Get to know a Cap: Tomas Fleischmann

If you look up “streak player” in the dictionary, this is the guy in the picture. When he’s hot, he scores goals like it’s nobody’s business, but when he’s cold, it’s like he has no clue as to how to use the stick.

He definitely shies away from the physical game and will disappear when hit hard. There are times though when he gets angry and hits, and when he does, he actually hits pretty well.

He has quick hands and long arms, which is why Bruce puts him out there on the PK, but he’s really not the best PK forward on the Caps (that’s a toss-up between Bradley, Laich, Fedorov and Steckel).

If Fleischmann suddenly gets hot in this series, then the Pens are in big trouble, because he can score 5 goals in 4 games. But he’s much more likely to be his usual self, and not score anything.

The talent is there, it’s just getting it out…

How can the Pens neutralize Flash? Same way my wife can get me in the mood for sex, i.e., show up.

Fleischmann must be a hell of a practice player, because I for one can’t justify his ice time and his presence on a top line based on his production.

He’s a constant source of frustration.

…because there are stretches where he isn’t very visible

if he weren’t a mainstay on the caps 2nd line at the moment, he might achieve this optimal invisibility that you mention.

i’ll more or less agree with mikeL, though, that he really did show “flashes” earlier in the year. it’s just been so, so long. there was a point when boudreau had referred to him as the “alex ovechkin of the hershey bears,” which sticks in our minds now that BB has been trying him on a line with semin and backstrom.

If Flash is a factor at all in this series the Pens D should be embarrassed.

Ahhhh F&B ever the optimist. How many goals does Flash need to score before you give him the time of day?