Last night's game certainly wasn't for the faint of heart...nor should it have been.
The Caps and Canes exchanged bone-crushing checks, glamorous saves, end to end rushes, odd-man breaks, even injuries to key players. It had the look, feel and sound of a playoff game. It was what every great division rivalry should be - it was what the league intended when it force-fed the nauseating parade of lukewarm foes down our throats.
In short this game was exactly what it needed to be when a division title is on the line, and the Caps played exactly the way they needed to play with their season on the line.
Every player to a man felt the energy and the desperation and acted on it, resulting in role reversals all over the place. Green had 8 shots on goal and two assists. Ovechkin blocked two shots, took a roughing call and won a faceoff. Semin laid out three huge body checks in the first period. Bradley had one of the best chances of the night only to be stonewalled by Cam Ward.
It was a standout performance for many Caps. Semin had one of his best games of the year despite making his usual turnovers and taking his nightly (albeit very weak) hooking penalty. Fleischmann continued his stretch of solid work with a stellar centering feed to a rushing Brooks Laich to put the Caps up 2-0. Schultz's usual quiet nature produced an assist and two attempted shots. Matt Cooke was all over the place, getting into the faces of his opponent and creating some good offensive chances as well. The line of Bradley, Gordon and Brashear put on a puck possession clinic for a good part of the second period.
But the standouts only emphasized the complete team game this really was. Consider the fact that with only five defensemen this team still limited the Canes to just one goal and 22 shots. It speaks volumes about how well they played defense, from the goalie out to the top forward line. Despite the somewhat lopsided score, this was not a Carolina team that simply rolled over and died - in fact if not for a bit of luck and a few bizarre calls this game gets a lot closer and fast. But the Caps smothered the high-powered Carolina offense and what they didn't stop, Huet did.
And then there was the crowd. The mythological 7th man, if you will, loud and boisterous and primed for battle before the puck even dropped. It was something special to be sure - just ask the players, watch their war-weary faces light up into bright, childlike smiles at the mere mention of last night's crowd. It was the best ever, they say. Unbelievable. Loud. Fantastic. It's never been this good.
It wasn't just the sheer volume of the crowd or the fact that everyone seemed to buy into the "Red Out", although the impact of those things in combination should not be overlooked.
No, it was the spontaneity. We certainly heeded the clarian calls of Horn Guy and Goat, their distinctive voices piercing the air and leading us in unison, and we responded when implored by the PA announcer to make some noise. But it was the dull roar during the offensive rush, the applause for the simple act of clearing a puck, the oohs and aahs and groans when a brilliant play connected or went awry.
It was the hearty boos for the Hurricanes when they stepped onto the ice, and the resounding cheers when a Cap planted the opposition into the boards. It was the standing ovation at the end of the first. And the second. And the third.
It's that spontaneity and that electric, contagious buzz that sets apart the holy hockey houses from the mundane barns of the NHL - and last night DC had its Forum, its Maple Leaf Gardens, its Boston Garden.
Yet there was still something distinctly "Capitals" about it, something that sets the Phone Booth apart from these shrines of hockey - it was a celebration filled with character and humor and passion you only find here in DC. At one point last night Ovechkin urged the crowd to make more noise and was greeted with an eruption of cheers. A few minutes later the humble coach was shown on the screen to be met with more cheers and chants of "Bruuuuce" filling the air, a faint pink hue on his cheeks the only sign that he heard us. In front of him it was Matt Cooke's turn to urge the crowd on and again we responded. It was exciting and fantastic and a rush.
And it's something that has been missing for far too long.
So this morning we soak our weary feet in warm water to ease the throbbing from jumping up and down. We sip soothing cups of tea to heal the soreness in our throats from screaming and cheering all night. And we check off item number one on the to-do list: Beat the Canes in regulation. Done.
Now the next step is Tampa, a team that is not exactly going down quietly and that a week ago gave the Caps quite a scare before finally succumbing in overtime. Consistency is obviously an issue (and has been all year long), as they rebounded from a surprise upset over the Canes with a 2-0 loss at the hands of slumping Atlanta.
In the meantime there's lots of scoreboard watching to be done, as there always seems to be. Carolina, Philadelphia and Boston are all in action tonight and should any one of them falter, you can bet the Caps will be watching.
And waiting to jump in.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Rockin' the Phone Booth
Monday, March 31, 2008
Don't Turn Around
With the Caps breathing down the necks of not one, not two, not three, but four teams right now it's safe to say that every single player in Philly, Carolina, Boston and yes, New York, are looking in the rearview mirror. Ouch. Rarely a mention of the Caps, but there is a hint of concern there. A sense that the Flyers are pretending they are better than they are - and forcing a shootout against an Islanders team that has been out of the race for weeks and is without their superstar goalie would seem like an area of concern for sure. And finally, how 'bout them Rangers? For a long time now Jagr's squad has seemed well out of reach and well on their way to a postseason berth. Too far ahead for the Caps to catch...or are they? They join the clusterfu-, er, the cluster of teams around 8th place with 91 points and a game in hand - against a surging Penguins team that beat them yesterday:
All you have to do is scan the sports pages from these cities to see exactly how much pressure the Caps are putting on everyone.
Boston, a team that has flip-flopped with the Flyers more times than Alexander Semin has fallen down this season, continues to rack up points - but the pace has slowed. They came out of yesterday's snoozefest with a point but still fell to a Buffalo squad clinging to visions of an all-encompassing Eastern Conference crash.
Of course, Caps fans everywhere were wondering why the Sabres needed that extra 39 seconds to score the damn goal...but that's another issue.
In the aftermath of an overtime loss that the Bruins really needed to win and win in regulation, the Boston Globe was particularly pointed when mentioning a certain scrappy bunch from the nation's capital:The Capitals, let the record show, have gone 12-4-0 (.750) since their tradin'-day acquisitions of No. 1 goalie Cristobal Huet and aged Russian magician Sergei Fedorov. They have traction, and they're just waiting for the Rangers, Flyers, or Bruins to look in the mirror, the one with the fine print warning, "Objects Are Closer Than They Appear." Got that right.
Then there's the Hurricanes, a team that is certainly starting to feel the pressure (if they weren't before) after falling to the Lightning on Saturday - the same night the Caps were rolling over the Panthers. So sayeth the Raleigh News-Observer:
Oh, hey, and let's not forget the Hurricanes, who wrap up their regular season Friday vs. the Panthers in Raleigh. The Canes, in third place overall with 90 points, actually have 1 point fewer than the Rangers, Flyers, and Bruins in sixth. Why? Because they lead the Southeast Division, which is home to . . . you got it, the Capitals.
Readjust that slide rule, because the Caps could slip ahead of the Canes for the divisional crown and thus land the third seed overall. The Canes, no doubt all fitted for oxygen masks to survive the sudden drop, then would slide back into that NYR-Flyer-Bruin scrum for seeds 6-7-8. Misery just loves company.The Canes went into the evening with a chance to clinch the Southeast Division title. Instead, they now face what may be a winner-take-all showdown with the Capitals in Washington on Tuesday.
In Philly it seems more and more like people are losing faith that the Flyers can pull it off, despite their annoying insistence on scoring late and forcing shootouts. But that's Philly for you:
"We wanted this one but it didn't happen, and we've got to leave this one here and look forward to Tuesday in Washington," Hurricanes center Eric Staal said. "We have to play a complete game and get a win."
"That's a big game," Laviolette said. "We've got to come up with four points. It doesn't matter how we do it."John Stevens called [Saturday's shootout win over the Islanders] "the gutsiest effort of the year," and said it showed the team's "resilience."
That's only true if the precursor to both characteristics are "listless" and "stupid" - the two words that recur when talking about how this team starts, and too often how it finishes.The Rangers have found themselves perched so precariously in the Eastern Conference playoff race that they entered Sunday afternoon’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins eyeing the top of the standings and left it — after a 3-1 loss at Mellon Arena — warily eyeing the bottom.
I know for many of us watching tonight's Rangers-Penguins game would be something akin to shoving red-hot pokers under our fingernails and diving face first into a pit of boiling lava. If you can get past that feeling, it's one to keep an eye on for sure. This race is no longer just a three-team race...but adding another team to the mix just improves the Caps' chances.
Of course, none of this compares to the truly sick part of this entire mess. If the Caps remain in the fight for 8th place, they will likely have to root for the Penguins to win out. Pittsburgh has three games remaining, one against the Rangers tonight and two against the Flyers.
If the Penguins win out they clinch the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference crown.
If the Penguins win out and the Caps do the same the Caps are in.
...and who could they face in the first round? Yup. Sick sick sick.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Bruins Working Overtime...and Shootouts
Since the advent of the three point game, it seems like the end of the year sends analysts and fans scurrying to the calculator to determine what, if any, impact that extra point has on the ultimate playoff standings. And year after year the conclusion remains the same - the impact is minimal at best.
This year, however, it could be something to take a look at. If the Capitals don't make the playoffs they can first and foremost blame themselves - many games should have been won, points were lost here and there on stupid mistakes, etc. But you almost always need a little help from the teams around you when you're in the thick of a logjam, and the Caps haven't really gotten that to this point.
One of the biggest culprits in the "thanks for not helping" category? The Boston Bruins.
It's not the sheer volume of overtime and shootout visits that is killing us, although with 19 appearances in the extra frame they do rank among the top five in the league - Edmonton, not surprisingly, leads the way with 24. And it's not the fact that they're gaining a point for each overtime or shootout loss, although with 11 loser points (tied with the Sabres) compared with the Caps' 8 you've got your margin of error for eighth place right there.No, it's the way they go about racking up loser points and overtime winners and shootout victories. 19 times the Bruins have needed overtime or a shootout - 13 of those have come against teams the Caps are currently chasing or being chased by.
And 8 of them have been Boston wins.
So not only are they creating three point games, always annoying, but they're winning them in the end. That's a point gifted to one of our opponents that, had the Bruins developed a killer instinct, would not have been earned. Observe:
10/20 - Boston 1 NYR 0 (SO)
11/1 - Boston 4 Buffalo 3 (OT)
11/7 - Buffalo 2 Boston 1 (OT)
1/12 - Boston 4 Philadelphia 3 (OT)
1/17 - Toronto 3 Boston 2 (SO)
1/19 - Boston 4 NYR 3 (SO)
2/8 - Boston 3 Buffalo 2 (SO)
2/16 - Toronto 4 Boston 3 (OT)
2/19 - Boston 3 Carolina 2 (SO)
2/21 - Boston 5 Florida 4 (SO)
3/4 - Florida 1 Boston 0 (OT)
3/9 - NYR 1 Boston 0 (SO)
3/15 - Boston 3 Philadelphia 2 (OT)
In comparison, the Flyers have only been on the winning end of these three point games twice. Buffalo has done it three times. Toronto has five wins. Annoying, sure. Back-breaking? Not even close.
So thank you, Boston. Thanks for nothing.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Panthers on the Prowl
If there is one team worthy of drawing ire from the Caps and from the rest of the Eastern Conference, it's the Florida Panthers. It's just so annoying - they don't seem to realize the season has started until March, when they suddenly find another level to their game and not only play spoiler but put the fear of god into whatever teams may lie ahead of them.
The last time the Panthers went to the playoffs was the 1999-2000 season. In the last three years, though, they've gone on a tear to change that yet always seem to come up short.
In 2006 Florida, after playing well under .500 for most of the year, went on a hot streak to close out the season. They won 11 of 13 after the Olympic break and then went 3-0-2 in their last five games. The next year the obnoxious Cats were back, going 11-5-3 in their last 19 games, missing the playoffs by just five points.
And now this season. The Panthers have been on an inexplicable streak, winning seven straight before finally succumbing to the Hurricanes tonight in the shootout (yet another three point game, thanks Carolina). Caps fans everywhere have to hope that this trend of falling just short continues for the Panthers, as we have two games remaining against Florida and sit just one point ahead.
Florida - the pesky gnat of a team that just won't die.
Know Thy Enemy
Seven games left and a bit of ground to cover. So what's ahead for our competition? Have the scheduling gods smiled upon us or is Bettman's ultimate plot still in motion?
...yes?
Here's how it breaks down:
Carolina Hurricanes - 1st in division with 85 points
- Seven games remaining, four at home and three on the road
- Two sets of back-to-back games
- Panthers twice (Carolina leads season series 4-2)
- Capitals twice (Carolina leads season series 4-2)
- Thrashers once (Carolina leads season series 5-1-1)
- Lightning twice (Season series tied 3-3)
Florida Panthers - 3rd in division, 11th in conference with 78 points
- Eight games remaining, four at home and three on the road
- One set of back-to-back games
- Hurricanes twice (Carolina leads season series 4-2)
- Lightning twice (Season series tied 3-3)
- Thrashers twice (Florida leads season series 4-1-1)
- Capitals twice (Florida leads season series 4-2)
Buffalo Sabres - 9th in conference with 81 points
- Eight games remaining, four at home and four on the road
- One set of back-to-back games
- Maple Leafs twice (Buffalo leads season series 4-2)
- Senators twice (Ottawa leads season series 4-2)
- Canadiens twice (Season series tied 3-3)
- Bruins twice (Boston leads season series 4-1-1)
Philadelphia Flyers - 8th in conference with 82 points
- Eight games remaining, four at home and four on the road
- One set of back-to-back games
- Rangers twice (New York leads season series 5-1)
- Islanders twice (Philadelphia leads season series 5-1)
- Devils twice (New Jersey leads season series 5-1)
- Penguins twice (Philadelphia leads season series 4-2)
Boston Bruins - 7th in conference with 83 points
- Nine games remaining
- Two sets of back-to-back games
- Canadiens twice (Montreal leads season series 6-0)
- Maple Leafs twice (Season series tied 3-3)
- Senators twice (Ottawa leads season series 4-2)
- Sabres twice (Boston leads season series 4-1-1)
- Devils once (New Jersey leads season series 2-1)
And finally...
Washington Capitals - 10th in conference, 2nd in division with 80 points
- Seven games remaining
- No back-to-back games
- Thrashers once (Atlanta leads season series 4-3)
- Hurricanes twice (Carolina leads season series 4-2)
- Panthers twice (Florida leads season series 4-2)
- Lightning twice (Washington leads season series 4-2)
At this point it may be time to throw in the towel on that pesky Southeast Division race - the Hurricanes just refuse to die despite injury after injury. They are the hockey equivalent of the black knight, bouncing around on one foot claiming it's "just a flesh wound".
And if we're willing to concede the title to the Canes, we might as well hope that they continue their dominance as they take on the Panthers two more times. The least they can do if they won't go away is take care of Florida for us, right? It's not like we can rely on Atlanta to do our dirty work for us, clearly.
As for 8th place, that race is still very much up for grabs. Neither Buffalo nor Philadelphia has been exactly dominant against their division rivals lately, and neither team has looked consistently tough in general over the past few weeks. One thing is for sure - this race could go down to the wire.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Farewell, Game in Hand
It was a nailbiter for sure towards the end but when all is said and done what matters is that the Caps got two points - and they did it in that coveted game in hand, drawing them even with Carolina and Florida in games remaining.
Frankly after last weekend's losses it's nice to see that the Caps still have two viable options left for a crack at the postseason. The win propelled them over Buffalo and kept them on pace with the Flyers for 8th, while also moving them within three points of Carolina.
Other thoughts on the game:
- Matt Bradley has been playing some stellar hockey lately, and his finish on the lovely Brooks Laich pass was just another reminder of that fact. When he, Gordon and Brashear are on the ice the shifts have been packed with energy and, amazingly enough, a few scoring chances as well - but it all seems to start with #10.
- All three of the Caps goals last night had something in common - they all involved the Caps driving the net in some fashion or another, something that seems to be missing when the offense sputters. Amazing.
- Scary moment #1: Alex Ovechkin taking a shot off his boot and getting up slowly, then walking with a pronounced limp back to the locker room after the first period.
- Scary moment #2: Cristobal Huet taking a slapper to the chin, sending his facemask flying.
- Scary moment #3: The last five minutes of the third period.
And around the league:
- It's a wonder that Kari Lehtonen and Johan Hedberg haven't been sized for straitjackets just yet. The (useless) Thrashers were outshot by the Flyers 47-19 last night, making that the 10th game this year in which they've allowed 40+ shots. In only 19 games have they allowed fewer than 30 shots on net, and Atlanta has outshot their opponents a mere nine times (tying another five). And of course, they're 30th in the league when it comes to shots against per game.
- You have to have seen that goal the Islanders scored - shorthanded, no less - in last night's loss to the Maple Leafs, but if you haven't do so immediately. 190 feet of slow, bouncing rubber that just kept bouncing slowly...right over Vesa Toskala's glove and into the net. The scary part for the Leafs? Up until the third period that goal was holding strong as the potential game-winner. That would have been a story.
- The Penguins lost to the Rangers last night - and their dads were there to see it. (Of course maybe someone can explain why their father-son trip was NHL.com newsworthy and the Caps' trip a few weeks ago wasn't...)
So the Caps look to extend their winning streak to five, the first time they would have accomplished that feat in seven years. Ouch. And of course they'll attempt to do it while playing their third game in four nights and the second of back to back games...but at least their opponent is in the middle of a slump of sorts, with the Hawks going 1-4-1 in their last 6 and having likely fallen out of the playoff pictures.
Watch out for the twin teens, though. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews haven't slowed down much despite their team's recent woes and they're always dangerous, as are a host of others on the Hawks roster. This'll be our first look at them against the Caps and it'll be interesting to see how well the Caps defense, so strong lately, can shut them down - and how well our own rookie phenom, Nicklas Backstrom, matches up.
Oh, and if you're keeping track, Ovechkin is sitting two goals shy of 60. Ho hum.
Your standings as of this morning:
Tonight Tampa takes on Buffalo and Atlanta hosts the Hurricanes - looks like we're picking the underdog in both of those. Hey, the Thrashers have to win one eventually, right?
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Keeping Hope Alive
Dominant.
That's one word you could use to describe the Caps' 4-1 victory over the Thrashers last night. Simply dominant.
Despite falling behind 1-0 in the first and appearing a little sluggish to start the game, the Caps still managed to outshoot, outdraw, outhit and outscore a weary Atlanta team en route to a crucial two points. It was a truly great team win and continues a long stretch of games in which the Caps have simply outplayed their opponent, including the two heartbreakers last weekend. Wins like this are what make you believe in the unbelievable, expect the unexpected and keep hope alive.
But back to the game itself.
First of all...Brooks Laich. Is there anything you can say about this guy that hasn't been said in recent weeks? He's clutch, becoming a player who can play in any situation at any position and still rack up points. He now has three multiple goal games in his last nine, racking up 10 goals and 12 points in his last 12 games - those are Ovechkin-esque numbers for sure, and he now sits just one goal shy of his first 20 goal season. Brooks was truly the star of the game last night and you could feel the whole crowd pulling for him to get the hat trick by the end. It'll happen eventually.
But he was but one star among many last night. The entire team absolutely shut down any hope of a Thrashers attack, stifling them to allow only 11 shots - a low mark even for a team like Atlanta that is routinely outshot.
It was textbook defensive positioning all night long, with Olie making the necessary saves but not really facing any sort of sustained attack from anywhere in close. The one goal against was a perfectly placed, wobbling shot from the point that came just as a penalty to the Caps was expiring - the only offense provided by an Atlanta team that barely sniffed the offensive zone.
Watching the second period alone was like watching poetry in motion. It was shift after shift of puck possession, from the top line down to the gritty fourth-liners and everyone in between. They ran the Atlanta defense around until they were dizzy and peppered Lehtonen constantly, who basically prevented this game from getting any uglier than it already was with some sparkling saves to keep it close.
And it wasn't that close.
Ovechkin was dominant, scoring his 57th of the year and putting him one point shy of his second 100-point season (and 3 shy of 300 for his career) - but he didn't have to be. The beauty of the team win is that the rest of the team was right there to back him up and his goal was nothing more than icing on the cake.
Mike Green was flying all over the place and seems poised to break out of his recent goal-scoring slump in the coming days. The line of Bradley, Gordon and Brashear was entertaining and dominant all night, arguably the best line through 60 minutes with some great chances that just didn't cash in. Matt Cooke gave the Caps a breather with a perfectly timed, perfectly placed and joyously celebrated shorthanded goal.
And congratulations to Sami Lepisto, whose assist on Laich's second goal gives him his first NHL point!
Now for the usual scoreboard watching, looking around the league to see who helped us and who goes on the "useless" list. The one most concerning Caps fans was last night's Buffalo-Carolina game, a tricky one as the Caps could have leapt over the Sabres with a Carolina win but would have fallen further behind in the Southeast division.
With the fresh eyes of morning it appears that the result, a 7-1 drubbing by Buffalo, worked out just fine for the Caps. They now sit 3 points behind Philly for the 8th seed and remain one point behind Buffalo; they've pulled to within 5 of the Southeast lead once more and still have two games against the Canes plus a game in hand.
Meanwhile the Rangers pick an inopportune time (shocking) to end their point streak, falling to Florida 3-2 and allowing the Panthers to stay neck in neck with the Caps. You know, it just wouldn't be a regular NHL season if Florida didn't make one last run at the playoffs in the dying days of the season, would it? All we can hope is that this year turns out like all the others...and they fall just short once again.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Olie Douses Flames and Other Non-Punny Thoughts
One down, 11 to go...
- First off, congratulations again to Olie Kolzig on his 300th win, an amazing feat. It's been a chaotic couple of months, a chaotic season, a chaotic career - but the way he's been playing lately and the way he played last night, it's not hard to see how he achieved 300 wins.
Whatever happens after this season, the incredible things he's accomplished and the impact he's had on the team, the organization and the community should never be overlooked. Truly a class act.
Be sure to swing by NHL.com to vote in their Olie-centric poll of the day!
- Another tremendous game by Alex Ovechkin kicks his season totals (and his career high totals) up to 56 goals and 97 points on the season. He's four away from his first 60 goal season, three points from his second 100+ point season, and five points from 300 on his career. I just don't think he has an off switch...
- Checking around the interwebs, the general sense is that the Caps were victimized by the refs in the first half of the game - and the Flames were victimized in the second half. There's probably a little truth to both arguments and more than a little bit of homerism in each as well, but it does beg the question: has the officiating been incredibly unbalanced this season or does it just seem that way?
- To the fair citizens in section 427 last night...I missed the memo, were the Penguins in town for another game? Maybe the Rangers? Seriously, never have I seen a fistfight erupt in the stands when a former Patrick Division rival wasn't in town, but this one was completely started by the Caps fans who insisted on pelting a few Flames fans with peanuts. Remember, kids - beer and stupidity don't mix.
- John Erskine apparently was hurt and played sparingly in the second half of the game. The Caps proceeded to come back from a 2-1 deficit to win it. Coincidence? I think not.
- Also not a coincidence - the fact that the Caps have allowed four goals in the last three games while down two men and both Dave Steckel and Quintin Laing were out of the lineup. It's great that the two of them have become such a solid fixture on the PK but the Caps have got to learn how to kill off a two-man advantage without them.
Or, you know, stop taking penalties when someone else is in the box...
- Here's a headline that is sure to take the buzz off any Leafs fan's happy dance this morning: Sundin Hurt. Reports are varied on whether he'll even miss any time, but you have to think losing him puts a serious dent in Toronto's playoff hopes. Of course, as the team currently tied with them in the race for 8th (and while we would never wish injury on anyone) it's hard not to see that as a positive at this point.
- I know the Canes are a good team, but why is no one able to beat them? There is no reason for that team, with the injuries they have and the senior citizen status most of their players hold, to be running roughshod over the entire league right now. We get two cracks at them in the coming weeks, better make them count.
- And finally, Quintin Laing has been nominated by the Washington chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association for the Bill Masterton trophy. Hard to argue with that choice - read about it here.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Here We Go...
As the decongestants wear off and the sadness from this weekend's back to back heartbreakers fades away it's time to look at the rest of the season with a cool, calm and realistic eye.
No, the Caps aren't out of the playoff race just yet. From here on out, though, it's even more of an uphill climb that will take a combination of Caps wins, help from other teams, and general good luck to get this team into the postseason.
...not exactly a trio that has graced our presence in the past, is it?
Still, it's important to remember two things. One, the Caps don't seem to be calling it quits just yet and until they're further out of it we may not want to either; you just never know what can happen down the stretch. And two, we've said since the beginning of the year that as long as this team stays in the hunt right up until the final day we can consider this season a success, and I think that still holds true.
Playoffs would be great. We love the postseason here in the Cheap Seats. Big fans. However, after three years of sub-70 point seasons and fire sales and embarrassing blowout losses, there is something so sweet about what has transpired these past few months, and I don't think anyone will go into the spring and summer with anything less than heads held high. If we make it, we make it; if not, this team will be ready to set the East on fire next year, I have no doubt.
So the Caps play host to the red hot Calgary Flames tonight, a team fighting for their own playoff lives and boasting a young core of talent in their own right. But despite losing two straight, the Caps are also a team that could be called hot. How, you ask? Well, Saturday and Sunday's games should be considered wins until the final minutes; the points may not show up but the effort, the skill and the solid play overall in each of them are exactly what the Caps will need to carry into this final run of games.
So here's what we have left:
- Two more games against each of the division rivals, culminating in the home and season closer against the Florida Panthers
- A final payback game against the Bruins
- The last two Central Division teams, Nashville and Chicago
...and that's it. That's all she wrote. Not an easy chunk of games by any stretch of the imagination but nothing this team can't handle. The way they've played these last two weeks, it's not out of the realm of possibility that the Caps pick up 8, 9, or even 10 wins. They'll have to if they have any hope of moving on.
Lots of hockey going on tonight, lots happening last night, lots to discuss in the coming weeks. For now:
- Montreal shut out the Devils to reclaim the Eastern Conference lead. Habs fan or not, admit it - it's always fun to see New Jersey get shut out, isn't it? By the way, that Carey Price kid might have a future in the NHL...
- Toronto became both our worst enemy and our best friend as they beat the Flyers last night - in overtime. Thanks, Leafs. They're now tied with us and Florida, although the Caps have a game in hand on both, and they prevent Philly from getting too far ahead (79 points). This time of year is so tricky for standings-watchers.
- Amazingly enough the Lightning blew away the Islanders big time, lighting up DiPietro for an 8-4 final. Former Cap Jeff Halpern picked up a goal and two assists for his new team, giving him four goals and five assists since joining the Bolts in a trade that has worked out surprisingly well for both sides.
- Out west the Oilers forced overtime...and didn't go to a shootout. They were five seconds away from yet another gimmicky game when Cogliano scored to win it for Edmonton. Simply amazing.
Here's what is on the menu tonight - first up, Toronto and Philly clash again. Go...Leafs? The Blackhawks need to prove they love us with a win over the Canes. Florida and the Isles go head to head in a battle of who cares (drink your coffee for that one).
And here's the worst one - Pens-Sabres. Folks, this is going to hurt, but we want Pittsburgh to win. I know, I know, walk it off, take a deep breath, close your eyes and think of England.
It'll all be over soon.
On a personal note, I'm sending out a special thanks to all of you for all the kind get-well wishes and notes I got in the past few days - I'm feeling much better, kids!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
The Most Dangerous Lead in Hockey
In the pre-2005 NHL, a two goal lead was known by that moniker; in the high flying days of the post-lockout NHL it might as well be known as the "you're going to blow it" lead (of course in the Rangers' case, that lead is actually a five goal lead, but that's a topic for another day).Twice in the last two games the Caps have jumped up to 2-0 and gone into the third period with a lead, and twice in the last two games they've blown it. Only this time was more devastating, as it not only resulted in a loss but also gave a point (and eventually two) to the conference rival Islanders - a team they're battling with for the eighth spot.
You have to wonder at what point this team will learn how to take a lead and - this is the tricky part - hang onto it. Saturday night in Tampa they got away with a brief moment of less than stellar play and managed to salvage the win in regulation on the back of a quick retaliatory Semin goal. Tonight they weren't so lucky, and while one would assume that would be a wake up call for the team, it's happened too many times this season to hope that will happen. Part of it is a byproduct of the high risk, high reward style of play they've enlisted...but part of it is pure sloppiness and it has to stop.
For the most part the Caps didn't look all that bad. After a somewhat flat start to the game they jumped out to a lead on a pretty breakaway goal by Semin and then padded the lead with a nice power play deflection by Brooks Laich, his 10th goal of the season. There was sloppy play throughout by both teams, lots of pucks bouncing over sticks and turnovers galore, but the Caps took a two goal lead into the locker room after one.
Enter our old friend Miroslav Satan. Raise your hand if you knew the second Joe B. mentioned Satan's efficiency against the Caps that he was going to score. The curse of the commentator strikes again.
The tying goal...well, it's hard to even discuss it. Just a really unlucky play that caught Olie a little out of position but not so much that you can completely blame him. He was big when he had to be tonight and it was unfortunate, but it always seems to be that kind of goal that does it in the end to the Caps.
As for the individual Washington efforts, there were a few that deserve mention. Brooks Laich had some jump in his step and had some great chances, while the whole line of Laich, Gordon and Brashear was very effective at hemming in the Islanders and wearing them out while generating chances. Matt Pettinger continued his strong play and picked up his first point in a month, a heads-up play that sent the puck to a wide open Semin. Green was flying around all over the place and Morrisonn is starting to look much more like himself with some great defensive plays in his own right.
And then there was Ovechkin, who played his third straight game without registering a point. He looked much better than he did over the weekend if not still a bit sluggish, but he also was marked very well by Martinek and rarely had much room to maneuver. When he did get open he owned DiPietro - and you can still hear the resounding clank of a hat trick of posts ringing into the wintry DC night.
So mark it down as a loss, a messy one at that, and only the fourth loss at home in the last thirteen games. Since Tampa Bay decided to also be completely useless tonight by falling in overtime to Buffalo, 9th, 10th and 11th place stay exactly the same as they did before puck drop. Everyone inches a little closer to idle Philadelphia and the Caps get the slimmest of margins over Atlanta, but no one moves, no one leaps, and the race is still on.
The good news? The "loser" point that seemingly is the topic of so much discussion lately will actually come in handy, as it at least lets the Caps keep pace with the Hurricanes. They remain two points out despite Boston failing to win in regulation last night and the Caps failing to finish off the Islanders tonight, and they still have two games in hand - three after the Canes and Thrashers meet tomorrow night.
...a game I think we'd all rather ignore because there is no good outcome.
It also makes Saturday's twilight game all that much more important, because while it won't allow the Caps to leapfrog the Canes it will at least give them to again draw even. We're talking big, huge, major importance surrounding this one, and it wasn't exactly something to sneeze at before. The Caps cannot afford to fall too far behind at any point, and a four point deficit is much more daunting than two.
So settle in for a bit, we've got another two days of idle torture before the Caps are back in action Saturday evening. Lots of games coming up tomorrow night with potential ramifications for the Caps, as the Islanders take on the Lightning, the Bruins play the Panthers, Toronto and Buffalo face off, and the Sharks try to salvage their road trip against the slumping Flyers.
And of course, the Canes and Thrashers meet for a Southeast Division no-win situation in Raleigh. Go...anything in regulation.
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.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Tenuous Hold
A win in Philly always makes the morning sun a little brighter, and today is no exception. Save for a little stretch where the Caps seemed content to sit on a three-goal lead (have they learned nothing??), last night's game was a clinic in defensive positioning, pretty goals, and winning on the road.
It also was the first time in recent days that someone other than Ovechkin scored - and of course his goal turns out to be the game-winner. Not that we don't love when Ovie gets a goal but it almost seems a shame that he gets the GWG in a game where he was pretty well held in check. Brooks Laich's goal, aided by lousy Flyer defense, was just a beautiful backhand. Kozlov's goal was a wicked shot off an even more picturesque Fleischmann pass. Bradley's marker was earned by doing something they haven't been doing lately - simply going to the net and getting your body in the way.
Power play? Stunk. Penalty killing? Well, the Flyers have a pretty good PP and they scored with one of our best PKers in the box, so I'll let that one slide. Officiating?
...don't even get me started.
But that was a team win through and through. Guys were blocking shots, taking the body, and simply frustrating the high-flying Flyers offense to the point where it was just an ugly game - and that's what it needed to be.
Olie was very, very sharp - even on that disallowed goal he made a great toe save before getting unceremoniously shoved into the net (and no, it shouldn't have been a goal, read your rulebooks). Mike Green looked downright Mike Green-ish for a change. Schultz has improved immensely and no longer scares me when he has the puck. The Semin-Kozlov-Fleischmann line is looking very impressive. And Eric Fehr continues to make a believer out of all of us with a few more good chances.
Now on to the real story about this win. Anyone who follows Caps hockey and watched or read about last night's game knows what the win meant - two points that vaulted this team over Atlanta and Carolina into first place in the Southeast, third in the Conference. We all knew it. It was talked about ad nauseum by every media outlet that covers (or "covers") hockey.
...still, how many of you did what I did this morning and went right to the standings page, just to see it in black and white? It was one of those "pinch me, I must be dreaming moments" for me where I woke up and thought, what if it was all a dream? Could this team that was back in 30th place just two months ago really have clawed their way out of the cellar to take the division lead? Hard to believe...
Look, there we are! Believe it, baby. This is no dream.
However, there is one thing to remember, and Boudreau said it best in today's daily dialogue - we haven't done anything yet. For now, we are in first place in the Southeast. For now. As early as 9:30 tonight, when the final whistle blows in the Thrashers-Canucks game, that could change.
So we as fans can't sit back and just assume it's a done deal; the team certainly can't sit back and assume it's a done deal. There's a lot of hockey left to play down the stretch. To quote Lenny Kravitz, "baby, it ain't over 'til it's over"...
Here's what lies ahead:
- thirteen more division games, including seven straight to end the season
- a six-game road swing that includes the final two Central division opponents and four Southeast teams
- one final matchup with the Penguins back at the Phone Booth - with or without Crosby, Pittsburgh is always a team that provides a challenge for the Caps
- one more Rangers game, one more Islanders game, two more Devils games (woo) and three more against the Bruins
So enjoy it for now and hope for a wider margin as we continue down the stretch. We'll need the combined forces of fate, luck and skill to get this team past April 5th and I for one think it's possible.
For now, though, enjoy the view from the top - and I think I speak for all Caps fans when I say...go Canucks.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Top of the Heap
Look, Jeff Schultz hitting someone!
There you have it - first place in the division. Feels pretty good...
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.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Happy Friday Indeed
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Arrivaderci, Schultzie
- Jeff Schultz, after being told to get a place to live and a car, after surprising all of us by making the roster in the first place, has been sent back to Hershey. How permanent this move is remains to be seen - its certainly not a way of getting him ice time, as the Bears continue to bide their time through a ten day break before finally playing on Saturday in Binghamton.
More likely than not its a sign that Eminger is on the road to recovery, and with the way Erskine is playing right now they're certainly not going to send him down (especially since it would subject him to waivers). Better to put the kid back in Hershey where, eventually, he'll get plenty of ice time, rather than pay him to take up an increasingly rare seat in the press box.
- How can you tell the season is still young? Observe:
Not to say this team isn't capable of it at some point, but I'm not sure this is the year the Caps will have the second best record in the league when all is said and done. It's called cautious optimism - as Caps fans we live and breathe it, and for now we just enjoy the beauty of being somewhere we haven't been in a looooong time.
(Although on the off chance that this is how things end up in April there are a few teams residing below 8th that actually make me giddy. Feel free to guess which ones.)
