2010 April | Off Wing Opinion

Archive for April, 2010

April 29th, 2010

Odds on Second Round of Stanley Cup Playoffs

Lots of interesting numbers here. As always, they come courtesy of our friends at Bodog.com.

Series Odds
Montreal Canadiens                   +375
Pittsburgh Penguins                   -525

Philadelphia Flyers                     +120
Boston Bruins                           -150

Vancouver Canucks                   +115
Chicago Blackhawks                  -145

Detroit Red Wings                      Even
San Jose Sharks                      -120

Odds to win the 2009/2010 Stanley Cup
Pittsburgh Penguins                   5/2
Chicago Blackhawks                  15/4
San Jose Sharks                       5/1
Detroit Red Wings                      5/1
Vancouver Canucks                   11/2
Boston Bruins                            12/1
Montreal Canadiens                   15/1
Philadelphia Flyers                     16/1

Odds to win the 2009/2010 Western Conference
Chicago Blackhawks                  9/4
San Jose Sharks                       23/10
Detroit Red Wings                      5/2
Vancouver Canucks                   3/1

Odds to win the 2009/2010 Eastern Conference
Pittsburgh Penguins                   4/5
Boston Bruins                            4/1
Philadelphia Flyers                     5/1
Montreal Canadiens                   11/2

Odds to win the 2010 Conn Smyth Trophy
Sidney Crosby (PIT)                   11/4
Evgeni Malkin (PIT)                    5/1
Marc-Andre Fleury (PIT)              5/1
Daniel Sedin (VAN)                    6/1
Patrick Kane (CHI)                     6/1
Jonathan Toews (CHI)                 6/1
Antti Niemi (CHI)                        15/2
Marian Hossa (CHI)                    15/2
Henrik Zetterberg (DET)              8/1
Patrick Marleau (SJ)                   17/2
Pavel Datsyuk (DET)                  17/2
Joe Thornton (SJ)                       17/2
Evgeni Nabokov (SJ)                   17/2
Henrik Sedin (VAN)                    19/2
Nicklas Lidstrom (DET)               10/1
Roberto Luongo (VAN)                10/1
Jaroslav Halak (MTL)                  18/1
Patrice Bergeron (BOS)              20/1
Mike Richards (PHI)                   24/1
Zdeno Chara (BOS)                    28/1
Chris Pronger (PHI)                   30/1
Jeff Carter (PHI)                         30/1
Andrei Markov (MTL)                  32/1
Tomas Plekanec (MTL)               32/1
Field (Any Other Player)             7/2

What will be the Matchup in the Stanley Cup Final?
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. San Jose Sharks                        9/2
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Chicago Blackhawks                   9/2
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Vancouver Canucks                    6/1
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Detroit Red Wings                      5/1
Boston Bruins vs. San Jose Sharks                                 15/1
Boston Bruins vs. Chicago Blackhawks                           15/1
Boston Bruins vs. Vancouver Canucks                             19/1
Boston Bruins vs. Detroit Red Wings                               16/1
Philadelphia Flyers vs. San Jose Sharks                          20/1
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Chicago Blackhawks                    20/1
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Vancouver Canucks                      25/1
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Detroit Red Wings                        22/1
Montreal Canadiens vs. San Jose Sharks                         20/1
Montreal Canadiens vs. Chicago Blackhawks                   20/1
Montreal Canadiens vs. Vancouver Canucks                     25/1
Montreal Canadiens vs. Detroit Red Wings                       22/1

Montreal Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Series
Series Correct Score – Montreal Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Montreal Canadiens 4-0              30/1
Montreal Canadiens 4-1              20/1
Montreal Canadiens 4-2              9/1
Montreal Canadiens 4-3              10/1
Pittsburgh Penguins 4-0             9/2
Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1             9/4
Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2             7/2
Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3             15/4

Total Games in Series – Montreal Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Over Games      5.5        (-130)
Under Games    5.5        (Even)

Total Goals in Series - Montreal Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Over Goals        31.5      (-115)
Under Goals      31.5      (-115)

Series Game Spread - Montreal Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins       -2.5      (+115)
Montreal Canadiens       +2.5      (-145)

Where will the series be decided - Montreal Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh            -145
Bell Centre, Montreal                  +115

2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Tomas Plekanec 2nd Round Points vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Over/Under                    4.5

2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Scott Gomez 2nd Round Points vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Over/Under                    4

2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Jaroslav Halak 2nd Round Save % vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Over/Under                    9.29

2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Sidney Crosby 2nd Round Points vs. Montreal Canadiens
Over/Under                    7.5

2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Evgeni Malkin 2nd Round Points vs. Montreal Canadiens
Over/Under                    6.5

Philadelphia Flyers vs. Boston Bruins Series
Series Correct Score – Philadelphia Flyers vs. Boston Bruins
Philadelphia Flyers 4-0               14/1
Philadelphia Flyers 4-1               15/2
Philadelphia Flyers 4-2               9/2
Philadelphia Flyers 4-3               5/1
Boston Bruins 4-0                      9/1
Boston Bruins 4-1                      9/2
Boston Bruins 4-2                      9/2
Boston Bruins 4-3                      15/4

Total Games in Series - Philadelphia Flyers vs. Boston Bruins
Over Games      5.5        (-190)
Under Games    5.5        (+155)

Total Goals in Series - Philadelphia Flyers vs. Boston Bruins
Over Goals        30.5      (-115)
Under Goals      30.5      (-115)

Series Game Spread - Philadelphia Flyers vs. Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins                -1.5      (+140)
Philadelphia Flyers         +1.5      (-170)

Where will the series be decided - Philadelphia Flyers vs. Boston Bruins
TD Garden, Boston                                -150
Wachovia Center, Philadelphia                +120

2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Patrice Bergeron 2nd Round Points vs. Philadelphia Flyers
Over/Under                    4.5

2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Zdeno Chara 2nd Round Points vs. Philadelphia Flyers
Over/Under                    3

2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Mike Richards 2nd Round Points vs. Boston Bruins
Over/Under                    4.5

2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Daniel Briere 2nd Round Points vs. Boston Bruins
Over/Under                    4.5

San Jose Sharks vs. Detroit Red Wings Series
Series Correct Score -San Jose Sharks vs. Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings 4-0                11/1
Detroit Red Wings 4-1                13/2
Detroit Red Wings 4-2                4/1
Detroit Red Wings 4-3                5/1
San Jose Sharks 4-0                  11/1
San Jose Sharks 4-1                  5/1
San Jose Sharks 4-2                  5/1
San Jose Sharks 4-3                  4/1

Total Games in Series - Detroit Red Wings vs. San Jose Sharks
Over Games      5.5        (-200)
Under Games    5.5        (+160)

Total Goals in Series - Detroit Red Wings vs. San Jose Sharks
Over Goals        32.5      (-115)
Under Goals      32.5      (-115)

Series Game Spread - Detroit Red Wings vs. San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks           -1.5      (+170)
Detroit Red Wings          +1.5      (-210)

Where will the series be decided - Detroit Red Wings vs. San Jose Sharks
HP Pavilion, San Jose                -150
Joe Louis Arena, Detroit             +120

2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Joe Thornton 2nd Round Points vs. Detroit Red Wings
Over/Under                    6.5

2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Patrick Marleau 2nd Round Points vs. Detroit Red Wings
Over/Under                    5.5

2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs -Pavel Datsyuk 2nd Round Points vs. San Jose Sharks
Over/Under                    5.5

2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs -Henrik Zetterberg 2nd Round Points vs. San Jose Sharks
Over/Under                    6

Vancouver Canucks vs. Chicago Blackhawks Series
Series Correct Score - Vancouver Canucks vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Vancouver Canucks 4-0              14/1
Vancouver Canucks 4-1              7/1
Vancouver Canucks 4-2              9/2
Vancouver Canucks 4-3              21/4
Chicago Blackhawks 4-0            9/1
Chicago Blackhawks 4-1            9/2
Chicago Blackhawks 4-2            9/2
Chicago Blackhawks 4-3            4/1

Total Games in Series - Vancouver Canucks vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Over Games      5.5 (-190)
Under Games    5.5 (+155)

Total Goals in Series - Vancouver Canucks vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Over Goals        34.5 (-115)
Under Goals      34.5 (-115)

Series Game Spread - Vancouver Canucks vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks      -1.5 (+140)
Vancouver Canucks       +1.5 (-170)

Where will the series be decided - Vancouver Canucks vs. Chicago Blackhawks
United Center, Chicago                           -150
General Motors Place, Vancouver            +120

2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Patrick Kane 2nd Round Points vs. Vancouver Canucks
Over/Under                    6

2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Jonathan Toews 2nd Round Points vs. Vancouver Canucks
Over/Under                    5.5

2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Henrik Sedin 1st Round Points vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Over/Under                    7

2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Daniel Sedin 1st Round Points vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Over/Under                    7

2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Ryan Kesler 1st Round Points vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Over/Under                    5

Posted in Hockey by Eric McErlain | No Comments »

April 28th, 2010

Washington Capitals Stanley Cup Playoff Notebook: An Abrupt End

Habs celebrate over the carcass of Washington's season.

What else is there really left to say at this point? Everyone who has been paying attention for the past two weeks knows the score: the Washington Capitals, the best team in hockey over the 2009-10 NHL regular season is going home, vanquished in seven games by the weakest team in the entire draw, the Montreal Canadiens.

At the start of this month, no one would have dared predict that it could happen. At the start of this month, no one would have dared believe it could happen. Hell, most of us sitting here in the press lounge still can't quite believe it happened.

So what's the why behind what now has to be considered the biggest disappointment in Caps postseason history? I'll try my best to recount the carnage:

His name is Halak. Jaroslav Halak: Here in DC, plenty of folks know the name of Carey Price thanks to the role he played a couple of years ago in helping Hamilton to a Calder Cup Finals win over the Hershey Bears. Fewer knew the name of Halak, the unheralded backup who won the job away from Price this season after toiling in the minors himself. After getting chased after Washington's Game Three win, Halak only yielded three goals on 134 shots. That's a save percentage of .978.

Habs Black Out Washington Power Play: Over the length of the series, Washington's power play, which was the best in the NHL in the regular season, went 1 for 33 against Montreal. Now, if you've watched hockey for any length of time, you know that plenty of broadcasters like to fall back on the old saw that your goalie is ultimately your best penalty killer, and Halak was certainly that for Montreal.

But Halak is only part of the story. Witness the final power play of the season. With time running out and goalie Semyon Varlamov pulled for an extra attacker, Washington still couldn't hold the puck in the offensive zone. For the entire series, the Caps looked lost with an extra attacker. Shots from the point were blocked frequently and with ease. The passing lanes were consistently clogged with Montreal sticks, and Washington never seemed to be able to hold the zone. Perhaps most damning of all, the team couldn't even manage to score on its only 5-on-3 advantage of the series that came in Game Six. Meanwhile, Montreal's power play was merely average, clocking in at a 20% success rate. It was really all they would need.

The "Passengers": After Washington squandered a chance to put Montreal away at home in Game Five, Head Coach Bruce Boudreau went to pains to point out that not everyone on his roster was pulling their weight. In particular, he said that there were "five or six passengers," on the roster who simply weren't getting things done. Well, Boudreau wasn't afraid to call out some of those folks, but we ought to spell out just who he was talking about right now: Alexander Semin (0 goals on a team-leading 44 shots); Mike Green (0 goals, 0 power play points, 12 costly PIMs and countless giveaways, including one that led to the insurance goal that put away Game Seven all while piling up more ice time than any other player on the roster); Tomas Fleischmann (0 goals, scratched in Game Seven); Brendan Morrison (0 goals, scratched twice); David Steckel (0 goals, scratched four times).

Alexander Semin and Brendan Morrison might want to keep their bags packed.

If you were wondering if there were any hidden injuries, head coach Bruce Boudreau dispelled those rumors after the game, pointing out that the only member of the team who was injured was Tom Poti, who was lost for the series after suffering an eye injury in Game Six.

There's more, plenty more, but to wrap things up, I think we ought to lay out what this franchise has achieved over the past three seasons to put it all into perspective.

Positive: 2007-08: Took the Southeast Division by one point after being left for dead in November, qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since 2003. 2008-09: Won second straight Southeast Division title. Won first playoff series (vs. Rangers) since 1998. 2009-10: Won third straight Southeast Division title. Won first Eastern Conference title in team history. Won first President's Trophy in team history, qualifying for home ice throughout the playoffs.

Negative: Played four playoff series in three seasons. Qualified as the higher seed each time (#3, #2 and #1). Extended to seven games in every series by lower seeds. Lost Game Seven at home three times.

Conclusion: Despite enjoying incredible regular season success, it appears that the Washington Capitals, for whatever reason, are a team that isn't built for postseason success. So what comes next? Even Boudreau admitted after tonight's game that Game Seven is the last time this exact lineup is going to be together. Sure, that might be a cliche of sorts in every sport when the season comes to an end, but after suffering what has to be considered the most crushing defeat in the history of the organization, one has to wonder out loud whether or not Ted Leonsis will come to General Manager George McPhee and Boudreau looking for some sort of action plan to right the ship.

It's hard to overstate just what a first round defeat does to an organization. While it's easy to focus on the emotional damage right now, there are also practical business implications. There's the playoff revenue that was lost after failing to advance. There are season ticket holders who would have renewed their plans who won't now. After a loss, it will be harder to sell tickets and sponsorships. Television ratings, which have been trending upward for three seasons, could very well take a hit too.

I could say more, but to tell you the truth, I'm out of answers right now. And, as it turns out, so is the team captain:

Posted in 2009-2010 Washington Capitals, Hockey by Eric McErlain | 3 Comments »

April 28th, 2010

SEMIN HITS THE CROSSBAR!

Oh. So. Close.

The story here thus far has been more of the same: Caps pressure but fail to score, Canadiens take a 1-0 lead on a power play goal, this time my Marc-Andre Bergeron. But the most frustrating moment of the night came in the first period, when the snake-bit Alexander Semin beat Jaroslav Halak only to see his shot rattle off the crossbar.

Tags: Alexander Semin, Jaroslav Halak
Posted in 2009-2010 Washington Capitals, Hockey by Eric McErlain | No Comments »

April 27th, 2010

Washington Capitals Stanley Cup Playoff Notebook: Seventh Heaven or Seventh Circle of Hell?

As I drove home from my girlfriend's apartment last night after witnessing Jaroslav Halak's 53-save performance against the Washington Capitals in a 4-1 Montreal Canadiens victory which forced a seventh game in their first round playoff series, I couldn't help but think about a boilerplate statement that business and financial writers are awfully familiar with …

This release contains information about management's view of future expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements, as a result of a variety of factors including, but not limited to …

In the business, that's known as the "Safe Harbor Statement." Put simply, it's a warning from a public company that despite how well things might seem to be going at the moment financially, it's no guarantee of future performance. It's also a bit of legal CYA that companies can point to when things go wrong as long as their original projections were made in good faith. Put simply, while things are going great now, your money is still at risk. Caveat emptor.

In a way, it's a lot like that in hockey too, it's just that instead of your money, it's your heart and soul that's at risk. Then again, did we really need a warning that finishing the regular season as champions of the Southeast Division and the Eastern Conference, as well as the winner of the President's Trophy for the league's best overall record in no way guarantees victory in the Stanley Cup Playoffs?

But there are other ways we need to keep that statement in mind when it comes to what might happen tomorrow night on the ice at Verizon Center, where the Caps will once again try to put away the pesky Canadiens. Because whatever might have happened in the past, whether the goalie in question was Billy Smith, Ron Hextall, Tom Barasso, Ken Wregget, Johan Hedberg, Nik Khabibulin, Martin Biron or Marc-Andre Fleury, it's still just one game. And in the very basic world of statistical analysis, there are only two possible outcomes: you win or you lose. It's the proverbial coin flip, and thanks to the greatest regular season performance in team history, the Caps will get to play that game at home.

Granted, if the coin comes up tails tomorrow night, there will be more than enough time for recriminations. As Caps owner Ted Leonsis has said many times before, there isn't any person in his organization -- and that goes from General Manager George McPhee to the lowliest prospect skating in South Carolna -- who won't have to endure some sort of performance review once the season is done.

If they lose, the series will have to go down as one of the most heartbreaking in franchise history, even for a franchise that has experienced other epic playoff collapses. Safe to say, it will also go down as one of the biggest upsets in league history. But all will be forgotten and forgiven if the team simply wins tomorrow night. So keep an open mind and concentrate on the positive, as hard as that might be at the moment. In the end, and we all knew this going in, there are no guarantees in life, or in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Posted in 2009-2010 Washington Capitals by Eric McErlain | No Comments »

April 23rd, 2010

Washington Capitals Stanley Cup Notebook: Day 10

Ovie scored once, but a second goal eluded him and his teammates tonight.

If there was any word to take away from the postgame locker room or press conference tonight, it had to be frustration. Before the playoffs even began, this team had identified disposing of their first round opponent in four or five games as a must if they were to make a serious run at the Stanley Cup. But here we are after five games, and we're headed back to Montreal for Game 6 after a 2-1 decision that was essentially lost in the game's first 10 minutes.

The big mystery here is why a team that was so dominant in the regular season couldn't seem to get their heads together in time for the drop of the puck, forgot how to execute on the power play, and lacked the sort of mental discipline you need to avoid taking stupid penalties that can hamstring any hope of coming back from an early two-goal deficit.

Not that Montreal doesn't deserve some credit. The Caps came out flat in the first period, just like they have all series long, and they took advantage twice on goals by Mike Cammalleri and Travis Moen. As for Jaroslav Halak, he made the 37 saves he was supposed to make, but if you talked to Caps head coach Bruce Boudreau, there were more than a few opportunities his players should have buried.

Halak made the saves he had to, but Washington's scorers didn't bury their chances.

For Boudreau, there was a pretty easy answer as to why this team his headed back to Montreal instead of resting up to get ready for the Philadelphia Flyers, and that's because everyone isn't giving a maximum effort. Boudreau went to pains to point out that out of his 20 players, there were "five or six passengers," on the Washington bench who weren't pulling their weight. When asked about the play of Alexander Semin, who has been held without a goal this series, Boudreau, while acknowledging that Semin's effort was better than it was earlier in the series, simply asked a reporter how many goals or assists Semin had on Friday night.

And then, right off the top of his head, Boudreau said that Semin had now been held without a goal for 12 straight playoff games. "He did put in a better effort I thought than the last three or four games. If we don't get him scoring, then it is too easy to check certain guys. He just has to come through," said Boudreau.

Now we get to wait two days for Game Six. And the Philadelphia Flyers get two more days to rest. Here at Verizon Center, they always seem to play the same clip of Al Pacino from Any Given Sunday in the third period, that locker room speech where he talks about how the inches a team needs to win are all around us.

Those inches were all around the Caps tonight. And they left them all on the ice.

Tags: Alex Ovechkin, Bruce Boudreau, Montreal Canadiens
Posted in 2009-2010 Washington Capitals, Hockey by Eric McErlain | No Comments »

April 18th, 2010

Washington Capitals Stanley Cup Playoff Notebook: Day 5

The biggest postseason comeback since Dale Hunter?

By nature, I'm a "hope for the best," but "prepare for the worst," sort of person. So when somebody asked me last night what I thought about Washington's chances to force overtime heading into the third period down two goals, my first reaction was to ask in reply how often an average team rallies in the third period to do the same.

Of course, after last night's thrilling finish, we know that the Caps aren't that sort of team at all. They are not average. They're not even like the children of Lake Wobegon, where everyone is "above average." Instead, they are the sort of team that rallies from a two-goal deficit to tie the game, then yields a goal to give back the lead, only to tie the game on the stick of a rookie who is developing a "Jeter-like" reputation in the world of hockey.

Then, once that's all over with, and the paramedics have packed the defibrillator and wiped the gel off your quivering chest, they'll put the game away barely 30 seconds into overtime, this time courtesy of a young Swede who seems determined to play Peter Forsberg in tandem with Alex Ovechkin's portrayal of Joe Sakic.

No, that's not at all average. Shame on me for not factoring in all of the other comebacks I've seen this team author in the past three seasons. Shame on me for preparing for the average and not expecting the extraordinary.

Tags: Alex Ovechkin, Dale Hunter, Nicklas Backstrom
Posted in 2009-2010 Washington Capitals, Hockey by Eric McErlain | No Comments »

April 17th, 2010

Washington Capitals Stanley Cup Playoff Notebook: Day 4

While some questioned Jose Theodore before, he wasn't the problem Thursday.

I'll be back watching and tweeting during Game Two with the Canadiens. Like most folks in town, I'm not exactly panicking after watching the heavily favored Caps drop Game One to Montreal. As I've written before, there are few teams that win a Stanley Cup without having to endure some sort of trouble or strife along the way, and I don't see any reason why the Caps should be any different. In fact, we ought to recall that it was only four years ago that this same Canadiens team stole two games on home ice in an Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series against the eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes.

So what has to improve tonight for Washington to win. At this point, it shouldn't be any mystery. After all, just about everyone has identified the fact that Alex Ovechkin needs to find a way to pierce Montreal's defense -- at least enough to get a single shot through the maze of bodies that seem willing to sacrifice themselves to help defend Montreal goalie Jaroslav Halak.

Back in a bit.

All eyes will be on Alex tonight.

UPDATE: Just witnessed a wild end to the second period, one that saw the Caps fall behind by a score of 4-1 before getting a goal back courtesy of Nicklas Backstrom. In short, the Caps are getting outworked and outhustled by Montreal, and it hasn't helped that their goaltending has deserted them at the worst moment possible.

The big news in the first period was Jose Theodore getting pulled after yielding two goals on the first two and only shots he faced. Semyon Varlamov seemed to get things under control in the second, but would up yielding a pair of goals of his own before the end of the period. And while the crowd was cheered by Backstrom's late goal, a two-goal deficit has hardly ever looked this daunting.

Tags: Alex Ovechkin
Posted in 2009-2010 Washington Capitals, Hockey by Eric McErlain | No Comments »

April 17th, 2010

Capstronaut Revealed

For a while now, folks have been wondering about the indentity of the Capstronaut, a fan who has been showing up at games this season dressed in a space suit. Over at The Daily Caller, Jonathan Strong has a short feature on Mark Handwerger, who is apparently the man behind the mask:

The man who mysteriously wears an astronaut suit to nearly every home game of the Washington Capitals is Geoff Dawson, a local bar mogul who co-owns a spaceship-themed bar in Chinatown, the Daily Caller has determined.
Dawson and business partner Mark Handwerger own Bedrock Management Group, which owns and operates four Buffalo Billiards locations, Atomic Billiards, Aroma, two Carpool locations, two Mackey’s and the space-themed Rocket Bar, among others.

Then again, the identity of the Capstronaut hasn't exactly been much of a secret. After all, if you had been paying attention to my Twitter feed all the way back in January, you had all the information you needed to know to track this story down.

Credit to Strong for putting in the work to get the confirmation.

Tags: Capstronaut, The Rocket Bar
Posted in 2009-2010 Washington Capitals, Hockey by Eric McErlain | No Comments »

April 16th, 2010

Not The Best Washington Has To Offer

I'm sure I'm late to the party on this clip, but I felt the need to share:

Like my friend Lyle Richardson said, calm down, it's only Game One.

Tags: Montreal Canadiens, TSN
Posted in 2009-2010 Washington Capitals, Hockey, Video by Eric McErlain | No Comments »

April 16th, 2010

Photos From Caps-Habs

Posted in 2009-2010 Washington Capitals, Hockey, Uncategorized by Eric McErlain | No Comments »

April 15th, 2010

Washington Capitals Stanley Cup Playoff Notebook: Day 2

Can Halak handle Ovie's heat?

I'll be in the press box at Verizon Center for Game One of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal playoff series between the Caps and the Montreal Canadiens. If you want to keep up with my observations in real time, please follow me on my Twitter feed. After the game is over, I'll leave some notes here, as well as any video I shoot in the locker room.

As for last night's results (click here for my predictions), I had a hard time stifling a chuckle after watching every one of the higher seeds drop Game One on home ice. And being a Washingtonian, it was hard not to smile after seeing the Ottawa Senators drop the Penguins in Pittsburgh by a score of 5-4. As it turns out, the rumors are indeed true: defending the Cup can often be harder than winning it in the first place.

Here's something that dropped in my email box earlier today that I wanted to share:

Eric, I don't think I can go another playoff season without my own Caps jersey, but which player should I get? Everyone has Ovechkin, but there's good reason for that. I like Backstrom, but he's a free agent this summer, though I don't see why he'd want to leave. Maybe Brooks Laich or similar? Who would you get?

Good question. Indeed, Backstrom isn't going anywhere. There's no doubt that he'll be re-signed over the Summer to at least a one-year extension if not a multi-year deal. If you want a jersey that's going to be here for a long time, but might not be as well known, go for #74, John Carlson. Here's an interview I shot with him in Hershey a couple of weeks ago. He's going to be a monster:

More later.

UPDATE: We're tied 1-1 after two periods. Safe to say, the Caps have been getting the better of the run of play, but they can't seem to convert. The one goal they did score, a wrist shot from just inside the blue line by defenseman Joe Corvo that found its way through a screen and into the back of the net, was a textbook example of a dirty playoff goal. The key here: Jason Chimera setting a very effective screen that prevented Halak from picking up the puck.

Tomas Fleischmann prepares to let loose with a backhand shot on Jaroslav Halak.

All I know right now is that I'm smelling overtime.

OVERTIME UPDATE: It's one thing to lose Game One of a playoff series in OT. It's another thing entirely to lose that game after the puck comes off the stick of the player who called out your goalie in the days before the game the way Tomas Plekanec did with Jose Theodore earlier this week.

The story tonight was a familiar one for folks who have watched a lot of playoff hockey. Higher seed dominates play early on, but can't translate that dominant play into many goals. Other team withstands the early push and begins to think they can actually win.

Here's a dejected Ovechkin after the game:

More tomorrow.

Tags: Alex Ovechkin, Brooks Laich, Joe Corvo, John Carlson, Nicklas Backstrom, Tomas Fleischmann
Posted in 2009-2010 Washington Capitals, Hockey by Eric McErlain | No Comments »

April 14th, 2010

Washington Caps Stanley Cup Playoff Notebook: Day 1

The Habs might hang around, but not for long.

The playoffs are finally here, and while I'm not much of a follower, after reading more than a few capsule predictions elsewhere that caused me to wince, I feel compelled to share my own predictions. As always, the following are provided for entertainment purposes only and should not be used as the basis for any actual cash wager …

East

Washington vs. Montreal: I watched all four games between these two teams in the regular season, and the overwhelming feeling I had more than once was, why in the world are the Caps having so much trouble putting this team away? There's no way Montreal can win the series, but they have the ability to win two out of three games at home in a six game series. That will most likely be Game 3 at home. The real test for the Caps will come in Game 4, where they'll have the opportunity stomp the life out of the Habs. Washington in five.

New Jersey vs. Philadelphia: This is a real trap series for New Jersey. Not in the sense that they'll lose it, but more in the sense that Daniel Carcillo or Chris Pronger may well snap, thereby putting one of the critical cogs in the Devils lineup on the injured list for 2-3 games. What else do you need to know? How about Martin Brodeur vs. Brian Boucher? New Jersey in five.

Buffalo vs. Boston: Do I really need to write that this is going to be a tight series? Boston may get Marc Savard back, but he's something of a perimeter player whose effectiveness is going to be muted during the playoffs. Otherwise, all you need to know is Miller > Rask and Ruff > Julian. Buffalo in six.

Pittsburgh vs. Ottawa: Last year, the Senators had Dany Heatley in the lineup all year and didn't make the playoffs. Before the start of the season, they were forced to trade him, and Cory Clouston still figured out a way for the team to finish fifth overall. The man knows what he's doing, and he's actually got a number of sort of grizzled vets on his roster that you like to have around this time of year. They won't win, but they'll hang around long enough to make it interesting. Pittsburgh in six.

West

San Jose vs. Colorado: Yes, I know that the Sharks have a postseason hill to climb like no other team in the league. Fortunately for them, they're facing a very young Avalanche team that overachieved early, and had just enough left in the tank to make the playoffs at the end of the season. Colorado has a bright future, but they don't have the horses to upend the Sharks this time. San Jose in five.

Chicago vs. Nashville: Congrats to Barry Trotz and David Poile for successfully replicating the 1980s model of Washington hockey success in Nashville. They play playoff hockey all year long out of financial necessity and it works. Like Ottawa, they'll hang around and leave the Blackhawks bruised up, but it won't be enough. Chicago in six.

Vancouver vs. Los Angeles: It can't help but warm your heart a little bit when you see a team that's been down so long get back into the NHL playoffs. It would be great for the game to see the Los Angeles Kings beat Vancouver in the first round this year, but I'm just not sure their young lineup is ripe enough as of yet to get it done. Like Colorado, their best years are yet to come. Just not this year against a team that boasts what may be the league's best goalie and its leader in points. Vancouver in five.

Phoenix vs. Detroit: Phoenix head coach Dave Tippett deserves a medal for the job he's done in Phoenix this year. Unfortunately, they don't give medals in the NHL, so the Jack Adams Trophy will have to do. His reward: facing a team that dug itself out of a trough early, one that's led by the man who is generally regarded as the league's best head coach year-over-year, no matter which bench he might be running. Some reward. One last thought: Wayne Gretzky must be more than a little bitter right now. Detroit in six.

So who wins it all? Before the past two playoffs, I was reluctant to pick a Caps team that I believed was still too young and inexperienced to win the Cup. That time is over. And while I'll always be the sort of person who waits for the other shoe to drop, I have no reason to believe that this won't be the year.

UPDATE: I just got a note from the folks at Bookmaker.com, and they provided me with the current line on winning the Stanley Cup. At this point, the Caps are favorites. Click here for the line on the Cup and the Conference winners:

BOSTON BRUINS +4000 (2%)

BUFFALO SABRES +785 (11%)

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS +385 (21%)

COLORADO AVALANCHE +5000 (2%)

DETROIT RED WINGS +950 (10%)

LOS ANGELES KINGS +2500 (4%)

MONTRÉAL CANADIENS +4600 (2%)

NASHVILLE PREDATORS +3600 (3%)

NEW JERSEY DEVILS +655 (13%)

OTTAWA SENATORS +3200 (3%)

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS +2200 (4%)

PHOENIX COYOTES +1300 (7%)

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS +725 (12%)

SAN JOSE SHARKS +390 (21%)

VANCOUVER CANUCKS +950 (10%)

WASHINGTON CAPITALS +275 (27%)

[The +/- Indicates the Return on the Wager. The percentage is the likelihood that response will occur. For Example: Betting on the candidate least likely to win would earn the most amount of money, should that happen.]

Posted in Hockey, Uncategorized by Eric McErlain | No Comments »

April 12th, 2010

Washington Capitals Stanley Cup Playoff Notebook: Preface

Heading into yesterday's regular season finale with the Boston Bruins, the Washington Capitals had little, if any, unfinished business. For certain, the team was committed to helping Alex Ovechkin secure his 3rd straight Rocket Richard Trophy. And there was little doubt in my mind that if the chance presented itself, the team would do everything it could to get Alex Semin his 40th goal and Mike Green his 20th.

Mike Green failed to get his 20th goal, but there are bigger fish to fry this Spring in D.C.

Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on your perspective, at this point in the organization's development, individual goals count for little with everyone focused on bringing Washington its first Stanley Cup. So yes, there was exaltation when Semin tallied his 40th goal in the first period. But while it might be possible for somebody to have mixed feelings after Ovechkin and Green were kept scoreless during the balance of a 4-3 shootout loss, the overriding buzz in the locker room after the game was one of anticipation.

The preliminaries were over, and now the real business was at hand.

Standing in the locker room after the game, it was hard not to remember just how different the end of the regular season could look here in Washington, and just how far the organization has come in such a short amount of time.

For me, my mind wandered back to the scene following the regular season finale in 2007, the last year that the team failed to make the playoffs. On April 7, 2007, the Caps went away quietly at home at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres by a score of 2-0. Though it was only three years ago, and it was already apparent that Ovechkin was the sort of transcendent talent that would eventually catapult Washington back into playoff contention, the fans hadn't come back yet. Instead, the stands that day were filled with noisy Sabres fans, either folks from Western New York who decided to spend a long weekend in the nation's capital, or just some of the many local residents who were transplants from the economically depressed Buffalo region.

In the bowels of Verizon Center after that game, the press gaggle around Buffalo head coach Lindy Ruff was pretty deep -- and why wouldn't it be, with the team having just completed the regular season with the league's best record. That Sabres team was just one year removed from an appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals, and was one of the prohibitive favorites to win it all that Spring.

Unfortunately for those Sabres, the burden of increased expectations was too much for them to handle, and they went down meekly in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Ottawa Senators.

The postgame presser with then-Caps coach Glen Hanlon wasn't as well attended. Back then, Hanlon's postgame comments were always delivered in a small room just off the entrance to the hallway that leads to the Caps locker room. Even though there were few of us in attendance, I'll never know how we all managed to fit into that room. The mood there, like it had been in the Caps locker room, was actually pretty hopeful. Talking to Hanlon, Olie Kolzig and Chris Clark that day, it was more than clear that the team had turned a corner, and that better days were just ahead. And all of them were looking forward to being part of the fun.

Of course, none of them are around now that the party is really getting started.

Today, Bruce Boudreau's postage press conferences are now held in an interview off the main press lounge, a room big enough to handle rows of chairs and more camera crews than I ever remember seeing crowd into the broom closet where Hanlon used to take questions. A locker room that used to be easy to navigate is always crowded, and its about to get even more crowded once Montreal comes to town for Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs on Thursday night.

Today, it's the Capitals who posted the best record in the regular season, and now it's this team that needs to work under the burden of increased expectations.

What will the result be? We all know that the same kind of pressure that breaks most substances also turns coal into diamonds. But we also need to know that not every ride to the Stanley Cup is an uninterrupted escalator ride to success. Even the best team of the post-Original Six era, the Edmonton Oilers, experienced a dramatic setback before winning five Cups in a seven-year stretch. In the Spring of 1983, Gretzky, Messier, Kurri and all the rest were the favorites heading into the finals against an aging and battered Islanders squad. But only four games later, the same team that would write its name in history was left battered at the hands of the dynastic Islanders in a four-game sweep.

But if you talk to those players now, to a man, they'll tell you how that loss made possible all of the victories that came later on. Sometimes you need to take one step back to get that extra step up to be successful.

Over the past three years, the Caps have made multiple incremental improvements in all aspects of their on-ice performance, incremental improvements that have culminated in the best regular season performance in the team's history. They are the favorite to win it all, and anyone who tells you they aren't is stone cold crazy.

I don't have any doubt that we will see Alex Ovechkin lift the Cup above his head as a Stanley Cup champion here in Washington. Will they do it this year? My heart says yes, but my head, filled with decades of memories of other clubs with broken dreams, isn't so certain. I guess I'll just have to stick around to find out.

Tags: Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Bruce Boudreau, Chris Clark, Glen Hanlon, Mike Green, Olie Kolzig
Posted in 2009-2010 Washington Capitals, Hockey by Eric McErlain | No Comments »

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