The season is more than half over and tonight is the first time we play the Penguins. While we all look forward to the game, it has been hard to get hyped up for it this week. We played the Flyers on Sunday before a full house then we went on to play Detroit before a really loud and proud crowd. We were fortunate to get two wins so far this week.
Tonight we play the defending Stanley Cup champs on the road. On Tuesday we played the former defending Stanley Cup champs at home. And on Saturday we play the much improved Coyotes at home. Four games all in a week with some travel thrown in. Tough scheduling. All are games against very good or great teams. I wish this game had some breathing room and was spotlighted on a weekend instead of landing in such a tight space of the 3rd game out of 4 games in the same week.
Every game is competitive. Every game is a mini drama. Every game is worth two points in the standings.
We all want to win tonight but we need to put these regular season games in perspective. If we win, we won’t celebrate too much. If we lose, we won’t be down too much. We play yet again on Saturday night.
It is the playoffs where the Pens have dominated our franchise that matters.
We will play the Pens four times this season. The games are usually competitive. The Pens have a great team. We are pretty good, too.
The Penguins have 63 points in 51 games. They have scored a whopping 163 goals while allowing 143 against.
We have 68 points in 49 games played. We have scored a league leading 185 goals and have let in 138 goals against. But in a game like this one, stats don’t matter at all.
Perhaps we will see them in the playoffs this year. Perhaps we won’t. We have to qualify for the playoffs first and then be focused on whoever we would be fortunate to meet in Round 1. The Pens are the defending Stanley Cup champs. We can’t unseat them tonight. Kick back and enjoy the game. It has been a long time since we last played. I have great respect for the Penguins. Go Caps!
Ted,
You’re exactly right about keeping the regular season in perspective. That being said, congrats to you and OUR team on a big win tonite. If we’re being totally honest, beating Minnesota or Anaheim isnt the same as beating the Penguins. What the Caps did tonite was let the whole world know last year is done and we’ve moved on. We’re coming for what Pittsburgh’s got and we won’t rest until we have it. I thought we dominated in almost every facet of the game and probably should have won by more. And congrats on the way signing Mike Knuble is working out. That 1st goal might not have happened last year without the net crashing ability of Knuble. You and George have put together a quality, exciting team and deserve to reap the rewards of your hard work and dedication. As a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers in football, I compare your ownership qualities and the way you and George have built this franchise to the Rooney family and the Steelers. There are no quick fixes. Build thru the draft, sign your key young players long term, add a vet here and there and watch your team contend every year. That’s the way you become a champion. And because you’re such an awesome owner, this is gonna be the year!!!!
Ted, you’ve kept your word on the Caps, but I simply had no idea how well GMGM, the scouting crew, the coaches have done until Sunday. While my wife and granddaughter went to see the great game against the Flyers, I took two sons and two nephews, plus each of their sons (thus, a group of nine) to Hershey to see the Bears vs. Albany.
So many offensive players for Hershey we’ve already seen. The game atmosphere was great and intimate. We know Varly and Neuvy, now we’ve seen Holtsby. WOW!! We’ve almost got another NHL level team in Hershey. We even saw lots of Caps jerseys. (I wore my new Bears Jersey to the Red Wings game and got lots of notice.)
Question: would additional coaching staff in Hershey, paid by the Caps (if you had the money) pay off in the long run for you? It might help the development and skill set grow faster, avoiding some of the simple errors that we saw.
Finally, have you noticed the growth in coverage by the POST? Not just Tarik, but also Lindsay, Wong, and even Steinberg on occasion. Perhaps this new generation of journalists might enjoy the game and continue to give it the coverage that you have earned.
Again: many thanks for being the best sports owner in town, perhaps the only one with intelligence.