Tag Archives: NHL

The more things change

Posted on by

The more they stay the same. 

If the season ended today – the Capital’s would qualify for the playoffs, and we would be playing in the first round against the NY Rangers. Sound familiar? Only this time they would be the first seed and the Caps would be ranked in the 8th spot. 

We are half way through the season; we have garnered 46 points. We are second in the SE division; Florida has 50 points with 42 games played – we have 46 points with 41 games played. There is a ton of hockey left to play this season. 

I was impressed with the way both teams played last night. We must be realistic – both teams are really banged up – both teams miss their number 1 centers and number 1 D men; both teams have been traveling much of late. Despite that – both teams played hard – with energy and the game was hard hitting and intense.

We were fortunate to come out with a 1 to 0 win; behind stellar goal tending. 

Thanks Caps fans for turning out in big numbers last night – we have a few games now at home – to kick off the second half of the season. Wish us well; see you all on Friday against Tampa. Go Caps!

Some teams have played 43 games

Posted on by

Some teams have played 38 games. 

Some of the best teams in the standings have played the fewest games. 

We have played only 39 games to date – while a team like Ottawa has played 43 games. 

That is a big swing in terms of games played. One team has only played 38 games to date in our conference. 

A lot of the issues in timing of games have come from some teams playing in Europe to open the season; and the recent addition of the Jets into the SE division. 

The Caps are currently on a 5 day – two game trip out West.

We play game 40 tonight against the LA Kings; and followed by game 41 at home on Wednesday against the Penguins; which marks the half-way point for us as a franchise in this season. 

It is also baffling to see how many injuries there are all around the league – we have our fair share – as do so many other teams. 

The regular season is a true grind; lots of hard hitting games – lots of travel. Big men skating fast in a small rink. 

Wish us well tonight – and I will see you all on Wednesday night as we play a banged up Pittsburgh team; Go Caps!

I Jinxed Us By Speaking Too Soon

Posted on by

I was enthusiastic on my blog yesterday and exclaimed that we would have Mike Green, Alex Ovechkin, Nick Backstrom and Alex Semin on the ice together for the first time in a long while. We needed that core to regroup for us to be highly productive and it was a great move in that we were playing out West against San Jose who gives us fits.

Then Nick Backstrom didn’t dress for the game and then halfway through – after less than eight minutes of ice time – Mike Green didn’t come back to play because of our precautions for him regarding his previous injury.

We then played with only five D men and after a pretty competitive and hard fought game got worn down against a terrific team and lost 5-2 after being tied 2-2.

The first half of this season – which we are approaching – has been very frustrating for all. We are making progress but we must fight through these nagging injuries to our core players.

Another tough one on Monday night against LA and then back home for a Wednesday game against Pittsburgh. Wish us well and wish us all good health.

Maybe Just Maybe

Posted on by

Ovechkin, Semin, Backstrom and Green will be in the lineup tonight at the same time.

That hasn’t happened in a long time. It will be fun to see. We look forward to this group playing many minutes together, again.

We play two games in California against a team we have not had much success with on the road – the San Jose Sharks – and then off to see the LA Kings.

Be prepared to be bleary-eyed tomorrow morning. Wish us well. Go Caps! Thank you. Good stuff here from Japers’ as usual.

Have to fight through it

Posted on by

Mike Green had missed 55 of the last 65 regular season games to a series of injuries. Our fans and Mike’s team mates were very excited to see him back on the ice against the Flames. 

In that same game – Alex Semin was off the ice. He suffered an injury and is listed as day to day. 

And now Nick Backstrom is listed as day to day. I believe the league did the right thing in doling out a 5 game suspension and a fine for the play that injured Nick. 

We gained one player of our 4 young guns back into the lineup; and lost two more the same day. One step forward – two steps back. 

Injuries are a part of life in pro sports; we have to fight through it. Other teams have suffered big time injuries and have continued to prosper and we must do so as well. 

We are starting to play well; but now we are quite shorthanded – as we go out West for a short but tough road trip. 

Wish us well; we are not even at the half way point of the season; as bad as the media has written us off – we are playing at about a 94 to 96 point pace. We must continue to improve and get healthy – and be productive as we have noted – every game is important and every point matters. Thank you and Go Caps!

 

 

 

 

Caps Win Again at Home

Posted on by

Four in a row.

We saw terrific play in goal.

We scored fast on a power play.

We killed off all of our penalties.

Alex Ovechkin is on fire of late with another goal and an assist last night.

Mike Green is back. We are undefeated with Mike in the line up, 9-0.

Alex Semin is off the ice with an injury.

See this story from Japers’ on how much time our core of four players has actually played together.

We are now 7th in the East with 44 points and a game in hand on the SE division leader.

We are making progress with more than half of the season left to play. Everyone is still bunched up in the standings but it is positive to see progress on our behalf.

Thanks Caps fans for your loyalty and patience and support in 2011.

Big 3rd period played “the right way”

Posted on by

4 goals scored; we win 4 to 2. After trailing 2 to 0 –  in our fourth game in six days on New Year’s Eve, in Columbus. Back to back games are tough to play. 

I am proud of the team; we didn’t pack it in for the holiday weekend; we fought and dug deep, we played hard and we get the two points. 

We have now won 3 in a row, and we have games in hand still on the SE division leaders; we are back in the race as we enter 2012. Almost all of the teams ahead of us in the East won last night as well; so the points really mattered to us last night. 

Our goal tending was strong; our big guns scored and seem to be untracked. 

Have a happy new year; Go Caps!

Sick,Unbelievable

Posted on by

On the game last night – totally unacceptable.

One minute in – we are down 1 to 0. 

We are then down 4 to 0. Last two games played – down 3 to 0 and 4 to 0. That won’t get it done! 

We try to battle back but we lose 4 to 2 last night. First game back from break – but we can’t use that as an excuse. 

Time is a wasting for us. We have 48 games left to play.96 points to take. 

Every point matters from here on out as we are stuck on 36 points. 

This is a good blog post – very sobering and I was glad to read it. If you have the time – will be a good one to review. 

Be that as it may – we must get some wins and some points and build our confidence. On the road.

 Next game is against the hottest team in the NHL at home – the NY Rangers – wish us luck – we may need it.

Happy for a Point

Posted on by

We are grateful to pick up a point last night on the road after being down 3-0 to the Devils.

All the teams ahead of us in the standings in the division lost as well last night.

We have three games in hand on division leading Florida. They have won 18 games. We have won 17 games. The OT points really are important.

We now get to enjoy the Christmas Holiday then get right back at it on Monday on the road again.

We didn’t quit last night and try to get on vacation early.

A point is important to us as every point matters.

Thank you.