GDT #66 Caps at Sabres @ 7pm

[alta]

 


that’s two SO wins by Ovechkin

[Mickstix]

Ovi's patented back hander! 


Feels like we stole those 2.. Sorry, not sorry!! 


See ya'll tomorrow night!

[richkrt99]

I’ll take it.  Ovi backhand pretty good there but the Kuzy goal was little more embarrassing I think
Two points it is
Go Caps

[BlackIce]

I was traveling and otherwise occupied yesterday, but looking at the game highlights, a number of things struck me.


(1)  I'm not so sure Samsonov could have done anything about any of the Columbus goals.  It's easy to say "he should have stopped that" but there sure appeared to be a lot of traffic in front of him.  Hockey is such a random game, and guys are trying to screen the goalie all the time, that it is almost impossible to tell the occasions when a screen from one or a jumble of players happens to remove the goalie's vision at just the right instant as a shot is released, so the goalie is late in reacting, or sometimes  doesn't react at  all.


(2) Regarding Carlson leaving the zone, the Buffalo announcers stated  that he had to do so (rules, I infer).  Does anyone know what the actual rule is here? 


(3)  The Caps, flawed and beaten up as they are, are virtually assured of the playoffs at this point.  The gap between them and other chasing teams is approaching one  standings point per remaining game. For that matter, the Caps are closer in the standings to the #1 spot in the  Conference than they are to the #9 spot.   The Eastern Conference is really a tale  of two halves this season.  The only thing that would keep the Caps out of the playoffs is a total collapse in the final 20% of the regular season.


(4)  A Mantha/Backstrom/Wilson line may have real problems retrieving the puck when they don't have it, but they must look very imposing when they do have it in the offensive zone.

[alta]

It’s amazing, and not in a good way, that I couldn’t get this from nhl.com ….


Helmets (9.6)
A player on the ice whose helmet comes off during play shall be assessed a minor penalty if he does not exit the playing surface, or retrieve and replace his helmet properly on his head (with or without his chin strap fastened), within a reasonable period of time. It is reasonable if a player who is making a play on the puck or who is in the vicinity of the puck and engaged in the play at the time his helmet comes off, takes the opportunity to complete the play before either exiting the ice or retrieving and replacing his helmet.

If the player returns to his players’ bench to be substituted for, he may only return to the ice during play with a helmet (with the chin strap properly fastened). No player may exit the penalty bench during play without a helmet (with the chin strap properly fastened). Should he do so, the play shall be stopped once his team has gained control of the puck and a minor penalty shall be assessed to the offending player.
….


This option has been mentioned by some announcers since rule inception, albeit rarely

[Mickstix]

Rookies and/or under paid guys probably don't know those rules Alta..    Same with the refs, who don't know it's illegal to pull a guys helmet off during play..

[alta]

yea, I thought that play looked like Carlson got his lid pulled off. I was looking for a replay but most start after it’s already off because they highlight the goal

[Mickstix]

I saw one last night. Definitely pulled his lid off, right in front of the ref.. 

[richkrt99]

I agree the other player pulled off Carlson's lid, but that doesn't change the rule.  I think based on the vicinity of the play and the bench, Carlson would have been quicker to retrieve his helmet than to go to the bench, but maybe he didn't know that was an option.  I did not.  I thought the player had to "immediately" leave the ice if losing a helmet.  Interesting the way the rule is written because it leaves A LOT of room for interpretation, which is exactly what this game/league does not need. We already have enough confusion about what goalie interference is, what a hit to the head is (unless you are Willy), etc, etc.


The Sabre player should have been called for holding or delay of game or roughing or whatever, because he did reach up and pull off the helmet, which led directly to an odd man advantage.  Not sure what the ref can blow a whistle for, but that incident created an unfair advantage and was caused by a player on the team that got the advantage.