Off Wing Opinion

With the Caps in Raleigh tonight, there are the usual pre-game writeups, but we'll get to those later. First, the news that hockey fans have been waiting ages for: the NHL schedule has been changed for next season. According to TSN, "The NHL has approved a scheduling format that will have each team play 24 divisional games, 40 in-conference matchups, 15 games against non-conference teams and three wild card games against out of conference teams." So each team will see every other at least once a season. Unfortunately, it also means that as a fan, you'll only see non-conference team at your home team's arena every other year. Not quite the change people have been looking for, but it's a start. The other day, Ross McKeon at YahooSports proposed a good idea. Steal the schedule format of the NBA. Both the NHL and the NBA have the same divisional and conference setup with the same number of teams, and play the same number of games. As Ross says, "If that league was good enough from which to pilfer the current commissioner, Gary Bettman, then feel free to take its scheduling format, too." Sounds good to me.

JP at Japers' Rink has an interesting take on why the Caps need to get back into a division with its old rivals, and it's a reason league officials might actually listen to: money.

I'm talking about lost ticket revenues. In a minute, you'll see what I mean. Let's take a look at the Caps' average home attendance against the teams in their current division since the lockout:

1. Carolina - 15,091 (and it's probably worth noting that two of the ten 'Canes games were home openers)
2. Atlanta - 13,181
3. Florida - 12,836
4. Tampa Bay - 12,192

Now for the average home attendances against their former division rivals over the same time period:

1. Pittsburgh - 16,800
2. Philadelphia - 15,517
3. N.Y. Rangers - 15,278
4. New Jersey - 13,847
5. N.Y. Islanders - 12,282

See what I'm getting at? There are three teams in the Atlantic Division that are bigger draws at Verizon Center than any Southeast Division team and, other than Carolina (whose fans actually do travel pretty well when the mules aren't otherwise in use plowing the tobacco fields), there's not a single team in the Southeast that outdraws any of the Atlantic teams at the VC other than the Isles. Bottom line: the Caps' average attendance for home games against Atlantic Division teams since the lockout is 14,761. Against Southeast Division teams? 13,329.

It's a reasonable argument, but you have to think, it's a possibility that attendance is low for divisional games because fans have like a thousand chances - okay, more like 4 each - to see southeast teams a season. They only have a couple chances to see those Atlantic teams, so more fans will show up per game. I don't know, it's just a thought.

In preparation for tonight's game, JP also educates readers about the 2 girls, 1 cup phenomenon. Check out his funny take. And I warn you, do not google the actual original video, unless you want to be severely disturbed. While I'm afraid the warning in itself will lead some to check it out, don't say I didn't warn you.

There's a clip making the rounds on the Intertubes these days that is, in all likelihood, more vile than anything you've ever imagined, much less seen. It's called "Two Girls, One Cup" and it's so repulsive that people's reactions to seeing it for the first time is considered entertainment unto itself.

It's a great take on a horrific and disturbing thing.

Now, finally, for the pregames. News from Capitals Insider is that Clark and Gordon are out, and Semin will play hurt. That means Hershey's Quintin Laing has been called up. He'll see time on the third line. Japers' Rink has more on Laing, and what he may bring to tonight's game. The Peerless has brought in his medical consultants to see what exactly is going on with the Caps, and how things can be fixed. Apparently a heavy dose of winning does wonders.

This entry was posted on Friday, November 30th, 2007 at 3:24 pm by Joe Dumas and is filed under Hockey. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

With last night's loss to Florida, and tonight's game against Tampa Bay, Caps bloggers have been pumping out postgames and pregames and other tidbits like there's no tomorrow.

We'll start off with the best news, at least for Caps fans, that I've seen so far today. Both Tarik and Corey are reporting that Semin is "close" to returning, according to Coach Hanlon. Semin has been skating on his own at Ballston and could play again as soon as Monday. All I can say is, it's about time. Hopefully he does start Monday, because his play has been missed.

Japers' Rink and The Peerless have their usual postgames up, with JP putting most of the blame for the loss on Tom Poti, and The Peerless wondering how Ovechkin is producing almost 30 percent of the team's goals, considering the offensive additions to the team this season. Maybe noticing he didn't include that in his postgame, JP threw up another post at Japers' Rink detailing the scoring weight that is currently on Ovie's shoulders. It really makes you think. How do you add Nylander, Kozlov, Backstrom, and Poti, and still have Ovie's scoring percentage up from 19.7% last season to 29.3% this one? The rest of the team, especially the names just mentioned, need to step up and play like they know how.

The Caps need to pick up their game in a big way. And The Peerless explains why.

Very difficult?...Here's how difficult. The Caps have 13 points in 18 games. If 92 points is enough to get in, they need 79 points in their remaining 64 games.

That is a 101-point pace over a whole season.

With back to back 70 point seasons the past 2 years, can they really get 79 points in 64 games? There's a lot of people that hope so, but not a lot of people that think so.

Tonight's game against Tampa is a big one for the Caps - although I guess all games now are big ones for them - as Tampa is 7-1-1 at home, and recently pasted the Caps 5-2 at the Phonebooth. The Peerless has his pregame roundup, and is calling for a win. I sure hope he's right.

Over at On Frozen Blog pucksandbooks takes a deep look into the management situation with the Caps. Are the fans overreacting in calling for heads to roll, or are the right in this instance?

New free agents aren

This entry was posted on Friday, November 16th, 2007 at 4:54 pm by Joe Dumas and is filed under Hockey. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

No, that was not a typo in the paper this morning. The Capitals did in fact beat the Senators 4-1. And it was a convincing win. The puck finally seemed to go their way, and their trademark explosive start actually produced, as they held a 3-0 lead before giving one up right before the end of the 2nd. As always, Japers' Rink has a stellar roundup. An interesting note: the Caps have given up 4 goals on their opponents' first shot this season. Last night was almost #5, if not for a great save by Olie.

Pucksandbooks at OFB has what he thinks of the team after thier win over Ottawa. And it's not especially good. See for yourself. They also have a link to a great Caps ticket deal here. Reduced prices down low, can't say no to that.

Tarik over at Capitals Insider reports that Clark and Semin are out for Saturday night. Clark is almost back, but Semin is a ways off, and Tarik doesn't like what he sees.

Semin did not skate. So, obviously, he won't be playing tomorrow. It's gotten to the point that when you ask when he might play again, all you get is shoulder shrugs. That's concerning.

And last, but certainly not least, The Peerless gives the NHL some thoughts on who they should focus on for their advertising.

As we suggested, Sidney Crosby sits at the top of the heap

This entry was posted on Friday, November 9th, 2007 at 3:16 pm by Joe Dumas and is filed under Hockey. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.