Islanders (Sound Tigers) @ Capitals (Bears) [game thread]
New York Islanders at Washington Capitals, Dec 4, 2008 7:00 PM EST
New York Islanders (10-12-2) at Washington Capitals (13-9-3)
7 p.m. EST | [some such telco] Center | MSG+2
Some Capitals blogs: Japers' Rink (SBN) | Off Wing Opinion | On Frozen Blog
Geographically or employerly hindered? Try: Channelsurfing.net or Justin.tv
It's AHL Night in the nation's capital. The latest recall for our foes is Keith Aucoin. Meanwhile, Radek Martinek -- who we knew would be out -- is forecast 2-4 weeks. Thomas "The Elbow" Pock fills in.
Man, that Marti: So solid in character, so breakable in physical constitution. Either he did some silly things in a previous life or -- I hope -- he's due some great fortune later in this one. This time he reinjured the shoulder by colliding with teammate Andy Sutton in practice.
For a Caps' eye view, check out the game thread at Japers' Rink. Of course, all visitors welcome in this here thread [crossing fingers that I'll be able to catch this game live].
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38 comments
Comments
So my wireless acted up until about 10 minutes in, just in time to see that the “power play stats are packaged by the [parcel carrier] store.” (I have the Capitals’ feed tonight.) I guess I’ll trade DVR commercial-free for in-game silly promos.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 7:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
1-0 Caps
This goal brought to you by Alex Ovechkin, allowed a wide open shot at the end of the powerplay. Now that was a freaking wrist shot. I could handle having a weapon like that.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 7:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Thomas Pock penalty
But I cannot tell why. Not sure if the Caps’ feed caught it … they’re not describing it, anyway.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 7:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Brent Johnson
“Johnny” or “Big,” as they called him in St. Louis (Roman Turek was, heh, "Large") had the world in his hands at one point with the Blues. But then he started to act like it and his play (and, reportedly, practice habits) suffered. I guess it’s nice to see he’s kind of found a place and a role.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 7:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
2-0 Capitals
Another PP goal. 2-for-3 so far. Pock, I don’t know what you did to det in da box, but I hope you feel shame.
Goal was a point shot, deflected off something or other in front. They’re calling it Kozlov’s at the moment.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 7:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Sim
As they cut to commercial, he’s seen saying something roughly like “Forget golf” — hey, I’m lip-reading — to Fehr. 14:18, we definitely need some kind of spark.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 7:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Replay of the goal
…shows something like three deflections. I’m gonna go ahead and absolve MacDonald of blame on that one.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 7:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Slow start, slow legs
I was gonna mention this in my preview, but I didn’t feel I had enough data yet, but the Caps announcers just suggested as much: When the Isles have a layoff like they did this week, it seems like they have trouble getting ignited with Gordon’s system.
It’s like they don’t get off the ground, don’t get their legs firing, don’t realize they’ve gotta Move, MOVE, MOVE to make up for the lack of someone with an Ovechkin-like wrist shot.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 7:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Ovechkin hurt?
They showed him walking off to the locker room. If he’s walking, I think he’s coming back. The one contact they showed on a replay just showed him sort of being spun on a fly-by non-check. Must’ve tweaked his nitro tank.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 7:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Split Isles PP to end the period
Caps trivia question: Which two NHLers scored 20 goals with 6 diff. teams?
I’m guessing Gerin and Ciccarelli.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 7:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
er, “Guerin” and Dino. Did Dino play with 6 teams? Minny, DC, Detroit, TB…I may have run out there. Hmmm…
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 7:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Isles goal! 2-1 Caps
Streit fires from the point on the PP. Just straight up, not sure if it deflected anywhere; simply missed Johnson’s trapper.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 7:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I love second-language interviews
Just watching the Caps pregame now. They interviewed Backstrom at ice level: “You guys weren’t ready to play against the Panthers. How do you change that tonight?”
Backstrom: “I mean we came, we go to practice, we practice hard, we play hard, and then we ready to go.”
Straight-forward enough. No one’s taught him the “it’s a new game” phrase yet, but he’s there.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 7:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Fun fact: hat trick hats
What do arenas do with hat trick hats thrown on the ice?
In Washington, they go to Guest Services, where fans can reclaim them. I’ve heard this to be the case at other arenas, but I’m not sure if it’s league-wide.
Second period, here we go. Skate, boys, skate.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 8:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Uh-oh
Streit takes a Morrison slapshot to the skate. Play’s whistled, he limps off. Not good.
Is there anyone the Isles can less afford to lose? Maybe MacDonald?
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 8:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Isles PP
Soon after MacD dodged a bullet, as a shot from the slot rang the post.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 8:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Streit's back
Blast from the point gloved by Johnson.
Ovechkin’s back (naturally), too.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 8:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I remember these days
My first 30-40 game threads had only my comments :) Keep up the hard work though and it’ll come!
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on Dec 4, 2008 8:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
heh heh
Thanks! Yep, sometimes I have friends, sometimes I talk to myself. Always, though — always — I hear voices.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 8:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
YES! Isles goal!
I do hope I jinxed Johnson with the ol flaky-in-St. Louis talk. Campoli just beat him from center ice — no, strike that, it was an earnest dump-in attempt from center, it just deflected in off a player on the boards. (Johnson left the net to pick up the expected dump-in).
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 8:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Wow, this one hit the linesman's foot.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 8:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
And they call it off. Grr.
Oh well, it wasn’t deserved anyway. And apparently a goal cannot be scored off an official, which is a bit odd, since in every other way the official is “part of the field of play” or however it’s put. Guess we need to keep it from being too ridiculous, though. You don’t want NBA officials infiltrating the NHL.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 8:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Caps fans at Japers' Rink
…also didn’t know about rule. This isn’t ’nam, Donnie, there are rules here!
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 8:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Oh, jesus
We almost had another O’Byrne. (Well, not quite). Delayed penalty, Sutton passes at the point and it deflects off a Capitals’ foot back toward (but just missing) the Isles goal.
I’ll be picking my heart up out of my intestines now.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 8:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Weight at the PP point
Just let Laich breeze on by for a partial breakaway. That’s not cool. Don’t give forwards-at-the-point a (deserved) bad name, Dougie.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 8:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
'nother PP
Jackman draws Ovechkin into a penalty. Exchanged weak slashes, then Ovie cross-checked him in the back … he may have “embellished,” but the call on Ovie is clear.
Come on, boys!
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 8:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Ouch!
Jackman did indeed get called for diving. That’s a tough call. But Jackman is big, doesn’t always go down like that. Then again, it was from the blind side.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 8:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
And now
We go from 4-on-4 to 4-on-3 for the Caps
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 8:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Isles goal! (for real this time)
Isles just survive the 4-on-3 to 5-on-4, then Sutton comes out of the box, gets a shot, wins the rebound, then feeds like Trottier to Hunter for the bang home. Excellent hustle play.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 8:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Nice work by Weight/Guerin/Bergenheim line
They draw a slashing penalty on Helmer, though I’m not sure if it was legit. We’ll take it!
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 8:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
4 shots on the PP but no goal, then the Isles keep the pressure on to prevent the Caps from getting a full change … eventually icing by the Caps.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 8:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Shaky call
Ovechkin hit Sutton from behind. But it was a fly-by bump…and the ref didn’t call it until he saw Sutton stayed down and the Caps got the puck. Those are tough ones: if the Caps score off that and Sutton is really hurt, it looks really bad. But to me Ovechkin let up enough to not kill Sutton (he didn’t follow through on him into the boards). That’s what we want hitters to do when the puckholder turns his back.
Anyway, period ends with the Isles on another PP.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 8:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
So: 2-2 at the end of 2nd
And we have a game! This should be good. Caps are vulnerable, with this decimated D corps. Need big stops from Joey Mac, sustained pressure — don’t sit back if you get the lead! — and a little luck.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 8:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
And, I'm taken away
…gonna have to catch the third on DVR.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 8:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Returning now
… and recording just for posterity’s and notes’ sake.
So Brashear gives the Caps the lead when MacDonald couldn’t cover a goalmouth scramble. MacD’s had a tough night. He’s made a lot of nice saves, but he’s had some non-inspiring moments. Been a little under siege though.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 10:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Caps interview Fred Smoot and another Redskin
I always get a kick out of seeing athletes’ responses to watching hockey for the first time. I’m sure seats down at the glass help sell the deal.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 10:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Caps up 4-2
Sigh. So this one, the Isles lose the faceoff (Park), Ovie-8 has it at the point and shoots, couple rebounds and Fehr knocks it in. I think that’s the problem with Joey Mac tonight: it’s not his fault there were rebounds (it was through traffic), he’s just been a step behind in covering or boggling up loose pucks. That said, this one isn’t on him.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 11:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Empty-netter, 5-2
… and that’s a wrap.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Dec 4, 2008 11:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

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