Washington Capitals Hockey
With two days having passed since the Capitals opening game loss, a few things come to mind. First, as it's been said, "offense puts the fans in the seats, but defense wins championships". The Capitals have plenty of offense, but the defense is another matter. Of course the first line of defense is the goaltender and after watching Theodore give up 4 goals on 21 shots, my doubts about he being able to take the Capitals far into the playoffs remain. I just don't know if Theodore is capable of putting together a stretch where he shuts down the kind of teams that he's going to face in the playoffs. One thing is certain, if Theodore doesn't have a better performance than he did on Wednesday, the Capitals will be looking at a crater of a hole to climb out of. As far as the rest of the Capitals defense goes, while they don't have a defensemen of the Chris Pronger or Scott Neidermeyer caliber, Poti, Erskine, Pothier, and Morrison are serviceable defensemen, while Green is a superstar in the making. After this however things drop off pretty quickly. While Jurcina's game has improved a bit this year, Schultz showed in the play that allowed the Rangers to score the deciding goal, that he is a young player with good size, and little quickness or mobility. While I could live with the fact that Schultz isn't the most nimble player on the ice, he doesn't seem to possess much of a physical side to his game, and if he doesn't develop that aspect of his game as he matures, well, I don't know if he'll be a long term NHL player. The thing about the playoffs is that everything is amplified, and you don't have a lot of chances to make up for mistakes. Here's hoping that we don't see another blunder of the Schultz variety in tomorrow's game.
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Friday, April 17, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
The Avery Factor
Washington Capitals Hockey
While much of the credit to the Rangers turnaround can be credited to John Tortorelli, one can't overlook what the acquisition of Avery has meant to the Rangers. I watched a Ranger games a while back, and the team seemed dead in the water. The Rangers exhibited little in the way of energy on the ice, and it appeared as if they would suffer the ignominy of missing the playoffs after having one of the best starts in team history. Watching the Rangers over the last couple of weeks, I saw a different team. It was a team that seemed to have an 'edge' once again, and much of it could be contributed to Sean Avery. Although he's known as much for his mouth as his performance on the ice, the guy brings more to the game than just the ability to get under people's skins. He not only possesses some decent offensive ability but also has one of the better +/- ratings on the team. There's little doubt that Avery will try and target some of the young Capitals stars such as Ovechkin and in particular Semin to try and get them off of their game. The Caps will have to avoid taking retaliatory penalties against the Rangers provocateur extraordinaire if they want to have success against the Rangers.
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While much of the credit to the Rangers turnaround can be credited to John Tortorelli, one can't overlook what the acquisition of Avery has meant to the Rangers. I watched a Ranger games a while back, and the team seemed dead in the water. The Rangers exhibited little in the way of energy on the ice, and it appeared as if they would suffer the ignominy of missing the playoffs after having one of the best starts in team history. Watching the Rangers over the last couple of weeks, I saw a different team. It was a team that seemed to have an 'edge' once again, and much of it could be contributed to Sean Avery. Although he's known as much for his mouth as his performance on the ice, the guy brings more to the game than just the ability to get under people's skins. He not only possesses some decent offensive ability but also has one of the better +/- ratings on the team. There's little doubt that Avery will try and target some of the young Capitals stars such as Ovechkin and in particular Semin to try and get them off of their game. The Caps will have to avoid taking retaliatory penalties against the Rangers provocateur extraordinaire if they want to have success against the Rangers.
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Sunday, April 12, 2009
Caps Throw a Dud in Last Regular Season Game
Washington Capitals Hockey
It was sort of expected that the Capitals might be in for a bit of a letdown after winning three straight road games, and securing the second seed in the playoffs. Still, you hate to see the Caps finish the regular season in that manner with the Panthers putting up as many goals as they did. While the game meant nothing to the Caps, it does bring to mind the question of whether Theodore can carry the Capitals far into the plays. While his play has been all in all good this year, the rap on Theodore is his inconsistency, and these questions will continue until he either wins a cup or he is at least able to carry the team far into the playoffs. I for one would have rather seem Simeon Varlimov in goal for the last game being that the last game meant nothing for the Caps, and there was little to be gained by playing Theodore, and Varlimov would have been able to get another game under his belt.
In the scheme of things, yesterday's loss means nothing once the playoffs begin, but yesterday's showing revives that lingering doubt about Theodore's ability to shut down the caliber of players we'll be facing in the playoffs. I hope that my doubts are unfounded.
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It was sort of expected that the Capitals might be in for a bit of a letdown after winning three straight road games, and securing the second seed in the playoffs. Still, you hate to see the Caps finish the regular season in that manner with the Panthers putting up as many goals as they did. While the game meant nothing to the Caps, it does bring to mind the question of whether Theodore can carry the Capitals far into the plays. While his play has been all in all good this year, the rap on Theodore is his inconsistency, and these questions will continue until he either wins a cup or he is at least able to carry the team far into the playoffs. I for one would have rather seem Simeon Varlimov in goal for the last game being that the last game meant nothing for the Caps, and there was little to be gained by playing Theodore, and Varlimov would have been able to get another game under his belt.
In the scheme of things, yesterday's loss means nothing once the playoffs begin, but yesterday's showing revives that lingering doubt about Theodore's ability to shut down the caliber of players we'll be facing in the playoffs. I hope that my doubts are unfounded.
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Thursday, April 9, 2009
Caps Grab 2nd Seed With Win
Washington Capitals Hockey
The Washington Capitals nailed down the important 2nd seed with a 4-2 win over Tampa Bay tonight. Just how important is it to have the second seed? Just all the difference in the world, or least the beginning round of the playoffs. With all due respect to the Canadians and Rangers, I would much rather match up against them in the first round than either the Flyers, Penguins or Hurricanes. If the Caps had finished behind the Devils in third, it would have been their fate to play one of these three teams in the first round, not an easy draw regardless of who your opponent is. The Capitals found out last year why the 3rd seed can be one of the least advantageous in the playoffs, losing a tough 7 game series to the Flyers. As in now stands, the Capitals will play one of two teams that they have had good success against this year, and it wouldn't surprise me to see them win the first round in five or six games. Meanwhile, the Flyers, Penguins, Hurricanes and Devils all face a tough opening round matchup, regardless of how the teams finish. I can't help but believe that this should be an advantage for the Capitals going forward into the playoffs.
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The Washington Capitals nailed down the important 2nd seed with a 4-2 win over Tampa Bay tonight. Just how important is it to have the second seed? Just all the difference in the world, or least the beginning round of the playoffs. With all due respect to the Canadians and Rangers, I would much rather match up against them in the first round than either the Flyers, Penguins or Hurricanes. If the Caps had finished behind the Devils in third, it would have been their fate to play one of these three teams in the first round, not an easy draw regardless of who your opponent is. The Capitals found out last year why the 3rd seed can be one of the least advantageous in the playoffs, losing a tough 7 game series to the Flyers. As in now stands, the Capitals will play one of two teams that they have had good success against this year, and it wouldn't surprise me to see them win the first round in five or six games. Meanwhile, the Flyers, Penguins, Hurricanes and Devils all face a tough opening round matchup, regardless of how the teams finish. I can't help but believe that this should be an advantage for the Capitals going forward into the playoffs.
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Sunday, April 5, 2009
Capitals Capture 2nd Straight Southeast Crown
Washington Capitals Hockey
Although it has been largely a formality of when and not if the Washington Capitals would clinch the Southeast division, considering that the Capitals have only won four division title in their 35 year existence, I don't think it's something we should take lightly. While this years's race had little of the suspense of last year's winning of the title on the last day of the regular season, it's an accomplishment none the last. While many would say that the Capitals haven't really accomplished anything yet and the real challenge lies ahead, it's still worth noting that this team is the only Capitals team to win the division two years in a row. While winning the division means virtually nothing when the Stanley Cup playoffs begin, it still is worth noting that a franchise that was mired in mediocrity, is now among the league's best, and should be for the foreseeable future.
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Although it has been largely a formality of when and not if the Washington Capitals would clinch the Southeast division, considering that the Capitals have only won four division title in their 35 year existence, I don't think it's something we should take lightly. While this years's race had little of the suspense of last year's winning of the title on the last day of the regular season, it's an accomplishment none the last. While many would say that the Capitals haven't really accomplished anything yet and the real challenge lies ahead, it's still worth noting that this team is the only Capitals team to win the division two years in a row. While winning the division means virtually nothing when the Stanley Cup playoffs begin, it still is worth noting that a franchise that was mired in mediocrity, is now among the league's best, and should be for the foreseeable future.
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Thursday, April 2, 2009
Capitals Power Play Tops Since All Star Game
Washington Capitals Hockey
The Capitals power play has been getting better all year, and has been the best in the NHL since the All Star break, clicking at just under 30%. When you can throw a line out there featuring the league's MVP Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Nichlas Backstrom, and Mike Green, opposing teams are playing with fire by giving the Caps a power play. While everyone knows about Ovechkin's goal scoring prowess, his Russian teammate Alexander Semin has one of the league's highest scoring average per game, and was leading the league in scoring until he sustained a couple of injuries early in the season. Nicholas Backstrom is quickly becoming one of the league's premier young center's, and it sometimes seems as if he has eyes in the back of his head with his unconscious passes to his linemates. Finally, you add Mike Green, who this year set a record for goals in consecutive games for a defensemen, and became only the 8th defensemen ever to score 30 goals in a season, and you have arguably the best line in the NHL working on the power play. With this kind of firepower, the Caps should have great success if they can draw their share of penalties and let the best power play in the NHL do its thing.
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The Capitals power play has been getting better all year, and has been the best in the NHL since the All Star break, clicking at just under 30%. When you can throw a line out there featuring the league's MVP Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Nichlas Backstrom, and Mike Green, opposing teams are playing with fire by giving the Caps a power play. While everyone knows about Ovechkin's goal scoring prowess, his Russian teammate Alexander Semin has one of the league's highest scoring average per game, and was leading the league in scoring until he sustained a couple of injuries early in the season. Nicholas Backstrom is quickly becoming one of the league's premier young center's, and it sometimes seems as if he has eyes in the back of his head with his unconscious passes to his linemates. Finally, you add Mike Green, who this year set a record for goals in consecutive games for a defensemen, and became only the 8th defensemen ever to score 30 goals in a season, and you have arguably the best line in the NHL working on the power play. With this kind of firepower, the Caps should have great success if they can draw their share of penalties and let the best power play in the NHL do its thing.
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Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Caps Have Been One of the Most Consistent Teams
Washington Capitals Hockey
One of the most glaring things that jump out at you when you look back at the Caps season is how consistent they've been, never losing more than four games in a row. The NHL season is indeed one of the most grueling schedules of any in professional sports. Not only do you have an exhibition season, and a regular season of 82 games, but then you have up to two months of playoffs every other night for the last teams standing. The Caps have exhibited the kind of consistency a team needs and much of the credit has to go to Boudreau and his style of coaching. All teams are going to have their inevitable down periods through the course of the long season, and it's primarily up to the coaching staff to keep these bumps in the road from becoming major potholes. Boudreau has done a great job of keeping that from happening.
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One of the most glaring things that jump out at you when you look back at the Caps season is how consistent they've been, never losing more than four games in a row. The NHL season is indeed one of the most grueling schedules of any in professional sports. Not only do you have an exhibition season, and a regular season of 82 games, but then you have up to two months of playoffs every other night for the last teams standing. The Caps have exhibited the kind of consistency a team needs and much of the credit has to go to Boudreau and his style of coaching. All teams are going to have their inevitable down periods through the course of the long season, and it's primarily up to the coaching staff to keep these bumps in the road from becoming major potholes. Boudreau has done a great job of keeping that from happening.
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