Why is Barry Trotz Messing With the Capitals Lines?

I have a message for Barry Trotz: Since when does Jay Beagle belong on the top line - and Troy Brouwer on the bottom? Because of Barry Trotz's messing with the Caps lines, the Caps ended up losing to the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0 because he put four forwards and one defenseman on the ice (Uh, what?), and Troy Brouwer and Jay Beagle switched roles.

My ideal lines are this:

Ovechkin - Backstrom - Glencross

Johansson - Kuznetsov - Brouwer

Chimera - Fehr - Ward

Latta - Beagle - Wilson

Honestly, I do not mind Burakovsky in Hershey as long as Glencross is here, but I do think the Capitals should trade Laich, because his possession numbers are hurting more than helping.

Also, don't forget to tune in to the #CapsNYR game tonight at 8 p.m. Lets go Caps!

Capitals-Flyers Recap: ???

The Flyers-Capitals game started out as what looked like it would be a close game that would be won (or lost) by one goal or in overtime or shootout. With no scoring in the first period, the Capitals and the Flyers played a very unexciting game.

The scoring began in the second period. Mark Streit put the Flyers up by one point within the first minute of the middle period. Alex Ovechkin tied the game about halfway through the period when he took Evgeny Kuznetsov's brilliant feed and shot a wrister which ended up in the back of the Flyers' net. Both teams went into the intermission without any further scoring.

Less than four minutes into the second period, Wayne Simmonds broke the tie for the Flyers, flipping the puck past Braden Holtby and into the net. The Capitals battled to tie the score for the next fifteen minutes, failing to do so. During the Capitals' empty net, Jakub Voracek made it 3-1, which was the final score.

The Capitals just didn't seem mentally prepared for this game, possibly the worst they've played the entire season, almost breaking their record for fewest shots on net. And Tom Wilson's penalty couldn't have had more horrible timing, when the Capitals were desperate to tie the score. What makes it even worse is that if the Capitals had been able to win this game, they would've tied the Pittsburgh Penguins for first place in standings points in the Metropolitan Division. The Capitals should have won this game and given themselves the top spot in their division, but they were just not cut out to play this game.

Capitals-Oilers Recap: WHAT HAPPENED THERE?!?!

I have one question: WHAT THE HECK?!?!?!
How did the Edmonton Oilers beat the Washington Capitals?

Alex Ovechkin opened the scoring for the Capitals in the first period, scoring his 26th and 27th goals of the season, and his second goal was from the Ovi Spot. Oiler Derek Roy scored soon after to make it 2-1 Capitals by beating Matt Niskanen to the net and firing his shot past Holtby. Jay Beagle returned that with a goal right before the intermission, ending the first period 3-1 Capitals. 

No scoring in the second, except Nikita Nikitin made it 3-2 late in the period.

In the third period, Nicklas Backstrom took a wonderful pass from John Carlson to make the Oilers' one-goal deficit a two-goal deficit, but Edmonton would not give up. Teddy Purcell made it 4-3 in the final five minutes, then Ryan Nugent-Hopkins tied it in the final 100 second.

A long, uneventful overtime period occurred, with no scoring, then came the shootout:

• Kuznetsov scored.
• Yakupov did NOT score.
• Backstrom did NOT score.
• Eberle did NOT score.
• Ovechkin did NOT score.
• Roy scored.
• Fehr did NOT score.
• Purcell scored.

Ugh! So Capitals lost 5-4 to Edmonton in shootout. No comment.

Capitals-Oilers Preview

The Capitals had two losses last weekend that put an end to their "we-are-a-team-who-plays-so-well-we-only-get-wins-or-OT-losses-no-regulation-losses" stretch that has been going on since December, while the Oilers had just ended their longest road losing streak in team history.
Now the two teams meet, with Washington (24-13-8) looking to have their longest home win streak since 2011, and the Oilers (11-26-9) looking for another road victory.
The Capitals are fighting with the Rangers for the third seat in the Metropolitan Division, and the Rangers have been burnin' hot this season. The Capitals must win over Edmonton to compete with the Rangers. "It's imperative that we get Tuesday's game," coach Barry Trotz said. "We have to be hungry. We have to get that game. To me, it's almost like a must-win game."
The Oilers, on the other hand, just ended a fourteen-game road skid with an overtime goal by Nail Yakupov. "It's always great to get two points before facing a pretty good team, Washington," said Yakupov. "A couple of days of rest and we've got to be ready for the next game."
After this game, no more games until after the All-Star break.
I just checked, and right now it is 3-1 Capitals at the end of the first period.

Russians Crush Switzerland 7-0, Swiss Baltisberger has to be Carried Off Ice on Stretcher

Anatoli Golyshev was the guilty party in what appeared to be an illegal head check on the Swiss Phil Baltisberger, which had him carried off the ice on a stretcher in Switzerland's 7-0 loss to Russia.

Golyshev, a 19-year-old KHL pro, earned himself a 5-minute match penalty, which automatically comes with a one-game ban, meaning he missed the rest of the game against Switzerland and will miss the game against Sweden. Baltisberger remained motionless on the ice for several minutes before having to be carried off the ice on a stretcher with his neck immobilized. Luckily, Baltisberger was not paralyzed; in the hospital, he was able to move his arms and legs, but his neck really hurt and he did not have to power to get up. However, the Swiss were so worried about him, that their coach had trouble keeping them focused on the bench. “We're all human and we were all worried about him,” he said, “and we didn't get a diagnosis right away.”

Originally, the referees weren't going to award a penalty, and the Russians believe the major was earned because of the injury. “It was just a shoulder check,” Valeri Bragin, the Russian head coach said through an interpreter. “It's a very strange situation and it's unclear exactly what happened. He (Baltisberger) got hit in the side. Our player is shorter (5-foot-9) and the Swiss player is taller (6-foot-1).If there was no head check, it's just a hockey play. If there was, then of course he should be suspended.” The IIHF will decide on whether Golyshev will participate in any games for the rest of the tournament. I honestly hope they don't let him play, as I was watching the game, and it was a very dirty play. I also simply hope Baltisberger can return to the ice soon, and complete his dream of winning the gold medal.

The Russians ended up beating the Swiss 7-0, on amazing saves by Igor Shestyorkin and goals by Pavel Buchnevich, Rushan Rafikov, and Alexander Dergachyov in the first period.

The second period showed the Russians too many penalties, including two 5-on-3 moments for the Swiss, but the Russians scored two goals by Sergei Tolchinsky and Alexander Sharov, making it 5-0 Russia by the end of the second period.

The third period included two more goals by Russians Vladislav Kamenev and Vyacheslav Leshenko, making the final score 7-0 Russia.

IIHF WJC Preliminary Round Scores

I only have time to do a very quick post.. so here goes:

Denmark - Russia 2-3
Sweden - Czech Republic 5-2
Denmark - Sweden 1-5
Czech Republic- Switzerland 2-5
Finland- USA 1-2
Canada- Slovakia 8-0
Slovakia - Finland 2-1
Germany - Canada 0-4

Games to watch out for today: SUI - RUS 5:00 EST, USA - GER 8:00 EST

IIHF WJC Preliminary and Relegation Schedule

  

Obviously, the games you must not miss are USA VS. Finland on Friday at 3:00 PM, Russia VS. Sweden on Monday at 5:00, and USA VS. Canada on Wednesday the 31st at 4:00.

And a topic that confuses most people...the 5A VS. 5B game in the relegation match means that the top teams from Group A will play the top teams from Group B depending on the results of the preliminary rounds. In Group A, there is Team Canada, Team Finland, Team USA, Team Slovakia, and Team Germany. In Group B, there is Team Sweden, Team Russia, Team Czech, Team Denmark, and Team Switzerland. The winners of the relegation match will go on to play four quarterfinals against each other all at different times on January 2 (I will be posting the schedule when the time comes), and the winners of the quarterfinals will play two semifinals, and the losers of the semifinal will play the bronze medal game, while the winners will compete for gold, while the loser wins silver. Good luck to all teams!
Go Team Sweden! Go Team Russia!