Not the face! (Photo credit: Drew Angerer)

Much has been written about the Caps’ new commitment to shot blocking. Simply put: they’re blocking more shots than the Rangers, a team who talks about shots more than the cast of “Jersey Shore”. Through two games, the Caps have blocked 39 shots to the Rangers’ 30, and some of those those blocks have saved goals– or even games.

When you’re not wearing goalie pads, blocking shots takes some nerve. Ever wonder what it looks like afterward?

You’re in luck — former Cap Sami Lepisto took to social media yesterday to show us the results of a slapshot he blocked in the Blackhawks’ series against the Coyotes. Safe for work, unless your work objects to you looking at exposed knees and gnarly bruises.

Players sacrificing their bodies in the postseason is not a new phenomenon. Gruesome stories have already started trickling out of eliminated teams, like Patrice Bergeron’s strained oblique, and Ryan Kesler’s shoulder injury. A lot of your favorite players grit through the pain in the playoffs.

The Caps themselves were lucky to advance through a wild first round mostly unharmed, though there must be injuries we’re not hearing about. Brooks Laich’s leg could fall off on the ice, and he’d probably take ten shifts a night. In the past, we’ve seen Mike Knuble play with pins in his hand, and Eric Belanger pull out his own teeth on the bench, so we should consider ourselves and our team conspicuously lucky.

The Caps’ defensive system has found success in the playoffs so far, but with the team’s new commitment to shot-blocking and taking the body, we can be sure that at the very least, there are a few bruises like this in the locker room right now.

“It’s good to see,” Mike Knuble told DC101′s Elliot in the Morning last week. “You go into our training room after games, and there are five, six guys with ice bags on, and that’s always a good sign that a team is paying the price. It’s good to see guys paying the price and having the bruises as a result.”

Photo credit: Christopher Pasatieri

There is more than one team that needs a second-line center at the deadline. With a thin pool to draw from it may be easier for the Capitals to secure the services of a unicorn than a pivot to provide auxiliary scoring. With $7,357,085 in cap space available for Washington, RMNB takes a look at who may be attractive candidates.

If we restrict our search for true second-line centers, we need some parameters. I like to use Puck Prospectus’ definition, which is: they score at least 1.7 even-strength points per 60 minutes. I will also limit it to players who are on teams projected to miss the playoffs, have played at least 30 games this season and have seen significant minutes at even strength.

Here is what we are left with:

We can throw a few names out based on “been there, done that” (Eric Belanger) and long term cost (Jason Spezza, Rostislav Olesz and Matt Stajan). I dismiss pivots who carry a long-term cost for two reasons:

1. Despite what Evgeny Kuznetsov is saying, I fully expect him to be in the discussion for the second-line center spot in a year or two.
2. I haven’t seen a desire from Caps General Manager George McPhee to take on long-term salary via a trade or free agency.

Brian Little probably has one too many years left on his deal, plus he plays for a division rival that is sure to be in playoff hunt next year. So he’s out too.

That leaves Marty Reasoner and R.J. Umberger.

Umberger is the “sexy” choice, but has played with better teammates (Corsi, Rel, QoT). He has also benefited from being deployed in the offensive zone (Ozone%) more frequently. Reasoner, on the other hand, has played with some really poor line-mates yet still maintains a healthy 1.75 points per 60 minutes of even strength (P/60) — which would be good for 4th best on the Caps’ roster. Plus, he is winning over 58% of defensive zone face-offs this year despite starting in the offensive zone only 40% of the time! Add to that his UFA status after this season and I think he could be a great addition to Caps for their playoff push.

Now that I have gotten my feelings on free agency out of my system, I’m ready to take a look at some of the bargain UFAs that may still be available. I mean, does it matter if I think Matthew Lombardi was a decent contract and second line center option while you say The Little Viking, Matty P. and/or Flash can handle the load, since we’ll both be cheering the Caps to a Cup anyway? Together. Like BFFs?

Speaking of BFFs, some of your favorite Caps filed for arbitration, and if history is any guide, all three will be in line for sizable raises over last year’s salary. Since there was virtually no FA signing during “The Frenzy”, I would say — that unless something crazy happens– all three will be on the Caps roster come opening night. It doesn’t make sense to let a talented player walk away for nothing and that’s what the Caps would have to do if they decided the arbitration awards were too high.

To me, a worse case scenario would be:

• Flash, $2.5 million
• Fehr, $2 million
• Schultz, $3 million

Anything up to those amounts and I think the Caps will agree. Under this scenario, the Caps would have ~$5.3 million left for two (2) open roster slots (according to Capgeek).  With that said, here are three players I think could be available for a decent (read: “bargain”) price:

Frederick (Freddy) Meyer IV, D

There could be debate as to whether he is ready to be a Top 4 Defenseman, and while he certainly wasn’t paid like one ($587,500 cap hit in 2010), his numbers suggest he could be a true bargain– perhaps even a budding shutdown blueliner.

Frederick Meyer IV started only 45.3% of the time in the offensive zone.  He had the worst teammate ranking (CorsiQoT = -5.787) on the NYI blueline.  He also faced decent opposition (CorsiQoc = .508) playing for the Isles. Those are some tough minutes on the ice. Despite playing in his own end, with weak teammates and against the better than average competition, he still had a positive shot ratio (Corsi=0.40) and was the only blueliner on NYI where his team had a better goal differential when he was on the ice (CorsiOn = 1.36). He also blocked 2.36 shots per 60 minutes on the ice.

As a 4th or 5th DMan, I think Meyer could be an excellent bargain.

Eric Belanger, C

Some of you may be familiar with him and be surprised he is on this list, but he knows the Caps system and is not a bad option at the pivot. No word on whether or not he would demand a better dental plan.

Despite starting only 46.3% of the time in the offensive zone he still managed to put up almost two points per 60 minutes of ice time – in line with all the other Washington centers whose name doesn’t rhyme with Pickless Mackstrom. Add to that the second best Corsi number (.48) on the Caps and for less than $2mil, I think he is a decent bargain.

John Madden, C

At 37 years old anything outside of a one-year contract and this ceases to be a bargain, but with three Stanley Cups for two different teams he could be the experienced veteran who knows how to win the Caps need.

His starting a measly 37.1 % of the time in his own offensive zone could explain the lack of offensive production more than his age, but Washington wouldn’t need his offensive output. Instead, they could use a center who at 36 played against the second best competition with the worst teammates the Hawks had to offer their pivots on their way to a Stanley Cup.

After making $2,750,000 last year, we can’t be sure he would take less, but you don’t get to sign a 3-time Cup winner everyday.

Sure, maybe it was stating the obvious when we said the second-line center the Caps should target is Matthew Lombardi, but it’s more than that. If we look at the numbers, I think he is the ONLY viable option in free agency.

Luckily our first line center is set in stone for the next decade. You may have heard of him; he’s kind of a big deal. But then there is quite a drop off:

Under contract are Michael Nylander and Brooks Laich. The team will pay Nylander’s $3 million salary next season but will make sure it doesn’t count against the salary cap by assigning him to Europe (again) or sending him to Hershey, leaving just Brooksy.

There is RFA Tomas Fleischmann, who, if you ask his agent, is comparable to Montreal center Tomas Plekanec. So, thanks, but no thanks.

GM George McPhee has said the Caps do not plan to re-sign center Brendan Morrison, a UFA.

That leaves Eric Belanger, who despite being an UFA is “still on the team’s radar.”

So, at center we have Backstrom– possibly Belanger– and Laich, who may be better suited to LW.

If we look at Goals Created for Belanger, we see he created 14.3 goals in 77 games. Or .7 per 60 minutes of ice time. That’s our benchmark. I am not alone in thinking Belanger is at best a #3 center, so any option the Caps consider has to be an improvement over Belanger – or they should simply sign Belanger and hope for the best.

With Plekanec and Marleau off the table, the free agent options become:

Vinny Prospal, who created 19.9 goals last season, and Saku Koivu, who created 18.2 goals. Both will be over 35 years old next season, and the stats on centers over 35 are not encouraging:

From 1987-88 to 2009-10, there have been only 35 centers, aged 35 or older, who have played more than 50 games, had 15+ goals and 30+ assists in a season – the average stats for a second-line centerman. That’s fewer than two players per year!

Olli Jokinen (16.6 goals created) & Matt Cullen (16.3) are only slight upgrades to Belanger– leaving Matt Lombardi, who created 18.4 goals and at 27 years old is just now entering what could be the prime of his career.

Have a better option? Let us know in the comments.

How tough are hockey players? After taking a stick to the mush in the first period, Eric Belanger ripped his own tooth out on the bench and then proceeded to take the next face-off. That’s insane. The AP furthers the legend:

Belanger says Saturday he “felt my teeth shatter, right away,” when Canadiens defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron’s stick hit him in the mouth in the first period of Montreal’s 2-1 victory at Washington in Game 5 of their playoff series Friday night.

Belanger needed some serious dental work at the arena, getting exposed tooth roots trimmed — then returned to the ice midway through the third period.

Explains Belanger: “I knew I was in trouble, but what are you going to do? It’s the playoffs.”

He expects to play in Game 6 at Montreal on Monday.

In summary, Belanger lost 7 or 8 teeth, including the one he ripped out himself.

Here’s the video:

Where's the saw? Ovechkin nets his 50th, Backstrom gets his 100th point on same goal. (Photo Nate Ewell, Top: Mitchell Layton)

It felt like a special night. The Caps’ final match with the Atlanta Thrashers had special gravity: Alex Ovechkin trailed Sidney Crosby in goals scored and Henrik Sedin in total points, Nick Backstrom was hovering right under the 100-point line, and 18,772 Capitals fans were hungry for wings.

Everyone got what they wanted from tonight’s 5-2 walloping. Alex Ovechkin’s and Nick Backstrom’s individual achievements delivered a definitive win for the whole team. With the playoffs imminent, isn’t this exactly what we want to see from our team?

Number one with a Bullet!

• Alex Ovechkin struggled on offense in the early portion of the game. He keeps crossing where he once would go deep, invariably losing control of the puck in the process. But the Russian Machine responds to pressure well, rocketing shots from beyond the circles to score his 49th and 50th goals. Ovie is once again the league-leader in goals and points, and all is right in the world.
• Nick Backstrom is no slouch either. His opening goal was a masterful cleanup off of a Ovechkin rebound was 99, his assist on Ovie’s 50th was 100, and his Wings-earning goal was 101.
• It was synchronicity that Nick’s 100th point and Ovechkin’s 50th goal were earned on the same puck. Pity that poor rubber disc and its impending date with a bandsaw.
• Sorry, Alex Semin. 11 shots. No goal. You’ll get number 40 on Sunday. Promise. For now you can settle, like rest of the top line, for 3 points.
• The first four bullets were all dedicated to the 8-19-28 line, whose dynamic has changed dramatically with Mike Knuble scratched tonight. The garbage man’s constant crease threat was replaced with Sasha’s playmaking. If Bruce Boudreau is comfortable shifting around his most dangerous line during the playoffs, any opponent will have a hard time covering it adequately.
• Jeff Schultz. Holy crap, dude. +4 tonight? Is there such a thing as “running up” the plus/minus?
• In the wake of Ovechkin’s 50th, the Fleischmann-Belanger-Chimera line showed the most intensity of the entire game. After an extended period occupying the offensive zone, new guy Eric Belanger slipped a dastardly pass to sorta-new guy Jason Chimera, who slapped it in from the slot. Great effort from a group of guys who might have been overshadowed by the team’s superstars.
• I love the crowd at Verizon Center, so please forgive me for being a downer right now. Sidney Crosby does not, in fact, suck. As much as we dislike the guy for his bleating, others criticize Ovechkin for his aggression. Between these two gentlemen, hockey is blessed with a wealth of talent. Let’s please do adjust our cheers now. May I suggest a “MARIO’S BASEMENT” chant?

And now we’re down to one. One game separates the Washington Capitals from a post season with will be historic in one way or another. Let’s think of tonight’s game as demonstration of the team playing up to a challenge. The personal accollades will be meaningless in two days; all that’s left is the long road to that silly piece of silver that means the world to us.

He didn't score, but he always makes for a good photo! (Greg Fiume/NHLI via Getty Images)

For the second time in consecutive nights, the Caps allowed a 2-0 game go to overtime. Tonight’s battle with the Hurricanes found the Caps continuing to struggle with the penalty kill, but a superlative effort from Mike Green and an overtime goal from Tomas Fleischmann earned the red team the win.

The Caps clearly have not yet returned to their pre-Olympic break heights. The top line is whiffing on the crease-cluttered opportunities they used to exploit. The penalty kill unit gave up only one goal on four chances tonight, but they’re still not operating at full capacity. The usual suspects (*Cough*Semin*Cough*) are still committing penalties and surrendering pucks with alarming frequency. Fixing these problems will be crucial not only in the post-season, but in the next few weeks to secure the President’s Trophy.

Look, Ma! Bullets!

• Alexander Semin‘s wipeout miss in the shootout last night was blooper reel material. Semin sucked snow again tonight, but he scored in the process. Progress.
• Mike Green tallied two goals on the power play tonight, and for this we love him. We are reminded that it was this time last year when MG52 went from being an exemplary offensive D-man to a holy-crap-can-you-believe-this-guy offensive D-man. Here’s hoping that Green is ready to turn it up again. Then again, Mike was on the ice for 2 of the 3 Canes goals and gave them a penalty shot. Always room for improvement.
• The Caps’ top line produced no goals and was nowhere to be found for Tuomo Ruutu‘s go-ahead goal in the second period. Lots of people could prognosticate as to why the top line is struggling, but I find the fault in Mike Knuble taking shots from distances greater than 5 feet from the net.
• Ex-Cap Brian Pothier seems a good fit for the Hurricanes, and they did seem to employ his talent more than the Caps would. RMNB wishes Brian and former Cap prospect Oskar Osala all the best.
• What a relief it was for Tomas Fleischmann to net the game-winner. Having been shuffled out of rotation on Monday, Flash was dearly missed in overtime and the shootout in that game. Flash’s play seems to benefit from open ice, and the Caps seem like a much deeper team when he’s around.

Here’s an exchange between the girlfriend and me while watching post game interviews:

“I don’t think Eric Belanger is up to the Caps standard of handsomeness.”
(beat)
“He looks like you, Peter.”
“DAMMIT, ERIN!”

Friends, I won’t be around on Friday to write a game recap, so please feel free to manufacture your own smart-ass commentary.

And a final note: please aim your browsers at this site Thursday morning at 10 am. We’ve got something special brewing that we think you’re going to love. At least, we HOPE so.

Uh, right here? Photo credit: Heather Mabb

Sorry for the delays, everyone. Busy night.

The Capitals are now 40% through their longest home stint of the season, and it’s not gone too bad so far. In tonight’s game with the New York Rangers, Washington showed defensive rigor that’s been missing all year, but something was missing. Even though Eric Fehr and Eric Belanger’s goals lifted the Caps over the Rags, the “Is Party Now!” dynamics of Washington’s offense simply did not show up. At least Jose Theodore was perfect.

WARNING: These game notes are late because we’ve been drinking. Liquor.

• Jose Theodore is too cool for nicknames. Jose Theodore is too cool to shave regularly. Jose Theodore is way too cool to ride the bench. At 33 years old, Jose is as spry as any other goalkeeper in the NHL. His glove hand is scary fast. Tonight’s shutout (and it feels great to say that) illustrates Theo’s dedication in a way that his statistics do not. How many great performances have Washington goalies delivered only to be spoiled by flaky defenders?
• Dear Mister Alex Ovechkin,
  Remember when you scored that Hat Trick against Pittsburgh and we commissioned that local artist to create a life-size statue of you to go in front of Glory Days Grill? Since then, nada. Listen, bro, we’ve dumped a lot of money into this, and we’re starting to doubt the investment. So while it’s your prerogative to slump whenever when you need to slump, we trust you’ll end this nonsense lickety-split.
  Forever Yours,
  Peter and the dudes at RMNB.
• There are few moments in sports as delightful as seeing the other team’s fans swearing in misery.  When the Rangers staggered two minor penalties only 15 seconds apart, CSN’s cameras cut to 4 gentlemen losing their friggin’ minds right behind John Tortorella.  Only the most kind of lip readers would transcribe their outbursts as being “aw, shucks.”
• Let’s welcome Eric Belanger to the Caps. Cleaning up a deflected pass from Semin to Laich and then sneaking the puck beneath Alex Auld’s nether regions is a good way to make a mark with this team. Eric’s bona fides at the dot were one of his selling points, but he failed to win 3 out of 4 faceoffs in the defensive zone tonight. So that’s a bit worrisome.
• Matt Bradley is fighting for ice time, and I don’t know if he’s winning that fight. Brads had a handful of hits and a nice takeaway, which is just fine for a grinder like him. But with the sudden depth of the Washington Capitals, he might have to be spectacular to stay in the lineup. Smart money says we’ll see Matt Bradley’s gloves hit the ice before long. Also, his blood.

The Caps have three more home games before heading to Chicago to face the Blackhawks. Even without summoning the sleeping giant of the top line, there’s a good chance that Washington could extend this home win streak even further.

The Washington Capitals added depth on NHL Deadline Day, acquiring forwards Scott Walker and Eric Belanger, and blueliners Joe Corvo and Milan Jurcina, who returns to Washington after being traded, along with then team captain Chris Clark, to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Despite these moves paying off immediate dividends, questions remain about the Caps goaltending: specifically, is it enough to keep pucks out of the net in the playoffs?

“No matter how fearsome their attack, they’re just OK at keeping pucks out of their net. They’ll enter the playoffs, likely as the top seed in the East, entrusting the most critical position on the ice to the likes of Jose Theodore, Semyon Varlamov and/or Michal Neuvirth.” – NBCSports.com

So what type of goaltending does it take to win the Cup, and do the Caps have it?

If we look at the Stanley Cup winners over the last decade, some patterns emerge:

1. As of 3/5/10, The Caps have a Goals Against per game (GA/Gm) of 2.84, which would be only the third worst of Cup Winning teams since 2000. 2009 Pittsburgh Penguins were at 2.91 and the 2006 Carolina Hurricanes were at 3.17.
2. The 2010 Washington Capitals are scoring machines. Their 4.0 Goals For per game (GF/Gm) would lead all Cup winners since 2000. So while it is true they let goals in the net, they make up for it by burying the biscuit themselves.
3. The expected winning percentage of the 2010 Caps would also be the second best of the Cup teams since 2000. Based on the Pythagorean winning percentage, The Caps are expected to have a win % .652 – despite giving up 2.84 goals per game. Only the 2008 Detroit Red Wings (.651) and the 2001 Colorado Avalanche (.653) come close.

RMNB believes it's found the secret to Jose Theodore's recent success...

Jose Theodore, who I believe has found a real life Hot Tub Time Machine, has shown he is capable of being close to the Jose of 2001-2 when he won the Hart & Vezina Trophies. Exhibit A is his goaltending during the Caps 14 game win streak.

Varlamov is coming back from injury, and his playoff experience from last year will only bolster his confidence going forward.

Caps’ fans should have a deeper concern: the PK:

Since 2000, no Cup winner has had a PK% less than 81.8% (2006 Carolina Hurricanes). 2010 Capitals are currently 78.91%.

But that’s an article for another day.

The trade deadline came and went, and while the Caps made some changes, a lot stayed the same. Most importantly: Hershey was virtually untouched. And it is probably because of this that the Caps didn’t make the “big move” most of the fans thought they would.

Trade Deadline Recap

• 2010 7th rounder for Scott Walker.
• 2010 2nd Rounder for Eric Belanger.
• 2010 6th rounder for Milan Jurcina.
• Brian Pothier, prospect Oskar Osala and 2011 2nd rounder for Joe Corvo.

A theme runs through all the players acquired today: They all have prior experience with Boudreau and/or GMGM.

• Boudreau had Belanger in Lowell.
• Scott Walker once represented himself in contract talks with Vancouver, where George McPhee was the assistant GM.
• I heard Milan Jurcina played for Boudreau AND McPhee (at the same time!), but am still Googling to find out where.
• Joe “Oh No” Corvo the Turnover Machine was coached by Boudreau in AHL.

RW Scott Walker gives the Caps some leadership, some “grit” and 29 games of playoff experience (18 of those coming in 2008-9 with Carolina) for the Cup run. Walker has a respectable 2.33 GAON/60 at even strength on a team that averages 3.14 GA per game.

Eric Belanger (this Belanger, not this Belanger. Sorry ladies.) is a decent two-way 2nd/3rd line Center option on

Eric Belanger is sadly not a model.

pace for career-best numbers in goals and assists. Plus, he brings 30 games of playoff experience. Looks like he and Chimera have some history, where Chimera felt Belanger’s check was dirty and merited a suspension. I don’t expect this to be an issue, but it just shows the comfort level of BB and GMGM to bring a player in with this type of “bad blood.”

Milan Jurcina. Based on Twitter reports, Jurcina was Plan B in case trades for other D-Men fell through. In the end, it’s the devil you know, and the Caps bring back someone that knows the system for the playoff push. Not the “Top-4 D Man” fans were looking for, but a familiar face nonetheless.

And then we have the deal that came in almost at the buzzer, and one that is sure to be debated: Joe Corvo. It is probably a bad omen when one of the first tweets seeks to clarify if Corvo’s nickname was “Oh No” or “Uh Oh”, but I like this trade.  It has nothing to do with him receiving a three-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty in Boston to assaulting a woman in a restaurant when he was with the Manchester Monarchs of the AHL. I like gaining Corvo because he represents an improvement to the defense. Specifically, Corvo plays tougher minutes at even strength than all of the Caps defensemen with the exception of Tom Poti. And Corvo’s GAON/60 of 2.75 is better than Carolina’s 3.14 GA per game – the hallmark of a good defenseman. Some may argue that Pothier, for whom he was traded, has a better GAON/60, but those come against both significantly worse competition and in fewer minutes per game.

RW Scott Walker. Practically a freebie.

All in all, the Caps did not give up much:

Brian Pothier was a defensive non-factor for the club at best, and the Caps certainly upgraded with Corvo. Prospect Oskar Osala had a limited future with the Caps, and now he gets a chance with another club.

A 6th rounder averages 73 games in the NHL with 13 Goals and 20 Assists, for their career. A 7th rounder averages 47GP/7G/13A, and that drops significantly if you pull Henrik Zetterberg‘s numbers out.

The second rounders (in 2010 and 2011) have future value, and an argument has been made that it is advantageous to trade a bona fide NHLer for an unlikely draft pick, but I think it is a smart move for the Caps. They have already bucked the odds with the talent they have in Hershey and South Carolina and can afford to sit out the second round the next two years for a serious run at the Cup.

Right now is like the part of the lap dance right after the song stops:  the anticipation and empty promises are gone, and we’re left with reality.  We’re married to the roster as of 3 PM, and they’ll either take us to the cup or damn near it.