CAPS 1st half thread.

[DuffMan]

I was just saying the other night that MoJo's passing has really kicked up a notch. He is always just barely getting his stick on something out of his reach and flipping something through the legs, or behind the back and putting it right on the tape. He'd have a lot more assists if the players getting the pass weren't surprised by it most of the time.

Well MoJo had another nice drop pass last night that set up a sick goal from Sasha in the top right corner of the night. Of course Semin was partially to blame for Nashville's goal earlier so it was nice to see him make up for it.

Solid game all around for the team against a Nashville squad that's been playing well. Neuvirth gets another start and turns in a solid performance, he had some really big saves in the 3rd before the Caps broke it open. Caps don't play again until Friday so I hope Hunter sends him back out there again.

Schultz finally gets a sweater and is rewarded with a whopping 6 minutes of ice time. Did Sarge run over Dale's dog or something???

[allstar1579]

Well MoJo had another nice drop pass last night that set up a sick goal from Sasha in the top right corner of the night. Of course Semin was partially to blame for Nashville's goal earlier so it was nice to see him make up for it.

Solid game all around for the team against a Nashville squad that's been playing well. Neuvirth gets another start and turns in a solid performance, he had some really big saves in the 3rd before the Caps broke it open. Caps don't play again until Friday so I hope Hunter sends him back out there again.

Schultz finally gets a sweater and is rewarded with a whopping 6 minutes of ice time. Did Sarge run over Dale's dog or something???

It's like I said, Hunter's system is built for offensive defenseman, guys that are defense only are a liability for him, they will just be played when he feels like he needs a stop or someone physical. He's got Alzner and Carlson that play all the shutdown matchups anyway. That's why I said I think they will trade him if they can, he's just a redundancy here.

Neuvy should be left in there to be the guy. He's playing like one, and with all the whining Vokoun did, I'm over him. I said day one, it's an ok move if he was brought in to be a veteran backup, I don't like him as the starter. He's too much of a headcase.

[DuffMan]

It's like I said, Hunter's system is built for offensive defenseman, guys that are defense only are a liability for him, they will just be played when he feels like he needs a stop or someone physical. He's got Alzner and Carlson that play all the shutdown matchups anyway. That's why I said I think they will trade him if they can, he's just a redundancy here.

Going with more offensive defenseman is fine by me (Mike Green where are you!?!?), and if that's the route they are going that makes trading someone like Semin less of a loss with the increased production from our DMen. I'm not saying they will put up as many goals, but they would help make up for some of those points lost in addition to whoever we get for Sasha. Maybe we could package Semin and Schultz together?? That could/should net us a decent return.

[allstar1579]

Going with more offensive defenseman is fine by me (Mike Green where are you!?!?), and if that's the route they are going that makes trading someone like Semin less of a loss with the increased production from our DMen. I'm not saying they will put up as many goals, but they would help make up for some of those points lost in addition to whoever we get for Sasha. Maybe we could package Semin and Schultz together?? That could/should net us a decent return.

Yeah, it's kinda like in basketball, just the difference between your offense being focused from big guys down low, or from out at the point. Just depends on how your team is built, if you have people better at crashing the net and getting tips and rebounds, or if you have a team that's better controlling the puck and creating. We are about 50/50 right now I think.

I would like to package them, I'd think the 2 of them, plus a prospect and a pick should get us just about anyone, but it depends on the team since Sasha is a FA at the end of the year. Maybe he and Vokoun are packaged better in return to a contending team, and Schultz, Eakin and a 1st rounder get us someone from a bad team looking to build, like Columbus.

I'd expect a busy trade deadline for us. My money says GMGM is working on something already because it's clear something needs to change.

[DuffMan]

Probable line combos for tonight
Marcus Johansson – Nicklas Backstrom – Alexander Semin
Alex Ovechkin – Brooks Laich – Troy Brouwer
Jason Chimera – Jeff Halpern – Joel Ward
Matt Hendricks – Mathieu Perreault – Mike Knuble

Dale used these a little bit on Tuesday and had some success with them so he's going to give them another whirl.

EDIT: And Neuvy gets another start in goal!

[allstar1579]

Probable line combos for tonight
Marcus Johansson – Nicklas Backstrom – Alexander Semin
Alex Ovechkin – Brooks Laich – Troy Brouwer
Jason Chimera – Jeff Halpern – Joel Ward
Matt Hendricks – Mathieu Perreault – Mike Knuble

Dale used these a little bit on Tuesday and had some success with them so he's going to give them another whirl.

EDIT: And Neuvy gets another start in goal!

Dale has said he's a game to game guy with lineups. He wants to match the other team in certain ways, so I'm a little bit surprised he's going with the same group, but it doesn't matter too much, I think he's looking for chemistry.

Glad to see he's sticking with Neuvy, now if they can just trade Vokoun so he will stop whining and pouting behind the scenes (and he is).

[Bosibus]

They are horrible.

[Dr. FLK]

I'm a little surprised they still haven't made any big roster moves. This team appears lifeless most of the time. It really is hard to believe this is the same team that was so hot out of the gates.

[allstar1579]

Bad week to have tickets to both games. I was hoping they would have made a trade or 3 by now, but I guess they are assuming players are just going to work themselves out. Neuvy obviously needed a game off the other night, he got shelled, and I'm afraid if Vokoun doesn't get rocked tonight, we'll be back to more of the same. 'koun should start tonight and Neuvy should be back Friday. That's how I'd do it, and then if he gets rocked a couple straight games, then I think about making a change.

[Bosibus]

Bad week to have tickets to both games. I was hoping they would have made a trade or 3 by now, but I guess they are assuming players are just going to work themselves out. Neuvy obviously needed a game off the other night, he got shelled, and I'm afraid if Vokoun doesn't get rocked tonight, we'll be back to more of the same. 'koun should start tonight and Neuvy should be back Friday. That's how I'd do it, and then if he gets rocked a couple straight games, then I think about making a change.

I am going tonight, thinking about hitting up RFD, where do you usually go before, if at all?

[allstar1579]

I am going tonight, thinking about hitting up RFD, where do you usually go before, if at all?

If I'm down there early enough I usually just hit up Clydes for some dinner and a beer before the game, but then I learned California Tortilla has $3 beers, so that's a much more cost effective idea. I'm not actually going to go tonight I don't think. One of the wife's best friends is from NY and likes to see the Rangers games (and I hate Vokoun anyway) so I think I'm going to send the two of them, and then I'll take one of my friends to see Buffalo. I've been saving my games all season so far so I'll be going a lot more soon.

[The Rick]

If I'm down there early enough I usually just hit up Clydes for some dinner and a beer before the game, but then I learned California Tortilla has $3 beers, so that's a much more cost effective idea. I'm not actually going to go tonight I don't think. One of the wife's best friends is from NY and likes to see the Rangers games (and I hate Vokoun anyway) so I think I'm going to send the two of them, and then I'll take one of my friends to see Buffalo. I've been saving my games all season so far so I'll be going a lot more soon.

Well, as far as decisions go... You win some, you lose some.

Hell of a game tonight.

[Mashed Potatoes]

Caps are 2-0 with me at the games this year. Loved seeing that old power line of Ovi/Backstrom/Semin. A friend gave me club level tickets (235 bucks a pop) and free food and booze prior to the game. Now thats the way to do it!

Only negative from the evening was they never played Unleash the Fury.

[allstar1579]

Well, as far as decisions go... You win some, you lose some.

Hell of a game tonight.

Tell me about it. My idiot wife goes out after the game for a bit, gets on the wrong train coming home, misses the last train coming the right direction and has to take a cab home. I'm still not talking to her...SMH.

Sounds like I overreacted last night a bit. It was a $40 cab ride, so maybe not. So I give her the tickets, she gets to see a win, goes out to dinner before game, out again after game, and on top of all that money then I have to pay for her cab when she finally gets home. I feel like I'm raising two toddlers and a teenager.

[DuffMan]

More games like last night please! Much better effort although the Caps did have some issues getting the puck out of their zone and they also missed on a couple of primo scoring opportunities, I'm looking at you Brouwer (how in the world did you miss on that pp chance!?!) and Halpern but all in all a good night against a Rangers team that has been playing well. Getting some consistency sure would be nice. Time to pay back Buffalo tomorrow night. Curious to see who will be in goal...