Good god. I just realized how much shit I’m going to have to put up with from the Caps bloggers here in the capitol(al) if Washington wins.

Posted by IwoCPO from Sunny San Diego, bitches on 12/17/07 at 09:34 PM ET

Aaron - It makes me want to rip out someone’s tonsils with a plastic spork.

Does that count as angrified?

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 12/17/07 at 09:34 PM ET

So who do you pick for a shootout? Hudler or Filppula?

Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 12/17/07 at 09:34 PM ET

Prediction: Hudler wins it in OT.

Posted by IwoCPO from Sunny San Diego, bitches on 12/17/07 at 09:35 PM ET

I just realized how much shit I’m going to have to put up with from the Caps bloggers here in the capitol(al) if Washington wins.

It’s always about you, isn’t it Duke?

Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 12/17/07 at 09:35 PM ET

Does Downey have ANY ice time tonight?

Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 12/17/07 at 09:36 PM ET

I get home for work late, I’m geeked for an A2Y live blog - and @#% *^@! VERSUS strikes again.  Enjoy the game.  Gary doesn’t want me to see it.  Cue Springsteen, change 57 to 75, and repeat ad nauseum.

Posted by Hoser from Downer Peninsula, Michigan on 12/17/07 at 09:36 PM ET

Baroque, Sporks are for deliciousness.

Here comes OT.

Posted by Aaron from Phoenexico on 12/17/07 at 09:36 PM ET

You’re damn right it is Gabe.

Posted by IwoCPO from Sunny San Diego, bitches on 12/17/07 at 09:37 PM ET

Downey TOI: 2:26 (two shifts).

Pathetic, Babs.

Posted by Matt Saler from Grand Rapids, MI on 12/17/07 at 09:37 PM ET

“Kronwall activates”

What, is he a robot? If only…

Posted by Matt Saler from Grand Rapids, MI on 12/17/07 at 09:39 PM ET

Salad tongs, then.

I’m starting to cringe every time I see Samuelsson on the ice.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 12/17/07 at 09:40 PM ET

Whoa…Hasek. Nice save you psycho bastard.  Filppula looks good tonite.

Posted by IwoCPO from Sunny San Diego, bitches on 12/17/07 at 09:40 PM ET

Huge save by Hasek there. Sheesh.

Posted by Matt Saler from Grand Rapids, MI on 12/17/07 at 09:41 PM ET

I think for the shootout, it should be Datsyuk, Hudler, and Filppula.  Zetterberg hasn’t done much in the shootout, 1 for 6, and I think Flip’s recent penalty shots earned him a spot in the shootout.

Posted by BuzzFledderjohn on 12/17/07 at 09:43 PM ET

I guess I’ll go ahead and say I’m tired of the shootouts. They’re not even exciting anymore.  Ten minutes, 4 on 4.

Posted by IwoCPO from Sunny San Diego, bitches on 12/17/07 at 09:43 PM ET

Dom came up big in the OT

Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 12/17/07 at 09:43 PM ET

Ah the shootout. It makes those penalty shots this week seem ho-hum. Thanks Gary

i bet Flip gets to be one of the shooters

Posted by Aaron from Phoenix on 12/17/07 at 09:44 PM ET

I was tired of the shootouts after about 20 minutes.

Hopefully this won’t go on for a dozen rounds.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 12/17/07 at 09:45 PM ET

you need to thank that post, Dom.

Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 12/17/07 at 09:46 PM ET

Hank’s been watching Filppula. Nice one.

Posted by Matt Saler from Grand Rapids, MI on 12/17/07 at 09:46 PM ET

Ok I take that back.  Dammit why can’t I go back and remove my previous comment.  If only I worked for a Detroit newspaper…

Posted by BuzzFledderjohn on 12/17/07 at 09:46 PM ET

I meant Hudler wins it in the shootout.

Posted by IwoCPO from Sunny San Diego, bitches on 12/17/07 at 09:47 PM ET

Why don’t the Capitals start with Ovechkin?  It’s not like he wouldn’t come well with the pressure.

And if Datsyuk, Zetterberg, and Hudler all score he won’t even get a chance. 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 12/17/07 at 09:47 PM ET

Oops - “cope” well with the pressure.

Goodnight all - time to bake a cake!

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 12/17/07 at 09:49 PM ET

You have to save a really good shot for #4,  All the coaches have learned that from MacTavish this year.
#4 won it again for him in Vancouver again last Saturday.  My guess, Filpulla was saved for that slot.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 12/17/07 at 09:50 PM ET

The Caps weren’t expecting Hank to actually score!

Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 12/17/07 at 09:50 PM ET

Alright Wings Win! Who’s up for Tequila shots?

Posted by Aaron from Phoenix on 12/17/07 at 09:52 PM ET

You got one prediction right, Iwo.

It’d be nice if the Wings could face the East more often, if for no other reason than they wouldn’t have these games where they look relatively unprepared. A little more familiarity with a team like Washington wouldn’t hurt.

Posted by Matt Saler from Grand Rapids, MI on 12/17/07 at 09:54 PM ET

Matt, the Wings allowed 30 SOG tonight and gave up 2 PPG.  You thought I was being too hard on em’?

Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 12/17/07 at 09:58 PM ET

Todd, this wasn’t their best game, but not necessarily because they allowed 30 shots or 2 PPGs. They were on the penalty kill too much to fault them for those numbers. The problem was their discipline.

The Wings gave the Caps seven power plays and allowed six shots on those. Take away those shots and you have a more acceptable shot total. You give guys like Ovechkin and Semin too many power play chances and they’re going to make you pay. They should have been more disciplined while at even strength to avoid those penalties.

That and they really missed Draper and Maltby tonight. They’ve been able to skate by without those two for a while now, but it finally caught up with them.

Also, they allowed the Caps to control the game far too much, even when not on the penalty kill. The Wings did not play their game as well as they could have tonight, offensively or defensively.

Still, they set a pretty high standard for themselves and probably can’t be expected to reach it every night. A win is a win, whether they held their opponents to under 20 shots or not. They know what they need to do to get back to that standard and they’ll get there before too long, I’m sure. So, I guess I do think you’re being a little hard on them. I guess no harder than they are on themselves, though.

As for myself, I’d rather see them have games like this now and save their top play for April, May, and June, quite frankly.

Posted by Matt Saler from Grand Rapids, MI on 12/17/07 at 10:14 PM ET

Talked to my brother between the 2nd and 3rd period.
He pointed out how big the Caps are, and the difference in stature so readily apparent.  I think maybe that is why the Wings had so much trouble getting the puck out, allowing sustained play in their end.  Those long arms really helped in the battles along the boards.  The Wings are the best, I just feel they should be playing up to their potential at least 3 out of 4 games.  This seems be a sustained slack off.  Drapes and Malts are missed, but even when we had them healthy, Babs was using 4 differnt pairs of forwards on each PK.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 12/17/07 at 10:23 PM ET

Caps were much better than expected, played with great intensity and made pleasantly surprising impression. I hope they make a genuine run and utilize some of those great players they have (the ones not named OV or Semin).

Also, no one seemed to notice that (Matt?) Green––he of net crashing, Chelios bewildering fame––looked explosive. Why point this out? Because he was the person they drafted with OUR pick from the Lang trade. Oh, I’m hurting all over the crotchal area…

Versus should be banned from broadcasting NHL games, especially the two douchebags we got today. Bring in Dave Strater at least. I’ll take Doc Emrick as a sub. They have a chance to showcase some of the best in the game but make it a OV show. Nothing really with Hank, Dats or Homer. Nothing with Cheli or Hasek. No Cheli!!? How can you not take advantage of a charismatic HOF defenseman when trying to sell the game? And what do you ask one of the best to every play his position, the captain, Chris Lindstrom? So, what’s it like playing against OV? Are you f’n serious?!!?

To return home, I read a comment a few posts back that said Lebda was not a top-4 d-man. I wholeheartedly disagree. He is poised for his age and has the speed to break through traps by himself. I’m looking forward to seeing him mature.

Finally: Filpulla must get a strengthening coach over the summer. If he was stronger on his skates, he would be perennial Selke nominee; the kid has an inbuilt defensive awareness. Also, can we get this kid a glue on beard or something? Every time he gets hit and they show a close up replay, I want to call the police and report a case of child abuse.

Thanks for reading; hope you have enjoyed this edition of post-game insomnia.

Posted by srt on 12/18/07 at 03:45 AM ET

And what do you ask one of the best to every play his position, the captain, Chris Lindstrom? So, what’s it like playing against OV? Are you f’n serious?!!?

Reason number 14,572 why sideline reporters and their variant mutations are a waste of the oxygen used to power their metabolism.

Nothing about Kolzig, either, and he has been there forever.  A young team needs goaltending to help them while they learn, and he has provided that.  Also they missed the “Chelios is old” angle.  They did speak a bit about Zetterberg, Datsyuk, and Holmstrom - but with the goals and assists they kind of had to.  I still despise the habit of talking about players for completely different teams while the play is going on.  If you must pimp the upcoming game on vs, then at least wait for a stoppage.

If it makes you feel any better - if the Wings had kept that pick, they probably would have just gotten another Swede.  And Lang has apparently reverted back to his state of a floating turnover generator, judging by the comments of Chicago fans as they are ripping their hair out by the roots in frustration.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 12/18/07 at 05:38 AM ET

It’s apparently not just Versus.  The NHL Network is currently showing a game from last season between Detroit and Dallas.  The billing?

“Dueling Superstars…Lindstrom vs. Modano”

Ah yes. Chris Lindstrom. ‘O Captain, My Captain.

Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 12/18/07 at 12:22 PM ET