Can't stop him
I've read only the part that was available, but even that was enough for me to say this, "an excellent article by Neil Greenberg from RMNB, congrats!"
Since I don't have ESPN Insider access, let's listen to Mike Hume, ESPN New York, Apr. 22, 2011:
According to the ESPN Insider article, Staal and Girardi have yielded a disproportionate amount of scoring chances to Ovechkin's line, with scoring chances defined as "a clear play directed toward the opposing net from a dangerous scoring area -- loosely defined as the top of the circle in and inside the faceoff dots." The data shows that the Caps have earned 61.5 percent of the scoring chances when Ovechkin's line matched up against Girardi-Staal at even strength during the regular season. That marks the highest percentage of any "shutdown" defensive pairing in the Eastern Conference playoffs against Ovechkin. In fact, Ovechkin's line performed about four percent better against the Girardi-Staal tandem than "non-shutdown" pairings it faced this season.
Should Staal and Girardi look for janitor jobs, like this goalie who couldn't stop Fedorov in this old Nike Commercial?
Nah, they did an excellent job, they followed all known templates on how to shut down Ovechkin. The problem is Ovi doesn't score vintage Ovechkin goals anymore.
There are no goals scored on wrist shots from behind defenceman or slapshots from a point. And it is only partially because of Staal or Girardi, but for the most part because these weapons no longer work for Ovi. Again, I attribute it to bad pre-season and bad conditioning as a result.
But just like Crosby, who doesn't have and never had these weapons, Ovi started driving to the net and scoring "ugly goals". He has adjusted his game, that what great players do.
Can't stop him now.
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If Ovie's bad pre-season and bad conditioning caused him to struggle on offense, and if Coach Boudreau adjusted the Caps style of play to compensate, it could turn out to be a blessing in disguise. If the Caps are now more playoff ready--more defense minded, score ugly goals--and go far in the playoffs, then the old cliche is true. They will have been given lemons and made lemonade. But don't forget to add the Bacardi or vodka LOL.
@BobbyG: I prefer tequila ;-)
I agree, I don't care what it takes, as long as Ovi and the team goes as far as possible in the playoffs. Who needs finesse, when you can win, lol.
I hope we see some awesomeness today as I will be at the game, and I'm sure it will be loud and crazy as ever. Go Caps!
@bwitch16: I know you saw some awesomeness because it came through loud and clear on my TV. The Caps look strong and committed, a scary sight for whatever team they play in Round 2. Go Caps!
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