Remember that time I said that Alex Semin needed to step up and become a clutch player while Alex Ovechkin was out with an undisclosed upper body injury? Well that performance that we all just saw at the Rock in New Jersey was about as UNclutch as you can possibly get in hockey. Buyer beware...this is going to be a rant-ish recap. Proceed with caution.

So Semin is our second best player? Right now I just don't buy it. #28's stat line on the night read like this: 17:51 TOI, 3 shots on goal, 0 hits, 0 takeaways, 0 giveaways, 6 PIMs, -1, and a partridge in a pear tree. What. The. Hell. This guy's supposed all world talent is absolutely infuriating. I just can't forgive it right now. After Big Ted's reaction to the "non-hockey guy" comments of late, I feel like one of those fans that's just sitting out there griping and calling for heads, but I don't care. Semin's undisciplined, "I don't care attitude" has been festering on this roster for too long. It's true that his skill and output overshadows his bonehead plays a lot of times, but this time it's absolutely inexcusable. He's no longer a kid. He's been in the show for four full seasons, and turns 26 in March. There is absolutely NO reason for taking dumb penalties (two restraining, one unneccessary slash in the offensive zone), and if Boudreau wants to put a stop to this garbage, he has to put his foot down.

I disagree with the notion that we cannot sit Semin with Ovechkin out of the lineup. Friday affords Gabby a great opportunity to sit #28 (assuming there's a healthy body to replace him) against a bad Florida team. I give Boudreau credit for sitting Semin on his butt during the final 90 seconds (while 6 on 5) tonight, but he's got to do more. If Semin rides the pine (or sits in the box), maybe he'll finally start to realize that he's costing himself millions of dollars. If the Caps lose against the Panthers, they can say it was because they were missing their two best players. If they win, it's a gritty effort by 20 guys that worked for 60 minutes. It has to at least be considered.

Enough of Semin...here are a few notes from the rest of the game:

• Jurcina looked damn good. Great stick check on Parise's breakaway.
• Do we not have anyone that could be more productive than Clarkie in Hershey? I know the guy's the captain and all, but enough is enough. I know he had an assist, but it was secondary, and his fight with Pelley looked like two monkeys trying to take liberties with a coconut.
  
• Good for Flash...three goals already. The guy is really starting to earn his keep.
• Varly was beat high glove and five hole. Is anyone surprised?
• I honestly thought that Parise sold the boarding a little too much, but Mike Knuble can't put himself in a position to get whistled like that in the third period. That's back-to-back games where he's had an unneccessary penalty in the third period.

Kudos Go To:

Mathieu Perreault...congrats go out to Ocho Cinco for his first NHL game and first NHL assist. He flew around all night, and deserved a celebration and a win for his efforts. Too bad the vets didn't come through for him tonight.

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