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Washington Capitals Blogger •
Hunh?
Ok. So apparently OV was the focus of a young and angry Penguins fan's ire.
Nothing to worry about as the police have dealt with the "threat".
It turned out to be a very upset 17 year old who perhaps went a little too far on a message board.
I did not feel like mentionening this, yet I feel a decent lesson can be learned by all of us who visit Hockeybuzz and other sports sites of this nature.
Watch what you say.
You never know who is watching what you say on the internet and, lest we forget, hockey is just a game.
Caps-Pens Game 4 Versus Preview
Why the Capitals Will Win:
There is nothing the Caps enjoy doing more than rebounding from a loss. After failing to show up as a team for Game 3, Washington still managed to take the Penguins to Overtime thanks to Simeon Varlamov. Knowing that secondary support and discipline must improve, the Capitals will be a force in Game 4.
Why the Penguins Will Lose:
The Penguins out-played the Capitals heavily in Game 3, out-shooting(42-23) and out-hitting the Caps(44-31), yet barely pulled out a victory in Overtime. Varlamov has been stellar against the Penguins, stopping all manner of Pittsburgh attacks. Although goaltending is causing the Penguins fits, they cannot expect the Capitals to be such an easy opponent in Game 4.
Inside the Capitals for Game 4
Despite their lacklustre efforts in Game 3, Washington still holds the advantage. The Caps are always better following a loss and with the opportunity to take a 3-1 stranglehold in the series in Game 4, it will be the most important game for the Capitals. They must regain their discipline as penalties have detracted from their ability to give their offensive players more ice time. The supporting cast must reappear and better defensive zone play in front of Varlamov is needed.
Inside their Heads:
Facing a sea of white at the Igloo, the Capitals were overwhelmed by an aggressive, desperate and hungry Penguins team in Game 3. They did not respond as they should have and they know it. Ovechkin continued his strong play, but the rest of the guys know they need to step up and help him out.
Inside their Positives:
The one positive from their 3-2 OT loss in Game 3 was that the Caps managed to stay in the game even though they didn't deserve to be. Despite letting the Penguins dominate the majority of the game, Washington still took the game into the extra session with a late goal by Nicklas Backstrom. The positive is that the Caps know they can be better and, under Boudreau, they have always responded following a loss.
Inside their Adjustments:
Adjusting to Bylsma pairing Crosby and Malkin together was slightly difficult in Wednesday night's loss, but Boudreau knows that the main reason he did not get his match-ups was due to his team's lack of discipline.The Capitals can no longer afford to keep giving the Penguins power play opportunities, especially penalties for stick infractions or interference. The Capitals must use their speed and puck moving abilities to draw Pittsburgh into penalty trouble and to give their defensemen and goaltender a break. In an attempt to swith things up, Boudreau may switch around his line combinations to get players out of situations in which they are taking penalties.
Inside their Trends:
Too many penalties and too many shots against. The Caps have been out-shot by in 7 games thus far and continue to take more penalties their opponents. These two negative trends must cease for Game 4 in order to give Washington a chance to play on even ground. Offensively, Washington must get stronger performances from Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin.
Inside their Words:
"He was outstanding. When you get a goaltending effort like that, you have to win because they don't come around every day." - Bruce Boudreau on Simeon Varlamov's 39 save performance in Washington's 3-2 OT loss in Game 3.
There is no question that the young netminder was hung out to dry against the Penguins in Game 3, yet he stood to task, keeping his team in the game beyond regulation. Relying on Varlamov is something the Capitals have become comfortable with, yet Boudreau knows his players cannot so comfortable that the hand the Penguins a free pass back into this series.
"I think four you can get away with and when we got the fifth one, I thought, 'Okay, we're playing with fire.' And when we got the sixth one, I said, 'Now we're in the danger zone.' And we were." - Bruce Boudreau on Washington's penalty kill in Game 3.
Discipline has been preached, yet the team has failed to obide by their words. Too many penalties unneccessarily taken by the Capitals have forced their defensemen to be over-worked. Until Washington can corral their penchant for giving the Penguins power play continuous opportunities, their defensemen will be asked to step up with huge performances.
Inside their Trainer's Room:
Tyler Sloan and Michael Nylander replaced John Erskine and Eric Fehr in Game 3, but that will not likely be the case for Game 4. Fehr and Erskine will both likely be available, yet will remain game-time decisions. If either one cannot go, expect Sloan and Nylander to be the replacements. Donald Brashear, serving a 6 game suspension, remains unavailable until Game 6. Jeff Schultz and Brent Johnson are injured and unavailable.
Inside their Bench:
The Pens victory puts them right back in the series, but the Caps cannot continue to sit back. Boudreau will do everything in his power to convince his players to avoid penalties, but it will be up to the team to use their foot speed and passing to turn the tables on Pittsburgh. Varlamov has been a beast and continues to inspire and give his team-mates confidence. The secondary scoring must contribute in Game 4 and the team, as a whole, must do a better job of pushing the Penguins forwards to the perimeter and limiting screened shots and opportunities in the slot.
I will be back in a few hours with Game Notes and the lineup for tonight's game.
steven.hindle@hockeybuzz.com
capitalshockeybuzz@live.ca
Go Caps!!!!!
Ok. So apparently OV was the focus of a young and angry Penguins fan's ire.
Nothing to worry about as the police have dealt with the "threat".
It turned out to be a very upset 17 year old who perhaps went a little too far on a message board.
I did not feel like mentionening this, yet I feel a decent lesson can be learned by all of us who visit Hockeybuzz and other sports sites of this nature.
Watch what you say.
You never know who is watching what you say on the internet and, lest we forget, hockey is just a game.
POLICE TRACE OVECHKIN DEATH THREAT TO TEENAGE BOY
PITTSBURGH - Police say they've traced an Internet death threat made against Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin to a 17-year-old boy.
Pittsburgh police say the boy lives in Chambersburg, which is east-southeast of Pittsburgh. State police have talked to the boy, but no charges were immediately filed.
The boy's name wasn't released because he's a juvenile.
The posting on a hockey message board read: "I'm killing Ovechkin. I'll go to jail. I don't care anymore."
The Capitals and Penguins play Game 4 in Pittsburgh on Friday night. The series continues in Washington with Game 5 on Saturday night.
source - http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=277907
Caps-Pens Game 4 Versus Preview
Why the Capitals Will Win:
There is nothing the Caps enjoy doing more than rebounding from a loss. After failing to show up as a team for Game 3, Washington still managed to take the Penguins to Overtime thanks to Simeon Varlamov. Knowing that secondary support and discipline must improve, the Capitals will be a force in Game 4.
Why the Penguins Will Lose:
The Penguins out-played the Capitals heavily in Game 3, out-shooting(42-23) and out-hitting the Caps(44-31), yet barely pulled out a victory in Overtime. Varlamov has been stellar against the Penguins, stopping all manner of Pittsburgh attacks. Although goaltending is causing the Penguins fits, they cannot expect the Capitals to be such an easy opponent in Game 4.
Inside the Capitals for Game 4
Despite their lacklustre efforts in Game 3, Washington still holds the advantage. The Caps are always better following a loss and with the opportunity to take a 3-1 stranglehold in the series in Game 4, it will be the most important game for the Capitals. They must regain their discipline as penalties have detracted from their ability to give their offensive players more ice time. The supporting cast must reappear and better defensive zone play in front of Varlamov is needed.
Inside their Heads:
Facing a sea of white at the Igloo, the Capitals were overwhelmed by an aggressive, desperate and hungry Penguins team in Game 3. They did not respond as they should have and they know it. Ovechkin continued his strong play, but the rest of the guys know they need to step up and help him out.
Inside their Positives:
The one positive from their 3-2 OT loss in Game 3 was that the Caps managed to stay in the game even though they didn't deserve to be. Despite letting the Penguins dominate the majority of the game, Washington still took the game into the extra session with a late goal by Nicklas Backstrom. The positive is that the Caps know they can be better and, under Boudreau, they have always responded following a loss.
Inside their Adjustments:
Adjusting to Bylsma pairing Crosby and Malkin together was slightly difficult in Wednesday night's loss, but Boudreau knows that the main reason he did not get his match-ups was due to his team's lack of discipline.The Capitals can no longer afford to keep giving the Penguins power play opportunities, especially penalties for stick infractions or interference. The Capitals must use their speed and puck moving abilities to draw Pittsburgh into penalty trouble and to give their defensemen and goaltender a break. In an attempt to swith things up, Boudreau may switch around his line combinations to get players out of situations in which they are taking penalties.
Inside their Trends:
Too many penalties and too many shots against. The Caps have been out-shot by in 7 games thus far and continue to take more penalties their opponents. These two negative trends must cease for Game 4 in order to give Washington a chance to play on even ground. Offensively, Washington must get stronger performances from Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin.
Inside their Words:
"He was outstanding. When you get a goaltending effort like that, you have to win because they don't come around every day." - Bruce Boudreau on Simeon Varlamov's 39 save performance in Washington's 3-2 OT loss in Game 3.
There is no question that the young netminder was hung out to dry against the Penguins in Game 3, yet he stood to task, keeping his team in the game beyond regulation. Relying on Varlamov is something the Capitals have become comfortable with, yet Boudreau knows his players cannot so comfortable that the hand the Penguins a free pass back into this series.
"I think four you can get away with and when we got the fifth one, I thought, 'Okay, we're playing with fire.' And when we got the sixth one, I said, 'Now we're in the danger zone.' And we were." - Bruce Boudreau on Washington's penalty kill in Game 3.
Discipline has been preached, yet the team has failed to obide by their words. Too many penalties unneccessarily taken by the Capitals have forced their defensemen to be over-worked. Until Washington can corral their penchant for giving the Penguins power play continuous opportunities, their defensemen will be asked to step up with huge performances.
Inside their Trainer's Room:
Tyler Sloan and Michael Nylander replaced John Erskine and Eric Fehr in Game 3, but that will not likely be the case for Game 4. Fehr and Erskine will both likely be available, yet will remain game-time decisions. If either one cannot go, expect Sloan and Nylander to be the replacements. Donald Brashear, serving a 6 game suspension, remains unavailable until Game 6. Jeff Schultz and Brent Johnson are injured and unavailable.
Inside their Bench:
The Pens victory puts them right back in the series, but the Caps cannot continue to sit back. Boudreau will do everything in his power to convince his players to avoid penalties, but it will be up to the team to use their foot speed and passing to turn the tables on Pittsburgh. Varlamov has been a beast and continues to inspire and give his team-mates confidence. The secondary scoring must contribute in Game 4 and the team, as a whole, must do a better job of pushing the Penguins forwards to the perimeter and limiting screened shots and opportunities in the slot.
I will be back in a few hours with Game Notes and the lineup for tonight's game.
steven.hindle@hockeybuzz.com
capitalshockeybuzz@live.ca
Go Caps!!!!!
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