Time and again we’ve listened patiently to the game’s critics of enforcement and fighting suggest that were the league merely to rigorously sanction instances of egregious violence, there’d be no need for skating predators and pain merchants. So what are we to do with the league’s blind eye toward Koci? Shrug and wait for the next skilled Capital crumpled upon the ice from thuggery, apparently. Or should we?
One of the virtues of having undergraduate associates is that they can be assigned to monitor West Coast games while we old geezers hit the hay around period two for work in the morning. Take it away, night owls:
1st Period
Andrew’s take:
It is hard to make a definitive decision for or against the Av’s third jersey [...]
The first fifth of the Capitals’ season leaves the club with a 10-3-4 record, 24 points, and a first-place tie for the the conference lead with the archrival Penguins. But is the Capitals position in the standings reflective of an authentic Cup-contending team? At the moment, Washington is the streakiest team in the league and [...]
Also filed in Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, American Hockey League, Brian Pothier, Bruce Boudreau, Dallas Stars, Eastern Conference, Entry Draft, Florida Panthers, Hershey Bears, Jeff Schultz, Jose Theodore, Mathieu Perreault, Mike Emrick, Mike Green, Milan Jurcina, New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, QMJHL, Tarik El-Bashir, Tom Poti, Washington Capitals
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If the Capitals play focused and disciplined and hard during their three home games this week against three beleagured opponents they will have a terrific opportunity to make up some serious ground on first-in-the-East Boston.
Montreal, Colorado, and Pittsburgh — all once-proud teams that have been seriously struggling as of late — visit Verizon Center this week. All of these teams had reasonably high hopes quite recently; the Penguins were picked by many to return to the Stanley Cup Finals and to be a serious contender and even to win it all, while Montreal was thought by many to be Pittsburgh’s toughest competition in the East. Colorado was not too long ago a rough and tough and Cup-contending franchise, and they certainly hoped to make the playoffs this season. Now all three will be lucky to finish above .500 this season. On top of their losing ways all of these teams have some of the ugliest season stats in the league.
Also filed in Atlantic Division, Eastern Conference, Hockey, Montreal Canadiens, National Hockey League, Northeast Division, Northwest Division, Pittsburgh Penguins, Teams, Washington Capitals, Western Conference
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Paul Lukas of Uni Watch fame has published his NHL preview, chock full of hockey uniform photos from new sweaters, to memorial patches, to the sneaky “C” that Roberto Luongo added to his mask since by NHL rules no goaltender may wear the captaincy “C” on his jersey. So if you’re into the details of [...]
Paul Lukas of Uni Watch fame has published his NHL preview, chock full of hockey uniform photos from new sweaters, to memorial patches, to the sneaky “C” that Roberto Luongo added to his mask since by NHL rules no goaltender may wear the captaincy “C” on his jersey. So if you’re into the details of [...]
Also filed in Anaheim Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, NHL Rules, Nashville Predators, National Hockey League, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, Phoenix Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver Canucks, detroit red wings
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The Russian reaction to Capitals’ goaltender moves from Sovetsky Sport, including Alex Ovechkin’s take on things (translation courtesy of Dmitry Chesnokov):
The Caps management did everything right. The club saved about $1 million. The club also got an experienced goaltender. And now they will start to develop Varlamov and bring him closer to the first [...]
As Pucksandbooks pointed out in his recent post, his assessment of the Capitals’ goaltender situation was his own. Now I don’t dispute Pucks’ facts, nor are his conclusions irrational ‚Äî but from my perspective they seem a bit dire and premature mere hours after the signing. So, as a counterpoint, here’s my take on the [...]
On this the opening day of ‘08-09 NHL free agency Washington Capitals’ fans confronted the opposing twins of personnel movement outcome: morning elation with Mike Green’s signing and afternoon agony in the club’s failure to come to terms with season-salvaging, starting netminder Cristobal Huet. The¬†Capitals¬†this afternoon, having reached an impasse with Huet and his agent, [...]
