JansenFan wrote: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.
Yep, totally true. Two things this series has reinforced for me; (1) the need for a defensemen, a real defense-oriented guy, to push people out of the crease; and (2) Varlamov is spectacular but holy god, the rebounds. Either he needs to get better rebound control, or his defensemen need to be more aware and clear the rebounds away.
Varly's definitely had trouble controlling the rebounds, and the Penguins seemed to have discovered a slight weakness top-shelf glove-side, but he's 21. I can live with those for now. I thought coming into this year the Caps were about 2 years from really being Cup contenders, and that's plenty of time for Dave Prior to address those areas. Unfortunately, the lack of real playoff toughness (or at least the inability to match the Pens toughness, because none of the Capitals ever skate halfway into the offensive zone without being touched) makes it a) harder to control the rebounds because there's always a guys in front of the net and b) makes it way too easy to set up the cross-ice pass to the open side of the net, something that has accounted for what seems like 80% of the goals the Penguins have scored in the series.
The good thing is that the Caps have not played even close to the way they can play in this series and they've won twice and have played in OT two of the three losses with real good chances to put them away early in both. The Caps are a rare Ovie fan at an open net, and another fan by Steckel on Saturday from having won the series 4-1. The bounces have to go our way in one game at least.
RIP 21
"Nah, I trust the laws of nature to stay constant. I don't pray that the sun will rise tomorrow, and I don't need to pray that someone will beat the Cowboys in the playoffs." - Irn-Bru
Brashear played a total of four games out of seven versus New York. In the three games that he didn’t play, the Caps went 1-2 and the combined scores for both teams was 6-5 Rangers. During the four games he did play the Caps went 3-1 and the combined score for both teams was 14-5 Capitals.
“If you grow up in metro Washington, you grow up a diehard Redskins fan. But if you hate your parents, you grow up a Cowboys fan.”-Jim Lachey
Playing on the edge – The Capitals have been here before. Last year, they trailed Philadelphia 3-1 in a best-of-seven series before forcing a Game 7 with two straight wins. They were in the same situation this year in the first round against the New York Rangers and then won the next three games to advance to the second round. Now, after two overtime losses, they trail Pittsburgh 3-2 and face the Pens on their home ice tonight. A win would force Game 7 in Washington on Wednesday and a loss would mean the season is over. Under Bruce Boudreau the Capitals are 5-1 in elimination games, including 3-0 this year. Disregarding shootout losses, the Capitals have never lost four straight games under Boudreau.
Hershey Bears Update
Washington’s AHL affiliate will face the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for Game 7 of their series on Tuesday at 7 p.m. tonight in Hershey. The series is currently tied 3-3.
Note of the Night
8 is No. 1 – Alex Ovechkin's two-goal, one-assist effort in Game 5 gave him the NHL lead in points (17), goals (10) and plus/minus (+8) entering Sunday's games. His point total matches the best in Capitals history (in three fewer games than anyone else). Ovechkin has points in each game of this series and goals in seven of the last nine games overall (10 goals in that time). He has a hand in 10 of Washington 's 15 goals in the series and has points in nine of the 12 games this year. He has had multiple-point games in nine of the 19 playoff games he has played in his career.
Caps Record, Points in a Playoff Season
17 Alex Ovechkin, 2009 (10g-7a in 12 GP)
Joe Juneau, 1998 (7g-10a in 21 GP)
Adam Oates, 1998 (6g-11a in 21 GP)
John Druce, 1990 (14g-3a in 15 GP)
Five More Notes No Media Person Should Be Without
Recent history – Washington is 6-1 in the last two seasons when facing a win-or-go-home game (including the final game of the 2007-08 regular season). This is the third series in a row in which Washington has faced elimination before the seventh game; the Capitals have forced a Game 7 in the previous two series, winning last round against the Rangers.
Ancient history – Washington is seeking to beat Pittsburgh in a playoff series for just the second time in eight attempts. In three of the previous series that the Penguins have won the Capitals held a two-game series lead at some point (either 2-0 or 3-1).
Nick of time – Nicklas Backstrom has established a Capitals playoff record with points in seven eight games, including goals in each of the last three games. Backstrom ranks second in the NHL in assists (11) and is just two assists shy of the Capitals single-season playoff record for assists (Andrei Nikolishin, 13, 1998); he is tied for fourth in the NHL in points (14).
Caps Record, Consecutive Playoff Games with a Point
8 Nicklas Backstrom, 4/24/09 to 5/8/09 vs. NYR, PIT
7 Geoff Courtnall, 4/13/90 to 4/27/90 vs. NJ, NYR
Caps Record, Assists in a Playoff Season
13 Andrei Nikolishin, 1998
11 Nicklas Backstrom, 2009
Adam Oates, 1998
Mike Ridley, 1992
Scott Stevens, 1988
Close calls – All six of Washington 's playoff losses have come by one or two goals; Game 4 of the series in Pittsburgh (a 5-3 loss) was the only multiple-goal loss for the Capitals.
For the record – Washington is 9-9 all-time in Game 6, 6-6 when it is played on the road and 4-6 when facing elimination. The Capitals are 1-4 against Pittsburgh in Game 6.
“If you grow up in metro Washington, you grow up a diehard Redskins fan. But if you hate your parents, you grow up a Cowboys fan.”-Jim Lachey
Tarik El-Bashir, Capitals Insider for the Washington Post wrote: Monday, May 11, 2009
Only two Washington Capitals practiced yesterday (in warmups, no pads): Brooks Laich and enforcer Donald Brashear, who served the final night of his six-game suspension for a hit on the Rangers' Blair Betts in the first round.
Brashear posted yesterday to his Twitter account: "just arrive in Pittsburg for game tomorrow. Suspension is over, hoping to b in the line up for the game."
But it doesn't sound like Coach Bruce Boudreau is in a hurry to put Brashear back in the lineup with Washington facing elimination against the Penguins tonight in Pittsburgh.
"It would be pretty tough at this point," Boudreau said.
Bruce hasn't ruled him out, and does have him in Pitt. I think it would be a huge mistake if he doesn't play.
I'm thinking this is just Bruce playing things close to the vest and not wanting to give the Pens anything to prepare for.
We'll see.
“If you grow up in metro Washington, you grow up a diehard Redskins fan. But if you hate your parents, you grow up a Cowboys fan.”-Jim Lachey
Dear Coach Boudreau,
We need Brash, and we should see if the Hansen Bros are available. William the Refrigerator Perry on skates, too. He doesn't have to skate. He can do like he did on the goal line. Just fall on the guy in front of the net.
What's Mike Williams doing tonight?
RIP 21
"Nah, I trust the laws of nature to stay constant. I don't pray that the sun will rise tomorrow, and I don't need to pray that someone will beat the Cowboys in the playoffs." - Irn-Bru
JansenFan wrote:Dear Coach Boudreau, We need Brash, and we should see if the Hansen Bros are available. William the Refrigerator Perry on skates, too. He doesn't have to skate. He can do like he did on the goal line. Just fall on the guy in front of the net.
What's Mike Williams doing tonight?
I was talking about this with Jen last night and we agreed that Brash may not win the game by himself, but with how closely matched up the teams were on Saturday, he might be just the difference between winning in regulation and losing in OT.
“If you grow up in metro Washington, you grow up a diehard Redskins fan. But if you hate your parents, you grow up a Cowboys fan.”-Jim Lachey
I get angry when I see people just park in front of our net, or worse, when someone punches Varly in the face or cross checks him in the neck, and no one sticks up for him. It happened to Huet last year. We have a lot of skill guys, but we need tough guys, too. When Brash and Erskine were both out, we were missing that toughness that you have to have in play-off hockey. Don't get me wrong. We have other tough guys on the team, just not enough.
RIP 21
"Nah, I trust the laws of nature to stay constant. I don't pray that the sun will rise tomorrow, and I don't need to pray that someone will beat the Cowboys in the playoffs." - Irn-Bru
JansenFan wrote:Dear Coach Boudreau, We need Brash, and we should see if the Hansen Bros are available. William the Refrigerator Perry on skates, too. He doesn't have to skate. He can do like he did on the goal line. Just fall on the guy in front of the net.
What's Mike Williams doing tonight?
How about Ogie Ogilthorpe?
Bruce has the authority. When Bruce makes the decision, it's a Redskins decision.
If Boudreau can work his connections to get the Hansen's and Ogie, that would be some old-time hockey!
RIP 21
"Nah, I trust the laws of nature to stay constant. I don't pray that the sun will rise tomorrow, and I don't need to pray that someone will beat the Cowboys in the playoffs." - Irn-Bru
As a new hockey fan, when you get a chance make sure watch the Paul Newman movie, "Slapshot," not only the best hockey movie ever but Bruce Boudreau was an extra.
Bruce has the authority. When Bruce makes the decision, it's a Redskins decision.
As a new hockey fan, when you get a chance make sure watch the Paul Newman movie, "Slapshot," not only the best hockey movie ever but Bruce Boudreau was an extra.
Good lookin out bro, I just added it to my queue in netflix. I guess parts 2 and 3 were generics considering Paul Newman was in the first one?
As a new hockey fan, when you get a chance make sure watch the Paul Newman movie, "Slapshot," not only the best hockey movie ever but Bruce Boudreau was an extra.
Good lookin out bro, I just added it to my queue in netflix. I guess parts 2 and 3 were generics considering Paul Newman was in the first one?
yeah part 2 is worth missing, I had no idea they made a part 3.
Bruce has the authority. When Bruce makes the decision, it's a Redskins decision.
Parts 2 and 3 were made strictly to fleece Slapshot fans thinking it will be as good. Watch the first, and pretend you never knew they made 2 and 3.
RIP 21
"Nah, I trust the laws of nature to stay constant. I don't pray that the sun will rise tomorrow, and I don't need to pray that someone will beat the Cowboys in the playoffs." - Irn-Bru
They are trying to give this game to the Penguins! A power play with 2 minutes left in a win or go home game? Come on Ovie! The great ones come through in a time like this. Show us your greatness!!!!!!!!!!
Great win by the CAPS. They showed resiliency today in the way they just battled back and came away with the W. God I hope they can beat Pitts-burgh on Wed.
Cappster wrote:They are trying to give this game to the Penguins! A power play with 2 minutes left in a win or go home game? Come on Ovie! The great ones come through in a time like this. Show us your greatness!!!!!!!!!!
That might have been one of the worst calls I have ever seen late in a game. Laich did nothing to warrant a penalty, and I think the only reason it was called was because the official thought he had broken the other guys stick.
I hope we get some of that home cooking as far as calls go on Wednesday nights, at the games in steel town, the Pens seemed to get the man advantage just at the right moments.
Bruce has the authority. When Bruce makes the decision, it's a Redskins decision.
We haven't had an advantage in power plays in any game this series, so I wouldn't anticipate that changing.
I'm encouraged, though. They played tougher. Semin played the toughest game of hockey I've seen from him. We were crashing the net, laying the wood in open ice, it was much better.
Not to mention the fact we got our third game winning overtime goal, and this time it was for us!
RIP 21
"Nah, I trust the laws of nature to stay constant. I don't pray that the sun will rise tomorrow, and I don't need to pray that someone will beat the Cowboys in the playoffs." - Irn-Bru
Cappster wrote:They are trying to give this game to the Penguins! A power play with 2 minutes left in a win or go home game? Come on Ovie! The great ones come through in a time like this. Show us your greatness!!!!!!!!!!
That might have been one of the worst calls I have ever seen late in a game. Laich did nothing to warrant a penalty, and I think the only reason it was called was because the official thought he had broken the other guys stick.
I hope we get some of that home cooking as far as calls go on Wednesday nights, at the games in steel town, the Pens seemed to get the man advantage just at the right moments.
Y'know, I don't mind when the refs "let the boys play" and put their whistles away, but they always seem to crack out the whistles on the Caps first.
I didn't complain about Semin getting taken down because I felt that the refs were trying to say out of it, but when they called Laich with a little over two minutes to go, it became apparent that the refs wanted to give Pittsburgh the party they'd been waiting for.
The Caps won last night...in SPITE of the officials.
“If you grow up in metro Washington, you grow up a diehard Redskins fan. But if you hate your parents, you grow up a Cowboys fan.”-Jim Lachey
