Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Game Recap

Game Recap
After watching last night’s 3-1 loss to the B’s one thing remains abundantly clear, Alexander Semin is either really good or really bad. If you’re Coach Bruce Boudreau all you can do is hope that the good Alexander Semin shows up more often than not or at the very least that the good Alexander Semin shows up when it matters most. If previous seasons serve as any form of indication as to what to expect from enigmatic Russian then know this, when the Caps desperately need production Semin will be harder to find than a snow ball in Kabul.

The thought of trading Semin is a nice one, unfortunately his subpar production in the playoffs makes him the least valuable 40 goal scorer in the entire NHL. His value to the Caps (still yet to be fully determined) is seemingly greater than anything another team would be willing to give up to get him. Last night’s performance by Semin was packed with lazy penalties, inaccurate shots, forced passes, and poor defensive posture.

Aside from Semin’s dismal play there were a few bright spots to take away from last night’s loss at Verizon Center. The PK remained perfect, even killing off a 53 second 5-3 in which Jeff Shultz and Brooks Laich completely neutralized a struggling B’s PP. Semyon Varlamov came on in relief for an ailing Nuevirth who left in the 1st period with the flu. Many questions have surrounded the Caps goaltending situation, a lot of people would believe that Nuevirth had all but sealed his fate as the Caps number one goalie. However, last night’s performance Varlamov reminded Caps fans that he is also a very capable young goaltender. He yielded only one goal, coming off of a well screened Matt Hunwick long range wrist shot from in the 3rd.

On a final note the Capitals continue to rack up the fighting majors. They are now tied as a team for the second most fights with 7 through 6 games. Matt Hendricks squared off with Gregory Campbell early in the first and Milan Lucic had a bout with John Erskine. This was Lucic and Erskine’s second fight, the previous one was a decisive victory for Big John. This fight was closer than the first go around, Erskine landed a few early but Lucic was eventually able to counter Erskine’s rather aggressive fighting style with a large bear hug. The two exchanged a few punches before Lucic was able to wrestle Erskine to ground.

The two teams meet up again on Thursday night to complete the second half of this home and home. Don’t expect to see Erskine and Lucic to go again, however a DJ King Shawn Thornton rematch could be a possibility. The Capitals had a total of 20 fights all of last season. At this rate they will surpass that number by early November. I expect the fight totals to taper out at some point, but for fun I’ll set 30 games for the over/under on surpassing 20 fighting majors this season.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

It ain't over til' it's OV

The Caps rally from 2 down to win 3-2, in OT, against the Predators in Nashville.

During the 2nd period I was thinking about what I would title my game recap and was leaning toward "Kill me now... Just do it already".  The Caps looked like a broken Arnold Schwarzenegger from the first Predator movie after two periods of play.  However, much like the movie, the all but beaten Caps regained their composure and defeated the Predators. 

The Capitals looked abysmal after two tonight; they were losing nearly every battle imaginable.  The Preds were winning the battle along the boards, and were continuing to force the Caps offense to them.  The Caps looked sloppy in the neutral zone and in their own end. Turnovers at the blue-line and neutral zone and their inability to clear the defensive zone cleanly created numerous scoring opportunities for the Predators.The Caps were out shot 39-34, though it was a much larger margin until the 3rd.  The Preds, won the face-off battle  32-26 and managed 11 takeaways.  

After two periods the Caps were trailing 2-0, with the goals for the Predators coming from J.P. Doumont in the 1st and Jordin Tootoo's deflection off of Brian Fahey's skate in the 2nd.  

Enter Micheal Neuvirth, tonight's game's saving grace. Neuvy made 37 saves, including a dazzling glove save on a breakaway by Joel Ward in the 2nd (caused by one of many turnovers at the caps blue-line). Nuevy's glove hand was impeccable tonight, and his performance thus far should make for tough competition for Varlamov when he makes his return. 

Neuvirth was able to keep the scoring deficit manageable until the Caps found their game in the 3rd.  The game opened up and the tempo picked up considerably.  The Caps began winning board battles and fore-checking successfully, after looking uninspired for the first two periods.  Alex Semin opened the scoring for the Capitals with a Power Play goal that trickled past Anders Linback, who also had a great night in goal for the Preds with 31 saves.  Brooks Laich's tenacity on the fore-check led to Tomas Fleischman's, game tying, tally.  

In Overtime, as one would expect, Alex Ovechkin took control.  After tearing into the offensive zone, Ovechkin was taken down by Ryan Suter, giving the Caps (who were 2-5 on the man advantage) an OT power play.  One minute later, Ovechkin fired a shot from the point and it was deflected in by Brooks Laich for the game-winner.

In a game that for all intents and purposes the Caps should have lost, a stellar performance in goal by Michael Neuvirth kept them alive long enough for Ovechkin & Co. to come alive in the 3rd and mount a comeback; taking 2 points away from a solid Nashville club.

* Perhaps the most surprising stat of the night is that the Caps remained a perfect 21-21 on the PK... While their Power Play is only at 4-22. 

       

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Peter Wann. The Real Story

Last week in the 52 annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament a boat out of Hatteras, NC (Citation) caught an 883lb Blue Marlin. The fish was the biggest one ever caught in the tournaments history. When no one else caught a bigger fish it appeared that Citation would earn around 1.2 million US dollars.

Start the party, right? Not exactly. It turns out that one of the crew members did not have the North Carolina license required for all participants in the tournament. After three days of deliberation the Committee who oversees the tournament decided to disqualify the boat for a rules violation.

Just about every news outlet covering the story has received information that the Captain had told the first mate (Peter Wann of Alexandria, VA) to get the license before the tournament started. The Captain alleges that Peter told him that he got it taken care of, and that the Captain decided to take his word for it.

Wann's name became public record because he was cited for not fishing with a proper license. After a very intense search to find Peter Wann, I finally got a hold of him and he agreed to do an interview claiming his side of the story.

Here is the transcript.

PB: Did the captain ever tell you to get a license?
PW: No, he did not.

PB:Did the owner ever tell you to get a license?
PW:nope.

PB:And you are sure?
PW: yes, %100 sure.

PB: When did you realize that you needed a license?
PW: On the way in after we caught the fish, I asked the Captain if he had a blanket license, and he told me he that they did not. He asked me if I had a license, I told him I thought I did but I would check just to make sure.

PB: What prompted you to realize you might need a license?
PW: After we caught the fish I thought it was a good idea to go through the rule book to make sure we weren't in violation of any rules. I saw that everyone needed a license, but I was under the impression that the boat had a blanket license.

PB:There is a rules meeting did your Captain attend?
PW:It's not required, but most parties send someone to the meeting, no one from our boat went.

PB:You are sure no one from your boat went to the meeting?
PW:No one from my boat went to the meeting.

PB:Have you been in contact from anyone affiliated with Citation?

PW: No comment.

PB:Do you agree with the penalty and fine assessed to you by the state?

PW: Well, Marine fisheries in Hatteras have said that I was not in violation of state or federal license. I only needed the license when I landed the fish in state waters, not when I boated it. I renewed my license before we came into NC state water. So, not entirely.

PB:There a lot of articles on the internet with your name in it, what kind of reactions are you getting from people you speak to?

PW: "Well, a lot of people are on my side, and then there are also a lot of people who are ignorant and don't know what they are talking about."

After speaking with Wann and gathering a little bit of background information this is what I know. I know that he goes to college at George Washington University and studies engineering he does not fish full time, and he considers this a fun summer job. He enjoys fishing, and has spent his last 4 summers in NC fishing as a mate off various boats. Fishing is something that he loves to do, and prefers to do it with some anonymity. Unfortunately this no longer seems possible, his name and reputation are being questioned by numerous media outlets. He is even being confronted by random people both in person and via Facebook.

I spoke with two sources both of whom are close friends of Peter Wann. One told me that Peter is certainly not cheap, this is not a matter of him not wanting to spend the $30 to purchase the license. The source told me that Peter and him went on a fishing trip to Florida last winter and that Peter covered the majority of the expenses on the trip. He weighed in by saying, "I really can't imagine a scenario where Pete would be too cheap to renew his license, I mean I vacation with this guy and he is always willing to spend money to ensure that the people he is with are having a good time. Yea, I am certain that if Peter knew he needed the license he would have spent the $30."

A second source close to Wann told me that he fishes with Peter on a regular basis, and he assured me that you will never see anyone on a boat pay closer attention to detail. "I go fishing with him all the time, and when it comes to fishing Peter Wann is a perfectionist. He will spend hours on end rigging lines and cleaning the damn boat. Sometimes, it is a little excessive but that's just Peter. There is not a chance in hell that if he knew he needed that license that he would not have got it."

If these two friends of Wann are so certain that he would have obtained the license had he known about it, then why didn't Peter Wann have a license? From where I am sitting, and based solely on the people I have talked to I would venture to guess that Peter really did not know about the license. Even if he did, The Captain is in charge of the boat and shame on him for not doing his due diligence and asking for proof of license from everyone fishing on his boat. The backlash has certainly been against Peter Wann, but in reality its not his fault.

The Captain and the boat's owners are really the ones responsible for the loss of 1.2 million dollars in prize money. They failed to send someone to the rules meeting, they were not sufficient in their understanding of the rules and ultimately it cost them.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Why the Caps were destined for failure...

The hockey world rang in 2008 with Michigan beating the defending national champions in football. No, no, I am kidding the Penguins beat the Sabres in the inaugural Winter Classic. The Penguins went on to lose in the Stanley Cup Finals. No big deal, right? The following year the Winter Classic was hosted by Chicago and won by the Red Wings. The Red Wings went on to lose in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Fast forward, 2010 Winter Classic is between Boston and Philly and heralded by some as the worst pairing in the games illustrious three year history. Nonetheless, similar to the previous two Winter Classic's a team from that game went on to play in the Stanley Cup Finals. The only difference is that this time around the team that lost on New Years Day is representing their conference in the Cup Finals. The odds of a team from each of the three Winter Classics playings the Cup Finals has to be pretty slim. I am not a Vegas insider but I would love to know exactly what the odds of that happening are.

More importantly is the fact that every team to play in the Stanley Cup finals over the past three seasons has played in a Winter Classic. It is probably just a coincidence, but I do not doubt the power of the "hockey Gods." Maybe there is a real correlation between playing in the Winter Classic and reaching the Stanley Cup Finals, but who knows?

In a scenario where the Flyers win the Cup, then the so called "Winter Classic Curse" is lifted (though it only lasted two seasons). Regardless, I think there is very little doubt that the Caps will not be playing on NBC come New Years Days 2011. I have a funny feeling the trend will continue, and the Caps will find themselves playing in not only the first game of the New Year, but also the last game of the 2010-2011 (yes, I am predicting they play in the Stanley Cup Finals). Two proverbial phrases come to mind, both have somewhat contradicting messages "hope springs eternal" and "good things come to those who wait" but let's hope for the latter.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Au Revoir Penguins!

It is a sad day in the Steelcity, Caps fans at least had the wild card contending Washington Nationals to fall back on after their team was ousted by what appeared to be a mediocre Montreal Canadiens hockey club. I hate to pick on the poor Buckos, but sometimes a target is so big you just can not miss it. They are on pace for their 6,000 consecutive season finishing under .500, and have not had a 40 home run hitter since 1973. Hab a nice summer Pens fans. I know I will especially come June 2nd, when the greatest baseball player of all time will make his MLB debut.

After watching the Caps be eliminated by the Habs, I thought to myself there can be no worse a feeling for a fan of any team. A great, if not historic season completely destroyed at the hands of Slovakian who is so hot right now that he makes Brad Pitt look like Mr. Freeze from Batman. The very second game 7 of the Caps Habs series was over, I was finally willing to put to bed that seemingly endless argument of who was a better player, Crosby or Ovechkin? The answer clearly had to be Crosby. He had the cup and the gold medal, and Ovechkin had nothing but two first round playoff exits and one second round exit courtesy of Crosby's penguins. After tonight's loss to Montreal, I am starting to re-rethink my position on who is currently the better player.

I will start my argument by saying, YES I naturally have a bias towards Ovechkin. However, I will try to do this in the most objective manner possible.

Crosby's Resume;
1 Stanley Cup
1 Gold Medal
1 Hart Trophy
1 Art Ross
1 Richard Trophy
506 Career Points

Ovechkin's Resume;
1 Calder Trophy (rookie of the year)
2 Hart Trophy's
1 Art Ross
2 Richard's
529 Career Points


Crosby has a Cup and a Gold Medal, but he was a no show at certain parts of last year's cup run, and was bailed out by one of the best players in the world in Evgeni Malkin. In his gold medal performance Crosby was on the most skilled team in the entire tournament, there was no reason for the Canadians to win anything but Gold. He did happen to score the GWG in ot to beat the Americans, but let's not forget he was virtually nonexistent until scoring on Ryan Miller early in that first OT session. Head to head, as individuals Ovechkin is the better player. I could have made that argument a week ago, and I would be laughed at, but now I am not so certain. When the Caps played the Habs and lost in Seven Games you would be hard pressed to find someone who did not place the blame on Alex Ovechkin. His team lost, and he is the face of the franchise, but his effort level was high and he produced 10 points in Seven games (5g 5 a). Nonetheless, Ovechkin was ridiculed by mainstream media outlets for choking and losing to an inferior Montreal team (and rightfully so). While Crosby was glorified for picking his team up and putting them "on his shoulders" and single handedly beating The Ottawa Senators, while simultaneously saving the world from an oncoming meteor.

Now, let us fast forward to tonight, Pens-Habs, Habs win Pens lose. The same Sidney Crosby who is heralded as the best player in the league is no where to be found for an entire series. Had he produced just one time over the course of 7 games The Pens would have won. He had 5 points (1g 4a) over those 7 games. To put it lightly, he and his team choked.

All I ask for from the hockey media is the same thing we ask for from Colin Campbell. And that is just a little bit of consistency. If Ovechkin and the Caps choked in this years playoffs, then so did Crosby and the Pens. Where it stands right now, The Pens are the more accomplished team, but as for who boasts the brighter star? My answer is the Caps.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Thats All Folks

President Trophies, individual awards, and threesomes in hot tubs will be how the 2009-2010 NHL season will be remembered for the Caps. I, just like the entire hockey world, am in shock as to what happened at Verizon Center.

To quote the coach from Happy Gilmore "Better luck next year"

Varly set to start

According to the good people at the Washington Post Varlamov came off the ice first this morning. Which, as always has served as the indicator as to who will be starting. Maybe Bruce is pulling a fast one, but I doubt it.

Game 7 Preview

It is not over yet, but it will be for one team tomorrow night (potentially Thursday morning if they go to multiple overtime sessions.) If you are a Caps fan then you are hoping that the better team wins. Habs fans, on the other hand are praying to the "hockey gods", and can you blame them the majority of those "gods" donned the bleu blanc et rouge at one point in time?

Five days ago the Caps had a 3-1 advantage in the series and were about to play the fifth, and hopefully final game of the series at home. Things did not materialize that way on Friday night, and Monday's game 6 match up did not yield the results the Caps wanted either. So now we wait anxiously for the last of the NHL quarterfinal series to end. It is important to note that at no point in the history of the NHL playoffs has an 8 seed rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat a 1 seed, hopefully that trend continues tonight.

There are many questions surrounding the Caps roster for tonight's match up with Montreal. Perhaps no bigger question than who will start in goal. Varlamov has been plagued by inconsistent play ever since being injured against Tampa Bay in early December. His performance in the playoffs has been decent, posting a 2.48 gaa and a save % of .912. There is little doubt that Bruce favors Varly and would much rather play him over Theo, but I think Theodore needs to be the Caps guy tonight. Theo has been as consistent and as a strong a goalie as there is in the NHL this year. He has not lost a game in regulation since the first week of January, granted an OT loss at this point of the year does the Caps no good. However, a close game does mean that the Caps explosive offense was given ample opportunity to win the game. Varly is capable of turning in an outstanding performance that requires very little offense to secure a victory, but he is also capable performing at a minor league level like he did like he did in game 7 of last years series with the Penguins. Theo's consistent play almost guarantees that it will be at the very least a close game, and if offense is your bread and butter why not put the outcome of the game in their hands?

Keys to the game for Washington.


It is simple, do not make Halak look like Patrick Roy. Much credit should be thrown in Halak's direction for his game 6 performance. However, a lot of his good fortune is a result of Washington's play in the offensive zone. Yes, he made some spectacular saves, but he was rarely screened, and the Caps struggled to crash the net. The most important players for Washington are Brooks Laich and Mike Knuble. Ovechkin, Semin, and Backstrom do not need to show up so long as these two guys do their job. We saw in last game that even the average Joe (Corvo) can fire ten shots on goal. The shots will come, but if Laich and Knuble can screen Halak and or, crash the net and put home a rebound or two, then the Caps will win. If not, then Jaro Halak may very well find himself facing off against the highest remaining seed in the East, The Pittsburgh Penguins.

Keys for Montreal


Good goaltending for one. Aside from that keep playing well in transition, the odd man rushes have proved costly for the Caps all series. The Caps can counter the odd man rushes one of two ways. The first option is that they can play fire wagon hockey and just outscore Montreal, similar to what the did in games 2 and 4. The second option is to stop carrying the puck deep into the offensive and getting caught in transition with 3 forwards below the face dots, and instead play dump and chase. Aside from their fourth line this team never plays dump and chase, so why would they ever start now?

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Tougher than Tough



The above is a link of Eric Belanger losing 8 teeth during last nights game against Montreal. Reports out of KCI this morning are that Belanger lost 7 or 8 teeth, and had a dental procedure similar to that of a root canal in between periods. Remarkably, Eric came back and finished the game logging 10:16 of total ice time for the evening. Belanger's return to the game last night demonstrated how tough hockey players are, and yes even French Canadians.

Belanger's toothless return to the ice rivals the comeback performances of Patrick Thoreson and Ryan Malone. Thoreson gained serious notoriety around Verizon Center when he blocked a Mike Green slap shot with his nuts and then preceded to play two nights later. Ryan Malone, as one hockey commentator put it, "his face exploded" after being hit with a slap shot in the Cup Finals. As you would expect from an American kid, Ryan Malone returned to the ice that night.

Clips of both of those incidents are embedded below.



Thursday, April 22, 2010

Why Tomorrow Night is a Must Win.

Simply put, The Caps have played 3 playoff series during the Bruce Boudreau era, and they have all gone 7 games. This is taxing both physically and mentally on a team and if the Caps want to have any chance of making a deep run into the post season, then this series with Montreal needs to end as soon as possible.

I use the term "must win" very loosely, obviously if they do not win they are still in the driver seat. However, A number 1 seed should dispose of the pest that is an 8 seed in 6 or less games, that is the advantage of being a number one seed. You are playing an inferior team and you have home ice advantage. As it stands right now, barring a large comeback from the Devils, or Habs all signs point to a Caps-Flyers second round match up.

This is not the worst 2nd round draw imaginable, but the shorter this current series is the better it will serve for the Caps in the next round. The flyers are capable of scoring in bunches, that is of course assuming Gagne and Carter are able to play. They are physical, and they have one of the most intimidating d man in the entire league. Chris Pronger is an absolute specimen, he is capable of playing 25+ minutes a night and is good enough to shut down any, and I mean any scorer in the entire league.

Boyd "Horse Skin Skates???" Gordon

Everyone loves Dave Steckel. He is a good 4th line center, he wins key faceoffs, is one of the teams better penalty killers, and will be forever immortalized by Caps fans for scoring a goal in game 6 that delayed the inevitability of a caps series loss. If Steckel is so good at these aspects of the game then, why has he watched the past three games from the press box? That would be because Boyd Gordon is doing all of those things and more.

In the past two games Gordon has had two, two on ones, both of which were shorthanded, and both of which led to two goals. In game 3 Boyd came streaking down the right side of the ice, riding the heel of his blades. He had a 30 goal scorer in Mike Knuble coming down the ice opposite to him, instead of passing it to him he fired a shot on net. After Halak stopped the initial shot Gordon continued to whack at the loose puck until it crossed the goal line. The goal broke a scoreless tie and jump started the Caps 4 goal 2nd period.

In Game 4, Montreal had a 2-1 lead late in the 2nd, a powerplay, and all the momentum in the world. With about ten seconds left in the period, Gordon and Knuble came flying down the ice on a 2-1. This time with Knuble on the right and Gordon on the left. The sliding defenseman took away Gordon's most obvious passing lane along the ice to Knuble. This did not deter the gritty 4th line center from getting the puck to Knuble, Gordon quickly whipped up some sauce that was so brilliant that it would have made the town of Musselman, WV blush. The pass found Knuble's blade and he snapped home a quick wrister that evened the score at 2. Similar to his game 3 heroics, Gordon's shorthanded play completely turned the tide of the game and the Caps would go onto win.

I am not insinuating that had Gordon not made these plays, then the Caps would have lost either game. What I am saying is that in both instances the team needed someone to step up and make a play that would change the complexion of the game. In back to back games Gordon was the guy who delivered when it was most needed.

Also if anyone can explain to me why Gordon's nickname is horse skin skates on his wikipedia page, I would really appreciate it.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

She Really Tikkanened that one.

Long time Caps fans will remember Esa Tikkanen's brief stint in DC by one play. In Game 2 of the 1998 Stanley Cup Finals, with the Caps holding onto to a late lead Tikannen had the opportunity to put the icing on the cake and give the caps a commanding lead. Instead, he missed a wide open net and the explosive Red Wings rallied to win the game and sweep the series.


Although I was only in elementary school at the time, this image is forever seared into my memory. For those of you who are privileged enough to not remember this play, or never saw it I have posted its link. Due to some weird restrictions placed by the video's uploader it will not allow me to embed it on our website. I have copied and pasted the link here, feel free to look at it for your viewing pleasure, or in this case woes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkZVHY4QDdo

What could have been, had Tikkanen scored on that shot? Although the Caps would end up being swept at the hands of the merciless Red Wings, there is no doubt in my mind that a win in game 2 would have changed the series entirely. As a result, similar to Richard Nixon's stay in Washington Tikkanen's is forever marred by one incident. As the late president's final legacy will always be that anytime there is a political scandal it is almost always dubbed with the suffix -gate. Tikkanen's final legacy with Caps fans is that anytime an athlete fails so miserably to score an easy goal, they will be, and should be instantaneously compared to Esa.


I will generally spare the references to girls basketball, but my inspiration for this post came from watching the Sports Center highlights from the Stanford-Xavier girls elite 8 game. While Xavier's girls basketball nation is significantly smaller than that of "Rock the Red" nation, I still can not help to hurt for their team and their fans. Here is the video of the last minute of the game. Sorry, for the poor quality and try to ignore the annoying voice in the background. Long story short, Dee Dee Jernigan really Tikkanened that one.

Caps-Sens Preview

Capitals vs. Senators Preview

Tuesday Mach 30, 2010
7:00 PM
Verizon Center

The Caps host the Ottawa Senators Tuesday night at the Fehr-izon center.  This marks the fourth meeting between the two clubs, with Ottawa leading the season series 2-1. 
       
The Caps locked up the Eastern Conference on Sunday night, despite being throttled by the Flames 5-3, with the Devil's loss to the Flyers.  They are currently 27-5-4 at home this season, but come into Tuesday's matchup losers of two straight. 

The Sens are 16-20-1 on the road this season and looked abysmal coming out of the Olympic break, but have been on a recent tear.  They are winners of four in-a-row, including some key wins over Philadelphia and Buffalo, who are both looking to solidify their playoff positions.  They are now in fifth place in the East and stand six points behind New Jersey and seven behind Buffalo for the lead in the North-East Division.  The Sens are still in the hunt for the fourth seed and winning their division isn't out of their reach yet.  

Tuesday's matchup will definitely be a must-win for Ottawa, who are looking to improve their playoff seeding.  The Capitals need to come out with matched intensity, despite having the top seed in hand, if they hope to hold off the surging Sens and extend their points lead in the Presidents Trophy race.   They currently lead San Jose by five points in the League standings.

Washington will again be without forwards Brooks Laich (face), Brendan Morrison (lower body), Boyd Gordon (back), and Scott Walker (knee).  Mathieu Perreault, who scored his first NHL goal against Calgary Sunday afternoon, will likely get another night in the line-up due to the injuries. 

Ottawa defenseman Anton Volchenkov is doubtful Tuesday night with a nagging undisclosed.  (Good news for Ovechkin, who has struggled to get shots off against the big defenseman).

In goal, Ottawa's Brian Elliot will likely get the nod.  He has been lights-out during the team's four-game win streak.  During the four-game stretch, he has posted two shut-outs, holds a .965 save %, and has a GAA of 1, allowing only 4 goals in that span.  His hot streak includes a 41 save effort in a 4-2 victory over division leading Buffalo on Friday.

Washington's situation in goal is slightly more convoluted.  Theodore had been been playing solidly in net until his 1st period debacle against Calgary on Sunday, where he allowed three goals on just ten shots and was subsequently pulled.  He had won his previous 7 starts and hadn't lost in regulation since January 12th.

Varlamov has been a little shaky since returning from injury.  He's won just one game out of six starts since returning to action.  Despite the losing record in the new-year, he has at times (including Sunday in Calgary and last week against Carolina) shown flashes of his early season form. 

With Theo likely to be the number one going into the playoffs, it will be interesting to see whether Coach Boudreau starts him the majority of the remaining games to get a rhythm going, or whether he gives Varly a few more chances to regain his composure. 

In all likelihood, I think Theodore will get the start against the Sens.  Coach Boudreau has been known to quickly give a goaltender another start after a poor performance in order to recompose and I think he will want to give Theo his vote of confidence Tuesday night.  However, Coach Boudreau has always been very secretive about naming his starter and has at times been unpredictable with who he puts between the pipes, so don't take my word on the starter as gospel just yet.

The Caps need to have a more focused start to Tuesday's matchup than they had Sunday.  They face another team fighting to pick up as many of the remaining points left on their schedule as possible and will find themselves down early if they don't match Ottawa's intensity.  The Caps need to make winning the Eastern Conference regular season title a catalyst that pushes them into the playoffs with great focus and rhythm and not get complacent going into the post-season.  Just ask the Sharks, Banners are cool... But Cups are better.

   

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

No Laich, No Malkin, No Problem...

The Caps are statistically the best team in the entire league, The Penguins are not far off. These are arguably the two best teams in the league, actually no need for any reservations here, these ARE the two best teams in the league. The last time these two teams met The Pens jumped out to 4-1 lead, only to be countered with 4 unanswered goals from Washington in the 3rd and overtime periods.

If the rivalry between the two teams was not already the biggest in the league, games like the aforementioned Super Bowl Sunday overtime thriller have only helped to add to its intensity. As a fan of hockey, I love watching these two teams face off. Aside from the Olympics, it is the best hockey I watch all year. I would love for nothing more than for a scenario to arise where the Caps and Pens could play in the Stanley Cup Finals. Geography being what it is, that will never happen, I would settle for a conference final between the two teams. However, there is no guarantee they will meet up beyond the regular season. That is why I do not take days like today for granted.

Despite both team missing key components of their lineups, I still think tonight will be a great game. It would not matter if the entire Hershey Bears and Wilkes-barre Scranton Penguins were called up to play in tonight's game, so long as Ovechkin and Crosby were playing with them. Undoubtedly, there are other great players on both teams, but perhaps the one thing that truly fuels this rivalry is the OV-Sid dynamic. They are both tremendous players, who are both partially responsible for reviving a dying sport.
Ovechkin embodies Thomas Hobbes thoughts on human nature in the Leviathan, he is nasty, brutish, and in a constant state of war. He is both fearless and reckless, and while in normal societal circles this type of behavior is frowned upon, in the NHL its welcomed with open arms. Crosby, the less flamboyant and reserved of the two, is a smooth skating playmaker who lacks the aggression of Ovechkin, but certainly not the killer instinct. It's hard to not be intrigued anytime they share the same sheet of ice.
Game on.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Laich injured

Brooks Laich was hit in the face with a puck at practice this morning after a John Carlson shot ricocheted of the crossbar. No word on the extent of the injury, but Bruce Boudreau did not seemed overly concerned when talking to reporters.
It does no good to speculate whether or not he will be in the lineup tomorrow night but Brooks Laich, being Brooks Laich, I have to guess it might take more than a few stitches to sideline him.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Recap: Caps 4, Canes 3 (OT)

The last thing I wanted tonight was another shootout. As much as I hate to say it, the Caps suck at shootouts. They have never really been too good at them, especially since Kozlov left. AO always seems lost on them. Semin tries to do too much. Laich tries that back-handed toe drag every time. Washington is 27th in the league in shooting percentage and only seem to win in the long ones when no team can score and someone like Bradley sneaks one in. I hate shootouts.

Good thing Eric Belanger has eyes on the side of his head.

His pass to Flash was superb. Flash's one-time snipe was equally pretty. The Caps got 2 points they didn't deserve all too much tonight, giving up a 2 goal lead and then a one goal lead after going up 3-2. With an ATL loss in regulation or OT tomorrow, the Caps can clinch the Southeast. In early March. Nice.

Some thoughts on the game:

  • Mike Green's two goals give him 17 on the year. He leads defensemen league-wide by comfortable margins in goals, assists, and points, and is second in +/- to defensive partner Jeff Schultz. I can't downplay the year Duncan Keith is having. But Greener is the Norris winner right now.
  • Speaking of Green, he had an excellent game. But his turnover that lead to Jokinen's goal was ugly. It looked like he just didn't get enough juice on his pass to Backstrom, but it was a bad place to put the puck, and it was costly.
  • Ovie was a man on a mission, and I was astonished he didn't put one in. He made his presence felt by registering two assists and by wrecking two Carolina players after Backstrom was knocked down towards the end of the game.
  • Speaking of Backstrom, he's still on pace for 100 points for the season.
  • Theo was good, but not spectacular. He had some sparkling and clutch saves but I think he'd want one or two of those back.
  • Corvo was brutal. Again. That blatant offensive zone pick was dumb and he just seems like a defensive liability on a team that really cant afford it.
  • On the other hand, Pothier had one hell of a game, saving a sure goal not once, but twice, on the same powerplay.
  • Didn't notice Osala too much. Kind of like when he was with the Caps.
So Tampa is next on the Southeast tour, and the Caps shouldn't have a problem. Probably. I can tell you one thing though. Flash aint getting scratched any time soon.

What the line combinations could look like.

Bruce Boudreau told the media today that he would no longer be "tinkering" with the line combination's. With 25 guys on the roster, not including Milan Jurcina, the Caps are going to have surplus of five players sitting in the pressbox on a nightly basis. Based on what Bourdreau said this morning it appears there will be some consistency as to which players are scratched.

At this point all I can do is speculate what the finalized lineups will look like.

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Knuble
Flash-Morrison-Semin
Laich-Belanger-Fehr
Chimera-Steckel/Gordon-Bradley/Walker

Green-Shultz
Poti-Carlson
Morissonn-Corvo

Laing and Sloan will most likely not see the ice for the remainder of the season, barring the Caps do not get bit by the injury bug.

It is hard to imagine that John Erskine is the 7th dman considering how strong he has played over the past two post seasons. If Carlson is sent back to Hershey, then obviously Erskine will be part of the top 6. However many people are beginning to guess that Carlson is not leaving DC anytime soon, most likely leaving Erskine as the odd man out.

Steckel and Gordon have similar attributes both are solid on the PK and good in the faceoff dot. I think both of them will be in the lineup at times down the stretch but Steckel is overall the bigger asset to the team. As a result, he will be in the lineup more times than not.

Between Walker and Bradley, I think most Caps fans will tell you they would rather have Bradley in the lineup. Walker was brought here to add depth and grit to the lineup but I do not think he gives the team as much of a boost as Bradley does. Similar to the Gordon/Steckel dynamic they will both at times be in the lineup but I have to think Bradley is more deserving of a jersey on a regular basis. Whether or not Boudreau feels the same way as I do is yet to be determined. I would not be surprised if he decided to scratch a more skilled player, such as Fehr in order to keep both Brads and Walker in the lineup.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Goaltending Woes

Prior to injuring his groin on December 7th against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Varlamov was 12-1-3 and was garnering serious consideration for Rookie of the Year. Since returning to the ice in the final game before the Olympic break Varlamov has endured the worst three game stretch of his young NHL career. In those three games he has posted a record of 1-1-1, a GAA of 4.33, and a save percentage of .843. I have to believe that despite his poor performance as of late there is no panic from within the organization. Many will speculate that Varlamov is the guy that the front office wants to be in net come playoff time and I have to agree. I have never felt that the coaching staff or General Manager are oozing with confidence when they speak about Theodore. I am always under the impression that they expect him to crash and burn.

The question should not be, whether Varlamov is who Mcphee and Boudreau want in net but more so, whether or not, Varlamov is the right guy for the job? To be honest, at this point in time I am not convinced he is. Varlamov is the goalie of the future, there is no question about that, but right now Jose Theodore is playing well enough to be the guy come playoff time. He, similar to Varlamov has been prone to let in soft goals at times. However, the biggest difference between the two is that Jose has made the big saves when they needed to be made. Thinking back to the Penguins Capitals game in early February, while trailing 4-2 Theodore robbed Sidney Crosby on the doorstep during a 5 on 3 with less than ten seconds to go in the 2nd period. The Caps went on to win that game in OT. Performances like that, as well as, the 44 save effort in a win against the Red Wings should give the organization some faith that he is capable of doing the job.

Theodore is the leading candidate to be the number one guy but a lot can change over the next month. When the Caps made the playoffs two years ago for the first time in the post lockout era, the team had to make a crucial decision during the first week of March. The nature of their position forced them into picking Cristobal Huet as their number 1 goalie would be for the remainder of the season. Fortunately, this years team is not scrambling to make the playoffs, and perhaps their greatest luxury is they can afford to rotate two goalies all the way down to the very end. This is advantageous for two reasons; one it eliminates the likelihood of fatigue affecting their play, secondly, and perhaps more importantly it also gives the organization the proper amount of time to figure out who is the right guy for the job. For Theodore this means he must continue to play at the top of his game. The slightest misstep could lead to the promotion of Varlamov, by the already Varlamov obsessed GM. For the time being, Varlamov has an extra month to hone his skills and reclaim his thrown as the number one netminder in DC.

On a final note, I am not concerned about the alleged goaltending woes of this team. Although, individually the goalies have struggled over the course of the past two years, there have been very few instances where they have both played miserably at the same time. I am very confident that if Varlamov can not get the job done then Theodore will and vice v.

Best places to grab a drink before a Caps game?

I am going to have a post sometime in the next week about where I think are the best places to stop in before a Caps game. I thought it maybe more fun if other people chime in and tell me where they enjoy going before heading into Verizon Center. Feel free to contact me via email, peterblogdra@gmail.com, or via twitter. My twitter name is Peterblogdra.
If we get enough responses maybe we can put together a top ten list.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Caps Lose 4-3 (SO)

Any chances of the Caps catching the Hershey Bears 23 consecutive wins on home ice are now lost. Mind you, those chances were very slim to begin with. For the Caps to have accomplished this they would have needed to win not only tonight but also every single home game for the remainder of the season. As we move passed shattered dreams, let's take a quick minute to examine the rock that did the shattering.

The Caps out shot the Stars tonight by a margin of 2:1 (52-26) and were dominant for much of the game. In the first period Marty Turco was lights out, yielding one goal on a snap shot from a wide open Tom Poti in the slot. David Steckel made a cross ice pass to Poti from below the faceoff dot, Poti then rifled the puck past a helpless Turco. The Stars also tested Varlamov early. Varlamov made a few good saves but was mostly blessed with good good fortune as The Stars shooters struggled to hit wide open nets.

In the Second period Turco was just as impressive as he was in the first. Stopping all but one of the Caps 23 shots, making some dazzling saves in the process. The Capitals failed to score on a 5-3 pp but Ovechkin managed to give his team the lead on the ensuing 5-4. This was Ovechkin's first goal since coming back from the Olympic break. The Caps ended the 2nd period with a 2-0 lead.

I think tonight's game lent incredible insight to how this team is capable of playing. In the first two periods we saw the most leagues most dominant offensive team. Yes, they were held to only two goals but credit that to inspired goaltending. In those same two periods the team was solid in their own zone and Varlamov was flawless. The Third period was less kind to the Caps, it was also very indicative of how bad this team can be at times. I do not mean to sound like an alarmist BUT the penalty kill was once again awful. The Stars went 2-2 on the PP and used these goals to surge to an early 3rd period lead. The third goal was one that Varlamov, could have and should have stopped. Poor goaltending has plagued the Caps all season and should be a serious cause for concern down the stretch. The final thing we saw in this Caps team during the third period, was actually one of their strengths. In times of desperation they are the best team in Hockey. From the time when James Neal scored the go ahead goal until the end of the 3rd, The Caps dominated the play.

Ovechkin scored a magnificent goal with less than 4 minutes left in the game to tie it up at 3. This was by far his best performance in some time, scoring two high quality goals. Ovechkin had two great oppurtunities to win the game in OT but failed to beat Turco. Despite putting together a great five minutes in OT the Caps did not score and eventually lost in the SO.

I think at this point of the season many would agree with me, when I say the Caps are overall the best team in hockey. I also think very few would disagree with me, when I say the Caps still have some blaring weaknesses. The Penalty Kill has to get better or it could be a huge hindrance towards a cup run. The goaltending has to be more consistent as well. Having said that, Jose Theodore is starting to make a pretty good case for why he should be the man between the pipes down the stretch.

More on Theodore's play later in the Week, stay posted.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Recap: Trade Deadline

The Caps pulled out a solid win against Olympic hero Ryan Miller and the very good Buffalo Sabres last night, but the real story was GMGM making waves at the trade deadline, more than any other team (except the 'Yotes).

A lot of analysts are calling the Caps the big winners during this years trade deadline. We here at Peter Blogdra are on the fence. The deals were good in theory but I think it is a little premature to say they were the winners. Right now, for this team, its Stanley Cup finals or bust. I will not accept a runner up finish in the finals as a good season. Not this year. The Salary Cap era has created so much parity in the league that the window of opportunity to win remains open only for a short period of time. In order for the Caps to truly be considered winners, they will have to make a very deep run in the playoffs. They have to win.

In evaluating the trades at this moment, 3 out of the 4 make good sense.

SCOTT WALKER









ASSETS:
Has tremendous heart and leadership qualities. Is an excellent teammate. Can score, kill penalties and even fight if the need arises.
FLAWS: Not overly big, he tends to wear down during the course of the 82-game schedule. His lack of size has also caused a slow down in production.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Veteran two-way winger.

Scott Walker adds depth to the bottom six, he is gritty and the type of forward every team needs to make a late push in the playoffs. Plus, a seventh round pick? I'd give that up for Jason Doig (okay, not really). A good pickup by GMGM without much (if any) cost, and a UFA at the end of the year takes care of his salary. Plus, he scored the game-winning goal in OT in game 7 against the Bruins last year in the Conference Semi-Finals. He's clutch too? I'm sold.

ERIC BELANGER






ASSETS:
Has terrific hockey sense and on-ice awareness. Is defensively responsible and an excellent face-off man.
FLAWS: Is undersized and a bit fragile. Hasn't produced numbers in the NHL that match his talent level.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Two-way center.

Belanger is one of those guys who you don't hear much about but can be a pretty valuable commodity. He is very defensively responsible, which can be key against the teams the Caps will meet in the playoffs. His faceoff prowess is nice to have considering no one else on the Caps besides David Steckel knows how to take one. He'll be a valuable third line center who can play on the second line and maybe give B-Mo a kick in the right direction. If he doesn't work out, too well, the Caps still have Flash to fill in if need be. A second round pick might have been a bit hefty but I think he will be a good fit when he doesn't have to play Minnesota's defensive system. Overall, his presence does not hurt the Caps chances down the stretch. Locker trying to pronounce his name probably does though.

MILAN JURCINA




ASSETS:
Owns a huge frame and the ability to play an all-around game from time to time. Also possesses a big shot from the point. Takes up a lot of space in the defensive zone.
FLAWS: Doesn't play with a lot of passion and rarely takes full advantage of his tremendous size. His skating and coordination are also weaknesses in his game.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Inconsistent big defenseman.

Jurcina is a familiar face. I was sad to see him and I'm somewhat excited for his return. The Caps PK has been woeful, and Jurcina was one of their best PK'ers before he was dealt and I expect to see him retain that role. A sixth rounder is like a seventh rounder, and I believe I read something about that pick being conditional on how many games he plays. If anything, it gives us more depth and size on the blue line, which is never a bad thing. He'll be ready to go for the playoffs. Welcome back Juice.

JOE CORVO




ASSETS:
Has excellent scoring acumen from the back end and can run an effective power play due to a big shot and offensive instincts.
FLAWS: Plays a very risky game, which often leads to a slew of turnovers. Must tighten up his defensive-zone coverage. Isn't very physical.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Power play quarterback.

Joe Corvo is a good addition to the Power Play. That is about where I run out of positive things to say about him. He is known for making bad turnovers and not being great in his own zone (the absolute last thing we need). What he does is give the Caps a solid point man on the second PP unit. He could even pair with Mike Green and give Ovie the ability to work the corners with Backstrom and Semin/Knuble on the first unit, which would be very scary for opponents. Trading Pothier, Osala, and a second round pick for Corvo seems like too much. Corvo has the offensive edge over Pothier and Pothier probably has a slight edge defensively. Osala was one of my favorite players in the farm system and I'm sad to see him go. A second round pick on top of that was too much in my opinion. Still, if anything Corvo makes this team even more dangerous offensively.

Regardless of how I feel about these moves, I trust Mcphee's plan and since he has brought the team this far from almost nothing I do not think he would make a deal if he did not think it would help the club. When you don't unload any first round picks and give up one NHL defenseman who's a UFA at the end of the year anyway for 4 legitimate NHLers thats a win in my book. Plus, we basically got Chimera for Clark and a 6th. I'd say thats also a win. We'll see how it turns out.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Bold Move by the Predators

Round up

Caps acquire Scott Walker for a 7th round pick. Walker is a 2.5 million dollar cap hit. He is a good addition if you are looking for a role player. I am not sure they needed him but he may be good down the stretch. The Caps now have a surplus of forwards on their roster. Have to think that Gordon and Laing are the odd men out.

Eric Belanger to washington to a 2nd rounder. Good face off man, could help the PK.

Caps Reacquire Milan Jurcina from Columbus for a 6th round pick.

Caps trade Brian Pothier (d) prospect Oskar Osala and a 2nd rd pick in 2011 for Joe Corvo.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Trade Deadline!

Is it imperative that the Caps make a trade before tomorrow's deadline? As things stand right now the Caps are the class of the East. The burden of improving rosters falls on the teams who want to keep up with Washington. Having said that, I think complacency has the potential to be a recipe for disaster. If tomorrow passes and Washington makes no improvements but Pittsburgh and New Jersey make significant additions, well then the Caps may be in trouble.

I think Pittsburgh just answered my original question for me. According to TSN they picked up Alex Ponikarovsky from Toronto. Ponikarovsky is a big winger who has the potential to score goals when he is motivated. Sufficient to say the chance to go from one of the worst teams in the conference to the reigning league champs is a serious cause for motivation. I do not think this addition makes the Penguins as good as Washington but I still think this puts some pressure on George Mcphee.

The rumors surrounding the Caps are that they are shopping for a 2nd line center, rugged defenseman, or a goaltender. I agree that center is a position they may want to improve at. Thomas Fleischman has done a decent job since being converted to center but he is more valuable when he is playing wing. I have to think that if Mcphee is going after someone to fill this void it will be a seasoned vet with one year left on his contract. Saku Koivu is a name that comes to mind but I am not sure the Ducks would be willing to part with him and his cap hit is 3.25 mill.

I remember back to when Mcphee grabbed Fedorov at the deadline, up to that point in time its appeared that Fedorov's career was nearing its end. However playing for a young caps served as a shot in the former Hart Trophy winner's arm. While it may seem that I am grasping at straws, I think that with the addition of Mike Modano a similar situation could unfold. His cap hit would be 3.45 million but he could be a great addition to this team. He would provide needed veteran leadership and has the potential for significant offensive production. In order for this to happen the Caps would have to juggle some cap space and probably be willing to trade a pick or a prospect. There is probably no chance this deal comes to fruition but its nice to think about.

Chris Higgins was recently traded to Calgary from New York and may not be available but I think he would be a smart addition.

It has become no secret over the past few months that the Caps defense could use some upgrading. John Erskine has proved that he is a more than capable net clearing defenseman. It may be wise for the team to go out and get someone to help Erskine shoulder that load. Steve Staios is rumored to be a potential addition and he is right in the Caps price range. Aaron Ward is also available and his cap hit is only 2.5 million.

As far as goalies are concerned I really don't think there is any need for the Caps to make a play for one. Then again who cares what I think, George Mcphee is paid a healthy amount to make these types of decisions. Right now he is hard at work, while I am sitting here eating a bag of chips, getting crumbs on my keyboard, and writing my thoughts down on a blog that very few people read. In reality, my thoughts are not even worth the $.99 that it cost me to buy those chips from the 7-11 down the street. Having said that, Varlamov proved last year that he is capable of being a quality NHL goalie. Jose Theodore has proved this season he will make the big saves when they need to made. There is 0 reason for Mcphee to waste time and money on bringing another goalie here, unless of course he can magically work around the cap and get Ryan Miller.

The Caps were limited in what they could add last season because of their lack of cap space. This year they have the space, they also have enough depth in their organization where they can trade quality prospects with out mortgaging their future. Look for the Caps to make a move before tomorrow's deadline but don't be surprised if they stay quiet either. As I said earlier they are the front runners right now.

Heatley angered by winning the gold

"I was going to ask for a trade to team USA at the end of the period."

Sunday, February 28, 2010

If You Aint First You're Last

Losing in overtime of the gold medal game would have been devastating enough, losing in the gold medal game on a shot by Sidney Crosby made it all the worse. The euphoric feeling I had after watching last Sundays game between the US and Canadian hockey teams was replaced this week by one of misery. As the saying goes, "he who laughs last, laughs best" and as it were the Canadians have entered a state of uncontrollable laughter.

The US team exceeded all expectations during this tournament. There are not many people who predicted them to go down to the wire with the Canadians in the gold medal game. Generally, I am not a fan of winning a silver medal. Silver and bronze medals serve to sole purpose of glorifying losers. However, in this instance a silver medal is a truly remarkable accomplishment. The Americans were young and untested and they came into the tournament with very little respect from the rest of the hockey community. They leave today the second greatest hockey team in the world.

With 40 seconds left in today's game, I said to my friend, "They have to score, not only because they have to win but also because I am not ready for this tournament to end." Although the US would go on to lose, I still got my wish. This incredible tournament was capped off with the most dramatic of finishes.

These past two weeks have served as the rebirth of American hockey. There will be a bright future on the international stage for American teams. The Canadians will no longer be challenged only by countries from across the pond. The US showed that they are to seriously be considered when discussing the worlds greatest hockey playing country.

After all was said and done, watching the Canadians sing their anthem together I realized that in a more perfect world the Star Spangled Banner would be playing instead. Maybe next time and while these games we were not first, we certainly were not last. I suppose the universe is now back at equilibrium, Canada regains its supremacy in hockey, and I can go back to hating Brooks Orpik.

Friday, February 26, 2010

My Name is Joe...

And I've moved to America.
Remember this guy? The guy who grew to iconic status for embodying all things Canadian. Well one can hardly blame him for packing up his things and leaving Canada for the land of opportunity.



This is not meant to be propaganda against our neighbors from the north. I view them as hard working, honest, and good natured people. Canada as a country is one of our greatest allies on the world stage but when it comes to hockey I despise them. I hate Canadian Hockey like I hate the Taliban. There is nothing that I derive more pleasure from than watching America beat Canada in hockey. I remember less than two months ago hearing Don Cherry belittle the performance of the US Junior team at the WJC. His arrogance that day irked me to no end, at one point I could almost feel my head on the brink of explosion. In my state of unprecedented rage, I decided to take a step back and really think about what Cherry was saying. I likened him to a world leader speaking to his country at a time of great turmoil, doing everything in his power to instill confidence in his people. Despite losing to the US on home soil he wanted his followers to still feel as though they are the greatest hockey playing country in the world. Cherry's words may have soothed an entire nation after the World Junior's but do not think for one second they were not a nation in panic after last Sunday's stunning loss to the US.

It is no mystery that Canada wants nothing more from this Olympics than to win the Gold Medal in Mens Hockey. I also think there is little doubt as to which team the Canadians would like to beat in the Gold Medal Game. They couldn't care less about Finland, they want America, and they are out for blood. Don Cherry and his countrymen are desperate to exact revenge on the country that has embarrassed them twice in the past two months, both times on Canadian soil.

As Americans, we can say we already defeated the Canadians once these Olympic Games and reason we have nothing left to prove on our way to the Gold Medal. We can pull for the Slovaks in the hopes that their win would mean a much easier route to the gold. But I disagree. Yes, a gold medal is an incredible accomplishment for this team no matter who they defeat, but how much more satisfying would it be to beat the Canadians... again?

In recent days some people have attempted to make comparisons between this team and the "Miracle" team. The differences are too vast, these players are all professionals some of whom are NHL all stars. That team was entirely amateurs, playing against and defeating the best team in the world. While a gold in Vancouver for the US would be shocking, it would be no miracle.

On second thought, there is one similarity between the two teams. Neither could/can afford to do what this blogger has done and completely overlook the Fins.

My name is Peter... and I really want to beat the Canadians.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

On to the Medal Round

As far as let downs are concerned tonight's Russia Canada game may be one of the biggest of all time. It was not quite Caps Pens game 7 but it was close. The Canadians were dominant in every facet of the game. Not to discredit the dominance of the Canadians performance but the fate of this game was sealed two months ago when Russia announced its roster. Many people in the hockey community convinced themselves that the Russian's lack of depth would be overcome by the level of talent on their top two lines. I think its pretty safe to say we were wrong and the difference in level of talent between the KHL and NHL has been revealed.

If NHL players are allowed to play in 2014 in Sochi, then I hope the Russian roster is composed of only NHL players. The Russians did themselves a huge disservice by trying to build up the reputation of the KHL. They cost themselves a chance at a medal and to be blunt they humiliated their country on the world stage.

The Russian media may end up blaming the poor performance in Vancouver on the players, but they shouldn't. At least not entirely, the coaching was even more pathetic than the performance of the players. Bykov had multiple opportunities to pull Nabokov but yet he waited until his team was down 6-1. I understand the stigma on Russian hockey when it comes to replacing star goalies in big games, but come on. Nabokov's performance was so bad that I don't think he could have beaten the Chilean National team, let alone the Canadians.

Up Next for Canada is the winner of Sweden and Slovakia. After seeing tonight's game I am terrified for any team that has to play the Canadians. However, if anyone has the goal tending and talent to beat the Canadians, it's the Swedes.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Way to go Comrie

This is a link to a series of photos that shows Mike Comrie proposing to Hillary Duff. In most normal settings the guy is usually the one on his knees, correct?

http://boston.barstoolsports.com/random-thoughts/hillary-duff-teaches-all-girls-how-to-handle-getting-engaged/

Cam Janssen on Twitter

Cam Janssen is now on twitter, and is tweeting about his hit on Capitals forward Matt Bradley. He wrote last night, "After watching the replay of the hit I felt bad. It is part of the game and I talked to Bradley after. There might be a suspension involved." Janssen also went on to describe the hit from his perspective saying, "Its my job to set the tone early and play with that edge. In the situation w/ Bradley I thought the puck was in his skates."

Janssen has a bit of a reputation and I think people in the hockey community will take any opportunity to demonize him. Reading his thoughts on the hit have changed my personal opinion on the guy. It was an illegal hit but I do not think it was a malicious hit. He definitely should be suspended for his actions but certainly not demonized for it. I am curious to see how many games the NHL will give Janssen. They have had over a week to make a decision but mum appears to be the word from Colin Campbell's office.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Analyzing the Frontrunners: Top 4 Seeds

#1 USA

Well, who better to start with than the #1 seed. Team USA pulled off their own tiny miracle on ice yesterday, stunning a heavily favored and star powered Canadian team. Patrick Kane, Jamie Langenbrunner, Ryan Kesler and Brian Rafalski outplayed the likes of Sidney Crosby, Jerome Iginla, Rick Nash, and Scott Neidermayer for 60 minutes and never trailed. Ryan Miller's performance heavily overshadowed the mediocre performance at best that Martin Brodeur put in, and though the result was in doubt until the final 50 seconds, Team USA prevailed.

We always knew this team was good, but the sheer firepower of Canada, Russia, and Sweden almost made the Americans an afterthought. It was supposed to be all on Miller, and they would only be able to medal if he put in the performance of his life. Well, that talk is no more. The US has been the most complete and effective team in this tournament so far, with a special combo of grit, goaltending, natural scoring ability, and smart play and positioning, as well as a healthy mix of veterans and young studs.

Miller has been sensational and hasn't looked at all off his game. The roleplayers, especially Chris Drury, have been doing there job and more. Bobby Ryan, Kesler, Parise, Kessel, and Kane have been tearing it up, getting scoring chance after scoring chance and playing a hard, intimidating physical game. The defense is rock solid with Jack and Erik Johnson playing smart hockey, rarely out of position. Brian Rafalski is having the tournament of his life.

The US got a great draw by being the number 1 seed. They play the winner of Belarus and Switzerland at 3 PM ET on Wednesday, and if they advance (and they will), by the time they get to the semis either Canada or Russia will be out of the tournament. If they win the quarters they will face either the Czechs, Latvia, or Finland, who are all beatable. Do that, you've got a gold medal game.

This team is very good. They've earned this seed. And now, they have confidence. They havn't been beaten yet. The last US team that won a gold medal in the Olympics didn't lose a game. Lets hope for a repeat.


#2 SWEDEN

If there's one team I'm scared to meet in the Gold Metal game, its these guys. Their offense is clicking, with, among others, the Sedins, Foppa, and the ever dangerous and underrated pivot Nicklas Backstrom. They have Nick Lidstrom, perhaps the best defenseman of his generation, anchoring the blueline. They also happen to have the best goalie in the world. Henrik Lundqvist has allowed no goals in three games this tournament. Thats scary.

The Swedes have been quietly doing work, knocking off a very good Finland team last night in dominating fashion. They will play the winner of Slovakia and Norway (so Slovakia), and while that should be a good game the Swedes shouldn't have a problem. They will face with Russia or Canada in the Semi's which should be an incredible game either way. Who else wants to see an Ovechkin Backstrom showdown? Or see if Fedorov can recreate his high glove snipe on Lundqvist? Or see Douglas Murray lay out Sid? Lots of possibilities, and chances are we will see the Swedes take on one of those teams.

With their slick offense, well rounded defense, and top-of-the-class goaltending, no one would be surprised to see the Swedes cruise to the gold medal game. I guarantee the Americans will be watching what happens on this side of the bracket very closely.

#3 RUSSIA

How can you not bet the over on an offense that contains Ovechkin, Datsyuk, Semin, Malkin, and Kovalchuk, as well as two of the better goalies in the game in Nabokov and Bryzgalov? The Russians looked out of it for many stretches during the round robin play, but thats why you got a guy like Ovechkin on your squad. When he's not scoring goals, guarantee he will find a way to help your team. In the game against the Czechs, a close and hotly contested game, he changed the tide and sucked the life out of the Czechs and their superstar by absolutely destroying Jaromir Jagr open ice, which directly led to a Malkin goal off a slick backhanded pass from Semin.

Not much to say about this team; their assets are obvious, their flaws just as much so. They need to stay in games and they need to want to win more than the other team. They need to play smart defense and try not to win games by themselves as star players so often try to do.

Chances are they will play Canada in the quarters, and you better bet this team wants to take down the hometown boys. Ovechkin will be headhunting for Canada's favorite son, and the Canadian questions in net are not the best thing to have when playing possibly the most explosive offense ever assembled in hockey history. And Ovie is hungry. That's enough to strike fear into any opponent.

#4 FINLAND

Often overlooked, the Finns could have locked up a number one seed by beating the hated Swedes last night. They're a good team with a lot of potential and a skilled group of forwards backed up by a very formidable goaltender in Miikka Kiprusoff. Their offense is led by the veteran Teemu Selanne and cemented by very effective offensive players in Mikko Koivu and Olli Jokinen. Their defense is their weak point and they will be without Joni Pitkanen who is serving a one game suspension for a hit to the head.

All and all I don't see the Finns going far and if theres big potential for an upset by the Czechs (assuming they beat Latvia). Even if they make it far, I just don't think the Finnish defense can hold up against the big guns of the offensive powerhouses, as Sweden demonstrated last night. Teemu's sheer will and a sensational performance from Kippy could get them a good way, but I don't see them finishing particularly high. Look for the Czechs to capitalize.


Luongo to Start

As expected, Roberto Luongo will replace Martin Brodeur in goal tomorrow night.

10 interesting facts you may not know about 1980 Miracle on Ice - Joe Posnanski - SI.com

Article from SI

10 interesting facts you may not know about 1980 Miracle on Ice - Joe Posnanski - SI.com

Top 4 Seeds

1) USA 9 points
2) Sweden 9 points
3) Russia 7 Points
4) Finland 6 points

The rest of the field will compete for the final four spots in the quarterfinals. Tomorrow we will post an analysis of the top 7 seeds performance thus far, as well as projections for the medal round.

A Time for Reflection

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the greatest moment in the sports history. Though I was not alive when the game took place, I have still seen the footage countless times. I can think of no other event that preceded my lifetime that I so deeply desire to have witnessed. I concede that I will never fully understand the magnitude of what took place. I never lived in fear of Soviet attack, nor did I witness the effects of the Iranian hostage crisis, and I never endured a time when my country's dominance on the world stage was in question. I do, however, understand that at one of the lowest points in American history a hockey team momentarily lifted the morale of an entire nation.

In a "sliver of the Cold War" the mighty Soviets were upset by the US in Lake Placid, New York on February 22, 1980. Today, 30 years later we pay homage to the "miraculous" accomplishments of this team, by stunning the Soviets and winning the gold medal. It is also a good time to reflect on the late, Herb Brooks, and everything he did for American hockey.

Below is a video of the Captain of Team USA Mike Eruzione scoring the eventual game winning goal late in the 3rd period. As Eruzione so eloquently said, "three inches to the left and [he] would have been painting bridges."

Sunday, February 21, 2010

I'm sure a lot of other players would agree

“I wish I had a concussion. That way I would forget Ovechkin quicker.”
-Jaromir Jagr

Recap: USA 5, Canada 3

In case you have not heard, US hockey is having a pretty good 2010 in games against the Canadians. After a heartbreaking loss on the last day of 2009 in the World Juniors, the US has responded with two major upsets of their rivals to the north. Tonight was one of those upsets. The USA had a great all around game, withstanding flurry after flurry from a hungry Canadian team trying to avoid embarrassment on their home turf.

Some thoughts on the game:

  • We have pointed out that Ryan Miller needed to be spectacular for the USA to have a shot in these games. Well, he realizes that too, and put in a truly sensational performance in a game in which the US never trailed, largely due to his efforts.
  • Brian Rafalski has been Team USA's biggest offensive threat so far. And like we have mentioned before, its not the power of his shot or the quickness of his release, its the accuracy with which he directs the puck towards the net. Both goals (and the assist to Langenbrunner) were low, accurate shots that seemed to be placed just perfectly.
  • What an effort by Ryan Kessler. I think Corey Perry forgot he didn't have Marty back in the net, because he tried to block Kesler's body off, which simply allowed the Vancouver Canuck the room to sweep the puck into the empty cage. It was a killer for the Canadians, who seemed on the verge of scoring for the previous minute and a half.
  • How about Captain America? Jamie Langenbrunner got a crucial deflection off that Rafalski shot and put the US up by 2 and started the beginning of the Canadian panic attack. His presence was felt elsewhere as well, with his energy, quickness, and leadership propelling this US team.
  • Speaking of energy, Chris Drury was supposed to be an afterthought and many criticized his inclusion on the team. Two big goals for the US has put an end to that kind of talk.
  • No one can ever convince me that Canada doesn't need Mike Green. I am convinced that during that late flurry with two minutes in the third Greenie would have found a hole in Ryan Miller's armor with that patented snapshot of his, especially with how exhausted the USA forecheckers were. That's his forte.
  • Crosby got two of his own patented goals, a garbage goal in front of the net and a deflection from around the same area. Too bad that second one was against his own goalie.
  • Sweet move by Dustin Brown, faking the pass then going back between his legs a' la Ovechkin. Almost worked too.
So, Team USA stuns everyone and yet does what everyone was saying they had the potential to accomplish. If these two teams meet in the medal round, it will be a game for the ages. Right now though, the US gets to wait while Canada takes on Germany. I'm sure the Canadians are shaking in their skates.

But at this point for these guys, who knows?