October 29, 2010 - Vancouver Canucks

Struggling Canucks welcome date with high-flying Capitals
By Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun
VANCOUVER — The Washington Capitals don't exactly seem tailor-made for the
struggling Vancouver Canucks right about now, but team captain Henrik Sedin begs to
differ.
Sedin, along with several of his teammates, think the Capitals might just be precisely
what the Canucks need to kick-start their season.
The Capitals, despite a 2-1 hiccup loss in Edmonton on Thursday night, are the NHL‘s
hottest team. The Canucks thus far have not even made it to lukewarm status.
―It‘s going to bring everyone up to the level where we need to be because otherwise it‘s
going to be embarrassing,‖ Sedin said of Saturday night‘s game against the 7-1 Capitals
(7 p.m., CBC, Team 1040). ―So that‘s a good thing.‖
―We‘ll have our hands full,‖ added Daniel Sedin. ―But this is a good chance for us to get
out of our slump and show that we can play against an elite team in this league. That‘s
what we are going to do (Saturday).‖
The Canucks are off to another one of their typical lacklustre October starts and head
into the game with a record of 4-5-1 and riding a two-game losing streak.
―Yeah, they are a great team, but I think we‘re a great team, too,‖ said centre Ryan
Kesler. ―So it‘s going to be two great teams going at one another. They have one of the
best over there (in Alexander Ovechkin) and we‘ve got a couple guys named Sedin that
aren‘t too bad, either. It‘s going to be a pretty good test for us.‖
In Friday‘s practice, Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault continued to tinker with his lines
in the hope of finding something that will click offensively. The Canucks, who have
already been shut out three times this season, are averaging only 2.4 goals a game this
season. That ranks 19th in the NHL.
―I am not saying something that you all don‘t know,‖ Vigneault said. ―We‘ve got a few
guys who know that they can play better and we‘re trying to help them as we move
forward here.‖
Vigneault hopes Chris Higgins can help struggling third-liners Jannik Hansen and
Manny Malhotra, and he‘s decided to give Cody Hodgson another look on right-wing on
Vancouver‘s second line with Kesler and newly acquired David Booth.
―We still have to find out if Cody can play an offensive role and two of our best offensive
players are David and Ryan,‖ Vigneault said. ―We‘ll give him another opportunity to see
what he can do.‖

Vigneault also changed the look of his second-unit power play, where struggling
defenceman Kevin Bieksa appears to have been replaced on the point by winger Alex
Burrows.
―I have used Alex in the past at that position, especially in (the American Hockey
League) when he was with me, and he was real effective,‖ Vigneault said. ―Right now
I‘m trying to figure out a few things and we‘re working in practice to see if anything good
can come out of some of those experiences.‖
Bieksa is looking for something good to come in a season that thus far has been a
struggle. As of Friday, he was tied for the worst plus-minus rating in the NHL at minus-9.
Last season, Bieksa‘s plus-32 rating was tied for second best in the league.
―When you‘re up it feels great and you are telling everybody it‘s a great stat,‖ Bieksa
said Friday. ―When you are down, you are saying the opposite. It is what it is. I have
never been a huge fan of the stat, it‘s an indirect reflection of you, it‘s not direct.
―There are a lot of times when things are out of your control. But at the same time, it‘s
embarrassing. It‘s an embarrassing stat and it‘s something that has to get better. But it‘s
not something I beat myself up over. My game feels a lot better than my stats are telling
me. That‘s the important thing now.‖
Bieksa, of course, has lot of company in the category of under-performing Canucks.
Goalie Roberto Luongo, who was pulled in the second period of Tuesday night‘s 3-2
loss in Edmonton, will be back in goal against the Capitals, sporting a 3.45 goalsagainst
average and .868 save percentage.
Luongo hasn‘t played a complete game in nine days and said he hopes all his hard
work in practice will help him turn the corner on his inauspicious start.
―You put in the work in practice, you start feeling good about your game and it all
translates once you start playing,‖ he said Friday. ―For me, I have been feeling pretty
good about myself the last week or so. Obviously the results were not there in
Edmonton, but you just have to stay with it and keep working and things will eventually
come.‖
The Canucks, to a man, seem to believe they are closer to finding their game than most
observers believe.
―We‘re right there,‖ Kesler said. ―It might not seem so from the outside, but there are
stretches where we‘re playing Canucks hockey and then there are stretches when we‘re
not.‖
―A lot of outside people are disappointed in where we are,‖ added defenceman Dan
Hamhuis. ―I think internally we know we have to get better, but we are trying to stay
positive and look at the good things we have been doing and try and build on that. We
are doing a lot of good things during a game, it‘s just a few mistakes here and there that
are costing us.
―The Capitals are such a great hockey team, you can‘t afford to make any mistakes. So
we need everybody on their ‗A‘ games and hopefully this is something that can get the
ball rolling.‖

Canucks seek Max-imum performance from forwards as Vigneault shuffles his lines
By Ian Walker, Vancouver Sun
VANCOUVER — It‘s no secret that some of the Vancouver Canucks aren't playing up to
their standard through the first 10 games of the regular season. If the team's 4-5-1
record isn't proof enough, Alain Vigneault admitted as much following the team's
practice on Friday.
One of the players singled out by the head coach was veteran Manny Malholtra, who
was limited to just three weeks of training in the off-season due to several eye
procedures. Vigneault said if not for the extenuating circumstances, he would consider
bumping Max Lapierre up to the third-line centre position. Lapierre has been one of the
team's bright spots early in the season.
―If this was just on merit then Max would probably be playing ahead of him,‖ said
Vigneault. ―I also have to look at the big picture, once Manny starts playing like Manny,
we all know what he can do. So, I have to work with him to get his conditioning and his
timing. Just like with Ryan [Kesler] and when Mason Raymond comes back, it‘s going to
be the same issue. You have to keep working and trust your players things are going to
come around.‖
Chris Higgins will play alongside Manny Malhotra and Jannik Hansen while Cody
Hodgson will move up to the second line with Kesler and the recently acquired David
Booth.
―Manny is one of those guys, because of the nature of his summer, that we're trying to
work with to get his game where we need it to be so he can be the useful player that he
is with this team,‖ explained Vigneault. ―Him and Jannik, Jannik has been inconsistent
also, and Chris has been one of our most consistent players and I feel that can be a real
good line.‖
Vigneault said the original plan was not to play Malhotra on back-to-back nights to start
the season, but AV being AV …
―Like I do, on a number of occasions, I changed my mind again,‖ Vigneault said, with a
chuckle. ―I said to him, we‘d try and work this out by giving him less ice time but making
sure he‘s there for important faceoffs. He's such an important part of our group in the
dressing room I felt that we needed him dressed anyway.‖
TRICK OR TREAT: Like they do every year around this time, a number of Vancouver
players spent part of Friday afternoon at Canucks Place, carving pumpkins with the
children and families living at the hospice.
―Whether you're winning or losing it's really important to think outside of yourself and
help others, some of these families are going through some difficult times,‖ said
defenceman Dan Hamhuis. ―To have an opportunity to go there and brighten their day is
fun to be a part of.‖

Hamhuis went as himself while oldest daughter Morgan, 3, was dressed as Cinderella.
―She went last year and was a bumble-bee,‖ he said.
Youngest daughter Morgan, 18 months, is only now getting the whole Halloween thing.
―Every time she sees a pumpkin or a ghost she says 'Pooky' – meaning 'Spooky' of
course,‖ said Hamhuis.
SPECIAL NIGHT: One night earlier, the entire team attended the Sports Celebrities
Festival, which benefited the Special Olympics. Each Canucks player and members of
coaching staff and management was paired with a Special Olympics athlete for the
dinner and formal program of the evening.
For Higgins, the night held a more personal meaning than others.
―I have a sister who is handicapped and what I see in her I saw in the other kids,‖ said
Higgins. ―They play sport because they love it and it reminds me why I play hockey and
how fortunate I am to play the game I love for a living.‖
Weird Crafts: Naked Kesler, now on the side of a pumpkin
Posted by Harrison Mooney ?
If it wasn‘t already quite apparent that Canuck fans are a strange lot, consider some of
the curious Canuck-themed jack-o-lanterns featured on the NHL‘s official Facebook
page. Or, better yet, just key in on the one that features a carving of Ryan Kesler‘s nude
photo from ESPN Magazine‘s ―The Body Issue‖. That one should do it.
What the what? There was a while there when naked Kesler was practically
everywhere, but I can safely say that the side of a pumpkin was among the places I did
not expect to find him. Colour me surprised.
Colour me impressed, too. Here‘s a close look at the glory that is the Naked Keslantern,
and as you can see, this isn‘t some half-hearted carving. No sir, whoever did this
definitely didn‘t skimp on the details.
For example, check out the bulging quadricep on Kesler‘s left leg, or the protruding
deltoid at his left shoulder. That‘s some quality shading right there.
Or, better yet, note the notches in his stomach that allow his sculpted abs to capture
some of the candle‘s glow. That‘s impressive, too. This is the first jack-o-lantern I‘ve
ever seen that looks airbrushed.
And I can‘t say enough good things about the job this carver (or carvers) did around
Kesler‘s head. They captured his expression perfectly; the facework is absolutely topnotch.
And be sure you take a moment to appreciate the detail on his trademark Astro
Boy haircut.
Clearly, this was a labour of love.

Drance Numbers: the Sedins will pump you up
Pass it to Bulis: Posted by Thomas Drance ?
October 28, 2011 | 12 Comments
Drance Numbers is the silly research wing of PITB. While Messrs. Wagner and Mooney
blog nationally and solve mysteries, Drance Numbers will look into the minutiae of
quantifiable NHL data and bore you with it every Friday. Today, Drance looks at the
shooting percentage of Sedin linemates.
There is much doom and gloom in this market at the moment. The Canucks are
struggling through another underwhelming October, they‘ve been shut out three times in
ten games, and they face the up-until-recently undefeated Washington Capitals in what
could be a blowout on Saturday night. Worst of all, following Wednesday night‘s 3-0
shutout loss with Cory Schneider in net, Canucks fans can‘t even take solace in their
ritual post-loss shaming of Roberto Luongo.
On the bright-side, however, it‘s October, and Vancouver‘s hockey team has plenty of
time to turn the good ship Canuck around. Also, the rest of this article will conveniently
ignore the Canucks early season struggles, and instead focus on how unique and
awesome the Sedin twins are.
In many ways, the Sedin twins defy conventional analysis. They‘re identical twins who
possess super elite passing skills, and have spent their entire lives playing together as
line-mates. Obviously that‘s an absurdly rare circumstance, and one for which there is
no historical comparison.
In other ways, however, their careers to date have not been as unconventional as one
might expect from the first telepathic humanoids to play in the NHL. For example, it‘s
not uncommon for the production of playmakers to ―peak‖ later on in their careers, as
they tend to rely more on the cerebral side of the game to generate offense. Whereas
snipers usually ―peak‖ in terms of offensive production between the ages of 24-26,
playmakers tend to ―peak‖ at 28-30. In this, the Sedins development is more
conventional: Henrik won his Art Ross at 29, and Daniel won his at 30.
Last week we spoke about the percentages at play in hockey, PDO and how wildly a
team‘s luck can swing from game to game. In the comments, someone asked whether
or not teams can sustain a higher than 1000 PDO number for an entire season, or over
the course of several. The answer is yes, they can. In fact that Canucks have been well
over 1000 for three seasons in a row now.
Save percentage is the most important factor at play here, but shooting percentage is a
contributor as well. For the most part, the on-ice shooting percentage for nearly all NHL
skaters over a long enough time frame falls within the range of 7-8.5%.The major thing
to bear in mind, is that over the last four seasons the twins are an outlier in that their onice
shooting% is significantly higher than 8.5.

(*) On-ice shooting% differs from a shooters shot% in that all shots for his team when
he is on the ice are counted as well, not just his own shots.
Anyone who has observed the Sedins play for any length of time knows that they pass
up shooting opportunities constantly, in order to create better quality opportunities with
their sublime works of wizardous sedinery. For the most part, their style of play is
exceedingly effective, partly because Daniel and Henrik are two of the leagues best
passers.**
(**) Among hockey analysts, shot location is a surprisingly controversial topic,
considering how intuitive it seems conceptually. Gabe Desjardins, who runs
behindthenet.ca, is among the more outspoken detractors of shot quality‘s analytical
utility (or lack thereof), whereas others such as Tom Awad and Michael Shuckers,
whose DIGR stat has captured many folks‘ attention recently, are convinced it matters.
Because of the Sedins style of play and the quality of their passing, they have been able
to perform alchemy and turn a number of replacement level top-six forwards into
bonafide twenty-five or even thirty goal scrorers. Sometimes it seems as if my
grandmother could pot twenty-five goals on the Sedins right-wing (granted, she‘s a
feisty lady).
I thought it might be fun to calculate the shooting percentage of every Sedin line-mate
since the twins entered the league. I was wrong. It took a long time, was arduous and
my findings are ultimately imperfect.
Still, I think it‘s cool to look over, and allows me to make a basic point.
While the list of Sedin triggermen isn‘t exactly awe inspiring, my hypothesis is that their
shooting percentage will be. Sadly, some of the information I‘d require to do a more
comprehensive table isn‘t available and so some assumptions will be required.
First of all, I have no method of separating even-strength shots from PP shots until 07-
08, which, is too bad and probably skews the numbers somewhat. To maintain
consistency, I‘ve included PP goals and shots for most Sedin line-mates. This isn‘t a
major flaw because most Sedin line-mates have also spent time on the man-advantage
with the twins, with Alex Burrows being the most notable exception.
Secondly, there are also gaps in what I‘m able to definitively figure out from the gamelogs
and boxscores. For example, in 2001-2002, the Sedins lined up with Trent Klatt for
34 games and with Todd Warriner for 13. That leaves 35 games unaccounted for, and
as best I can tell the twins played with an irregular combination of wingers including
Todd Bertuzzi, Jan Hlavac, Trevor Linden and Matt Cooke. It‘s impossible to ferret out
who took which shot while they were on the ice with the twins, so I‘ve only included
games in which the identity of the Sedin line-mate is clear. This means, sadly, that the
likes of Jeff Cowan, Ryan Shannon and Mats Lindgren, all of whom I remember taking
shifts here and there with the twins over the past decade, don‘t qualify for our list.
The logic also results in us losing a few blocks of time: we lose from February through
to the end of the season in 03-04 because Crawford never managed to find a good fit
for the twins after Magnus Arvedson went down. He tried the likes of: Bertuzzi,
Rucinsky, Naslund and Sanderson with the twins in search of a good fit and never really
found one. Often the boxscore suggests that Bertuzzi would double shift and play 7 or

so minutes with the twins, and 10 with the West Coast Express during any given
game…
We also lose all of the 07-08 season because both Markus Naslund (who spent 45% of
his ice-time with the twins) and Taylor Pyatt (who spent closer to 30% of his ice-time
with the twins) were the Sedins trigger man on any given night. Though I haven‘t
included them, it should be mentioned that both players shot well below their career
averages that season, something that goes against the trend suggested by my other
findings. I also removed the portion of Henrik Sedin‘s Hart trophy campaign (09-10)
when Daniel was injured because I‘m interested in the impact on players who play with
both Sedins at the same time.
A quick observation before we get to the table: Magnus Arvedson is absolutely the
unluckiest Sedin linemate ever. Arvedson was 31 years old when he played 6 games
with the Sedins in January of 03-04, following the fizzling out of the mattress line (two
twins and a Jason King). In those six games, Arvedson twice got injured and was
unable to return in the first period, once was held pointless and without a shot and three
times potted two goals. In the sixth game he blew out his knee and never played NHL
hockey again, but he had 6 goals in a little over 70 minutes of ice-time with the twins.
That‘s some bad luck.
Linemate Goals Shots Sh% with the Twins Career Sh%
Trent Klatt 36 298 12% 11.2%
Todd Warriner 1 15 6.6% 8.9%
Jason King 11 99 11.1% 9.9%
Trevor Linden 4 22 18% 13.9%
Magnus Arvedson 6 9 66.7% 14.1%
Anson Carter 33 146 22.6% 15.2%
Taylor Pyatt 20 139 14.3 11.2%
Markus Naslund 4 25 16% 13%
Steve Bernier 4 30 13.3% 11.9%
Alex Burrows 44 302 14.5% 14%
Mikael Samuelsson 11 74 14.9% 8.3%
Pavol Demitra 8 58 13.7 14.1%
Total 182 1217 14.95%
As you can see, the Sedins consistently inflate their line-mates shooting percentage. My
favorite example is Burrows, who, previous to getting a chance with the ―twin terrors‖
was a career 9% shooter (22 goals on 245 shots). He has now shot over 16% in each of
the past three seasons which has pulled his career average up by 5%. I hope Burrows
bought the Sedins something nice for their mutual birthday last month, or at the very
least is going as ―thankful‖ for Halloween.

Capitals punishment? Washington eases up on flashy run-and-gun style
That means less ice time for the snipers, but team‘s improved defensive zone play is
proving that substance pays dividends
By Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun columnist
VANCOUVER — The Washington Capitals were the greatest show on ice. People loved
it, especially opponents at playoff time. Now they‘re merely the best team in the
National Hockey League.
Nowhere is the remarkable change on the fly of this team more evident than in the
statistics of Alex Ovechkin, whose swashbuckling style and what-me-worry outlook so
perfectly represented the old high-scoring, low-achieving Capitals.
By almost any measure — points, shots, power-play role, ice time — Ovechkin is down
from last season. But he is ahead in wins.
The Capitals are 7-1 heading into tonight‘s marquee matchup against the Vancouver
Canucks.
An eight-game losing streak last December forced the Capitals to confront an
uncomfortable truth about their one-way style, and coach Bruce Boudreau convinced
them to pay more attention to the defensive zone.
General manager George McPhee then homered this summer by trading for Chicago
Blackhawk Troy Brouwer and signing free agents Joel Ward and Roman Hamrlik, all
gritty guys who have skill and experience, too. McPhee also had veteran goalie Tomas
Vokoun fall into his lap when Semyon Varlamov forced a trade.
After winning 195 games but only two Stanley Cup playoff rounds in four seasons, the
Capitals are finally as much about substance as style.
―I‘d say so,‖ defenceman Karl Alzner said. ―We‘ve had years where we were just so
much fun to watch because we‘d go out there and run-and-gun: breakaway, breakaway,
2-on-1, 2-on-1. It‘s great to watch and it‘s flashy and puts people in the seats. But we‘d
rather play the right way and win more games. I think there‘s been quite a bit of a
change.‖
―Just a lot of flash and not much attention to their own D-zone is kind of what we always
thought,‖ Brouwer said of the Capitals‘ reputation when he played in Chicago. ―I think
that‘s why they never had any real, long playoff runs. This year, getting Hamrlik who‘s a
real good shutdown guy, creating a solid checking line and bringing in a couple of more
gritty players, we‘re really focusing a lot more on our D-zone. We know with the talent
this team has the depth this team has, we‘re always going to be able to score goals.‖
Ovechkin has three of them while averaging just 18:41 of ice time. Last season, he
averaged 21:21. Two years before that, he played 23 minutes a game.
Through eight games this year, not even top defenceman Mike Green, who won‘t play in
Vancouver due to an ankle injury, is averaging that much ice time.

None of Boudreau‘s top six blueliners plays fewer than 17½ minutes, and no regular
forward has averaged less than 10½ minutes.
Leading scorer Nicklas Backstrom‘s average ice time of 17:59 is five ticks less than
checking centre Brooks Laich‘s TOI. Sniper Alex Semin is getting 16:51 per game.
―New guys come in here and you can see how it‘s changing,‖ Ovechkin said.
―Of course it‘s good for team when we have four lines. But I think everybody wants to
play more. Again, everything for the team, and we‘re winning and we‘ll take it. Of
course, everybody wants to play 22, 23 minutes. But do you want to play more or do
you want team results?‖
Well, both. But forced to choose, Ovechkin takes the better team over a better bottom
line for himself.
―He has been easy,‖ Boudreau said of Ovechkin‘s conversion to the new philosophy.
―He has won every award you can win except for one. He has bought in. Whatever it
takes to make us a better team, he‘s willing to do.
―The longer you go without getting what you really want, the more you want it. That
goes for anybody in any walk of life. So I would assume that that‘s the same for Alex.‖
McPhee said: ―It hasn‘t been an issue at all with Alex. We‘ve asked them all to be really
accountable. We had a real tough training camp, really pushed them. There wasn‘t one
whimper, no one whining. They all talked about wanting this structure and accountability
and we‘re demanding it. There haven‘t been any issues.‖
Until Thursday‘s game in Edmonton, there hadn‘t been any losses, either.
―We change our system last year,‖ Ovechkin said. ―I think right now we know exactly
what to do in the offensive zone and defensive zone. All four lines can score and all four
lines can play.‖
But what about the Great Eight Show? What about the guy who won two Hart Trophies
before his 24th birthday not showing up in nightly highlights?
―My job is to play hockey,‖ he said. ―I‘m not a clown who wants to make a joke and
make some funny things. If I can do it, I‘m going do it. I am who I am.‖
Near as we can figure, he meant he‘s not only here to be a showman. Ovechkin wants
to be more than a pretty face. OK, forget his face. You get the idea.
―This isn‘t Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals,‖ Laich explained. ―This is the
Washington Capitals. Ovie will tell you that himself. If the team wins and he plays less
minutes, he‘s a 100 per cent fine with that.‖
Everyone on any team should be.
Canuck Schneider accepts career in holding pattern
By Jim Jamieson, The Province

Vancouver Canucks' Cory Schneider could be seeing a lot more ice time in the start of
this season.
For a guy who's is locked in a holding pen, Cory Schneider is remarkably upbeat.
If he were a skater, instead of a goaltender, there wouldn't be an issue. As a forward or
a defenceman, having reached a point in his professional career where he's proficient
enough at his craft to be an everyday NHL player, he'd be in the lineup and getting his
minutes. Of course, there are 18 skaters playing in any given game, but usually just one
goaltender.
Schneider, 25, dresses for every game, but he watches two-thirds of them from the
bench as No. 1 Roberto Luongo gets the priority.
It's a rare circumstance – having essentially two No. 1 goaltenders – and Canucks fans
should enjoy it while it lasts.
―Right now I'm just taking it a game at a time,‖ said Schneider, who shared with Luongo
last season's Jennings Trophy for the goaltenders on the NHL team with the fewest
goals against and had very similar personal stats – except, of course, games played.
―I think right now anything could change at any moment, but it's not like I'm sitting here
waiting for something to happen. I like the city, my teammates, the organization. It's not
some place that I want to get out of, by any means, but if an opportunity comes about
that allows me to advance my career and become a starting goalie, it would be a great
opportunity. But it's out of my hands. If there's one thing I've learned, it's to not waste
energy thinking about things you can't control. If I do well and perform my job like I can
then I force them to make a tough decision. Whatever happens, I realize it's not
personal, it's a business decision that's about what's best for the organization, so I'm
just going to enjoy it here while I can.‖
Schneider's situation is out of his hands in part due to Luongo's 12-year contract that
has this season and 10 more to run and partly because he signed a two-year deal that
will still leave him a restricted free agent at the end of this season. Schneider, actually,
won't become an unrestricted free agent until after next season, but we'll get to that.
Right now, it's looking like Schneider will get more than the 25 appearances of his
rookie season last year, but Luongo's No. 1 status carries with it obvious certainties.
It's hard to find a situation similar to that of Schneider elsewhere in the NHL. Perhaps
23-year-old Sergei Bobrovsky in Philly, who went through the goaltender merry-goround
there last season as a rookie and is stuck behind newly signed Ilya Bryzgalov and
his nine-year, $51 million deal. And there's 24-year-old Tuukka Rask in Boston, where
last season's all-everything goalie Tim Thomas is No. 1 but, at 37, only has this year
and next on his contract.
Canucks goaltending coach Roland Melanson said Schneider is ready to be a starter
now.
―He's definitely a guy that I would have no problem filling a No. 1 role in this league,‖
said Melanson, who lauds Schneider for his work ethic and ability to assess his own
performance. ―He's showed the maturity. He's very comfortable being put in all sorts of
situations against any team. He's a great complement with Roberto. He's a guy who

very loyal to what he does and that he signed that contract. He knew the role he was
going to be in his first year or two.
―We're privileged to have two quality netminders so on any given night to give us a
chance to win.‖
Some players might not be so upbeat in similar circumstances, but that seems to be
part of Schneider's nature.
―I get to play in the NHL for a living and come into this room with the most talented
people in the world at what they do,‖ said Schneider. ―I push myself and I have internal
drive to be the best I can and have a chance to be become a No. 1 guy, but it's one of
those things where you can't come in and start making demands. You can't rock the
boat because you want to be selfish and not worry about the team. I was always taught
that you do what you're told, that it you play well and do the work you will get success
down the line. I'm not hurting being a back-up on a Stanley Cup contending team.‖
As for the loyalty part, Schneider defended Luongo vehemently as his goaltending
partner received unprecedented flack in recent weeks for another poor start in October.
In a way, Schneider's excellent play to start the season (1.97 goals against
average/.927 save percentage) has ramped up the criticism of Luongo (3.45 GAA/.868
SP, before Saturday's game with Washington).
But Schneider's reaction speaks volumes about the tight relationship the two have.
―You have to defend your teammates,‖ said Schneider. ―I don't care what the scenario is
or who's right or who's wrong, these are the guys you play the game with. You've got to
have their back and they have yours. It's frustrating to hear the negativity and criticism
of people you know and I take it personally and I hope other guys on this team do as
well.‖
Schneider has been a the No. 1 goaltender almost his whole career, but says he's
adjusted to working as a subordinate to Luongo.
―I think you have to understand each other, understand your roles,‖ he said. ―I think it's
hard for people who aren't goaltenders to understand the position, the mental side of it.
It's nice to be able to commiserate with each other, to say, hey, we're in this together.
We sort of joke around, we worry about the same things, we think a certain way. I think
we connect in that sense. He enjoys getting some time off to re-charge his batteries and
I enjoy learning from a guy like him and watching him play every day.‖
Said Luongo: ―We have a good relationship off the ice as well. We're in this together.
He's a great young goalie and he's going to be superstar in this league, no doubt. The
other thing, that's sad about it, is we know it's not going to last forever.‖
Canucks juggle lines to snap out of funk
By Jason Botchford, The Province

The mediocre start to the season has the Canucks attention.
And just in time.
The Canucks are talking about a facing a big challenge and test when they play the
Washington Capitals Saturday. But more importantly, they're talking about feeling
embarrassed.
That was the word Kevin Bieksa chose when asked about his minus-9 rating.
"It's an embarrassing stat, especially for somebody who takes pride in shutting down the
other team's top lines," Bieksa said.
The Canucks 4-5-1 record may not yet quite qualify for embarrassing but it should be
unacceptable for a team that has aspirations to get back to the Stanley Cup final.
After getting shutout at home against St. Louis on Wednesday, head coach Alain
Vigneault has made some changes. Roberto Luongo is back in. And why not? He's 12-1
lifetime against teams Alex Ovechkin plays on, including the win against Russia in the
Olympics.
Cody Hodgson has been moved from third-line centre to right wing on the second line.
The move comes despite GM Mike Gillis saying this week the organization likes
Hodgson more at centre.
Chris Higgins goes from the second line to the third.
It's some interesting window dressing, but the Canucks are going to need more than
some line juggling to get out of the slump they're in.
"It's almost like you're sitting there and you're waiting for them to score first, then you
get going," Henrik Sedin said.
"Right now, we're looking for the first one and if we don't get it, it's a big let down on our
team. That can't happen."
Henrik believed it's good time for the Canucks to face the Capitals, even if Washington
has the best record in hockey.
"It's good because it can bring everyone up to the level we need," Henrik said.
"Otherwise, it's going to be embarrassing."
Oh, there's that word again.
It could easily be embarrassing. The Caps lost 2-1 in Edmonton but that was their first
loss in seven games. They are deep up front and any one of their lines can score.
If Luongo is off, and if the Canucks play as poorly as they have in the past two weeks,
they could get rolled right out of Rogers Arena.
"It's high," said Henrik, when asked about the team's confidence level. "It's really high.
There are things we need to get better at but we're not as far off as some people think.
"We're not happy at all right now. But there hasn't been big difference between winning
and losing this season."

Ryan Kesler hasn't been able to click yet with new acquisition David Booth. There have
been questions about whether the two forwards are two similar because they both have
a shoot-first mentality.
"There's only one puck out there," Kesler said. "Obviously, I like to shoot. But that's not
the only thing I like to do.
"I don't think we're ever going to be a Hank and Danny out there. We'll never be tic-tactoe.
We both like to shoot, that's how we play.
"(Mikael) Samulesson liked to shoot too. I think it's going to be less of a transition
because I know how he plays. Booth plays a north-south game, drives down the wing
and goes to the net.
"It's an easy play to me just to get the puck to the net for him."
Canucks must play to survive or Washington will eat them
By Gordon McIntyre, The Province
The Washington Capitals might be just what the doctor ordered to snap the Canucks
out of their lethargy.
Pittsburgh didn't work: the Canucks came out in the season-opener like it was still
barbeque season.
Against New York, the Canucks couldn't score.
Nashville was a fun win, but Minnesota took overtime and then, most recently, the
Canucks were shut out by St. Louis, their second goose-egg in front of home fans this
year.
―I'm sure looking forward to it,‖ Alex Burrows said of Saturday's game. ―Washington is a
great team, probably the best team in the league right now.
―We'll have to put our work boots on and measure ourselves against the league's best.
―I think it will be fun.‖
That will depend.
The Canucks could get blown out 8-0 the way the Caps have been running-and-gunning
four lines and the way the Canucks have been playing defensively.
You only have to look at the two teams' goal differentials to see the train wreck that
could await Saturday night: The Caps are a league-leading plus-16; the Canucks 25th
overall at minus-5.
You can go down the list: The Caps lead the NHL in goals per game and even-strength
goals, and have the third-best power play.
Meanwhile, Washington is only 15th in shots on goal, the Canucks fifth, an indication
that the Canucks' shots are coming from the periphery.

―We're getting enough shots, but we're not getting to the dirty areas,‖ Daniel Sedin said.
―To score in this league now you've got to get to the greasy spots because the goalie's
going to make the first save.
―We're not getting there.‖
It was a strength of the team last year.
Either Tanner Glass and Raffi Torres are missed a lot more than thought or this year's
lineup just isn't showing the same determination.
―It comes down to hard work,‖ Sedin said. ―We were good last year because everyone
worked real hard. When you work hard you open up scoring chances for other guys,
too.
―Right now we're not doing that.‖
The Caps played in Edmonton last night and arrive in Vancouver with lots of new faces
since their last visit two years ago.
Tomas Vokoun sported a 1.80 goals-against average heading into last night's play, and
he's joined by newcomers Troy Brouwer, Joel Ward and Roman Hamrlik.
Centre Nicklas Backstrom and defenceman Dennis Wideman are off to great starts, the
Alexanders - Ovechkin and Semin - are their usual artful selves, while young centre
Marcus Johansson and winger Jason Chimera both have four goals.
Mike Green has a sore foot and is day-to-day.
Interestingly, Bruce Boudreau has cut down on Ovehckin's ice time and rolled four lines;
no regular at forward is averaging less than 10 minutes a game.
―Washington is playing really well right now and they've got four lines going,‖ Sedin said.
―It will be a battle.
―But like I said, if we're not willing to go those areas in front of the net, we're not going to
score any goals.‖
LUONGO LOOKS TO REBOUND
AGAINST HIGH-SCORING CAPITALS
Canadian Press
VANCOUVER - Roberto Luongo will get one last chance to salvage something from his October wreckage
against the hottest team in the NHL.
The much-maligned Vancouver Canucks goaltender, going through his seasonal first-month funk, will start
Saturday against the Washington Capitals (7-1), who are off to the best start in their franchise's history.

"I had a good practice (Friday) and I'm going to focus on what's going to be the most important game of the
year (Saturday) night," said Luongo.
The Canucks (4-5-1) are looking to shake off their early-season rust and regain the form that enabled them
to come within one game of winning the Stanley Cup last spring. Luongo had the night off during
Vancouver's last outing, a dismal 3-0 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday.
The 2010-11 Vezina Trophy nominee has just two wins in six games this season. He was pulled in the
second period of his previous game Tuesday in Edmonton, allowing three goals in just over five minutes.
Although Luongo has acknowledged his career-long October struggles and the difficulty of fighting through
them, he has yet to find a solution.
"I'm just going to turn the page and get to work," he said. "That's how you get over the hump. You can't
dwell on the past. You've just got to worry about doing your job and putting in the work in practice and
making sure that, when you come to the rink every day, you come in with a clear head and fresh head and
your energy is put in the right place."
Luongo, sporting a new short-hair look, and backup Cory Schneider stayed on the ice longer than their
teammates Friday to get some extra tutoring. It should come in handy against the Capitals, who recorded
seven straight wins before suffering their first loss in Edmonton on Thursday.
"It's a good challenge for our team, and I think it's what we need right now, to get amped up for a big game
like that," said Luongo.
Despite the poor results, Luongo said he has felt good in practice the past week, and he is confident the
wins will eventually come. So is Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault -- about his goaltender and his team.
"I expect Roberto to give it has best shot," said Vigneault. "That's what he always does."
Ironically, Luongo hopes Washington star Alex Ovechkin will be the tonic that he needs heading into
November, a month in which he usually shines. The Canucks netminder has battled the Caps' captain since
his earlier days with Florida as well as in the 2010 Olympics while guiding Canada to the gold medal.
"I've always enjoyed playing him. Obviously, I played him a ton when I used to play for the Panthers," said
Luongo. "He's a type of guy that poses a good challenge, and I get up for those types of things. So I'm
obviously looking forward to playing him ... But I think they've got more than one weapon on that other
side."

Ovechkin has produced seven points in eight games, second on the team to Nicklas Backstrom's 10. But
Ovechkin and Backstrom are well down on the NHL scoring chart. The Caps have won by rolling out all four
lines and displaying more offensive balance than they have in years past.
However, Washington coach Bruce Boudreau is wary of his club getting complacent against the struggling
Canucks.
"I hate it when you're playing a great team that's lost two in a row," said Boudreau. "They're a great team.
It's overshadowed, because they didn't win the Cup last year, of how great a year they had.
"It's the same team pretty well, same core, so we're nervous -- because they're mad. We know it's going to
be a tremendous test. The last two games we've played them, we've lost 4-2 and 3-2 and they've been
really good hockey games."
Accordingly, Boudreau is wary of waking up Luongo. He coached Luongo during his first pro season with the
Lowell Loch Monsters of the AHL in 1999-2000.
Boudreau said he expects a strong performance from the Canucks' veteran.
"I know how good he can be, and I know how mentally strong he is. Every time he steps on the ice, there's
that chance that he's going to be great."
The Canucks are hoping their offence will be the story for a change -- not goaltending. With only 24 goals
for in 10 games, they are anxious to turn the red light on in the opposition's end. In the meantime, they
continue to defend Luongo against intense public criticism.
"We hope that everything gets sorted out really quick," said Vancouver forward Manny Malhotra, adding the
Canucks win and lose as a team. "We talk about it all the time. We don't point fingers around here."
Notes: Boudreau said injured defenceman Mike Green (ankle) will miss his fifth straight game. The coach
hopes to see him back by next weekend. ... Injured Canucks defenceman Aaron Rome (hand) and winger
Steve Pinizotto (shoulder) are expected to return sometime during the club's upcoming six-game road trip.
Matthew Sekeres
Ovechkin is both class clown and head of the class
Globe and Mail

Alexander Ovechkin is not only one of the best players in hockey, he’s also the greatest
showman in the NHL.
Take the Washington Capitals practice at Rogers Arena on Friday, in advance of a Saturday
game against the Vancouver Canucks, where Ovechkin spent most of his downtime heckling
injured teammate Mike Green, who was in the stands beside general manager George McPhee.
Ovechkin wouldn’t let it go as the two men spoke. He wouldn’t reveal what the inside joke was
about, but it’s a good guess he was ribbing Green about sucking up to the boss.
“Mike Green!” he bellowed for all to hear, drawing so much attention to Green and McPhee that
the latter put his arm around the former, and everybody had a good laugh.
Of course, the Capitals have been doing nothing but laughing – and offering gap-toothed smiles
– these days, after a spectacular start to the 2011-12 season. Washington won seven consecutive
games before falling 2-1 Thursday to the upstart Edmonton Oilers, the Capitals’ first loss of the
season.
But while Ovechkin and the Caps are off to a flying start, Vancouver has not been kind to No. 8.
Two years ago, in just his second regular-season game at the Canucks’ home arena, Ovechkin
was held off the scoresheet, not registering a shot on goal until late in the third period. A few
months later, playing for Russia at the 2010 Olympics, Ovechkin recorded four points in four
games, and delivered a hellacious hit on Jaromir Jagr of the Czech Republic, but his country
went meekly into the night, embarrassed 7-3 by Canada in an elimination game.
“My job is to play hockey,” Ovechkin said when asked if Vancouver hockey fans had seen the
best of him. “I’m not a clown who makes jokes and [does] funny things. But if I can [entertain]
than I’m going to do it, so we’ll see what happens.”
Neither head coach is anxious is to see what happens in this contest between the defending
Western Conference champions and an Eastern Conference heavyweight.
Vancouver’s Alain Vigneault spent his news briefing talking about how balanced the Capitals
have been this season, using four lines and six defencemen far more than they have in years past.
He said one way of beating Washington previously was to catch one of its lines – read
Ovechkin’s – on an extra-long shift and take advantage of tired skaters. Now, Vigneault said, the
Capitals are able to play at a frenetic pace that challenges defencemen because they have fresher
skaters jumping over the boards.
Vigneault said the marquee value of Saturday’s game “got our attention” and predicted that the
Canucks would have to play their best game of the season in order to win. The Canucks have had
a blasé start to the season, and seemed disinterested in losses to the Oilers and St. Louis Blues
this week.

“I think it’s good,” captain Henrik Sedin said of facing Washington. “It’s going to bring
everyone up to the level where we need to be. Otherwise, it’s going to be embarrassing.”
Washington’s Bruce Boudreau was equally skittish about facing a team he likened to a wounded
animal.
“I hate it when you’re playing a great team that has lost two in a row, and that’s what we’re
doing,” Boudreau said. “We’re nervous, because they’re mad. It’s going to be a tremendous
test.”
High-scoring tunes
Sandra Sperounes
Vancouver Sun
From high-energy dance tracks to sinister rock themes, each disc jockey has his favourites,
which he uses to enhance the experience at hockey arenas for fans and players alike
Ryan Jones races across centre ice as the Edmonton Oilers take on the Calgary Flames at Rexall
Place. It's a warm Saturday night in September, the first of two pre-season games between the
provincial rivals.
High above the ice, DJ Dragan Jargic sits on the catwalk with one eye on the game, one eye on
his computer, his right hand on a mouse, ready to click through his library of rock, pop, country
and club tracks - from AC/DC's classic rock nugget Back in Black to David Guetta's Sweat, a
dance remix of a Snoop Dogg tune.
Jargic sports the reflexes of a pouncing cat - or Boston goalie Tim Thomas - quickly playing a
tune after a referee's whistle blows or the Oilers score a goal.
Next to him sits Ben Broder, who directs the off-ice entertainment between whistles and during
TV timeouts.
He lets his announcers know when to read ads or period summaries. He also tells Jargic when to
play a song for the Octane cheer team or the members of the T-shirt crew as they toss freebies
into the crowd.
"It's like being a rave DJ on steroids," says Jargic, who used to spin at bars and after-hours clubs.
"I'm looking for tracks, listening to my headset and watching the play. Often, it's a last-second
choice."
He usually plays snippets of more than 70 tracks per game, including the warm-up, and his tunes
are divided into categories on his screen: First Period. Second Period. Third Period. Power Play.
Big Play. Visitors' Goal. Faceoff. Cheer Team.

"I try not to play something great at the start of the second and third periods because people are
still coming in from getting their beers - unless there's a power play," says Jargic.
Power plays often get high-energy dance tracks or a sinister rock anthem - such as 2 Unlimited's
Tribal Dance or Metallica's For Whom the Bell Tolls. Penalty kills get a blast of defiance - from
White Stripes' smashariffic Icky Thump to Pendulum's rocktronic Showdown. When goals are
scored - and two are on this night - Jargic plays Mickie Krause's Dup Dup, a German party-pop
number with chants of "Hey!" and "do-do-do-do."
The DJ pumps his fists in the air after forward Taylor Hall scores the go-ahead goal in the
penultimate minute of the third period.
With less than 14 seconds left in the game - and the Oilers leading 2-1 - Calgary calls a 30second
time out.
"Play something really loud so they can't hear their coach," jokes Al Stafford, one of the
announcers.
Jargic cues up Against Me!'s Stop, a stompy punk number with appropriately cheeky lyrics:
"Take some time to think / Figure what's important to you / You've got to make a serious
decision."
Music has long been an integral part of the NHL - from the introduction of organs in the late
1920s to anthem singers to game DJs to TV broadcasts.
Remember the national outcry generated when CBC's Hockey Night in Canada decided to ditch
its longtime anthem? Remember the Canucks' run to the Stanley Cup, when an arena full of fans
- and fans in bars throughout much of the province - sang O Canada before games? Spinetingling.
Picking what tracks to play isn't quite as critical as deciding which snipers to use in a shootout,
but the genre and tempo of tunes help set the mood for fans at games.
"I think, just like any other human activity, music augments the experience," says Glen Gower,
director of game entertainment for the Ottawa Senators. "We like to think of the music and the
stuff we do here as going to a great wedding. You hate to see people sitting around a table at
your wedding - same thing here. We hate to see people sitting, doing nothing in the seats. Music
is the most effective way that we have to encourage people to get up and get loose."
Loud, cheering fans, in turn, provide a psychological boost for players.
"[The music] brings momentum," former Oilers forward Georges Laraque said. "When it gets the
crowd going, it gets us going. It has to have a lot of energy - not like Celine Dion."

Not only are songs used to signal power plays, penalty kills and sometimes fights, they can also
be used as a form of editorial comment - such as Three Blind Mice when a ref calls a suspect
penalty - or a punctuation mark on a save, goal, win or Stanley Cup.
Sean Bovelsky, who DJs for the Tampa Bay Lightning, says the right tune at the right moment
can make it all the more memorable. He cites last season's playoffs, when the Bolts were on the
verge of sweeping the Washington Capitals in the second round.
"It's Game 4, we're up by a goal or two, there are six seconds to go," he says. "[The Capitals]
made a shot on goal and we saved it, so the whistle blows. I hit I Gotta Feeling [by the Black
Eyed Peas] right at that moment and the crowd just went nuts. It was the perfect song and the
perfect time. The whole crowd is standing and clapping. It was one of my biggest thrills last
year, personally, as a music guy."
What makes a great song for a hockey game? Almost any organ track, say team DJs, or any tune
that fans can clap along to or yell the words to.
WE WILL ROCK YOU IS NO. 1
Queen's We Will Rock You was the No. 1 song heard at U.S. major sports events during the
2009-10 season, according to BMI, a company that collects licensing fees for artists.
Kevin Rudolf's Let It Rock, featuring rapper Lil Wayne, was second, followed by Nickelback's
Burn it to the Ground, the Black Eyed Peas' Boom Boom Pow, and Christina Aguilera's version
of Car Wash, featuring Missy Elliott.
"Last year, Dynamite by Taio Cruz worked really well," says Gower. "It's a song about
celebration. You think about Queen's songs - We Will Rock You or We Are the Champions -
and it's along the same vein. Very upbeat. You put it on and people recognize it. They've got a
smile on their face; they can't resist tapping their foot along to it."
What about reaction from players? Do they listen to the music between whistles - or do they tune
it out?
Oilers blueliner Ryan Whitney says he might catch a few seconds of a song during a TV timeout,
when teams can rest for a minute or two during a break in the broadcast.
"But if it's just a whistle and a change, I really don't hear it."
Whitney prefers to listen to music on his way to the rink - Foster the People and Radiohead are
two of his current favourites - or in the dressing room.
"Taylor Hall took some recommendations from guys to put together a list," says Whitney. "The
song I gave him was Where the Streets Have No Name by U2. I get pretty fired up from that
song."

Many teams, including the Oilers, also take player requests for the pregame warm-ups.
The Oil's choice of tunes? Anything by Swedish House Mafia, a trio of DJs and producers from
Sweden.
Dave Levinson, who DJs for the Vancouver Canucks, knows a few of his players hear the
occasional song.
"During a game, a lot of them will say they don't notice it, which is probably true, but I
remember we were playing golf and [Alex] Burrows said to me, 'You played that Black Eyed
Peas tune and it was just awesome.' So they do hear it. You see sticks bouncing on the bench and
you see guys bopping their heads and I always look out for that."
Anecdotal evidence seems to confirm his views, particularly when it comes to the songs players
don't want to hear.
During the 2009-10 playoffs, some Canucks couldn't stand Chicago's goal song, Chelsea Dagger,
a boppy, thumb-your-nose "Duh-duh-duh-duhduh" rock tune by The Fratellis.
"Nightmare," defenceman Shane O'Brien told a Global BC reporter, who asked players to listen
to the song on an iPod.
"Worst song in hockey. I don't even want to listen to it any more," said Kevin Bieksa, taking off
the headphones in disgust.
While fans begged Levinson to play Chelsea Dagger when the Canucks beat the Blackhawks
during the first round of the 2010-11 playoffs, the DJ refused. He also resisted the urge to play
Fountains of Wayne's power-pop hit Stacey's Mom when Jarret Stoll was with the Oilers and
dating model Rachel Hunter, who appears in the music video for the song.
"When I started, Brian Burke was the general manager and he said to me: 'A lot of teams do it,
but I never want you to make fun of an opposing player or a ref or a bad call because I believe
they'll know that and they'll try to come back and hurt one of our guys,' " says Levinson. "On a
bad call, we'll play Sabotage by The Beastie Boys or We're Not Going to Take It [by Twisted
Sister] once in a while, but I just think it's obnoxious, to be honest."
The Oilers try to take a similar tack. In 2008, the team's former DJ played a Hilary Duff song
while her now-husband and then-Islanders forward Mike Comrie was skating off the ice.
The blue and orange's current DJ, Dragan Jargic, says he wouldn't stoop so low. Three Blind
Mice and Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye are nonos, though more subtle jabs are acceptable,
depending on the circumstances. Last season, he played Montreal's goal song, U2's Vertigo, after
Ales Hemsky scored an empty-net goal in the third period, to give the Oilers a 4-1 win.
"The arena exploded either into cheers or cheers with beers being thrown," says Jargic.

"But, afterwards, during [a radio] post-game show with Dan Tencer, people were saying: 'That
was brilliant!' I checked out the Montreal [message boards] later and people were like: 'That was
classless!' On the flip side, we go to their house and they can do the same thing to us."
Or, perhaps, the Canadiens might want to simply change their entrance anthem - the guitar solo
from Coldplay's Fix You - for the Oil's next visit to the Bell Centre.
DJS SHARE PLAYLISTS
Unlike NHL players, the league's 30 DJs aren't quite as competitive with each other. They like to
share playlists via prosportsDJs.com and the odd conference call, though each team boasts its
own approach to music - from genre preferences to entrance anthems to goal songs to real versus
pre-recorded organs.
The Tampa Bay Lightning's playlists are heavy on classic and contemporary rock - AC/DC's
Thunderstruck is the team's entrance anthem - while the Canucks play more current pop and
dance tunes, such as LMFAO's Shots, Foster the People's Colour on the Walls, Maroon 5's
Moves Like Jagger, even Adele's Rolling in The Deep.
"There's a style that the Canucks want which is different than in years past," says Levinson, who
shares the music duties with an organist.
"Most arenas are classic rock, heavyduty arena anthem stuff. We're going more on the pop side
of things right now, more Top 40. It's a younger demographic that we're noticing at games, a lot
of kids, and it seems to have worked really well.
"There's always time for AC/DC or Guns N' Roses - hockey is a contact sport - but we're
skewing more Top 40, more cutting edge, and a lot of arenas haven't got there yet."
The Canucks still use at least one classic rock number, U2's Where the Streets Have No Name,
as their entrance anthem. A few teams, such as the L.A. Kings, New York Rangers and Ottawa
Senators, have hired composers to write original themes for their clubs.
Despite their long, winning history, the Oilers don't have their own anthem - nor do they have a
well-established goal song. The team's DJ only started playing Mickie Krause's Dup Dup, the
German party-dance number, during the second half of last season.
"The goal song has been a struggle," Jargic admits. "All the other goal songs the Oilers had,
other teams then adopted them, like Zombie Nation's [techno classic, Kernkraft 400]. Dup Dup
works really well. The fans are starting to get into it. It's got the 'Hey! Hey!' and it's upbeat."
Apart from the relative obscurity of the team's goal song, the Oilers prefer "fun, fairly palatable
and familiar" tunes during games, says Jargic.

Rock is the genre of choice - '80s hits such as Billy Idol's Mony Mony and Motley Crue's
Kickstart My Heart seem to be staples - but he also plays a healthy amount of pop, dance and
techno tunes, though rarely any current Top 40 hits.
At the pre-season game against the Flames, only one of Jargic's playlist of 70-plus tunes was
released in 2011: David Guetta's Sweat.
"You've got to realize, wherever you go, you're dealing with tons of different people - in terms of
ethnicities, backgrounds, ages - so variety is definitely key," says Ben Broder, who used to work
as the game day director for the Chicago Blackhawks before taking the same job with the Oilers
in 2010.
"The biggest thing is anything that gets you bobbing your head or moving or going a little bit. It
kind of relates to all generations - I don't want to give specific examples, but songs that were
obviously Top 10 in the '60s, '70s and '80s, that you still hear on radio, you know there's an
identification that everybody gets along with. That's not to say that's all we play, but it is difficult
to try to entertain 16,000 people with different tastes."
TURN THAT MUSIC DOWN!
Like coaching decisions, music brings out the critic in each and every one of us. And DJs are
used to their share of editorial comments from fans.
During the first pre-season game between the Oilers and Flames, Jargic and Broder got several
complaints about the volume - too loud - and one from a fan who didn't want to hear any more
rap songs.
Opinions are also rife among musicians and Oilers fans on Twitter, Facebook and a message
board dedicated to fans of the blue and orange.
"Honestly? Sometimes, I think it sounds very recycled to me," says Stefan Candie, who plays
keyboards in Flash Jam, a local synth-rock group, and attends about 10 games a season.
In a thread about possible entrance anthems for the Oilers, some fans made digs against hip-hop,
metal, pop, dance and the Kroeger boys.
"No crappy metal, no crappy 'new' rock, no crappy anything. No kid rock, no Nickelback, just
please no more crap," wrote hemmertime.
"Nothing gets a person more pumped up than a good rock song. It just wouldn't be the same to
hear some guy rapping as it would to hear some in-your-face rock," wrote Ashee99.
In other words, no matter what Jargic plays at Oilers games, he can't win.
Some teams are trying to incorporate more feedback - and more interaction between fans and
DJs or musicians - into their games.

The days of the nameless, faceless DJ who plays music from some mysterious location inside the
arena are disappearing.
The Vancouver Canucks, for example, relied on live musicians - such as The Odds, Elvis
Costello and The Tragically Hip's Robby Baker - to play in various spots around Rogers Arena
during last season's run to the Stanley Cup. The team's DJ also used Twitter to ask fans for song
requests; he's now trying to tweet his song selections during every game this season.
The Ottawa Senators went one step further, using Facebook and message boards to get fans to
vote for the team's new goal song. Their choices? Nickelback's Burn it to the Ground, The Black
Keys' Howlin' for You, The White Stripes' Seven Nation Army remix, Britney Spears's Till the
World Ends and Locksley's The Whip. The winner, Seven Nation Army remix, was unveiled at
Ottawa's home opener.
The Tampa Bay Lightning's Sean Bovelsky, also known as DJ Bolt, no longer sits on the
catwalk, high above the ice. He's now stationed in Section 218 of the St. Pete Times Forum,
surrounded by dozens of fans. Some of them occasionally tap him on the shoulder and try to
suggest a tune or two.
If that wasn't enough, the Lightning recently removed about 500 seats to make way for a party
deck, complete with a pipe organ. Fans will be able to mingle next to the organist as he [or she]
plays tunes during the game. "It's not like he or she's going to be in a corner," says Bovelsky.
"He'll be the star" - much like Al Megard was when he played a 3,663pipe Barton organ at
Chicago Stadium, the old home of the Blackhawks.
The instrument is making a comeback around the league, after a lot of teams ditched it in the '80s
and '90s. The Oilers are among the teams using one again, debuting a live organist at the team's
home opener. Gordon Graschuk played snippets of tunes by J. Geils Band, Burton Cummings
and The Who. (The team's DJ, however, is still responsible for the majority of music.) For now,
Graschuk and his Kawai CP179 are hidden away on the catwalk, but there's talk of installing a
camera so fans can see him.
Dieter Ruehle, who is a DJ and plays the organ for the Los Angeles Kings, estimates there are
now 20 organists in the NHL. He was recently hired to play the home opener for the Dallas Stars,
a team without an organist, because the team's new management wanted to "show what it's like
to have the feel of live music at a game."
Having an organist can give each team its own custom feel in their home arena. After all, a
recorded song will sound the same wherever it's played. But each organist, and each organist's
versions of songs, is different."
WHAT THE DJS SAY ABOUT THEIR WORK, FROM VANCOUVER TO OTTAWA:
VANCOUVER CANUCKS

DJ: Dave Levinson, who also played tunes during the men's hockey games at the 2010 Olympics
in Vancouver.
Entrance anthem: U2's Where the Streets Have No Name.
Goal song(s): Used to be Green Day's Holiday, now trying Locksley's The Whip.
Ideal song for a game: "Uprising by Muse is a new one which always gets them going. We use
some of the Daft Punk stuff from the Tron soundtrack when the announcer says, 'National
Hockey League play resumes in three minutes.' A lot of the Taio Cruz and Pitbull stuff is really
high energy and the players like that."
Overused songs: "We don't do Cotton Eyed Joe or any of those kind of hokey, Canadiana stuff
we kind of shy away from it. We do The Hockey Song, but very rarely - maybe on a Saturday
night against the Habs."
Songs played for specific teams: "What really was a test was having to play the [Stanley Cup]
celebration for the Bruins on our home ice and, actually, we got through it quite well. I played a
lot of the Bruins' favourite tunes. I'm actually friends with the Bruins DJ, Dan McCarthy, and we
all listen to each other so I played some Drop kick Murphys and The Standells' Dirty Water."
Feedback: During the playoffs, the Canucks offered Tweet-a-Tune, where fans could request
songs via Twitter.
EDMONTON OILERS
DJ: Dragan Jargic, a.k.a. DJ Dragon. His boss is Ben Broder, who used to be game day director
for Chicago Blackhawks.
Entrance anthem: Jet Black Stare's Ready to Roll.
Goal song(s): Mickie Krause's Dup Dup. "It's got legs," says Broder. "You need something in the
song that will provoke the fans to get up and do something. With the team we have and the more
we score, it'll catch on."
Ideal songs for a game: "I really love the power plays because I can push a little bit more of that
dancier, harder techno stuff just to get that drive energy," says Jargic. "Even heavier driving rock
or metal. Anything that just wants you to say, 'Let's kill this power play!' "
Overused songs: "We'll keep a very few A-listers that we'll play every game or almost every
game," says Broder. "There are season ticket holders who come to all 41 games and you don't
want them to feel like it's Groundhog Day."
Songs played for specific teams: No. Feedback: "A lot of fans come from the perspective: 'What
do I want to hear?' " says Broder. "If Dragan and I started thinking like that, we wouldn't have
our jobs.

We get people who write in and say, 'You should play all of Metallica's Black Album.' I
appreciate your opinion, but we just can't do that."
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
DJ: 15-year veteran Sean Bovelsky, a.k.a. DJ Bolt, who also plays tunes for the NFL's
Buccaneers and the Arena Football League's Storm.
Entrance anthem: AC/DC's Thunderstruck. Goal song(s): "The goal song we use is by XL and
the song's called Fluxland and it's a cool techno dance song."
Ideal songs to play: "Last year, one song that was really big for us was Taio Cruz's Dynamite.
The Black Eyed Peas' I Gotta Feeling was huge last year. There's a new song that I'm really
hyped about. It's the new Flo Rida, it's called Good Feeling, so it's kinda like Black Eyed Peas
but it's just a little bit different."
Overused tunes: "I think every song is fair game. You've just got to be careful. If you don't play
Shout (from Animal House) or 2 Unlimited at every single game, it will still get a reaction."
Songs played for specific teams: "The only time we might play something is during the
introduction, so we might play the Dallas (TV) theme if we're playing the Stars or What's New
Pussycat? by Tom Jones when the Florida Panthers come in or we might play Seals and Crofts'
Summer Breeze when we're playing the Carolina Hurricanes."
Feedback: "The players are requesting more current [music] - whether it's urban or dance music -
for their warm-ups."
LOS ANGELES KINGS
DJ: Dieter Ruehle is one of three DJs/ organists in the NHL.
Entrance anthem: "My friend Fred Coury wrote the Kings' entrance theme. It works because it's a
solid rock (drums/guitar) piece. It's also instrumental, which allows our PA announcer to
introduce players while this music is playing."
Goal song(s): "Besides I Love L.A. (by Randy Newman), I also play an original song during goal
celebrations. I helped arrange the Kings' goal theme with Fred Coury, who wrote it. It's a custom
piece that works in part due to its fan participation segments of the song."
Ideal songs to play: "A song that's recognizable with an uptempo beat. Or there's a part of the
song that fans can participate in. For example, Song 2 by Blur is played in a lot of NHL arenas
thanks to the 'Woo hoo' part."
Overused tunes: "Song 2 by Blur I suppose fits in this category of being 'overused,' but I'll still
play it."

Songs played for specific teams: "I'll play things when certain teams are in town, but mostly on
organ (so they're more subtle)."
Feedback: "When players are more relaxed, such as during warm-ups, I think they tend to notice
more of the music being played. With the Kings, I play music during warm-ups that's made up
entirely of players' requests."
OTTAWA SENATORS
Director of game entertainment: Glenn Gower. He used to play the organ for the Senators in the
mid-'90s.
Entrance anthem: The Ottawa Senators Theme Song, a Hockey Night in Canada-style tune with
horns, flutes, searing guitar riffs and snaking bass lines, commissioned by the team when it
entered the NHL in 1992.
Goal song(s): Until this season, each player had his own goal song, but the Senators asked fans
and players to vote for one of five new tunes. The winner? The White Stripes' Seven Nation
Army remix. "The only player who we're going to keep with a player-specific song is our captain
Daniel Alfredsson. When he scores, we play Beautiful Day by U2. I know he's a huge U2 fan. I
think his dog's name is Bono."
Ideal songs to play: "I like the classics. We Will Rock You by Queen - it's amazing how you can
play it almost every sporting event, and it still sounds great."
Overused tunes: "Well, we're not playing as much Cotton Eyed Joe."
Songs played for specific teams: "Sometimes our organist will play the theme from The Beverly
Hillbillies for the Oilers, it's got the line about oil in it. Who knows how many people catch that?
But every so often, our organist or DJ will throw in an Easter egg like that."
Feedback: "We do extensive surveys and focus groups."
Capitals-Canucks preview: Washington wary of Vancouver despite its recent struggles
By Katie Carrera
VANCOUVER — Make no mistake, the Washington Capitals insisted after wrapping up
a practice at Rogers Arena, the Vancouver Canucks are just as intimidating as ever,
regardless of their unimpressive 4-5-1 start.
It‘s the same core squad that reached the Stanley Cup finals last spring after running
away with the Presidents‘ Trophy and boasting the best power play, the third-best
penalty kill, most goals scored and fewest goals allowed in 2010-11.

But the team Washington will face Saturday night is hungry for a statement game after
losing two straight, struggling to create consistent offense and weathering a goaltending
controversy. The Capitals, who stand second in the league heading into this weekend,
know if they aren‘t prepared Vancouver could find a way to put everything together
against them.
―I hate it when you‘re playing a great team that‘s lost two in a row, and that‘s what we‘re
doing,‖ Coach Bruce Boudreau said. ―They‘re a great team and sometimes you look at
it, it‘s overshadowed because they didn‘t win the Cup last year, of how great a year they
had. .?.?. We‘re nervous because they‘re mad. We know it‘s going to be a tremendous,
tremendous test.‖
Tomas Vokoun will make his eighth consecutive start for Washington on Saturday night,
coming off his first loss of the season, on Thursday in Edmonton. The 35-year-old
Czech has turned away all but 13 of the 217 shots he has faced as a Capital, good for a
1.83 goals against average and .940 save percentage.
Opposing Vokoun will be embattled netminder Roberto Luongo, who hasn‘t played a full
game in nine days and was pulled from his most recent start after allowing three goals
on 14 shots to the Oilers on Oct. 25. Luongo is under intense scrutiny in British
Columbia after giving up 19 goals in six appearances with a .868 save percentage and
3.45 goals against average.
But Boudreau, who coached Luongo during the 1999-2000 season when both were with
the Lowell Lock Monsters, knows the 32-year-old is capable of stealing a game in any
outing. Luongo has fared well against the Capitals, going 17-10-3 with a .929 save
percentage in 32 career meetings.
―You‘ve just got to turn the page and get to work; that‘s how you get over the hump,‖
Luongo said when asked how he moves on from the poor performances, adding that he
believes a matchup against the Capitals is just what the Canucks need.
―It‘s a good challenge for our team,‖ Luongo continued. ―I think it‘s what we need right
now to get amped up for a big game like that. Obviously [Washington is the] best team
in the league so far this year. It‘s exciting game for our troops and we‘re getting amped
up for it.‖
The Capitals will require disciplined play on Saturday in order to both move on their
penalty-littered efforts against Edmonton on Thursday and to keep the Canucks from
gaining any momentum on their power play (19.2 percent). Vancouver has struggled
this season on five-on-five play, where its been outscored 20-15.
―We‘re not that far off. I think we realize that in here,‖ said Daniel Sedin, who leads
Vancouver with four goals and 12 points. ―Defensemen playing pretty good right now,
offense we‘ve got to work a little harder to get those scoring chances. If we do that we‘ll
be fine.‖
Though the teams, the past two Presidents‘ Trophy winners, don‘t play each other often,
they expressed mutual respect for each other. Each recognizes a strong outing will be
required to beat its elite foe.

―They‘re a great team. They‘re just going through a minor rough patch. Those types of
teams scare you because they‘re due for a breakout solid game,‖ Capitals forward
Brooks Laich said. ―We have a tremendous amount of respect for them. For us to be
successful tomorrow night we‘re going to have to play our best game of the season.
Better than we played against Philly, better than we played against the Red Wings,
certainly better than we played‖ against the Oilers.
Capitals notes: Mike Green missed a fifth consecutive practice with a twisted right ankle
on Friday and is not expected to play against the Canucks. General Manager George
McPhee said he doesn‘t believe Green‘s ankle injury is a long-term concern. .?.?. Jeff
Halpern was given a maintenance day and was the only Washington player on the trip,
other than Green, who did not practice.
George McPhee doesn‘t believe Mike Green‘s injury is a long-term concern
By Katie Carrera
General Manager George McPhee said on Friday at Rogers Arena in Vancoouver that
he doesn‘t believe Mike Green‘s twisted right ankle is a long-term concern.
McPhee added that Green, who is still limping, has been trying to put his right foot in a
skate but is likely a few days from being comfortable enough to return.
Green missed a fifth consecutive practice Friday with a twisted right ankle suffered on
Oct. 22 against the Detroit Red Wings on the same play he was hit on the jaw by a
puck. The defenseman had a lengthy conversation with McPhee in the stands here in
Vancouver while the rest of the Capitals practiced.
Asked when he thought Green might be able to return, Coach Bruce Boudreau said
he‘d like to have the two-time Norris Trophy finalist back by next weekend.
―I wish I had that crystal ball,‖ Boudreau said when asked about Green, ―but I‘m hoping
he‘s back by next weekend.‖
Capitals‘ Tomas Vokoun set to oppose Canucks‘ Roberto Luongo Saturday
By Katie Carrera
Tomas Vokoun will make an eighth consecutive start for the Capitals on Saturday night
when they take on the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena.
The 35-year-old Czech suffered his first loss this season, 2-1 to the Edmonton Oilers on
Thursday night, but it‘s safe to say neither of those tallies – both on the power play –
could be blamed on Vokoun. He has been steady for Washington in his seven previous

starts and Vokoun now has the opportunity to stay on a roll against the waiting-tobreakout
Canucks.
―It helps when you‘re out there more. When you get momentum you get to keep it, but
saying that, you [still] have to be able to deal with anything, be ready for anything,‖
Vokoun said. ―[Coach Bruce Boudreau] makes decisions, who plays, but it‘s nice for me
to get a game even after a loss.‖
While Vokoun looks to extend his momentum, the man who will oppose him looks to
find some. It has been a rough start to 2011-12 for the much-maligned Roberto Luongo,
who is 2-3-1 with an .868 save percentage and 3.45 goals against average.
Luongo hasn‘t played a complete game since Oct. 20 against Nashville and in his most
recent outing, on Oct. 25 in Edmonton the veteran was yanked from the net after giving
up three goals on 14 shots in just 26 minutes 55 seconds. While the pressure on
Luongo is one thing, getting back in a rhythm after several days without a full game is
another.
―It‘s practice. You put in the work in practice and start feeling good about your game
[and] then it all transpires once you start playing,‖ Luongo said. ―For me, I‘ve been
feeling pretty good about myself in practice the last week or so. Obviously the results
weren‘t there in Edmonton. You just got to stay with it keep working and things will
eventually come.‖
Luongo has had a rough October, but the slump doesn‘t give Boudreau cause to doubt
what the Canucks‘ goaltender can do. Boudreau coached Luongo during the 1999-2000
season with the Lowell Lock Monsters and he won‘t be the one to underestimate the 32year-old.
―I coached him for a year; I know how good he can be,‖ Boudreau said of Luongo. ―I
know how mentally strong he is. So every time he steps on the ice there‘s that chance
he‘s going to be great. I anticipate him being great just like [Oilers‘ Nikolai] Khabibulin
was last night, and so if he‘s that we better be prepared.‖
Edmonton goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin thwarts Capitals
By Katie Carrera
For the first time this season, Tomas Vokoun found himself out-dueled by an opposing
netminder. And for the first time this season, the Capitals scored less than two goals in
a contest unable to solve a veteran netminder.
Nikolai Khabibulin, 38, made 34 saves including 19 in the third period as the Capitals
tried and ultimately failed to erase the Oilers‘ one goal lead on Thursday at Rexall
Place.
Washington brought everything it could against Khabibulin, who stopped chances of all
types rather shots in tight around the net, blasts from the point, to one-timers – including
a stunning save on Dennis Wideman on the first power play of the third. The Capitals
also had a pair of shots ring off the iron in the final frame.

―I think we have couple shots hit post. My shot hit the crossbar, Wides shoot at almost
an empty net and he makes a great save,‖ Alex Ovechkin said. ―He‘s how I say,
unbelievable goalie. He keep them in the game and they get the lead and they try to
play more safely.‖
It‘s tough to blame Vokoun entirely on either of the power play goals the Oilers scored.
On the play that led to the second, the 35-year-old was contending with Shawn Horcoff,
who was doing a thorough job of blocking Vokoun‘s view of the play when the puck
jumped out to Jordan Eberle.
On the Oilers‘ first tally of the night, Washington was playing down four on three and
couldn‘t prevent Eberle from threading a pass through the crease for an easy goal by
Taylor Hall.
―You‘ve got to be honest in your play and my guy is the one with the puck,‖ Vokoun
explained. ―If the puck goes across, you do the best you can to come across and make
the stop. I‘ve got to make sure I make the stop if Eberle shoots it.
―He one-times the pass and [Hall], I think he was lefty, so it was one-timer for him too,‖
Vokoun continued. ―Our defensemen [Karl Alzner] was right there it just snuck through
him. [Four on three] there‘s going to be chances. Even though they‘re young they‘re
going to make good plays.‖
Capitals didn‘t get bounces, ‗puck luck‘ in Edmonton
By Katie Carrera
Despite all the penalties the Capitals took in the first two periods against the Edmonton
Oilers Thursday, they still came roaring back threatening to tie the game or win it
outright with a flurry of 19 shots in the third period.
But unlike the previous seven games that Washington seemed able to find whatever
necessary switch or clutch bounce in the most favorable direction it couldn‘t crack the
scoreboard again. Nikolai Khabibulin was a game-changer in the third period, but he
also got a little help from the goal post and crossbar on shots by Dennis Wideman and
Alex Ovechkin, respectively.
―I think you need breaks to win but they made their own breaks just like we made our
own breaks in the previous seven games,‖ Coach Bruce Boudreau said. ―Bounces are
part of the game; either you get them or you don‘t get them. When you‘re doing the right
things, you get the breaks. When you‘re maybe doing things that you shouldn‘t be
doing, you don‘t get the breaks.‖
The Capitals two most recent games before their extended four day layoff and trip out to
western Canada were filled with the type of timely goals and instances of being in the
right place at the right time that seemed absent in Edmonton. For example, Mathieu
Perreault‘s late second-period tally against the Red Wings or Alex Ovechkin‘s goal in
the waning seconds of the first period against the Flyers.

―That happens, though, sometimes you just don‘t get [the bounces],‖ Karl Alzner said.
―You see the last two games us against Philly and Detroit we were getting all those and
today we don‘t. It‘s just the way the puck bounces. We definitely worked hard and threw
everything at them , it just didn‘t happen.‖
Said Tomas Vokoun: ―They had some luck, hit the post a few times in the third period
sometimes that‘s going to happen. They had more puck luck [Thursday] than us.‖
After the game, regardless of their frustration with an unknown penchant for visiting the
Rexall Place penalty box, the Capitals seemed pleased with their work ethic in the
contest and had the sense of a team that knew it couldn‘t go undefeated forever.
―It‘s 82 games. You cant go 82-0,‖ Joel Ward said. ―It wasn‘t like we didn‘t try, it wasn‘t
like we didn‘t have the effort -- honestly we just didn‘t score. We had chances they just
didn‘t go across the line for us it was just one of those days.‖
Penalties kill Capitals‘ winning streak
By Katie Carrera
While Edmonton‘s 2-1 victory Thursday night will be remembered as the Capitals‘ first
loss of the 2011-12 season, it will also stand out for the nine penalties the visitors were
whistled for at Rexall Place.
Washington was undisciplined and although there were some questionable calls,
neither Coach Bruce Boudreau nor the players blamed the officiating for the defeat and
for the most part accepted responsibility for the extended time in the penalty box.
By game‘s end, nine different Capitals — Matt Hendricks, Alexander Semin, John
Carlson, Roman Hamrlik, Jeff Schultz, Troy Brouwer, Marcus Johansson, Mathieu
Perreault and Karl Alzner — had been whistled for an infraction by the officiating
tandem of Dan O‘Halloran and Stephan Auger.
The Oilers wound up with 11 minutes and 21 seconds on the power play and both of
their goals came on the man-advantage. Edmonton was whistled for six penalties.
―You have to adjust when you‘re out there,‖ Boudreau said. ―You have to know who the
ref is and if they‘re calling it loose, okay. But if they‘re calling every little thing it‘s up to
the players to adjust to it. I mean, in the rulebook, they‘re penalties. Some people call it,
some people don‘t. You get to know pretty early when they‘re calling it who‘s going to
call what.‖
The penalties forced Washington to skate without offensive threats Alex Ovechkin,
Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin for long stretches of the second period in
particular. At the end of the second stanza, thanks to the lengthy penalty kills, not one of
those three players had more than 10 minutes of ice time.
―We take too many penalties. You can see we top lines we didn‘t play lots of minutes in
the first two [periods],‖ Ovechkin said. ―I just tried to be in the game, you know, if there

was whistle I go and try to skate a little bit, but again we have too many penalties.
Sometimes it happens in a game.‖
That didn‘t make certain players any more enthused about the penalties they were
called for. Johansson was not happy about being called for closing his hand on the puck
— replays showed the second-year center wrapping his hand around the puck as he
tried to swat it out of the zone.
Then there was Alzner‘s holding-the-stick call, when the defenseman pulled Jordan
Eberle‘s stick off of himself.
―I don‘t want to say anything too mean, but that‘s not a good position for a stick to be on
me, it doesn‘t feel very good, so I‘ m not just going to let it happen,‖ Alzner said. ―But it
doesn‘t really matter.‖
George McPhee doesn‘t believe Mike Green‘s injury is a long-term concern
By Katie Carrera
General Manager George McPhee said on Friday at Rogers Arena in Vancoouver that
he doesn‘t believe Mike Green‘s twisted right ankle is a long-term concern.
McPhee added that Green, who is still limping, has been trying to put his right foot in a
skate but is likely a few days from being comfortable enough to return.
Green missed a fifth consecutive practice Friday with a twisted right ankle suffered on
Oct. 22 against the Detroit Red Wings on the same play he was hit on the jaw by a
puck. The defenseman had a lengthy conversation with McPhee in the stands here in
Vancouver while the rest of the Capitals practiced.
Asked when he thought Green might be able to return, Coach Bruce Boudreau said
he‘d like to have the two-time Norris Trophy finalist back by next weekend.
―I wish I had that crystal ball,‖ Boudreau said when asked about Green, ―but I‘m hoping
he‘s back by next weekend.‖
585582 Washington Capitals
Requiem for Capitals‘ winning streak
Seven-game stretch was best start in franchise history
By Stephen Whyno
The Washington Times
Friday, October 28, 2011

VANCOUVER — Expecting perhaps a broken reflection on how the Capitals' sevengame
winning streak came to an end Thursday, a Canadian reporter asked defenseman
Karl Alzner how it felt to be the last team in the NHL to lose a game.
Less than 15 minutes removed from the 2-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, the wisebeyond-his-years
Alzner already had perspective.
―I‘m pretty happy about it. It‘s a good sign,‖ he said. ―We got a really good team here.
We ran into a good team here that‘s on a high. We‘re really, really excited about the
direction of this team right now.‖
That seems to be the appropriate requiem for this winning streak, a seven-game tear
where the Caps became the best team in the league by riding depth and quality
goaltending. It was the best start in franchise history and among the tops in NHL history.
The streak ended Thursday night at Rexall Place, though that was because of a
combination of bad bounces, bad penalties, missed opportunities and a great opposing
goaltender.
―It was a little tough like that. You can‘t always get the bounces,‖ center Marcus
Johansson said. ―Sometimes the bounces are against you and you‘ve got to work hard
to get the win. I think we worked hard, but we couldn‘t get it in.‖
Bounces — or what goaltender Tomas Vokoun refers to as ―puck luck,‖ weren‘t
happening for the Caps against the Oilers. They had been there during the streak,
which included victories over the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings.
In Edmonton, shots rang off the post and pucks that didn‘t flutter wide were swallowed
up by Nikolai Khabibulin. Meanwhile, seven straight minor penalties on the Caps took
away chances to control the game.
―I think you need breaks to win, but they made their own breaks, just like we‘ve made
our own breaks in the previous seven games,‖ coach Bruce Boudreau said. ―Bounces
are part of the game. You get them or you don‘t get them. When you‘re doing the right
things, you get the breaks. When you‘re maybe doing things you shouldn‘t be doing,
you don‘t get the breaks.‖
For the first seven games of the season, the Caps scored 30 goals and allowed just 14.
Michal Neuvirth started it with a stellar game against the Hurricanes, and Vokoun went
6-0-0 with a .944 save percentage to keep things rolling.
While the Caps effectively cycled through four lines and three defensive pairings and
kept ice time generally balanced. Nicklas Backstrom led them with 10 points (two goals,
eight assists), while the top goal-scorers were Johansson and third-liner Jason
Chimera.
―The team‘s playing good,‖ Boudreau said this week. ―Nobody‘s playing better than
anybody else. When you have everybody pulling in the right direction, usually good
things happen.‖
He cautioned that Thursday everything could change ―in a heartbeat.‖ For one game it
did, and the Caps experienced their first loss of the 2011-12 season.
And yet, the positive vibes from the winning streak remain.

―It‘s 82 games,‖ right wing Joel Ward said. ―I never thought we‘d go 82-0.‖
Capitals encouraged by the big picture
Despite loss, team is loose and confident going into game at Canucks
By Stephen Whyno
The Washington Times
Friday, October 28, 2011
VANCOUVER — The end of the Washington Capitals‗ seven-game winning streak to
start this season came Thursday night in an odd game that featured a lot of penalties
and fine play by Edmonton Oilers goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin.
But the prevailing feeling around the team Friday was that it ―dominated‖ long stretches
of the game — even if it wound up as a loss on the calendar.
―Some nights you don‘t play good and you win,‖ goaltender Tomas Vokoun said. ―Does
that make it OK? Or if you play good and you lose, should you feel bad? I think that‘s
why you‘ve got to look at it what happens and how it happens.‖
The Caps chose the part where they were feeling good, loose and relaxed as they
practiced at Rogers Arena in preparation for Saturday‘s opponent, the Vancouver
Canucks. Instead of thinking about the one defeat, players and coach Bruce Boudreau
are focusing on the seven victories and their high level of play.
―This league is so tough that anybody you can have a start like we had, I think it‘s a
positive thing,‖ Boudreau said. ―But it‘s something you can‘t be complacent with
because every time you look around the corner there‘s another good team coming at
you.‖
Such is the case with Vancouver, so the Caps know they can‘t be complacent. But
they‘re also not a tight team, either.
At Friday‘s practice, the laughs and smiles betrayed Thursday‘s disappointment and
presented a marked change from the postgame locker room atmosphere in Edmonton.
―I didn‘t want them to feel down and depressed,‖ Boudreau said. ―We were depressed
as all get out last night. If you saw the dressing room after the game we were lower than
low. But if you keep getting low after one loss, then where else do you go? You‘ve got to
build yourself up, and we showed a lot of positive stuff today and we know how good
the opponent is [Saturday] and it‘s a great challenge.‖
Much of the positivity draws from the 2-1 loss to the Oilers. That‘s because the Caps
surrendered only 11 shots five-on-five, controlled the play for the vast majority of the
third period and created plenty of offense.
―You know what, we didn‘t play bad game. We took some bad penalties, but overall I
think we play [well],‖ Vokoun said. ―Nine out of 10 games you would win. We just didn‘t
have puck luck and their goalie play well and make some big saves.‖

The Caps hope they don‘t have to play 10 games like that in the near future, but they‘d
settle for eight victories in nine attempts to start the year.
In that vein, it appears they‘ve legitimately almost forgotten that the winning streak was
snapped and have moved on to thinking about bigger and better things ahead —
starting Saturday against the defending Western Conference-champion Canucks.
―It‘s not end of the world. We have lots and lots of games left, and we‘ve just got to
make sure we stay and do the right things,‖ Vokoun said. ―I‘m sure the results will be
there.‖
Notes: Boudreau said he doubts Mike Green will play against Vancouver, instead
pointing toward next weekend for a possible return. … Vokoun will start in goal vs. the
Canucks, who turn again to Roberto Luongo.