Whew. And we're back. I'll tell you, there's nothing like a heartbreaking first round loss to the Flyers followed by a soon-to-be heartbreaking second round loss to the same damn team to almost make a girl lose her mojo, scrap it all and take up the NBA.
So...how 'bout those Wizards, huh? Huh?
Okay, no. I have no idea what's going on with the Wiz these days and honestly I couldn't care less, despite my desire to just turn the lights off on this hockey season and hide away until September. It hasn't gotten bad enough for me to turn to basketball, not yet at least; and I'm guessing since Dan Steinberg is still blogging furiously, the Wizards are still alive.
Bully for them.
Don't get me wrong - there is a lot to celebrate right now. Take the fact that the Caps weren't even supposed to make the postseason in the first place and yet ended up winning their division. Take the fact that they clawed their way back from a 3-1 series deficit and made it all the way to overtime in game 7 before succumbing to the Flyers. Take the fact that Ovechkin, Backstrom and Boudreau all find themselves up for major NHL awards - all of which are deserved.
Take the fact that waiting in the wings of an already young, talented club are young, talented prospects with names like Karl Alzner, Sami Lepisto, Andrew Gordon, Mathieu Perreault, and Semen Varlamov.
Yes, there is a lot of good in the world for Caps fans, and I, like all of you, would do well to remember that. Because as we sit on the verge of a potential Flyers-Penguins Conference Final...it's sometimes hard to believe there is any good in the world at all.
Despite the pain, there is still hockey going on - and some pretty exciting hockey for that matter. Sure, all four series are flying by and we could be seeing one of the shortest second rounds in recent memory. But don't let that fool you, none of these series (save for the Wings-Avs series, which admittedly I haven't watched much of) have been easy. There have been a lot of one-goal games, a lot of overtimes, a lot of clanking posts and reviewed goals and nail-biting final seconds. It's been a hard fought second round, as it should be.
Hey, if the Avs and Rangers remember how to play hockey for one night we've got ourselves a foursome of 3-1 series heading down the stretch. And doesn't the time seem ripe for a team to pull off the oh so rare feat of being down by that margin...and coming back to win it all? The way this postseason is going, it's not out of the realm of possibility.
Some thoughts so far:
- Montreal's problem isn't their goaltending or their lack of discipline at inopportune times or their inability to create traffic in front of Biron...it's all three. If that sounds eerily familiar to you, you're not alone.
- Every time Daniel Briere sneaks in from behind the net to score a goal a baby cries. Would someone just put a big bell around his neck already?
- The Rangers with Sean Avery have proved to be a tough if not quite tough enough foe for the Penguins. Without him? Tee time's at 8:30 tomorrow morning, boys.
- Marty Turco has worn the "choker" moniker, rather unfairly, for years now. Guess what - he's mad as hell and he's not going to take it anymore. He's the Cheap Seats favorite among all goalies named Marty, that's for sure.
- Is Colorado still playing?
- Steve Begin blocked a shot with his midsection last night and when he got to his feet and hobbled to the dressing room., he was booed. You stay classy, Philadelphia.
- Two games in a row now Patrick Marleau has picked off a cross-ice pass from Sergei Zubov, taken it down ice and scored a shorthanded goal. The Stars may be an infinitely better team with Zubov in the lineup, but I think everyone would agree he needs to stop trying that pass.
- Say what you want, but no coach does the wry "are you kidding me??" smile better than Guy Carbonneau.
- Where have you gone, Joe...Thornton?
- The Pens have the potential to do something no team has done in almost twenty years, and that is sweep the first two rounds. My question for you is this - since they came against a weak Senators team and an elderly Rangers team, does that make them more or less ready to face whoever survives the Habs-Flyers series?
- Speaking of which - irony comes in many shapes and colors, but right now it's wearing a hideous black and orange jersey. You have to think that after essentially throwing the last game of the year to draw the Sens in the first round over Philly, the last thing the Pens want to do is face the juggernaut Flyers in the Conference Finals. Should that happen...I will laugh.
Through my tears, of course.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
So Much to Say
Sunday, March 30, 2008
No Road Weariness Here
Now that the Caps have returned to the "safety" of DC, let's look at what they accomplished:
- A potentially monstrous, heartbreaking end of the season road trip ends up going the Caps' way, with only one loss in six games away from Verizon Center. That's 10 - count 'em, 10 - points out of a possible 12.
- Last night's win gives the Caps 40 on the year. The last time that happened was the 2000-2001 season.
- The Caps finish with 20 road wins. The last time that happened was the 1992-93 season, when they had 21.
- Alex Ovechkin gets 60th goal of the season...and 61st...and 62nd. And oh yeah, with every goal and assist he scores from here on out he's setting new career and franchise records. Not bad for a 22 year old kid with a missing front tooth.
- Brooks Laich hits the 20-goal mark for the first time, up from a previous career high of 7.
- Nicklas Backstrom earns his first two-goal game of his career; his point total now stands at 66, first among all NHL rookies.
- Huet runs his winning streak to six games and now has two shutouts since coming to the Caps - half of his total for the season.
- All five wins resulted in the opposition scoring three or fewer goals, including one shutout.
- 7 different players had at least one multi-point game; Backstrom and Ovechkin each had more than one.
- The Caps outshot their opponents 179-135 in their five wins and twice cracked the 40-shot mark.
Other meaningless stats:
Ovechkin - 5G, 5A, +9, 33 SOG
Backstrom - 3G, 3A, +6, 53% FO
Kozlov - 1G, 4A, +8, shootout winner
Semin - 3G
Fedorov - 3A, 41% FO
Poti - 4A, +6, 5 hits, 7 blocked shots
Green - 1G, 4A, +5, 5 hits, 8 blocked shots
Laich - 1G, 4A, 8 hits, 46% FO
Bradley - 2G, +2, 10 hits
Gordon - 1G, +3, 6 blocked shots, 62% FO
Morrisonn - +5, 7 hits
Jurcina - 12 hits, even +/-
Plus there's this little nugget of trivia - in the last ten games only one team has been hotter than the Caps, who are 8-2-0 in that stretch. That team? The San Jose Sharks, who are 8-0-2. That's right, folks, the Caps are officially THE hottest team in the Eastern Conference.
But more important than bragging rights is the fact that the Caps are still sitting just two points out of eighth, three points out of seventh, and two points out of the Southeast division lead heading into their final three games - with only Boston holding a game in hand.
Welcome home, boys!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Food for Thought
With Saturday night's victory over Tampa the Caps earned their 28th win of the season, the same number of wins they had all last season. With one more win they tie their single season high over the last three years. The last time this team had a 30+ win season? 2002-03, when the Caps finished their 92-point season with a record of 39-29-14.
Whatever happens from here, it's important to take away the fact that the Caps are on the right track.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Monday, Monday
Welcome back! I trust everyone had a lovely Super Bowl Sunday (such as it was) - if you're like me you probably only paid attention during the last five minutes of the game and maybe some of the commercials...only to discover that you would have been better off ignoring it all together. Hey, I hear they were showing chick flicks on every other channel...
Now that football season is over it would be reasonable to suggest that the focus would now fully shift from the NFL to the sports that are actually in the middle of their regular seasons. The key word there, of course, is reasonable.
Around here we'll probably still get a fair amount of football news - the Redskins search for Joe Gibbs' replacement continues, which means every night we'll be treated to a half hour on how...the Redskins' search continues. Hard-hitting coverage right there.
At any rate, let's get back to talking about the one thing we're concerned with at the moment, and that is the Caps. The big news in town today is that Eric Fehr, longtime member of the IR club, has been called up to provide some much needed scoring. In the last three games the Caps have been shut out twice, with the only offense in the rogue game essentially coming from Alex Ovechkin.
This team has become exactly what it needs to not be - a one-line wonder. If your top line is the only one scoring, the other team only has to shut down three players and float through the rest. Ovechkin is talented and can break through a lot of defensive systems, but come up against a hot goalie like Huet on Tuesday or Lehtonen over the weekend and you get exactly what happened.
I'm excited to see Fehr back in DC. He was just starting to heat up and learn how to play in the NHL when he returned to Hershey for the playoff drive and then developed his mystery injury, but all reports have said that he looks good. If he can pan out that gives us yet another young prospect making a splash on this team, something that is quickly becoming same old same old here in Washington.
It looks like Fehr'll be added to that increasingly young, increasingly high draft pick top line to play with Ovechkin and Backstrom. Kozlov takes his hot hands down to center the second line and fill a role that, to this point, neither Laich nor Gordon has been able to fill consistently. That frees them up for third and fourth line duty and maybe gives a rest to Fleischmann or Pettinger in the process.
While the top line has been clicking along at a great pace lately, it's hard to find fault with this. As much as I, er, like Laich, he doesn't quite have the grit or the vision of the ice to center free-wheeling wingers like Fleischmann and Semin. And Gordon has grit to spare but lacks the finish of a second line center.
Kozlov's presence adds both size and the ability to find an open man or open ice, often in creative or even jaw-dropping ways. Say what you will about him being a "disappointment" this year in the goal-scoring department, and you could say a lot, but the man knows how to pass. That much has been consistent.
One moment from the Thrashers game stuck out to me as quintessentially Kozlov, and proof that he is in my mind still worth every penny. It was a simple breakout pass, up the wing to a streaking Ovechkin, and rather than hitting him directly with it Kozlov shot it at the boards behind him, having it deflect off at such an angle that both puck and Ovechkin reached the same point at the same time - behind the defender. It allowed Ovechkin to avoid being stripped of the puck while trying to carry it past the D himself and set up a scoring chance. A simple play, yes...but a smart one.
So we pair Kozlov up with Semin and Laich, Fleischmann or Pettinger on that second line, which gives us Boudreau's favorite combo of grit and flair. Keep that third line (which is quickly becoming one of my favorites) of Laing, Steckel and Bradley, and then use Brashear and Gordon with another rotation on wing for the fourth line. The result, hopefully, is the elusive beast of secondary scoring.
And of course should Fehr work out we're then faced with a new problem, and that is a sudden glut of right-wingers. Clark will, hopefully, make his return to the lineup at some point before April. At that time the roster will be overcrowded and someone has to go, and conceivably the players on the outside looking in are Fleischmann and Pettinger.
While Flash is an RFA at the end of this year, he's also a bargain at about $500K with little chance of a costly raise - he's also scoring goals occasionally, something Pettinger has struggled with for some reason this year. Pettinger has one more year on a contract that will pay him a little over a million dollars next season before becoming a UFA.
As much as it pains me to say it, Pettinger's long history with the Caps may be coming to an end.
Check back in later as we preview tomorrow night's long-awaited match up with the mighty Blue Jackets of Columbus. In the meantime feel free to discuss anything I might have missed, your thoughts on Fehr's return, your questions of why the Caps couldn't score with Ken Klee and Alexei Zhitnik on the ice (at the same time nonetheless)...go nuts.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Empty Cheap Seats
If you haven't noticed already, posting has been sporadic (read: nonexistent) around here lately, due to some out of town visitors in the Cheap Seats who require full attention. We'll resume our regularly scheduled programming Sunday - until then, here's a quick rundown of what's new in CapsWorld:
- The Caps blow a three goal lead Thursday night and still manage to win it in a nailbiter of an overtime. If nothing else, they make it interesting...
- That Ovechkin kid's got a real future in hockey.
- Alex + broken nose = a 5 point night??
- Dozens of kids attended practice yesterday and could be seen cheering and screaming excitedly as a few of the Caps graciously signed autograph after autograph. I give you the next generation of Caps fans, folks!
- Atlanta comes to town tonight but Mr. Potato Head rules the day.
(By the way...I want one. Seriously, if anyone wants to send me one I would love it. Otherwise I have to go track down a kid of some sort and that could get messy.)
The resemblance is striking...
Friday, January 25, 2008
Soaring Into the Break
It's been awhile since the Caps have had to play a real grind-it-out type of game - in recent weeks it's been more like the last person to touch the puck wins, with several high-scoring affairs under their belts.
The Leafs inspired a different type of game, though, the type of game the Caps used to play in a pre-Boudreau era of trapping and defense-first mentality. It wasn't always pretty and it certainly wasn't always successful. The difference? Now you get the feeling that this team can snatch two points out of any situation, including but not limited to these types of games - when it used to feel like the opposite.
If Wednesday's game was a chess match between the coaches, last night's was a good old-fashioned goaltender's duel. The winner of this round was Brent Johnson, who came up huge for the Caps and gave them every opportunity to steal a game against a team that played much better in Verizon than back at home. Stopping thirty of thirty-one shots, Johnson was the deciding factor and the hero for the Caps, making sure that mistakes were nipped in the bud and frustrating the Leafs' attackers at every turn.
It was certainly Johnson's night, but don't underestimate the role of the other nineteen guys on the ice. There was some sloppy play and some defensive miscues to be sure, and we'll address that in a minute. But they also backed each other up remarkably well and came through with a gritty, hard-hitting win for their efforts.
The shot-blocking efforts of Quintin Laing continued to impress. Erskine kept up his run of solid defensive (and very physical) play. Kozlov's perfectly timed goal quashed any momentum the Leafs might have had after tying up the game and continued his recent hot streak. Ovechkin was everywhere as always, picking up two assists. And a tip-in goal by Brooks Laich not only broke the stalemate but matched his career high for goals with 30+ games remaining.
So bad stuff - well, discipline was a bit of an issue in this one and the power play, despite the last second marker by Laich, looked mostly unimpressive. They looked tired. Turnovers were rampant. Oh, and they might have broken a few of the Leafs.
They get two points, though, and now they get a serendipitous four day break to rest the weary bones and come back blazing in their last Canadian home and home against the ever feisty Habs.
As we bid Ovechkin and Backstrom good luck in Atlanta and wave goodbye to the rest of the team for a well-deserved break, it's as good a time as any to look at where we stand right now:
- With Atlanta, Florida and Tampa all dropping their games last night, the Caps slide into sole ownership of second place in the division. To put that into perspective, the gap between the Caps and first-place Carolina was fourteen points before Thanksgiving; it's now one.
(Yeah, no one else can believe it either...)
- By picking up the second half of the home and home after dropping round one in Toronto, the Caps extend their streak of not losing back to back games in regulation to an astounding 29 games. We're talking almost a decade since that happened the last time, folks.
- Last night's win also gave the Caps their fifth win in six games, their eighth in the last eleven, and a record of 15-6-3 since December 1. That's 33 of a possible 45 points during that span, a remarkable pace for a team that everyone was counting out not too long ago.
- After scoring just three goals in his first 40 games and only one since November 8, Viktor Kozlov suddenly has five goals in his last four games and has eight points in the last seven games.
- Brent Johnson has won three straight games and five of his last six, with the one loss coming in relief of Kolzig in the 6-4 loss to the Flyers. His six wins already match his total for all of last season and he's looking poised to surpass his previous high as a Capital of nine wins.
- We got Kris Beech back. Again. Yay.
- Both Backstrom and Ovechkin have been plus or even in every game since December 20th - a span of fifteen games.
- Quintin Laing has been a minus player only twice in the 23 games he's played since being called up (and also has 31 blocked shots...only two fewer than the number of shots he's taken). What a guy - he's got my vote, too...
- Backstrom has two goals and fifteen assists in his last fifteen games and has moved into second place in rookie scoring. His 32 assists are 18th in the league and he is in the top 60 scorers overall.
- After missing a good chunk of the season, Alexander Semin has suddenly found his groove again and has ten goals in his last fourteen games. He's also been a plus or even player in each of his last six games.
- Alex Ovechkin has a seven game point scoring streak going, which ties the longest streak of his career. During that stretch he's amassed thirteen points (7 G, 6 A), has vaulted into the league lead in goals with 39 and is tied for third in the league in points. He's also a team-leading +11.
Some small, tiny, miniscule areas of concern:
- Olie Kolzig. Period. There's no way around this one, he's been inconsistent from game to game and even within games, and he needs to find another level to his play - and fast.
- Matt Pettinger has struggled all year long and has just one point, an assist, since December 15th. He's also a -12 on the year - second highest on the team behind only Michael Nylander. While it's not for lack of trying, the frustration is starting to show in his game and when Clark comes back Pettinger may find himself on the outside looking in.
- The injuries to Chris Clark and Brian Pothier continue to test the depth of this Caps team. The club has soldiered on and continued to pick up points, but down the stretch their absence is going to be felt. They need to get healthy ASAP.
- It's just a little dip, but Mike Green is pointless in his last three games and recently he's had some bad turnovers that have led to goals or scoring chances for the other team. It could just be fatigue; his ice time has been up around the 26-27 minute mark over the last fourteen games and the team just completed a pretty rugged stretch. Hopefully after a nice long weekend Greenie will be back to his old self.
Overall? Things look good in CapsLand. Bring on the All-Star festivities!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Scrapping for Points
As we head into the stretch run obviously thoughts turn to the playoffs - what could happen, what will definitely happen, and what no one knows will happen. Today's poll on NHL.com poses an interesting question: Which East team currently out of a playoff spot has the best chance to earn a postseason berth? Detroit once again got off to a blazing start, establishing themselves as The team to beat early on, as they always seem to do. Edmonton, LA, Phoenix, Calgary, Anaheim - all struggling teams to kick off the season, with the biggest surprise (or maybe not) being the Ducks in their Cup hangover phase. Then there was the surprise story of the Blackhawks. Revitalized by a couple of teenage phenoms and key free agent pickups, the Hawks sat on the verge of greatness. St. Louis also appeared to have rebounded quite nicely from a disappointing few years. With all of the freefalls and meteoric rises in such a short time, it's interesting to note how close everything still is. There are one, maybe two teams out of the playoff picture - everyone else is very much alive, in both conferences. In the West a mere 6 points separates 14th from the coveted 8th spot; in the East 8 points are between 15th and 8th. Three division leaders are separated from the second place team by one point. In fact the only team whose division title is not in doubt is Detroit, with a twenty point lead on the next Central Division team (Nashville, in 9th place). Everyone else is up for grabs. And because of that this year, more than ever, every single point is huge and will continue to be huge until the very last game. We're in for an interesting ride...
It's a good question but it's one that is hard to answer because of just how quickly things can chance. Around here we're well aware of the turnaround that has taken place since Thanksgiving, a Caps team that was dead last in the East now right back in the mix and challenging for not only a playoff spot but a division title. But what about the rest of the league? There have been some stunning turnarounds in that period, some bigger than others, some for better, some for worse. And it all feeds into the fact that no one really knows anything until the final horn sounds.
In the East, this is where the standings were November 23:
Division leaders Ottawa, Carolina and the Rangers were all holding court atop the standings, and for once their point totals justified them being there. At the bottom sat the Caps, down and out, while the rest of the Southeast Division sat either in the top 8 or within spitting distance (which for our purposes will be a point).
Now less than a month later things are looking very different. Carolina and Ottawa maintain their grips on their respective division titles but the Canes' hold is a bit more tenuous - and if the Senators continue to slide they could find themselves unseated by a Habs team that continues to put up points. The Atlantic Division race has gotten much tighter but now it's not the Rangers holding the crown; a threeway race between the Devils, Flyers and Penguins has developed and the lead seems to change daily. Given the Devils dominance of the Flyers in recent days and the Penguins' inability to beat their own division, things are looking to be in New Jersey's favor. For the moment.
As for the Southeast...well, there's a reason we're referred to jokingly as the SouthLeast. It's a close battle for the division lead, with the Caps, Thrashers, Panthers and Canes all within a handful of points of each other (and Tampa deciding to play hockey again). But since the division leader would currently be in 8th were it not for the way standings are configured, it's hard not to agree with the pundits who say only one team from the SE will be in the postseason this year.
Turnarounds? Quite a few. The Devils and Penguins both suffered through mediocre to horrible starts to their respective seasons but have rebounded quite nicely, helped by a couple of lengthy, well-timed winning streaks and an equally well-timed nosedive by the Rangers. Florida and Tampa have both taken major drops, while the Capitals have been reinvigorated and are now in 10th, four points out of 8th and only three points out of the division lead.
Onto the West - here's how things looked through a post-Thanksgiving turkey haze:
The picture hasn't changed all that much, but a few notable shifts have shaken up the West just enough to make life interesting. The Wings continue to be the unbeatable force of the league with only ten regulation losses to their credit. Dallas hangs on to the Pacific title for now, but Anaheim has woken up from their stupor (aided no doubt by the return of Scott Niedermayer) and the two teams are battling it out nightly. And Calgary has reemerged at the top of the incrediby competitive Northwest Division, a division that has four of its five teams sitting in playoff contention.
And then there are the teams in freefall. The Hawks fell all the way to 13th after starting off so strong, with crippling injuries playing a big role but also the burnout of a team that was maybe overachieving to start the year. St. Louis and Nashville have also fallen out of the top eight, while Edmonton and LA have yet to crack 13th place and continue to struggle.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Quote of the Night
"With my track record, I never think shutout."
-- Olie Kolzig
That's the self-deprecating goalie we all know and love.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Where We've Been, Where We're Going
- First and most importantly, the Caps are 6-3-1 since Gabby took over - that's 13 out of a possible 20 points, a .650 percentage. If the Caps continue at their current pace over the remaining games they'll have about 92 points...which if you recall was the exact number the Islanders had when they squeaked into the playoffs last year. (By the way, if you stretch that out over a whole 82 game season it would give the Caps 106.6 points.) Thanks to Biff for doing the legwork, aka the math, and for the heads up.
- Before Boudreau the Caps had only managed 3 or more goals seven times; only three of those times did the Caps score at least 4. Since then the Caps have scored 3 or more goals in six of their ten games; four of those games have seen the Caps score at least 4.- Two key guys over the last ten games have been Alex Ovechkin and Mike Green. Ovechkin
has contributed 25% of the team's offense since Boudreau came on - that's actually down from the close to 30% he has over the entire season...and it's down further in the last five games, to about 10%. Meanwhile Mike Green has gone on a tear, scoring 3 goals including the game-winner in overtime last night, and now leads the league in goals by a defenseman. He's also even in +/-...
Gabby says no.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Extinguishing the Firepower
One of the so-called hot button topics we're supposed to care about this season is the lack of scoring going on in the NHL. The average goals per game is down, we're told. Goals equal exciting games, they say. It needs to be fixed - so sayeth the league.
All due respect to the NHL, who always seem to make the right decisions based on what they think the fans want...but that's crap.
Yes, the odd 7-0 game is fun. The occasional 6-5 game can be thrilling.
It can also be boring and miserable and predictable, whereas a good old-fashioned 0-0 or 1-1 game can be an edge of your seat, nailbiting thriller. (Even moreso back in the days before the gimmicky shootout came along...but that's an argument for another day.)
It's also not as though goal scoring has disappeared completely, evidenced by the scores we've seen just in the last week. The Sabres have had three games in the last two weeks where the winning team has scored at least 7 goals. The Caps beat up on the Thrashers just a few days ago to the tune of 6-3. Colorado rolled over the Blues by plastering them for 9 goals - and by "rolled over" I mean still allowed 5 goals against. The Flyers demolished the Pens just last night, putting up eight goals in a game that included back to back hat tricks.
So it's not that goal scoring is down, per se. The difference is actually found not in the league but in teams - in other words, teams that scored a lot of goals last year are, well, not so much. Tonight's game is the perfect model for this.
At this time last year the New York Rangers had 99 goals, tied for sixth in the league. This year they have a total of 64 goals - that's a 35 goal differential over the course of a year. But those big buck contracts handed out to Gomez and Drury were totally worth it, right?
Then there's the Caps. A year ago they had begun their descent but were still 10th in the conference and had racked up 95 goals. That's 21 more than their total this year. A lot of that is coaching, chemistry and injuries - but it's enough to send the Caps to the basement.
And it's not just the Caps and Rangers, either. Last year the Islanders had 88 goals. This year they've scored 62. Buffalo went from 124 to 86; Nashville went from 99 to 70. Anaheim was the most dramatic dip, going from 121 goals a year ago to just 77.
On the other end of the spectrum, Carolina is just one goal off their pace from last season. Toronto, Montreal, and a few other teams are also hovering around the same mark. Ottawa continues to rack up points. Detroit has actually scored more goals than this time last year, and by a large margin.
So maybe it's not that goal scoring is down leaguewide but rather that some previously offensively powerful teams are simply not anymore. Maybe the issue is that with true parity comes the decline in offensively-loaded teams. Maybe it's because some teams are underachieving (i.e., the Caps). Maybe goal scoring isn't a trend that can be measured year to year but rather over a decade or a generation.
In the end does it really matter? Would you really stop going to games just because the final score was 2-1 rather than 3-2? Statistically speaking, goals are down. But on any given night any team can explode for 7+ goals and on any given night a goalie can shut down everything. It has nothing to do with how strictly the refs interpret the rules or how big the net is - all any fan wants to do is be entertained and, hopefully, see their team come out on top.
The rest is just numbers.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
New Media, Old Media and Everything In Between
The continuing debate over the place of bloggers in the hockey world is one that is filled with conflicting arguments and different perspectives. Newspapers have covered it, bloggers have discussed it, and it was most recently given a spotlight by the crew over at CBC's Hockey Night in Canada.
Adding their voice to the debate, my two favorite Devils fans over at Interchangeable Parts have put together a questionnaire for bloggers to get a better feel for where we are and where we're going.
Now I think...I think...there are a few other Caps blogs around somewhere. Guys, this issue is one that hits us closest to home - I invite you all to take this questionnaire and run with it.
1. What was your motivation for starting blogging? Has that changed at all in the time you’ve been blogging?
The simplest answer is I just wanted a place where I could talk about my team. There is nothing I am more passionate about than my love of the Caps and hockey in general; blogging just seemed like the perfect outlet for me to talk hockey without bugging my family and friends any more than I had to. And frankly when I started I was frustrated by the distinct lack of coverage given to the upcoming season, a season I was actually very excited about (one of those ignorance is bliss moments, I admit). I figured if I couldn't read about the Caps, I could write about them.
In the fifteen months since I started, my blog has become much more than just a place for me to babble on about my team. It is now a way for me to interact with other passionate fans, to become part of a community of people who share a love of hockey. I've developed friendships and broadened the way I look at a season, a game, a single play. It may sound cheesy but I really feel like I've learned something from every single person I've come into contact with, be it a commenter or a fellow blogger.
2. What do you think your blog contributes to the hockey conversation?
I hope that first and foremost I'm able to bring a little bit of humor to the table. There is so much about being a hockey fan and specifically about being a Caps fan that is just downright hilarious. If you take it too seriously you're liable to go crazy - it's a game, it should be fun!
There is also something to be said for providing a female perspective in a male-dominated medium. I didn't start out with that specific goal in mind and I don't like to specifically refer to myself as a "female fan". I'm a fan who happens to be a female and I think putting a label to it just invites further division. However I refuse to allow the "puckbunny" image to be the predominant face of the female fan and I'm happy to be a representative of the true female fans, to show that the majority of us know the game, know our team, and can handle any debate you throw at us.
Plus we're likely to engage in that debate without it dissolving into a "whose is bigger" contest...but that's a different issue.
3. What do you want to get out of the blogs you read?
A different voice. Something that isn't just a rehashing of an article or a press release, something that shows the personality of the author or authors. I read blogs because of the different opinions they provide or the way they make me laugh. I read blogs that generate debate in the comments or voice an opinion that may be unpopular. I want to be entertained, stimulated, provoked or moved.
4. What determines which blogs you read and which you don’t?
I look for blogs that show a sense of humor, blogs that show a knowledge of the subject matter, blogs that are well written and blogs that present combinations of all three. Analyzing stats is one thing; doing it with a well-defined voice and a quick wit is quite another, and those blogs that achieve that go on my reading list as well.
I won't read blogs that show a distinct lack of effort - that can mean anything from having multiple typos and errors (my pet peeve) to using dry and nondescript writing to being completely devoid of enthusiasm. I also won't read blogs that disregard all rules of basic civility. There's trash-talking and then there's being downright mean, and I can't stomach the latter, no matter what team they may represent.
5. How important is the issue of gaining press access to you as a blogger?
I have had press access on several occasions, whether it is in the press box on game night or at an event like the uniform unveiling. Every experience I've had as a credentialed blogger has brought something new and different to my posts - a quote here, a picture there, anything that gives texture and depth to what I'm already writing. It's fact-gathering with a twist, seeing the behind-the-scenes elements of the game without the restrictions of deadlines or a specific story.
It's Milan Jurcina's pink socks at opening day of training camp; it's Ben Clymer's story at the draft day party about his own draft experience; it's talking baseball with Brooks Laich.
I am definitely for press access being extended to bloggers, if they so choose to apply for it, because it does broaden the fan experience. Bloggers bring a different perspective and can pass on the benefit of that perspective to the fans. There of course should be rules and guidelines defining who is eligible and who is not, but the option should be there for those who meet the criteria. The definition of "media" is expanding beyond just a journalism degree and a byline, and nothing is gained by pretending that's not true.
That being said - I don't think that gaining credentials is something required of every blogger in order to be taken seriously. There tends to be a "holier than thou" attitude among some bloggers who do choose to get credentialed, and this drives me crazy. Gaining press access is great, I'm all for it, but it's not the determining factor on what makes a great blog.
Some of the best blogs I've ever read were written by people who have never set foot in and have no desire to be in the press box. They don't put any less work into their blogs just because they don't seek out a press pass; their opinions don't matter any less. It's in their ability to carve out a corner of the blogosphere, a readership, that they become credible - not whether someone deems them worthy of holding a tape recorder in front of a goalie's mouth.
I think that the debate about credentialing bloggers has become far too narrow, lumping all blogs in with the ones who want press access. Humor columnists and food critics are, technically, members of the press; would you want them in the press box for a Caps game? No. Does that make them any less skilled at what they do? Definitely not. And it's the same for bloggers. Each blog has a different role to play, each blogger a different goal for his or her site, and that doesn't always include press access.
I have had a great time covering the Caps for this blog and I hope to continue to do so. But I also have no plans to trade in my experience as a fan to be press full time, at least not in this capacity. I love being a part of the crowd and being allowed to cheer or boo when necessary. I like wearing my jersey; I like jumping around when the Caps score. I even like sitting among the enemy fans. It's part of being a fan, which is why I started a blog in the first place. My time spent as credentialed media enhances my blog, but it's my experiences as a fan that make it what it is - for better or for worse.
6. To what extent do you feel accountable for the content of your blog? How concerned do you think readers should be about the authority and accountability of your blog?
Every word I write on my blog counts towards my credibility as a writer. Stats and numbers need to be checked; quotes need to be confirmed and then credited. If I get something wrong I fully expect to be called on it, because my readers and hockey fans in general are smart. They won't stand for half-assed, nor should they. So when I make a mistake I own up to it and fix it; when my opinion is challenged it is my responsibility to back it up.
I know that my readers are aware when I am being opinionated, when I am being analytical, and when I am being downright silly. Things I say for the purposes of satire or humor in general are clearly identified as such, as are my personal opinions. I don't pretend that my site is a source for breaking news or deep analysis, although each will from time to time trickle into the content (usually by accident...). My blog is not here to inform but to entertain and provoke thought and debate.
7. How concerned are you about the authority and accountability of the blogs you read? Do you find it difficult to judge the authority and accountability of the blogs you read?
Every blogger regardless of the purpose behind their blog should be held accountable for things they say in the public arena. However, how much I'm concerned with it comes down to the type of blog it is. If it's a site claiming to have the inside track on a trade rumor or the latest news on a disciplinary action, I absolutely am concerned about the authority and accountability - and some are harder to judge than others, to be sure. If I'm taking something as fact, I want to know that it's real...hence the reason I avoid certain blogs at all costs.
Other blogs, though, are simply there to entertain and I approach them as just that, entertainment. I'm not concerned with their authority because they're not trying to pass themselves off as a news-gathering site or anything close to that. Accountability comes in to play only if they express opinions but don't back them up, highlight a fact but refuse to confirm it.
8. What value, if any, do you think blogging brings to the NHL?
Blogging provides a tremendous value to the NHL. Hockey fans may often be in the minority but they are also the most passionate, loyal and knowledgeable fans of any sport - and bloggers are among the most insane dedicated fans of all. First and foremost, you need maniacs like me and others to be on board, to sell the sport and pass the love down to our kids.
But more importantly it's what blogging brings to the general hockey conversation. For years the only way to get analysis on a certain issue in the hockey world was one of three ways: open a newspaper, turn on a television, or listen to the radio. You got opinions from a select few, so-called pundits and analysts who gave you one, maybe two viewpoints, and that was it.
Now with a simple click of a mouse you get 10, 50, 100 different opinions from people who can then go read the other opinions and discuss them. What bloggers write and how people react to what we write can tell the league more than any focus group, because it's not prompted or filtered; it's real.
What is great about blogs is that they can appeal to the casual fan as well as the lifelong diehards, because the writing is accessible...that alone will do more than the glowing puck ever could. In the relatively short time I've been doing this I've gotten numerous emails with questions on everything from where the best seats are for a game to what a certain rule means to how I feel about a controversial topic. I've had people write just to tell me they attended their first game and loved it, and I've had others write in to tell me that I'm an idiot and wouldn't know hockey if it bit me in the, er, rear.
That's passion at all ends of the spectrum and all levels of fandom, demonstrated through just one blog - one of thousands. And nurturing that passion, whatever stage it may be in? That's how you grow a sport.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Bumps and Bruises and Voodoo Dolls
This was supposed to be a great year for the Caps. This was supposed to be the year that they finally start to regain some of the respect we lost during the Jagr years. And while there's still time to turn things around to a certain extent, there just seems to be a rash of nonstop bad luck preventing a major renewal, the latest being the injuries to key players Clark and Gordon.
So my question is this - do you get the sense that this season might just be cursed?
Let's break it down...
- Alexander Semin goes down with a sprained ankle in preseason. Preseason. We didn't even make it to the regular season before losing our 38-goal scorer. The injury continues to crop up at inopportune times (read: every other day), keeping Semin out of the lineup and preventing any real chemistry from developing between him and the other forwards.
- A team with three 30+ goal scorers and bolstered by offseason offensive producers Nylander, Kozlov and Poti, finds it impossible to find the back of the net. This makes the fact that both goaltenders are standing on their heads irrelevant, as allowing one or two goals a game doesn't help when you can't score at all.
- Alex Ovechkin tries to kill Chris Clark with a slapshot to the head. At the same time Semin is out once more and Boyd Gordon then goes down with an injury, sending the Caps reeling. For the first time in years the Caps are in last place in the NHL.
- A fifth straight loss in which the Caps look flat and unable to do the basic things correctly costs Glen Hanlon his job.
- On new coach Boudreau's first day of practice with his team, Semin reinjures his ankle. Again. In his fourth game the Caps go to their first shootout of the season and lose Clark, Gordon and possibly Semin to injury. Again.
And so on and so forth...
But don't worry, Caps fans, because here's the good news - not only do we get to play Carolina and Florida in back to back games this weekend, but we also get to see each of them four more times before the season ends. (At least this is the last season with such a lovely schedule.)
The better news? Only 57 games left...and counting.
If you're looking for a gameday preview for our next two games go here and here. I'm running out of ways to make these "intense" division matchups interesting, and I'm inspired by the current writers' strike in Hollywood to just run reruns in protest. Luckily after next week we get a bit of a reprieve from the Southeast and I'll return to my usual witty self.
All photos courtesy of AP
Friday, November 23, 2007
High Hopes
There has been far too much pessimism and gloominess here in DC this season, and rightly so - the Caps have given us little to be excited about since the third game of the year and have slumped to the basement of the league. The Caps have been serenaded by boos and bashed by every message board poster, every blogger, and every pundit/analyst known to the hockey world.
It's time to change that tune.
The Bruce Boudreau-era began today in thrilling fashion, with an overtime win that showed signs of the old Caps, the hard-working team that has now been infused with high caliber talent. It's one game and it's certainly too early to get overly excited.
However, it has been said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and that step was taken today.
There are some who may say the Caps are done already, 22 games in - that's it, season is over, hang up the skates and line up for the top five pick. That seems like an incredibly short-sighted stance to take, especially given the performances I've seen out of the Caps when everything is clicking. The Caps will need to put together some streaks, and lengthy ones at that, if they want to be in the mix. But while a difficult task it's by no means impossible, especially not for a team that has not played as badly as their record shows.
And it's not out of the realm of possibility that this team turns it around. There have been other teams who have done it in the past - take the Panthers, who had 20 points at this time last year (with 4 of them coming from OT/shootout losses) and then made a push to come within four points of a playoff spot. The Penguins won four of seventeen games in a stretch that spanned almost a month last winter and finished the season with 105 points. A month and a half into the season Ottawa was 7-11-1...they went to the Stanley Cup Finals.
We need to be carefully optimistic going ahead, and to do that we need to throw predictions, common sense and logic out the window. We need to avoid falling into the trap of saying the Caps need X number of points in X number of games to make the playoffs. We need to do what the Caps need to do, and that is take it one shift, one period, one game at a time.
Because this season has already been so bizarre and the East is very tight, talentwise. On any given night any team can beat any other team; on any given night the last place team can beat the first place team; at any moment a team that is slumping can get hot...and vice versa.
No one is saying this team is going to the Finals - in fact, playoffs may not be in the cards for the Caps, either. I've maintained that, as much fun as playoffs would be, if the Caps challenge for a spot I'll consider this season a success. That's a mindset I think everyone needs to have.
But from everything I've seen and heard about Boudreau and the results I've seen out of this team when they're playing up to their potential, I have to agree with Mike Vogel - it starts with one.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Between the Pipes
Okay, so let's talk about this whole Ilya Bryzgalov thing, because a lot of people are claiming we should have picked him up.
I am not one of those people.
Bryzgalov is a very good goalie. I'm not going to argue that fact, nor will I argue with the fact that he's 27 and probably in the prime of his career. To get a goaltender of his caliber without having to give up anything is very rare and it is, for some teams, a golden opportunity.
However...he is not the answer to our problems. He's good but not great - he's not the second coming of Patrick Roy or Marty Brodeur. Anaheim didn't have enough faith in him to carry their playoff hopes last year and when Giguere was out with an injury to start this season, Bryzgalov was not exactly stellar in relief. They have a much better defense out there, too, in case you've forgotten.
I, like the Capitals organization, am not willing to give up on Brent Johnson just yet. I was stunned to see how quickly the battle cry turned to "get rid of Johnson!" after Friday night's loss, so willing are we right now to point the finger at something concrete like a bad goalie that we forget logic and common sense. No, it wasn't his best game. I could tell you that, the commentators could tell you that...Johnny himself would likely tell you that. One bad game, though, and we dump him? Why?
I also think we're playing fast and loose with the definition of a "bad game". He let in some softies, sure, but he also made some great saves, including one sparkling one on Lecavalier that had me rewinding and watching again. And may I remind everyone that Olie had one of the worst games I've ever seen him play earlier this year against the Islanders - where were the cries to go out and get a "real" goalie then?
So what of the argument that we need to get a replacement for Olie now, start polishing up the next shiny new goalie before Zilla hangs 'em up? Frankly I don't see that there's any rush - we have some good goaltending prospects and should none of them be ready to fill the void in two years there are things called trades and there is something called free agency. Ilya Bryzgalov wasn't going to be that guy anyways - try as you might, you can't make me believe that he would hang around as a backup and then re-sign as a UFA when his contract is up.
I get that there is a sense of urgency right now among Caps fans. We're looking at the standings and seeing another long summer ahead. We're looking at the contract extensions by other big name players like Crosby, Thornton and Kipprusoff and we're wondering where they are for our guys. The future seems very uncertain right now. We see a good player become available and we want to pull the trigger, do something, show some sign that this team is interested in winning.
But you don't just go out and grab any old guy off the waiver wire, especially when you're talking about the one position that has been the steadiest all year. Aside from Ovechkin, Johnson and Olie have been the most consistent players of anyone on the team. If you asked McPhee why he passed on Bryzgalov he'd likely tell you that goaltending has not been the problem - and it hasn't been. Our netminders have been great. The rest of the team...well, that may need some work.
There's time.
Friday, November 16, 2007
A Kiss for Luck
He scored a goal.
...maybe the rest of the team should give it a shot.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Snap Out of It
I don't know if it's the crazy gaps in the schedule, the lack of wins the Caps have earned this year, or the fact that the Caps play the Panthers four times in the next two weeks...but something is killing my hockey spirit.
It's why I'm not concerned about Ovechkin's contract. It's what makes me laugh half-heartedly at Jiri Tlusty's photographic ambitions. It's the reason that I don't particularly care that Joe Finley has mascot rage.
Sure, I could do a rant about why I agree with Steve Eminger that he is better off in the lineup than Schultz or Erskine, or why Sean Avery is a dirtbag whether or not he said the things he allegedly said. I could even talk about the ridiculous names that are showing up on the All-Star ballot (the fact that Martin Havlat and Dan Boyle have played a combined 5 games this year seems irrelevant for some reason).
And I will, at some point.
Until then, anyone have a cure for the early season doldrums? A win tomorrow night might be a start...
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Wake Me in June
I'm back...did you miss me?
We are almost a quarter of the way through this season and the frustration level has already hit a fever pitch around here. What makes it even more frustrating is that every time we seem poised to leap from the roof, the Caps pull off a great win. So we smile, brush ourselves off and climb back inside to wait patiently for the big winning streak to turn around the season.
It hasn't come yet.
In fact, the only winning streak we've had to date is the three-game streak we had to kick off the season. Remember that one? We were already ordering playoff tickets and planning the parade route for the Cup. Since then, we've had three wins. Three. Perfectly timed, evenly spread out wins, but only three nonetheless.
And yet Caps fans are not alone in their frustrations. There is something very strange about this year; it's as though every team, not just the Caps, is having trouble doing the simplest things. The number of poorly played games I've seen this year far outweighs the number of great games I've seen.
There have been good moments, sure - the Caps beating Ottawa just last week; Modano's record-breaking goal; Jonathan Toew's beautiful shootout strike; Ovechkin and Crosby continuing to elevate their games. But everything else? It's been a study in mediocrity, with a sprinkling of shoddy officiating and a dusting of horrible hockey.
Right now the top three teams in the league are Ottawa, Detroit and Carolina. They're good teams, sure. But are their records due to an overload of talent and skill? They might be more a result of playing teams like the Sabres, the Oilers, the Caps and the Thrashers over and over again.
Even the decidedly mediocre teams - throw Pittsburgh, Vancouver, Tampa and even Anaheim in there as well, none of them are good right now. And all of those teams are but one loss away from the bottom of the conference. The division and conference standings could change in a heartbeat - and not in a good way.
Last year's playoffs were fairly humdrum across the board, but the regular season was exciting from beginning to end. There were no sure bets but it was exciting and unnerving, keeping fans on their toes right up until the very last game of the season. The differences a year can make are staggering:
- Sixteen of the thirty teams are currently at or below .500. A year ago today only twelve were in that category, with eight of them coming from the West.
- Nine teams have hit the twenty point mark, with no one cracking thirty. Last year on this date thirteen teams had 20+ points, and two, Buffalo and Anaheim, had 30+.
- Last year the difference between 15th and 8th in the East was eleven points; in the West it was nine. This year? Five and four, respectively.
- The Southeast Division was dominant last season, with three of the top eight teams coming from below the Mason-Dixon and one sitting just outside in ninth. This year all but one are out of the playoff picture and in fact hold three of the four bottom slots.
The differences continue - just look at the standings a year ago today:
And look at where we are today:
The product has grown stagnant, and while there are enough sparkling moments to keep the devoted fans hooked, you have to wonder how a league with so much obvious mediocrity, for whatever reason, is planning to attract casual fans.
Maybe we should just take the advice of my friends over at Interchangeable Parts and do a coaching lottery...at least it would bring us one night of entertainment.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Blackouts Stink
- There were some strange doings around the league last night. On a night when Pascal Leclaire wasn't even playing, there were 5 shutouts among the 8 games - three of those by a final score of 5-0.
- Yahoo! Sports has put out a list of underrated players for each team, and I don't think it's any surprise that Boyd Gordon is the Capitals' representative. Even less of a surprise? The fact that 85% of them are guys I enjoy watching. What can I say, I love the underrated underdog.
- Kolzig and Ovechkin both will appear on this year's All-Star ballot - again, no surprises there, although it's nice to see Olie get on there. People, I beg of you, let's avoid the whole embarrassment we had last year. Vote early, vote often to get them both in there. It may be a meaningless, badly played game but it shows the league that Caps' fans have passion for a change. I know we can do it. Voting opens November 15...
- And finally, Chris Bourque gets the call tonight for his long-awaited NHL debut. Of course, none of us will get to see it (thank you, Versus) but I think this could be a spark for the Caps. Frankly it has to - something has to.
- So Brent Johnson will probably get the nod tonight against Atlanta given his numbers against them and the fact that Olie was chased in last night's game (although you can't really blame him for any of those goals). The Caps on the other hand will be facing Lehtonen's backup's backup, Ondrej Pavelec, who will be appearing in just his fourth NHL game.
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Where's the Sacrifice?
After watching the Caps play two straight games where every shot they took seemed to be blocked, I realized that I couldn't remember the last time I saw our guys do that consistently. Playing a hunch I went back and did a little research, and sure enough this is another area where the Caps may need some work. Sure, defense is better overall and the shots against have been reduced, but I uncovered some interesting numbers that reveal it may not be as pretty as we thought...
- In the last two games alone opponents have turned aside 55 shots...which further explains why the Caps have only 2 goals in the last two games.
- The Caps have never blocked more than 16 shots in a single game this season, and they hit that mark only once - in the home opener against Carolina, which I think we can safely say was one of their best if not the best game of the season.
- Through 13 games the Caps' opponents have "outblocked" them to the tune of 218 blocked shots for the other guys versus 142 Caps bruises.
- The Caps have more blocked shots than their opponent in only three games, but they were heavily outshot in two of those three. Versus the Rangers last month the Caps blocked 12 to New York's 11, but the Rags got 41 shots through compared to the Caps. Then there was the Sabres game, where the Caps turned away 12 shots but let 53 more get by them...and seven of those went in. Oops.
This is a team that seems to have lost that hard-working mentality that so defined them in the first two years after the lockout. Holding onto a lead is part of that. Coming from behind to win is another. And shot-blocking is yet another part.
I'm not sure what it is. Maybe they just think they're too talented now to do the little things that count through all 60 minutes (wrong, boys...sorry). Or maybe the consistent benching of guys like Bradley and Sutherby and the demotion of Clymer to the AHL has removed the guys from the lineup who, while maybe not offensively talented would give 110% every night in past years.
Maybe we should try and steal Brendan Witt back from the Islanders.
Whatever it is, you have to think that this is just one more area that speaks to the heart of a team...or lack thereof. Guys who are sacrificing their bodies are, to use a cliche from Miracle, worrying more about the logo on the front of the jersey than the name on the back. And maybe that's what's missing most of all.
Changes...Turn and Face the Strain
I've been doing my best to hold off the naysayers of the world and the doubts in my own mind, but last night's loss and the prolonged slump the Caps appear to be in can no longer be dismissed simply by saying "oh, it's early," or "but there are so many injuries!" Something has to change or this team is going to dig itself a hole that is far too deep to crawl out of come April - if that hasn't already happened.
There is no reason for this team to be showing up for 20-30 minutes a night and thinking that's okay. There is no reason for this team with all its offensive talent to be ranked in the bottom third of the league in goals per game. There is no reason for this team with all its alleged prowess with the extra man to be routinely blowing golden power play opportunities, including several 5 on 3 chances over the past few weeks.
Last night's win was disheartening for many reasons. For one thing it was against the Flyers - and no one likes to lose to Philly. For another, the Caps looked to be in control of this game after the first period. And for another, Briere scored - admit it, you were kind of hoping he got eaten by that goldfish, weren't you?
Last night the team simply decided they could skate to a 1-0 victory, riding that single tally all the way to the bank. Well, no one told the Flyers that. For the rest of the game the Caps were back on their heels, with Olie making some great plays to keep them in it but ultimately unable to stave off repeated power play chances. Even a late strike by Ovechkin (and how many times have we seen those) seemed to have little effect and the Caps were once again unable to get the puck out of their zone with the goalie pulled and the seconds ticking away.
So after coming out of the gate with a startling record of 3-0, the Caps have won just two of their last ten. Dropping the majority of those by just one goal is of little comfort to me - it might as well be ten, since the team seems completely uninterested in producing any sort of offensive spark, save for one game against the Leafs that was clearly a fluke.
We keep saying that the Caps have played well in almost all of their losses lately, and its true. They've never looked completely outclassed for long stretches of time and have hung in there almost every night. But at what point do we say, okay, playing well and still not getting the win is a problem? When do we get to see them get over the hump and actually win a game in which they are the more deserving team? The talent is there, the potential is there, they're just not putting it in action. And therein lies the problem.
So what needs to change? Is it a new coach? A trade? Or could it really be that missing the captain, the other Russian superstar and the new defenseman is throwing this team off so much that the ship will be righted once they return? If that's the case then the Caps will not make the playoffs - that depth that we were bragging about all summer is simply a figment of our imagination and just a scattering of injuries is still enough to send them into a downward spiral.
I've always been a fan of Hanlon. I've held off saying he should be replaced because I like him, I think he's done a fantastic job, and I've been hesitant to suggest a mere coaching change will do the trick. But maybe it is time. Maybe the boys really have stopped listening to him. And if that's the case he needs to be pulled, and now - before things get really bad.
The Caps get the weekend off before embarking on a stretch where they will play eight of their next ten against Southeast rivals...the only division to this point that they've had any success against. And rest assured, both Tampa and Carolina will be looking to avenge that first loss. (Atlanta will, too, but I have less confidence in their ability to actually do so, four third period goals against the mighty Senators aside.) Throw in two meetings with the Panthers, a team that has routinely and for no apparent reason bitch-slapped the Caps around in recent years and a date with Ottawa and you're looking at a rough patch.
If the Caps don't figure out a way to string a few wins together by the end of next week, I think its time to make some changes. Because two points now counts the same as two points in March and the days are slipping by with frightening speed...
