SB Nation - Semyon Varlamov

Capitals @ Oilers, 12/19/09 - This one could be ugly.

Derek Zona — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 22:30:13 -0000

On to Caps news:

Just in case you haven't seen it, David Koci with yet another dirty hit

Bruce Boudreau doesn't see a place in the NHL for David Koci. I'm not the only one that's tired of all of these dirty hits.

Jonathan Willis spins the wheel of justice on Koci and says 5 games. So of course, no suspension.

Michael Nylander was assigned to Grand Rapids and his cap hit is off of the books for now. Would you trade for Nylander?

An interesting statistical breakdown of the Capitals defensemen.

Washington Capitals Injuries

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Boyd Gordon	back	11/15/2009
Semyon Varlamov	groin	12/08/2009

Wednesday Caps Clips: Rocky Mountain Rout

J.P. — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:42:25 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

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Your savory breakfast links:

Recaps and other assorted musings on last night's win from Corey (blog, article), Tarik (blog, article), Vogs, Joe B., CSN Washington, WashEx, Ed Frankovic, Fight for Old DC, Denver Post (gamer and blog) and Mile High Hockey (rather succinct).
On the David Koci hit. [FanHouse]
Seems a good time to revisit this post on team toughness from a few weeks back.
At some point you start to wonder whether sheer ignorance will cost Semyon Varlamov Calder votes. [FanHouse]
Some more new power rankings are out, with the Caps up one to third at CBC.
Another interesting look at the crapshoot that is drafting goalies. [TSN]
Stephen Peat vs. P.J. Stock: your NHL fight of the decade. [Puck Daddy]
A rare Michael Nylander AHL rookie card unearthed. [FanPost]
These third jersey mock-ups look awful to me. I mean, an "A" on the #28 sweater? Ewww. [Rock The Red.net]
John Erskine has a new nickname (and no, it's not Fourskine). [Fight For Old DC]
Maybe no one will win the Cup this year. [Orland Kurtenblog]
If Cody Eakin ends up not making Team Canada this winter, there's still a chance (gasp!) that he might become a decent hockey player. [CBC]
Another "Gabby" review. [Sky Sports]
Speaking of Gabby, per the HHoF, on this date back in 1977, "Bruce Boudreau scored the only hat trick of his NHL career, and Borje Salming added five assists as the Toronto Maple Leafs won 8-5 against the North Stars, at Minnesota."
Finally, again per the HHoF, on this date back in 2003, "Washington rookie Maxim Ouellet, playiing in his first NHL game in three seasons, made 37 saves to record his first career shutout, and Robert Lang scored twice and added two assists as the Capitals won 5-0 against the Thrashers at Atlanta." And by "first," they mean "only."

Game 36 Preview: Capitals at Avalanche

David Driscoll-Carignan — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:00:28 -0000


Washington Capitals	7:30 MT / 9:30 ET / 2:30 GMT	Colorado Avalanche
20-7-6	December 14th, 2009	19-10-6
46 pts	Pepsi Center	44 pts
1st in East	Denver, CO	Ahead of Calgary

Okay, folks, fun time is over. We spent yesterday thoroughly enjoying the win against Calgary, especially the part where Curtis Glencross was an incredible tool. But those clowns are gone now and a new circus has rolled into town. The Avs will have to take on the giant, happy, funball that is the Washington Capitals. As of this writing (as Tuesday's games are just getting underway), the Caps have the best record in the NHL (that will have changed if the Kings - the KINGS - defeated Vancouver). That's all daunting and stuff, but our hapless Avalanche are just two points behind Washington, clearly because the NHL rewards blatant dives.

Craig Anderson has been rock solid in net since his return from Keith Ballarditis, and the Avs defense has been excellent the last few games. They will be tested tonight, though, as the Capitals have the league's best offense and most potent powerplay. The Avalanche will need to play a disciplined game and stay out of that penalty box.

Capitals goalie Semyon Varlamov has been outstanding this year. But, he's injured and it's likely that the Avalanche will face old friend Jose Theodore in what will be his first game in Denver since leaving via free agency. This would be the point where you start chuckling and getting all confident and stuff. This would also be the point where I would punch you in the arm and remind you that we were shut out this year by Andrew Raycroft.

Capitals vs Avalanche coverage

Japer's Rink

Tailor Arnason update

Arnason's team won the battle of the Dinamo as the Riga Dinamo shut out the Minsk Dinamo 2-0. No points for Arnie, but Riga pulled into 8th in their conference. The KHL is now on a break until December 22nd.

Tale of the Tape

(note that all stats are from before last night's games)

Washington			Colorado
1st	46	Points	6th	44
1st	3.48	GF/G	11th	2.86
16th	2.79	GA/G	12th	2.69
1st	23.9	PP%	18th	18.4
22nd	78.6	PK%	16th	80.8
5th	32.3	S/G	30th	26
13th	30.1	SA/G	25th	32.1
5th	52	FO%	29th	46.6
4th	10.5	PIM/G	14th	13.3
Ovechkin / Backstrom	37 pts	Top Scorer	Stastny	34 pts

Capital Ups and Downs: Week 11

J.P. — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:00:16 -0000

by Chris O'Meara - AP

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Our weekly look at individual Washington Capitals' ups and downs:

Goalies	Trend	Notes
Michal Neuvirth		Didn't get much help Saturday night... and needed an awful lot the way he played. Now an ugly 0-2-0/4.56/.845 on the (NHL) season.
Jose Theodore		He'll need to be better than 1-1-0/2.97/.872 in Varly's absences, whenever they are.
Semyon Varlamov		Followed up a 26-save shutout - his second whitewashing in four starts - with a trip to the IR. On the plus side, the Caps have the luxury of being extra cautious with him... for now.

Defensemen
John Erskine		The wear and tear is wearing and tearing Erskine down to the point where he seems nearly worn and torn out.
Mike Green		The return of "Game Over" Green Friday night couldn't save a week full of turnovers and blown assignments... with Team Canada no doubt watching.
Milan Jurcina		After a minus-eight stretch in his previous six games, an even week (with a scratch thrown in) may qualify as a "good week," but the Caps need more out of Juice.
Shaone Morrisonn		Returned from injury with a zero-point, one shot on goal, minus-one week in which he averaged under 18 minutes of ice time. Sounds about right.
Brian Pothier		On injured reserve with a rib injury. It's a shame, as he was coming off a three-goal, four-assist, plus-11 November.
Tom Poti		Minus-three for the week (and that includes a plus-one in Tampa), and on the ice for six of the 12 goals the team allowed for the week.
Jeff Schultz		A plus-two week has him fourth in the League in plus/minus, and three four-block games speak further to the blueliner he's becoming.

Swingman
Tyler Sloan		Scratched twice, Sloan's NHL time is running out with Laing's pending return and perhaps a recall of Karl Alzner for the blueline.

Forwards
Keith Aucoin		His most recent recall was short and relatively unproductive, which, fittingly, makes it the Keith Aucoin of recalls.
Nicklas Backstrom		Two goals, two assists, plus-four and an epic OT shift against Carolina, the "wow" moments are coming with greater frequency with each passing week.
Matt Bradley		A happy and healthy new baby gets an up arrow, especially when supplemented with a great interview.
Chris Clark		If the captain isn't contributing on the scoreboard, he's gotta be doing other things... like not letting his team put up three poor efforts in a row (including a pair against the League's two worst teams).
Eric Fehr		A goal in Tampa followed by three point-less games, Fehr will look to go from scorching hot to cold to just plain consistent.
Tomas Fleischmann		Another Cap forward looking for consistency, Flash posted a goal and three helpers this week and now has seven points in his last six games (after picking up just one in his previous six).
Alexandre Giroux		If it wasn't for Nylander's departure, Giroux being returned to Chocolatetown would qualify as great news. As it is, it's merely very good news.
Boyd Gordon		In the past two months, Gordo has played 5:55 of hockey. Sigh.
Mike Knuble		Off to a slow start since returning from the IR with a minus-three rating in two games. No doubt it takes some time to get back to game speed, but a finger injury shouldn't inhibit one's ability to crash the net.
Brooks Laich		Like his new-found mentor Knuble, Laich had no points and was minus-three for the week... but he played all four games.
Quintin Laing		Q's getting closer to returning, but when he comes back, who sits?
Brendan Morrison		No points, three shots on goal and a celebration on a puck he shot wide... ouch.
Michael Nylander		Hasta la vista, baby.
Alex Ovechkin		Returned from suspension with three multi-point games (seven points overall) and 23 shots on goal in four games.
Mathieu Perreault		Food poisoning sidelined him in Buffalo and one point in his last ten games might sideline him a little more frequently going forward. Update: Perreault has been returned to Hershey.
Alexander Semin		Two goals, three assists, plus-four and 20 shots on goal in three games, a "passenger" in the fourth. That's our Sasha!
David Steckel		Followed up his first goal of the season with no points, a minus-two rating, two shots on goal and diminishing ice time (less than ten minutes per game for the week) in four games. The face offs are still there, though (67.4% for the week).

Monday Caps Clips: Happy "Nylander's Gone" Day

J.P. — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:36:43 -0000

More photos » by Alex Brandon - AP

Alex Ovechkin and Mike Green upon hearing the news that Michael Nylander has been assigned to Grand Rapids of the AHL.

Browse more photos »

Your savory breakfast links:

In case you missed it... our long national (capital area) nightmare is over. [Japers' Rink]
More from In The Room, the WaPo, the Grand Rapids Press and elsewhere.
If Semyon Varlamov turns out to be the real deal, the Caps will have themselves a rarity - a goalie taken in the first round who panned out. [Hockey Or Die!]
Jim Matheson says Mike Green makes Team Canada. He also says Michael Nylander might go to Finland, so "grain of salt" and all that. [Edmonton Journal]
"In a deal to be announced Monday, the Capitals have partnered with OptionIt on a service that lets fans buy options on tickets in advance for about half their face value, and then lets them eventually pay for the ticket in full or sell it to other fans." Um, ok. [WSJ]
If you like free money, here's a deal for you - spend $15, and get $30 to spend at RFD, a great pre- or post-game watering hole. [Living Social]
Speaking of goalies, good to see OFB's non-NHL netminder obsession moving from beauty pageant contestants to webmasters. [OFB]
"Ups and Downs" coming up at 11:00.
Finally, happy 48th birthday to Peter Sundstrom and happy 43rd to Bill Ranford.

Pick 'Em: Best Capitals Draft Pick of the Decade

David M. Getz — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:00:27 -0000

by Nick Wass - AP

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Readers who venture outside the friendly internet confines of the the Rink may have noticed that, in anticipation of ~~the end of the decade~~ 2010, Puck Daddy has been compiling the best and worst of the last decade, including the ten biggest goon moments, the best and worst contracts, and NHL's best and worst decisions. Yesterday saw Ryan Lambert of The Two Line Pass take a look at the five best and five worst draft picks of the last ten years.

Being a Capitals blog we figured it would make for some interesting discussion to ~~pilfer the idea~~ alter their framework every so slightly to suit our favorite team and take a look at some of studs and duds of recent Washington draft classes. To make things a little more interesting, we decided to eliminate lottery picks, which in essence means no Alex Ovechkin, no Nicklas Backstrom, and no Karl Alzner.

To start things off, let's take a look at the five worst:

5. Jakub Cutta (Defense, 2nd round, 61st overall, 2000)

Cutta was billed as a guy with an ideal frame, but a project nonetheless. At the time of his draft people knew there were questions about his skating, his ability to move the puck out of the zone at the next level, and whether he would ever use his 6'3'', 214 frame as effectively as possible. The problem was, nothing ever really panned out. The skating never became NHL caliber, there wasn't any offense to speak of as a pro, and while Cutta laid out a big hit every once in a while, he was far from an intimidating physical force. All told Cutta saw action in eight games over the course of three seasons with the Caps, earning himself a minus-5 rating. By 2006 Cutta would be back in his native Czech Republic, and he's been splitting time between his homeland and Russia for the past few years. It's not always fair to look back and evaluate a pick using 20/20 hindsight, but the fact that Paul Martin was taken with the 62nd pick certainly doesn't make this one any easier to swallow.

4. Josh Godfrey (Defense, 2nd round, 34th overall, 2007)

Yeah, it's still early, but thing don't look very good for Godfrey, who's now in his second season with the ECHL's South Carolina Stingrays. Part of us wants to say that the blue line is stacked at Hershey, that Godfrey's still young, and that he was drafted as an offensive defenseman who would have to spend a lot of time working out the kinks in his own end before he had a chance at the NHL. Another part of us says that guys who spend more than one season in the ECHL don't usually do much at the NHL level - and that's not enough for someone picked 34th overall. The fact that, other than Kings prospects Wayne Simmonds and Oscar Moller, no one picked after Godfrey has seen much NHL playing time helps keep him from rising on this list - for now.

3. Keith Seabrook (Defense, 2nd round, 52nd overall, 2006)

Also an offensive defenseman, the Capitals were hoping Seabrook would one day be a powerplay quarterback, or at least an offensive threat from the blue line. However, Seabrook underwhelmed offensively, first by scoring 13 points (two goals) in 37 games at the University of Denver and then by scoring 17 (four goals) in 59 games with the WHL's Calgary Hitmen - all while failing to make marked progress in his own end. In 2008-09 Seabrook finally became the offensive force people thought he was capable of being by registering 55 points (fifteen goals) for the Hitmen, but questions persisted about whether it was because he was growing in to his talent or because he was an overage player. Currently in the Calgary Flames organization, Seabrook still has a chance to become an NHL player, but never came close to getting a contract, let alone a game, with the Caps.

2. Joe Finley (Defense, 1st round, 27th overall, 2005)

The Caps would eventually sign Finley in the summer of 2009, but his future seems to be up in the air. After playing as a forward in camp, Finley's back on the blue line with South Carolina this season. If Finley ever makes it to the NHL, it's almost certainly going to be in a limited role as an enforcer...and you don't aim to draft a part-time enforcer in the first round. 36 of the first 45 players taken in the 2005 draft have played in the NHL, and has four of the five and seven of the ten taken after Finley. The issue at this point wasn't the talent pool. It was the selection.

1. Sasha Pokulok (Defense, 1st round, 14th overall, 2005)

How could it be anyone else? There's no way the Caps should have been picking 14th in 2005, but they sure didn't do themselves any favors in picking Pokulok. Billed as a physical specimen with skating ability and offensive upside, Pokulok was beset by concussion problems each of his three years in the Capitals organization. In the end, Pokulok wasn't able to stick in Hershey, let alone Washington, earning himself the dubious (and unfortunate) title of "Worst Capitals Pick of the Decade".

Honorable Mentions: Steve Eminger, Ted Ruth, Maxime Daigneault, Boyd Gordon

Now that that's over, let's take a look at the five best:

5. John Carlson (Defense, 1st round, 27th overall, 2008)

He's played just three games at the NHL level thus far, but is there any reason to think Carlson won't be a very, very good NHL defender? With size, skill, and smarts he's bested every challenge thrown his way since the draft, finishing second in the OHL in scoring among defensemen and second among rookies last year, and registering 18 points in 24 games for the Bears this year. Carlson may very well be a top pairing guy in the very near future, and in a league that prizes two way defensemen as highly as the NHL does that's a heck of a return on the 27th pick.

4. Johnny Oduya (Defense, 7th round, 221st overall, 2001)

Hey, we said these guys were going to be Capitals draftees, we never said anything about whether the team signed him. With only one point and an minus-1 rating, Oduya's slumping this year but he's nonetheless a legitimate top-four guy defenseman in the NHL, something that can only be said for a handful of the 200 players taken before him.

3. Alexander Semin (Left Wing/Right Wing, 13th overall, 2002)

At September's Capitals Convention members of the team's scouting staff were insistent they'd been lucky with Semin, who has grown three inches and added thirty-five pounds since the time he was drafted. Even if there was some luck involved, Semin is a elite offensive player who may just be the most naturally talented guy in the NHL. Picking thirteenth overall you expect to get an NHL caliber player - but getting a guy with Semin's ability in that spot is a steal. He might not have the career top 2002 pick Rich Nash will, be there's no doubt Semin was the most talented player available at the this spot - and your GM picking that guy is all you can ask for.

2. Semyon Varlamov (Goalie, 23rd overall, 2006)

We'd be lying if we said there wasn't a part of us that was still scared Semyon Varlamov was going to burn out (insert obligatory Jim Carey reference here), but what he's doing at his age, well, that just doesn't happen very often. The Capitals get credit here for being willing to use their first round pick to take a netminder in what was regarded as a weak draft between the pipes. The next time you want to criticize George McPhee for going off the board, remember that sometimes the risk pays off.

1. Mike Green (Defense, 29th overall, 2004)

Twenty-ninth overall isn't exactly scraping the bottom of the barrel, but no one expected this. Fifty-one goals and 159 points in his last 180 games, a historically great season, a Norris Trophy nomination at age 23, and comparisons to Paul Coffey would make Green a great pick just about anywhere, but at the end of the first round it's practically criminal. Thank the Lord the Stars saw something they liked in Mark Fistric.

Honorable Mentions: Mathieu Perreault, Oskar Osala, Braden Holtby

While the issue of the worst draft pick seems pretty cut-and-dry (seriously, if anyone thinks it's someone other than Pokulok, we'd love to hear why), the best pick is up for debate - and we want to know what you think. Vote in the poll, and let us know who you picked in the comments section.

Poll

So, who's the best Capitals draft pick of the decade?

Friday Caps Clips: Hurricanes @ Caps Game Day

J.P. — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:47:25 -0000

More photos » by Gary Malerba - AP

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Your savory breakfast links:

Previews of tonight's rematch of last week's Caps win from Vogs, CSN Washington, NHL.com, Peerless and Rock The Red.net, and be sure to check out our SB Nation partner Canes Country for coverage from the other side of tonight's match up.
A look at the Caps' intra-divisional dominance. [Washington Post]
Semyon Varlamov has been placed on injured reserve and is thus unavailable for this weekend's back-to-back games. [Washington Examiner]
It was blue collar/fan fave day on the Bog yesterday, with great stuff on Matt Bradley and Quintin Laing. [D.C. Sports Bog, D.C. Sports Bog]
Eric Fehr gets some major fantasy love (hey now) and a comparison to a guy who played more than a thousand NHL games. I'll take the under. [Dobber Hockey]
Jim Kelley answers his critics (more or less). Time to move on... [SI.com]
... to another MSM smakedown! [BanginPanger]
Crosby vs. Ovechkin: The Infomercial. [Puck Daddy]
Plenty of Caps stuff in the Post's special "Best of the Decade" section. [Washington Post]
Alex Ovechkin can be romantically linked to Megan Fox in just five degrees of separation (passing through Paris Hilton along the way, of course, as she's the Springfield Interchange of such connections), though "dated" is likely overstating that first link. [Who's Dated Who via The Cult of Hockey]
Apparently AO and Mike Green are not currently "among the best in the game." Um, okay. [ESPN]
Gabby, reviewed. [Montreal Gazette]
Delly leaves Barrie for Team Canada. [Barrie Examiner]
Per the HHoF, on this date back in 1981, "Washington's Dennis Maruk scored twice and added four assists, and rookie Chris Valentine had a goal and four assists in the Capitals' 11-2 win against the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs. It was Maruk's second six point game in a week!"
Finally, (again, per the HHoF), on this date back in 1992, "National Hockey League Governors named Gary Bettman as the first NHL Commissioner in league history, effective Feb. 1, 1993." Happy Anniversary!

Wednesday Caps Clips: Caps @ Sabres Game Day

J.P. — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:43:35 -0000

More photos » by Nick Wass - AP

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Your savory breakfast links:

Previews of tonight's rematch of a 2-0 Caps win a couple of weeks back (let's see if AO can hang around for all of this one) from Vogs, NHL.com and Rock The Red.net, and be sure to check out our SB Nation partner Die By The Blade for coverage from the other side of tonight's match up.
With Braden Holtby recalled to Hershey (where there were two healthy goalies practicing yesterday), speculation is that not all is right between the pipes for the parent club. [Patriot-News]
The Caps are... wait for it... the real deal. [Globe and Mail]
Even The Boss took a moment to appreciate what they've been able to do so far this season. [Ted's Take]
Inside the NHL's "war room." Slow news day? [Washington Post]
Pierre LeBrun answers a couple of Caps-related questions and debunks the "players today no longer have any respect for one another" silliness. [ESPN]
The latest opinions on the bubble that is Mike Green's dream of being an Olympian: Corey says yes, PPP says no, CTV says his stock is on the rise.
Speaking of Green, random stat: @GreenLife52 has six points and a plus-six rating since his last tweet.
Oh, and he's fine. [Capitals Insider]
Semyon Varlamov is behind Jamie Benn in the Calder race. Riiiight. [Hockey's Future]
Sidney Crosby more clutch than Alex Ovechkin? That's unpossible. [The Hockey News]
Speaking of Sid and Alex, last year's Caps/Pens series placed ninth in the top ten sports moments of the year (pretty long moment, btw). [Time]
Hello, Moscow! [Alex Ovetjkin]
10 Things You Should Know About... Tomas Fleischmann. [Capitals]
Um, Paul... the Caps have given up more than two goals once in their last six games (and that was in a 4-3 shootout win) and have two shutouts during that span. Impressed yet? [NHL.com]
Steven Pinizzotto and Andrew Joudrey are killing it - literally - in Hershey. [Patriot-News]
Finally, saying goodbye to a member of the Bears family. [John Walton Hockey]

Arturs Irbe: "They Need to Take A Young Guy for the Number 3 Spot in Vancouver"

tuvanhillbilly — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 02:54:36 -0000

More photos » by Alex Brandon - AP

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How did I miss this? Not sure of the exact publication date, but sometime in the last week Slava Malamud over at Sport Express caught up with Washington Capitals goaltender coach Arturs Irbe and got his opinion on the goaltending situation in Vancouver.

The forthcoming Olympic Games might become historic for several reasons. It will be the first played on a North-American-sized rink and it is entirely possible that it will be the last one with the participation of players from the NHL. Also, for the first time in many years, it may present us with a finale featuring the strongest combination of players from Team Russian and Team Canada. And there is yet another milestone: it is entirely possible that Russia will come to Vancouver with the strongest goaltending brigade in the tournament.

Protecting the net wasn't a matter of paramount importance when Russian players were wearing CCCP on their chest, nor has it been in the post-Soviet era. The national style was a brilliant display of attacks and combinations, while the last line was paid far less attention. At best the position was entrusted to someone with unique natural talent. Now, however, Russia has four main goaltenders in the NHL and they are all in excellent shape. Can it really be that the last line of our national team will be our advantage over Canada, where we've always thought that great goaltenders grow on trees? And which among them can become the unexpected hero of the Games? Our expert Arturs Irbe answers these questions for Sport-Express.

Do you agree that Russia will have the best goaltender brigade at the Olympic Games?

"I think that's a little bit exaggerated. Although, perhaps, it is closer to the truth than it has ever been before. Especially in light of the fact that in recent years European and Canadian hockey have, in fact, merged. Russia has a very good selection. I'm sure this is a really nice problem for Slava Bykov."

And if this was your problem-whom would you choose as your number one?

"I don't think I have any right to talk about this. For sure someone would be offended or accuse me of having a bias. It's better that I refrain from answering."

Well, what if you could only choose between Bryzgalov or Nabokov, the winners of the last two World Championships?

"I could say that you need both of them to play in Vancouver. The tournament is very short, with a really difficult schedule, so you need to use two goaltenders. My experience has shown me that professionals in the Olympic Games can sometimes be knocked off their usual groove. The unusual practice and game schedules, always being in the same place, always being under scrutiny, the long waits.... and goaltenders are used to preparing according to a normal schedule, smooth and predictable."

You've said that the North American and European styles have blended together. Does this also apply to goaltenders?

Yeah, the goaltending schools are also, shall we say, hybridized. Europeans have learned something from the North Americans and vice-versa. It's really meaningless to contrast the two hockey schools now. The best goalies in the NHL are now using a mixed style. In the 90's when they were just getting used to the Europeans, the situation was different. Hasek made his way first, then me and Tommy Salo. We didn't play like the Canadians, and they didn't quite trust us. But now there's really no difference."

What can you say about Canadian goaltenders?

"The Canadians, just like everyone else, has to select their first pair. The third goalie is basically needed for emergency situations. It doesn't make sense to dress him for games, and you really can't have a normal practice with three goaltenders. As for the first pair, in any case Martin Brodeur deserves to be there. For second place you need to pick someone who can play at the NHL level. And for third place it makes sense to choose one of the young guys, like Fleury, Mason, or Price. They will be happy just to be there at the Olympics, and they won't spoil the atmosphere in the dressing room if they don't play. I think it makes sense to do the same thing with the other teams, including Russia."

Sometimes it's not the best team that wins the Olympics, but the best goaltender. In Nagano the Czechs were far from the best team, but they won because they had a superman in net, and one who was at his peak-Hasek. Who's going to be the Hasek this time?

"I agree, the Czechs weren't the strongest team but won because of a great goaltender. Who can become the next Hasek? Well, you've got Ryan Miller on team USA, for example, but personally I would pay attention to the Swedes and the Finns. The Finns have never won Olympic gold, and now they have a have whole host of distinguished goaltenders. It's like they [have an assembly line and] are just stamping them out. So I'm going to choose them as the dark horse.

By the way, is the Finnish school noticeable in your young ward, Semyon Varlamov? How does it show itself most often?

"Yeah, it's noticeable, but just a little. He's only been working with a Finnish coach for the last two years. The main features of the Finnish school are brilliantly delivered technique, skating, and movements. Finnish goaltenders are very economical and refined in their movements; they don't have any unnecessary hand movements, they always set up at the correct angle from the very first movement, without any extra steps, and they are always in the correct position."

But with Varlamov there's an impression that sometimes he saves himself with his athleticism and flexibility.

"Well, that's just a sign of youth."

Tampa Bay Lightning Game 29: versus the Washington Capitals

Cassie McClellan — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:00:52 -0000

by Chris O'Meara - AP

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The Tampa Bay Lightning lost to the Washington Capitals 3-0.

This game was a lot closer than the score suggests - at least for the first two periods. Vincent Lecavalier was by far the best player on the ice for the Lightning. Mike Smith and Ryan Malone came in tied at a close second. They had some jump and were taking it to the Caps. Things were looking promising for a solid finish in the third.

And then they came out flat and lifeless. It was like an entirely different team that played the third period. The Caps were up by three goals at that point - and, to their credit, they didn't allow any goals after that - so the game was still potentially winnable. The Lightning have come back from worse than a three-goal deficit to at least make it to overtime. But something happened during the second period intermission to take the wind out of their sails, and I can't even begin to guess what that might be.

The coaches themselves threw in the towel with seven minutes left in the game by benching their top two lines. No matter how poorly they might be playing, you don't bench your top lines if you think you might have a chance to get back into the game. So it was obvious that the coaches decided that the game was essentially over at that point. Not exactly much of a confidence booster right there.

Bad penalties were a story of the game. The Caps have a great power play, and to give them the opportunities to use it was sloppy thinking. Luckily, they only converted on one of the five opportunities that the Lightning provided for them. Still, having your top guys in the box when you need them on the ice isn't a good way to try to win a game.

Jeff Halpern and Paul Szczechura had an outstanding night in the faceoff circle. Halpern was 6-1 (86%) and Szczechura was 8-2 (80%). They helped pick up the poor faceoff night for Steven Stamkos, who was 4-7 (36%) and Lecavalier, who was 6-10 (38%). That's been pretty typical of Stamkos's faceoff performance lately, tho that has not been so typical of Lecavalier who's usually wins around 50-55% on average.

No matter what the Lightning did, they were unable to solve Semyon Varlamov. He was the true difference maker in this game. Had the Lightning not come up against such a hot goaltender, the final score might've been far different.

The next game is Wednesday, 9 December, versus the Edmonton Oilers. Start time is 7:30 pm Eastern.