Finally, A NEW POST!

I need to apologize for not posting in forever. My schoolwork has been hitting me hard ever since I stepped foot back on campus in late January, and I was reminded of my lack of posting by my grandmother on Friday during the radio show (Dropping the Gloves, 5-6 PM on Fridays, WMUCSports.com). Instead of trying to recap all the games since I’ve last been on here, I just want to talk about some notes from the weekend and do a brief preview of tonight’s big match-up against Pittsburgh.

Yesterday’s “Hockey Day in America” was an awesome marketing idea by NBC. All four games that were broadcast on NBC were great match-ups. I ended up watching hockey from 12:30 until the end of the Heritage Classic on Versus (which I honestly thought to be the most uneventful of all five games). I am here, however, just to comment on the Caps v. Sabres game.

What a solid win. I was very impressed throughout by the Capitals, especially on the power play. The Caps created many chances on the man advantage and were not afraid to shoot the puck when necessary. They should have definitely scored on the 5-on-3, but since we came out of this game with the W, I’ll let it go for now.

I feel like I have to talk about Ryan Miller. He is far and away my favorite goalie in the league, and even though he is struggling just a bit this year, he was on his A-game yesterday. He absolutely stuffed Nick Backstrom on back to back power play opportunities. If anyone else was in net for Buffalo, we would have been talking about a blow out in upstate New York.

Tonight’s game against the Penguins is the final meeting between the rivals in the regular season. The Caps look to take the series 3-1 with a victory tonight, and this looks very possible. Both teams played yesterday on the road, so there is no excuse for either team being tired. The Penguins are without Geno Malkin and Sidney Crosby, who is still suffering from a minor headache, uh, I mean, concussion-like symptoms. The same men were out for Pittsburgh when the Capitals shutout the Pens 3-0 in Washington just a few weeks ago. If the Capitals can keep playing solid defense and convert on the power play, they will take the momentum and steal a victory from the Penguins and add another victorious chapter to this storied rivalry.

Redemption Rejected

Coming into tonight, the Capitals had to be looking for one thing. Revenge. On December 12th, the Rangers took the Capitals to the cleaners in a 7-0 drubbing at Madison Square Garden that included a rare Ovechkin fight (that's how frustrating it was). Not only was the game seen by all watching, but it was also well-documented on HBO's "24/7: Capitals v. Penguins" four-part documentary series.

The game did not disappoint. It moved very fast and was physical from the beginning, and included many early chances for the Capitals, including a powerplay in which the home team could not capitalize on (starting to sound like a broken record). Ovechkin was locked in from the puck drop. He could be seen flying all over the ice and firing his rifle of a shot multiple times. The Caps defense also looked impressive as usual, and went into the first intermission locked at a 0-0 tie.

That did not last long. Less than a minute and a half in, Marcus Johansson delivered a pass from the right point that reached Matt Hendricks' stick on the left side of the goal for a beautiful tap-in. This was Hendricks' second straight game with a goal. This seemed to open the game up for the Capitals' offense, as they got got a few more open chances right after the goal that were stopped by Marty Biron.

The teams continued to trade blows in the third but still neither team could score until Marion Gaborik "pushed" the puck into the net with his arm with six and a half minutes left. Although the goal did go under review, the refs did not change their call of good goal. Even being a Caps fan, I had to agree, because it did not seem like Gaborik intentionally "punched" it in. The final 6 minutes were scoreless, leading to an overtime period after a tough, gritty regulation.

After a scoreless overtime that saw several chances to end the game for the Caps, including a beautiful shot by Marcus Johansson in the high slot that just went wide, came the shootout period. Hendricks and Backstrom both scored for the Caps, but Braden Holtby, after an impressive game, seemed to crumble in the shootout, allowing 3 of 4 Rangers to score fairly easily in the one-on-one opportunity. A classic heart breaker, indeed.

Although the loss was very tough, and the offense seemed to be almost non-existent (at least on the surface), the fact is that there was a lot of good to take from this game. The defense was extremely solid. The only goal that the Rangers scored was a fluke in which the puck bounced in their favor just a few too many times. Braden Holtby, minus the shootout, played a very solid game. He stopped 28 of 29 shots, posting a .966 save percentage, and consistently handled the puck very well.

As a Baltimore Ravens fan, I'm used to these type of defensive struggles that can end on either side of the coin. This time, unfortunately, it landed on the Rangers side. If a few more bounces go the Caps way, were talking about a solid, hard-fought victory. I have confidence that if the defense keeps playing the way they do, the offense will start to fire up, and the Caps will be right back on the road to Lord Stanley.

Caps v. Islanders

Amidst these final few busy days of break, I have not been able to sit down and watch a Caps game from start to finish, so I dedicated tonight to throwing on the Ovechkin jersey and watching the game. With this post I am going to approach things a bit differently. I'm going to write a new post each period to sort of document the chronologically.

1st Period:

The Caps played very well. Chimera started on the top line with 19 and 8, a move I love because of Chimera's speed, which open things up for the Caps two best players. He and Ovechkin took turns on either side of number 19. It paid dividends early. Just four minutes in, Ovechkin flew down the right flank and put a beautiful pass right in front of net for an easy tap in goal for Jason Chimera, his seventh of the year. This is something that the Caps need to do more often. They are currently last in the league in first period goals, something that no one expected coming into the season.

The Caps came out of the gates aggressive. From the puck drop, the boys were all over the Islanders, especially on the forecheck. This is something that Caps fan love to see, but it came with a price. The Caps got sent to the box twice in the game, but the 6th ranked PK unit was able to kill off both. Braden Holtby, the starter due to the injuries suffered by Varly and Neuvirth, saved all 11 shots he faced in the first period.

2nd Period:

This period was named the "Whistle Period" by Craig Laughlin, and for good reason. The play in the middle period never seemed to flow. Three and a half minutes in, the Great 8 flew into the crease and left the puck for Backstrom, who tipped it in to a wide open net. This was the 12th time that Backstrom lit the lamp this season, but more importantly, the goal ended his long scoring drought. Just minutes later, however, Michael Grabner, the speedy Islander rookie, broke away from John Carlson and roofed a backhander into the back of the net. The Caps then faced two more shorthanded opportunities and ended up killing off both. It was a very solid, albeit sloppy, period from the boys from the nation's capital.

3rd Period:

The third period saw sparks fly. The teams almost got into a bench clearing brawl after a huge (and clean) hit on Hillen by Matt Hendricks. Both team played with lots of energy as the Islanders tried to even the score and the Capitals tried to protect their lead. The top line of 8-19-25 played great throughout. The Caps killed off two more penalties and failed to convert on one. In the end, the Caps were able to keep the Islanders off the board in the final period on the way to a 2-1 victory.

My top 3 players tonight are as follows..

3) Braden Holtby- He saved 24 of 25 shots and helped the Caps kill off 6 penalties. A very solid night overall for the rookie.

2) Nicklas Backstrom- Backstrom spearheaded a dominant top line that scored both goals tonight. His passes were crisp all night. He finished with a +2 rating, an assist, and a goal that ended number nineteen's 21-game scoring drought.

1) Jason Chimera- Chimera made all the difference tonight. His speed helped open up the ice for 8 and 19, and he was constantly a force down low. Great game, I hope we see him on that top line more often.

Caps Dominate Islanders

Pre-game Preview:

Holtby- 2-2-1

GAA 3.84

SV% .845

DiPietro- 7-6-4

GAA 3.43

SV% .892

---Michael Nuevirth was sent home after being injured against the Flyers on Tuesday night. Braden Holtby was recalled from Hershey and gets the start for tonight (as Varlamov is likewise injured). Holtby faces off against the rarely healthy Rick DiPietro.

---Capitals injury list continues to grow: #10 Matt Bradley, #28 Alex Semin, #3 Tom Poti, #30 Michael Nuevirth, #89 Tyler Sloan, and #16 Eric Fehr.

Game Article:

Holtby played a better game than his last debut, looking much steadier in net, as did the team in front of him. Though not back to the "old Capitals" just yet, they had certainly improved over their clumsy and bland starts of late.

The first period was simple, basic hockey--the kind that Bruce's teams tend to thrive on. Shots abounded, they were aggressive and as expected "when you shoot, you score". The Caps came up with an early goal, giving them the lead for a change, leaving the Isles to fall behind again for the eighth straight game. Chimera certainly isn't the most offensively talented man on the roster, but he's a good man to have on any line--including the Ovechkin/Backstrom duo. And he proved that, scoring the first goal of the game (in the first period, both recent oddities for the Capitals). Chimera brings speed, intensity and physicality to the front line, something that they have been lacking. His willingness to grind through defense helped the line create valuable scoring opportunities all night long. Though they got shots off from both the point and the slot, as well as created a number of quality scoring chances, their power play continues to hold them back.

The intensity and aggresive play continued in the third period, and the first line continued to gel. Nick Backstrom ended his 20-game goalless streak with a tally assisted by Chimera and Ovechkin. However, Backstrom's goal was quickly answered by a goal from the Islanders, who after scoring it, seemed to find new life. The Caps easily killed off a New York power play, and continued to take the puck to the net. DiPietro played the puck at the top of the circle, disrupting the Capitals rush and leaving his net wide open. Though one of the best puck-handling goalies in the league (when on his game), that was probably his most ill-advised play of the game.

Matt Hendricks body check caused a sensation in the third, firing up the Isanders and prompting Matt Martin to pound Jason Chimera in the corner. The third period was a continuation of the Capitals excellent play through out the game.

Caps Finally Capitalize

Well, it wasn't their most glorious game of the season, but it was a significant improvement over their recent play. Or at least the third period was.

The first period was another 20 minutes that they can add to their not-so-new habit of less than impressive starts. A quick sequence in front of the net resulted in Mike Green on the ground, Neuvirth scrambling and the puck in the net; probably one of the worst goals they have given up in recent games. And with that, the visiting Senators had a 1-0 lead just 1:12 into the period. Already trailing with over 18 minutes left to play in the first, the Caps assumed their defeated attitude and finished a forgettable first period with only 5 shots on goal.

The second period was no more memorable than the first, for both teams. Though the Caps did not play poorly, they did not play with any sense of intensity. Ottawa, despite being in the lead, did not have any more intensity than the Capitals. Both teams played an overly cautious game, with all the play on the boards.

The third period was a completely different story. It took seven minutes for Washington to get on the board, but then the energy changed in the building and they took control of the game. Brooks Laich's quick shot from the slot made it 1-0. That was all the Caps needed. They pressured the Senators, established a reasonable forecheck, and snapped their passes rather than just drifting them across the ice. Forty-three seconds later Milan Michalek cross-checked defenseman Karl Alzner, who went head-first into the boards. The image of a player face-down on the ice in the corner is never a good one. But after only a few terrifying seconds on the ice, Alzner was back on his feet of his own volition. He skated to the locker room, but returned to finish the third period. Michalek recieved two minutes for the hit, and it only took two seconds for the Caps to capitalize on the power play. John Carlson buried a slap shot from the point, right off of the face-off. With less than seven minutes left to play, Jason Chimera drifted the puck toward goalie Brian Elliot from behind the goal-line. The odd-angle shot hit the back of the slightly turned goaltender and went in. The Capitals pulled off their first win in the last 4 games.

Bright spots of the game: Bruce continued to change the line-ups through out the game, and while that might not always be the best option, Johansson proved that he could play some pretty significant minutes on the front line. The young Swede has Bruce's confidence, and had the best scoring chance of the five shots on goal in the first period.

Andrew Gordon (#63) is back on the ice. While it's awful that Eric Fehr will be out for 3-4 weeks (seriously, this team does not need another injured player), Gordon brings intensity, creativity and a fresh identity to the line-up.

Vancouver Vanquishes Caps

Craig Laughlin said during the broadcast, that the Capitals deserved a lot of credit for keeping up with an elite team like the Canucks. But the Caps are also an elite team (when they pull themselves together), which should mean that they can regularly compete day-in and day-out with the other "elite" teams of the NHL. Knowing how the Caps can play, not how they have been playing, I thought that the first period was a bit sloppy.

They got the early lead that they were hoping for, but gave one up halfway through the period to make it a tied 1-1 at the end of the first. Only the Devils have fewer first period goals than the Capitals this season, a rather surprising statistic considering the offensive talent that they possess. Though they had more energy than they have had in recent games, it did not seem to equal what the Capitals usually bring to the plate. (In my personal opinion, they have been rather flat since the Winter Classic, going 1-3 for four games).

The Caps were out-shot and out-manned throughout the game. Varlamov was great, but Vancouver pelted him with shots and he gave up two more goals in the second, making it 3-1. All the goals were scored on breakaways, and aside from Matt Hendricks goal in the first period, there weren't many golden moments for the Caps. They sparkled occasionally, like on Eric Fehr's quick shot to Luongo, though it didn't go in. With 10:39 left in the 3rd, Marcus Johansson buried a slap-shot, bringing the Caps within one goal.

Varlamov was pulled in the final ninety second, but a pass caught Daniel Sedin behind the defense for the empty net. If there's one bright side to this loss, it's that the points went out west.

Panthers Preview

Tonight the Caps have another Southeast division match-up, this time against the last place Florida Panthers. With 38 points they are ranked last in the division and 24th in the league. Though there is most likely going to be no play-off threat from the Cats, the rest of the divisional games from here on out are going to be some of the most important games in the remainder of the season. If the Caps can suck points out of the division, it puts them in better standings come play-off time. So with that in mind, tonight's game should be another important game for them.

A few notes from this week:

--Their last game had a disappointing drop-off in energy from the Winter Classic. But, considering that the Winter Classic was the biggest regular season game thus far, it's some-what understandable. Said Mike Green on 106.7 FM yesterday, "we just have to remember that we do have games after the Winter Classic. Yes, that game was huge, but we have to remember that we've got a game 2 and 3 days afterwards that we have to play. We have to make sure our heads are in it."

--He also had a few remarks about the power play. "Sometimes when you play a high risk game, then the risks pay off. With our minds being so focused on defense right now, we aren't necessarily playing the same high risk game that we used to, and sometimes that can translate into less goals."

--Ovechkin gets a cortisone shot and participated in a full practise yesterday. He should be ready for tonight's game.

--Happy Birthday Ted Leonsis!