“Over? Did Someone Say Over?”

Thanks Dan for a very good post on history.

And yes, I remember the Tampa Bay series all to well. Click here to read on.

I am sanguine about our chances of winning the series now. We understand the odds are against us.

I do believe though that this is the NHL playoffs - anything can happen - and the margin of victory is ever so slight. We could be up 2-0 right now and I would believe the same thing. It is a long series and each team has to win 4 games to move on to the next series.

This has been an odd series to date. I believe we have been forcing our will on the other team. We have taken more shots; applied more hits; taken fewer penalties; controlled ice time in the other end; and basically done what we have wanted to do. I admire what the Rangers did on Saturday. They blocked shots with abandon and they played very well in the neutral zone. They chipped the puck out of their own end whenever there was any pressure and took icing after icing call to regroup. It is our job to get more goals than they score and we didn’t do it. They scored on their one bona fide scoring chance in the first period. In the third period, we had what I would classify as two real scoring opportunities and we didn’t cash in. And there was the game.

We have lost two games by one goal each. It hurts. We aren’t happy about it. But there is a lot of hockey left to play. We must remain confident in our abilities.

We can’t get frustrated. We have to play our game; make some subtle adjustments; and not look forward through the series. The focus has to be on winning every shift and every period now.

We aren’t being outplayed or outclassed. We are learning more about how to play playoff hockey. We need to make the right adjustments and we need a little bit of luck. We also need to dig deep now and show heart and stickwithitness as a team. We are in it together.

Wish us luck in New York City. Go Caps!

0 thoughts on ““Over? Did Someone Say Over?””

WAY TO GO CAPS!!! You POUNDED them with shots on goal. What a great TEAM EFFORT, it’s the only way. Wednesday pound them again, be prepared for “THE REBOUNDS” and stay out of the box. CONGRATULATIONS!!! A SHUT OUT!!!!!!!!! Always the best.

ted, remain confident and hope for the best. however, the team is not doing what it takes to win in the playoffs. go to the net and stay there. bother the goalie and get some garbage goals. it’s easier said than done, but thats why guys get paid alot of money to do it. here’s hoping captain clark can pull a willis reed in MSG and come out and score the first goal tonight from the paint while getting cross checked.

Game 1 was dominated by poor defense, and game 2 was dominate by poor offense. The use of the young goalie Varlamov was the right move, to save Theodore the pain of losing another one (and potentially lose by more than just 1 goal as his confidence level not the right match for playoff series). We lost game 2 because the offense seemed undecisive, not knowing exactly what to do. Most of the times we took low probability slap shots time after time from the blue line with no follow ups. What we need to do is to set up some offense, make sure the bounced buck is being followed up by someone else, set up some passes, control the puck better (especially when fighting for puck in the offense zone). Similar to basketball, we can just keep on shooting 3 pointers after crossing half court, the good way to score is to setup a game plan by passing the ball and create rebounds. Many occasions in game 2 we just seemed got out handled by the rangers. On power play opportunities, start moving guys! The puck isn’t going into the net by itself with 5 guys standing around. When there’s no opportunities to shoot, the players need to start moving to force the defense men move and create gaps for puck passing. On scoring, Lunquist is sooo good that we can only score if we shoot top shelf, so let’s bring our best stuff in game 3.

…and you’re right Ted, it wasn’t over “when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor…..and it ain’t over now.”
Words to live by Bluto!

….Best of luck Gentlemen, we’re still with you and will be watching…!

Dear Ted,

I walking by the Verizon Center the other day and thought, “oh, I should try to get in touch with Ted and wish him luck!” And with a little googling look what I found! I am pulling for you and the Caps. Good luck in NYC!
Best,
Kelly Richmond (former AOLer)

Carol from Brooklyn on April 20, 2009 at 10:11 PM said:

WAY TO GO CAPS!!! You POUNDED them with shots on goal. What a great TEAM EFFORT, it’s the only way. Wednesday pound them again, be prepared for “THE REBOUNDS” and stay out of the box. CONGRATULATIONS!!! A SHUT OUT!!!!!!!!! Always the best.
Edward on April 20, 2009 at 9:16 AM said:

ted, remain confident and hope for the best. however, the team is not doing what it takes to win in the playoffs. go to the net and stay there. bother the goalie and get some garbage goals. it’s easier said than done, but thats why guys get paid alot of money to do it. here’s hoping captain clark can pull a willis reed in MSG and come out and score the first goal tonight from the paint while getting cross checked.
Lei on April 19, 2009 at 10:37 PM said:

Game 1 was dominated by poor defense, and game 2 was dominate by poor offense. The use of the young goalie Varlamov was the right move, to save Theodore the pain of losing another one (and potentially lose by more than just 1 goal as his confidence level not the right match for playoff series). We lost game 2 because the offense seemed undecisive, not knowing exactly what to do. Most of the times we took low probability slap shots time after time from the blue line with no follow ups. What we need to do is to set up some offense, make sure the bounced buck is being followed up by someone else, set up some passes, control the puck better (especially when fighting for puck in the offense zone). Similar to basketball, we can just keep on shooting 3 pointers after crossing half court, the good way to score is to setup a game plan by passing the ball and create rebounds. Many occasions in game 2 we just seemed got out handled by the rangers. On power play opportunities, start moving guys! The puck isn’t going into the net by itself with 5 guys standing around. When there’s no opportunities to shoot, the players need to start moving to force the defense men move and create gaps for puck passing. On scoring, Lunquist is sooo good that we can only score if we shoot top shelf, so let’s bring our best stuff in game 3.
MARK AND CINDY on April 19, 2009 at 7:32 PM said:

…and you’re right Ted, it wasn’t over “when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor…..and it ain’t over now.”
Words to live by Bluto!
MARK AND CINDY on April 19, 2009 at 7:28 PM said:

….Best of luck Gentlemen, we’re still with you and will be watching…!
Kelly Richmond on April 19, 2009 at 6:57 PM said:

Dear Ted,

I walking by the Verizon Center the other day and thought, “oh, I should try to get in touch with Ted and wish him luck!” And with a little googling look what I found! I am pulling for you and the Caps. Good luck in NYC!
Best,
Kelly Richmond (former AOLer)