Alex Ovechkin was named the NHL's first star for this past week. He had five goals and two assists in the team's three games. It is his second three-star recoginition of the season. He was the league's third star for the last week in October. Jaromir Jagr and Evgeni Nabokov were the other stars for this past week.
Backstrom has joined everyone on the ice, but Quintin Laing left early. Brooks Laich makes the jersey switch to replace Laing. Also, there are a lot of people here, easily the most since the season started.
UPDATE: Bruce Boudreau said Nicklas Backstrom was just getting treatment for a cold. He also said Quintin Laing is "dicey" for tomorrow's game. Laing did not last very long into pracitce after what else but blocking a shot. "He has grit coming out of grit, but he can barely walk," Boudreau said.
The Caps earned a well-deserved day off today after last night's crazy, ridiculous, insert-flashy-adjective-here contest. This gives me a chance to discuss something that hadn't really caught my attention to the other day. How is it possible that Alex Ovechkin is in FIFTH place among forwards in the Eastern Conference All-Star voting?
The latest batch of voting results was released Thursday. With upwards of 445,000 votes, Sidney Crosby has about 2 1/2 times as many as Vinny Lecavalier and Daniel Alfredsson, who are in a tight battle for second. Ovechkin was more than 46,000 votes behind those two with Daniel Briere in between and Ilya Kovalchuk nipping at his heels.
This might not seem like a big deal to some, and it is not like Ovechkin won't be in Atlanta as a reserve. But I don't think I am making a bold or inaccurate statement by saying Alex is the second-most popular player in the NHL (and this voting stuff is really just a glorified popularity contest). And he is having the best season of his three-year career. Last night only added to his growing lore. So how is he not a shoo-in to start in the All-Star game? I think most people expected Ovechkin and Crosby to be locks to start in the next say, 15 of these things after being voted in last season. They were going to be hockey's versions of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Cal Ripken - automatics as all-star starters.
Maybe this is not a big deal. I don't even have to ask Alex about it to assume he would blow it off as not a big deal. But is there something else here, part of a bigger issue? Is this an example of a long-term problem with hockey in the Washington market?
I am sure Alex is getting plenty of support in other markets. All over this country and in Canada especially, plenty of nine-year old kids and dads alike probably started their ballots with Crosby and Ovechkin and then added a hometown forward in Eastern Conference markets and another guy in Western Conference ones. I don't think it is out of line to suggest that Ovechkin's lack of support is at least in part because of the interest level in this town. The Caps are last in the league in attendance, at least according to the number that goes in the box score every night. Yes, they have been the worst team in the league for much of the season, but the Caps are still in the middle of the pack in road attendance, which is almost entirely because of Ovechkin and other hockey fans' desire to see him in person.
Others tell me all the time when the attendance problem comes up that people will show up at the Phone Booth when the team wins. I've only lived in this area since 2000, but I had no trouble getting playoff tickets when I was taking the metro in college from College Park when the Caps were still a consistent playoff contender. So I apologize if I am skeptical that just climbing to eighth or even fourth or fifth place in the conference standings will mean Verizon Center will suddenly be packed.
Again, maybe this all-star thing is really nothing at all, but it something a player agent would notice. Ovechkin does not have one of those right now, but he is probably going to have another one eventually. An agent's top two priorities are keeping the client happy and making said client as much money as possible. All-star voting is a sample of player popularity, which agents are happy to point out to potential representatives of companies for their clients to endorse products.
I don't think this a marketing issue in this city, either. The Caps do a really good job of getting their players out to public appearances and on local and national mediums. NHLPA execs Paul Kelly and Eric Lindros, who are adamant most teams need to market better, were very complimentary of the job the Caps are doing to market their players.
Alex has said on many occasions that he is happy in Washington. He also does not have an agent trying to steer him to a bigger (or at least a better) hockey market. But the other day Ovechkin was sitting with members of the media while his teammates were participating in the morning skate at Mellon Arena. He asked about the attendance that night, and Paul Steigerwald, the Penguins' television play-by-play guy, told him the building would be full, and the team had sold out 30-something games in a row. Ovechkin's response was not something to be taken as a unilateral strike against Washington, but he did not seem to think such a feat was possible at the Phone Booth. I pointed out to him that before he and Crosby came along, the Igloo was half empty almost every night.
So maybe none of this anything to do with anything, but I do not think I am making any absurd judgments or assertions. And who knows, maybe the voters will make a late rally for Ovechkin, but the voting does end on Wednesday. And Ovechkin will continue to be one of, if not the most exciting players in the league to watch, regardless of how many people vote for him or show up at Verizon Center.
Being here in Ottawa meant I could watch the World Junior Championship tilt between Canada and Sweden this afternoon on TSN. After most of the pre-Christmas chatter was this event consisted of Canada and everybody else, it is fair to say they have a tournament now in the Czech Republic after the Swedes pulled off the 4-3 upset. For 40 minutes it appeared that Canada was on its way to another methodical shutout, but then Sweden erupted for three goals in less than four minutes early in the third period, yielded a tying goal with less than four minutes left before getting the game-winner with seven seconds left.
Most people in the States don't care to grasp how great this tournament is, but the hockey on TV today was fantastic. The bigger sheet of ice combined with two very talented teams made for some great up-and-down action, especially at the end.
At one point in the second period, Josh Godfrey and Karl Alzner made quality defensive plays within minutes of each other. Godfrey might have saved a goal with a diving poke check to stop a breakaway. Alzner played a 2-on-1 to near perfection.
Then Alzner was on the ice for Sweden's first goal (screened the goalie on a power play slap shot) and Godfrey was out there for the second one (got caught looking in front of the net while the puck was bouncing all over the place). Wunderkind John Tavares made a nifty play to help the Canadians tie the game, but then Mikael Backlund (Calgary's 2007 first-rounder) made two ridiculous moves to get by a pair of Canadian defenders (Thomas Hickey and Drew Doughty) before hitting Tobias Forsberg (an undrafted 19-year-old playing in Sweden) for a one-timer to set off quite a celebration.
I talked to Nicklas Backstrom before the game and while he only saw the last five minutes, he was pretty excited. He said the only guy on the team he knows well is Patrick Berglund, a first-round pick by St. Louis in 2006. He also said that beating Canada wasn't "party in the streets" big at home, but it is a big deal any time the Swedes can best the Canucks in hockey.
Sweden can wrap up the pool and a bye into the semifinals with a win Monday against the host Czech Republic. After defeating Russia 3-2 today, the United States can do the same in the other pool with a win Monday against Finland.
So my flight to Chicago this morning was cancelled and my new least favorite airline (hint: the Blackhawks and Bulls play in an arena that bears its name) tried to set me up on a flight into Ottawa ... tomorrow. When briefed on my situation I was given the last seat on a plane to Philly and a corresponding one to Ottawa, which just landed.
I missed the morning skate, but enough of my travel woes. I just checked in with the Caps and Alex Ovechkin skated this morning. I was told he said he will play.
As expected, Freddie Cassivi will replace Brent Johnson on the roster for tomorrow's game.
Johnson is expected to be out 2-to-4 weeks with a sprained left knee. Cassivi has been the No. 1 guy in Heshey for the past two-plus seasons. He has appeared in five games for the Caps during that time, and he is 0-2-1 with a 3.03 goals against average. He was up with the club for 15 games last season, most of them when Olie Kolzig was hurt. He started once during that span. Cassivi is a very competent AHL goalie, but at age 32 he has all of 13 NHL games on his resume. Translation: Expect Olie, Olie and more Olie during the next couple weeks, especially since the schedule works out pretty well for a one-goalie rotation.
Cassivi's numbers with the Bears this season (10-10-1, 3.10, .900) are actually not as good as his backup's, 21-year old Daren Machesney. A fifth-round pick in the 2005 draft, Machesney is 6-2-1 with a 2.34 GAA and a .919 save percentage in his first full season with the Bears.
Karl Alzner had an assist in Canada's 2-0 victory against Slovakia in the IIHF U-20 World Junior Championship. Alzner, the No. 5 overall pick in June, was on the ice for both of Canada's goals, which were power play tallies by Kyle Turris, who went two picks before Alzner to Phoenix. Josh Godfrey was tied for second on the team with four shots. The Canadians are 2-0 and ran their winning streak in this tournament to 20 games.
The host Czech Republic squad defeated Denmark 5-2, but did so without Caps property Michal Neuvirth in net. His backup, Jakub Kovar, stopped 16 of 18 shots. The U.S. team had the day off before facing Switzerland tomorrow. Both Canada and the Czech Republic are off tomorrow.
The Caps are going through the morning skate but we talked to Bruce Boudreau before hand. Boyd Gordon will be in the lineup in place of Quintin Laing. Boudreau said it was a tough decision considering how well he has played. Brent Johnson, riding a two-game road winning streak, will be in net.
Nicklas Backstrom is moving back up to the top line, switching places with Michael Nylander. Gordon will center a line with Donald Brashear and Matt Bradley. David Steckel will play with Matt Pettinger and Brooks Laich. The defensive pairings will remain the same.
George McPhee just spoke with the media about Bruce Boudreau's contract, but he also touched on a couple of injury situations. He said Chris Clark has "plateaued" with his groin inury, and they don't want to rush him back and end up missing two months. Eric Fehr is skating regularly with Hershey, and McPhee hopes he can start to play in games for the Bears sometime in January.
Canada defeated host Czech Republic 3-0 in the opening game for both teams in the IIHF U-20 World Junior Hockey Championship. Wunderkind John Tavares, the consensis top pick in the 2009 draft, had a pair of power play goals. Steven Stamkos, who is expected to be the top pick this June, assisted on all three goals.
Caps prospect Josh Godfrey had a pair of assists. Fellow Caps property and defenseman Karl Alzner did not register any points, but skated with Drew Doughty as part of Canada's top pairing and logged plenty of key penalty-killing minutes as the Czech Republic went 0-for-9 with the extra man.
Michal Neuvirth, the Caps' second-round pick in 2006, stopped 27 of 30 shots for the Czechs, but was upstaged by Canadian netminder Jonathan Bernier, who turned aside 44 shots for the shutout. Canada has now won 19 straight games in this tournament and is in pursuit of its fourth straight gold medal.
As a reminder of Canada's depth, Stamkos is centering the team's "third line" and Tavares began the tournament as essentially the team's 13th forward.
The United States defeated Kazakhstan, 5-1, in its opening game. James vanRiemsdyk, the No. 2 overall pick in June, had a goal and an assist, as did Kyle Okposo, an Islanders' property who just left the University of Minnesota under mysterious circumstances.
The Caps have removed the interim tag for Bruce Boudreau, so he is the team's coach moving forward. The team is 7-5-3 since Boudreau took over on Thanksgiving after starting the year 6-14-1.
The players have been on board with this move for a while now, and as long as the team continued to play well it did appear to only be a matter of time. We will get to talk to Bruce and George McPhee about the decision before the game tonight, so more on this later.
I am travelling back to D.C. today, but I just checked in for a quick update after the morning skate. (Side note: Since I woke up there and will end up there in the wee hours of the morning for tomorrow's game, I am essentially commuting to the Phone Booth from my dad's house.)
The big news from K-Plex this morning is Brian Pothier will return to the lineup tonight. He was out with a broken thumb, and he will replace John Erskine. Boyd Gordon skated and could return as early as tomorrow. Considering how well he has played agianst Sidney Crosby, that would be a nice turn of events for the Caps. Chris Clark did not skate this morning.
This is a big one tonight for both teams. As I wrote the other day, the Caps need to stay afloat the next week and a half because this is not an easy stretch. This team has responded from adversity for Bruce Boudreau, and after three straight losses (yes, two were after regulation, but the vibe was very different on the Island then after the game in Detroit) it is time to do so again.
-- Corey Masisak
The Caps are off for the next three days, and there is sure to be much contemplation about the recent missed opportunities. After a home game with Tampa Bay on the 26th, the next three are at Pittsbugh, at Ottawa and back home for Ottawa on New Year's Day. That is not an easy stretch by any means and it takes them to the 40-game mark (random meaningless point: That game will also mean Year One of Nicklas Backstrom's free agency clock is officially in the books.)
We did not have a lot of time last night before the team had to catch the bus, and most of the players were gone before we got down to the room from the press box. We were told Mike Green was going to need stitches in right ear, but not too many. Jeff Schultz was also getting stitched up after the game for a small cut above his right eye.
If there is nothing to report during the next two days, I will enjoy the first back-to-back days off since the season started. For those with the Center Ice package, the three Caps prospects playing in the WJC will face each other on the first day of the tournament. Karl Alzner and Josh Godfery will fire shots at Czech Republic netminder Michal Neuvirth (whose name is apparently pronounced Noy-VERT) after a lengthy discussion about it before the morning skate yesterday) on the 26th at 1:30 p.m.
The Caps are on the ice now and we caught up with Bruce Boudreau before they got started. After he was unsure yesterday, Boudreau said Olie Kolzig will be in net. He also said John Erskine will be paired with Jeff Schultz, so the other pairings will be Mike Green with Shaone Morrisonn and Tom Poti with Milan Jurcina.
Boudreau also said: "We're going to do whatever it takes to win, if it takes Alex [Ovechkin] playing 40 minutes or playing 17 minutes. We've got a few days off after this to rest up."
He also talked about wanting guys to take shorter shifts, which some people may recall was a problem Glen Hanlon brought up earlier in the season.
No lineup changes for Les Capitals (sorry, just be glad the whole thing isn't in French). The Caps will not get their first look at goaltending prodigy Carey Price. He had started seven straight games, but it is Cristobal Huet between the pipes.
One interesting thing from Bruce Boudreau's pregame meeting with the media. Mike Vogel asked if the recent uptick in play here is a result of the team having its morning skates at Verizon. Earlier in the season they were at K-Plex. Here's what he had to say:
"I don't have a clue. I don't know if it means a hill of beans or if it means everything. I don't know if you can say it was the way we were playing back then as opposed to the way we are playing now, or it is the fact that we are on the ice more and we are more accustomed to it. There is probably a plethora, I like that word, a plethora of reasons that there could be and I don’t know which one is the real one."
I am writing a story in tomorrow's paper about the interim status of coach Bruce Boudreau. I talked to several players and assistant coach Jay Leach, and every one was supportive of Bruce. Whether it was guys who have played for him before (Brooks Laich, David Steckel) to veterans he has either called out by name (Olie Kolzig), demoted (Viktor Kozlov) or benched at some point (Brian Pothier), they all backed him to be the full-time guy. GM George McPhee has said on several occasions he would be patient, and he continues to be. The team is 7-4-2 with Boudreau after losing 15 of 18 at the end of Glen Hanlon's tenure. Here is some stuff that did not make the paper:
GEORGE MCPHEE
"They're playing the way we thought they could play at the start of the year. We thought we could be a competitive club and be an above .500 team and compete for the last couple of spots in the playoffs. They are playing that way now."
HOW HAS HE GOTTEN THE VETERAN PLAYERS TO BUY IN?
"When you have the right veterans that is not a problem. When Bruce called out Pothier and Olie for their mistakes in New Jersey, they could have made life difficult for him and for the team. But they didn't. They were man enough to do that and send the right message to the coach and the rest of the team."
BRIAN POTHIER
"Everybody has been responding, especially the young guys. They've had him and are comfortable with him, and we're all getting more and more comfortable with him and his system and on the ice we are really responding."
"In this short term having limited practice time he has implemented that has been really effective, and more important than the system is that he is getting everyone on board to play it."
TOM POTI
"You could see the last game against Detroit we're kind of finally grasping everything and I think we know if we listen to him and play the way he wants us to play, we are going to have success."
CAN HE SUCCEED IN THIS LEAUGE?
"No question about it - I am surprised it took him this long to get a job. I am surprised no one has given him a chance before. I think people who knew him from before realized he could have success in this league and he is doing it."
HOW HAS HE GOTTEN THE VETERAN PLAYERS TO BUY IN?
"Some veterans would be like that and have big egos. I noticed it when I first walked in the door here this year - guys like myself, Michael [Nylander] and Kozzie [Viktor Kozlov] - we check are egos at the door and we are here to have success and to win. When coach talks we listen."
DID THE LAST TWO GAMES WITH GLEN HANLON GIVE THE LEADERS IN THE ROOM A REFERENCE POINT TO SAY, 'WE ARE NOT GOING TO PLAY LIKE THIS ANYMORE?'
"You could kind of look at that as a blessing in disguise. Before you can have success you have to hit rock bottom to know what the bottom is like and to know that you never want to go back there. I think we saw that the last two games with Glen. It was unfortunate because he was a great guy and a great coach."
OLIE KOLZIG
"Guys have responded and we are playing well. It is a combination of things. Once the coach gets fired, the onus is on the players. If things don't get turned around, then the players are the next ones to go. I think there is a little bit of fear there. Secondly, half the team played for him before and they obviously respect him quite a bit. Then the other thing is he is just blatantly up front and honest and tells it like it is. Guys don't want to be in meeting time the one who gets singled out."
DAVID STECKEL
SURPRISED WITH HIS QUICK SUCCESS?
"No, not really. Every team he expects and demands the most, and his teams find a way to win. They win, and that is the bottom line."
HAS HE ALWAYS CALLED OUT PLAYERS, REGARDLESS OF HOW GOOD THEY ARE?
That is not an anomaly with him. Every time you play bad, you are going to hear it. He really expects the players to play his way and to play at your best every game, because that is our job. He wants to make it fun, and the only way it is fun is if you win.
Another day with the same lines at K-Plex. This seems like the longest stretch of continuity in a long time. I guess that is what happens when a team strings together several quality outings in a row. Boyd Gordon is also on the ice but wearing an orange jersey (i.e. he is not assigned to a line). Chris Clark is not out there, and we may get a further update (or non-update) on his status after practice is over.
And in case anyone did not see this, it looks like Chris Simon will have plenty of time to contemplate his next move. And in case you missed it, here's video of Simon doing the deed.
TOP HEADLINES
**DUCKS PUT ON WEIGHT, ACTIVATE NEIDERMEYER
Finally a juicy trade to dissect, Anaheim trades Andy McDonald for Doug Weight. The Ducks free up some cap room for next season to lock up Corey Perry, but are they better?
**SIMON SAYS I'LL TAKE A BREAK
Let's see, in less than a calendar year Chris Simon has done this and now this. What is this guy being allowed to collect a paycheck from the NHL exactly?
**MIKE RICHARDS, $69 MILLION MAN
Speaking of paychecks, how about a guy with 36 goals in 169 career games signing a 12-year, $69 million deal? Richards is on pace for 40 this season and will be the captain in Philly for a decade, and the leadership/heart/guts quotient is off the charts with him, but doesn't his physical play make him a bit of an injury risk? Flyers fans would have loved to get Eric Lindros locked up for 12 years when he was 22 as well.
**RIVAL LEAGUE STARTING UP?
Stop me if you've heard this one: A Russian tycoon, a great former Russian hockey player and an exiled NHLPA executive director walk into a bar and ... A rival league would obviously have monumental odds against survival, even against top European leagues, and Caps fans do not even want to think about envisioning the scenario near the bottom of this take.
**COULD BE CANADA AND EVERYONE ELSE IN WJC
Most of the rosters for the upcoming IIHF U-20 World Junior Hockey Championship were announced this week, and Canada will be looking for a four-peat as the obvious favorite. While the Americans will miss top NHL rookie Pat Kane, the Canucks could field a team of U-20 guys that are not on the team (think Sam Gagner, Jonathan Toews, Peter Mueller and David Perron plus the guys who were cut from the actual team) that could medal in/win this tournament.
COUNTING THEM DOWN: BUSTS
Ranking the NHL teams with a look at who is the most disappointing player on each club as we near the season's midpoint
30. Los Angeles Kings: None of the free agents have been good, but Michal Handzus has 10 points and is minus-9 (30)
29. Atlanta Thrashers: This team needs more than four goals and seven points from Pascal Dupuis in a supporting role (23)
28. Washington Capitals: Alexander Semin's troubles can be blamed to a certain extent on the ankle injury; Viktor Kozlov's three goals have no such explanation (29)
27. Tampa Bay Lightning: Jan Hlavac returned from a European hiatus and has four goals despite playing a lot with Brad Richards (24)
26. Florida Panthers: Top prospect Anthony Stewart has zero points in 10 games, but Jay Bouwmeester still hasn't taken that final step to elite d-man status (22)
25. Phoenix Coyotes: David Aebischer went from preseason favorite to claim the No. 1 job to European exile (26)
24. Nashville Predators: They were banking on Alexander Radulov making the leap to stardom; they are still waiting (17)
23. Edmonton Oilers: Jarrett Stoll had 68 points two years ago; he has 52 since (28)
22. New York Islanders: After losing so much offense, Isles needed young guys like Sean Bergenheim and Jeff Tambellini (combined one goal in 35 games) to step forward (21)
21. Chicago Blackhawks: How many more chances is Sergei Samsanov (no goals, four points in 22 games) going to get in this league? (19)
20. Columbus Blue Jackets: Some young guys have not progressed, but David Vyborny has to produce more than two goals and 10 points (18)
19. Buffalo Sabres: The talent is undeniable, but five goals from Maxim Afinegenov? Five? (25)
18. Toronto Maple Leafs: Bryan McCabe and his hefty contract have become the poster boy for all whipping boys around the league (20)
17. Pittsburgh Penguins: The goaltending has been suspect and Mark Recchi was cut, but Jordan Staal's sophomore slump has been critical (15)
16. St. Louis Blues: Doug Weight had only 11 points in 29 games before being traded to Anaheim (13)
15. Montreal Canadiens: Michael Ryder had 30 goals each of the past two seasons; he has three this year (16)
14. Philadelphia Flyers: Sami Kapanen is long past his days as an offensive force, but he has three goals and zero assists (12)
13. New York Rangers: Just about every forward has disappointed, but it has to start and the top with Jaromir Jagr's seven goals and 22 points (10)
12. Anaheim Ducks: The checking guys (Sammy Pahlsson, Rob Niedermayer) aren't asked to score much, combining for 11 points is not enough (11)
11. Calgary Flames: Mikka Kiprusoff has a mega contract kicking in next year, but he has not been an elite netminder this year with a 2.89 GAA (22)
10. Carolina Hurricanes: Jeff Hamilton looked like a free agent steal with 12 points in his first 14 games; he has three in the past 17 (3)
9. Minnesota Wild: Defenseman Kim Johnsson, he of the three straight years with double-digit goals before the lockout, has zero this season and is a minus-six (7)
8. Boston Bruins: They traded for Manny Fernandez and his $4.5 million salary, and he won two games before a season-ending knee injury (9)
7. Colorado Avalanche: Marek Svatos has rebounded a bit from last year with 10 goals, but one assist in 30 games? (14)
6. Vancouver Canucks: He is the franchise's all-time leading scorer, but Trevor Linden has five points and is having trouble getting in the lineup (5)
5. New Jersey Devils: Zach Parise has taken a major step forward; Travis Zajac (five goals, 15 points) has not (6)
4. San Jose Sharks: How this team is surging despite no player besides Joe Thornton having more than 15 points is crazy (and underscores how good Evgeni Nabakov has been), but former Richard Trophy winner Jonathan Cheechoo has four goals in 28 games (8)
3. Dallas Stars: D-man Trevor Daley (one goal, seven points, minus-6) has not taken a step forward some predicted (4)
2. Ottawa Senators: A shoulder injury has slowed Patrick Eaves in what could have been a breakout campaign (2)
1. Detroit Red Wings: Must be nice when a goalie with a 2.52 GAA qualifies for this list, but Dominik Hasek is the closest there is to a disappointment on this roster (1)
TROPHY HUNTING
A look at who are the leading candidates (this week, anyway) for the NHL's coveted individual hardware
HART TROPHY
1. Jarome Iginla, Flames
2. Henrik Zetterberg, Red Wings
3. Vinny Lecavalier, Lightning
CALDER TROPHY
1. Pat Kane, Blackhawks (his lead is shrinking though)
2. Jonathan Toews, Blackhawks
3. Tobias Enstrom, Thrashers
VEZINA TROPHY
1. Evgeni Nabokov, Sharks
2. Roberto Luongo, Canucks
3. Henrik Lundqvist, Rangers
JACK ADAMS TROPHY
1. Claude Julien, Bruins
2. Andy Murray, Blues
3. Mike Babcock, Red Wings (they are too good for him not to be in the mix)
NORRIS TROPHY
1. Nicklas Listrom, Red Wings
2. Dion Phaneuf, Flames
3. Chris Pronger, Ducks
GET TO KNOW ...
Washington Capitals defenseman Tom Poti
Poti, a 30-year old Worcester, Mass. Native, is in his first season with the Caps. He was a third-round pick by Edmonton in the 1996 draft. After two seasons at Boston University, Poti made his NHL debut with the Oilers in 1998. He has 58 goals and 205 assists in 622 career games.
Q: Favorite player?
A: Ray Bourque
Q: Favorite team?
A: Boston Bruins
Q: Favorite car?
A: Dodge Viper
Q: Favorite video game?
A: Probably Super Mario Brothers, probably played that one the most
Q: Favorite food?
A: Pancakes
Q: Favorite restaurant?
A: Morton's
Q: Favorite goal?
A: My rookie year against San Jose in overtime to clinch a playoff spot
Q: Favorite rink to play in?
A: The Fleet Center or whatever they call it now, because of playing in front of friends and family and I played there a lot in college
Q: Biggest phobia?
A: Probably getting old - I don't want to get old
No lineup changes tonight for the Caps. Steve Eminger and John Erskine are the scratches with the team at 22 players after Joe Motzko was sent to Hershey. Tomas Holmstrom will return to the Detroit lineup. He was putting up excellent numbers playing with Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, and then Daneil Cleary put up excellent numbers playin with those two in his absence. I'm not doubting Holmstrom's or Cleary's abilities, but there is a theme there. Detroit coach Mike Babcock plans to play his top line against the Ovechkin-Backstrom-Pettinger trip as much as he can. Some teams shy from matching top lines, but Babcock thinks his guys will play keep away with the puck. Considering his team has taken 88 shots in the past two games, he might be onto something.
Not to be lost in Ovechkin's first trip to Detroit or Backstrom playing against Hasek and the Seven Swedes is Tomas Fleischmann's first game in Joe Louis Arena. He was drafted by Detroit in 2002 and traded to the Caps in the Robert Lang deal during the great salary purge of Spring 2004. Fleischmann went to two training camps with the Red Wings at Traverse City, Mich.
"It was still my junior time, but I was drafted to this team," Fleischmann said. "I thought my first NHL game would here, but I am here finally."
-- Corey Masisak
The Caps traveled to Detroit in the wee hours of the morning and are off today. All things considered, it is a good day to bunker down in a hotel. The high temperature was 83 here yesterday in Tampa, and it is expected to be a crisp 29 in Detroit later today.
Of course the temperature is the least of the worries at this point. There is a tornado watch down here, and my taxi ride from downtown to the airport this morning was a little adventurous thanks to the high winds and steady rain. Leaving here on time could be an issue. Then there is the winter storm warning in the Motor City, where 5-8 inches of snow is expected to fall in combination with high winds. Needless to say, I will hope the rental car company provides a scraper and will be happy to find my way to a nice cozy Courtyard bed this afternoon in Dearborn.
As for a quick update from last night, Alex Ovechkin appeared to be fine after taking a two-handed swipe across the face from the stick of Tampa Bay defenseman Filip Kuba. The cut was pretty small, but his cheek was puffed up a bit and he voiced his displeasure with the lingering pain (we are a family newspaper, and hence this is a family blog but I am sure people can use their imaginations).
I know some/much of the physical element of the game is fading in the "New NHL," but I was not the only person in the press box who was surprised that Kuba escaped any type of retribution.
It may have had to do a lot with the 2-2 score at the time, but Kuba came out of the penalty box, and because of an icing call and a prolonged Caps possession, he was on the ice for about two minutes at the end of the period.
Donald Brashear did put him into the boards towards the end of the shift, but it was in the general flow of the game, and it did not appear like he was trying to really make him feel it. Kuba and the Lightning will be at Verizon Center 10 days from now, so there could be some fireworks then, of course.
Again, not trying to condone anything illegal, but it did seem like a couple of the Caps missed chances to get in some perfectly legal hits on both Kuba and Vincent Lecavalier, who would also have been considered fair game to hockey purists.
Bruce Boudreau is going to shuffle the lines a bit after he was disappointed with the team's showing last night at the Phone Booth. Matt Pettinger returns to the top line with Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin. Tomas Fleischmann returns to the lineup (Joe Motzko will be a healthy scrtach) and joins the second unit with Michael Nylander and Alexander Semin. Viktor Kozlov drops down to the third line (in case anyone doesn't have a full grasp of his goal-scoring slump, he has lit the lamp one time in the past 29 games) with Brooks Laich and Donald Brashear, while the fourth group will be David Steckel between Quintin Laing and Matt Bradley.
The defense pairings are the same, and Brent Johnson will be in net for the Caps.
-- Corey Masisak
The Caps are practicing at the Phone Booth today, and at a later time than normal (because of the team holiday party). Michael Nylander is back in the regular forward rotation, so the lines have been shook up a bit. Chris is not out there.
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Kozlov
Pettinger-Nylander-Semin
Laing-Steckel-Bradley
Brashear-Laich-Motzko/Fleischmann
Poti-Jurcina
Morrisonn-Green
Schultz-Pothier
Erksine-Eminger
UPDATE: I talked to Michael Nylander after practice. He said he expects to play tomorrow against Buffalo, and Boudreau concurred. George McPhee declined to comment on the injury. I asked Nylander about Larry Brooks' assertion in today's New York Post that it is a rotator cuff injury, and he shook his head and said, "He thinks he knows everything, but sometimes he doesn't know anything."
Also, Canada named its roster for the WJC today. Mathieu Perreault did not make the cut, but Karl Alzner and Josh Godfrey both did. According to TSN, Alzner will be paired with one of the top prospects in the 2008 draft, Drew Doughty, as Canada's top pairing. Godfrey is expected to skate with Red Wings property Logan Pyett. Just as an example of Canada's crazy depth, wunderkind John Tavares "will likely be rotated among the forward lines and on the power play unit." That must be nice.
Bruce Boudreau made one change to the lineup, replacing Milan Jurcina with Brian Pothier, which is something he alluded to yesterday. Pothier will skate with John Erskine, while Jeff Schultz will be paired with Tom Poti and the Mike Green-Shaone Morrisonn pairing will stay together.
I mentioned this in the paper the other day, but here is an interview (translated into English) with Caps prospect Simeon Varlamov, who was suprisingly left off Russia's entry in the upcoming World Junior Championship in the Czech Republic. No Caps prospects are on the American team, but three (Karl Alzner, Josh Godfrey and Mathieu Perreault) are currently in the Canadian selection camp. Alzner is a shoo-in barring injury and a decent bet to be named captain. Godfrey and Perreault have put up the numbers this year to warrant selection, but they may be sweating it out.
Our sports business reporter, Tim Lemke, has an interesting note about hockey attendance in Detroit this season, plus a bit more about empty seats leaguewide, over at his blog. Enjoy.
TOP HEADLINES
** NEIDERMEYER TO RETURN
Anaheim will fortify its bid to repeat with the return of Scott Niedermeyer, but clearing the necessary cap space to welcome back his $6.75 million contract could be tricky.
** CROSBY HEADS WEST
The Sidney Crosby Show swept through Western Canada for the first time to much fanfare. He had a great period against Edmonton, but Kris Letang stole the show in Vancouver and Calgary.
** WAS BERTUZZI FOLLOWING ORDERS?
Steven Moore's camp says former Vancouver coach ordered Todd Bertuzzi to take a run at him, which the Canucks of course denied. The NHL has had plenty of bad press from this incident already, but this could be dicey.
** DEVILS ROAR BACK
Experts said the Rangers and Penguins had passed them in the preseason, but nine straight wins and New Jersey is back atop the Atlantic Division.
** THRASHERS PICK UP MARK RECCHI
Recchi will be 40 in February and has two goals in 19 games this season, but Atlanta wants to find out if it can squeeze anything more out of the tank from a member of the 500-goal club.
COUNTING THEM DOWN: SURPRISES
Ranking the NHL teams with a look at each club's biggest surprise to this point
30. Los Angeles Kings: Dustin Brown had 32 goals in first two full NHL seasons – he could more than double that this year (Last week: 30)
29. Washington Capitals: John Erskine has six points in 17 games - more than seven of his teammates who have played at least 22 half his career total of 12 before this season in 170 games (29)
28. Edmonton Oilers: Don't think many people would have though Tom Gilbert would lead the team's blue line corps in goals with four and points with nine (24)
27. Florida Panthers: Richard Zednik is having a nice bounce-back year with eight goals and 14 points (22)
26. Phoenix Coyotes: Radim Vrbata's goal totals before this season - 18, 16, 12, 15 and 14 - and he is at 11 one-third of the way in this year (28)
25. Buffalo Sabres: Jaroslav Spacek is one power play goal from his career high (20)
24. Tampa Bay Lightning: Mathieu Darche (four goals, eight points) is 31 years old and had one NHL goal in 28 career games before this year (25)
23. Atlanta Thrashers: Hard to argue with Tobias Enstrom going from eighth-round pick to Calder Trophy contender (26)
22. Calgary Flames: 34-year old defenseman Adrian Aucoin is almost back to his pre-lockout pace (27)
21. New York Islanders: Josef Vasicek had 10 goals since the lockout in two years; he is tied for the team lead with nine (16)
20. Toronto Maple Leafs: Andy Wozniewski went undrafted out of Wisconsin, but has played all but one game and has two goals and eight points for a team with a veteran-laden (and expensive) defense corps (21)
19. Chicago Blackhawks: Patrick Sharp netted 20 last season, but he is near a 40-goal pace and has five shorthanded tallies (11)
18. Columbus Blue Jackets: He had gone from a league-leading 41 goals to 31 and to 27, but Rick Nash is back as a dynamic offensive force (18)
17. Nashville Predators: Radek Bonk was an under the radar signing this summer, but he leads the team with 10 goals (15)
16. Montreal Canadiens: So Sheldon Souray leaves town and Les Habs still have the league’s top power play; one reason is Souray's replacement Andrei Markov (12)
15. Pittsburgh Penguins: With all of that young talent, Tyler Kennedy was buried on people's prospect lists the past few years, but he has been a bright spot with four goals in 16 games (23)
14. Colorado Avalanche: There was little doubt that Paul Stastny could be a good player in this league, but not everyone thought he could be [ital] this [end ital] good (13)
13. St. Louis Blues: Erik Johnson and David Perron are more heralded rookies, but undrafted Steve Wagner has been a solid defenseman - and he was playing for Minnesota State-Mankato at this time last year (7)
12. Philadelphia Flyers: His biggest impact this season was the hit on Patrice Bergeron, but Randy Jones is the team's second-highest scoring defenseman (9)
11. Anaheim Ducks: Kent Huskins once played for four AHL teams in four years, but the 28-year old defenseman has found a regular gig (and eight points) for the defending champs (19)
10. New York Rangers: Daniel Girardi never score more than nine goals in juniors or the minors, but he has four this year for the Blueshirts (4)
9. Boston Bruins: Manny Fernandez was suppose to supplant Tim Thomas but has been hurt and Thomas has looked the part of a No. 1 guy (9)
8. San Jose Sharks: This is one of the youngest and deepest forward groups in the league, and soon-to-be 38-year-old Jeremy Roenick is tied for second with 14 points (17)
7. Minnesota Wild: Aaron Voros is a tough guy, but with five goals in 14 games, has shown a bit of a scorer's touch as well (2)
6. New Jersey Devils: Defensive specialist John Madden has two more goals than Patrick Elias and two of his five career power-play markers (10)
5. Vancouver Canucks: Alex Burrows had nine points in 81 games last year; he has 10 in 30 in 2007-08 (8)
4. Dallas Stars: Mike Riberio has never topped 20 goals, but 13 is the team’s best (6)
3. Carolina Hurricanes: Matt Cullen was expected to be a nice fit in his return to Raleigh, but he's on an 80-point pace; his career high is 49 (3)
2. Ottawa Senators: Ray Emery seized control of the job last year, but Martin Gerber is 13-4-1 with a 2.50 GAA (4)
1. Detroit Red Wings: Tomas Holmstrom had a career-high 29 goals in 2005-06, a career-best 30 last year and could approach 40 this season - and he is about to turn 35 (1)
TROPHY HUNTING
HART TROPHY, PLAYOFF EDITION
1. Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa
2. Henrik Lundqvist, N.Y. Rangers
3. Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh
HART TROPHY, NON-PLAYOFF EDITION
1. Ilya Kovalchuk, Atlanta
2. Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay
3. Jarome Iginla, Calgary
CALDER TROPHY
1. Pat Kane, Chicago
2. Tobias Enstrom, Atlanta
3a. Jonathan Toews, Chicago
3b. Nicklas Backstrom, Washington
VEZINA TROPHY
1. Henrik Lundqvist, N.Y. Rangers
2. Roberto Luongo, Vancouver
3a. Chris Osgood, Detroit
3b. Evgeni Nabakov, San Jose
JACK ADAMS TROPHY
1. Andy Murray, St. Louis
2. Claude Julien, Boston
3. Brent Sutter, New Jersey
The Caps are going through a workout here at Kettler, and the lines are the same as the past two games.
Chris Clark is not practicing, while Michael Nylander is out there with a jersey color to his own. The defensive pairings are a little different. Milan Jurcina and Steve Eminger are skating together, as are Brian Pothier and John Erskine, Tom Poti and Jeff Schultz and Mike Green is with Shaone Morrisonn.
UPDATE (1:26 p.m.)
Bruce Boudreau said "there is a good chance" Brian Pothier will back in the lineup tomorrow night, which could mean Milan Jurcina would be on the outside looking in if the pairs from today remain. Boudreau also said Chris Clark is not expected to skate today or tomorrow. It seemed like he was close to returning as of yesterday. Michael Nylander wasn't willing to offer any information about his undisclosed injury, and Boudreau said they hope to have him on Friday against the Sabres.
Bruce Boudreau said the lineup will be the same as it was against Atlanta on Saturday. He didn't want to change anything after the team played so well against the Thrashers. This means, obviously, that Brian Pothier will sit for a second straight night. He said Chris Clark and Michael Nylander skated this morning, but wasn't ready to offer a timetable for their return.
Bruce Boudreau has planned some changes for the lineup tonight. One is Brian Pothier joining Steve Eminger as an inactive and John Erskine joining those with a uniform. He did not divulge the forward shakeup, but did say Donald Brashear and Matt Bradley will not be on the same line in an attempt to get better forechecking. Olie Kolzig will be in net.
Boudreau also said he wasn't upset that no one retaliated when Alex Ovechkin was put into the boards last night and was slow to get back to the bench.
"I don't know if that was the right time of the game to do that. We play them Monday," Boudreau said. "There are certain times to do it. If Chris Clark could take back the going after the guy in Philly he probably would and have waited for a different time. There is a time and a place, and Alex is a big boy. He knows people are going to hit him all the time, and he's met every challenge that has ever come his way. I think it was good that we identified on the bench that it happened, but I think it was a smart move not to go and put yourself -- if you get a double minor or an instigator and a major and the guy doesn't do anything -- then you pull yourself out of the game. I am glad we were a little more disciplined than that."
We are about an hour shy of gametime here at the brand-spanking new Prudential Center. With Michael Nylander out of the lineup, the Caps recalled Joe Motzko this morning from Hershey. Motzko leads the Bears with 10 goals and 15 points this season. Either Nylander or Chris Clark had to be put on injured reserve to make room for Motzko, though it seems that the obvious choice would be Clark since the move could be made retroactive to last week and he would be eligible to come off tomorrow if necessary.
Bruce Boudreau told us a few minutes ago that he will unveil what he called the "Russian Rockets" on the top line tonight. Viktor Kozlov will center Alex Ovechkin and Alexander Semin. The second line (or "International Line" per Boudreau) will have Nicklas Backstrom in between Tomas Fleischmann and Motzko. The other two lines will remain the same as the past two games, the defensive pairings are unchanged and Olie Kolzig is expected in net.
A quick travel trip, if anyone is planning to travel to this building and wants to stay the Courtyard near the airport, it is fine member of the Marriott Kingdom, but print out directions first or you will be circling the Newark Airport for 20 minutes in the snow looking for it. Well, it might not be snowing.