The Peerless is on the air . . . LIVE!

The Peerless is coming to you live, from his family room, prognosticommentating on this evening's Ottawa - Pittsburgh contest . . .

7:00...Ottawa doesn't want the series to go any further. Now that's analysis. Right outta the gate, at that! Way to go, Andy.

7:02...meanwhile, "the greatest onus will fall on Sidney Crosby." Looks like Joe doesn't want to be outdone.

7:05...The Peerless wonders, does anyone actually buy a Bowflex TreadClimber, and do they use it as a clothes hanger?

7:07...Keith's right, Fleury has to be the difference. Nothing gives a team confidence like a goalie coming up big in their end.

7:10...time for the drop of the puck, and we've only heard Crosby's name twice?

7:11...Ottawa gets the first big chance. Alfredsson missed from in close...beautiful eye-hand stopping the puck and trying to bat it out of air.

7:13...penalty...penalty...5-on-3 for the Penguins.

7:14...Emery hangs on, Crosby issues his first whine.

7:16...another delay of game to Ottawa. The game could rest in the balance right here...and Emery is sharp early.

7:19...Crowd is into it, now...the penalties are killed

7:20...Pittsburgh is skating with their heads up, looking for Senators...and now another penalty, this one to Pittsburgh -- Orpik.

7:22...Ottawa doesn't have a shot and has killed three penalties. They score on this PP, it'll be a deflator for the Penguins.

7:25...excellent kill by Pittsburgh, didn't give Ottawa any time or space to collect the puck and make a play.

7:27...the teams seem to be settling into a rhythm. Ottawa still doesn't have a shot on goal, but they're starting to get looks -- a lot of pucks riccocheting in front of Fleury.

7:30...looks like Roberts is looking to start something...went high on Comrie and another Senator in the neutral zone.

7:33...nice play by Redden...played the reach on Staal, not the body. He took away any attack angle.

7:35...uh, question...did Malkin dress for this game?

7:38...Pittsburgh doing a good job getting sticks in the shooting and passing channels. Nothing is getting through to Fleury.

7:44...taking a penalty in the last minute...Orpik again.

7:46....and there's the horn...0-0 after one.

7:48...fun number: "2"...Pittsburgh had two shots on goal in the last 15:34 of the period. Deceptive number: "5"...Crosby had five of the Penguins' nine shots, but three of those came in a 27 second span four minutes in. Big number: "4:32"...the Senators were shorthanded for 4:22 of the first 5:32 of the game and did not yield a goal.

7:54...meanwhile, Kyle Wilson ties the Hershey game against Albany. This is a little too competitive for comfort in the first round.

8:03...the second starts, Ottawa on the PP...

8:05.....Alfie with a sweet from-behind-the-net pass to Heatley for the score, Ottawa draws first blood....and Fleury makes a big stop on Kelly on the next shift. Penguins need to settle down a bit.

8:07...FLURRRR-EEEE...FLURRRR-EEEEE . . . and the kid accommodates...another big save. Fisher is not a happy guy.

8:10....Volchenkov goes off...two minutes for falling on Crosby.

8:12....welcome to the game, Geno....about time.

8:13....and there goes Vermette...dinky-doo, and in, while he's being hauled down from behind...2-0.

8:14...the momentum has certainly shifted....Pittsburgh goes to the box -- Ouellet. A PP goal here, and we're just about done.

8:19....yeesh, now that was an ugly power play.

8:25...Malkin seen ordering a dog with chili and mustard on the concourse.

8:27...and speaking of MIA, where's Colby Armstrong?

8:29...Roberts tried to hit Fisher from behind. Roberts bounced off him and onto his own bee-hind...fans chanting RAHHH-berts...RAHHH-berts...

8:36....Ottawa is wearing them down..they're winning races to the puck and battles along the boards....and it pays off -- Kelly jams it home...Scuderi got tangled up with Fleury, and Kelly had an empty net to shoot at...3-0

8:38....Comrie in alone, beats Fleury clean -- CLANG!....off the far post.

8:40...end of two...standing-O for the home team...and whose name was conspicuously not mentioned in this period?...Sidney Crosby.

8:41...fun number: "25" -- Ottawa is outhitting Pittsburgh, 25-13 through two periods. It's taking a toll. Funner number: "8" -- Pittsburgh has eight shots total in the last 35:34. Funnest number: "1" -- the combined shots on goal in the second for Crosby, Malkin, and Staal.

8:46...The Peerless has one ear tuned to the Hershey feed...2-1, Bears, the third period just underway.

8:50...Fluery needed to be great. He's been good...that's why the Penguins are down 3-0. "Good" ain't gonna cut it in April.

8:53...a commercial for something called, "The Slice Bullet" -- some contraption to eliminate a slice from your golf shot. $29.95, plus shipping and handling. My God, IT'S A HOCKEY PUCK WITH A STRING ON IT!!!

8:58...Volchenkov, closing his hand on the puck....two minutes. Why does The Peerless think that won't be the last time we see McCreary make a call?

9:02...Ottawa, too many men...uh, yup, they got caught...

9:04...why is it that Michel Therrien always looks like he's posing for a statue in the town square when he's behind the bench?

9:05...Malkin took a shot....it didn't get through, but at least it's a sign of life.

9:07...delayed penalty to Pittsburgh....and a penalty to Ottawa on the same shift...goaltender interference to Ottawa?....uh, ok.

9:11...Alfie almost stuck the dagger in...still, Ottawa is making Pittsburgh skate 200 feet every time down the ice -- they're getting the puck in deep, working the clock.

9:13...Ottawa will play catch with the puck behind the Penguin net for the rest of the night if Pittsburgh is going to let them...

9:17...looking at the shift chart, Crosby and Gonchar have missed about three minutes of time in the first 11 minutes of the period.

9:18...Volchenkov hit by Roberts....Volchenkov absent from the Senator bench...he was holding his arm to his side when he came off...looked like a shoulder injury.

9:21...the Penguin bench looks devoid of life...

9:24...Senator fans are singing...winding down to four minutes....Pittsburgh will need to think about lifting Fleury...and there is Emery to shut the door again. Fleury hasn't been bad, but Emery is the better goalie on this ice tonight. Right now, he should get the game's first star for his work during all that Penguin PP time in the first.

9:30...and now, it's handshake time....3-0.



Numbers....

- Pittsburgh had 13 shots in the last 55:34.
- Ottawa killed the last 15 shorthanded situations they faced in the series.
- Pittsburgh had only 10 of 18 skaters register a shot on goal; only four managed more than one shot (Malone, Gonchar, Malkin, Crosby)
- Therrien drastically shortened his bench in the third -- Laraque: 2 shifts, Armstrong: 4 shifts, Christensen: 5 shifts, Talbot: 5 shifts, Ouellet: 2 shifts
- Crosby looks to have played about 12 minutes of the third period.
- Ryan Whitney had 8:37 of power play time and did not register a shot...he had no shots at all for the game.
- Chris Phillips had a whale of a game...26:35 of ice time (four minutes more than any other Senator), six hits, five blocked shots, and not a single turnover.
- Anton Volchenkov probably would have had Phillips' numbers but for the short stint shaking off his injury at the hands of Roberts. As it was, he still had 22:36 in ice time, three hits, five blocked shots, and no turnovers (makes the two minors he took easier to take).

Some observations on a Tuesday night...

- How long (in seconds) will it take the Thrashers to clear out everyone down to the equipment guy after looking for all the world like a kennel of whipped puppies in their series against the Rangers, once the Blueshirts put them out of their misery.

- Speaking of Atlanta, Marian Hossa's picture is on milk cartons all over the Atlanta area.

- The Peerless is looking for a reason in the numbers why Ottawa has a three-games-to-one lead after tonight’s win in Pittsburgh. The only thing he can figure out . . . Ottawa’s just better.

- Minnesota has the ugliest uniforms in the history of man . . . looks like they’re channeling the 1987 New Jersey Devils. They look like they were designed by Helen Keller on crack.

- Speaking of Minnesota, Derek Boogaard is a very large man. Men that large should not be able to stand on skates. I swear, he has his own gravitational field.

- Hey, it ain’t Marty’s fault (Turco or Brodeur).

- If anyone thought Jay Pandolfo, Sergei Brylin, Brian Gionta, and John Madden would be a combined -12 for the Devils, raise your hand.

- Ladies and gentlemen, your leading scorer for the Buffalo Sabres (so far)...Dainius Zubrus

- San Jose/Nashville is still the best series of the first round.

- Willie Mitchell will not get a holiday greeting from Mike Ribiero.

- Buffalo will move on to the second round, but they’ll pay to get there.

- Joe Beninati is really, really good on play-by-play. The Peerless could listen to him do every game.

- Uh, when Pittsburgh is eliminated, how on earth will the NHL and their U.S. television partners at NBC and Versus market the games? Come watch Daniel Briere spear somebody? Watch Chris Chelios grow liver spots? Pick out the Niedermayer? The Sedin?

- Is that wall of red in the stands in Calgary impressive, or what? If you don't think so, go watch "Dancing with the Stars."

In defense of the early morning...

Thanks to frasnap on The Official, The Peerless had a chance to read this essay from The Sporting News’ Kara Yorio . . . here is the money quote:

“If the shootout is a good enough way to decide how teams get into the playoffs, then it should be a good enough way to decide who wins the games once they're there -- after teams have been given a long enough chance to finish things off with that ‘real hockey.’

“Asking these players to play beyond two overtimes is unfair, unhealthy, mentally and physically exhausting and detrimental to the quality of hockey that comes in later games.”

To be charitable, The Peerless disagrees. If he wasn’t charitable, he might say something like this . . .

Really?...

Unfair to whom? The fan? I'm guessing no, since OT games are often the stuff of legend that endures in hockey conversations. The players? Well, no -- on two counts. First, it is not unfair to the opponents within the series, since each has to endure the overtime. And for anyone who wants to argue that it puts an advancing club at a disadvantage for the next round, then how do you explain away the advantage a club gets by closing out a series early? If we are to "even the ice," so to speak, should we not require the club that sweeps a series to keep playing, so as to maintain an even level of effort expended?

Unhealthy? These are some of the most well-conditioned athletes on the planet (I'd argue hockey requires more conditioning, and a wider range of athletic skill, than just about any other team sport). And, how many players have suffered season-ending or career threatening injuries as a result of a long overtime session? Take your time; we’ll wait while you Google that question.

Detrimental to the quality of hockey that comes in later games? We'll stipulate that if this was to occur in a game 7, the winning club might face a disadvantage in the first game of the ensuing series -- a product of the previous game's effort and focus. But that is: a) one game (where is the effect demonstrated in later games?), and b) it's a part of the obstacle course. It is this odyssey in an effort to win 16 games – including the odd 100-plus-minute game – that makes hockey, “hockey.”

The argument -- "Protect the players. Value the hockey. End the endurance test (as she puts it) -- is just so much nonsense on its face....but The Peerless is arguing against a tsunami. Within five years, we’ll wager, there will be a shootout following one full 20-minute overtime period in all but games 7 of series. And it will have nothing whatsoever to do with "protecting the players."

At that point, I'll rather watch poker.

Bright Shiny Toys

The Peerless is in a really, really bad mood today. Maybe it's a product of watching 16 other teams having a good time. This little piece of it has been brewing for a couple of days now. The issue -- a "Caps-themed browser." Here is the story:

The Washington Capitals have partnered with Brand Thunder, a leader in computer browser branding, to create the first team-branded Internet browser in professional sports.

The customized Firefox theme allows fans to stay informed on the most up-to-date Capitals’ news no matter what website they are visiting. Once the browser theme is downloaded to a fan’s computer, the program transforms the average browser into a Capitals-themed experience. Additionally, there is an interactive toolbar that allows fans to purchase tickets, check out the Caps upcoming schedule and keep tabs on their favorite player by visiting the team roster. There is also a news scroll that keeps fans informed of recent Caps happenings.

“Brand Thunder’s customized theme helps our fans show their love of the Caps while keeping them informed with the latest Caps news,” said Sean Parker, the Capitals’ director of new media. “We are extremely pleased to be the first professional sports team to have a customized browser.”

“It extends the brand by using a fresh, innovative and effective channel,” said Patrick Murphy, CEO of Brand Thunder. “Themes offer passionate users another avenue to display their affinity while facilitating more frequent and focused communication to consumers.”

The display is simple and easy for fans to use and gives them the chance to stay on top of what is happening with the team, while working or relaxing on the Internet.

Well, gee...let's make sure we "transform the average browser into a Capitals-themed experience," because the experience at the rink sure hasn't been a lot to get excited about the last three seasons.

The Peerless is really, really tired of the gimmicky crap that surrounds this team. Anyone remember the Caps being the first club to offer a ticket for opening night on a CD a few years back? Yeah, that caught on. Here is a bulletin -- fundamentals matter, and winning sells. Need a glimpse of how?...here's an example (thanks to TANK1 on The Official for pointing this out). And this is a club that teetered on the brink of bankruptcy just a few years ago -- they sold out their season this year. They have almost 15,000 STHs and a season ticket waiting list of 6,000.

Meanwhile, the Caps have bright shiny toys.

Broken

The Caps -- as an organization that caters to fans -- looks broken.

An indication...this morning, my account was updated for next year's season tickets (even though the invoice date says April 10th). I can't say I was "notified" -- either by post or electronic mail. I received news of this from a diligent poster on The Official who checks his account regularly. I checked mine, and sure enough, it was updated. But here is the kicker...I have until Wednesday -- this Wednesday, the 18th -- to renew.

What sort of nonsense is this?

An apologist for the club might argue that the date is only slightly later than last year's due date for renewals (that would be a fact), but I'm guessing most fans do not return home from their daily work or chores with the first thing on their mind being, "hmm, did the Caps update my account manager, yet?"

Not only that, but the new pricing schedule apparently results in some substantial increases for some seats at the top of the arena.

I have no idea what is going on behind the closed doors of the front office; all I can see is what's oozing from underneath. And from what I'm seeing, there seems to be almost an intentional effort to cheese off "core" fans. All the carny barker blather that "We also want our fans to feel as though they are appreciated year-round, because they are. We love the fans we have, and we cherish our relationship with them..." aside, is this how you treat returning fans?

Let me be clear...I've been a fan of this franchise since I moved here from Michigan in 1984. Just about the first thing I did when I moved in was to enroll in a partial season ticket plan. When my own bottom line improved, I was able to upgrade that to a full season plan that I hold now. As a product of my utter disgust over the lockout and the run up to it, I changed my seating from the lower level loge to the second row of the balcony for the 2005-2006 season. But, I've kept my full season plan.

I will renew this year, because I see a glimmer of hope for what is on the ice. But just as this is a crossroads summer for the club, next year is one for this fan. I very nearly cancelled my STH plan after the lockout. If this is the way the club is going to treat its existing fan base (and I hardly think I'm alone), then that might be a decision to revisit upon the conclusion of next year.

The Peerless' Peerless Awards...

And now, The Peerless is proud to present...the last award prognostications you'll ever need (or perhaps even want).

Tonight’s first award to be presented is the Lester Patrick Trophy presented for outstanding service to hockey in the United States…and the winner is…

Brett Hull (shown here with the surgically implanted microphone)

“Wait, he’s not eligible.”

Huh?

“Only players, officials, coaches, executives, and referees are eligible.”

Well, The Brettster thinks he’s all five . . . besides, his goofy commentary makes one appreciate real players, officials, coaches, executives, and referees. Who could possibly be more outstanding?

Next is the presentation of the King Clancy Award given to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community. And the winner is…

Ed Belfour, Florida Panthers

When things were going poorly in Florida, and Alex Auld went down with a knee injury, The Eagle was there to go 14-7-5 and lead the Panthers to a 12^th place finish. Then to celebrate, he led teammate Ville Peltonen on a night on the town when the pair were asked to leave a club by police, whereupon Belfour assumed a “fighting stance.” According to one report, “Belfour pulled away from the officer trying to arrest him and grabbed his shirt. The hockey player then fell forward on the ground, kicking and refusing to place his hands behind his back, the report said. Belfour had slurred speech, blood shot eyes and smelled of alcohol, police said. He was charged with disorderly intoxication and resisting an officer without violence.”

Truly, a leader of men, on and off the ice.

And now, the Lady Byng Trophy, given to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability. And the winner is…

Toby Petersen, Edmonton Oilers (here, in a "Byngish" pose)

Hey, it’s got to go to someone who plays a lot (64 games), gets almost no penalties (4 PIMs) for the year, and that you’ll forget ten minutes from now, like an episode of “House.” And besides, “Toby” is a “Lady Byng” kind of name.

We now present the Frank J. Selke Trophy, given to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game. The Peerless has a theory about this…players who score a lot ar not eligible. First, their plus-minus look inflated, and besides, they already have enough awards for offensive guys. Second, it must go to a player whose first name is “Gritty” – as in Gritty Kris Draper or Gritty John Madden. Third, it must go to a player the casual fan pays no attention to, so as to reflect the judges “we know more about hockey than you do” attitude. And the winner is…

Gritty Mike Fisher, Ottawa Senators (here, applying the full Selke to an opponent)

The Peerless knew a Mike Fisher in college…he doesn’t think it’s the same one.

Next up is the Jack Adams Award presented to the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success. Seeing as how the coach is prohibited from the rules from playing (at least while wearing a suit), his contributions are pretty much limited to snappy wardrobe, an evil stare that looks good on TV (one leg up on the bench always looks good – makes him look thoughtful…the Michel Therrien pose), a talent for a quick snappy quote for the media (although appearing to whine is a bad thing…Lindy Ruff, this means you), and a leather-lunged ability to abuse referees about their parentage. Oh, and playoffs…it would be good if your team was in the playoffs. And the winner is…

John “Guys and Dolls” Tortorella, Tampa Bay Lighting.

And now, we come to the James Norris Memorial Trophy presentation given to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position. That’s a code phrase for “defenseman with the most points.” And the winner is…

Scott Niedermayer (69 points), Anaheim Ducks

The Peerless wonders why this isn’t renamed “The Paul Coffey Memorial Trophy”

Next on tonight’s cavalcade of hardware is the Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy given to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. It goes to someone who was injured and came back. The Peerless notices that there are slim pickings among the top scorers for guys who are coming back from serious injury, so the winner is…

Eric Lindros, Blue Cross/Blue Shield

09-Mar-07: Groin, day-to-day.
27-Feb-07: Missed 6 games (lower body injury).
11-Feb-07: Lower body injury, day-to-day.
09-Jan-07: Missed 7 games (foot injury).
26-Dec-06: Foot injury, day-to-day.
12-Dec-06: Missed 4 games (bruised foot).
04-Dec-06: Bruised foot, day-to-day.

He gets hurt a lot. Still managed to score five goals in 49 games.

And now, we get to the portion of the show for awards that fans actually pay attention to. First is the Calder Memorial Trophy given to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League. The Peerless being, well, “The Peerless," he’s noticed a certain pattern in the award of this trophy. There is actually a code here – G-F-D-G-F. No, it’s not some new DNA sequencing thing, and The Peerless isn’t channeling John Forbes Nash. The last five awards have gone: goalie-forward-defenseman-goalie-forward. You know what that means . . . and the winner is…

Marc-Edouard Vlasic, defenseman, San Jose Sharks

The Vezina Trophy is given to the goalkeeper adjudged to be the best at this position. The Peerless has a singular affection for a trophy awarded to guys named Tiny (Thompson), Turk (Broda), Apple Cheeks (Lumley), Bunny (Larocque), and Gump (Worsley). These days, though, it seems to go to guys with foreign sounding names – Olaf, Mar-TAN, Jose (not, “ho-zay”), Dominik, Miikka (must be good…even his name has redundant consonants and vowels). So, the winner is…

That Mar-TAN guy…Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils

The penultimate presentation is for the Lester B. Pearson Award presented annually to the "most outstanding player" in the NHL. “Most outstanding player” is a code phrase for “consolation prize to the loser of the Hart Trophy.” Trouble this year is that the Hart candidates are The Golden Child and two goalies…and goalies have their own award. So, The Peerless will go off the board on this one. And the winner is…

Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks (his uncanny ability to levitate pucks impressed the judges)

And now, the climax to our ceremonies, the presentation of the Hart Memorial Trophy, given to the player judged to be the most valuable to his team. Please note…given to the player judged to be the most valuable to his team. No, really…given to the player judged to be the most valuable to his team. The Peerless doesn’t read that as “best player in the league.” That’s what the Pearson is for. No, The Peerless gazes deep into his crystal ball (which looks remarkably like a beer mug) and asks, if this guy was plucked by Martians from the face of the earth, would his club still be a playoff team or be a contender for he Cup? Well, there is this one guy . . . since December 12^th and a 5-2 in over Phoenix, this player finished the season with a 33-9-5, 2.14 GAA, .928 SV record, lifting his team from one game below .500 (14-15-1 before that December 12^th game) to a 49-26-7 record, the Northwest Division title, and a three-seed in the playoffs. No one meant more – was more valuable to his team – than The Peerless’ winner of the Hart Trophy…

Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks

We stand humble in the shadow of greatness

This is damned good stuff . . . really, really damned good stuff.

I don't care who y'are, that's good bloggin' right there. There really isn't anything I can add that would improve on the exchanges themselves.

Must See Hockey

Sometimes, what the league wants, the league doesn’t get.

The league palpably yearns for a long, compelling Pittsburgh/Ottawa series that would ultimately be won by Pittsburgh, the more to see Sidney Crosby.

Sorry…the most compelling first round series might be unfolding in Nashville, where the Predators and the San Jose Sharks have developed a healthy amount of bile for each other based on the first two games.

The revealing statistics pertain to penalty minutes. For the season, San Jose ranked 26^th in total PIMs, Nashville 16^th. These are not, by and large, teams that skirt outside the rules.

That was before Scott Hartnell and Jonathan Cheechoo collided knee-on-knee, leaving Cheechoo injured and out for the remainder of the contest.

photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Predictably, the clubs had different takes on the matter. Sharks coach Ron Wilson…

"It could be serious. It was like a two-part attack. It was an elbow to the mouth that knocked a tooth out and the knee-on-knee contact, which you've got two of the worst things that we have in hockey ... If that's not trying to hurt somebody, I don't know what is."

Predators coach Barry Trotz saw a different scene…

"It's unfortunate when anybody gets hurt in the game. But looking at it, I thought it was a pretty clean hit. I mean they did collide knee on knee. But there was no sticking out of the knee."

Whatever, the clubs have taken to evening the ledger on the ice. In the 119 minutes of hockey played since that incident, the clubs have totaled 174 minutes in penalties, 141 of that in last night’s 5-2 win by the Predators to even the series. The 84 minutes piled up by Nashville – including two game misconducts to the aforementioned Scott Hartnell – represents more than seven percent of their entire regular season total. For Hartnell, that’s a kneeing, a fighting, and three game misconducts in the series thus far. Add in tripping and unsportsmanlike conduct minors, at it’s clear Mr. Hartnell has been busy – 44 minutes worth of penalties busy. He has only 23:29 in total ice time in the two games. He might be asked to take a breather, courtesy of the league.

In addition to Mr. Hartnell’s antics, we have Alexander Radulov – he of the 26 minutes in 64 games this year – taking a run at Steve Bernier from behind, checking him face first into the boards to earn 15 minutes of his own quiet time, perhaps to contemplate the importance of that play when he’d already scored three goals in this series.

photo: AP Photo/Neil Brake

The rumble of thunder yet to come came in a comment by Shark’s center Joe Thornton . . .

"I think Colin Campbell has a job, and his job is to review these plays. I'm sure if he wants us to play this way, we can play this way. It's in his hands, and we'll see what happens."

This series has gotten personal. It is at the moment the most compelling story in the first round.

Congratulations Bears!

Last night, the Hershey Bears won three trophies in what, hopefully, will be capped by a repeat Calder Cup win, pounding the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, 6-1, in Wilkes-Barre.

By virtue of the win, the Bears skated off with the F.G. (Teddy) Oke Trophy, presented by the AHL to the East Division champion, the Frank S. Mathers Trophy as Eastern Conference champion, and the MacGregor Kilpatrick Trophy (and is that a great name, or what?) as the AHL regular season points leader.

The Bears are at the top of their game as they prepare for the first round playoff series by finishing up their last two regular season games at Binghamton and at Philadelphia. Last night, they abused the Penguins in their own building to the tune of five goals in the first 16 minutes, chasing starting former Bear goaltender Nolan Schaefer (0-3-0 with Hershey this season...), to end the competitive portion of the evening quickly.

Against the other East Division playoff teams over the course of the season, the Bears stack up as follows:

vs. Albany: 7-1-0, 35GF/17GA
vs. Norfolk: 5-4-1, 38/33
vs. WBS: 6-4, 35-27

The Bears struggled against Norfolk in the second half, going 1-3-1 in the last five meetings. Against the Penguins, however, Hershey won five of the last six meetings, their only loss coming as the Penguins scored the tying and winning goals 13 seconds apart late in the Bears' third game in three nights.

With the reassignment of defenseman Mike Green and forwards Tomas Fleischmann, Eric Fehr and David Steckel to Hershey, the Bears appear ready to defend their title. One hopes that this will be a tale Chris Bourque will tell and re-tell in the years to come . . . "Listen, my children, and you shall hear...a wonderful tale of a special Bear year..."

The Peerless Prognosticator Brings You - - the Western Conference Prognostications

And now, having covered the East, we’ll turn to the West . . .

Detroit Red Wings (1) – Calgary Flames (8)

Season Series: Tied, 2-2

Series Theme: “Flames versus Flame Outs”

Fun Fact: Detroit has been eliminated in the first round in nine of their last 20 playoff appearances

The clubs exchanged a couple of one-goal games; they’ve exchanged a couple of three-goal games. The home team has won every game. They’ve alternated wins. Detroit scored 254 goals, Calgary 258. Detroit has had 398 power play opportunities, Calgary 401. Detroit has been shorthanded 408 times, Calgary 414. Detroit is 17.1 percent on the power play, Calgary 18.2. Detroit is 84.6 percent on the penalty kill, Calgary 80.4. They both wear red. Not a dime’s difference between them, eh?

Not quite . . . Detroit lost four – count ‘em, four – home games in regulation this season, and Calgary was not a good road team (13-20-8).

Detroit in seven.

**********

Anaheim Ducks (2) – Minnesota Wild (7)

Season Series: Tied, 2-2 (Minnesota has a shootout win)

Series Theme: “Wild versus Wild”

Fun Fact: Pierre-Marc Bouchard has one-fourth of his season goal output against the Ducks (5-of-20)

Anaheim had more fighting majors than any club in the league. They nearly lapped the field (71 to 47 for second place Phoenix). A lot of good that’ll do them here . . . every game in the season series was a one goal affair, but the series ended before New Years, making this a tougher read. But here is perhaps the telling statistic . . . Anaheim, which finished second in the league standings, was 20-13-8 since the last meeting with the Wild. On the other hand, the Wild are 28-9-6.

At the start of the season, Anaheim was The Peerless’ pick to win it all. But they have the problem of playing the one club that seems to have given them consistent trouble (all the games were one-goal games, all won by the home team). Anaheim will move on, but this could go to overtime in a seventh game.

Anaheim in seven.

**********

Vancouver Canucks (3) – Dallas Stars (6)

Season Series: Tied, 2-2 (Vancouver has a shootout win, Dallas an overtime win)

Series Theme: “I’d rather have bad luck than no luck at all”

Fun Fact: Roberto Luongo hasn’t played a playoff game of any sort in a North American league since 2000, with Lowell in the AHL, but in six international tournaments since he has a 2.02 GAA.

22 games, 8-14, 2.53, .892, two straight one-and-done. That is the length of chain forged by Stars’ goaltender Marty Turco in career playoff work that he drags behind him. Think that won’t be a factor? And he’s the one with the experience. So, is it better to have bad luck in playoffs?... or none?

This is another of those season series where every game was decided by one goal or in a shootout. And again, the home team won every contest. Both clubs had a strong finishing kick – Vancouver is 28-8-6 since the start of the new year; Dallas is 25-10-7. If there is one statistic that stands out, it is this – Vancouver led the league in penalty killing; Dallas was 11^th. That’s not the good part . . . despite that, Vancouver gave up only two fewer power play goals than did Dallas, a product of have to kill off 59 more short-handed situations (15.7 percent more). Vancouver has to keep from giving up too many short-handed situations to nullify their penalty-killing advantage – Dallas had the sixth fewest shorthanded situations in the league.

Turco will not win the series for Dallas, but their defense and discipline very well could.

Dallas in seven

**********

Nashville Predators (4) – San Jose Sharks (5)

Season Series: Nashville, 3-1 (including a shootout win)

Series Theme: “Too many cooks spoil the broth”

Fun Fact: Joe Thornton leads all scorers in this series without having the benefit of scoring a goal of his own (0-7-7)

This is a series marked by having four goaltenders, any one of whom could start. Tomas Vokoun went down with an injury, enter Chris Mason . . . he only finished second in the league in save percentage (Vokoun was fifth). Evgeni Nabokov has not lost a game in regulation in more than a month (March 2, 3-1 to Anaheim). But Vesa Toskala had more wins for the year (26 to 25) in fewer appearances (38 to 50). How the coaches handle the goalies is a subplot to this series.

San Jose finished stronger (7-1-2 in their last ten to 5-3-2 for Nashville), but the Sharks played Phoenix, Los Angeles (twice), and Chicago – they won all four games. Nashville had their own patsies, beating Edmonton twice and St. Louis. They did, however, lose in a shootout to Chicago.

It could come down to this…starting on St. Patrick’s Day, Peter Forsberg played in each of the Predators’ last ten games. He was 1-8-9, +6 in those games. If he’s healthy, he’s the wild card in this series.

Nashville in seven.

The Peerless' Profound Playoff Prognostication -- First Round in the East

Well, here we are, and The Peerless is poised to present the positively preeminent prognostications for your perusal. Let’s get right to the picks in the East . . .

Buffalo Sabres (1) – New York Islanders (8)

Season Series: Buffalo, 3-1

Series Theme: “Slugs versus Pugs”

Fun Fact: Daniel Briere has no goals against the Islanders this year.

The Islanders snuck in on the last day of the regular season by virtue of having cashed their Bettman token – a shootout win over the Devils. The Sabres sleepwalked through their finale against the Flyers with Ty Conklin in goal and Daniel Briere checking the Philly restaurant guide for some good skewered cuisine. Speaking of sleep-walking, Alexei Yashin had one point in four games against the Sabres this year.

In a perfect world, Chris Simon deposits Daniel Briere in Long Island Sound at some point in this series. Well, Simon was asked to take a vacation, and in the meantime, the Islanders are being backstopped by a goaltender named, “Dubie.” The Peerless wouldn’t bet your money on the Islanders, let alone his own…

Buffalo in four.

**********

New Jersey Devils (2) – Tampa Bay Lightning (7)

Season Series: Tampa Bay, 3-1 (including a shootout win)

Series Theme: “Good Marty versus Evil Marty”

Fun Fact: No Devil has more than two points against the Lightning this year

OK, so “good” and “evil” depend on your point of view. On the one hand, we have Martin Brodeur, iron-man goaltender, the rock upon which the Devils edifice is built, a sure-fire hall of famer, likely to be the winningest goalie (without an asterisk) in the history of the game when he retires. On the other hand, we have a midget.

You choose.

This is the “irresistible force meets immovable object series,” one with Stanley Cup pedigrees all over the place. It says here that goaltending and defense win at this time of year – the Devils have that, the Lightning don’t.

New Jersey in six.

**********

Atlanta Thrashers (3) – New York Rangers (6)

Season Series: Atlanta, 3-1 (including two overtime wins)

Series Theme: “’Baby’ Blue versus Broadway Blue”

Fun Fact: Adam Hall is tied for the Rangers' lead in PP goals against Atlanta...trouble is, he's in Minnesota now

Atlanta has never played a playoff game – ever. The Rangers have the bad taste of last year’s thwapping at the hands of the Devils that included the further insult of Jaromir Jagr separating his shoulder trying to throw a punch. Both clubs feature excellent young goaltenders, both clubs have high-end offensive performers (the Thrashers have more of them), both clubs can play with a bit of an edge (Atlanta has more of that), and there is that whole Atlanta winning the season series thing, the last three in a row. So?

New York Rangers in seven

**********

Ottawa Senators (4) – Pittsburgh Penguins (5)

Season Series: Pittsburgh, 3-1 (including two shootout wins)

Series Theme: “Groundhog Day”

Fun Fact: Ray Emery's been bad in this series (3.17, .863)...Marc-Andre Fleury's been worse (4.10, .886)

Hey, readers, you know the drill . . .

First D.J.: Okay, campers, rise and shine, and don't forget your booties 'cause it's cooooold out there today.

Second D.J.: It's coooold out there every day. What is this, Miami Beach?

First D.J.: Not hardly. And you know, you can expect hazardous travel later this week with that, you know, that, uh, that first round of the playoffs thing.

Second D.J.: [mockingly] That playoff - thing. That playoff - thing. Oh, well, here's the report! The National Hockey League is calling for a "big playoff thing!"

First D.J.: Yessss, they are. But you know, there's another reason why this week is especially exciting.

Second D.J.: Especially cold!

First D.J.: Especially cold, okay, but the big question on everybody's lips...

Second D.J.: - On their chapped lips...

First D.J.: - On their chapped lips, right: Do ya think Ottawa is finally going to win a Cup?

Second D.J.: The Ottawa Senators!

First D.J.: Thats right, hockey puck-chuckers - it's

[in unison]

First D.J.: PLAYOFF CHOKE TIME!

Second D.J.: PLAYOFF CHOKE TIME!

In a way, it hardly matters that the Senators are playing the Penguins. On the other hand, it matters a lot, since this is (in the eyes of some) the marquee matchup of the first round – a product of you-know-who’s first career playoff series. If Ottawa starts slowly, they’re toast, no matter what the disparity is in playoff experience. Ottawa is carrying a cargo hold of baggage, the Penguins are carrying a Game Boy.

Penguins in five.

The Playoffs have begun . . . in the AHL

The playoffs have already started . . . in the AHL, that is.

Last night, Hershey opened a five-game sprint to the end of the regular season with a 6-1 smacking of the Norfolk Admirals, perhaps ending the Admirals’ ambitions to finish at the top of the Eastern Conference. Hershey has a four point lead with four games to play, and one game in hand over Norfolk.

But no sooner is that challenge met then the Bears have to face Wilkes-Barre/Scranton tonight at Giant Center. Hershey will, in fact, play a home-and-home this week against the Penguins (the teams meet at Wilkes-Barre on Friday) that will, no doubt, have a playoff feel to it. The Bears and Penguins each have four wins in the season series to date, and the clubs have split the results on each other’s ice (the only odd result – a shootout win for Hershey on February 12^th).

If Hershey has incentive this week, it is in the ugly way they lost the last meeting to the Penguins on April Fools Day. Carrying a 2-0 lead into the last five minutes of the contest, thoughts of whether Frederic Cassivi would hang onto a shutout evaporated as the Penguins scored three goals – the last two coming in a 13-second span – to escape Giant Center with the 3-2 win.

Winning both games would clinch the top spot in the league for the Bears; losing both would almost certainly leave the Bears looking up at the Penguins in the final standings. And, it would be a statement – not a pleasant one for Bears fans – in that the Penguins would have won the last three games of the season set.

Both clubs are 8-2-0 in their last ten games. Hershey is likely to get a boost from the addition of defenseman Mike Green, center Tomas Fleischmann, right wing Eric Fehr (injured) and left wing David Steckel.

So, for the Bears – and the Penguins and the Admirals (all with at least 104 points) – the playoffs have begun.

Michigan State University . . . National Champions

Take that, Boston College . . . and Maine . . . and Notre Dame . . . and for good measure, you too, Meeeechigan.

The Green and White are national champions of NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey, a product of one of the more thrilling finishes to a final one would ever want to see – a 3-1 victory over a high-octane Boston College Golden Eagles squad last night in St. Louis.

It’s been 21 years since the last MSU ice hockey championship – 1986 against Harvard in the final – and this has to be among the more satisfying championships in any Spartan team sport. The program has struggled – comparatively speaking – since coach Ron Mason was kicked upstairs to the AD’s chair. Rick Comley – no slouch as a coach himself (he has a national championship as coach of Northern Michigan in 1991 and nine Hobey Baker finalists to his credit) – has been the target of much grumbling among the Spartan faithful . . . well, gee, The Peerless doesn’t understand why there should be any pressure on a guy who is replacing a coach for whom the Central Collegiate Hockey Association’s championship trophy is named, one who is still his boss.

MSU became the second three-seed to play in a national final (Boston College was the first, last year) and the first to take home the trophy. Figures. The Spartans are as lunch-pail a group as there is in collegiate hockey, one built on the pillars of sturdy defense and goaltending. And what a story the goaltending is. Jeff Lerg – 5’6”, 155 pounds (all of it heart) – begins each game day by dilating his lungs, he being asthmatic. Then he straps on the equipment that makes him look more “mite” than “mighty.” But at the end of the day – or in this case, three days and two games – Lerg gave up three goals on 58 shots in 120 minutes. Lerg is the latest in a line of superb goaltenders for the Spartans, none greater than Ryan Miller – a Hobey Baker winner with a record of 73-19-12, 1.54, .941 in three years at MSU. But Lerg has something Miller never earned at State – a championship.

The Spartans fell behind in both games of the Frozen Four tournament, but as has been the case all year for a team that was largely an afterthought in the CCHA and in the NCAA tournament, they plugged along. Falling behind to the arguably more talented Golden Eagles in the final, MSU scratched back with a tying goal from Tim Kennedy at 9:53 of the third. But Kennedy was just warming up. With the clock winding down and overtime looming, Justin Abdelkader rang the puck off the post behind BC netminder Cory Schneider. Eventually the puck found its way behind the Eagles’ net, and Kennedy won his battle against a BC defender, spinning to steer the puck in front. Abdelkader wouldn’t be denied this time, snapping the puck past Schneider with 18.9 seconds left and setting off a Spartan celebration – how ironic that a Boston team was undone by a Kennedy.

An empty net goal with two ticks left was the icing on the cake. A club that finished fourth in its own conference, one that was eliminated in the conference tournament semi-final, without a single all-conference player, one that was thought to have a gift in being named to the national tournament, one that if they won would do so with the worst record for a champion in more than 25 years, plugged along and won the prize.

It’s good to be a Spartan this morning…

photos: Tom Gannam/AP, Dale G. Young/Detroit News

After-Math -- Caps. vs. Sabres

We’re done here...


Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images

The forced march that has been the season since New Year’s Day is over. The Caps lost, 2-0, to the Buffalo Sabres, giving the visitors the President’s Trophy and inspiring a video tape burning festival in the Caps locker room (well, probably not, but there should have been one).

It wasn’t nearly as bad as it could have been, and that might be the best thing one can say at the end of this dreadful season. First, for all the nonsense leading up to the game that this would be a Sabres “home game,” The Peerless was rather unimpressed with the volume of the visiting fans. To be sure, there was a Sabre presence, but the effect was probably overstated given the Caps’ inability to give their fans much to cheer for.

Second, except for two glaring defensive mistakes, the Caps played a solid defensive game. But those mistakes were crippling. On the first, Maxim Afinogenov was allowed to get position (he hustled, the Caps defense didn’t) to drive to the net. Olaf Kolzig denied the first thrust, but Derek Roy (again, where was the follow-up?) chipped the puck home. On the second, Mike Green tried to carry the puck out of the zone with a Sabre draped on him, instead of moving the puck forward. He was picked clean, and Kolzig was left to fend off two Sabres – Dan Paille and Tim Connolly. Paille left the puck for Connolly who cashed the check. And by the way...how is it that Connolly -- announced as a scratch in the pre-game – ends up on the bench?

That was it for the Sabres, and it was enough, because Ryan Miller made Alex Ovechkin’s life a skating hell. Ovechkin had an excellent game – except on the scoreboard. Eight shots – at least four of which required 10-bell stops by Miller – to go with five hits, more than 24 minutes of ice time, and a faceoff win for good measure. He deserved better.

As for the rest of the Caps? It’s one thing to say for public consumption that it’s important to go out on a high note, it’s another to actually show up to do that. The jump, the extra gear, just wasn’t there. One could see glimpses of gritty effort from the likes of Chris Clark, Brook Laich, and David Steckel – the grinders – but the rest of the club seemed not so much looking ahead to April 8^th as much as they just couldn’t find the extra level of effort, try as they might.

There were a few abysmal performances yesterday among the Caps, and those were offered by guys who in all likelihood will not be on the roster come September. We’ll leave it at that. But there was one moment that put into stark relief the differences between these teams. It came in the third period, as the clock was winding down to five minutes in the season, the Caps pressing in the Sabres end on a power play. A pass was put right in the wheelhouse of Kris Beech, who had a wide open net to shoot at from the inside of the right wing circle…if he one-timed the puck.

He didn’t.

Beech stopped the puck, wound, and fired, by which time Ryan Miller had re-positioned himself to be able to glove the puck, and the last gasp for the Caps was just that…a gasp.

The Caps didn’t have the skill and the timing to execute that play and make a game of it, and Buffalo slammed the door on the game right there. This isn’t to say Kris Beech was the reason the Caps lost – he wasn’t. But he had that opportunity to get the Caps back into it and was unable to convert. It is a story for the season, one that applies to a lot of his teammates.

The Caps’ season ended, it is time to embark in a new direction – the construction of the next elements of this rebuilt club. Fans are hearing a lot of the right words being uttered . . .

“We’ve done enough rebuilding…”

“We’ll be active this summer…”

And then there is this . . .

Well, fine…but if uniforms is the only thing that changes, The Peerless hopes they enjoy parading their wardrobe in front of an empty arena.

The Peerless Prognosticator is on the air...one last time -- Caps vs. Sabres, April 7th

The Peerless Prognosticator is on the air . . .

One last time for this season, and for this, the last Capitals prognostication for the year, we’re glad to have a little help from The Chairman of the Board . . .

Its quarter to three,
There’s no one in the place ‘cept you and me
So set em up, Joe
I got a little story I think you oughtta know . . .

Last September, The Peerless would wager that few fans would have predicted a Caps run into the playoffs. It was a young, green, thin club coming off a 70-point year, with a bona-fide star, a battle tested veteran goaltender, and a lot of question marks and blanks to fill in.

. . . We’re drinking my friend
To the end of a brief episode
So make it one for my baby
And one more for the road . . .

The Caps – consistent with a long history of such things and icing a young, uncertain club – stumbled out of the gate. No, they didn’t stumble; they stumbled, tripped, stubbed a toe, skinned a knee, and whacked their collective head on the door frame to the season. They spent seven weeks and 23 games making Caps fans wonder if maybe Wizard tickets were a better idea. They were 8-9-6 on November 24^th, having just lost to the Islanders to culminate a six-game winless streak.

. . . I know the routine
Put another nickel in that there machine
I’m feeling so bad
Won’t you make the music easy and sad . . .

Then, they won a game. And no ordinary win it was. In Tampa, Olaf Kolzig grabbed the club by the throat, put it on his back, and stopped 48 of 50 shots in a 5-2 win. It was the start of a run that saw the Caps win six of eight games (6-1-1), bringing them to a game at Verizon Center against the Flyers.

. . . I could tell you a lot
But you gotta to be true to your code
So make it one for my baby
And one more for the road . . .

On December 16^th, the Caps gave up the first goal to the Flyers, but roared back to beat them and beat them up. Alexander Ovechkin laid a hit on Peter Forsberg that left the forward – just returning after a troublesome foot injury – with a concussion. The Caps scored four unanswered goals on the way to a 4-1 win. But hidden among the highlights was the seed that would bloom ugly – seconds before Dainius Zubrus scored the tying goal late in the first period, defenseman John Erskine – who had played surprisingly well for the Caps to that point – took a shot off his foot. He would not return . . . for two months. It was the beginning of the end of the dream of playoffs . . .

. . . You’d never know it
But buddy I’m a kind of poet
And I’ve got a lot of things I wanna say
And if I’m gloomy, please listen to me
Till it’s all, all talked away . . .

The Caps would lose seven of their next eight games, ending with an ugly 3-2 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes on New Year’s Day. A three game winning streak gave Caps fans hope that the ship could be righted, but it was just the Titanic positioning itself for its long, slow journey to the bottom.

. . . Well, that’s how it goes
And Joe I know you’re gettin’ anxious to close
So thanks for the cheer
I hope you didn’t mind
My bending your ear . . .

The Caps were revealed, first through injuries to the defense, then by illness, and ultimately through an injury to Kolzig, to be unready for a playoff run. The wood was too green, the shoulders too narrow yet to bear the weight of that kind of pressure and level of performance required. Since that high-water mark achieved at the expense of the Flyers last December, the Caps are 13-29-7. On the road, where games test a club’s mettle and grit, the Caps are 4-19-4.

Tomorrow, the club can take the smallest step forward from last year, which was itself a step ahead of the disastrous 2003-2004 season that saw the club finish with 59 points. That season did yield, however, Alex Ovechkin, and that is the base upon which the club goes forward. There were games and performances that offer fans the prospect of hope – so long as one doesn’t spend too much time gnashing one’s teeth over the scoreboard and the standings. We’ll take a look at that in the weeks ahead, but for now . . .

. . . But this torch that I found
Its gotta be drowned
Or it soon might explode
So make it one for my baby
And one more for the road

Caps 5 – Sabres 3

After-Math -- Caps vs. Thrashers

It was a TWO point night . . .

. . . and a two-goal night for Alex Ovechkin. The pair gave Ovechkin 46 on the year and a nice symmetry to his scoring in that he also has 46 assists. A four-goal, eight-point game seems a bit far-fetched in the season finale, so any thoughts of a 50-goal, 100-point season should be put away until next year.

As for the game, The Peerless partook of the trifecta – watched the first period from the Kettler Capitals Garageplex (actually a nice place, even if it does look a bit like the production set of “This Old Rink”…can they get Bob Vila to finish this place?), listened to Steve Kolbe burst a blood vessel on the radio as he was calling the Ovechkin goals in the second, and then watched from the comfort of his own family room as the boys held on for dear life in the land of the make-up call in the last minute (more on that later).

If you’re looking for stars past the obvious ones – Ovechkin and Brent Johnson with his 30 saves on 32 shots – look no further than Boyd Gordon. He was uncharacteristically on the short side of the faceoff ledger (losing nine of 15 on the night), but geez he doesn’t make many mistakes out there. He’s just so solid in all areas of the ice. He’s never going to win any trophies (well, maybe a Selke), but teams don’t often win without guys like him.

From appearances, the Thrashers got their first goal in the first 66 seconds, then spent the next 50-plus minutes thinking the Caps would just roll over. Given that the Caps came into this game with an 10-23-7 road record, had only two road wins in this calendar year, and went the entire month of March without a road win, it wasn’t an unreasonable expectation.

That they didn’t is to their credit (unless you’re one of those folks with an eye toward June 22^nd). The Caps solved goaltender Kari Lehtonen for three goals in the second, all of them high on the long side, and all of them seemingly stoppable. Lehtonen would more than make up for those shortcomings with some spectacular saves in the third (Dave Steckel is going to have nightmares all the way back on the plane), but the damage had been done.

For all that, the turning point came on a play that was an obviously correct call, but one that had fans showering boos (and other stuff) on the rink for several minutes. Eric Boulton was tangled with Jiri Novotny in front of the Capitals’ net, and in the process got his stick under Novotny’s chin. This took place just before Brad Larsen deposited the puck just past the reach of Johnson’s glove and into the Caps’ net. The goal was disallowed, and Boulton was assessed a double minor for high-sticking. Rule 78.5(xi) states:

“During the delayed calling of a penalty, the offending team cannot score unless the non-offending team shoots the puck into their own net. This shall mean that a deflection off an offending player or goalkeeper, or any physical action by an offending player that may cause the puck to enter the non-offending team’s goal, shall not be considered a legal goal. Play shall be stopped before the puck enters the net (whenever possible) and the signaled penalty assessed to the offending team.”

Sorry, Brad, the penalty occurred before you shot the puck, and the referee’s hand was in the air to call the foul.

The referees, however, seemed to spend the rest of the game looking to balance the ledger. And, they did. Brooks Laich was whistled for a delay-of-game, puck over the glass penalty with 90 seconds left. This gave the Thrashers a chance to tie the game with a 6-on-4 advantage upon the substitution of Lehtonen for another attacker. But then, Milan Jurcina was called for a slash that wouldn't have dented a stick of warm butter. The Thrashers spent much of the last half-minute with a rare 6-on-3 advantage. Keith Tkachuk missed an empty net from Johnson’s right, but otherwise the Caps kept the puck well to the outside until finally clearing the puck in the last five seconds to secure the win.

Ups:

- Ovechkin’s two goals, giving him three in two games after a four-game goal-less streak.

- Boyd Gordon’s 1-1-2, +2 line for the night.

- David Steckel, who made excellent use of his size and reach all night to frustrate the Thrashers ability to move the puck.

- Registering only four giveaways, indicative of an all-too-rare responsible road game.

- The Caps reached the 70-point mark, equaling their total from last year.

Downs:

- An ugly shorthanded goal allowed to lumbering Andy Sutton, who somehow outskated Chris Clark and Brian Pothier, and managed to look like Pavel Bure in faking as if he was going to pull the puck to Johnson’s right, then lifting it over Johnson’s glove on the left side.

- Donald Brashear offered to scrap with Sutton, but nothing ensued.

- The Caps dropped out of the “lottery five” – they now sit 24^th with those 70 points. They can finish no worse than 27^th, which would give them the fourth pick in the entry draft (just like last year) if the rankings hold when the lottery is undertaken.

Hey, they won . . . isn’t that why they play the game?

TEAM MEETING!!!

J.P. over on Japers' Rink has issued an "all-hands" call for official shindiggidiness . . . read on, and be informed as to the particulars . . .

For the link-challenged among you . . .

JP and KB of Japers' Rink cordially invite you to an

End-o'-the-Season Shindig

When: Saturday, April 7, 2007, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. (immediately following the Caps/Sabres game)
Where: Clyde's of Gallery Place, Piedmont Room (upstairs - complete with its own bar, flat-screen television that should be showing the NCAA Championship Game, and an indoor balcony overlooking the Gallery Place mezzanine)
Who: Rink readers, Caps fans, Caps bloggers and V.I.P. guests

Show up at 4:00 and just $20 will get you one hour at the open bar and an entry in the raffle for some great autographed Capitals merchandise. Show up at 5:00 and just $5 will get you a raffle ticket. More details to come in the next few hours. Stay tuned.

Look - you know you're going to be drinking anyway. You know you want cool Caps stuff. So basically, you already know you want to be there. Make it happen.

Take a second and let us know if you're coming (Rink.rsvp@gmail.com). We promise we won't use your email for, well, anything other than a head count. Thanks, and see you Saturday!