At the beginning of the season if someone had said that the NY Rangers would score 57 goals and the Capitals would score 58 goals but they would be two of the three lowest scoring teams in the East, would you have believed it? (The Islanders are the other low goal scoring team.) Both the Rangers and the Capitals were two of the busiest free agent signing teams in the off season adding significant firepower to their respective teams. What is going on?
For goals against, we have let in 74 goals, the same level as division leading Carolina and second place Florida. Our goals against are acceptable but our goals for are UNACCEPTABLE. Add another dozen goals from an injured and out of synch Alexander Semin; a few more wins from one goal losses; and I would certainly feel better about the season. I am just stunned by our lack of offensive production.
Ted -
You’re right. The Rangers are even worse than the Caps at scoring goals. But they are the BEST team in the league at not conceding them. As a result, they win.
And you’re right. The Hurricanes are no better than the Caps at not conceding goals. But they are the second BEST team in the league at scoring them. As a result, they win, too.
The Caps combine the Rangers’ inability to score with the Hurricanes’ inability to keep the puck out of their own net. As a result, they lose.
btw — You shouldn’t regard the Caps’ goals against as “acceptable.” It places them 22/23 in the league.
Yes, Ted, you said it. The lack of goal scoring is unacceptable. Now the question is: WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO FIX IT?
The bad luck we got last night was just off the charts. I think things will start to even out! Go Caps!
Ted: The last four games have been good. We’ve achieved step 1 – shots on goal are up (good thing); the line combos are getting sorted out (a good thing); Boudreau is moving to an easier to understand (at least by us fans) system and a clear approach that the best defense is a good offense (a good thing). As you point out you don’t get A for effort and overall the offense this year has been unacceptable; but and for the guy who posted hope is not a plan this may sound oxymoronic, you need to look at each data set (game) and analyze the differences from game to game. When you do I think there is no question the offense is better now than it was, even over the past two games when your Caps have been starting to implement a new system. Against the Panthers there two major major negatives (a) the quality of the ice surface adversely affected the game and (b) we lost an 11 shot shootout; against the Canes last night there were three major negatives (a) the officiating stunk, I guess your ethics prevent you from buying those guys I know you have the wherewithall and drive to win, (b) Seidelman got away with a two hander to Semin’s bad ankle – OUCH and (3) when the third period ended we lost. On the good side in the Panthers game despite about five minutes of not so good hockey and challenges in the third period Olie kept us in the game and the team recovered and played the rest of the third period and OT like they were on fire – Vokoun just plain through signle-mided will beat the Caps. Last night the positives 1) Laing came up and did what was needed from him and 2) the Caps played hard all 60 minutes and had their chances to convert – never getting down. Tonight – “revenge of the caps” — LETS GO CAPS!!!!!!
i think if we can build on the strange game in CAR, it looks good to me. that quinton dude has got some spark in him, and i love his grill.
ted – go down to the locker room and tell our peeps to FINISH THEIR CHECKS HARD. it will do wonders. and also find out how much CAR pays the refs down there, and if not too much, let’s give it a shot.
Ted- I like most of the off-season acquisitions and am surprised by the underachievement too. The team isn’t ‘complete’ yet, but should’ve been much further on their way by now. Injuries aside, I hope the lines steady themselves soon so chemistry can finally set in. I’m looking forward to seeing Boudreau’s “more aggressive” system in play. Perhaps it will provide a spark for our dormant offense. AO and Semin looked listless when stuck with playing the trap last Spring. As a fan, I know it was boring for me. I hope a change will bring out the best in the team.
Here’s hoping we turn it around soon!!!
Yes, our offensive position is not on point. We will lose #8 if he cannot get some help out there and some wins. Semin is a big loss for the team and we miss his goals but we have more than 2 members on the team. It is sad that we can not do more on our power plays and get a few more goals. The outcome would be very different with just one more goal in a few games.
We have all the skill in teh world and we have to channel that skill to the ice and get the puck in the net. I know that the guys can do it, they have it in them. Stay positive.
We’re all baffled Ted. Like most others I thought the FAs we added would provide the offensive pop to put us over the edge. Our defense has been much better than anyone expected, as you said, but the offense just can’t get going.
The team is 2-1-1 under Budreau…if he can continue that type of success through the rest of the season…I’ll be ok. You are right to be frustrated…we all are…hopefully a new coaching phylosophy will take hold (and soon!).
Ted,
As a STH that comment excites me. It’s not mean, or unjust simply the truth. We all want the team to do better in upcoming games.
Go caps!
“The rebuild is over” statement is something that you will have to live with until a Game 1 of a playoff series. I hope that we call all hang in there long enough.
I’m expecting Bruce and the boys to go 2-1 on this next road trip. Anything less than that, combined with a poor performance on December 8, and I will be wearing a bag leaving the arena (again).
The key to offense is getting shots on goal and getting quality chances. Players have to work together in order to make that happen and on a typical night the Caps are dressing five players who weren’t here last year (Nylander, Poti, Backstrom, Kozlov and Steckel). Once all the players begin to learn how the others play, things will get better on offense.
Of course, having a healthy Semin and Clark would help too. You don’t lose 2 30-goal guys from the line up and not have it impact the offense. The other players have to pick up some of the slack. Brooks Laich has done some of that, ditto for Nylander and Green, but Kozlov and Backstrom need to step it up a bit more….I think they will, but they’re still learning their teammates.
Its unbelievable. We miss Semin, but other teams have injuries too and dont have Ovechkin are doing better things.
The PP needs to be improved, taking Ovie off the point(where he never should have been will help).
Nyls and Backstrom are picking up alot of assists but someone besides Ovie needs to score.
Our checking line guys are adding very little offense–just some forecheck, not many shots.
Kozy has been a HUGE bust. One of the worst signings in a while. He has the tools but he’s invisible 95% of the time.
Well considering how the coach for the first 21 games of the season had no idea how to create offense I don’t understand why you are stunned. Hanlon’s Caps had no offensive system, whether at even strength or on the PP, and the results of just winging it showed.
You said it Ted!!!!
Don’t worry. It’s Slap Shot time in DC now that Boudreau is in the heezy.
Us too Ted, Kozlov is a great player but he skates so slow it looks like he’s in slow motion!