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

I'm making an attempt to learn the sport, so far, me likey:

http://www.the-hogs.net/content/index.php?id=994

P.S. Once again, any Diggs are greatly appreciated. If I get more than 10, I will personally point and nod at you at some public function and then allow you to buy drinks for me.

Fios wrote:I'm making an attempt to learn the sport, so far, me likey:

http://www.the-hogs.net/content/index.php?id=994

P.S. Once again, any Diggs are greatly appreciated. If I get more than 10, I will personally point and nod at you at some public function and then allow you to buy drinks for me.

Nice work Fios.

The Caps are going to be exciting this year. They've gotta work on chemistry because of all of the off-season moves, but they have a much, much, much better nucleus of players this year than they have for years.

For the record, up here in Canada, if you don't like/play hockey - you just might be a homosexual.

Nothing wrong with that... I'm just saying...

Welcome to Ice Hockey, Eh.
I grew up with hockey even before I knew what a football was. I remember watching guys like Rod Langway before face shields were encouraged and then finally required.

Good article, and hoping you come to enjoy the sport as much as I do. I can't in good conscience ask that you come to enjoy the sport as much as a native Canadian because I think Canada deports Canadians who don't like hockey. Canadians take their hockey very seriously. And with good reason.

Yes, BH has explained to me that hockey is the birthright of Canadian males

Fios wrote:Yes, BH has explained to me that hockey is the birthright of Canadian males

... AND females!

Great article Fios!

I enjoy hockey live but have had trouble getting into it on tv.. but i must admit I dont have extensive knowledge of the game and the times i have gone to see a game live ive been with diehard hockey fans who have helped me to understand it which really made for an enjoyable experience

I've seen live hockey, and had no idea what was going on. Without a commentator to tell me, my ignorance of the game shone like a beacon! All I could work out was that Iginla was good, and that the puck moves very fast - not necessarily in the direction that I was looking in at the time.

I'd love to really get into the game though. There must be some on UK tv somewhere... We used to have a thriving league over here, and 40 years ago, I would have had a local team to support.

Even without an announcer, you need to go see a game. Learn the rules (tricky one is what is a legal pass, although that has been simnplified).

Still, you can't sense the scope of the game without being at he arena and seeing all the players move...fast. Or seeing them pass and shoot at the speed they skate. Or feel (just just hear) the puck smack off the boards on a miss. Or the plain elegance of the skaters who sweep back to gather in a puck and start a counter-attack.

Great game. I had no idea just how great until Redskin Dan v1978 insisted we go to the old Cap Center.

Try it.

BossHog wrote:The Caps are going to be exciting this year. They've gotta work on chemistry because of all of the off-season moves, but they have a much, much, much better nucleus of players this year than they have for years...

which is far better than what you and I can say about our favourite rivals.

Both of our teams will consider it an ASTONISHING sucess (sic) if either makes it anywhere near the playoffs. So, we better follow the Caps.

Fios, you are hooked man. There is one thing I would add as part of my experience with Hockey. I am astonished by the ethical behaviour that still prevails in the game. This is one of the toughest sports and probably the fastest but there are many ethical unwritten rules to the behaviour of players that becomes only apparent when you become further acquainted with the game. I have an unproven and indemonstrable theory: the game adopted this tough but fair code of conduct because it was invented and played mostly in Canada throughout most of the last century. Nothing to bragg about. It is just one of the distinctive activities that show Canadian cultural values.

Speak for yourself RiC... the Leafs fixed their goaltending problem and added a 40-goal scorer. When you miss the playoffs by one point on the last day of the season the year before - that should be enough change to warrant thinking the playoffs are not only a possibility, but anything else will mean the loss of management jobs.

It's not like they let their best player go to the Oilers or anything.

But since this thread is about the Caps (nice segue coming), i think the Caps have an equal chance of making the playoffs... maybe more.

Not only did they make some really smart decisions in free agency (Kozlov and Nylander), they also have Nicholas Backstrom here for the first time, and he's proving that he belongs. Washington also basically gave Tomas Fleischmann a mild ultimatum that said play with the top 6 forwards and prove that you belong, or we're not re-signing you.

Fleischmann stepped up, did what he needed to, got a new contract, and will play on one of the team's top two lines.

Add to that their youthful inexperience is fast becoming youthful EXPERIENCE because of all the playing time they got last year and the year before, and I think the Caps are poised for a really strong run at the playoffs.

Any time Alex Ovechkin steps on the ice for a team, they have an infinitely better chance to win hockey games.

Besides... those new uniforms are worth going and checking out all by themselves....

And back to the original topic of Fios' self-promotion...well, the Washington Capitals decided to help. You see, the Caps maintain an email list of all of the media that covers the Caps. Part of that email is a "must read" section. Well, today's had a nice link to Fios' article.

Congrats, Fios. Well deserved!

BossHog wrote:Speak for yourself RiC... the Leafs fixed their goaltending problem and added a 40-goal scorer. When you miss the playoffs by one point on the last day of the season the year before - that should be enough change to warrant thinking the playoffs are not only a possibility, but anything else will mean the loss of management jobs.

and coaching staff jobs. Yet once again?

It's not like they let their best player go to the Oilers or anything.

My team in the NHL needs a good personnel GM as badly and desperately as my favourite NFL team urgently needs another.

BossHog wrote:But since this thread is about the Caps (nice segue coming), i think the Caps have an equal chance of making the playoffs... maybe more.

...

For the sake of -realistic- expectations, let us re-phrase the last sentence:

But since this thread is about the Caps (nice segue coming), i think the Caps have a better chance of making the playoffs... surely much better.

I will follow the Caps and I will try to attend some games during my visits to DC this season.

But that would be inaccurate - I DON'T think they have a better chance, I think they have an equal chance.

... and ironically they may be battling each other for one of those last two spots.

Now I DO think they have a better chance than your team.

Looking forward to tomorrow night's opener for the Caps in Atlanta. Maybe they'll finally show off those brand new smoking hot red jerseys!!!!

BossHog wrote:Maybe they'll finally show off those brand new smoking hot red jerseys!!!!

These ones?

Yep them.

Sweet jerseys.

Well, I must say I like those jerseys much better than the ones they've been wearing the last few years. It would be sweet to see those tomorrow night.

Wabbit Season, Duck Season, Hockey Season

Capitals 3, Thrashers 1

With a potent attack, a disciplined defense and a solid performance by goaltender Brent Johnson, the visitors stunned the 18,707 on hand, hanging on for a 3-1 victory in the season opener for both teams.


The Capitals' Alex Ovechkin celebrates with teammates Tom Poti (3) and Mike Green (52) after a goal by Victor Kozlov in the third period.

It marked the start of what Washington hopes will be a new era for the franchise. The Capitals debuted a much-improved lineup led by impact free agents Michael Nylander, Viktor Kozlov, Tom Poti and 2006 first-round draft pick Nicklas Backstrom. The newcomers wasted little time leaving their mark -- Nylander and Kozlov had goals and Backstrom notched an assist for his first NHL point.

"I felt good," Backstrom, 19, said of his first regular season NHL game. "It was nice for me to get a point, but it was more important for us to get a win."

The infusion of talent was obvious from the outset, even with the absence of 38-goal scorer Alexander Semin, who did not travel with the team because of a sprained right ankle. The Capitals' passes connected, the power play applied pressure, the penalty kill was disruptive. The line of Alex Ovechkin, Kozlov and Tomas Fleischmann was dominant at both ends of the ice.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 02567.html

Two wins, no losses, Alex O got his 200th point and Alex S played. Olie recorded anopther shutout.

Yes, there are Cap fans here who go back to Miller/Ridley, Langway, Gartner, Murphy (not a dog) and Scott Stevens. We lasted through a four-overtime seventh-game playoff loss.

We've been suffering and waiting.

welch wrote:Two wins, no losses, Alex O got his 200th point and Alex S played. Olie recorded anopther shutout.

Yes, there are Cap fans here who go back to Miller/Ridley, Langway, Gartner, Murphy (not a dog) and Scott Stevens. We lasted through a four-overtime seventh-game playoff loss.

We've been suffering and waiting.

I was at that 4 overtime seventh game playoff loss.
This team looks eons better than any Caps squad in years.

I'm loving this team. The blend of old and young players is exciting. They hustle all over the ice and evrybody is playing defense. 2 games played 1 goal allowed, not bad.

Game On today @ 2:00p.m.
Gotta Love NHL Center Ice

Game On!!! The Caps are 3-0

I'm really impressed with the Caps so far. Hope they keep it up.

GO LEAFS GO!!!

redskingush wrote:GO LEAFS GO!!!

I gather you missed last night's Leafs game? It wasn't pretty.