Everything Else

Bottled In Cork – Hawks at Capitals Preview, Confirmation Hearing

By 1448

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Game Time: 6:00PM CST
TV/Radio: CSN, NHLN (US), WGN-AM 720
Bernie Would Have Won: Japer’s Rink, RMNB

In years past, even for a mid January game, had both the Hawks and Capitals been carrying the two longest current winning streaks in the league (Caps at 7, Hawks at 4) there would be such a clamor over yet another POTENTIAL STANLEY CUP FINAL MATCHUP that it’d be deafening. But with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild on an inexorable collision course for June, it seems that tonight’s game in DC is simply old news to most.

Everything Else

How Good We’ve Got It

By 2071

Most hockey fans roll their eyes whenever they see the Penguins vs. Capitals on their screen. Actually, they do that when the Blackhawks are on the national broadcast as well. Both are understandable, but we’ll focus on the former for now. Pens vs. Caps was shoved down our throats before we even knew what hit us, thanks to the NHL’s desperation to turn Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin into Bird vs. Magic before either had even made the playoffs. The NHL couldn’t, or wouldn’t, wait for it to happen organically, and for the most part I think hockey fans rejected it. Wrestling fans will tell you about a similar scenario with Roman Reigns, but that’s another discussion for another time with much weirder people.

And I think I, and a lot of other fans, have viewed the games between the teams the same way. But I have brought myself out of it, in time to really enjoy last year’s series between the two, and I hope more fans are as well. Because we have two very special players, ones that don’t seem to be appreciated enough, and both are doing things we might not see again and haven’t seen for a very long time.

Everything Else

Caps Adonna: Capitals Q&A With Becca H

By 1359

Becca H is all things at Japersrink.com. You can follow her on Twitter @BeccaH_JR.

Overall a really solid start for the Caps. The underlying numbers are encouraging as well. Anything to complain about or right according to plan?

Amazingly, shockingly, the biggest issue for the Caps is their power play. You know, that same power play that has been operating at close to 25% for the last three seasons, the one that boasts guys like Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov? That’s the one. At the moment they’re operating at a 13.2% clip (just five goals on 38 tries), which is simply not good enough. And it’s not just the start of this season where it’s been an issue – the power play dried up late last season (with an isolated explosion of productivity in their first-round series against Philly). That’s somewhat troubling, and leads us to question whether the rest of the league has finally figured them out.

That said, 12 games in they’re still generating shots and chances with the extra man, and it is only 12 games in – that 13.2% isn’t the worst mark in the League tells you how early it is. There’s time for it to fix itself, and as long as they’re doing well at five on five – and killing penalties at the rate they are – they’ll probably be fine. Probably.

Hopefully.

Everything Else

The Program, A Couple Other Announcements, And World Cup Weekend

By 1410

So as training camp approaches, it’s time for us to announce a couple changes going on here at our humble home.

First and foremost, the gameday program I have done for the past eight seasons is not coming back this season. I have a couple other projects I’m working on that really wouldn’t allow for the time to do it, and more importantly I just don’t feel it anymore. Those of you who read it every game are owed a level of dedication and focus that I just don’t think I’m capable of right now.

However, I won’t leave you totally bereft. If you feel the need to “complete the set,” I’m making every back issue available here.  It’s $10 bucks for each season, and all three commemorative issues are included with the three seasons they won the Cup. If you feel you need it, it’s there.

Everything Else

I’m Miss World Cup, Watch Me Break And Watch Me Burn: Flew Into Miami Beach BOAC…

By 1580

Every time we have a big international tournament, a lot of us get sucked into the belief that Russia’s premier talent will finally shine through. Maybe it’s still the echoes and ghosts from the Red Army teams. We grew up with Russia being an international monster. It’s still somewhat ingrained.

But now they simply biff it every time. They looked a real force in the opening round in Vancouver ’10. They then gave up 19 goals to Rick Nash in the first period. They had the next Olympics at home. They were basically awful for the whole tournament and were easily swatted aside by Finland. It just never adds up to what you think it should.

If you look at two facets of this team, you’d think they have every chance of winning this thing. The forwards are loaded with scoring and speed. They have two goalies who have won Vezinas and can go supernova for two weeks at any point.

The problem is the in between is a giant sucking sound. Like, the hole that Gwar throws shit into onstage.

Everything Else

New Toy Day: Capitals at Hawks Preview/Charity Scramble

By 1274

Capital vs. Hawk Wrestler

PUCK DROP: 11:30am Central

TV/RADIO: NBC, WGN Radio

CALLING TED KENNEDY GAY: Japers Rink

Capitals Stats

Capitals War On Ice

As if there wasn’t going to be enough buzz in the building, at least as much as there can be on a Sunday Morning Coming Down, with the NHL-leading Capitals invading the United Center, the Hawks will be showing off some of their new toys as well. Not all of them, as Dale Weise is awaiting visa clearance and Christian Ehrhoff is going to need to prove to Q that he should be in the lineup (and it’s anyone’s guess how long that could take). Still, Andrew Ladd’s appearance alone would have the place jumping, and he’ll be joined by Tomas Fleischmann.

Everything Else

Fireside Chat

By Fifth Feather 1443 0

A few things to cover this week, some from Tuesday night’s affair and some that have nothing to do with Tuesday night.

–It only took about 15 seconds for the Capitals to put Joakim Nordstrom to the test. In their first four power plays, the Capitals were running their power play on whatever side Nordstrom was playing on. Nordstrom, understandably so, was caught in between a lot of times, having a difficult time deciding whether to take away time and space or give his man room.  Skill guys like Mike Green and Alex Ovechkin chewed that up.

Everything Else

Upward Grind – Capitals vs Hawks Preview, Pregame Thread, Freshman Orientation

By Matt McClure 1263 0

new-york-daily-news-house-of-turds-cover-boehner vs oldschool

Game Time: 7:00PM Central
TV/Radio: NBCSN, WGN-AM 720
What A Bunch Of Clowns: Japer’s Rink, Russian Machine, Puck Buddys

It’s unclear whether or not it’s ironic or appropriate or appropriately ironic that two teams from Washington and Chicago actually begin working on a day that began with a full government shutdown, the literature majors in the audience can determine that. What is clear, however, is that the Blackhawks will tonight raise a banner for the second time in the salary cap era, something no other team has done. And unlike the last time this happened, they’re in an actionable position to do so again.

Everything Else

Morning Links 10/22

By Joe DeTolve 1257 0

~The night is darkest before the dawn~

The League thinks the framework is on the table:(SN)

Should we reflect on the game? (GnM)

Fehr explains the players side:(SUN)

Blackhawk Up’s # 1 (BU)

No optimism from SCH (SCH)

Five Mikita dates to remember:(BH)

Rogers is currently intransit to cover this story: (PD)

A look at the Wolves trip to Vancouver (VP)