Caps vs Islanders...

Jagr on his first shift and the 4th line created some havok!! Nice way to start the season...lets see if we can play soem defense now.

Ack 2-1....

OMG!!! What a save by Kolzig!!! I was sure the Islanders had tied it there.

3-1!!!

BONZAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII HIT THE BULLLLLLLLLLLLLLZZZZZEYE on the power play.

When it rains it pours....6-1 Caps, here comes RickyD.

3-1!!!

BONZAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII HIT THE BULLLLLLLLLLLLLLZZZZZEYE on the power play.

Your from a town called NICEVILLE? or is that just a nickname?

Cuz that is thee greatest name for a town i have ever heard. :handclap: :handclap:

I don't see Semin in the lineup... how come?

Dunno, but Willsie has been doing good in his place.

Your from a town called NICEVILLE? or is that just a nickname?

Cuz that is thee greatest name for a town i have ever heard. :handclap: :handclap:

Yes the town is called Niceville, I didnt believe it when I first moved here either.The nickname around here is actually "Da 'ville". "Nice town, nice folks, have a nice time" is the motto lol.

Anyways 6-1 Final looking good out on the ice. Pettinger wsa in Semins spot I think not willsie. Peat is hurt so I think we'll see semin instead of pettinger in Atlanta.

I don't see Semin in the lineup... how come?


According to McPhee he's going to be worked in somewhat slow and gradually increased. Hopefully becoming a regular player . I suppose he wants him to get some practices and other things under his belt. My best guess is he plays the next game.

I didn't get to see the game,but reading today's articles and posts,it sounds like the caps totally dominated.

Congrats on the impressive win.

I was very impressed with how they moved the puck in and out of the zone. That game could have easily been 8-9 to 1 I think. If anyone but Grier had those point blank shots that is. :joker: Also, DiPietro only faced 11 shots in the final 33 minutes.

DiPietro only faced 11 shots in the final 33 minutes.

Despite that, i was impressed the way the caps shot more(sumwhere around 40 shots in the game?). it was good that they got 2nd and 3rd chances on plays not just one. im also glad that they scored the first goal, that was a problem with the caps last year. I hope to God it wasnt a fluke and that they play this well all year

Despite that, i was impressed the way the caps shot more(sumwhere around 40 shots in the game?). it was good that they got 2nd and 3rd chances on plays not just one. im also glad that they scored the first goal, that was a problem with the caps last year. I hope to God it wasnt a fluke and that they play this well all year

being adjustable will be important. but, i will say that i am starting to notice a change in the dynamic on the team. Cassidy has made some comments to the media about Peter Bondra and his contribution to the team and his plans for Bondra this season that signal to me that there may be a change in the hierarchy of the team. or at least a change in how Cassidy is using ice time to motivate his best players.

Bondra re-asserts the fact that this is HIS team. It seemed like they were trying to undermine his role last season--I'm glad Cassidy isn't making that mistake again.

Bondra re-asserts the fact that this is HIS team. It seemed like they were trying to undermine his role last season--I'm glad Cassidy isn't making that mistake again.

I think you can look at a few things and see a pattern.

1. Jagr wants certain linemates. Miller in particular and is vocal about it.
He wants to play a certain way and is vocal about it.
2. Bondra is asked to move from line to line. PP unit to power play unit. He is asked to take a lesser role. He is asked to move from a scoring line this year to the checking line. He doesn't complain.
3. In the playoffs last year when Cassidy needed Jagr to step up and make a play when the team was struggling, it didn't happen.
4. In the playoffs last year when Cassidy needed Bondra to step up and
make a play when the team was struggling, Bondra made a play.
5. Cassidy singles out Bondra for being willing to play on that checking line with Halpern and Konowalchuk and being a team first player.
6. Cassidy says after the first game that on the power play Bondra needs to get his shots and "last year we got away from that".

I don't think that Cassidy is saying that this is Bondra's team. I do think that last year Cassidy had the other skill players taking a backseat to Jagr. That it was Jagr's team. He is saying that last he prioritized Jagr on the power play and had Bondra set back. It didn't work out. Last year Jagr played nearly the entire 2:00 of a power play like Gonchar does and the second unit got :15/:20 of time at most.
This year it looks like Cassidy is saying that that the power play time will be split between a unit who's priority is to set up Jagr and a unit who's priority is to set up Bondra. I think what he is doing is saying two things.
1. He is saying to Bondra that he realizes that Bondra stepped up in the clutch and that he has lead the NHL in goals and in power play goals and that he won't be asked to take a secondary role anymore. AND, if he can prove that he is still an elite goalscorer that he will be treated like one.
2. He is saying to Jagr that he will have to earn his status as the #1 option and the go to guy on the team. He will have to put up the numbers.

This may create in house competition and that may a good or bad thing.
My guess is that its a good thing. But the way things are breaking down, those two players are completely seperated. Their points don't cross over at all.