caps find new and creative way to lose
(photo by Clyde Caplan)
As the Washington Capitals continue to muddle their way through an uninspired regular season, games like this one could ultimately mean the difference between a postseason birth or sweeping changes throughout the organization.
For more than 57 minutes, the Capitals were in the driver’s seat as they imposed their will on a vulnerable opponent.
Washington was winning in seemingly every statistical category – shots on goal, hits, face-offs won and most importantly, they held a 2-0 lead on the scoreboard.
And then the wheels fell off in horrifying fashion.
Inexplicably, a Winnipeg Jets team that ranks 27th in the league in goals per game and had just eight goals in their last seven games turned into an offensive juggernaut – scoring twice in a span of 12 seconds to force overtime.
Things got tense when Jets forward Evander Kane scored during Winnipeg’s six-on-three powerplay, and then a disheartening goal by defenseman Dustin Byfuglien from 82 feet out was the stomach punch the Caps never recovered from.
By the time the overtime period ended, I’m not sure anyone cheering for the home team felt good about Washington’s chances in the shootout. Hockey is a game of momentum, and that’s something the Capitals were clearly lacking by the end of this game.
After shutting out the Florida Panthers earlier in the week, goalie Tomas Vokoun responded with yet another stellar performance. Well … for the first 57 minutes, at least.
In fact, Vokoun has been outstanding at the Verizon Center since Dale Hunter took over as coach of the Capitals.
His 1.91 goals against average and .939 save percentage in 14 home games coming into this contest show why he’s solidified his claim as the team’s top goaltender.
But a powerplay goal when the opposing team had three extra skaters cost him a shot at back-to-back shutouts and a bad bounce off of a Caps defender proved to be the difference.
Vokoun clearly deserved a better outcome, but these are the things that happen when you can’t put away an opponent that is clearly on the ropes.
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caption this 19: caps-bruins edition
(photo by Clyde Caplan)
Ladies and gentlemen, back by popular demand, it’s time for another round of “caption this.”
The game is fairly simple, as you hopefully know by now. I supply the photo and you bring the witty reader-submitted captions. You might not win any cool prizes, but you’ll be formally recognized for being better than your peers and will get some love here on the blog.
Here’s my humble offering for this photo to help get folks started:
“Although Dennis Wideman contested the shot, Rich Peverly still hit nothing but net.”
Think you can do better? Leave a comment below with your best caption.
in must-win game, caps steamroll panthers
(photo by Clyde Caplan)
Well then. Wasn’t that a little more enjoyable than what local fans have been subjected to this season?
Watching the Washington Capitals systematically destroy the Florida Panthers in a 4-0 drubbing definitely gave the Verizon Center faithful cause for celebration and had more than a few folks feeling a bit nostalgic.
Of course, with as disappointing as this season has been, it was a sight for sore eyes watching the Caps score the eventual game-winning goal just 13 seconds into a contest.
This was a statement game – not just because Washington was able to leapfrog Florida for first place in the division – but because it’s easily the closest the Caps have come to putting together a complete 60-minute effort since Dale Hunter took over as coach.
From the moment the puck dropped until the final few seconds ticked off the clock, the Capitals looked like the local hockey team many of us have come to know and love during the “Rock the Red” era.
They were simply dominant and the opponent simply had the misfortune of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Back in the day, it didn’t matter who took the ice against the Capitals in games like this – they were leaving our nation’s capital with a humbling loss against a talent-laden franchise poised for greatness.*
*Of course, it didn’t exactly work out that way, but let’s move on. No need to dwell on the negative after a game like this.
Caps captain Alex Ovechkin looked every bit as talented as the guy who was arguably the best player in hockey just a year or two ago as he imposed his will on an inferior opponents.
Watching Ovechkin fly up and down the ice looking to get involved in the play – even when it wasn’t necessarily in the offensive zone – was absolutely a welcome surprise.
Because, for as talented as the 26-year-old is, there are definitely times when he appears disinterested in impacting a game on the two thirds of the rink away from the opposing goalie.
And it wasn’t just Ovechkin who came to play against the Panthers.
Even though the Caps remain without the services of center Nicklas Backstrom and defenseman Mike Green, there was no shortage of players willing to make an impact in this one.
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all devin thomas does is win super bowls
(courtesy photo)
Fans of the Washington Redskins aren’t going to be thrilled with the photo posted to the Facebook page of Devin Thomas.
While I’ve never had a problem with Thomas, even I get that seeing the team’s former second-round pick with his hands on the Lombardi Trophy is not going to be enjoyable for D.C. sports fans.
Maybe it’s because he was a bust in Washington. Maybe it’s because fans felt he spent more time shooting music videos and modeling than actually learning how to run effective routes in the NFL. Or maybe he just represents all that was bad about the Vinny Cerrato era.
Whatever the case, this is why so many Redskins fans would have rather seen the New England Patriots win the Super Bowl than seeing the New York Giants win their second title in four seasons.
it’s not easy being a caps fan these days
(photo by Brian Murphy)
My son taught me something new over the weekend — you’re never too young to be let down by your favorite hockey team.
Sure, he might only be seven-months-old, but even he knows when the Washington Capitals are in the midst of a letdown game.
Just 24 hours after an enjoyable 3-0 victory over the Montreal Canadiens, the Caps failed to show up for the Super Bowl Sunday showdown with the Boston Bruins.
In related news, Tim Thomas and friends left the nation’s capital much happier than their last visit to D.C.*
*Of course, since the president refuses to “Barack the Red,” Thomas showed up at the Verizon Center without fear of his biggest rival exacting revenge.
The Caps fell behind early, rarely challenged Thomas with anything resembling a sustained attack and fell meekly to the defending Stanley Cup champs.
I know defenseman Karl Alzner’s comments about having troubles getting fired up for less glamorous games against teams like the Florida Panthers wasn’t popular, but I admire the kid’s honesty. It’s too bad that the Capitals, who have won just four of their last 10 games, fail to show up often enough for him to catch on to that troubling trend.
This game wasn’t against an unheralded opponent though – it was against a powerhouse Bruins team that was embarrassed at the Verizon Center two weeks ago. A team that came into this matinee match-up having suffered a disappointing loss to Pittsburgh 24 hours earlier.
There was little doubt the Bruins had plenty of motivation to show up for this game. Apparently the same could not be said for Washington.
If that’s not bad enough, forward Brooks Laich (one of the few players on this team who consistently hustles night in and night out) was knocked out of the game with a knee injury and left the building on crutches.
If Laich is out of the lineup for any length of time, it could finally be the breaking point for this already fragile franchise. With center Nicklas Backstrom still out of the lineup recovering from a concussion, the Caps might not win another face-off this season.
Considering how often they struggle to get the puck out of their own zone as it is, it wouldn’t surprise me if Washington’s goalies were seen openly weeping after Laich’s injury.
About the only good thing to come out of this game was my decision to use the hashtag #DickInABox every time Alexander Semin takes an ill-advised stick penalty. Obviously the in-house music at Verizon Center can’t play the song, but that shouldn’t stop Caps fans from calling out the selfish forward.
So if you’re on Twitter, please feel free to join in on the fun. If nothing else, it might help distract fans while their favorite hockey team continues to crash and burn.
time for caps to admit they have a problem
(photo by Brian Murphy)
Anyone who has read my thoughts on the Washington Capitals this season should know by now that I’m convinced this team is critically flawed.
This roster, as presently constructed, doesn’t appear capable of coexisting with the system Dale Hunter wants to utilize. So what Caps fans are “treated” to most nights is uneven play in which the rink looks completely tilted against Washington.
The Capitals end up getting out-shot and out-worked seemingly every time they take the ice. They rarely turn up the pressure on their opponent, so quality scoring chances and powerplays* are few and far between.
For at least 20 minutes every game, the players look completely disinterested as they go through the motions shift after uninspired shift.
*Although, to be fair, the team’s powerplay is horrid. They need a four minute five-on-three man advantage just to get enough of a sustained attack on a goalie to make him sweat. So I’m halfway convinced that referees have stopped calling penalties against Washington’s opponents in hopes of preventing further embarrassment. But I digress.
That this has been farce has been allowed to continue all season long is a slap in the face to anyone who actually cares about this team.
As I wrote last week, it’s clear that the window has closed on these Capitals. Anyone who believes these players are capable of winning a championship is clearly delusional.
Even with Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Green all healthy and motivated (which apparently is easier said than done), the Caps still aren’t best suited to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty the way Hunter wants them to.
The best outcome anyone can reasonably hope for this season is for the Capitals to make the playoffs and then get bounced after a round or two.
You know, like they did each of the previous four seasons under that coach who wasn’t good enough to keep around anymore.
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caps continue to play uninspired hockey
(courtesy photo)
The Washington Capitals lost to the Florida Panthers 4-2. Once again they were out-hustled. Once again they were out-played. Once again they failed to put together a full 60-minute effort.
We’re now 50 games into the season and this game felt awfully familiar. It’s as if we’ve seen this movie before. If only I could put my finger on it …