John Erskine

A Caps Fan in Buffalo Territory

On November 16, 2010, In Guest Post, By Russian Machine Never Breaks

Braden Holtby heeds the direction of Bruce Boudreau during Caps practice at HSBC Arena.

[Ed. note - Was it oversight, kismet, or charity? Regardless, Buffalo-based Caps fan and RMNB reader, Stephanie Carosa, got to watch what should have been a closed practice on Saturday. She shares that story and her recollections from the miserable game with the Sabres below.]

I live in Buffalo, so I have only two chances to see the Capitals in my own city. Every time they come it’s a big deal to me, and Saturday night was no exception. I was determined to make it a full day of hockey, so I planned on going to practice in the morning and the game at night.

The Sabres’ morning skates at HSBC Arena are open to the public, and you can often catch a glimpse of players on the visiting team hanging around. I got there early so I could grab a seat behind the Caps bench. Even though the Caps were foremost on my mind, I was excited to see Ryan Miller on the ice after being sidelined for almost two weeks due to injury. Towards the end of practice, I caught a quick glimpse of Chimera in the tunnel. *Gasp! First Caps sighting of the day!* A few minutes later, John Erskine appeared *Gasp! Two Caps!*, and then Harry Neale (the Sabres and former Hockey Night in Canada color guy who is known for his, er, quick wit?) came out and joked around with him for a bit.

Breaking Down The Capitals Line Combinations

On November 15, 2010, In Opinion, Statistical Analysis, By Neil Greenberg

Neil delivers Caps scoring chances through Nov 14, 2010 (Photo credit: Gerry Thomas)

Despite some terrible second period performances that made me want to use my new iPad as the world’s most expensive frisbee, I still managed to log the scoring chances for the week. I use a specific definition of what I consider a scoring chance based on shot quality data and log everyone who is on the ice at the time using the script from Vic Ferrari. As always, you can find the spreadsheet online.

The three of you that actually read these posts may notice a new format. Let me know if you think this is more helpful.

Tagged with: Alex Semin • Boyd Gordon • Eric Fehr • John Erskine • Michal Neuvirth • Mike Green • Scoring Chances • Tomas Fleischmann

The Erskine Supremacy: Caps beat Thrashers 6-4

On November 14, 2010, In Game Recap, By Peter Hassett

“Can you believe we won this???” (Photo credit: Greg Fiume)

Boulton and Erskine beat the tar out of one another. (Photo credit: Mitchell Layton)

This third meeting of the Washington Capitals and Atlanta Thrashers was not overshadowed by injury like the season-opener was by Ondrej Pavelec‘s collapse. Instead, we were treated to a cavalcade of slapstick puckery. The puck had a mind of its own tonight, and the game’s three goalies were none too happy about it.

Alex Ovechkin opened it up early with a lucky bounce knocked in by goalie Chris Mason. Mason had already bobbled an earlier shot; this one he knocked in all by himself. Mike Green piled on with a mustache-fueled power play goal hooked up by Eric Fehr and Mike Knuble. Atlanta’s Rich Peverly turned in what was either a world-class goal or a total fluke (we vote the latter). Tyler Sloan dove in front of a shot to lead to a turnover and breakaway for Alex Ovechkin. Ovie’s pass enabled Alex Semin to score a dazzling deke-and-goal that should humble the authors of the All-Star game ballot.

Like an out-of-control garbage truck full of terminally ill kittens, the second period brought destruction and woe to all in its path (i.e. the Capitals). Andrew Ladd scored one and Bryan Little scored two, the last of which was a shorthanded breakaway furnished by the careless puck control of our very own Russian Machine.

The third period languished on for 13 minutes before John Erskine– yes, that John Erskine– rocketed the game winner past relief goalie Ondrej Pavelec. Then David Steckel found the empty net as Capitals players are so eager to do.

Phew, that was exhausting. Caps beat Thrashers 6-4.

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Alex Semin • Andrew Ladd • Atlanta Thrashers • Bruce Boudreau • Bryan Little • Chris Mason • Eric Boulton • Jeff Schultz • John Erskine • Michal Neuvirth • Mike Green • Ondrej Pavelec • Washington Capitals

The Mess at MSG: Caps beat Rangers 5-3

On November 9, 2010, In Game Recap, By Peter Hassett

MG52 unleashes the fury! (Photo credit: Frank Franklin II)

Brooks Laich with the book-end goals. (Photo credit: Frank Franklin II)

Well, that was an ugly one. The Washington Capitals’ first appointment with the New York Rangers, hosted in the majestically gloomy Madison Square Garden, had all of the poetry of an alleyway brawl. 28 penalty minutes were distributed in the first period alone. Mike Green dropped gloves for crying out loud!

The Rangers got up to an early lead when Brian Boyle beat Jeff Schultz at the circle. All night the Capitals defense was spotty, and it seemed the Superfriends could not make up for it. Every time the Caps tied the score, the Rangers pulled ahead again. But the Caps found strength where we faithful knew it would be: depth. Brooks Laich recorded a pair, Mike Knuble finished the funk, Matt Hendricks provided the GWG, and even lovable John Erskine got on the board. Henrik Lundqvist lay defeated. Caps beat Rangers 5-3.

Tagged with: Brandon Dubinsky • Brian Boyle • Brooks Laich • D.J. King • Derek Boogard • John Erskine • Matt Bradley • Matt Hendricks • Michal Neuvirth • Mike Green • Mike Knuble • New York Rangers • Tyler Sloan • Washington Capitals

Game Over Strikes Again: Caps beat Flyers 3-2 (OT)

On November 7, 2010, In Game Recap, By Peter Hassett

Braden Holtby, in his first career NHL start, makes one of his 23 saves on the night. (Photo credit: Mitchell Layton)

Game Over. (Photo credit: Luis M. Alvarez)

Traditionally, Sunday games have been trouble for the Washington Capitals. The crowd might be docile, the ice sloppy, the players hungover; doesn’t matter. Quoting Ovechkin: “It was a five o’clock game. Usually you take a nap at this time.”

Tonight’s bout with Eastern Conference-rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers, was remarkable enough to wake the players from their expected slumber. The Flyers, riding a five-game winning streak and leading the league in penalties, brought the smash-mouth brand of hockey that we expected and did not permit the Caps to play lazy.

Flyer Nikolay Zherdev beat the Caps’ new goalie, Braden Holtby, on a two-on-one to open up the game. Eric Fehr responded with a low-probability/high-awesomesauce snipe from a wide angle. Ville Leino (who it turns out is a person and not a cozy Italian hamlet) got improbably lucky off a deflection to put the Flyers up 2-1. Alex Semin tied the game up on a power-play sweep-in, and there the scored remained until the end of regulation. The specter of a Sean O’Donnell boarding penalty chased the Flyers into OT, which Mike Green turned into an OTGWG. It wasn’t the raucous glove-dropper we were expecting, but a W is a W: Caps beat Flyers 3-2 (OT).

Tagged with: Boyd Gordon • Braden Holtby • Brooks Laich • Holtbyisms • John Erskine • Mike Green • Mike Knuble • Nick Backstrom • Philadelphia Flyers • Tyler Sloan • Washington Capitals

Caps Scoring Chances thru Oct 31, 2010

On October 31, 2010, In Analysis, Opinion, By Neil Greenberg

The Capitals are undefeated in games in which Boyd Gordon plays. (Photo credit: Greg Fiume)

Another week has passed, and we saw Alex Ovechkin get his first power play goals, Perreault make a case to be sent back down to Hershey, and the duo of Erskine and Sloan have such a good game that NHL.com decided it would rather shut down its whole server than to acknowledge it.

With 13% of the season in the books, here is my weekly recap of the Caps scoring chances.

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Boyd Gordon • Brian Fahey • Brooks Laich • John Carlson • John Erskine • Mathieu Perreault • Mites on Ice • Scoring Chances • Tyler Sloan

Neuvirth Invictus: Caps beat Canes 3-0

On October 27, 2010, In Game Recap, By Peter Hassett

Michal Neuvirth robs Eric Staal. (Photo credit: Gregg Forwerck)

The Washington Capitals began their transcontinental road trip in style. Undisputed #1 goalie, Michal Neuvirth, delivered a flawless hour in net to shut the Carolina Hurricanes out at their first home game of the year. While a bothersome number of Caps (Varlamov, Poti, Johansson, Gordon) missed the game, the remaining players sported great performances. Matt Hendricks converted a nasty supine pass from David Steckel to score the only goal the Caps needed. Nicklas Backstrom recovered a rebound from Mike Knuble to score the second goal, and deposited the third in an empty net.

But it’s Mikey Neuvirth’s first NHL shut-out that captures our imagination tonight. Neuvi stopped 29 shots, half of dozen or more in spectacular fashion. Despite noble efforts, Eric Staal and Joe Corvo simply could not best the Czech prodigy. Caps beat Canes 3-0.

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Carolina Hurricanes • Eric Staal • John Erskine • Mathieu Perreault • Matt Hendricks • Michal Neuvirth • Mike Green • Nicklas Backstron • Shutout • Swiss Medallion • Tyler Sloan • Washington Capitals

Armchair GM: Fiddling with the Roster

On October 27, 2010, In Analysis, By Russian Machine Never Breaks

The Capitals’ awful, awful, very bad, no good week came to an unexpectedly pleasant finish on Saturday night. Alex Semin’s hat trick and Tomas Fleischmann’s OTGWGFTW capped off a miserable stint for the team. Two deflating losses to the Bruins provide an excellent case study in the Caps’ problems: aside from a soaring PK squad and a competent netminder, the Caps are struggling.

That’s why we assembled the Russian Machine Brain Trust, formed to fight the foes no single hero could withstand. We put on our tweedy jackets, pack our pipes full of snuff, put some Mingus on the hifi, and did some armchair GMing. What follows is our panicked odyssey through the Capitals roster, our premature prognostications, our malevolent molestations, and one cheap crack about John Erskine’s facial hair.

Tagged with: D.J. King • David Steckel • John Erskine • Marcus Johansson • Semyon Varlamov • Tomas Fleischmann • Tyler Sloan • Washington Capitals

Caps Scoring Chances thru Oct 16, 2010

On October 17, 2010, In Statistical Analysis, By Neil Greenberg

Photo Credit: Elsa/Getty Images

With five games in the books, I survived my first week of logging scoring chances, including DVRing the game Saturday night and catching up Sunday. If you haven’t read it already, my first post explains what I consider a scoring chance. As always, you can see this spreadsheet on Google Docs where I update them every week.

The Caps are getting their money’s worth for Jeff Schultz, who hasn’t had a goal against yet – and that includes leading the Caps in PK minutes with only allwoing a paltry three scoring chances against a man down. When he signed the contract extension this summer, I wrote Schultz could be “one of the NHL’s best bargains two to four years from now. If not sooner.” So far, so good.

On the flipside we have John Erskine, who is the only Capital with a negative scoring chance differential in double digits. Put another way, the Caps give the opposition 2.5 more scoring chances for every 15 minutes Erskine is on the ice. Some of this can be explained because he is being used mostly in the defensive zone as Coach Bodreau’s shutdown blueliner. When John Carlson, the other half of this new shutdown pair is only a minus 2, what explains the rest of it?

Tagged with: Boyd Gordon • Brooks Laich • Jeff Schultz • John Carlson • John Erskine • Nicklas Backstrom • Scoring Chances

This or That: Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson?

On October 16, 2010, In Video, By Ian Oland

Oh God, someone get me out of here.

Have any of you ever wanted to watch some of your favorite NHL players sweat it out on camera? Well if you have, then this “This or That” segment produced by Caps365 is for you. Almost the entire Caps roster is asked a simple question: Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson? However, for some, this becomes a question of: Does dominance on the playing field trump who you are as a person?

The responses are hilarious. A few of the guys respond in complete defiance (Varly), some blush (Alzner) and some respond in uncomfortable laughter (Laich).

So who would you choose: Tiger or Phil? Whose answer did you like the best? And what is John Erskine so happy about?

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Andrew Gordon • Boyd Gordon • Brooks Laich • D.J. King • Eric Fehr • Jeff Schulz • John Carlson • John Erskine • Marcus Johansson • Matt Bradley • Michal Neuvirth • Mike Green • Semyon Varlamov • Tom Poti • Tyler Sloan

Russian Machine Never Breaks

A Caps Fan in Buffalo Territory

Breaking Down The Capitals Line Combinations

The Erskine Supremacy: Caps beat Thrashers 6-4

The Mess at MSG: Caps beat Rangers 5-3

Game Over Strikes Again: Caps beat Flyers 3-2 (OT)

Caps Scoring Chances thru Oct 31, 2010

Neuvirth Invictus: Caps beat Canes 3-0

Armchair GM: Fiddling with the Roster

Caps Scoring Chances thru Oct 16, 2010

This or That: Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson?

Got A Hockey Tip?

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