Big Caps Game Tonight

Against a very good team from Toronto.

We are starting to play better – with more enthusiasm; and character and grit – we are in most games now – and we are starting to see our skill players gain some traction and confidence.

Slow steps to adaptation to a new system. More aggression and more focus on defensive schemes.

We are starting to heal up and I am hopeful we will get back into the lineup soon some of our injured players – that could provide us with a nice boost. Stay tuned.

It is quite ironic though – it really doesn’t matter what system we play – if we get good to great goal tending; and we have good to great special teams play – we are well served and one of the best teams in the league.

We are focused on playing a new system; gaining in productivity and winning some hockey games.

We need the points. Every shift is important now to us – every period – every game.

Come on out and Rock the Red this evening; see you then and there. Go Caps and thank you.

What Have We Learned

We have struggled twice this season against very energetic young teams with high levels of team speed.

When we come into town; as a visitor; a young team really “gets up” to play us.Beating us is an important milestone – we should empathize as we were once a young team; and an up and coming team with team speed; and a young roster. Beating good teams is how you earn respect in the NHL; and gain confidence.

We have to play a full 60 minutes; and stay out of the box – against these young, up and coming teams; with team speed.

Live and learn.

We split a back to back weekend road trip. One good win – one not so good loss.

Onward to Tuesday’s game at home. Thank you.

Yep – It Is Their Time To Lead

It is prime time now.

We have rebuilt quickly a roster.

A good mix of vets and youth.

We have kept the core together.

They are all coming into their prime.

We can not spend any more money.

We do not have a ticket left to sell.

We want a serious and focused group now.

Leadership comes from within. Torch has been passed.

A good insightful article. Thank you for caring and sharing.

And happy anniversary Japers’ Rink. 6 years old! A survivor and winner in the blogosphere. Maybe next year you will grow big enough to gain an assistant yourself :-) . And in ten years…who knows maybe even a second assistant? Go Caps!

Tonight

All in Red. See you tonight at Verizon Center.

Home game number #3 against the Islanders.

We have a lot of depth and we shall need it. We are already dinged up playing our 4th game in six nights.

Here is a nice little group of links prepared by Japers’ Rink. They do it so you don’t have to and I enjoy reading these sub headings very much.

Thanks for the ongoing support fans and thanks for the emails. Go Caps!

Taking Wins Any Way We Can

By shut out. By efficiently smothering a team. By getting our fans free chicken wings. 3 games post Olympics. 3 different games. 3 wins.

Has anyone noticed our home record with different flow and different heroes cast in each game?

But 3 wins in a row.

This year? 25-3-3.

Our consecutive home wins this year? 13.

Our consecutive sellout streak? 46 games in a row.

Home ice advantage in the playoffs should be a good thing for us this season.

We now have 96 points and a 75 goal differential. Best in NHL by a wide margin. And most goals scored by a wide margin.

Thanks to our fans we were loud and proud again last night.

Enjoy the ride.

Congrats to SB Nation and Japers’ Rink

Japers’ Rink was named the Top NHL Blog and SB Nation had the most entrants in the Top 10 of any blogging network.Well done and kudos! Read this article about hockey blogs and the best of the best. It didn’t take long for the bloggers to overtake traditional media in terms of quantity and sometimes quality of coverage and generation of a massive amount of wonderful pixels covering our great sport.

With the Washington Times shutting down its sports section, we have the Washington Post and the Examiner as print properties that cover our team on a game by game basis and yet, when you walk into our locker room after a game, there are dozens and dozens of people interviewing our players and our coaches.

I have to admit that I am proud that we as a franchise led the way in creating and activating and embracing the blogosphere. I am also proud to be an investor in SB Nation, a place I start my day everyday to get the latest in news and commentary on the NHL.

They Blog So I Don’t Have To

It is amazing how many pixels are generated these days about the Washington Capitals.

This new feature in Japers’ Rink which provides easy navigation to the words and pictures centered on our franchise is terrific. It makes my day easy to start and generates click through for all.

The season hasn’t started yet but the blogosphere is a-humming. Thanks everyone.