I am not happy with the loss last night in OT. I know you all aren’t either. I apologize. I empathize.
The players aren’t happy and the coaches aren’t happy. We are short handed. We aren’t playing at 110 percent intensity and we aren’t as motivated as we should be since we clinched the Eastern Conference crown. It is human nature and it is a challenge to stay “up” these last six games.
But… We did get a point. We now have 110 points with 6 games left to play.
In our last 10 games with 20 points on the line we have garnered 13 points. OT losses and shoot out loses aren’t fun but we do gain points in the standings. We are 5-2 and 3 in our last 10 games. We haven’t collapsed. We aren’t playing playoff like hockey. On that I agree but last I checked the playoffs don’t start until April 15th.
If we play just 500 hockey here on out we will end the season with 116 points. San Jose is right behind us in points they have 104 points. They have 6 games left to play as well. If they win out all 6 games they would get to 116 points.
The world isn’t ending.
We need to get healthy. We need a bit better goal tending. We need to amp up our intensity level without getting crazy before the playoffs.
We all want the season to end. We all want the playoffs to start. We all want to get healthy and get refocused.
It isn’t the best of times but it certainly isn’t the worst of times either. Keep it in perspective… Go Caps.
Wins right now are nice to have. The President’s Trophy will/would be quite an accomplishment. A loss is never fun to take, even if you get a point out of it. The boys have been here before and I’m going to assume they’ve learned a little over the past 365 days or so. That being said – use this time well and get where necessary mentally and physically – for the journey I intend to enjoy watching will be a long and rewarding road. Good luck guys and thank you for an incredible season up to this point.
Ted,
We love the Caps. We appreciate you. We look forward to a LENGTHY run in the Playoffs. And, as fanatical followers of our team, we like to analyze and diagnose and prognasticate and etc. Every loss, every mistake, every move, every thing that we can see, and we can comment on, is an issue that we can prove our fandom by being able to criticize. Fans love their teams, but “knowledgeable fans” can offer opinions on fixing the team. So fans criticize to prove their knowledge.
Being critical of players or Bruce, or even you is really a message from those folks that we are completely invested in the team. Those criticisms are not nearly as real as our identity as Caps Fans. We have the same goal. Lets Go Caps!
Nicely said. I think we are all a little spoiled by how the team has played this season. Lets get them rested & back to 100% for the playoffs. It has been an amazing season so far & am looking forward to watching them bring home the cup. Lets go CAPS!
Goaltending is this team achilles. We need someone to catch fire and I’m not sure if it’s Theo or Varly – it may be Neuvirth. Scary heading into the play-offs with such a talented roster and weak tending…but oh – well.
I finally made it back to DC a week ago on vacation to see the Caps play – at home – for the first time in a number of years (vs the Penguins).
Yes, it may have been another slow start that ended in a shootout, but win or lose I just felt lucky/happy watching them play in DC.
The puck that came over the glass into Section 112 in the 1st? Well I’m surprised how much that cheap piece of rubber means to me. Nice looking up and seeing it up on the shelf behind my monitor at work.
Well said, Ted.
Mr. Leonsis;
Thank you. Words like this from a owner are rare to hear; as the average fan. Its the posts and dedication like this that bring camaraderie for the public and the team. It is also what championships are made of! So, thank you for being true to “us”