The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

Playoff Sasha – Alexander Semin scored eight points (5g-3a) in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against New York, continuing the playoff success he began last year. Semin has 1.14 points per game in his playoff career, a step up from his 0.85 in the regular season. This year, his five goals tie him for the lead in the NHL while his eight points tie him for second. Semin carries a five-game point streak (4g-3a) into the Eastern Conference Semifinals against Pittsburgh that begin tomorrow in Washington . The Krasnoyarsk, Russia, native is tied for fourth in the NHL with a +5 rating and his 18.5 shooting percentage is the best in the NHL for any player that took more than 21 shots. Semin recorded at least a goal in all four regular-season meetings with Pittsburgh and ended the regular season with seven points (4g-3a) against the Penguins.

Hey, did anyone see that Chi. Vanc. game last night??? I turned it on when tied @ 3 and I saw dude from Chi. juggling the puck on his stick.. WICKED!.. he then attempted a shot but missed. Vanc. scored and scored again when the net was empty.

I'm still amazed the guys can skate on ice and they keep doing these things that make it look so easy. Taking major hits, controling the puck with a stick, making passes/taking shots, grabbing the puck out of the air while moving.. and even when they fall, all hockey players make sure to position there feet in a way so the blades don't face upwards. I actually notice that everytime someone hits the ice. NHL players are the real deal folks, if you read this and haven't checked out hockey or at least OUR boys, your totally missing out.

I'm convincing some of my folks about hockey, I'm hooked, obviously it's because we have the MJ of hockey (pre-mature or no?) and the fact the team is so dag gone good. Great FO and great coaching, omg.. the fans in the DC area are totally awesome. Gotta love it!

I just withdrew money from the atm.. extra money for when I get off that train @ the phone booth 2marow

Game 1 is ours! Eat that Crosby!

I'm glad were up 1-0 to start this thing out. We have to play better defense from here on out though. We allowed a lot of shots on varly today and he bailed us out. How about that stick save on crosby? That was amazing! It will be the top play on sportscenter easily.

Faked out – Pittsburgh blocked 20 Washington shots in yesterday’s Game 1, and already had seven before Alexander Semin would up from the center point on a first period 5-on-3. Semin didn’t give the Pens a chance to block another here, however – he bluffed the shot and rifled a perfect pass to Alex Ovechkin, who scored a go-ahead goal. Later, in the third, Semin used a similar technique to get the puck to Nicklas Backstrom, turning a 3-on-3 into a 2-on-1, and Tomas Fleischmann scored the game-winner. Semin shares the NHL lead in goals in these playoffs with five, but he proved yesterday to be equally adept when faking a shot – and now shares the league lead in points as well (10).



Hershey Bears Update

Washington’s AHL affiliate took a 1-0 series lead in the AHL playoffs with a 5-3 win against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last night. Game 2 is this evening at 5 p.m. in Hershey.

That save by Varlamov yesterday was SICK!

That second goal was a fluke. He had it, but it just squeezed through.

He made up for it with that great save on Crosby.

They will need to step it up next game, but they played just well enough to win this one!

1-0 feels a lot better than 0-2 or 1-3!

On XM Home Ice, they asked Crosby if he'd ever had a better save against one of his shots. He's like yeah, but I don't like to talk about them. I want to focus on blah blah blah. The consumate whiner can't even admit to a great save. They didn't ask him to admit Ovie was a better player or that he whines like a 2-year-old with teething pain. How hard is it to acknowledge that it was a good save (doesn't have to be the best ever).

Heck, if it wasn't for the limp wrist shot, he probably would have scored.

To hell with what he said JF, that was the best save i've ever seen for sure, remarkable to say the least. He's a real bama.. A win is a win but I'd rather crush them.

GO CAPS!

Quick Start – The Capitals have recorded 10 goals in the first period during the playoffs to lead the NHL. It’s either feast or famine for the Capitals, who have recorded goals in the first period in five of eight games. In four of the five games they have recorded first period goals the Caps have found the net multiple times, recording two or more goals. Alexander Semin leads the team in first-period goals with three, while Matt Bradley has two and Milan Jurcina, Mike Green, Tom Poti, David Steckel and Alex Ovechkin each have one. The Capitals are 4-0 in the playoffs when leading after the first period.



Hershey Bears Update

Washington’s AHL affiliate took a 2-0 series lead in the AHL playoffs with a 3-1 win against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last night. Game 3 is Wednesday in Wilkes-Barre .



Note of the Night

Start me up – Washington has scored 10 of its 22 playoff goals in the first period, the most first-period goals in the NHL. Alexander Semin has scored three of those 10 first-period goals. The Capitals have a 13.3% shooting percentage in the first period (10-for-75) and just 7.2% in the second and third combined (12-for-167). Washington is 4-0 when leading after the first period and 3-1 when scoring first.



Five More Notes No Media Person Should Be Without

Five alive – Washington carries a four-game winning streak into Game 2, which matches the longest playoff winning streak in franchise history (four other times, most recently 1991). The Capitals have outscored opponents 14-6 during the streak and 19-8 while winning five of the last six games. Alexander Semin has a six-game point-scoring streak (4g-5a), while Nicklas Backstrom (5a) has points in four straight games.



Kill joy – The Capitals held the Penguins scoreless in five power-play opportunities Saturday and have now killed off 30 of their last 32 shorthanded situations (93.8%), beginning in Game 2 of the first round. Washington 's penalty kill has been 88.9% effective in the playoffs (fifth in the league) after posting an 80.6% in the regular season (17th).



Spring in his step – Alexander Semin has nine points in the last six games and 18 points in 15 career playoff games. He shared the NHL lead through Saturday's games in goals (5) and points (10). Semin has 1.20 points per game in the playoffs in his career compared to 0.85 in the regular season. This season, stretching back to the regular-season, Semin has 10 goals in the last 13 games.



Gnarly Varly – Goaltender Simeon Varlamov (SEHM-yohn var-LAH-mohv) tied a Capitals series record with two shutouts in the first round, his first playoff experience. A few more notes on Varlamov, who led the NHL with a 1.29 goals-against average and stood second with a .950 save percentage through Saturday's games:

– Made 34 saves, including what was called "the save of the playoffs" in Game 1 against the Penguins

– Turned 21 the day before winning Game 7 vs. NYR

– Has won four games in a row and five of his last six

– Has more playoff experience (7 GP) than regular-season experience (6 GP)

– Allowed just seven goals in six games against NYR

– The fourth NHL goaltender to post a playoff shutout before he turned 21 (Harry Lumley, Patrick Roy, Carey Price)

– Only the second Capitals goalie to record more than one shutout in a playoff season (Olie Kolzig, four in 1998)

– His combined regular-season and playoff numbers: 9-2-1, two shutouts, .935 save percentage and a 1.77 GAA

– Has had a save percentage of at least .905 in each of his seven playoff games



10 spot – Matt Bradley, who had four points in the last 42 games of the regular season, has four points in his last four playoff games (2g-2a). He sparked Washington 's turnaround against the New York Rangers with two first-period goals in Game 5 and set up Sergei Fedorov's series-clinching goal. Saturday it was his shot that produced the rebound that David Steckel put in for the first Capitals goal of the Penguins series.

JansenFan wrote:On XM Home Ice, they asked Crosby if he'd ever had a better save against one of his shots. He's like yeah, but I don't like to talk about them. I want to focus on blah blah blah. The consumate whiner can't even admit to a great save. They didn't ask him to admit Ovie was a better player or that he whines like a 2-year-old with teething pain. How hard is it to acknowledge that it was a good save (doesn't have to be the best ever).

Heck, if it wasn't for the limp wrist shot, he probably would have scored.

I noticed that he kind of acted like it never happened. At the press conference after the game he wouldn't even say it was a GOOD save. He was just like yeah I had a good look and should have made it, not even acknowledging the great save Varly made. Even when the reporters asked him directly about it he would just answer it with a different topic. It makes me hate him even more. Just admit that the greatest save that you have seen in your career happened against you and give the goalie credit for an amazing save and stop crying.

MDSKINSFAN wrote:

JansenFan wrote:On XM Home Ice, they asked Crosby if he'd ever had a better save against one of his shots. He's like yeah, but I don't like to talk about them. I want to focus on blah blah blah. The consumate whiner can't even admit to a great save. They didn't ask him to admit Ovie was a better player or that he whines like a 2-year-old with teething pain. How hard is it to acknowledge that it was a good save (doesn't have to be the best ever).

Heck, if it wasn't for the limp wrist shot, he probably would have scored.

I noticed that he kind of acted like it never happened. At the press conference after the game he wouldn't even say it was a GOOD save. He was just like yeah I had a good look and should have made it, not even acknowledging the great save Varly made. Even when the reporters asked him directly about it he would just answer it with a different topic. It makes me hate him even more. Just admit that the greatest save that you have seen in your career happened against you and give the goalie credit for an amazing save and stop crying.

I found this picture on the Caps message board. lol

Hey LPJ did you find a ticket for Saturdays game?

That is an awesome pic, SM.

I printed it and have been showing it around the office!

He had no business making that save.

(putting on my Jim Rome hat) Phe-Nom-enal.

I hadn't seen that angle before. I thought Luongo's save was better, but that picture changed my mind.

Question, how far in does the puck have to go? It looks like it crossed the red line.

It has to completely cross the line. But in the overhead angle, you can see it barely touches the front of the line.

Spec-Tac-ular.

Yeah that is amazing.

Of course, shame on Crosby for not scoring. He had the whole left side of the net and no one in front of him.

Ovie would have scored.

Wow that picture makes it look even more amazing than before

Goal, Ovie!!!!!

Naw brutha, Saturday I had to do my "chores" so I didn't get to head across the border. All good though because I watched the whole game at home (while folding clothes ).

Last night's game, oh boy!!!!!

2-0 going up north, this is going to be interesting. Let's see if we can carry this momentum all the way through.

Dave Steckle, the difference maker!

I know Ovie got the game winner, but everyone expected this to be a matchup of Crosby vs. Ovechkin.

They didn't disappoint. I know the goals count the same on the score-sheet, but Ovie's goals were better. Crosby got three tip-ins by camping out in front of Varlamov and swatting at the puck like he was trying to kill a spider, Ovie took blasts that legitimately beat Fluery.

If you cancel out Crosby's goals with Ovie's goals, then it's 1-0 Caps with the only goal scored by Dave Steckel.

Great game!

Man it feels good being up 2-0. Lets hope they can just keep on rolling and at least win 1 game in Pitt. (Both would be perfect, completing the sweep on their ice!)

Bob, I was wondering what Sid's stat sheet would have looked like if John Erskine was playing back there as opposed to Mike Green. For all the good things Green does, he is not the physical presence that Big John is.

Anyone else catch the post game were Crosby explained to the press that after Ovechkin's 3rd goal, he went and asked the officials to make an announcement to stop throwing hats on the ice? What a tool that guy is!

Really great game!

Sir_Monk wrote:Anyone else catch the post game were Crosby explained to the press that after Ovechkin's 3rd goal, he went and asked the officials to make an announcement to stop throwing hats on the ice? What a tool that guy is!

Yeah I saw that. What a whiny little girl.