We have let in 140 goals against. 140. That is 3rd best in the East; almost as little as the first place Flyers at 139; and we are both behind Boston at 135. I think 140 goals against translates to us being a top 6 or 7 defensive team in entire NHL right now. We are 3rd in the East.
That is quite the positive turnaround from the last few years.
But we have only scored 151 goals, tied for the least in the top 8 teams in the East right now with Montreal. And it is our power play that is struggling and hurting us the most in tough, intense, defense-oriented games. It is the power play that differentiates wins from losses. Our penalty kill is quite good right now. A top performer and another great turnaround compared to last season.
We need to continue to play defense like we are playing; kill penalties like we have; get terrific goaltending; and then break through on our power play. That has been my single disappointment this season. On Saturday’s loss we were zero for on the power play.
I know what you are asking: How can we have this much talent on the power play and NOT score more?
If we score on the power play, it will also give us more confidence on 5 on 5 play.
We are on a tough road trip. We are 8 points into a playoff spot with 2 games in hand over the 9th place team. There is lots of work to do and lots of opportunities to draw penalties by driving to the net and drawing power plays. Just score on the power play and I believe everything else will take care of itself. This season has been a grind. No one said it would be easy.
Guys, it almost seems you expected easy season and the Cap!? This is the most competitive league in the world and edge even with a superb team like Caps is marginal against the best. Caps will be in playoffs, it’s gtd, and then the real game begins. Ovie, Green and Rest of them will die for the cap snd you should have noticed that!!!
Every game gets harder to watch. Scoring is goin worse not improving. So caps fans want change. Semin? I read over and over how he should be moved. He is a confusing player, is there a direct cause and effect on our teams gpg without him causing lineup problems for the other teams, giving ovechkin a little more room by forcing the other teams to watch two lines. We have no second line center.! You want to trade carlson azner… Johansson? For a rental? We are young, goaljes D,and forwards. 7 players under 23 on roster, most in nhl!dont forget the last 20 /35 years, we arebetter than ever, deeper! This doesnt have to be a cup year! Arnott wont fix it. Teams effort/concentration sux! But we all love boudreau???
Ted,
I know your heart is in the right place, it must be nightmarish to see your beloved team struggling so much, as it is to us fans. I’ve watched everygame for…along time, back to the Langway days.
I see this as part a systematic problem, and part a leadership problem. The system installed after the Montreal loss, the defensive style – for whatever reason, has sapped the offense. I think, it’s because of the ‘dump and chase’ mentality, as opposed to the aggressive attack style we played last year. BB seems to always be trying to simplify this, but that’s the problem – our players are offensive skilled players, they don’t want to play this style -thus the confusion and non-buying in. Yes, the D is better and so is PK – but the heart of the team has been gutted. You simply can’t make a thoroughbred pull a cart, it ain’t working.
Per the HBO series, it seems we lack leadership as well. Pens have it, we didn’t. Yes, we have beaten them alot in the regular season, but come crunch time – they seem like more of a team – we seem like alot of individuals.
My suggestion, as if you really are going to take it, is to get BB to tell the boys to just play and have fun. Be aggressive and attack. That is what is lacking, the system change sapped our confidence, we need to somehow get it back. Oh, and trading for a playoff veteran (aka a federov type) wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Ted,
Love ya Man but it sounds like you’re trying convince yourself this team isn’t broken. It sure seems like Gabby has lost the team. I sure hope not but the downward spiral continues while he looks lost on the bench. I hope things turn around quickly for the team.
Caps PP is absolute CRAP! 23rd in the league as of today. As soon as they get a PP, they all choke just like they have in years past in clutch situations. Looks like the talent some of these guys have can’t help them over come their mental fragility. Get a team shrink!
As others have said this team has become incredibly boring to watch. If they were winning one goal games I would be ok with it but losing three out of four on a continuing basis is unacceptable. Your players with new contacts are going through the motions.
I used to look forward to 7pm on game nights. Now I dread it.
Ted,
Power play will only improve if we get some net presence. Need a big body to screen the goalie. Green, Carlson, Ovi, Backs, and ….. GM has to fill in that big blank on the power play with a big body or nothing will change
Can’t win if you don’t score goals. Simple as that.
Defense, goaltending is not the problem. Our big guns are. We are going to live and die with our big guns this year. In the regular season and playoffs.
The big guns finally wake up, we will win the cup. If they don’t, we would be lucky to win a game in April.
A legit 2nd line center would help improve the lethargic offense, but our GM hasnt gotten us one (yet).. I think we all know relying on 2 rookie centers, to guide us into the playoffs, is asking a whole lot..
I think I can speak for the masses when I say, we really hope the deadline doesn’t come and go while we sit idle, watching the likes of the Flyers continue to add firepower..
There is a point at which something needs to change. The D is going to be nice in the playoffs, but losing games 1-0 is still losing games. We need to score to win and we need to do it now. Having “2 games in hand” doesn’t mean a whole lot if we can’t win games. “Just score on the power play”? It hasn’t worked all year. The offensive output has been iffy all year. Something needs to change… soon. The stars aren’t playing like stars and the power play hasn’t been and is not working. As a concerned fan, I admit that the attention to defense could benefit us in the playoffs, (and I stress COULD), but we need to get there first!
I agree with you Ted that this team would have advanced to the Conference finals last year if they played this brand of defensive hockey. This year though, its a different story. New Jersey won with this style because they would let in none, while netting three. Simple formula. Somewhere in December though these guys lost something. Cant put my finger on it. Semin injury or something. They have just not been the same.
The goalies have been fine. You just cannot expect a team to win when they are not scoring and getting next to nothing from the top guns. I find it hard to believe that five years later the league has caught up to Ovie. I think there is something wrong there. Maybe an injury or truth be told, all that crap he dealt with last year with bogus suspensions has made him pull back on his game.
Bottom line is I love my Caps, but this team has no shot in the playoffs without some type of shakeup my friend. It has been really almost a 30 game stretch where they have been lackluster at best. Sure you can mention a game here or there they excel. However it is met with two to three meager efforts.
The team needs its killer instinct back. This team as currently constructed does not have it. I know you dont agree per this article, but the team needs someone dealt away to make guys understand that no one is immune. Just because you were great last year does not make you entitled. Its almost like they got off to a hot start this season, thought it would be easy, and pulled off the gas.
Next thing you know, they cant find the accelerator anymore. If we play like we have the past three games Ted, the struggle may not be winning in the playoffs, but whether we get their at all.
would you trade Ovechin if a good hockey offer came across the desk ?
Spoken like a true optimist. However, I don’t share your optimism. I love the team and watch just about every game. From my vantage point there doesn’t seem to be a person on the team to get everyone else going. Ovie, God love him, doesn’t appear to be a great leader. I want to see this team turn it around, I just don’t think they will under the current composition and/or leadership. I hope I am wrong!
Thanks for putting yourself out there, we as fans appreciate the access.
I agree that scoring on the power play would cure almost al ills as it the difference of almost a goal per game. Over the last 30 games, the Caps have been 10% and teams seem more than willing to take a penalty rather than give any of our top players a good scoring chance 5 on 5. Once the PP gets going, it becomes easier in 5 on 5. At least the goaltending and penalty killing have been consistently good and they are key for the playoffs.
I love hockey, and the Caps.. but I have officially acknowledged that the Caps will NOT be in the playoffs this year…. It just won’t happen with the team in their current mindset/attitude/play.
Maybe next year…(wow.. back to saying that in Feb.. )
Ted, I think we no longer care about how the defense or offense does. Can we just get some effort, please? I was there when the stadium was mostly empty and I still loved it because the guys tried hard and cared. That is all I ask for. What I see now is pathetic.
Ted
So now you are setting the bar at “Making The Playoffs”. I have been at every home game this year, just like the last 4 years. The boos cascading down on this underachieving team last Saturday afternoon were deserved. Please don;t put on your marketing hat and try to reset our expectations. What ever happened to last year’s slogan, A picture of the Cup with the words “Nothing Else Matters”. Now it’s “We are 8 points into a playoff spot with 2 games in hand over the 9th place team.” You lack of action speaks volumes. There is zero accountability in the front office, coaching staff, and the players. When I watch other teams on The NHL Network, I am amazed at the effort and determination by far less talented players. Face Facts, the Caps just don’t play hard, and haven’t all year. This has become an embarrassment. Ovie is not worthy of wearing the C. A true leader, with the team in a funk like it is, would be at EVERY practice, optional or not. You lead by actions, and showing up is a start. Has anyone told him that?
Please tell us all, how this under preforming, underachieving, prideless, heartless team is being held accountable. Because right now, they are stealing our money.
And the fans will not soon forget that. Especially at renewal time.
Fans can handle losing with maximum effort. We can’t handle what we are witnessing.
“How can we have this much talent on the power play and NOT score more?”
That question is easy to understand. We have TOO MUCH talent on the power play. They try to become the Harlem Globetrotters anytime they get the chance. When you have a chance, go ahead and put on the Benny Hill theme song when the Caps are on the power play. It fits perfectly.
What they need to do is have a power play line that has some superstars and some grinders on it. Don’t just have Green, Ovechkin, Backstrom, Semin, and Carlson on the power play. Put Green, Ovechkin, Hendricks, Bradley, and Perreault on one and put Backstrom, Semin, Carlson, Chimera, and Knuble on the other. Mix up fast, feisty, and fearless people together.
Blah,blah, blah… Spin, spin, spin…
One thing has become crystal clear, you have no solution for this problem. So rather than address it, you spin, spin, spin.
Here’s some help. The trade deadline is two weeks from today. Either you give your team a MASSIVE FACELIFT, or, you can continue to watch opposing teams celebrate on your ice come Springtime. I would have thought you’d be tired of watching other teams celebrate on your ice, god knows your PAYING CUSTOMERS are.
NO MORE PLAYER EXTENSIONS PLEASE. Deal some of these guys (Semin, Schultz, Perrault) that are unable to get it done. We need some winners. These guys mentioned, plus prospects and picks,have significant value. No more, “We’ll get them next year.” Time to play for the present. For myself, my family, and our SEASON TICKET MONEY, there is NO NEXT YEAR.
Thanks for the chance to vent. Do not take the easy way out and fire your coach. He coaches the players he has. Sadly, some of them look like they do not care whether they win or lose. We need new blood on the ice. Hopefully, it is not too late. But after there was no reaction this summer after our latest playoff meltdown, can anyone really be surprised?
The power play having a modicum of success sure would help, but surely by now, someone would have been able to figure that one out. Hell, I think I could figure it out if you gave me a week.
There’s something deeper that is wrong with this team. Babied, coddled too much and are part of it and I unfortunately think they’ve lost respect for Boudreau. They’ve tuned him out and are simply doing their own thing out there – with no punishments. The constant line changes are AMAZING to me and obviously we need a 2nd line center who malcontent Semin will agree to play with vs. Backstrom.
Like I said – the problems run deeper than “fix the power play” – but it’s a start.
I think it is sad that your “single disappointment” is the power play this season. That implies that you are happy with the teams effort on a daily basis.
But what do fans know about effort?