I had no idea why I blogged until I read Ted Leonsis' latest edition of "Owner's Corner." That's when I read this . . .
"We might not always like what a blogger posts – but we won’t always agree with what the Post writes, either. Just because this is a new type of journalism, however, we aren’t going to shut them off from the access other writers receive. By inviting bloggers to interact with our staff and players, I believe they will gain a perspective that they otherwise could never have.
"Does that mean you can register on blogger.com, or blog on your AIM Page, and get free tickets to Caps games, as well as access to the locker room after the game? Not exactly. As you can see, the criteria that Eric and our staff developed isn’t easy to meet – there has to be a demonstrated audience for your blog, and as I noted before, to gain that you have to be providing something different."
--smack-- Here I thought I did this because I have a long-standing love and respect for the sport, and I try to be a little bit funny (with admittedly mixed results). When all along, I find out I must be doing it to "interact" with the staff and players, score passes to a game, or visit the locker room!
Wow.
Now, I've been in my share of sports locker rooms -- most of it way, way back in high school when I was on the football and wrestling teams. But, I still remember them as crude, smelly places filled with people who take great effort to try to be even more crude and smelly.
I like doing this and while I hope you find otherwise from time to time, I don't hold any delusions that what you'll read here is especially insightful or entertaining. What I have no interest in is a visit to a locker room, a couple of free ducats, or the "Ted Leonsis Good Blogging Seal of Approval."
The criteria you've developed isn't (sic) easy to meet? As far as I'm concerned, you can take your criteria and that full-of-yourself nonsense and pound them where the sun don't shine.
And if I haven't made it clear . . . NO!...I don't want any damned tickets or a pass to the locker room.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
The Peerless Prognosticator is ON THE AIR!!! -- Caps vs. Flyers, January 9th
The Peerless Prognosticator is ON THE AIR!!! . . .
Tonight, we are brought to you by Quickie, the best in all-purpose brooms.
The Caps face a challenge and an opportunity tonight in their contest with the visiting Philadelphia Flyers. First, they can sweep the season series against their long-time rivals for the first time since . . . well, ever. Second, this is the “getaway” game of the home stand, the last one before the boys embark on a four game road trip. If the boys could get two points to give them six of eight on this home stand, they could find themselves right back in the thick of the mix as they start on their pre-All Star Game push.
Since the last time the Flyers visited Verizon Center on December 16th, they’ve played something like SOS hockey . . . L-L-L-L . . . W-W-W . . . L-L-L. The trouble is, that 3-7-0 record in their those ten games is just about the points pace they’ve put up all year. It is an historically bad year for the Flyers, a pace that would leave them with the worst record in their history (their 51-point pace would eclipse, if that’s the right word, their 58 point effort in 1969-1970 under the steady hand of the legendary Vic Stasiuk).
It’s not as if the Flyers have played well and been unlucky. Look at the numbers over these last ten games . . .
Outscored: 35-25
Power play: 6-47 (12.8 percent)
Penalty kill: 47-56 (83.9 percent . . . ok, that’s decent, but they sure get enough practice)
Outshot: 381-268 . . . good heavens, they’re being outshot by more than 11 shots a game, almost four shots a period! They could wall off the goal with bricks and mortar and still not win games with that kind of performance.
And, for the season . . .
Goals/game for: 29th
Goals/game against: 30th
Power play: 28th
Penalty kill: 7th
Shots/game for: 22nd
Shots/game against: 26th
Winning % when scoring first: T-26th
Winning % when scored upon first: 30th
-- Their top scorer – Simon Gagne – is tied for 72nd
-- They have no . . . NO players who are “plus” for the year with the club (Alexei Zhitnik, who is +5 for the year, is -8 in 11 games since being traded to Philadelphia) . . . no player who has played at least 30 games is better than -5.
-- They’ve been outscored at even strength, 112-66.
They’ve been beaten – often – and beat up (Peter Forsberg has had a plethora of injuries, and their goalies have fought of a variety of ailments).
The Flyers, in a word . . . suck.
And even with all that, the Caps could lose this game . . . why? Several reasons:
Herb Brooks . . . yeah, that one. The one who once said of his team, “you don’t have enough talent to win on talent alone.” And, the Caps don’t. They can beat the best the East has to offer if they bring their “A” game (as they did against Buffalo earlier this year). They can lose to the worst – or close to it – if they don’t (as they did to the Islanders). If the Caps don’t bring their “A” game and the Flyers get a spark early, they could make things needlessly rough on themselves.
Focus . . . this is the getaway game before a road trip. Sometimes, there is just that little hint of looking ahead.
Luck . . . one got the impression last Saturday that Alex Ovechkin and/or Alexander Semin could have had more goals than the three with which they finished the game. Pucks hopped over and past their sticks all night (might have been a result of the effects on the ice of a basketball game played earlier that day). It happens, it’s hockey.
But, there is no reason the Caps should – on paper – lose this game. And, to put it bluntly, any team with any designs on competing for a playoff spot has to jump on a team like this early and stand on their throats, especially a team playing the last game of an eight-game road trip. The Caps are on a bit of a mini-roll after a slump. Alexander Semin has four goals in the last two games, Dainius Zubrus chipped in a pair himself, and Alexander Ovechkin broke a five-game goal scoring slump the last time out. The stars are aligned for a big night for this club.
But nothing is a given.
Caps 6 – Flyers 1.
Monday, January 08, 2007
This is "a" goal...this is a "nice" goal. It is not, "The Goal."
Much as the assembled hockey media is gushing over this fine effort by Sidney Crosby to: a) find the pass from Mark Recchi, and b) redirect the pass into the net past a bewildered Johan Holmqvist, it is not destined to have the label, "the goal" attached to it.
First, it helps if the team for which the player scoring the goal actually wins the game. Second, it just doesn't have the contortive (if that's a word) charm that a guy twisting on his back, not looking at the net, scoring-with-a-flick-of-the-wrist has. Good heavens, the last word in goals didn't even get the player the first, or even the second star of the game in his own arena.
So just stop it. Stop it now, ok?
Sunday, January 07, 2007
So, there I was watching a shootout . . .
Did I say that shootouts suck? That they are an abomination against all that is holy about hockey? Well, they are, but that's not the point . . .
I was watching the Penguins gag on their shootout chances this evening against Tampa Bay (the Lighting won on Martin St. Louis' trick shot crap), and it brought to mind the hapless Caps. Among the 29 teams that have participated in shootouts this year (San Jose hasn't so much as been in an overtime yet), the Caps are . . .
- tied for 28th in goals: 1
- 29th in conversion: 7.7 percent
- tied for 22nd in goals allowed (8)
- 29th in save percentage (33.3 percent)
- tied for 25th in wins (0)
That's 0-5 in shootouts this year. As awful as the mere thought of such garbage is, those are five points left on the table. Even getting two of them could spell the difference between an April date on the ice and a choice of tee times at their favorite golf clubs.
Did I mention that I hate the shootout?
I was watching the Penguins gag on their shootout chances this evening against Tampa Bay (the Lighting won on Martin St. Louis' trick shot crap), and it brought to mind the hapless Caps. Among the 29 teams that have participated in shootouts this year (San Jose hasn't so much as been in an overtime yet), the Caps are . . .
- tied for 28th in goals: 1
- 29th in conversion: 7.7 percent
- tied for 22nd in goals allowed (8)
- 29th in save percentage (33.3 percent)
- tied for 25th in wins (0)
That's 0-5 in shootouts this year. As awful as the mere thought of such garbage is, those are five points left on the table. Even getting two of them could spell the difference between an April date on the ice and a choice of tee times at their favorite golf clubs.
Did I mention that I hate the shootout?
b-b-b-b-but . . . I missed the Caps win last night
there, there, lil buddy...
(AP Photo/John Froschauer)
A Tale of Two Russians . . .
Player 1: 38 games, 21-19-40, +3, 10 PPG, 4 GWG, 16.3% shooting percentage, 17:41 avg. TOI
Player 2: 35 games, 19-20-39, -2, 9 PPG, 4 GWG, 15.2% shooting percentage, 20:09 avg. TOI
Player 1 is a 22-year old Russian and gets as much media attention as the prime rib at the buffet at a vegetarian conference
Player 2 is a 20-year old Russian and gets almost as much hockey ink as Paris Hilton gets entertainment ink
Player 1 is Alexander Semin
Player 2 is Evgeni Malkin
. . . Player 1 is one of the best kept secrets in the league
Player 2: 35 games, 19-20-39, -2, 9 PPG, 4 GWG, 15.2% shooting percentage, 20:09 avg. TOI
Player 1 is a 22-year old Russian and gets as much media attention as the prime rib at the buffet at a vegetarian conference
Player 2 is a 20-year old Russian and gets almost as much hockey ink as Paris Hilton gets entertainment ink
Player 1 is Alexander Semin
Player 2 is Evgeni Malkin
. . . Player 1 is one of the best kept secrets in the league
The Morning After -- Caps vs. Thrashers
As if it was a playoff game.
This is really the only rivalry that qualifies for the Caps in the Southeast Division. As goaltender Olaf Kolzig characterizes it, the Thrashers are "a team we hate." While still a pale imitation of what were the rivalries of the old Patrick Division, last night conjured up images of those old days. That the Caps are starting to feel a bit of the urgency of trying to secure a playoff position only added to the drama of what would turn out to be a 3-2 overtime win over the Atlanta Thrashers.
One had the feeling that Atlanta brought more talent into this game than the Caps, but at no point did the Thrashers truly dominate the action. The Capitals might have played their most complete defensive game of the year, holding the Thrashers to single digits in shots in each of the periods (including only one – but what a scary one it was – in the overtime).
There were heroes aplenty, and not just the ones who scored or set up scores . . .
Let’s start with Lawrence Nycholat. Is this guy an emerging story, or what? He led the club in ice time last night (more than 27 minutes), +1, three shots, a couple of hits, three blocked shots, and his was but one of several fine efforts from the blue line.
Or Donald Brashear . . . one doesn’t always need a fight to establish some momentum. He only had 7:45 of ice time, but made the most of his opportunities with a couple of hits and a lot of jump. The Peerless doesn’t remember him skating this well when he was in Philadelphia.
Or Olaf Kolzig . . . it would have been understandable if on this, his King Clancy Trophy tribute night, he wasn’t entirely in focus. But when you’re 36 and have been in 679 regular season and playoff games, you’ve seen most of it, if not all of it. Nothing reflected the kind of effort he had and the kind of player he is than taking J.P. Vigier’s skate to the back of the head, felling him for a couple of minutes as he shook the cobwebs out. Then, while still a bit woozy, he got just enough of the Vigier penalty shot with the inside of his right pad to deflect the puck to the far post and snuff the play. The guy is a linebacker on skates.
Chris Clark . . . was on the ice for each of the Caps’ goals. And he’s not just a bystander when the Alexes do what they do. He was right in the thick of things on the game-winner, drawing a defender to the outside to open up the ice and allow Steve Eminger to come through the middle and take the pass that would then become the behind-the-back feed on highlight clips this morning.
Add in the kind of performance that doesn't show up on the scoresheet (at least directly, but the Thrashers had only 22 shots in more than 64 minutes) by Shaone Morrisonn, Boyd Gordon, Brian Sutherby, Dainius Zubrus, Matt Pettinger, and others, and it was a fine all-around night.
There are very few numbers from last night that jump off the scoresheet, at least among individuals. The Alexes had 13 of the Caps’ 37 shots, but that’s not entirely unexpected. That Brooks Laich was next with four is. That ties his season high.
The real deal in the numbers is the balance . . . of the 18 skaters:
- 14 recorded shots on goal (of 37 total)
- 15 were credited with hits (of 28 total)
- Six had blocked shots
- Nine had takeaways
- Five had points (which does not include Olaf Kolzig, who had an assist on the first Alexander Semin goal)
- 16 had power play time (ok, Brashear had two seconds, sue me)
Both teams came in nicked – Atlanta was missing such as Andy Sutton and Slava Kozlov, the Caps John Erskine, Bryan Muir, and Matt Bradley. It had the feel of a playoff game, especially as the contest was winding down in regulation when the crowd of 15,642 seemed to get into the spirit of things. As the horn sounded to signal overtime and the game tied 2-2, one could only think of Joe Gould, the manager of “Gentleman Jim” Braddock . . .
. . . and at the 4:42 mark, Alexander Semin – with the help of Chris Clark and Steve Eminger – did just that.
It calls to mind a quote from the real Jim Braddock, who before his championship fight with Max Baer was called "a bum" by the Baer camp. "I may not be a great fighter, but I ain't a bum," replied the challenger.
And this morning, neither are the Caps.
This is really the only rivalry that qualifies for the Caps in the Southeast Division. As goaltender Olaf Kolzig characterizes it, the Thrashers are "a team we hate." While still a pale imitation of what were the rivalries of the old Patrick Division, last night conjured up images of those old days. That the Caps are starting to feel a bit of the urgency of trying to secure a playoff position only added to the drama of what would turn out to be a 3-2 overtime win over the Atlanta Thrashers.
One had the feeling that Atlanta brought more talent into this game than the Caps, but at no point did the Thrashers truly dominate the action. The Capitals might have played their most complete defensive game of the year, holding the Thrashers to single digits in shots in each of the periods (including only one – but what a scary one it was – in the overtime).
There were heroes aplenty, and not just the ones who scored or set up scores . . .
Let’s start with Lawrence Nycholat. Is this guy an emerging story, or what? He led the club in ice time last night (more than 27 minutes), +1, three shots, a couple of hits, three blocked shots, and his was but one of several fine efforts from the blue line.
Or Donald Brashear . . . one doesn’t always need a fight to establish some momentum. He only had 7:45 of ice time, but made the most of his opportunities with a couple of hits and a lot of jump. The Peerless doesn’t remember him skating this well when he was in Philadelphia.
Or Olaf Kolzig . . . it would have been understandable if on this, his King Clancy Trophy tribute night, he wasn’t entirely in focus. But when you’re 36 and have been in 679 regular season and playoff games, you’ve seen most of it, if not all of it. Nothing reflected the kind of effort he had and the kind of player he is than taking J.P. Vigier’s skate to the back of the head, felling him for a couple of minutes as he shook the cobwebs out. Then, while still a bit woozy, he got just enough of the Vigier penalty shot with the inside of his right pad to deflect the puck to the far post and snuff the play. The guy is a linebacker on skates.
Chris Clark . . . was on the ice for each of the Caps’ goals. And he’s not just a bystander when the Alexes do what they do. He was right in the thick of things on the game-winner, drawing a defender to the outside to open up the ice and allow Steve Eminger to come through the middle and take the pass that would then become the behind-the-back feed on highlight clips this morning.
Add in the kind of performance that doesn't show up on the scoresheet (at least directly, but the Thrashers had only 22 shots in more than 64 minutes) by Shaone Morrisonn, Boyd Gordon, Brian Sutherby, Dainius Zubrus, Matt Pettinger, and others, and it was a fine all-around night.
There are very few numbers from last night that jump off the scoresheet, at least among individuals. The Alexes had 13 of the Caps’ 37 shots, but that’s not entirely unexpected. That Brooks Laich was next with four is. That ties his season high.
The real deal in the numbers is the balance . . . of the 18 skaters:
- 14 recorded shots on goal (of 37 total)
- 15 were credited with hits (of 28 total)
- Six had blocked shots
- Nine had takeaways
- Five had points (which does not include Olaf Kolzig, who had an assist on the first Alexander Semin goal)
- 16 had power play time (ok, Brashear had two seconds, sue me)
Both teams came in nicked – Atlanta was missing such as Andy Sutton and Slava Kozlov, the Caps John Erskine, Bryan Muir, and Matt Bradley. It had the feel of a playoff game, especially as the contest was winding down in regulation when the crowd of 15,642 seemed to get into the spirit of things. As the horn sounded to signal overtime and the game tied 2-2, one could only think of Joe Gould, the manager of “Gentleman Jim” Braddock . . .
. . . and at the 4:42 mark, Alexander Semin – with the help of Chris Clark and Steve Eminger – did just that.
It calls to mind a quote from the real Jim Braddock, who before his championship fight with Max Baer was called "a bum" by the Baer camp. "I may not be a great fighter, but I ain't a bum," replied the challenger.
And this morning, neither are the Caps.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Your OMMAA for December
Well, it’s that time again, time for The Peerless’ “Old Man’s Major Award Award.” This month’s OMMAA goes to a Cap who really outdid himself, a Cap who distinguished himself in ways heretofore unheard of this season, a Cap whose 0-1-1, -3 line means little in the larger scheme of things.
No, the winner for December had barely 100 minutes of ice time for the month but took 57 minutes in penalties, had seven fights (including bouts in three straight games), and was suspended for one game (his second suspension of the year).
The winner of the coveted OMMAA for December is none other than . . .
Donald Brashear
Display it proudly, Donald . . . just don't punch it.
The Peerless Prognosticator is ON THE AIR!! -- Caps vs. Thrashers, January 6th
The Peerless Prognosticator is ON THE AIR!!!
It’s Southeast Shootout time, once more, as the Caps return to divisional play to take on the Atlanta Thrashers, who this morning are not likely in a good mood. The Thrashers took a three-goal lead against the suddenly surprising Phoenix Coyotes early in the third period. The 4-1 lead should have ended the competitive portion of the contest. Well, it didn’t.
Phoenix scored a goal of its own a little over a minute later, then added goals by Shane Doan and Owen Nolan to tie things up before Yanic Perreault won it in overtime, 5-4.
After a five-game winning streak in late-December, Atlanta has gone on to stub their figurative toe in the last four, going 1-2-1. And the problem, as it usually is in such cases, is defense. The Thrashers have given up 16 goals in this short stretch; in their only win they gave up but two. Special teams have been a particular problem. Their inability to kill penalties effectively (72.7 percent of 22 chances) has been a problem matched by a power play that has converted on two of 16 chances (12.5 percent).
Atlanta had been among the more formidable road-scoring teams in the league but have dropped to tenth in per-game road scoring (2.87 goals/game). If there is one place the Thrashers struggle on the road – a point amplified in their last four games – it is on special teams. They are in the middle of the pack in goals scored (12th in goals with 17, 16th in conversions at 15.6 percent) but are dead last in the league in goals allowed (30) and 26th in penalty killing conversions (75.8 percent).
As usual, the Thrasher to look for is Jonathan Sim, Capital Killer (note: his contract -- $610,000 –- is up after this year . . . signing him might be the best thing the Caps can do for their defense, given that they see this guy eight times a year – short of trading a seventh round pick for Scott Niedermayer). Sim is 3-2-5, +1 in five games against the Caps this year, 11-6-17, +6 in 19 games for his career.
Oh yeah, the Thrashers have Marian Hossa, Vyacheslav Kozlov and Ilya Kovalchuk, too . . . they happen to be the numbers 2, 17, and 21 scorers in the league.
Kari Lehtonen should be returning to the nets tonight (Johan Hedberg played and took the loss last night), and that is not good news for the home team. His overall stats are not especially noteworthy – 2.79 GAA (21st), .912 (16th) – but he’s never lost to the Caps in regulation. He is 2-0-1 this year, 5-0-1 for his career.
Washington finished the first half 17-17-4, 41 points, which is better than where they were last year after 41 games (13-23-5, 31 points) and a lot better than two years ago (11-25-4-1, 27 points), but that 1-7-0 stretch to end the year (including New Year’s Day) left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth.
The Caps won in their last time out, though – a 5-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens. And in doing so, they danced with what brung ‘em to a 15-10-7 record on December 16th – timely scoring (pairs of goals by Dainius Zubrus and Alexander Semin), solid goaltending, low-risk defenseman play, responsible play from the forwards, and a bit of luck (Saku Koivu taking a penalty to wash out the tying goal when the game was sill in doubt, for example).
That’s what it will take tonight. Atlanta has the firepower – and that Sim guy – to make things ugly for a club that doesn’t bring its “A” game, especially on defense. It will start in goal, where Olaf Kolzig should get the nod. The thing is, though, Kolzig’s record against this club is not as good as one might expect for having faced what has been a bad club for most of its existence. Kolzig is 0-2-1 against the Thrashers this year, 12-10-4-2 for his career. It’s not as if his statistics against the Thrashers (2.72, .906) are much different than his overall career stats (2.68, .907). The Caps have often played just good enough to lose in front of him.
If you’re looking for one Cap to have a good night tonight, it would be a guy who could use one, goal-scoring wise. Alexander Ovechkin is 4-4-8 in five games against the Thrashers this year, 9-13-22 in 13 games in his career. Ovechkin, who has slipped to third in the goal scoring race, hasn’t had a goal in his last five games, one game off his career high (twice last year).
Other Caps to watch would include Dainius Zubrus, who on the heels of his two-goal effort against Montreal comes into this game 4-4-8 in five games against Atlanta this year, Alexander Semin, who has four goals in eight career games against the Thrashers, and Chris Clark, who has five points in five games this year.
In this morning’s Washington Post article, Dainius Zubrus made the point that "If our point shot [on the power play] is a threat, that forces the other teams to come out to challenge it, and that opens things up down low. The other thing is we need to shoot when we have a chance. Sometimes our mentality is to make the perfect play and score into an empty net. Power-play goals are about rebounds or bounces." While that is true in light of the Caps power play problems recently (9-for-58, 15.5 percent in their last ten games),it hints at a related point. The Caps haven’t been much of a threat in terms of scoring from defensemen. This was especially true during the 1-7-0 stretch, when the Caps had a total of three goals from defensemen, one in the last seven games of that streak. However, the addition of Lawrence Nycholat has opened up things a bit. He has two goals in his last four games, and Brian Pothier chipped in with his first of the year in the one-goal loss to Phoenix on New Year’s Day.
The Caps broke the schneid against the Thrashers in their last contest, thanks to some late-game heroics from Alexander Ovechkin, who scored a hat trick and the game-winning overtime goal. The Caps appear to be emerging from their holiday nap, but this will be a test of whether they are ready to make a January push to be a contender, or if they are still marking time.
Caps 4 – Thrashers 3.
It’s Southeast Shootout time, once more, as the Caps return to divisional play to take on the Atlanta Thrashers, who this morning are not likely in a good mood. The Thrashers took a three-goal lead against the suddenly surprising Phoenix Coyotes early in the third period. The 4-1 lead should have ended the competitive portion of the contest. Well, it didn’t.
Phoenix scored a goal of its own a little over a minute later, then added goals by Shane Doan and Owen Nolan to tie things up before Yanic Perreault won it in overtime, 5-4.
After a five-game winning streak in late-December, Atlanta has gone on to stub their figurative toe in the last four, going 1-2-1. And the problem, as it usually is in such cases, is defense. The Thrashers have given up 16 goals in this short stretch; in their only win they gave up but two. Special teams have been a particular problem. Their inability to kill penalties effectively (72.7 percent of 22 chances) has been a problem matched by a power play that has converted on two of 16 chances (12.5 percent).
Atlanta had been among the more formidable road-scoring teams in the league but have dropped to tenth in per-game road scoring (2.87 goals/game). If there is one place the Thrashers struggle on the road – a point amplified in their last four games – it is on special teams. They are in the middle of the pack in goals scored (12th in goals with 17, 16th in conversions at 15.6 percent) but are dead last in the league in goals allowed (30) and 26th in penalty killing conversions (75.8 percent).
As usual, the Thrasher to look for is Jonathan Sim, Capital Killer (note: his contract -- $610,000 –- is up after this year . . . signing him might be the best thing the Caps can do for their defense, given that they see this guy eight times a year – short of trading a seventh round pick for Scott Niedermayer). Sim is 3-2-5, +1 in five games against the Caps this year, 11-6-17, +6 in 19 games for his career.
Oh yeah, the Thrashers have Marian Hossa, Vyacheslav Kozlov and Ilya Kovalchuk, too . . . they happen to be the numbers 2, 17, and 21 scorers in the league.
Kari Lehtonen should be returning to the nets tonight (Johan Hedberg played and took the loss last night), and that is not good news for the home team. His overall stats are not especially noteworthy – 2.79 GAA (21st), .912 (16th) – but he’s never lost to the Caps in regulation. He is 2-0-1 this year, 5-0-1 for his career.
Washington finished the first half 17-17-4, 41 points, which is better than where they were last year after 41 games (13-23-5, 31 points) and a lot better than two years ago (11-25-4-1, 27 points), but that 1-7-0 stretch to end the year (including New Year’s Day) left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth.
The Caps won in their last time out, though – a 5-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens. And in doing so, they danced with what brung ‘em to a 15-10-7 record on December 16th – timely scoring (pairs of goals by Dainius Zubrus and Alexander Semin), solid goaltending, low-risk defenseman play, responsible play from the forwards, and a bit of luck (Saku Koivu taking a penalty to wash out the tying goal when the game was sill in doubt, for example).
That’s what it will take tonight. Atlanta has the firepower – and that Sim guy – to make things ugly for a club that doesn’t bring its “A” game, especially on defense. It will start in goal, where Olaf Kolzig should get the nod. The thing is, though, Kolzig’s record against this club is not as good as one might expect for having faced what has been a bad club for most of its existence. Kolzig is 0-2-1 against the Thrashers this year, 12-10-4-2 for his career. It’s not as if his statistics against the Thrashers (2.72, .906) are much different than his overall career stats (2.68, .907). The Caps have often played just good enough to lose in front of him.
If you’re looking for one Cap to have a good night tonight, it would be a guy who could use one, goal-scoring wise. Alexander Ovechkin is 4-4-8 in five games against the Thrashers this year, 9-13-22 in 13 games in his career. Ovechkin, who has slipped to third in the goal scoring race, hasn’t had a goal in his last five games, one game off his career high (twice last year).
Other Caps to watch would include Dainius Zubrus, who on the heels of his two-goal effort against Montreal comes into this game 4-4-8 in five games against Atlanta this year, Alexander Semin, who has four goals in eight career games against the Thrashers, and Chris Clark, who has five points in five games this year.
In this morning’s Washington Post article, Dainius Zubrus made the point that "If our point shot [on the power play] is a threat, that forces the other teams to come out to challenge it, and that opens things up down low. The other thing is we need to shoot when we have a chance. Sometimes our mentality is to make the perfect play and score into an empty net. Power-play goals are about rebounds or bounces." While that is true in light of the Caps power play problems recently (9-for-58, 15.5 percent in their last ten games),it hints at a related point. The Caps haven’t been much of a threat in terms of scoring from defensemen. This was especially true during the 1-7-0 stretch, when the Caps had a total of three goals from defensemen, one in the last seven games of that streak. However, the addition of Lawrence Nycholat has opened up things a bit. He has two goals in his last four games, and Brian Pothier chipped in with his first of the year in the one-goal loss to Phoenix on New Year’s Day.
The Caps broke the schneid against the Thrashers in their last contest, thanks to some late-game heroics from Alexander Ovechkin, who scored a hat trick and the game-winning overtime goal. The Caps appear to be emerging from their holiday nap, but this will be a test of whether they are ready to make a January push to be a contender, or if they are still marking time.
Caps 4 – Thrashers 3.
Friday, January 05, 2007
Home is where the heart is...
Three teams in the East have losing records at home . . .
The Flyers -- who suck on toast -- are 3-11-4, and Tampa Bay is 10-11-0.
The other is the Caps, 9-10-3.
Not an easy way to make the playoffs.
The Flyers -- who suck on toast -- are 3-11-4, and Tampa Bay is 10-11-0.
The other is the Caps, 9-10-3.
Not an easy way to make the playoffs.
Whither, Jakub Klepis?
Over 33 games, the young forward has been seeing his ice time diminish to the point of being discernible only with the use of sophisticated optics. In his last 13 games, he’s been on the ice at least 10 minutes three times. Last night, against Montreal, he saw what might have been his low point as an NHL player. He was on the ice for two shifts and was apparently benched for the night after taking a hooking penalty at the 7:50 mark of the first period. Only a single takeaway otherwise contributed to his scoresheet line for the evening.
It isn’t as if he’s played especially badly in the last month – one in which his ice time has decreased precipitously – but he hasn’t really asserted himself in a manner commensurate with his skill. From the stands, it’s hard to tell if he’s coasting or becoming timid. But, he is largely a transparent figure on the ice. A player of his offensive upside should be making more than an impact than having more than one shot on goal only three times since Thanksgiving. And, he seems to have a propensity for taking the lazy penalty. If you look at his PIMs, they are not of a high volume on their own (24 minutes overall), but of the 12 minors he’s taken this year in his 33 games, seven are for hooking (as was last night’s apparent “here’s your wake up call, kid” penalty). Three have been for holding and the other two for interference.
Enough time has passed in the new scheme of things in the league where persistently drawing these kinds infractions should have come to an end. That they haven’t is unfortunate, because the young man’s whole game right now just looks like a mess, and he’s a better player than that.
Is there a trip to Hershey in his near future? Well, it wouldn’t be the worst thing for him, similar to sending a young hitting prospect down to the minors so he can find his swing and get his head screwed back on.
But something has to give. Klepis has too much to contribute in the long term to this club for this to continue much longer.
It isn’t as if he’s played especially badly in the last month – one in which his ice time has decreased precipitously – but he hasn’t really asserted himself in a manner commensurate with his skill. From the stands, it’s hard to tell if he’s coasting or becoming timid. But, he is largely a transparent figure on the ice. A player of his offensive upside should be making more than an impact than having more than one shot on goal only three times since Thanksgiving. And, he seems to have a propensity for taking the lazy penalty. If you look at his PIMs, they are not of a high volume on their own (24 minutes overall), but of the 12 minors he’s taken this year in his 33 games, seven are for hooking (as was last night’s apparent “here’s your wake up call, kid” penalty). Three have been for holding and the other two for interference.
Enough time has passed in the new scheme of things in the league where persistently drawing these kinds infractions should have come to an end. That they haven’t is unfortunate, because the young man’s whole game right now just looks like a mess, and he’s a better player than that.
Is there a trip to Hershey in his near future? Well, it wouldn’t be the worst thing for him, similar to sending a young hitting prospect down to the minors so he can find his swing and get his head screwed back on.
But something has to give. Klepis has too much to contribute in the long term to this club for this to continue much longer.
The Morning After -- Caps vs. Canadiens
1-0
It was the 41st game of the season, the end of the first half of the season, but the second half really started last night. And the Caps applied some payback to a Montreal Canadiens team that spanked them in their first visit to Verizon Center last month. The 5-1 win was welcome in several respects:
- It was the first time in five games that the first line of Alexander Ovechkin, Dainius Zubrus, and Chris Clark (which began and ended the game as a line, perhaps signaling the end of the experiment of Alexander Semin spending time on that line) scored a goal. Zubrus netted two goals on his only two credited shots of the game – he almost had a hat trick in the third but found the side of the post on a shot.
- Alexander Ovechkin had three assists to give the top line five points for the night. Ovechkin’s three-pointer vaulted him to third in the scoring race (25-29-54) behind Marian Hossa and someone else.
- Mike Green had four credited hits to lead the club. Green has been something of an anonymous player the last few weeks, but last night was the ninth straight game he’s been either even of a plus player. In the midst of the Caps troubles, that’s something of an achievement.
- If your looking for differences (other than the score) in the numbers between this game and the December 27th game between these clubs, well, good luck . . . the Caps outshot the Habs 35-28 last night (31-28 in December) . . . were even in hits, 20-20 (were out-hit in a less-than-physical game in December, 15-10) . . . even in takeaways, 17-17 (losing that battle in the last game, 8-4) . . . yielded fewer giveaways, 16-20 (versus giving up more, 8-4, in December) . . .
- But there was this – the Caps lost the face off battle by only 31-30 (they lost, 30-23 in December). That might seem significant, except if you deconstruct some of the Caps’ scoring. They scored their first after Zubrus won an offensive zone faceoff, Ovechkin sent a backhander to the net, and Zubrus pounced on the rebound for the score. Washington scored its third goal in slightly different fashion, winning a neutral zone faceoff after a penalty call on Saku Koivu (more on that to come), but netting a goal (Lawrence Nycholat) about half a minute later. Face offs are not the be-all or end-all of success, but doing the little things are important.
- None of this should diminish the face that the turning point came on a Montreal goal that wasn’t. With 7:18 gone in the second Alexei Kovalev appeared to tie the game, 2-2, but the goal was immediately and emphatically washed out by the referee who whistled Saku Koivu for goaltender interference, where as he was skating through the top of the crease nudged goaltender Olaf Kolzig and caused Kolzig to lose his grip on his stick. Habs fans didn’t much like it, but it appeared to be the correct call. And, it put the Canadiens on their heels, especially when Nycholat scored less than a minute later and Alexander Semin less than a minute after that, giving the Caps a 4-1 lead and chasing goalie Cristobal Huet. Montreal, which is not nearly as fearsome an offensive team as they are a defensive one, had dug themselves too deep a hole.
Now, for some odd numbers . . .
Zero – the Caps had 13 skaters register hits last night. Alexander Ovechkin was not among them.
Even, -7 – That’s the combined plus-minus of Chris Higgins, Saku Koivu, Michael Ryder in the first game, and what they were last night . . . tough night.
11-3 – that’s the faceoffs won and lost by Dainius Zubrus. No other Cap had a .500 percentage. Well, Brooks Laich did, but he only took one draw (1-0).
12 – Winning games often involves the performance of tasks that really take some effort. The Caps had 20 blocked shots, but 12 of the 18 skaters were involved.
6 – Matt Pettinger had six shots last night, all in the first two periods, to lead the club among players whose name does not end in “vechkin.” But it was his taking one for the team – absorbing a hit from Francois Bouillion while moving the puck up ice – that ultimately sprung Semin for his second goal of the night.
It was a fine night for a club that needed one, a gutsy performance against a quality team. Even the new Speaker of the House was impressed by the strength the Caps showed in this one. It was the right way to begin the real second half of the season.
It was the 41st game of the season, the end of the first half of the season, but the second half really started last night. And the Caps applied some payback to a Montreal Canadiens team that spanked them in their first visit to Verizon Center last month. The 5-1 win was welcome in several respects:
- It was the first time in five games that the first line of Alexander Ovechkin, Dainius Zubrus, and Chris Clark (which began and ended the game as a line, perhaps signaling the end of the experiment of Alexander Semin spending time on that line) scored a goal. Zubrus netted two goals on his only two credited shots of the game – he almost had a hat trick in the third but found the side of the post on a shot.
- Alexander Ovechkin had three assists to give the top line five points for the night. Ovechkin’s three-pointer vaulted him to third in the scoring race (25-29-54) behind Marian Hossa and someone else.
- Mike Green had four credited hits to lead the club. Green has been something of an anonymous player the last few weeks, but last night was the ninth straight game he’s been either even of a plus player. In the midst of the Caps troubles, that’s something of an achievement.
- If your looking for differences (other than the score) in the numbers between this game and the December 27th game between these clubs, well, good luck . . . the Caps outshot the Habs 35-28 last night (31-28 in December) . . . were even in hits, 20-20 (were out-hit in a less-than-physical game in December, 15-10) . . . even in takeaways, 17-17 (losing that battle in the last game, 8-4) . . . yielded fewer giveaways, 16-20 (versus giving up more, 8-4, in December) . . .
- But there was this – the Caps lost the face off battle by only 31-30 (they lost, 30-23 in December). That might seem significant, except if you deconstruct some of the Caps’ scoring. They scored their first after Zubrus won an offensive zone faceoff, Ovechkin sent a backhander to the net, and Zubrus pounced on the rebound for the score. Washington scored its third goal in slightly different fashion, winning a neutral zone faceoff after a penalty call on Saku Koivu (more on that to come), but netting a goal (Lawrence Nycholat) about half a minute later. Face offs are not the be-all or end-all of success, but doing the little things are important.
- None of this should diminish the face that the turning point came on a Montreal goal that wasn’t. With 7:18 gone in the second Alexei Kovalev appeared to tie the game, 2-2, but the goal was immediately and emphatically washed out by the referee who whistled Saku Koivu for goaltender interference, where as he was skating through the top of the crease nudged goaltender Olaf Kolzig and caused Kolzig to lose his grip on his stick. Habs fans didn’t much like it, but it appeared to be the correct call. And, it put the Canadiens on their heels, especially when Nycholat scored less than a minute later and Alexander Semin less than a minute after that, giving the Caps a 4-1 lead and chasing goalie Cristobal Huet. Montreal, which is not nearly as fearsome an offensive team as they are a defensive one, had dug themselves too deep a hole.
Now, for some odd numbers . . .
Zero – the Caps had 13 skaters register hits last night. Alexander Ovechkin was not among them.
Even, -7 – That’s the combined plus-minus of Chris Higgins, Saku Koivu, Michael Ryder in the first game, and what they were last night . . . tough night.
11-3 – that’s the faceoffs won and lost by Dainius Zubrus. No other Cap had a .500 percentage. Well, Brooks Laich did, but he only took one draw (1-0).
12 – Winning games often involves the performance of tasks that really take some effort. The Caps had 20 blocked shots, but 12 of the 18 skaters were involved.
6 – Matt Pettinger had six shots last night, all in the first two periods, to lead the club among players whose name does not end in “vechkin.” But it was his taking one for the team – absorbing a hit from Francois Bouillion while moving the puck up ice – that ultimately sprung Semin for his second goal of the night.
It was a fine night for a club that needed one, a gutsy performance against a quality team. Even the new Speaker of the House was impressed by the strength the Caps showed in this one. It was the right way to begin the real second half of the season.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
The Peerless Prognosticator is ON THE AIR!!! -- Caps vs. Canadiens, January 4th
The Peerless Prognosticator is ON THE AIR!!! . . .
Tonight, we get right back on the horse, put all those losses behind us, start from scratch, it’s 0-0, and . . .
“Hey, you don’t need macadamia nuts to fondle a donkey.”*
Well, isn’t this fortuitous . . . it’s TV’s favorite shrink, Dr. Phil himself – just in time to tackle the woes that have befallen our beloved Capitals. Doc, how are you doin’?
“It’s time to get real!”
o-o-o-o-o-kay, then. Doc, the Caps have been in the doldrums lately. What advice would you give to the boys?
“You don’t need sideburns to eat a bug.”
Ok, Ok, I can understand that . . . sort of. But they’ve really been listless in their own end. They can’t seem to keep the puck out of their own net. Can you shine a light on the problem?
“You don't need a 50-watt light bulb to dance like an idiot 'til yer toes fall off.”
I never thought of it that way . . . but the guys seem to have lacked the fire that characterized their early play. Even Donald Brashear getting into a few scrapes doesn’t seem to have lifted the team . . .
“You don't need bad manners to get all up in somebody's grill, yo.”
I see, I see. But they just don’t seem to want to do the dirty work they need to do to win games lately . . .
“You don't need stain-resistant pants to put some pep in your step.”
That sounds like pretty good advice. Maybe they’re too tight, gripping those sticks a little too hard, do you think they should lighten up a bit?
“You don't need Shemp to dare to be stupid.”
I see . . . and maybe a bit grittier on the ice?
“You don't need a bag of wolverines to shave a weasel.”
No, but it might help . . . So, Dr. Phil . . . any advice for this columnist?
“You don't need an open mind to find your inner moron.”
Uh-huh…OK, so let’s get to the game. Since the last time these clubs met eight days ago, their combined records are 1-5-0, Montreal securing the only win in their last game, against Tampa Bay this past Tuesday. The Canadiens had trouble finding the back of the net for a couple of games, netting only single goals against Florida and Tampa Bay before breaking out with a five-spot against the Lightning in the second half of a home-and-home.
Montreal is not an especially fearsome scoring club on the road. Their 2.63 goals per game average puts them in the bottom third in the league in that statistic and is more than three-quarters of a goal per game worse than their home scoring average. However, their road defense is formidable. They are among the top clubs in fewest goals allowed-per-game (2.47), and no club has given up fewer goals overall on the road. What’s more, they are a very effective penalty killing team on the road – they are fourth in fewest power play goals allowed (14) and lead the NHL in shorthanded goals scored on the road (6). Their power play is a two-edged sword. They are fourth in the NHL in power play conversion on the road (19.5 percent), but stand 26th in total road power play opportunities.
That they would have so many shorthanded goals on the road and covert a high percentage of their own road power plays, few that those opportunities might be, suggests a very opportunistic club against which the Caps almost need to play with their own “road game” mentality. Trying to be too cute or too showy for the benefit of the home crowd could spell trouble. And, they need to take advantage of their own opportunities, something they failed to do in the last meeting, when the Caps converted only one of eight power play chances, and that lone goal (their only one in a 4-1 loss) coming when the game was largely settled.
Montreal doesn’t give up much, and when they do, Cristobal Huet has been up to the task of cleaning up the mess. He’s fifth in the league in GAA among goalies having the majority of their club’s appearances, first in save percentage.
The Caps, on the other hand, have a lot of problems to sort out, but they can be lumped into two broad categories – they give up too many goals, and they don’t score enough. Well…duh. In this 1-7 slide, the Caps have 18 goals scored, 32 allowed. Not only are they losing, they’re falling out of games early. They’re getting outscored by almost two goals a game in this stretch, and in the seven losses they’ve been outscored in the first period, 17-4. In only one of those games did the Caps score first. Even if one takes away the six-goal onslaught by Buffalo in the first period of the December 26th contest, the Caps were outscored 11-3 in six losses. It’s a lot to expect any club to come back from the early holes they consistently dig themselves into, but the Caps have had the added problem of lacking any scoring rhythm. When they were getting production from the top line, no one else seemed to be contributing, and now that there is some sign of life from some of the more unusual scoring suspects, the top line (Alexander Ovechkin-Dainius Zubrus-Chris Clark) hasn’t had a goal in four games.
As for what the Caps might need, let’s leave that one to the good Doctor . . . Doc?
“Sometimes you just got to give yourself what you wish someone else would give you.”
A good swift kick in the ass?
“You got it.”
Caps 2 – Canadiens 1.
* Quotes courtesy of the good folks at Mangy Dog Productions
And, just like those folks, this is not associated with Dr. Phil.
Tonight, we get right back on the horse, put all those losses behind us, start from scratch, it’s 0-0, and . . .
“Hey, you don’t need macadamia nuts to fondle a donkey.”*
Well, isn’t this fortuitous . . . it’s TV’s favorite shrink, Dr. Phil himself – just in time to tackle the woes that have befallen our beloved Capitals. Doc, how are you doin’?
“It’s time to get real!”
o-o-o-o-o-kay, then. Doc, the Caps have been in the doldrums lately. What advice would you give to the boys?
“You don’t need sideburns to eat a bug.”
Ok, Ok, I can understand that . . . sort of. But they’ve really been listless in their own end. They can’t seem to keep the puck out of their own net. Can you shine a light on the problem?
“You don't need a 50-watt light bulb to dance like an idiot 'til yer toes fall off.”
I never thought of it that way . . . but the guys seem to have lacked the fire that characterized their early play. Even Donald Brashear getting into a few scrapes doesn’t seem to have lifted the team . . .
“You don't need bad manners to get all up in somebody's grill, yo.”
I see, I see. But they just don’t seem to want to do the dirty work they need to do to win games lately . . .
“You don't need stain-resistant pants to put some pep in your step.”
That sounds like pretty good advice. Maybe they’re too tight, gripping those sticks a little too hard, do you think they should lighten up a bit?
“You don't need Shemp to dare to be stupid.”
I see . . . and maybe a bit grittier on the ice?
“You don't need a bag of wolverines to shave a weasel.”
No, but it might help . . . So, Dr. Phil . . . any advice for this columnist?
“You don't need an open mind to find your inner moron.”
Uh-huh…OK, so let’s get to the game. Since the last time these clubs met eight days ago, their combined records are 1-5-0, Montreal securing the only win in their last game, against Tampa Bay this past Tuesday. The Canadiens had trouble finding the back of the net for a couple of games, netting only single goals against Florida and Tampa Bay before breaking out with a five-spot against the Lightning in the second half of a home-and-home.
Montreal is not an especially fearsome scoring club on the road. Their 2.63 goals per game average puts them in the bottom third in the league in that statistic and is more than three-quarters of a goal per game worse than their home scoring average. However, their road defense is formidable. They are among the top clubs in fewest goals allowed-per-game (2.47), and no club has given up fewer goals overall on the road. What’s more, they are a very effective penalty killing team on the road – they are fourth in fewest power play goals allowed (14) and lead the NHL in shorthanded goals scored on the road (6). Their power play is a two-edged sword. They are fourth in the NHL in power play conversion on the road (19.5 percent), but stand 26th in total road power play opportunities.
That they would have so many shorthanded goals on the road and covert a high percentage of their own road power plays, few that those opportunities might be, suggests a very opportunistic club against which the Caps almost need to play with their own “road game” mentality. Trying to be too cute or too showy for the benefit of the home crowd could spell trouble. And, they need to take advantage of their own opportunities, something they failed to do in the last meeting, when the Caps converted only one of eight power play chances, and that lone goal (their only one in a 4-1 loss) coming when the game was largely settled.
Montreal doesn’t give up much, and when they do, Cristobal Huet has been up to the task of cleaning up the mess. He’s fifth in the league in GAA among goalies having the majority of their club’s appearances, first in save percentage.
The Caps, on the other hand, have a lot of problems to sort out, but they can be lumped into two broad categories – they give up too many goals, and they don’t score enough. Well…duh. In this 1-7 slide, the Caps have 18 goals scored, 32 allowed. Not only are they losing, they’re falling out of games early. They’re getting outscored by almost two goals a game in this stretch, and in the seven losses they’ve been outscored in the first period, 17-4. In only one of those games did the Caps score first. Even if one takes away the six-goal onslaught by Buffalo in the first period of the December 26th contest, the Caps were outscored 11-3 in six losses. It’s a lot to expect any club to come back from the early holes they consistently dig themselves into, but the Caps have had the added problem of lacking any scoring rhythm. When they were getting production from the top line, no one else seemed to be contributing, and now that there is some sign of life from some of the more unusual scoring suspects, the top line (Alexander Ovechkin-Dainius Zubrus-Chris Clark) hasn’t had a goal in four games.
As for what the Caps might need, let’s leave that one to the good Doctor . . . Doc?
“Sometimes you just got to give yourself what you wish someone else would give you.”
A good swift kick in the ass?
“You got it.”
Caps 2 – Canadiens 1.
* Quotes courtesy of the good folks at Mangy Dog Productions
And, just like those folks, this is not associated with Dr. Phil.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
And, in other news . . .
Scoring leaders in the World Under-20 Tournament.
and, goalkeeping leaders.
For those of you scoring at home, Caps picks Oskar Osala and Nicklas Backstrom are tied for fourth and tied for 17th, respectively. Meanwhile, goaltending prospect Semen Varlamov leads all goaltenders in both save percentage and goals against average.
and, goalkeeping leaders.
For those of you scoring at home, Caps picks Oskar Osala and Nicklas Backstrom are tied for fourth and tied for 17th, respectively. Meanwhile, goaltending prospect Semen Varlamov leads all goaltenders in both save percentage and goals against average.
Snack Food Choices
This is why Doritos Nacho Cheese corn chips are far superior to Lays potato chips.
The Morning After -- Caps vs. Coyotes
| You know what?...I'd rather watch a panda sneeze than write about that gawdawful game. | |
Monday, January 01, 2007
The Peerless Prognosticator is ON THE AIR!!! -- Caps vs. Coyotes, January 1st
| It was January 16, 2006, the blush not even off the new year just yet. The Capitals were winding up a three-game road trip in Phoenix. Mid way through the third period of a 5-1 game, most folks were pondering what might be on another channel. They’d have done well to put the remote down. Brendan Witt dumped the puck out of the Capitals’ defensive zone and off the boards past one of the Coyotes. Alexander Ovechkin picked up the puck in front of the Caps’ bench in full stride just short of the red line. Skating down the right wing side, he was marked by defenseman Paul Mara, who stepped into Ovechkin as the winger was crossing the middle at the top of the circles in the Phoenix zone. Ovechkin lost control of the puck as he tangled with Mara, then tumbled on his side to the ice. As he was sliding toward the left wing corner, he rolled to his back and in one motion brought his stick over his head, snapping it with a flick of his wrist and redirecting the puck into the net past a stunned Brian Boucher in goal. Boucher could only curl up and bury his face in the ice while Steve Gainey could only spin on a skate in disbelief. Lost in this is the presence of mind of linemate Boyd Gordon, trailing the play on the right side, not to tap the puck into the net from the other side, thus washing out the most spectacular goal of the 2005-2006 season. So, where in the world does Alex score from today . . . let us consider a possibility. First period . . . Dainius Zubrus wins the opening draw . . . Steve Eminger corrals the puck in the Capitals’ zone . . . Ovechkin circles into the Caps’ zone, where Eminger feeds him the puck . . . Ovechkin skates out and up the ice, shadowed by Keith Ballard . . . Shane Doan slides over to provide support . . . then Mike Zigomanis . . . then Derek Morris and Oleg Saprykin . . . then Jeremy Roenick (sensing a video moment on which he could be captured) . . . Mike Comrie . . . Georges Laracque . . . Wayne Gretzky, for heaven’s sake (not this time, sonny) . . . the equipment manager throws extra goalie sticks on the ice . . . Ovechkin is still steaming toward the Coyote net . . . more Coyotes come streaming off the bench, piling on top of the rushing winger . . . Ovechkin plants the end of his stick in the ice between the circles and spins about it, kicking Coyotes aside by the dozen . . . more Coyotes flood the ice (hey, Peerless, isn’t this a penalty?), jumping on the winger – Ovechkin lowers a shoulder and springs into the air, flinging Coyotes off his back . . . he flips the puck into the air and with a mighty swat that defies laws of time and motion sends the puck into the back of the Phoenix net. Wayne Gretzky can only turn and whisper, “you are the One . . . “ Too much? Well, anyway, it’s the New Year and a chance to brush the dust of a 1-6-0 finish to the old year off. Phoenix visits Verizon Center with a record of 15-20-2, which is a bit deceiving. The Coyotes are 4-12-1 away from home, although they did manage a win in their last away contest, a 3-2 win against the sturdy San Jose Sharks last Thursday. As befits their dismal road record the Coyotes are dead last in the league in road scoring at 1.88 goals per game. They don’t make up for it with rock-ribbed defense – they are 29th in road goals allowed at 4.18 per game. Their specialty team ranks of 26th in road power play (only one team has scored fewer power play goals) and 27th in road penalty kill (no team has given up more power play goals) round out a poor team statistical profile. Among the skaters, the offense-challenged nature of Phoenix reveals itself. One Coyote has a double-digit goal total – Yanic Perreault (11), who has played only 25 games for the club. No Coyote has 30 points. Aging heartthrob Jeremy Roenick netted a hat trick in his last outing (an 8-0 win over San Jose), which lifted his totals to a still-anemic 4-5-9, -8, in 32 games. Ladislav Nagy – a persistent subject of trade rumors (mostly started by Caps fans, The Peerless believes) – leads the scoring parade . . . well, pub crawl . . . with a 6-22-28 line. The Coyotes are not a club entirely bereft of ability, though. Ed Jovanovski is 7-12-19, -1, and is a strong blue line presence (unfortunately for the Coyotes, he’s missed several games with a groin injury). Yanic Perreault is up to his usual specialty tricks, winning more than 62 percent of his draws. Expect him to take every important draw, including facing off against Ted Leonsis in the owners’ box for the last shrimp on the buffet. Keith Ballard is a promising young defenseman, one of only two (Travis Roche being the other) on the “plus” side of the ledger for the Coyotes. Shane Doan is still a presence worthy of attention. In goal, Curtis Joseph registered the shutout against San Jose last Thursday, so this could mean Mikael Tellqvist gets the nod this afternoon. Both have played decently, particularly lately. Joseph is 2-2-0, 2.32, .932 in his last five appearances. Tellqvist has struggled a bit more with a 2-2-1, 3.32, .885 record in his last five appearances. Frankly, this is an opponent served up as a remedy to the Caps’ woes, just as the Caps were for the Rangers Saturday night. Despite injuries, illnesses, and call-ups, this is a game the Caps should and needs to win. Getting off to a good start on the first day of the new year is largely symbolic (how many folks remember last year’s 5-2 pounding of the Caps by Atlanta on New Year’s Day?). But it sure can’t hurt after all this recent losing . . . Caps 6 – Phoenix 3. | |
Sunday, December 31, 2006
It was a pretty good year . . .
2006 . . . What a year . . .
In the space of four days in January, Alexander Ovechkin registered his first hat trick in the NHL and then managed to score a goal while sliding on his back away from the net at which he was . . . uh, shooting. It was a memorable January – the Caps finished 5-8-2.
In February, the Caps played an abbreviated schedule due to the Olympics. But, Mike Green scored his first goal as a Capital, in a 4-1 win against
March . . . the Caps saw a return to a full slate of games, although what a metamorphic rock derived out of sedimentary materials has to do with schedules for a professional sports team is a mystery. The Caps secured their only win of the season against the Pittsburgh Penguins, highlighted by a goofy goal from the stick of Ivan Majesky, who fired (“blooped” would be a more apt description) the puck from the boards near the Caps’ bench in an effort to clear the zone while killing a penalty. The puck landed near the Penguins' blue line – in full sight of Penguin goaltender Sebastien Caron – upon which Alexander Ovechkin gave the puck the evil eye, willing it to bounce out of the reach of Caron and into the net, leaving Caron embarrassed and Penguin fans wailing about how this will cost them a new arena. Brendan Witt was traded to the Nashville Predators for a boxed set of Loretta Lynn classics. Kris Beech was added as a throw-in. The Caps finished 4-6-5.
April . . . the Caps played 328 games against
May . . . Caps fans huddled around their TV screens and computers to follow the latest progress. Redskins rookie camp was said to have gone well. No one killed Gregg Williams.
June . . . Alexander Ovechkin announced the Capitals’ first pick in the NHL entry draft – Nicklas Backstrom of Brynas in the Swedish Elite League. He did such a great job, he was given the responsibility of announcing the meal choice of the guys at the Caps’ draft table – Kung Pao Chicken and Polish sausage sandwiches.
July . . . The free agent signing period began, and the Caps were active – unfortunately, no one thought to charge their cell phones, and Zdeno Chara ended up in
August . . . the club, acknowledging that the new skating facility in Ballston would not be ready for training camp, announced that camp would open in the frozen food section of the Wegman’s on Route 28 in Loudoun County. Fans attending on the first day of camp would receive coupons for Mrs. Paul’s fish sticks.
September . . . The Redskins opened camp, the Nationals’ season was winding down, the Terps were opening their ACC football season, DC United was trying to hang onto the top spot in the East in the MLS. That constituted sports news on the local front for . . . oh, yeah . . . the Caps opened camp (Wegman’s did not run out of fish sticks).
October . . . The National Hockey League season opened with a thud as the Caps served as useful props for the Rangers’ opening night win. Dozens of Caps fans attended the home opener a couple of nights later. Alexander had a hat trick. No, not that one, the other one. The Caps finished 4-3-4. Fans were planning parade routes for the Stanley Cup celebration.
November . . . was a month of firsts . . . the Caps did something in
December . . . Alexander Ovechkin started off the month scoring a goal by stuffing the puck in Daniel Briere’s mouth and shooting him into the Buffalo Sabre net. Briere spent the next month complaining of neck pain and . . . cramps with bloating. Then, the Caps did two things they hadn’t done in more than a decade – they swept
And it was a helluva year for a club that is making small, but sure steps back to respectability. Alexander Ovechkin is everything he was said to be and more. Olaf Kolzig remains the cornerstone of the franchise, in and out of the locker room. Alexander Semin dazzles with his stick work, and if you blink, you’ll miss that wrister heading to the back of the net. Mike Green plays with a veteran’s sense of patience. Shaone Morrisonn is growing into the stopper that the Caps need. Matt Pettinger has given indications that his breakout year last year wasn’t a fluke. John Erskine has been a pleasant surprise. The boys in Hershey are taking up right where they left off in June with their Calder Cup win.
The future looks a lot brighter in these parts than it has in some time. 2006 was a year of progress. Here’s to 2007 being one of achievement. And pretty soon, all of us can celebrate by heading to Philly and wizzing on the Rocky statue.
Happy New Year, hockey fans.
The Morning After -- Caps vs. Rangers
It’s one thing to fall to a club that is experienced in the ways of winning, as the Caps did on Friday night to the Devils. It is quite another to go toes up against a club that has played horrible hockey for the better part of the last month. But that’s what happened last night when the Caps went quietly – in the hockey way of things – to the New York Rangers, 4-1 (at least The Peerless got the score right).
It was brutal.
Petr Prucha, who last year was a darling in
Darius Kasparaitis, who was given up for dead a month ago, coming off groin and shoulder injuries, and crowded out of a defensive lineup that wouldn’t scare small children, gets a goal and was a plus-three. Kasparaitis hadn’t had a plus-three game since October 13, 2005.
Karel Rachunek, who isn’t on anyone’s Norris short list, had a pair of assists and was a plus-two.
It wasn’t as if the Caps succumbed to an all-star lineup. It wasn’t as if the Rangers played particularly well. This was a game the Caps should have won.
Moral victories should be getting to be a thing of the past. The club has to find a way to steal a couple of points here and there when they aren’t fielding their best lineup. Instead, the Caps find themselves at the end of the year marching in place, a .500 team. Don’t get me wrong, that’s an improvement over where they were on December 31, 2005 (13-20-3, for those of you scoring at home), but closing 2006 on a 1-6-0 run wasn’t in the game plan. Here is what “stealing” two points here and there could have meant. If they’d stolen two games (a 3-4-0 record instead of 1-6-0), they would be 18-14-7 and tied for sixth with
What’s the problem? Well, giving up 29 goals in seven games – only one in which fewer than four goals were allowed (not coincidentally, the only win in this stretch) – points to a problem. In spite of injuries, that just suggests a team-wide loss of focus. That seemed always to be the danger here with a young team. Between the holidays and the start of the long march through the winter, focus was something that could wander. Add to that the spate of injuries and illness, and it was a recipe for trouble. An explanation, maybe, but that should be used by no one as an excuse. If this team has designs on the playoffs, it has to find a way to weather such storms.
2006 ends with a record of 32-37-16. In 2007, fans – not to mention the club -- will be expecting better.
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