Sunday Update(s)

Lot of stuff going on this weekend, and because of Thanksgiving, I missed a lot of it. But since getting our teeth kicked in against San Jose, we had two great home games, and a not so great away game (who would have guessed?).

• Alzner is hurt. That's just great. I wonder what the record is for call-ups is in the span of a week and a half. Hopefully King Karl will be good to go on Tuesday against the Panthers. With two days off, maybe we can get some other bodies back as well (Greenie? please?).
• All three of Ovie's goals (and his assist) against Atlanta were all pretty sweet.
• Kozlov has been playing really well of late. Same with Backstrom. Outside of those two, Ovie, Flash, and Nylander, the rest of this team is kind of struggling offensively.
  
• Before I speak too soon Fehr looks like he's been picking up his game lately. 'Bout time.
• I'm going to take a wild guess that JT60 is starting on Tuesday. Not that Johnny was bad at all, but Theo is our number one now. Lets hope he keeps it up.
• Semin, apparently, isn't coming back anytime soon. And we need Semin.
  

So, think for a second what this team would do with Semin, Green, and Poti all healthy? Yeah, once we get those guys back, this slim lead in the southeast will widen. The fact that we're playing like we are without 2 of our 4 best players is acceptable. Maybe not ideal, but it will do for now.

Here We Go...

The Caps made a handful of call ups from the Hershey Bears today, and, finally, Karl Alzner gets a shot at the dance. Along with Graham Mink, Sami Lepisto, and Chris Bourque, we'll see if some fresh faces can turn this three game losing streak around tonight in the phone booth against Kovalchuk and the Thrashers.

Also, Clark and Schultz were moved to the IR, and leads one to wonder if Clark's injury truly healed from last year or if he's just nursing something new. Whatever it is, his stats this year have been horrendous.

Time To See Some Hershey Prospects?

Last night was bad in a couple of ways, despite the exciting 3 goal surge late in the game and the continued sensational play of Alexander Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. Besides the obvious three game losing streak (first in Gabby's tenure as head coach), the Caps lost Boyd Gordon, John Erskine (eh...) and Jeff Schultz (eh...) last night, and Schultz is going to be out for a while with a broken finger. If those three are out on wednesday (and I can only think that Gordon and Erskine's injuries were not nearly as serious as Schultz's), then that coupled with the likely absence of Semin, Green, and Feds is going to result in a likely call up(s) from Hershey. My guess (and everyone elses) is Sami Lepisto, who in my opinon had a pretty good stint in the big leagues last year and is in the same mold of Green and Pothier in defenseman style, which the Caps basically lack right now (pretty much all defensive D-men at this point with the possible exception of Tom Poti). Assuming that either Gordon or Erskine (or both) isn't able to go on wednesday, then we've got a problem in that we'll have 11 forwards (if Gordo is out) and 4 defensemen (if Erskine is out), all this without the likely call up of Sami Lepisto in the picture.

Think this team is banged up? Lets hope to get some bodies back... soon. Semin and Green are obviously the most crucial at this point. How much of a stretch would it be to say that if those two were healthy than we would have come out of the last three games with at least 2 points?

Oh, and we're still on the top of the southeast. Sweet.

Some random thoughts on the game:

• Theo was good. That save on Bouchard was highway robbery. And what happened on that play? Bad line change? Whatever it was it was letting in a two on none with no other Cap even in the defensive zone is just terrible.
• Gotta love the comeback in the final five minutes. Just a little late.
• I've seen a closing the hand on the puck penalty maybe twice in my hockey-watching and playing life (well, five times now).
• Ovechkin's snipe was sweet.
• Erskine and Jurcina together continues to scare me. Their puck control is horrendous and neither can hit the net with their point shots even though they have no problem taking them. Maybe they should try for the more accurate, low shots to try to get a deflection and get some garbage goals, you know, like they teach you in pee wees.
  
• That Niklas Backstrom character was pretty good in goal. Until maybe the 54 minute mark.
  

So, not the best road trip ever, but at least we got 3 points and we're on home ice (still undefeated in regulation) for 6 of the next 9 games. The Thrashers and the always deadly Kovalchuk are in town Monday, and a little bit of revenge for opening night is in order. Don't you think?

Sharks 7, Caps 2

Not much to say about this one. We were simply outplayed by the best team in the league.

Some random thoughts:

• The box score shows a lot. Jeff Schultz was -4, he was -3 when the score was 3-0 Sharks, and he still got 21 minutes of ice time. Backis had no shots on goal and Ovie was -2.
  
• Think this team misses Alexander Semin and Mike Green?
  
• Fedorov agitated his ankle and didn't return after the first, skating only a few minutes.
• Mo really should have had that puck on the Shark's second goal.
  
• Fleischmann still is into this whole goal scoring deal.

So, on to the good news. Green is skating, Semin looks like he's close to coming back, and the Caps rebound from blowouts very well. That 5-0 game against Chicago late in the year last season was immediately followed by that astounding playoff run, and the 5-0 loss to Buffalo at the beginning of the month led to a 5-0-2 record the next seven games. And, even with our recent two game hiccup, we're still in control of the Southeast, granted by one point. Minnesota is next on Monday, and its not going to get any easier against those guys, even without Gaborik.

ugh...

All I have to say. Damn it Mo... as I was writing "Mo" the Sharks just scored their third goal.

Again... ugh. I am so sick of our defense.

Gameday: Caps vs. Sharks

Okay, so we haven't beaten these guys in San Jose since Bill Clinton was in his first term as President. And we don't have Mike Green or Sasha. And this team hasn't lost at home yet in regulation this season, not to mention that they are the best team in the league. And we're at the tail end of a grueling week and a half long, country spanning five game road trip. But when you have Ovechkin and Backstrom scoring like they have been recently, and a backup playing like he's a bonafide #1 in net, and one of your boys blocking three point slapshots without his stick two nights ago, then i think that goes a long way towards evening this contest out. Simply put, if the defense improves its play from the last three games, and if our offense proves why its the most explosive in the league then this one will be close. And if the Caps can get two points here, then we (and the rest of the NHL) will all know that this team is legit.

• According to Tarik, Fedorov is back and likely to play tonight. Looks like he'll be on the second line between Laich and Clark. By the way, its interesting that Clark gets the bump up considering how he's played recently.
  
• Lets hope Fleischmann keeps up that goal scoring thing. That -8 is a bit unnerving, but it leads me to wonder once again how much that stat really matters, because from a subjective viewpoint he's seemed pretty damn good to me this year so far.
  
• Okay, I was wrong, Nylander is still a Cap. We'll see how long that lasts...
• Brent Johnson's record of 7-1-1 against the Sharks looks pretty good right now.
• Fehr gets the press box... again. Poor guy.
  
• Here's hoping Ovechkin puts JR on his ass. And damn it, I was really hoping I wouldn't have to see Dan Boyle again for a long, long time.

Kings 5, Caps 2

It would be an understatement to say I'm frustrated on this one. My previous post pretty much explains it.

Some random thoughts:

• I don't care if Tom Poti thinks he's Mike Green, that foray into the offensive zone during a PK late in a game with a 1 goal lead was downright idiotic. His absence back in the zone led to the Kings 3rd, and eventually game-winning, goal.
• Johnny was good, at some times great. Only the second goal was really his fault, the first one was deflected off Ovie's stick and the third one he had absolutely no chance on.
• Backstrom loves those tap in goals. He's now scored in three straight games. Ovechkin's goal scoring streak came to an end but he ended up with a power-play assist.
• Pretty weak +/- showing overall.
• Laich was incredible without a stick on the 5 on 3. Three shots blocked, all with his hand or lower body, as well as a goal late in the third to give the Caps a chance.
  
• Nylander will probably be gone by the time the Caps play again.
  
• Good save by Sloan in the end. I thought he had a solid game.

Not good, not good at all with the best team in hockey looming in 2 days. Back to back games are tough though, and maybe a rest tomorrow is what the boys need. We'll see what happens in the next 24 hours with the Nylander rumors.

First Period Shots

Wow.

Caps 6, Ducks 4

Again, I'm not one to complain about a win, but if we want to go past the first round of the playoffs, we cannot play like we have the last two outings. We had a three goal lead within the opening minutes of the game and we let it go with crappy defense and backchecking, as well as weak clears that seemed to go right to Anaheim defensemen (and when two of those defensemen go by the names of Pronger and Neidermayer, than theres a problem). Still, 2 points is 2 points, and the Caps still have not lost in regulation since the blowout in Buffalo (that's 14 points in 8 games for anyone whos counting). LA should be a bit of an easier game than this one, though this one should have been easy from the get go.

Some random thoughts on the game:

• JT60 was really good, and faulty defense let him down. The only goal I can even fault him with is the Getzlaf goal, but he was going side to side and Getzlaf is a pure goal scorer who doesn't miss his spots much, so its debatable whether Theo really had a chance.
• The defense, once again, was terrible overall.
  
• Lets hope Green's injury isn't serious. This team may be able to function at the minimum without Semin, but lose Green and we have some problems, especially with Sha Mo out as well and the defense playing like it is.
• Ovechkin was outstanding once again. He now has scored in 5 straight, and is scoring and assisting in large bunches. He has more than two points in five straight games now, with 14 points total in those five games, 6 goals and 8 assists. Keep scoring like that and there's going to be another Hart trophy in his trophy case. (if Semin doesn't get healthy and beat him to it).
  
• Fehr on the point during the power play was interesting.
• Flash's breakout year (I called it, didn't I) continues with a goal on the night.
• Finally, some secondary scoring. Check this stat-sheet out (kind of hard to see). Lots of scoring all over the place:

• 
• Everyone got a point except Brash, Sloan, Laich, Fehr, Erskine and Poti.
  
• Dirty play by Montador on Ovechkin behind the net after Giggy clearly had the puck and the play was dead. It looked slightly familiar to me.

So, 3/4 points in 2 games on this road trip, sounds good so far, despite how we've played. LA tomorrow, a tough game in San Jose on Saturday, and another tough game in Minnesota on monday, than home to face Kovie and the Thrash. Lets get to it.

um... ok

So i turned on the game 23 minutes late and the Caps were already up 3-1, Ovie had 3 assists, and Backis and Green both had goals.

I guess that works...

Funny Article Of The Day

This comes straight out of the Washington Post:

It was a night in which the Redskins absolutely didn't want to lose, given the despised Cowboys were in town and given that the stadium was alive with the electricity such a game often brings. More than an hour before kickoff the sidelines were filled with people, including Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin and what appeared to be the character who plays the caveman in the Geico commercials. Both wore Redskins jerseys.

From what I understand, Nicklas Backstrom was attending the game with Ovechkin, Hopefully the caveman guy really was there...

Devils 6, Caps 5 (OT)

So I really don't think the Caps deserved that point, but we still haven't lost in regulation since the blowout in Buffalo, so I'm not complaining. Backstrom is out of his slump, that's for sure, and Ovie proved once again why he was the league MVP last year.

Some random thoughts:

• The defense was terrible... can Alzner get up here soon enough?
  
• I've always thought that when you don't notice defensemen with the exception of a few like Green than that's usually a good thing. But when you barely notice guys like Clark and Nylander on the ice than theres definitely a problem. Nylander's torrid preseason led me to believe that he was going to be back to form this year but their injuries from last year seem to be weighing on their bodies or their confidence or both. Not a good situation.
• Fleischmann is turning into a force. That dangle-snipe was pretty.
  
• JT60 was much, much better than the score indicated. He's been pretty good lately, and while I'm not sold on him being the unquestioned #1 behind Johnny, he's making his saves behind a very shaky defense.
• Ovechkin and Backstrom are on fire right now. Hopefully 4 days off and a lengthy road trip won't hinder the duo.
• The reactions of the Devils after Ovechkin's goal was priceless. Even more priceless was Ovechkins reaction.
  

• The top four plus/minus's in the league right now are all Caps: Ovechkin, Semin, Backstrom, and Green.
• Is it just me or do the Caps just suck in general in shootouts? A 36% winning percentage would seem to support such an assertion.
  
• I love Gordo, but why him over say... Backstrom, Laich, Nylander?
• After Parise was done in the shootout Theo's jockstrap was somewhere close to the moon. JT's game depends a lot on guessing and he guessed really wrong on that one.
• I really dislike the Penguins. Just an observation.
  

What?

Backis got 3rd star of the game... with one goal and four assists.

Ovie had two goals and one assist, as well as a game tying goal with .9 seconds left in the third period. He was not named a star of the game.

The first star, Brian Gionta, had one goal, the Devils fifth of the night.

Am I missing something?

Stat(s) of the Day

Caps 3, Devils 1

It's hard to complain about a 3-1 win and a 5 game winning streak, but the Caps need to stop letting teams back into games after getting substantial leads. A two goal lead is the worst lead in hockey for a reason, and it showed tonight despite the end result. The Devils were energized after the Elias breakaway goal and had a couple of scoring chances that were only chances because of how zoned in Theodore was. Regardless, 2 points is 2 points, and 10 points in 5 games is even sweeter. It'd be sweeter to make it 12 in 6 come tomorrow night.

Oh, and Carolina lost.

Some random thoughts on the game:

• JT60 absolutely robbed Zach Parise twice, with a nice glove save on a redirect in the first period and a quick stick save on a layup towards the end of the second period. Theodore was sensational, saving 32 out of 33 shots and only hiccuping on a breakaway goal that the Caps defense practically handed to Elias on a gourmet dish (see below).
• Drafting Theodore for my fantasy team is finally starting to look like a good idea.
  
• Is this Flash's breakout year? Can Fehr start taking some notes?
  
• Speaking of Flash, he had his best game since his 2 goal one in Dallas, with a goal and a couple of high quality chances, not to mention overall excellent puck control and confidence. Oh, and that between-the-legs drag in the first period would have been up for goal of the year... if he'd roofed it.
• Tyler Sloan continues to impress. I think Gabby is noticing too. Sloan logged the 3rd longest ice time tonight on the Caps at 21:34, behind only Ovechkin and Green. He also was second in penalty kill time, with 2:11, second to Tom Poti, who had another solid game.
• Now with the bad: terrible defensive lapse with a bad change that gave Elias that breakaway. He had no one even close to him, and took advantage of the room with a quick shot right between Theo's legs. The Devils were back in the game after that.
  
• Semin is injured and is day-to-day. That could be a minor problem. It was definitely noticeable with Fehr out there instead of Sasha.
  
• The Caps had good discipline throughout, something that has been lacking thus far this season. Flash and Kozlov took the only two penalties of the night.
  

First Post

First Post... just had to get it out of the way. Anyways, this blog will basically be about everything from the Caps to the Bears to anything in the NHL and the hockey world. I'll update it as much as I can. Lets go Caps!