GO CAPS!!!!

fishercob · Post #241 » by **fishercob** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 3:06 am

G0A, what's your take as to why the Caps hit so little tonight -- especially in the first two periods. Were the trying to stay out of the box? It just seemed they physically dominated g ames 4 and 5 by finishing every check and that was just gone for most of the night tonight.

Post #242 » by **miller31time** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 3:11 am

They led in hits by about 10-15 through 2 periods. I thought the problem was just generally conservative play.

Scabs304 · Post #243 » by **Scabs304** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 3:15 am

I'm calling it now. Ovie will outscore Malkin and Crosby combined in this series and Caps win in 5.

AgentOvechkin08 · Post #244 » by **AgentOvechkin08** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 3:31 am

I am kind of nervous with the Pittsburgh matchup.

I mean i just hope Ovechkin does not get too caught up with Malkin and Crosby and just plays hockey. Hopefully the emotions dont get the best of them.

Oh yeah DO NOT SELL YOUR TICKETS TO PENGUINS' FANS PLEASE. I dont want to have our building have a bunch of black and gold in the stands.

Bring on Cindy and Herman the monster

Wizards2Lottery · Post #245 » by **Wizards2Lottery** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 3:56 am

fishercob wrote:G0A, what's your take as to why the Caps hit so little tonight -- especially in the first two periods. Were the trying to stay out of the box? It just seemed they physically dominated g ames 4 and 5 by finishing every check and that was just gone for most of the night tonight.

The same problem this team has had all year. Playing down to their opponents level. The Rangers just wanted it more than we did but good for us that they are absolutely incompetent on offense. We play a team that's half decent on offense tonight and we get creamed by at least 2 goals. The Rangers also play a pseudo trap system because of their lack of offensive skill... they dictated the game speed tonight.

The thing working for us is that PIttsburgh won't be trapping. On paper it's a really even matchup. Both teams are loaded offensively (although we have more skill but less grit). Both teams have a mediocre to borderline embarrassing defense every given night. The best thing working for us is that the Penguins powerplay is hilariously embarrassing. They have no shooters or point presence besides Gonchar. I'm also counting on Malkin doing his best Houdini impersonation like last year.

ZonkertheBrainless · Post #246 » by **ZonkertheBrainless** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:44 am

My daughter notes that Federov looks like Mr. Tumnus... That should be his nickname now.

tkunit · Post #247 » by **tkunit** » Sat May 2, 2009 6:51 pm

What an amazing stick save.

P'Oed · Post #248 » by **P'Oed** » Sat May 2, 2009 7:03 pm

tkunit wrote:What an amazing stick save.

if that's not number 1 on Sportscenter top plays then I don't know what the hell should be.

clubbing_caveman · Post #249 » by **clubbing_caveman** » Sat May 2, 2009 7:37 pm

Wow! What a game! Whoever said that we match up very well with this team was right. I was on the edge of my seat the whole game. Beautiful stick save. Bunch of great shots that didnt go in. Awesome! Hope the rest of the games are like this, with the Caps winning of course.

Post #250 » by **miller31time** » Sat May 2, 2009 7:38 pm

Varlamov = god

What a game....our power-play defense was absolutely dominant. Just a feel-good win.

1-0, baby!

Wizards2Lottery · Post #251 » by **Wizards2Lottery** » Sat May 2, 2009 7:40 pm

Embaressing Penguins power play? Check
Malkin being the playoff choker he is? Check

Team woke up 10 minutes into the first and dominated ALL game. I love the third line so much. Bradley-Steckel-Laich is the perfect third line.

Varlamov is godly.

Post #252 » by **Rafael122** » Sat May 2, 2009 8:02 pm

Yeah...there's no question he's the goaltender in the present and future, and Theodore is the backup, which isn't exactly a bad thing to have.

Great game though, saw it from start to finish.

ZonkertheBrainless · Post #253 » by **ZonkertheBrainless** » Sat May 2, 2009 11:38 pm

Simeon Varlamov -- pronounced seem-YOHN var-LAH-moff

Drafted 23rd in 2006 NHL draft by the Caps.

Grew up in Samara (Southern, European part of Russia), then learned hockey in Yaroslavl (part of the Golden Ring, one of the oldest cities in Russia).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semen_Varlamov

Scabs304 · Post #254 » by **Scabs304** » Sun May 3, 2009 2:17 am

Does it bother anyone else as much as it bother's me that they always talk about the big three and that Semin gets no credit even though his PPG is right around the range of Malkin and Crosby and Ovie?

Scabs304 · Post #255 » by **Scabs304** » Sun May 3, 2009 2:26 am

Points Per Game This Season Career
Ovenchkin 1.39 1.29
Semin 1.27 .85
Crosby 1.33 1.36
Malkin 1.37 1.25
Green 1.07 .59

Just had to throw Green in there too. If I wanted to skew the stats I would go with GPG and all 3 of the Caps would be ahead of the Penguin duo. Either way I understand that Semin has not exploded into the league like the Pens, but I believe he should get some press too.

ZonkertheBrainless · Post #256 » by **ZonkertheBrainless** » Mon May 4, 2009 11:42 am

Truly awesome article on the caps insider page explaining how to pronounce all the Russian players' names:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capita ... de-to.html

long suffrin' boulez fan · Post #257 » by **long suffrin' boulez fan** » Mon May 4, 2009 6:41 pm

Scabs304 wrote:Does it bother anyone else as much as it bother's me that they always talk about the big three and that Semin gets no credit even though his PPG is right around the range of Malkin and Crosby and Ovie?

Let 'em keep talkin' as long as we keep winnin'.

Game one was a heckuva hockey game... Pittsburgh is really, really good. The ease with which they broke us down in the neutral zone says to me that Sim-Yohn better be outstanding all series if we are going to win this thing (and then beat Carolina). Pittsburgh's big three WILL keep getting chances... but maybe, just maybe, we have the magic goalie this year instead of facing him.

Post #258 » by **Rafael122** » Tue May 5, 2009 12:15 am

Varly has been sick so far. Did anyone see that series where he blocked one shot, then blocked another with the puck bouncing off his glove?

Benjammin · Post #259 » by **Benjammin** » Tue May 5, 2009 12:34 am

It's been a fun game to watch so far. I don't know a lot about hockey but there is a lot of talent on display between the two teams.

Post #260 » by **miller31time** » Tue May 5, 2009 1:11 am

Great game, so far. Very even.

But the Pens are really the aggressor in the 3rd period. It's like an ever-lasting power play for Pittsburgh. Doesn't bode well...we'll see...