Comments on: The Run continues http://www.boltsmag.com/2006/01/21/the-run-continues/ Tampa Bay Lightning Weblog Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:26:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Gary http://www.boltsmag.com/2006/01/21/the-run-continues/comment-page-1/#comment-2862 Gary Mon, 23 Jan 2006 15:25:58 +0000 http://www.boltsmag.com/?p=942#comment-2862 Just to jump in and contribute my perspective to the recent Caps talk, I'd have to say that Ovechkin is a hell of a team player. Everyone talks about his 33 goals (or at least That Goal), but he's also dished 29 assists (just one less than everyone's favorite Calder Trophy runner-up before tonight's round of games). Ever since Hanlon switched up the lines to get Zubrus with Ovechkin, both players' production have enjoyed an evident boost. Check the SI story on him from last month: http://urlx.org/cnn.com/ddaa (reg. req'd) This young Caps squad reminds me *a lot* of the petulant Lecavalier days in Bolts' history when there was a lot of scrappy talent, a ton of guts and balls on the ice every night, but not a lot of wins. Unlike past years (*cough* Jagr), the Caps are on the verge of being contenders again, just give it another season. The only question in my mind as an eight-year Caps fan is: Can Kolzig stick through it? He's still a phenomenal goaltender when he's healthy, but he's getting pretty long in the tooth. Seriously--maybe Boltsmag isn't the place to say this--until recently, I couldn't stand to watch the Lightning play hockey on Center Ice; they were ambivalent and lethargic. The Caps have rarely disappointed on the enjoyment scale, whether live or on TV with the crappy local coverage... and it's not just Ovechkin. At the beginning of the season, amid trade rumors, Kolzig stated in an interview with the Post that if the Caps' management "did it right" like the Lightning did in their run-up to the championship, he'd end his career in Washington. To me, it looks like they're doing just that. Just to jump in and contribute my perspective to the recent Caps talk, I’d have to say that Ovechkin is a hell of a team player. Everyone talks about his 33 goals (or at least That Goal), but he’s also dished 29 assists (just one less than everyone’s favorite Calder Trophy runner-up before tonight’s round of games). Ever since Hanlon switched up the lines to get Zubrus with Ovechkin, both players’ production have enjoyed an evident boost.

Check the SI story on him from last month: http://urlx.org/cnn.com/ddaa (reg. req’d)

This young Caps squad reminds me *a lot* of the petulant Lecavalier days in Bolts’ history when there was a lot of scrappy talent, a ton of guts and balls on the ice every night, but not a lot of wins. Unlike past years (*cough* Jagr), the Caps are on the verge of being contenders again, just give it another season. The only question in my mind as an eight-year Caps fan is: Can Kolzig stick through it? He’s still a phenomenal goaltender when he’s healthy, but he’s getting pretty long in the tooth.

Seriously–maybe Boltsmag isn’t the place to say this–until recently, I couldn’t stand to watch the Lightning play hockey on Center Ice; they were ambivalent and lethargic. The Caps have rarely disappointed on the enjoyment scale, whether live or on TV with the crappy local coverage… and it’s not just Ovechkin.

At the beginning of the season, amid trade rumors, Kolzig stated in an interview with the Post that if the Caps’ management “did it right” like the Lightning did in their run-up to the championship, he’d end his career in Washington. To me, it looks like they’re doing just that.

]]> By: ski http://www.boltsmag.com/2006/01/21/the-run-continues/comment-page-1/#comment-2858 ski Mon, 23 Jan 2006 00:49:56 +0000 http://www.boltsmag.com/?p=942#comment-2858 I listen to a good deal of sports talk radio since I'm on the road all the time for the job, and the dc shows have all fallen in love with Ovechkin. I got the same feeling from the fans last nite about the kid. It's kinda like when St Louis gets the puck, the entire arena is on the edge of their seat to see what will happen. I haven't seen anything to suggest he's not a team player. He's clearly the most talented player on offense (not that anybody else is all that good), so he has to create his own shot most of the time. Like I wrote before, Carolina focused on him defensively last nite, and Ovechkin responded by passing to open teammates en route to notching up two assists. I listen to a good deal of sports talk radio since I’m on the road all the time for the job, and the dc shows have all fallen in love with Ovechkin. I got the same feeling from the fans last nite about the kid. It’s kinda like when St Louis gets the puck, the entire arena is on the edge of their seat to see what will happen.

I haven’t seen anything to suggest he’s not a team player. He’s clearly the most talented player on offense (not that anybody else is all that good), so he has to create his own shot most of the time. Like I wrote before, Carolina focused on him defensively last nite, and Ovechkin responded by passing to open teammates en route to notching up two assists.

]]> By: John F. http://www.boltsmag.com/2006/01/21/the-run-continues/comment-page-1/#comment-2857 John F. Sun, 22 Jan 2006 20:34:38 +0000 http://www.boltsmag.com/?p=942#comment-2857 ski, those are words I never have heard together with anything about the Caps: DC and Excited. Even when the team was winning in the past, the games tended to be dull and people just accepted the Capitals being winners.... ANd didn't have much more to root for than Bondra. Last week's goal was incredible (though flukeish -- and for those who missed it: http://www.rh71.com/Projects/Ovechkin/vids/goal32.avi ) and Alex has a tendance to work so hard to score.... My only concern (and you being in DC and seeing him more often than I) with him is that he isn't a team player? That's ignorance talking on my part, but with everything this guy is creating I haven't heard of other Caps players being propped up because of him. I also don't want to end up hearing stories about him being only offensive minded (not that I have heard them) like other European scoring wonders such as Pavel Bure and Ilya Kovalchuk ski, those are words I never have heard together with anything about the Caps: DC and Excited. Even when the team was winning in the past, the games tended to be dull and people just accepted the Capitals being winners…. ANd didn’t have much more to root for than Bondra.

Last week’s goal was incredible (though flukeish — and for those who missed it: http://www.rh71.com/Projects/Ovechkin/vids/goal32.avi ) and Alex has a tendance to work so hard to score….

My only concern (and you being in DC and seeing him more often than I) with him is that he isn’t a team player? That’s ignorance talking on my part, but with everything this guy is creating I haven’t heard of other Caps players being propped up because of him. I also don’t want to end up hearing stories about him being only offensive minded (not that I have heard them) like other European scoring wonders such as Pavel Bure and Ilya Kovalchuk

]]> By: ski http://www.boltsmag.com/2006/01/21/the-run-continues/comment-page-1/#comment-2856 ski Sun, 22 Jan 2006 20:04:38 +0000 http://www.boltsmag.com/?p=942#comment-2856 went to my first non-lightning game last nite when I caught the caps-canes in dc (so I miised the bolts game). alexander ovechkin looked really good in the caps win. the canes defense was draped all over ovechkin, which opened up other players on offense (ovechkin finished with two assists). wasn't all that impresed by carolina considering they are first in the division. but then again every dog (even Washington) has its day. people here in dc are really excited by ovechkin, and people who don't even follow hockey are talking about him (especially after that goal last week). if washington can surround him with some talent that could be a dangerous offense. went to my first non-lightning game last nite when I caught the caps-canes in dc (so I miised the bolts game).

alexander ovechkin looked really good in the caps win. the canes defense was draped all over ovechkin, which opened up other players on offense (ovechkin finished with two assists). wasn’t all that impresed by carolina considering they are first in the division. but then again every dog (even Washington) has its day.

people here in dc are really excited by ovechkin, and people who don’t even follow hockey are talking about him (especially after that goal last week). if washington can surround him with some talent that could be a dangerous offense.

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