Caps play against the West

How do the Caps play against the West? They struggle against the number one team, Dallas Stars, as evidenced by the four unanswered goals scored against them on Saturday. The Caps mustered another third period comeback with three goals, but it was too little too late for the win. They have not beaten that team since October 25, 2008. The Caps record is 3-13-0 in Dallas. That is not good if the stars align, the Caps stay healthy, they keep their mojo, and they make it to the Stanley Cup finals and those finals go through Dallas. A lot has to be true for that to happen, but it is an unpleasant scenario even for the team that made history by being the fastest ever to win 40 games.

The Caps beat the Chicago Blackhawks in their early season meeting, 4-1. If they played today, it would be the number one goal scorer with 35, Alex Ovechkin, against the number two, Patrick Kane, with 33. It would be a tougher game because the intensity of the games rises as the playoffs get closer. They lost to the San Jose Sharks, in 6^th place today, by 1 goal also in October.

Caps have not played the St. Louis Blues, Los Angeles Kings, or Anaheim Ducks yet and those are the 3^rd through 5^th place teams in the West. The Colorado Avalanche and Nashville Predators are 7^th and 8^th. Caps beat the Avalanche 7–3 and beat the Predators 5–3 although they let them back into that game.

Caps games against the West are always close, but it is clear that Dallas is the scariest team for the Caps to face in the playoffs if they survive the first three rounds. There is way too much hockey left to play before they get there, if they get there. It is still not fun to contemplate. The NHL is super competitive.

The discussion of what the Caps need before the trade deadline dominates the local hockey media. Depth and the fact that Brooks Orpik did not play on the road trip, as anticipated, are the biggest concerns, but the Caps do not need anything. They have a lot of talent and when they are focused. And playing the game the right way, they are hard to beat.

Is it April yet?

Let’s go Caps!

Semin helps Caps get 2 points from Dallas in OT

Since I was enjoying a Halloween party while the game was on, my perspective on this one is based on what I read.  It didn't sound like the Caps played a pretty game, at all, but 2 points in the standings is 2 points and this Caps fan is happy that they got that.  

Sergei Fedorov scored twice to become the leading Russian goal scorer in the NHL, Tomas Fleischman scored twice, the AHLer Tyler Sloan scored his first NHL goal and, thankfully, Alexander Semin scored the game winner in overtime to make it 6-5. 

The defense played terrible according to Coach Boudreau. There's a shocker.  The Caps blue line has been the weakest link since the season started.  I was hoping one more year of maturity for some of the younger players might improve the defense, but this team is desperately missing injured Tom Poti.  Mike Green and Shaone Morrisonn were on the ice for 3 Dallas goals so they're not getting the job done.  Milan Jurcina and Jeff Schultz/John Erskine were on the ice for the other 2 goals.

I'm not sure where the Caps energy has disappeared to, but I hope they find it before they dig themselves a hole.  They've played 1 complete game out of 8 total and that was against the Vancouver Canucks. It's a long season, but come on Caps, let's wake up and play like you did last year. 

What are the problems?

• Ovie's lack of scoring?  Of course that's going to have an impact, but others need to step it up besides Semin and Fedorov.
• Backstrom's slow start?  Chris Clark's slow start? (I'm not going to bash Clarkie as he's been out for a long time recovering from that groin injury so it'll be a while before he gets his game back.)
• Trying to figure out how to mesh Michael Nylander's fancier style of play with the Caps uglier, but get it done style of play from last year?
• Tom Poti's injury?  And, while we're on the blue line, way too many ugly defensive mistakes?  Yes, that one is a given.

I'm not sure what the issue is, I just hope they get it together.

Tomorrow night, the Nashville Predators visit the phone booth.  I'll miss watching Alex Ovechkin as he's home with his sick grandfather.   I hope your grandfather is okay Ovie.

Let's go Caps!