Caps Get A Little Help

One night you're a hero and in 3rd place in the Eastern Conference standings, the next night you could be back in 11th and that road seems harder to travel again. But the Caps get some help tonight. Of the three teams in the Southeast Division that played only Tampa Bay won. Atlanta dropped their game against Vancouver (thanks Luongo) and the Florida Panthers lost a close game with Ottawa (Thank you Heatly). Along with Carolina these four teams, the Caps, Thrashers and Panthers are in a dead heat and every standing point counts.

The Capitals stay atop the Southeast for now, and they have a chance to put some space between Carolina, Atlanta and Florida with a regulation win against the 'Canes. That would put them 3 points ahead of everyone. It's not going to be easy to maintain that spot, the Caps will get the division's best play. They are playing with a target on their chests. This will be a true test on what kind of hockey team Uncle Ted and GMGM has.

Meanwhile, talk around the league has mostly been centered around Alex Ovechkin and a bid for league MVP. The rest of the NHL is quickly recognizing what a absolute talent the Capitals have. Even talk of Sid "the Kid" Crosby has subsided to Ovechkin's ovations. Even with Sid skating for the first time in several week since tweaking his high ankle. While Ovie is getting all the Hart talk, Bruce Bourdreau is getting some rumblings around the Jack Adams Award for coach of the year. All this talk and still 27 games still to go on the schedule. I almost feel everyone is jinxing the team.

But for now it feels good to see that the Capitals' efforts are paying off. Also, It's nice to see Ovechkin get his accolades. Every Caps fan wants to taste the playoffs again. A chance to bring that intensity back to the phone booth, that chance at a Cup. But the Caps haven't won that right yet and I have covered my house with wood just to knock on.

Don't forget about the Capitals Meet & Greet on Sunday after the NY Rangers game at the Cleveland Park Bar & Grill. All info can be found on the right side of my page or here. All proceeds will benefit the Washington Animal Rescue League. It's your chance to meet Shaone Morrisonn, Eric Fehr, Brooks Laich and Mike Green. Tell your friends!