Tonight's lineup: Caps at Avalanche

Well let's hope the change in lines will spark the team tonight.

From other thread:

JSchon: I posted last night, amid my extensive ramblings on Erwin Rommel, that we needed a Kelly Miller forward more than anything (now). I would like to trade for a Selke-candidate type forward and get him acclimated now. We have lots of C+ and B rated defensive forwards, but no one in the class of Gould, Miller, Dahlen or Kono. Then, at the deadline, I'd like to rent a crease clearing d-man. Somewhere in all that you move a few current defensemen (those destined for UFA) and maybe one of the lesser forwards to make space.

Posted by: tominfl1 | December 15, 2009 9:16 PM

Let me add that the guy I want would make his presence best felt in series vs Pens, as he would shadow Crosby like Tikkanen did for us in 98. Who is that player? I don't know.

Look at our lineup... There is a gaping hole at 3rd line C.

Even when Gordon gets back, that means Steckel C's the 3rd line, and although he'll win every faceoff, he aint going set up Fehr and Flash like B.Mo can...

I hope we go after Saku at the deadline.

Even with the injuries, that's still a good NHL lineup. I'm happy to see young Karl return to the lineup. I'm also eager to see how Wilson fares on that third line. Go get 'em boys!

BTW... Its meltdown status on the Philly boards... Its hysterical.

richmondphil: We did a blind taste test cocktails with Grey Goose and Gilbey's (very cheap vodka) and the verdict was three people each for the two vodkas. So why spend the money if people can't tell? Vodka has almost no taste and I find Svedka very pleasant. I won't go below Cuervo usually for tequila (sometimes Montezuma) and I won't go less than Mount Gay for rum (hold the jokes, please) but I have a hard time finding a vodka that doesn't work for a citrus cocktail.

And the Gilbey's gin works with 7-Up and lime, although only Bombay Sapphire for tominfl1 collins.

Almost game time!!!!

JSchon: Couldn't happen to a nicer group of folks. :P

LET'S GO CAPS!

repost from previous thread:

Tom, and this probably will mean more to CapsFan75, the mile markers on I-4 are to the I-275 junction where I-4 ends. The Times Forum is about a mile or less down I-275 from there. Might even be better to take the downtown exit instead of I-275, am not sure I don't come from that side as I am in St Pete. I will try to take a look when I come back from Orlando on Sunday. I am going to be in Kissimmee all weekend.

thank god the wizards suck. i was going to be very upset if OT spilled into hockey time!!! GO CAPS!!!

@JSchon

On meltdown status for the Flyers.

I can believe it. Are they sounding like Chicken Little? And talking about having a goalie who's a sieve.

repost

tominfl1 while I would love to get a Selke type player they just aren't many around anymore. Look at who were the final three last year. Ryan Kesler, Mike Richards and Pavel Datsyuk. There is no way that the Caps could get one of those three. I think once we get Letang and Gordon back it will help but also we have skill guys who can play D well too. Backstrom in 8th in blocked shots for forwards. Morrison and Backstrom are in the top 20 in forward takeways and Ovechkin would be there if he hadn't missed so many games. I think the experice the Caps had last year will help the Caps just like the Pens had when they lost to the Wings and then came back. The key is can Varly stay healthy and can Alzner play as well as he has at times for the entire season and playoffs. It think that and not having D playing with broken feet we can win it all.

Look at our lineup... There is a gaping hole at 3rd line C.

Even when Gordon gets back, that means Steckel C's the 3rd line, and although he'll win every faceoff, he aint going set up Fehr and Flash like B.Mo can...

I hope we go after Saku at the deadline.

Posted by: JSchon | December 15, 2009 9:25 PM | Report abuse

let's see how Wilson does first, then we'll judge whether there is a hole

JSchon: That gaping hole at 3rd line center could be the Selke-candidate forward that I want to add. If that player could not only set up Flash and Fehr but anchor the PK from forward line and also serve as pivot for d-zone ES draws, would be great.

repost for those who didn't see it in the last thread

Also is anyone interested in going to the Caps game in Pittsburgh on Thursday Jan 21? I have two tickets that I just realized I cannot use, figures the only Thursday game my college team plays all year is that day. I was thinking of selling them on Ticket exchange but decided if I could get a Caps fan to replace me instead of a Pens fan it would be better. I am selling them at face value. They are $77 each and are in section D10. If you are interested please email me at icehammer97@aol.com.

Here's a link to the latest gossip on the Flyers. I won't vouch for the credibility, one way or another.

http://thephillyfour.com/2009/12/affair-has-flyers-locker-room-split/

@realoldcapsfan

Thanks for the location directions. Oh, do you live in Florida also? Or just traveling there? If the former, will you attend the Caps/Tampa game this January?

realoldcapsfan: I think I get off at exit 1 and go south along oceanside drive or something.

icehammer - if not a true Selke candidate (those are sometimes political) at least a PK leader and guy to shadow Crosby. Kono never won a Selke but he was very good 3rd line center.

@mrszilla

I did not mean to discount Mr. Wilson before he even plays. What indictment Mr. Wilsons call up means is that Boudreau knows Steckel isn't a scoring/distrubuting pivot. What is says is that we are looking for lightning in a bottle from Hershey to fill the void that isn't going to fixed by returning players from injury.

I hope that Mr. Wilson is amazing and I eat crow, however, the chances of that aren't very strong. We will need to fill that void I think at the trade deadline and I am advocating picking up Saku Koivu.

icehammer - those look like good seats. sure wish i could make the trip, but will settle for tv that night. how did you get those?

I am ready, CAPS, BE READY FOR THE TEST!

LETS GO CAPS!!!!!!!!!

Flash!

HOLY JUMPIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FLASH!

wilson looks good - FLASH from fehr

Flash Baby!! Now its time for Theo step up and play well tonight!

happy b-day wilson...nice first point!!!

Looking for Magpie recipes on-line...

Jumping Jack Flash!

What a first for Kyle Wilson....
first shift
first assist
first NHL point
CONGRATS

...and still goin strong on the 2nd shift...

@Caps8

Yes, time for Theo to step it up and play well. Make the Avalanche sorry they let him go.

LETS GO CAPS!!!!

I'm watching on fios. Is this supposed to be in high def? Looks like cr@p.

dcsportsfan1, tonight's game is widescreen, but not HD. Be thankful; there was once a time where all the non-HD games were 4:3. (Of course, I'd rather all the games be HD, but if we can't have that, well, at least all the games are 16:9...)

Props to Theo, great save!

don't think it's HD...

Theo!

Wilson is havin a heck of a game

Wilson has finished that!!!

wilson could have 1 assist and 2 goals by now...wow!

Thanks for the confirm. The guide says HD...next question or why isnt in HD?

Maybe its just me, but this game seems really fast so far.

YOU GO WILSON!HAVE A HAPPY B-DAY!!YOUR LOOKIN GOOD KID.GO CAPS!!!

Wait, we just broke up with 85 it's a bit too soon to fall in love with another callup....

dcsportsfan1, the FiOS guide is notoriously awful. This is 480i upconverted to CSN-HD's 1080i, which should look *slightly* better than regular ol' SD, but nowhere near HD. The reason for lack of HD is probably related to the fact that we only play in this building every other year, so there is no transit agreement in place for the HD feed. We can get HD from places like Philly, Boston, or NY, but not so much from these Western Conference teams.

There's a lot more to it, but it's way outside the scope of this forum, so hopefully this is enough for now. ;)

ha...wait till borque is back!

Greg, thanks for the details. Honestly, I've always wondered why some games are in hd and some not. I'm sure others have too. Might be a good thing to post here on an off day.

KNUBLE!

THAT WAS SO PRETTY!!!!!!!!!!

sick passing great score!!!!!!!

Kanoodle!!!!!!

K-nuble from ovi - and backstrom

da k-bus

So Peerless Prognosticator can put back their picture of their ugly mutt Kanoobie.

dcsportsfan1: I'll see if I can scrounge up more info for an off-day or something. AVS Forum is a great place to go for the geek side of HD if you're looking for more info before I have a chance.

wait...just wait

Great feed by Alex to Mike!

As I wrote my last comment, Laich knocked in #3. Will it be called back?

I need another angle. I think Laich redirected it with his stick on the backend of that play!

nice try laich

OK lets crush these guys!!!!!

Is the video being Pony Expressed to Toronto? That took forever, it was clearly kicked.

Well, the refs didn't see it that way. Come on guys, let's get that one back!

We'll see. In any case, Yahoo has it posted as counting.

I believe the rules should be changed to allow kicked in goals. To much ambiguity in the distinct kicking motion rule. Let em kick it in. Not like it's so easy to do.

CapsSkins the Wizards game was not tonight it was a repeat so there was no worry.

capsfansince74 I go to school in Pittsburgh so I knew the time when the single game tickets went on sale and bought tickets to the two Caps games and the Wings game (since I am a fan of both teams) the second they went on sale. I actually had my computer going getting the Wings game and my girlfriend getting this Caps game. Then when I was done I got the second Caps game which had to be a little worse seats.

I thought Laich had kicked it toward the net and then touched it with his stick behind the goalie. Oh well.

Nevermind, it was called back and Fehr's in the box.

Cincocinco with a nice play there at the end...

nice period

JSchon I don't know if it was that clearly kicked. You can move your skate to deflect it into the net so if his skate had stopped going forward (compaired to the rest of his body) when the puck hit it then it would have counted.

C'mon... He lifted his skate, I'm sure he didnt mean to kick it in, but it happened.

watching the Pens right now makes me want PLAYOFF PAYBACK!

JSchon I am not saying he didn't but if he stopped moving it by the time the puck hit the skate, which it looked like he might have, then the goal counts because you are allowed to moved your skate to redirect the puck.

The Caps have had 3 players in alone with the goalie as a result of the Av's defence / backcheckers focusing on OV (Knubs twice and Wilson). Let's hope the team continues to exploit this as the game progresses. OV could get himself three or four assists.

(Wilso has looked really good out there. Almost with two goals - wrap around and breakaway - and stole the puck to help set up the Flash goal. He could be a great addition.

looked good in the first again - lets hope wilson can strap the rest of the team to his back and carry them for the last 40

One game the Caps should just let everyone from Hershey play a game. Every time they call someone up they look good. I want to see how well they'd all do in the NHL. Except Giroux. Never Giroux.

CapsFan75 I live in St Pete and have been here for almost 20 yrs. I don't get to see many games since I work nights.

As much as I would like to have seen 3-0 after 1, Laich's non-goal was called correctly, imo. Joe B and Locker thought so too almost immediately.

icehammer: The bottom line is he lifted his skate off the ice. Once you lift your foot, it's a kick. Webster's defines "kick" as to "strike with the foot." When you both lift your foot and aim your foot, and then propel the ball/puck into the objective (the goal), you've pretty much kicked it and not simply deflected it.

That said, the rule should be rewritten to be less ambiguous.

I expect Colorado to come out really hard and try to even it up. I hope we can defend, and catch them sleeping on D. As Joe and Locker said, they are young, but they are also good.

Is it just me or is the CSN feed tonight HORRIBLE? I got this new LCD flatscreen and I know that past games have looked much sharper.

Rainer1: Look for my earlier posts in this thread.

STECKEL!

holy stecks

Steckel is on FIRE!!

Yeah 39!

Stecks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Way to go Steckel!

Is it me or does it sound from the cheers that there are a lot of Caps fans in Colorado tonight? Nice work, Steckel!

Caps are playing with a lot of energy tonight

I think the mention of the Kono, Dahlen, Halpern line brought us luck.

My ALL-TIME favorite checking/(oops we shouldnt be)SCORING line!!!

Corey tweeted that 57 went down the tunnel. Could be equip.

This was post by a Flyer fan... Who said they were all stupid?

61703.5 in reply to 61703.1

"Two years ago I would have preferred Richards. I like to watch hockey the way it should be played, and Crosby is not a true hockey player (conversely, Ovechkin is a true hockey player - hits, can be hit, tough, talented, etc.). However, neither is Richards. At least not at this point. He used to play in the mold of a real hockey player - but now he's just directionless. I would love to know what happened.

Unfortunately, if given the choice, I would take Crosby, because at least he produces."

@dcsportsfan1

I hope it's equipment and not an injury. We can ill afford another injury.

Looks like a triple S night - Speed, Strength and Steckel.

NO GOAL you Avs - you cannot push the goalie

they lucked out on that one... should've been a goal

thanks ref, whew

I just saw Poti play some solid D, no kiddin

FLAAAAAAAAASH!

wilson - what a pass

The Rout is on....FLASHHHHHHHH

Guess it was equipment for 57!

Flash!!!!

I wonder why this guy Wilson wasn't brought up sooner...

I wonder is crow taste like chicken?

my goodness, talk about hot

Fleishmann from Wilson!

Cant...fall...for...57...too soon... Heart broken before....

wilson was the interview at 1st intermission - said he played with flash for half a season his first year at hershey

If Wilson is hurt he hides it well. Good to see the non-stars are getting it done tonight.

brads!!

THERE'S NUMBER FIVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE - MAY HAVE ANOTHER???????????

man, we dont even have a pp yet, wow

Sweet
Worth staying up for

Anderson doesn't look like the guy I saw beat Detroit single handed a few weeks ago.

And let's play "Jumping Jack Flash" again in honor of Tommy!

Hell yeah. It's a shame we don't get wings for away games. :)

What a goal by Bradley! He knocked right off the back of Anderson's skate.

AWESOME RESPONSE, JUST AWESOME!!!

Flash 2, Knuble, Brads, and Stecks. Talk about secondary scoring tonight.

this is fun.

Wilson for hard hat!!!! i think the steal out of the air was better than the pass!!!

ohh yeah...and now I fully realize why hershey is so damn successful. all these guys playing on the same team a level below the nhl...ouch!!!

I WANT SIX. PIZ-ZA, PIZ-ZA, PIZ-ZA.

Pretty impressive when you consider the big guns aren't doing the scoring.

5 goals on 18 shots. Impressive.

semin with a stick checked - that's the kind of d all of our goalies need

PLEASE KILL KOCI. I HATE THAT S.O.B. HE'S A DIRTY PLAYER. WHIP HIS ASS ERSKINE.

better be 5 for boarding. that was dirty. jesus christ. good for erskine, but he'll get 2 for instigating and 10 and 5, but still. what a dirty hit.

I was just about to post how well the "rocking the pink" was working, but Green is down.

OV just told koci that colorado is going to lose 5 guys for that. i have a feeling OV is going to crush a couple in a second.

There - you wanted THAT Greenie haterz?
go efff yourselves.

Hopefully Green is okay, we get a PP, and Koci is suspended.

this is all the avs could do, try and create a spark with violence

Way to stick up for our man Erskine! Get 52!

Koci now earns a spot in the Doofus Brigade. In the special company set up for all the players we hate.

Green bleeding....this better be a major.

Terrible boarding incident. Koci should be fined for that one.

Lets put these boyz to bed, shall we?

Okay, so 2 min of 4v4, followed by 3 min remaining on the major to Koci.

CRUSH EM OVI.

Hope Green didn't suffer a concussion.. his face was planted into the glass.

Man stecks is feelin it, doin some cute-sie stuff

KOCI better gets a few games for that hit.

Remember, this is a major, so if we score, the boarding call stays up on the board.

score at will boys!!

Looked like a concussion to me the way his head went into the glass. Took Green a long time to get up and they just said he went to the locker room because he was "woozy."

Hope Greenie's mom isn't watching this game live. That was scary-looking. Please be OK Greenie.

Green took one the other night and came back. I think he'll bounce back from this one too.

good thing we are up 5 since we are down to 4 D for a while. Moments like this is why I like having Sloan in the lineup as a forward. It is also what made Federov even more valuable last year.

Box score is showing a game misconduct for Koci, which leads to an automatic league review according to Tarik.

As we used to say during the days of Harvey Bennett, that was "bush league (Koci)." That ingrate had better sit down for the next few games on that hit.

Green took one the other night and came back. I think he'll bounce back from this one too.

Posted by: gonchpup | December 15, 2009 11:09 PM | Report abuse

-------------

Even more reason NOT to come back this game. Head injuries have a cumulative effect and the game isn't close.

Ovi is the best player, but Green is the hardest to replace. Hopefully OK by Friday.

Have to hit the hay now. Need to commute into ATL early tomorrow morning. Be well and pray for Green's well being!

@wtf_e_fehr

The Avs are acting like the Philthy Flyers and like last year's edition of Tampa Bay.

Can someone explain the origins of the "Care Bear line"? I. . . don't get it.

i missed why erskine was given a misconduct - doesn't that mean he's been tossed? if so - now down to 5 dmen

I feel Green will bounce back from the hit like he did the other night... but being up 5 -0, the Caps certainly have some breathing room to keep Green off the ice if needed.

erskine got 5 for fighting...not game misconduct.

and why does morrisonn only have 4:12 of ice time

@CapsFan75

True indeed

Lets hope Green comes back better than ever, and the DESTRUCTION continues!!!

WE HAVE CAP ROOM TO BRING UP WHOEVER WE WANT HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Sorry...still excited about Nylander : )

I think Erskine also got a 10 minute misconduct, but not a game misconduct.

Automatic miscounduct with an instigator

yeah it is a automatic 10

Erskine receive a 10 minute misconduct (not game misconduct) for not having his jersey tied down (it was pulled off during the fight).

I hate when stuff like that hit happens. I was in such a good mood, as one of my best friends is an Avs fan, and this just puts a damper on it. If Green is back on the bench (or is reported to be fine) then I will be able to enjoy the rest of the game. Otherwise, I will be worried about a potential concussion for the rest of the night.

That hit alone deserves the Caps to win 9-0. 2 in the first, 3 in the second, 4 in the third. Makes sense to me.

so - not tossed - just an extra 10 before he can come back in - got it

The misconduct is unrelated to the instigator penalty.

Bring up Carlson. Let's see him throw his weight around.

@ogdennash

It probably started on Japers. They think the boys play too cutsie.

I almost like the Chipmunks line better except we no longer have Fedorov. Fedorov is Theodore (since that's what his last name means in Russian). Semin is Simon since that's what his last name also means in Russian. And Ovi is Alvin (ALexander oVechkIN). Maybe the Russians can do the Chipmunks Line in the Olympics.

As for our boys, I prefer to call them the OBS line.

Unrelated...but was that Dexter pushing Dodge vehicles? Kinda creepy...

"Fedorov is Theodore (since that's what his last name means in Russian)"

I thought Fyodor (as in Dostoevsky) was Russian for Theodore?

Nice play by Liach on the D. Anyone know what happened to Morrison? Are we really down to 3 D and Liach until Eriskine is out of the box?

@butcherbaker

Fyodor is the Russian first name for Theodore. Fedorov is Russian for "Son of Theodore".

Poti in the box = 2 defenders left

gotta keep things entertaining :D

TEB on his twitter just says Morrison didn't come out for the third but no reason why. Anyone know why?

Is it just me or does the PA announcer at the Pepsi Center sound like Lurch from the Addams Family. LMAO.

@CapsFan75 -- thanks for the info!

Is it just me or is Schultz playing really solid tonight?

From Cory from the times "Shaone Morrisonn went 11 minutes w/o a shift, took a 19-second one after the hit on Green and didn't return in the final 4 minues. " Still no info on why though. Looks like Juice and or Sloan will be in for the next one.

refs are trying to get the avs on the board - i think that call was on semin

Thanks, Capsfan75. Do I want to know about the "Bubbles" thing? I'd ask them over there, but they all seem terrifying.

here they come with the crap

Damn, no shutout for Theo. :\

that sucked - theo didn't deserve that
and schultz is off to the box

@DFuse87 -- bad timing! Schultz just cross-checked a goal in against us

I vaguely know they call Laich that over at Japers.

Seems like you really shouldn't call a penalty if they were still able to score unless it was something dangerous...

The gang at Japers is mad at Semin since he cost us a shutout.

Leave it to semin to screw up a 5-0 game...lol

Horrible call against Shultz it didn't even look like his arms actually moved on the cross check but the guy fell so they called it.

theo needed a whistle there, he had the puck

yeah, i had to say something. damn schultz

3 stars:

1. Flash - 2 goals including the first
2. Theo?
3. Wilson - 2 assists in his first game

hard hat: Laich for playing solid emergency D or Erskine for the fight?

@rarcr

Screwing up a shutout with a 5-0 lead would not be a major cause for concern.

Must ban seamless glass. If green is concussed it no doubt contributed to it. Hate that stuff

nice

Backs - stick it AVs. :)

Hah, what a lucky bounce for Backstrom! Our first PPG of the game is our 6th goal of the night! Go Caps!

nice by poti to keep that one in - way to go backstrom

My school has the seemless glass and I really haven't noticed it beng any harder. Now I do play D3 club so we are not hitting as hard as NHL players but we can still hit and I have not noticed it being any harder and in my third year on the team I don't remember anyone getting hurt getting hit into the glass.

60 minutes of Capitals hockey!

AWESOME WIN

Has Semin been benched?

i'd say they played a full 60 tonight
scary how good they can be when they do that

That was a great 60 minute game. My 3 stars are:

1) Flash

2) Theo

3) Wilson

POSTGAME THOUGHTS:
Capital punishment and domination. Nuff said.

Hope Greenie is ok. As well as Morrison.
Welcome to the bigs Mr. Wilson.

Onward and upward to Vancouver.

Ice Breakers Goal Shakers

.964 save % - that should get him back over .900

Great win against a good team. Hopefully, enough to quiet some of the sceptics from the other night who were down on Theo and pessimistic about this road trip. We've got a hell of a good team here. Keep it up Caps!

@Capt_Kirk_in_AZ

Should certainly help his goal percentage.

@ CapsFan75 I don't think he was benched I think Bruce decided that he didn't want his top guys hurt late in the game.

@gonchpup

Great game by the Caps. I'll admit I was a pessimist about their chances this week after the Toronto game and given the fact they were playing good teams.

@icehammer97

Except that they played Backstrom on the Power Play near the end.

Did Ovi play near the end?

http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20092010/PL020492.HTM has the play-by-play, which includes players on ice.

@CapsFan75 I think he did on the PP but 5 on 5 when he was more likely to get hurt he wasn't that know of.

Green got stiches over his eye. He thinks it is not serious.

Love Bruce's interview after the game about the hit.

Tarik tweets: "GM McPhee said Mike Green and Shaone Morrisonn will be "fine." Coach Boudreau said Morrisonn is more questionable than Green for Friday."

Bruce is very p!ssed.

Bruce Boudreau said David Koci also injured Shaone Morrisonn by "running" him. He said 26 is more questionable than Green going forward.

this is from Cory's twitter at the times

What a great game.

Kyle Wilson should've scored like 2 times.

@GregAnnapolis & @icehammer97

Thanks for the info. And thanks for the link, Greg.

So, now it looks like the following:

Semin last played in the game when Colorado's guy went in the box.

Ovi was out for the Power Play and left the game after Nicky scored.

@icehammer97

I wouldn't blame Bruce for "resting" Semin and company. No point in risking injury in a blowout. Given Colorado's track record today in acting downright goony today, especially Koci.

richmondphil:
if the call-ups play like this for 4-6 games - then maybe they should start some kind of rotation with hershey.

I think once we get Letang and Gordon back it will help but also we have skill guys who can play D well too. Backstrom in 8th in blocked shots for forwards. Morrison and Backstrom are in the top 20 in forward takeways and Ovechkin would be there if he hadn't missed so many games. I think the experice the Caps had last year will help the Caps just like the Pens had when they lost to the Wings and then came back. The key is can Varly stay healthy and can Alzner play as well as he has at times for the entire season and playoffs. It think that and not having D playing with broken feet we can win it all.

Posted by: icehammer97 | December 15, 2009 9:30 PM

LETANG?!?!?!?!

Are you secretly a Pens fan???

CapsFan75 I agree in fact at the end I was saying "please don't put out the top two line" over and over again.

richmondphil no but I go to college there and I guess hearing the name all the time it got stuck in my head.

@JSchon

At the moment, Kyle Wilson seems to be filling the "big hole" at 3rd line center. Will it be permanent or will MP return?

BTW, I recall that Wilson and Perreault were two of our best kids during preseason.

It is amazing to me how close the bottom of the East is. If Tampa had won tonight they would have been in 8th but since they lost they are 14th. It is amazing how one game this far into the season can mean playoffs or lottery pick. The three point game makes the standings crazy.

It is amazing to me how close the bottom of the East is. If Tampa had won tonight they would have been in 8th but since they lost they are 14th. It is amazing how one game this far into the season can mean playoffs or lottery pick. The three point game makes the standings crazy.

Posted by: icehammer97 | December 16, 2009 12:51 AM |

Usually it's like that in the West, but East is pretty tight this year.

West has been a huge surprise. COL and LAK doing good..DET, ANA slumping...

Looks like the Cap may actually go up next year! http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=510060

It is amazing to me how close the bottom of the East is. If Tampa had won tonight they would have been in 8th but since they lost they are 14th. It is amazing how one game this far into the season can mean playoffs or lottery pick. The three point game makes the standings crazy.

Posted by: icehammer97 | December 16, 2009 12:51 AM |

Usually it's like that in the West, but East is pretty tight this year.

West has been a huge surprise. COL and LAK doing good..DET, ANA slumping...

Posted by: richmondphil | December 16, 2009 12:54 AM | Report abuse

Detroit's biggest problem is Osgood slumping and too many guys hurt. They needed Franzen and Flippula to step up and make up for losing the guys they did in the offseason and they have been hurt all year. If they are healthy come playoff time and Ozzy is the Ozzy of the playoffs then they could still be vey dangerous.

LA looked really good toward the end of the season last year and Quick has really turned into a top goalie.

Colorado lives and dies with Anderson as we saw tonight. If he can be the player of the month he gives them what they really missed since Roy retired.

The Ducks problem is no scoring after the top line and their goalie tandom seems to be making both play tight in fear of losing their shot at the job instead of making them play better.

i don't know whose providing stats for the guys on 'nhl on the fly' - they were listing the top 5 pts leaders and said ovi moved up to 5th with 38 pts on the season. if i'm not mistaken (and i'm not) backstrom got 2 pts tonight and has 39 now

Green: "I didn't see him coming. It just sucks. It was kind of unnecessary. I was just shooken up and no point in coming back to this one."
24 minutes ago from web from Times

Also big props to Alzner, Poti, and Shultz for playing big minutes a mile high Alzner had 9:21 TOI in the third alone and Poti had 11:09 of the 18 minutes he was eligible to play in the third period.

@icehammer97

If the Cap goes up, we should have a much better chance of keeping Sasha (provided he want to come back).

@richmondphil & icehammer

The only team with a horrible record is Carolina. (That was not exactly expected.) And who would have thought that the Flyers would be closer to lottery team territory than first place. But it will only take a few wins for them to get back in the race.