Braden Holtby had a pretty awesome 29 save shutout against the Boston Bruins on Saturday night that included some nifty stops as well as some interesting pre-game drills. Here is how Holtby was warming up for his shutout, and a little nifty between the legs pass during the game. Gifs follow:
Joel Ward scored just 6 goals in the 2011-12 NHL regular season. He finished with more penalty minutes (20) than points (18) in a pretty disappointing season. However, Ward played hero for one night as he squirted a rebound past Tim Thomas to give the Capitals a first round series win in game 7 against the Bruins.
That night, Thomas forwent his typical anger-sprint out of the rink to shake the hands of his playoff foes. I'm not sure if he knew it at the time, and the fans sure didn't know, but that goal by an under-perfoming hockey player on an under-performing team was the last memory we will have of Tim Thomas, at least for a year.
Thomas has announced that he will be taking time off from hockey to deal with some personal issues. Winning the Stanley Cup one year, getting his ankles broken by Matt Hendricks the next, and mowing his lawn the next. An interesting way to exit the league.
I've never really heard of something like this happening. A player on a championship contender walking away from the game. So what happened. Are there deep personal issues here, or did Thomas just lose his love for hockey over the course of the playoff series with the Caps? One thing was noticeable throughout the series. Timmy was getting angry after the losses to the Caps.
I'm not exactly non-biased on this topic as I'm not a fan of Boston fans. Patriots, Celtics, Bruins, and especially the Redsox and their pink hats. The one time I went to Boston was the year the Patriots didn't make the playoffs.
I had a Raiders winter hat on. A team that the Patriots BEAT (with a terrible call by the ref that changed the entire rules of the NFL). That didn't stop the bitter Boston fans from heckling me the entire night with the most inane and pointless insults about a team they didn't have any actual feelings for. There was no rivalry at all. In fact RAIDERS fans are the ones who should be heckling the Patriots for winning unfairly. I'm a Redskins fan anyways.
Now there are a lot of people I like who are Boston fans. They aren't ALL bad. But I'm stereotyping, and lumping everyone in together. Something that some Boston fans seem to enjoy doing. Actually that is not true. Stereotyping is not the word. Racism is more like it.
These are a collection of tweets from Boston fans throwing around the N word in regards to Joel Ward. No, the word is not Nincompoop. (Click here to view, very racist, very NSFW, very bad tweets) HT @Rachel_216 and 100 other peeps.
I'm going to hope that this is just a small group of idiots and not all Boston fans, but I'm sure we will be hearing more about this tomorrow. Is it worse than Vancouver burning down their city? From a human standpoint, yes.
I knew Joel Ward worked here...I just didn't exactly know what he DID here...
The Caps beat the Bruins in OT in game 7 in Boston, which according to news reports all week was so anti-history. The Caps should be ashamed for treating history like a b**ch!
Joel Ward, who maybe did 2 semi-rememberable things the entire season, CRASHED THE NET and scored the game winner. The Caps will now play one of like 30 teams, but who really cares.
The Caps offense under Dale Hunter doesn't get many shots on goal and doesn't feature the "best" player Ovechkin, but somehow it won a playoff series.
The game went back & forth momentum wise and I just about had 100 heart attacks. I was yelling at Holtby like he was my son. I was firing Dale Hunter. I was cutting Knuble. I was playing GM and blowing up the roster. But I forgot about all that....
Thank you Jesus Joel Ward Shuttleswerth...
Note to everyone who told me I picked the wrong season to follow the Caps, and who told me I was bad luck, can EAT IT! LOL!
The Caps squad isn't that dominant but clearly the fans boycotts, playoff beards (or attempted beards for those of us who can't grow hair on our faces), gifs, jpegs, pngs, youtubes, and tweets helped will the puck into the net in the final seconds.
I was standing in my basement shirtless because I ripped it off after the goal went in. I was flexing like Hulk Hogan. And now I'm typing this...I can't even think. More to come later...
So this is my first season as a Caps fan and I was expecting the team to be the top team in the NHL this season. Things didn't really work out that way and the team barely made the playoffs. However, being a Wizards/Nats/Redskins fan, I really could care less what seed a DC team is. I just want one in the playoffs.
So far I have had 6 awesome "bonus" nights after 82 nights of watching hockey. That is 6 nights of fun generated by a 7th seed team. I got to attend a game where the Verizon Center was filled. I haven't been in a situation like that since the Wizards were in the playoffs like 7 years ago. I even got to go to a Russian Machine Party. For me, this experience has already been great.
While great is nice, greatER is better. If the Caps can pull out a game 7 win they will give me a minimum of 4 more awesome "bonus" nights!
I'm very happy and very satisfied at this point, but I know most Caps fans are not. They have been watching the Caps dominate (at least in the regular season) for years now and they want more than a fun 7 game series.
So starting last night the butterflies started to set in. Like I said, I'm happy but I'd like to be happier. Fans on Twitter were having trouble sleeping, I can't imagine how much the players were tossing and turning in their hotel beds. I'm starting to feel like I have to puke and its hours before game time.
I haven't had this feeling in YEARS being a DC Sports fan...I don't know if I can take it, but I wouldn't want it any other way...
Hey Caps fans, tomorrow's game 7! Which means, if the Caps crap the bed, I'm going to have to root for the Kitties and/or Rangers. And trust me, you don't want that to happen. So, I've come up with a new rule!
This is the rule of threes, they're supposed to help prevent the Bumble Bees from scoring and help the Caps move on to the second round.
Rule #1: If the puck is in the defensive zone, CLEAR IT! Ice it, actually try to score, I dont' care get it out.
Rule #2: When going into the offensive zone, make sure there are at least three guys on the attack. This will help create the magical triangle and more chances on net.
Rule #3: When three Bruins are skating down the ice, get your butts in your zone to help Holtby! He can't do it all by himself, folks.
Rule #4: If you have less than three goals, ACT LIKE YOU HAVE NONE. Don't go into a defensive shell because this will eventually lead to the Bruins catching up. Really, no lead is safe, but three is usually safe.
If the Caps can follow those golden rules, they'll win and hopefully, tell the Bruins where they can stick it.
Prediction: Someone's going to be drop kicked off the island tomorrow.
My inspiration for tomorrow's game. I listen to GREAT music, guys.
Written by Camilla Alsobrook, Caps BBall's Teen Corrospondent. Camilla also writes for Puck Buddy's and Captial Connection.
Nick Backstrom turned the puck over early in overtime giving the Bruins a clear breakaway and a game 6 overtime victory to send the series back to Boston. That was the 2nd Caps turnover by a forward (Semin had the first) that led to a goal only seconds later.
Only a little before the Backstrom miscue, the Bruins hit the post on what was only inches away from the game winner. The Caps skated free on that but they couldn't stop the Seguin goal.
FLIPPITY FLOP:
With one minute left in the 2nd period, Chimera skated past Merchand who proceeded to flop one of the worst flops I've ever seen. He spun more times than a pinwheel in a tornado and he laid on the ground like he was dead.
The refs didn't buy it, and Chimera didn't stop. He skated down the ice and Backy gave him a great pass to tie the game while Merchand pretended to be hurt. Merchand then appeared to pull off a scab or cut himself to make it look like the hit made him bleed. This ain't the WWE buddy.
PLAYOFFS:
The Caps once again did not really look like a strong playoff team, although to be fair the Bruins don't look like a playoff team either. A lot of mistakes by both teams.
The series continues to be a you score, we score pattern and neither team can gain a big advantage. It is giving me a nervous breakdown.
OVI SHOWS UP FOR A FEW MINUTES:
One of the bright spots for the Caps was the play of Alex Ovechkin in the 3rd period. He played like he was going to die if he didn't. I have not seen this all season long. He went so hard that at one point as he headed to the bench it looked like he couldn't even breathe. I wish he would give that kind of effort throughout the game instead of saving it. That effort led to the game tying goal that ended up setting up overtime with 5 minutes left in the game.
DO OR DIE:
We get 3 days to calm down from this one...Game 7 Wednesday in Boston...gonna be tough...
The Caps finally got a 2 goal lead but in less than 30 seconds it was gone. However the Brouwer-play came through with 3 minutes remaining to give the Caps a huge game 5 victory. The Caps are heading back home tomorrow at 3pm to try to eliminate the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins.
After a period and a half where it looked like there may not be much scoring for the day, the Caps came out and netted 2 goals in 4 minutes on the Bruins for their first 2 goal lead of the series.
Semin picked up a goal off of a rebound and then...you won't believe this...Joel Ward...did...something. He pushed the puck towards the net and Tim Thomas "saved" it directly to Mike Knuble for the rebound goal. The Knuble heads were going nuts because clearly nobody but Knuble would have scored on that open net.
Things were looking great for the Caps, I was about to shell out $140 for a ticket to game 6, I was smiling...Then I dropped a quarter on the floor and when i looked up it was 2-2. Somehow the Bruins scored 2 quickies in 30 seconds...that somehow being letting up on offense in favor of defense.
The Bruins Benoit Pouliot, which sounds like a fake name, slashed Nick Backstrom like he was Freddy Kruger and the Brouwer-play came on the ice and iced the Bruins.
Also at one point in the game, Holtby saved a goal with an amazing save where he did the splits, which would have killed a normal human...See ya tomorrow afternoon at Verizon (someone sell me tickets please)
The Caps are in Boston right now, ready to start this series over again. It is all new, a 3 game series. Advantage Boston, with 2 of the 3 at home. But the Caps don't care who's advantage it is, they know they can beat the Bruins at home and on the road. I've got 3 keys to the game, because I'm clearly a hockey expert:
1. Get A Two Goal Lead
If the Caps want to win this important momentum changer they are going to have to get a two goal lead. They have continued to score a goal, then let one in, and while it has kept them even, it won't cut it for the whole series. See #2 for more info why.
2. Remain Aggressive With The Lead
Once the Caps get the lead, they are going to have to stay aggressive. No putting Ovechkin on the bench, no playing Dale Hunter's "prevent defense". Attack, attack, attack. Keep the pressure on the Bruins defense.
3. Keep The Boston Crowd Quiet
In game 2 when the Caps won up in Boston the crowd was dead silent for most of the game. The Caps went into the 3rd period with a lead, but only a 1 goal lead. As time ticked down the crowd got louder and louder. Then the Bruins tied up the game and the place was ready to explode. Luckily the Caps kept their composure, but they may not be able to repeat that performance.
As you can see these may be "3 keys" but really they are all interrelated. They can't really do one without the other. To keep the crowd quiet they need to remain aggressive with the lead, to get a two goal lead they have to remain aggressive with the lead. A two goal lead quiets the crowd...Interrelation...
Caps are tied 2-2 in the first round with teh Bru's, after a few narrow escapes and couple of solid wins, the Caps look ready to go all the way this year. Or at least the second round.
While the Caps have had some major faults, like shutting down when they have a lead and taking penalties at a terrible time (not that penalties at any time are a good thing), they've really improved their "work ethic". They're playing out every shift, playing like they truly want to win and care about the Playoffs. That isn't something I could say this time last year.
I can't really say they played a good or bad game Thursday because, well, I was doing a health project (on hockey injuries, so I'm not 100% horrible). But what saw and heard of it, Holtby was boss as usual and Semin played well.Who needs stats, anyways?
My predictions for tomorrow; Knuble still in for sure, with Aucoin out, possibly. I'm still waiting for Orlov to be in and Hamrlik to be out, when pigs fly, no? Anyways, it's pretty up in the air as of now. What the Caps need to do to be successful; press the attack, keep the puck out of their zone, not take stupid penalties at terrible times, and play with a tighter defense.
Now, a song to get you in the Playoff mood and Fly you to Boston! (OMG you'd never guess when I liked this song, never ever!)
As the 3rd period began, all I could do is watch the clock. "Why aren't you moving faster!" The clock ticked down, but the Bruins chances of scoring didn't stop. Holtby was stopping everything, but the Caps have been down this road before. Every single shot, pass, check...I was freaking out. The Bruins were going to score...it was inevitable...
Then all of a sudden there were 9 seconds left in the game. Somehow I was still breathing and my heart was still doing whatever a heart does with blood to keep me alive. The faceoff was in the Caps zone and the Bruins had a chance to tie the game. I couldn't watch. I literally focused both of my eyes on the clock. The puck was dropped, the Bruins got the puck, and...
There were still 9 seconds on the clock...HOW! I was jumping up and down, my hands were on my head, I was yelling but not making words. Those 9 seconds lasted an eternity. Then I realized why it was seeming so long. THEY DIDN'T START THE CLOCK! There was a faceoff and some puck movement, but 0 time had ticked off. I screamed at the TV. My face almost exploded!
As I grabbed the shoulders of the stranger next to me I'm pretty sure my heart stopped beating. I couldn't feel my body. My whole life flashed before my eyes. The Bruins were getting the puck near the goal and the time wasn't going quick enough. Suddenly Holtby had the puck and I heard a buzzer. The period was over??? Was I imagining the sound. Did Holtby even have the puck?
I stared at the TV hoping that puck was in Holtby's glove...that was about the time my head hit the floor. Although my cranium had just smashed into the solid beer covered ground of the bar I had a huge smile on my face. I knew that the fact that I was on the ground in pain meant that the Caps had really won. It was true! I wasn't dreaming!
After a few woozy seconds I got back off the floor. Although I was still happy the Caps won I was now quite angry at my friend for knocking me over when it happened. Who does that! I did not actually get a concussion, but the second part of the post title was true. The Caps Won!
Braden Holtby Being Cool
