2009 Washington Capitals thread

[MLSman 22]

This does however open the door for Alzner to come back up, which is good

I guess that's the silver lining. Really like Alzner's game.

I was just saying in the Sens thread that this game highlighted how bad the Sens defense really is. That Green hail mary to Semin was a thing of beauty that you would expect in a beer league game...not in the big show. How can you let a guy beat your whole team D that bad?

Ovey...what else can you say. He is starting what is now becoming a pattern...as the second half run begins for him. 5 goals in 24 hours...and no signs of any ill effects to crashing into the boards in BOS. The PP goal was just him at his best. The other two goals were again the patented abuse of a defenseman as a screen...another knock on the Sens D.

[Fedorov91 0]

Ovy is the man, Fedorov with 3 assists on his goals too B)

I love watching the caps, theyre the most exciting team to watch. Also good game against the wings on Saturday, they're my 2 favorite teams so I didn't care who won lol.

[minwookie 0]

Ovy is the man, Fedorov with 3 assists on his goals too B)

I love watching the caps, theyre the most exciting team to watch. Also good game against the wings on Saturday, they're my 2 favorite teams so I didn't care who won lol.

That means you should care who won MORE :)

Atleast the team that Fed is currently playing with won.

[interpathway 9]

I still can't believe Fehr was drafted a couple slots BEFORE Getzlaf. Boy I'd love to have that guy for the shootout, PP, 5 on 5, etc. etc. Hopefully Fehr can get some scoring line time and develop into the PF we all thought he would be. Don't forget ASNP that the back injury he suffered has seemed to hurt his entire game greatly (even if he is just finishing up getting back to 100% and into the flow of the game).

[hockeysc23 0]

I still can't believe Fehr was drafted a couple slots BEFORE Getzlaf. Boy I'd love to have that guy for the shootout, PP, 5 on 5, etc. etc. Hopefully Fehr can get some scoring line time and develop into the PF we all thought he would be. Don't forget ASNP that the back injury he suffered has seemed to hurt his entire game greatly (even if he is just finishing up getting back to 100% and into the flow of the game).

And Schultz was drafted before Green ..... the draft is a lucky science ... you cannot always predict.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Johnny out with a hip injury (again), Neuvirth called up today

Tonights lineup against the devils

Washington Forwards

8-Ovechkin, 91-Fedorov, 25-Kozlov

14-Fleischmann, 19-Backstrom, 16-Fehr

21-Laich, 92-Nylander, 28-Semin

87-Brashear, 39-Steckel, 10-Bradley

Washington Defensemen

4-Erskine, 52-Green

26-Morrisonn, 3-Poti

55-Schultz, 23-Jurcina

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Matt Bradley is the healthy scratch tonight, so the above lineup is not 100% accurate.

I'm guessing Gordon will be in there for his defensive awareness

[adam14 182]

semin on the third line? Wtf?

[hockeysc23 0]

semin on the third line? Wtf?

Caps really don't break up their line minutes as most teams do. The 1st line is obvi the go to line, the 4th the grinders. The 2nd and 3rd lines is like 2a and 2b. And Coach BB will mix them up throughout the game.

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

I like the look of that second line. Fehr and Flash are great players who just haven't had the opportunities yet. cant wait till 7

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

I like the look of that second line. Fehr and Flash are great players who just haven't had the opportunities yet. cant wait till 7

Flash has 15 goals, will probably end up with about 25. For $700 K this year, and next, he is a bargain.

Fehr has suffered injuries for a few years, back/hip, and as such, has been healthy scratched this year, as he couldn't get in a groove.

His past few games have been strong, he is a big body, will go to the net or the corners (just look at his goal against the sens, talk about going to the net!!!), and has damn good hands for someone so big.

With clark being out now, I expect Fehr to be in the lineup for most of the stretch run, and improve on it.

As hockeysc23 said, caps roll 3 scoring lines, and the Laich-Nyls-Semin line was good in the past 2 games, so no need to break it up.

And for those who like the stupid things.... here are the names

The Red line (all the russkies) Ovey-Feds-Kozlov

The BFF (like, OMG!!!!!) line - Backstrom-Fehr-Flash

The SNL line (LIVE FROM DC ITS....) Semin-Nylander-Laich

[hockeysc23 0]

I like the look of that second line. Fehr and Flash are great players who just haven't had the opportunities yet. cant wait till 7

Flash has 15 goals, will probably end up with about 25. For $700 K this year, and next, he is a bargain.

Fehr has suffered injuries for a few years, back/hip, and as such, has been healthy scratched this year, as he couldn't get in a groove.

His past few games have been strong, he is a big body, will go to the net or the corners (just look at his goal against the sens, talk about going to the net!!!), and has damn good hands for someone so big.

With clark being out now, I expect Fehr to be in the lineup for most of the stretch run, and improve on it.

As hockeysc23 said, caps roll 3 scoring lines, and the Laich-Nyls-Semin line was good in the past 2 games, so no need to break it up.

And for those who like the stupid things.... here are the names

The Red line (all the russkies) Ovey-Feds-Kozlov

The BFF (like, OMG!!!!!) line - Backstrom-Fehr-Flash

The SNL line (LIVE FROM DC ITS....) Semin-Nylander-Laich

hahahahaha. Nice smoke!

[OTHockey96 0]

Hey how many of you guys are around here in DC? I was just thinking today, man, it is great to have the Caps....they would be my most favorite team if I was somewhere else, but being in DC makes it even better, and Ovie and the guys are great guys too, you know. Ovie is a superstar....but he's really a great guy... humble etc. That is biggest reason I am Ovie fan.

In DC they are obviously considered 2nd best to the Skins regardless of what they do on the ice b/c Skins fans are delusional, but Caps just put on a performance like every other night. Anyone ever wonder about them winning the cup? I mean, do you think people around here would even notice (besides the 18,000 who go to every game)? And if you're not from DC and wonder what I am talking about, yes, it is that bad here, large population in the city probably doesn't know who Ovechkin is, and have never seen a hockey game ever....no joke. So just bored at work, but wondering if any of you guys have thoughts on this.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Hey how many of you guys are around here in DC? I was just thinking today, man, it is great to have the Caps....they would be my most favorite team if I was somewhere else, but being in DC makes it even better, and Ovie and the guys are great guys too, you know. Ovie is a superstar....but he's really a great guy... humble etc. That is biggest reason I am Ovie fan.

In DC they are obviously considered 2nd best to the Skins regardless of what they do on the ice b/c Skins fans are delusional, but Caps just put on a performance like every other night. Anyone ever wonder about them winning the cup? I mean, do you think people around here would even notice (besides the 18,000 who go to every game)? And if you're not from DC and wonder what I am talking about, yes, it is that bad here, large population in the city probably doesn't know who Ovechkin is, and have never seen a hockey game ever....no joke. So just bored at work, but wondering if any of you guys have thoughts on this.

I'm down in springfield. I moved to the DC area from Ireland in 2000. So I had no exposure to hockey, basketball (nba), american football or baseball worth mentioning. The company I worked for had season tickets to the MCI center, but it was when Michael Jordan was part owner, so people only wanted the basketball tickets. So I was able to go to a bunch of hockey games in the 00/01 season for free, good seats, section 202 at Verizon.

That got me into hockey, and then when I was kicked out of a couple of soccer leagues (they play different over here) I got into playing hockey, and have been addicted ever since.

There is little caps coverage outside comcast sports net here. The junkies or Eliot in the morning will do a bit, but sportstalk 980 is all skins all the time, except when they are making fun of hockey.

The caps do a pre-game podcast every game day a 2pm, and a weekly "caps report" that you can download on your ipod, thats what I listen to on the way home from work, so I don't have to hear the stupid "sports reporters"

It feels like this could be a big year for the caps, but I'm not 100% convinced by the defense and goaltending situation that a deep run would be sustained. I hope I'm wrong

[OTHockey96 0]

Allsmokenopancake,

You're Irish? I'm in Springfield too. Small world.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Allsmokenopancake,

You're Irish? I'm in Springfield too. Small world.

Yep, born and raised in Letterkenny, up in Co. Donegal (northwest Ireland)

Do you play locally? I play at ballston and Fairfax

[hockeysc23 0]

Allsmokenopancake,

You're Irish? I'm in Springfield too. Small world.

Add another to the Springfield column.

[OTHockey96 0]

I used to play a lot, I rarely play now that I'm old (21) and have to work and study 24/7. But last semester I shook off the rust (3 yrs off ice) and tried playing for GMU (still finishing degree), and I played a couple games, had some fun. We played out of Ballston... I like the rink, its sweet, but I've played all over the place around here and Northeast US. I bet if you've played around here since 2000, we've been at the same pickup. I used to be there all the time. I just can't remember anyone playing with an Irish accent... I've got family that's from NW Ireland I think (Healy?), so I probably would've remembered you if I saw an Irish guy playing....hmmm. Anyways, that's cool that an Irishman around here is playing. We all know another Irish dude who used to play right? First name Bobby...

BTW, you're a huge Semin fan, right? if i ever get the chance to meet up w/ him again, i'd let you know, i'm sure i could get him/Ovie etc. to sign something for you, if i ever had time.

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

I wish i lived in DC. Im on Long Island, and didn't really get into hockey until a few years ago. I had purchased centre ice and watched so many diff teams so i never really had a favorite, and being that i like the young kids and potential (see bobby ryan, kris veersteg, wheeler ect..) I got swept away by the caps. ill still watch other teams though, NYR and OTT being the only teams i just flat out hate.

[interpathway 9]

Great win last night on VS boys!

All information in this post is courtesy of CapsChick (CC) over at www.DCCheapSeats.com

To that end, let’s check out where the team stands in terms of “on pace” numbers for the year...

What’s interesting is how many players are on pace to surpass whatever they did last year. Everyone but Bradley (victim of improved teammates and thus less ice time), Fedorov (injured) and Erskine (injured) is on pace to pass last year’s totals in at least one category - goals, assists, and/or points. Eight different players have already eclipsed what they did last year in at least one category.

Even more telling is the fact that a number of players are ahead of last season’s pace in all three categories, showing not only the continued dedication to secondary scoring and beyond but also a continued growth in individual performance. There are eight players whose goal, assist and point pace are all up from last year - and with the exception of Nylander, every single one of them is under 26.

[hockeysc23 0]

Great win last night on VS boys!

All information in this post is courtesy of CapsChick (CC) over at www.DCCheapSeats.com

To that end, let’s check out where the team stands in terms of “on pace” numbers for the year...

What’s interesting is how many players are on pace to surpass whatever they did last year. Everyone but Bradley (victim of improved teammates and thus less ice time), Fedorov (injured) and Erskine (injured) is on pace to pass last year’s totals in at least one category - goals, assists, and/or points. Eight different players have already eclipsed what they did last year in at least one category.

Even more telling is the fact that a number of players are ahead of last season’s pace in all three categories, showing not only the continued dedication to secondary scoring and beyond but also a continued growth in individual performance. There are eight players whose goal, assist and point pace are all up from last year - and with the exception of Nylander, every single one of them is under 26.

Good find. The one that surprises me the most is Green. While Ive been a big Green fan before his breakout seasons it seems that a lot of caps fans thought we over paid for him.

I've noticed a lot better defensive play from him as of late and if he does keep on pace 74 pts would be amazing.

[interpathway 9]

Not to mention that if he were able to irk out 30 goals, it'd be the highest for a Capitals defenseman since...ugh...Gonchar...

[Chadd 916]

Not to mention that if he were able to irk out 30 goals, it'd be the highest for a defenseman since...ugh...Gonchar...

I don't think he has a chance of matching Leetch's 102 points back in 92 this year or any other.

[interpathway 9]

Whoa sorry. The Gonchar goal comment was supposed to have "highest for a Capitals defenseman".

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Caps v Kings tonight, they lost to them earlier in the season, Kings have won 4 of the past 5, playing well.

Kozlov left the devils game with a mild groin tweak, missed the last 2 periods. Looks like he is not going to go tonight

Ovey-Backstrom-Semin

Flash-Fedorov-Fehr

Laich-Nylander-Gordon

Brash-Steckel-Bradley

Erskine-Green

Mo-Poti

Schultz-Juice

Neuvirth is still backing up Theo with Johnny injured, but Theo getting the start again