DCist: Caps Briefing: Bottle Up and Explode

bone

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:09:08 -0500

I wonder if the Caps will even try to resign Fedorov. I like Fedorov but don't see a place for him on the team. With Nylander coming back next year they'll have Backstrom, Nylander, Laich, Kozlov, and whoever else as centers. Even if Kozlov and Laich keep playing wing that leaves Fedorov as a third line center. Not a bad guy to have on your third line, but not worth $6 million a year.

WHAZZUP

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:54:06 -0500

Third in the East? You want to go with that, REALLY? They may have had the third SEED, but they certainly weren't third in the east. Their record would have put them in seventh place in the conference. The only reason why they got the third seed is because they won their division, which is easily the weakest in the NHL. The Flyers, by contrast, play in the toughest division - and in fact, three of the remaining four eastern teams are from that division! The Caps may have a better future, but anyone who thought that this was their year was sadly deluding themselves. No team is making it past the Pens to the finals.

mellbell

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:00:32 -0500

@Blubbo: Good to see I'm not the only one who picked up on the Elliott Smith reference.

HCE

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:12:10 -0500

I'm kind of surprised that this bottle-throwing incident isn't a bigger story, because it's usually the other way around, with the Philly sports fan acting a fool. The typical Washington sports fan is a bit more civilized than this.

Blackcloud

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:11:08 -0500

I was at the game last night. What an incredible experience. I'm thrilled my Flyers won, but also a tad disappointed that I won't be going to any more games this year. The atmosphere last night was awesome, such a far cry from November and December when maybe 6,000 people were showing up for games. Caps' future is very, very bright. It's said you have to learn how to lose before you can learn how to win. The first lesson is out of the way. For the first time in a long time, there's a reason for Caps fans to look forward to next season. I sure can't wait.

dsade

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:43:14 -0500

politburo, the thing the caps got hosed on that kozlov call a few games earlier. if you are gonna call something call it all the time i mean that was total bs. well anyway im really proud of the caps for this year's performance. im really interested to see what is going to happen to all of the hop-ons who will most likely fall off between this season and next.

sordid

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:10:28 -0500

What a great run we had. I'm still down in the dumps and had to shave my almost 2 month old beard last night. we have much to look forward to next season. I would like to see Kolzig go, Huet and Cooke stay, and give Green a nice contract. Federov is still very good, not great though, so we shouldn't give up too much for him. However, we need a defender who isn't squeamish about laying some wood on the guys who camp out in front of our goalie. Did anyone see the difference on how their D kept pushing and hacking at OV and how we gave them free reign to wander around and slip in through the back door? Bad D killed the team in all of the losses to Philly and others during the regular season. Thanks Eli for a good season of posts.

Blubbo

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:56:53 -0500

Eli, you forgot the exclamation mark after explode.

Biff

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:55:32 -0500

@Politburo: In fact, the Capitals had a goal of their own disallowed on April 3rd against the Lightning for the exact same thing that Thoresen did. From the AP recap: "The Capitals thought they had tied the score less than 90 seconds later when Brooks Laich put in a rebound, but the goal was disallowed in an unusual case of secondhand goaltender interference. Washington's Tomas Fleischmann pushed defenseman Matt Smaby into goalie Karri Ramo, who had come well outside of the crease."

Jeffrey

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:46:24 -0500

Did somebody say "Flyers Suck?" Didn't think so.

the_heckle

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:07:16 -0500

Politburo: That was far from incidental contact. Thorensen was making his way down the ice and pushed into Morrison. Rule 78 is very clear, in that the goal should have been disallowed. Still as noted here already, the game was not decided on that play. Biron put the Flyers in the second round plain and simple. Eli, thanks again for a great season of Caps Briefings.

Politburo

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:46:40 -0500

Sorry, but you guys need to review Rule 78. An attacker being shoved by a defender into the goalie is not interference by rule, but the reverse isn't true. Furthermore 78i allows incidental contact during rebound/scramble situations (I can't recall the exact details of the play.. the contact may have occurred before the scrambling)

flamingcissy

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:33:14 -0500

I got no beef at all with the tripping penalty in OT but that second goal was clearly goalie interference. Mr. Flyer shoved Morrison right into Huet--no question. One call (or non-call) doesn't make or break a game though. The Caps had their chances. Biron was very impressive in the third.

Warshington

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:27:26 -0500

The second goal was complete bullshit, short of the Flier himself hitting the goalie there is no clearer example of goalie interference you can possibly cite then that. At least Philadelphia will never win a major sports championship in our lifetime, losers.

Politburo

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:22:20 -0500

ces -- You are correct.. it's really quite similar to how the media covers politics. If something fits into a "pattern", then it's news. So a Philly fan throwing shit would be news, but other fans doing the same generally are not. Of course, the media are also the ones who decide what constitutes a "pattern". However, I wouldn't be surprised if people have been bitching about it all day on 610..

DcRat

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:16:08 -0500

I don't mind losing b/c it was a great comeback during both the season and the playoffs (okay almost a comeback in the playoffs) but that second Philly goal was complete crap. That makes it a bit harder to swallow. Bye bye Ollie.

ces12

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:13:24 -0500

doctor - seems to me like the caps player dragged the flyers guy into the goalie with the caps player colliding into their own goalie. Good no call.

carn

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:12:51 -0500

Yea, dick move on the headshot. However, after just getting back from europe and going to a few soccer 'games' (i.e. simulated WWIII battles), we have alot to be thankful for over here hahah.

Doctor444

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:02:30 -0500

my personal favorite part of the game was morrison getting checked into huet and the flyers score. awesome...........................

ces12

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:53:44 -0500

Interesting that this beer bottle thrower doesnt make national news. I guess if it's not a Philly fan doing it, then it's not important.