Tonight's Lineup: Islanders at Caps (Updated)

I like those lines.

Anyone need a pair for tonight? Too late to ask for $$, but I can e-mail them to you if you provide an address. Sec. 411.

I will take the tickets. Email them at dwddavid@hotmail.com

Not enough grit on the 2nd line. I would put Laich on the 2nd line and Flash on the 3rd, better balance. Just as an experiment.

David:

I haven't seen you here. What are your bona fides? Don't want these re-sold.

No problem. My brother and I will use them tonight.

There's a game tonight? It's like an oasis in a desert. 2 points tonight gotta have it. I hope the Pens beat NJ...what a dagger to root for them.

Can't root for the pens, so I am just going to try to ignore that game.

Sonyask: Send a spy by your seats and have them ask for David. ;)

mike: It's easy... you're not rooting FOR the Pens, you're rooting AGAINST the Devils. Big difference! :)

Have BB put Laich on the top line before? I don't recall ever seeing him there. I think that would be a nice experiment.

Wemiss21

I like that experiment too, but who would produce on that line. Flash, Nyls and Kozzie hardly score as it is now.

Headed to class for the night. First Caps game in what feels like ages and I can't even watch it. DVR, ahoy! Go Caps!

I HATE SCHULTZ

Sigh, ok greg, I will try.

Wgassert, why don't you let us know how you really feel about schultz?

Sonyask: Send a spy by your seats and have them ask for David. ;)

Posted by: GregAnnapolis | April 1, 2009 5:51 PM | Report abuse

I forwarded those tickets on faith (had to pay for the privilege too!). Anyone want to check 411 Row J seats 11 & 12 be my guest, and report back.

Maybe I get good karma no matter how legit the request.

Go Caps!!

Bajgirl

I was thinking that Flash might pick up his scoring if paired with a couple of good set-up men like Nylander and Koz. Too optimistic?

Sonyask

I would have taken the tickets. I would have love to be in VC rocking the red on my 34th b'day. I'm not too disappointed though, my hubby and the kids planned a bash at the Greene Turtle(MD), so about 20 of us will be there watching the game.
The only thing that can make this more memorable if if the Caps win tonight.

GregAnnapolis: you're not rooting FOR the Pens, you're rooting AGAINST the Devils. Big difference! :)

Couldn't have said it any better.

be careful what your wish for. pens have been caps killers in the playoffs for years.

Wemiss21

Probably, but it could work seeing that Flash has gotten goals taken away for a couple weeks now.

not a fan of Fehr on the first line instead of Kozlov.

I am rooting from home tonight. Resplendent in my Mike Green t-shirt.

This blog moves at a turtle or supersonic speed, nothing in between.

Repost to
@uncatim
Thanks for the link about Thaler. I am happy to know that he is not leaving town.

LET'S GO CAPS!!!

I don't like the line combos for forwards. I really like having backs on line 2. Fedorov and OV are enough on the top line. Backy on line 2 should work well with Semin. He's prooven he doesn't need to be in OV's shadow, and can anchor a line without OV.

And laich has earned a higher spot than Fleischmann.

My suggestion-

Forwards

Ovechkin-Fedorov-Fehr
Laich-Backstrom-Semin
Kozlov--Nylander-Flash
Steckel-Aucoin-Bradley

Green for Norris:

Leads all Defensemen in Goals and Points.

6th in +/- among Defensemen with a +24

Solid in minutes per game at almost 26 minutes a game (Lidstrom is 26:03 per game)

BTW, by putting Fedorov, Flash, and Semin on the same line, you basically create another 'care bear' line. You need at least one guy to back in the corners and crowd the net.

I really don't see why Flash is in place of Laich at the very least.

What do you guys think of my line combo suggestions? I believe that's what they did last Friday night, although without Semin I think.

floms

I would personally like to see Brooksie on the top line, but I agree, I don't see why Flash is on the 2nd line and Brooks on the 3rd.

BB wants production from the 3 lines, that's all I've got.

ROVERE SIGNED?

M/14th STREET BULLIES????

Good tie up by Green maybe saved a goal.

Make Laich learn to play RW and put him on the first line.

Flash-Backs-Semin

koz-nyls-fehr

Chara has to win the Norris. Greenie's D is a lot better than most give him credit for and his O has been insane for a D man but you cannot ignore the force that Chara has been on the ice this year. Green should get nominated but not win it.

Phew! Made it home just in time for the drop of the puck...

(Honk, honk, honk!) Let's Go Caps!

Feds-Flash-Semin looking dangerous

Im blacked out on Yahoo stream here on the Eastern Shore of MD. Anyone have another stream for tonight???????

Bears fan, what the hell is up with Pokuluk? He is on the Stingrays roster right now? He was supposed to be something...

Semin and Feds did some board work there...they're tougher than they get credit for in the corners.

I'll tell you one thing about Pothier...he's sharp holding pucks in and moving it D to D in the zone. Every game his passes get a littler bit crisper.

HELP!! On a layover at JFK and sucky Islanders have it blackedout here!!!!! I have legit center ice online. And I am now searching all um, not legit sites now. PLEASE HELP!!!!! Thanks. Hannah (who's halfway to DC for Friday game!!)

That scripted cycle from the SOB line just was sick. You get zone time like that more often than not they're going to rack up points tonight.

Odd he went to semin on the top line so early.

Haha.

Isles dont even show their games against the money making teams.

that is sad.

Nylander with a really ill-advised between the legs to nobody pass in our zone.

Odd he went to semin on the top line so early.

Posted by: Davethecapsfan | April 1, 2009 7:21 PM

Odd? I like them split up, but i cringe every time I see Fehr there.

richmondphil: I think the game is blacked out on Center Ice because the game is on MSG+, so you're "supposed" to watch it on that. Kinda hard if you are stuck in an airport though...

@phil

No debate there...believe me.

I like him going to it for a spark and when they are on it's just sick to watch the possession and zone time. Still I'd prefer Kozlov up there.

richmondphil: I think the game is blacked out on Center Ice because the game is on MSG+, so you're "supposed" to watch it on that. Kinda hard if you are stuck in an airport though...

Posted by: GregAnnapolis | April 1, 2009 7:25 PM

ah, im an idiot.

For some reason I was thinking that she couldn't see it at her home...at...JFK...yeah....

Carlson looking good. Alzner still coming along as well. Help on D is coming.

Chara has fewer minutes per game than Lidstrom or Greenie, fewer goals than either, and a lower +/-.

He is formidable, no doubt, but the numbers say he is the 3rd best defensemen.

+/- is a hard stat to judge it on.

Wideman's is so good because Chara draws the tough defensive assignments every night. On the whole he is the biggest defensive force in the league right now in my opinion and his offensive numbers aren't too bad either.

Screen in front, goal.

good screen.

As I have stated previously:

The Norris is basically an offensive d man award nowadays.
As commendable as Chara's defensive play has been, Green's offensive play has been truly remarkable this season.

I think Green should get it. The problem is that I really dont see the league giving a team the Hart and Norris, with no one team being truly dominant all year.

Alright, lets get one back.

That was a good goal by the Isles.

Time for a great goal by the Caps.

Chara plays MORE minutes than Green or Lidstrom btw.

clear the friggin puck already

Bears at Norfolk tonight. Leading 1-0 on a goal by Bourque in the first minute of the game. Neuvy in goal.

Bears at Norfolk tonight. Leading 1-0 on a goal by Bourque in the first minute of the game. Neuvy in goal.

Posted by: tess2201 | April 1, 2009 7:37 P

fill me on what the deal with Pokuluk is.

Just found a hockey fan who works here, directions to sports bar that should have Islanders game on and assured me minimal abuse for rooting Caps. But so angry paid for center ice online for traveling, wanted to cancel but was too long - most I've ever needed it and I'm blocked. But this guy said tons of screens, Islanders game on and if not on already should switch for me. Jesus, coming from Buffalo - they don't ever black out anything Sabres. Too bad they aren't my team anymore! 2 mins and I dash to sports bar. Wish me luck!!

Good luck Hannah...let's hope Caps are just waiting for you to start watching before they start scoring.

Good place to say, Friday I'll be at the game solo. Looking for anyone sitting near me or meeting up for fun after game? Club 205 row C seat 5. I'll have retro Feds jersey on I had made or thin Russian OV jersey. Short dark hair, bigger punkish (but grown up) girl, I'm friendly!! I'll be checking here non-stop but also feel free to email, pasisz@tmail.com

Need to generate more shots from our zone time. Feels like they needed a period to warm up some.

Tough period. We're going to have to toughen up on that passing. Some nice puck possession in the zone, but sloppy on the D side and too many giveaways.

Cmon Caps!

Another one of those apathetic periods of hockey from the Caps.

Phil:
Pokuluk had a concussion very early last season. After he was re-activated he was sent to S. Carolina and kind of bounced back and forth between the Rays and Hershey last year. Spent most of this year with the Rays. Really only came to Hershey when most of our Dmen were in Washington and we were shorthanded. He's a big kid, but not very fast and looks tentative to me. Just my opinion, but I wonder if the concussion maybe scared him. I haven't seen any positive progression in his game in two years.

Just a note: now Norfolk leading 2-1.

Bears now down 2-1.

pens now up 2-0

I forgot about his concussion last year. He was packaged as being a real offensive force on the blue line when we drafted him and I remember him having some lofty expectations.

ah well...

2-1 Pens now...another NJ loss would be so nice tonight.

Hows the game going? Should be a easy win tonight

Caps up by 7. Piece of cake.

Poti making ice angels.

OV's 54th

someone please tell me the score is it 5-0 6-0 Caps ????? How many points does Semin have Hat trick yet????

ERSKINE WITH THE BODY SHOT!!!!

7-0

I love Da Wrecka.

too bad that fight isnt jump starting anything.

So-so fight, but maybe it'll spark things.

Great play Poti.

our defense sucks.

I sure hope they dont run the score up Islanders have had a terrible year ....Please take it easy on the Islanders ...REST!

Great headshot green.

frackin idiot.

Great overhead right by Schultz

3-1 pens

7-0 Caps.....Yes!!!! But the Islanders dont have much of a team. I wouldnt expect anything less

They, unfortunately, are embarrassing themselves, their fans, and hanging their goalie out to dry. Not sure what the deal is with this Jekyl/Hyde team.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooovechkin!

Feds. Feds. Feds. Feds.

Ovi!

wow Pens are sure rolling ...Just intime for the playoffs ... You want to be on a roll when the playoffs start

Bears update:
Machesney in goal to start the second. Not sure if Neuvy was pulled or is injured. Walton says Neuvy is not on the bench (or in the hallway where the backup usually sits in Norfolk).

that pass right there and his leadership and being able to play on the blue line when called upon is why we should sign fed to a deal until he wants to retire. he looks like he could keep on going acouple years

second goal by OV (too bad the first one was against the Caps) - Great play by Federov and OV

Is it 8-0 now?

Not sure if somebody farted on the bench or not but it looks like we woke up finally.

wow. great pass by feds, his experience really is invaluable to our team.

schultz throwing a punch=classic.

AUCOIN!!!!

Gold Coin.

get your own rebounds.

Aucoin!!!

Aucoin!

aucoin with the secondary scoring!!

There we go!! In front of the NET!!! The call-up is working hard, now it's time for everyone else to pay attention!

So StanleyCup, WHEN the Caps advance in the playoffs and your beloved birds that can't fly are eliminated, are you still going to come back with your comments? Just curious.

Way to go Coiner!!!!!!!!

Aucoin! A heads-up play!

Sure Quiet in here for a team thats up 8-0

Glad to see Aucoin put one in. Great way to follow up on his rebound and on a great game Friday night.

He was heading for a line change. Nice read on the pass!

Not to mention a great intervening game for the Bears

So glad Aucoin's hard work is paying off, he deserves it!

Sure hope Neuvirth is OK.

Caps wont advance Pokerface.

Ignore

Caps are picking it up

Three stellar saves, back-to-back-to-back!

Caps are giving up way too many chances. Gonna have to hustle that D

the horse's skin is falling off now that the shtick has been beaten and driven into the ground.

To me, of the forward call ups this season Aucoin is the guy who has played the most like he wanted to stay. That, taken with his experience and production in the AHL makes him a welcome forward option

AND ITS TIED...I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER!

I JUST WANTED TO SEE SOME FIGHT IN MY TEAM!!!

Great crash effort Fehr!

Flash tricked me.

Also......we need to EARN a powerplay!!!

that looked like a goal

So was that Flash?

Yeah kinda funny we have not had one yet

norfolk again, Bears down 3-1

What's up with Hershey? Blow-off game, or what?

I think it was Flash.

Yeah, it was Flash. :)

If u sent Semin down to the Bears He might help....MAYBE!

Man, Aucoin's got a great feed

Brads-Au-Stecks

lookin really good. Stecks is actually screening their goalie! Go figure!

Good on Flash

"What's up with Hershey? Blow-off game, or what?"

Not that it should be an excuse, but we are missing two of our big guns...Aucoin's in DC and Mink is out with the broken hand.

Fehr...you need to draw the penalty or get the shot of.

not neither.

Stanley,
any chance you back up your talk with $? Name your price.

Pokerface -- please, the idiot's a troll. Ignore -- most around here have learned to to that. Ignore, and the goof doesn't post. That's Troll rules

How much do you have poker?

Caps were starting to forget they're playing a game and not skating drills at the end there...

All you have to do to kill a troll is stop feeding it. I don't know why some people don't get that.

Responses = Troll food

No responses = Death to troll

poker face another rule ...Is you have to ask everyone else, who and when you can speak..thats the rules.

I said name your price SC. I'm fairly confident I've got it covered.

sonyask- sorry, kinda new to the board but he's over the top. Makes me want to do the same thing to Pensblog but I just don't have the time. I have better things to do with my life I guess. I would really like to take his money though! :)

Grandpa is doing all the work himself! Hilarious interview! 'Yeah, I didn't see it cause I was down the other way on a 3 on 2" aka: thanks for killing the momentum!

whats the bet? Caps wont win the Cup?

There is no bet. I think he just wants to pay you to leave.

Well I was eating, but got to watch.

Game's going fine, probably better than it was for Detroit and Philly recently.

What a pass by Feds on Ovie's goal. Great to see Aucoin chipping in too.

johnzilla: i completely missed the interview, who said that?

pens up 5-1

Wow, the Devils are somehow down 5-1 at the halfway point of regulation.

Ok Poker here is the Bet ...If the Caps win the Cup I will never post on this site again...But if they lose you pay for my season tickets!

Feds is talking discussing his tremendous dish to Ovie... and Feds pointed out he was playing D, very dryly - hilarious. Smokin' Al asked if Feds felt Erskin's fight sparked the Caps effort, and Feds said he missed the beginning of the fight cause he was in the middle of a 3 on 2, at the time!

Poor Locker has gotten a case of the giggles, oh my... :)

If they Caps win the Cup we wouldn't see you for ages...just like you'll disappear once we take a lead.

Devils hit a little rough patch eh? Just goes to show all the doom and gloom over a little 0-3-1 stretch were very over the top. EVERY top team has had a prolonged bad stretch this season. Big 3rd period to drop the magic # to 1 and open up a 3 point lead on the Devils with 5 games left each.

Bears update:
Norfolk leading 3-1 at 2nd intermission. Possible lower body injury to Neuvirth after he got tangled up with an Admirals player late in the 1st.

Neuvy's out? That sucks for everyone if Johnny doesn't get healthy fast.

@johnzilla.

Yes, I love Feds. Very tongue-in-cheek.

Backs/Semin/Laich?

Trying to work that Feds/Ovie magic again I think...

Well Poker are you "All In" or fold!

You changed it SC. You said the Caps wouldn't advance to the 2nd round. That was going to be the bet. Do you not like that?

Richmondphil gets it.

Winning the Cup a year and a half after being last in the league seems a little unrealistic...I'm sure it's been done across all sports almost...never?

I'd expect making it to the 2nd round and maybe the ECF would be about right for expectations. Anything beyond that would be gravy imo.

"Did you know that he [Federov] was playing defense?" Locker to Joe B.

"I know you are doing color commentary" - Joe B's response.

Well, he does know the name of the hooters girl.

Blame Fehr for that one.

nice non-call on nyls.

oh well. lets get it back.

Bears goal! Alex Giroux with #55. Ovi needs another one to keep pace with our Alex! Bears 2-Norfolk 3.

The Caps should win the first round they wont get by the 2nd and could even lose the first round

Bourque, Giroux, & Kronwall combine for both goals.

Darn. my cable box just died.

Be interesting to see how the matchups work out...people said the West was cramped 4th-9th was a 5 point spread in the East before tonight's play.

i will say this for the last time.

no competent cap fans expected a cup this year, even before that loss to ATL opening night.

most caps fans (including myself) did not expect to be either the 2nd or 3rd seed in the East either.

how did semin muff that up?

wut.

This is getting frustrating...

Wow Semin very unlucky...sick play to dangle that out to a better angle.

So like I said, you wanna bet that the Caps make it past the 1st round? Why are you back peddling? My point exactly, you're just talking smack but won't put your money where your mouth is.

and how did mcDonald stop that deflection?

what is going onnnnnnnnn

dooooooom

glooooooom

Good to see Backstrom at least showing shot there to set that up...that play is wide open for our guys all the time, a la Ovie trying to hit Feds with under 3 to play in Game 7 last year.

We need a power play. Can't believe NOTHING has been called.

How about some penalties our way for a change..?

Devils are down 5-1 at the end of 2, and it appears that they were issued a bench minor for abuse of official at the end of the period...?

and that is why Green getting the Norris isn't that much of a stretch given his offensive numbers.

Thank you

Well, here's that powerplay.

Cheap shot retaliation there.

We'll take it though. Hahaha what a baby having to throw that hit off the puck.

Poker Its Win the Cup or they call all the others "losers"

Well here we go. It's about time we're on the PP. He got his 2 minutes worth. Gotta bury one here.

Devils are down 5-1 at the end of 2, and it appears that they were issued a bench minor for abuse of official at the end of the period...?

Posted by: GregAnnapolis | April 1, 2009 9:10 PM

yeah, sutter was mad.

Sorry, no more comments... I'm done

...and a cheapy ends that one after 9 seconds.

@phil

He did have a total giveaway though that would've been a semi-breakaway if not for the penalty.

Oh boy, pretty borderline call there. We're still better 4 on 4.

Why is Pothier on the PP...? What the hell are you doing BB, do you want to tie the game or just play a guy on the PP cause you feel bad for him

how did semin muff that up?

wut.

Posted by: richmondphil | April 1, 2009 9:05 PM | Report abuse
Geez back off Semin He just got off his death bed! Give him a break...He needs some rest maybe 5 days off would help

He has the most giveaways in the league for a D man. That is a direct result of his offensive production.

He, unlike a lot of our D, can play the boards. clear the puck. take the body.

He just needs to be more consistent with it.

Beautiful steal and shot by Semin on that 4 on 4

Green was gassed that why Pothier was out there.

I agree with you Phil, I'm just saying the perception is going to be all the risks he takes when it's pretty clear if you look at his play in our own zone his defensive game is far better than he gets credit for.

Okay, power play time.....!

Why is Pothier on the PP...? What the hell are you doing BB, do you want to tie the game or just play a guy on the PP cause you feel bad for him

Posted by: bryan579 | April 1, 2009 9:14 PM

Pothier used to quarterback the PP in Ottawa, and he has always been pinned a puck moving d man.

whats the problem?

Need one here.

$$$$$$

MIKE GREEN!

Beauty!

amazing takeaway backstrom.

now set it back up.

...GREEEN

SWEET!

That Semin guy, what a waste...no vision.

Semin...just pass.

he seems he cant hit the net for anything the past games.

Semin is the man!

Boy it's be great to get some space from the Devils. Let's Go Caps!

It'd be

Semin-Ovie-Backstrom-Semin-Green. That's your passing sequence. Money.

Nice save, Sonyask.

MIKE GREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN! #30!

GREEN 30!!!

MR MO-MENTUM MIGHT BE CHANGING HIS ADDRESS

ITS A GREEN ATTACK!!!!!!!

That interference call was textbook...pushed Poti and himself into Theo. No question.

Not sure Flash got a piece of it though it didn't appear to change direction.

Norris

My DVR says good goal. Don't need to review anymore! :)

No touch there by Flash

Mike Green has 10+ more goals than the Islanders' leading scorer. Holy smokes.

Well 30 goals might give him the Norris. It's hard to argue with these kind of performances.

30 for 52 = Norris

Isles want it. Tighten up Caps

16 years since someone has done it? Only 8 all time? Yeah, I don't miss Robert Lang anymore. Haven't for awhile.

@greg

12 to be exact.

my girl was just pointing out that exact same fact.

Flash looking very Datsyukian there.

If we ever learn to clear our zone we will be monsters.

Big save on Backstrom.

good coinage richmondphil

Theo!

Look at those SOG. Besides an odd turnover or two it's one of our dominant 3rd's you saw towards the end of last season.

To be fair, I did not originally coin it.

New post to celebrate Mike Green's historic 30th goal.

Yeah, that's a great word!

Man, Ovi

Also if there is one thing I love about the prettiness of puck handling, it has to be those clean rip offs.

Backstrom and Flash had beauties this game.

Final score: Bears lose 3-2 to Norfolk.
Bourque #2 star.

While I'll take the 2 points I still don't like our play as of late. I thought with 4 days off we'd come out on fire but it took over 2 periods for us to get going. I would like to be playing better before the real season comes. Could care less about points really but we need to play better. This is the worst team in the league and we're the 4th best according to the standings.

Seals the deal. Go Backstrom

Man, from the the faceoffs to the steals, to the recent muscle, Backstrom is looking good.

Happy for the win but the offense bailed the embarressment of a defense. Tonight's defense isn't going to cut in the playoffs unless we score 5 goals a game. Maybe we can chalk it up to having not played in a while. Devils getting killed and Philly losing 3-1 makes the night that much sweeter.

Just saw on TV somebody in a Pens jersey at the game? I've always wondered why people wear jersey's of team that aren't even playing not to mention a Pens jersey at a Caps game. Unreal. Disappointed in Caps fans that he was still walking!

To echo the sentiments of one annoying blogger on this board (1907)...How dare Mike Green focus on personal records when his team had a game to win!

Congrats Greenie!

Shaky start, not the best play, but a win is a win! And now we are 3 points ahead of the devils! (Just icky score by the Penguins...)

Go Caps!

Tremendous two-way playing for Nicky the last half of the season! Tremendous 3rd period! Next time... would it be too much to ask for 60 min of non-flu-like effort?

What was up with Semin tonight? He screwed up at least two golden opportunities. In one of them, he passed at the last second when he had a clear shot on the net.