November 22nd - The Start of a Busy Schedule Week for the NHL as We Prepare for Turkey Day ...

Well Caps fans here in bucolic Bristow, fall is in the air, the leaves are quite well into "falling", in fact most have already "fallen."  As I noted yesterday this last week of November is a busy week for the NHL's Metropolitan Division.  Tonight we Caps fans, in addition to rooting for our Caps to dull the Sabres at Verizon Center, we're rooting for a 2 and only 2 point night in Uniondale, the Flames to scorch the Devils in Calgary, and the Blue Jackets to beat the Flyers in regulation in Philadelphia.  So say this three times fast: Lets Go Caps! Flames! and Blue Jackets, and three cheers for "meh" hockey on Long Island!

In any case that's probably too much to ask for everything so let's focus on Caps vs. Sabres at Verizon Center. The Sabres started the season off slowly but have won their last two games including beating the San Jose Sharks at home in Buffalo on Tuesday by a score of 4-1 after beating their rival  Maple Leafs 6-2 at home last Saturday. So the Sabres come into this game playing as hot as they've been in quite some time.  The Capitals also come into the game on a two game winning streak having won their last two in tight checking 1 goal road games. For the Caps to win here's the recipe as I see it - limit the Sabres to 30 or fewer shots on goal, a team SV% of 0.92+, and play an aggressive two man in forecheck.  In other words the Caps need to PLAY THEIR GAME and NOT let Buffalo set the pace of play or get them off their game plan. For Buffalo to win they have to come out flying and catch the Capitals back on their heels - of course the Capitals have to stop that from happening, if they manage to control the Sabres the first ten minutes of th game and score first the Capitals should finish the night with two goals and win by a score of  4 - 2 or 3 - 1 or better.

LETS GO CAPS!!!!

Capitals Hockey 23.2% Into the 2014 -15 NHL Season: Life On The Bubble Exemplified

Well Caps fans our Washington Capitals completed their 19th game of the 2014-15 Season in Denver, CO last evening and achieved a two (2) point regulation win over the Colorado Avalanche.  It was their eighth (8) ROW (Regulation/Overtime Win) of the season.  they are now on pace for a total of  90+ points and notable 34+ ROW.  If this were last season that would place them again "just" on the wrong side of the bubble as they finished last season with 90 points as well but only 28 ROW due to having earned 14 "looser" points which so far this season they've only gotten 3 and are on track for just 12 loser points.  That's the bad news, the good news is "the trend is our friend" and while living life on the bubble trends are everything When last season ended the two "wild Card" teams aka "Winning Bubble Teams" were Columbus with 93 points of which 38 of their 43 wins were "ROW" and they had only 7 "loser points" and Detroit who also had 93 points of which they had 34 ROW and 15 loser points.  That means that in Columbus' case 92+% of their 93 points were "2 point games" while in Detroit's case ~84% of their points were "2 point games."

 For the Capitals thus far this season , 85.7 of the 21 points they've accrued to date are a result of "two point nights."  Additionally, they find themselves in third place in the Division and "on the right side" of the bubble right now because with the exception of the Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators they've played no more games than the other Eastern Conference "bubble teams".  Additionally 0.550 (4-3-3) at home and 0.5556 (5-4-0) on the road thus far this season.  The Caps, surprisingly find themselves in need of making Verizon Center a harder place for opposing team's to play when for the majority of the past 5 seasons Verizon has earned a reputation of being a hard place to play and beat them and last season the Caps had a 0.598 record.  if the Caps stay on track for a 0.550 road record and raise their game at Verizon back to 0.598, they will end the season with 94 points and at least 35 ROW which should put them "on the right side of the bubble."  Given the trends and what we've been seeing from the Capitals the 5-4-1 record they have thus far in November, should they string a couple more wins together before the end of November, of the remaining four (4) games this month, clearly the "home and home" against the New York Islanders are most important.  However as long as the Capitals win three of the next four games (6 of 8 available standings points) they should close the gap with either the NY Islanders or Pittsburgh Penguins by at least two points before the month of  December starts.  That will give the Capitals 27 points in 23 games - on a 0.587 pace for the season, on pace for a 96 point season and securely in third place in the Metropolitan Division - avoiding the "Wild Card Sweepstakes" altogether.

The Islanders have six more games to play the remaining 10 days this month - including back to back home and home against Pittsburgh this weekend and a home and home against the Capitals bracketing Thanksgiving Day.  In addition to those four games against Division Rivals, the Islanders face the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday (11/24) and the Devils on Saturday the 29th. Truly this last week of November is a key time for the Islanders fortunes and a groups of tough games stacked together, the only break in it is that four of those six games will be home games for them.

The Penguins have also have six games over the last 10 days of November, the back to back home and home against the Islanders this weekend, followed by the Bruins in Boston on Monday and hosting the Maple Leafs on Wednesday before having another back to back home and home against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Pens last six games of November are evenly split between 3 home games and 3 away games though four of the six are played on back to back evenings.

Those are the guys in the Division ahead of the Capitals, but the Devils, Rangers Bruins, Senators, Maple Leafs, Panthers and even the Flyers are all likely to end the season on the bubble with the Capitals.  Looking at the rest of the Metropolitan Division Teams who are on or around the bubble and their schedule the rest of November here's how thing look.  The Rangers have 20 points in 19 games played as of tonight.  They have four more games in November: Montreal at MSG on Sunday, the Lightning on Wed. the 26th in Tampa, the Flyers in Philadelphia on the Friday 28th and then the Flyers again 24 hours later at MSG on Saturday the 29th.  So that's not going to be an easy road for the Blue Shirts.

The Devils start  three game road trip through Western Canada tonight in Edmonton, followed by a back to back tomorrow night in Calgary against the Flames before facing off against the Canucks in Vancouver on Tuesday on the 25th.  They then come back to Newark and play the Detroit Red Wings on Friday the 28th and then finish the month playing the Islanders in Uniondale on Saturday the 29th.  Another bubble team with five tough games to finish the second month of the 2014-15 season.

The Flyers have five more games to play in the month of November starting tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets at home in Philly.  They then travel to Long Island to face the Islanders on Monday evening, then host the Red Wings at Wachovia Center on Wednesday the 26th before finish the month with a back to back/home and home against the Rangers on the 28th and 29th.

Columbus has been struggling recently but as they get healthier they too could threaten other bubble teams.  They have four more games in November, only one of which tomorrow against the Flyers is against a Metropolitan Division opponent. Their other games in November are against Winnipeg, Vancouver and Nashville.

So as you can see the final week of November features a lot of Metropolitan Division games for every team in the  division with the exception of Columbus plays at least as many games against Division rivals as they do against teams in other divisions during the rest of this month.  That might put a little separation between teams in the division (given either Pittsburgh or the Islanders could finish the month with 35+ points and on track for 110+ point seasons) but it could also bunch things up even more.  For the Capitals the key will be winning at least three out of four and not giving any "loser points" to the Islanders in those two games, assuming they can win them.  If the Caps continue to find their grove and capture all eight points available to them in November they'll also be on track for a 100+ point season, that would be a significant step off the "right side" of the bubble compared to where they were just two weeks ago.

All that said you have to play the games on the ice, one game at a time.  The only thing certain about all this is it's going to be an exciting final week of November for fans of NHL Teams in the Metropolitan Division.

For the Caps, next up are the Sabres tomorrow night at Verizon Center.

LETS GO CAPS!!!!

Don't Look Now ...

Don't look now but the Capitals are 6-2-2 (0.700) through their last 10 games. What does that mean, you ask. It means the Caps are in 8th and the Sabres are in 9th place both with 84 points in 76 games played going into Tuesday Night's showdown at Verizon Center. It means we, Washington D.C. hockey fans live in interesting times that's for sure. It also means that if the Caps beat the Sabres on Tuesday they will be 7th or 8th place depending on what happens tonight in Winnipeg when the Jets take on the Senators. Yep, interesting times for sure. That's indeed what these times are.

Yesterday I posted it was a time for Caps fans to think positive, the past is not any indication of the future in professional sports, seriously, anything can happen - thats why they play the games on the ice. Think about it, why else is it that only once since the lockout has the President's Trophy winner won the Stanley Cup - the 2008 Detroit Red Wings. In fact here's some interesting food for thought: The 2011 Boston Bruins finished 7th in the league regular season standings before going on to win the Stanley Cup last year. The 2010 Chicago Blackhawks finished third in the league standings before going into the playoffs and winning "Le Cup." The 2009 Pittsburgh Penguins finished in eighth place before going on to win the Stanley Cup. We already covered the 2008 Red Wings. The 2007 Anaheim Ducks finished the regular season in fourth and the 22006 Carolina Hurricanes also finished in fourth. Each of those teams went on to win the Stanley Cup; the only thing to note though is the only one of those teams to go on to win the Cup and finish the regular season with less than 100 points are the 2009 Penguins and they finished the season with 45 wins and 99 points. If the Capitals made a run at the Cup this year it would be something unique for sure. So history would be made... and it could all start tonight...

LETS GO CAPS!!!!

Distance ...

So it's November and we are told by many that when it comes to the NHL Regular Season and the month of November, it really should be about "distance". As in starting to put some distance between your team and those who if you don't you will find yourselves fighting for those final playoff spot(s) come March and April. I basically agree with that philosophy and have been very pleased with the way the Capitals have started out this regular season.

I was concerned with all the talk about "the 2011 playoffs" before the 2010-2011 regular season even started the team might be taking things for granted, clearly with an Eastern Conference leading total of 25 points in 17 games played, and a 5-0-1 record so far in the month of November, the Capitals are not taking things for granted. Further, I actually like the mood I sense from their team right now, to me it does seem to be a more mature, lower-key, "just "get 'er done" approach; I think the Capitals are still playing the games with a good energy level, and they are generally having fun, but they clearly are not trying to latch on to some big emotional highs or lows right now. I sense that's a top to bottom mentality, one that says this year we really do want to be in a position to take our regular season approach and game and make a serious run into the playoffs to see if we really can "run the table." I think that's why even though I agree that team captain Alex Ovechkin is rightfully one of Peerless' "Players to Ponder" for today's game against the Thrashers, I'm more than fine with the way he's been playing an the (for him) getting his points in a "a subdued fashion." I think it's great that the team captain has a more balanced scoring (both goals and assists) record so far this season. I also think it's fine that there seem to be fewer and fewer times that the Capitals need him to try and take control of a game and energize them to victory this season, in fact I'm not sure I've seen even one time this season where that was necessary, yet I know he still has the ability to do it and we've certainly seen the 26 year old Russian Machine make some electrifying moves and rushes up ice several time, pretty much each game, so far in this young season. So while I too often ponder what it must be like to be Alexander Ovechkin, especially during the hockey season, I don't.

Last night the Capitals played an inconsistent game but still managed to leave Buffalo's HSBC Arena with a single standings point. Last night's game was inconsistent with the Capitals prior 16 regular season games in a number of ways. Two things stick out to me - a) the Capitals scored the first goal of the game, something that has not been the norm this season; and b) the Capitals played their worst period of the game, and the season thus far, during the game's second period. The Caps managed to muster just 4 shots on goal during the second period and were outscored during 2-0 so they started the third period behind 2 - 1. There were a couple of things to like about this game if you're a Capitals fan, of course. For me those things include:

a) Braden Holtby. Holtby's performance was solid, he stopped 24 of 27 shots on goal by the Sabres and played a very solid, steady game in net, including, and at times especially during the 10:24 last evening that the Capitals were playing short-handed. If you read the post-game commentary, Holtby was disappointed in his inability to stop Tomas Vanek on the game winner in OT, but we are talking about a rookie in his third NHL game played and an NHL vetran sharpshooter (188 goals in 436 games played - including his 10 playoff appearances). You gotta love Holtby's attitude - I'm thinking this guy wants every one of the goals ever scored against him back for another try at stopping them - no wonder his model growing up was Patrick Roy. I'm only wondering why Holtby wears number 70 instead of number 33.

b) Caps scoring first. The Capitals knew that Buffalo was going to be hungry last evening but they came up ready for the first period. Unfortunately that did not translate/transition into a high energy, well played second period for them. However, I don't think anyone was unhappy with the first period last evening and falling behind has been an issue at times for the Capitals so far this season.

c) Marcus Johansson's return to the Capitals. Okay, I'm a biased fan and I admit it, but I liked the performance Johansson had last evening and the fact he continues to do some things every game that show he is getting better - in my opinion. Let's be clear, I think the only Capitals Center that had a good game last evening was Nicklas Backstrom, in fact I'd say Backstrom's play in the third period was energetic and inspired, and not just because he scored a goal. For example, Backstrom was 92% in the faceoff circle. Look at MoJo's play last evening, yes he ended up -1 because he was on the ice for Vanek's game winner but he had 3 SOG, played well with both the first and second lines, had a blocked shot and should have had at least one takeaway as I saw him make at least two. He played responsible hockey, the truth is on the game winner Vanek was a man possessed and if he wasn't either John Carlson or Braden Holtby would have stopped him on that play. It's painful to do but compare MoJo's night to Tomas Fleischmann's night last evening and consider the following. If MoJo can get himself to have better results in the faceoff circle, who do you want on the ice more as the second line pivot - MoJo or Flash. I know I've made my case on this a lot of times before but last night showed very clearly why I think that in the long run if they both stay here on the Capitals MoJo is the second line center and Flash is back to playing on the left wing. Oh and let me say I didn't think Flash should have gotten 4 minutes for that high-stick, he was hooked and spun around, but I will admit the call was well within the way the rules are written.

d) Distance. At a time of year when it is all about putting some distance between your team and the others in your division and conference, last evening hte Capitals put another point between themselves and all their Southeast division rivals. The Caps are now 7 points and 3 games ahead of second place Tampa Bay in the Southeast Division and they lead the Eastern Conference, 1 point ahead of Philadelphia and 2 points ahead of Montreal. So while the season is indeed still young and there are some bizarre things going on, like from a season record so far, the Atlantic Division is currently the weakest division in the NHL, the Capitals are putting some distance between themselves and their competition. That's a good thing to do no matter how you look at it.

A couple of other side notes about recent happenings around the NHL over the past couple of days. First, let me just say that Paul Holmgren locking up Jeff Carter for 11 more years at a salary cap hit of $5.75M per and Claude Giroux for three more seasons with a cap hit of $3.75M per is/was truly the smartest move I think the Flyers have made in a while. Giroux far less so than Carter since the extension only ensures the Flyers and he will have good relations going into his next and final RFA contract negotiations, but smart moves both. Probably not what we Capitals fans need to hear but it was smart and I've gotta say it. I agree with the commentary on Red Light District about the signing:

For Giroux, I believe this is a stepping-stone contract before he receives one similar to Carter’s. Carter will be 37 when his 11-year pact ends.

Between Carter, Mike Richards, Danny Briere, Kimmo Timonen and Chris Pronger (who are all signed through at least 2014), the total cap hit is just shy of $29 million –nearly half of the allotted salary cap amount.

Second, Brent Burns reaction to his two game suspension last week, may be the most mature reaction to such a situation ever by a professional athlete. In response to the news when asked for a comment Burns reportedly said something on the order of "I have to be responsible for my stick." That short, sweet and accurate statement is something any fan hast to like to see and support.

Now about this afternoon; both teams played last night and lost. The Capitals lost 3-2 in overtime in Buffalo and the Thrashers lost Pittsburgh 4-2 in Atlanta. Peerless' preview, which is always better than anything I might come up with, is here. I'm also forecasting a win by the Caps but I'd be surprised if after a late finish and flight home last evening we Caps fans get wings so I'm thinking the Capitals will win in regulation by a score of either 4-2 or 4-3 rather than 5-2.

I'm looking forward to the game and just getting ready to head out to Verizon Center now - see y'all there and of course:

LETS GO CAPS!!!

Caps Resume Season With Lots Of Activity and Two Victories

I missed posting anything yesterday - I had to support a pesky habit I've had my entire life - eating, to have food to eat I must work. Working, that's what I've been doing lately, though I did manage to catch the tail end of the game on Wednesday evening in Buffalo - actually I stopped at Hard Times Cafe in Manassas on my way home to catch a bite before working some more and caught the last couple of minutes of the Third Period after listening to most of it on the radio while I was driving. From everything I could tell - radio and hockey really don't work well for me - and the recaps, etc. it was a good game and the Caps played well. I also caught all of last night's game at Verizon with a friend.

It was awesome to have live NHL hockey back in the District again last night. It was a pretty crazy game, especially the third period. First we had "the new guys" - 3 of the 4 trade deadline pickups Joe Corvo (#77), Scott Walker (#24) and Eric Belanger (#18) dresses and played last night as did call-up John Carlson (#74). Milan Jurcina is apparently sidelined for the next 3-4 weeks with a sports hernia, but we know how he'll fit into things and he knows the corresponding points and the system as well, so that shouldn't be a big deal, especially since we picked him back up for what looks like a 6th round pick. All of the new guys looked good, though like Lisa Hillary said to Scott Walker in teeing up her post game interview with him, Walker who was picked up for a seventh round pick made General Manager George McPhee look like a genius. Walker, a 36 year old right wing from Cambridge, Ontario had 2 goals and was +2 in just 10 shifts and 7:33TOI last evening. If that's not bringing some impact to the fourth line, I don't know what is. Up until he scored his first of the night, a backhand that dribbled through Lightning goalie Mike Smith's 5-hole into the net, the kind of gritty play and energy I think everyone hoped he would bring to the team, I was thinking that the guy who looked like he was going to have the easiest transition into a Caps uniform was defenseman Joe Corvo. However, the results at least say of the pickups the one who made the most impact with the least amount of TOI last night was Walker. Speaking of Joe Corvo he was paired most often last evening with Tom Poti and he looked god as did they both look good together. Corvo clearly worked very hard to take time and space from Lecavilier, St Louis and Stamkos when they were on the ice with him and he also was great at mixing it up with Ryan Malone at those times. He played 20:19 in 23 shifts and had 1 SOG, 3 A/B, 1 miss, 1 Hit and blocked 3 shots. It was a solid night and the only time he looked awkward was a power play shift in the first when it was clear the entire unit on the ice hadn't practiced much, if at all together. Things seemed to settle down on the power play after that clearly failed experiment, don't get me wrong the "new guys" bring some interesting new elements to the Caps but it's clear, harvesting that potential for the special teams (power ply or penalty kill) will take a lot more time than the 24 - 35 hours these guys have been wearing Capitals Sweaters.

In my view it's unclear whether either Eric Belanger or Joe Corvo will be the trade deadline pickup to make the most impact. However last evening it was clear it will likely take Belanger a little longer than Corvo to get used to his new teammates and linemates. For most of Belanger's 18 shifts and 14:50 TOI he was paired with Eric Fehr and Tomas Fleischmann on his wings and while it looks like that will gel into a very solid, potent line, there were a few times last night where it was clear they were having to look around to find each other rather than knowing where the other two guys would be.

In an adjacent note, John Carlson was called up from Hershey and he had an excellent game. He finished the game with these numbers: TOI - 14:46, Shifts - 15, +1; 1 shot on goal and 4 blocked shots. He also sprang "Flash" with a really nice stretch pass on a breakaway that unfortunately Mike Smith was able to stop. It was a really good game for him, because for the entire game he played with a lot more maturity then a 20 year old rookie.

With all the attention I'm paying to the new guys, I can't forget to mention that off season pickup and first line Right Wing Mike Knuble had a super game - 2 goals, +1 in 15:43 and 21 shifts on ice. Mike Green was +2 and had 2 assists on the night. Jeff Schultz was +2 on the night as well.

Overall it was clear last night the Caps now have a team loaded with great skaters and they intend to use their skill in this area to create time and space for their offensive game plan as well as to tie up other teams defensively. Through the first two periods the Caps led the game 3 - 2 on the scoreboard and on the ice it seemed like an even bigger lead. However Tampa Bay is a team with some very talented driven players - both veterans and youngsters, namely: Marty St. Louis, Vincent Lacavilier, Steve Stamkos, Victor Hedman and Ryan Malone. They weren't going to make it easy for the Caps and they always seemed to find the energy and a "hole" in Semyon Varlamov's pads somewhere last night so they could stay within one goal. They even tied it up 4 - 4 on a goal by Stamkos, his 38th of the season, at 12:28 of the third period. Luckily that goal seemed to be the one that really woke up the Capitals fully and just 00:41 later at the 13:09 mark when Scott Walker scored his second goal of the game, the ultimate game winner, his 5th goal of the season and his second while wearing a Caps sweater. After that Tampa Bay tried to respond and surge a couple of times but the Caps generally never let them get too fired up or skate freely enough to score. So the game ended up being another two point night for the Capitals, their third and fourth in just two games since the NHL season resumed. Next up the New York Rangers at Verizon Center, tomorrow evening - more on that another time. In the mean time - - -

LETS GO CAPS!!!

Caps Trade Deadline Moves And a Quick & Dirty On Tonights Game Against The Sabres In Buffalo

First, Caps GM George McPhee GMGM made some moves today and from what I can tell it sure looks like he did so in a manner that a) didn't cost the Capitals all that much and b) won't in any way upset the chemistry on the team already here. McPhee acquired 4 players and he did so in moves that only affected/moved 1 person who is really on the existing Capitals roster.

- In his first move of the day GMGM acquired 36 year old Right Wing Scott Walker from the Carolina Hurricanes for a 7th round draft pick in this years upcoming draft.

- Then later this morning GMGM acquired 32 year old Center Eric Belanger from Minnesota for Washington's Second Round pick in this years draft.

- After that GMGM turned his attention to the in process salary dump underway just over in Columbus, OH and reacquired 26 year old Defenseman Milan Jurcina for a conditional pick in this summer's draft. Jurcina was sent to Columbus earlier this season in late December in the deal that brought Jason Chimera to the Capitals. Jurcina had played in 13 games between that deal and the Olympics, where he was on the Slovakian National Team. In his short stint with Columbus and in the Olympics, Juice looked strong, and got to play a bigger role and more minutes than he usually did with the Caps before the trade, GMGM and Gabby must have liked how they saw the 6'4", 233# Slovak respond. I certainly was sorry to see him go in the Chimera trade, as prior to the deal he was one of the bigger guys in terms of Hits and physical presence in the line-up.

- The latest deal to be announced was the biggest and the only one affecting someone on the current Capitals Roster. GMGM acquired 32 year old Defenseman Joe Corvo from Carolina in exchange for 32 year old Defenseman Brian Pothier, 22 year old Left Wing Oskar Osala of the Hershey Bears, and the Capitals Second Round Pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Pothier was slated to be an UFA this summer and I didn't expect the Caps to resign him, Osala had a couple of shots at the NHL level but had as of yet to catch on, though he will have a better chance at cracking the Hurricanes roster as a scoring left wing since he's not competing with Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin and Tomas Fleischmann for that role. However, the price tag for Corvo seems a little high if we're just going for a rental. Don't get me wrong, I think Corvo is a good pickup and Corvo is slated to be a UFA at the end of this season. His current salary is $2.65M and if the Caps could resign him at or near that number for a 2 or even 3 year deal he's probably a keeper but if that happens then there will be other moves this summer as well. It is nice to see the Caps now have a veteran blueliner with experience playing Bruce Boudreau's system.

The general news and emotions on the wire from pundits like The Sporting News seems to be that the Caps and GMGM had a good day and strengthened their roster or improved depth in the areas they made moves so they can make a deep run in to the playoffs. I agree with Michael Peca, Joe Corvo should take some of the heat and attention of opposing teams gritty forwards like Sean Avery off of Mike Green. That should help Green stay healthier through a 5 or 7 game series and maybe it even opens up some more room for him on some of his shift. The grit that Walker and Belanger bring only adds to the grit that Knuble and Chimera brought earlier this season. Additionally Belanger brings in another solid responsible older statesman at Center ice to compliment Brendan Morrison and ass a little more depth there. All of which helps ease the pressure on young superstar Nicklas Backstrom.

I think these moves are all pretty good and all at a reasonable cost, some will bemoan the price paid for Corvo but if as I hope it takes some pressure and attention off Mike Green in one or more of the playoff series the Caps play this post season, the deal is probably worth it, the only real impact/price the Caps likely feel from it is the loss of a second round draft pick in 2011, as in terms of the swap of Pothier for Corvo, at worst that's a wash and it wasn't looking like Osala was making the roster any time in the next two seasons here in DC. Everything else didn't cost much except for the second round pick for Belanger in this year's draft and his presence on the roster means at the end of the season and playoffs the Caps have two experienced guys who will be UFA at the end of the season competing for the 2/3 spot on the depth chart for Centers that currently make $1.5M and $1.75M so that means they ought to be able to resign the one they want to keep for a reasonable, and affordable number under the Cap while giving Backstrom the raise he will get this year as an RFA. Jurcina is a known commodity and a positive locker room presence who returns to the team with more experience and upside than he left it with, and Walker is a heart and sould kind of player who basically "didn't cost nuttin'" and played well for Carolina in their playoff run last season so to me, that deal was a "no-brainer."

Now about tonight and Buffalo we have disappointed American Olympians Tim Connely and Ryan Miller vs. disappointed Russian, Czech and Swedish Olympians Ovechkin, Semin, Fleischmann and Backstrom. I don't see Jurcina making it to Buffalo and playing tonight so no disappointed Slovaks will be on the ice for the Capitals tonight. Buffalo is fighting it out these next twenty games with Pittsburgh, New Jersey and a resurgent Ottawa for playoff seeding and home ice advantage, so they are also motivated there. This is the second of a back to back for the Sabres, they lost 3-2 last evening in Pittsburgh. This will be a close, well played game so hopefully the Caps will re-start the season on a high note. It should be a fun one to watch as these are two well coached and talented teams. I won't make a prognostication but you know where my heart is. The Caps called up Hohn Carlson so it will be interesting to see if he plays tonight as well.

Welcome back Milan Jurcina, and welcome to DC Scott Walker, Eric Belanger, and Joe Corvo. BTW in case you haven't heard, this is our year.

LETS GO CAPS!!!

Caps 5 - Sabres 2; A Two Point Night & Wings!

Well tonight's game was pretty solid from the view I had here on the recliner in Bristow as Tom had the tickets for tonight's game. I'll be attending Saturday evening's game against the Devils with wingman and am looking quite forward to it. In the meantime a recap, I thought the Caps totally dominated the Sabres the first and third periods and despite the Sabres trying to make a game of it during the second period, and the post game commentary from Craig Laughlin and Alan May, I believe the score sheet shows the second period ended with the score Caps 3 - Sabres 2, though to be fair the Sabres did score two 2 goals to the Caps 1 in the period and out shot the Caps 20 - 14. The Caps also took two penalties to the Sabres 1 in the second stanza. Not "undisciplined hockey" but I can see why May and "Locker" said what they said, I just don't agree.

Simply put the Sabres have only had 5 or more goals scored against them three other times this season. Further when you find yourself up by two goals against Ryan Miller and the Sabres, two things necessarily happen, you know you need to tighten up your defensive play as the Sabres and Miller will likely tighten up theirs and they will come at you. That's just what happened and because of it the second period was the crux of the hockey game and when it was over the Caps were still up 3-2. The Caps did score only one goal in the second but what a "sick" goal it was. Brendan Morrison broke his goal scoring slump in fine fashion with a totally awesome wrist shot after pulling the puck back to himself to create just enough room from within 10 feet of the goal to put a nifty wrister past Ryan Miller with his stick between his legs to put the Caps up 3-1 at the 10:48 mark of the second stanza. Before that Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Green had both scored for the Capitals in the first period and Paul Gaustad of the Sabres got his 7th tally of the year at 5:04 of the second period to make it a 2-1 game. Morrison's goal made sure the Capitals would never trail in this game though.

The third period was pretty well owned by the Capitals despite the fact the Sabres managed to get off 10 shots on Michael Neuvirth to the 9 the Caps laid on Ryan Miller. Neuvy had a very good night stopping 32 of 34 shots for a 0.941 SV% on the night and was only victimized on two very good scoring chances and second/third shots by the Sabres. As far as executing their keys to success the Caps did and the Sabres did not and that's the story of the night. The Caps had two power play chances - a 5 on 3 and a 5 on 4 and they converted on both against a very solid penalty killing unit. The Sabres had three opportunities and a total of 4:00 with a man advantage and were held scoreless on the power play.

As far as executing their keys to success: 1) The Sabres needed disrupt the Caps offensive unit and keep the "Young Guns" especially Alexander Ovechkin in check. The four young guns and Tomas Fleischmann totalled 4 goals and 10 points tonight; Ovechkin had a goal and two assists for 3 points; Backstrom had two goals; Semin had two assists; Green had a goal and an assist for two points and "Flash" had an assist. 2) The Sabres needed to pressure Neuvirth early; they only got 4 shots on goal in the entire first period. 3) The Sabres needed to out work and out hit the Caps; for the full sixty minutes the Sabres had 16 hits to the Caps 21. Basically, the Sabres were "0 for 3" on those items. Relative to key players tonight, for the Sabres needed a solid night from Ryan Miller, they didn't really get it. Miller stopped 33 of 38 and had a SV% of 0.868, hardly a stellar night for the American Born All Star. Tim Connolly - the 28 year old veteran center had a goal and was +2 on the night, as good an outing or better than any other Sabre on the night. Tyler Myers and Henrik Tallinder both went -1 on the evening and though Myers had 4 hits and 2 blocked shots on the evening I believe he himself would not characterize this as a good night since in addition to being on the ice for Morrison's even strength goal he was also on the ice for Backstrom's second goal of the evening - a power play tally.

The Caps keys to success were 1) Play disciplined hockey and stay out of the sin bin, the Caps pretty much did that they gave the Sabres a man advantage one in the first period and twice in the second period but were penalty free in the third period. 2) Create traffic and get some scrappy goals, the Caps did that, of the 5 Caps goals only Mike Green's was beyond the faceoff circle and on all the other Caps goals besides Morrison's there was traffic in front or around the net, on two occasions Ovechkin's power play goal and Green's that traffic was Brooks Laich; on Backstrom's first goal it was provided by Alexander Semin and on Backy's second goal the traffic was provided by OV. 3) Responsible two way play and a deep backcheck - the Caps definitely did this the few times they were really challenged in the first and third periods and other then the sequence that led up to Tim Connolly's goal they did it often and deep enough in the second period as well. As far as talking about key players and needed results the only place the Caps did not dominate tonight was the faceoff circle but the rest of the execution areas were very solid and Ovechkin, Neuvirth, Backstrom, Morrison and Steckel all had outstanding nights.

That's why the game ended with a score Caps 5 - Sabres 2. Next up the New Jersey Devils, Saturday evening at home here in DC.

LETS GO CAPS!!!!

Caps 0 - Sabres 3, A No Point Night And Why Goaltenders Still Matter in the NHL...

Last night was a great game to watch, except for one minor detail - the Capitals came away from the visit to Sunny Buffalo with NO points. For the first time this season the Caps executed to their game plan, played a full sixty minutes, and basically outplayed the Sabres, except for one man in blue - goaltender Ryan Miller. That's right look at the stat sheet last night and try and figure out why/how the Capitals lost last night - in hockey parlance "Miller stole two points." Ryan Miller is clearly in the drivers seat for the Vezina Trophy this season and last night he showed the Capitals and we Caps fans why. Miller was fantastic. To be sure the Sabres team that played in front of them rebounded well from their prior game, a loss; but it was Ryan Miller who in the end made sure, on at least five occasions pucks off the sticks of Capitals players stayed out of the Buffalo goal.

However, just as an ugly win is nothing less than two points in the standings, a no point night is a no point night. Also to be sure the coaching staff will dissect the tape and find things the Caps need to improve on, and the way this team has been playing they will continue to improve. So there's not much worth saying about the game. However it is worth mentioning that several Caps played very good games last night though nobody was able to get on the board. I also think it's worth mentioning/asking - am I the only one whose nerves Craig Laughlin gets on when he gets hung up on a point, especially when it just doesn't seem correct? "Locker" repeatedly talked about the Caps lacking spark and energy last night however, they outplayed the Sabres every period, even the second period when the Sabres out shot the Caps by two shots, the Caps had more and better scoring chances. Also why talk about a win the Caps had last season against the Sabres you didn't think they deserved - did anybody remember the details about the game so they could either agree or disagree with Laughlin? I sure don't it wasn't a playoff game or a notable on in my memory.

All that said the one thing that last night's game(s) as well as Monday night's games did for me was highlight just how important solid goaltending is in the NHL during this compressed regular season schedule. Most NHL teams have 15 or more games in the month of December, every team has at least 13 games and Montreal and Ottawa have whopping 17 games in the 31 days of December. The Caps have just 13 days but they include a West Coast trip. My point here is that every team in the NHL will be playing at least some games on back to back nights or as part of hectic road trips. During those sorts of games it would sure seem likely a goaltender will be called upon to make some clutch saves and play in some tight games where one gal is the difference. Add to that thought that in games that go to "extra innings" - overtime or the shoot out - the goaltender is clearly the most important cog in the gears to victory. So far 62 games have been played in the NHL during the month of December; goaltending has been a key factor, if not the primary factor in 58% of those games. Fourteen (14) games or 22.5% have ended in overtime or shootouts; while eleven (11) other games or 17.74% have ended in regulation but have been decided by a single goal. Additionally it seems that a growing number of games are shutouts. Over the past three nights eight (8) games have been shutouts, overall eleven (11) games or 17.74% have been shutouts. To further highlight the importance of goaltending in the eight shutouts so far this week, none of the loosing teams were playing game 2 of a back to back nights effort.

So it seems odd to me that only eight goaltenders in the NHL currently make $6M or more in current salary - they are: Luongo, Vancouver $7.5M; Kiprusoff, Calgary $7M; Lundqvist, NY Rangers $6.875M; Miller, Buffalo $6.25M; Giguere, Anaheim, $6M; Nabokov, San Jose, $6M; and Tim Thomas, Boston, $6M. Further only goaltenders who are the highest paid members of their team are Luongo who bests each of the Sedin twins by $1.4M; Kiprusoff who is tied to be the highest paid guy on his team with Iginla; Nicklas Backstom of the Wild who is the highest paid member of the team by $700K; Tomas Vokoun of the Florida Panthers who with a salary this season of $5.7M is the highest paid member of his team by over $1M; and Rick DiPietro of the NY Islanders who with salary of $4.5M leads his team by $400K. So of thrity NHL teams eight have goaltenders who they pay in the top echelon of league salaries (over 10+% of the salary cap) and two others have goaltenders who they feel are worthy of the highest salary on their teams. To be sure few if any NHL starting goaltenders are hitting the soup kitchens other then possibly to preform charity work any time soon. However I wonder with goaltending so important why aren't more teams being forced to cough up higher salaries for their starting/#1 goaltenders than just 30% of the league?

Tonight: Caps vs. Sabres ... Continued Injury Challenges for the Caps

The Caps recalled Karl Alzner today and it appears they were capable of doing that since veteran forward Mike Knuble was placed on LTIR and returned John Carlson and Andrew Gordon to Hershey. Overall it appears that the Caps are still at least 6 men down for injured, though there is significant speculation that Milan Jurcina will return to the lineup tonight. However defensemen Tom Poti and Shoane Morrisonn out, as well as Forwards Mike Knuble, Alexander Semin, Quintin Laing and Boyd Gordon.

Even injury riddled the Caps are still a formidable opponent capable of beating pretty much any team in the league if they play disciplined, solid hockey for a full sixty minutes. Unfortunately this season the Caps have had trouble doing just that. A situation that's pretty perplexing considering the Caps entered the season in what looked like very solid athletic shape. However, the spate of third period minor penalties seem to point otherwise. Why else besides conditioning would such a talented team take a lead into the third period only to then take minor penalties and put the games outcome in doubt rather then putting the game away. Also look at the 23 penalties taken in the third period from the last 11 games (the month of November), the Caps have been sent to the sin bin 4 times for hooking, 3 times for tripping, 3 times for interference, 3 times for boarding, 3 times for roughing (thank you Bill McCreary & Garry Buttmann for this new call at the next annual meeting I guess the NHL will explore the possibility of a new penalty - "hitting too hard"...), 2 times for high sticking, and once each for goalie interference, slashing, holding and cross checking. Those 23 penalties have been called on 13 different players, the most, 5 of the 23, have been called on Brendan Morrison. Morrison has otherwise been a really great pickup for the Capitals and is pretty much on track for a totally awesome comeback season. I don't have the stats handy but anecdotally I believe part of the reason the 34 year old center from Pitt Meadows, BC has been leading in this inauspicious category is because he is being put out there during a lot of these situations (third period, leading) as he is so good at protecting the puck. B-Mo is a 13th year pro so he really doesn't need anybody telling him that taking 5 third period penalties isn't a good way to close out a game. Actually when you look at the names of who has taken these penalties: B-Mo (5), Knuble (2), Sha-Mo (2) Erskine (2), Semin (2), Pothier (2) Steckel (2), Jurcina (1), Clark (1), Laich (1), Perreault (1) and Ovechkin (1), with the possible exception of Perreault, it's unlikely that any coaching or additional mention of it is necessary.

That said an average of 2.1 third period minor penalties per game is one of the really big Achilles heels in the Capitals game right now. Also during those ten games the Caps managed two penalty free third periods one during a -4 win over the Florida Panthers and the other during a 3-1 win over the Minnesota Wild. That means the Caps had 3 or 4 minor penalties during the remaining 9 games, and during those games the Caps record has been 3-3-3 (0.500 hockey). Tonight the Caps play their fourth game in six nights when they meet the Sabres. The Sabres are coming off three days rest having met and lost to the Senators in Ottawa during their last game on Saturday night. So the Sabres come in to DC rested and hungry for victory. The Sabres are a good team and the Caps will need to ignore the distractions, the injuries, the aches, the pains and stay focused an play a disciplined game for all sixty minutes if they are to resume their winning ways tonight. If the Caps get frustrated because after out shooting the Sabres they still trail or haven't scored, they are just as likely to take a bad penalty in what should be a tight scoring game.

No predictions for tonight here, I'm just positive Zen energy and good thoughts.

LETS GO CAPS!!!!

A Look Ahead to Tonight's Game In Buffalo and A Look Around the NHL This Morning

Tonight the Washington Capitals take on the Buffalo Sabres for the second time in five days. So far this season the Caps and Sabres have played twice and the season series is tied 1-1; both teams have won one game on their home ice. Buffalo beat Washington 5-0 on November 1st at HSBC Center, and Washington won last Friday night's game 3-2 at Verizon Center. Tonight, the Capitals will be looking to extend their current winning streak to 4 in a row, finish the month of December 11-3-0, and solidify their hold on second place in the Eastern Conference; the Sabres will be trying to start a winning streak with their second in a row, finish December above 0.500 with a record of 7-5-2, and solidify their hold on 8th place in the Eastern Conference.

Tonight's game in Buffalo, will likely be much like Friday night's game in Washington, a hard fought, closely played game between two solid, high octane, determined teams. It's likely both teams will have a few of the players who were injured and didn't play on Friday in the lineup tonight. Washington will have Mike Green and Jeff Schultz who returned to the lineup for Sunday's win over Toronto on the blueline once again; and it's likely that center Paul Gaustad will be back on the ice for Buffalo. Both team's sharpshooters, Russian born Alexander Ovechkin and Austrian-born Thomas Vanek will be on the ice looking to extend their scoring streaks against each others teams and drive their side to victory. Both men are currently tied for second among the league's leading goal scorers each with 25 tallies. Ovechkin has scored in five straight meetings with the Sabres, totaling six in that span - he did not play in the November 1st game between the two teams. The goaltending match up will likely be Jose Theodore, in his fourth straight start, versus Ryan Miller. Theodore will be looking to reverse his fortunes against the Sabres, he has struggled in Buffalo with a 1-7-0 record and a 3.58 goals-against average. That includes a 5-0 loss on Nov.1, when he allowed three first-period goals on his way to tying a season high. Miller who has been inconsistent at times this season is coming off a rocky game where he allowed the New York Islanders to score twice in the final 1:34 of regulation on Saturday, but stopped both shooters in the tiebreaker to salvage a 4-3 win for Buffalo. On the other hand until their last three four meetings, Miller and the Sabres have been a consist ant thorn in the Capitals sides in the recent past, especially at HSBC Center where they have won seven of the last nine at home against the Caps.

So don't expect the Sabres to make it easy for the Caps to achieve their first 11 victory month in 9 years. Per the Caps Website game preview the possible line combos and defensive pairings look like this.

Buffalo Forwards
41-MacArthur, 9-Roy, 21-Stafford
26-Vanek, 55-Hecht, 29-Pominville
20-Paille, 22-Mair, 12-Kotalik
76-Peters, 37-Ellis, 61-Afinogenov

Buffalo Defensemen
6-Sekera, 44-Spacek
5-Lydman, 10-Tallinder
27-Numminen, 34-Butler
Goaltenders
30-Miller (starting), 40-Lalime

Washington Forwards
8-Ovechkin, 19-Backstrom, 25-Kozlov
21-Laich, 92-Nylander, 17-Clark
56-Bourque, 39-Steckel, 16-Fehr
33-Giroux, 15-Gordon, 10-Bradley

Washington Defensemen
55-Schultz, 52-Green
27-Alzner, 23-Jurcina
26-Morrisonn, 62-Collins
Goaltenders
1-Johnson, 60-Theodore (starting)

Start Time: 7:00PM EST -
LETS GO CAPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Looking around the NHL as the first three months of the 2008-2009 season winds down it seems like the league's team's now fit into four or possibly five "strata". The top echelon consisting of six teams, though one could argue the "creme de la creme" is really the two top teams San Jose and Boston followed by the next four teams. After that their seem to be two tiers of 9 and 10 teams followed by those teams likely to vie for the lottery pick to see who gets the 2009 first draft pick. Basically things look like this:


Top Six Teams and their record over the last ten games

1) San Jose Sharks/6-1-3
2) Boston Bruins/9-1-0
3) Detroit Red Wings/6-3-1
4) Washington Capitals/8-2-0
5) New York Rangers/ 5-4-1
6) Chicago Blackhawks/9-0-1

Second "Nine"
7) Montreal Canadeans/5-3-2
8)Calgary Flames/6-1-3
9) Philadelphia Flyers/6-3-1
10) New Jersey Devils/6-3-1
11) Vancouver Canucks/5-4-1
12) Pittsburgh Penguins/4-6-0
13) Anaheim Ducks/5-4-1
14) Colorado Avalanche/7-3-0
15) Buffalo Sabres/5-3-2
16) Phoenix Coyotes/5-2-3

Third Ten:
17) Carolina Hurricanes/5-3-2
18) Edmonton Oilers/6-3-1
19) Nashville Predators/3-6-1
20) Florida Panthers/5-3-2
21) Minnesota Wild/2-7-1
22) Columbus Blue Jackets/5-4-1
23) Los Angeles Kings/4-4-2
24) Dallas Stars/6-3-1
25) Toronto Maple Leafs/5-5-0

Lowest Five:
26) Saint Louis Blues/2-8-0
27) Ottawa Senators/2-7-1
28) Tampa Bay Lightning/4-5-1
29) Atlanta Thrashers/3-6-1
30) New York Islanders/1-7-2.

Looking at this list and the recent last 10 game results a couple of obvious things jump out at you. First in the top six teams it's very possible that after a fast start, the New York Rangers could drop down to the "Second Nine Tier" and any one of the next four teams: Canadeans, Flames, Flyers or amazingly the Martin Brodeur-less New Jersey Devils could take their spot, if the Rangers don't turn things around quickly and any of those four teams get a little "hotter". Looking at the second nine, you have to ask yourself: "What's going on with the Pittsburgh Penguins? and "How about those Avs?" Looking at the third tier of ten teams Edmonton and Dallas are working hard to move up and play to their potential while Minnesota continues to underachieve while fighting off injuries. At the bottom tier, Tampa Bay, thanks in large part to Mike Smith and a renewed work ethic among its veteran lineup seems poised to make a move up the standings and play a spoiler to some.

Oh yeah and looking back again at those top six teams, doesn't the view look nice and "doncha' just gotta say":

LETS GO CAPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Caps 3 - Sabres 2; A Recap of Last Night's Game and Some Other Interesting News

Last night at "the Phone Booth" aka Verizon Center the Washington Capitals hosted the Buffalo Sabres for the second meeting between these two NHL Eastern Conference foes of the four times they'll meet this regular season. In very brief summary for Caps fans it was a two point night, and Alex Ovechkin scored another one of those goals that make it clear why he's the most exciting AND most valuable player in the NHL today. If all you're looking for is bottom line stuff you need read no further, the above is the bottom line on last night's game. For those wanting just a touch of color, here it is, my son and I watched from our perches in Section 103, the atmosphere was electric, it was a sellout crowd, only a few misguided Sabre fans in blue jerseys, most folks were clearly into it and Rocked the Red. This was perhaps the best non-playoff game of hockey we've ever been too; certainly the most fun game to we've attended prior to the All Star Break. [ed note: Summary over, there's already been a lot about this game posted around the blogsphere, so I'll just be posting some general observations and musings about it. But it was an awesome game for the Caps and Caps fans.]


Last night was a great game for the Capitals, for a lot of reasons, not just the obvious ones: 1) The Caps won the game in regulation. 2) So far this morning, it appears the Caps got through the game with both 2 points and no more injuries, though Tyler Sloan's low TOI makes it clear he's probably still on the mend. 3) Because of the injuries, this was another "character game" for the Caps; and they never lost composure, despite clearly outplaying the Sabres during the first period and having Patrick Lalime keep his team tied with them despite being out shot 15 - 8 in the first stanza. Those being the obvious reasons it was a great game for the Caps here's some observations and musings on more subtle or specific reasons it was great.


The Caps did what they needed to do in every set of match ups and category of comparisons.

A) In goal Jose Theodore had a very, very solid night. The Caps never trailed in the game. Theodore had a save percentage of 0.917 (22 of 24), without any help from the referee, and the two goals that did get in were not in any way "softies." In fact Thee-O , was pretty much without fault on the two he let in. The first one he was screened by multiple guys and the second he had two Sabres, one on each side of the doorstep unencumbered. Throughout the game he made all the sames he should have and at least a couple that were pretty amazing and kept the Caps either tied at 0-0 or in the lead. Patrick Lalime, at the other end, also played an excellent game and as cited by Theodore after the game, pretty much kept his team in it for the duration. Lalime's save percentage of record for the game was 0.915 (31 of 34). But there were numerous entire shifts where Lalime didn't get the help he should have gotten from the team in front of him.

B) On defense, there was no chronic or systemic evidence during this game that the Caps blueline corps on the ice was significantly less experienced than their Buffalo counterparts. That's pretty much the bottom line but the reasons are much more subtle. The only Cap with a minus plus/minus rating for the game was Sean Collins who was on the ice with Karl Alzner for the Sabres second goal. That goal was scored by Maxim Afinogenov from the doorstep and was the only time both Caps defenseman were out of position at the same time all night. The reason that happened? Simple immediately prior to Lydman shooting the puck towards the net, Afinogenov got away with a weak cross-check of Boyd Gordon to get the room he needed to make the play. Gordon was properly lined up so Collins cheated out towards the shooter, hoping to maybe block a shot that he didn't block. A solid hockey play and why good things happen when you crash the net and mix it up. This isn't whining about the Sabres' second goal, the officiating, though with the usual level questionable calls we've come to expect this NHL season, was even handed. The point here is the Sabres didn't lose the game nor did they take it easy on Washington's relatively inexperienced blueline corps. Overall for the game the Caps Blueliners were +4, to the Sabres Blueliners -6. There is no doubt that the return of either Mike Green or Tom Poti and preferably both would greatly strengthen the Caps right now. However, the play of Karl Alzner, Sean Collins, and Tyler Sloan was solid last night. Bryan Helmer, on the other hand, had a career night and deserved to be one of the three stars of the evening, it might have been a little cheesy in light of Ovechkin's "The Goal - Redeux," but nobody is probably going to argue with Helmer's status as number 1 star of the game. The continued solid play of these four call-up defenseman will be required for the Caps to continue to win for the rest of this month. The opportunity to directly contrast Karl Alzner and Luke Schenn on Sunday, should be interesting.

C) Forwards - The Capitals first line of Ovechkin - Backstrom - Kozlov was excellent throughout the entire game; their numbers also reflect that, even with Ovechkin's power play tally negated a goaltender interference call, on Brooks Laich in the last two minutes of the second period. Ovechkin's game winner is a highlight real centerpiece and has already been well chronicled elsewhere here on the net and in the mainstream media; in addition he finished the night +2, had 8 shots, 8 attempts blocked, 3 missed attempts, 3 hits, 1 giveaway, and 3 takeaways. Just your typical Ovechkin night at the game, the guy is well paid but he tries to make sure he earns his money every game, last night there was no doubt about that. Nicklas Backstrom finished the game with a primary assist (his 28th of the season) and +2 on the night with 21:11 TOI during 20 shifts. Last night was another great night for Viktor Kozlov, he scored the Caps first goal of the evening, breaking Lalime's "shutout" at the 17:46 mark of the first period on a very well played give and go that Backstrom was in the middle of; that goal was Kozlov's 9th of the season and the third goal he's scored in the last four games. Kozlov's play over the past three weeks has been as good as he's ever played since joining the Caps. It sure looks like he's having fun out there, and perhaps most importantly, he's playing hard, all out hockey, the enitre time his skates are on the ice and the results are speaking for themselves. The Caps second line of Giroux-Nylander-Fehr seemed the most challenged of the Caps forward lines last night but they hustled and perhaps with a little more time together might start to "click." Nylander is clearly working hard to adapt to a more North-South style of play and shoot more, though his shot selection of a slapshot over a wrist shot from the center slot last night was clearly wrong headed as it gave Lalime more time to square up on him. Giroux, was clearly working harder on playing both ways and back-checking more than his prior outings, he also used his size more against the Sabres and was credited with 4 hits. Fehr still seems to be playing his way back into shape and favoring his shoulder, he only had 1 hit, but he did have 4 shots on goal and 6 takeaways as well as zero giveaways. Nylander's wheeling and counter-motion, which sometimes makes it look like the puck is glued to his stick, also makes it harder for wingers newly paired with him to get their timing right. If Fleischmann is out for a few more games, it seems like Giroux might be the guy to pair with Nylander on the left wing. Overall the line was played sparingly and while at first the Sabres seemed to take advantage of their communication challenges, by the end of the game they seemed to be moving the puck well out of the Capitals zone and keeping it in the Sabres end of the ice. The Caps third line and energy line played a great game and clearly over matched the Sabres' third line, though the Sabres energy line also played well when they found themselves on the ice against the Caps first or third lines, they were generally outplayed by a significant margin. The Caps third line of Laich - Steckel - Bradley played a great game and when they were on the ice you could just about hear the theme song from "True Grit" in your ears. That the Caps energy line of Brashear - Gordon - Clark scored the Capitals second goal speaks for itself. Overall on the night the Caps forwards were a combined plus/minus +6 while the Sabres forwards were -4; the Caps forwards had 18 takeaways and only 10 giveaways while their Sabres counterparts had only 3 takeaways and 6 giveaways; Caps forwards had 23 hits, while the Sabres forwards had just 7 hits. Clearly despite saying otherwise in the main stream media, after looking at the game tapes and reviewing the statistics from last night's game, the Sabres will understand, they stayed in the game because of solid play by Patrick Lalime. It sure seems the Sabres forwards need to "kick it up" a couple of notches, if they are to reverse their current trend and regain and hold on to a playoff spot through April. Right now both the Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes are playing better hockey then the Sabres did last night. As a Caps fan, I'm sure glad that under the current Capitals coaching staff and management, it's okay to admit both your mistakes when you have a bad game and also to show that you hate loosing.

In some other interesting, sort of sports related, news, according to a Wall Street Journal Report yesterday, the New York Times Company is looking to sell it's 17% minority stake in New England Sports Ventures one of the minority owners of the Boston Red Sox and Fenway Park, and indirect ownership/control (80%) owner of the New England Sports Network, the other 20% of which is owned by the Boston Bruins. Reportedly NYT is looking to get $166Million for this asset sale, not a bad haul in what is generally a down market, eh? [ed note: I just thought it interesting that the New York Times even owned both the Boston Globe and 17% of the Red Sox. It also seemed very small world, 6 degrees of separation-esque that that then gave them ~13.6% of the network that broadcasts the Boston Bruins too, if you're looking for a "hockey tie-in" here. No doubt as the current economic turmoil sorts itself out we'll all continue to learn about more and more details about the "interconnectivity" in our economy.]

Last night's game gave the Caps a total of 47 standings points so far this season, and kept them 8 points ahead of the second place Carolina Hurricanes, who also notched a two point victory in regulation last night, in the Southeast Division. The win also takes the Capitals home ice record this season to 14-1-1, best in the Eastern Conference; and takes the Caps up to second place in the Conference 7 points behind the Boston Bruins, who have 2 games in hand on the Caps, and tied for points with the New York Rangers but with a game in hand on the Blueshirts. Next up the Toronto Maple Leafs at Verizon Center on Sunday Evening. Per Tarik El-Brashir, Bryan Helmer, after earning the number 1 star last evening, was returned to Hershey so it would appear that either Mike Green or Jeff Schultz will be in the lineup against the Maple Leafs. That should help, but the 11th place (in the Eastern Conference) Leafs at times this season have been "giant killers;" just last Saturday evening (December 20th) they beat the Penguins 7-3 in Pittsburgh. The last time the Caps and Leafs met, December 6th in Toronto, the Caps won the game 2-1. The Leafs are 5-5-0 in their last ten and lost their last game against the Islanders 4-1 at Nassau County Veterans Memorial Coliseum last night. It should be a good, fun game, the Caps will retire Mike Gartner's number before the game and will be playing in their White Sweaters, if the Caps win they will remain at 8-2-0 in their last 10, as they are currently but will once again be making quite a statement as their home record would go to 15-1-1. Coach Bruce Boudreau has said, a goal for the season is to make other teams not look forward to playing the Capitals at the "Phone Booth" - that's one goal for this season the Caps seem well on their way to accomplishing.

LETS GO CAPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sizing Up Tonight's Opponent - the Buffalo Sabres

Tonight at Washington DC's Verizon Center, the Washington Capitals take on the Buffalo Sabres for the second time this NHL Regular Season. Buffalo won the last meeting on their home ice at HSBC Arena on November 1st, 5-0. Both teams have a number of players out with injuries, though the Capitals are clearly without the services of a greater number of "impact players." The Sabres are currently without four forwards in Pat Kaleta [head/neck], Paul Gaustad [upper body], Nathan Gerbe [upper body] and Tim Connolly [rib], as well as defenseman Craig Rivet [shoulder]. In the forward lines the Capitals are without the services of: Alexander Semin [lower back], and Sergei Federov [high ankle. On the blueline Brian Pothier has been out all season, additionally at this time it appears both Tom Poti and Mike Green are day to day; while John Erskine [concussion] and Jeff Schultz [broken finger] also continue to be out of the line up as is goaltender Brent Johnson [hip]. As far as impact, Nathan Gerbe is a rookie and over the entire last season the trio of Kaleta, Gaustad and Connolly totaled 20 goals and 81 total points; so far this season the group has 7 goals and 18 total points. That said, possibly in part because of the few games they've played (6 each) Tim Connolly and Nathan Gerbe have the second and third best CORSI numbers on the Sabres at present; and Connolly is #2 on the Sabres in Goals/60 and Points/60 with 1.69 and 2.53 respectively. Of course when you contrast the loss of their services to Semin, Federov, and Fehr there is no real comparison of the contribution and potential impact. Federov's CORSI number of 28.0 leads the Capitals, and his Goals/60 & Points/60 are 1.06 & 2.84 respectively. Semin is +17 on the season, his CORSI Rating is 13.8, and his Goals/60 & Points/60 are 2.76 & 4.83 respectively. All of that contrast is BEFORE you even look at the impact injuries are having on the Caps Defense, Special Teams and Goaltending. These are the things that will be making it hard for the Caps to keep their near flawless home ice record this season in tact. However, the Caps are still with some weapons and the games match-ups will be interesting.

Looking at the goalscorers for each team who will be in the lineup the top six for each team look like this:

Buffalo Washington
1) Thomas Vanek: 24 Goals/30 Pts. Alexander Ovechkin: 22 Goals/46 Pts.
2) Derek Roy: 11 Goals/30 Pts. Nicklas Backstrom: 10 Goals/37 Pts.
3) Jason Pomminville: 9 Goals/26 Pts. Viktor Kozlov: 8 Goals/22 Pts.
4) Clarke MacArthur: 9 Goals/18 Pts. Tomas Fleischmann: 12 Goals/19 Pts.
5) Drew Stafford: 8 Goals/17 Pts. Brooks Laich: 8 Goals/19 Pts.
6) Jarislav Spacek: 1 Goal/17 Pts. Michael Nylander: 3 Goals/17 Pts.

As you can see both teams still have pretty high octane offenses and each has one of the leagues top five sharpshooters in their lineup. During the last game between the two teams Thomas Vanek scored twice and was +2 on the night, while Alexander Ovechkin was in Russia for personal reasons and did not play. In looking at the first line comparison: Vanek-Hecht-Pominville vs. Ovechkin - Backstrom - Kozlov goes marginally to Washington, unless Viktor Kozlov brings the A game he has had the past two outings in which case it goes more clearly to the Caps. Comparing the second lines: MacArthur-Roy-Stafford vs. Fleischmann-Laich-A. Gordon(?) and the advantage goes to the Sabres by a less than insignificant margin. Looking at the comparison of the grinders (third and energy lines) and right now you have to call it a tie or give a razor thin edge to the Capitals.

The big difference in the line ups tonight will be in the experience on the blue line. For the Capitals the line up will likely be the following three pairs: Milan Jurcina - Karl Alzner, Shoane Morrisonn - Sean Collins, and Tyler Sloan -Bryan Helmer; a very green crew, while Helmer at 36 is the "elder statesman" he only has 141 games of NHL experience, Morrison with 307 NHL games under his belt is the veteran of this group. For the Sabres the pairs will likely be: Toni Lyndman - Henrik Tallinder, Teppo Numminen - Chris Butler, and Jaroslav Spacek - Andrej Sekera; four veterans and two young players. The edge here has to be given to Buffalo.

Comparing the goaltending is virtually an impossible task. The goaltending for both teams has been inconsistent this season. Take the Sabres beating the Capitals 5-0 one night and loosing to the Blue Jackets 6-1 on another; the Capitals beating the Bruins 3-1 one night then beating both the Senators and the Canadeans while allowing them each only one goal, then being taken to overtime before beating the Islanders 5-4 in overtime and less than a week later loosing to the Flyers 7-1. The goaltending match-up will likely be Ryan Miller vs. Jose Theodore; call it a slight edge to Miller - he's lost the last two games in OT and he's probably due to get some breaks but if Theodore continues to play like he played the last 30 minutes of the Rangers game then it'll be all Caps.

Intangibles go to the Caps, they are near perfect at home with a record of 13-1-1, and 8-2-0 in their last 10 games. Also the Caps are confident and motivated after finding and playing their game in their come back victory in New York.

If your looking for a prediction about the games final score then you need to go to Peerless' blog. Here all you'll find is enthusiasm and encouragement. Here's to rooting for a two point night for the Capitals.

LETS GO CAPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That Was Just Painful To Watch

Well boy was I off earlier tonight in my assessment and prediction. Instead of a 2 point night - it's a no as in "nada" or zero point night for the Caps. Buffalo just basically stuffed the Caps, out working them and out fore-checking them tremendously. The Sabres shut down the Caps offense totally and when the Caps did get a few good shots, Ryan Miller was perfect. All around the Caps were just basically flat. The only high point is probably that Tom Poti returned to form and logged workhorse minutes tonight; good thing too because apparently Shaone Morrisonn may be injured. Coach Boudreau called out the fist line tonight for lack of two way play, but I think when he watches the film, he'll also be having a discussion with Mike Green too. From what I saw, it sure seems like Mike Green needs to take a little more care of the defensive side of thing. I love the offensive punch Green brings from the blue line, but tonight when he pressed he got burned. Of course to some degree so did the entire Capitals team.

All that said, in addition to the Caps being flat and loosing the game, the Sabres definitely won the game as well. Thomas Vanek was awesome. The Jason Pominville goal was also very pretty. Well not much else to say if you're a Sabres fan, I guess it was pretty satisfying. Let's all hope Alexander Ovechkin's travel back to DC is safe and speedy and tonight's brutal handling by the Sabres jolts the Caps back to the team we all know they can be, before they face the Senators in Ottawa on Tuesday night.

Looking Ahead to Tonight's Matchup in Buffalo

The Caps are in Buffalo tonight to take on the Sabres at HSBC Arena. The Sabres come into the game off a 5-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers last night in Philadelphia, where despite a total of 18 non-off-setting minor penalties, neither team scored a power play goal. That says a lot about the state of affairs of special teams for both the Flyers and Sabres, though what exactly it says might not make a lot of sense. The Caps come into the game off a 10-2 one-sided victory over the Boston Bruins at home on Monday evening. So far this season Buffalo, currently sitting in ninth place in the Eastern Conference with 73 points, is 17-12-4 at home. Washington, currently in 11th place in the Eastern Conference with 70 points, is 14-14-5 in away games. The Sabres own a 3-0 advantage on the season series far though the last time these two teams met was December 14th in Washington when the Sabres won 5-3.

Players to watch - Buffalo's Thomas Vanek (LW) was the NHL's number 3 star for the month of February; Maxim Afinogenov (RW) and team captain Jason Pomville (RW) both of whom had two goals last evening against the Flyers are also hot right now. On the Caps side pick any number of players who had a big game Monday against the Bruins including the leagues number 1 scorer - Alexander Ovechkin (LW); the leading Rookie scorer Nicklas Backstrom (C); or the leagues leading goal scoring Defenseman - Mike Green; or number two sharpshooter Alexander Semin (LW). Ovechkin and Backstrom are both coming off stellar performances in Monday Night's blowout while Semin and Green were solid but didn't light up the scoreboard for multi-point performances. All that said the biggest keys to the game will likely be goalies Olie Kolzig for the Caps and Ryan Miller for the Sabres. The Sabres have kept Kolzig relatively snake-bitten so far this season.

Prognostication: The Caps want and need it more, have played very tough against good teams lately and don't want to be shutout by anybody - Caps take this game 4-3 in regulation. LETS GO CAPS!!!