Caps MacLellan Era Starts by Adding Ex-Penguin Defensemen

Rookie General Manager Brian MacLellan signed defensemen Brooks Orpik to a staggering  5-year $27.5 million deal and Matt Niskanen to a 7-year $40.25 million deal. There is no question the Caps defense improved over last year's crop of 23 years old and younger crowd, but I'm perplexed by the length of these contracts. That's risky.  

Orpik turns 34-years old before the season starts. Did I mention that I hate him? Orpik is on the downside of his career. Did I mention that I hate him? Will his leadership help Mike Green return to his form by protecting his back? So hard to tell, but it will be interesting to watch. Did I mention that I hate him for his sometimes classless behavior and Pittsburgh whininess? It will be hard for me to root for him, but I can't argue with the fact that he's won a Cup.

Read more here.

Let's go Caps!

Two Hard Working Games & Two Points, Finally

The Caps played Pittsburgh on Saturday and lost 2-0 and that 2nd goal was an empty netter. The good news...the Caps played hard and, more importantly, played well on defense and kept the league point leader, Sydney Crosby to zero points. In fact, the Caps stopped Crosby's 8-game point streak. The bad news...Pittsburgh played just as well defensively and kept the Alexs' to zero points. And, apparently Ovie was pissed after the game according to Tarik El Bashir's Washington Post article.

On Sunday, the Caps played the Islanders and survived this game to win in a shootout 2-1, the Caps first shootout win this year. Alexander Semin got the goal during the shootout and Matt Pettinger scored the Caps regulation goal. It's about time Pettinger scored a goal.

They needed this win not just for the standings points, but for their mental confidence. Can they make it two a row? We will see, tomorrow night against Boston.

Let's go Caps!

p.s. In a non-hockey related comment, I'd like to say congratulations to Tony Dungy, Peyton Manning & the Indianapolis Colts for their Super Bowl victory. I won money in fantasy football with Peyton as my quarterback so I'm thrilled to see him win the big one.