I Will Give Him This; He Is a Mighty Good Screen

I’m fustrated. Tom Poti is driving me nuts. I know a lot of people love him but I just don’t get him. Bruce loves him. Fans love him. I don’t get it. I’m trying I really am but I am not getting it!

In stats by no means is he our worst defense man. But, in play when I watch him on the ice he’s often screening the goalie and rarely cleaning the crease. He isn’t a small guy so while I know he’s kind of probably catious since he seems beat up all the time he shouldn’t be so cautious to clear the guys out. And, if he’s afraid to clear the crease maybe the coaches need to work it out that the other D-man is keeping the crease clean, he is often paired with Jurcina and Juice is not afraid to push the guys in front of the net around.

Last week Poti was on the ice for SIX of twelve goals. HALF. And, I know from watching that on three of the goals Jose had a real nice view of his backside. I can’t tell you how sick I am of watching Jose and Varly (but mostly Jose) craning their necks to look around Poti (or any of the D-men). If I was them I’d of smacked my own guy out of the way (which is why I never play goalie in any sport).

I’m not getting it. Yeah like I said he isn’t the worst in stats but what I see on the ice isn’t impressing me. Enlighten me to what ever strange voodoo powers he seems to hold over the team and most of the fans. Until then I won’t like him and can’t like him.

I’m also getting fustrated with everyone picking on Jeff Schultz. Where did this hatred even start? Why are fools keeping it going? PLUS FOURTEEN! That’s pretty damn good! Six assists and seven points. Even a (pretty sweet if you recall) goal. So instead of picking on some one when you don’t know anything about it the fools should pick on the D-men that really suck; like (lord forgive me but it’s true) Shamo.

In fact picking on the D-men in general is getting a little old. We’re first in the East. We won SIX-one last night. What can anyone possibly complain about? (though I know plenty of people will/have)

Triumphant Return of Random Ramblings

The Capitals decided to up my Nylander cap free high by sending me a text update that Alzner (and Wilson) were being called up. Alzner is a favorite of mine so I was happy.

What they neglected to mention in this mobile update was that they had sent my crazy haired Monsieur down to Hershey. Not cool Caps. I love Perreault! And, if we want to call him back up now he has to go through waivers; I will pistol whip a fool if anybody tries to pick up Monsieur on waivers.

On Sunday it was a certain former NHL players birthday and a certain A. Gordon’s birthday. December 13th is a good day for hockey.

I’d like to thank Matt Bradley for his spouting of Semin’s nickname. It boosted our blog hits and made me giggle whenever I saw the search terms box.

Boyd Gordon finally skated with the team this morning! I miss Gordicris because I think he’s probably is one of our most underrated players.

Less than a day after our Capitals cap space was cleaned up the rumor mill started to go a chugging. That’s hockey folks! But, word around the water cooler is the Caps are interested in Filatov.
One. What team isn’t?
Two. Okay our Russian qouta is getting low.
Three. Isn’t one tempermental (some might say bratty) but super talented Russian enough? (I’m looking at you, Semin)

Well I think that’s about most of the big news from the weekend. Feel free to correct me if that statement is incorrect.

*Insert Happy Dance Here*

It’s gone! That giant bald Swedish cap monkey on the GMGM’s back is off. Nylander is loaned to Grand Rapids Griffen’s for the rest of the season. And, that means he’s NOT ON THE BOOKS! *Primal scream of happy from all the Capitals fans right here*

What does this mean you ask? Hey Nicklas wants to sign one of those front loaded forty year contracts? Sign the dotted line, baby. We need to pick a cheap but effective filler player from somebody? Hello, Mr. BloodyFistsMcGee. Want to call up Alzner any time we freaking want to? Come on down, Karl. No more bourque-ing of our Bears players for us! Hey, hey we want to sign a certain crazy haired Monsieur to the Caps full time, please feel free to do so Mr. McGee.

And, no hurries! You don’t have to go crazy just yet. That’s the fantastic thing we have all the time in the world!

Frankly, I don’t nor did I ever have a problem with Nylander. He isn’t the kind of player we need on the team but hey doesn’t mean I want to see the guy pan handling out on my local route, right? Any how he has a million little off spring and I’d feel bad if they were staring through my window while I ate dinner just tap tap taping on the glass. I hated his contract for sure and this has me feeling totally pumped.

Every Caps fan I know tomorrow is getting a high five. Free at last, free at last, baby we are free at last. Capitals can do what ever they freaking need to do. The Capopcalypse is canceled.

And, it’s good for Nylander also. If he’s producing as well as he was during his conditioning stint then he’ll look a lot better to teams at the end of the season. I feel bad for the guy. He isn’t made for the Caps but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t do perfectly fine any where else where he might fit in better. I hope he find his team some where.

It’s a win-win-winy-win-win situation for everybody.

Weekend Non-NHL Wrap Up

Sorry this is late. I completely forgot about it Friday.

(http://Hersheybears.com)
The Hershey Bears lost 3-0 against Albany on Friday. However on Saturday they won 6-2 over the Amerks. Three of these six goals are Aucoin’s for the hat trick. Saturday’s full recap is here; http://www.hersheybears.com/detail.php?id=3038
Friday’s full recap here; http://www.hersheybears.com/detail.php?id=3036

(http://badgerherald.com)
The Badgers played the well known hockey player factory of UND. On Friday they ended in a 3-3 tie. However on Saturday the Badgers won 4-3. Blake Geoffrion continued his impressive scoring. It was an overall three point weekend and the Badgers managed to show how they are serious competition in college hockey.
Saturday’s full recap is here; http://www.uwbadgers.com/sports/m-hockey/recaps/121209aag.html
Friday’s full recap is here; http://www.uwbadgers.com/sports/m-hockey/recaps/121209aac.html

Apologies about the lateness of the post.

Out Truculence-ed

Well what started out well did not end well and the Leafs won by a good margin. After a good effort in the first the Capitals feel apart in embaressing fashion. They were straight up out worked. Out trucelence-ed (that can’t be a word). I thought Semin’s scrunched up “I’m not gonna cry” face after he got hit by that Ovie shot summed up the entire night.

However there was one shining star in this game and he is our;
Weagle Scout of the Game

The Mayor Fudgeball of Awesomesauce-ville; two goals, good effort. If you’re a Caps fan and you don’t love this kid then you don’t love all that is pure and good in this world. (I hope I’m not the only one uncomfortable with Mike Green’s man scarf)

Harpooned Are the Former Whalers

So the game was a little iffy. Poor effort until towards the end of the second. However after pulling ahead in a fantastic effort… we let them tie it up. Free hockey time aka OT was required. Green brought back the Game Over in his nickname back.

Our Weagle Scout of the Game;

SEMIN! Because he had two goals and it was pretty awesome. Oh and the fact during the first intermisson’s interview Matt Bradley very nonchalantly threw out that “Nicki, Ovie and Jizz…” Yes, yes that is right Matt Bradley said like he has said it many times before, on semi-sorta-national television. He called Semin “Jizz”… and I was dying. I love Matt so much.

Oh do you like my super awesome Paint skills protecting the identity of the innocent? (There are just way to many things wrong with this picture; Is he at Burning Man?)

If you missed the magic that is Matt Bradley’s intermission interview you can see the video here: http://www.japersrink.com/2009/12/11/1197115/matt-bradley-2nd-intermission

Buffaslugs… Meh

Ugh, Caps lost to Buffalo 3-0. Despite the Caps outshooting and trying very hard they couldn’t get past the hot streak that is Ryan Miller.

So despite a relatively good effort we lost but lets not forget out boys are on a long road trip. They looked tired. And, Jose was almost beheaded by Juice in practice which might not help with the game.

Brian left the game early and never came back. Because, that’s all the Caps need.

Matty Perreault was out with a bout of food posioning he should be back soon.

Varlamov has a lower body injury and Neuvirth has been called up but, if you watched the game you probably already know that. (and therefore Holtby called up to Hershey)

Bradley who wasn’t even at the game because the birth of his son (Henry James Bradley if you didn’t know; cute!) was the player of the game; both kind of sweet and disturbing.

OUR Weagle Scout of the Game;

(http://washcaps.com)
Jeff Schultz!
Now I had a really hard time choosing but with the most TOI, even +/- and even a shot on goal I thought it was about fair.

Dear Hockey Merchandisers, You’re Weird. Love, Anna

My appearence on the blog has been, well, spotty. All I can say is “Thank God THC has Meghan”. Seriously.

In other news, Christmas is swiftly approaching and my parents have been bugging me about finally getting together a Christmas list. After my dad telling me to “shut up” and that “one game is enough” when I asked for Caps’ tickets, I had to resort to rifling through Ebay and the NHL Shop (*shudders*) to find some things. Of course, this proved to be more scarring than helpful. Below are some of my precious finds:

A picture of the Verizon Center. Oh boy! Who would spend $8.50 on this?

Anyone interested in a guitar pin with the old logo?

Oh boy! An Ovie switchplate!

Washington Capitals marbles? Who thinks of these things?

For some reason, you can buy a card with pieces of Ovie’s, Kovalchuk’s, and Datsuk’s jerseys. This reminds me of when people would steal Beatles’ bedsheets, cut them into squares, and sell them for a dollar. It’s creepy.

This find just makes me giggle. Ovie looks like he’s posing for his senior picture.

I think this is just absolutely adorable(!!!):

And this is just creepy. Why on EARTH would you buy this? It’s like a creepy frame-thing for an…ultrasound?

A Washington Capitals’ Tiffany lamp for only $500!

A Caps motorcyle toy-thing? Okayyyyy.

Now, I don’t find this strange. I would wear Caps pajama pants, but definitely not for $40!

So, what have we learned from this? A. There’s some weird merchandise for the Washington Capitals out there. B. NHL Shop is overpriced. If you have any strange merch finds, be sure to let us know.

- Anna

Postscript: If you own any of these things, than I am sorry for making fun of you… sort of.

Forget Those Slackers!

Forget Ovies two goals, yet another Varlamov shut out, or the awesome effort that was that game; Matt Bradley is a father!

Matt Bradley missed the game for the birth and according to Joe B and Locker his name is Henry Bradley. Sounds like a little bruiser in the making. Some awesome people named Henry;

•Henry Ford

• …Indiana Jones real name was Henry.

• Umm… That’s all I got…

Weagle Scout of the Game:
We’ll give it to Ovie for his two goal return in this well earned (if not a little boring) win.

Anything the Caps Can Do, the Bears Can Do too…

(http://hersheybears.com)
Not to be upstaged by big brother, the Hershey Bears won 9-1 over the Hartford Wolfpack last night. All nine goals were scored in the first two periods; by the end 13 players got on the score sheet. Unfortunatly despite this awesome score was that second goal for Hartford, in the third period, was scored on the PP ruining Hershey’s perfect at home PK; which then recieved a standing ovation from Hershey’s excellent fans. Andrew Gordon recieved the well earned first star of the game for two goals and an assist. Here is the full recap; http://www.hersheybears.com/detail.php?id=3029

In related Hershey Bears news Brandon Sugden has decided to leave the AHL for the KHL. The rough winger has signed with Chekhov Vityaz. Offical press reslease here; http://www.hersheybears.com/detail.php?id=3031

Karl Alzner has been assigned back to the Hershey Bears by the Capitals today pending the return of Shamo.