Comments on: Lil Mikey Neuvirth Comes Back Big: Caps beat Habs 3-0

By: Sandra Dee

Sandra Dee — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 07:35:00 +0000

Surely I’m not the only person who hopes the “Mikey” nickname does not carry on. I mean, come on. He might look like a small child cat boy – but I don’t think “Mikey” when I see Neuvirth.

By: It’s Pucker Time | Chirps From The Ledge

It’s Pucker Time | Chirps From The Ledge — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:34:54 +0000

[...] What a great bounce back win for the Washington Capitals against the Montréal Canadiens on Wednesda… If you’re like me or some of the fans I see before, during or after games at the Verizon Center, your cautious optimism vanished when the Caps failed to show up against the New York Islanders. A 3-zip road win was just what the doctor ordered. Get well soon guys. [...]

By: Peter

Peter — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:37:00 +0000

Criticism hard to take seriously from dude with the handle “28ISGREAT”

But for real…

Knuble plays better with better linemates. He’s been a great complement to Ovechkin in the last 2 years. Laich is neither a proven finisher or a playmaker– just a solid dude on the puck with a great D upside.

All we are saaaaaaaaaayiiiiiing is give kanooobs a chaaaaaance (on the first line with Ovi and whoever the center is)

By: 28ISGREAT

28ISGREAT — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:32:00 +0000

So I know you guys have this thing for Knuble of late – and I get it – but having been watching him pretty closely these last few games, I have to say, the guy’s age seems to be showing. He’s skating slow (compared to his peers on ice – not compared to me) and he’s doesn’t seem to be in place for the plays that do end up developing. I’m just not impressed this season.

I think this is #22 on the first line push is based a little more on wishful fantasy than what he’d actually bring to a Mojo/Ovi line combo. Frankly, I think a better case can be made to give Laich a shot on the #1 line – but Kanoobs – I don’t know…

By: MathMan

MathMan — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:13:00 +0000

They were 52% with the score close until Gomez got injured in the Carolina game, then below 45% until he came back, and have been in the black since. Too many injuries, and Gomez’s puck possession abilities papered many of them. The Habs could have survived not having two real top-6 matchup centers, and they might have survived the lack of a credible second D pairing, but both at the same time was more than they could handle. Combine that with ridiculously bad PP shooting (their sh% is worse than most clubs’ 5-on-5 sh%, including their own), and, well, you get what you see here.

The new coach is just silly though. Eller is not yet a tough-minutes center. He *will* get there, but it’s too early to throw him into the fire with no support. Chris Boyle calculated that he was a .520 Fenwick-close player under Martin and has been .368 under Cunneyworth and it all comes down to usage.

By: Peter

Peter — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:38:00 +0000

Fair enough. On the season their team fenwick ranks 20th while the score is close. That said, they’re terrifically offensive when coming back from being down a goal.

By: MathMan

MathMan — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:08:00 +0000

Montreal isn’t “garbage at possession” now that Gomez is back in the lineup, though it certainly would help if Cunneyworth knew who the heck his tough-minutes players are (hint: not Eller) and had a clue about personnel usage.

Discounting empty-nets, their goal differential is -1. They might be in the doldrums of the lineup but they’re almost certainly better than most of the teams around them, even though the new coach seems determined to squander their ability.

By: NHL Game Review: Capitals @ Canadiens | FanFeedr News

NHL Game Review: Capitals @ Canadiens | FanFeedr News — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 07:05:46 +0000

[...] Russian Machine Never Breaks | Lil Mikey Neuvirth Comes Back Big: Caps Beat Habs 3-0 [...]

By: brian!

brian! — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 06:27:00 +0000

Glad someone else caught that!

By: Rachel Cohen

Rachel Cohen — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 06:01:00 +0000

Nice pecs, Neuvy. ;D