Open thread: Capitals vs. Penguins

We better not take it easy in this game due to the absence of Cindy and Shrek. Another test for the coach again today... Let's go CAPS!

@sca187

... it is just another "trap" and BB handled the last one quite good ... ;-)

Go Caps !

Let's see how he handles this one and how his players respond to his message. Let's do this!

I do think we need DJK on this one to counter Engelland & Cook

I wouldn't count the Pens as a poor team even without their top two guys. They have won thier last 5 without the two of them.

In other news hockeybuzz is reporting the Caps "turned down a big deal yesterday" a source said. They are looking for D, and are apparently happy with their goaltending..which kind of shocks me. The caps need a goalie to help them get their confidence back.

Anyone hear anything about what the deal might have been and who might have been involved?

@Rhino40

maybe you are right - especially to help Steckel ...

They are looking for D, and are apparently happy with their goaltending..which kind of shocks me. The caps need a goalie to help them get their confidence back.
-------------------------------

Really, have you seen where Varly is ranked in GAA and save percentage lately???

Kaberle? I've read some stuff about him being involved in some "big trade" talks. No source I would trust.

joe that was all from hockeybuzz not me.

No DJK in the lineup... guess you're on your own, Steckel.

joe that was all from hockeybuzz not me.

Posted by: icehammer97 | February 6, 2011 12:12 PM

ice - if you take the time to post quotes from hockeybuzz - you must take your lumps!! :D

Capt Kirk, I was mainly asking about the "big trade" mentioned and was looking to see if anyone had heard from a real source if they had heard anything. I wanted to make sure that he knew that it was not me who thought we needed goaltending help, I am fine with our current goaltending situation.

No DJK in the lineup... guess you're on your own, Steckel.

Posted by: joek443 | February 6, 2011 12:13 PM

Heh... nothing to fear, Big Chimmy's got his back.

Chim chiminey
Chim chiminey
Chim chim cher-ee!
The Pens are as lucky
As the Pens can be

Cody Eakin would fill the role of a needed second line center. In his last eight games with the Kootenay Ice he has 14 points with 7 goals and 7 assists and is a plus six.

Anyone got a link?

I think I would've started Varly today and Neuvy on Tuesday against SJ.

Way too early to tell. He's a pretty good prospect at this point.

I am sure atdhe.me has one bseastwood

I think Neuvy wanted a piece of the Pens after the was their coach talked about him on HBO. He will be more fired up then he has been all season.

last post should have read "after the way their coach"

adthe domain name has been seized by the feds. Anyone have another link?

game on CSN - no
game on NBC - yes
mute button - priceless

Roger atdhe.me is the new address

crysby reference =1

@ RogerNoVa

.. it is now .me

a 2fer = crysby ref #2 plus showing the steckel hit (old news)

a 2fer - crysby ref #2 and showing the steckel hit (old news)

why do most hockey reporters/announcers/pens fanboys conveniently forget that crysby played after the winter classic and did not after the hit that gave him the concussion?

Wow was that on the Pens that just tried jumping into our D and missed and went flying, it made me chuckle.

i think it was hannan that made the hit-ducking hip check

A supposedly skilled player like 8 should not make that kind of turnover at the blueline with that much space and only 1 guy near him.

ebolean1, that's why I'm listening to the Caps radio feed while I watch the NBC video. It's not quite in sync, but hey, it's better than the alternative.

Sick of commentators already.

Wow...can the announcers be any more pro-pittsburgh?!?!?

It is so annoying to hear them talk about how incredible te pittsburgh is outplaying and the pengiuns' forecheck is so superior.

Although their forecheck has been imppressive, I would say that the Caps have gotten FAR MORE scoring chances in this first period.

Yet I hear next to nothing bout how well the Caps are playing.

Hate NBC broadcasts...expescially when the Penguins are playing.

Can not believe how they have become ockey royalty?!?!?!

@wocoliz
yeah would much rather her colby. unfortunately don's have a radio in the same room as tv. i find that with no sound, i focus moer on what is happening in front of the goal or otherwise away from the puck.

The Pens must be ecstatic with this performance shorthanded on the road.

And the Caps haven't been a good forechecking for years, it's not just today that it shows.

Hate seeing 8 not making himself a better target at times. He puts his D-man with the puck in a bad spot.

Laich gettin HOT!!

brooks with the dirty crease goal!!!

I LAICHY!!!!

Great play in front of the net!

Great finish by Brookie but MP made that play with the turnover.

BROOKSIE!!!!!!

MP makes that happen

Beautifully boring until Laich brought the mail home!

I will take 2 more periods JUST LIKE THAT!

We have the skill advantage!!!

COME RIGHT BACK GREENIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

great block by green

yep - perreault is too small to play at this level

Oh man that caught Mike Green right in the ear.

"Only the best offensive defenseman that the Caps have..."

How about the best in the league?

Figures it was Orpik with the shot, too.

Stay strong, 52!

If they don't give us a legit update about Green, I'm searching for NBC's viewers' email address to file a formal complaint.

well - can't call a crysby reference - but irrevelant pens reference #3

caps were credited with 15 hits in the 1st period. they had 19 total against TB. that was a good 20 minutes against a real physical team.

maybe that helps a little bit as adthe.me does not show the game:

www.vodkasports.com

here it is - crysby reference #3 AND it looks as if we will be treated to a "piece" on him after the break

maybe that helps a little bit as adthe.me does not show the game:

www.vodkasports.com

maybe that helps a little bit as adthe.me does not show the game:

www dot vodkasports dot com

TEB still looking out for CI

TarikElBashir Alexander Semin just told me in the pressbox that he hopes to play Tuesday vs. San Jose. .

Via Twitter

nicety if the team hasn't given an update not much NBC can do. Looking on twitter no one has any update on Green yet so it is not just the fools at NBC.

I did see this from TEB Alexander Semin just told me in the pressbox that he hopes to play Tuesday vs. San Jose.

If Green doesn't come back we will see if the Caps D stuggles without him (I think they will). Especially when exiting the zone.

Hopefully he is okay, but you never know anymore with injuries to the head.

On Eakin, I saw a comparison of Eakin to Max Talbot.

I guess they are about the exact same size(when Talbot was his age) and put up almost identical numbers in juniors.

Talbot is a nice player and a good player to have on a team, but he would not be untradeable.

it's hard for me to believe that many outside of $hitSburg care about this crap. oops - maybe its my caps-centric opinion showing

One way you can get Caps radio online is to go to capitals.nhl.com and click on the radio link there. It's slightly out of sync with the NBC video, but it's worth it to me to listen to Kolbe and Sabourin instead of the NBC crew and their Pens worship.

LET'S GO CAPS!

Ouch, I hope Green is okay. It looked like he was hit around the ear area, better than the face.
The Peguins are a different team without Malkin & Cindy. They still have some players but, take the best 2 off any team & there is a drop-off.
Now that I have said that, I hope the Peguins don't come out & score 4 next period.

@Icehammer

I know. It just seems like they did not prepare to analyze and report for BOTH teams.

We both jumped on Twitter to get updates. Funny that it has come to this in the post live chat, Twitter box in open thread days.

Via Twitter

wyshynski Not sure if NBC has said otherwise but Caps say Mike Green being "evaluated." Schultz out with Hannan to start 2nd.

total bull

Hendricks is starting to get the Holmstrom/Franzen reputation call.

GOAL

MJ!!!!!

YES Shortie! Hockey justice!

@dull

Let's hope GMGM doesn't trade Eakin in some desperate move before the play offs.

Yeah, MaJo!!! Even sweeter, they can't wash that one out with a BS call.

nice carry into the zone by MJ - i'm liking it

Now THAT was a nice goal.

that was the correct answer for the bad call ...

HERE COMES THE WORLDS GREATEST PP!!!!

make it hurt with this PP

Keep the pedal to the metal, boys. COME ON, PP!

laich workin hard!

K-BUS WITH GLORIOUS CHANCES!!!

WTF?

@dull

Let's just hope GMGM does not trade Eakin in some "panic move" before the deadline !

God Knuble just missed two I thought he had.

... please no shorty ...

I dont remember MaJo being this fast in international competition.

wow - big E pinching big time and rushing the net - OMG - how did that not go in

Nice tackle by Staal on Hendricks there, I think he thinks he is playing later today.

score on this one - please

MAF is keeping his team in it right now.

instead of talking about how well the caps are playing, is can only imagine they are talking about how great MAF is

... oh, oh, those were a bunch of high quality chances ...

nice pass by MJ after curling around the net

I think Ovie gets more pumped when 87 is on the ice.

what exactly would be the point of complaining about the broadcast? If you don't like it, just mute it.

I've been watching sports all my life but NEVER have I seen the outcome of any game decided by talking heads on TV, they're NOT the refs.

VogsCaps Mike Vogel
Mike Green's return to today's game vs. PIT is questionable, according to #Caps media relations.

@joek443

... but they may influence the refs ...

8 kind of got caught upright, drifting and puck watching in the d-zone on his last shift. Needs to have his head on a swivel and be aware of the positioning of the players behind him. If he is gonna take long shifts in general, it can't be at the expense of playing hard and focused in all 3 zones.

Right now, we dont need Green.

But if we do, he will come out of the locker room like Willis Reed....

...WE WILL WIN THIS!!!

... and another PP for the Caps ...

Ovie just saved a goal there on the backcheck, Neuvy needs to play that one smarter.

... but they may influence the refs ...

Posted by: FCKoeln1 | February 6, 2011 1:55 PM | Report abuse

Wait what? Since when do the refs watch the game on TV and make the calls?

@joe

So you're complaining about complaining? I don't see why people ever do that? It NEVER influences the game!

agree ice - alternatively some other cap needs to get back so he doesn't have to play it

Great backcheck there by 8 but plays like that in general shouldn't be such a rarity. That was a huge play.

And Neuvirth has been shaky since day 1 with his puckhandling and decision-making in that area. Something to work on. He's looked a little better at times but that was nearly a huge mistake.

Now scoring nearly a goal and an assist a game in the WHL and having watched Cody Eakin's quickness in person in a few shifts in last year's Calder Cup playoffs and on TV in this year's World Juniors, he sorta reminds me of a "red" headed version of Wayne Gretzky. Eakin is listed at 6'0" 189 lbs. and the Great One was listed at 6'0" and 185 lbs in his playing days. Well who know what the future holds but a nice thought for Rocking the Red in the future.

haha they just said "The Caps want to win the Cup and one of the ways is to go deep into the playoffs." There is another way where you don't have to go deep into the playoffs?!?! And the Caps are just fining out about this now? If we had know that we would have won several Cups by now.

@dull. NO, I like Eakin and my dad saw him in his first game for his new team against Spokane but he is not the Great One. Period. End of argument.

@ icehammer97

... in the long run ... eventually the refs will believe what they hear from the talking heads ;-) ...

Is Ovechkin playing?

I saw a drunk guy in a Number 8 jersey fall by the bench (on a line change)...

Here is the Eakin comparable to Talbot.

http://www.japersrink.com/2011/2/2/1970314/cody-eakins-closest-comparable-maxime-talbot

tmac2yao sucks

I saw a drunk guy in a Number 8 jersey fall by the bench (on a line change)...

Posted by: SoaringCaps | February 6, 2011 2:13 PM

you're a riot

During the first period, my wife asked me why Pittsburgh's TV announcers were doing a national game. The bias is real.

So you're complaining about complaining? I don't see why people ever do that? It NEVER influences the game!

Posted by: Albright4Snapper

Good one Al

Hardest working Caps (in no particular order), making this game a great one (so far):

Laich
Johansson
Knuble
Steckel
Gordon
Bradley
Hendricks
Erskine
Hannan
Carlson
Alzner

KEEP IT UP!!!

@icehammer97

... I think there is a special room where some calls are made ... ;-)

... however, in the long run, the refs will believe what the talking heads are saying and will start to have special opinions on special players and their actions etc. ... ;-)

Gordon has got to shoot that one.

MATT
HENDRICKS!

dull, WAYNE GRETZKY????.
Gretzky Junior Stats: GP G A Pts
126 126 184 310
Eakin Junior Stats: GP G A Pts
220 107 95 202
Good junior stats, Wayne Gretzky like, no.

MJ looks better every game. He plays 2-way hockey, looks quick & is improving on faceoffs. This is the future 2C & the future may have to be now.

The Peguins really miss Crysby & Malkin. The really need another center. This will just drive up the price.

@FCKoeln1 NBC has been pro Pens for as long as they have had games and the Pens are leading the league in PIM. I don't think you theory is proven in practice.

Is it time for Carlzner to play catch ala the 4 corners?

is this hendrick's last contract year? i'm pretty dure they signed him for only one. If so, I wish they would extend him now

I like Ovie working hard for the shot block but someone has to teach him how to do it right so he doesn't get hurt.

Love the body sacrifice from 8. Another big play in the d-zone. Starting to look like he did in TOR.

there is a new thread announcing that Greenie is questionable...

Katie, better to just post here eh?

thanks wtf - i was wonderin why we haven't heard anything - any word about longer term effects?

I am not too worried about Hendricks not being signed past this year right now. I love how he plays for this team but he is not going to make much money next year and he clearly likes being here and we like him. I think the Caps are just waiting until after the trade deadline just incase we got after someone with a contract after this year. Then once we know exactally where we are cap wise we will work on resigning the rest of the guys. Semin I think was only different because he was going to cost a lot and we needed to know how much he was going to take up before the deadline so we know how much we can spend on guys and not have them HAVE to be a FA after this season.

i think semin fights better than stecks

Good job Stecks... Just holdin out! I like that.

Knuble should have 8 goals.

can somebody say

NUEVY!?!?

... ok this one is out of the way for Stecks ...

... however, one of the best face off men is also out of the game :-(

and the Caps are leading by a large margin ...

man
that sequence really sucks

It seems like Devorski's last year he's going out of his way to screw the Caps. I hate seeing his name when we play.

what should have been a 4 min PP turns into a PK. that was a bad miss by the refs on that one

thanks for the explanation ice - makes sense

new and improved PK coming in handy...

Gonna look like a pens PP for the rest of the game!

Dirty Cooke

I'm really wondering how that was not a trip

Definitely do not retaliate against Cooke. Go after Fleury in a very serious way.

BEAUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

plenty of time to go after folks the next game - let's get the SO for neuvy

AND that's the way to hurt them!! obie wan!

Hopefully a sign of things to come for the Yinzers in the Super Bowl.

chimmy giving up the EN - knubs deserves that one - he looks like frankenknuble

2 back to back solid 60 minute games....now these are the Caps I love!!!!

It seems like Devorski's last year he's going out of his way to screw the Caps. I hate seeing his name when we play.

That decision by 8 to cut back after crossing the blue line with about 4 min left instead of getting the puck deep was a classic example of low IQ and non-recognition of the game situation. Horrible decision that didn't cost us despite giving the puck back to PIT.

Could also be an example of Boudreau being scared to tell him that he can't do that. He almost always does it, regardless of game situation.

wonder what blysma has to say about neuvy now?

puck this shizburgh team

Great game. We just flat outplayed them.

After the dirty check by Cooke today, I hope we go after Crosby next game -- and hit him legally, just like Steckel did.

Pens suck. Caps rock!

Hope this win bodes well for a Packers win tonight.

Great game by the Caps all-around.

That was a dirty hit by Cooke. Dirty hit by a dirty player. Hopefully someone makes him pay for it next game. But I do like the idea of going after Fleury or maybe Letang instead.

tmac2yao sucks

Good job today by the Capitals. That's two hard-working efforts in a row. No Malkin and no Crosby makes it A LOT easier but the Caps actually went out there and outworked the Penguins today. When was the last time we were saying that? When was the last time we said it two games in a row?

Congratulations Neuvirth on the shutout!

PP looked good even. No goals but some great chances. I still can't figure out how MAF stopped every one of those slam dunks. On one of Knuble's, I already had my hands in the air celebrating I was so sure it was in.

Ovie is playing defense. I'm happy with his overall game. The Caps played another excellent game. The Peguins were tired & undermanned. Give the Caps credit for taking advantage of them.
Congrats to Neuvy on the shutout but, he didn't have to stand on his head.
MP85 better stop taking trips 150ft. from his own net or he will be tripping people in Hershey.

So what if they didn't have Crosby and Malkin? They had Devorski!

And nobody talks about our being undermanned -- not having Semin and Fehr. If you can't play with a top guy missing, you won't go far.

When is the league gonna come down on Cooke? It's not as if this was his first knee-to-knee hit. He probably ended Marc Savard's career. I mean, really, how much longer does the league put up with this guy?

Devorski is the worst ref in the NHL, no doubt. Hasenfrats, though is a close second. Knuble, tonight was a warrior. Did he get a star?

@vermont

It would have been nice to see what DJK would have done in response to the Cooke knee to Ovi ?

@sgm3

Tmac is the man !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!