Friday Roundup/Kings 5, Caps 2

[AP Recap - Game Summary - Event Summary - WashingtonCaps.com Postgame]

The Caps won't make any excuses for this loss, but it was clear that they were tired and that injuries are catching up a bit. But hand it to Bruce Boudreau and his assistants - they resisted temptation and kept everyone's minutes manageable, with only Tom Poti (24:12) and Alex Ovechkin (21:56) playing more than twenty minutes. That shift management should pay off on Saturday night.

To the recap:

• The Caps were badly outplayed in the first period, being out-shot 12-3 (more on that in a second), out-hit 18-11, and, of course, out-scored 1-0. Brent Johnson kept it tight, and was only beaten on an unlucky deflection out high.
• Back to first period shots on goal, check out where those three - all off the stick of Alex Ovechkin - came from. And note that all three were on the power play, meaning that in 16 minutes of five-on-five play, the Caps had saved by ZERO shots on goal. There's no number of injuries that excuses that number. It was at the 8:54 mark of the second period when the Caps finally got their first even strength shot on goal.
  
• Was David Steckel motivated playing against the team that drafted him? Whatever his inspiration, he had a strong game.
• It's no wonder Dustin Brown had 10,000 hits last year - the in-house scorer at Staples apparently has a pretty generous definition of what constitutes a hit.
• Nicklas Backstrom quickly atoned for choking on an open net on a five-on-three by depositing a beauty of a Viktor Kozlov pass. By the way, Kozlov is playing perhaps his best hockey as a Cap of late.
• I love Carrie Milbank as much as the next guy (ok, maybe more), but are they really still running the Carrie/Barry Melrose ad?
• A third period 2-on-1 notwithstanding, Jarret Stoll has mastered the ol' Sergei Berezin give-and-go (you give to me then go to hell - I'm shooting), eh?
• Related: Brooks Laich, without a stick, is a more valuable hockey player than Stoll with one. With a stick around the crease? Money.
  
• Michael Nylander and Chris Clark continue to stink, for the most part, but don't take my word for it - ask Corsi.
  
• Heading into the third period, the Kings had a 2-1 lead and were 5-0-0 when leading after two periods, while the Caps had the third-best "trailing after two" winning percentage in the League. Something had to give... unfortunately, it was the Caps' success.
• Eric Fehr needs to be willing to go to the high-traffic areas, or he'll be headed back to the press box as soon as the team gets a little healthier.
• Thanks to a pair of empty netters, AO ended the game minus-3 after taking the League's plus/minus lead. Then again, who cares about plus/minus?
  

So it's off to San Jose for another tough road test. More later.

Elsewhere 'Round the Rinks:

Could the Blues be a Nylander destination?... Bruce Boudreau: "proven".... Rank your Hart Trophy candidates at the quarter pole.... After the reaction you all had to the Boudreau post earlier this week, I thought better of posting this "Green out for the year" link.... A nice article on the Bears' Rookie Line.... The New Jersey Rockets press release on John Carlson's contract signing (h/t sk8).

Caps Sign John Carlson

Per the team:

The Washington Capitals have signed defenseman John Carlson, one of their two first-round choices (27th overall) in the 2008 Entry Draft, to a three-year entry-level contract, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today. In keeping with club policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Carlson, 18, is a 6’3”, 210-pound native of Natick, Mass., who is in his first season with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). In 12 games this season he has recorded 12 points (2 goals, 10 assists) and is +11. Carlson played two preseason games with the Capitals this season and recorded 2 assists.

Carlson played the last two seasons with the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League (USHL), where he registered 43 points (12 goals, 31 assists) and led all defenseman on the team in scoring during the 2007-08 regular season. He was also named to the 2008 USHL All-Star East Division team where he recorded an assist.

Related: Rink coverage of Carlson

Wednesday Roundup/Gamenight: Caps @ 'Canes

[AP Preview]

Just six days after Alex Semin's late heroics saved the Caps from falling six points behind the 'Canes in the Southeast Division, Washington heads to Raleigh tied for first place with a game in hand (note: first "game in hand" mention of the season). And while the Caps have enjoyed the comforts of home thus far this season (they're the only Eastern Conference team without a regulation loss in their own building), they've found the road to be considerably less friendly - their five points away from home are tied for the fewest in the East; they have scored 3.57 goals per game as hosts, but just 2.43 away from the VC and have allowed an average of just two goals against per game on their slushy sheet, but 3.71 on the road. Basically, the Caps have been The Stone Roses' eponymous debut album at home, and their brutal follow-up record on the road.

But with a bounce here or there, the story could be much different - three of the Caps' five road losses have been by a single goal, a trio of 2-1 decisions (the other two losses are never again to be spoken of).

So what does the team need to do to get over the hump and starting picking up some W's on the road? One big question revolves around the top line. The trio of Alex Ovechkin, Alex Semin and Nicklas Backstrom (and, before he got injured, Sergei Fedorov) has produced five of the Caps' last eight even strength, non-empty net goals, but were singled out as being "too cute" on Monday night. Perhaps more importantly, the line's successes have come on a three-game homestand, where line matching was in Bruce Boudreau's favor. If they take this show on the road as is, however, they can expect a heavy diet of Rod Brind'Amour, Tim Gleason and Carolina's other top defensive players, raising the obvious question as to why you'd want to put your two best scorers on one line and rather than forcing Peter Laviolette to pick his poison? I'm on record as being against the regular use of an "Eggs" line (i.e. any line with both Alexes on it), especially on the road, but I have about as much influence on the Caps roster as I do on U.S. foreign policy ("Mr. President, that briefing you requested on the deportation of Sidney Crosby..."), so we'll see how the man in charge rolls.

The Caps would also help their chances at victory if they can get the power play going - they're stuck in a 1-for-16 (6.3%) rut with the extra man over their last five games, and lately have had incredible trouble entering the zone and/or establishing possession once there. It's a much larger problem than any one player, but there's one guy who got a big contract this summer because he makes the power play go, and it's been stuck in neutral for nearly a month. Put another way, how the hell can the season be 14 games old with Mike Green still looking for his first power play assist and Alex Ovechkin still looking for his first power play goal of the campaign?

For their part, the 'Canes are getting healthy (for them, at least), and having Matt Cullen as a second shut-down center should Gabby keep the Alexes paired isn't a bad option (to say nothing of how much he and Joni Pitkanen will help Carolina's power play). Expect to see Michael Leighton between the pipes for the 'Canes (the 27-year-old netminder has never faced the Caps), and Eric Staal flopping around on the ice like a fish on deck.

The bottom line on tonight is that it's never too early for a statement game, and after last week's win over Carolina, taking two points in Raleigh would certainly make a bold proclamation as to who this year's beast of the Southeast is. But no one's going to be too scared of a team that can't win on the road.

Elsewhere 'Round the Rinks:

Matt Cooke on being a teammate of both AO and Sid the Kid.... Bear Tracks, Bear Tracks!... If you're wondering about Hershey's line combos, wonder no longer.... John Carlson: elite player (scroll about halfway down).

Carlson Stifles Tavares

One of the biggest surprises of training camp was the steady and mature play of 2008 first round draft pick John Carlson.

Now, it seems, he's a man among boys back in the OHL. As Ryan Pyette notes:

Defenceman John Carlson is playing 30 minutes a game anyway.

So when the London Knights needed to turn to someone to help shut down the OHL's leading scorer, John Tavares, who else were they going to send out there for the job?

The same guy they send out there for everything else.

Carlson, the big NHL first-round pick of the Washington Capitals, held the Oshawa Generals star and next summer's potential first overall pick in check and even opened the scoring as part of London's five-goal first period as the Knights topped the Generals 6-3 before 3,865 spectators yesterday at the General Motors Centre.

Pyette continues:

Carlson ... is big, extremely mobile, intelligent and doesn't fatigue easily.

With Karl Alzner, Sami Lepisto, Josh Godfrey, Carlson and others in the organization (to say nothing of the budding superstar and others who have already arrived), the future sure does look bright on the blueline, doesn't it?

Bears Hang Another Eight On Pens

Remember earlier in the week when we noted John Carlson's proclamation that his London Knights were "going to score as much as [they] want" and thought it might be a theme for many a Caps prospect and throughout the organization?

Well, Opening Night for the Hershey Bears tonight saw them rough up Wilkes-Barre Scranton for eight goals (thanks to a 5-for-7 night on the power play), including three tallies and two assists from Graham Mink, a goal and two helpers each for Chris Bourque and Alexandre Giroux, and a goal and four from Keith Aucoin.

This season has all the makings of something very special on many levels.

Update: For more on the game, check in with Vogs, Peerless and John Walton (also note that official scoring changed a bit over night, so I edited a couple of the stats above).

Hatties For Delly, Godfrey

As the Caps prepare for their final preseason game against the Bruins on Sunday, their prospects keep lighting the lamp at lower levels, headlined last night by Stefan Della Rovere's hat trick (and two assists) for OHL Barrie and blueliner Josh Godfrey's trick in the Hershey Bears preseason-ending blowout of Wilkes-Barre Scranton.

Here's John Walton on JGod's efforts:

[After Alexandre Giroux (two goals, two assists) scored to give the Bears a 4-0 second period lead,] Josh Godfrey then turned the rest of the period into his personal highlight reel, scoring twice on two shots at from the blue line. Godfrey’s first goal came at 9:49 of the second, with his second tally coming at 19:58 just prior to the end of the period. Both slapshots got past Pens goaltender Adam Berkhoel, and HERSHEY led 6-0 after two.

Godfrey finished off his hat trick in the third period with a goal just 1:22 in.

It looks like John Carlson and the London Knights may not be the only ones who are "going to score as much as [they] want."

Meanwhile, Back In Juniors...

We've got a trio of nuggets on Caps CHL prospects worth passing along, beginning with John Carlson who, after impressing at Caps camp, is set to make his OHL debut for Dale Hunter's London Knights on Friday.

Moving along to Barrie, Stefan Della Rovere scored a recent game-winner and apparently enjoyed his handiwork quite a bit:

Perhaps equally impressive was his celebration after he tucked a rebound past Trevor Cann at the 11:29 mark of the second frame. Della Rovere lowered his body, swooped his right arm slowly to the ice, grabbed some ice and worked his arm slowly back up in what was a unique twist on the age-old fist pump.

"I saw (Darren) Archibald do it after the first one he scored last week. And playing three-on-three in the summer, you try a few different celebrations, I guess," the third-year forward said. "You get a little excited when you score your first goal of the season."

Named first star in Saturday's game, Della Rovere also made a big defensive play in the first period to help his team kill off a two-man disadvantage.

Things aren't all rosy for Captain Colt, however, as he faces a possible suspension for an alleged head shot.

Finally (and speaking of head shots), Joel Broda has been on fire for Moose Jaw, scoring five times in three games and paying the price in a big way:

Minutes after sparking the start of the Moose Jaw Warriors comeback Saturday, Joel Broda was flat on his back on the Warriors bench.

The 18-year-old centre wasn’t resting on his laurels. Rather Broda had gone to block a slapshot by Brandon defenceman Matt McCue and blocked it in the most painful of locations. The force of the shot caved-in Broda’s protective cup.

Broda said he was unable to move as he tried to recover on the bench laying flat on his back for the rest of the second period. He was the last Warrior on the ice to start the third period, but took a regular shift.

Even that couldn’t slow Broda down as he scored his second goal of the night on a great backhand shot from the high slot. [Emphasis added, as if that was necessary]

Let it never be said that shot-blocking doesn't take grande cajones (right, Patrick Thoreson?).

Snip Snip

The Caps have returned John Carlson to his junior team and sent Mathieu Perreault to Hershey.

Thursday Roundup/Caps 4, 'Canes 1 Gamenight: 'Canes @ Caps

[AP Recap - Game Summary - Event Summary - WashingtonCaps.com Recap - the red skate Recap - Red and Black Hockey Recap - Canes Country In-Game and Recap - Lord Stanley's Blog In-Game]

A handful of NHLers, a bunch of AHLers, a few OHLers and an "other" or two (*cough* Jakub Cutta *cough*) got together down in Raleigh last night for the first of far too many preseason games for each team. And while the result may not indicate much about the season ahead, rumor has it that the 'Canes may soon announce that they're going to suspend operations to deal with the nation's economic crisis and seek to postpone the season opener. Huh.

Some observations on the game:

• Simeon Varlamov was sharp, especially late in his only period of action (the first). He ended up stopping all 18 (or 20, depending on who you believe) shots he faced, and while he flopped around a bit at times, he stopped everything that came his way.
• With Chris Clark back in D.C., Matt Bradley wore the "C."
• The Tomas Fleischmann - Michael Nylander - Viktor Kozlov line was the most impressive trio on the ice, by miles. While you shouldn't put much stock in preseason lines (especially those with obvious and glaring holes in forechecking and defensive responsibility), the chemistry these three showed last night will give Gabby something to think about.
  
• The biggest surprise of camp has been and continues to be John Carlson. Last night he shook off a rough start to end up with an assist, three shots on goal and four hits in 17:17 of ice time (and, frankly, looked better than Karl Alzner).
• The 'Canes radio guy picks some curious syllables to emphasize in player names.
• The pairing of Alzner and Jeff Schultz led the team in shifts and minutes and looked fine doing so.
  
• Stat of the Night: Nylander won 11 of the 13 draws he took (as a team, the Caps won two-thirds of the game's faceoffs). Now, Nyls has never been a great faceoff guy, but his proficiency in the dot against the 'Canes would seem to indicate a healthy shoulder.
  
• Fleischmann, 14... Fehr 16... Fleischmann, 14... Fehr 16... Fleischmann, 14... Fehr 16...
• Unofficially, the RBC Center shattered a record last night for the most god-awful tunes blared over a PA in a sixty-minute hockey game.
  

These two teams (perhaps in name only) will meet again tonight at the Verizon Center, 156 days after the last hockey game was played there. Let's hope next summer is markedly shorter.

Elsewhere 'Round the Rinks:

Bryan Murray recalls the last time one of his teams - the 1989 Caps - went to Sweden (or is that Thweden?).... In case you missed Alex Ovechkin's ESPN The Mag cover, here it is (and here's The Mag's colorful-but-boring Caps preview)... Speaking of AO, Allan Muir gets points for picking Ovi over Sid (in fantasy hockey, at least), but loses points for misspelling Alex's center's first name.... Finally, they're happy to be getting Joel Broda back in Moose Jaw.

Thursday Roundup/Gameday: Flyers Rookies @ Caps Rookies

Dump d-dump dump... Dump! A round of links on me today:

Please make sure Mike Green never sees this.... See you guys out at Piney Orchard this afternoon?... Alex Ovechkin was named D.C. Sportsman of the Year, narrowly edging out Matt Chico.... It probably cost more to insure AO for three weeks at Worlds last spring than to pay John Erskine's salary for an entire season.... Hugs in Finland!... Wouldn't it be something if Sergei Fedorov or Jose Theodore won the Hart Trophy this year? Uh, yeah.... As you know, Karl Alzner and John Carlson have been impressive in Rookie Camp.... Finally, congrats to Paul and everyone at Kukla's Korner on a killer redesign and, more importantly, a new stable of some of the best bloggers in the 'sphere.

[Note: I normally wouldn't pimp a commercial site (especially one from which I get no kickback), but HockeyAttire.com has some great deals, on top of which you'll get 50% off if you enter "alloff50" in the coupon code. Unfortunately, most of their Caps stuff is old logo, but I picked this up for $84.87 total and it arrived in less than a week and is a money replica (and it actually has the correct white lettering, not the black lettering shown). H/t Dunzy.]

THN's Caps 2008 Draft Grade: B+

Mark Seidel of The Hockey News has finally gotten around to posting the rest of his 2008 NHL Entry Draft grades, and he's got good things to say about the Caps' effort (then again, he's got good things to say about nearly everyone - only San Jose got lower than a C). Particularly noteworthy is his assessment of our guy Delly.

Anyway, here's Seidel's Caps capsule:

B+, Washington Capitals – The Caps started things off with Anton Gustafsson, a guy who caused as much internal divide at NACS as any player in this year’s draft. Some of our staff loved him, while others thought he was completely overrated. While there was no consensus on Gustafsson, we liked the Caps’ selection of John Carlson from Indiana of the USHL. It’s no secret we are critical of players selected out of the USHL, but there’s no doubt Carlson will become a very good player as his career progresses. Their next pick, Eric Mestery, is a purely defensive defenseman who has to improve his puck skills if he is to play at a high level. In the middle rounds, the Caps’ picks were underwhelming with the exception of their last pick, Stefan Della Rovere, who we think has a chance to make a lot of teams look silly for passing on him. If Gustafsson and Carlson turn out the way we think they can, the 2008 draft will be remembered as a successful foray for Washington.

H/t Canes Country on the link

2008 Entry Draft Day Two Open Thread

Update: Here are your second round Caps picks: The Caps two second round picks: Eric Mestery and Dmitri Kugryshev. More on Mestery here and here, more on Kugryshev here (hat tip to the diligent folks on the Caps Message Board on those last links) and here.

As far as rankings go, Mestery was the CSB's 59th North American Skater and Kugryshev the CSB's 10th European skater. I'll provide more info as it comes in.

Also, Sombrero Guy writes in with the following:

1. Scotiabank Center is to Ottawa as FedEX field is to Washington DC, only you don't have to worry about dodging bullets near Scotiabank. It really makes me appreciate the downtown location of Verizon Center.
2. Canadians are very friendly, and Canadian chicks seem to be more likely to be hot and date a guy who looks like a computer programer than not.
3. Ushers allow you to scream taunts and heckles at Pierre McGuire as long as you replace actual curse words with "f-ing"....up to 8 heckles.
4. Greg "Puck Daddy" Wyshynski (who had the misfortune of agreeing to go out with us on a wild goose chase for open bars) is nowhere near the blackjack player recent HOF'er Glen Anderson is, who split threes three times and won on all three hands.

I look forward to hearing the story on that last point.

Update: The Caps took Braden Holtby, CSB's fourth-rated North American goalie, with the second pick of the fourth round. Here's his (sparse) HF Profile and an article on his WHL debut, as well as TSN's capsule:


Update: Joel Broda is the Caps 5th round pick, 144th overall. Broda - the Caps' second pick today who started the 2007-08 season with Olie Kolzig's Tri-City WHL club, was traded from Tri-City to Moose Jaw back in September.

Update: Greg Burke in the sixth. Read more about him here and a snippet here.

Update: The Caps used their last pick (7th round, 204th overall) on Stefan Della Rovere, a kid who, despite being smallish, got in 14 fights in the OHL this past season and whose handiwork you can see plenty of here.

Caps Nab Pair In First Round

The Caps left the first round of what is widely regarded as the deepest draft in some time having made two drafts pick. The team traded up from 23rd to draft Anton Gustafsson with the 21st pick and traded Steve Eminger and a pick to Philly for the 27th pick, which they used to draft John Carlson.

Both draftees have ties to the Caps - Gustafsson, of course, as the son of a Caps legend, and Carlson as a player headed to London, Ontario to be coached by Dale Hunter as a member of the OHL Knights.

Anyway, here's a pre-draft info dump on the pair, with more to follow (profiles courtesy TSN.ca):

Gustafsson

Click to enlarge

• Hockey's Future Profile
  

Carlson

Click to enlarge

• Hockey's Future Profile
• John Carlson is Moving Up on the Draft Board
• Colonia's Carlson likely a high draft pick
• USHL Players Ready For NHL Draft
• Waiting for his (slap)shot