[27-SEP-2009] Rangers (3) at Caps (4) - Preseason
PWND.
That is the best descriptive term I can come up with for the first four goals scored by the Caps.
Laich (unassisted)
Semin (Sloan, Laich)
Bourque (Pothier, Steckel)
Knuble (Green, Schultz)
Then... we slacked off. The third frame, the Caps shifted modes from all-out attack to prevent defense, gave up three goals, and very nearly a fourth when the Rangers pulled their goaltender. The 4-3 victory was a very close thing.
Mike Green had the high number for shots and attempts blocked, at 6 and 2, along with a missed shot, and got himself a very nice primary assist on the Knuble goal. Knuble was right where we hired him to be, and the play was textbook perfect. Ovechkin's five shots on goal and three missed shots were second in the arena.
Hits came out fairly even, with no one Cap distancing himself. Erskine, Ovechkin, Gordon, Laich and Laing were each credited with two hits; Green and Sloan had one apiece, and Green blocked four shots, again a team high.
Varlamov was, once again, perfect through two frames, and did not do as well in the third. I'd hoped to see Neuvirth instead, but apparently the young Czech "tweaked something" and wasn't able to play today. But the Caps' defense gave up 20 shots on goal in the third frame - more than double the total of the previous two! - and Varlamov went 17:20 in that third frame, for a .850 save percentage. If you factor in the other two frames, it goes up to a .903. Lundqvist did not have a very good evening. He gave up four goals in 24 shots (.833) and was chased out of the net for the third frame, where Valiquette went a perfect 4:4. Yes. The Caps got only four shots on goal off in the third frame.
Admittedly, this was a preseason game, and "don't get hurt" has to have been a priority, but we let up the gas in a huge way in the third frame, and gave up a commanding lead. Had we continued to play as we did in the first two, I think the score might well have been 6-0 or 7-0 instead of 4-3. Hopefully this won't happen in the regular season... but the Caps do have an unfortunate tendency to drop off in work ethic when they are winning, especially winning 4-0.
Beast awards tonight go to Brooks Laich (goal, assist, two hits); Mike Green (6 shots on goal, 2 attempts blocked, 1 miss, 1 hit, 4 blocked shots, and an assist); and Mike Knuble for his textbook perfect goal.
The regular season starts Thursday, and I can't wait!
That is the best descriptive term I can come up with for the first four goals scored by the Caps.
Laich (unassisted)
Semin (Sloan, Laich)
Bourque (Pothier, Steckel)
Knuble (Green, Schultz)
Then... we slacked off. The third frame, the Caps shifted modes from all-out attack to prevent defense, gave up three goals, and very nearly a fourth when the Rangers pulled their goaltender. The 4-3 victory was a very close thing.
Mike Green had the high number for shots and attempts blocked, at 6 and 2, along with a missed shot, and got himself a very nice primary assist on the Knuble goal. Knuble was right where we hired him to be, and the play was textbook perfect. Ovechkin's five shots on goal and three missed shots were second in the arena.
Hits came out fairly even, with no one Cap distancing himself. Erskine, Ovechkin, Gordon, Laich and Laing were each credited with two hits; Green and Sloan had one apiece, and Green blocked four shots, again a team high.
Varlamov was, once again, perfect through two frames, and did not do as well in the third. I'd hoped to see Neuvirth instead, but apparently the young Czech "tweaked something" and wasn't able to play today. But the Caps' defense gave up 20 shots on goal in the third frame - more than double the total of the previous two! - and Varlamov went 17:20 in that third frame, for a .850 save percentage. If you factor in the other two frames, it goes up to a .903. Lundqvist did not have a very good evening. He gave up four goals in 24 shots (.833) and was chased out of the net for the third frame, where Valiquette went a perfect 4:4. Yes. The Caps got only four shots on goal off in the third frame.
Admittedly, this was a preseason game, and "don't get hurt" has to have been a priority, but we let up the gas in a huge way in the third frame, and gave up a commanding lead. Had we continued to play as we did in the first two, I think the score might well have been 6-0 or 7-0 instead of 4-3. Hopefully this won't happen in the regular season... but the Caps do have an unfortunate tendency to drop off in work ethic when they are winning, especially winning 4-0.
Beast awards tonight go to Brooks Laich (goal, assist, two hits); Mike Green (6 shots on goal, 2 attempts blocked, 1 miss, 1 hit, 4 blocked shots, and an assist); and Mike Knuble for his textbook perfect goal.
The regular season starts Thursday, and I can't wait!