Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Washington Capitals [Preview/Open Thread]
by Hooks Orpik on Feb 22, 2009 11:00 AM EST
in Game Open Threads
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PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (29-25-6) vs WASHINGTON CAPITALS (37-17-5)
VERIZON CENTER IN WASHINGTON, D.C. @ 12:30
RADIO FEED ON WXDX.COM, for video try channelsurfing.net OR, YOU KNOW, TURN ON NBC
CAPITALS BLOGS: Japers Rink | The Peerless Prognosticator
NOTES
Penguins/Capitals; it's Evgeni Malkin vs. Alex Ovechkin vs. Sidney Crosby. The NHL's three best and brighest offensive stars, all jockeying for the scoring title and the unofficial designation of being the #1 player in the game.
It's more than just bragging rights, it's a crucial game. For Pittsburgh, 2-0-1 under interim coach Dan Byslma, it's a chance to claw closer still into the playoff picture. For Washington, secure in their positioning at the top of the South-leastern Division, it's a chance to keep a hated rival down. And don't think they don't want to do that.
The Caps have long been the "little brother" to the Penguins. The inferiority complex begins with the playoff history; Pittsburgh's won six of the seven meetings, but continues to this day. Washington has been one year behind the Penguins in the most recent rebuild: Pittsburgh made the playoffs in 2006-07 (Washington in 07-08), the Pens made it to the Cup finals in 07-08 (unknown of course what the Caps can do this year).
Alex Semin caused controversy by saying (or being misinterpreted into saying) that he didn't see what was so special about Sidney Crosby, and that he preferred Patrick Kane as a more skilled player. Semin must be a hard man to impress, after all he's had a front row seat into seeing Crosby's phenomenal numbers against Washington; Sid has 23 points [7 goals, 16 assists] in 13 career games. Semin's petulance just adds to the little brother factor, even if he did privately call Crosby and clear the air with him about the comments.
Of course, hockey is a team sport and Crosby's individual performance won't mean much if the Penguins don't tighten up; in the last meeting in January, the Caps scored six goals (one into an empty net) on 41 shots, and the Pens also paraded six times to the penalty box. They'll have to buckle down and limit opportunities to have their first three game winning streak since November.
Little brother is growing up fast.
So have at it in the thread, my peeps!
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Way to step it up on the PP Whitney – taking a penalty. Nice move. You can’t do anything, let alone do it all. Pass the puck.
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He just crept up into the spot for the one-timer. It was sad to see someone pick apart the D like that.
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From watching a bunch of Caps games it’s ridiculous how often it happens too.
Sure the Caps have some skill out there like Semin, Green and Backstrom, but to lose account of the best goal scorer in the game is inexcusable.
by Hooks Orpik on Feb 22, 2009 12:54 PM EST up reply actions
Right on. You’d think they’d have someone on him the whole time. I think the other mistake was someone chasing the puck into the corner. Give Washington the back of the net and keep your four guys up front.
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The only thing I don’t like about Bylsma so far is the fact that he hasn’t put the back up in yet. Fleury has been letting in alot of goals as of late. I really think he needs a break. What has he played the last 20 games in a row? You know he has to be beat.
Now if we can get rid of Whitney life would be better.
How did Washington become the better team this year? I have never seen the Penguins get beat up so bad. I hope Shero started planning for next year, because even if they get into the playoffs they aren’t going past the first round.
The Capitals forecheck is disgusting. You think that the Pens would learn something from this.
Fleury’s been ridden into the ground…Too many games night after night after night.
The season isn’t lost, one game isn’t going to break backs yet.
Quick question: are the Caps the first hockey team in history to forecheck? Because the Pens look like they’ve never seen one before.
Crosby and Malkin are the only Pens playing like they want this game. Everyone else? The lack of heart right now is dispiriting.
I don’t know if the season’s lost, but we can’t afford to mail in any more games this year like we’re mailing this one in. If we can’t play better than this, we won’t need to bother trading for a scoring winger to play with Crosby: at this rate, that scoring winger will be John Tavares.
P is for Latrobe.
me too
But they just called his name; he’s back out.
P is for Latrobe.
by holiday park on Feb 22, 2009 2:49 PM EST up reply actions
three things to not do when you have the power play
1. Carry the puck in 1-on-4 from center ice on each rush.
2. Saucer-pass the puck to the other team in their end.
3. Blindly pass the puck into the middle of the rink (you know, to make the other team’s 2-on-1’s as easy as possible).
P is for Latrobe.
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