So we have played five games. There were 10 points to be had and we garnered seven points in total with points in four out of five games. Yet the players, coaches and fans are dissatisfied. I believe if we continue to rack up points at this clip, we would surpass last season’s point total. Yet we believe we can and will do better.
The bar has been raised. Getting one point and losing in a shootout is no longer cause for some satisfaction for our team and franchise, which is a good thing.
Now we need to get healthy. We are already without veterans Brian Pothier, Tom Poti and Victor Kozlov and managing the salary cap is getting more and more challenging for us as injuries mount.
The Caps were outplayed and outworked by the Devils and in prior years they would have lost in regulation time. The Caps are loaded with talent and will get points when thay are not at their best.
As a season ticket holder, I’d say we’re off to a great start! Personally, I think people who expect 2 points out of every game are obviously new to hockey. Look at last week alone – we faced Luango, Fleury, Brodeur in the opposing net and went 2-0-1 against them. Anyone who doesn’t see that as a BIG step forward is blind. Should we have lost to the Thrashers? Probably not, but guess what – we have 5 more games with them and I’m willing to bet that the outcome of those will be a little bit different than our season opener.
For all of the people grumbling out there, let me close with this. With 7 points in 5 games, we are on pace to have a 115 point season. I challenge anyone to tell me with a straight face that playing at a 115 point pace isn’t successful.
Not sure who’s dis-satisfied w/ 7 out of ten points, but to each his own. My only critique is that Mike Green is logging too much ice time, and the fact we have to play Fedorov on the point will take it’s toll on both of them over the course of the season.
I’ve been impressed w/ the play of Fleishman in particular and as long as we can figure out the best goaltending path forward, we should continue to be fine.
At the current pace (3-1-1 in 5 games) the Caps would end up at about 49-17-16, which is 114 points, which one point less than Detroit finished with last year (they were 54-21-7).
16 OT/Shootout losses would tie the record Florida set 2 years ag as well, so a result like this is probably not likely. I thought going into the season the Caps would be 50-20-12 and there is nothing I have seen so far that would deter me from this, since their current pace is ahead of that record. Could the results have been better? Sure, but every team in the league can say that. The Caps are tied for first in their division and I am pretty sure that as the season goes on, other teams will face injuries as the Caps have already… but being a younger team the injuries are less likely, and the healing takes less time…
I’m not satisfied, but I am pleased so far at how this team has played. And once Ovie and Nick get going into high gear… the sky’s the limit.
Seven points every five games nets you 112 points plus for the year, which of course, would be fabulous. To me the Caps still have just a touch of success hangover from last year. The Caps have the right players, coach and system – it’s going to come down to giving 100% focus and effort each and every game. The league is too even not to. No such thing as a night off in the new NHL.
This fan doesn’t mind missing points for the right reasons. The Caps looked good against the Devils. The Devils played outstanding hockey. Obviously we could have used some better Power Plays, but hey, the Devils are a GREAT team. If the Caps keep playing this way, good things are going to happen. The best news all season in my opinion is that the scoring is coming from people other than Ovechkin. Right now it takes 4 goals to beat us. Once Ovechkin gets going, it might take 5.
I’m putting game 1 out of my head. I don’t know what team that was…:)
Good thought, Ted. Let’s keep perspective. I left VC Sat nite not at all disappointed. That was just a bad break – could easily have gone the other way. It’s early in the season, we need to play day by day through April if we want to think about postseason, and we’ve faced some aversity and adapted quite well. This is a well balanced team. AO has been targeted out of sight by opponents, but that has helped Sasha Semin to step up. Keeping Sergei was, again, wise – he’s shutdown on defense and still wants to take shots. We believe.
We’re still on pace to get 115 points, so I’m not too worried.