2009 Washington Capitals thread

[HattrickSwayze 3]

Having not seen the game, I really have to question the slant in this article.

They really seem to downplay the hits on Ovechkin and emphasize his hit on Sid. Is that accurate or not?

The call on Cooke was lame, I'll admit. He barely bumped into Ovechkin. It wasn't like he blatantly knocked him down or anything. Ovechkin's hit on Crosby was clean. Malkin's first hit on Ovechkin was head on and clean, but it wasn't much of a hit. Then Malkin crosschecked Ovechkin from behind, and got called for a penalty for it. I really didn't see Ovechkin running around like he did the last time they played. He tried to line up Malkin one time at center ice, but Malkin saw him and avoided him. Good thing he did too, because Ovie probably would've crushed him if he caught him. The game didn't look nearly as bad blooded as the last game they played. It looked like it might get that way at first, after Malkin crosschecked Ovie down, and then a couple Penguins got in Ovie's face. But I thought it was relatively mellow for the rest of the game.

Wow, that kinda upsets me I am not going to lie. In retrospect though it was all OK. I could've done without Malkin's on knee/ass shaking celebration though on the resulting PP.

I thought Malkin's celebration looked goofy as hell, but I don't think it was out of line. I mean Ovechkin practically puts himself through the glass sometimes when he scores. You could really hear him yelling tonight when he scored, since the arena would get so quiet.

[hockeysc23 0]

Yeah no Cap hit Letang. I kept going back and forth on the DVR. Love having Brash but quilty by association I guess.

As for Malkin v. Ovechkin im glad Ovie decided to score goals and not try to go after him. There were good clean hits by both teams and some questionable ones.

I wonder what the ice was like last night cuz it seemed like players on both teams were falling all over the ice.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

The call on Cooke was a good call, because Ovechkin was nowhere near the puck, and he went out of his way to hit him. He didn't hit him hard, only nudged him, but there were worse penalties called against the caps recently (like brashs double minor).

Malkins "bump" on ovechkin was a hit from behind, with his stick high and pushed him over the goalpost. It was more than a bump. Oveckin got back up, and scuderi checked him in the back almost immediately again.

Scuderi took a hard shot off the head/ear area and there was a lot of blood. I do hope he is ok.

Crosby got flipped by Fedorov I believe in the 2nd, which is when he initially left, but that might have been an equipment issue, because when he came back to the bench, he was fixing his skates. Ovechkin didn't hit him dirty at all, the two of them were playing along the boards, and ovechkin just hits better. I would like to know what crosby was saying to ovechkin at the start of the third that the refs felt the need to seperate them.

Camhockey, you were saying about injuries. There is a guy who writes a great blog, but it's a caps blog. However, he also goes to some AHL games, including the bears and the baby pens. He done a good piece on the pens struggles compared to the caps. Both teams had injuries, but because the bears play a very similar style to the caps, the replacement callups were more effective. The baby pens play a more dump and chase style, and the pens play a possession/skill/passing game style, so when the callups get into the game, they are not used to the system, so struggle more.

Here is the piece

http://peerlessprognosticator.blogspot.com...ather-have.html

[Fire0nIce228 1]

For those asking about Scuderi, I read a blog from a Penguins beat writer that saw Scuderi after the game leaving the arena. Had some serious eye swelling (go figure) but was walking around and what not. He didn't hear anything about concussions or anything extremely serious.

As I said in the Pens topic, the Caps found high gear in the third period and the Penguins couldn't match it. It was a very entertaining game through the first 45 minutes though. Bad calls on both sides, the Brashear call and the Cooke call IMO were both really bad.

I would say Ovies hit on Crosby was clean and just good hard hockey, no problems with that at all. All I know is I would love to see these two teams at the top of their games fight it out in a Conference final...It could easily be a series to remember in the history of the game forever..

I have tickets to the Pens/Caps in DC in February, let the countdown begin! :)

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

I have tickets to the Pens/Caps in DC in February, let the countdown begin! :)

You seem like a good sort (we get some questionable pens/flyers fans in the phone booth at times), so drop me a PM closer to the time.

Are you coming down for the weekend? If so, and you are looking to see the caps practice facility etc, I can meet you at Kettler on the saturday (they play avs friday, pens sunday, so will have a skate, maybe even a full practice on saturday), watch some practice and go for a pint down in Rock bottom after. They have their hockey themed beer, blueline pale ale, which is tasty, and you can get your glass for a couple of bucks too. I've got several at this stage (different beer logo glasses)

http://www.rockbottom.com/DisplayBeerItemL...ocationID=10054

Of course I hope the caps destroy the pens, but I'm not the asshole type (I don't think), so can be social about it :lol:

[saba 0]

You don't like we are clueless its not in my hand screw you cause we are the largest provider in the area?

But Dave why treat the customer this way? Because F@$%$ thats why....

[MLSman 22]

The Cooke call was soft. It was interference, but in reference to the game it was a former teammate giving Ovey a love tap. What a great game to watch. Anyone who thinks Ovey's hit on Crosbiatch was dirty wasn't watching the same game I did. Nice to see a forward that finishes checks and doesn't expect someone to hit for him. I didn't mind the Malkin celebration with the emotion of a tough game, as much as I hate that slewfoot artist. The game was very intense, and the emotion made it even more fun to watch. NHL needs to bottle up matchups like this and get them on national TV.

I am sure the NHL is praying for these two teams to finally meet in the playoffs. It would be insane!

[Fire0nIce228 1]

I agree with all of that, but also want to point out Malkin got a slewfoot a the end of the third..

Maybe Pens can crawl into the playoffs and can have a first round match up :)

[MLSman 22]

I agree with all of that, but also want to point out Malkin got a slewfoot a the end of the third..

Maybe Pens can crawl into the playoffs and can have a first round match up :)

uh...watch the tape again....no he didn't...might want to remove the Pens filter from your eyes. :P J/K

He was outmuscled...no skate EVER came behind him to throw him off balance.

[Fire0nIce228 1]

Meh, thats your opinion of it. It was not a skate kicking his legs out that is true, but the way he threw him down in my opinion took his legs out from under him, he landed square on his ass, hence why I said slewfoot. Maybe not the correct term since he didnt kick his feet out, but he got the penalty for a reason. Whatever though, Im not trying to start a piss match over a stupid penalty at the end of a game that was essentially over anyway

[UMWhockey 0]

Well even the Pens play by play guys didn't think it was a slew foot....

[MLSman 22]

Well even the Pens play by play guys didn't think it was a slew foot....

Yup...they even slowed it down and blew it upon the replay. Technically, a slewfoot is when you "cheat" by sliding your foot behind the player's skate to prevent him from using his legs to maintain balance. He got outmuscled...and the Pens announcers were very objective in pointing that out.

[interpathway 9]

Washington not only ended its own short skid, but it accomplished something it had not done since 1983-84 – a sweep of the season’s series in Pittsburgh. The Caps have taken the two games there for just the second time in franchise history.

[hockeyplayer778 0]

Great game by the team against the Pens, Ove was amazing like usual against the Pens.

Now i just cant wait to fly out to D.C in Feb from Colorado to see the Pens and Caps at the Phone Booth =)

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Great game by the team against the Pens, Ove was amazing like usual against the Pens.

Now i just cant wait to fly out to D.C in Feb from Colorado to see the Pens and Caps at the Phone Booth =)

You coming in for the Avs game too? Caps play avs on the friday, the pens on the sunday

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Lineup for tonight, Captain Chris Clark a healthy scratch again, for the 2nd time in a row.

Theo to start

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Kozlov

Fleischmann-Fedorov-Semin

Laich-Nylander-Fehr

Brashear-Steckel-Bradley

Erskine-Green

Schultz-Jurcina

Alzner-Helmer

[chippa13 1844]

Enjoy your win, the B's look a bit lifeless against the Isles on Thursday. I hate that they keep showing up in DC with a bad win just behind them.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Enjoy your win, the B's look a bit lifeless against the Isles on Thursday. I hate that they keep showing up in DC with a bad win just behind them.

If the caps play like they did against the pens, I'd expect a win.

If they played like they did against Columbus, who were missing 8 regulars, and their top 3 scorers, and still won 3-0, all bets are off

[HattrickSwayze 3]

Should be a pretty good game tonight. I'm also looking forward to the Wings-Sharks tonight. Good night for hockey with the 1 and 2 teams of both Conferences facing off.

[Fedorov91 0]

Semin! what a shot

[hellaavangard 33]

Semin! what a shot

What a takeaway/individual effort too, dam dam dizzam

[interpathway 9]

The Semin we know and love. Such a quick game, official reports were a 2:12 game. Theo was looking good....and John Erskine Second Star?? Yeah!

[Nightcast 0]

God that was such a good shot. The thing I don't understand is how can Ovechkin get so many SOG but still go without a goal in a game.

[interpathway 9]

The Washington Capitals – who are enjoying significant increases in attendance and television ratings – will launch a weekly, 30-minute television show on Comcast SportsNet in response to fans’ increased appetite for information on the team. Capitals Red Line Monday presented by Geico is a fast-paced, behind-the-scenes look at the team and will debut on Comcast SportsNet on Feb. 9 at 9:30 p.m.

Preview:

Caps Red Line Preview

[interpathway 9]

Boyd Gordon is back on the ice, and Chris Clark is no longer scratched. Go Caps!