Posts Tagged ‘Washington Capitals’

Ovechkin accuses league/officials of fixing games

Posted: 05/14/2013 by bc in Uncategorized
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This blog has taken issue with the quality of officiating in the NHL during the season and in the playoffs. The officiating has been described here as biased and one-sided. We pointed to the official league policy of “opening the game up” as evidence of an institutionalized bias to promote the skill teams at the expense of the more physical teams. Additionally, we included descriptions of specific referee instructions given to teams prior to playoff games.

This blog has always stopped short of accusing the NHL or anyone involved of being part of a criminal conspiracy.

In an interview with a Russian newspaper, Washington Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin took it up another notch.

“I am not saying there was a phone call from (the league), but someone just wanted Game 7,” he told the paper.

“For the ratings. You know, the lockout, escrow, the league needs to make profit. I don’t know whether the refs were predisposed against us or the league. But to not give obvious penalties (against the Capitals), while for us any little thing was immediately penalized.”

The Caps had 16 power plays compared to the Rangers 28 during the seven game series.

Ovechkin will probably receive a hefty fine for the implied accusation.

This blog hopes the NHL takes Ovie’s complaint seriously and works to improve  on ice officiating.

Note: Ovechkin’s quotes were copied and pasted from this story published by tsn.ca.

Quick camp, short season primer

Posted: 01/06/2013 by bc in Uncategorized
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One way to look at this is the whole league is returning from injury that kept them out for 34 games. Here are a few things you can expect to see in camp and in the early going:

1. Guys who played in Europe and the ‘A’ will be noticeably ahead of players who hung out at scrimmages and/or skated on their own.

2. Adjusting to the ice. It’s much harder for goalies because the angles are all different. The primary and secondary high percentage shooting areas cover more space on the larger European ice surface. For skaters, it’s mostly adapting to the feeling of being hurried on the smaller NA ice.

3. Teams with little roster turnover will have a jump over teams breaking in new players at key positions. Count our Ducks among the latter.

4. Expect 35 or fewer players invited to camp. Maybe fewer than 30 for teams without many roster questions. You will also see a more tryout contracts offered  to the many UFA’s available by teams with unanswered roster questions.

5. Sloppy play! When you come back after a long layoff the hardest thing to get back is your timing and coordination. Give it 5 weeks and a dozen or so in season games before becoming overly judgmental.

Overall, this is quite different from the start of season where everyone is starting even. You’ve got guys coming in from the ‘A’ and Europe who are in game shape playing with and against guys trying to find their legs. Goalies adjusting to angles.

And maybe most of all will be the Refs. Let’s hope there’s an improvement on the uneven and unpredictability of the officiating. Consistency in penalty calling will do more than anything else in returning the game to the players and fans.

 

Ducks in today’s trade gossip

Posted: 02/11/2012 by bc in Uncategorized
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For the millionth gazillionth time Teemu Selanne said, “I’m trying to avoid that question” when asked if he would waive his NMC to be united in Detroit with fellow Finlander Valtteri Filppula.
Flash seems focused on the this road trip telling reporters, “This road trip is going to pretty much decide which direction we’re going to go and everybody’s looking ahead and up.” Not quite your standard unequivocal denial. Selanne also knows part of his job is to feed the media beast adding, “Hopefully we can do it and let’s see what happens after that.”
You have the pertinent part. Find more here.

Eklund is reporting that the NYR are interested in Lubomir Visnovsky. He could have added the Chicago Blackhawks, Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins to the that list as well.

Frankly, I believe Teemu Selanne when he says “This road trip is going to pretty much decide which direction we’re going to go…” Figure Bargain Bob is in listening mode with one eye out for an opportunity to snag a Bryan Allen type D-man.

Meet Bruce “Gabby” Boudreau…He is a rink rat

Posted: 12/01/2011 by bc in Uncategorized
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First of all, all due props to yougetwhatyouputin for calling it on this blog the other day. I didn’t see it happening this fast because most coaches need to decompress after a dismissal. Not Gabby Boudreau though. He really is a rink rat. Less than 72 hours after being fired by the Washington Capitals Bruce Boudreau found a new team.
The new Ducks head coach is more famous for his F-bombs than his effen NHL career.  For those who have a life outside of hockey and missed the HBO special 24/7 Caps & Pens, you can see what everybody is talking about here. Gabby let fly 15 F-bombs during a between periods rant that lasted all of 1:21. Impressive but not a record either.
Despite the rant Coach Boudreau’s persona is that of the Happy Warrior. Unlike the guy he’s replacing, Gabby is known for his upbeat demeanor. This change in terms of style is like ejecting a Muddy Waters cd and inserting Springsteen at his power pop best. Also unlike his predecessor Coach Boudreau is no X&O guy. Boudreau’s Ducks won’t be doing things differently. He won’t think the game for his players. (more…)

Back of the Net: We’re All on the Road

Posted: 10/19/2010 by bc in Uncategorized
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‘Been awhile since we fished out biscuits in the back of the (inter) net. You don’t have to far to find some good stuff out there.

Third lines have been a regular hot topic around our Ducks water cooler. THN’s Rory Boylen takes a look at how the Vancouver Canucks upgraded their 3rd line over the summer.

Fantasy players may get some tips from tsn.ca’s Scott Cullen. This week Cullen looks at the league’s top scorers and a couple possibles for fantasy GM’s looking for a boost. (more…)