Capitals, Bruins each balancing two goaltenders
The Capitals are far from the only team prepared to split the responsibilities in net between two goaltenders.
While it's uncertain whether Michal Neuvirth will get his sixth consecutive start or if Semyon Varlamov, who told John Buccigross he would start Thursday, will make his season debut for the Capitals tonight at Verizon Center, Washington could easily face either of the Bruins' pair tonight in the first portion of a home-and-home against Boston as well. It's possible all four of the teams' combined goaltenders could play in these two games in three days.
Tuukka Rask (0-1, .889 save percentage, 4.00 GAA) may be the goaltender of the future, veteran Tim Thomas (2-0, .984 save percentage, 0.50 GAA) has the hot hand through the Bruins' last two games. He's even shown glimpses of the play that won him the Vezina Trophy in 2009.
From The Boston Globe:
Two starts may not provide an accurate or extensive snapshot of how Thomas's season might unfold. Saturday night's 31-save gem came against an undermanned New Jersey roster. Names such as Matt Corrente, Jacob Josefson, Alexander Urbom, and Tim Sestito may be familiar only to the most passionate of puckheads. It's one thing to stone a lineup stuffed with B-level talent. It's quite another to foil the likes of Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and Alexander Semin; the Bruins have a home-and-home set against the Capitals tomorrow (Verizon Center) and Thursday (TD Garden).
But it may be that Tuukka Rask, on the bench for the last two games, could be back in the crease as early as tomorrow. Thomas is the hot goalie. But Rask, playing behind a leaky squad in the season-opening 5-2 setback against Phoenix, needs to find his rhythm.
"It's about being fair and making our decision tougher as we go along,'' said coach Claude Julien. "We have to consider two things: a goalie who's played really well, and another goalie who can't sit forever either. We've got lots of games. Three games in five nights [this] week. I'm sure we'll see both of them.''
Alex Ovechkin and Semyon Varlamov visited ESPN to film a "This is SportsCenter" commercial. Here's Ovechkin's chat with John Buccigross:
FROM THE POST
Despite a 4-1 record, the Capitals remain searching for a dominant team performance.
Dan Steinberg's public-service piece about the beer selection at Verizon Center.
IN THE MINORS
Mathieu Perreault on starting the year in Hershey: "If you're going to be in the 'A' somewhere, you certainly want to be here," he said. "I'd rather be in Washington, but now I'm here, and I have to deal with it. It's just another season starting."
RMNB's latest prospect watch.
AROUND THE WEB
CSN's Alan May on how to build a successful team/organization in the salary-cap era.
Sure, it's October, but here is The Hockey News' Vezina Trophy watch, where Michal Neuvirth is ranked sixth.
ESPN noticed the Caps' recent success on the penalty kill.
By
Katie Carrera
| October 19, 2010; 9:02 AM ET
Categories:
Boston Bruins, Morning Roundup
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For every Anton "Bust-of-a-son"...
There is an 8.5. I want to see this guy get his shot...
Posted by: wtf_e_fehr | October 19, 2010 9:21 AM | Report abuse
Up here in PA for some training and caught Lisa Hillary (spelling?) and Keith Jones on Comcast covering the Flyers. Very, very odd to see Lisa smiling and talking Philly.
Posted by: flee001 | October 19, 2010 9:23 AM | Report abuse
Hate to see Varly not get his shot but IMO you have got to ride the hot hand and Neuvy has that right now. This team could easily be 2-3 but thanks to Neuvy they are 4-1 instead.
Posted by: PhilR | October 19, 2010 9:41 AM | Report abuse
Up here in PA for some training and caught Lisa Hillary (spelling?) and Keith Jones on Comcast covering the Flyers. Very, very odd to see Lisa smiling and talking Philly.
Posted by: flee001
It's all about that greenback dollar.
Posted by: LloydChristmas | October 19, 2010 9:45 AM | Report abuse
John Buccigross sure made that exchange a little awkward. That was odd.
Posted by: LloydChristmas | October 19, 2010 9:50 AM | Report abuse
I used to be a one of the very few Theo supporter around here. Man, was I wrong!!
isnt it great not seeing your opponent score 3 or more goals.
Posted by: guer_j | October 19, 2010 9:52 AM | Report abuse
yeah that was a awkward interview.
Posted by: guer_j | October 19, 2010 9:55 AM | Report abuse
@sgm3 and others from a couple of threads back
Obviously you guys take everything too literally and that was my point with the dont respond to my posts comments. I was making a joke about sgm3 telling cstanton that way back when. Im sorry people on here dont know how to take jokes or read between lines. I won't attempt to do that again.
Posted by: ThePat | October 19, 2010 9:59 AM | Report abuse
Do we fit into Alan May's salary cap scheme?
4 really good defensemen(1 of them great offensively), one big scoring line with a great all-around center on the second line and one solid tender. If you are really strong at either defense or starting goaltender, then you can go a little easier on the other. The rest of the players have to be plug-ins.
4 really good defensemen(1 of them great offensively) - Green, Sarge, Carlson, Alzner or Poti?
There is definite POTENTIAL there
Goalie - I would call the two we have solid and POTENTIALLY very good
...we arent really "strong" at D or in goal right now.
1 big scoring line - our top line is one of the biggest. #16 fills in for #22 when he is gone.
What remains the biggest question mark is "a great all-around center on the second line".
MaJo has a shot, but I dont think Flash is ever gonna be that!
So maybe we fit Alan's scheme in a year or two?
Posted by: wtf_e_fehr | October 19, 2010 10:00 AM | Report abuse
AND I SAY RIDE NUEVY TIL DA WHEELS FALL OFF!!!!!
GO CAPS!
Posted by: wtf_e_fehr | October 19, 2010 10:02 AM | Report abuse
@ThePat,
Yeah this blog is seriously getting to be too much! Reminds me of that Geico commercial where they have the ex-drill Sergeant as a therapist with this blog being Mamby Pamby Land!!
Would anyone like a tissue?
Posted by: PhilR | October 19, 2010 10:05 AM | Report abuse
Does anyone know the rules on players coming over to the NHL after their season is complete. For example is Orlov allowed to play after his season is complete and if he contract has expired?
Posted by: RichC3 | October 19, 2010 10:11 AM | Report abuse
Regarding Orlov coming here after KHL season is over... While in principle I think it is possible, and Metallurg's season is all but guaranteed to end in February, he is nowhere near being NHL ready. Bears - definitely, maybe even top offensive D and PP time, but he has a lot to learn defensively. And I don't think he is learning anything right now playing for a horrible KHL team with no real coaching or a decent partner to learn from.
Posted by: igor_k17 | October 19, 2010 10:27 AM | Report abuse
Also, while "Kool-Aid drinker" is a Jim Jones reference, the members of the Peoples Temple actually drank Flavor Aid, not Kool-Aid, during their mass suicide in Jonestown.
Posted by: JohninMpls |
Most of them didn't "drink" anything, it was squirted into their mouths with syringes.... some were just shot, like Jim Jones himself...
Posted by: richmondphil2 | October 19, 2010 10:42 AM | Report abuse
@LloydChristmas:
keep in mind, buccigross is nothing more than a fan (and a closet pens fan at that), not any type of NHL expert or analyst. don't be fooled just because he sits behind the mike of the "worlwide leader." that's why his awkwardness, nervousness, and attempt at humor were so easy to see.
Posted by: redrocker2 | October 19, 2010 10:44 AM | Report abuse
So Poti is likely in, Green and Gordon are game time decisions, Bradley out...Neuvy starting.....wonder who gets the scratches tonight.
Posted by: SeminAllOverTheIce | October 19, 2010 11:04 AM | Report abuse
SAOTI,
Undoubtedly it will be DJK, why they traded for the guy I will never know as BB seems very unwilling to give the guy a legit shot at getting in the lineup on a consistent basis. Playing one in every five games hardly allows a player to get into a groove.
And I think you meant thet Brads will be a game time decision instead of Gordon didn't you?
Posted by: PhilR | October 19, 2010 11:13 AM | Report abuse
@Phil R
Bradley is out. Boyd is a gametime decision, he did not skate this morning. A little dinged up.
Posted by: ThePat | October 19, 2010 11:15 AM | Report abuse
@ThePat
Thanks for the seconding of Bradley out, Gordon game time decision. :)
@PhilR
How about I phrase it, Bradley out, Gordon's availabilty will be a game time decision. Better?
As for lines I am guessing...
Ovi-Backs-Knub
Semim-Flush-Laich
Chimchim-Majo-Fehr
Hendricks-Stecks-King
With possibly Gordito instead of Stecks.
Posted by: SeminAllOverTheIce | October 19, 2010 11:21 AM | Report abuse
Oh thanks, I must have missed that. Maybe BB will not have a choice but to put DJK in the lineup.
Posted by: PhilR | October 19, 2010 11:22 AM | Report abuse
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