Observations from Caps-Islanders

[I'll update this post once the related video clip is online.]

A lot is made of Alexander Semin and his skill set. Gorgeous wrist shot, powerful slap shot, fantastic skater...when he tries.

Many of the same critiques are levied at Mike Green. Great shot, great vision, but the effort isn't always there.

One major difference between the two (other than position) that I've noticed lately, particularly in tonight's game against the Islanders, is how strong each player's fundamentals are. With apologies to Don Cherry, Green is by far the more unorthodox player while , despite all his dangling and fancy footwork, Semin is really fundamentally sound.

What prompted this was the observation that Semin always stands out on the ice, even away from the puck. He takes up more physical space than his lithe 6'2" frame would suggest, and the reason is simple: he always had two hands on his stick.

Semin succeeds in the most basic of fundamentals that youth hockey coaches spend untold hours impressing on their players- always keep both hands on your stick. That way you're always a split second away from catching a pass or taking a shot (especially after the follow-up lesson, 'always keep your stick on the ice).

On the other hand, Green's skating fundamentals are a little off. I won't critique him for the poor passes he made tonight, since Semin made some equally-poor decision, but sometimes it's surprising he stays upright while skating. On the play leading to Semin's second goal, Green carried the puck down the right wing and behind the net.

Notable about Green's skating was that he glided about 80 feet along the boards on just his outside foot. Sure, it looks pretty, but all it takes is a simple tap to knock you over in that situation. Green gave himself no opportunity to cut inside or otherwise make a move- he was stuck in that glide.

Food for thought, since Green gets positive attention for his smooth skating while Semin gets no credit for anything, basically, other than his shot.