed while eating. Why does everyone think girls, especially girls who like hockey, wear nothing but pink?? Guess what, Sid. Guess what, NHL. We don't - and we're pissed.
I guess it could be worse...
Nothing says "I'm a serious hockey fan" like...butterflies.
Happy Friday.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Boys, Boys, Boys...
I just...I can't...too many jokes...can't...type...
Read: Staal, Younger Brother Arrested
(Does it make me a bad person to laugh at other peoples' misfortune? Or just a bitter Caps fan? Conundrum.)
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Lock Him Up and Throw Away the Key
Sidney Crosby has just been inked to a five year, $43 million contract extension that will keep him in Pittsburgh through the 2012-13 season. Tap of the stick to my super junior reporter Chris...
$43 million dollars - for you math geniuses out there, that shakes out to about $9 million a year. That's a lot of shiny red lip gloss, folks.
(Okay, I can be serious and mature, I swear.)
I'll admit that I'm not the biggest fan of Crosby, although I hide it really well. And $9 million a year is a lot of money, an amount that a lot of players are not worth. Briere? Please. Jagr? Don't make me laugh. But as much as I hate to admit it, other than Ovechkin there is no one more deserving of this contract for what he has added to his team than Crosby. The kid is a darn good player despite my best efforts to point out his shortcomings and will be for years to come.
As Caps fans, this actually does effect us - if as it has been hinted Ovie is in negotiations for a contract extension of his own, this pretty much cements the asking price. The Caps really can't offer him any less than $9 million a year...although if anyone's worth it, it's Ovechkin. Anyone here in DC not willing to give that kid as much as he wants if it means he stays in a Caps uniform until he's old and gray? Exactly.
It's really an interesting deal on the Penguins' part. You have to think that five years for their golden boy compared with some of these life sentences being handed out across the NHL is a little strange. To me its just a sign that, like many native Pittsburghians, Sidney has no interest in spending the rest of his life there. (If he continues to act like native Pittsburghians, we may even see him here in DC.)
There's no way that, given the chance, the Pens don't give him the maximum salary they can if they can also lock him up for as long as possible. Under this deal Crosby will just have to wait one more year to test the free agent market at the ripe old age of 26 (?), and in the meantime he'll have a nice fat wallet and job security (like that was ever in doubt). Pretty sweet deal for Sid.
Serious, mature time done.
Insert requisite "now he can afford to get his own place" joke...here.
Update: Eternally ten steps ahead of the rest of us thanks to their fabulous connections, the boys over at OFB have Ovechkin's reaction to the contract. He's pretty smart, that Ovie.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Captain Kid
Sidney Crosby will be named Pittsburgh's new captain at a press conference tomorrow afternoon, making him the youngest captain in NHL history...
...maybe now Mario will let him stay up until 10:00 on a school night.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
400 and Counting
The Hershey Bears coming within one win of the Calder Cup Finals? The Stanley Cup Finals between the Ottawa Senators and Anaheim Ducks? Brian Leetch's retirement?
What about...the top ten reasons I hate Sidney Crosby? Yes!
Hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Besides, with the Pens long gone from the playoffs I haven't gotten to pick on them for a while and frankly I'm getting a little restless waiting for preseason to roll around. h/t to Amanda for the idea
#10 The lips - Oh, the lips. Where to begin. I don't know if he's plastering on the lipstick or if he just enjoys a nice cherry kool-aid before every game, but those things are not natural. Let's just say I know Hollywood actresses who would pay thousands of bucks for that collagen-enhanced look...
you follow the gospel according to Sidney. The good thing is, he lets us know when he's unhappy. Really, Sid? You disagree? No kidding.
#6 He's a Penguin - Come on. He's a PENGUIN. Ugh. 
millionaire still lives with Mario Lemieux? Cut the apron strings, Sid, time to spring for that bachelor pad. Put it this way - entertaining that special someone can't be easy with Mario's little rugrats running around...
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Some Time-Delayed Thoughts
- Splattered octopus on the ice = gross. Hasek skating over to look at a splattered octopus = absolutely disgusting. Slinky-backed freak of nature.
- If the annoying trumpet guy in Detroit doesn't learn how to play "Hava Nagila" correctly, I'm going to take his horn and shove it down his throat. (For those of you curious as to how it should sound, click here. And please resist the urge to yell "Charge!" at the end. I promise no one does that at weddings.)
- Ron Wilson needs to find the fire that has propelled his team through the standings and into the postseason, because it certainly wasn't there today. They looked sloppy in the two periods that I saw, and while Detroit may not be as scary as they once were, they're still a damn good hockey team. Sloppy just isn't going to cut it. Neither is consistently giving up a lead. Or bad puck movement by the goaltender. Let's face it, 99% of what they did today needs to be reversed upon returning to the Shark Tank or they'll be golfing with the Devils faster than they can say "Jaws".
- Are there different rules in Motown about standing up during play? Every time the camera pans back to reveal the crowd, people are moving in and out of the rows freely as though nothing was going on. It's pretty funny to watch the camera guys try frantically to find an angle that doesn't include people's heads, though. Lots of extreme close-ups at the Joe.
- Ray Emery got into a fender-bender on his way to the airport and for some reason its making headline news. Must be a slow news day.
- Say what you want about guys like Emery, Alfredsson, Heatley, and their importance to this Ottawa team, but in my mind the unsung hero of the Sens' run to this point would have to be Chris Neil. I love to hate him and he does have a penchant for those questionable, borderline hits, but the guy is a momentum shifter and can be a heck of a hockey player when he wants to be. He is the quintessential checking line forward and worth his weight in gold so far this postseason. Plus I like watching him grin with that huge gap in his teeth, it makes me giggle.
- John Vanbiesbrouck gets my unanimous vote for tonight's Mr. Pessimistic Award. From about the 10 minute mark of the third period on, he was railing on the Devils - picking on Lamoriello, their defense, Brodeur, and the team in general. It's strange, too, because they were only down by 2 goals - not an overwhelming gap by any means, especially in the postseason. I'm no Jersey fan, but even I was getting annoyed with Beezer (although I always get annoyed by Beezer).
- Tonight's NJ-Ott game really brought to light the fatal flaw in the Devils time-tested game plan. It's all well and good to focus on defense, rely on your future Hall of Fame goaltender, and muck up the neutral zone. But what happens when your vaunted defense gets sloppy and slow? What happens when a potent offense breaks through the sludge at center ice? What happens when your goalie not only can't make the big saves but also lets in some softies? We saw what happens...you get knocked out in 5 games. Live and learn.
- I didn't get to watch this one at all, but it looks like the Bears shut out the Baby Pens 2-0 in Wilkes-Barre to take a stranglehold 3-0 series lead. Get out those brooms, I wanna see a sweep! Ready? All together now...B-E-A-R-S Bears Bears Bears WOOOOOO!!!
- And finally, the most important question of the night: what the HELL happened to Peter Schaefer's hair??
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Sailing Across the Atlantic (Division)
The reception towards Northeast Division teams may be a bit lukewarm here in CapsLand, but I guarantee emotions boil a little hotter when it comes to those friendly foes, the Atlantic Division:
• New York Islanders - Although the heated battles of the 80s and 90s have given way to a much less heated rivalry, the hatred of the Islanders will probably never fully go away. From the Easter Epic to the Hunter-Turgeon incident to the sudden flood of former Caps to the Isles, there's something about the blue and orange that elicits bile among the Caps faithful.
• New York Rangers - The Caps played their very first game in franchise history against the Rags and its been downhill ever since. Year after year we're subjected to not only the Rangers but their hordes of fans who fill the VC, and year after year we're treated to some great battles. The Caps and Rangers have only met 4 times in the playoffs and have split those series, but there is an inherent animosity that even the newest players can feel. And as if the drunken fans and natural hatred weren't enough, they have Jagr. That's the nail in the coffin for even the nicest teams.
• New Jersey Devils - Is it just that Martin Brodeur has so easily manhandled this team over the years that makes us hate them? Or is it the fact that they put us to sleep whenever they roll into town? Take your pick, but there is no sympathy for these Devils. I honestly don't even remember a time before Marty came along, he's been so dominant. 30-11-5 with 6 shutouts. Are you freaking kidding me? Ugh. And don't even get me started on Visorgate.
• Philadelphia Flyers - I hardly know where to start with the Flyers. It's just all bad. Broadstreet bullies. Ugly orange and black jerseys. Ron Hextall. Bobby Clarke. Philly fans. Years and years of suffering through home games with so much orange you think you're in a tanning salon. It's what makes that Dale Hunter OT goal so sweet; it's what makes the first season series sweep by the Caps so sweet; and it's what made us shake our heads in pity while covering up giddy smirks of joy as we watched them wallowing at the bottom of the standings.
• Pittsburgh Penguins - Oh, you knew I had to leave the best for last. I almost feel like I should dedicate an entire post just to my disdain for...oh wait. I do that all the time. It's hard to boil down exactly what it is about this team that just gets under my skin and turns my stomach and makes me want to drink heavily and gives me the urge to hurl things across the room. How do you sum up years of heartache, of annoyance, of anger, of teeth-gritting, fist-clenching, stomach-churning hatred? Like the Flyers, there are oh so many parts to the equation. So I made a list.
Lemieux. Jagr. Lemieux and Jagr. Mullets. Crosby. Mullets. Playoffs. Nedved. Mullets. Invading Penguins fans. Invading drunk Penguins fans. Invading drunk Penguins fans in Steelers gear. Pee-pads. Yellow and black. Playoffs. Crosby. Mullets. Jagr.
...I don't think I need to go on, although it's hardly a comprehensive list. Bottom line? BOOOOO. This is a rivalry that is in no danger of dying anytime soon, at least as long as I have the ability to type and yell and hurl things across the room.
Next up...our beloved Southeast Division.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Now Who Will They Talk About?
With all of the media attention and hype swirling around Sidney Crosby and his band of merry men, it was easy to forget about the Ottawa Senators. But watching their series-clinching performance tonight and in fact their performance all series long reminds us of exactly how dominating they can be, how deep they are...and how close our own Mike Vogel and Ted Leonsis may have been in their predictions.
It's really amazing to see what the Sens have accomplished since the start of the season. If you remember, back at the beginning of the year the Sens looked like their evil twins. Nothing was going right. They were fighting with Boston for the bottom spot in the Northeast Division. Their fans were wearing paper bags on their heads when they played the Caps.
Flash forward to December. The team is struggling through injuries to some of their key guys when something odd happens. They start winning. It's a strange phenomenon for a team to lose their starters and suddenly improve, but it all comes down to one thing - depth.
The Versus guys were pointing to the depth on this Ottawa squad all night long, showing the production the Sens were getting from their 3rd and 4th line. By contrast, you look at the measly 2 assists produced by Pittsburgh's 3rd and 4th lines and there is no question why the Penguins were unable to overcome the onslaught and ultimately fell in five games.
It's not that the Penguins weren't talented or didn't try hard. The fact is that they struggled because of the same problems that stymied the Caps - when the bulk of your offense comes from your top two lines, you may win games...but only in the regular season. Postseason requires all out efforts from all four lines, and both the Pens and the Caps have too much youth and potential talent instead of actual, NHL proven talent to succeed just yet.
But back to Ottawa. Tonight's game was just a massacre, a systematic destruction of everything the Penguins had going for them. Pittsburgh was simply unable to respond to the talented Senators' attack. Every Ottawa pass was on the tape, every check was finished, every penalty kill solid. The Sens worked every angle, took the body, played their positions spot on, and frankly looked more like a championship team than any other team I've seen thus far in the playoffs.
The question now becomes, can they shake the eternal choking dog collar that has held them down for so long? Will they be able to take their game to another level and meet the challenges of whatever team awaits them? If their showing in this first round is any indication, I'd say they're ready to shake that moniker for good.
Of course, this means that now NBC and Versus will have to find a new cover boy. It's a rough life.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Fading Youths
WARNING: What you are about to read is a rare kind word about a certain team in yellow and black. The comments and opinions listed below do not represent a sign of insanity on the part of the author, nor should they be mistaken as a permanent recommendation that anyone become a fan of said team - it is merely the recognition of recent events and nothing more.
Please do not continue if you are a Caps fan with a heart condition or prone to bouts of nausea. Do not combine with alcohol or operate heavy machinery while reading.
Scott Burnside has a very interesting piece out today about the Penguins' loss to the Senators. In it he theorizes that the team will not be able to bounce back and will likely fall to Ottawa when the two meet up in Canada's capital tomorrow night. While I tend to agree with him, I also have to give the Penguins a lot of credit.
I know. Ugh.
I jumped on their backs a bit after their lackluster performance in Game 1 and rightly so - it wasn't the type of game I wanted to see. I wasn't speaking as a Caps fan but as a hockey fan. I want to see good hockey, tough battles, tight games...which frankly is why I'm ignoring the Rangers-Thrashers series altogether.
Since then, however, the evil ones have put in a good showing against what has turned out to be an extremely tough Ottawa team. The games have been close, physical, and above all else, entertaining. Some players have disappeared in the series as so often happens (Malkin?) while others like young Jordan Staal have stepped to the forefront and really taken the team on their shoulders. It's fun as a hockey fan to watch a battle that pits the best against the best, with the occasional unscripted and unexpected hero rising from the group...and that's exactly what we've gotten in these four games.
I've echoed the sentiments of so many others all season long, sometimes even without gagging, when I've said how talented this team really is. It's actually part of the reason I dislike Crosby and all the media hype that follows him around - it's unfair to overshadow a team with so much young talent that will in a few years be a consistent contender. Crosby is good. We get it. What about the others?
So it may very well be the end of the line for the Pens, and if so it is as it should be. The NHL might have been drooling over the idea of Sid the Kid in the Finals but those of us who watch hockey religiously understand that taking a young team all the way through the postseason is an almost impossible task. Better that they take the early exit this year and use it to build on for next season.
In a few years the Pens will be ready and will be good...scary good. My only hope is that they keep their core group of guys together so when the Caps reach their level and then surpass them, we can say our team is the very best.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled Penguin-hate.
Friday, April 13, 2007
B-E-A-R-S BEARS BEARS BEARS WOOOOO
Monday, April 09, 2007
How Sweet It Is
The end of the regular season is always a little rough on me. The Caps are out of the playoffs, the playoffs haven’t started yet, and so I find myself seeking out other sources of hockey entertainment. Sure, I could watch Miracle for the 3000th time, but I swear I’m about two viewings away from believing I’m one of the members of the USA Hockey team. (“CapsChick, Washington DC...I play for the United States of America!”)
So after months of casually tossing around the idea, my roommate and I decided to finally get off our butts and go see a Bears game live. We piled into our little zipcar (shameless plug in hopes of getting free stuff) and headed up I-83 into the mountains of Pennsylvania, passing tiny towns and wide open farmland on our way. It was good to get out of the city, away from the memories of the season that might have been, away from the cold into...well, colder.
As we crossed the Maryland border into Pennsylvania, I was struck by a wave of giddiness and greeted by a sea of mullets.
I kid, I kid. (Kind of.)
But I was excited and proceeded to bounce in my seat for the rest of the drive...by the way, not something I’d recommend doing if you’re actually the one driving, although it did make for a thrilling car ride. We passed signs for Harrisburg – 58 miles, 34 miles, 22 miles...then we started seeing signs for Hershey attractions. Suddenly we were behind a car with Pennsylvania plates and a sticker that said ‘HBH’. Hershey Bears Hockey. Follow that car!
Our little caravan grew as we drew closer to the arena, and I started spotting people in the cars around us clad entirely in Bears’ gear. I don’t really know why we were so excited by that – maybe it’s just the sight of people who actually love hockey, something so rare in this football-mad area. Walking through the parking lot towards Giant Center we passed cars with Hershey Bears vanity plates and bumper stickers, families dressed in matching Hershey jerseys, kids waving foam bear claws excitedly, all hoping for a Bears victory to cap off their weekend.
"Game on." "Game on!"
Freddy comes up big
The deadlock was finally broken when Tomas Fleischmann scored for the Bears and the home team took a 1-0 lead into the locker room. After a scoreless but equally penalty-filled second period, the Bears would extend their lead with a goal by rookie Kyle Wilson off a pretty passing play from Flash and Klepis. The Penguins rallied back to pull within one late in the game, ending Cassivi’s shutout bid and making the Bears pay for taking too many penalties. Steckel then scored an empty-netter to put the game out of reach.
It was really an interesting experience and there are some things that stick out at you right away. The speed of the game is much more leisurely than NHL games. Many of the players’ abilities are clearly at a lower level. Plays aren’t so much planned out as they are spontaneous reactions to something the other team did. Guys have more of a tendency to simply whack at a puck when in a battle, be it along the boards or at open ice. There is a lack of basic hockey awareness, of a vision on the ice that you see in the NHL – guys know where their teammates are at all times, where the open ice is, and more importantly, where the opponents are. Not so much at the AHL level.
Still, the game was entertaining and the Bears really dominated the Penguins after what was a bit of a rough first period. They controlled rebounds well in front of Cassivi who was sharp in his own right, and they had some nice plays that forced the WBS goalie to come up big at times.
It was also an interesting look at some of the guys we’ve seen down in DC this year in a completely different setting. There’s a confidence and a swagger to their game and a smoothness to their skating that is missing in some of their teammates. Flash and Klepis were making nice passes and dancing around the defense with an agility we have yet to see from them consistently in the NHL. If they are ever able to keep that in their game and make the transition to the Caps, they will be very scary to play against. Schultz played his usual solid but invisible game, which is fine by me, and Green actually looked like a defenseman out there.
Schultz sporting #6. A good omen maybe?
But others stood out too, some guys that may not have worn a Caps jersey yet this season but could be seeing time with the club as soon as next season. Kyle Wilson was very impressive, and the finish on his goal was really beautiful. Quintin Laing was also sharp, and Joey Tenute was a feisty little bugger all game long.
Kyle Wilson pots the eventual game-winner - 2-0 Bears!
I’m going to assume that everyone was a bit sleepy after church and too much chocolate (or in my case gefilte fish and matzah), because it was a bit mellow throughout the afternoon and I’ve heard that it usually gets pretty raucous. I’m sure once the playoffs start up things will get a bit more interesting. Funny thing is that it was still noisier than Verizon Center. Fans do a good job of just starting up random cheers throughout the game to keep at least a buzz running through the crowd, something I've noticed was lacking at Caps games.
I will take Horn Guy over the dozens of air horns in attendance any day, though – it sounded like a herd of dying cattle.
Bears Win!!
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
A View from the Anti-Cheap Seats
Love wounds and marks
Any heart not tough
Or strong enough
To take a lot of pain, take a lot of pain
Love is like a cloud, holds a lot of rain
Love hurts, ooh ooh love hurts
I'm young I know
But even so
I know a thing or two
I learned from you
I really learned a lot, really learned a lot
Love is like a flame, it burns you when its hot
Love hurts, ooh ooh love hurts
Some fools think of happiness, blissfulness, togetherness
Some fools fool themselves I guess
They're not foolin' me
I know it isn't true, I know it isn't true
Love is just a lie made to make you blue
Love hurts, ooh,ooh love hurts
Ooh, ooh love hurts
I know it isn't true, I know it isn't true
Love is just a lie, made to make you blue
Love hurts, ooh ooh love hurts
Ooh ooh love hurts
Ooh ooh...
Love Hurts by Nazareth
Ouch. That one hurt.
Pop Quiz: What is Kerry Fraser's problem?
a) He hates the Caps
b) The years of obsessive hairspray use has warped his brain...and his vision
c) Someone in the Penguins organization got to him
d) All of the above
If you answered d) All of the above, pat yourself on the back. It's the only reason I can think of for the blatant non-calls and the more blatant bad calls that littered this game. Just ridiculous.
But as you all know, I don't like to blame the officiating here in the Cheap Seats. It's just as painful for the Caps to waste their own precious few power play chances, continue to exhibit lackluster penalty-killing, and blow yet another lead. Good teams beat out bad referees almost every time, and while the Caps didn't play that badly, it wasn't great either.
What else can I say? Clearly the Penguins are that stubborn kind of demon that will take another year or two to exorcise. Hopefully it will happen while I still have my own teeth.
I do want to take a moment to extend my sincere appreciation to Ted Leonsis for inviting me to spend the evening as one of his guests in the owner's box. Even with the loss it was a truly great experience and I'm so grateful for the opportunity. My sister and I were in awe for most of the game, it was so amazing. Also, I'm still giddy at getting to meet Dick Patrick, just a Capitals' institution and a really nice guy in his own right.
I am kicking myself for not being a dork and getting a picture with Ted (sorry, Dad!) - still, it was an experience I won't soon forget. Thank you, Ted!
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
March (27th) of the Penguins
Spring is in the air, golf clubs are getting warmed up, mullets are in full bloom...wait. Mullets? Uh-oh, you know what that means. It must be time for another thrilling visit from the Pittsburgh Penguins!
In honor of our feathered guests (both on the ice and off) I present :
And those of us with normal hair
From Crosby's Crowd to Fleury's Flock
Those curly tendrils flow
But all your hearts and souls belong
To the man called Mario
You toss your locks (and then your beer)
With a high and mighty air
For all bow down to the glory of
That lovely Pittsburgh hair
Special thanks to Amanda for the inspiration...
But enough silliness. It's time to get down to the real nuts and bolts with another round of the $64,000 question - which Caps team will show up today?
Will it be...
...the team that blows a 4 goal lead?
...the team that plays solid defense yet can't score to save their lives?
...the team that phones it in?
...or will it be the elusive creature that is the hard-working, high-scoring, lead-holding team?
Only time will tell. And that, my friends, is what makes being a Caps fan so much fun. This team is, um...well, they're like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.
It would be nice if the Caps avoided a sweep and put in a good, solid performance in front of what is sure to be a packed house tonight. The Pens are a tough team, a playoff team fighting for the division lead and home-ice advantage. I think all Caps fans would agree with me that putting a crimp in those plans might make for a delightful Tuesday evening.
Er...it appears we've interrupted his meal. Sorry, Sid.
Sorry, Mario.
Then of course there are the other youngsters...
Staal, Malone and Malkin can be lethal in their own right.
And don't forget about...um...those...other guys.
The Penguins have a pretty potent power play, ranked 5th in the league.
Wow. Look at that setup!
You also have to get past their muscle...
Laraque, Ruutu and Roberts. And don't discount their offensive ability, either.
The Penguins do have a weakness or two, though. Take their defense for example.
Look at them - they can't even find the puck!
Oh, good. The Penguins' fans are here.
Nice mullets, boys.
Hey, wait!
Where's everyone going?
Oh. Of course.
I should have known.
Hi, Mario.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Note to Self: Use Magic for Good, Not Evil
Psssst....
I've just discovered the secret to make the Penguins lose. Are you ready?
Come in closer...a little closer...
It's true! I should have known after all these years of rooting for the Caps, and all these years of them not winning consistently, that it was me. Because the one time - the ONE TIME - I deigned to root for the Penguins, they go and blow it.
This wasn't something I wanted to do, believe me. I certainly didn't enjoy it and I don't plan on doing it again anytime soon. But as everyone knows, my other team is the Canadiens. And the Canadiens find themselves in the middle of a dog race for that 8th and final playoff spot with, among other teams, the Rangers...who were hosting the Penguins. Tonight was New York's game in hand on the Habs, so I had no choice. I need a team that I like to make the postseason, I'm not sure how many other ways I can say it.
Really, I had no choice.
I HAD NO CHOICE!
But alas, the evil ones under the leadership of Crybaby failed to hang in there long enough and they lost 2-1 in the dying seconds of regulation. Naturally the game-winning goal was by Jagr...although not really. One of the Penguins' defensemen kind of scored it on his own goalie.
*Sigh*...and my wonderful luck strikes again.
I've been talking about the Penguins too much, I fear. No more. I'm done.
On to happier things, because the Caps are on a two-game winning streak, we're one-fifth of the way through the work week, and the playoffs are almost here.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Hey, Pittsburgh, Your Fly is Open...HA! Made You Look
I've been too nice to the Penguins lately, don't you think? Time for a little therapy, also known as "pick on my favorite target" time...
Grrr. Of course he is.
What, you thought he was actually going to sell them? Nope, this was yet another round of Mario's favorite game, "Made You Look!" You have to admit it's a little sketchy now that a new arena deal is in place, his business plan has suddenly changed. He gets to stay in Pittsburgh and once again play the conquering hero, the man who got Pennsylvania to pony up (and I'm not saying they shouldn't have...) for a new arena and a whopping 30 year lease. He celebrates in the decrepit old Igloo with his panderers and sycophants, smirking at the signs they have painstakingly crafted in his honor.
It just gets a little old after a while. Check that, it has already gotten old.
I watched the beginning of the Penguins-Sabres game the day the arena deal was officially announced, and naturally they were talking to the little greaseball during play, so they had a little caption on the screen that said "Voice of Mario Lemieux". So I turned to my roommate and with a very serious look on my face, I said "This is the voice of God."
Okay, so I have no point. I just like calling Lepoop a little greaseball, it makes me happy.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Mama Needs a New Pair of Shoes...And a New Arena
Rumor confirmed.
The Penguins are sticking around, thanks to PA Governor Ed Rendell's plan to fund a new arena using money from the state's new slot machine parlors. And while I'm aware that this isn't Caps-related per se, who are we kidding - all Caps fans were watching this story with great interest.
I'll admit I was a little torn on this one.
The evil, bitter side of me was gleefully waving goodbye as Sid the Kid and all his little buddies packed up and moved west. I've seen enough of the Penguins and the thousands of fans that descend upon Verizon Center year after year to last me a lifetime of therapy. Too many of my most painful hockey memories are linked to the Flightless Fowl, so you'll forgive me if I wasn't exactly shedding a tear at the thought of them leaving.
But then the true hockey fan in me emerged and cleared my head a little. First of all, as much as I may dislike the Pittsburgh expatriates who insist on clogging up my beloved arena whenever the Pens roll into town, I would never wish for anyone to lose their team - if only because I know how heartbroken I would be if the Caps ever left. To lose a sports franchise that you've poured your heart and soul into, no matter how evil that franchise might be, is a fate I wish on no man, woman or child in all their mulleted glory.
Secondly, and it pains me to admit this, the Penguins are a storied franchise in the NHL history books if only because of the two Stanley Cup banners that hang in the disintegrating rafters of the Igloo. The names of my nightmares - Lemieux, Coffey, Samuelsson, Kasparaitis, Jagr - will someday fill the Hall of Fame (well, maybe not Kasparaitis...). This is a franchise that has been around for almost forty years, a milestone they will hit next season along with the Philly and St. Louis. To make it that long and then be moved would be a travesty for hockey.
There's a reason we Caps fans hate the Penguins, and its not just because of their fanbase. Really. It's because by some freakish twist of fate, the Pens, even at their lowest, always seem to have the Caps' number. And frankly, I'm going to echo fellow blogger William Yurasko's sentiments; I want the Penguins to stick around so I can see the day when the Caps will finally rise up and turn the tables on them, whether its next season or a decade from now. I want to see these two young franchises continue to battle for dominance for years to come, and I want to see the Penguins sitting at home in Pittsburgh when the Caps finally raise Lord Stanley's Cup.
And yes, I know - I just wrote an entire post dedicated to and supporting the continuance of the Penguins. Have no fear, an exorcism has been scheduled for later this afternoon.
Penguins Staying Put?
A Pittsburgh TV station is reporting that the Penguins have reached a deal to remain in Pittsburgh. The report cites the ever popular unidentified sources and of course was immediately refuted or "no comment"-ed when brought up to these officials with whom the Pens supposedly made a deal.
So what do we know?
Pretty much the same thing we knew yesterday. Nothing.
[I love publishing unsubstantiated rumors posing as news!]
