While on the PP, Ovechkin takes a big run at Malkin (and maybe gets the worst of it), a pen takes exception, and Semin jumps in to take the caps off the PP.... 4 on 4 is done, now the Pens have the man advantage....
Really, not a lot of great hockey- guys are taking runs at each other (and missing, for the most part)... and noe green to the box puts the Penguins on the PP for a second time.... Morrisonn with a good hit on Crosby....
Ruutu and Cooke collide at center ice.... not a lot of hockey going on. Now Ruutu hits I think Gordon from behind, the Caps go on the PP.... good work by the Caps, no results.... scrums all around Fleury with each cover....
and killed. .... :03... :02... Fehr a shot... :01...
0-0, end 1st.
This message has been edited by reallycrowesnest on Mar 9, 2008 1:12 PM
Stats in the 1st were all Caps- shots, hits, blocks, faceoffs.... everything except where it really counts.
2nd is on, and the Caps are dominating again with good chances, even a post (by Kozlov). The announcers are talking about how Kozlov got that chance because Ruutu tried a run at Ovechkin (and missed). Still not much hockey going on, at least from the Pens' side of things.
Exactly 5:00 gone in the 2nd, the Caps get the PP... I will admit Semin has been on fire today, several good moves, shots, and chances... first SOG on the PP? The Pens, of course.... and now a 5 on 3 for the Caps for :59....
couple of shots, and a Fleury cover... still :11 of 2MA...
3:54 left 2nd, Fedorov to the box this time.... Laing with a SH chance.... and another SH chance, Bradley (I think), taken down just as he shoots, no call.... the Pens force it in just as the penalty expires. It's an ES goal (Crosby).
Kolbe just said that Ovechkin and Green could become the first team mates to lead the league in goals, as a forward and as a defenseman, since Lemieux and Coffey in the late 80s.
Caps have 72 points in 70 games. That's 7 points behind the 'Canes, with only one game in hand. Recently, they were potentially 1 point behind. And a few weeks before, potentially ahead.
Fight for 8th seed: 6 points behind the Flyers, who have one game in hand on the Caps; 7 points behind Bruins and Rangers, who have two games in hand.
Consecutive losses or not, that's 5-8 the last 13 games (yeah, they got a couple of "Bettman" points in there, but the real truth is they've lost 8 of the last 13).
No where NEAR playoff caliber.
No true big defenders. No right wings. A goalie problem (which may or may not be solved, depending if Huet comes back). A coach who doesn't seem to instill work ethic or discipline in anyone other than his stars (let's see if he publicly calls Backstrom's move "dumb", like he did Brashear's penalties yesterday).
Someone on Official posted a listing of all UFA defensemen after this season. Only Adam Foote is remotely appealing. There's no one else on that list that fills the need of an immediate impact-making stay-at-home defenseman.
Best to wait for Karl Alzner and Joe Finley to earn roster spots.
"I thought I was further in the corner and I was just trying to put it behind the net," he added. "It happened and I can't do anything about now. I just have to go on and play the next game. ...It's not the best situation when I did it, so it's hard. But you have to go on. I'm just 20 years old. I feel sorry for my team. That's all I can say."
