Mediocrity By Committee

Who Is The Goalie?

Dale Hunter has been flipping goalies all season long.  At one point Vokoun was the man.  Then he was benched a few times and Neuvy took over.  The Vokoun again.  Then he got hurt.  Then Holtby became the man.  Remember I don't know much about hockey, but I don't see this being a good thing.

Vokoun has had a nagging injury.  Will he be well enough to be in the lineup if the team makes the playoffs?  Neuvirth gave up 4 goals against the Jets, a home "playoff" type game.  Then the next "playoff" game Holtby comes in and gives up 3 and gets benched.  Both these games were at home, and huge, and the goalies couldn't come through.

So who does Dale Hunter go with if they make the playoffs?  The sometimes shaky veteran who may be flat or injured.  The middle guy who has been giving up 4 goals in game after game?  The young guy who plays well a few and then plays terrible in a few?

My vote:  Varlamov

Caps Bringing Back Holtby

This according to Tarik El-Bashir of the Washington Post

Vokoun played on Friday in the loss to the Jets and gave up 3 goals.  It seems like Dale Hunter wants to go with Vokoun as his main goaltender but Vokoun may be too injured to make that happen.  Going into the playoffs (if they make it) is not good with a hurt goalie.

If A Vokoun Falls On The Ice, Does He Make A Noise

Here is Vokoun after giving up a goal in the final seconds of the period.  Timber!

Story Of The Day: 4 Voko Sitting Out Again

Neuvirth To Start 5th Straight Against The Sabres

The big story out of Caps land today is that Michal Neuvirth will get the start tonight against the Buffalo Sabres.  While Neuvy has been playing well, I am told that coaches don't like goalies sitting on the bench getting stale for extended periods of time, especially one who is supposed to be the "starter".  So why no Voko?

Voko's last game was back on December 13th almost 2 weeks ago (that I actually went to), a 5-1 loss (he gave up 4 of them) to the Flyers.  Since then Vokoun has kept the bench warm while Neuvirth has played a few good games and a few so-so games but no disasters yet.

Hunter appears to be content with Neuvirth who has gone 2-2 with 7 GA (less than 2 per) and stopped 94%  in the last 4 games since becoming the main guy.  While .500 is no great feat, it is at least something for a team struggling to win.
 An excerpt from Caps Insider, a Vokoun quote:

Tomas doesn't seem very happy, and doesn't seem to really agree with what is going on...

Is this a sign that Braden Holtby talks might be in the mix for Dale Hunter & the Caps?  Or will The Vokeswagon once again pass inspection and be out on the road soon enough?  We shall see...

New V vs Old V

After 2 games, the average time it takes for DC Sports fans to cut bait with any player who isn't an all star, fans are already grumbling. We have a goalie controversy!!! We don't have a goalie controversy!!!

I don't think Neuvie's ball pop pusher goal stick can compete with the double walker goalie stick...

In the first game, after getting the surprise start, Nouvie (New V) played reasonably well saving 90% of the shots, and giving up 1 bad goal. In the second start Vokoun (Old V) let in 5 goals, a few terrible ones, with an 82% save rate and didn't really look too comfortable the whole game even on his saves. Is it only a case of Voktober?

(Varlomov had a 30 save shutout in his first game with the Avs aka 100% save rate)

So after a few goals last night, before the game was over, some Caps fans were starting to panic. Every incomplete pass from Grossman I yell "Put In Beck!" then after every Rex touchdown I yell "Beck would have thrown a pick". This looks to be what I will do with these goalies.

According to most people, Vokoun is going to get the majority of the starts this year, but I'm not buying in to that just yet. I've watched two hockey games, so I know, you stick with the hot goaltender. The first game Nouvie wasn't really on fire, but he did play better than Tommy V. I think you gotta go with Nouvie against the Penguins.

Beck vs Grossman was fun, so lets see if New V vs Old V turns out to be something, hopefully it helps both guys and helps the team since both will spend time in goal. And if the Skins can win with 3 Running backs, surely the Caps can win with 2 goaltenders (of course they can, and don't call me Shirley)

The Vokoun Getting The Start Tonight

After the surprise start for Neuvirth, who has yet to get a CBBall nickname, Tommy V will get the start. I have decided I am gonna call him The Vokoun for the foreseeable future, as well as Tommy V.

The Vokoun is a pest. He bothers everyone on the other team. You can try to shoe him away from the net, but he isn't going anywhere. He sorts through all the garbage that the other teams throw at him. Just like a raccoon he is a thief, stealing away all the Goals from unsuspecting forwards & defensemen.

I think we need to get him a sweet goalie mask with a raccoon on it. Maybe one that isn't the worst photoshop job of all time.