Washington Capitals @ Tampa Bay Lightning 3-19-09

[DButz65]

Gametime 7:30PM CSNHD

LETS GO CAPS!!!! Kick some bloody ass! :)

[PokerPacker]

Quentin Laing has been recalled from Hershey. Nice to see him back up here after the strong effort he gave us last year when we called his number.

Varlamov to start and Pothier to play.

[MonkFan8]

We better not play down to the Lightning this game. They're missing most of their roster due to injury. I'm gonna go with 5-1 Caps.

[PokerPacker]

Forwards
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Semin
Fleischmann-Fedorov-Fehr
Laich-Nylander-Kozlov
Laing-Steckel-Bradley

Defense
Morrisonn-Green
Poti-Pothier
Schultz-Jurcina

Goal:
Varlamov

[pjfootballer]

Can't have a letdown. I think it will be 5-3. A little closer than what Monkfan says. TB's defense is awful and it will be high scoring.

[rincewind]

Kozlov has been busted all the way down to third line? I do like the F line together again, though. I'm also excited to see Varlamov get another start.

[PokerPacker]

Kozlov has been busted all the way down to third line? I do like the F line together again, though. I'm also excited to see Varlamov get another start.

I don't see it as being demoted, but rather being placed where he'll fit. right now we want Semin on the first line, it appears. The F line is a good line. That leaves him with Laich and Nyls, which is not a line to be under-estimated as we saw last game.

[InsaneBoost]

I can't wait for the game tonight.

[DButz65]

Gammmme onn!

Lets go caps!

[PokerPacker]

there's a way to start it off

[DButz65]

OVECHKIN!!!! 3 on 1 to boot! Sweet move and shot!


Congrats on goal 50 OV


1-0 CAPS

[MonkFan8]

Grats Ovie. Suck my balls Cherry

[Sticksboi05]

NUMBER FIFTY!!!!!!

Ovechkin!

[PokerPacker]

what a rebound save by varly there!

[DButz65]

Grats Ovie. Suck my balls Cherry


hahaha i think he WOULD careful what you ask for

[MonkFan8]

Thats a terrible call

[skinsfan_1215]

WTF? How did TB get another PP? I changed the channel for like 2 minutes...

Refs trying to give the game to TB, that was a horrible call on Semin taking away the goal.

[mbqbfan]

WTF? How did TB get another PP? I changed the channel for like 2 minutes...

Refs trying to give the game to TB, that was a horrible call on Semin taking away the goal.

I know, really. The refs only catch the Caps .

[PokerPacker]

Another 4 on 4 goal

[skinsfan_1215]

lol Laughlin: "GORE!!!!!" Couldn't get Green and score out of his mouth at the same time.

[MonkFan8]

lol Laughlin: "GORE!!!!!" Couldn't get Green and score out of his mouth at the same time.

That was Joey B., but yeah it was funny. I couldn't tell if he was messing up "goal" and "score" or "Green" and "score".

Games going well, a bit disturbed about Varly's lack of rebound control, but it's probably just nerves. That one recovery save he made was fantastic.

Should be 2-0, but 2-1 due to refs is okay.

[mbqbfan]

As long as Varly keeps TB to one goal only then I'll be ok.

[PokerPacker]

Prospal looked visibly upset at Varlamov's save.

[PokerPacker]

Nice to see Ovie coming back to Green's aid after the play.

[mbqbfan]

Please tell me Fehr's goal went it...

[MonkFan8]

They should just hand the Lightning the game.

[PokerPacker]

I thought that puck was in

[mbqbfan]

Please tell me Fehr's goal went it...



What the H-E-double hockey sticks? Bummer, dude.

[ntotoro]

The only thing worse than waiting to see how this team responds is that freaking Center Ice commercial with the douchebag wearing the Cindy jersey. I want to smack him in the face with a pipe wrench every single time I see it.

[PokerPacker]

The only thing worse than waiting to see how this team responds is that freaking Center Ice commercial with the douchebag wearing the Cindy jersey. I want to smack him in the face with a pipe wrench every single time I see it.

Ugh, that guy is so freaking annoying. What a tool.

[PokerPacker]

Green with #2 on the night

[Sticksboi05]

Mike green!

[mbqbfan]

"GORRRRRRE" again...wohoo Greenie, again.

[skinsfan_1215]

"GORRRRRRE" again...wohoo Greenie, again.

Haha I wonder if he realizes he's doing that

[PokerPacker]

that was a pretty one.

[PokerPacker]

Kozlov has been busted all the way down to third line? I do like the F line together again, though. I'm also excited to see Varlamov get another start.

Just wanted to bring this back up. See what I meant that it was less of a demotion and more of finding him a line he fits into? He's playing really well with Nyls. perhaps he's just who Nylander needed on his line to get going.

[PokerPacker]

Goal! who got that one?

[Sticksboi05]

5-2. We better not take the Canes easy next game.

[DButz65]

Someone scored hehe w00t 5-2 CAPS

[mbqbfan]

I think it was Bradley for the goal. Did anyone see the Caps guy w/no front teeth smile? He's missing his front teeth.

[PokerPacker]

I think it was Bradley for the goal. Did anyone see the Caps guy w/no front teeth smile? He's missing his front teeth.

It was Brads with the goal.

[DButz65]

Noo Greenie limped off the ice

[PokerPacker]

Noo Greenie

He got up and skated to the bench, whatever it is, it isn't serious enough to keep him out of the playoffs.

edit: oh, it was the shoulder, that doesn't look pleasant.

[DButz65]

He got up and skated to the bench, whatever it is, it isn't serious enough to keep him out of the playoffs.

edit: oh, it was the shoulder, that doesn't look pleasant.

See how he got pulled down? pretty cheap after he got checked if you ask me, shoulder they think

[mbqbfan]

Noo Greenie limped off the ice


He got up and skated to the bench, whatever it is, it isn't serious enough to keep him out of the playoffs.

edit: oh, it was the shoulder, that doesn't look pleasant.

I hope it's nothing serious. Hopefully it's a stinger on his shoulder & nothing more.

[PokerPacker]

See how he got pulled down? pretty cheap after he got checked if you ask me, shoulder they think

could be a reaggrivation of his earlier injury, but I don't see it lasting more than 10 games.

[MonkFan8]

Would really suck if Green is out for long at all.

[mbqbfan]

I"m happy Caps won. Do we leap over NJ and get 2nd place in the East?? If so, wahoooo!!!

[skinstzar]

Gooooooores are good, injured Green is bad. That had dislocation written all over it. I'm really scared he's got a trick shoulder. I played Lacrosse in college with an all american defenseman he had a trick shoulder and the only way it was fixed was with surgery and a year off. I'm scared.

[ACW]

What the hell was Ovie's celebration supposed to be? :ols:

[PokerPacker]

What the hell was Ovie's celebration supposed to be? :ols:

His stick was too hot to handle

[ACW]

His stick was too hot to handle:rotflmao:

[PokerPacker]

from tarik:

Ovechkin Reaction

Here's what Alex Ovechkin had to say about his goal celebration tonight: "Me, Jose Theodore, [Nicklas] Backstrom and [Mike Green] said if I score goal, Jose tell me just put the stick on the ice and try act like it's so hot. Backie stopped and Greenie stopped, so I have to do it myself."

When I asked him if he expected to be ripped by Don Cherry, he shot back with a big smile: "Oh yeah, he's going to be pissed off for sure. I love it. I can't wait 'til he says something about me. Old coaches, old system, you know?

Not everyone was laughing, though. Caps Coach Bruce Boudreau said he was caught off gaurd by the celebration and plans to talk to his star about it. Bolts Coach Rick Tocchet was upset, telling reporters: "I grew up in the old days in the Spectrum where in the first period, after that happened, it might have been a three hour first period. It's not something I like. It's hard for me to see that in our building."

I'll have more in an hour or so. Got a story to write for the paper. So check back.

[rincewind]

Just wanted to bring this back up. See what I meant that it was less of a demotion and more of finding him a line he fits into? He's playing really well with Nyls. perhaps he's just who Nylander needed on his line to get going.



Yeah. They actually listed that as the second line and the F-line as the third line on Comcast.



Thoughts on tonight:

Varlamov looked good, but he has to get those rebounds under control.

The Green injury was scary looking and could be a very, very bad omen of things to come.

Ovi - congratulations on 50! But I have to agree that the celebration was a little over the top... especially without Brash in the lineup.

[HEavyJumbo85]

NHL Network is reporting that Green just got the wind knocked out of him and he's okay, this coming straight from the horse's mouth in Mike Green's post game interview. I ofcourse think he's BSing completely and he actually reaggrivated his shoulder injury. Hopefully he won't be out too long, but I see him being listed as day to day with an upper body injury at some point tomorrow.

Ovie's celebration was a little over the top and he's lucky nobody on Tampa took a shot at him. Boudreau was pissed after the game, Tocchet was absolutely pissed. I know why he did it, but he probably shouldn't have. Hopefully it's a one time deal and he won't go that far again. Premeditated celebrations are a little bush league in hockey.

[PokerPacker]

I think Ovie's celebration would've been a little less outrageous had Backs and Greener joined him as planned.

[InsaneBoost]

Pretty good game tonight, I don't know if I'm all big about his goal celebration, I know it's a big achievement, but I'm not all into celebrations no matter what sport.

Hopefully they can keep the good work up.

[endzone_dave]

Great, my favorite player has turned into Ocho Cinco. I hope BB rips him a new one and screws his head back onto his shoulders.

[superozman]

Thatta Boy Tocchet! Showing the Spectrum RESPECT :) May it RIP in the coming months.... :(

Ovie Cinco - what a celebration

[Gator Bait]

Thatta Boy Tocchet! Showing the Spectrum RESPECT :) May it RIP in the coming months.... :(

Ovie Cinco - what a celebration

wouldn't it be more like ocho ovie!

[superozman]

wouldn't it be more like ocho ovie!

Haha thats what i meant...well Ovie Ocho...whoops, my bad!

[Muzzah]

http://capitals.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=-5&id=37189

Great video of Ovie getting 'creamed' and talking about the celebration and how he can't wait to hear Don Cherry talk about it.

[HEavyJumbo85]

News not all good from last night, Quintin Laing has been hospitalized with a torn spleen and his season is done according to Tarik

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitalsinsider/2009/03/laing_has_torn_spleen.html#comments

-------------------------------------------------------------
That's sad news for a guy like Laing as this was likely going to be his last stint in the NHL. I assume that Beagle will be the guy called up to replace him, but I guess we can't rule out a guy like Andrew Gordon or maybe even Chris Bourque. Whoever we call up will need to kill penalties at least a little.

[wvuskinsfan]

good win last night, Ovie's goal was just great. Sounded like alot of caps fans in the house to.

[MonkFan8]

That really blows for Laing. Finally gets healthy and called up during a crucial time of the season.

[PokerPacker]

damn, I was happy to see Laing make it back up here. His shot-blocking is something the team was missing. Last year, Steckel was blocking shots the way Laing did when he was playing, but I'm just not seeing it this year. I was hoping that maybe Laing would get him back into that habit, but I guess not with his short stint here.

[egtuna]

Rick "Two for the Money" Tocchet can eat a puck. He's one to talk about integrity. Dude was busted for gambling with Gretzky's wife. He probably had the Caps -2 1/2 anyway. Ovie Rules.

[TheREALJBird]

http://capitals.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=-5&id=37189

Great video of Ovie getting 'creamed' and talking about the celebration and how he can't wait to hear Don Cherry talk about it.

Heh, awesome video. Ovie's not sweatin douchers like Don Cherry.


Unfortunate news by Lang soon, hopefully everything goes alright while he's hospitalized.

[pjfootballer]

Good win. Could do without the over-celebrations. I like it better when he just bodychecks the boards. I'm just an old type guy that I like the team celebrations better.

[Gracelander]

Any word on how Green is doing? Was there an mri done this morning?

[PokerPacker]

I'm just an old type guy that I like the team celebrations better.

To be fair, Green and Backs were supposed to join him. I guess they didn't want to when it came down to it.

[jrockster21]

Any word on how Green is doing? Was there an mri done this morning?

I heard its worse than indicated in the post-game conference last night.

[HEavyJumbo85]

I heard its worse than indicated in the post-game conference last night.

You had to expect that from a George McPhee managed club. There's speculation that it's a strained oblique which could make sense, I'm not sure how long he'd be out with an injury like that. He'd have to go on Long Term Injury if they were to recall Karl Alzner, but my money would be on recalling Sami Lepisto if they needed a replacement. Sami Assist-o is a solid offensive prescense on the back end, and they can fit him under the cap without making any other moves.

[PokerPacker]

You had to expect that from a George McPhee managed club. There's speculation that it's a strained oblique which could make sense, I'm not sure how long he'd be out with an injury like that. He'd have to go on Long Term Injury if they were to recall Karl Alzner, but my money would be on recalling Sami Lepisto if they needed a replacement. Sami Assit-o is a solid offensive prescense on the back end, and they can fit him under the cap without making any other moves.

even without Green, we still have 6 healthy defensemen. We'll probably just dress who we have.

[PokerPacker]

From Tarik's blog:

The Sharks' Jeremy Roenick was a guest on AM 640 Toronto's Bill Watters Show today, and the outspoken NHL veteran had nothing but nice things to say about Alex Ovechkin's controversial goal celebration last night.

Here's a preview:

"You know what? I love Ovechkin. I think this kid is great, he's great for the game, he's great for the young kids to watch. The energy this kid shows, the talent he shows, what he does on the ice is just spectacular, and, you know, so what? He goes and puts his stick down and, you know, he is hot. He is hot. He's telling everybody that he's red hot, and his stick is hot, he's ... letting everybody in the world know that he knows that he's good and that he's hot."

[HEavyJumbo85]

even without Green, we still have 6 healthy defensemen. We'll probably just dress who we have.

Yeah you're right, I guess I spaced with Pothier being around now. In that case I don't think that the Caps could even make an emergency recall...mainly because it has to be an emergency :ols: oh well. Hopefully Mike won't be out too long, we saw how they played without him in HotLanta.

[PokerPacker]

I'm still really bummed about Laing. I can see his shot-blocking and grittiness being useful in playoff hockey. One thing we've been missing this year is that shot-blocking. Last year Steckel and Laing were blocking all the shots, this year Steckel seems to have forgotten about that role he was playing last year and now Laing's out for 3-4 months.

[CM916]

I was there and I was impressed. A bit less than half the people there appeared to be Caps fans and they made it feel almost like a Redskins game with our mutual comraderie. Every time my friend flipped me off, I had six people behind us ready for a high five. Another guy that was with us took some pics if anyone is interested, pretty random stuff, mostly fights.