With the Caps breathing down the necks of not one, not two, not three, but four teams right now it's safe to say that every single player in Philly, Carolina, Boston and yes, New York, are looking in the rearview mirror. Ouch. Rarely a mention of the Caps, but there is a hint of concern there. A sense that the Flyers are pretending they are better than they are - and forcing a shootout against an Islanders team that has been out of the race for weeks and is without their superstar goalie would seem like an area of concern for sure. And finally, how 'bout them Rangers? For a long time now Jagr's squad has seemed well out of reach and well on their way to a postseason berth. Too far ahead for the Caps to catch...or are they? They join the clusterfu-, er, the cluster of teams around 8th place with 91 points and a game in hand - against a surging Penguins team that beat them yesterday:
All you have to do is scan the sports pages from these cities to see exactly how much pressure the Caps are putting on everyone.
Boston, a team that has flip-flopped with the Flyers more times than Alexander Semin has fallen down this season, continues to rack up points - but the pace has slowed. They came out of yesterday's snoozefest with a point but still fell to a Buffalo squad clinging to visions of an all-encompassing Eastern Conference crash.
Of course, Caps fans everywhere were wondering why the Sabres needed that extra 39 seconds to score the damn goal...but that's another issue.
In the aftermath of an overtime loss that the Bruins really needed to win and win in regulation, the Boston Globe was particularly pointed when mentioning a certain scrappy bunch from the nation's capital:The Capitals, let the record show, have gone 12-4-0 (.750) since their tradin'-day acquisitions of No. 1 goalie Cristobal Huet and aged Russian magician Sergei Fedorov. They have traction, and they're just waiting for the Rangers, Flyers, or Bruins to look in the mirror, the one with the fine print warning, "Objects Are Closer Than They Appear." Got that right.
Then there's the Hurricanes, a team that is certainly starting to feel the pressure (if they weren't before) after falling to the Lightning on Saturday - the same night the Caps were rolling over the Panthers. So sayeth the Raleigh News-Observer:
Oh, hey, and let's not forget the Hurricanes, who wrap up their regular season Friday vs. the Panthers in Raleigh. The Canes, in third place overall with 90 points, actually have 1 point fewer than the Rangers, Flyers, and Bruins in sixth. Why? Because they lead the Southeast Division, which is home to . . . you got it, the Capitals.
Readjust that slide rule, because the Caps could slip ahead of the Canes for the divisional crown and thus land the third seed overall. The Canes, no doubt all fitted for oxygen masks to survive the sudden drop, then would slide back into that NYR-Flyer-Bruin scrum for seeds 6-7-8. Misery just loves company.The Canes went into the evening with a chance to clinch the Southeast Division title. Instead, they now face what may be a winner-take-all showdown with the Capitals in Washington on Tuesday.
In Philly it seems more and more like people are losing faith that the Flyers can pull it off, despite their annoying insistence on scoring late and forcing shootouts. But that's Philly for you:
"We wanted this one but it didn't happen, and we've got to leave this one here and look forward to Tuesday in Washington," Hurricanes center Eric Staal said. "We have to play a complete game and get a win."
"That's a big game," Laviolette said. "We've got to come up with four points. It doesn't matter how we do it."John Stevens called [Saturday's shootout win over the Islanders] "the gutsiest effort of the year," and said it showed the team's "resilience."
That's only true if the precursor to both characteristics are "listless" and "stupid" - the two words that recur when talking about how this team starts, and too often how it finishes.The Rangers have found themselves perched so precariously in the Eastern Conference playoff race that they entered Sunday afternoon’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins eyeing the top of the standings and left it — after a 3-1 loss at Mellon Arena — warily eyeing the bottom.
I know for many of us watching tonight's Rangers-Penguins game would be something akin to shoving red-hot pokers under our fingernails and diving face first into a pit of boiling lava. If you can get past that feeling, it's one to keep an eye on for sure. This race is no longer just a three-team race...but adding another team to the mix just improves the Caps' chances.
Of course, none of this compares to the truly sick part of this entire mess. If the Caps remain in the fight for 8th place, they will likely have to root for the Penguins to win out. Pittsburgh has three games remaining, one against the Rangers tonight and two against the Flyers.
If the Penguins win out they clinch the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference crown.
If the Penguins win out and the Caps do the same the Caps are in.
...and who could they face in the first round? Yup. Sick sick sick.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Don't Turn Around
Sunday, February 10, 2008
"Game Over" Strikes Again
Well, that was a hell of a thrilling way for the Caps to steal two points from the jaws of defeat, wasn't it?
2) Olie Kolzig celebrated his 700th NHL game with a spectacular performance, earning his 296th win to tie Ron Hextall on the all-time wins list. That was just old-school Godzilla. Welcome back, big guy. (And watch those clearing attempts, no need to add to your PIMs.)Caps vs Rangers: Open Thread
It's Sunday, it's a matinee game, and it's Jagr's final visit of the year to the place he once called home (and then mocked openly). It's time for a "CapsChick is being lazy" special - otherwise known as ye olde open thread.
Feel free to comment on the game, the fact that a win would again bounce the Caps into first place in the division, the sheer uselessness of other teams right now or anything else you would like to discuss.
...or just stare at Matt Bradley's flamingo impression. Go Caps!
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Fear the Mullet
A Caps overtime win...isn't it a lovely thing? Almost as lovely as Donald's new 'do.
Happy '80s night!
Gameday Preview: Caps vs Rangers
Who: Washington Capitals vs. New York Rangers
Where: Verizon Center
When: Wednesday, December 12, 7 pm
Broadcast Info: CSN+, 3WT; FSN-NY, WABC 770 AM
Media Notes:
NHL.com
Washington Post
Washington Times
New York Times
For some reason games between the Caps and the Rangers always seem to catch these two teams going in opposite directions, and tonight's game is no exception. The Caps have won three of their last four; the Rangers have dropped three of four. The Rangers are flirting with first in the division; the Caps have long been mired in last place in the league. It always makes for an interesting matchup, one that the Caps appear more than ready for despite a few key injuries that continue to shorten the bench.
Recent changes by Boudreau seem to have reinvigorated the Caps, not the least of which is the newly minted top line of Ovechkin, Backstrom and Pettinger. The line has created some of the best chances in the last two games and Backstrom has suddenly found his scoring touch, potting goals in two straight and simply appearing more comfortable in every situation.
And then there's the play of Quintin Laing, Hershey Bear and journeyman AHLer, whose scrappy, hardworking play has been perfectly suited to the ailing Caps. His performances in every game have been commendable, and it was capped off with a well-deserved goal in Monday's win. Look for him to continue to make his mark in the lineup, blocking shots and providing the shot in the arm for this Caps team.
Meanwhile New York continues to struggle with consistency on so many levels. Before the season began, the Rangers were annointed as the new kings of the East and in some respects they have held true to that prediction. But they've done it in spite of an anemic offense, one that is in fact the worst in the league - "led", of course, by their mighty captain Jagr, whose 7 goals put him on pace for a measly 20 on the year. In that respect they are very much like the last-place Caps, and there but for the grace of Henrik Lundqvist go the Rags...
Hank is only one of the obstacles facing the Caps tonight, but he's also the biggest. It was not the Rangers who beat the Caps a month and a half ago...it was Lundqvist. He was the difference, keeping the Rangers in it and more importantly keeping the Caps out of it en route to a 2-0 victory and his third shutout of the year. He's added two more since, including one just a few days ago against the white hot Devils.
The Caps need to find a way to continue their recent scoring touch, hot goalie or not, if they want to make it three in a row.
Tonight's big promotion is "80s night", which I guess means '80s music will be played and...you can dress up...and stuff. I don't know. What I do know is that the first 5,000 people in attendance will receive a lovely red mullet wig (as modeled by Craig Laughlin on Monday night's broadcast and by poor unfortunate random Caps employee in the picture above).
But these wigs are merely impostors, pretenders to the throne of the ultimate mullet. The king of mullets, if you will. Coincidence that the former owner of this shaggy delight makes his season debut in DC tonight?
You be the judge.
Short on top, nothin' but a party in the back! Evil returns...tonight.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
MSG Curse Continues/Mini Gameday Preview: Caps vs Flyers
The Caps shouldn't come away from this game with many regrets - they outplayed the Rangers for most of the night and really just had the misfortune of coming up against a very talented goalie on a hot streak.
But eventually they need to start winning the games they deserve to win. Eventually the bounces have to go their way. Because there is too much talent and too much potential on this team for them to be losing these games where they are the better team on the ice. It just can't continue.
Some thoughts:
- Boyd Gordon looks great on that top line. He, Ovechkin and Kozlov were really the best players on the ice and it was just a matter of the finish - getting the puck up and over the goalie's pads is going to have to be job one.
- Fleischmann had a very weird game in my mind. He would get pushed off the puck easily or fall down or turn over the puck or do something else "Flash-like"...and then I would make a snarky comment and he would respond by doing something marginally good. Its not me, though, I swear. I've been making snarky comments about him all season.
- Is it just me or did Sutherby look like he was on the verge of tears in that second intermission interview? He seems very frustrated...you can't help but feel for him.
- Speaking of Sutherby, he and Bradley were throwing the body around all night. I was very impressed. Kind of makes you want to bring Clymer back, doesn't it? A little CBS line reunion, no? Must just be me.
- I doubt I'm alone in having held my breath when Olie went down. Damn Chris Drury.
- The power play, while obviously not yielding any strikes, looked pretty impressive in the few opportunities in which it appeared.
- What...is with...the second period?? I don't get it. I just don't.
All we can do is hope that the Caps return home with heads held high and don't change too much. They play a very tough Flyers team that is nearing the end of a long road swing and that incidentally got beat 5-2 by my Habs. After starting the season 6-1, the Flyers have cooled off a bit and have dropped three of their last four.
Things don't get much easier for Philly, either, as they continue their eight game road trip with three divisional matchups after meeting the Caps tomorrow night. Biron took the loss tonight and the Caps will probably see Niitymaaki tomorrow - hopefully they can catch Philly looking past them and get two much needed points at home before another losing streak can start.
I had the chance to catch up with one of the friendly Flyers upon his arrival in DC and he agreed to sit down for a little chat before the game.
CC: Daniel, thanks for...er...Daniel? Mr. Briere? Are you here?
DB: It's Danny.
CC: Hang on, I think I hear a high, squeaky sound. Is that...Daniel, is that you?
DB: [yelling] It's Danny.
CC: Oh, there you are, Daniel. I didn't see you down there. Do you need a booster seat?
DB: No, I'm fine. And it's DANNY!
CC: Danny? Okay, fine, Danny. Tell me, Danny, how are you liking Philly so far?
DB: It's great because orange and black make me look taller. Don't you think I look taller?
CC: ...sure. Sure you do. But what about the hockey part, how are you enjoying playing for the Flyers?
DB: I'm really enjoying it. There are a lot of short guys in the Atlantic Division, I feel much bigger.
CC: That's...important, I guess. It's nice that you can feel a bit more like a man. Danny, in the last few years you've developed an interesting reputation among the fans in the league. What's your response when people say you're a whiner, a diver, or a compulsive spearer?
DB: They say that?
CC: Well, a few people hav- OW! Did you just spear me??
DB: ...no.
CC: You did, you just jammed your stick into my stomach!
DB: Liar. Quit being so mean to me.
CC: OW! You did it again! That's it, we're done here. Good luck with Brashear out there, Daniel.
DB: It's DANNY! DANNY DANNY DANNY! [swinging a hockey stick around] Who wants a piece of me, huh? Huh? Come on, let's go!
CC: Security!!
[Cheap Seats security moves in and flicks Briere across the room, his tiny arms and legs flailing helplessly as he soars through the air and into the fish tank]
CC: Oops. Watch out for the goldfish, he bites.
Gameday Preview: Caps vs Rangers
Who: Washington Capitals vs. New York Rangers
Where: Madison Square Garden
When: Thursday, November 1, 7:00 pm
Broadcast Info: CSN, 3WT; MSG, 1050 ESPN Radio
Media Notes:
Caps' Website
Rangers' Website
NHL.com
Washington Post
Washington Times
Season Series: Caps 0-1-0, Rangers 1-0-0
Season Standings: Caps 5-6-0, 3rd in division, 11th in conference; Rangers 4-6-1, 4th in division, 12th in conference
Last Game:
The Caps started the season flying high, going 3-0 for the first time in years and outplaying their opponents a large part of the time. The penalty killing units were extremely efficient, killing off every single man advantage handily. And then in one fell swoop the Rangers ended it, dominating first period play and scoring three power play goals in the opening frame. The Caps would kill off three more penalties and Kolzig would turn aside 38 shots over the course of the game but it wasn't enough and the Caps fell, 3-1 in the game and 3-1 on the season.
Tonight's Game:
Well, I think it's safe to say that the Caps have to a) stay out of the penalty box and b) kill off whatever penalties they're given.
It is equally important if not more, though, that the Caps start believing that they can win every night no matter what happens to the team or who their opponent may be. Minus the services of three key components on Monday night they were able to hand the Leafs a thoroughly one-sided defeat. Now they have to build on that, armed with the knowledge that even with injuries they can win.
Is New York a tougher opponent? Marginally, sure. And yes, MSG tends to have a weird paralyzing effect on the Caps, at least in recent years. If they play like they have these past few games, though, wins and losses aside, they should be able to send Jagr and friends home crying. And wouldn't that be fun for all of us to see...
On his penchant for diving: I'm not a diver! I swear! I've never once taken a dive. Everyone is just out to get me and they try and knock me over - can I help it if I'm particularly easy to trip?
On his penchant for diving after being shown this clip: That was...um...see, the thing that happened there was...crap. No comment.
On his love life: Yes, I was dating Elisha Cuthbert, but I got smart. I got rid of that tired old baggage and I'm playin' the field, sowin' some oats, trollin' the streets. So ladies, if you're interested, Sean A. is lookin' for play. The A-Man is open for business. Anyone? Anyone?
On his style of hockey: I like to think of myself as an entertainer as much as an athlete, you know? I mean, the New Yorkers pay a lot of money to see me...er, us. They pay a lot to see us. I figure I should give them a show. In fact I'm probably more of an entertainer than a hockey player. Way more. Ask anyone I've played with or against.
On his style in general: I'm kind of a mix between metrosexual and pimp daddy Sean. Lots of chrome and leather and animal prints, with a dash of elegance and sophistication thrown in - just to keep you on your toes. Take my roster photo, for example. A little urban chic, trendy glasses, looking sharp and then...BAM! I hit you with the mini-mohawk. I think it gives me an element of douchebaggery that the ladies love. Right? Ladies? Anyone?
Come on, I can get you Henrik Lundqvist's autograph! No? How about Chris Drury?
...Scott Gomez?
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Spooky Wednesday
It's a non-gameday Wednesday, so of course that means assorted goodies for your reading pleasure.
- First up - Mike Vogel, of course, has a great piece on Peter Bondra's retirement over at the Caps' website. Reading about the various milestones, the franchise records, the evolution of one of Washington's great athletes just reminds me how amazing he was as a Capital - something I think we forget from time to time with a couple of young superstars burgeoning here in the District.
- Morrisonn, Green and Jurcina stopped by the NHL Store in Manhattan and made an appearance on NHL Live on XM Center Ice. Some highlights:
- Jurcina talking about having to learn English and about the difference between playing in Boston and Washington.
- Morrisonn discussing getting "jumped" by Vinny and offering the quote of the day: "Next time I don't want to lead with my face onto the ice." Indeed.
- Mo grew up idolizing Cam Neely, switched his allegiance from Vancouver to Boston when Neely was traded and had the opportunity to meet him when he was drafted by the Bruins; Green idolized Scott Niedermayer; Jurcina was a fan of the Red Wings and Canadiens but loved Chris Pronger
- Favorite movies: Morrisonn, Braveheart; Green, Dumb and Dumber (oh Mike...really??); Jurcina, no favorite movies
- What they do on days off: sleep. Bet you didn't see that one coming.
- By the way if you've never heard Green, Morrisonn and Jurcina talking together before and you get the chance, be sure that you're caffeinated. Let's just say that Mo was probably the most animated of the three...
- Mr. Happy Sunshine Guy Tarik reports that its not looking good for any of our three injured players returning tomorrow night against the Rangers. Clark is still day to day, Semin skated with the team but not at full speed, and Poti is still nursing a groin injury - and we know how long those can take to fully heal.
People need to stop panicking, though. We beat Toronto...and no, the Leafs are not exactly a formidable opponent. Who says the Rangers are? They have Jagr and a slew of centers unable to play with him; they have a defense about as good as Toronto's; their only asset really is their goaltending. If the Caps play like they did north of the border, they'll be fine.
Plus I'm not ready to count Clark out for the game until I hear official word otherwise. The fact that he flew to NYC when the Caps return home again on Friday gives me hope that he'll be back sooner rather than later - I guess we'll wait and see.
- Finally, happy 24th birthday to injured (or "injured"?) defenseman Steve Eminger - you still have the love of the Cheap Seats, Stevie!
Friday, October 12, 2007
Gameday Preview: Caps vs. Rangers
Where: Madison Square Garden
When: Friday, October 12, 7:00 pm
Broadcast Information: CSN, 3WT; MSG, 1050 ESPN Radio
Media Notes:
WashingtonCaps.com
06-07 Season Series: Caps 1-3-0, Rangers 3-1-0
07-08 Season Standings: Caps 3-0-0 - t-1st in SE, 4th in East; Rangers 1-2-0 - 3rd in Atlantic, 9th in East
Last Season:
We're going to ignore the milestones because...ew. But there is plenty of bad blood between these two teams that seemed to come out every game. Through four games there were six sets of fighting majors, including three tilts between Donald Brashear and Colton Orr. Each combatant also tangled with a different partner once, with Brash taking on local old fogey Shanahan and, later in the same game, Morrisonn going with Orr (who had just tried to forcibly remove Ovechkin's nose with his stick).
As for the offense, the Rangers relied heavily on Jagr and Shanahan, but also Nylander, who had two goals and three assists against the Caps last season. The Caps never had more than 30 shots in a game against King Henrik, while the Rangers never had fewer than 32 shots.
Tonight's Game:
For the Caps, life is good right now with three wins, two on the road, and production from their new additions. Goaltending looks sharp. Penalty killing looks sharp. Defense looks sharp. Power play? Eh, not so much. But it's okay, because the Rangers' power play has also been stagnant. It all evens out in the end, I guess.
Speaking of the Rangers, they're still looking for their big flashy free agent signings to really take hold - Drury has a goal since being moved up to play with Jagr, but Gomez continues to stumble. Surprising for a guy who last year had...13. Shocking. Stunning.
Naturally with the Rangers coming out of the gate so slowly, picking up just one win in their first three games, the city of Manhattan is already having a nervous breakdown. But don't get to smug with that 3-0 record, Caps fans - it's soooo early, as we've said and will continue to say for at least another month, and the Caps have lost 5 straight at the Garden.
So basically one streak will end tonight. Let's hope it's the right one.
By the way, how's this for a great sentence? "Scott Gomez, who is pointless with the Rangers..." Okay, yes, I know that it means 'one who has scored no points' but I think it may work on more than one level.
Er, never mind. We asked him for a bit of his time and for some reason he couldn't be bothered to put in the effort. Strange. Let's go with the next best thing:Marek Malik - Practice my shootout moves. It's gotta happen again...right?
Brendan Shanahan - Play with my great-great-great-great grandchildren.
Ryan Hollweg - Give lessons on manners and etiquette at a local finishing school.
Scott Gomez - Count my money. And laugh.
Martin Straka - Monday I vacuum Jaromir's house. Tuesday I wash his car. Wednesday I scrub his bathrooms. Thursday I give him random compliments every ten minutes. Friday...
Chris Drury - Play video games with my three year old nephew. I win every time.
