In Glacialis Blog

• Suus’ ferreus ut persolvo propinquus intentio ut venatus ut trying ut console a valde cranky 2 week vetus infantia, ultum minor ingenero genu-jerks.
• Wow, a vox lascivio calx secundum tantum 2 secundus.
• Nice tendo per Ovechkin vallo breakaway, tamen is denique caught sursum per him praecessi in a poena offa.
• Nice opus per Kolzig in stopping poena offa.
• Quis’ mediocris lifespan of an NHL calx pads? Carolina netminder Cam Pupillus pupilla goes per 3 sets a annus.
• Duos tractus recenseo, duos haud calx pro Caps. Shouldnt’ phone statim orbis in Toronto ut picked sursum in rinks? Quod shouldnt’ hotlines exsisto rutilus?
• Absolute decor of a 2nd calx per Ovechkin. Took tutaminis ex lascivio a numerus of secundus pro per a ledo per tabula, tunc fere took sui sicco adversus tabula in celebration.
• Nylander CAN surculus. Huh!
• Ovechkins’ offa in denique minute vultus amo plumbum ut infligo Pupillus pupilla super.
• Semin volubilis inter in glacies in poena tunc basically traho in unus skate ut scamnum est non a bonus os. Took a slash vox in left genu per Seidenberg. Dennis optimus have suus caput capitis in a swivel tunc placitum, tamen ut est non insquequo February 8th quod may exsisto unda sub pontus per tunc.
• Quintin Laing has ultimate hockey smile. Absentis utique 4 dentibus sursum caput capitis in frons. Clausus 4 offa in venatus quod 3 in 1st period unus in an infigo primoris venatus.
• AO per a three calx nox noctis. Oops!

Is eram an suscito nox noctis sursum in press arca archa, ut effectrix pro“Hockey Nox noctis In Canalis” erant interviewing bloggers pro an upcoming segment. (CBCs’ Elliotte Friedman, quisnam quoque writes a blog, did vere questioning.) A Visum ex Vilis Sessio, Off Pennae Sententia, Iocus’ Rink, DC SportsBox,quod Abel ut Yzerman erant totus reddo. segment mos aer procul 630: EDT in Imbuo, Dec. 1 ut secui of pre- venatus ostendo. effectrix quoque certe certo mihi ut is ero available in CBC website.

Usquam, lest nos alieno, illic eram a venatus video vidi visum tonight.

• Vegrandis turba tonight, tamen is est Florida quod a Wednesday.
• Brent Johnson wore a Redskins hat in scamnum tonight. Caps quoque did a vere nice tributum ut Sean Taylor- they pluo nonnullus bonus pes ex suus altus schola quod contraho dies pariter ut suus Redskins tutela. EGO maculosus utique unus Taylor jersey in plebis.
• Tergum- ut- tergum poena combibo, singulariter nocens ones amo “ quoque plures men in ice.” Quod illud poena vulnero vel magis ut adversus team ustulo in unus of lemma.
• amiculum guy, quondam notus ut vexillum quod Slapshot puppet guy, eram remuneror per Permoveo of Venatus.
• Is sanus amo Diapente Versus est in domus tonight, sententia is isnt’ unus of suum persona venatus; is could exsisto humus of Germen fans quisnam diligo Olie, tamen quisnam teneo. humus did satus fluctus.
• Zednik eram interviewed per Florida broadcast team per primoris intermission, scilicet super suus calx obviam suus quondam team. (iustus amo permaneo week.)
• Res Bradley occumbo gloves quod vere stuck is ut Garth Murray. Nice opus per Bradley.
• Eximius offa per Expedio subnecto is procul unus. Narro of Expedio, illic est currently a commercial focused in him proveho tunc domus venatus. In is is profero numerus of vieo hes’ suscipio quod numerus of vicis hes’ been infligo down, tamen is gets sursum. Ut’ quis caput operor. Puteus’ capto stipes a video of is in blog laxus.
• Caps Crew iustus threw burritos in plebis. Utique suus’ a change ex usitas pizza vindico.
• Kolzig est vultus valde acer tonight.
• Ineo exAbel ut Yzerman: “Boyd Gordon? Quis’ a Boyd Gordon?” Memor, is est a Pennae fan. They dont’ teneo quis juvenis est in Detroit. Reprehendo sicco suusblogging of venatus, suus’ per entertaining.
• Semin per a adhaero vultus in insisto per… utique is wasnt’ suus ankle.
• Nylanders’ mollis-dump- fere- verto- calx no meus pectus pectoris skip a pello pepulli pulsum… bet is did vos, quoque.
• renuntio est asleep procul mic tonight; dico Pardus “Penguins,” questus Kozlovs’ numerus nefas (15 instead of 25).
• Pro nonnullus causa, surculus paperwork planto mihi rideo risi risum.
• Qua est Ovechkins’ surculus sicco kryptonite occultus? Quispiam postulo ut reperio a plumbum arca archa pro is.
• Kozlovs’ etiam viaticus in SIC quod Backstroms’ rudimentum eram sic teres.
• Caps es certus ostendo venalicium lenimentus in surculus, ut testimonium per quod they went 11 rotundus, suum secundus- porro surculus utpote November 26, 2005.

Random Notitia:

An article in Novus & Video has ostendo sum ut a numerus of Turbo, comprehendo Glen Wesley, have switched suum sudo, tamen non suum teams. Secundum auditurus esse questus ex quattuor angulus of NHL Terra, Reebok est iam vitualamen alternate versions of Rbk Ora.

Turbo switched duos venatus abhinc ut modified jerseys, quod pluma a puter opportunus in telum, magis aer-knit fabric quod minor of “bead- absentis” unda repellency technology touted per Reebok.

“ego reputo illic erant satis questus league- prolixus ut obviously illic eram a noticeable distinctus” Wesley said Tuesday. “eatenus, suus’ been a bonus change.”

Touting vexillum versus, praesieo of Reeboks’ Lusum Licentia Divortium David Baxter civitas ut “ ratio” questus have non been unanimous.

“plures NHL ludio ludius es contentus per current Rbk Ora jersey, tamen utpote satus of season, nonnullus have effor sollicitudo super jerseys’ mador procuratio quod stabilitas”

Is may exsisto ferreus ut dico quisnam has no switch ut necklines es idem eadem idem per idem eadem idem super incidere.

“ego reputo sulum amo novus ones multus melior” Carolina center Res Runco said. “is eram iustus funny redeo ut vetus materia, quod is sentio melior”

Iam nos teneo ut Runco quod Wesley ero alicubi inter unus quod novem sentio tardus. Peius’ caveo alius skating tardus in Imbuo nox noctis.
Gratiae utKuklas’ Korner pro succurro.

Aiunt a picture est dignitas mille lacuna. Off Pennae Sententia’ Kate McGovern captus a dico statua of Alex Ovechkin in glacies secundum denique cornu of yesterdays’ damnum ut Florida.

Exsisto certus sisto sicco Kate quod ceterus Off Pennae photographers’ exercitatioOff Pennae Photo.

EGO had three sententia in statim aftermath of permaneo nox noctis’ 2-1 damnum in Sunrise. Unus, titulus of unus of meus ventus cinematic comedies, ‘ ut Bonus ut Is Gets’ — ut titulus, suus syntax, iustus genus sauntered super in meus stipes- damnum caput capitis. Duos, ut illic nam eram an sublimis toxicity ut exsisto instituo in forums of fervidus procul os, quod ut Id’ exspecto 12 vel sic hora pro scanning suum tenor, ut pensilis pro losing hockey venatus est in meus visum quoque districtus a rememdium. Quod three, fan exuberance quod suus obvious shortcomings tamen, interdum dementis men es verevoxin suum rabies.

Absentis a prodigiosus turnaround huic hockey team, qui quibus est impossible ut deprehensio is oriens, odds es ut Caps’ procuratio est iens venire contra animadverto res ultum quantum fanbase has pro super duos weeks iam — quod amo, quinymo nunc. (vindicatum they iam dont.’) Quod mihi invites an interesting question. Nos can totus congruo ut 75 vel 90 sentio of vicis, furca- quod- lampas latrunculus of vapulus down per quoque plures damnum est reactionary quod insensatus in prorsus sterilis formo. Suus’ vetusEGO gotta have a caput capitis in a patella mentality. Suus’ coegi per Ids’ postulo ut erumpo. Tamen ocassionally, iustus ocassionally, subter supter totus sanus quod fervidus, illic est vere dignitas ut suum rabies.

Tamen magis imprimis, quis est is super regnum of fandom ut quondam in a dum affords is a visum ut an vindico iuguolo, dum procuratio, comprised of seasoned professio in industria, dithers quod pestifer profero? Is could forsitan exsisto analogized ut canis erus quisnam dictata suus pup ut veterinarian queribundus of a gut-felt malady in parum guy, tamen reperio haud rememdium. ‘meus parum doggie iustus isnt’ vox’ erus would opinio. vet would probatur, deprehensio haud peius, quod eo ut inspect tunc critter. A tumor quomodo went undetected, per pro nos plurimus nitor ut reperio is. Iterum, novem vicis ex ten, suus’ instituo, quod per sepius immodicus fatigo quod vae needlessly coegi ustulo of bestia diligo ut supervacuus quod carus saluto ut vet. Vero in Lavatio is cado, weve’ a sincerus infirmus pup nomen puck.

Copiose quinque dies is hockey team had paro ipsum pro jugiter underwhelming Florida Pardus, perdo of quattuor rectus venatus. Suus versus eram procul 95 sentio concepta. Suus gubernatio orator is week in record of an imperative of moment. Iterum, quondam puck occumbo, is ludio ludius non penuriosus procul totus tamen non bonus satis ut lucror. Iterum.

Unus could speciosus positus ut Inferus est NHLs’ minimus speciosus divortium, quod Caput is oriens es procul solum of is. Syllogism: Caps es pessimus team in hockey. Unus ut duodeviginti weeks abhinc orator similitudo quod palam super participating in NHL postseason.

fanbase is oriens vires vere scisco of procuratio: iustusquantus testimonium operor vos postulo?

Is oriens illic est mihi a foreboding voluntas of an awful appointment tonight pro Caps, iterum in Florida. EGO testis ultum of quis Vinny did ut primoris- locus ‘ baculus ceterus nox noctis. A Friday nox noctis in Tampa: is aedificium edificium, dissimilis permaneo nox noctis’, ero miles militis sicco. Illic est a team forsitan in vel appositus mortalitas phasmatis labor lapsus obviam a potential susurro. EGO vereor a altus ordo of ugliness. Tunc, subsequens, a quietis weekend of infesto. Iterum.

Tunc, maybe tunc — amo non tamen forsitan — rememdium mos insisto. A vehemens fanbase ero adstringo. A rectus tractus ero insequor. Maybe.

Magis amo, vero, vel in vicis of a miserabilis, additionally phasmatis- fossura evinco is vesper, unus coegi is hockey team porro subter supter Resarcio versus of competitiveness, procuratio mos penso porro. Procul nonnullus cuspis, vero, dare belt of rationalizing lentus mos producto produxi productum haud uber. Tunc is ero mediocris pro fanbase sciscitor of teams’ procuratio, per veneratio ut is weeks’ quinque- dies effrego,Quare did vos exspecto?

Novus solvo procurator pulvis’ tractare penuriosus. tutaminis est ultum amplio, goaltending eximius firmus quod sepius vel melior. Alex est lascivio optimus hockey of suus tutela. Tamen placitum commodum of laxus schedule quod ego- speciosus imperative of victor, optimus is Caps stipes could operor permaneo nox noctis in Sunrise eram lascivio puteus satis perdo ut a lousy stipes. Iterum.

Is est ut bonus ut is gets.

• Is eram a venatus pro captus primo of tertius period. One team took is; ceterus took nocens poena. iterum  
• Septumdecim venatus in 2007-08 season is est a Caps’ team vacuus an identity.
• A res of beauty The: Caps’ primoris calx, when Mike Viridis’ lubricus stickhandling and even magis infigo patella ut Ovechkin rightfully brought Quin Center fans ex suum discounted sessio. Tamen dynamic Mike Viridis has an novus quod subolesco-challenged muto ego, quod nos saw about 5 minutes laxus ut is senselessly went virga swinging in Kolzigs’ crease.  

Donatus Sarcalogos Bourques’ emineo modicus minutes, unus admiratio quis’ voluntas of suus repeto.

Illic does videor futurus nonnullus obscoena mico captus habitum in Tomas Fleischmanns’ venatus. Is eram palmarium in Ottawa, quod is iterum videor magis indubitanter in puck tonight.

• Weve’ vigilo Bellicus St. Louis eviscerate Caps pro prope a decade iam, quod nos servo admiratio quare nemo can iacio a gravis ledo in him. umquam Suus’ unus of minimus ineo super quod plurimus underrated vultus of suus obscoena venatus; nox noctis he manages ut servo sui ex harms way’ quod yet himself down mugio inter periculosus in mactabilis formo.    
• Videlicet illic’ quispiam distinctively atrocious super Quin Center glacies. Weve’ auditus quod lego questus super is vere utpote oris nox noctis, quod Imbuo nox noctis incidence of cado universitas- ordo skaters terminus on the burlesque. Nos television visum erant edoctus ut a matinee basketball venatus eram nimirum partim reprehendo. Tamen ut doesnt’ persolvo miserabilis superficies in preeo weeknights, vel multi- utor of alius pulvis vacuus comparable stumblings in suum hockey venatus.   

Audrius Zubrus left suus positus ut Senex Tellus Venditio Procurator pro Caput, tamen non pro opus unus permaneo venatus poema poematis Levitas quod a stipes venatus abiego procul RNR Talea & Lounge. Unus coniecto ut qua abyssus’ exsisto opus tunc.

Acadie Bathurst Titan center Mathieu Perreault, Caps’ sedecim- rotundus lectio in 2006 draft, has surged ut valde caput capitis of QMJHL ustulo plumbum odio lascivio fewer venatus quam fere totus of suus incomparabilis. Is eram nomen Qs’ Ludio ludius of Week pro week of November 5, quod in suus permaneo three venatus hes’ posteri 6 calx quod 5 succurro. Permaneo season, Perreault procerus 41 calx quod 78 succurro in 67 venatus pro Titan. Hes’ in passus ut caput capitis 140 cuspis in Q is season.

2007 secundus rotundus draft pick Ted Ruth, a vegetus blueliner procul Notre Dame, est a +10 in 10 venatus pro Bellator Irenses. Is skated a +2 Friday nox noctis in Notre Dames’ 2-1 turbo in via of haud. 1 ordo Miami, quod sit mereo minutes ut a caput capitis iugum tutor per senex Brock Tondeo. USC eram situs is weekend.

A guy vultus ut infigo a puella in balanus nox noctis would operor puteus recolo Imbuo nox noctis in Chinatown. Is could prodigo minor quam $ centum in duos magnificabiliter sessio pro Tampa cras nox noctis. Nos quisnam velico altus sumptus of pro hockey quoque dico sicco suus valde paciscor, quod is est a valde proveho per Lavatio Caput: 40$ pro summitto campester sessio.

Aliquanto trux quod turpis cado tempestas progenitus super Lavatio tardus Monday vesper. A propositio donatus atrum clouds tenax ut HockeyWashington illa dies.  

• Is would have been securus — genu-jerkish, vel — ut absorb a 3-0 primoris-period atrum puteus moenia quod pervenio per “ alius campester nixus ex Caps,” vel “Olie attonitus is up,” tamen ut’ fere quis venio. Caps flatus 18 offa procul Cam Pupillus pupilla in oris stanza, and a reasonable number of them were of the quality variety. Well,  Ovechkin’s were anyway. As the game worn on, the Caps had shots from all angles and proximity, and none came close to besting Ward. He was the Cam Ward of the ‘05-’06 postseason: positionally solid at every turn, Cool Glove Hand Luke.
• 5-0 actually could and should have been 8-0 had not both Capitals’ goalies made OMFG stops in tight.
• So what did happen? The Canes’ forwards sliced and diced their way through a cement-in-their-skates looking blueline corps of Caps in period one. Often, it wasn’t instances of Caps’ defenders getting caught up ice out of position; Washington defenders often were perfectly positioned in front of Canes’ forwards only to be juked and darted around in silly fashion. Kolzig was hung out to get his goals-against battered. Again.
• The Hurricanes have a corps of forwards that for about three years now has ranked among the best collective set of passing forwards in all of hockey, and it was on vivid display in tonight’s opening period. They aren’t blindingly fast, they do not play a bruising game of dump and dig down low; instead, they distribute the puck magnificently, in all areas of the ice, placing one another in consistently excellent scoring chance slots. It’s really rather magnificent to watch.
• The Comcast broadcast Monday night illustrated the balanced minutes Carolina’s blueline nightly achieves. This also highlights the absence of a true no. 1 blueliner there (he departed for Los Angeles last season in one of the worst trades in NHL history). Interesting that Carolina also lacked such a shutdown stud the year they won the Cup. This team is beginning to look an awful lot like that one. The addition of Tom Poti certainly addressed the Caps’ meager offensive firepower on the blueline, but it did not address the absence of a legit no. 1 guy. The Carolina goals tonight were all scored in tight — the Caps’ greatest area of vulnerability in their own end. I think the ‘Canes prove that a team can win a lot of games — and even a Cup — without a Pronger-like stud on the back end, but if it’s blueline defense by mid-sized committee, you need savvy vets to carry it off shift after shift. The Canes have those in spades. The Caps are trying to develop them.   
• The second period kill of the Canes’ third power play of the game was the most impressive I’ve seen from the Caps’ PKers this season. In fact, in generated better scoring chances than many of the team’s man-up chances this season.  
• Donald Brashear’s defenders have their work cut out for them this season. He played limited but accountable minutes for the Caps last season. Not this one. Last Friday night he took a needless and stupid penalty early in the third period that ultimately led to the Flyers’ winning goal. Monday night, with his team valiantly taking the play to Carolina in the first half of period two, he earned a well-deserved boot for head-ramming, and the major penalty and resulting Hurricanes’ goal ended any little remaining doubt as to the game’s outcome. Often in NHL hockey the difference between winning and losing hinges on the slightest of mistakes at crucial times, and the Caps these days can’t afford the mental errors Brash has regularly made this season.  

Monday delivered a brief bit of good news: The Caps inked 2007 second-round pick Josh Godfrey. He of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League and a 99 mph slapper. Problem is, he won’t be bringing it from the point in our red, white, and blue soakers this season.  

The Ilya Kovalchuk slump is over (in resounding fashion). Tonight’s game in Atlanta isn’t televised. Sound like mercy to you? 

Hockey yesterday fell to one knee and offered me its hand. The NHL Network, you see, debuted some time yesterday afternoon on my cable television provider, Comcast. It would have been a same-sex marriage between us, and I’m not real big on those. So we’ll live together.

Twenty four hours a day of the league, in high definition. Lover, hold me.

I’m genuinely composure-challenged at this writing, so indulge me. We’re in the infatuation stage, you see.

Even the station’s commercials are hockey-related, for goodness sake. “Call me back during a commercial,” a friend or family member will instruct me at various points this winter. Ain’t happening.

Some of the commercials promo team-specific DVDs highlighting great seasons of the past, and while I have zero interest in purchasing any Blueshirts vids, for instance, I commend the league for the resources its using in these spots. A rich and resonant voiceover talent reminds us that “It’s a ferocious ballet of speed and skill . . . refined over the years but unchanged in its simplicity . . . less than a religion — but not by much . . . players whose hearts pump beneath a crest . . .” and then my mind trailed off in a dash to compose a love sonnet for my game.

It’s stunning to me that this affair of the broadcast heart is taking place, widely, in the greater Washington region. We’re not supposed to be much interested in hockey in these parts, remember? Other cable providers, including Cox, as well as DirecTV, will be getting the NHL Network up and running for locals at month’s end. But this weekend I can’t be bothered fretting for those of you without it; I’m that AWOL from the rink rat pack, the fella who forsakes beers and ballgames with his mates to spend all his time with a pretty girl. Except now I’m pretty sure I’ll be drinking even more beer.

I confess I don’t know much about what the league has in store in terms of programming for the NHL Network. It’s in its infancy still, so there’s a decent bit of repetition on air. It’s clear that there will be a steady diet of vintage games. There was a Caps-Devils postseason tilt from 1990 on late yesterday afternoon. I especially enjoyed highlights from a Hartford Whalers-Bs playoff showdown from the same time period. There’s something enduringly satisfying about seeing the Whale in their great old green garb. It’s a widely held nostalgia I think for a small market club ravaged by the lure of bigger dollars in some faraway newcomer cul de sac of cash. That playoff series, incidentally, featured a number of players with Caps’ ties: Bobby Carpenter, Dave Poulin, Randy Burridge, Todd Krygier. The Whale had one of the most difficult names to spell in all of hockey history in net, Peter Sidorkiewicz. (I had to keyword search “Hartford Whalers goalie Peter with a weird name who played in the ’90s” to find it.)

I have some suggestions for programming, if the league would like to solicit them. The Caps last season practiced outdoors one winter weekday morning at the Chevy Chase Country Club. Ottawa among other clubs has also skated practices outdoors (a number of AHL clubs, too, including the then-affiliated-with-the-Caps Portland Pirates). That sort of novel event would be perfect broadcast live and replayed in the evening on the NHL Network. It reminds us of the sport’s roots and why it’s so distinctive in the sporting landscape. When the league goes outdoors again for an actual game, in Buffalo on New Years Day for the Ice Bowl, the behind-the-scenes logistics for it ought to be lavishly chronicled.

Over the years the sport has produced some memorable television commercial spots, in individual markets and especially while ESPN broadcast the league. Remember ESPN’s “Hockey Falls” series? I’d like to see those worked in somehow.

It’s too early in this relationship for me to tell if it will be polyamorous: will perched-by-the-plexiglass talents such as Erin Anderson be recruited? There will be a need for talking head talent in the studio; why not bring some aesthetics to our savage sport? The Golf Channel lured a lot of middle-aged, potbellied 30-handicappers as devoted viewers by hiring Kelly Tilghman early on. I’m told that sidelinehotties.com can be a resource here. To be sure the NHL Network will attract a loyal following north of the 49th, but remember, there’s an awful lot of quality live puck broadcast up there too. If the NHL Network wants to strive for Sopranos buzz, Al Trautwig under the hot lights won’t cut it.

We (and when I say “we” I mean “mostly Empty Maybe”) have been doing the knee-jerks for a year now. They focus on the play of the team, the effort of individuals and the overall game as viewed mostly from the couch with the wide screen with the occasional game from the stands and the press box thrown in.

After many years as a partial plan ticket holder, this year is my first with the full season and OrderedChaos has had his season tickets for years. I thought we might try to supplement the traditional OFB knee-jerks with a similar bullet-point list from the perspective from in the stands. Both OrderedChaos and I will be missing some games due to getting hitched and the birth of a second child, respectively, but we should have a good portion of the home games covered. Or, this may be the last Jerks from the Stands.

• I’m amazed at the number of fans wearing the new threads, both in red and white. Many who didn’t have the new sweater were sporting t-shirts with the new colors. Impressive.
• The opening video, although well done, was a little underwhelming. Perhaps I was expecting more of a “Mission: Impossible” style open like a few years ago. Although, given a few more viewings I’m sure I’ll grow to like it as much as I now like the new/old logo.
• During the introduction of the team, it was great to hear cheers almost as loud for Nylander and Backstrom as they were for Ovechkin and Kolzig.
• The “lightning sticks” (a.k.a “thunder sticks with embedded lights”) were very cool. Coupled with the wearing of red and a well attended crowd, the view from section 426 was great.
• Mrs. Gustafsson pointed out to me that the Verizon Center is no longer casino-like after she spotted the time of day clock on the upper ribbon board at the end of the ice. Although, some will have that view blocked by the high-def scoreboard which continues to wow me.
• Speaking of the scoreboard, there is a ribbon board above and below the main viewing area. It looks nice, however, they consistently scroll text around the ring in a counter-clockwise rotation causing the viewer to read the sentence backwards. For example, instead of reading one of Verizon’s slogans as “We never stop working for you”… we get … “you for working stop never We”.
• Still on the scoreboard topic, I am still having trouble locating the out of town scores.
• The massive improvement in puck possession was even more noticeable when seeing the team live.  I’ve also forgot how much fun it is to watch Nylander with the puck.
• Concession lines…. woah… maybe it was just the stand near me, but the line was very long and very slow. Those standing in line are very thankful for the high number of new HD monitors that ring the concourse.
• Having seen both the new sweaters in both white and red from the upper deck… the numbers are VERY EASY to see. A great and welcomed improvement. Now can we switch back to white at home so that every game is not the red team versus the white team?
• I don’t know how it came across on TV, but that was one of the loudest crowds at Verizon/MCI Center in years. The “summer of change” continues to show itself in unexpected ways. Let’s hope that continues.
• You can neither question Ovechkin’s dedication or the love and respect players have for Kolzig when you see AO drop to the ice with 10 seconds remaining to block a shot that helps preserve the shutout for Kolzig.
• This is going to be a fun year.

Interesting game, one that saw the Caps dominate the first period, coming out of the gates hard. Things evened out, but that’s the way you want to start out the season, especially one with so many expectations: get a win, and jump on your opponent early.

• The Caps’ puck-possession, as predicted, was impressive, especially early. Outside of a solid Atlanta shift around the 12 minute in mark and the later 1st period power play, the Caps maintained the puck and put a lot of pressure on the Thrashers.
• Brent Johnson had a good game, but yikes. If you are going to play the puck out that far  as a goaltender, make sure it’s a definite play. Risky plays of the puck are bad, bad news usually.
• Backstrom’s debut was exactly as a lot would predicted: smart, dependable and productive. He won’t grab headlines, but he’s going to be turning in veteran efforts sooner as opposed to later.
• Atlanta’s Ilya Kovalchuk looks like a dedicated hockey athlete, something that I think may have been in question for some people at points in time. He showed a solid sense of using his teammates, and when the puck was on his stick, the Caps had to pay close attention.
• Congrats to Bryan Little, who gets his first NHL point. Not a Caps player or prospect, and it was off a bad angle, but I’ve had people let me know this might be a player to keep an eye on.
• The Caps didn’t fold after a two-goal lead.
• You’ve heard it from elsewhere, but man, the new NHL boxscores aren’t very good. The old ones were fine, and I’ve not seen a rational explanation as to why they were changed.
• You could see the sweat stains on the Thrasher’s uniform systems. Sadly, this has become a real issue. Luckily, Sidney Crosby will save us.
• The Caps looked lifeless on their 5-on-3 power plays, and seemed content stay on the perimeter and blast away. I’m not necessarily against that, but against a goaltender who is seeing the puck at least okay, you’d like to see some close-in passing if you aren’t going to move yourself. A silver lining is that the Caps at least earned some 5-on-3 time.
• As someone who doesn’t really buy into the Kozlov/Ovechkin chemistry, I may need to eat some crow. There was a clear sense that where each player knew where the other was, especially on the cycle.
• Mike Green? Lovely. Big confidence, including playing the puck well while it’s on the blueline with poise.
• Credit Atlanta, they really played the body in the third.
• Erskine? Hey, big guy, bombs away.
• Maybe my favorite moment of the night was Alex Ovechkin making a diving stop on a breaking Atlanta forward. Hard to not like that.

Hey, no complaints here. Getting a win, showing strong possession skills, and not folding like lawn furniture after a two goal lead? It’s just one game, but it’s a welcome entry to the 2007-2008 season. Everyone have a beer and enjoy.

What would a band of hockey bloggers be without predictions for the new NHL season?

We don’t claim to possess either a crystal ball or spy’s eyes inside the training camps of 29 other clubs, but we thought it might be helpful to our readers to compile a list of offseason (and late last season) player movement, in a concise file, and have a little fun offering up none-too-accountable “Thumbs Up” or “Thumbs Down” forecasts for all 30 teams.

Basically, a team earned a “Thumbs up” if we thought its manuevering and maturation suggested that it’d improved upon its 2006-07 points total. Clubs that “stayed pat” or engineered boneheaded signings and/or inexplicable, high-end free agent farewells were awarded “Thumbs down.”

So we’ve provided everything “primer” a puckhead could need here.

Except the beer.

Team	Comings	Goings	Youth is Served	Verdict
	Mathieu Schneider	Selanne and Neidermeyer (for now?), Dustin Penner	Bobby Ryan
	Eric Perrin, Ken Klee, Todd White	Scott Mellanby, Shane Hnidy, Glen Metropolit, Keith Tkachuk, Denis Hamel, Eric Belanger,	Bryan Little (?)
	Glen Metropolit, Aaron Ward, Peter Schaefer	Shane Donovan	Matt Lashoff (?)
	Jocelyn Thibault	Almost everyone	Dan Paille, Drew Stafford
	Adrian Aucoin, David Hale, Cory Sarich, Owen Nolan	Tony Amonte, Jeff Friesen, Roman Hamrlik, Brad Stuart, Andrei Zyuzin	Eric Nystrom (?)
	Matt Cullen	Jack Johnson, Anson Carter, David Tanabe	None	Hmm . . .
	Brent Spoel, Robert Lang, Sergei Samsanov, Andrei Zyuzin, Yanic Perreault	Michal Handzus, Adrian Aucoin, Peter Bondra, Jason Cullimore	Jonathon Toews, Patrick Kane, Jack Skille
	Scott Hannan, Ryan Smyth,	Ken Klee, Pierre Turgeon, Ossi Vaananen, Patrice Brisebois	None
	Michael Peca, Jiri Novotny	Brian Boucher, Bryan Berard	Gilbert Brule, Derick Brassard (?)	Hmm . . .
	Todd Fedoruk	Matthew Barnaby, Jon Klemm, Eric Lindros, Ladislav Nagy, Patrik Stefan, Darryl Sydor	Niklas Grossman
	Brian Rafalski, Dallas Drake	Robert Lang, Todd Bertuzzi, Kyle Calder, Danny Markov, Mathieu Schneider	Igor Grigorenko
	Sheldon Souray, Joni Pitkanen, Dustin Penner, Denis Grebeshkov, Dick Tarnstrom	Ryan Smyth, Joffrey Lupul, Petr Sykora, Jason Smith	Sam Gagner, Ryan O’Marra (?)	Hmm . . .
	Richard Zednik, Radek Dvorak, Tomas Vokoun	Ed Belfour, Alex Auld, Martin Gelinas, Chris Gratton, Todd Bertuzzi	None
	Brad Stuart, Tom Preissing, Kyle Calder, Michal Handzus, Ladislav Nagy	Mathieu Garon, Jamie Heward, Tom Kostopoulos, Jamie Lundmark, Aaron Miller	Jonathon Bernier, Jack Johnson
	Eric Belanger, Sean Hill,	Manny Fernandez, Todd White	Benoit Pouliot (?)	Hmm . . .
	Roman Hamrlik, Bryan Smolinski, Tom Kostopoulos	Sheldon Souray, Radek Bonk, Sergei Samsanov, Mike Johnson	Carey Price, Kyle Chipchura, Andrei Kostitsyn
	Martin Gelinas, Radek Bonk	Almost everyone	Ville Koistinen, Kevin Klein (?)
	Dainius Zubrus, Vitali Vishnevski, Kevin Weekes, Karel Rachunek	Scott Gomez, Brian Rafalski	Nicklas Bergfors (?)
	Bill Guerin, Mike Comrie, Ruslan Fedotenko	Almost everyone	Sean Bergenheim (?)
	Scott Gomez, Chris Drury	Michael Nylander, Karel Rachunek, Matt Cullen, Kevin Weekes, Brad Isbister	Marc Staal, Ryan Callahan (?)
	Shean Donovan, Luke Richardson, Denis Hamel	Mike Comrie, Tom Preissing, Peter Schaefer, Oleg Saprykin	Nick Foligno, Brian Lee
	Daniel Briere, Joffrey Lupul, Jason Smith, Martin Biron, Scott Upshall, Kimo Timonen	Peter Forsberg, Joni Pitkanen, Kyle Calder, Robert Esche, Todd Fedoruk, Mike York	Braydon Coburn, Ryan Parent
	Alex Auld, Radim Vrbata, Niko Kapanen, Mike York	Owen Nolan, Jeremy Roenick, Curtis Joseph, Mike Ricci	Peter Mueller
	Darryl Sydor, Gary Roberts, Petr Sykora	Eric Cairns, Joel Kwiatkowski, Jocelyn Thibault, Michel Ouellet, Nils Ekman, Josef Melichar	Kristopher Letang
	Craig Rivet, Jeremy Roenick	Scott Hannan, Bill Guerin, Vesa Toskala	None	Hmm . . .
	Paul Kariya, Keith Tkachuk	Radek Dvorek, Dallas Drake, Glen Metropolit, Jamie Rivers	Erik Johnson
	Michel Ouellet, Chris Gratton, Jan Hlavac	Cory Sarich, Ruslan Fedotenko, Eric Perrin	Karri Ramo (?)
	Jason Blake, Mark Bell, Vesa Toskala	Jeff O’Neill, Michael Peca, Yanic Perreault, J.S. Aubin	Jiri Tlusty (?)
	Brad Isbister, Ryan Shannon	Bryan Smolinski, Brent Sopel, Jan Bulis, Rory Fitzpatrick,	Luc Bourdon (?)
	Michael Nylander, Viktor Kozlov, Tom Poti	Dainius Zubrus, Kris Beech, Bryan Muir, Jiri Novotny	Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Green, Tomas Flesichmann