Allsmokenopancake

Steroid investigators at Kettler today, caps expected to release a statement later today. That's about all I have for now on it

I saw that on someones twitter today Japersrink - Pens' record against the 6 teams ahead of them in standings: 0-10-2. GF: 1.25 per game, GA: 3.92 per game, PP: 1-for-44 in those games. Wow

http://bostonherald.com/sports/hockey/brui...&position=0 Wanted poster from the herald.. Wanted: One bruin willing to teach this bum a lesson

Regular season means shit, even if they do meet them in the playoffs, caps swept the pens in the regular season last year and we know how that ended

When ovechkin was named captain the caps were 5 points out of first in the east Since he was named captain they are 23-3-3 and have built a 16 point lead in the east. They are also 10-2-1 with him out of the lineup and have scored 56 goals in those games

Cooke went after the Bruins offensive leader, I'm hoping Lucic cleans crosbys clock good and proper, legally on Thursday. I'll be a Bruins fan for that one game, rooting for retribution

I hate rust, unless you are doing a private match 16 people in a tiny space = too much like shooting fish in a barrel

Video of the laser pointing incident the league is investigating, although I don't know what they can really do about it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3aWucrOtIM...layer_embedded# As far as the playoffs, the Devils have had the caps number this season, and won 3 of 4 (granted 1 was a shooutout which wouldn't factor in the playoffs) and have now added Kovalchuk, so they would still be a concern, but if they haven't peaked too early, and this is simply them playing how they can play, then they should be set for a long run into the playoffs.

From Bob McKenzie via twitter NHL checking out another laser pointer episode. This time, aimed at Jose Theodore, in the final minute of Rangers-Caps. Brutal.

Pens play in Montreal at 2pm saturday, with what is coming weather wise this weekend, I don't know that the game will be even on. They might have the roads clear in the main streets, but will they have enough staff to get the place open and ready?

Caps system showing depth too Caps = 1st in the NHL Bears = 1st in the AHL Stingrays = 1st in the ECHL

I hope they endure one more loss. If the caps beat the Bruins tomorrow it will be a franchise record 11 straight wins. But, they played pretty poorly against the lightning and were lucky to come away with a win, so I think the are due a loss

Anyone watch Boudreaus presser after the ducks game http://capitals.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?ca...18&id=58517 At the end Nate Ewell (Caps PR guy) says "quick update for the media, there will be an extremely optional practice at kettler tomorrow" (caps just played back to back games) Boudreau laughs and says "yeah, it'll just be me and Holtby :)

Holtby looked really good in training camp this year also. I think he may be a hidden gem that will net a decent return as part of a trade, if both Neuvirth and Varlamov develop as planned. It's hard to say when a goalie is NHL ready, some don't develop until their late 20's, others look good from juniors on up. Holtby has excelled given the opportunity within the organization, I hope he gets a start in his callup, but it does look like it's just a precautionary ride the pine for a game or 2 until Theo is Ok again

Mary Smith from Charm City cakes did an Ovechkin v Crosby cake. For those who don't know, Ace of Cakes is a show on Food Network, based on the bakery Charm City Cakes out of Baltimore. Duff, the owner is a hockey fan and often appears in a variety of hockey jerseys. They did a caps themed cake for a show before (for a wedding of caps fans). Obviously being in the DC media market there may be a slight pro-caps bias :D http://rockthered.net/2010/01/26/want/

That Guerin call was a make up call. They hit semin with a hooking or slashing call before it and it was questionable (not that semin hasn't got a well earned rep for taking dumb penalties), but I think the Guerin call was because the ref must have seen the semin penalty on the jumbotron or something and thought he had to correct it. I thought Poti and Malkin were going to go there too. Malkin came in hard to the net, nothing wrong with it, but then he took a little jab at Theo after the play, and theo made a swing for him (by this stage the play moved back down theice) Then Poti jumped in and the 2 pretty boys were nose to nose (that is a whole screen full of ugly right there) and jawing, but Malkin realized he was now offside if the play broke back so skated off, which was smart (not in the sense that poti would have taken him but in a value to value rating, I would rather malkin off the ice for 5 with poti than any other pen off the ice for 5)

I think both teams got away with more than either would had if they had been facing off against different opponents. That's one of my issues with officiating in this league. I should not matter who you play, or how early or late in a game something happens, if it's a penalty, it's a penalty. Both teams were let off the hook for some questionable shit last night

97/98 - Scottie Pippen only played 44 games, Steve Kerr played 50 96/97 - Tony Kukoc played 57 games, Dennis Rodman 55, Robert Parish 43 And so on, that's just the last 2 championship seasons. I am not a basketball fan, so only chose players I know of, there were many, in each season You said you are an engineer and use data to train players. I merely said that does not make you more qualified. You were creating the strawman that because you train players using data, you somehow had a better handle on the situation. I was using information you provided and simply said that information does not make you more qualified. I didn't pursue it beyond that so I was not creating any strawman. Your insinuation that you are an engineer and a trainer of players makes more of a strawman that I did This is a casual hockey board for fans to talk hockey, equipment and other stuff. I actually have a job, and have no inclination to engage in data mining, which is why I said "AT A QUICK GLANCE, it's all speculation" Yet you present nothing but anecdotal information with statements like "Morning skates? Those probably do more to enhance recovery than sitting around resting." So, when coaches, trainers, former players and analysts talk about a stanley cup hangover, we should dismiss them out of hand because they haven't datamined appropriate levels of information?

So you are saying playing 50% more games than many other athletes in the same profession will have little to no impact on the team, and they should be fresh. The NBA has much longer rest periods between games in the playoffs, and much less physical contact than the NHL. If you are looking at it from a scientific perspective, then you have an apple and an orange in your hand and trying to convince me that they are the same thing. The Bulls glory years cannot be compared to an NHL team because of the nature of the sport and physics of the body. And it's not a scientific debate, it's a bunch of hockey fans talking about potential pitfalls for a team who plays much more than any other team (red wings excluded) in the past 2 seasons and how it might wear on them. I even said in my first line of response "All there is at a quick glance is speculation" You might be an engineer, but that does not make you any more or less qualified to debate the merits of the argument when it comes to wear and tear on the human body. Only the players know themselves for sure and the NHL is a league where players routinely play through injury. No one has scientific data, so no one has a conclusive answer. Simply dismissing anecdotal information while presenting no counter-data does not mean your response is correct, it just means you disagree with the other person. But this ain't science, or a scientific debate, it's hockey

All there is at a quick glance is speculation However, if you work 9-5 every day, monday to friday and get 2 weeks vacation thrown in there, then your boss tells you that you have to stop what you are doing, go to this other company, work for them for a couple of weeks, then come back and still finish your regular workload in the same time as last year, in addition to the fact that you have already worked a full half years production extra over the last 2 years, and it will take it's toll Pens have played 44 playoff games in the past 2 season, which is 2.5 seasons (closer to 2.75/3 when you factor in the intensity level), Throw in another 8 games for the olympics (assuming they get to the finals) and the shortened off seasons for each of the last two seasons to allow the body to heal from injuries etc Sometimes you don't need science to tell you whats up. You are also leaving out the fact that while they are doing these long runs in the playoffs, many other athletes that they will be competing against are already on their recovery phase, giving them the edge. Look at the Isles, 8th spot in the east, only one olympian (streit) with the team, getting a break at the right time and they could be dangerous down the stretch

Completely irrelevant trivia but interesting nonetheless.. John Carlson has been recalled for precautionary reasons (Green is a game time decision) John Carlson has played for 4 teams in 6 cities in the past 2 weeks. Hershey Bears Washington Capitals USA in WJC AHL All Star Planet USA team

I believe we are entering the portion of the season where Fireonice and myself start hating each other again!!! :lol: I will keep it civil this year, I was a bit of a douche last year. I still hope the caps win 179-0

Downie averages 13 minutes a game, and is there to be a prick. He was a prick with the phantoms and was suspended for being a dirty player, he was a prick with the flyers and suspended for dirty play. It does not matter if he is off the ice for 5 minutes as he is hardly on it anyway, it matters if Ovechkin is off. Ovechkin has faught Mike Richards a couple of times, and no one jumped in, because they are both leaders on their team and both valuable to their team. Bradley done exactly the right thing by jumping in.

I think he is taking the captain thing seriously. I have seen him hustle back on D with an intensity that wasn't there before. It's only 2 games, but I think he feels pressure to be better than he is with the C on his jersey. I don't know if it's a good or bad thing yet

http://capitals.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?ca...10&id=56532 If you have the time (about 6 minutes) to watch this, it's fairly entertaining. It's a behind the scenes for a verizon commercial with Ovechkin, Green, Laich and Backstrom. Ovechkin is the interviewer and he interviews his "twin" at the end about his dirty play and goal celebrations