Those are pretty good numbers and a winning percentage that if extrapolated over a career would make for a hall of fame coaching career. The best numbers in the Capitals’ franchise history for a coach to start a career.

Mike does a wonderful job of providing perspective and answering blistering emails and rants on message boards. Read this article carefully. Thank you.

If anyone is to blame for our flame out in the first round it is me. Fish stink from the head down, so it is fair to criticize me as you have been doing. But it is not appropriate to ask for us to terminate key and talented people that deserve the opportunity to stay and see this journey through to its completion. I have received emails demanding that we fire George and Bruce, and trade Ovechkin and Backstrom. I feel your pain. I want to listen and internalize criticism, but trust me I won’t react to those emails!

We win as an organization. We lose as a unit. We are in it together and we are a tight knit, in-synch group. We have spent many years rebuilding a culture, a system, and a relationship with our affiliates in Hershey and South Carolina while implementing a system that is successful.

We need to tweak, change, and adapt to win and go deeper in the Stanley Cup playoffs. That is a process. It will be painful, but it is one that I am willing to take on, and one that we as a unit are all dedicated to see through.

We don’t quit, whine, finger point or hide. We aren’t anonymous. We are here for you. Go Caps.