Sunday, December 11, 2011

Weekend Recap

The Caps only played one game this weekend in a game that could be referred to as a power play coming out party for the boys in red. In a 4-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs all four tallies were scored on the extra man. It is hard to believe after the numbers of the past couple of weeks. I loved every minute of it as I’m sure every Caps fan did.
Dennis Wideman was the man of the night getting a point on every goal, finishing with two goals and two assists. The only sad part is that he originally was given a hat trick, but it was taken away the next day because of a tip-in by Brooks Laich. I’m sure Wideman wasn’t too discouraged the next morning. Other than him Brooks Laich and Nicklas Backstrom both had two point games with a goal and assist each. Tomas Vokoun also played a solid game, saving 26 shots for his 12th win of the season.
Washington has a three day break before they take on the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night. The Flyers currently sit atop the Eastern Conference, and the Capitals are on their way up. Dale Hunter’s changes are finally being seen in each game, and I see a new team committed to it. I am not lying when I say that Alex Ovechkin has played two of the best games I have seen him play in a long time in the past week. Yes he's only logged one goal and one assist in those two games, but he has skated with that spark that he started his career with. He is changing his offensive game and playing with confidence. The past couple games he could’ve scored five or six goals with the chances he is getting. It is only a matter of time before things click and he takes off. You heard it from the creator of Caps Daily first; Alex Ovechkin will score a goal Tuesday and have a multi-point game.
I mean don’t get me wrong I know we are only on a two game winning streak, but it feels like something is happening. The players as well as the coaches are buying into the new system which means success. The Flyers will be a good test for the Caps and I look forward to it. Tune in Tuesday at 7 for the game. Rock the Red!
FUN FACT OF THE DAY: Dale Hunter beat Coach Ron Wilson on Friday when the Caps beat the Leafs. Wilson used to coach Hunter for the Capitals when he was a captain. Most importantly the two were a part of a Washington Capitals team that made it to the franchise’s only Stanley Cup appearance in 1997-98.
Player of the Weekend: Dennis Wideman (2 goals, 2 assists)
Stat of the Weekend: 4 for 6 (Caps PP)
Unsung Hero: Alex Ovechkin       

Friday, December 9, 2011

Caps top Sens with strong third

Going into the final period two nights ago I had a very similar feeling of disgust, with the Capitals down 2-1. Well the Caps proved me wrong scoring four goals in the third period and pulling off a 5-3 win over the Ottawa Senators. Now I'm not going to recap the game thoroughly because the game was two nights ago, but I will share what impressed me most.

ALEX OVECHKIN! I called him out in my last post and apparently The Great 8 follows Caps Daily because he answered. From puck drop to his last shift in the third period, Ovi had great scoring chances and was skating with confidence. Truthfully he could have had three or four goals, but he would come through with one go ahead goal which was enough. The goal he scored was very Oviesque in the way he carried the puck the length of the ice, stopped on a dime, faked a slapper, and beat the goaltender five-hole. It was his ninth goal of the season and left all of us thinking is the real Ovi here to stay with a goal like that. Many will say no, but I disagree and expect a big night out of him tonight vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Now of course there were a few kinks in Washington's defensive game, but I do see some improvements. Let's give the credit to new assistant coach, and defensive specialist, Jim Johnson. My favorite three D-men of the night were John Carlson, Dmitry Orlov, and Karl Alzner. Carlson had his second game in a row with three points. Not to mention him and Alzner had a +3 combined ice rating. Orlov continues to impress me each night, logging his fourth point of the season on the Ovechkin goal. The 20 year old will play his tenth game tonight meaning he has to sign a pro contract. Another positive was Nicklas Backstrom ending the power play drought with a snipe for his 10th goal. The other goal scorers were Carlson, Halpern, and Brouwer.

Alex Semin was back in the lineup Wednesday playing on the top line with Ovi and Nicky. I think if he going to stay on this team he has to stay on this line. Yes he isn't scoring right now, but he is an offensive threat that draws defenders which ultimately helps Ovi's game. So if Dale Hunter is listening, please either trade or keep Semin on the first line. The Caps take on the Maple Leafs tonight at the Verizon Center and I can guarantee that it won’t go the same way  as it did three weeks ago (7-1 loss). Rock the Red!

FUN FACT OF THE DAY: Did you know that Troy Brouwer recorded his second career Gordie Howe hat trick Wednesday night vs. the Senators. It was the first of the season for the Caps and Brouwer was a big contributor in the win.

Player of the Game: Troy Brouwer (1 goal, 1 assist, fight)

Stat of the Game: 1 goal, 2 assists, +1 (John Carlson)

Unsung Hero: Tomas Vokoun

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Caps fall short in Florida

The Capitals suffered their fifth straight road loss tonight to the Florida Panthers. Washington would score three consecutive goals, but it would not be enough falling 5-4 in the end. It was penalties that killed the Caps. The Panthers were successful three out of six times on the extra man. Two of those PPG’s occurred in the 1st period, leaving the score 3-1 at the first intermission. Other than the third period, the Caps were outplayed and out hustled. Michal Neuvirth made several big saves, but also made mistakes on two big goals in the game. I’m not sure what is wrong with Neuvy, but he needs to step up or I see Braden Holtby coming up for some starts.
The goals were scored by Mike Knuble, Cody Eakin, Brooks Laich, and Jason Chimera for the Capitals. Every forward line was +1 or better except for the first line. The third line was an offensive force again being responsible for two of the goals tonight. They continue to produce results for this team as I stated in the “3rd line Special”. I’d also like to congratulate Johnny Erskine on his 2nd fight in three games. This time he instigated the fight and made Bracken Kearns his b*tch. Even though he was given the 10 minute misconduct it was worth to see and I’m sure Dale Hunter enjoyed it after we killed the penalty.
The Alex’s
Alex Semin was scratched again for a “shoulder injury”. I think that Sasha could be in the works for a trade if you ask me. Alex Ovechkin logged more ice time than he’s had all year with 22:02, but him, Nicklas Backstrom, and Troy Brouwer all earned -2 ice ratings.  Ovi has to find the net! He has to be better if this team is going to succeed. It is very frustrating to watch such a talented player suffer these kinds of slumps and criticism this early in his career. In the past 12 games, Ovi has logged only one goal, four assists, and has a -7 ice rating. I’m his biggest fan and I hate to criticize him but we need him now more than ever because at this rate I don’t even see him making the all-star game. The Great Eight is our captain and I won’t lose faith, but we need him to start playing like one.
Whose fault was it?
·         The first goal was dumb luck because of the unfortunate deflection.

·         Neuvy was definitely at fault for the second goal letting the puck go through his seven hole just 13 seconds after the first tally.


·         The blame goes to Neuvy again with letting in a stoppable slap shot on the power play from the point.

·         Three times a charm so why not put the fault to the goalie for not covering the puck, allowing a wrap job to occur.


·         Alright Neuvy I’ll cut you some slack on this one. Ovi and the rest of the Caps on the ice stood watching as the Panthers slotted the fifth goal in a wide open net.

Player of the Game: John Carlson (3 assists, +3 ice rating)
Stat of the Game: 17 penalty minutes (John Erskine)
Unsung Hero: Dmitry Orlov

Monday, December 5, 2011

3rd Line Special

Although the Washington Capitals this year have struggled through the first quarter of the season, three players are achieving much success each night. These three men have played on the 3rd forward line together for the majority of the season and have been more than effective on both ends of the ice. Yes, I am talking about the combo of Brooks Laich, Jason Chimera, and Joel Ward. This line is responsible for four game winning goals in the Caps’ 13 wins this season (Chimera-2, Laich-2). Not to mention, this line is given the challenge in most games to shut down the opponent’s top line. Each one of the three brings something unique to the game which is why they are so successful. Laich’s OT winner on Saturday from Chimera is the most recent example.

Let’s start with Jason Chimera. “Chim-dog”, which is the name some teammates know him by, is arguably the fastest skater in the NHL. His speed changes the game in the way he accelerates down the wing with or without the puck. On numerous occasions this season I have seen his speed draw penalties, beat out icing calls, and ultimately give him goal opportunities in which he’s capitalized on. Chimera has already matched his last season total in goals with 10, which leads the team, and also has six assists. He is the only player on the team with a short-handed goal which proves his stellar play on the penalty kill. Finally, he is second on the team with a +8 ice rating. Chim-dog is the biggest contributor to the 3rd line and we are lucky to have him.

Centering this productive line is none other than Brooks Laich. This past offseason Laich signed a six year contract extension for $27 million. Some would argue that is too much to pay the 28 year old, but perhaps he is earning his paycheck this season. Brooksie has tallied five goals and 15 points this season. With these five goals he has two game winners and three power play goals which is tied for the team lead. The only downfall is his -4 ice rating, but we will let it slide for now. His leadership is shown each night with his communication and emotion on and off the ice. Hopefully #21 can keep playing like he deserves the money in his bank account.

Finally, we are lucky to have, the newest addition to the team, Joel Ward. He has been very successful this season because of his physicality and strong board play. Ward, in my opinion, is one of those players who is rewarded for his effort night in and night out. Yes he only has four goals and nine points this season, but he does much more that is not seen on a stat sheet. Ward is solid on the penalty kill and is always throwing shots and crashing the net. Also he has a +4 ice rating this season. Keep doing your thing #42, you are a vital part to the 3rd line and the Washington Capitals organization.

I can only hope Dale Hunter keeps this combo together for the remainder of the season. The Caps take on division rival, the Florida Panthers, tonight. I wouldn’t’ doubt that the 3rd line will be checking against the Panthers top line of Weiss, Fleischmann, and Versteeg. They are one of the most productive forward lines in the NHL, so it should be an interesting matchup. Tune in tonight at 7:30. Rock the Red!

Sunday, December 4, 2011

The Weekend Recap

Let me recap the past couple days for the Capitals. On Thursday, the Caps scoring issue continued as they suffered a heart-breaker to their rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins. Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby who are usually featured in this matchup were both held pointless in this 2-1 loss for Washington. Jason Chimera was the only Cap to tickle the twine for his 10th goal of the year which seems to be a trend as of late. Tomas Vokoun played well most of the game, but allowed another shaky second goal which eventually cost them.
The most exciting point of the game for me was the fight between John Erskine and Arron Asham. Erskine was definitely paying Asham back for his actions after he knocked out forward Jay Beagle earlier in the season. Both of the tough guys landed punches, but I’ll give the upper hand to #4 in red. Other than that the only thing Washington seemed to beat Pittsburgh in was hits, which was nice to see, but not when your amount of shots gets doubled 35-17. This would make Thursday the second game in a row with less than 20 shots.
The last game of the Capitals three game home stand was vs. the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. Dale Hunter would prevail and earn his first win in OT for a 3-2 win! Nicklas Backstrom and Troy Brouwer tallied the two goals in regulation for the Caps. The combo of Jason Chimera and Brooks Laich would seal the deal 12 seconds into overtime to give Laich the game winner in his 500th career NHL game. Michal Neuvirth might have played his best game of the season with 32 saves and a win. Neuvy needs to stay solid like this if the Caps are going to be successful.
It was nice to see Dale get his first win and hopefully it will be the first of many. One thing I have noticed since the coaching change is that the Caps are playing a much more physical game and the fore-check has improved. I’m excited to see what other changes in strategy the new coach has in store for us. The next matchup is very important because the Florida Panthers are currently on top the Southeast Division, so it would be nice to gain a few points on them. Tune in tomorrow for a special “3rd Line” feature. Rock the Red!
FUN FACT OF THE DAY: Did you know that Dale Hunter has fought both of his assistant coaches, Jim Johnson and Dean Evason, when he was a player. Believe it or not, Hunter and Evason fought three times in the same period when they faced each other as players. It is nice to know Dale Hunter is comfortable with the guys next to him on the bench.
Player of the Weekend: Jason Chimera (1 goal, 1 assist)
Stat of the Weekend: 5 points, +3 ice rating (3rd forward line- Chimera, Laich, Ward)
Unsung Hero: John Erskine

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Breaking news

Washington Capitals hire Jim Johnson as assistant coach and let go of Bob Woods. He played 121 games with the Caps along side Dale Hunter in the 90's. Johnson has experience in coaching at the AHL and NHL level.

Caps suffer 3rd straight loss

Everyone can take a deep breath and relax because it is just Dale Hunter’s first game behind the bench. He hasn’t even implemented his drills in practice and his styles of play yet. Yes I know all Capitals fans including myself thought the players would be inspired by the coaching change and come out with a win vs. the St. Louis Blues. The first game jitters from Hunter and the rest of the team are in the rear view mirror.
Let’s talk about the game a little bit. The Caps suffered a 2-1 loss to the Blues and were outshot 30-19. Less than 20 shots is just not going to get it done especially when your star player Alex Ovechkin only logged one of those shots. The Great Eight has to start finding ways to score because if he does as captain, the whole team will follow by example. It’s as simple as throwing pucks at the net and crashing. Nicklas Backstrom supplied the lone goal in the first period giving Washington an early lead. Ovechkin assisted on the goal after he beat a few defenders entering the offensive zone. He struggled through most of the game but was the only Washington player with a positive plus/minus (+1).
The Blues’ T.J. Oshie tied it off a rebound that Tomas Vokoun couldn’t control off the crossbar. In the second period Matt D'Agostini would score the game winner on a wrap-around. Vokoun challenged the original shot from the point which he saved, but couldn’t freeze the puck. He can’t make those mistakes beyond the crease. The biggest let down was that this go ahead goal came after a 5 on 3 penalty kill for the Caps. St. Louis had four PP chances that they didn’t convert on. Washington wasn’t man up all game until 20 seconds remaining in the third period. You could almost say it was a pity call from the refs for not getting a power play all game. In the end Jaroslav Halak was just too much for the red sweaters stopping 18 of 19 shots.
One play that angered me towards the end of the game was when John Carlson casually skated back and got beat to the puck which cancelled out an icing. With three minutes left, trailing by a goal, you have the chance for an offensive zone faceoff, and you don’t bust your ass. Not acceptable in my book, and I hope Dale Hunter let him hear it after the game because your better than that Carlson. I’d like to give Dmitry Orlov some credit for playing in his fifth game. He has been physical, defensively sound, and showed us some dangles in the offensive zone tonight which surprised some people.
On a positive not it was nice to see Matt Hendricks drop the gloves for the fourth time this season. The fight was short lived with Hendy barely landing a punch, but we appreciate the effort. I also loved not seeing Jeff Schultz on the blue line because he was healthy scratched. The Pittsburgh Penguins come in Thursday to the Verizon Center for a much awaited rivalry game. Not to mention it will be the first time Sidney Crosby has faced the Caps since the Winter Classic. Ovi vs. Sid is back, and hopefully this game will spark Ovi because he always plays his best game against the Pens. Don’t give up Caps fans! Rock the Red!
Player of the Game: Nicklas Backtrom (1 goal, solid on PK)
Stat of the Game: Blues PP 0 for 4 (Caps PK)
Unsung Hero: Matt Hendricks

Monday, November 28, 2011

I'M BACK!! Hunter hired as head coach

Well Caps fans I am back to blogging again and for good reason. This season Alex Ovechkin and the boys got off to a record start with seven straight wins to kick off the regular season. Since that the guys in red have lost 10 of their last 15 and have been struggling on all levels. Ovi is off to his slowest start in his career with only eight goals in the first 22 games and the Caps have given up 31 goals against in the past seven games. Need a change in the locker room? Well Bruce Boudreau tried being strict with his team this year starting with benching Ovechkin late in a game earlier this season. Then BB scratched Alex Semin for his poor play and Joel ward for missing a team meeting. GM George McPhee seemed to support this kind of coaching strategy but couldn't continue any longer after this past weekend's two losses 6-3 to NYR and 5-1 to BUF.

Early Monday morning McPhee made the rumors of head coach Bruce Boudreau being fired a headline in the NHL. Don't get me wrong Boudreau has done great things for this organization in the past four years which include: expanding the fan base, winning four Southeast division titles, and the President's trophy. What's missing? His ability to escape the 2nd round in the playoffs and a Stanley Cup is missing. I have no hard feelings but it was definitely time for the "fat f*ck", to go as Ovi would say. Alright kind of harsh but thank you Bruce for your four successful but stressful years. You have definitely made this city a hockey town with all 201 of your wins.

The Washington Capitals organization welcomed new head coach Dale Hunter to the team immediately at practice today. So who is this Dale Hunter guy? Oh, not a big deal his #32 jersey is just hanging in the rafters in the Verizon Center today. Hunter has been coaching the London Knights in the OHL for the past 10 years and has had tremendous success. He is credited with the quickest to achieve 300 and 400 wins as a coach in the OHL. Hunter has also coached many current NHL stars that include two players he will become quite familiar with in John Carlson and Dennis Wideman. It is an added bonus that he is already been in the Washington Capitals system when he played 12 seasons in red and captained for five of them. Dale Hunter is an obvious leader and successful winner so far in his coaching career. Expect to see some change in the way the Caps play the game on both ends.

Now many people are asking who will get the "C". Does Ovi keep it with the way he's playing? George McPhee talked to the team today and stated that there would be no captain change. All I know is that Alexander Ovechkin didn't get along with BB and it became very evident this season. Hopefully this coaching change sparks The Great Eight and the rest of the team because quite frankly the games in the past few weeks have been difficult to watch. Tomas Vokoun needs to quickly get back to his roots in stealing games single-handedly for the team because his performance has been sub-par. Injuries have been rough on Washington this season keeping defenseman Mike Green out for more games than expected, but he did skate with the team today.

This coaching change came at the right time in my opinion. I wouldn't be surprised to see some players being moved, Alex Semin, if things do not get better. Dale Hunter was a hard-working player and I wouldn't expect anything else from him as a coach. Do not panic Caps fans! We have just entered a new era and at this point we can only go up. Rock the Red!!!

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

A Fehrwell

Unfortunately this past week the Washington Capitals organization bid "Fehrwell" to a talented young forward, #16 Eric Fehr. He was traded to the Winnipeg Jets, the newly formed team that is replacing the Atlanta Thrashers in the Southeast division this coming season. It is only fitting that Winnipeg is Fehr's hometown and has always been his dream place to play hockey. Although he did make some remarks saying how much he enjoyed his time in Washington and will miss the fans and his relationships with the guys in the red sweaters.

I am going to miss #16 and his continuous urge to score goals on the third line. Washington will move on but the memories of Fehr will never fade away. Let's go back to New Year's Day of this year when the Caps played in their first ever Winter Classic vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins. I remember it quite vividly when Fehrsie logged two goals to put the Pens down in front of the away crowd at Heinz Field. That was perhaps Eric Fehr's most defining moment as a Cap. In his career in DC he scored 46 goals and 47 assists. Oh yeah and he had a +78 ice rating......not bad at all for a 3rd line forward!!!! This Winnipeg native experienced shoulder problems this past season. He had to undergo surgery over the summer that was going to make his return questionable for the beginning of the season. I will always be an Eric Fehr fan no matter where he plays. Good Luck Fehrsie you will always be a Cap in my heart. Rock the Red!

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Caps Offseason

Well Caps fans I am finally back! With all the free agents being signed in the past week by the Washington Capitals it is clear that George McPhee means business. Last week things got started off when Brooks Laich was resigned for 6 years. Brooksie is a hardworking strong forward who has helped the Caps organization the past few years.

The Capitals made another big move in the draft when they traded their first round pick to Chicago for forward Troy Brouwer. The 25 year old has a Stanley Cup on his resume and can definitely aid Washington with his size. He led the Blackhawks and was fifth in the league in hits and is a great physical presence. Then the free agent craziness began! Joel Ward, Roman Hamrlik, Jeff Halpern, and Tomas Vokoun were signed by the Washington Capitals.

Joel Ward is a 30 year old forward from the Nashville Predators who is also a very physical player. Roman Hamrlik is another big bodied defenseman from the Montreal Canadiens. He is a 37 year old veteran and will be a great help in showing the young D-men the ropes. Then we have Jeff Halpern, sound familiar? Yes he started his career playing six seasons for the Caps and used to be captain. Jeff is a 35 year old forward who also came from the Canadiens. Washington's final big pick up was signing Florida Panthers goalie Tomas Vokoun for one year. Vokoun can definitely help the young goaltenders Michal Neuvirth and Braden Holtby with his long career experience in the NHL.

One unfortunate thing that occurred was the trading of Semyon Varlamov. Varly will be missed but I think it was his time to go with so much young talent at the goalie position. He was traded to the Colorado Avalanche for a 1st and 2nd round pick in next year's draft. Only time will tell what the Capitals roster looks like come October. It will be another interesting season with some new additions. Rock the Red!

Friday, May 6, 2011

Season Ending Thoughts

Once again the Washington Capitals season came to an unexpected screeching halt on Wednesday night. The Caps became the first #1 seed in NHL history to be swept in the second round when they fell to Tampa Bay two nights ago. Alex Ovechkin and his teammates were speechless and shocked as they were shaking hands with their divisional foes after losing game four 5-3. Washington barely had control in this series, only leading in 26 minutes of the four games. If you watched all of the games of this series you could sense the result after game two because Tampa Bay kept getting the breaks and bounces they needed to be successful.
Not to take away from the Lightning, but I feel the Caps lost this one for themselves once again. The defense struggled and in the end we couldn’t light the lamp enough to move on. This makes it four straight years the Capitals have made an early exit in the playoffs. The Caps had another successful regular season and another disappointing exit in the playoffs. However this regular season was different because Bruce Boudreau and his boys faced defeat and diversity throughout the year. Yes they finished first place in the Eastern Conference for the second straight year, but perhaps this year was a learning experience for Alex Ovechkin especially. I do not put one ounce of blame on Ovi for this turmoil in the post season. He never let down in this series despite his frustration. In fact he and Mike Knuble were of the few that didn’t lose that sense of urgency in the series.
Yesterday being the first day of the offseason, many injuries came out in the open that the Caps players were experiencing during the playoffs. These announcements are not meant to be excuses, but just to inform the people of the player’s well-being. Let’s go over some of the injuries. Knuble was supposed to be sidelined for a week or two, but he missed a few games and fought through his broken thumb injury. Jason Arnott had knee surgery that was kept under wraps from the public in the regular season. John Carlson and Mike Green both attempted to play through injuries throughout the post season. Add Dennis Wideman to that list and you don’t have a defenseman on the team who can move the puck well offensively. The Capitals could’ve definitely used that! Nicklas Backstrom who would like to forget these playoffs with his scoring issues was still nursing a thumb injury from earlier in the season. Finally Eric Fehr has to undergo offseason shoulder surgery. Yes we can bitch and complain all we want, but ultimately the Caps weren’t as hungry as the Lightning.
The time of year that 29 teams dread is sadly upon us for the fourth straight year. Some Caps’ players skated in a Washington jersey for the last time in the game four loss. There will be changes made in the offseason that is undeniable. George McPhee, GM of the Caps, made it pretty clear yesterday that Bruce would be returning to coach in Washington again next year. There is also a list of unrestricted free agents which include: Brooks Laich, Jason Arnott, Boyd Gordon, Matt Bradley, Scott Hannan, Marco Sturm and Sean Collins. It is scary thinking about losing some of those guys because like Ovi said, “We have unbelievable team, great locker room and great atmosphere.” Surely some of the UFA’s will be resigned, but not all of them.
Let’s talk about Ovi. The playoffs ended early again for The Great 8, so as usual people start to talk. I keep hearing that Alex Ovechkin can’t win the big game and he may never. Hockey analysts who say this cannot actually believe it. People also say that he is not captain worthy because of his selfish and reckless play. Selfish? Reckless? You obviously don’t watch the same team I watch for 82 games a year. Ovi gets more excited when his teammates score than when he does. He also has logged more assists than goals in each of the last two seasons. This was his first full season as a captain of the Washington Capitals, and he will have plenty more chances to make his mark in history. Steve Yzerman, who played for the Detroit Red Wings, didn’t win a Stanley Cup for ten years after being named captain at an early age. Yzerman is one of the best players of all time and is now the GM of the Tampa Bay Lightning. He went on to win three Stanley Cups in the following years. My point is to not be so quick to criticize the best player in the world. After all he is only 25 years old and has passion for the game is unlike any player I have ever seen.
As a fan, of course I was furious at the Capitals after the sweep. You have to stay positive. We have most of the pieces to the puzzle; we just have to execute. Each year every player grows with experience which can only benefit in the long run. I will love the Washington Capitals forever and will never lose hope or thought of a Stanley Cup gracing our presence in the future. It has been my pleasure to blog about this hockey team for the last couple months and I will continue to in the offseason. Let’s try and keep the team together George! ROCK THE RED! Please leave comments on anything pertaining to the loss or the offseason.
In Ovi We Trust

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Do we have it in us?

The Washington Capitals are “one loss away from elimination,” as Gordon Bombay once said. This is the second straight season where this terrible feeling of being eliminated from the playoffs has arisen. Last year it came true, but this year maybe not. I refuse to give up my team and how far they have come this season. Do the Caps really want to throw this golden opportunity away?
The Capitals have nothing to lose tonight heading into game four because in my opinion most fans have given up. Don’t the Caps want to prove the haters wrong in this situation because if not I feel this offseason will be even more painful than the last. The mentality for the next four games is win or go home. None of the Capitals seem like they’d be good golfers, so let’s stick around and make some noise in these playoffs. Last night we had game three in the bag at the end of the second period with a 3-2 lead. Unfortunately a hockey game last three periods and Washington only came ready to play two. In my opinion Alex Ovechkin stepped up last night scoring a goal and having an assist on the Mike Knuble goal, but the rest of the team seemed sluggish in following The Great 8. Ovi was beating defenders to the outside instead of trying to deke through them which I liked to see. Alex Semin and Nicklas Backstrom were invisible last night and did not show any intensity or will to win. I am begging you Nicky B; please find your game in the next ten hours.
Michal Neuvirth played an average game if you ask me. Yes he made some ten bell saves to keep us in the game in third period, but he let in some softies. It wouldn’t surprise me if Bruce gave Semyon Varlamov the start tonight, just to give him a shot. Varly also has a respectable resume against the Lightning and is no stranger to the playoff atmosphere. The defense needs to clear the puck more consistently and Jeff Schultz needs to get the f*** off the ice. He and Mike Green have played carelessly the past three games. Now let’s talk about Dwayne Roloson. It seemed like we finally got in his head a little bit last night, but we couldn’t put the nail in the coffin because of our lack of pressure in the closing period. The man is 41 years old and doesn’t have a very respectable in the second game of back to backs. The Caps must pressure him and the defense because they are going to be tired. We will also be tired, but there is not tomorrow for us, so we have a little edge.
I do not want this to be my last recap or preview for Caps Daily this season. Like I said yesterday the Capitals have to take it one game at a time and we can make history along with the other three teams who have come back from a 3-0 deficit. The Philadelphia Flyers, being the most recent, did it last year to the Boston Bruins and made a run to the Stanley Cup. The Washington Capitals are a better team in my opinion than last year’s Flyers. If USA could beat the Russians in the 1980 Winter Olympic Games and defy all odds than nothing is impossible. I am putting my faith in the captain for tonight and the rest of the playoffs. Ovi stated last night, ‎"It is not over. We won't give up. We're going to win." Enough said if you ask me! Hopefully this isn’t the last time, so Rock the Red!
In Ovi We Trust

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Pre-game Thoughts

It is the day of game three and the Caps trail Tampa Bay 2-0. As hockey analysts and fair-weather fans doubt the feeling of a comeback, I am positive that the Capitals are ready for the task at hand. If Washington is going to be successful they have to tale it one game at a time. They beat the Lightning four games out of six in the regular season, so why not in the playoffs.

The veterans need to step up tonight because they've been in these situations in the playoffs. Jason Arnott logged three points in the first round (1 goal, 2 assists) but has yet to score vs. Tampa. Him and other veteran Mike Knuble are due for a big impact game tonight. Alex Ovechkin must also have an impact in game three. Ovi is the best player on the planet and his team needs their captain more than ever. He has four goals in the playoffs an I would expect some points tonight.

There's really not much else to say about tonight because we have to win. Playing in Tampa Bay isn't that big of an advantage because it doesn't come close to the Verizon Center. The Capitals must win the PP and PK battle tonight. Keep the faith Caps fans and as always Rock the Red!

In Ovi We Trust

Monday, May 2, 2011

The Weekend Recap

The Washington Capitals went into the weekend with high hopes and optimism after cakewalking through the Rangers. Little did we know Caps fans that we’d be in a 2-0 hole this sad Monday morning. I’m not even close to panicking because even Vincent Lecavalier said last night that Tampa Bay has gotten lucky on both wins.
Let’s start by reviewing Friday night’s depressing let down. Washington fell 4-2 after leading 2-1 in the second period.  The Caps gave up two quick goals in the final three minutes of the period to Steve Downie and Steven Stamkos. Stamkos’ goal was perhaps the nail in the coffin when he scored on the power play in the final minute. The penalty kill looked much disorganized and was caught sleeping on the goal. After Alex Semin and Eric Fehr lit the lamp for the red sweaters, we looked sluggish and did not show much intensity in the third period. Michal Neuvirth did not play poorly with one of the goals coming from Scott Hannan’s stick. Neuvy saved 20 of the 23 shots with some unlucky bounces.
Last night’s game was a chance to come out in front of our home crowd and recapture that winning feeling heading to Tampa, but we could not finish the job. Whenever you go 0 for 6 on the power play you aren’t going to win games. The Capitals just looked careless and at times failed to even enter the zone on the extra man. Not only did the PP look bad but the PK as well for the second straight game. The Lightning have scored power play goals in back to back games which was one of the keys to the series.
Things to improve on after Game 1&2
·         PP and PK. The Caps will have to make some changes on these two aspects of their game because it is vital to them coming back in the series. If Washington scores one PP goal last night they win that game. As for the defense on the kill, stupid mistakes need to be cleaned up around the goal mouth. Finally, stop taking stupid penalties!
·         Where is Nicklas Backstrom? I have never seen Nicky be this invisible in any stretch of games in his career. He has only logged two assists in seven games and has a -1 ice rating. Nick is one of the most elusive players in the game and he is very capable of turning a game or even a series around for that matter. Please find the net soon!
·         Jeff Schultz and Mike Green. Let me be honest I wouldn’t trade a ham sandwich for Jeff Schultz! He is the biggest player on the team, yet he shies away from physical contact. Schultz is also slow and was a -2 in last night’s loss. Greener had a great first round but now he has back to his old antics. We need this defensive tandem to find their game fast!
·          Lucky Bounces. This cannot be controlled, but it would be nice if things started going our way. Tampa Bay has scored two goals on bounces off Caps players. Their luck will run out!
·         12th forward. I think this is one of the reasons why we fell short last night. I did not like seeing Matt Hendricks getting the healthy scratch and honestly I feel Marco Sturm should get it the next game. He hasn’t proved anything in the post season and Hendricks always gives 110%. Figure it out Bruce!
Washington has to win four out of five games and they are out of this hole and in to the next round. The next two games in Tampa are on back to back nights which I think is a positive thing. It means less time sitting around thinking about being down in the series. We have to stop feeling sorry for ourselves because it is the NHL playoffs. Two years ago we were down 2-0 and 3-1 in the first round series to the Rangers and we defied the odds and won. We cannot let this time pass; this is our year and Alex Ovechkin and the boys won’t fall short like last year. Finally keep the faith and do not be a hater on the Capitals right now. They need our support; Rock the Red!
In Ovi We Trust

Friday, April 29, 2011

Round 2 Preview Caps vs. Lightning

The Caps will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight for the second ever Southeast division matchup in the NHL playoffs. Washington has had plenty of rest with them winning their game 5 against the Rangers six days ago. Same cannot be said for the Lightning who won game seven vs. the Penguins on Wednesday night. Unfortunately even with the extended rest the Capitals will still be without Mike Knuble and Dennis Wideman. Knuble has been sidelined since game three vs. New York Wideman is still nursing his lower body injury he suffered a month ago.
Let’s focus on the positives though. The Caps lead the season series going 4-1-1 vs. the Lightning. In the two losses the Caps were stonewalled in shutouts twice by Dwayne Roloson. However, Washington triumphed over Tampa in the last two matchups. Michal Neuvirth will be in net tonight after having a spectacular first round series vs. the Rangers. Neuvy has some fond memories of playing Tampa because it is the team he played when he earned his first NHL win on Feb. 14, 2009. Neuvirth is 2-0 all time vs. the Lightning and will no doubt be ready to roll tonight.
5 Keys to the Series
·         PK. This is possibly the most important factor of this series. Tampa owned the Penguins, capitalizing on 8 of the 27 power plays. The Caps have to continue what they did vs. New York, only giving up one PP goal in five games. If we can shut down their set plays and Steven Stamkos we should be on our way to killing many penalties.
·         The Alex’s. Alex Ovechkin and Alex Semin were tied for the team lead in goals with 3 in the first round. This has to continue for the young snipers to rattle goaltender Dwayne Roloson. Semin logged 9 points in four games this season vs. the Lightning, with two hat tricks. Ovi was no slacker either earning 6 points vs. the Lightning, also adding a decisive shootout goal in the last meeting between teams.
·         Neuvy. There is no doubt that Neuvirth is a key to the series again, especially after his play in round one. He will hopefully keep the keep the confidence and remain the Caps goaltender throughout the series. Neuvy was second in the NHL in GAA and save percentage after round one. Stay strong Michal!
·         Scott and the crew. Scott Hannan in my opinion was the best defenseman in red vs. New York. He led the Caps in penalty kill minutes and had a +3 ice rating. The surrounding cast has to follow by Hannan’s example in this series because Tampa has more offensive threats than the Rangers. I am fully confident that Carlzner will want to redeem themselves on the plus/minus after a tough series. An interesting fact is that these two were not on the ice for any of the goals vs. the Lightning this year. Dennis Wideman could make a return to the lineup later in the series which could be a big help.
·         The 12th forward. Whoever replaces Mike Knuble whether it’s Eric Fehr, Jay Beagle, or Matthieu Perreault, etc. they need to step up and fill his big impact. He will be deeply missed in this series because of his uncanny way to find the back of the net. I say that Fehr gets the start that only played two games last round but played on the third line that was responsible for the heart of the Game four comeback. Fehr was a +3 in that game and it is only a matter of time before he lights the lamp.
My prediction for this series will be the Caps winning in 5. I do think that Washington could take it in four, so we will see. The Capitals are just too high-powered offensively and well disciplined defensively. The momentum of round one should carry over and rise a little because we are facing a divisional foe. If we can keep an eye on Martin St. Louis, Stamkos, and the boys we should be fine. Alex Ovechkin needs to stay physical along with the rest of the forwards to get the puck deep offensively. Get excited for tonight at Verizon Center and as always Rock the Red!
In Ovi We Trust

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Latest Caps News

General Manager George McPhee announced early today that the Washington Capitals recalled Mathieu Perreault, Steve Pinizzotto and Patrick McNeill from Hershey. These moves were made to expand the options of players because of the early exit of Hershey in the AHL playoffs.
Perreault is the only one of the three Bears who has played in a red sweater this year for the Caps. He suited up for 35 games logging 14 points (7 goals, 7 assists). I don’t think he will get any time unless there is an injury, but he represents a quick and agile center that will be up to the task if called upon. We all remember Perreault’s two goal performance vs. Ottawa in December that helped prevent the Caps losing their ninth straight game.
McNeill, a defenseman for the Bears, has played for the Bears the past four seasons. If he were to be called up it would be his first career NHL game. He was a late round pick in the 2005 draft by Washington and doesn’t have any NHL experience, so this could be his chance to prove something. However, I doubt he will get the call because of Dennis Wideman and Tom Poti are on their way to recovery. Sean Collins and Tyler Sloan are also among other defensemen who have yet to get a game sweater in the post season this year.
Pinizzotto has played for the Bears on and off for four years. He plays right wing and also has never played in a NHL game in his career. Pinizzotto was signed as a free agent in 2007 by Washington. I doubt he will get the call either because the Capitals are so deep at the forward position currently. Jay Beagle and DJ King were healthy scratched as forwards for each one of the first round games. Eric Fehr was scratched for three games and then played the final two. It will be interesting to see who gets the final forward spot when Mike Knuble comes back into the lineup.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Round 1 Recap

Well Caps fans we are through to the second round in less than 7 games for the first time since the 97-98 season. The Capitals triumphed over the Rangers Saturday 3-1 to complete the series in five games. Washington outplayed New York for all three periods with Michal Neuvirth having another stellar performance. Neuvy saved 26 of 27 shots and let only one squeeze by in the final minute of the game. I think we finally have our goalie for the playoffs!
Mike Green started the scoring on the power play when he jammed the puck past Lundqvist for his first goal of the series. Unfortunately he left the game later on after taking a shot to the face on a shot block. Greener would return to the bench, but would not play again in the game. Then in the second period, the life was taken out of the Rangers with a stunning Oviesque goal by none other than Alex Ovechkin. Ovi held off Marc Staal only to bury a backhander in for a 2-0 lead. Alex Semin would put the cap on the first round series with a nice onetime goal from Marcus Johansson.
Now let’s go to the 5 keys to the series that I stated were vital in winning the series. Also your very own Caps Daily predicted that the Caps would take the series in five. PROPS!!!!!!
1.      Ovi. The best player in the universe displayed his talents in round one logging a series leading 6 points (3 goals, 3 assists). His hitting and speed played a key role in opening up the New York defense for several goals. Alex is definitely up for the task of Lord Stanley and is off to a great start.
2.      Goaltending. After the five games of the series rookie goaltender, Neuvirth is second in the NHL in save percentage (.946) and GAA (1.38). He kept the Caps in the series with some monumental saves every game. We won two games with only scoring two goals. Thank you Neuvy!
3.      Veterans. Of course the seasoned vets helped out in this series. Scott Hannan continues to get better and lead the way on the penalty kill. He also had a +3 ice rating and logged one assist in the series. Jason Arnott and Jason Chimera also scored game changing points for the Caps using their experience to advantage. Chimmy had two goals in the series both of them being game winners for Washington.
4.      Carlzner. If you look at their plus/minus than you probably think these two had a bead series. Despite a few mistakes they played pretty well against the Rangers, but hey they’re rookies. Carlson and Alzner could be thanked for shutting down Gaborik and New York’s other starts who they matched up against for most of the series.
5.      Garbage goals. Possible the most important of the five keys was garbage goals. List of memorable GG’s
·         Game 1- Ovi ties it late in the third to keep game alive.
·         Game 4- Semin starts the comeback
·         Game 4- Johansson scores off Carlson shot by crashing the net. Ties the game.
·         Game 4- Finally Chimera’s winner in OT doesn’t get more garbage-can like.
The Capitals now look on to round two as they wait for their opponent to finish, whoever that may be. They will have plenty of rest because their soonest possible game will be this Friday. Hopefully this time off will give guys time to heal such as: Mike Knuble (missed Game 4, 5), Tom Poti (missed series, should return), Mike Green (left game 5 early), Dennis Wideman (could make return earlier than expected). I am sure the Caps are already finished celebrating and are focusing on the task at hand. Right now it’s not about who we play, but it is how we take that momentum from round one and use it to our advantage whenever round two begins. Yesterday I couldn’t have been happier with my team while I was rocking the red and smiling, but I am not satisfied. Saturday was a just a taste of the experience we crave which is the Stanley Cup. Congrats on the first round and let’s move on boys. Rock the Red!
In Ovi We Trust

Friday, April 22, 2011

Playoff Edition Who's Hot, Who's Not

Hot
-          Mike Green: Greener came back from his lengthy injury with something to prove in the playoffs. He has been criticized in the past for his lack of defensive play in the postseason, but not this year. In the four games vs. the Rangers Green’s logged 4 assists and has a +3 ice rating. This year he has learned his role and is contributing offensively and defensively for the Caps.

-          Alex Semin: Semin hot in the playoffs? Yes folks Sasha has returned to the stat sheet for the Capitals. He started off the postseason with a bang when he scored the overtime winner in game one. Semin’s hardworking performance in game four added to his stats giving him 2 goals and 1 assist in the series with a +3 ice rating. If he can eliminate his stupid minor penalties Alex will help out the Capitals in a big way.
Not
-          Nicklas Backstrom: Nicky B hasn’t played terrible in this series, but you haven’t heard his name a lot which isn’t a good thing. Last year Nicky logged 5 goals and 4 assists in the seven game series vs. the Habs. Hopefully we will see that Backstrom for the remainder of the playoffs. He simply needs to find the net and setup his line mate Alex the Great to improve his only 1 point, -1 ice rating.
Many people and fans are probably shocked to see Greener and Semin succeeding so much in this year’s postseason. I heard a hockey analyst on the radio yesterday stating that Semin has no heart, and Green hasn’t improved his defensive game. What series are you watching buddy? Obviously not the Caps Rangers! Those two players have made the Caps Daily hot list and have more than proven themselves. As for Nicklas Backtrom, he remains one of the elite players in the NHL and will be back to tearing up the stat sheet in not time.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Chimera completes the comeback in 2 OT

Last night’s game in New York was the definition of playoff hockey. Madison Square Garden was a mad house halfway through the second period when Brandon Dubinsky put away the Rangers’ third goal of the game. “The Caps are choking again,” were probably the words coming out of many Washington fans after the brutal second they had experience. That’s the great thing about the playoffs; the game isn’t over until it’s over. That is the mentality the Capitals had during the second intermission and heading into the final period.
Alex Semin didn’t waste any time in the comeback charge when he stayed with a shot and stashed one past Lundqvist. No later than 57 seconds from the first goal, Brooks Laich found Marcus Johansson for his first career playoff goal. This made the score 3-2, and Mojo wasn’t finished yet. With less than eight minutes remaining Johansson evened things up with a John Carlson shot deflecting off him. Just like that Mojo was fist pumping on one knee and the Caps had proven all the haters wrong.
In the first over time the Capitals had most of the scoring chances, the most memorable being Alex Ovechkin’s breakaway chance where Henrik stoned him. Ovi didn’t play his best game with a -2 ice rating, but some games the rest of the team has to carry the captain. In the second overtime Jason Chimera would put the W on the board and defy the odds. It was Chimmy’s second goal of the playoffs and a well-deserved one for the way he skates every night.
Michal Neuvirth played very well after the three goal hiccup in the middle period. He logged 36 saves for the night and made some ten bell stops late in the game to preserve the tie. I would like to give Scott Hanna and John Erskine for their stellar play on defense last night. Hannan led the team with seven shorthanded minutes which aided the Caps in killing all seven penalties. Also Eric Fehr in his first playoff appearance of the series had a +3 ice rating. Overall the third line of Chimmy, Mojo, and Fehrsy played an outstanding game.
As I said before the game this game was possibly the most important and especially in the way it played out. Game five will be played at the Verizon Center where the Capitals will hopefully take their run to the second round. After that double overtime win Washington definitely has the momentum going into Saturday. Keep the faith and Rock the Red!
Player of the Game: Marcus Johansson (2 goals)
Stat of the Game: 3 goals +5 ice rating (3rd line)
Unsung Hero: Scott Hannan

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Game 4 Preview

Tomorrow night the most important game of the series will be played at MSG. The Caps have to come out physical and shooting the puck like they did in game 1 and 2. This game could give Washington a 3 to 1 series lead heading back to DC for game 5. The Capitals have scored two goals in each of the first three games. They need to start finishing the 2 on 1's and other golden opportunities. Alex Ovechkin has logged 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists) in the first three games of the series. He needs to continue to lead by example if the Caps are going to be successful. 
Michal Neuvirth and the Washington defense have only allowed five goals which is ranked second best among other playoff teams. They have been blocking shots and clearing the zone very well and must continue it in game four. Another positive about the defense is that Dennis Wideman is recovering quicker than expected and is skating with the team. This would be big for the Caps in later rounds
I expect to see forward Eric Fehr put back in the lineup tomorrow. He has been healthy scratched in the first three games, but who will sit out in his place? The choices are Jason Chimera, Matt Bradley, Marco Sturm, and Matt Hendricks. In my opinion Chimera's speed cannot be replaced. Brads and Hendricks could be the choice, but their grinder line is making a big impact and they’re more physical than others. My choice would be to scratch Sturm. In game three he didn't show me much and had many giveaways. Anyway that's why Bruce makes the final decision so we will see.
This goes out to all the fans who said, “here we go again" when we lost game three. This year's team is different in every way possible from the team who got beat by the Canadiens. The Caps are going to take it to the Rangers tomorrow night; mark my words! Keep the faith and believe in the cup Capitals' fans. I know Ovi and the boys have forgotten about the loss and remain confident. Rock the Red!
In Ovi We Trust

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Caps Weekend Recap

The Capitals started off their weekend in DC for game two vs. the Rangers. They prevailed over New York with a 2-0 shutout win. Michal Neuvirth had to make only 19 saves to record his first shutout in his second career playoff game. Jason Chimera and Jason Arnott tallied for the Caps in the second period within two minutes of each other. The entire squad did their role in shutting the Rangers out and blocking shots. Washington could’ve made it three or even four to nothing, but they missed some good opportunities.
Both teams then made the trip to New York to play at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. The Caps wanted to make it 3-0 but failed when they couldn’t keep the puck out of the net in the final period. I don’t really want to go in depth about the scoring details in this game. Alex Ovechkin and Mike Knuble scored the two goals for the Capitals. In this game the Caps never had the lead and unfortunately Neuvirth didn’t see the puck well. The first goal scored by the Rangers he was caught cheating and was roofed by Erik Christensen. The other goals could be questionable on blaming him but regardless he didn’t see the puck well in game three. The winning goal scored by Brandon Dubinsky on a four on four was a complete let down from the defense letting him get to the net.
The Capitals were called for eight; yes I said eight penalties on Sunday. If you ask me the refs were making too many soft calls that determined the game. This is hockey! Also I can’t even count how many calls the refs missed that happened on the Caps. Alex Ovechkin was tripped twice on the play that he scored and they were not called. Two out of the three goals that New York scored came on penalized situations.
Things to Improve on from Game 3:
·    Stay out of the box. No team can win a game when they are sent to the box eight times. Yes the refs made some iffy calls, but we have to clean up our game and be smarter. The Caps play a better 5 on 5 game than the Rangers, so let’s keep the PK out.
·    Neuvirth. After winning his first two games Neuvy showed his first sign of weakness in today’s game. He cannot let this game get to him and he has to erase it from his mind. If he cleans up the rebounds and stays confident he will be back to winning games.
·    Goals? Yes the Caps have won 2 out of 3, but they have also scored only two goals in each contest. They have to throw more shots on net and bother Henrik because Neuvy can’t have that pressure every game. Let’s get one early on Wednesday Caps!
·    Defense. The defense had some disappointing breakdowns today that resulted in goals. We have to clear the zone to help Neuvy and prevent the Rangers from getting inside position. Stay physical and keep the physical edge on New York.
Bruce and the boys cannot let this loss ruin the party. It is only one game and now we can win the series at home. A lot of cheap and strange things had to happen today for the Caps to fall. I don’t think we will see that again and they will hopefully come pumped in Game four. The team has an optional practice tomorrow because of their two day break between games. There have been no goals scored in the first period by either team in the series, so I would like to see the Capitals set the tone with an early goal on Wednesday. Finally, don’t lose the faith Caps fans and as always Rock the Red!
In Ovi We Trust

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Semin and Caps take game 1 in OT

What a start to the NHL playoffs for the Washington Capitals. I attended the game last night at the Verizon center and needless to say the atmosphere was unlike anything I had ever seen. The game one story would start and end with the spectacular play of both goaltenders. Henrik Lundqvist and Michal Neuvirth made the task of scoring quite difficult for the offenses.
The Caps would top the Rangers 2-1 in overtime to take the first game in the series. Alexander Semin would cause the crowd to erupt with just a few minutes left in extra time with the winning goal. This ended his 14 game goal drought in the playoffs. Thank God!!!! The Rangers started the scoring in the series with a Matt Gilroy goal early in the third period. New York simply caught the Washington defense sleeping when Gilroy put away the puck.
Neuvy would not allow another goal in his first playoff appearance. He logged 24 saves and kept the Caps in this game with some great saves, the biggest one on Marian Gaborik in the second period. Although Lundqvist played very well, he couldn’t keep the Capitals from finding ways to score. Alex Ovechkin scored Washington’s first goal and gave the Verizon Center hope when he tied it. When I saw Ovi jam the puck in the net my first thought that came to mind was, “Is that Knuble”? He obviously showed Ovi some pointers at practice the past few days.
Now let’s touch base with my five keys to the series that all were a factor in the win.
1.      Ovi? He definitely led by example tonight when he tied the game with his determination. Alex also threw three or four bone-jarring hits (he almost killed Brandon Dubinsky).
2.      Neuvy? The Caps goaltender was near perfect tonight besides one defensive slip up. He made the big saves when he needed to and you never would’ve guessed it was his 1st playoff game.
3.      Veterans? Scott Hannan played a big role in killing two penalties and was 2nd on the team in ice time. Jason Arnott doesn’t hesitate to impress. He assisted on Semin’s winning goal last night when he found him in the slot for a one timer.
4.      Carlzner? You didn’t hear much about these two in the highlights. This is because they shut down the Rangers top offensive line and played extremely well all night.
5.      Garbage goals? Uh yeah, did anyone see Ovi’s tying goal. Yes, it was a garbage goal that came right out of the book of Mike Knuble. Keep crashing that net boys!
So as you can see the Capitals touched on all five keys and will hopefully continue to throughout the series. One thing I think the Caps could improve on would be finishing. Yes Henrik played outstanding, but some chances should’ve been finished regardless. If they are going to continue to be successful they will have to take advantage of the opportunities they are given. I’m talking about the breakaways, two on ones, and shots between the circles. Other than that I cannot really complain about game one because it was thrilling and entertaining. I loved the physicality of all the Capitals players especially Nicklas Backstrom and Ovi. Everyone was throwing their body around which I think helped with the win.
Shout out to Mike Green on his first game back! It looked like he hasn’t missed a beat and played 26:30 last night. He also assisted on Ovechkin’s first goal. The Caps and Rangers will play game two on Friday at the Verizon Center. Support the Caps in any way that you can and as always Rock the Red!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

The Playoffs Are Here

Well the time has come for the Washington Capitals and the rest of the NHL teams in the Stanley Cup playoffs. This time last year when the Caps owned the number one record in the league I had no doubt that they would make it far. As everyone knows they fell to the Montreal Canadiens in seven games after holding a 3-1 series lead. This season was a struggle at some points, but in the end I think our team has grown offensively, defensively, and mentally. With the addition of Jason Arnott, Marco Sturm, and Dennis Wideman at the trade deadline, the Capitals portray a smarter more developed team.

Earlier this season all of the fans in Washington were throwing their Stanley Cup hopes in the trash during the nine game losing streak. Since then Bruce Boudreau and his team have matured because of the diversity and struggles they have faced. The nine game struggle though hard to watch, might have been the best medicine for a Capitals team who craves Lord Stanley. I would like to personally give a shout out to Arnott who has been a boost of experience and knowledge for the squad. Michal Neuvirth will be getting the nod tonight in goal for his first playoff start in his NHL career. Let's not forget Neuvy has been the backbone of the Hershey Bears' past two Calder Cup championships in the AHL.  

This 2011 playoff series with the Rangers will hopefully be the beginning of something beautiful and memorable for the Caps. I can definitely say that I am more confident that this year’s team is more well-rounded and overall a better team. The Rangers clinched the eighth place spot on the last day of the regular season because of a Carolina Hurricanes loss. This will be the second time in three years that the Caps and Rangers have faced each other in the first round. In 2009, Washington prevailed over New York in seven games. We all remember Sergei Fedorov lighting the lamp with less than five minutes to play to take the series. The rangers lead the season series 3-1 vs. the Caps, two of the wins being shutouts. These two embarrassing losses of course happened before the trade deadline pick-ups.



5 Keys to the Series
  • Alex Ovechkin. The best player in the world, has to lead by example and hit the statsheet hard for the Caps.
  • Caps goal tending. Whoever may be in net has to be consistent for Washington. Michal Neuvirth will start Game 1, so hopefully he will play well tonight avoiding early goalie changes like the past two years.
  • Veterans must lead the way. Arnott, Knuble, Poti (if he plays), Hannan, and other seasoned vets have to calm the younger players and lead by example in this series.
  • Carlzner. Yes the defensive combo of John Carlson and Karl Alzner will be vital in shutting down the Rangers' top offensive lines. With both of them being in their second year, I have the utmost confidence in these two because of what they proved in the regular season.
  • Garbage goals. Knuble and the boys have to get pucks to the net and crash to get on the scoreboard. Playoff goals don't have to be pretty and everyone counts just the same. That extra poke-check or push could be the difference in the game.
Injuries
The Caps will be missing Tom Poti for an undisclosed amount of games in this series, but he should return at some point. Mike Green is also expected to return in this series, possibly tonight. Finally, Dennis Wideman was released from the hospital for leg hematoma and is expected to return sooner than expected, but is out for the first round. These three blue-liners will be vital in the playoffs for Washington. The Rangers will be missing Ryan Callahan who is out for the season with a broken leg.

In my opinion, this series will be competitive, but will not take seven games for a Capitals victory. My prediction is the Caps top the Rangers in 5 with the main factor being goaltending for both teams. The Caps defense has to keep Gaborik and the boys in check. Keep the faith Caps fans the time is here and were not going to back down this year. Tune into tonight at 7:30 to watch Game 1 Caps vs. Rangers. Rock the Red!

In Ovi We Trust

Monday, April 11, 2011

Latest Caps News

This Monday morning has been an active one for the Washington Capitals organization and the playoffs don't start until Wednesday. Right winger Mike Knuble was signed to a one year contract extension. Knuble will celebrate his 39th birthday in the off season and will hopefully have an early present of a Stanley Cup. He logged 24 goals and 16 assists this season making it his 8th straight season with 20 or more goals. We our honored to have him rocking red for another season and George McPhee has made yet another smart move for the organization.

In other news forward Matt Hendricks has earned himself a Masterton nomination. In his first year in Washington Hendricks scored 9 goals and dropped the gloves 14 times. Three of his nine goals have been decisive game winners for the Capitals. Let's not forget his hard work and determination also earned him a two year contract deal with the Caps, signed earlier this season.

Overall both Knuble and Hendricks have been rewarded for they're nonstop competing night after night. We are lucky to have them in red and I have no doubt they're momentum will carry us through to Lord Stanley. Awards and contract extensions are great but the most gratifying accomplishment in any hockey player's eyes is raising the Stanley Cup in June with your teammates and fans. Rock the Red!