Caps Win Winter Classic

welch · Post by **welch** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 12:05 am

Yes, I like ice hockey, and yes, I like the Caps.

Caps win, 3 -1!

Incidentally, the HBO series 24/7 was downright fascinating. So many things go on that we don't see when watching. For one, Bruce Boudreau is an eloquent guy, and thoughtful.

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 1:15 am

That's right Welch, in the rain, cold, and in enemy territory. Did you see how many Caps fans were there???? AWESOME!!!!!

I was going crazy after all the goals and I was really impressed how they just turned it on when down 1-0. They were so aggressive and they knew they couldn't be stopped. I hope they keep playing with that kind of attitude in the playoffs and not choke like the past.

Again, congrats Caps!!!!!!

Cappster · Post by **Cappster** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 2:10 pm

I enjoyed watching the game. It's nice to see a hometown team perform well on a nationally televised event. I am really proud of the way they Caps played defense. They also left some points off the board with some missed opportunities. It was really nice to see (and hear) all of the caps fans in the stands.

TCIYM · Post by **TCIYM** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 2:16 pm

Watching Crosby crawl off the ice like the wuss he is at the end of the 2nd period was worth the price of admission. Steckel said it was unintentional and that he didn't even see Crosby there as he turned, which could very well be the case as Steckel is six or seven inches taller but still it was nice to see Crosby knocked on his duff without a bogus penalty called.

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 11:13 pm

TCIYM wrote:Watching Crosby crawl off the ice like the wuss he is at the end of the 2nd period was worth the price of admission. Steckel said it was unintentional and that he didn't even see Crosby there as he turned, which could very well be the case as Steckel is six or seven inches taller but still it was nice to see Crosby knocked on his duff without a bogus penalty called.

Right TC, crosby's a---> ;furious;

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 12:14 pm

Dudes, what is up with us and power plays???? We can't score when we have more players on the ice and we get scored on when we're down a guy... :-s

Is it a scheme thing? Do we need to flare out our players more (our power plays)? What is the best way to defend against it when your down a player?

Starting to tick me the ;furious;

off

TCIYM · Post by **TCIYM** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 12:27 pm

langleyparkjoe wrote:Dudes, what is up with us and power plays???? We can't score when we have more players on the ice and we get scored on when we're down a guy...

Is it a scheme thing? Do we need to flare out our players more (our power plays)? What is the best way to defend against it when your down a player?

Starting to tick me the off

Actually we have been really great at penalty kills recently. They have killed 29 of 30 opponent power plays in the last eight games. The power play thing is disturbing though. I'd think they would change strategy.

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 12:37 pm

TCIYM wrote:
langleyparkjoe wrote:Dudes, what is up with us and power plays???? We can't score when we have more players on the ice and we get scored on when we're down a guy...

Is it a scheme thing? Do we need to flare out our players more (our power plays)? What is the best way to defend against it when your down a player?

Starting to tick me the off

Actually we have been really great at penalty kills recently. They have killed 29 of 30 opponent power plays in the last eight games. The power play thing is disturbing though. I'd think they would change strategy.

Oh that's really great! I guess I was still thinkin of what I saw last year?

TCIYM · Post by **TCIYM** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 1:30 pm

langleyparkjoe wrote:
TCIYM wrote:
langleyparkjoe wrote:Dudes, what is up with us and power plays???? We can't score when we have more players on the ice and we get scored on when we're down a guy...

Is it a scheme thing? Do we need to flare out our players more (our power plays)? What is the best way to defend against it when your down a player?

Starting to tick me the off

Actually we have been really great at penalty kills recently. They have killed 29 of 30 opponent power plays in the last eight games. The power play thing is disturbing though. I'd think they would change strategy.

Oh that's really great! I guess I was still thinkin of what I saw last year?

During that losing streak they were awful at both ends of the ice. The goaltending was also a lot worse than it had been, nearly a full point higher on the GAA and nearly ten percent lower on the save percentage.

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 3:27 pm

So will Varly have the full time job or will the other guy get some play too? I can't remember his name properly, Norvak or something?

TCIYM · Post by **TCIYM** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 4:06 pm

langleyparkjoe wrote:So will Varly have the full time job or will the other guy get some play too? I can't remember his name properly, Norvak or something?

Boudreau refuses to name a "number one goaltender" and I can't say I blame him. Both Varlamov and Neuvirth have shown the ability to be number one, and both have shown the ability to be downright awful.

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 1:14 pm

I was really irritated when TB won last night. I hate St. Louis.. love watching him play when its not against my boys though, that dude is badazz

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 11:18 am

I was pretty excited that my Hoyas beat Seaton Hall last night and after the game I turned to watch the final period of our Caps game. Man I was pretty boosted when we made 2 goals in 40 seconds but once regulation ended I was nervous as hell. Yup, those bamas in philly beat us in OT.. I was ;furious;

for like 10 minutes after the goal. Incredible.. it must be fatigue since we've been on the road for a good while but its the OT numbers that are just embarrasing. I can't quite remember our record after regulation but they put it up on tv last night and it was pretty sad.

MDSKINSFAN · Post by **MDSKINSFAN** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 4:12 pm

The Caps are just middle of the pack this year. Its a big disappointment from last year. I went to the game last week against Vancouver (the best team in the league points wise right now) and they made us look like amateurs. It was pathetic. They were in our zone all night and when we got the puck into their zone it was brief and unorganized. They are the mirror image of what we were last year. The Sedin's made our D look sluggish. The only thing that saved us from being absolutely crushed was Varly in net. He was incredible! Thats the one positive thing I have seen this season. Varly is starting to show he is the future #1 goalie. Sadly this team is only "ok" this year compared to incredible last season. Bodreau needs to figure out how to fix it fast. I think his job may depend on a deep playoff run. There is no excuse to have a power play and offense that is average (and sometimes downright anemic) when you have 3 of the best offensive players in the world.

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 4:18 pm

.. but don't you think the difference is the more "defensive" mindset as opposed to the last couple years of "the greatest show on ice" where we were scoring all the time? I don't know as much as you guys so please let me know. I don't think Bruce's job will be in jeopardy though, Ted seems to want to let it play out so he can evaluate if its the coaching or the players skill levels.. maybe?

MDSKINSFAN · Post by **MDSKINSFAN** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 4:54 pm

langleyparkjoe wrote:.. but don't you think the difference is the more "defensive" mindset as opposed to the last couple years of "the greatest show on ice" where we were scoring all the time? I don't know as much as you guys so please let me know. I don't think Bruce's job will be in jeopardy though, Ted seems to want to let it play out so he can evaluate if its the coaching or the players skill levels.. maybe?

I think the shift to defensive minded hockey is definitely playing a part in the lack of offense but I don't think it is an excuse for having an offense that can't do anything with the puck when they gain possession. I wouldn't mind scoring less if our defense was much better than last year but it still is bad. We get out shot on a consistent basis this year. At least last year if we lost we were firing 30+ shots at the net giving ourselves a chance to win but this year its not like that. It seems like the defense plays not to lose, like they are protecting a lead all the time.

We said this all season about the Skins referring to Haslett and I think it applies to what Bodreau is doing now: Don't try to fit square pegs into round holes. If you have offensive minded players don't force them to play out of character. Bring in defensive minded players if you want to play that style. Doesn't it make more sense to play to your strengths than your weakness? When we play to our strengths like we are capable of doing its tough to stop us. And honestly I think a lot of the defensive problems last year were mental mistakes not physical mistakes or flaws in the scheme. Those mistakes especially from Green will be corrected in time. Last year there were guys like Schultz who played great defensive hockey because thats their style. Green was famous for making stupid decisions even when he was in good position to break up a play. I'd be all for shifting to a defensive minded team if we had the coach and players to be one. We have an offensive minded coach with a whole bunch of offensive minded players.

Also, what killed us in the playoffs was a lack of physical presence in front of the net. They would just stand there and tap in the puck. I don't think we have found that guy unless it is Hannan who we gave up a great forward to get.

Here is what I would do:

From watching Ovi and Backstrom, lately it seems that they just go out there try too hard to make plays and skate around waiting for the shift to end. I would split them up, at least temporarily. I would put Ovi on a line with Chimera and maybe Johansen (#90), Perraleaut, or Laich at center. Those guys push the puck and would force Ovi to skate with them and put him into position to make plays. Backstrom is trying too hard to make that highlight reel pass to Ovi and they aren't playing good fundamental, team hockey. And if I have one complaint about Ovi this year its that he is playing kind of lazy. I would have a 8-90/85/21-25 line and a Semin-Backstrom-Knuble line. I would like to see Bruce throw out those line combos one night.

And get these guys back to the fundamentals on the power play. Its too unorganized.

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 11:45 am

^5 ...my man! Now that's some good Caps insight, thank you sir!

We go up to NY 2nite for the Islanders so hopefully we'll see some positive chances during the game. Geez, then we travel to Toronto to play the leafs

MDSKINSFAN · Post by **MDSKINSFAN** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 9:55 pm

Not quite what I suggested but Bruce did put Chimera on Ovi and Backstrom's line. And what do ya know? 2 goals from that line. Maybe it helps we are playing the Islanders too...

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 10:19 am

Man oh man, I thought Semin would never score! Finally did it and with a hat trick, pretty cool getting the win in that fashion.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/17/AR2011021700228.html

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 10:24 am

WE HAD GREAT REPRESENTATION OUT THERE!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/17/AR2011021700228.html

MDSKINSFAN · Post by **MDSKINSFAN** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:40 pm

Great game last night. Very exciting to watch. I miss that offense, even if the d was horrible.

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 1:02 pm

MDSKINSFAN wrote:Great game last night. Very exciting to watch. I miss that offense, even if the d was horrible.

Right bro, that's how we've always dominated in the previous years.. offense on fire, not so much defense.

MDSKINSFAN · Post by **MDSKINSFAN** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 1:16 pm

I'm ready for the playoffs. I have a good feeling this year. This is a different team. Lets finish the Rangers in 5 or less and get to the 2nd round.

I gotta give it to Bodreau. I was highly critical of him this year and his plan has really developed well going into the playoffs. Now we just have to go deep!

LETS GO CAPS!!!