41 games played.

51 points.

102 point run rate.

Better defensive play.

A new system being implemented.

A long losing streak overcome. Last 10 games, 5-2-3.

A very tough Southeast division. Competition is a good thing.

Lots of new players being integrated into the team culture. Count ‘em up yourself.

A good record with best players struggling from a stat standpoint in first half.

Penalty killing improved.

Power play units struggling.

Goals for down.

Goals against average improved.

The Winter Classic behind us. The HBO cameras gone.

Every game sold out.

A few days off to count our blessings and heal up and rest. We are tired from the travel and holiday hoopla.

Second half of the season starts on Saturday, January 8th.

We are what our record says we are, 5th in the East. Neck and neck with other great teams.

Thanks for being such great and supportive fans to your Washington Capitals.

It has been a long adversity-filled first half of the season. I believe this journey and process to be healthy for us. Wish us luck and good health in the second half of season. Thank you. Go Caps!

“Woe is me” isn’t me.

The NHL has 30 teams that are all competitive and stocked with the best players and coaches in the world.

We don’t have a right and we aren’t enabled to be winners. We have to do the work.

We have to make our own breaks. We have to gain perspective. We have played 33 games to date. There are 49 games left to play. 98 points left to “go get.” We have 40 points to date. Six teams have 40 or more points in the NHL to date.

HBO will soon leave us. There will still be a lot of the season left to play. We aren’t playing a video game. We aren’t working within a screenplay. It is a season that is long. It isn’t like an episode of “Law and Order” where the crime is committed and solved and the jury is picked and the trial is completed and the criminal is sentenced all in one tidy little 60 minute show!

This is a simple proposition. It is all about winning games. It is NOT about the Winter Classic; HBO; sell outs; Red outs or whatever. All of our focus needs to be on playing the game; shedding outside pressures; focusing on shifts, periods and games at hand; staying together; qualifying for the playoffs; and then starting the second season with intensity and drive.

Each game matters but every game has 3 possible points at stake. The season is long. Points matter. Let us go get some points. Let us go win some games. Let us get back to winning more than we are losing. Then the snow ball fights and laughter and hugs and kisses will be plentiful. They will be there whether on camera or not.

HBO’s 24/7 is an early season phenomenon built around a game held on January 1st. It isn’t a series about the playoff qualifying run or the playoffs. Exhale. They are doing exactly what they are brilliant at – making for drama and story and arc all to drive interest and ratings! It is working but…it is December people.

Every team that is in the midst of a 7 game losing streak looks bad. Every team that has won a bunch of games in a row looks good. We know. We have been there but it is how you bounce back from adversity that matters to me.

We live in a transparent world.

We won’t be the first or the last group that people get to see struggle. On TV or online.

If we are successful the way we want to be this season, the HBO cameras will be long gone anyway.

It is on us.

Let us focus on the games. Let us focus on signal. The rest is noise. We have a long season left. It isn’t a season that will be summed up in 3 more episodes of reality television that is so well produced. The season won’t end on January 1st at the Winter Classic. We will still have 42 games left to play! More than half of the season is left to play AFTER the Winter Classic. It is ok to exhale now.

Let us go back to having a bit more fun.

Let us not lose perspective.
Go Caps!