by | February 12, 2012

A Matinee Performance on Broadway

Any patron of the theater will tell you that when you go to a matinee, you generally get what you paid for — a matinee performance.

It’s not uncommon for actors to use understudies in their place for these shows and the effort level pitches up and down throughout the production.

It’s amazing how that same work ethic can translate over to a sports matinee.

In Saturday afternoon’s game against the New York Rangers, the Washington Capitals turned in a matinee performance on Broadway in a 3-2 loss.

About 50 minutes of the show was as ho-hum as a Saturday afternoon production of “Rent.” The final 10-minute forechecking flurry by the Caps had all the jazz of a Broadway finale.

Unfortunately, the Caps can’t blame this one on the understudies, but the final 10 minutes of the game does deserve to be put under a microscope.

File those minutes under “what went right and should have happened all day.”

Trailing 3-1 in the third period, the Capitals employed a vicious forecheck that contained the Rangers in their own zone for nearly four minutes. New York couldn’t get a clean clear or make a solid line change during that time.

The Caps generated a team-high 11 shots in that period — mostly from that flurry alone — and made world-class goalie Henrik Lundqvist look vulnerable in his net.

The rest of the period played out with the Caps assaulting the net, but John Carlson’s goal to make it 3-2 came too late.

It’s understandable that the ebbs and flows of a hockey game will prevent a hyper-aggressive forecheck from happening for 60 minutes, but why the Capitals can’t harness that same energy when the score is 0-0 remains a mystery.

If the Caps want to make the playoffs or win the Southeast Division, the urgent energy that created the furious final 10 minutes against the Rangers needs to be present from the drop of puck in the first period.

With games against the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lighting and Carolina Hurricanes in the next week, whether or not the Caps can begin playing a full 60 minutes will determine if this production of the Caps closes on April 7 or is given an extended run.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Capitals

by | February 11, 2012

Karl Alzner’s Desire, Drive Driven By Father

Despite living in British Columbia, Gunther Alzner “brainwashed” his son, Karl, into liking the Toronto Maple Leafs, who he first started watching when they last won the Stanley Cup in 1967. Karl idolized the Leafs’ high-scoring captain, Doug Gilmour, but it was another NHL player that ultimately convinced Gunther that his teenage son was something special.

“I can’t tell you the year, but I think [Karl] was in Bantam,” Gunther, a warehouse manager at power tool distributor Makita Canada, said. “I actually had been in Phoenix on business and when I got back, Ray Ferraro joined the club he was playing at. I didn’t know Ray at all, but I was standing beside him and he started talking about Karl. He said, ‘Look at that kid. That kid’s gonna go somewhere.’ I think from that point there – you have that in the back of your mind – I thought, ‘Okay, well, this guy is an ex-player, so maybe he sees something in him that’s going to help him reach his goal.’”

Karl has since reached that goal, becoming a top-pairing defenseman for the Washington Capitals, but as is the case for most hockey players, Karl’s journey began because of the sacrifice and dedication of his parents.

Continue reading →

1 Comment

Filed under Capitals, NHL, Player Profile

Tagged as ,

by | February 10, 2012

KOL Examines The Trade Deadline – Part IV

If there is one thing that sports fans cannot live without, it is speculation. That being said, the NHL trade deadline is fast approaching – February 27 at 3 p.m. ET – so ’tis the season to start speculating. The Washington Capitals, as they have been in recent seasons, are sure to be active at the deadline, so over the next month, KOL will examine some of the marquee names available as well as some surprises. The fourth installment is below and the first three can be found here, here and here. Share your thoughts down there as well.

Steve Ott (RW/C), Dallas Stars

  • Contract status: two years remaining on a four-year, $11.8 million contract; $2.950 annual salary cap hit.

Without Nicklas Backstrom, the Caps’ lack of skill down the middle of the ice can no longer be hidden. As of now, Washington’s depth chart at center boasts a glorified second-line center who might actually be better on the wing (Marcus Johansson) and three fourth-line centers (Jeff Halpern, Mathieu Perreault and Keith Aucoin), two of which – Perreault and Aucoin – should be in the AHL.

Washington is woefully weak at center without Backstrom, but that does not necessarily mean that the Caps need to find a 1C to replace him. The Caps would be fine acquiring a competent 3C that can fill in at 2C if need be. Ott is that player.

Ott is arguably one of the most versatile players in the NHL. His natural position is right wing, but he is just as comfortable playing at center. Look no further than his 56.9% success rate on faceoffs, eighth in the league. By placing Ott on the Caps as of Friday, they would boast two of the league’s top 10 faceoff men (Halpern currently ranks third at 59.4%).

Ott can also provide a boost on the penalty kill and score as well; he has three consecutive seasons of 30-plus points, a total he will likely add to as he currently has 25 points (eight goals, 17 assists). Despite being undersized (6’0″, 190 pounds), Ott possesses great strength on his skates and would be an ideal fit for head coach Dale Hunter’s style of play along the boards.

Even with his impressive two-way game, Ott could provide an edge and air of toughness that almost none of the current Caps possess. Ott is at his best when striking a balance between generating offense and stirring the pot. He does have the propensity to go overboard (his 105 penalty minutes are ninth-highest in the NHL), but Ott also puts his team on the power play (he drew 39 minor penalties in 2010-11, second-most in the NHL). Ott is the kind of player that keeps his opponents’ heads on a swivel and his wrath is not just limited to his fellow players, either.

ESPN Dallas’ Richard Durrett sheds some light on Ott’s value:

Ott is being paid as if he’s a top-six forward, and he just isn’t quite at that level. He’s a gritty player willing to pay the price to make plays. But his strength is as an irritant on a third line. There’s bound to be a team hoping for a Stanley Cup push that would love to have Ott — even at $3.2 million each of the next two seasons — making life difficult on the opponent.

According to Durrett, “Ott is good enough that if included in a nice package, he should net an elite prospect and maybe some additional depth help.” While discussing the trade value of Ott’s teammate, Brenden Morrow, the Stars were reportedly looking to get younger, so perhaps Cody Eakin would be the centerpiece of such a deal.

Of course, to bring in a $3.2 million cap hit would require the Caps to make that kind of room. Backstrom said in a recent Swedish interview that he does not know when he will return, but hopes to do so by the playoffs. If the Caps were to place Backstrom on long-term injured reserve to relieve his $6.7 million cap hit, they could acquire Ott. Also, the cap disappears during the playoffs, so if Backstrom does indeed return in time for the postseason, then the Caps could carry him as well as Ott.

Washington does not need Ott to play a substantial role in the top six. He is a versatile player who can contribute both offensively and defensively, give the Caps a shift-disturber of the highest degree and balance out their depth chart at center. These are all things that Washington needs, with or without Backstrom.

Check back throughout the month for more trade deadline analysis.

4 Comments

Filed under Capitals, NHL, Player Profile

Tagged as , , ,

by | February 10, 2012

Third Period Between Caps, Jets Features Rare Scoring Outburst

Before the floodgates opened in the third period of Thursday’s game between the Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets, a period that saw both teams score twice before the Jets ultimately won 3-2 in a shootout, the first 50 minutes featured scoreless, methodical hockey.

The last 10-plus minutes were an anomaly compared to how recent games have gone between the Caps and Jets. Entering the third period Thursday, in the previous five periods, there had been just one goal scored between the two teams, that coming in the third period of Washington’s 1-0 win December 15. The Caps have scored eight goals in four games against the Jets this season. Meanwhile, Winnipeg has scored nine goals against Washington this season, five of which have been power play goals.

That was no different Thursday as all four goals came on the power play, proving that there is little give in either team’s systems.

“It starts with their forecheck,” Karl Alzner said. “They’ve got a good forecheck. They bring all their guys back. It leaves us open at the point, but they do a pretty good job of coming back in the lanes. I think them having five guys fill the top of the circles is what helps them break the cycle.”

As Alzner pointed out, the Caps did shoot the puck from the point as well as the high slot quite often Thursday, but they also got in tight, which was partially a product of being on the power play. The Jets also blocked 18 shots as they filled the shooting lanes that Alzner referred to.

Both teams found themselves in a defensive stalemate during different parts of the game. The neutral zone was the site of the game’s more chippy play as the Caps and Jets tried their best to break through their opponent’s trap.

“They play [the] neutral zone like us,” Troy Brouwer said. “They clog it up, they’re patient, they take care of the puck and they don’t let you get much through the middle. We’re a speed team; we like to make plays, but that’s sometimes tough for us when we’re trying to make a play through the middle and they’re clogging it up. We have to find other ways to score. Good thing our power play was going tonight, because that’s what helped us.”

Despite the loss, there are positives to take out of Thursday’s game as there are after almost every game. One of those positives for Washington was continuing to find a way through the Jets’ defensive scheme, something that will come in handy in the teams’ final two meetings this season.

“I thought that we played a pretty good game,” Matt Hendricks said. “X-ing and O-ing, strategically sound. We got ourselves in a little bit of trouble there at the end.”

1 Comment

Filed under Capitals, NHL, Recap

Tagged as ,

by | February 8, 2012

For Capitals, Home Is Where Wins Are

So much attention has been paid to the Washington Capitals’ deficiencies on the road (not to mention the home struggles of the Caps’ fellow Verizon Center inhabitant) that no one seems to notice how successful the Caps have been at home this season.

Perhaps part of the reason for that is because such home success has become commonplace for the Caps and their fans:

  • 2010-11: Washington wins 25 games at Verizon Center, which is tied for the most in the Eastern Conference with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Pittsburgh Penguins, but the Caps’ 58 home points were most in the East and second-most in the league (Vancouver – 59).
  • 2009-10: The Caps’ 30 wins at home were the most in the East and tied for the most in the NHL (Vancouver – 30), but their combined 66 points were most in the league.
  • 2008-09: Twenty-nine home wins were tied for the most in the East (Boston) and Washington’s 61 points were third-most in the league.

That kind of home dominance is no different this season as Washington leads the Eastern Conference with 19 home wins and 39 total home points, respectively.

These statistics, while considerably ignored this season, were not by Stadium Journey Magazine, a publication that reviews and ranks arenas and stadiums throughout professional and collegiate sports. Last week, Stadium Journey anointed Verizon Center as the top-ranked NHL arena, grading it on several components, including accessibility, the surrounding neighborhood and atmosphere, among others.

Of course, the Caps themselves are not taking in Chinatown before the game, but they do notice the crowd, which has given them one of the NHL’s biggest home-ice advantages. That was further evidenced Tuesday as the Caps defeated the Florida Panthers 4-0 in a pivotal game in front of a late-arriving, but raucous crowd of 18.506, Verizon Center’s 132nd consecutive sellout.

“I don’t know and I hope I don’t find out,” Karl Alzner said with a smile Tuesday when asked what makes Verizon Center a difficult place to play for opponents. “I don’t know what it’s like for them, but I would assume that it’s a little bit intimidating, starting from the anthem and when the fans get into it there and say what they have to say. When the JumboTron says ‘CHEER,’ everyone cheers, which I really like. People get into it right away. That’s all you need. You need to be pumped up. Sometimes, it’s tough to get up for games because it might not be a game that means a whole lot and you’re still playing hard, but that extra bit that you get from the fans is what you usually propels you. That’s why we’re usually having a good home record.”

While Alzner (who reiterated Tuesday that his favorite chant is the “1,2,3, it’s all your fault!” chant that fans scream towards the opposing  goaltender after Washington scores) does not know how it feels to be an opponent at Verizon Center, Roman Hamrlik does. Hamrlik was a member of the Montreal Canadiens team that defeated the Caps in seven games in the 2010 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. The Canadiens may have left Verizon Center with a series-clinching Game 7 victory, but the fans did not make it easy.

“When I played with the Canadiens, it was always tough,” Hamrlik said Wednesday. “[The fans] are really into it. It’s a tough building to play in, especially in the playoffs.”

Verizon Center, however, was not always a tough place to play. The beginning of the new millennium saw the former MCI Center’s attendance hover around the bottom third of the NHL, including 25th in 2003-04 and 28th in 2005-06. Those two seasons coincided with the end of Jeff Halpern’s first tenure in Washington, where Caps fans were scarce and opposing fans filled up the half-full arena.

“Any arena around or stadium or sporting event, it’s always more exciting when it’s packed and there’s a buzz in the air,” Halpern said when asked to compare the atmosphere between his first and current stops in Washington.” It makes it easier to get up for those games.”

There is a almost symbiotic relationship between fans and their teams. In this instance, a successful product on the ice brings more fans into the arena, but more fans creates a better atmosphere which in turn can energize the team. The Caps find themselves in the midst of a tight division and playoff race and with 14 home games remaining, including another important divisional game against the Winnipeg Jets Thursday, they know that they have to use their home-ice advantage to their advantage.

“[Verizon Center] is a great arena to play in,” Halpern said. “It’s always an energetic crowd. As the visiting team, you feel like you’re playing against the team and playing against the crowd. You always feel comfortable on the ice at home and players seem to rise up off the energy of the crowd.”

Leave a Comment

Filed under Capitals, NHL

Tagged as , , ,

by | February 7, 2012

Washington Steps Back In Time In 4-0 Win

It may be 2012, but inside Verizon Center Tuesday, it felt like 2009.

The Washington Capitals pounced on the Florida Panthers, scoring early and often; Alex Ovechkin scored two electrifying goals; the Caps scored on the power play; there was no discernible defense whatsoever as the Panthers racked up several quality scoring chances.

Of course, by looking at a calendar, the Caps’ coaching staff or the vast shot differential (42-24 Florida), there is no confusing 2012 with 2009 (though the Panthers may wish it was so they could have Tomas Vokoun back), but for one night, there was definitely a vintage feel in Washington as the Caps defeated the Panthers 4-0.

“We jumped on them early,” head coach Dale Hunter said. “It changed the game a bit when we got two quick goals. They had to play a different game and it ended up in our advantage.”

The Caps also played a different game Tuesday, one that combined the blue-collar forechecking and physicality of a Hunter-coached team with the high-flying reckless abandon of Bruce Boudreau. Not only could that be seen on the ice, but also in the stands as the fans in attendance clamored for free wings. Thought the Verizon Center faithful ultimately did not earn them as the Caps failed to score five goals, a sense of excitement and relief still echoed throughout the arena as the Caps proved that it was still possible to dominate their opponents and not be on the wrong side of a blowout for a change.

“When you’ve got guys like our guys to get those performances, you can,” Jason Chimera said. “It takes secondary scoring, which we got tonight, which is nice.”

As the Caps celebrated their victory Tuesday, Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” blared throughout the jubilant locker room. Between that and defeating the Panthers to usurp the Southeast Division lead, it felt like they were even further back in time in 2008. Yet, unlike those Caps, these Caps understand that there is a long way to go before there can be any prolonged celebration.

“We just had our focus on getting the win,” Brooks Laich said. “[The Panthers] are a good team and by no means does this mean that [the Southeast Division] is wrapped up. We are not arrogant in that sense. It was just an important hockey game for us.”

Leave a Comment

Filed under Capitals, NHL, Recap

by | February 5, 2012

Caps Top Six: The Must-Wins Begin

Don’t lump it in as “panic talk”, but Adam’s absolutely right when he says the Washington Capitals are in a place where losing – particularly to divisional opponents – just isn’t acceptable.

Yet, here we are, a week after the All-Star Game break in a situation where the Caps took a step forward and then strutted back a few. Going 1-2-1 didn’t help secure the Southeast Division lead and the road is only going to get tougher from here on out.

As we look toward a week that features two divisional match-ups and another Sunday matinee, this time versus the New York Rangers, let’s reflect on the few that stood out in a losing week that could come back to haunt the Capitals in early April.

1. Tomas Vokoun – shutout versus Montreal

It’s a tough time to be Vokoun. One night, you turn in a stellar performance against the Habs and the next morning you can’t get any goal support despite your efforts in net against the Bruins. Vokoun’s getting better with each start for the Caps, but his offense needs to bail him out one of these days.

2. Brooks Laich – one goal, three assists, four points

With any luck, the injury he endured during Sunday’s Bruins game isn’t too serious, but the thought of a Laich-less team should have most Caps fans in the fetal position. A team without Laich, Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Green means the Caps’ playoff hopes would be awfully dim.

3. Karl Alzner – one assist, plus-three on the week

Alzner has been the Caps’ steadiest defender for quite some time now and the plus-minus tells most of the story. When he’s on the ice, the Caps have defensive security, but when he checks out, open season begins at Tomas Vokoun’s net.

4. Matt Hendricks – two goals, two points, plus-three

Hendricks scored goals No. 2 and No. 3 this week against Tampa Bay and Montreal, respectively. He also did the whole “fourth-liner tries to get some energy on the bench with a fight” routine against the Bruins. That’s a solid week for Hendricks, if you ask us.

5. Mathieu Perreault – one goal, one assist, two points

Perreault has simmered down since his brief stints on the top line in Marcus Johansson’s absence before the All-Star Game break, but he’s turning in solid efforts in each outing despite decreased ice time. With Laich possibly out for a few games, another opportunity to step up might arise for No. 85, and we know he’s good to fill some skates when has too.

6. John Carlson – one goal, minus-one

Carlson hasn’t been great this season. At times he’s been awful (see his minus-four rating against Tampa Bay on Tuesday), but against the Panthers he scored his first goal since Dec. 7. It’s a start, and in a week short on heroes, it’s enough to land on this list.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Capitals

by | February 4, 2012

Under Dale Hunter, Capitals Are 7-’O Canada’

The “Great White North” has been just that for the Washington Capitals under Dale Hunter. After Saturday’s 3-0 victory over the Montreal Canadiens (the team’s second 3-0 win at Bell Centre since Hunter arrived in late November), that notion was further proven as Hunter improved to 7-0 against Canadian teams since taking over as head coach. A sampling of statistics:

  • The Caps have won five road games under Hunter. Four of them have been against Canadian teams (December 7 v. Ottawa, December 15 v. Winnipeg, January 18 and February 4 v. Montreal).
  • Washington has outscored their Canadian opponents 22-8 in seven games.
  • Hunter has overseen four of the Caps’ five shutouts this season. Three of them were against Canadian teams (December 15 v. Winnipeg, January 18 and February 4 v. Montreal).
  • Washington has outshot its opponents in just six of its 29 games under Hunter. Four of those six were Canadian teams (December 3 and 7 v. Ottawa, December 15 v. Winnipeg and January 3 v. Calgary).

Unfortunately for Washington, it will not visit Montreal again this season, where it has not allowed a goal during the regular season since March 15, 2011, and not lost during the regular season since February 10, 2010. Yet, Hunter’s Caps do play eight more games against Canadian teams. There is “Great White Hope.” The Caps surely do not want to be “Great White Hype.”

Leave a Comment

Filed under Capitals, NHL, Recap

Tagged as , ,

by | February 3, 2012

John Carlson Suffering From Lack Of Confidence, But Capitals Confident Carlson Can Turn Things Around

The phrase “sophomore slump” is thrown around a lot in professional sports, but according to John Carlson, it does not exist.

“No,” he defiantly said when asked if a certain jinx might be the cause of his recent second-year struggles.

“It all happens in the game of hockey,” Carlson continued. “You get bad luck, you get bad plays. Sometimes, you make good plays. I haven’t been doing my best.”

Perhaps Carlson does not believe in sophomore slumps and by looking at his offensive numbers, it does not seem that he is having any trouble in that regard; his six goals and 18 assists are just two and 13 away from setting new career highs, respectively. Yet, his lackluster play as of late – particularly on the defensive end – requires a laundry list:

Continue reading →

Leave a Comment

Filed under Capitals, NHL, Player Profile

Tagged as , , ,

by | February 2, 2012

Rene Bourque Has No Obligation To Fight Joel Rechlicz, Capitals Saturday

One day after forward Rene Bourque, then of the Calgary Flames, connected with an elbow to the jaw of Washington Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom, a hit that has kept Backstrom out of action since, Backstrom’s teammates voiced their disappointment that they would not be able to exact revenge.

“It’s one of those things where it kind of sucks because we’re not able to play [the Flames] again this year,” Troy Brouwer said January 4.

“If I had got a chance to get on the ice, I would have said something to [Bourque],” John Erskine added.

Yet, in almost serendipitous fashion, the Flames traded Bourque to the Montreal Canadiens January 12, six days before the Caps would face them for the first time this season. Just 1:15 into that game January 18, Matt Hendricks sought out Bourque and the two fought. While the NHL punished Bourque for his hit on Backstrom by suspending him for five games, hockey is a unique sport because players can police themselves. The Caps handed out their own version of vigilante justice and Bourque took his proverbial medicine.

Based on comments from recent call-up and enforcer Joel Rechlicz Thursday, however, perhaps Washington feels as if Bourque needs to further repent when it visits Montreal Saturday.

“Yeah, I heard it was a cheap shot,” Rechlicz said when asked if he was aware of the initial hit. “Hopefully I’m in the lineup for that game.”

When the Caps recalled and signed Rechlicz – the AHL’s far-and-away leader in penalty minutes with 184 – Monday, the move definitely raised some eyebrows. After taking a total of six shifts for just 4:26 in the Caps’ two most recent games against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers Tuesday and Wednesday, Rechlicz’s call-up was further questioned. Yet, after Rechlicz’s comments Thursday, the speculation behind the team’s reasoning to call him up is now much clearer.

One could assume that Rechlicz’s new teammates have briefed him on what transpired January 3 and now it is his duty to seek vengeance for Backstrom. Rechlicz also said Thursday that he would “run a guy through the glass [and] force him to fight” if need be, so if Rechlicz is indeed in the lineup Saturday as he wishes, his sole purpose will likely be to go after Bourque.

If and when that happens, however, Bourque has absolutely no obligation to fight back. If Bourque did not play or fight January 18, having Rechlicz (or any member of the Caps) go after him would make sense. Yet, Bourque already did what he was obligated to do by dropping the gloves with the first guy that asked him to. While it may be hard for the Caps and their fans to fathom, Bourque did the right and respectful thing by answering the bell with Hendricks.

Backstrom is still out because of Bourque’s negligence, but while fighting and attempting to hurt Bourque might temporarily satiate the Caps’ collective bloodlust, no amount of altercations will bring Backstrom back any faster.

Bourque should not be a dead man. He should be a dead issue.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Capitals, Opinion

Tagged as , , , ,