Caps Lessons For n00bz: Sasha Doesn't Care

DC Sports Nexus ---- Thursday, November 10, 2011

"I don't mind saying Alexander Semin's name, because he's one guy who has so much talent, he could easily be the best player in the league, and just for whatever reason, just doesn't care..." --Matt Bradley on Alexander Semin aka Sasha

The first few days of the blog I was told about the whole "Sasha doesn't care" thing. I saw the comments from Matt Bradley but I didn't really think much of it. However, after a bunch of games I think I have figured out the proper way for a Caps fan to react to certain situations. I believe I am supposed to be furious whenever Sasha picks up an offensive zone penalty.

People keep telling me that a Semin Hat Trick involves a goal, an assist, and an offensive zone stick penalty. That tells me that he is a good player that makes stupid decisions.

I'm assuming that an offensive zone stick penalty is a stupid tripping penalty that happens on a scoring opportunity that should never happen? (Penalties should only happen to prevent goals on the defensive end?)

Honestly, I had no idea Semin had 2 trips last game. I just saw a penalty, yelled "you suck ref" and continued watching without even thinking. I understand people who know the Caps did not have the same reaction. I'll figure it out too...eventually.

For any Wizards fans still reading I could maybe compare Semin's stick penalties to Andray Blatche's play. It is almost a 100% chance that in the course of a basketball game Andray Blatche will try to dribble behind his back and have the ball hit his foot and roll out of bounds at a key moment in the game. From what I hear, Semin's stick penalties also happen at a high frequency (like Jim Caviezel).

When he scores a goal, Sasha cares. When he is getting stupid penalties, Sasha doesn't care. This is all too confusing to me. Instead of trying to care myself, I'm just going to bash Semin when he commits a tripping penalty and love him when he scores a goal. Am I correct. Is that a true Caps fan?

2 comments:

alanna. said...

it is #BadSasha vs #GoodSasha hahaha

Chris Conway said...

You pretty much nailed it - aside from sticking up for a teammate, the only time coaches are ok with a penalty is if it stops a scoring chance.

And offensive zone stick fouls (tripping, hooking, etc) are generally thought of as the worst kind of penalty, for 2 reasons: 1)As you said, no scoring chance was prevented, as the penalty occured 200 feet from their own net, and 2) they're considered selfish/lazy penalties - that instead of exerting maximum effort to get back on D, a player will just reach out his stick to try to impede someone's progress...

And if a player turns the puck over in the offensive zone, THEN hooks someone instead of hustling back, well, that will usually earn that plyer some quality bench time.

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