Washington Capitals Fan Forum
Talk about Capitals hockey & more! => Washington Capitals & Other Hockey Discussion => Topic started by: alta on Saturday February 24, 2018, 05:19:00 PM Eastern
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Feb. 24 vs. Buffalo Sabres at Capital One Arena
Time: 7:00 p.m. TV: NBC Sports Washington
Radio: FAN 106.7, Capitals Radio 24/7
Washington Capitals 34-20-7
Buffalo Sabres 18-32-11
anticipated lines:
Forwards
Alex Ovechkin-Nicklas Backstrom-Tom Wilson
Brett Connolly-Evgeny Kuznetsov-T.J. Oshie
Chandler Stephenson-Lars Eller-Andre Burakovsky
Alex Chiasson-Jay Beagle-Devante Smith-Pelly
Scratched: Jakub Vrana
Defensemen
Dmitry Orlov-Matt Niskanen
Christian Djoos-John Carlson
Brooks Orpik-Michal Kempny
Scratched: Madison Bowey, Jakub Jerabek
Goaltenders
Philipp Grubauer (starter)
Braden Holtby
By the time Philipp Grubauer got back to his apartment after the Capitals’ game in Florida on Thursday night, it was roughly 3 a.m. The team was off Friday with no practice, typically an opportunity for Grubauer to sleep in, but he set his alarm to wake him up in four hours so he would not miss Germany’s semifinal game against Canada at the PyeongChang Olympics in South Korea.
“If I couldn’t be there, at least I want to be part of the group and watch it,” Grubauer said.
Two summers ago, Grubauer was in net for the German national team during Olympic qualifying, and his 26 saves helped the Germans beat Latvia to secure their place in this year’s Winter Games. The NHL’s decision to block its players from the 2018 Olympics meant Grubauer couldn’t represent his country in the quadrennial event, but his initial disappointment has shifted to a certain pragmatism as the tournament has unfolded. Had NHLers been allowed to participate, then the field wouldn’t have been so wide-open, and Germany might have never had a chance to beat Canada and play for a gold medal on Saturday night.Grubauer will be the Capitals’ starting goaltender for Saturday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres, and he’ll get home just in time to watch his countrymen, some of whom he has stayed in touch with over the past week, attempt the mammoth upset against the Russian team. Whether the result is silver or gold, Grubauer is proud, and he’s hopeful this will help the popularity of hockey back home.“Hopefully it generates a couple new players, even younger kids who play maybe soccer or something else and want to try the sport,” Grubauer said. “Hopefully they’ll be watching, too, back home. If they win the gold medal, it gets new people into hockey.”Grubauer will be making his sixth appearance in net this month on Saturday night, and in the past 13 outings, since a Nov. 24 start against Tampa Bay, he is 6-2-2 with a .940 save percentage and a 1.62 goals against average. Coach Barry Trotz said tabbing Grubauer for this game against Buffalo isn’t an indictment against Braden Holtby, who’s lost his past five starts.“It was planned, and he’s been playing good,” Trotz said.Smith-Pelly surprised by donationsDevante Smith-Pelly’s most recent experience with Blackhawks fans was unpleasant, to say the least. A week ago, [size=inherit]four fans directed racist taunts at Smith-Pelly (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capitals-insider/wp/2018/02/18/fans-at-united-center-direct-racist-remark-toward-capitals-devante-smith-pelly/)[/size] when he was in the penalty box during the Capitals’ game in Chicago. So when he heard that some in the city had [size=inherit]raised more than $20,000 for a charity of his choosing (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capitals-insider/wp/2018/02/23/chicago-fans-donate-20000-to-fort-dupont-in-support-of-caps-devante-smith-pelly/)[/size], he was ” super surprised.”
“I’m happy that people were willing to do that, and it is some good to come out of something that was pretty bad,” Smith-Pelly said.He wanted to make sure it went to a fitting cause. He asked that the money be donated to the Fort Dupont Ice Arena, home to the Cannons, the oldest minority youth hockey program in North America and a program he’s personally worked with.[size=inherit][/size]“I’m sure those kids saw the story and I’m sure maybe those kids have gone through something like that,” he said. “For them to see that not everyone thinks that way and for them to see that people are willing to help them, I just wanted to make sure that they were the ones that got that donation.”
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Since we’ve sucked lately playing s the 1st place team in the Metro, let’s see how we play tonight starting out as 3rd in the Metro behind Philly and Pittsburgh.
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My beer Kuzy had a good start!
I’m at the game and barley awake, damn curling natch didn’t end til 4am, and
the medal ceremony didn’t end til almost 5am
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“Can’t buy a goal number 77”?
Well we’re paying him enough why can’t he???
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My beer Kuzy had a good start!
I’m at the game and barley awake, damn curling natch didn’t end til 4am, and
the medal ceremony didn’t end til almost 5am
Chang’s egg drop sounds great now
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Sooooo we have a big Chink . . . er Chinese order coming
Ya know, you’d think by the way Asians drive their delivery would be faster . . .
Heh but they may have been in a wreck :lol:
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Chang’s egg drop sounds great now
that’s funny, I was just thinking orange beef
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that’s funny, I was just thinking orange beef
Thad’s what she said. . .
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Kempny with a turnover . . . HE FITS RIGHT IN!!!
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Morning peeps. :wackysmile:
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Kempny with a turnover . . . HE FITS RIGHT IN!!!
Yup. Not sure he is an upgrade. Last game he lost his man for 2 goals against.
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I like watching Ristolainen play. Why can't we get a dman like that.
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Nice to know we can hang tough at home, despite being outplayed, with the worst team in the East and second worse in the entire NHL.
Ted must be proud!
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Morning peeps. :wackysmile:
there’s peeps? it’s not even Easter yet
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Atta boy Burt !!!!!!
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:lol:
Bear doing his thang again...
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Atta boy Burt !!!!!!
That was an excellent individual effort by Burakovsky. Its actually his downfall as a player. He is too individual and not team oriented enough. You have to like his skills though.
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:lol:
Bear doing his thang again...
Ya he is on a hot streak right now.
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Just saw Backstrom on the bench - haven’t even heard his name tonight. Can someone please put out an APB for the missing first line center of the Capitals?
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Locher just said, "In his last dozen games, Grubauer is 6 - 2 and 2........... :rofl:
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Locher just said, "In his last dozen games, Grubauer is 6 - 2 and 2........... :rofl:
Grubauer is playing well but he is playing a bottom team again. His lastvstart was against Buffalo. I wish the Caps would give Holtby a start against one of these bottom feeder teams. Might give him him a confidence boost. Then again if he lost to a bottom feeder it could kill his confidence completely.
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Just saw Backstrom on the bench - haven’t even heard his name tonight. Can someone please put out an APB for the missing first line center of the Capitals?
Ya he has been pretty much invisible.
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Grubauer is playing well but he is playing a bottom team again. His lastvstart was against Buffalo. I wish the Caps would give Holtby a start against one of these bottom feeder teams. Might give him him a confidence boost. Then again if he lost to a bottom feeder it could kill his confidence completely.
I think you missed the point...... :raspberry:
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We're pretty thin on the ground on here tonight. :-(
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I think you missed the point...... :raspberry:
just a tad
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I think you missed the point...... :raspberry:
I think the point is he is playing well. He is.
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We're pretty thin on the ground on here tonight. :-(
It’s a Saturday sleep fest, and the gdt has been a work in rogeess
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I think the point is he is playing well. He is.
let me splain, Lacher said dozen games and 6+2+2. A dozen is 12
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Hey Alta and 4Caps and anyone else at the game. There's a static camera just outside of the "TEAM STORE".
Come on down and give me a wave??? :hearts:
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A while back when I was talking to Rush on the phone he complained about Burakovsky being a me guy. Even commenting that whenever he was interviewed he only talked about himself. Never talked about the team or team mates. I didnt think much of it. Well I just watched an interview with him and damn if Rush wasn't right. It was all about himself.
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let me splain, Lacher said dozen games and 6+2+2. A dozen is 12
I'm glad sombody else got it. ;)
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let me splain, Lacher said dozen games and 6+2+2. A dozen is 12
Lol I know how to add. I'm not missing the point. He didnt get a decision in 2 of those games because he came in relief of Holtby who took the loss. I'm not as dumb as I look.
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A while back when I was talking to Rush on the phone he complained about Burakovsky being a me guy. Even commenting that whenever he was interviewed he only talked about himself. Never talked about the team or team mates. I didnt think much of it. Well I just watched an interview with him and damn if Rush wasn't right. It was all about himself.
Rush notices quite a few things. I miss him. :'(
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I can't believe I had to explain that.
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Rush notices quite a few things. I miss him. :'(
Me too. I'll have to call him. Anyone know why he hasnt been around.
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I can't believe I had to explain that.
You really didn't. (straight face.)
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Have there been any penalties so far? I missed the 1st period.
Seems to be a very clean game.
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You really didn't. (straight face.)
Well Alta didnt have it figured out. I have to give him a hard time about it since he gave me a tough time about my grade 2 math skills.
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Hey Alta and 4Caps and anyone else at the game. There's a static camera just outside of the "TEAM STORE".
Come on down and give me a wave??? :hearts:
I’m sorry, I don’t do photographic evidence ;D
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Have there been any penalties so far? I missed the 1st period.
Seems to be a very clean game.
One penalty. Against us.
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THERE'S MY BOY! :whatahunk:
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Don’t worry. by Tuesday we’ll have Mike Green to give us the one puckmoving DMan we need for three straight cups >:(
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594!
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THERE'S MY BOY! :whatahunk:
Ovis shot is lethal. Everyone knows its coming but they can't stop it.
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594!
Since I suck at math, how many more til he hits 600
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Don’t worry. by Tuesday we’ll have Mike Green to give us the one puckmoving DMan we need for three straight cups >:(
Please God NO! :(
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Since I suck at math, how many more til he hits 600
Stop it.
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Don’t worry. by Tuesday we’ll have Mike Green to give us the one puckmoving DMan we need for three straight cups >:(
:O=
:O= :O=
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BTW thats 595
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Stop it.
Hey I'm just having fun with him.
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Hey I'm just having fun with him.
I'm glad one of you thinks so. :P
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I'm glad one of you thinks so. :P
Oh I see. Its OK for him to have fun at my expense.
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Aaaannnd there it is. Another Cap trying to give the game away.... >:(
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Aaaannnd there it is. Another Cap trying to give the game away.... >:(
Good thing we have a 2 goal lead
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Oh I see. Its OK for him to have fun at my expense.
You need to laugh more. :wackysmile:
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Whoo hoo!
We're in danger of winning this one........... ???
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goal!!!
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goal!!!!
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YAY! :whatahunk:
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You need to laugh more. :wackysmile:
I laugh lots. More tonight since the Caps had a good game. The fact that I've had few beverages tonight might have something to do with that too.
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I laugh lots. More tonight since the Caps had a good game. The fact that I've had few beverages tonight might have something to do with that too.
Good for you.
Love your country's sliding kit by the way. Very stylish. 8)
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Like I said earlier, I didn't see the first period, but .... untill I mentioned the lack of penalties, ::) , it seemed to be a very clean game.
Uncharacteristically, we didn't actually play down to the Sabres.
I thought there were a couple of times in the 2nd period where we looked like we were on a PK for a stretch, but apart from that, I think the boys done good. ;D
Actually got a clean, clear link tonight and had the pleasure of Joe B and Locher, so a very good night for me. ;D
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Good for you.
Love your country's sliding kit by the way. Very stylish. 8)
Thanks.
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Thanks.
YW. ;)
I agree with Alan May. Grubs had a very good game tonight.
I didn't want to say anything earlier in case I loaded the "JINX" :lol:
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Thanks.
I wonder if it was designed by the same person who designed our UK's 2012 gear. It seems slightly reminiscent...
Gonna miss Norway's (?) trousers in the curling. :clown:
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I wonder if it was designed by the same person who designed our UK's 2012 gear. It seems slightly reminiscent...
Gonna miss Norway's (?) trousers in the curling. :clown:
Not sure who designed it.
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Like I said earlier, I didn't see the first period, but .... untill I mentioned the lack of penalties, ::) , it seemed to be a very clean game.
Uncharacteristically, we didn't actually play down to the Sabres.
I thought there were a couple of times in the 2nd period where we looked like we were on a PK for a stretch, but apart from that, I think the boys done good. ;D
Actually got a clean, clear link tonight and had the pleasure of Joe B and Locher, so a very good night for me. ;D
Glad you had no technical difficulties. You better not have issues come playoffs. That would totally suck.
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Not sure who designed it.
I didn't really think you would. Ha ha!
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Glad you had no technical difficulties. You better not have issues come playoffs. That would totally suck.
Thanks. :angel:
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Post game, Trotz thinks the game went fine
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I've even got post game with Alan May :hearts: right now.
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Post game, Trotz thinks the game went fine
Thats it. Just fine. Well I guess it was Buffalo so we shouldn't get too excited
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Evander Kane was a scratch tonight, must be on the block
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Evander Kane was a scratch tonight, must be on the block
Yup and I hope we dont deal for him.
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Well Alta didnt have it figured out. I have to give him a hard time about it since he gave me a tough time about my grade 2 math skills.
So when are we going to the Brandt for The Brier?
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Listening to the post game on the way home, everyone seems to think it was a great game, played 60, yada yada :O= . This against a team than has won half the games the Caps have AND the game was still very much a contest with 3 minutes to go
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Listening to the post game on the way home, everyone seems to think it was a great game, played 60, yada yada :O= . This against a team than has won half the games the Caps have AND the game was still very much a contest with 3 minutes to go
They played well but it was Buffalo.
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So when are we going to the Brandt for The Brier?
:wackysmile: lol. You dont really follow Canadian men's curling?
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Hard to generate any excitement about this at all. In the early third period, it was 2-1 game, at home, against the second worst team in the NHL, who was playing without their two best players - Eichel and Kane.
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So when are we going to the Brandt for The Brier?
Speaking of the Brandt centre, I've been in that arena a few hundred times. I remember when it first opened back in 77. It was called the Agridome at that time. I went to first concert at the stadium. It was Kiss on the Love Gun tour and Cheap Trick was the opening act. Great show and I still remember it. We dont get many good shows anymore. I think the last show we went to there was Volbeat.
Of course I've seen hundreds of hockey games there. I used to have season tickets for the Regina Pats. Watched the world juniors in that stadium and the memorial cup a couple of times. Trotz was on one if those teams that were in the memorial cup tournament.