Tuesday, April 01, 2008

So How 'Bout That Trade Deadline?

31 comments:

JP said...

Oh, and to kick things off, let me say that I thought Alex Semin was the best skater on the ice tonight.

Anonymous said...

Yea he was definetly playing with some passion, as were all the Caps. Great win.

Unknown said...

Better than Mike Green?

Bubba said...

Nice game to the Caps. They deserved the win.

and I agree about Semin. That hit at center ice when he laid out Staal was a shocker. I didn't think he had it in him.

Would be nice to see both of these teams in the playoffs.

Anonymous said...

GREAT WIN!!!

Couple of ways we can still get in...

Tomorrow is a big night....All 3 of the teams directly ahead of us are all in action. How sweet would it be for Carolina, Boston, & Philly to all lose in regulation tomorrow night....

I'm still thinking that Ottawa is entirely vulnerable.....if we win out and they lose 1 of their final 2 games, we will tie them with 94 points and we win the tiebreaker....

Hopefully, Tampa will be there for us tomorrow night and take out Carolina in regulation. If that happens, I think we will be so pumped up that we will destroy both Tampa on Thursday and Florida on Saturday......

We are almost there...but not quite yet

GO CAPS!!!

JP said...

Semin had his typical Semin moments, but he set the tone early with two hits (not bad for a guy with 20 on the season entering the game) and an overall dominant first period.

And the officiating tonight was a bit curious at times, imo.

Anonymous said...

moving right along...

I hate to jump ahead to Thursday already, but I smell a trap game vs. TB, especially after such an emotional win tonight. Here's where BB earns his Jack Adams: keeping the kids focused and in the moment.

Can't wait to watch tomorrow's action; could be the prelude to moving day for the Caps!

imbroglioh said...

semin made the play on the first goal to win the battle after ov's dump in, puck gets back to green, cooke pots it, and the great start is rewarded. basically, everyone played a hell of a game. that much closer!

odd play on the pp, after semin's slick crotch-touch to his stick to the top of the net, not to get a whistle and get ao out of the box. no whistles till well beyond the end of the pp. whatever works. great game.

Brian said...

I hate to bring this up, but if the Caps win out then Ottawa must pick up 3 points. With two games remaining, Ottawa can't get just a win or they lose the 3rd tie breaker (The greater number of points earned in games between the tied clubs.) And that last game for Ottawa is against Boston.

It felt weird rooting for Buffalo tonight, but the win keeps them in the hunt and makes their Saturday game against Boston relevant.

Now I need to root for Jersey and a regulation win.

Billy D said...

I knew when those 3 Stars were picked tonight you would say something about that. Great win, I will be doing some channel surfing on my NHL Center Ice tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

AWESOME! I'll have you all know that I made the woman that lives below me come up to my apartment and tell me to keep it down after the 3rd goal. I was going nuts...

What a great game. 2 more!!!

thedope said...

Nice post JP - didn't notice the 3 stars on tv - didn't see matt on center ice...

To be honest, the officiating was horrid and most of the bad calls favored the Caps.

That said, they were dominating play in the first before the bad calls came, and they converted on the power play.

Semin really threaded the needle, but that Ovechkin goal was SICK. The puck rolling away from him and essentially shooting blind. Wow.

There is no conspiracy to get the Caps in the playoffs - but if there was - could you blame the NHL? This team is damn exciting. I somehow doubt the higher ups are pulling for Glen Murray or Scott Hartnell to will their teams into the playoffs.

Mark Bonatucci said...

Cool pickups at the deadline yes; wathcing Lavolette go crazy after Semin's goal - PRICELESS. The officiating ws a little bizzare; but, there were bad calls on both sides so in an even wierder way I thought it was even handed> LETS GO CAPS!!!!! First things first - the playoffs; then - THE CUP....

Anonymous said...

So no one thinks the loss of Morrisonn is a critcal thang? I'm glad we have depth all around this year.

Anonymous said...

The question is: was this a matter of luck, or is it somewhat telling of where Carolina now stands with the NHL’s officials? After all, everyone knows that officials hate to be shown up and that word travels fast in the NHL these days. The Hurricanes are quickly gaining a reputation as a team of divers (as JP noted today) and regardless to what extent it’s true the reality is that just as players like Sean Avery, Alex Burrows or Donald Brashear can be sent to the sin bin for “reputation penalties”, a team can be victimized if they’re thought to be particularly unfriendly to officials…and Peter Laviolette’s uncalled for temper tantrum(s) (in which, by the way, he had the same ‘I can’t control myself and am about to cry’ look as a four year old denied ice cream) certainly aren’t going to help.

Anonymous said...

Amazing win for the Caps tonight, I wish I could have been there. Agreed on BB earning his Adams now; this team can't let up at all.

The officiating was a bit suspect. I think it was definitely favoring the Caps (perhaps the crowd was a factor? recent comments about Carolina from other coaches?) but it was very uneven and only got more erratic as the game went on.

Go Tampa tomorrow, please keep losing Ottawa.

NS said...

hotdog - it definately affected Green's offensive ability mid season when Mo wsa out, but it didn't seem to affect him in this game. Its a hell of a lot scarier have Erskine back there, but I think Green now realizes how important he is for the offense.

Semin's hit on Staal was....unexpected.

I think we need to resign Cooke. He has been great. Same for all the pickups. I'd like to see Fedorov as well, but that seems less likely once Nyles is back. Although, I'd rather fave 91 on the ice than Flush. Don't even need to comment on Huet.

NS said...

for some reason i thought the that Ovie hasn't been effective the last 10 games (the official Final Playoff Push in my eyes) from a scoring point, so i looked at the numbers and am pretty much dead wrong. Aside from other contributions (energy, hits, draws half the opposive fucking team every time he touches the puck) here is the scoring details over the past 10:

- he is responsible for 26.66% of Caps goals (8 of 30)
- he has figured into 46.66% of all Caps goals (14 points [8-6-14] during those 30 goals)

nice. big night tonight. starting to think Ottawa is as likely to fail, if not more, than the Canes.

eh, off to freakin work.

Anonymous said...

"I think this announces that we're here," forward Brooks Laich said. "I think we're going to be a tough team if we get into the playoffs. I don't think teams are really going to want to face us. I think if we get in, we're going to make some noise and ripple some waves." [from Corey's article]

By golly they have already rippled MY waves. I am exhausted. And see these twenty new gray hairs? Got 'em during the 2nd period. Wild night in the Phone Booth! OMG, that "MVP" chant was beyond awesome. BEYOND awesome. It was legendary.

Agreed about Semin! The lightbulb has gone on! But I thought the three stars nods were spot on. Cooke's goal was key. And Feds, by god, is there anyone cooler in combat than he is?

Remarkable event from top to bottom, beginning to end. I am gluing this ticket stub into my scrapbook.

Anonymous said...

You know who had a great night? Craig Laughlin. I'll tell ya partner, there was kabonging everywhere, a real barnburner.

Paul Nichols said...

I was standing up for most of the game (at home) and my wife was saying "Why the hell don't you sit down?" My son says "So he can hit the ceiling when they score!"

Yea baby. The Semin hit was a highlight. For a, ahem, "finesse" player, that was huge. It showed that they weren't taking any shit last night.

They doled out a good whipping on the Canes. Just what they needed to do.

You know the Head Office would love the Caps in the Playoffs - who wouldn't?

Ovechkin wins the Richard, the Ross, and the Hart trophy. He needs to be on the BIG STAGE.

Let's hope Tampa catches a tired Carolina tonight, and then WE catch a tired Tampa tomorrow night.

~Mark said...

Yet another game where Huet was huge, secondary scoring is strong, and the forecheck...amazing. Let's-Go Light-ning (clap, clap, clap clap clap).

Unknown said...

I'd like to see a Martin Gelinas-type replace Flash next year.

Anonymous said...

I take the "cream puff" attribute I layed on Semin a few weeks back. However, the "enigma" label someone else brought to the discussion then still stands.

And what is so scary about Erskine? He's the grit on defense for this team, and the Caps need that edge.

Anonymous said...

For those of you interested, according to the Raleigh News & Observer:
"If the Canes didn't like the officiating Tuesday, it doesn't figure to get any better tonight. Brad Watson, one of Tuesday's referees, is scheduled to work tonight's game against the Lightning."

Anonymous said...

Re: Semin... I told the wife that someone must have given him a "Don't Suck" pill before the game. Seem's the kid has been off his meds.

Anonymous said...

(stupid apostrophe finger)

Anonymous said...

The usual downer comment: "I'd like to see a Martin Gelinas-type replace Flash next year." Thanks.

Anonymous said...

tyler, I assume you mean a Gelinas type player who plays RW and isn't 38 in June. Have to believe that Fedorov will be the only 'old man' the Caps try to sign this offseason.

the Caps have signed Flash for two more years. But he could be a good trade chip next year...

The Acid Queen said...

Eh.

You guys played well. We played like crap and lost our cool when it mattered most. Good show by the Caps--hope you guys make it into the 8th spot, cos it would be nice to see two SE teams putting up a fight in the second season.

Unknown said...

Yes, thanks. I mean a Gelinas type: Some speed, defensively responsible, can chip in a few goals, stays outta the penalty box. A veteran role player who brings some skill and some smarts.

And as for Flash: He's a reasonably-priced healthy scratch.