OT NHL 1/21/10

Submitted by Big Boutros on
C A P S CAPS CAPS CAPS SUCK MY BALLS CROSBY Sorry Wings-Wild are about to go into OT. I guess this is as good a place as any to talk about A) the explosive sexual burrito that is Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals and B) the Wings' future. Also, I'm super excited to see Datsyuk and Ovie on the same team in a few weeks. Russia is shit defensively but hoo boy can they light it up.

weasel3216

January 21st, 2010 at 11:10 PM ^

Wings finally get a OT win and move into 8th in the West with LA currently up 1-0 against Buffalo in the 1st. I agree that Ovi and Pav could be one of the most amazing combos in the Olympics if they get some chemistry going. I will admit i hate Ovi, i think that he sits at the blue line all game waiting for the fast break. I will admit he is an amazing offensive player, but damn his defense is nowhere the talent level of Pav.

speakeasy

January 22nd, 2010 at 8:07 AM ^

Perhaps not, but during the Caps/Pens game last night OV had some pretty stellar defensive plays. I am thinking of one in particular in which he was going full speed towards his own net in the Caps zone, slammed on the brakes, and dove back sprawled on the ice to clear the puck. He may not win the best defensive forward award, but he is way less of a defensive liability than he used to be. He wants to win the Cup too badly to screw around during games.

kriegers

January 21st, 2010 at 11:26 PM ^

Wow, I'd didn't realize there were so many Wings and Caps fans out there - let alone on this board. I was at the game earlier this week - what a crusher (I'm a Wings fan when I have to choose). In addition to my M football tickets, I also have Caps tickets. We can't make it to all of the games, so if anyone is interested in buying at face value, let me know and I can add you to my email list of potentially interested buyers (we're about 15 rows from the ice). Just reply to this Craig's List posting: http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/tix/1558670145.html

Six Zero

January 22nd, 2010 at 8:02 AM ^

A few years ago, there were some pockets of die-hard Caps fans, but overall there was no strong fan base. They used to joke up here that there were more Caps fans in Hershey, PA than in DC (if you're really a Caps fan, you know why). But he's done a hell of a job in the past three or so years, bringing on big, ticket-selling talent AND marketing the team the right way. The new uniforms were icing on the cake... I still think Ovechkin's kind of a dick, and I guess the Redskins' run of horror hasn't hurt either, but either way I'm definitely impressed.

kriegers

January 22nd, 2010 at 9:30 AM ^

But, the guy who should really get the credit for putting the Caps together is GM George McPhee. Ovie was a no-brainer, but signing Semin and Green weren't as obvious when they were first drafted, and Backstrom has made tremendous improvements over the last 18 months (and he was good before). Next year, Varlamov could be the starting goalie. McPhee is doing a crazy-good job of initially scouting talent and then signing the players. The Caps could be really good for a long time with all this young talent (nevermind guys like Schultz, Sloan, Karlson, etc.). Edit: Oh, and calling Ovie a dick is crazy. He is by far the best player in the world and has more passion for the game than Crosby and Malkin combined (plus, he doesn't whine and cry all the time).

Big Boutros

January 22nd, 2010 at 10:11 AM ^

They both deserve equal heaping scoops of credit and praise. McPhee put the roster together and made the franchise something worth watching, caring about, and paying to see; Λεωνσης resurrected the very concept of hockey in DC. The Rock the Red campaign, the better uniforms, the humor in the Jumbotron stuff--an underrated aspect of the Caps' turnaround--and most importantly, the cash and the trust to let McPhee do what he needed to do. And yes, calling Ovie a dick is totally weird. I think opposing fanbases get highly irked by his exuberance for Caps goals, which are awesomely more frequent than ever. His cheerfulness is often at their expense. To us, he's a joyous ball of dynamite and broken English; to others, he's a jackal who feeds off opponents' misery. Even so...dick, I just don't see it. Michael Jordan was a dick. Barry Bonds was a dick. This man is not a dick.

kriegers

January 22nd, 2010 at 10:27 AM ^

I can live with that. Though, I suppose it's a little chicken and egg debate. Sure, the marketing helps, but would the marketing be as successful if the team didn't have quality players winning games? I tend to think winning makes marketing easiers and more appealing to the fanbase (could the world's best marketing campaign help the wizzards?), but 50/50 is still fair as the best CEO has to hire good people to be successful.

Big Boutros

January 22nd, 2010 at 10:53 AM ^

I tend to think winning makes marketing easier For sure. I'm just thinking of Caps hockey in my lifetime. Ted has always been an outstanding owner to the extent that he can, answering emails, starting promotions, helping the community, while George's total awesomeness over the past three seasons has been reparations for his own mistakes. He signed Jagr, he signed Robert Lang, he signed Nylander. And, to his credit, he torched his whole creation. I think most front office guys in any sport are stubborn when it comes to reshaping their vision, but goddamn did George right the ship.

Wolverine318

January 22nd, 2010 at 8:22 AM ^

Huge shootout goal for Miller tonight. With the wings' players coming back from injury, they should be in shape by March to solidify their playoff spot and make a nice run in the playoffs.

HAIL 2 VICTORS

January 22nd, 2010 at 10:58 AM ^

Here come the hawks, the mighty Blackhawks! Take the attack and we’ll back you Blackhawks! We’re flyin’ high and now let’s wrap it up! Let’s go you Hawks, move out!!