Tonight's Lineup: Devils at Caps (Updated)

I like the pictures, nice touch. Is it me or does Sasha look like Iron Man (not Robert Downey, the actual suit) with his beady eyes and square jaw?

Pics are a VERY nice touch. I would only add their numbers with the names link - good job.

I still believe that Semin and Knuble should trade places. I just don't think it's good to have both Alex's together except possibly on PP. I think Knuble and Laitch could act as crease crowders on Lines #1. Clark could do the same for #3.

correction:
Laich
Lines #1 and #2

hope knuble and green decide to show up for tonights game.

This is off topic, but the last thread got me thinking about who we have and haven't heard from. Has anybody seen anything from RedBirdie lately?

Anyway, everyone enjoy the game tonight--just wish I could be at the Booth to see it. oh well, at least I'll have Joe B and Locker to keep me company.

GO CAPS!!!

WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE SPEED UP TIME TO 7? DROP THE DAMN PUCK ALREADY!!!!!!!!!! :) Let's Go Caps. Time to erase the last couple of games and carry over the hard effort from Detroit.

Ice Breakers Goal Shakers.

Anyone else think that pothier deserves more recognition for the way he has been playing.

Capscoach. Yes I have been saying that to my friends. Pothier seems to be our best overall defender right now. He still makes mistakes etc. I still think Bruce needs to change that first line!

Huh, Nylander is scratched, what's up with that???

I haven't seen the same kind of "energy" that the Caps had last year. I don't see the "big hits" like I did last year.

There seems to be a lot of skating up and down the ice, but no heavy hits and less agitation.

Anybody else see this? Does the absence of Brashear make our guys shy away from the physical aspect of the game because they don't feel like they have backup?

is Brodeur confirmed as the starter for NJ?

Steven Hindle/Hockeybuzz...

"Caps Vs. Devils | Game Notes,Lineups + Caps Must Play Up To Their Potential"

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Steven-Hindle/Caps-Vs-Devils--Game-NotesLineups--Caps-Must-Play-Up-To-Their-Potential/98/23608

The pictures make a great addition. I suggest that they become a permanent addition to the blog's sidebar that gets refreshed for each game or practice (with a label for when they were last updated) instead of making a post with just the line combos before every game.

Does the absence of Brashear make our guys shy away from the physical aspect of the game because they don't feel like they have backup?

Posted by: muddapucker | October 12, 2009 5:53 PM

That assumption could definitely have some merit, especially in light of the fact that Red Wings GM Ken "we don't need an enforcer" Holland signed pugilist Brad May last week, not to mention that several other teams also beefed up in the off season. Shorten the bench come playoff time after the 1st round since few fights happen in the 2nd round and onwards. But, gimme an honest to goodness scrapper in the regular season, both to stir the pot and allow the rest of the team stand a little taller.

We better re-sign Backstrom by December.

Anyone else think that pothier deserves more recognition for the way he has been playing.

Posted by: capscoach | October 12, 2009 5:35 PM

Yes. Like CapsFan75 said in an earlier post, Pothier and Green stayed on the ice a long time today to practice. Good spirit.

Hurry up, time! I'm sick already!

I agree pics plus their numbers would be great!

I sure hope Semin and Green can play to their potential tonightas I havbe really been disapointed intheir paly of late. Sometimes I think they are just going through the motions of their past greatness.

One thing I don`t get....Bradley... who has played 5 games gets 4th line and who has TOI in the bottom 3 of all forwards in every game this year has 3 points and is a plus 3.

The following have all played the same number of games with much more TOI and their stats are as follows:

2nd line Knuble 1 point -1
3rd line Clarke 1 point +1
3rd line Stecks 0 points +1

You can argue that they may be better players than Bradley.... but so far with much less TOI Bradley deserves better from Gabby.

This IS the game where we get back on track...BELIEVE IT!!!

GO

CAAAAAAAAPPPPPSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!

I like the line change having Semin on the #2 with Knuble on the #1

BB has punished Semin for his bad penalties. wow

I really hope my fantasy team goalie gets lit up tonight.

I am not sure how much of it was to punish Semin and how much of it was to try and keep him and Ovechkin from getting too fancy with each other

Yes! Mikeeeeeeeeey!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND ITS ABOUT TIME!!!!!!!!!!

YES!!! I guess Greenie just needed some birthday luck

Not a very strong shift after the goal though

Greenie...about time!!!!

Good look for Knuble and Green is Johnny on the spot. That looked like his shot hitting the mark finally...not that anyone should be surprised, you knew he was going to put one in.

Even though we have the lead, I think the Devils have played better.

Seen more traffic in front of nj net then in any caps game this year. I guess practice helps.

wow

That is why I liked the line change.

theo awesome on one end...and then your top line shows its stuff....yeah

He didn't get enough of it, that's what was missing when Ovie was coming over the blue line against Detroit, someone going to the net. Nice goal Knubs!

Bad time for a fight for the Caps. Clark has got to know not to fight back NJ is just looking for a spark.

Fight killed the a good-looking developing play. Clark should have skated away on that one.

BMo just missed that center to Semin.

Bradley and Laing working a little shiftiness 2 on 2. What in the world? The Wall almost buried it too...

Good period especially by Theo. Let's keep this lead Caps.

Bad time for a fight for the Caps. Clark has got to know not to fight back NJ is just looking for a spark.

Posted by: icehammer97 | October 12, 2009 7:33 PM | Report abuse

i was thinking the same thing. on the other hand, good to see the captain sticking up for his guys. clarkson is not an easy out.

Second was not as good. Caps need to put the puck in the net on the PP.

No more goals against. Lets try to have a team score less than 3 for a change. Cmon Caps!

TIME TO TIGHTEN UP CAPS!!!

...and a PP goal WOULDNT HURT!!!!

That whole chance by NJ was all because Ov wasn't on the defensive side of his man.

Ovie is passing more now than ever before.

Let's score on this PP guys we need it.

5 on 3 now we REALLY have to get one.

OK...NOW U KNOW YOU MUST SCORE!!!!!!!!!!!

BB understands....

Hella All!
Been watching but just got a chance to post.

Lets Go Cap - I - Tals!!!

...that was stinky

five guys standing still on the PP. Someone tell these guys they have to move.

Guess the refs want a tight one for the 12 mins remaining. Can't blame 'em.

This 5 on 3 problem isnt new. This was a bit of a problem last year. With all this skill, its just utterly frustrating.

The Devs are giving us the chances we just need to capitalize.

Can't take penalities while on the PP it is a killer.

Another Keystone Cops/Bad News Bears 3rd period.

Theo will have to be the hero

That was really weak...
Better wake up or we won't even get a point out of this boys.

getting beat to too many pucks right now.

saw that one coming. Ice it if you have to but you have to get it out of the zone

Last year, the Caps were known for holding third-period leads. This year, not so much.

Seriously, is there another top team in the NHL that gets forechecked as badly as the Caps?

Ahh, and a minor penalty with less than six minutes left. More third-period collapses from the Caps.

"saw that one coming. Ice it if you have to but you have to get it out of the zone"

But if you ice it, don't you have to keep your same 5 guys on the ice? That's not much of a breather, and our guys were dead tired out there.

I'm gettin' sick of this pattern we find ourselves in.

Could it be conditioning where we just cannot find the energy for full 60 mins???

Incredible... Boyd Gordon again.

Gordon the culprit again. Of course, this could all be moot if the Caps were relearn how to score on the PP. What's the deal?

Theo is the only reason why we are not down by at least two.

"saw that one coming. Ice it if you have to but you have to get it out of the zone"

But if you ice it, don't you have to keep your same 5 guys on the ice? That's not much of a breather, and our guys were dead tired out there.
_____________________________________

Yes you do have to keep the same guys out there but it does give you a second to catch your breath and to regroup and make sure everyone knows what they are doing.

With how we played in the 3rd we are lucky to get at least a point out of this.

So should we now work to NOT have the lead going into the 3rd?

How does BB fix this routine of failure?

Can anyone explain why Boudreau did not let Semin's line to play in last 4 min? Why did he not put Semin with Backs and Ovi? WHY???

Nice to see the PK unit bail the team out late in third. They played with an edge on that PK, and it paid off.

Theo is the reason the Caps are in this game, which I guess could also be said about Brodeur and the Devils, too. But Washington has to find its PP touch again because they've had opportunities tonight to bury a couple.

Un-friggin'-believable with this team. Not a good stretch for them, and it doesn't get any easier. If this group of games early was going to be some kind of measuring stick for the team, well, then they're not exactly measuring up so far.

Jeebus, when are we going to stop shooting ourselves in the foot?

fnralch Semin has a history of late costly penalities so he didn't want him to be in the box when NJ scored the game winner. It is amazing how one trip gets called and one doesn't.

WOW that is all I can say

THEO=UNCONSCIOUS

ay yi yi

great kill. Theo is the number one star no matter what happens from here in.

Theo has brought it the last two contests. If only the other players could match his energy and focus. Dude is big timin' it.

Knuble is Comcast player of the game? Yea, he had a good game, but how could you not name Theo as player of the game tonight?

um

theo

whew

backs

parise

makes it look

ise

dam.....

semin is a dipsy do'er

what was he dipsy...doing?

this stinks, and I missed heroes...

good night

Well, back to the drawing board again. This team can't seem to figure things out. Remember when they used to be virtually unbeatable at home? Caps are playing like they did at the end of last year: sloppy and undisciplined. I'm wondering if it's the focus that's affecting this team. But this is a disappointing start to the season. They've played just one complete game so far.

I think people are overrating what Theodore did during that OT PK. The first shot was partially muffed. The second shot was put right into Theo who was just laying on his back. The third shot was sent over the goal.

Yeah, but Theo kept the Caps in this game.

So much for my good feeling. Wish we could put them away on a 5 on 3 PP...

That was lame. Oh well, I still like hockey better than football, any day of the week.

tmac, go watch again. he gets his paddle on the first one at the goal line. i think the second one hit is skate before he swated it with his glove. try that at home and see if you can do it.

I'm still debating whether to get the NHL Center Ice package for this season. It's expensive, but I can probably swing it. But after the start to this season, I'm wondering. I'm hoping we see a big turn around in the next five games.

Theo was great. I was just talking about that one sequence. It looked more like the Devils made it easy on us. The defense may have helped on the 2nd and 3rd shots.

Caps lost four in a row once last season at the start of March. They've done it once already this season. They need some renewed vigor and concentration in their games. Not sure how you coach that, though.

If he got his paddle on the first shot, it was right near the post. If the shooter puts it up high, Theo has no chance. That was just luck. The second shot was put right into him when he was laying on his back when the entire top half of the goal was open. I'm not sure if one of our defenders may have contributed to it. The third shot just went over the goal with a wide open net again.

Theo was great tonight but that sequence was more good luck and possibly defense than anything Theo did, including the first of those 3 shots. Even if he did get his stick on it, any goalie would at least try to put there stick out there like he did. He didn't react or do anything special.

Penalties did it again. A penaltie right in the middle of the OT gave us little opportunity to score before the shootout.

This team is undisciplined to say the least.

Theo brought it tonight. No one else did. Number 1 problem in my opinion: not scoring on the PP (including a 5-3!!!!) If we had scored even ONE pp goal this game would have had a totally different feeling.

also, who would have thought at this time we'd all be wishing the players could play as focussed and as intensely as THEO???? theo played awesome, the rest of the team was just ehhhhh.

In the last four games this team has blown games late in the third. This is the third time in four games that supposed shut down forward Boyd Gordon has taken a penalty late in the third...with this being the first that did not lead to a goal.

Zero confidence in this team right now to finish off games. When it comes to crunch time and the other team takes it up a notch the Caps (as a team) can't match.

Devils deserve the two points. They played hard all night. They were unlucky to be two goals down after the first. Sometimes teams get hot and there's not much you can do about it. We need to get hot.

The Devils second goal was a result of sustained pressure in our zone. The Pens did that to eliminate us last year. Somebody took note. We used to do that but couldn't tonight, we need to get back to that.

I don't get what's with this team not holding on to early leads. But Theo's success in two consecutive games is BIG. If he becomes the goalie he once was, it will be a huge boost.

Remember Erskine was out injured, that mucks up defensive pairings.

people who take stupid penalties should sit the next game - end of story. play someone from hershey who wont do it. These minor penalties have cost us pretty much every game we lost.

Not playing winning hockey. Can't score on the PP with a chance to put games away. Can't protect 1 goal leads, can't kill penalties in the 3rd. Already lost 3 straight games when leading after 2. Half the league won't accomplish that feat the entire season. Maybe this is what happens when the organization tells the players division titles and the regular season don't matter

@wocoliz

Red Birdie now mostly posts on Japers. Guess she gave up on the group here. (While Japers is a great site and great at statistical analysis, the discussions are a lot more narrow.) This site actually has more interesting discussions, even though we have to deal with the trolls.

The Caps are losing because they've been hanging out with the Redskins a little too much. =X The Redskins are rubbing off on them. Shucks!