SB Nation User Blog: J.P.

Capital Ups and Downs: Week 12

J.P. — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 19:05:31 -0000

by David Zalubowski - AP

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

Goalies	Trend	Notes
Michal Neuvirth		Quietly solid in a huge bounce-back win in Edmonton.
Jose Theodore		A good game and a not-as-good game, but just two even strength goals against and 1-1-0/2.02/.917 week are solid numbers.
Semyon Varlamov		Sounded close to returning before a hopefully minor setback.

Defensemen
Karl Alzner		Plus-two for the week and victimized by a bad bounce in Edmonton, Alzner's development should continue to benefit from being paired with the likes of John Erskine and Tyler Sloan. Ahem.
John Erskine		A monster night in Colorado (assist, plus-three rating and 17 penalty minutes earned for sticking up for Mike Green), tougher time in Vancouver and a scratch in Edmonton.
Mike Green		Just one assist and six shots on goal for the week. Of course, he did miss half of the Colorado game because he forced David Koci to skate halfway across the ice and board him. Bad Greenie.
Milan Jurcina		Scratched twice, looked hungrier against Edmonton, leading the team in hits.
Shaone Morrisonn		Missed most of the Colorado game, returned to lead the team in hits against Vancouver, back out of the lineup Saturday night. Hmm...
Brian Pothier		Despite seven points from blueliners this week, the Caps miss his puck-moving ability on the back-end.
Tom Poti		Three games, plus-three rating, but a whopping four third period penalties (at least one in each game), including an inexcusable unsportsmanlike in Vancouver.
Jeff Schultz		Want a microcosm of Schultz's career? Look no further than this week - a couple of memorable bloopers but a great job shutting down the Sedins and a positive plus-minus (though it should be noted that he was on the ice for four of the six goals the Caps allowed in the three games).

Swingman
Tyler Sloan		Scratched twice, returned and notched an assist on the insurance tally Saturday night, but let's be honest - his NHL time is running out.

Forwards
Nicklas Backstrom		A couple of goals, an assist, a plus-one rating and nine shots on goal and 57% in the dot are all nice, but he's got to take some of the blame for a power play that was just 1-for-9 on the week.
Matt Bradley		A goal, an assist and a plus-two rating in Colorado highlight the week for a guy who's two-thirds of the way to tying his single-season best in goals.
Chris Clark		A Gordie Howe Hat Trick (ok, it took him three games to get it), an extra assist and a plus-three rating. Good stuff, Cap.
Eric Fehr		A couple of helpers and a plus-three rating for the week are nice, but Fehr has gone six games without a goal and only had five shots on goal for the week. Go to the net, young man.
Tomas Fleischmann		Three goals on the week (including Saturday night's game-winner), but a bad penalty in Edmonton and being on the ice for half of the goals the team allowed in the three games take a bit of the shine off.
Boyd Gordon		On a conditioning assignment in Hershey, Gordo's return looks imminent.
Mike Knuble		With a goal and an assist, Knuble seems to be getting his timing back.
Brooks Laich		Another week passes without Laich finding the net, something he's only done once in his last 15 games (and his assist in Vancouver is his only point in his last seven games).
Quintin Laing		Q ate a steak this week and played an NHL game - he gets an up arrow.
Brendan Morrison		Just one assist on the week, his only point in the last seven games (oddly coinciding with Alex Ovechkin's return to the lineup).
Alex Ovechkin		Every now and then (weekly, usually), you're reminded why AO is the best player in the game. Saturday night's third period was one such reminder.
Alexander Semin		Beat Roberto Luongo on a knuckler from near Whistler on Friday night, but was stuffed on a penalty shot later in the game and didn't find his way onto the score sheet for the rest of the week (despite being on the ice for all three goals the top line scored on Saturday night).
David Steckel		A goal, plus-three rating and 7:59 of short-handed ice time without being on for a goal against. Can't ask for much more from the guy, can you?
Kyle Wilson		Made his NHL debut on his 25th birthday with two assists and a strong all-around game. Wasn't as good in Vancouver, was scratched in Edmonton, then reassigned to Hershey, but he looks like yet another fine fill-in. He'll be back.

Monday Caps Clips: AO, Cover Boy

J.P. — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 02:04:35 -0000

More photos » by Gerry Broome - AP

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Your savory breakfast links:

Alex Ovechkin is on the cover of this week's Hockey News, which you can preview here, but do yourself a favor and pick up a hard copy of it - it's worth it.
Quintin Laing on his return to the lineup. [Washington Times]
Don Cherry defends himself against claims that he encourages violence, then proceeds to excuse David Koci's hit on Mike Green without missing a beat. [Puck Daddy]
A little AO cheesecake... for the ladies. [Alex Ovetjkin]
Hershey heads into the Christmas break with the best winning percentage in the AHL. [John Walton Hockey]
Stefan Della Rovere will be one of five rotating alternate captains for Team Canada's WJC squad... [NHL.com]
... Mostly because he's not afraid to mix it up, as last night's box score shows (note also Marcus Johansson on the score sheet). [Hockey Canada]
In case you missed it over the weekend, The Copper & Blue of all places had a couple of nice Peter Bondra stories to tell. [C&B, C&B]
Glen Hanlon is back in the NHL, hired by the Canucks as a "goaltender scout." Congrats. [NHL.com, Vancouver Sun]
Finally, happy 31st birthday to Petr Sykora (yeah, that one).

Caps reassign Wilson

J.P. — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 01:46:01 -0000

Caps reassign Wilson

"Caps reassign Wilson to Hershey."

- @timleone

Sunday Caps Clips: Oil Country Comeback

J.P. — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 14:33:51 -0000

More photos » by John Ulan - AP

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Your savory breakfast links:

Recaps and other assorted musings on last night's big comeback win from Corey (blog, article), Tarik (blog, article), Vogs, Peerless, Washington Examiner, Cult of Hockey and The Copper and Blue.
Alex Ovechkin "might come across as a rodeo clown" at times (per a guy who's from a town that knows rodeo), but let the rest of the world underestimate his intelligence at their peril. [Edmonton Journal]
Amidst the AO media blitz that has engulfed the team for the past few days, it's good to see Nicklas Backstrom get some well deserved ink (err, pixels). [Edmonton Sun]
Did I mention the AO media blitz? [Edmonton Sun]
Reunited and it feels so good... since the Caps got the win. [Washington Times]
Tom Poti calls Alex Burrows a diver... post-game, where he can't get the additional two minutes for unsportsmanlike (i.e. where such comments belonged). [Canwest]
"Sources say" that if Atlanta decides to deal Ilya Kovalchuk, the Caps will be among the half-dozen teams most aggressively pursuing a trade for the Russian superstar. [Ottawa Sun]
Hey, have you heard the one about how the Caps have crappy defensemen and lousy goaltending? [The Hockey News]
Given the last bullet point, it's pretty incredible that the Caps are 11th in the League in team GAA and give up the 12th-fewest shots per game, isn't it?
Finally, happy 59th birthday to Bill Clement (and his hands of cement).

Game Day Open Thread - Caps @ Oilers

J.P. — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 22:53:38 -0000

Next Game

Washington Capitals
@ Edmonton Oilers

Saturday, Dec 19, 2009, 10:00 PM EST
Rexall Place

Saturday Caps Clips: Power Outage in Vancouver; Caps @ Oilers Game Day

posted by J.P. about 8 hours ago

113 comments | 0 recs

Complete Coverage >

Tonight's probable netminders:

	GP	MIN	W	L	O	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
Michal Neuvirth	2	118	0	2	0	9	4.58	58	49	.845	0

	GP	MIN	W	L	O	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
Jeff Deslauriers	16	925	8	6	2	44	2.85	470	426	.906	1

Have at it, people.

Saturday Caps Clips: Power Outage in Vancouver; Caps @ Oilers Game Day

J.P. — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:02:32 -0000

More photos » by Darryl Dyck - AP

Browse more photos »

Your savory breakfast links:

Recaps and other assorted musings on last night's loss from Corey (blog), Tarik (blog, article), Vogs, Peerless, OFB and Joe B.
Preview of tonight's Caps/Oilers game from NHL.com, and be sure to check out our SB Nation partner The Copper & Blue for the very best coverage from the other side of tonight's match up.
For the second consecutive Saturday night, the Caps will play the back-end of a back-to-back on the road against a rested team. Sweet.
Btw, I'll be on 1500 AM's pre-game show with Jonathan Warner this evening around 6:30 talking pucks with the host and blogging luminaries Eric McErlain and John Keeley. Check it out.
Alex Ovechkin coming to town is "a watershed event" in Edmonton. [Edmonton Sun]
And the only thing "wrong" with AO is that he's not Canadian. [The Province]
The Caps are more than just one player. Who knew? [NHL.com]
Decade retrospective stuff from ESPN, leading with its best players of the decade (in no particular order, but with the game's current best player first). [ESPN]
A look at the latest Hershey recall-done-good, Kyle Wilson. [Washington Times]
Congrats to Arturs Irbe, who's to be enshrined in the IIHF Hall of Fame. [Capitals]
Allan Muir on whether the Caps will re-sign Alexander Semin after this season: probably nyet. [SI]
A look at the "O" the Caps are getting from their "D." Get well soon, Potsy. [Peerless]
Only two goalies in the League have faced a lower percentage of their shots against while on the penalty kill than Jose Theodore. [Puck Prospectus]
Jim Kelley weighs in on the David Koci hit. Not sure what his point is. [SI]
Adriant Dater is slightly more coherent on the matter. [All Things Avs]
Another "no" vote/prediction for Mike Green's inclusion on Team Canada... [NHL.com]
... despite Bruce Boudreau's lobbying and Green himself playing the "I know Ovi's tricks" card. [The Province]
As it stands now, the Caps have a 45% chance of winning a playoff series against Pittsburgh, according to nerds. [Puck Prospectus]
Finally, happy 39th birthday to Robert Lang.

Game Day Open Thread - Caps @ Canucks

J.P. — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:46:25 -0000

Next Game

Washington Capitals
@ Vancouver Canucks

Friday, Dec 18, 2009, 10:00 PM EST
General Motors Place

Friday Caps Clips: Caps @ Canucks Game Day

posted by J.P. about 10 hours ago

376 comments | 0 recs

Complete Coverage >

Tonight's probable netminders:

	GP	MIN	W	L	O	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
Jose Theodore	19	1023	9	4	4	50	2.93	515	465	.903	0

	GP	MIN	W	L	O	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
Roberto Luongo	27	1541	15	11	0	62	2.41	747	685	.917	2

Have at it, people.

Friday Caps Clips: Caps @ Canucks Game Day

J.P. — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:34:00 -0000

via the shoebox next to my desk

View full size photo »

Your savory breakfast links:

Previews of tonight's rare visit to Vancouver from Vogs, CSN Washington, the CP, and NHL.com, and be sure to check out our SB Nation partner Nucks Misconduct for coverage from the other side of tonight's match up.
The Caps are 5-2-1 all-time in Vancouver on Fridays and won their only Friday road match-up between the teams in December (back in 1979), so they're pretty much a lock tonight.
Alex Ovechkin is an absolute rock star in Vancouver. [Kelowna.com, and again]
He's also "hockey's most exciting and engaging player" (narrowly edging out Jeff Schultz for those honors). [Vancouver Sun]
The Canucks are ready for the challenge of stopping him (Ovechkin, not Schultz, whom they know better than to think they can stop. [Kelowna.com, and again]
David Koci walks. Ridiculous. [FanShot]
One thought on how to prevent the next cheapshot: don't put yourself in a position to be cheap-shotted. [Ed Frankovic's Blog]
Really nice piece on Brendan Morrison's comeback season. [TSN (video), h/t @nateewell]
Despite the infrequency with which the Caps play there, Vancouver is familiar turf for many in the organization. [Washingotn Times]
Read yesterday's news today at the Washington Post. If you don't get it... eh. [WaPo]
SI's Pictures of the Year feature contains an entry featuring the Caps (and no, it's not this one). [SI]
Several Caps talk rookie dinner. [Caps365 (video)]
Tim Gleason on AO: "I hit him so hard, but it didn’t really move him. He’s a solid human being." [Canes Country]
If it's possible for both teams to lose a trade, the Caps and Pens sure did with the Jaromir Jagr deal. [Puck Daddy]
Speaking of trades, Corey has thrown together a shopping list. [In The Room]
One more trade-related note: the Caps aren't about to trade the problem contract they just got out from under for someone else's problem contract. [Hockey Or Die!]
Not sure how I missed this one, but as of a week ago, Mike Green was Canada's top-rated blueliner... [CTV]
... and as of this week, Nicklas Backstrom is the game's third-rated pivot. [CTV]
Worried about how participating in the Olympics might impact a player's NHL production thereafter? Don't be. [Behind the Net]
Alexandre Giroux vs. Mike Duco II: American League style. [Patriot-News]
John Carlson's still getting rave reviews in Hershey. [John Walton Hockey]
Dmitri Orlov and Dmitry Kugryshev have both made Russia's WJC squad. [Russian Hockey Fans]
Finally, happy 37th birthday to Jeff Nelson, happy 58th to Bernie Wolfe, and happy 64th to Jean Pronovost.

Koci Fined, Not Suspended

J.P. — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:55:41 -0000

Koci Fined, Not Suspended

A pair of National Hockey League disciplinary hearings has resulted in fines, but not suspensions. ... David Koci of the Colorado Avalanche has been fined for his hit on Washington Capitals defenceman Mike Green, while Ottawa Senators winger Jarkko Ruutu has been fined for his hit on Buffalo Sabres' Patrick Kaleta. ... Koci, who averages 3 minutes 7 seconds of ice time per game, lined up Green and delivered a shoulder in between the neck and shoulder blade area of Green's jersey. Green did not see Koci coming and his visor smashed into the seamless glass at Pepsi Center.

- TSN

Thursday Caps Clips: Green Good to Go

J.P. — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 01:55:34 -0000

via the shoebox next to my desk

View full size photo »

Your savory breakfast links:

Mike Green skated yesterday, looked "none the worse for wear," and expects to play tomorrow, but the debate as to whether or not the Caps need an enforcer rages on. [Washington Post]
A couple more takes on David Koci's hit from Puck Daddy, Peerless and Hockey Or Die!
Craig MacTavish thinks that Bruce Boudreau was mean-spirited when he belittled Koci's skill-set. Seriously. [TSN]
"For their rookie dinner in October 2006, David Steckel and Jeff Schultz dressed up as the two main characters from 'Blades of Glory,' Chazz Michael Michaels and Jimmy MacElroy." Pretty sure that's my new favorite story ever. [In The Room]
Alex Ovechkin: Caveman. Villain. Whatever. [Denver Post]
Karl Alzner has come home. [Washington Times]
Brendan Morrison, too (in more ways than one). [Kelowna.com]
James Duthie has Green being on the outside looking in on Team Canada (btw, on December 17, 2008, Green had eight goals - two more than he has right now - not twenty). [CTV (at 2:10, 2:54)]
"Being Alex Ovechkin" is not nearly as entertaining as "Being John Malkovich," which is ironic, as being Alex Ovechkin is almost certainly more fun than being John Malkovich. [The Hockey News]
The Caps' Russian trio hung out with a fellow Russian - and a top-10 women's tennis player, at that - last week. [Sony Ericsson WTA Tour]
Caps' radio voice Steve Kolbe "enjoys fishing and archery." If that means he shoots fish with a compound bow, he's my new hero. [PressBox]
Cody Eakin and Stefan Della Rovere will have to wait a little longer to play a game as teammates - the former was cut from Team Canada's WJC squad yesterday. [CBC]
More on Delly. [SLAM!]
John Carlson gets ready to represent the red, white and blue. [London Free Press]
Happy 44th birthday to Craig Berube and happy 51st to Dave Poulin.
Finally, we've obviously disagreed with some of Jim Kelley's recent musings, but we wish him nothing but the very best of luck in his battle with pancreatic cancer.