[AP Recap - Box Score - Super Stats - WashingtonCaps.com Postgame - AP Preview - WashingtonCaps.com Preview]I'm as short on time this morning as Marty St. Louis is on, well, height, so here's an open thread to discuss last night's must-win win and tonight's big game in Pittsburgh. Feel free to discuss anything from David Steckel's like-a-man-possessed play to who should start in goal tonight, from Vinny Lecavalier's cherry-picking to who sits if and when Boyd Gordon returns or anything else that strikes your fancy.
Photo: AP
28 comments:
1) If/when Gordon returns the guy who should sit is Pettinger. He has done nothing offensively all season, and his +/- would seem to show he's been a bit of a defensive liability as well. He wouldn't be missed.
2) When Clark returns(if ever) Fleischman needs to go. Regardless of chances he doesn't seem to have the NHL hands, NHL speed, etc to get the job done. He wouldn't be missed.
3) Who to start? Its probably going to be Johnson. Kolzig got the win last night, but really was not the difference(which has has been for the negative way too much recently)
Agreed with the Fauxes about Petty. He's done nothing. Laich is looking like Petty looked last year. Fast, aggressive and on target. Less agreed with the Fauxes on Flash, but still in the same camp.
I'm tired of Kolzig letting in softish goals. Maybe this is his way of paying the fellas back for carrying them the last two years.
Finally, did anyone else get annoyed by Locker calling St. Lou-eeee "Saint Lewis" over and over and over? That's kinda inexcusable.
I was at the game, so missed the CSN call.
And I couldn't agree more on Petty getting a seat for a game or two.
Also, it never ceases to amaze me how many dirty little things Lecavalier does that go unnoticed by officials and announcers - elbows and stickwork a-plenty.
I bet Bruce comes back with Olie again tonight.
1)Rage: Didn't hear Laughlin's call of the game, but there is no excuse to do that repeatedly. It had to be intentional
2) Fleischman gets chances, but never seems to be able to finish. Haven't seen any 'flash' in the way he skates. Not fast at all. He has offensive instincts but doesn't seem to be able to react fast enough. Its probably why he can do well in the AHL where the game is decidedly slower.
3) Also anything more than a word removal to the Boudreau title change? It doesn't give him more job security. More money perhaps? Didn't read that he was extended beyond this current season. That too should be ammended soon as it seems he's the right guy for this team
agree with Faux on all 3. Pettinger and Fleischman have lost their starting roles.
If Clark isn't ready to come back and replace Fleischman, why not give a youngster like Bouchard or Bourque a shot?
I'd like to see Johnson in goal tonight.
Anyone else love the Backstrom/Semin near hookup in front of the net? Semin seems to be finally warming up.
Had to laugh a little at how badly Ovie wanted the puck on the late 2on1 break with Bradley.
please do not break up with Laing-Steckel-Bradley smash and bash line!!!
Kolzig keeps putting rebounds right out front, especially with the right pad on shots coming from his left that would miss the net anyway, such as the rebound he gave up to Lacavalier who prompty put it in the net for his first of the night.
Spot on there, Steve - the first shot on the first goal needs to be kicked out the other side, not right back at Vinny. Of course, Olie got no help clearing the puck, but still.
Johnson played very well against the Pens back in October, but that was pre-BB so I'm not sure if he even knows or cares about that.
Should be a good game....Jordan Staal and Gary Roberts are finally starting to make an impact on the scoresheet.
Anyone want to guess the over/under of the obligatory Brashear/Laraque fight? I'll set the line at 16 minutes into the first period.
maybe we should break Pothier's other thumb, since it seems to improve his game?
Maybe we should break Poti's thumb...
1) With regard to the Brashear/Laraque fight timing, we'd bet it takes place very early on to get it out of the way so hockey can be played
2)Guess Jordan doesn't want to be the third best Staal in the league. ; )
I HIGHLY agree that the Laing-Steckel-Bradley line is just awesome! To shut down the Bolt's top line as well as they did was amazing. Funny that they weren't on the ice when Vinny scored his 2 goals.
I personally hope to see Johnny in net tonight. Olie seems to be thinking way too much and is off his game. (WAY OFF). My Caps connection suggests that maybe he sit and WATCH a few games and get his head back on straight? Give Johnny a chance!
And I'm calling the Brashear/Laraque fight even earlier, but would much prefer to see Ov pound the crybaby!
GO CAPS!!!!
Looks like Pothier should have been benched a long time ago. But thats something Hanlon would have never done, he was wayyyy to nice.
TJ
WE NEED A NEW GOALIE, Kolzig makes the easy saves look hard and just never seems to amaze you with any saves. We need to look into our farm system and gives some of them a chance for awhile (they can't do worse) or look for a trade. It has been the downfall of this team so far
I'm not sure we want to bring up a young goalie with the season still salvagable... Do-or-die games are probably not the best time for a new 'tender to get his feet wet.
And unless I'm mistaken, neither Neuvirth nor Varlamov are under contract at the moment... So who would we bring up?
I don't know if Kolzig can right his ship, but I do know that neither Cassivi or Machesney (Hershey's two goalies) is the answer (Varlamov is signed, but won't be coming back over this year, and Neuvirth is in the OHL and hence ineligible for a call-up during their season).
If the 07-08 answer ain't Olie or Johnny, it ain't in the organization at present.
Oh, and btw - Johnny's starting tonight.
And Gordon's back in the lineup in place of... Laing.
Hopefully Pettinger proves he deserves a sweater tonight - Laing certainly proved he deserved one.
This Johnson/Conklin goalie matchup is kinda reminiscent of last weeks QB showdown featuring Tavaris Jackson vs. Todd Collins.
Hope the goal judges stretch their trigger fingers...
I think Pettinger deserves to play - he's been putting out an honest effort and generating decent chances for himself but he just has been snakebitten when is comes to putting the puck in the net. I'm less enthusiastic about Flash but he was robbed twice last night and I dont think you can fault him on either one. Sometimes you make a great move and the goalie still beats you.
I don't think calling up Bourque would be the answer because (1) I don't think he'd be more productive than those guys overall and (2) you have to consider what's best for his development. Bouchard can't be called up because he's in the Q (and I dont think he's under contract).
Tarik reported in the notes that Fehr could be skating by the end of January; if that's the case maybe he'll be able to come up to D.C. in late Febuary or March and chip in some on offense.
DAMNIT. why bench Laing!?!? stupid
1) Agree NS, Laing earned his roster spot, Pettinger has not this season. DMG: Agree that Pettinger has had poor luck so far, but as they say, you make your own good luck with harder effort. Didn't see much effort from him last night
2) If the matchup is Conklin-vs Johnson we agree with Hooks that it may come down to 'who has the ball last wins'. Which means it'll be 2-1. LOL
3) We agree with JP: The current caps goaltending tandem, baring injury, is NOT changing this year. Next season will be a HUGE decision for the GMGM to make. Kolzig would not be a good back up, and if another starter is brought in can they expect/ask Ollie to retire after this year? He's on record statng he'd like to play another 2 years. Very tough call to make for multiple reasons the least of which is Johnson is signed for next year already
Faux,
I have a feeling Olie knows that he's slipping, and he doesn't strike me as the type of player that will continue to start, just for the sake of starting, when he knows he is hurting the team.
That being said, it is up to GMGM to find an upgrade to Olie...
Not knockin' Kolzig, but I'd like to see Johnny in there tonight. Gotta let him play once in a while, so he doesn't get rusty. It's a shame that making room for Gordo means a warrior like Laing sits out.
By the way, I don't have a problem with Locker using the English pronunciation of "French" names. But then I have a sense of humor, warped though it may be. I guess it can be annoying if it's coming at you in rapid fire fashion. But, will we have to start speaking only in the players "naitive" languages when we talk about them now. That's going to be rough, since I'm not fluent in Russian or Czech.
And in case anyone cares, the rumors are that Ovechkin's going to Montreal too. (If only to prevent him from going to Toronto!)
http://www.canada.com/topics/sports/hockey/canadiens/story.html?id=8e5bdd6e-92cc-4bb9-998c-ff5d96594e3d&k=12487
TG - that's a week old story, but there's a pretty funny post-script here.
1) Those silly rumors will continue even after the AO extension is signed.
2) The media in those cities have to feed a very hungry populace information/sell papers, etc. As such when there isn't real information to disseminate, they create it. Dare we say, its a faux rumor?
Dan,
I don't think pronouncing people's names correctly is the thing as speaking their native language. To me, it's just a basic show of respect to pronounce someone's name the way they want you to whether it's stressing sylables differently than English phonetics would suggest (Semin), clarifying a confusing spelling (Shaone) or downright weird (Favre)
That was a dagger.
Hope Ovy's okay.
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