Caps Today

Jake · Post by **Jake** » Wed May 06, 2009 10:23 pm

Ugh... this bites. I'm not surprised they lost this one. The Penguins are very good.

I'm just surprised they were so outworked in overtime. It looked liked they didn't want it as bad and they didn't pressure Fleury at all. They need to win the next two or else I see a repeat of series one happening, this time favoring the Penguins.

They are too good to just let up on and give any room to breathe.

PulpExposure · Post by **PulpExposure** » Wed May 06, 2009 11:22 pm

Jake wrote:Ugh... this bites. I'm not surprised they lost this one. The Penguins are very good.

I'm just surprised they were so outworked in overtime. It looked liked they didn't want it as bad and they didn't pressure Fleury at all. They need to win the next two or else I see a repeat of series one happening, this time favoring the Penguins.

They are too good to just let up on and give any room to breathe.

Penguins were the better team tonight, especially in overtime. They certainly played with a lot more desperation than the Caps, that's for sure.

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Thu May 07, 2009 6:53 am

After the first half of the first period the Pens beat our boys down. The fact that it even made it to over time is a testament to just how damn good Simeon Varlamov is. I know he's only 9 playoff and 5 regular season NHL games into his career, but we better give that man an Ovie contract some time before his current contract expires (I believe that is after next season).

Unfortunately, the Caps have had trouble with physical teams that were aggressive on the forecheck all season. That's why they couldn't beat the Sharks, the Kings or the Blue Jackets this season. I hope they figure it out by Friday.

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Thu May 07, 2009 7:40 am

Probably being the most superstitious (sp) guy on the board, after the game I was soooooooo angry that I chopped off the beard. Dag gone it man.. so with the beard our Caps went 6-4.. now I don't have it so let's see how the next 10 games go.. hopefully we'll have 10 more games to go

Bob 0119 · Post by **Bob 0119** » Thu May 07, 2009 11:16 am

Backstrom delivers – With Washington facing a one-goal deficit in the final two minutes of regulation last night, Nicklas Backstrom picked the perfect time for his first goal of the playoffs. The skilled center has played very well – he is second in the NHL in assists with 10 – but hadn’t found the back of the net after scoring 22 goals in the regular season. In fact, Washington holds a 2-1 series lead against the Pittsburgh Penguins despite the fact that Backstrom’s goal was the first in the series by one of the team’s four 20-goal scorers not named Alex Ovechkin. That’s a testament to Ovechkin’s effort and bodes well for Washington if it can get some more timely goals from its other elite players moving forward.

Hershey Bears Update

Washington’s AHL affiliate lost a 3-2 overtime game, just like the parent club, last night to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins but still leads the series 2-1. Game 4 is tomorrow in Wilkes-Barre .

MDSKINSFAN · Post by **MDSKINSFAN** » Thu May 07, 2009 11:28 am

Man, that sucked. The defense wasn't very good last night. They allowed what 42 or 43 shots on goal. Varly made 39 or 40 saves. Thats incredible. Those are numbers you expect to see with a SO. The defense let him down last night. We couldn't get the puck away from the Pens. They were in our zone all night. The penalties are what really killed us though.

But we are still up. Hopefully we can go out there tomorrow night and go up 3-1. We can't rest on a series lead. We showed everyone what can happen if a team does. I expect to see a much better defensive game next game. Bruce can't be too happy with the way they played out there.

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Thu May 07, 2009 11:46 am

I blogged about my thoughts following the game. There's some interesting historical tidbits in there, if you're interested to read them.

TincoSkin · Post by **TincoSkin** » Thu May 07, 2009 12:29 pm

caps and Bs both getting losses doesnt help my fantasy of a caps Bs championship game...

all i want is to laugh at my co-workers after the caps sweep them

Deadskins · Post by **Deadskins** » Thu May 07, 2009 1:31 pm

langleyparkjoe wrote:Probably being the most superstitious (sp) guy on the board, after the game I was soooooooo angry that I chopped off the beard. Dag gone it man.. so with the beard our Caps went 6-4.. now I don't have it so let's see how the next 10 games go.. hopefully we'll have 10 more games to go

I understand being superstitious. What I don't get is how you can figure the beard has anything to do with it at 6-4. :shock:

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Thu May 07, 2009 1:56 pm

Deadskins wrote:
langleyparkjoe wrote:Probably being the most superstitious (sp) guy on the board, after the game I was soooooooo angry that I chopped off the beard. Dag gone it man.. so with the beard our Caps went 6-4.. now I don't have it so let's see how the next 10 games go.. hopefully we'll have 10 more games to go

I understand being superstitious. What I don't get is how you can figure the beard has anything to do with it at 6-4.

being that it was my first time I've ever grown the beard out for NHL playoffs. I started from game 1 and finally ended it last night. I did the math properly right? 4-3 w/rangers and 2-1 w/pencils.. So I chopped it off after the game and me being me going forward (assuming we win), I'll say "we won cause I chopped it off".. :lol:

Don't forget bro, i'm the dude who says new uniforms for our Skins will help.. :lol:

Sir_Monk · Post by **Sir_Monk** » Thu May 07, 2009 2:54 pm

I'm glad BB gave the Caps the day off, they just looked tired out there for most of the game. Even worse, it looked like whenever the Caps got their feet under them, like at the start of OT, they would take a stupid penalty and completely run out of steam. Though I think if Backstrom had not missed on that open net wrap around early on, it would have broken their back.

I really hope John Erskine and Fehr are back for Friday. We really missed Erskines physical play on D last night, and Nylander just looks out of his element playing on the 4th line. If Fehr is not able to play, I hope Caps bring up a guy like Bourque or Aucoin, and provide some energy for the 4th line.

Oh well, all they can do is bring their A game for Friday!

GOOOOOOOO CAPS!

Bob 0119 · Post by **Bob 0119** » Fri May 08, 2009 9:54 am

Less is Sometimes More—After outshooting the Rangers in six of seven games during the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, the Capitals have now been outshot by the Penguins in all three games of the Eastern Conference semifinals 114 to 82. More shots at the net haven’t necessarily equaled more goals for the Caps—they averaged 37.3 shots the first four games of the playoffs while only registering eight goals (including one four-goal game). In contrast, over the last six games they have averaged 24.8 shots and recorded 20 goals (including one five-goal game and two four-goal games). During those first four games they posted a record of 1-3 and have since posted a record of 5-1 and a 3-1 record when being outshot.

Hershey Bears Update

Washington’s AHL affiliate will face the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for Game 4 of their series at 7 p.m. tonight in Wilkes-Barre . The Bears currently lead the series 2-1.

Note of the Night

8's stage – Alex Ovechkin has scored goals in each game of this series and six of the last seven games overall (eight goals in that time). He has a hand in six of Washington 's nine goals in the series and 13 points in 10 games in the playoffs. He ranks first in the league in shots, second in hits and tied for second in plus/minus (rankings entering Thursday's games). He has had multiple-point games in eight of the 17 playoff games he has played in his career and has points in eight of the 10 games this year.

Five More Notes No Media Person Should Be Without

About face – Washington leads the NHL with a 54.2% success rate on faceoffs, including 56% in Game 3. David Steckel has won 58.1% to lead all Capitals and rank fifth in the NHL. Sergei Fedorov (53.2%) and Nicklas Backstrom (52.0%) are also in the top 20 (rankings entering Thursday's games).

About time – The Capitals scored in the first two minutes and the last two minutes of regulation in Game 3.

Nick at night – Nicklas Backstrom has a team-best six-game point-scoring streak entering Game 4, including his first goal of the playoffs that sent Game 3 into overtime. Backstrom ranks second in the NHL in assists (10; ranking entering Thursday's games) and is just three assists shy of the Capitals single-season playoff record for assists (Andrei Nikolishin, 13, 1998).

Caps Record, Assists in a Playoff Season

13 Andrei Nikolishin, 1998

11 Adam Oates, 1998

Mike Ridley, 1992

Scott Stevens, 1988

10 Nicklas Backstrom, 2009

Two others

Power supply – Nicklas Backstrom became the seventh Capital to score a power-play goal in these playoffs with his Game 3 tally. Only Alex Ovechkin (3) has more than one power-play goal.

You go first – The team that scored the first goal has lost each game of this series.

Sir_Monk · Post by **Sir_Monk** » Fri May 08, 2009 8:17 pm

These calls are getting silly. If someone gets hits and responds, we get called, if one of their guys gets hits we go in the box. For what its worth and this might be the beer talking, Gonchar is hurt because the NHL step up to protect our players.

Sir_Monk · Post by **Sir_Monk** » Fri May 08, 2009 8:30 pm

MIKE GREEN!!!!! 3-2, we are back in this one!

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Fri May 08, 2009 11:22 pm

Ouch. I think the team was improved from Wednesday's match, but they need to compose themselves again or else this series will slip out of control.

Glad to be out of Pittsburgh, though. Maybe we'll get a changeup with the refs.

Bob 0119 · Post by **Bob 0119** » Sat May 09, 2009 6:57 pm

So a kid in Pittsburgh goes on a Penguins message board and makes death threats against Alex Ovechkin.

The cops go to the 17 yr old's house but do not arrest him.

Further proof that no one from Pittsburgh gets penalized for anything.

Anyone else see that quote from Gonchar's agent? What a load of crap. Ovie wasn't trying to hurt him, it was an accident.

Whatsamatter Gonchar, you couldn't get your mommy to whine to the press for you?

God I hate Pittsburgh...

LET'S GO CAPS!!!

Cappster · Post by **Cappster** » Sat May 09, 2009 7:52 pm

Bob 0119 wrote:So a kid in Pittsburgh goes on a Penguins message board and makes death threats against Alex Ovechkin.

The cops go to the 17 yr old's house but do not arrest him.

Further proof that no one from Pittsburgh gets penalized for anything.

Anyone else see that quote from Gonchar's agent? What a load of crap. Ovie wasn't trying to hurt him, it was an accident.

Whatsamatter Gonchar, you couldn't get your mommy to whine to the press for you?

God I hate Pittsburgh...

LET'S GO CAPS!!!

Ditto. Outside of Dallas, I hate Pitts-burgh the most.

PulpExposure · Post by **PulpExposure** » Sat May 09, 2009 10:07 pm

Well that was a really crappy way to lose a playoff game...

Sir_Monk · Post by **Sir_Monk** » Sat May 09, 2009 11:20 pm

PulpExposure wrote:Well that was a really crappy way to lose a playoff game...

naaah brother, if you have followed this team long enough that one was simply "typical," you can change the arena, change the sweaters heck even change the players yet somehow they mange to rip the souls out of their fans in the big spot. It was a feeling I thought I almost forgot, even with some of the stinkers the Redskins have thrown up in the past few years.

Sometimes rooting for the Caps is like rooting for the titanic not to sink.

Jake · Post by **Jake** » Sun May 10, 2009 9:47 am

I don't know if I had been embarassed to be a DC sports fan in my life before last night. If I hadn't been... it all changed following the overtime goal.

Fans threw beer bottles, water bottles, hats, pom poms, and anything else they could find as far as they could. A lot of it went on the rink and bounced around and could have hurt some players and anyone else around.

I saw a cameraman at rink level get doused with beer because some idiot tried to throw it from 20+ rows back.

Yes, the refs may or may not have made some horrible calls. Yes, it was a horrible way to end the game to a rival.

But to act like that only makes the night worse.

This isn't Cleveland or Philly. To all the people who felt the need to throw a hissy fit like that last night: GROW UP AND DON'T EMBARASS THIS CITY LIKE THAT ANYMORE!

MDSKINSFAN · Post by **MDSKINSFAN** » Sun May 10, 2009 10:12 am

PulpExposure wrote:Well that was a really crappy way to lose a playoff game...

It really was. All series I have been trashing Mike Green and Jurcina for playing terrible defense and last night all Poti was trying to do was play good defense and break up the pass and it deflects past Varly.

Fios · Post by **Fios** » Sun May 10, 2009 11:36 am

Jake wrote:This isn't Cleveland or Philly. To all the people who felt the need to throw a hissy fit like that last night: GROW UP AND DON'T EMBARASS THIS CITY LIKE THAT ANYMORE!

What has Cleveland done to rate a mention there? I've been to plenty of Cleveland games in my life, the fans there are passionate but they are -- for the most part -- a class act, just like in DC.

Sir_Monk · Post by **Sir_Monk** » Sun May 10, 2009 2:29 pm

Jake wrote:I don't know if I had been embarassed to be a DC sports fan in my life before last night. If I hadn't been... it all changed following the overtime goal.

Fans threw beer bottles, water bottles, hats, pom poms, and anything else they could find as far as they could. A lot of it went on the rink and bounced around and could have hurt some players and anyone else around.

I saw a cameraman at rink level get doused with beer because some idiot tried to throw it from 20+ rows back.

Yes, the refs may or may not have made some horrible calls. Yes, it was a horrible way to end the game to a rival.

But to act like that only makes the night worse.

This isn't Cleveland or Philly. To all the people who felt the need to throw a hissy fit like that last night: GROW UP AND DON'T EMBARASS THIS CITY LIKE THAT ANYMORE!

I could see that starting up as the VS telecast was wrapping up. As the popularity of this team has gone up, so has the bonehead fans that seem to attend games.

Jake · Post by **Jake** » Sun May 10, 2009 4:38 pm

Fios wrote:
Jake wrote:This isn't Cleveland or Philly. To all the people who felt the need to throw a hissy fit like that last night: GROW UP AND DON'T EMBARASS THIS CITY LIKE THAT ANYMORE!

What has Cleveland done to rate a mention there? I've been to plenty of Cleveland games in my life, the fans there are passionate but they are -- for the most part -- a class act, just like in DC.

Browns vs. Jaguars - several years ago.. refs make a bad call and beer bottles come flying from EVERYWHERE. How can you forget that?

Not everything in Cleveland revolves around the Indians, sippy boy. :lol:

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Mon May 11, 2009 8:39 am

I was pissed at Poti, but watching the replays, if he doesn't touch the puck, it goes right to Crosby with the whole net to shoot at. Maybe Varly makes another great save, but probably Crosby scores.

If we don't quit letting the Penguins skate all the way to the net without touching them and letting Crosby stand next to the goal for minutes at a time without touching him, we don't deserve to win.

Won good thing to note, we've got the Caps playing the Pens, and the Bears playing the Baby Pens (insert Crosby joke here). The Caps and Bears won games 1 and 2, the Pens and Baby Pens won games 3, 4 and 5. The Bears won game 6 last night, so the Caps should win tonight. Then we'll have to hope like hell the Bears win tomorrow.