No Alex Ovechkin? Hmm, considering this has only happened twice that Ovi has not been in the Capitals' line up ever, you might have some hard choices on how to replace him. Well, you can't really replace Ovechkin.
Bruce Boudreau pushed Brooks Laich up on the top line which makes sense. I know what your thinking, why not slip Alex Semin up in the open spot? That is an excellent question, but I think Semin is fine where he is on that second line. With Sergei Fedorov as a line mate, the two were responsible for 3 of the Capitals six goals against Dallas. There is no need to split them up. Putting David Steckel or Eric Fehr on that line to add some grit should make it a good offensive line.
Tomas Fleischmann and Micheal Nylander seem to be a good pair too on the Caps' third scoring line. With Flash starting to finish on some of those open looks he gets from great Nylander passes, they are starting to produce some goals. Chris Clark looks more comfortable on that line as well. With his gritty play and ability to get to the front of the net, the line as potential to score the pretty goal and some garbage ones. Which I think the Caps need to start scoring some garbage goals anyway.
The second and third lines just have good balance, right now. So, that just leaves Brooks who has been a lineup journeyman from the second and third lines all season, so far. Laich may not have the shot Ovi does, but he isn't afraid of carving a path to the net and getting his nose dirty. With Viktor Kozlov's smooth skating and ability to gain the blue line, Brooks speed and tenaciousness should pay off on changes. This may also get Nick Backstrom back into the game, allowing him more offensive responsibility. Instead of getting the puck to Ovi they will have to plan a break out, move the puck on their own and find the open guy.
It will be an easier line to defend however. Ovi's speed and wicked shot had a way of keeping the opposition defense honest. It also drew a crowd as the forwards back checked on him and the second defender came in to help. Not that this line will be seeing the opposition's best defensemen, it would make more sense for them to play the second line with Semin's hot hand of late.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Sans Ovechkin
Tarik broke the story, confirmed by the Caps media relations team, the Washington Capitals will be with out Alex Ovechkin has he returns to Russia to visit an ailing grandfather. He will not be in the line up against the Predators tomorrow night. He most likely will not be suited up Saturday night either against Buffalo.
I was in the middle of writing a post about the slow start. To me something looked to be bothering Ovechkin and I was surmising that maybe it was a nagging injury that keeping him from scoring through the last six games. But perhaps it may have been his family on his mind.
Whatever the case, a couple of days off may help the left winger find his scoring touch.
Bruce Boudreau's thoughts on Ovechkin's time off.
NHL Notes:
I'd thought I would repost the stats from "Super Saturday" where all 30 teams were in action Saturday:
The 99 goals did include the the shootout winners one goal count for winning the tiebreaker. The NHL resumes tonight after taking a day off Sunday.
Blame Versus for the hockey black out Tuesday night that will keep Capitals' fans in the dark for the Nashville game. They have an exclusivity clause for Tuesday night hockey. Since this is the first year I have ordered the Center Ice package, I am unsure if the game will be available there. So if anyone knows, drop me a line. Other wise get cozy to the radio and listen to a very capable Steve Kolbe with the call.
Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford has finally spoken up about the league's attitude to protecting their players in McKenzie's editorial on TSN.ca.
It's a point that Caps fans should agree after a hard hit that took Brian Potheir out of the line up indefinitely. Sometimes a clean hit can be a bad hit.
I was in the middle of writing a post about the slow start. To me something looked to be bothering Ovechkin and I was surmising that maybe it was a nagging injury that keeping him from scoring through the last six games. But perhaps it may have been his family on his mind.
Whatever the case, a couple of days off may help the left winger find his scoring touch.
Bruce Boudreau's thoughts on Ovechkin's time off.
NHL Notes:
I'd thought I would repost the stats from "Super Saturday" where all 30 teams were in action Saturday:
99 goals were scored tonight out of 974 shots (including the Islanders' 60 shots on net, they still lost to Carolina). The Caps/Stars game contributed one of the two games that had 11 goals (Detroit and Chicago was the other 11 goal game but technically the 11th goal was the shoot out winner). There were 24 fighting majors tonight, 8 of them just in the Philadelphia/New Jersey game (including two fights simultaneously). Thirty power play goals were scored and only 3 shorthanded goals. There were 3 penalty shots awarded, but all were unsuccessful. 5 games went into overtime, three went to the shootout. Nine home teams won their games tonight, 6 teams were able to win on the road.
The 99 goals did include the the shootout winners one goal count for winning the tiebreaker. The NHL resumes tonight after taking a day off Sunday.
Blame Versus for the hockey black out Tuesday night that will keep Capitals' fans in the dark for the Nashville game. They have an exclusivity clause for Tuesday night hockey. Since this is the first year I have ordered the Center Ice package, I am unsure if the game will be available there. So if anyone knows, drop me a line. Other wise get cozy to the radio and listen to a very capable Steve Kolbe with the call.
Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford has finally spoken up about the league's attitude to protecting their players in McKenzie's editorial on TSN.ca.
"The league should at least stop saying it's concerned with hits to the head, because it's not," Rutherford told TSN.ca. "I've had four players - Erik Cole, Trevor Letowski, Matt Cullen and now Brandon Sutter - get badly injured on hits to the head and only one of the guys who hit them was suspended. So don't tell me the league is concerned about hits to the head because it's not."
It's a point that Caps fans should agree after a hard hit that took Brian Potheir out of the line up indefinitely. Sometimes a clean hit can be a bad hit.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Caps Survive A Shootout In Dallas
Capitals 6, Stars 5 OT
Scoresheet - Wash Post - Dallas News
On a night when all 30 NHL teams were in action on "Super Saturday" the Washington Capitals survive a wild night of goals as Alex Semin nets the game winner in overtime to defeat the Dallas Starts 6-5. Sergei Fedorov had a big night too as he scored twice and moved ahead of Alexander Mogilny in goals in the NHL by a Russian born player.
Semin scored the game winner off of a nice curl and drag after retrieving the puck from behind Dallas' net and also had a pair of assists. Fedorov scored twice and Tomas Fleischmann found his scoring touch scoring twice as well. And Tyler Sloan gets his first NHL goal in his third game. For the sixth straight game Alex Ovechkin was kept from the goal scoring column, although he did contribute with an assist.
Fedorov, always the professional, deflected any praise over the accomplishment of surpassing Moginly. "It's just a record," Fedorov said. "I'd rather talk about Alex than the record. I know his career was shortened by injury. I didn't expect to ever get it. He had a great shot and amazing hands. Realistically, if he'd played more he'd have a lot more stats. He was a powerful forward, a scoring machine. Records are nice on a personal level, but most important was that we finally won a game."
It was a wild game at that. Both teams look completely disorganized at times, the Capitals seize two points on this three game road swing. It's a big two points for the club as the club had to go through some soul searching following their last two losses to Calgary and Phoenix.
"We've always been resilient," Bruce Boudreau told reporters following the game. "You can see the passion we have by how we reacted when we scored the overtime goal."
After Semin scored the game winner he was immediately mobbed by his teammates off the bench not far from where he shot the game winner. While Ovechkin has been kept from scoring, the Caps have made up the offense from different players like Semin and Fleischmann, so far. Flash scored a pair in this game and finally looks as if he has found a way to finish those shots. Plus playing on Micheal Nylander's line doesn't hurt either.
Sean Avery scored the game's first goal, his first as a Dallas Star. He also made it a point to push around Semin all game long. That might have frustrated Semin before, but his maturity level has grown ever since the trade that brought Fedorov to DC. He is a new player, less concerned about diving at the slightest breeze or folding up after a big hit. I would still like to see him take a few less sticking penalties.
On "Super Saturday" in the NHL, all 30 teams played tonight. 99 goals were scored tonight out of 974 shots (including the Islanders' 60 shots on net, they still lost to Carolina). The Caps/Stars game contributed one of the two games that had 11 goals (Detroit and Chicago was the other 11 goal game but technically the 11th goal was the shoot out winner). There were 24 fighting majors tonight, 8 of them just in the Philadelphia/New Jersey game (including two fights simultaneously). Thirty power play goals were scored and only 3 shorthanded goals. There were 3 penalty shots awarded, but all were unsuccessful. 5 games went into overtime, three went to the shootout. Nine home teams won their games tonight, 6 teams were able to win on the road.
Caps/Stars video highlights courtesy of NHL.com:
Scoresheet - Wash Post - Dallas News
On a night when all 30 NHL teams were in action on "Super Saturday" the Washington Capitals survive a wild night of goals as Alex Semin nets the game winner in overtime to defeat the Dallas Starts 6-5. Sergei Fedorov had a big night too as he scored twice and moved ahead of Alexander Mogilny in goals in the NHL by a Russian born player.
Semin scored the game winner off of a nice curl and drag after retrieving the puck from behind Dallas' net and also had a pair of assists. Fedorov scored twice and Tomas Fleischmann found his scoring touch scoring twice as well. And Tyler Sloan gets his first NHL goal in his third game. For the sixth straight game Alex Ovechkin was kept from the goal scoring column, although he did contribute with an assist.
Fedorov, always the professional, deflected any praise over the accomplishment of surpassing Moginly. "It's just a record," Fedorov said. "I'd rather talk about Alex than the record. I know his career was shortened by injury. I didn't expect to ever get it. He had a great shot and amazing hands. Realistically, if he'd played more he'd have a lot more stats. He was a powerful forward, a scoring machine. Records are nice on a personal level, but most important was that we finally won a game."
It was a wild game at that. Both teams look completely disorganized at times, the Capitals seize two points on this three game road swing. It's a big two points for the club as the club had to go through some soul searching following their last two losses to Calgary and Phoenix.
"We've always been resilient," Bruce Boudreau told reporters following the game. "You can see the passion we have by how we reacted when we scored the overtime goal."
After Semin scored the game winner he was immediately mobbed by his teammates off the bench not far from where he shot the game winner. While Ovechkin has been kept from scoring, the Caps have made up the offense from different players like Semin and Fleischmann, so far. Flash scored a pair in this game and finally looks as if he has found a way to finish those shots. Plus playing on Micheal Nylander's line doesn't hurt either.
Sean Avery scored the game's first goal, his first as a Dallas Star. He also made it a point to push around Semin all game long. That might have frustrated Semin before, but his maturity level has grown ever since the trade that brought Fedorov to DC. He is a new player, less concerned about diving at the slightest breeze or folding up after a big hit. I would still like to see him take a few less sticking penalties.
On "Super Saturday" in the NHL, all 30 teams played tonight. 99 goals were scored tonight out of 974 shots (including the Islanders' 60 shots on net, they still lost to Carolina). The Caps/Stars game contributed one of the two games that had 11 goals (Detroit and Chicago was the other 11 goal game but technically the 11th goal was the shoot out winner). There were 24 fighting majors tonight, 8 of them just in the Philadelphia/New Jersey game (including two fights simultaneously). Thirty power play goals were scored and only 3 shorthanded goals. There were 3 penalty shots awarded, but all were unsuccessful. 5 games went into overtime, three went to the shootout. Nine home teams won their games tonight, 6 teams were able to win on the road.
Caps/Stars video highlights courtesy of NHL.com:
Friday, October 24, 2008
It Could Be Worse...
...cough, Flyers, cough.
The Caps may not be firing on all cylinders yet, but there are some encouraging signs. No one here is saying that the Capitals have the capability to go 82-0, but it would be nice to think that this team is a shade better than 3-3-1. And I think they are.
As much crap Caps' fans have given to the goaltender situation, seven games in it's not the goaltending we are complaining about. Jose Theodore has settled down into a groove of some solid net minding. In both road games, more so in Phoenix than in Calgary, Theo was the most consistent player and kept his team with in reach of the tie and win. Easily the Coyotes could have made the score 3-0 at the end of the first and start of second periods last night. But Theo came up with the big save. Brent Johnson has been no slouch either.
Caps are still getting their opportunities. It's true that Alex Ovechkin is getting a little lost when the entire opposition line collapses on him, but that only means there are 4 other open players. Phoenix took it to a whole new level, I thought if Jose had the speed he could have had a scoring chance since he was so wide open. Ovie is going to start finding those passing lanes, and his linemates will start getting into those open lanes and burying the puck.
The Caps will find a way to stop playing to not lose and start playing to win. If that makes sense. Several players are too concerned about their positioning than being aggressive and too worried about making a mistake than trusting their skill. This team was so much better when they realized they have nothing to lose, and their play reflected that. Now that they think they have something to lose, they are holding their sticks too tight. This team really needs to forget the expectations that have been put upon them and play as if they are underdogs.
All in all, the Caps are a talented good team. Once they get over what ever funk they might be in, they are going to start winning some exciting games. But just like anything else, they have to stink at a few to make it humbling. The Caps are just getting that out of the way early. When the team starts building confidence, things will turn around.
But if it makes you feel better, Panic Buttons available here.
The Caps may not be firing on all cylinders yet, but there are some encouraging signs. No one here is saying that the Capitals have the capability to go 82-0, but it would be nice to think that this team is a shade better than 3-3-1. And I think they are.
As much crap Caps' fans have given to the goaltender situation, seven games in it's not the goaltending we are complaining about. Jose Theodore has settled down into a groove of some solid net minding. In both road games, more so in Phoenix than in Calgary, Theo was the most consistent player and kept his team with in reach of the tie and win. Easily the Coyotes could have made the score 3-0 at the end of the first and start of second periods last night. But Theo came up with the big save. Brent Johnson has been no slouch either.
Caps are still getting their opportunities. It's true that Alex Ovechkin is getting a little lost when the entire opposition line collapses on him, but that only means there are 4 other open players. Phoenix took it to a whole new level, I thought if Jose had the speed he could have had a scoring chance since he was so wide open. Ovie is going to start finding those passing lanes, and his linemates will start getting into those open lanes and burying the puck.
The Caps will find a way to stop playing to not lose and start playing to win. If that makes sense. Several players are too concerned about their positioning than being aggressive and too worried about making a mistake than trusting their skill. This team was so much better when they realized they have nothing to lose, and their play reflected that. Now that they think they have something to lose, they are holding their sticks too tight. This team really needs to forget the expectations that have been put upon them and play as if they are underdogs.
All in all, the Caps are a talented good team. Once they get over what ever funk they might be in, they are going to start winning some exciting games. But just like anything else, they have to stink at a few to make it humbling. The Caps are just getting that out of the way early. When the team starts building confidence, things will turn around.
But if it makes you feel better, Panic Buttons available here.
Yotes Outhustle Caps
Capitals 1, Coyotes 2
Scoresheet - Wash Post - Az Rep
The Capitals had a hard time with their power play of late, not tonight. They actually scored on the power play. Their even strength game however was the problem. The Phoenix Coyotes slap two past Jose Theodore in the third to come from behind and beat the Caps 2-1.
Brooks Laich scored the lone goal on the power play off of a nice feed from Alex Semin who curled and dragged around the defender before dishing the puck to the wide open Laich. Thoedore played well. Take that back Theo played awesome. He came up with some huge saves, keeping the Caps alive when they could have easily been down by a couple before going into the third.
Besides Theo's outstanding goaltending and Semin and Laich's pretty power play goal, that was pretty much the only bright spots in the game for the Caps. It seemed that the Coyotes had their legs underneath them and were beating the Capitals to loose pucks. They were clogging up passing lanes and pressuring their opponents on the forecheck. It had looked like the Caps were the inexperienced young team that just couldn't muster an attack against a more experienced, highly talented team.
Mike Green takes a lot of blame for the breakout being abysmal. He would try to make a move and when he couldn't shake the defender, he would make another and another until he either coughed up the puck or cornered himself right out of the play. Credit the Phoenix Coyotes for having a better forecheck than the Capitals.
The short of it, the Caps now can only salvage 2 points out of this road trip with a game against Dallas on Saturday. This will be the Capitals second straight loss, and they have only amassed a single point in the last three games.
The Capitals have to simplify their game. Green, Alex Ovechkin and Semin are trying too hard to make that extra play. The puck has to go to the net and they have to get some ugly goals. They all can't be pretty.
Maybe that magic from last season is gone. The Capitals just were not pushing their play, instead were on their heels for far too long. They were losing battles along the boards or turning over the puck too many times to count. Once the defensemen did get the puck, the forwards all took off on them, leaving them outnumbered in their own zone.
I would be surprised if there was no team meeting after this one. As much offensive talent that is on this team, they should be doing better against teams like a struggling Calgary or a young Phoenix. But it's been a slow start for Ovechkin (2 goals, 4 points), Nick Backstrom (2 assists), Chris Clark (1 assist, -1). Let's hope whatever is ailing them get cured quick.
Hightlights courtesy of NHL.com:
John Erskine did not play tonight due to a bruised calf. He did get a contract extension however, that was announced before the Coyotes game. His contract will pay him $2.5 million over the next two years.
Also a pretty cool thing happened that I have only seen once before. Coyotes forward and captain Shane Doan let a wrister go that broke the puck in two. Pretty impressive. But I have seen it done once before. The puck was stepped on first with a skate blade, then when a shot hit the post it shattered.
Among the weirdest things I have seen at a hockey game was a puck go through a pane of glass. Not shatter the glass, got straight through, leaving a puck sized hole in its wake. The puck nearly hit my wife standing to my left and the piece of glass grazed my friend standing on my right. It took us a second to realize what had happened. I always say, thank goodness I am surrounded by good people.
Scoresheet - Wash Post - Az Rep
The Capitals had a hard time with their power play of late, not tonight. They actually scored on the power play. Their even strength game however was the problem. The Phoenix Coyotes slap two past Jose Theodore in the third to come from behind and beat the Caps 2-1.
Brooks Laich scored the lone goal on the power play off of a nice feed from Alex Semin who curled and dragged around the defender before dishing the puck to the wide open Laich. Thoedore played well. Take that back Theo played awesome. He came up with some huge saves, keeping the Caps alive when they could have easily been down by a couple before going into the third.
Besides Theo's outstanding goaltending and Semin and Laich's pretty power play goal, that was pretty much the only bright spots in the game for the Caps. It seemed that the Coyotes had their legs underneath them and were beating the Capitals to loose pucks. They were clogging up passing lanes and pressuring their opponents on the forecheck. It had looked like the Caps were the inexperienced young team that just couldn't muster an attack against a more experienced, highly talented team.
Mike Green takes a lot of blame for the breakout being abysmal. He would try to make a move and when he couldn't shake the defender, he would make another and another until he either coughed up the puck or cornered himself right out of the play. Credit the Phoenix Coyotes for having a better forecheck than the Capitals.
The short of it, the Caps now can only salvage 2 points out of this road trip with a game against Dallas on Saturday. This will be the Capitals second straight loss, and they have only amassed a single point in the last three games.
The Capitals have to simplify their game. Green, Alex Ovechkin and Semin are trying too hard to make that extra play. The puck has to go to the net and they have to get some ugly goals. They all can't be pretty.
Maybe that magic from last season is gone. The Capitals just were not pushing their play, instead were on their heels for far too long. They were losing battles along the boards or turning over the puck too many times to count. Once the defensemen did get the puck, the forwards all took off on them, leaving them outnumbered in their own zone.
I would be surprised if there was no team meeting after this one. As much offensive talent that is on this team, they should be doing better against teams like a struggling Calgary or a young Phoenix. But it's been a slow start for Ovechkin (2 goals, 4 points), Nick Backstrom (2 assists), Chris Clark (1 assist, -1). Let's hope whatever is ailing them get cured quick.
Hightlights courtesy of NHL.com:
John Erskine did not play tonight due to a bruised calf. He did get a contract extension however, that was announced before the Coyotes game. His contract will pay him $2.5 million over the next two years.
Also a pretty cool thing happened that I have only seen once before. Coyotes forward and captain Shane Doan let a wrister go that broke the puck in two. Pretty impressive. But I have seen it done once before. The puck was stepped on first with a skate blade, then when a shot hit the post it shattered.
Among the weirdest things I have seen at a hockey game was a puck go through a pane of glass. Not shatter the glass, got straight through, leaving a puck sized hole in its wake. The puck nearly hit my wife standing to my left and the piece of glass grazed my friend standing on my right. It took us a second to realize what had happened. I always say, thank goodness I am surrounded by good people.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
5 Things To Imporve Powerplay
The following is a list of things, in my opinion, that have to change on the Capitals' power play. Looking over the tape of the Caps 9 minute debacle against Calgary, I couldn't help but come up with a few observations. And wouldn't you know it, it came out to 5. How convenient.
1. Move your feet. The Capitals are all standing around in the offensive zone watching the puck carrier. By not moving around you give the penalty killers an easier time to pick off passes, clog shooting lanes and be aggressive toward the puck carrier. There has to be more movement.
2. Three words: traffic, traffic, traffic. The Caps have to make the goaltender uncomfortable in his own crease. Make the goaltender have to look around people rather than square up to the shooter. In the Atlanta game, the Caps did a better job of getting traffic in front and allowing Green to slip behind the commotion in front to get the back door shot.
3. The need for speed. The power play needs to step it up a notch. Passes to the open man have to be quicker. Movement has to be decisive and quick. This team has some very speedy players and that should work to their advantage. Plus speed catches defenders off guard, and could lead to more penalties.
4. Collapse. Once the shot does come from the point, the Caps need to collapse down to the crease to gobble up rebounds, or at the very least create more screens for second and third shots. Often when the shot comes from the point, the Caps power play unit stands around waiting for who knows what.
5. Shoot... the... puck. Get shots to the net. Passing the puck around the perimeter may look cute, but it's ineffective if it's done too much. The penalty killers can easily read the play to pick off passes and ice the puck. More shots need to get through. You can't score if you don't shoot.
If the Caps can't convert on opportunities, they are not going very far. The Caps power play sets up other things for them. A good power play will open the ice for their high powered offense. If the defenders are too afraid to take a penalty, the more open ice you will find.
1. Move your feet. The Capitals are all standing around in the offensive zone watching the puck carrier. By not moving around you give the penalty killers an easier time to pick off passes, clog shooting lanes and be aggressive toward the puck carrier. There has to be more movement.
2. Three words: traffic, traffic, traffic. The Caps have to make the goaltender uncomfortable in his own crease. Make the goaltender have to look around people rather than square up to the shooter. In the Atlanta game, the Caps did a better job of getting traffic in front and allowing Green to slip behind the commotion in front to get the back door shot.
3. The need for speed. The power play needs to step it up a notch. Passes to the open man have to be quicker. Movement has to be decisive and quick. This team has some very speedy players and that should work to their advantage. Plus speed catches defenders off guard, and could lead to more penalties.
4. Collapse. Once the shot does come from the point, the Caps need to collapse down to the crease to gobble up rebounds, or at the very least create more screens for second and third shots. Often when the shot comes from the point, the Caps power play unit stands around waiting for who knows what.
5. Shoot... the... puck. Get shots to the net. Passing the puck around the perimeter may look cute, but it's ineffective if it's done too much. The penalty killers can easily read the play to pick off passes and ice the puck. More shots need to get through. You can't score if you don't shoot.
If the Caps can't convert on opportunities, they are not going very far. The Caps power play sets up other things for them. A good power play will open the ice for their high powered offense. If the defenders are too afraid to take a penalty, the more open ice you will find.
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