Thanks, Olie

It was the image of Godzilla on your hockey mask that drew me to the Capitals 10 years ago. Thanks for everything you’ve done in a Caps uniform.

Game 7 - Caps/Flyers

We’re an hour and a half away from the puck drop.  This one’s gonna be a big game.  

As Optimus Prime always said, “One shall stand, one shall fall.”

Me?  I think Alex Ovechkin’s got The Touch tonight.

The game so far - Caps/Flyers Game 6

Started watching at the 2nd period.  The Caps looked okay at the start, but then the Semin-Backstrom-Laich line turned it on for them, scoring 2 goals to tie things up at 2-2.  After Semin tied it up, the Caps turned up the hitting and kept their forecheck up.  The Flyers were on their heels towards the end of the period.

Onto the 3rd!

And Ovechkin opens it up with two goals!  Alex gives Martin Biron THA OVECHKIN LUV two times!  And we’re off to Game 7 tomorrow night!

As Good ‘Ol J.R. would say, business is about to pick up.

Rock the Red, Washington.  BRING IT!

The game so far - Caps/Flyers Game 5

1-0 Caps after 1 on a PP goal by Nicklas Backstrom after he connects with Alexander Semin, who is having a phenomenal game today thus far.  He’s earning every scoring chance he gets, he’s standing up for his teammates, he’s getting physical, and he’s not being too fancy with the puck.

Speaking of physical - this team is hitting everything in white right now.  I hope they keep it up…

…and they did through the 2nd.  Nice goal by Sergei Fedorov.  But the Caps go down 2 men on a soft holding call on Fedorov, and the Flyers cashed in.  Alex Ovechkin had much better scoring chances this period, and the Caps are still winning the battles to the puck.  

The third is a different story.  They allowed the Flyers to get back into the game, especially with the spread on the shot total.  SovSport was right — Alexander Semin stepped it up big time and scored what ended up being the game-winner.

It wasn’t perfect, but like the guys at 37signals would say, it was good enough.

The Caps went all in, and the Flyers folded.  The Caps will have to do that again in Game 6.

The game so far - Caps/Flyers Game 4

Caught the game starting in the 2nd.  Caps looked much better, though the Green and Kozlov calls were complete B.S. considering how chippy the Flyers have been playing all series.  

Overtime…

 

…and the Flyers win in Double OT.  The Caps had better chances in the first overtime.  They hung in there, and Cristobal Huet was brilliant, in spite of bad penalty calls in the context of questionable non-calls throughout the game.  But it wasn’t enough.  

‘Til Saturday, where the Caps will have to contend with two sets of opponents on the ice: one is a team that needs the smirk of entitlement smacked off its face, the other is Earl Hebner.

Game Log - Caps vs. Flyers - Game 3

 

-Why do I still get the sense that players on this team are waiting for someone else to do something magical?

 

-Backstrom with a bad giveaway, but makes a good recovery on the Philly rush.

 

-Philly swarms  these guys still.

 

-Umberger-Richards-Knuble line is clearly winning the physical battle at the start.

 

-Caps on the PP.  Carter in for Tripping.  They’re shooting (slightly) more, but they aren’t challenging Biron much.  Good shot by Brooks Laich.

 

-Another PP.  The Caps better cash in. Shot by Semin, gets Biron pretty high.  Right on the mask.  The Flyers PK is collapsing on the puckhandler, giving him no room at all to do anything.  Killed again.  

 

-Delayed call on the Caps - Steckel for boarding.  

-PK looks questionalbe, but Huet’s been sharp; they get some relief with an offside call.

-Erskine with a great play.

 

 

-Kozlov hits the post

 

-Briere scores.  Someone HIT THAT GUY.

-AND WE GET IT BACK - ERIC FEHR WITH HIS FIRST PLAYOFF GOAL THANKS TO SOME GREAT PLAY BEHIND THE NET BY DONALD BRASHEAR…in spite of getting mauled by Jason Smith.  

-Philly scores again - Hartnell with a one-timer.  Caps are still losing the physical battles…and Brier was in front of the net on that shot.  

-Jurcina with a terrible giveaway - Sami Kapanen scores.  Milan Jurcina with a terrible pass.  

 

-End of 1.  This is ugly. 

 

2nd period:

 

-Laich to the box.

-Killed, then Erskine to the box for an unwarranted elbow.

-Four-on-Four. Now a PP.  And Green scores! Green timed his shot perfectly.  

-Caps starting to play better…except for Jurcina, who’s really shaky tonight.  Is that why they’re moving Federov to Defense?

-Green with a pivotal play to swat the puck out of the blue paint with Huet out of position.  

-Caps back on the PK.  Jurcina a bit better at this juncture.  

-Caps with better traffic in front of the net at the 14 minute mark; and draw a penalty.  Huet is also much better this period.  

-Critical PP now with about 5 minutes to go in the 2nd.  Ovie with a shot, easily stopped by Biron.  

-not much here on this PP.  Another wasted opportunity.

-Briere crashes into Huet’s net.  Somebody punk that guy.  4-on-4 with coincidental minors.  

-Poti takes a tumble, then a hooking penalty.  

-Laich cleans out Timmonen after the whistle.  Philly fans can’t take what their team dishes out.  

-SOMEBODY HIT DANIELLE BRIERE.  2nd goal tonight.  End of 2.  

-Mike Green and Scottie Upshall get into a fight.  Smart, Coach Stevens. And Caps are on the PK…Green in for a slash.  

-Schultz injured; Federov to D.

-Semin a bit more feisty.  

-Ovechkin turns up the hitting; Steckel gets tripped up.  

-No PP goal.  Another wasted opportunity.  

-Poti to the box again. Penalty killed.  

-No shots.  Ovechkin hurt, possibly his left knee.  He sits, but says he’s okay. 

-Ovechkin back on the ice.  

-Green with a chance that goes wide.

-Man this PP sucks tonight!

-Under 5 minutes to go.  Time is running short.  

-Shaone Morrisonn throws one at the net and it goes in…screen by Laich.  They’re going upstairs on this one.  Replay shows it went off of Biron’s glove.  Replay reinforces this.  Overhead replay is too close to call, however.

-The verdict is…GOAL!  Credited to Brooks Laich.  Time to turn it on.  

-Penalty shot for Mike Richards after Morrisonn gives it away.  He scores.  SOMEONE HIT HIM

-Knuble scores on the empty net.  This game is effectively over.  

Random Recap - Caps 3, Panthers 1

WOW.  What a night. The crowd was nuts, the crowd was loud, and the boys in red made the fans in red proud.  I got a lot of shots (I’ll see if I can post them up on flickr soon) but the ones that matter most are these:

BRING ON WHOMEVER.  They don’t want to mess with this!

Highlights from the last practice of the season

I got to Kettler a bit after 10am and the place was pretty packed.  It looked like it was an optional skate, as not a lot of skaters were there (if there were, they only stayed on for about 10-15 minutes.

Most of the skate consisted of a 2-on-2 game between David Steckel and Quintin Laing vs. Assistant Coaches Jay Leach and Dean Evason with Brent Johnson in goal.  

Boy am I glad I bought that white jersey: I was able to get a few autographs: Mike Green, Brent Johnson, David Steckel, Quintin Laing, Head Coach Bruce Boudreau.  Alexander Semin got mobbed in front of the pro shop so I was able to get an autograph from him too.  Finally I was able to get an autograph from Matt Cooke, who had walked through the lower concourse here.  I was done after getting Jay Leach’s autograph, who told me that no one else was in the back.

 

Alex Ovechkin peered out of the dressing room door, but didn’t approach us.  

Overall, the mood here’s pretty exciting, especially with Carolina losing last night.  The Caps have a chance to win the Southeast Division with anything but a regulation loss.  I’m really looking forward to tonight’s game.

(UPDATE 2:49PM) Chris Clark entered the elevator in Ballston Common Mall on my way out of the rink.  I asked him how the recovery from his groin injury has been, he suggested that he was getting there.  And to answer your question, I didn’t ask him for his autograph.  I didn’t feel it was polite to ask in an elevator; besides, other people eventually crowded the elevator.  We just waved goodbye to each other and that was it.  In spite of the rising popularity of this team, I’m unsure whether the others in the elevator recognized him as it continued its descent.  I sense that NHL players in general — and the Caps in particular — are delighted to maintain a sense of anonymity.  

 

Random Recap - Caps 4, Lightning 1

Alright, let me start off by saying the following: that was the worst no-goal call I’ve ever seen.

Now, I have to say that the atmosphere in that building was nuts tonight.  I’m so happy I’m here for the last 2 games of the season.  It was great to finally see Ovechkin score, and it was also great to see (finally) a fight break out in person. Saturday night will be fun.

Momentum is clearly on the Caps’ side.

Random Recap - Caps 4, Canes 1

Team of destiny?  Maybe.  Though, I have to admit I’ve never seen the refs call so many cheap penalties that work in the Caps’ favor.  And it’s about damn time, too.  

• Alexander Semin had a much better game tonight.  He’s better when he’s that feisty.  
• If the Caps do make the playoffs, Sergei Federov will really shine.
• Here’s hoping that Shaone Morrisonn’s injury isn’t that serious.  One wonders how the defensive pairs get shuffled around if he’s out of the lineup. 

I cannot wait to get down there for the last 2 games of the regular season.  This will be a very exciting finish, indeed!