11/11, 6:00 AM - Capitals/Lightning postgame
It wouldn’t be fair to speculate on exactly what would have constituted a successful return to Washington Olaf Kolzig but it’d be a pretty fair assumption that neither allowing goals on his first two shots nor letting in three in the first period played into his ideal scenario. But that’s exactly what happened as the Capitals took advantage of an obvious mismatch in skill and skating ability to jump out early on the Lightning.
Kolzig’s performance on the night, especially in the first period, was reminiscent of his play last season: while you can’t entirely fault him for any of the three goals the Capitals scored in the first period, there’s no way he should have let all three get by him. Meanwhile, at the other end of the ice, Brent Johnson turned in another stellar effort for the Capitals.
Johnson’s play of late hasn’t created a goaltending controversy simply because his play has been good enough that there shouldn’t be any doubt that he should be playing ahead of Jose Theodore. Johnson’s never been able to hold down a starting job at the NHL level and there’s definitely not any reason to name him the starter through thick and thing, but right now Johnson’s not only making the saves he has to make (which is all anyone expected the Capitals would need their netminder to do in order to be successful this season), he’s making a lot of quality stop to bail out him teammates and inspire confidence.
Caps Blue Line 3 Stars
(1) Brent Johnson
(2) Alexander Ovechkin - 1 goal, 1 assist, 4 hits, +2
(3) Tom Poti - 1 goal, +2
Quick Hits
- It’s nice when linemates have chemistry by Ovechkin and Alexander Semin might like each other a little too much: there’s no need to be that generous with the pass/shoot decisions, guys.
- The other former Caps wearing Bolts
pajamascolors was Steve Eminger, who finished with an assist, three hits, and three blocked shots but was also a -3. - Donald Brashear’s unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, on a high-sticking call of all things, showed a tremendous lapse in judgment for a36-year-old veteran wearing an ‘A’.
- Eric Fehr had a goal and four shots in his 10:14 of ice time. I know I’m not the only one who wants to see what he could do with more.
- Don VanMassenhoven’s mustache look amazing in HD. Joe Beninati’s brown suit/orange tie combination did not.
1) Nice break down of the game. We would add that Johnson kept them in the game when the team decided that a 3 goals first period was enough of an effort and they stopped skating
2) The AO/Semin conundrum continues. They score many of the teams goals, but based upon the chances they generate they should be doing even more. They appear reluctant to shoot, and instead look for the perfect pass to each other. If alone no doubt they shot.
3) The Chris Clark issue may need to be addressed as soon as the team is healthy. If he doesn’t improve he may need to sit. Eric Fehr should be playing/not sitting anymore. It won’t be an easy decision, mainly because Clark is liked and wears the C, but unless his game improves he’s an anchor on a forward line
DMG:
I saw the game differently from my seat at Verizon. Overall the Caps won the game by playing very, very well during the second half of the first period while the Bolts weren’t really in the building (mentally). The second period the Bolts would have won by more than one goal had Johnnie not kept the Caps alive. The third period was even.sight advantage to the Caps.
Kolzig had a good game - I didn’t think he got any, and I mean ANY help on all four goals. He got no help and as usaul after the game he held himself accountable. He deserves better than the stuff you continue to dish out at him.
Jphnnie was awesome and has been so the past 3 games.
I do agree AO & Semin need to be a “little” less cutesy.
The setup by Brashear on the Poti goal was really cool to watch. I felt both penalties on him were unwarranted. The non-call when Eminger mugged him in the Third period was poor too. I know enforcers never really get a break but lets get real.
@ fauxrumors: Fehr played well and deserved the hard hat but one or even two games, a career does not make. While Clark isn’t doing great yet, he looked fairly good last night and it’s too early to be singling Fehr out as his replacement.
NEXT UP! Carolina @ RBC Center
LETS GO CAPS!!!!
Erskine’s penalty in the last third was as bad as Brash’s was, and it resulted in the Bolts scoring, as did Steckel’s interference penalty. The Caps managed to kill Brash’s 4-minute double minor unscathed.
@ Mark,
I disagree regarding Kolzig. Poti and Green scored in similar fashion - passes across the ice and moving into a shoot area just wide of the slot. Fehr’s goal was a one timer with no traffic in front from the top of the circle.They were good plays, good areas and good shots, but not unstoppable by any means. If NHL goalies didn’t have any chance on those types of goal, games would be 8-6 instead of 3-2.
I don’t think I’m being unfair. Any NHL goalie can stop most shots; every NHL goalie will face shots where they have no chance. It’s what they do with those ones that are hard but not impossible to stop that separates the starters from the backups. Again, you can’t fault Olie for any one of them but to allow three like that, to me, shows that he isn’t an NHL starter anymore. But I don’t think that’s any different from what my opinion on Kolzig has been for the last year or so. I certainly don’t think I’m being unfair to the guy. It’s just the way it is.
As for the Brashear penalties, a high sticking penalty is automatic. You hit a player above the shoulder with your stick (other than on a follow through for a shot or pass), it’s high sticking, period, and it’s a stupid call to argue on his part.
re Faux’s comment and Fehr: I don’t think Faux would be advocating Fehr replacing Clark (for the time being) based on only one game. Fehr has three points in five games and is a plus 2, even though he’s not playing regularly and is seeing only nine minutes or so each game.
@irockthered,
I wasn’t thrilled when I saw Erskine was called late in the game but I didn’t see the actual infraction, so I didn’t want to comment on it.