New Jersey 4, Capitals 3 (SO)

You can really tell the difference between a playoff team (Pittsburgh and New Jersey) and the two games the Caps played prior to these two.  New Jersey was not overmatched against the Caps and controlled the game for the most part.  They made the Caps’ power play look terrible (1 for 8).  New Jersey is a very good checking and forechecking team.  A fluke goal only allowed a tie.  And how good is Broduer?  He will most likely go down as the best goalie of all time, in my opinion.  I never saw Sawchuck play, but Broduer will pass Patrick Roy for most wins this season and has already passed Sawchuck.  He is a great goalie.

The Caps were outshot for the first time this season.  Green was on the ice an incredible 34 minutes according to the stat sheet.  Semin continues to play well, but the Caps need to find a way to get Ovie going.  Ovie is going to face the opponent’s best defensive pair and checking line all season.  The Caps need to find a way to create space for him.  Bourque was sent back down to the minors after the game which tells me that Brashear will be ready to play in Calgary on Tuesday.  The next three games will be tough for the Caps.  I think a 1-1-1 record is a reasonable goal.

The hero of the night for the Caps was Brent Johnson.  He made more saves in the first period than in the entire Vancouver game.  He also kept the Caps in it throughout.  I thought he played very well.  I know Jose was brought in here to be a #1 goalie, but if he keeps letting in softies and Johnson continues to play well………who knows.  We’ll see.

Thoughts?

Capitals vs. New Jersey Pre-game

Poti (groin), Brashear (hand), and Kozlov (knee) are hurt and will not be playing tonight.  Federov will play for Poti, while Clark will play on the first line.  Boyd Gordon will most likely play the third line center and Steckel on the fourth line.  The Caps called up Bourque from Hershey who will play on the fourth line.  I read that Bruce is thinking about putting Bourque on the PP’s second unit as Bourque has done very well there for Hershey.  We’ll see.

Bourque is not a big banger and I highly doubt will try to perform Brash’s job.  I don’t think it would play to his assets to try this.  We’ll see what happens.  Brent Johnson will start in goal.

Does anyone know if Pothier is ever going to play again?

Capitals 4, Pittsburgh 3

Wow!  We actually beat Pittsburgh!  The Caps never beat Pittsburgh!  The last 30 minutes were vintage Caps (this season anyway) and they were able to overcome a horrible first period.  They were on the PK for most of the period it seemed.  I believe they took 4 minors.  Duh!  Is anyone better 5 on 5 than the Caps right now?  Doubtful.  I was thinking during the game that they shouldn’t try to draw penalties.  The Capitals power play needs work and obviously will need to be improved upon, however they are playing great 5 on 5 this season so far.  The Caps outshot Pittsburgh 21-6 in the third period.

What is the deal between Malkin and Ovie?  Does anyone know the cause of this strife?  Ovie was trying to run him over all night.  This was going on last year too.  I don’t understand why Malkin doesn’t fight back.  It is not like he is a little guy or anything and why doesn’t someone from Pittsburgh go after Ovie?  Whatever.  I think it is funny.  Ovie and Crosby had words at the end of the game.  Crosby is a wimp also and mouths off and doesn’t back it up.  At least Ovie will stand in and fight you.  I have no respect for Crosby or Malkin.  They remind me of how Lindros was in the mid-90’s.

How brave is Matt Bradley?  This is why I like Bradley.  He gets his butt kicked BADLY and yet he gets stitches and is down on the ground blocking shots.  Very cool.  Well done, Mr. Bradley.  I read several comments from the Caps who said despite the beating it sparked them.  That is the definition of taking one for the team.  You should get the hardhat award Matt.

Thoughts?

Kozlov Injured

Victor Kozlov has apparently hurt his knee after getting hit in the Vancouver game.  He was wearing a brace the next day and walking without crutches.  I haven’t been overly thrilled with his play and was going to rip him in this post, but now………

It appears that Clark will be taking his spot on the top line.  Depth…..not a bad thing.

Washington 5, Vancouver 1

How cool was this game?  The Capitals opened a can of whoop-ass and slapped Vancouver around.  The Vancouver forecheck never existed and Washington’s forecheck dominated.  This game was an absolute joy to watch from beginning to end.  When the other team is trying to get the puck out of their zone all night it is impossible to shoot.  Hence, 10 shots for the night for Vancouver and the last one came from center ice.  Federov was fantastic on defense.  I was very impressed and may rescind an earlier post about keeping him at center on the third line.  I thought Boyd Gordon played extremely well in his first game and that type of play may keep Sergei at the blueline.  We’ll see.

Greenie’s power play goal was perfectly played and Nylander made a great move on the penalty shot, although I thought the call was a gift.  I really hope this is what we see of Semin this year.  That toe drag shot is very deceptive.  And how cool was Jurcina’s goal?  Boyd Gordon wins the draw to Clarkie who puts it on Jurcina’s stick and then into the goal.  Very cool.  I must say I replayed that one a couple of times.  A perfect faceoff.  Well done guys.

The Capitals continue to outshoot opponents.  35-10 in this game and the faceoffs were 50%.  I will take it!  Regarding an earlier post, Backstrom improved his faceoff percentage to 55% against Vancouver.  We need more of this if Federov is to continue playing defense.

Thoughts?

Capitals vs. Vancouver Pre-Game

Word on the street has it that Federov will be playing defense tonight and Brent Johnson will be in net.  Nylander will be playing center on the second line and Boyd Gordon will be inserted into the lineup centering the third line.  Erskine will be scratched for Federov and Eric Fehr will be a scratch as well.  I wrote about this last week and I will be interested to see how the Caps do on faceoffs as Backstrom is currently around 29%.  Boyd Gordon will play well and so will Nylander.  Puck control may be an issue.  Boudreau indicated this change would get Gordon into a game and Vancouver’s speedy forechecking warrants Federov’s puck moving capability.  This is a reasonable hypothesis, in my opinion.  We’ll see.

Kevin Bieska (Vancouver defenseman) will be out as he apparently flew back to Vancouver to have his knee evaluated.  That is good news for the Caps.

Capitals 4, Blackhawks 2!!!

This was a very well played game after the first 10 minutes or so.  Jose gave up two REALLY soft goals, both of which were from a very bad angles through his legs.  For Pete’s sake, he did not look confident and his heavy sigh at the end of the game seemed to prove his ambivalence.  He did play very well in the second and third periods making a great save diving across the goal mouth.

Brashear is so underrated.  He forced two turnovers in the first period which the second led to Bradley’s goal.   A very nice play.  Brashear is not just a bruiser.  He is a good skater and passer as well.  I will take that all day long.  And how cool is it to see Ovie score two goals.?  He is so happy when he puts it in.  I just laugh.  He is the franchise.  Laich as usual earned my respect.  He does all the grunt work, like Bradley does, and gets so little recognition.  He took two shots from his backside (in front of the net) and put in that third goal.  Very cool.  Understandably, he got the hard hat award from Clarkie after the game.  Well deserved, Mr. Laich!

I wasn’t very happy with Nylander being on the third line last night.  Federov is a better defender. He was also 9 of 10 in the faceoff circle at one point.  Wouldn’t you like to be able to control the puck like that against the other team’s #1 line?  Furthermore, I think Semin would benefit more from Nylander, but I am not Boudreau.  Let us see how this plays out.

Finally, how cool was it to see the Red in the stands and the raising of the banner?  I was so excited for those guys.  Hopefully, this year will be better than last.  Of course, the joy was short lived as Chicago scored 26 seconds into the game!  Thanks Jose!  Whatever.  The Capitals dominated the last 50 minutes by keeping the puck in the Chicago zone, killing penalties, and outshooting Chicago 34-21.  If it weren’t for Khabibulin playing well, this would have been over much earlier.

Thoughts?

Good Lord….Another Crappy Start

I don’t even want to discuss this.  The Caps bring in Theodore and then have to pull him.  Did the stupid Caps not realize it was opening night.  What the hell?  Anyway, here is a summary from the Caps’ home page.  I don’t even want to write about it.  Idiots.

Sergei at the Blueline?

When the Caps brought Sergei over at the trade deadline last year I knew this was going to happen (or at least be tried) eventually.  Sergei is playing defenseman for the remainder of the preseason and “seeing what he can do.”  I guess my initial concern is by playing him as a defenseman the Capitals will be losing his faceoff talents.  This was something he did very well last year and during the playoffs.  Winning faceoffs allows puck control.  In my opinion, Adam Oates and the #1 penalty kill allowed the Caps to make its Stanley Cup run in 1998.  I would like to have that again.

I am also concerned his 38 year old legs won’t be fast enough to stop the rush when the Caps don’t forecheck well.  Let’s face it, Sergei is not a banger (a la Erskine).  How many goals were given up last year by wide open guys right in front of Ollie/Huet?  A LOT!  Somebody needs to be back there bangin’ and I don’t see Sergei as that man. 

I would rather see him as the third line center defending the other team’s #1 line that way we keep his skating and faceoff ability in our zone.  We also keep a better defense.  Offense sells tickets.  Defense wins championships.  I would personally prefer watching a season of 2-1 hockey games and hoisting  Lord Stanley’s Cup than the Pengiuns style of play.  Is any lead they have safe?

Thoughts?

Preliminary Season Thoughts

I am excited about the Caps this year.  The “pundits” are saying the Caps could be the best in the Eastern Conference this year.  I actually agree.  They are deep at center and wing.  Chris Clark and Michael Nylander return from injuries.   The defense played very well last year in the playoffs.  Plus, they are a year older.  Jose Theodore in goal could be good if he plays like he did in Montreal and not Colorado.  My concern is that the aggressive forechecking style the Caps play (a good thing) does yield a lot of shots against (a bad thing).  How will Theodore hold up will determine how well the Caps do (plus injuries obviously).  They certainly should get the #3 seed at worst by winning their sad division.  It should be exciting!