The biggest improvement that will come from off season signings of some playmakers will be on special teams, where the Caps struggled last season. Tarik talked about it in the Wash Post this morning.
For the Caps to have any hope of making the playoffs, their special teams had to be significantly better. Both the power play and the penalty kill have to hold their own if this team is to make it past 70 points. It was frustrating to watch this team not capitalize on 5 on 3's for a minute or more, then watch the opposing team build off of those kills.
The Caps also have to refine their killer instinct. It's promising to see this team jump to early leads, but it's so important for the Caps to keep that foot on the throat of the opposition. This new system of puck possession that Glen Hanlon is preaching in this year's camp should help with that too. Look for the Caps to utilize the defense a little more and more passes back to the blue line with a breaking defenseman.
The Caps do have an opportunity to exact revenge on the Carolina Hurricanes today in their second preseason match up here at the Phone Booth. In the first game the Hurricanes were able to come back from a 3-1 deficit. The Capitals must look to keep that foot on throat thing when leading by a goal or more or the cardiac Caps are golfing early again this season.
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