Saturday Roundup/Devils 3, Caps 2Gamenight: Thrashers @ Caps

[AP Recap - Game Summary - Super Stats - AP Preview - WashingtonCaps.com Preview]

Bruce Boudreau's Caps may not be a hell of a lot better than Glen Hanlon's Caps were (the jury's still out on that), but one thing is clear - with the regime change came a different kind of accountability:

"That was a horrible giveaway for the first goal, and Olie should have had the save. He's too good a goalie to let those things go in."

Ah. Refreshing not to be tossed around in the spin cycle, isn't it?

Whether it was horrendous giveaways (Brian Pothier), awful penalties (Mike Green, Brooks Laich), a failure to make a save (Olie Kolzig) or poor timing (allowing Travis Zajac's goal just 41 seconds after Alex Semin had drawn the Caps to within one), it all adds up to the simple fact that the Caps were (are?) just flat out bad. Frankly, I'm at a loss to explain how they still had a shot at stealing a point in this one.

But they'll be back at it Saturday night against the Thrash as they open a four-game homestand. If there's even a slim chance for the season to be saved, it likely depends heavily on winning a few of these games and getting on a roll.

Elsewhere 'Round the Rinks:

In case you missed it, the Sabres dropped the first two games of their west coast swing (Anaheim and Los Angeles) by a combined total of 12-3, prompting BoC's inimitable Earl Sleek to create this "picture's worth a thousand words" cartoon.... Since it's Saturday, I'm on Ice Sheet duty over at Da House. Check out today's edition, hot off the press.

Daily Awards

• Hart: Henrik Zetterberg (3G, including the game-winner, +3, 4 SOG)
  
• Ross: Henrik Zetterberg, Ryan Getzlaf, Pavel Datsyuk (3 points each)
  
• Norris: Ruslan Salei (2A, +1, 2 SOG, 3 hits, 2 blocked shots)
  
• Vezina: Evgeni Nabokov (27-save shutout win)
  
• Richard: Henrik Zetterberg (3G)
  
• Calder: Jonathan Toews (G, 3 SOG, 85% faceoffs won)
  
• Aiken: Josh Harding (L, 5 goals allowed on 34 shots against)
  

Monday Roundup

Last Monday CapsNation was planning the parade route. This Monday it's Mapquesting the funeral procession. I guess that's what happens when you combine high expectations with the memories of recent, difficult seasons.

The Caps had the day off yesterday, as they licked their wounds both metaphoric and literal, and there's not a whole lot of news to report this morning. So I'll pose a question to all of you - which of the five games played so far do you think is most representative of the "real" 2007-08 Washington Capitals and why?

Elsewhere 'Round the Rinks:

Slow day, but if you accidentally chug some Drano or something and need to induce vomiting, this may help.

Daily Awards

• Hart: Henrik Zetterberg (G, 2A, +3)
  
• Ross: Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg (3 points each)
  
• Norris: Nicklas Lidstrom (+3, 2 hits, 2 takeaways, 0 giveaways)
  
• Vezina: Josh Harding (37-save shutout win)
  
• Richard: 7 players tied with 1G each
  
• Calder: Josh Harding (37-save shutout win)
• Aiken: Dustin Brown (0 points, -3, 1 minor penalty in 4-1 loss)
  

Thursday Roundup/Sharks 3, Caps 2 (SO)

[NHL.com Recap]

Due to an early meeting and a dentist appointment, the recap of last night's game might have to wait until never. Feel free to use this as an open thread to discuss the disappointing loss to San Jose, who the NHL's most underrated (Henrik Zetterberg) and overrated (Joe Thornton) players are, and any trade rumors or other NHL news. Enjoy.

Daily Awards

• Hart: Henrik Zetterberg (2G, including the game-winner, +3, 3 SOG, 3 hits)
• Ross: Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Duncan Keith, Bryan Smolinski (2 points each)
  
• Norris: Nicklas Lidstrom (A, +4, 5 SOG in 4-2 win)
  
• Vezina: Dominik Hasek (W, 2 goals allowed on 28 shots against)
  
• Richard: Henrik Zetterberg (2G)
  
• Calder: Brent Seabrook (A, 3 hits)
  
• Aiken: Tuomo Ruuto (-4, 0 points, 0 SOG in 4-2 loss)

Sunday Roundup/Gameday: Caps @ Pens

[NHL.com Preview - WashingtonCaps.com Preview]

In case you haven't heard, the Caps and Pens will be facing off this afternoon on national television. The Pens enter the game with a 15-game point streak (13-0-2), while the Caps... well... not so much (though they have gotten at least one point out of four of their last five games). Washington's Alexes have gone cold, as Alex Ovechkin has only one goal in his last six games and Alex Semin has only one goal in his last eight outings, and the team is getting absolutely no offensive help from the blueline. Consider:

• Caps defensemen have combined for just 16 goals on the season in more than 377 man-games (Ben Clymer played several games on defense, but did not score a goal), four fewer than Habs' rearguard Sheldon Souray has in 59 games.
• Jamie Heward's two power-play goals and Brian Pothier's one tally with the extra man are the only special teams goals scored by the Caps defensemen so far this year. Thirty-eight NHL defensemen have three or more special teams goals individually.
• The Caps' entire d-corps has 28 power-play points. So does Sergei Zubov. Sheldon Souray, Sergei Gonchar and Dan Boyle all have more.
• Pothier leads the blueline in assists with 18, 41st among NHL defensemen, despite playing with two of the League's top-11 goal scorers.
  

Yes, the Caps tend to use four forwards on the power-play, thereby limiting opportunities for defensemen to get points thereon, and there are several slumping forwards who aren't helping the D much either (paging Brian Sutherby). But any way you cut it, those stats are pretty bleak, and until the team starts getting better production from the blueline - better breakout passes, more shots at the net for rebounds, etc. - the team will likely continue to struggle to score.

As always, get all your previews from around the Cap-o-sphere over at Washington Hockey Daily. Enjoy the game, and Let's Go Caps!

Daily Awards

• Hart: Henrik Zetterberg (3G, including game-winner, A, 6 SOG)
• Ross: Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk (4 points each)
  
• Norris: Dion Phaneuf (G, 3 SOG, 5 hits)
  
• Vezina: Martin Brodeur (26-save shutout win)
  
• Richard: Henrik Zetterberg (3G)
  
• Calder: Daniel Girardi (2A, +1)
  
• Aiken: Steve Valiquette (L, 2 goals allowed on 8 shots against in 19:24 of relief work)

Thursday Roundup/Gamenight: Caps @ 'Ning

[SeSo Open Thread]

And so begins the [Brent] Johnson Administration, on the road in Tampa against the surging Bolts. Quick trivia: who is the winningest goalie in the NHL since January 7? Martin Brodeur? Bzzt. Marc-Andre Fleury? Good guess, but no. It's Tampa 'tender Johan Holmqvist with 11 wins, precisely 11 more wins than you and I... and Brent Johnson. Some numbers to chew on:

• The Caps are 0-4 in their last four games as underdogs. The Bolts are 4-0 in their last four as favorites. Guess who's favored in this one.
• The line of Vinny Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis and Vaclav Prospal has 14 points in Tampa's last two games.
• Brian Sutherby is pointless in his last 14 games.

But there is good news that has nothing to do with saving money on auto insurance - both Brian Pothier and John Erskine have been cleared to play, so expect at least Potsy back in the lineup against the Bolts. Hopefully his return can help get the atrocious-of-late power-play back on track.

Sorry for the abbreviated preview, but the weather has conspired to give me limited (and intermittent) internet access. Head on over to SeSo for more analysis throughout the day, and, as always, check out Washington Hockey Daily to see what everyone else has to say about the Caps.

Elsewhere 'Round the Rinks:

• Thanks to Dan Steinberg for getting on the case of AO's artwork. He's like the love-child of Nancy Drew and Tarik El-Bashir, that Steinberg.
• Shane Doan, who is on pace for fewer than 30 goals and 55 points, signed a five-year deal to remain in Phoenix on Wednesday. I'm sure Dainius Zubrus smiled when he heard that Doan's deal is worth more than $4.5 million per year, and that collective "Are you kidding me?" you heard was from owners and GMs, League-wide.
  
• Wanna waste a lot of money on crap you don't really need? Go here.
• I usually stick to hockey around here, but I've gotta ask - am I really to believe that a salad dressing cures homesickness? And if so, why didn't the Caps just hook Petr Sykora up with some Hidden Valley Ranch?
  

Daily Awards

• Hart: Henrik Zetterberg (GWG, 2A, +3, 4 SOG in 3-2 win)
• Ross: Patrik Elias, Henrik Zetterberg (3 points each)
  
• Norris: Brian Rafalski (2G, including game-winner, 6 SOG, 2 hits, 1 takeaway, 0 giveaways)
  
• Vezina: Martin Gerber (28-save shutout win)
  
• Richard: David Backes (2G)
  
• Calder: David Backes (2G, including game-winner, +2, 2 SOG, 2 hits)
  
• Aiken: Vesa Toskala (L, 2 goals allowed on 5 shots against in just 10:02 of work)
  

Tuesday Roundup/Gamenight: Bruins @ Caps

[NHL.com Preview - WashingtonCaps.com Preview - Official Gameday Thread]

I should have known from the new Dunkin' Donuts inside the Verizon Center that it could mean only one thing: the Boston Bruins are coming. And now they're here, carrying a bloated payroll and disappointing record into Tuesday night's tilt with the Caps.

Want to feel better about the home team? Here you go - the Caps score more than a quarter of a goal more per game than the Bruins, give up more than a quarter of a goal less per game than the B's and have a payroll that's about 32% less than the Bruins' (I wonder if Boston feels they're getting what they're paying for). But wait - there's less! The Bruins win at Carolina on Saturday broke a six-game losing streak in which they were outscored 22-4, including 6-1 and 7-1 losses. Ouch.

Can the boys from D.C. build on Sunday's win and keep down the underachieving Bruins? Can the Caps' top D-pairing of Shaone Morrisonn and Milan Jurcina contain their former team's top line? Here are a few numbers to ponder:

• The Caps are 5-1 in their last six games at the VC, but 1-4 in their last five in the third game of a 3 games-in-4 days situation and 1-4 in their last five against teams with losing records.
• The Bruins are 4-0 in their last four against the Southeast Division, 6-1 in their last seven against teams with losing records, 4-0 in their last four at the VC and 6-1-1 in their last eight against the Caps.
  

So the stats favor the Caps, but the a bunch of the trends point to a Bruin victory. I guess that's why they play the games, eh?

Elsewhere 'Round the Rinks:

• Vogs on NHL Iron Men.
  

Daily Awards

• Hart: Henrik Zetterberg (GWG, A, +1, 4 SOG)
• Ross: Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Michael Nylander (2 points each)
• Norris: Brett Lebda (A, +1)
• Vezina: Dominik Hasek (W, 17 saves on 20 shots against)
• Richard: seven players tied with 1G each
  
• Calder: Jiri Hudler (G, 2 SOG)
• Aiken: Henrik Lundqvist (L, 4 goals allowed on 26 shots against including blowing a 3-1 third period lead)

Saturday Roundup/Gameday: Caps @ Pens

[NHL.com Preview - WashingtonCaps.com Preview]Huh. That's odd.

Daily Awards

• Hart: Henrik Zetterberg (G, 3A, +1, 5 SOG)
• Ross: Henrik Zetterberg (4 points)
• Norris: Robyn Regehr (G, 2A)
• Vezina: Dominik Hasek (W, 2 goals allowed on 22 shots against)
• Richard: Tomas Holmstrom (2G)
  
• Calder: Mark Giordano (G, A)
• Aiken: Ty Conklin (L, 5 goals allowed on 16 shots against in 34:18 of work)

Thursday Roundup/Gamenight: Caps @ 'Canes

[SeSo Open Thread]

Remember last Spring when the Caps had a two week stretch in which they played the Hurricanes five times (out of seven scheduled games)? No, it wasn't the playoffs. But it sure felt like it for... well... no one. If you liked that, you're sure to love the next ten days, in which the Caps take on the 'Canes three times, sandwiched around a matinee this Saturday with the Panthers and the All-Star break.

As for tonight's game, injuries and ineffectiveness have caused a massive upheaval of lines and d-pairings, with only the Ovechkin and CBS lines being spared Hanlon's razor. As an unabashed Boyd Gordon fan, I like the reconstituted second-line (Alex Semin-Gordon-Matt Pettinger), and am also interested in seeing how Shaone Morrisonn and Brian Pothier do with different dance partners (though I'll admit that the Potsy-Jeff Schultz pairing has me nervous).

Analysis-wise, this is a broken record: play hard, play smart, have a chance to win. Mental lapses against a disciplined team are a recipe for disaster (physical lapses less so). Stupid = death.

I'll have more throughout the day over at SeSo, and make sure to go spout off in the SeSo Open Thread - that's what it's there for (c'mon, Faux - drop some wisdom on those Caniacs).

By the way, it's official: this winter has sucked. My brother - who lives in Los Angeles - has now had more snow than we have had here in D.C. And from the "Piling On" department, I got a $100 parking ticket yesterday while in the dentist's office. That spider I killed yesterday morning must have been someone special in a previous life.

Daily Awards

• Hart: Henrik Zetterberg (2G, A, +2, 5 SOG)
• Ross: Pavel Datsyuk (4 points)
• Norris: Brian Campbell (GWG, A, +2)
• Vezina: Marty Turco (W, 18 saves on 20 shots against)
• Richard: Henrik Zetterberg, Phil Kessel, Daniel Paille, Jere Lehtinen (2G each)
• Calder: Paul Stastny (2G, including the game-winner, +1, 2 SOG)
• Aiken: Tomas Vokoun (2 goals allowed on 8 shots against in just 21:32 of work)