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Tomorrow night's Caps game at Verizon Center features the four most talented hockey players on earth competing in a winner take all, game seven, series final struggle for playoff survival. We'll have the last two winners of the NHL's Hart Trophy (player most valuable to his team) playing out a rivalry that has made hockey important even to non-fans. Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby have been billed for years as the greatest talents of this generation, and this will be the first time one of them eliminates the other from the playoffs.
This game also features two out of three nominees for this year's MVP awards, as well as this season's two highest scorers: Ovechkin, and his former Russian Super League linemate Evgeni Malkin, now of the Penguins. The two have feuded in very real ways, with Ovechkin allegedly breaking his old friend's agent's jaw. The Caps have denied this silly accusation, but Malkin has reiterated it. Nonetheless, the two worked together at this year's all-star game to put on the silliest show in the short history of the breakaway competition.
Last night's 5-4 OT Caps victory in Pittsburgh featured the reawakening of Alexander Semin. Semin was leading the NHL in scoring before an injury in November when a reporter asked him what he thought of Crosby. Taking the bait, Semin said he isn't a fan of anyone who plays a boring style of hockey. Semin's two points last night were brilliant, and he could end up backing up his words when the Caps return home for the last game of this dream matchup.
So far, the Caps have been awfully exciting in their playoff games. We've seen the Rangers coach throw his water at rowdy Washington fans. We've seen a game seven overtime winning goal against the Rangers by former MVP Sergei Fedorov. We've seen the Caps bench their starting goalie, former MVP Jose Theodore, in favor of a goalie who spent this season playing in the AHL for the Hershey Bears. Of course, Simeon Varlamov is a recent first round pick who has backstopped the Russian national team, but only one reporter predicted that he'd be here this soon, and no one was buying it. We've even seen an investigation into death threats against Ovechkin by Pittsburgh internet nerds.
What the NHL hasn't seen since the early 1980s is a playoff matchup between the two biggest stars of a generation. Not since Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy met in the Stanley Cup finals have the league's two greatest stars dueled. Sure, Fedorov took part in some legendary games against Joe Sakic and the Colorado Avalanche, but those players became true legends through their struggles against each other. Gretzky and Lemieux never met in the playoffs. Gretzky vs. Bossy was the last time that two guys who had already shown they were above and beyond any other talents in the game met in the playoffs to see which could lead his team to glory. Or, as USA Today put it, "it's hard to find a comparison."
Because this is the most significant contest of marquee players the NHL has seen in a quarter century, we're calling it, in advance, "The Matchup." We hope it lives up to our expectations, but we really can't see how it wouldn't.
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So in other words the Caps bandwagon will get exponentially bigger or infinitely smaller after tomorrow night.
Who saw "a game seven overtime winning goal against the Rangers by former MVP Sergei Fedorov"? No game in Round 1 went into OT.
Fedorov's goal was late enough in the 3rd, and the Rangers inept enough on offense that it could be argued within the bounds of artistic license that it was effectively an OT goal...
Or you know it could be reported correctly that it happened near the end of the 3rd period.
"Big L be lightin niggas like incense"
I think you have to go further back than Gretzky/Bossy. Bossy was never anywhere near Gretzky. Not taking anything away from him - Bossy was a great goalscorer, but that was it. Gretzky was Gretzky.
I might go with Richard/Howe as the closest comparision to OV/Crosby. Either way, tomorrow night is going to be awesome.
Wow, biggest matchup in 25 years? Really? It isnt even a conference finals or SC Finals. There have been a lot of great matchups in the last 25 years and they happened in conference or SC Finals. Give us a break. We get it, this is a great series with great stars but this isnt the biggest matchup in the last 25 years. And all this just to lose to the Red Wings....
Detroit will have to get past the Hawks first.... ;)
Agreed; while I share their excitement, a number of Caps fans/media have greatly exaggerated the significance of this series.
Actually, before last night's game, I thought the quality of the hockey was starting to suffer in this series (not Vancouver-Chicago low, but still disappointing given the marquee matchup). Wings-Ducks has been the more consistently impressive series.
But then, last night redeemed both the Caps' series and the Hawks series; meanwhile, the Ducks' play slipped in Sunday's game. And either way, I'm looking forward to seeing game 7 of Caps-Pens - should be a good one.
Reading comprehension, folks. Eli didn't call it the biggest matchup in 25 years. He called it "the most significant contest of marquee players the NHL has seen in a quarter century". If you want to contest this, you must name a key playoff series in which the two biggest stars in the NHL faced off, anytime between the Gretzky-Bossy matchup and now.
Roy-Brodeur, 2001.
But I bet goalies don't count, right?
Well, goalies might count but not when in a season where you had three 50 goal scorers, two skaters with almost 120 points, and the two goalies (both HOF-caliber and top goalies throughout their respective careers...indeed maybe even top two ever) weren't even in the top 5 of GAA or Save % that season.
Keep moving the goalposts... :)
Joe Sackic vs. Steve Yzerman
Claude Lemieux vs. Sergei Federov
Roy vs. Vernon
How about the three year stretch the Avalanche vs. Wings in which the winner of those series won the actual Cup.
Joe Sackic vs. Steve Yzerman
Claude Lemieux vs. Sergei Federov
Roy vs. Vernon
----------
I know times are tough up in Michigan and you folks have little to occupy you beyond rehashing past glories, but for serious? Joe Sakic and Steve Yzerman were hands-down, indisputably the two greatest hockey players of their era? Claude Lemieux and Mike Vernon were "face of the NHL"-caliber stars? Are you kidding me? Fedorov himself would laugh if he read this.
Sorry but Forsberg and Sackic vs. Yzerman and Federov is just as good if not better. Lemieux v. McCarty was just Icing on that cake. Dont try and act like Roy was not at the top of his game. Also really Crosby and Ovi are hands down the best all of sudden? There are some players on the line who would like to speak to you. Datsyuk, Zetterburg, and Hossa are more worrisome than what the Pens and Caps have to offer. When did these superstars you speak of you know actually win a cup. Thats right they havent. At least the matchup I listed was a conference final and both teams won a Cup. Something neither of these current teams have done.
Times are tough in Michigan. Nice observation. Yeah rehashing that DEFENDING STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS was hard on my memory. Had such a hard time remembering. You know what else is hazy...the 4 game sweep the last time the Caps were in a Final...happened so fast its hard to recall.
Okay, seeing as how my (and Eli's) point has flown straight over your head, we'll leave it at that. And God forbid the best players in the league dare to not play for the Red Wings.
No I just seem to understand that hockey was played by stars on different teams before this series and you two seem to think this series has the greatest players ever and no one else matters.
No, it's that you CAN'T comprehend the distinction between "greatest series in 25 years" and "greatest meeting of marquee players in 25 years".
Again, there have been better marquee players in marquee series, I gave you an example, I can find more. You keep claiming these are Marquee Players, thats hard when neither have their name on the Lord Stanley Cup. Listen I actually love watching this series, I honestly do, its good for the sport. However, I hate the knob slobering of Crosby, Malkin, and Ovi(to a degree). I honestly think Ovi is one of the best players I have ever seen, better than Crosby IMO. But you are trying to tell me this is the best between "marquee players" when it is flat out untrue.
OK, point taken. To truly become legends, these guys are going to have to lead their teams to some Cups.
I think Ovi and his crew have a better shot than the Pens. It is entirely possible the Caps could win it all this year. The Pens rely too heavily on Crosby and Malkin. Malkin has proven time and again he doesnt always show up to play. I didnt even know he was playing in this series until game 3. I dont think he even bothered to show up to the SC Finals last year.
If were talking sweeps in the Finals, as a Devils fan I must of course mention 1995..
PS: What I mean to say is, you still aren't reading and properly digesting how Eli is characterizing this matchup. I watched and loved all those Avs-Wings series. It was a fantastic rivalry. Just crazy shit. (I still fondly remember Lemieux and McCarty dropping the gloves about 0.6 seconds into the game when the teams first met after the '97 series.) No one is trying to take away that those were two great TEAMS whose rivalry defined the late '90s.
Here we are talking about two epic INDIVIDUAL stars, who are expected to define their era the way Gretzky and Lemieux defined theirs. And each just happens to also have one of the next-best players in the league suiting up next to him. See the distinction?
Gary Bettman and his bootlicking lackey refs can all go eat donkey dicks in hell.
"The four most talented hockey players on earth"? Wait, who's the fourth?
Guppy, you totally rock. Thank you for your kind words.
EM, clearly we're entitled to differ on matters of opinion and judgment, but since you asked, the fourth most talented player in hockey and in this series is the one with your initials: Evgeni Malkin.
Okay, then I must follow up. Which three players in this series are better than Malkin?
Do you even watch the games? Last time you inaccurately reported the Caps v. Pens regular season head to head record you shrugged it off as "seems like we never lost."
This time you say three inaccurate things-
1. I love Semin, and there is a ground swell of support for him being the player in the NHL with the most raw talent. He's not the fourth best player in the world right now. You've got to put Toews in the ring and a bunch of others. There is an entire Western Conference you know.
2. The Caps have not always been "awfully exciting" in their playoff games. Maybe you slept through round 1 game 7, because the first two periods generated boos from their own fans. I don't know what you call round 2 games 3&4, being uncharacteristically out shot, giving up everything in the neutral zone, and leaving Varlamov hanging out to dry constantly.
3. It's been pointed out before, but Feds goal was not in OT. If you watched the game you would know that. You would know that the last 4:59 no one sat down. No one stopped screaming. And no games went to OT.
Please watch the games, or at least read about them before reporting.
Kthxbai,
Actually Pre-Bandwagon Caps Fan
Sorry DCist.. Big fan otherwise, but allow me to jump on the "bandwagon" and beg you to stop even trying to report on hockey and the Caps. This report nearly as innacurate as the last one- leave hockey blogging where it belogs: www.japersrink.com
You're implying that the Dcist staff are experts at everything. Cool Beans! It's just news baby. Just news and it is DC related.
Penalty number 13. Stella. Game misconduct. Instigator. Game misconduct. Third man in. Glad to hear you like JP, but that's no reason to call for my head.
Yes. I watch the games. Often at 3am on a DVR after fourteen hours of work and volunteer commitments. I also read about six articles about the Caps a day, some on the computer, others on my ipod. Sometimes they swim together, though.
Full discolsure: I do this for free because I love to write. I'm working two part time jobs that, right now, seem to need me almost full time, each. Neither is guaranteed to need me this much beyond the next month, so I can't pick one over the other. I just have to hope and work harder. Both of my jobs involve teaching children. So the next time you see me sacrificing my prized accuracy, please just remember: it's for the children.
I'm also in two bands, and I post when I can. Lately instead of spending the five hours I used to spend on posts that only five people besides Jesslett read when the caps weren't in the playoffs, I'm just typing for an hour and hitting save.
If you have a correction, please make it. I hate inaccuracy as much as you. If you want to tell me I haven't been a caps fan since the start of the nineties because I make one mistake in every five or six paragraph post, come out to Falls Church and see my hockey card collection, and ask me about meeting Don Beaupre and Todd Krygier. I still have some of my Jerry's Pizza coupons, Cap Center ticket stubs and a Jeff Halpern signed jersey. Heck, I still have the pre-eagle baseball hat I got made fun of all through middle school for wearing before anybody in Virginia even liked hockey. I also still have my skates, pads, sticks, jerseys and gloves, and right now I feel like dropping the latter.
As to whether Semin or Toews is better, I'm surprised you picked Toews over Kane or Thornton or, you know, a Hart nominee like Datsyuk. But that's the beauty of opinions. You're allowed to be wrong, too. Since we're both a hair or five outside of conventional wisdom, I see no debate here.
If you guys were watching these games you think I'm not watching, though, you'd know that, as strong an assertion as it might be--saying that Semin, Ovechkin, Crosby and Malkin are the most talented hockey players in the world--I'm just agreeing with the great Joe Beninati on that one.
Now, I know Joe Beninati is not perfect. I watch games and call out to my friends when he makes mistakes, or guesses dead wrong on Caps trivia. Sometimes I think he uses that catch phrase, "sharp angle," too often or too forcefully.
I still love and respect him for the great job he does 99% of the time and the colorful personality that he lends to my favorite team. I certainly don't think you sent him an email telling him he overrates Alexander Semin, if you were even listening when he said it. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Otherwise, please bear with me for a bit. I've got negative comments here telling me both that I don't give enough effort to this awesome group blog and that I'm massively overstating the importance of what's only a second round series, and that I shouldn't pay so much attention to it.
So, for the third round, I'll try to find a better balance between caring about my favorite sport and sagely not caring about it until the Caps beat Detroit.
Meanwhile, I appreciate that you're reading and posting your different opinions, but I find it frustrating when people who don't like my work subject themselves to it anyway just for the sake of telling me they still don't enjoy it.
Does that make sense? It's a neurotic behavior. Stop. You're taking away bandwidth from real Caps fans.
Sincerely,
Eli Resnick
Consider my bandwidth given back, I'll skip the next one.
I wish they would bring back the Jerry's pizza promotion! I loved when the Caps would have five goals and the entire arena would chant "Pizza! Pizza! Pizza!"
Of course I meant to say that we were all chanting pizza to get that sixth goal so that we'd all get the free pizza coupons.
Don't want anyone questioning my status on the Caps bandwagon...
You're explanation actually improves my opinion -- it seems like you only pipe up when something significant happens for Caps fans (ie playing Pittsburgh). I just assumed you were a lameass homer when you're really just a lameass blogger ;-)
But all kidding aside...why are you talking about 3rd round? And how have the Caps (or Detroit for that matter) yet earned the presumption of playing in the finals?
THE CHARLESTOWN CHIEFS HAVE WON THE FEDERAL LEAGUE!
Sorry, it needed to be said.
What about the Brodeur vs Roy matchup in the 2001 Stanley Cup finals? Arguably the two best goaltenders ever to play hockey going head to head. I know it's not the same as skaters going head to head but still...
Didn't see your reply down here, sorry.
I pray for a Caps/B's Conf. final
WOW! I pray for an end to hunger or world peace. To each their own.
Let's be realistic here, huh!
Are you running for Miss America?
Nah, Caps-Wings all the way (although it'll never happen.)
Yeah, the Wings are going to have trouble getting by the Ducks!
Eli,
Are you the drummer or the cymbals player in the picture? Is that your band? j/k
Eli, I was also reading and disagreeing and thinking you're an idiot. I apologize. But still, 11 years later the Caps have improved from swept by the Wings to losing the series 4-2 to the Wings.:-)
If the Wings get by the Hawks...
Ha. Broken record, there, aaronsinger. But, if the Wings can wrap up the Ducks series (not a foregone conclusion given the Ducks' play in the first round and second round up to Sunday), Wings-Hawks should be a sweet series. A little Norris Division nostalgia for those of us hockey fans from the upper midwest.
And, I too would like to see a Bs-Caps series in the East.
Haha, you got me there. Just a Hawks fan ecstatic to see them in the Western Conference Finals. Was expecting a playoff run, but not this. And if they play the Wings on top of it, wow.
I would actually like to see the Caps [if they win Game 7 tomorrow] take on the Canes. Divisional rivals going at it on both sides for the right to go the Stanley Cup Finals, that would be exciting.
They have to beat the Ducks tonight.
Since the Nats currently suck too much to generate this type of obscure obsessive discussion, I move we change the idiom to "inside hockey".
What, you don't want to talk about Ryan Zimmerman's VORP?
Big L, I'm not going to argue that the Wings/Avs matchups in the late 90s weren't awesome. Those were definitely epic.
But those matchups were never really billed as StevieY vs. Sakic, or Fedorov vs. Lemieux. They were maybe billed as The Entire Red Wing Roster vs. Lemieux, but in general, they were matchups of teams, rather than individuals.
This Caps/Pens series has, from the get-go, been hyped as a matchup of individuals. And that is something that is very foreign to the sport of hockey. That's why there isn't any contemporary comparison. The culture of hockey actively tries to prevent an individual from transcending the team.
I used Richard/Howe as my closest parallel because those are two players who happened to do so, and who met several times during the playoffs. Howe, as Mr. Hockey, became a symbol for the sport, and Richard is practically a mythic figure now that he has passed on.
What makes this Caps/Pens matchup a little different is that the rest of the hockey community seems totally OK with the emphasis on the individuals. People have been looking forward to a Crosby/OV playoff matchup for the past 2 or 3 years, and now that we have it, and it's delivered in spades, people are understandably excited about it. Noone's trying to diss the Wings. They're a phenomenally well-run franchise. But on a deep roster that rolls 4 lines every game, it's tougher for the individual matchups to crystallise for them.
For those Roy v. Brodeur lobbyists out there: Sadly, goalies don't really count for this kind of thing. Goalies are flaky, superstitious, borderline autistic guys who wear masks all the time. That makes it tougher for a lot of people to relate to them. More importantly, they (almost) never score. And fans prefer to live vicariously through someone who scores, vs. someone who saves...
Gotta say, I love the passion in this comment thread. Like Chris Rock says, Hockey fans are like heroin users - there's no such thing as a casual user...
Guess you turned to the Redskins offseason after Lupul's goal. Anyone who actually watched the finals knows the Zetterberg/Datsyuk line was the difference maker in that series. They were the shut down line vs. the Pens and Zetterberg was extremely deserving of the Conn Smythe.
I think we have multiple definitions of Marquee at work. Some people think it means best. That may be a valid definition, but I'm trying to use the definition that stems more directly from the etymology of a Marquee as a sign over the front entrance of a theatre, promoting the star attraction. Whether or not any of us think Crosby is a good hockey player, we have all certainly seen his face in the news more often than we ever saw that of the spouse-abusing, nearly deported, coach-criticizing, ship-jumping, already-built-dynasty-in-Colorado-joining but statistically quite impressive fight-coach Patrick Roy.
Wait a minute, the Avs were definitely a great team when they traded for Patrick Roy in 1995 - but there's no chance that they were going to the Stanley Cup finals (in either 1996 or 2001), let alone win them, with any combination of Stephane Fiset/Jocelyn Thibault/Garth Snow in goal.
So Roy did not arrive to an "already-built-dynasty-in-Colorado" - he completed the dynasty. The other stuff you say is true, though he did get a fair amount of face time back in the day...remember the quote about his ears being plugged with his two Stanley Cup rings?
anyone else find it strange that while distracted by the spouting that Obama is a socialist everyone seems fine with DC worshipping their Russian with the slogan 'Rock the Red'?
interesting.