Showing posts with label Mink. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mink. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Moose Stay Alive

The Hershey Bears were just a win away from winning the Calder Cup at home, but the Manitoba Moose had other plans. The Moose stay alive with a 3-2 win over the Bears and force a game 6 back in Manitoba. The Calder Cup will have to wait just a bit longer before it is awarded.

The Moose scored a pair of late second period goals. The Bears answered in the third with a Graham Mink goal to make it 2-1, but the Moose stood tall defensively and scored an empty netter to ice the game. The Bears did add a late tally off of a John Carlson point shot but the damage had been done.

Micheal Neuvirth did another fantastic job in net for the Bears stopping 23 shots and his counterpart, Cory Scheinder was no slouch either. Both goaltenders have been great in this series, but it was Scheinder's night to shine with 31 saves.

The series now shifts back to Manitoba where the Bears will try to once again win the Calder Cup. The Bears still hold the series lead 3 games to two and the Moose are pressured to stay perfect through two games.

Saturday, June 06, 2009

Bears Jump To A 2-1 Series Lead With Win

The Hershey Bears took full advantage of home ice advantage breaking the series stalemate to take a 2-1 series lead over the Manitoba Moose with a 3-0 win. Alex Giroux and Graham Mink scored power play tallies while Micheal Neuvirth stopped all 28 shots his way to give the Bears the lead in the best of seven series for the AHL's Calder Cup.

The Bears' power play was a potent 2 for 3 and was the deciding factor of game 3 with Steffan Kronwall assisting on both goals. Quintin Laing scored the empty net/short handed tally to ice the game and give the Bears the series lead.

But Neuvirth was the game's first star posting the shutout in an all important game for the Bears. His league leading 4th shutout of the playoffs came in a series with the Moose that had taken a few days off after game two in Manitoba on Tuesday night.

The Bears also were able to kill off all 5 of Manitoba's power plays. Five on five both goaltenders were spectacular with Neuvirth's counter part, Cory Schneider, stopping a slew of Bear's shots.

Just like the Capitals, the Bears had to make it interesting with Bryan Helmer taking a couple of late penalties to give the Moose a chance late. But the visiting team just couldn't cash in on their opportunities and the Bears look pretty sharp in their home whites.

Video highlights can be found here. Game 4 is a quick turn around with a 5 pm start tomorrow (Sunday) evening.

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Civic Duty

If having President-Elect's transition office in Chinatown wasn't enough, now there are even more restrictions due to the lighting of the National Christmas Tree that has parking restricted and streets both closed and restricted. Fun.

Per DC HSEMA:
Street Closures and Parking Restrictions For 2008 Pageant of Peace.

(Washington, D.C.) The Metropolitan Police Department has provided the following information regarding street closures and parking restrictions for the 2008 Pageant of Peace on Thursday, December 4, 2008. The ceremony for the Lighting of the National Christmas Tree is scheduled to take place at 5 p.m. on the Ellipse near the White House. Please note the times and locations of the road closures have been amended. Amended Road Closures:

-Beginning at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 4, 2008, and in effect until the completion of the ceremonies, there will be no traffic allowed northbound or southbound on 15th Street, NW, between E Street and Constitution Avenue.

-Beginning at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 4, 2008, and in effect until the completion of the ceremonies there will also be no traffic allowed northbound or southbound on 17th Street, NW, between Constitution Avenue and New York Avenue.

Parking Restrictions:
(These restrictions remain the same as previously released.)

-From 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 4, there will be no parking allowed on 15th Street, NW, between Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues.

-There will also be no parking allowed during that time on 17th Street, NW, between Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues.

These street closings and related parking restrictions are subject to change without notice based upon prevailing conditions.

Traffic delays may occur during this event and motorists should consider alternative routes to avoid the area if possible. The Metropolitan Police Department and the Department of Transportation (DDOT) encourage motorists to expect increased pedestrian traffic around this event and to exercise caution.


Graham Mink has been sent back down to Hershey and Keith Aucoin (who has been lighting it up in Hershey) gets his first look in the Capitals sweater.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Kids Spark Caps

Capitals 5, Thrashers 3
Scoresheet - Wash Post - AJC

With eight players in the injury column the Washington Capitals, they were looking for a little help from chocolate town. And did they get it. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, the Caps gave four from Hershey a change with the big squad and it helped spark Alex Ovechkin and company for a much needed win at home 5 - 3 against the Atlanta Thrashers.

Ovi recorded his sixth career hat trick, two goals on the powerplay, and finished with 4 points on the scoresheet (all of Ovi's first 3 shots went in). Eric Fehr finished a pretty three on one for his second goal of the season. Viktor Kozlov, who finished with 3 points, rounded out the scoring at 5 for the Caps after the Thrashers collapsed on Ovechkin leaving Kozlov open for the break away goal. Micheal Nylander finished with an assist and Tomas Fleischmann finished with a pair of assists himself.

The Capitals, upon getting the news that now 8 players filled their injury list, called up four from Hershey. Karl Alzner, Graham Mink, Chris Bourque and Sami Lepisto were bekoned to the District. Mink was lined up with on the checking line with David Steckel and Donald Brashear and that line energized the Caps early. After nearly scoring on the first shots of the game, it seemed the team rallied around their effort.

The much awaited arrival of Karl Alzner did not disappoint. He played well logging a little over 21 minutes and was defensively sound, even with a bit of a black eye. Sami Lepisto seemed to channel Mike Green (still out with a sprained shoulder). In fact, I had to do a double take a couple of times when Lepisto took the defensive side next to Ovi on the power play. He had an assist and finished a plus one.

As far as the recalled forwards, Chris Bourque had a pretty solid game. He recorded 3 shots on net but finished a -1. His hard work did draw a penalty in the first which led to Ovi's second goal. Graham Mink probably had the best game of the four. Mink played less than ten minutes, but his line often kept the Thrashers on their heels and had four shots on net (although I thought he had more than that). Mink's experience served him well and his line's early jump was the catalyst for the Caps' quick start.

The power play, that seemed to hinder the Caps on the road, was in fine shape tonight. They tallied two goals in four chances. However, the penalty kill was weak allowing two goals on three chances.

Jose Theodore had a big save early, after that he played pretty solid wearing his brand new mask. Honestly, he looks better in his new helmet and even played better. The Caps defense is still making the little mistakes that are costing them goals. Some Thrashers were scoring when the defense let their, well, defenses down. It was a good win, but by no means a perfect game.

The Caps obviously are much more comfortable wearing their red uniforms. The recalls definitely helped the cause as well. The Montreal Canadiens will take the ice at Verizon on Friday as the Caps continue to stay unbeaten in regulation at home, now 8-0-1. It looks like the kids will stick around until then too.

Hightlights by NHL.com:

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Summer's End

One good thing about the Labor Day weekend? No, not the kiddies heading back to class. No, not cooler temperatures or less humidity. It's one weekend closer to hockey. Duh.

While players trickle back in to town, the anticipation level is starting to reach a feverish pitch. And it's about time. Some questions need to be answered. Will Karl Alzner make the team? Will Jose Theodore lead the team to the promised land? Will Alex Ovechkin's love life be a distraction? Will there be a third jersey? You know the important stuff.

The defensive core will be the interesting battle for spots come training camp. Brian Potheir sounds as if he is out indefinitely and it sounds if Bruce Boudreau will rotate a 7 man defensive rotation. Talent is starting to load up and it will be an important camp for Sami Lepisto, Karl Alzner and Tyler Sloan. The favorite with media types and bloggers alike will be Karl Alzner, but there is a fourth D-man invited to try out in Jakub Cutta. It should be a battle.

For forwards, while I would like to see Chris Bourque to once again be the dark horse there is obviously something that keeps him from making the team. Mostly the talent back up at his position. Graham Mink, Keith Aucoin and Quintin Laing are all going to be battling for spots and I have a feeling Laing's performance from last year won't be enough to keep him in a Capitals' sweater. Although he is quickly becoming a fan favorite with his block shot superpower.

The bar now for the Capitals is set even higher. Especially now that it looks as if the Southeast Division is tired of being in the lower half of the league. That makes this training camp important, if not very entertaining.